Italy, to Paris, to France - give me it all! I had a hard time putting this one down. An amazing plot that I couldn't stop thinking about.

The Paris Wife by Meghan Masterson takes readers on a delightful journey back to the vibrant world of the 1920s. Through rich prose and vivid descriptions, Masterson weaves a captivating tale of love, ambition, and self-discovery. The story unfolds through the eyes of Hadley Richardson, Ernest Hemingway's first wife, as she navigates the tumultuous Parisian literary scene. This easy-to-read novel effortlessly transports readers into a bygone era, making it a genuine and fascinating experience.

This novel tells the story of a couple who had an arranged marriage and trying to live each other. The story moved at a very slow pace. Yet, what bothered me was the ending. I did not expect that ending at all, and it ruined the book for me. Still, I recommend this for fans if Gill Paul!

This cover is giving me major SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO vibes and that was the only reason I read this book!

And boy, I'm not disappointed!
It was really good!
The story was about one of Livia and her husband trying to get into a closer relationship Because they had a marriage of convience!
Each chapter has different knowledge about poision and their uses, potions etc

It was really nice and beautifully written

This novel is set in Paris during 1856-1857, against the background of Italy’s push for unification. Livia Valenti, pregnant with her first child, which was clearly conceived before her marriage five months ago, arrives in Paris. Accompanying Livia is her well-connected diplomat husband, Niccolo, who is consigned by Italian prime minister Camillo de Cavour to persuade Napoleon to aid Italy in its fight for independence. Livia, skilled with medical knowledge gleaned from her doctor father, studies plants and herbs and, chillingly, always carries nightshade with her. Lonely and cowed by her solemn husband, whom she barely knows, Livia comes into the vibrant circle of Elisabetta, Countess of Castiglione, also sent to Paris by de Cavour to seduce the emperor, Napoleon. Although very different, the two women become fast friends and soon find themselves entangled in poison, politics, assassination attempts, and murder, whilst Livia’s ugly past chases her relentlessly. With a constant sense of foreboding, Livia’s backstory plays significantly into current events.

Gradually we learn of the reasons behind Livia and Niccolo’s strained relationship and the reason he doesn’t touch her, and the subsequent softening into mutual understanding, which gradually becomes a deep and abiding love, is poignant and engagingly told. Although the novel is fictional, many of the characters mentioned are historical but, except for Elisabetta, most famous for her pioneering artistry in photography, they hover in the background. Told in vivid prose, each chapter begins with a quote from Livia’s book of herbal studies. Not by accident is she named for the infamous wife of Emperor Augustus. The Paris Wife is not only an engaging read, but it also offers fascinating insight into the efficacy and toxicity of plants. Readers interested in herbal lore will not want to miss this book.

What a welcome break from the multiple WWII-set historical fiction novels I have read recently. Not that I haven’t enjoyed those, but something completely different was a refreshing change.
And 1856 Paris is pretty different.
I’ll be honest and say that the opening scenes of tarot reading drew me in and hooked me. I know of authors who will sanitize certain aspects of an era, so they don’t offend modern sensibilities.
And while I realize this seems strange to say in light of this book, I have seen reviews of others that were totally turned off by any mention of the potential supernatural or “other-world.”
I, for one, enjoy it immensely. So, I knew I would like the book just from that. But then the author did one better for my tastes and made Livia someone who is highly knowledgeable about the healing powers of plants…and the dangers of poison.
(Side note: while I was reading this book, I had conversations with at least half a dozen people about natural and homeopathic remedies for colds and flu. Totally unrelated to the book itself, but it struck me that some treatments have been around for centuries).
Anyway, I liked that about Livia. Sure, she was a 19-year-old thrust into Paris intrigue, but she was smart and had a mind of her own. I particularly liked the friendship between her and Caterina, as well as the one she formed with Elisabetta.
Even without refreshing my instinct about the book by reading the blurb, it was easy to tell where the author was headed with the plot, especially taking Livia’s first meeting with Elisabetta into account.
What was unknown, was how it would all ultimately play out. And that is what made the story just so page-turning.
Any time there is a royal court involved, there is going to be intrigue. And if two countries are trying to forge treaties or have their own interests at the forefront of the empire, there is going to be even more intrigue.
And there is certainly plenty of it in this book. The author did a great job of dropping just enough information that it was difficult to figure out who might be responsible for what, who was trustworthy and who wasn’t, and what the endgame of it all actually was.
Nope, I’m not going to tell you.
Just let yourself get swept away to 1856 Paris, take in the lush descriptions and clever writing, and go with Livia on her journey to find her place in a complicated society.
Oh, and pay attention to the entries from her book at the beginning of each chapter. Not only is there good information, but you might get a hint of what is yet to come.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.

