A review by kschmoldt
The Velvet Hours by Alyson Richman

5.0

I was initially intrigued by this book when I first saw it on NetGalley. It deals with war-torn France for at least part of the book, and having read and loved The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, I decided to give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised. The author creates a rich setting and memorable characters. It is the story of two women, and is at least based partly on an actual apartment in Paris that was preserved for seventy years after the death of its inhabitant, Marthe de Florian. This novel tells the imagined tale of Marthe de Florian, a courtesan during the Belle Epoque era, and her granddaughter, Solange. The relationship between Marthe and Solange develops through the novel as Marthe relates her life story to Solange. This is center of the book, but Solange's life outside of her relationship with her grandmother also becomes a focus, as World War II commences and the Germans invade France. I recommend this book to anyone who loved the Nightingale, or is a fan of quality literary historical fiction.