A Garden in Paris [Paperback]

Stephanie Grace Whitson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2005

Mary Kathleen Davis finds the framed motto in the back of a dusty antique shop, and it haunts her. After 26 years as the trophy wife of a powerful man, Mary is a widow with no sense of identity. She finds herself wondering ''what might have been,'' and torments herself with guilt over her treatment of an old flame. She has the notion that if she can return to Paris with her increasingly distant daughter, perhaps she'll be able to reconcile with the past and find a new future. The trip to Paris will change everything for these two women, in ways neither could imagine.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this enjoyable story, Whitson, the author of a dozen novels, sets out to show that it is never too late for someone to start over. Widow Mary Elisabeth McKibbin Davis is 50 years old, unsure about who she is, and at odds with her adult daughter, Liz. Toying with suicide, Mary instead writes a letter to her first love of 30 years ago, the dashing Frenchman Jean-Marc David, letting him know she'll be in their special garden in Paris on Christmas Eve. Taking as her motto "It is never too late to be what you might have been," Mary leaves Nebraska for France to begin revisiting her past and re-creating her life. Liz rather quickly realizes she needs to reconcile with her mother, and, with her agreeable fiancé, Jeffrey Scott, she chases after Mary. While in Paris, Mary searches for love, faith and her true self, while Liz will have to grapple with a family secret, adeptly concealed until late in the book in a surprising plot twist. Multiple points of view are sometimes a little cumbersome, and there is a bit of theology tossed in about God and accidents that will be problematic for some. However, appealing descriptions, faith renewals and conversions, and travelogueish details about Paris make this a pleasant read for an evangelical Christian audience. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"A heartwarming story with several unexpected twists... Detailed and realistic... Recommended for women, especially mothers." -- Christian Book Previews

"I genuinely enjoyed A Garden in Paris and will make a point of seeking out books by Stephanie Grace Whitson." -- Amy Padgett, CurledUp.com

"Its depth and meaning are so deep and inspiring that you just have to read this one for yourself..." -- Love Romances

"The manner in which Whitson manages to incorporate faith into the story is ingenuous....My favorite 2005 Christian novel." -- ArmchairInterviews.com

"Whitson has another best-seller on her hands, one which I recommend to lovers of inspirational fiction." -- Romance Junkies

"Whitson’s deft hand with characterization pulls emotions from the reader like a concert violinist draws notes from the strings." -- RT Bookclub

"Whitson’s deft hand with characterization pulls emotions from the reader like a concert violinist draws notes from the strings." -- Romantic Times, April 2005

"[A]ppealing descriptions, faith renewals and conversions, and travelogueish details about Paris make this a pleasant read" -- Publishers Weekly

"vivid novel of one woman's journey to find herself.... a beautiful look into the sights, sounds and smells of Paris." -- Love Romances

Readers will be taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions with this story. I highly recommend Ms. Whitson's latest effort." -- Inspirational Romance Writers.com

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764229354
• ISBN-13: 978-0764229350
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #913,140 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Writing is something I've always done. . . not something I ever expected to do as a job. Back in the early 1990's when I was home schooling my four children and we began our state history unit, I became fascinated with the lives of the pioneer women who settled the west. Fascination led to research and "playing with imaginary friends." I sent off my first query letter largely as an exercise in anticipated rejection. Much to my amazement, instead of being rejected I was given a three book contract. In hind-sight, I believe God was providing a career for the day when my husband of 28 years would die (of cancer in 2001). I once worried about whether or not I would run out of ideas. Now I am more concerned about picking WHICH stories I should spend my time developing. I'm not going to live forever and I don't want to waste a moment on things that are less than the BEST pursuits.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Terrific Story About Personal Truths, November 22, 2005

By 

FictionAddiction.NET - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Garden in Paris (Paperback)

Mary Davis, the widow of a wealthy older man who never understood her, stumbles upon a thought-provoking inscription while shopping. It says, "It's never too late to be what you might have been."

Soon after, Mary finds herself writing a letter to Jean-Marc, an old flame to whom an apology is due. She mails the letter to his parents' home in Italy, hoping that he will meet her in Paris on Christmas Eve. She packs and flies off to Paris after writing a quick note to her household staff.

Liz, Mary's difficult adult daughter, reads the note and makes plans to follow her mother to Paris to save her from herself. However, in Paris, Liz's mouse of a mom has turned into a free-spirited woman who is considering buying a motorcycle. Liz is accepting of this until she realizes Mary is planning to rendezvous with her first love.

Mother and daughter dance and wrestle their way through the minefield of secrets Mary can no longer avoid. Mary and Jean-Marc also dance, when still more secrets are revealed, forcing them both to consider how they should proceed.

This is a terrific story about personal truths and how decisions can take people down different roads. The main characters, Mary and Jean-Marc, are so likeable that the reader wants them to end up together.

As with any good story, Mary's daughter Liz assumes the role as the antagonist set on charging ahead before thinking. It is a well-blended story and a nice cast. Be on the lookout for a sequel novel that will be entitled A Hilltop in Tuscany.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read!, April 25, 2005

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Garden in Paris (Paperback)

A Garden in Paris by Stephanie Grace Whitson is a poignant novel of acceptance and reconciliation.

After a lifetime of living for others, Mary Davis finds a framed motto at an antique market. It says, "It is never too late to be what you might have been." Mary decides that she must at least attempt to be what she might have been and free herself of the past that haunts her.

It is two years after her husband's death and the motto's simple statement offers her hope for the future. It also prompts her to write a letter that sets into motion a collision course with her past and present life.

Mary leaves for Paris following a disagreement with her only daughter, Elizabeth, who had always been "Daddy's girl." Through the family housekeeper, Elizabeth learns part of her mother's history - a history that her father would never allow her mother to live - and demanded that it be kept secret. Elizabeth learned that her beloved father cut her mother off from the very life she was born to live. And out of love and obligation, Mary did so.

It a rare act of spontaneity, Liz follows her mother to Paris where she attempts to reconcile with her mother, and there meets her own history face-to face, one she never imagined.

A Garden in Paris is a well-written novel that will keep you turning the pages and wanting more. It is, so far, my favorite 2005 Christian novel. The manner in which Whitson manages to incorporate faith into the story is ingenuous. I was thrilled to learn that there is a sequel to A Garden in Paris.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Touching Read!, March 15, 2005

By 

Kristi Ahlers (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Garden in Paris (Paperback)

"A Garden in Paris" is a love story, family story, and a story of faith all rolled up into a read that will engage the reader until the final page.

Mary Elisabeth Davis has been living a lie in many ways. The death of her husband sets her on a new path. A path that will challenge her and bring secrets out and heal relationships that have been long neglected due to lack of understanding and effort. At one point she considered suicide but a motto she sees in an antique store, and an article she sees in a magazine brings back to life the memory of an old flame and the bad way things ended with them. Mary feels compelled to go back to Paris and see if she can find her first love and fix what went wrong so many years earlier. Can you go back to the past and find what you left behind? Or will faith in how things should have been what keeps things on track?

The relationship between Mary and her daughter Liz as well as Liz's relationship with her fiance Jeff are intricate and the motivation for this story. Readers will be taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions with this story. I highly recommend Ms. Whitson's latest effort.

Official Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com