Newlywed and pregnant Livia moves to Paris with her husband Niccolo. She struggles to cope with the physical changes as the baby grows but also the adjustment to married life to a diplomat. She is befriended by a fellow Italian, the mistress of the Emperor, after saving her life. But is Elisabetta in further danger from a political enemy and can Livia find happiness with her situation...?
The Paris Wife is an historical novel set in 1856. It has a linear narrative except for a few flashbacks to Livia's recent past which are crucial to the plot.
Livia is a doctor's daughter who is suddenly thrust into the political scene of Paris as France and Italy attempt to influence each other's states. Intrigue, assassination attempts and high society all threaten to overwhelm Livia as she struggles to adjust to married life and prepare for motherhood.
Livia and Niccolo do not have a particularly happy marriage at the beginning of the book and the tension betwen them informs us that there are unresolved issues. Livia is practical and knowledgeable which makes her seems quite a modern woman by the standards of the historical era.
The period of history is fraught with danger as political intrigues become personal. Livia's friend Elisabetta uses her feminine wiles to influence the Emperor but is in turn being controlled by political figures from her own nation. The development of a couple adjusting to married life together contrasts with the national relationships being negotiated.
The Paris Wife is an interesting historical novel about a period of history that I know little about. I liked the way the female characters have power in a political world dominated by men.

I read The Paris Wife by Meghan Masterson. This was not my favorite historical fiction book. The first half of the book was a slow build up to the action in the story. The second half had some peaks of excitement, but also some flat areas. I expected more to draw me into this story and the characters. I rated this book a 3 out of 5.

This book was an absolute delight. A trip back in time to a period I could never imagine but this author painted such fabulous descriptions and wonderful characters that I felt like I was right there in the thick of it. A pleasure to read!

The Paris Wife
by: Meghan Masterson
Bookoutore

The Paris Wife is a historical fiction novel set in Paris in 1856. It is a tale of danger, intrigue and mystery, and is a page turner as the story unfolds. Readers will be fully absorbed in Masterson's novel. Thank you to Net Galley and Bookoutore for the advanced reader's copy and opportunity to review this book.
#TheParisWife #NetGalley

Livia Valenti accompanies her husband, Niccolo, to Paris when he is sent there by the prime minister of Piedmont-Sardinia, Conte Cavour, to liaise with the Contessa di Castiglione. The Contessa has become Napoleon III's mistress in an attempt to gain his support for Cavour's plans for the unification of Italy.

Livia is missing her family and life in Turin, where she helped her father, a doctor, and indulged her passion as a herbalist. She is also finding it difficult to adjust to married life with Niccolo, who is virtually a stranger to her. She hopes their marriage will develop into a warm and loving relationship and that in time Niccolo's aloofness will disappear, although he is solicitous towards her.

When there is an attempt on the life of Napoleon III, Niccolo is implicated and arrested. Livia vows to prove his innocence. With the help of the Contessa, she sets in motion a plan that will bring danger to her home with tragic results.

The Paris Wife starts off slowly, focussing on Livia's adjustment to life in Paris, her developing friendship with the Contessa and the political situation regarding the movement for Italy's unification. At times, the story delves into Livia's past and the reasons for her hasty marriage to Niccolo. Gradually, the drama begins to build as attempts to poison are thwarted and a murder is revealed. And then, comes the action-packed denouement that was totally unexpected and not how I envisaged the story to proceed at all.

The Paris Wife satisfied on all levels. I'm looking forward to reading more from Meghan Masterson.

I absolutely could not stop reading this. Taking place from Italy to Paris,France .
An intriguing plot I couldn't stop reading this and when I wasn't reading I was thinking about the book.
Strong atmospheric historical fiction based on real events.
1856 Paris, France Livia moves from her native Italy to her husband's mansion. She is just a doctor's daughter and while other's her age where going to balls while she was growing up she was learning at the hands of her father and reading medical books.
She has a love of plants and knows their medical use and which plants are used for poison. Having no use for her medical knowledge in France she misses her home country.
As the wife of a diplomat she is exposed to people in high up places and quickly becomes friends with Elisabetta, the Emperor’s clever, beautiful mistress.
Her knowledge of herbs and plants is put to the test when Elisabetta is poisoned though.
This is a time in French history I knew nothing about so it was fascinating to read about.
Things go from bad to worse when Livia's husband is taken away after being falsely accused of treason and conspiring against the crown.
Gripping historical fiction I was totally absorbed in.
I now must read more by this author!

Pub Date 18 Aug 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I like reading historical fiction and I like that this story is set in France. This makes for a different type of story than a lot of historical fiction. I enjoyed the writing but had a hard time getting into the characters.

Having previously enjoyed The Queen’s Dressmaker, I was delighted to discover another historical novel from Meghan Masterson, and very quickly, The Paris Wife lived up to my expectations.

Set during the 1850’s, in a period of history that I was shamefully ignorant of, this book illustrates the plight of the Italian nobles who are desperate for a unified and independent Italy, so much so they are in Paris to do all they can to persuade the Emperor Napoleon III to assist their cause.

This book is full of mystery from the beginning, which I loved, and that kept me turning the pages night after night. The mysterious world of herbal medicine and poisons, the mysterious marriage of Niccolo and Livia and the mystery of her life in Turin, are all slowly drizzled into the story, each chapter revelation adding to my enjoyment. I too am a bit of medical nerd, so understood Livia’s fascination with helping (and learning from) her father, and admired her knowledge of herbs, remedies and poisons. I warmed to Livia straight away and the more I read, the more Niccolo won me over too.

