Secrets of Paris: A Novel

by Luanne Rice

Lydie McBride has always embraced life to the fullest. But when an unthinkable tragedy strikes her family, everything she believes in is shattered. Her architect husband, Michael, watches the passion disappear from Lydie’s eyes and from their marriage, and hopes that an assignment to Paris will help them reclaim a love that once seemed unassailable. But the City of Lights holds secrets and seductions for them both. As Michael pursues his design project at the Louvre—and falls into the orbit of a mysterious, alluring Frenchwoman—Lydie finds new inspiration for her work as a photo and art stylist and begins a friendship with two dramatically different women that will enable her to find a new life. Will there be a place for the man with whom she always wanted to share that life . . . if she can find him again?

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, France, Contemporary, Collections, Marriage

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1991

About the author

Luanne Rice is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-eight novels, translated into thirty languages. Rice often writes about love, family, nature, and the sea. Most recently she has written thrillers, including one based on a murder that affected her family. She received the 2014 Connecticut Governor’s Arts Award for excellence and lifetime achievement in the Literary Arts category.
Connecticut College awarded Rice an honorary degree and invited her to donate her papers to the College’s Special Collections Library. They are archived in the Luanne Rice Collection.
Rice has also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from St. Joseph University in West Hartford, Conn.
Several of Rice's novels have been adapted for television. Her monologue for the play Motherhood Out Loud premiered at Hartford Stage and has been performed Off-Broadway in NYC and at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.
Rice is a Creative Affiliate of the Safina Center. She lives in southeastern Connecticut.

Reviews

[Dinjolina]

*facepalm*

How do I find these books? I think my librarian is a secret cheating buff and wants to spread the love.

Any way….this hero has won the asshat award of the year…no! The century!
I think the only way he can be topped is if a man cheated on his wife while he had cancer. And was pregnant. And dying because he wanted the baby making her inable to get chemo.
Well..no. I think Michael and that hypothetical dude are almost on the same level.

And you know what? Maybe it is just me , but if my man did what this ‘hero’ did (and by did I mean cheated on me in my hour of need with a creepy chick all the while telling himself I was as stiff as a board in bed and he had to dip his pee pee elsewhere, the poor soul) I would brake his kneecaps. And then some. And after that? File for divorce.

Frankly, I am sick and tired of these (fictional) woman that ‘find themselves and become what their men loved’. Somebody did me wrong, and I should change? Is that the message these authors are trying to convey to me? It seems I am just not receptive.

[Alexis-Morgan Roark · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had issues with this book because the cheating happened over such a long period of time. Michael is such a freaking idiot!

Do the vows not say, "For better or for worse?" The heroine lost her father to a murder-suicide less than a year ago, and her own mother was in denial about the incident itself.

I will NEVER understand infidelity no matter how authors try to make us feel sorry for the stupid as* cheating liars!!

Ok. I feel better now. Of course, one could argue, "for better or for worse," but engaging in such an incredibly intimate act-the MOST intimate act-with someone else while married is just cowardly, stupid, and wrong!!

Aside from the cheating, the immigration subplot was depressing and distracting. Lydie's friends seemed a little "touched."

Finally, the writing style was a little choppy for me. Just not my cuppa, but I can imagine it being a better read for other readers.

[Karen San Diego · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wrote this review for the sole purpose of defending Filipinos.

Okay, fine, the book review first. At the beginning, I loved it. The writing was sort of good, the graphic depiction of Paris was inspired. The characters of Lydie and Patrice were fascinating. The disintegration of Lydie and Michael's marriage was heartbreaking, but I respected Michael when he told her about his affair rather than went on with it behind her back. How Luanne Rice described how they grew apart was great and heartbreaking. All of it built up to an awful conclusion though, so shame.

However, there was one bit I'd rather rave about - the depiction of the Filipino housekeeper Kelly.
First of all, Luanne, what's this about Kelly being named after Grace Kelly? Most Filipinos are not aware who Grace Kelly is. It is true that those from the province love to name their children after actors and actresses (This is actually pretty funny. They'd name children Elvis Presley Santos or James Bond dela Cruz etc.), but come on, over here, most people from the province don't have cable. That means, they haven't watched Casablanca or Gone with the Wind or any of your favorite classic black and whites. If I go to the province and talk about Paul Newman or Olivia de Havilland, they won't know what I'm talking about. Okay? They would've hardly heard of Clark Gable, or Ingrid Bergman, or Joan Fontaine, or Vivien Leigh or Cary Grant or James Stewart. Okay?! Had she been named Audrey Hepburn Merida, I would've bought it!

