Meet Me In Monaco
by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb brings Grace Kelly back to
life. Readers will take a journey to the Cannes Film Festival
in 1955 as the authors intertwine the romance between the
actress Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco and their
characters Sophie Duval and James Henderson. These two authors,
“Team H,” have a chemistry when writing together.
They have a knack for creating an enchanting story written
in one voice.
The authors noted, “We had such fun writing Last Christmas
in Paristogether, and wanted our second co-written book to
be a real contrast to the setting of war. We started to think
about a summer book, full of fun and glamour, and the south
of France and Grace Kelly soon followed! Meet Me in Monacostarts
at the Cannes Film Festival in 1955, the year Grace met her
prince—and when our parfumeur, Sophie Duval, meets press
photographer James Henderson, sparks begin to fly. We have
both admired her and have been fans of her movies, and after
spending so much time with her during our research for the
book, we are now bigger fans than ever!”
The plot opens with Grace Kelly ducking into a small perfume
shop, owned by Sophie Duval, to escape a tabloid photographer,
James Henderson. Sophie gives Grace Kelly a sanctuary from
the paparazzi and sends James on his way. Very grateful Kelly
forms a bond with Sophie and helps her failing business by
publicizing that Sophie will be the “parfumeur”
for the wedding to Prince Rainier. Meanwhile, James is given
the coveted assignment to cover the wedding of the century
and sail with Grace Kelly’s wedding party to Monaco.
Before sailing to Monaco, he sends a letter to Sophia requesting
a date. With the backdrop of the wedding, Sophie and James
have a whirlwind romance that has stretches of friendship,
love, and tragedy.
There are comparisons between the two female leads. “We
wanted to write a story with parallels both in the risks they
chose to take in their lives and also in the way they used
their talents to add a measure of beauty to the world. They
went after what they wanted in a determined and dedicated
way. We don’t go much into Grace’s life outside
of the short stint of 1955-56, but all of the research pointed
to these qualities in our princess.”
The romances stand out even more with the news clips fabricated
by the authors. They transport the readers back in time to
the 1950s and add authenticity and realism to the story. Also,
bringing believability is the narrative where Grace interacts
with James and Sophie are expertly woven into this cleverly
layered fairy talelike plot. Sophie’s character is smart,
confident, and independent, while James is an enigma, surprisingly
sensitive at times and aloof at others.
The novel is full of life lessons, difficult choices, and
historical facts. Readers might even enjoy having their interest
spurred and will find old pictures and footage. With a fabulous
setting, interesting characters, and a story of second chances
people root for all the characters to have their wishes come
true.
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