Welcome to Litsy!

This one was a soft pick for me, mainly because of the ending (spoiler below). I hadn't read a Fiona Davis book before and mostly picked this one up because I have seen her so enjoyed around Litsy. The dual timelines were handled very well, although I never felt much of a 60s connection, I guess since they were mostly locked in a museum lol Lily annoyed me a lot because she didn't do what I would do, but I still did like her as a person. ⬇️

#BookReport - I feel like I've read SO MUCH this week, yet have only checked off four books! That's what happens when I also have EIGHT chapter-a-day reads going 😂 I really enjoyed the Winternight trilogy a lot; The Black Stallion is always a win; and The Magnolia Palace was a soft pick - I just finished it last night. I'm really enjoying all my chapter reads as well (well, mostly). They include:
-Middlemarch: The end is in sight for this one! ⬇

Another great one by Fiona! I‘m didn‘t really like any of the characters, but I was invested and wanted to see what happened! The character of Lillian is based on Audrey Munson. Audrey had a very sad life following a scandal in the 1920‘s. It went downhill from there. As far as the character of Lillian, I‘ve never seen one character have as much bad luck as she did!!

#LitsyLoveReads

My books are eyeing me 👀 these dang Netflix shows are making me cheat on my books 😫 I‘ve been watching The Crown and now the Murdaugh Murders… so sad and devastating 💔💔

#LitsyLove

Finishing this one today for book club Tuesday!! If you‘ve read it did you enjoy Lillian‘s or Veronica‘s story the most? I‘m leaning towards Lillian‘s. I‘m intrigued by her character being based on Audrey Munson and I want to read more about her…

What are you reading today?! I hope everyone is having a great weekend!!

Image from Facebook

So yesterday it was 80 degrees and today it‘s been in the 40-50‘s and raining! Mississippi weather is so crazy! 🤪

However, it is the perfect day for self care and reading! I‘m trying to finish this one today for bookclub! 💗 🌸 🕯️ 📚 ☔️ ☕️ 📝

Breakfast and a book!! Now if I could stop watching The Crown 👑 😂

#LitsyLove

🌸 Fiona Davis
🌸The tagged and The Midnight Library
🌸 historical, artistic, intriguing, secrets, betrayal

#WondrousWednesday on Thursday 🤷🏻‍♀️

I did good all day and then William brought me this ice cream 🍨 😫

I‘m really enjoying this book so far, but I love Fiona‘s books!!

#LitsyLove
#LitsyLoveReads

I‘ve been eating salads for a week and my hubby is a bad influence!! 😂 🍨❤️

I just found this article about Audrey Munson. “America‘s first supermodel” The character of Lillian is based on her life… so tragic 💔💔

https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/tragedy-audrey-munson-americas-first-sup...

Starting this one for my first ever in real life book club!! I love this author and I‘m excited 😍💗

My notebook from the bookstore for bookclub 😂

My first read from this author, but I will definitely seek out more of her books! I thoroughly enjoyed this story and how Davis wove together stories of women from two different time periods.

Apparently I was in a grey & pink mood today, as I inadvertently matched my book with my new knitting project. Enjoying both so far! #knitting #audioknitting #sockknitting

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

1) I'd say before I was born for it to feel historical.
2) I have only read a few HF so far. So I don't know about spooky but tragic is definitely The Magnolia Palace. Based on the real life sculpture muse, Audrey Munson, known as Miss Manhattan and is the muse for many of Manhattans most famous statues, plus the Forward statue at the top of Wisconsin State Capitol... It's my favorite HF

@eeclayton Thanks!

Davis is a master of weaving two stories from different time periods together and this one is no exception! Throughly intriguing and wonderfully written! I couldn‘t wait to finish this!

22 #75 I got two books behind in my reading challenge because this book is just slow. But it‘s worth the finish.