Second, what was that about the Philippines being an awful and poor country? Given, this is a third-world-country, but it's not fucking drought here. There certainly are parts of the country that are dirt-poor, I'll give you that, but you cannot generalize that. It's like saying Americans are racists because some of them treated African-American people as slaves a few centuries ago. Also, honestly, I'll accept poor (it is a third world country after all) but awful? If you think it's such an awful country, stop writing characters who came from it!

Third, what's this about Kelly being an accountant and settling for a maid? Are you insinuating that our level of education here is crap? Accountancy is a five-year program, and once you graduate from that you take the Certified Public Accountant board exam to be called an accountant. What era is this novel in anyway, 1950s? No way would an accountant settle for a job as maid just to be in Paris in the 90s. No way would an accountant dream of going to the states and building a fishing market without any concrete plan in the 90s. Filipino accountants don't equate to high school graduates in America. All right? You made her out to be an accountant who's as naïve as a 12-year-old. This is very very insulting.

Fourth, what's this with Kelly being a witch? WTF? This is the most ridiculous and outrageous thing she's written in the novel. Where was she from, Capiz? All right, let me give you a background there: Capiz is the capital of aswang and mangkukulam. We have these things embedded in our culture and tradition, where people believe in witchcraft and in people who become flying monsters who eat fetuses and internal organs at night etc. - which are all unfounded but still entertaining to this day. It wasn't enough that Kelly's named after Grace Kelly and the Philippines was an awful and very poor country and Filipino accountants become maids in Paris - you have to make her sister a mangkukulam? Absolutely laughable garbage.

It seems to me, Luanne, that you researched about Filipinos a little bit and collected all the stereotypes and put them in your novel. This is nothing but an insulting, outrageous crap. I hope no one believed your depiction because you ruined my country's culture in this novel and that's unforgivable.

You see, I still gave you two stars for Secrets in Paris, because I didn't discount your writing style and the plot of the story in rating it. I find your depiction of the Filipino character and her country repulsive and denigrating, but that doesn't affect your style of storytelling and the story you wanted to tell.

Your ending was awful though.

Not recommending.

[Cozmik_Sunflower_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different kind of book for me, but interesting.

[Nerissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

very unsatisfying

[wrkatreading · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasted an audible credit on this. I read it for the cheating aspect. I didn’t enjoy.

[Cindy]

Oh dear,another skim fest candidate. Perhaps its moody reader syndrome. I did focus on the infidelity,but couldn't care enough to qualify as a rage read. Very Blah!

[Robin Lyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing earth shattering or suspenseful about this book but I did care about the characters and enjoyed the read. I would've given 4 stars except halfway through Lydie's husband character ruined it for me.

