What a fascinating read! This pivotal time in 18th Century China paints the backdrop for the intrigue and machinations at the Emperor's far outpost and adds to our appreciation of Chinese porcelains, books, and silks today. The poisoning of a Jesuit priest presses an exiled librarian to detect the murderer when officials eye the librarian for the crime. The Emperor's impending visit and festival compresses the action and excitement into those few days with clever twists and turns along the way. Realistic characters, amazing research, and a rewarding historical "who-dunit"! A book worth saving like prized antiques.

This first novel has me eager to read Breen's next one! Contemporary Irish village life, master class at the London Royal Academy of Music, an offbeat Boston neighborhood seem an unlikely mix. But a loving adoptive mother, Iris, and her talented violinist daughter, Rose, heal from their loss and weave the connections. Iris's expertise in gardening is shared with the reader. Rose's violin brings us Irish jigs as well as classical knowledge. This beautifully written tale with its mysteries revealed along the way had me cheering for Iris and Rose as the story reached its satisfying conclusion.

Not just the world of art but the passions and politics of patrons and governments are present in Shocking Paris, The Outsiders of Montpernasse. The artists Chagall, Modigliani, Pascin, and Soutine were outsiders but were central to what was going on in Paris between the World Wars. Their nationality, their religion, and their circle of friendships were not in the mainstream of Paris. Shocking Paris does a good job of showing the business side of art. The patrons and the galleries and the press all heavily determined who was inside and who was outside. The book opens the discussion beyond the art and the artist to include that wider world.

An amazing blend of fact and fiction, much like the novel, Loving Frank! Vanessa and Her Sister brings to life the hedonistic members of London's Bloomsbury Group in the early 1900's as seen through the eyes of the soon-to-be famous Stephens sisters, later Painter Vanessa Bell and Writer Virginia Wolfe. Their friends are equally notable later in life but here they are dashing through a privileged jet set lifestyle before jets. Documents, post cards, and journals weave together a Virginia Wolfe who is understandable though not always admirable. Fact and imagination blend smoothly. At the end, the author gives a short bio on each noted character and we find the most bizarre facts are the true ones.