Fascinating and a quick read

An artist‘s model is trying to make ends meet while grieving the loss of her mother. Lilian meets begins working in the Frick Mansion. Surprising opportunities unfold as Lilian is tasked with making challenging decisions that impact her future. The novel also tells the story of a model, 50 years later, trying to earn money for her family back in England. The painting pictured, Dreaming About A Life to Come, is available www.poesoulstudio.com

Good! Not my favorite of hers but an interesting history that I knew little about and am happy to have learned. The novel is well paced and New York City and it‘s artwork felt like living, breathing characters in the story. #BOTM #bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

Reading this one in anticipation of my trip to NYC next week. I‘m so excited, I‘ve never been. I‘m going for work but will have some time to myself. I have tix for a Sat show (Come From Away) at 2 and will try to get a cheap, day-of ticket for Sat night. I‘m staying in Times Square-any suggestions for food and stuff to do? I plan to go to the Strand Bookstore, the NY Public Library, the Frick Musuem, MOMA and Central Park. #NYC

This was an enjoyable read. I like the split timeline POVs of the MCs. The bits of mystery while not big events help give the story more layers and move the plot along.

#Booked2022 - New in 2022
#Pantone2022 - #PoppySeed

This homage to the Frick Collection is told in two timelines: in 1919 Lillian, a celebrated model, runs from scandal & becomes Helen Frick's private secretary during a tumultuous time for the family; in 1966 Veronica's first modeling job is set at the Frick where, locked in during a storm with archivist Joshua, she stumbles across clues to a 50 year old mystery. Solid characterizations, lush descriptions, & a couple mysteries make this a pick.

I love every topic that Davis takes from history especially because most are set in NYC. This one is set with converging timelines that include the Frick collection, the Frick family and parts of their sordid history. Thrown in is the story behind the real life model who was the muse for many statues seen in the city. A bit of a mystery are in these and they are always woven together nicely. Look up the art and statues mentioned.

Beautiful evening to read out on the swing

3.5 stars

If you have never read Fiona Davis before, this book will be fantastic. However, if you (like me) have read her previous books, you won‘t find much new here.

The dual storylines in this book seem to go together fantastically. I loved this book and didn‘t want to put it down. The author has such a way with words, it was almost as if I was present in the Frick mansion at sometimes during the novel. I would suggest anyone that loves historical fiction to pick this one up. It was such a lovely surprise when I found I enjoyed the book. 5 stars

It started out a little slow, but the pace picked up as it went along. I liked the way the dual timelines alternately came together to solve the mystery.

I enjoyed this historical fiction. I am not a huge fan of dual timelines but the characters were intriguing.

April Book 1/25 #LitsyLove #bookspinbingo

Not my favourite Davis but still a lovely read. I just didn't connect with the 1966 timeline the way I often do in the more present-day sides of Davis' books. The 1919 timeline was much more my jam. I like how Davis gets her inspiration from historical buildings or people and spins something wonderful out of it - and I always appreciate her note at the end where she says where she strayed from history.

Fiona Davis fictionalizes the lives of the coke & steel magnet, Henry Clay Frick & his family using 2 eventually intersecting storylines (1919 &1966).Set in the Frick mansion/museum,the story is narrated through the eyes of 2 models,the infamous”Angelica,”whose risqué statues grace the city streets,& the English model Veronica,who desperately wants to make it in NYC. Happenstance makes both these women end up in the Frick‘s home. ?

Thanks to these Litsy folks for today‘s prompt:

##SAVVYSETTINGS
March 2022
@Eggs
@AlwaysBeenALoverOfBooks

Today‘s Prompt: PALACE

THE MAGNOLIA PALACE is a gem with a mystery, a murder, a famous family, and memorable characters you will connect with and a book you will not want to miss... https://tinyurl.com/2p8tvsk2

Have YOU read it yet?

@fionadavisauthor

#SavvySettings #30 #palace
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

I'm currently reading The Magnolia Palace, a Historical Fiction I got from BOTM. I was very interested to learn that one of the main characters, Lillian "Angelica" Carter, is based on Audrey Munson, Miss Manhattan herself. Audrey Munson was one of the most famous muses and sculpture models in NYC and was dubbed American Venus. But also, she is the muse and model for "Wisconsin (Forward)". The statue at the top of my home states capitol building.