[Ana (O Mundo Encantado dos Livros) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A minha estreia com esta autora! Quanto a este livro estou um pouco sem saber o que dizer, por um lado amei cada página, por outro apetece bater numa das personagens. E talvez seja esta a razão de ter gostado tanto deste livro. Não há nada melhor que um livro que nos consiga preencher e fazer transbordar os nossos sentimentos e foi mesmo isso que se passou durante esta leitura. Foi um pouco mais lenta que o normal, mas não estar a gostar, mas sim porque não queria que nenhum pormenor me escapasse. Devo dizer que é uma história intensa sobre o poder do amor e da amizade, que nos faz pensar até onde conseguimos amar alguém. Ao inicio temos Lydie que viu avida da sua família ser arrastada para a desgraça, com o assassínio da amante do seu pai e suicídio do mesmo, este drama tão real para algumas pessoas faz com que a personagem Lydie se refugie em si mesma, não deixando transparecer os seus sentimentos para o mundo que a rodeia, acto esse que começa a prejudicar o seu casamento com Michael. É então que Michael arranja trabalho em França, e pensando que vai melhorar a situação aceita de imediato, mas infelizmente nem tudo acontece como esperamos. Michael vê o seu casamento cada vez mais destruído e os seus sentimentos por Lydie começam a ser questionados, é então que aparece Anne Dumas, por quem se encanta…é aqui que me apetece “matar” esta personagem, pois tal como na vida real Michael não tenta lutar contra aquela atracção, muito pelo contrário chega a estar deitado ao lado da mulher e a fantasiar com Anne. Para ser sincera, dificilmente encontrei uma personagem tão idiota e tão real como Michael, os sentimentos por ele durante todo o livro foram de confusão e acho que ele se tornou aquela personagem que todos adoramos odiar…confusos? Bem, leiam o livro e depois contem-me se sentiram o mesmo. É durante esta confusão que Lydie conhece Patrice, outra americana, que mora em Paris e que é casada com o dono de uma famosa joalharia, esta ajudará Lydie a passar por toda esta fase difícil da sua vida e aos poucos iram construir uma solida amizade que durará para o resto das suas vidas. Mas não é tudo, para completar o triangulo de amizades, temos também Kelly, a empregada filipina de Patrice, que tem como sonho emigrar para os Estados Unidos…juntas, iram atravessar duras provas para conseguirem atingir os seus objectivos.
Como disse ao início, este foi o primeiro livro que li desta autora e devo dizer que fiquei bastante curiosa em relação aos outros. É um bom livro, com uma história leve e apesar do assunto não ser novidade, leva nos a viajar até Paris e a perder-mo nos de amor pela cidade e pelo Louvre. Luanne Rice, estás aprovada!

[Ne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Uma estreia bastante infeliz. Este deve ser o mês das expectativas falhadas e agora Luanne Rice também se inclui na lista com este volume.
Não sou fã de romances baseados em casais já casados e por isso a fasquia já ai não começou alta, mas como tinha tão boas referências da escritora decidi começar por esta obra.
Tal como a sinopse o inicio também não prometeu muito por isso a leitura foi sendo feita sempre ao mesmo ritmo - lenta. Esta obra, na minha opinião, é bastante monótona, com toda aquela acção e sentimentos quase parados. Admiro-me como é que Luanne Rice não conseguiu empolgar-me nem com a traição nem com a loucura nem com a amizade. Nada...
Julgo que o problema foram as personagens, um pouco fracas de espírito, principalmente Lydie, sem diálogos cativantes ou descrições animadas. Aqui talvez a escritora tenha conseguido algo com o baile de Lydie, mas desde o surgir da ideia até á concretização foi tudo tão superficial que quando chega o momento não estamos preparados. Ainda por cima, tudo é estragado com a cena da arma e da "visão".
A escritora apoiou-se muito no conteúdo cultural o que não acho que tenha ficado muito em concordância com o tipo de romance. Ou seja, o romance é bastante leve o que contrabalança com o teor cultural e um pouco publicitária da cidade e história francesa.
A parte emocional também não considero que tenha sido bem abordada. Toda a história em redor do pai de Lydie, do seu passado e presente, acabou por parecer mais uma desculpa para desenvolver a história. Acabou por isso por não contribuir em nada para o enriquecimento das personagens.
Não geral, é um romance muito leve que não nos consegue cativar em nenhum momento em particular.
Vou esperar pelo O Ultimo Beijo para ver se de facto vale a pena seguir esta autora ou não.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was so much I liked about this book: the Paris setting, the strong (yet flawed) female leads, the depiction of the often tenuous nature of love, life, and friendship. Lydie McBride and her husband Michael are in Paris for a year because of his gig as an architect, designing a welcome center at the Louvre. Lydie's just gone through a traumatic experience with her dad's death and the complications behind it (an affair and the murder of his lover and himself). She's hoping Paris might be her great escape, yet she hates leaving her mother behind. Her marriage has also hit a rough patch because of the emotional withdrawal Lydie has gone through after losing her father (and her conflicting feelings about him and what he did). So the big question is: will Paris heal Michael and Lydie's relationship or further push them apart? More than that, I enjoyed Lydie's friendship with American-born Patrice, a French aristocrat's wife who feels more French than American. Patrice was a breath of fresh air, and I thought her husband, Didier, was wonderfully drawn, too. The ending of this book was my only let-down and involved a subplot that just didn't grip me. But, overall, the strength of the writing, the fabulous descriptions of Paris settings, and the interesting characters kept me turning pages quickly. Recommended for readers of general fiction and women's fiction.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm fairly sure that this is the first book I've read by Luanne Rice and I really enjoyed it. Her descriptions of Paris are picture perfect, taking me back to my only visit there in 1995. When I realized the story was about a husband's infidelity, I didn't think I would like this book at all, but I was wrong. Rice tells the story from both the husband's and wife's perspectives, so you can see how something like that could happen. The part I thought was less plausible was the friendship between Lydie, her new friend Patrice, and Patrice's maid Kelly. The two women in their very different social spheres rather quickly become Lydie's BFFs, which just didn't ring true for me. But I'd happily read more of Rice's detailed descriptions and lyrical prose!

