A Gown of Thorns: A Gripping Novel of Romance, Intrigue and the Secrets of a Vintage Parisian Dress
by Natalie Meg Evans
Within the French Dordogne valley, beyond the rolling vineyards and inside an ancient château, hangs a beautiful silk gown – what heartbreaking secrets does it possess? From the multi-award winning and bestselling author, comes a bittersweet romantic story.
Shauna Vincent arrives in the gorgeous French village of Chemignac, to au pair for the grandchildren of an old friend. As she begins to explore her new home, she discovers a locked tower room hiding a treasure trove of exquisite vintage dresses. One gown feels unsettlingly familiar.
When Shauna falls asleep one afternoon in a valley full of birdsong, she has a strange dream of an aircraft circling threateningly overhead. She awakes to find charismatic local landowner Laurent standing over her.
Shauna is sure the dress and her dream are linked, and as Laurent begins to talk of his grandfather’s midnight missions during the German occupation, she wonders if he can help her untangle this intriguing message from the past.
A Gown of Thorns draws you into a richly evocative world steeped in secrets that will mesmerize fans of Rachel Hauck’s The Wedding Dress, Kristen Hannah’s The Nightingale and Adriani Trigiani.
'Natalie's books are a treasure trove of vibrant, vivid stories, memorable characters and pacy writing!’ Tracy Rees, bestselling author of Amy Snow
'Travelling between modern day and World War II, Evans evokes the splendor and tragedy of an earlier era'. For the Love of Books
The Dress Thief:
WINNER - 2014 Festival of Romantic Fiction's Best Historical Read
WINNER - 2015 Public Book Awards
Shortlisted - 2015 Romance Writers of America (RWA) RITA Awards
What readers are saying about Natalie Meg Evans’s bestselling novels:
‘The Dress Thief sweeps readers into the heart of Paris during the rise of the fashion industry… one to be savoured for its wonderfully rich descriptions and details.’ The Great Historical Fiction Review
‘An amazing look into couture Paris of the 1930's. Natalie Meg Evans has woven, like the tapestry of a beautiful fabric, amazingly diverse characters that will beguile you with their faults and their attempts at redemption.’ Ask A Bookworm
‘The Dress Thief goes way beyond a story of Parisian fashion. It is a story of mystery, romance, friendship and the everyday struggles of life. Right from the start this book will grip hold of you and draw you into Alix’s story and it won’t let you go till the very last page…’ That Thing She Reads
'A delicious treat of a novel. I loved the setting in 1930s Paris - a place of intrigue, exquisite silk frocks, and dangerous secrets. And I was utterly charmed by the story's delectable heroine, as she struggled to make her mark in this seductive but perilous world.' Margaret Leroy
'A truly accomplished and delicious debut novel.' Laurie Graham
'A fascinating evocation of a great fashion house and the knife-edge the designers live on. Natalie Meg Evans is a born storyteller.' Sara Craven
‘A charming novel that totally transported me to the Paris fashion houses of the late 1930s.’ Trip Fiction
'Rich in detail, this is a pacy and engaging read,full of cloak and dagger intrigue, beautiful clothes and romance.' Sunday Mirror
'I loved this story, the way that Cora grows from a self centered young girl into a strong, independent woman who had me reading late into the night.' Books for Avid Readers
**
Shauna Vincent arrives in the gorgeous French village of Chemignac, to au pair for the grandchildren of an old friend. As she begins to explore her new home, she discovers a locked tower room hiding a treasure trove of exquisite vintage dresses. One gown feels unsettlingly familiar.
When Shauna falls asleep one afternoon in a valley full of birdsong, she has a strange dream of an aircraft circling threateningly overhead. She awakes to find charismatic local landowner Laurent standing over her.
Shauna is sure the dress and her dream are linked, and as Laurent begins to talk of his grandfather’s midnight missions during the German occupation, she wonders if he can help her untangle this intriguing message from the past.
A Gown of Thorns draws you into a richly evocative world steeped in secrets that will mesmerize fans of Rachel Hauck’s The Wedding Dress, Kristen Hannah’s The Nightingale and Adriani Trigiani.
'Natalie's books are a treasure trove of vibrant, vivid stories, memorable characters and pacy writing!’ Tracy Rees, bestselling author of Amy Snow
'Travelling between modern day and World War II, Evans evokes the splendor and tragedy of an earlier era'. For the Love of Books
The Dress Thief:
WINNER - 2014 Festival of Romantic Fiction's Best Historical Read
WINNER - 2015 Public Book Awards
Shortlisted - 2015 Romance Writers of America (RWA) RITA Awards
What readers are saying about Natalie Meg Evans’s bestselling novels:
‘The Dress Thief sweeps readers into the heart of Paris during the rise of the fashion industry… one to be savoured for its wonderfully rich descriptions and details.’ The Great Historical Fiction Review
‘An amazing look into couture Paris of the 1930's. Natalie Meg Evans has woven, like the tapestry of a beautiful fabric, amazingly diverse characters that will beguile you with their faults and their attempts at redemption.’ Ask A Bookworm
‘The Dress Thief goes way beyond a story of Parisian fashion. It is a story of mystery, romance, friendship and the everyday struggles of life. Right from the start this book will grip hold of you and draw you into Alix’s story and it won’t let you go till the very last page…’ That Thing She Reads
'A delicious treat of a novel. I loved the setting in 1930s Paris - a place of intrigue, exquisite silk frocks, and dangerous secrets. And I was utterly charmed by the story's delectable heroine, as she struggled to make her mark in this seductive but perilous world.' Margaret Leroy
'A truly accomplished and delicious debut novel.' Laurie Graham
'A fascinating evocation of a great fashion house and the knife-edge the designers live on. Natalie Meg Evans is a born storyteller.' Sara Craven
‘A charming novel that totally transported me to the Paris fashion houses of the late 1930s.’ Trip Fiction
'Rich in detail, this is a pacy and engaging read,full of cloak and dagger intrigue, beautiful clothes and romance.' Sunday Mirror
'I loved this story, the way that Cora grows from a self centered young girl into a strong, independent woman who had me reading late into the night.' Books for Avid Readers
**