100 Pages A Day...Stephanie's Book Reviews

Genevieve Planché  is a French refugee in England.  Her family are Huguenots, unwanted by the French King Louis XV.  Genevieve's grandfather is an artist and she strives to be an artist as well, however the closest she can come in France is painting flowers on silk dresses.   Opportunity arises after a chance meeting with the mesmerizing Sir Gabriel Courtenay. Courtenay promises Geneiveve a placement as an artist in Venice if she will use her talents in order to spy for him at the porcelain factory.  Courtenay is specifically interested in a new color blue that a hidden chemist is working on perfecting at the factory.  Genevieve takes the risk, but soon learns the cost as she meets the infamous chemist and learns who she is truly spying for.

 

An exciting historical spy thriller that combines art, science and romance for a captivating adventure into the color blue.  Genevieve's spirit immediately captured me as she was willing to fight for a position among the male artists.  Through rich and detailed historical writing I was able to learn about the Huguenots plight in France and their successes in England as well as the growth of the porcelain industry through King Louis XV mistress, Madame Pompadour.  The fight for the development of colors was riveting to me.  There were many reasons why Courtenay seemed to want the specific blue, but I could never imagine the danger that a color would bring as Genevieve's life was turned upside down.  The spy elements and romance between Genevieve and Thomas kept me intrigued, but it was truly the color blue that drove the story.