Favorite quote:
Lydie set great stock in longetivity. She believed that the person you loved longest you loved most. Birthdays and anniversaries overjoyed her; they represented the accumulation of affections.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lydie and Michael move to Paris, he as an architect and she as a photographer. They left behind an extremely emotional situation with Lydie's family and both hope this move with help them heal and move on in life.

I love settings in Paris; many times I am on my iPad looking up places mentioned in the book and printing out info to put in my Paris folder for my return trip someday. I enjoyed the emotional trip for both the main characters but I didn't fully enjoy the secondary characters of Patrice and Kelly. Some of the situations were pretty implausible: you don't lie to the US INS if you want to emigrate. I had to keep reminding myself that the story was written in 1991 so there was no internet, cell phone, and digital camera.

All in all, it was a nice read and I look forward to reading more by this author.

[Julie Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secrets of Paris by Luanne Rice
Have read the authors other works and have loved them all.
Seductive tale of the city and what it holds for everyone if you look for it.
Lydie and Michael work and live in Paris, married for 8 years.. She sets up photo shots and her husband is an architect working on the Louvre.
Her father had killed himself and his lover. She used to race his cars as he fixed them for others as a mechanic.
She meets Patrice-an American in the city and they speak of her Philippine maid who she wants to immigrate to the US.
Liked learning about so much of the city and the surroundings. Micheal's eye wanders and he compares his new love interest to his wife...
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

[Trisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a fan of Luanne Rice, but I am not a fan of this book. It was just okay. I didn't care about the characters: Lydie, who is trying to come to grips with her father committing murder-suicide after having an affair; her husband Michael, who thinks it's a good idea to whisk his wife away from her mother--who needs her after the shocking tragedy--so he can work on a project at the Louvre and oh yes- have his own affair; Patrice, a self-centered American ex-pat married to Didier, a wealthy jeweler who starts off as an arrogant French prig but turns out to be almost likable. Throw in a weak sub-plot involving Patrice's Filipino maid, Kelly, who entered France illegally and aspires to go the United States and open a fish market. I kept thinking it was going to get better. It didn't.

[Donna Mcnab · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Michael McBride gets a job at The Louvre in Paris, he expects his wife, Lydie, to be happy. However, she is reluctant to leave her mother, as they have recently had a tragedy in the family with which Lydie hasn't been able to come to terms, and also she thinks that she should be close to her mother, who is hurting. They do go to Paris for a year, however, where Lydie makes friends with an ex-pat American woman, and Michael becomes enamoured with an alluring French woman. Just relax and enjoy your time in Paris with the McBrides through their troubles and joys, and you will enjoy this book.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy books that include a Paris setting, and the places described in this book were authentic enough, yet I wanted more depth when it came to characters. Unexpected family tragedy and difficult relationships, marriage, romance and heartbreak, friendships and trust, professional success and failure, all while living abroad, seemed like a lot to cover in one book.

[Judy Zell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as most of Rice's books. Quotes at beginning of each chapter, which supposedly were from a book written by one of the characters in this book, were more distracting than relevant. This book is about 2 American women who become good friends while living abroad; could have taken place in almost any city. Didn't learn about Paris from this book.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK to read but I didn't feel sympathetic toward any of the characters. The setting and the synopsis offered a lot, but the author didn't deliver.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not like the cheating husband one bit especially with a psycho! and then the wife takes him back... so fast... Gets 2 stars because main character is good at her job, that's about it.

