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A Stitch in Time #2
The Hidden Wife
The Hidden Wife by Joanna Rees is the second novel in A Stitch in Time – a sweeping historical trilogy.
Paris, 1928
Having fled London and been on the run around Europe, Vita Casey has established a new life for herself, keeping a low profile as a dresser at a cabaret hall where Nancy is part of the risqué dance troupe. It’s a vibrant world of wild parties, drugs and jazz music.
But despite the fun, hedonistic lifestyle they lead, Vita longs for a proper career and to re-kindle her dream of designing lingerie. When an opportunity to work for famous couturier Jenny Sacerdote presents itself, Vita grabs it with both hands and is soon exposed to an altogether different side of Paris society. Before long, romance blossoms in the unlikeliest of places.
However, left to her own devices, Nancy spirals into danger and drug abuse and Vita has to save her friend. But can Vita really trust the people who want to help her? When there are those back in England who wish to see her ruined and forced to pay for the past she ran away from . . .
Paris, 1928
Having fled London and been on the run around Europe, Vita Casey has established a new life for herself, keeping a low profile as a dresser at a cabaret hall where Nancy is part of the risqué dance troupe. It’s a vibrant world of wild parties, drugs and jazz music.
But despite the fun, hedonistic lifestyle they lead, Vita longs for a proper career and to re-kindle her dream of designing lingerie. When an opportunity to work for famous couturier Jenny Sacerdote presents itself, Vita grabs it with both hands and is soon exposed to an altogether different side of Paris society. Before long, romance blossoms in the unlikeliest of places.
However, left to her own devices, Nancy spirals into danger and drug abuse and Vita has to save her friend. But can Vita really trust the people who want to help her? When there are those back in England who wish to see her ruined and forced to pay for the past she ran away from . . .
496 pages, Paperback
Published August 6, 2020
9 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Rees
13 books47 followersJoanna Rees cresceu no Essex, em Inglaterra, e licenciou-se em Inglês e Teatro no Goldsmiths College, em Londres. Após uma sucessão de empregos bizarros, que vão desde um negócio de entrega de sandes à escrita de textos promocionais em embalagens de cereais, publicou o seu primeiro romance em 1997, sob o seu nome de solteira, Josie Lloyd. Isto permitiu-lhe conhecer o romancista Emlyn Rees, com quem escreveu vários bestsellers traduzidos para vinte e seis línguas e com quem casou e teve três filhos. A partir de 2007, voltou a escrever a solo.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 25, 2020
The Hidden Wife is the second book in The Stitch in Time trilogy by Joanna Rees. If you are a fan of historical fiction you will love this series. I am already looking forward to book 3 but will be sad that it is over as I have grown quite attached to these characters, especially Vita and Percy.
When we last caught up with Vita she was running from her brother who had tracked her down in London. She runs away with her best friend Nancy to Paris. The pair are now living the good life in Paris. It is 1928 and Nancy is again dancing in a club and Vita is working as a dresser for the girls. But she wants more, she wants to design clothes. A chance meeting leads to a job with couturier Jenny Scaerdote and Vita is an heaven. She feels happy and safe, putting her past behind her. But will her past let her go? Can she find true love and friendship? Meanwhile Nancy is on a downward spiral, her addiction to drugs and alcohol escalating and Vita does not know how to help her.
There is alot more to the story but you need to read it to find out. I love the character of Vita, she is strong but vulnerable and definately a woman ahead of her time. She knows what she wants and has a modern way of thinking. I really hope she gets a happy ending
Thanks to Macmillian Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read.
When we last caught up with Vita she was running from her brother who had tracked her down in London. She runs away with her best friend Nancy to Paris. The pair are now living the good life in Paris. It is 1928 and Nancy is again dancing in a club and Vita is working as a dresser for the girls. But she wants more, she wants to design clothes. A chance meeting leads to a job with couturier Jenny Scaerdote and Vita is an heaven. She feels happy and safe, putting her past behind her. But will her past let her go? Can she find true love and friendship? Meanwhile Nancy is on a downward spiral, her addiction to drugs and alcohol escalating and Vita does not know how to help her.