This was an easy book to become immersed in, from the glamour of Paris’s high society, to the drama, suspense and danger that Livia finds herself in as the story progresses. The smouldering passion added another element of surprise and pleasure too. Livia, who was always strong and independent, comes into her own, and became one of those characters who I know I will remember for a long time to come.

If you enjoy historical dramas, I can recommend The Paris Wife as a great read this summer. I do hope there are more books to come from Meghan Masterson.

Atmospheric historical fiction with a healthy dose of romance, based on real events. I especially liked the development of Livia and Niccolo's relationship after their marriage of what appears to be awkward convenience. Highly recommended!

It’s 1856 in Paris France and newlywed Livia has just moved into her husband’s mansion. She feels extremely out of place with her surroundings and wants nothing more to be back in her home in Italy. Livia grew up the daughter of a doctor she loves to study plants. It’s probably one reason she misses her home in Italy so much because it was surrounded by beautiful gardens. But now as the wife of a diplomat she has no use for her love of plants. Livia becomes fast friends with Elisabetta, and as they find the masquerade balls and the French high society to be intriguing, they find that there is much more to going on then meets the eye. I found this book to be both absorbing and interesting. The vivid description of both France and Italy made the book a wonderful escape. This is a wonderful historical fiction that is sure to entertain readers who enjoy this genre.

Thank you Meghan Masterson for another wonderful and emotional read. The characters were relatable and the story was very captivating and was definitely an engrossing read.

This is a new to me author who I will be reading more of.

The female main character is a very strong woman who has been through a lot in her life.

The book hooked me in from the very first page and didn't let go until the very end.

Highly recommended

4.5 Stars

Meghan Masterson’s The Paris Wife is a sumptuous and seductive historical novel that effortlessly sweeps readers back to 19th century France and into a world of passion, intrigue and danger.

When newlywed Livia arrives in her husband’s grand Parisian mansion, she is immediately homesick. Desperate to go back home to Italy and to her garden where she could foster her love and curiosity for herbs and plants, Livia’s new life feels increasingly claustrophobic and restricted. Diplomat’s wife Livia feels like she is trapped in a gilded cage where nobody has any use for her skills and knowledge. Yet, a dark secret from her past weighs heavily upon her shoulders making it absolutely necessary for her to protect herself and to keep her eyes and ears open. Determined to protect herself and her unborn child, Livia keeps deadly nightshade hidden securely under her dress and as events in Paris reach an alarming crescendo, it quickly becomes apparent that she was right to think that there was something sinister going on in the new world she had found herself in

When isolated Livia strikes up a friendship with Napoleon III’s mistress Elisabetta, she quickly finds herself swept up in a whirlwind of masked balls, high society mischief and dangerous secrets. Yet, all that glitters isn’t necessarily gold and when an assassination attempt is made on Napoleon outside Elisabetta’s house, Livia’s husband ends up arrested for treason! With enemies lurking round every corner, Livia doesn’t know which way to turn or who she can trust. With her unborn child to protect, can Livia find a way to keep herself and her baby safe? Elisabetta might be in her corner, but does she really have Livia’s best interests at heart? Or is she a wolf in sheep’s clothing willing to do whatever it takes to save her skin and throw Livia into the lion’s den?

An evocative and atmospheric historical novel that brings the colour, danger and excitement of 19th Century France to thrilling life, Meghan Masterson’s The Paris Wife is a mesmerizing tale about power, treason, lies and love where the reader cannot turn the pages fast enough. Meghan Masterson will make her readers feel as if they are living the story with her gift for creating bold and nuanced characters living extraordinary lives where the stakes are high and the jeopardy is even higher.

In The Paris Wife, Meghan Masterson has written a brilliant historical novel about strong women defying the odds in a world run by men that is impossible to put down and hard to forget.

Unputdownable from page one!

I don't remember the last time I was so happy with every aspect of a book. Livia and Niccolo are lovable characters, and the author shows you beautifully how their relationship develops. Paris at the end of the 19th century is a glamorous choice, the story is built up nicely, and even the supporting characters are described carefully and in detail. The novel finds the fine balance between romance, history and intrigue, and is a real comfort read.

I thank NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to have an Advance Reading Copy of this book.

This is history the way I like to learn it – fictional characters interspersed with real people & real events. Having read a number of books around this setting way back in High School days, I had moved on to other countries & other periods. This was a welcome return, & I was really enjoying this book... until suddenly there was more detail than I cared to know! A pity : why can’t books have ratings on the covers, like films – so we know what we are getting into? Certain content aside, this was a well-written book & although the storyline could be guessed at early on, it was still well-crafted. (Warning: be prepared for a gory ending! ) [ 3 1/2 stars if that were possible, as it is better written than a 3 star, but the X-rated content means I cannot give it a 4.]