[Mafalda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aqui é-nos apresentada a história de Lydie e de Michael, um casal americano, ela designer, ele arquitecto, que foram passar um ano a Paris. Ele tinha um projecto em mãos no Louvre, que resolveu aceitar numa tentativa também de afastar a mulher dos seus fantasmas. Porém, ela nunca os deixou completamente. Quanto isso afectará o casamento deles?
Nesta viagem Lydie faz uma amiga, Patrice, uma mulher americana que casou com um francês, dono de uma das melhores joalharias de França! E ainda conhecemos Kelly, uma Filipina, emigrante ilegal na França, que tem o sonho de ir para a América. Sonho este que as duas amigas, Lydie e Patrice, não são indiferentes e tentam ajudar.
E ainda temos Anne, uma mulher que é tão obcecada com a Madame de Sévigné que por vezes acha que está no séc XVIII!
Gostei bastante da escrita da autora, da forma como ela aborda os assuntos, das suas descrições e da leitura tão natural do livro. Também gostei muito da relação da Lydie com o Michael. Tão realista!
Porém, o final desiludiu-me. Ficou em aberto e não gostei nada disso!! Baixei-lhe uma estrela à conta disso.

[Lisa W. Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝗪𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱

𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱’𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗶 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗼 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲. 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗰𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗠𝗔𝗖𝗜𝗢 𝗦𝗣𝗬 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠, 𝗜𝗡𝗦 𝗨𝗦𝗘𝗥 , 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁, 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗯 𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗟 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗽𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻. 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝘀𝗮𝗱. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿. 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗼 𝗦𝗽𝘆 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲. 𝗣𝗹𝘀 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗜’𝗺 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗺 😭

[Ann Boytim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most people would dream of living in Paris for a year but for Lydie McBride this is something her husband really wants as he is given a great job opportunity. Lydie hates leaving her mother and is still grieving for her father who committed suicide and also killing his lover. Lydie does have a job as a photo art stylist but is lonely and finally finds a friend in a woman she meets at a cafe. Lydie and Michael seem to be growing apart and it is inevitable he meets someone associated with his new job and craves her companionship eventually becoming her lover. Will this marriage survive? LKydiue is so happy she has a friend and confides in this woman and in turn helps a young woman from the Phillipines who has a desire to go to America.

[Jeanne (love2cook) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay story. Lydie McBride and her husband Michael moved to Paris for a year so he could design a project for the Louvre. Lydie is still trying to come to terms with the death of her father. She has found out her husband has broken her trust and had an affair with a French woman. Now she has to figure out if she really wants him back or not. In the mean time she has made two special friends, Patrice an American married to a French man, and Kelly a Filipino hoping to get a visa to America. Also she has found inspiration for her work as a photo and art stylist. A decent read. 

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like this had a great set up but a really lazy and rushed ending. It was probably an accurate depiction of bored wealthy white people with affairs, temporarily caring about the plight of international refugees, etc. but I was unimpressed with the quick forgiveness given with the affair and the sudden revelation about herself that was poorly explained but seemed to change her entire outlook on life.

[Gail · Rating 1 out of 5]

My first Luanne Rice, found it for a bargain at a Dollar General - I'd been wanting to try her but this one was so stupid that I threw it against the wall after a couple of chapters.

Convoluted and ridiculous. I'm not big into women's fiction/contemporary women's fiction, that sort of genre, and if this is indicative of her writing I'm leaving the building.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been reading books set in Paris. This was one of my least favorite but I did finish it. I found the husband to be hopelessly selfish. I do not like stories that involve extra marital affairs. Once a liar; always a liar. I found it unbelievable that the main character went back with him so quickly after learning of the affair. Of course I loved information about living in Paris.

[donna richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets of Paris by Luanne Rice

When I start reading a novel & can't put it down until I finish it, it is a great story. Loved the characters & the flow of the storyline, now I have to share it do my daughter can enjoy it also!!

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young couple moves to Paris for work. Lydie hopes to be able to get past a tragedy in her family and rekindle romance with her husband. Follow their year, friendships, and betrayals to find out how it ends.