There is alot more to the story but you need to read it to find out. I love the character of Vita, she is strong but vulnerable and definately a woman ahead of her time. She knows what she wants and has a modern way of thinking. I really hope she gets a happy ending
Thanks to Macmillian Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read.
March 5, 2023
Bibliotēkā, kad izvēlējos grāmatu, cerēju, ka šis būs romantisks stāsts, bet saņēmu kārtīgu lubeni. Laika nosišanai der, bet neteiktu, ka kaut kas īpašs. Lasot nesajutu vēsturisko elpu, kā tikai atsevišķas atsauces uz dažiem personāžiem un vietām. Lai arī šī bija otrā grāmata (pirmo neesmu lasījusi), stāstam netraucēja, jo autore pārstāsta visu iepriekšējo vēsturi.
May 17, 2021
Os belos anos 20 em Paris!! Vita continua a sua aventura e fuga, sempre num conflito interno sobre o certo e o errado e muitas vezes não conseguindo impor se a certos preconceitos. Homossexualidade e racismo nessa altura era tabu. Muita coisa fica ainda em aberto e teremos de esperar pelo próximo volume para finalmente (espero que sejam só três livros) sabermos como termina esta jornada.
June 15, 2020
The Hidden Wife by Joanna Rees is the second book in the A stich in time series and a continuation from the first book.
After fleeing her brother in the previous book. Vita and Nancy start a new life in Paris. Nancy becomes a dancer at Les Folies Bergère and Vita becomes a seamstress there. But her dreams are for a better life and getting her designs known in Paris. The fashion capital of the world. As she feels she is second best to her friend Nancy for her being a dancer and the outgoing women she is, with her going to party and living life to the full.
Whilst back in her old town of Darton, Edith is now married to Clement and vows to ruin Vita anyway she can. But at first, Vita is doing well she gets a job a fashion house and she is also creating more of her Top-Drawer designs to maybe one day sell to the local department stores. Nancy is on a slow decline with drink and drugs. She meets Irvine King whilst working at the fashion house and they get close. But then her good life starts to go wrong, and she is wondering who she can trust?
Like the first book in the series I really enjoyed this. Vita her life in Paris, The Fashion houses. You really felt like you were there. A gullible girl but keeps landing on her feet and poor Nancy drinks her troubles away. Her brother Clement on the hunt for her but wife Edith seems to have better luck finding her and making her life difficult. There were some gripping moments in this and some unanswered questions. I can wait until the next book.
After fleeing her brother in the previous book. Vita and Nancy start a new life in Paris. Nancy becomes a dancer at Les Folies Bergère and Vita becomes a seamstress there. But her dreams are for a better life and getting her designs known in Paris. The fashion capital of the world. As she feels she is second best to her friend Nancy for her being a dancer and the outgoing women she is, with her going to party and living life to the full.
Whilst back in her old town of Darton, Edith is now married to Clement and vows to ruin Vita anyway she can. But at first, Vita is doing well she gets a job a fashion house and she is also creating more of her Top-Drawer designs to maybe one day sell to the local department stores. Nancy is on a slow decline with drink and drugs. She meets Irvine King whilst working at the fashion house and they get close. But then her good life starts to go wrong, and she is wondering who she can trust?
Like the first book in the series I really enjoyed this. Vita her life in Paris, The Fashion houses. You really felt like you were there. A gullible girl but keeps landing on her feet and poor Nancy drinks her troubles away. Her brother Clement on the hunt for her but wife Edith seems to have better luck finding her and making her life difficult. There were some gripping moments in this and some unanswered questions. I can wait until the next book.
May 2, 2021
Stylish, devious, and intriguing!
