Meet Me in Monaco: A Whirlwind Romance Evoking Love, Glamour, and Perfume in Monaco

The cover of this book drew me in initially. I love the color green, so the cerulean green dress of the lady on the cover caught my eye. When I read the story revolves around Grace Kelly’s wedding to the prince of Monaco, I was all in.Despite her mother’s interference, Sophie Duval runs the family perfumerie and walks in her father’s footsteps by crafting fabulous scents honed to the unique personalities of their wearers.James Henderson, a journalist covering the royal wedding, accidentally meets Sophie when Miss Kelly seeks refuge from the press in Sophie’s shop.James and Sophie strike a chord with each other, and a love affair develops. Whether their relationship will survive the overtones of a wealthy man who stakes his claim on Sophie remains to be seen.Miss Kelly commissions a special scent for her wedding day, but will the extra attention be enough to save the Duval legacy?Being a dabbler of mixing natural essential oils for scent, I loved the scent crafting details in the story and how Sophie throws her heart into her job. Grace plays a secondary character but the authors craft Grace as glamorous and sweet-hearted as her Hollywood persona implies.Meet Me in Monaco met all my expectations for a romantic, classy read.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for plot and characters⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for some language and sexual encounters⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for author voice and style

I'm a huge fan of historical fiction, so this book was right up my alley. The story drew me in on page 1 and held my interest to the very end. Enjoyed the mostly likable characters and the way the story - both Grace's and Sophie's moved along. This wasn't the same as most of the historical fiction I read, which is frequently darker. This was a lighter version, and that made it an especially fun read for me.My big beef - having nothing to do with the story, is the authors' end notes - 'what happened next'. I was quite offended by their comparisons between Grace, with all her class, style, composure and inward and outward beauty, and Meghan Markle. Really? Grace was a sophisticated, cultured woman who became a true philanthropist, and who for all accounts, looked like and acted like a true princess. To compare Megan and Harry to Princess Grace and Prince Rainier is laugh-out-loud absurd and so offensive to Princess Grace's memory.Somehow, the authors saw "striking similarities in the short romance and wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, an actress leaving her career and American home to take up a royal role as Duchess of Sussex. The second American princess - history repeating itself, as it so often does." I repeat my previous 'comment' - REALLY? People who went on talk shows to blast the royal family and dish personal and private information for their own monetary gain was a complete disgrace. They have no class. And this is a comparison to Grace and Rainier?To compare the oh-so-talented Grace (who by the age of 26 won an Academy Award, and multiple Golden Globe awards and was admired by all who worked with her - fellow actors and crew), to a divorced woman ten years older than Grace when she married and insinuate they both left their acting careers (how can one compare Megan's 'career' with Princess Grace's and call it a career?) is - again - laughable. The only similarity between the two is that both Grace and Megan were American born.Sorry to have gone on with my opinion of this ridiculous comparison, but it was very upsetting to me, and if I allowed it to - it could have ruined the entire book for me. I'm truly sorry I read the authors comments.Anyway, great book - loved the characters - ridiculous authors' note at end of book.

I was sold as soon as I knew the book involved Grace Kelly, though I figured she would be more of a cameo character. I was so glad to discover that she makes fairly regular appearances.Being chased by a reporter during a visit to France, Grace hides out in Sophie Duval's perfume shop. This unexpected brush with fame turns Sophie's life in a new direction both professionally as well as personally. James Henderson, the reporter who was searching for Grace, becomes a fixture in Sophie's life. However, both lament the life circumstances that threaten to keep them apart.The book alternates between Sophie and James' POV, Grace forging a friendship/acquaintanceship with each of them. Perhaps I'm biased being a fan of Old Hollywood and an admirer of Grace Kelly to begin with, but their interactions with her are the heart and soul of the book. James and Sophie have interesting storylines as well (both together and separately), but for me, it was all about Grace as she became Princess Grace of Monaco.

The authors did an excellent job of weaving their story about an English photographer and a French "perfumier" with real life fairy tale of the marriage of the American actress Grace Kelly to Prince Rainier of Monaco. When Grace Kelly is in Cannes to attend the film festival, she escapes a photographer by running into a small perfume shop and asking help from the owner, Sophie, to "hide" her. James, the photographer follows but is sent away empty handed by the owner, who he finds enchanting. The story does an excellent job of developing all of the characters and portraying a glimpse of the glamour when the Hollywood stars descended on Cannes in the 1950s for their film festival. The chance events that follow between Grace, James and Sophie create a fascinating story of love, tragedy and personal fulfillment that makes for an excellent read.

excellente

I liked this book a lot. Sweet story, well written and lovely setting.

Full of Fifties fun and frivolity, this novel set in the beautiful Cote d’Azur, cleverly links together two separate love stories, one real and one fictional. The well researched tale of Grace Kelly’s meeting and subsequent marriage to Prince Rainer of Monaco , is interwoven with a parallel romance between a French perfume maker and an English photographer. I particularly relished the ‘Grace Kelly’ details. An ‘unputdownable’ read!

This is categorized as biographical historic fiction, but I found this to be a romance novel. Luckily I enjoy a well written romance. The description of this novel is a bit misleading as this book has very little to do with Grace Kelly's life other than her getting married as the backdrop to the actual story, which might disappoint some readers. Having said that, I did enjoy the story of Sophie, her perfumes and her relationship with reporter James. The story and characters were endearing, charming and the story was engaging and tastefully rendered. It was an easy, light and enjoyable read for me.