Welcome to another Tuesday celebrating bookish events, from Tuesday/First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea Every Tuesday, Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea posts the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book she decided to read based on the opening. Feel free to grab the banner and play along.
This week my excerpts come from a book that has languished unread for far too long having been purchased way back in January 2014! The Dress Thief by Natalie Meg Evans is a historical tale which promises delightful gowns, so seems to fit with my recent visit to Bath’s fashion museum.
Blurb
Alix Gower has a dream: to join the ranks of Coco Chanel to become a designer in the high-stakes world of Parisian haute couture. But Alix also has a secret: she supports her family by stealing designs to create bootlegs for the foreign market. A hidden sketchbook and two minutes inside Hermès is all she needs to create a perfect replica, to be whisked off to production in New York.
Then Alix is given her big break – a chance to finally realize her dream in one of the most prominent Parisian fashion houses – but at the price of copying the breakthrough Spring Collection.
Knowing this could be her only opportunity, Alix accepts the arrangement. But when a mystery from her past resurfaces and a chance meeting has her falling into the arms of a handsome English war reporter, Alix learns that the slightest misstep – or misplaced trust – could be all it takes for her life to begin falling apart at the seams. Goodreads
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First Chapter ~ First Paragraph ~ Intro
Prologue
Alsace, Eastern France, 1903
The double crash that echoed through the timber-framed house killed one man and damned another. The first blow was metal against skull The second was the crack of the victim’s head against the corner of the stove.
Chapter One
Paris, 1937
Mathilda’s daughter emerged from the Continental Telephone Exchange wearing an ivy-green suit, the severity of which contrasted with her youth.
A tilted trilby and shoes of black glacé leather suggested a young lady of means, as did silk stockings accentuating slim calves and ankles. She carried a black handbag and wore matching gloves. As she went down Rue du Louvre at a fast clip, admiring looks met her – and more than one smile of invitation.
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I’m always torn when putting these posts together when they have a prologue about where to start but as this one has such an intriguing first sentence I decided to give you a taster before the delicious clothes descriptions – how fancy do black glacé leather shoes sound?
So what do you think? Would you keep reading or perhaps you’ve already read this one? Do share your thoughts in the comments box below.
Id definitely read on, sounds gorgeous, and intriguing too!!!
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Thank you 🙂
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Love the sound if this one. Not my usual genre but I’d give it a read.
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That’s why I love this meme, it makes me consider books I wouldn’t normally pick up!
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This isn’t my usual type of read I have to say but I like the idea of a dress thief and the introduction.
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It caught my eye all those years ago and I do like the idea of a dress thief too.
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I have that same issue of prologue or chapter one. Today I went with the main text. I’m not sure this is a book for me, but I like the intros, especially chapter 1.
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Your opening chapter worked for me – I thought the prologue of this one was better than the main text but I dither over my choice each time I have a book with a prologue.
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I do like the sound of this, Cleo. I really like when books tie past and present together effectively, and it sounds as though this does. I’ll look forward to your review.
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I’m looking forward to a change of scene and I’m curious about the premise of this one.
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This time I wasn’t drawn in by the blurb or the first lines. The only thing I really liked was the prologue. Perhaps there is a reason it has been languishing unread…
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I preferred the prologue I must admit – hopefully I will enjoy it – I’ve already had one DNF this month and it mucks up the spreadsheet when that happens 😉
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I think I might love this one!
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A posh frock with black glace shoes is definitely an outfit to read in 😉
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I’m curious about how the prologue affects the rest of the story. I enjoy historical fiction, so I’d keep reading on.
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I do love historical fiction and had a craving for something a little different.
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That teaser got my attention.
sherry @ fundinmental My TT
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Great stuff Sherry!
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Sounds intriguing. I would read on. This week I am showcasing Heartstone by Elle Katherine White. Happy reading!
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Thank you so much for visiting and leaving your link Kathy 🙂
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Reading about fashion is a guilty pleasure….but to have a mystery mixed in, too…a double delicious pleasure. Hope you’re enjoying it.
I have a few books from 2014 that I need to focus on soon! Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog.
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I will be reading this soon so I’ll let you know how I get on.
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I dither over the prologue/first chapter issue too and today was even worse with a preface and a prologue and then the first chapter – I went with all three.
I’m not sure that I’d like the book as I find a lot of description of clothes not very inspiring, although black glacé shoes sound different, but they’re probably black patent leather, do you think?
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I think you are probably right about the shoes but the description made me smile!
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Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio and commented:
Check out the book, The Dress Thief, by Natalie Meg Evans, as featured on the Cleopatra Loves Books blog.
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Thank you Don
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You’re welcome.
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I found the Prologue was begging me to read on and then the first chapter’s paragraph seems to promise something fun and sophisticated. Count me in.
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Excellent news Margot 🙂
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I would definitely keep reading – I need to know more about those shoes and where they are taking her!
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Ooh sounds quite interesting!
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Geez, the intro leaves me curious for more. I hope you are enjoying this one.
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This one sounds very tempting! I love the tilted trilby as much as the glacé leather shoes though (haven’t heard that description since I was a child! 😀 ) And the prologue suggests it’s not going to be too fluffy!!
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🙂 it does sound quite good and as you say, not too fluffy!
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