The Hidden Wife is a dramatic, menacing tale that picks up right where The Runaway Daughter left off, taking us back into the life of Anna Darton, aka Vita Casey, as with the help of her best friend Nancy and a whole slew of newcomers tries to forget her troubled past and settle into a new life in Paris complete with a highly-coveted position working for the esteemed couturier Jenny Sacerdote.
The prose is smooth and vivid. The characters are lively, troubled, and genuine. And the story sweeps you away to 1920s Paris, where glitz and glamour abound, indulgence is rife, romance is everywhere, and companions are not always as trustworthy as they first appear.
Overall, The Hidden Wife is an immersive, suspenseful, spirited sequel in the A Stitch in Time series by Rees, and I am eagerly awaiting the publication of the third book in this sinister, historical trilogy to see how this story will ultimately conclude.
Thank you to Publishers Group Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Hidden Wife is a dramatic, menacing tale that picks up right where The Runaway Daughter left off, taking us back into the life of Anna Darton, aka Vita Casey, as with the help of her best friend Nancy and a whole slew of newcomers tries to forget her troubled past and settle into a new life in Paris complete with a highly-coveted position working for the esteemed couturier Jenny Sacerdote.
The prose is smooth and vivid. The characters are lively, troubled, and genuine. And the story sweeps you away to 1920s Paris, where glitz and glamour abound, indulgence is rife, romance is everywhere, and companions are not always as trustworthy as they first appear.
Overall, The Hidden Wife is an immersive, suspenseful, spirited sequel in the A Stitch in Time series by Rees, and I am eagerly awaiting the publication of the third book in this sinister, historical trilogy to see how this story will ultimately conclude.
Thank you to Publishers Group Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 19, 2021
Não é a primeira vez que quando leio um livro que tem continuação esta não me cativa e agrada como no primeiro, foi o caso deste, e o constatar que haverá um terceiro ou quem sabe um quarto, fico logo de pé atrás, achando que a estória se vai arrastar no intuito unicamente de fazer “ render o peixe”
June 14, 2021
It's 2,5*
I was hoping to like it more. Given that it was set in Paris, in an interesting era.
Although I found it boring. Rather predictable and I don't feel I miss anything by not reading the first one of the trilogy.
I was hoping to like it more. Given that it was set in Paris, in an interesting era.
Although I found it boring. Rather predictable and I don't feel I miss anything by not reading the first one of the trilogy.
November 30, 2021
Melhor que o primeiro, leitura compulsiva
August 9, 2020
Vita Casey has made it to Paris after fleeing London and her brother.
She is trying to keep a low profile and becomes a dresser for the dancers in a cabaret club where her friend Nancy is performing. Always in Nancy's shadow and seemingly picking up the pieces after her, Vita knows this is not the life she wants to lead in Paris.
Paris is where the fashion is and Vita's life is about designing and creating clothes. Nancy's life is one of late night parties, drink and drugs and it seems that Nancy is going to spiral down and Vita will not be able to help if she doesn't do something more.
A chance meeting leads to Vita getting to venture behind the doors a Paris fashion house and she finds herself with the chance to finally get her designs out there and make a name for herself.
Back in Darton, England. Vita's brother Clement has still not forgiven Vita for her actions and when his marriage throws up some interesting opportunities his new wife can see a way of the past being finally put behind them all.
Faces from the past come back to Vita and it doesn't matter where she hides, someone will always find her - whether that be brothers, sister in laws, wives and long lost lovers.
So much is packed into the pages of this book, you get a real sense of the Paris of 1928, the lifestyle led by the up and coming 'young things'. The live for this moment attitude and that money can buy anything, position, clothes, tables in clubs, yachts and women. Rees manages to remind the reader that actually not all lives were rich with wealth and position.
The book gives you plenty more questions to take you into the final part of the trilogy but I would strongly recommend you have read the first to really appreciate the story of this one.
Excellent historical fiction a must for all fans of this genre.
