 Author: Erin Bartels Genre: Dual-time Fiction Pages: 352 Release Date: March 26, 2024 Publisher: Revell A charismatic man with a legacy that long outlives him A forgotten woman whose fate is forever tied to his And the family whose history is still being written *** Toulouse, France--1879 Catalan orphan-turned-fugitive Viviana Torrens has found sanctuary serving in the home of an aging artist in Southern France. It is in his studio that she meets Francisco Vella, a Gibraltarian merchant who sells artists' pigments. When her past catches up to her, she is compelled to pose as Vella's sister and join him on his travels or be deported back to Spain to stand trial. Along the way she will discover that the many parts she has been playing in order to hide her identity have far-reaching implications she never could have foreseen. East Lansing, Michigan--Present Day Esther Markstrom and her artist mother have always been proud of their ancestor, painter Francisco Vella. They even run a small museum and gallery dedicated to raising awareness of his scandalously underappreciated work. But when Esther reconnects with her former art history professor, she finds her once-solid family history on shaky ground as questions arise about Vella's greatest work--a portrait entitled The Lady with the Dark Hair.
 Reviewer: Diana Lea If you are someone who has an appreciation for art and loves to investigate the history of the artists, then this is a book for you. Erin Bartels has brought us into the lives of two art-loving women from different centuries. European art of the 1880s was well researched and presented in a way that a non-art person can make sense of it. For the modern-day side of art-loving, we were shown what it is like to be a part of a family-operated museum. For the art history lover in all of us, the parallels drawn between Gibraltar and the portrait of the Lady with the Dark Hair were amazing! This women’s fiction story is written with cliffhanger-type chapters alternating between the time periods. In one suspenseful plot twist, I jumped ahead for the outcome, then settled down and trusted the author’s flow and was not disappointed. I found getting to know both main characters very enjoyable. The story was well written and kept my attention. Dialogue between the characters flowed well. Life issues of limitations of women’s roles and accomplishments were a strong theme in both timelines. Both Vivianna and Esther were strong women whose life circumstances imposed certain limitations on them. We get to follow them both as they navigate their way to a new understanding of their options. The author also brought to light family dynamics in relation to mental illness. I feel she shared many issues of the heart related to schizophrenia thoughtfully and respectfully. This is my first book by this author as well as my first dual timeline read. I will be looking forward to more work from Erin Bartels. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell Publisher through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.  Reviewer: Joy Hannabass I enjoy dual-time stories, so this one by Erin Bartels was a fantastic read for me. The story involves two ladies: Vivian's story is set in Europe in 1879, and Esther's is set in today's time. Both of these ladies connected through art. Another way they were connected was through the difficult situations that flooded both of their lives. This was the first time I had read an Erin Bartels book, so I wasn't sure what to expect. But I found the story so interesting that I could hardly put it down. Bartels is a phenomenal writer, creating intriguing characters who play each scene so well, and there are a lot of these scenes that will capture your heart and won't let go for a while. I enjoyed the historical part of this story, and I could tell by the details of each scene that it was obvious the huge amount of time the author spent on research for this book. I know very little about art, so I was delighted to learn a bit about historical art and what it meant for women in 1879. What a difference in today's world for women artists! If you enjoy historical books, especially about art, you really need to read Erin Bartels, The Lady With the Dark Hair. It is so full of information on both dual-time stories that you don't want to miss it. I'm giving this book five stars. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Linda Klager This historical fiction was set in two time periods. One period began in 1879, and the other period was present day. There was a search to discover the true identity of the artist's painting of the lady with the dark hair. I was attracted to the book because of the beautiful cover. Maybe it was just me, but I found myself very distracted by the dual periods. I love going to art galleries, but I did not connect as I thought I would to this book. I did enjoy hearing more about Mary Cassatt. She is a stunning artist. Vivianna took many names and was a multi-faceted woman. She left her homeland because of a great tragedy. At times, she would pose as a man. Esther was searching for her and her mother's identity. Esther needed to oversee her mother's fragile care. She felt trapped. Upon meeting two gentlemen, Esther would learn to take a chance on living her own life. Art played a big part in this book. I did not realize that the author was also an artist. I can see why she wrote this book because she lived art. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Jeanette Durkin Wow! This book is captivating and inspiring! I knew I would love it, and I do. The dual time lines are expertly interwoven. I enjoyed learning about artists and their passion. Viviana's character stirred my heart. She has endured so much in her life. She bravely overcomes the obstacles and forges on to a new path. Esther is also an overcomer. Her life is far from easy. On her quest to find an artist, she finds out more about herself. The imagery in the book is picturesque. I especially enjoyed "seeing" Gibraltar. The sandy beach with its blue sky and the streets filled with shops and restaurants. Viviana and Esther both lead lonely lives. Viviana chooses to leave grief, pain, and confusion behind and embrace new possibilities. Esther meets new people who are generous and want to be involved in her life. This is a book that will stay with me for a while. Erin's books are so thought-provoking. I'm definitely adding her to my favorite author's list! I was provided a copy of the book from Revell through Interviews & Reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Reviewer: Ewurabena Wilson What a thought-provoking novel by Erin Bartels. Erin Bartel is a skilled writer who has a way with words that will get you interested in her work right from the beginning. The Lady with the Dark Hair is the story of two women living in different times whose lives are intertwined by a painting, La Dama del Cabello. Vivianna Torrens, living in 1879, is a young fugitive who has escaped to France after fleeing her homeland. Her work as a scullery maid brings into her path two men who will help shape her life: Monsieur Renaud and Francisco Vella. One man will usher her into the world of painting, while the other will take her across Europe and eventually be a catalyst in her pursuit for freedom. Esther Markstrom, living in present-day Michigan, is an artist and an art gallery owner whose life needs a spark. Like Vivianna, she yearns for freedom but is saddled with taking care of her schizophrenic mother and a barely surviving family art gallery. Like Vivianna, two men enter her life who become the catalyst to bring vibrancy into her life: Ian Peters, her former college tutor, and Adam Peters, a cousin of Ian. Both Esther and Vivianna are women struggling to find their place of belonging and identity in the period they belong to. I loved the consistency in Erin Bartels’ writing and how Vivianna and Esther’s stories were well written. The added knowledge of painting and geography in relation to Vivianna and Esther’s travels was also a plus for me in this novel. The suspense in this novel was very subtle, but enough to engage me to the very end of the story. Erin Bartels’ The Lady with the Dark Hair is one of those novels that builds up anticipation in you but does not leave you fully quenched. The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger. Having followed Vivianna’s journey from Vivianna to Vivianne to Veronica, it was quite a disappointment the way the novel ended for her character. I hope there is a sequel to this novel. Overall, it was a very good read. I did not struggle to read this novel, and I would recommend this novel to Erin Bartels fans and to new fans like me. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Rebecca Maney
"Maybe painting won't fill the empty places inside of me . . . . . Probably it won't. But surely it can make them more beautiful." Viviana Torrens has been on the run, having lived a life in two dimensions already, incredibly and quietly existing in a third one that will change the course of her young life forever. . . . after the master of the French household where she is serving as a scullery maid, by strange coincidence, teaches her to paint. She's quite good, thus catching the eye of a traveling Gilbraltarian merchant, Francisco Vella, who travels the world acquiring and selling pigments to a wide array of artists. While Vella might be Viviana's ticket to freedom when danger calls, he's certainly not her savior, even though history confuses their story altogether. "She was ordinary. Utterly ordinary in every way. Just a middle-aged woman taking care of her mentally ill mother. Alone." Esther Markstrom's life has revolved around maintaining her family's ancestral ties to modestly acclaimed painter Francisco Vella. Their small, privately owned museum and gallery highlighting Vella's work provides her with a minimal source of income and perpetuates family pride. When Esther's former art history professor's visit raises some interesting questions, curiosity leads her to wonder even more about the identity represented on the canvas of the beautiful family heirloom painting titled "The Lady with the Dark Hair." What will it require of Esther to seek those answers? Two women. Centuries apart. Separated by continents. Sharing one goal. To discover their true identities. A fascinating time-split written by an author who consistently writes unique stories with layers upon layers of starts and stops, her characters merging and diverging upon the page, much like the brushstrokes on the incredible portrait. I received a copy of this book from Revell through Interviews & Reviews. The opinions stated above are entirely my own. Leave a Reply. |
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