Historical fiction often has me going down the google rabbit hole! Lillian Carter is based on the real-life artists‘ model Audrey Munson. Enjoying this one so far. #20in4

1. Historical Fiction
2. This was my first Fiona Davis work and I‘m hooked!!
3. I‘m new to Fiona Davis‘ works as of this year, but the 3 of her books I have read she does a fantastic job! She not only brings in the “lingo” of the era into the dialogue, but she also makes sure to mention the fashion and food as well, which I find so interesting

Thanks for the fun prompt @ozma.of.oz 🤩 Happy #SundayFunday ☕️🥐🍳🥓🥞🧇

#coffeeandbooks #20in4 #readathon

I was exhausted last night so went to bed without any reading done. I hope to have more time later today.

Finished this last month, but glad I hadn‘t yet taken time to review, as I met Fiona Davis two evenings ago! Because I read the Curse of Beauty last fall, I instantly recognized the story of Audrey Munson that was woven into and around the story of the Frick family and their amazing donation of their home as a museum of art to New York City. Fiona even said she hadn‘t yet met someone who had read that book, so that was fun!

Joining in this #20in4 #Readathon #March25toMarch28 #2022
Will be reading from This Life, hoping to start The Magnolia Palace.
Join in & Spread the word!!!!

3-23-22: My 27th finished book of 2022! This book alternates between Lillian in 1919 and Veronica in 1966. Lillian, an artist‘s model who is running from a scandal gets hired to be the personal secretary of Helen Frick, whose father was the owner of the Frick mansion and museum in NYC. Veronica, a fashion model, visits the Frick and helps solve a 50 year old mystery, bringing all the characters together. Love this author. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣2️⃣7️⃣

What I enjoyed most about this book was learning about the Frick Collection in NYC. I never knew it existed until now. I googled the art pieces described in the story, and learned quite a bit as I read. I wasn‘t crazy about the story line or the characters. To me, it seemed like a typical murder mystery “who done it”.

https://booktrib.com/2022/03/17/10-books-to-binge-if-you-loved-hbos-the-gilded-a...

All of these look good! 📚

Classic Fiona Davis, weaving together a story of historical fiction decades apart in a perfectly plotted time slip. While many people, events, and the Frick collection/home itself is real, many of the characters are not but together tell a story peeking new interest into this New York Museum and its past.

I really enjoyed this historical fiction about the Frick family set in 1919 and 1966. Loved that this had fact mixed in with fiction, interesting characters, secrets, lies and a mystery.

“Lillian Carter stood half naked, one arm held up like a ballet dancer, the other hanging lightly down at her side, and calculated how long she could avoid paying rent while her landlord was in jail.”

#firstlinefridays @ShyBookOwl

Fiona Davis has a very solid style. Her writing is consistent & brings historical settings to life well. This was a great mix of true history & creative fiction. I loved the characters & the mystery surrounding the narrative. The pacing can be a little slow in places & there is some instalove, but overall I just had a good time. The mystery was light & the story was relaxing, leading to a pleasant, palate-cleansing read.

Entertaining, quick read with interesting historical detail and a fun mystery. Now need to visit The Frick Collection website for a virtual tour. #BOTM

Totally forgot to post about this one last week! Gah! Well, let me just say I love this author. She is an automatic buy for me. Set in two era‘s the author has managed to craft a great story with amazing characters. A really good read if you like your historic fiction.

I have enjoyed Davis's books and this one is no exception. Set in two eras, Lillian in the 20's and Veronica in the 60s . Lillian was the model for the famous sculptures of NYC. And when she has to run, she ends up as secretary to Henry Clay Fricks daughter. Veronica is a British model who comes to NYC in hopes of making enough money to care for her disabled sister. The story goes between the two lives and somehow connects them in the end.