She is trying to keep a low profile and becomes a dresser for the dancers in a cabaret club where her friend Nancy is performing. Always in Nancy's shadow and seemingly picking up the pieces after her, Vita knows this is not the life she wants to lead in Paris.
Paris is where the fashion is and Vita's life is about designing and creating clothes. Nancy's life is one of late night parties, drink and drugs and it seems that Nancy is going to spiral down and Vita will not be able to help if she doesn't do something more.
A chance meeting leads to Vita getting to venture behind the doors a Paris fashion house and she finds herself with the chance to finally get her designs out there and make a name for herself.
Back in Darton, England. Vita's brother Clement has still not forgiven Vita for her actions and when his marriage throws up some interesting opportunities his new wife can see a way of the past being finally put behind them all.
Faces from the past come back to Vita and it doesn't matter where she hides, someone will always find her - whether that be brothers, sister in laws, wives and long lost lovers.
So much is packed into the pages of this book, you get a real sense of the Paris of 1928, the lifestyle led by the up and coming 'young things'. The live for this moment attitude and that money can buy anything, position, clothes, tables in clubs, yachts and women. Rees manages to remind the reader that actually not all lives were rich with wealth and position.
The book gives you plenty more questions to take you into the final part of the trilogy but I would strongly recommend you have read the first to really appreciate the story of this one.
Excellent historical fiction a must for all fans of this genre.
July 19, 2020
The second novel in Joanna Rees’s trilogy brings her female readers more news about the brave Anna Darton, who ran away to London from her mill owing family in the north of England, after believing she had killed her violent brother, Clement.
Anna changed her name to the more modern Vita Casey and joined a group of dancers, helping out with their costumes.
Vita had ambition to design lingerie and managed a degree of success with the help of friends like Nancy, but the vengeful Clement tracked her down and she and Nancy fled to the bright lights of Paris. The most exciting city in the world in the gay 1920’s. While Nancy guzzled booze and drugs and danced at the famous Les Folies Berge , Vita designed the most wonderful, comfortable bras which impressed the top notch couturier Jenny Sacerdote, who gave her a job in her salon.
There Vita meets a rich American buying clothes for his daughter. He wines and dines her introducing her to the best restaurants and nightclubs. Even tho her heart is still aching for Archie, a former lover who ditched her for a wealthy wife, she has a fling with a black trumpet player as well.
When Nancy spirals into the height of danger and addiction, Vita accepts the rich American,Irving King’s help to get her good friend into a decent place to dry out in California. In gratitude, Vita marries him but troubles rise up all around to destroy her plans to open her own salon in her new glamorous mansion.
Will poor Vita ever find happiness with a man she truly loves who will allow her to pursue her ambition to create her own popular brand on high class lingerie?
The next book, The Sister Returns, will unblock all the secrets and bring this fascinating story to a conclusion. Will it be a happy ending? Stay tuned.
Anna changed her name to the more modern Vita Casey and joined a group of dancers, helping out with their costumes.
Vita had ambition to design lingerie and managed a degree of success with the help of friends like Nancy, but the vengeful Clement tracked her down and she and Nancy fled to the bright lights of Paris. The most exciting city in the world in the gay 1920’s. While Nancy guzzled booze and drugs and danced at the famous Les Folies Berge , Vita designed the most wonderful, comfortable bras which impressed the top notch couturier Jenny Sacerdote, who gave her a job in her salon.
There Vita meets a rich American buying clothes for his daughter. He wines and dines her introducing her to the best restaurants and nightclubs. Even tho her heart is still aching for Archie, a former lover who ditched her for a wealthy wife, she has a fling with a black trumpet player as well.
When Nancy spirals into the height of danger and addiction, Vita accepts the rich American,Irving King’s help to get her good friend into a decent place to dry out in California. In gratitude, Vita marries him but troubles rise up all around to destroy her plans to open her own salon in her new glamorous mansion.
Will poor Vita ever find happiness with a man she truly loves who will allow her to pursue her ambition to create her own popular brand on high class lingerie?
