Aimie K. Runyan

I really enjoyed Aimie K. Runyan’s latest work of historical fiction about Claire Eiffel, the eldest daughter of Gustave Eiffel. The book was both enjoyable and informative, and I appreciated that unlike other similar books I’ve read lately about wives and siblings of technical geniuses, this author chose to keep the technical details to a minimum. I sympathized with Claire’s devotion to her father and siblings, but sometimes found it hard not to insert my more modern sensibilities into her life story.

Lovely and a little heartbreaking, I loved this and highly recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.… (more)

Well…Aimie Runyan has done it again. I loved The School for German Brides. And this one is right up there with it!

This story follows Claire Eiffel and her family. Her father was the amazing architect behind the Eiffel Tower. When her mother passes away, Claire does her best to be everything to everyone in the family. She even became her father’s private secretary. This change in her life leads her to give up her dreams of becoming an artist herself.

I love a book that has me researching. I immediately started looking up Claire Eiffel. She was truly a lady ahead of her time. And this story captivated me all the way through.

Claire is strong willed but because of the time period she lived in, she was constrained, in more ways than one. But, she left her mark!

Need a wonderful, well researched, historical tale…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the author for a honest review.… (more)

"Hope is a thing with feathers that perches in the soul..."
A collection of three stories that interconnect by way of an unusual scarf. Set during World War One, taking place mainly in Europe, with different couples who meet during the war.

The theme of hope stands out in the midst of the horrors of war, using art, music, kindness and service to others. I liked all of the couples and wondered how their stories would end. The stories overlap a bit and leave a thread dangling, with a clever ending that weaves them all together. It was a little confusing until I saw how they interconnected later on. The history included was interesting, especially the new use of telephone operators or the "Hello Girls".
Recommend for readers who enjoy historical clean romances.
4 stars

( An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)… (more)

This book will be on the shelves as of September 10, 2024.

This was an interesting novel that delved into the life of Claire Eiffel, daughter of Gustave Eiffel, the Architect of the world-renowned Eiffel Tower. The book starts shortly after Claire's mother dies and deals with how Claire stepped into her mother's shoes and became her father's sounding board and part-time secretary.

This book gives us a rich look into the time period of Belle Époque and just slightly beyond. A lot of history went into the making of this novel, and I enjoyed learning what it took to run a family such as this one along with Claire.

Also, learning how the Eiffel Tower came to be and why it did was quite a history lesson for me.

This book will be perfect for those looking to learn more about this time period, have a smattering romance, and those who want to immerse themselves in the Parisian culture of that era.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher William Morrow, the author, and NetGalley.… (more)