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by Leona Blair

During the turbulent decades between the world wars, Ema, a beautiful and passionate woman whose life is forged from a single passion, transforms the lives of everyone she touches, including her husband, lover, children and friends

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Romance, Fiction

496 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Margaret Higgins · Rating 3 out of 5]

eighties pulp fiction fast breezy read wwI to 60s

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admire Ema, she has determination and is very goal orientated. The story starts off with her as a young girl, who is sexually assaulted by her father, in the slums of Paris, and slowly transitions into a powerful and wealthy lady in the US. Ema's journey is long and full of hardships but her determination to rise above alone is a worthwhile read. She has done a lot, from being a seamstress, to teacher, to party event organizer to newspaper writing. There is no stopping this woman!

OMG, Ema and her first love, Julian. They are so sweet together even though they know their time together is so short during the war time. Alas, the war separates them and they think they are lost to each other. However, secrets are kept and deals are made. I am sure both have regrets but in the end I don't know for sure their love would have survived had the war not gone on the way it did. Seriously, Julian's wife is a total b. She is so cold, calculating, viscous and dangerous even decades later. I understand finding out that your betrothed has a lover and whole other life is shocking and that Julian may at one point be lost to them forever, but she held onto the secrets and lies, which kind of twisted her into the ice queen that she is.

Throughout Ema's journey, she desperately clings to her past and first love, so much so that she almost lost the bright future and the other loves of her life in front of her. Can she realize what is in front of her before it is gone or snatched away?

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decided to start reading some of my older books still unread and glad I started with this one. It's your basic family saga, starting in 1919 and ending in the '60's. Ema, the main character, leaves her French home for painful reasons and starts her journey to make something of herself. She meets Julian, the one love of her life, and it is their story, intertwined throughout the book, that takes the reader along on Ema's journey. I very much enjoyed the factual parts of the book as Ema traveled from France to England and finally to America where her determination carried her through all the periods of her life. Good book.

[Jmercer26 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction, one of my favorite genre's. Strong characters.
Another older book, a good summer read. Picked up at the club and read by the pool, got hooked and brought it home to finish.

[Maureen Mikucki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put it down

[Leonard Revoir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this book. Great story, wonderfully told.

[Manuela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Il modo di scrivere di quest'autrice non mi piace, e questo romanzo non mi ha suscitato emozioni.

[Lorma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic historical fiction,with amazing strong characters.Very good

[Zarra · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing book. one of my favorites. conveys each emotion clearly

[Jackie Simons]

Read 8/10 ??

[Patt Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book begins the Paris slums, just before WW1. A young girl is raped by her father, setting in motion her determination to be rich and powerful. She is pretty and bright.