I Always Loved You

I ALWAYS LOVED YOU                                  ROBIN OLIVERIA

The young Mary Cassatt never thought moving to Paris after the Civil War to be an artist was going to be easy, but when, after a decade of work, her submission to the Paris Salon is rejected, Mary’s fierce determination wavers. Her father is begging her to return to Philadelphia to find a husband before it is too late, her sister Lydia is falling mysteriously ill, and worse, Mary is beginning to doubt herself. Then one evening a friend introduces her to Edgar Degas and her life changes forever. Years later she will learn that he had begged for the introduction, but in that moment their meeting seems a miracle. So begins the defining period of her life and the most tempestuous of relationships.

In I Always Loved You, Robin Oliveira brilliantly re-creates the irresistible world of Belle Époque Paris, writing with grace and uncommon insight into the passion and foibles of the human heart. 

PAT'S REVIEW

This is at times a wonderful story and at other times slow. Like painting, when an artist is searching for inspiration the painting or whatever the format is. The story takes place in Paris after the American civil war and though her father wants her to come home to America and find a husband. Mary stays and though she disappointed when her work is rejected into the Paris Salon, she meets a man Edgar. She would find out much later that this was not a chance encounter as she had always thought. Just another disappointment in her life or not because it seems at the time to re-energize her. This story has many layers and reminded me when I would watch my mother paint and each the painting would change even though she was adding more paint, but each day was added a new dimension to the painting. Finally when you get to the end have something wonderful, and with this book you do. A wonderful story and good characters throughout the book. I got this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com