The next book, The Sister Returns, will unblock all the secrets and bring this fascinating story to a conclusion. Will it be a happy ending? Stay tuned.
June 3, 2022
Although this is the second book in a trilogy, it doesn't tell you this ANYWHERE in the book's blurb, so this is very unhelpful! The first book is The Runaway Daughter, which is very good, and tells the story of Vita (not her real name), who runs away to London etc and starts to establish a good life for herself. The book leaves us where she 'escapes' to France but leaves her promising business behind.
This book starts from there, where she is (again) in a low-paid job, but has ambitions for starting up her business again. There is no doubt that Joanne Rees writes very entertainingly, but there are some plot problems here. Edith, the person who has taken Vita's designs and has now married Vita's brother Clement, tries to bring Vita down and stop her from reclaiming her business. The only problem is, she sends Clement's mistress to Paris to spy on Vita, blackmailing her by sending her daughter away to boarding school! This is too far fetched and the mistress, Marianne, would NEVER do this. She would a) refuse, b) ring all the schools to find out where her daughter was and c) tell Clement! She certainly wouldn't spy on Vita just for the chance of getting a LETTER from her daughter.
Because of this issue, Edith comes off as a sort of Cruella de Ville character, flawed and weak. It all comes together at the end, as it should, but now we are left waiting for what we now know will be the third book in the trilogy, to see what happens to all the characters eventually.
The story about Vita's friend Nancy is really a side issue and doesn't really affect the story or the plot very much.
This book starts from there, where she is (again) in a low-paid job, but has ambitions for starting up her business again. There is no doubt that Joanne Rees writes very entertainingly, but there are some plot problems here. Edith, the person who has taken Vita's designs and has now married Vita's brother Clement, tries to bring Vita down and stop her from reclaiming her business. The only problem is, she sends Clement's mistress to Paris to spy on Vita, blackmailing her by sending her daughter away to boarding school! This is too far fetched and the mistress, Marianne, would NEVER do this. She would a) refuse, b) ring all the schools to find out where her daughter was and c) tell Clement! She certainly wouldn't spy on Vita just for the chance of getting a LETTER from her daughter.
Because of this issue, Edith comes off as a sort of Cruella de Ville character, flawed and weak. It all comes together at the end, as it should, but now we are left waiting for what we now know will be the third book in the trilogy, to see what happens to all the characters eventually.
The story about Vita's friend Nancy is really a side issue and doesn't really affect the story or the plot very much.
January 29, 2025
Não é a primeira vez que quando leio um livro que tem continuação esta não me cativa e agrada como no primeiro, foi o caso deste, e o constatar que haverá um terceiro ou quem sabe um quarto, fico logo de pé atrás, achando que a estória se vai arrastar no intuito unicamente de fazer “ render o peixe”
July 25, 2020
I liked the Paris setting.
April 9, 2021
I had to remember what had happened in book 1. I guess this is the downside of waiting a year for a sequel. A good second book.
February 19, 2022
Burvīgs stāsts par 1928.gada notikumiem šarmatjā Francijas galvaspilsētā! Magnifique 🍷
Read
April 5, 2022Dropped as I couldn't get into the story.
May 5, 2023
Wow I was not disappointed. This was a excellent second novel in this series. It was fantastic the way Joanna Rees carried it on and the storyline has left me waiting for the third and final part.
November 14, 2024
The second book in the Trilogy it was every bit as good as the first one so now swiftly moving on to the 3rd book here’s hoping it’s as good as the first two !
December 29, 2020
Jednu hviezdicku strhavam zato ze zasa musim cakat kym sa dozviem, ako to s Vitou bude dalej. Hnevam sa !!! Tak super citanie a takyto kobiec, joj...
September 2, 2020
Fabulous second book in the trilogy A Stitch in Time. The story has really developed. I cannot wait for the last book in the series! The drama surrounding Vita explodes in a riot of gambling, lingerie and intrigue! Great read.
Thank you Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews