The Sapphire Widow by Dina Jefferies (FIC Fef)

It is 1935 in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and Louisa Reeve leads a privileged life.  Married to Elliott, a successful businessman, and the only child of an even more successful gem dealer, her only regret is her inability to bear children.  Longing to become a mother, she still mourns the loss of a stillborn daughter 2 years ago as well as several miscarriages.

When Elliott is killed suddenly, Louisa finds her life changed forever.  Her internal strength is tested as she attempts to forge a path through life without the man she adored.  And when she finds that Elliott not only had a long-term mistress but a child with her, Louisa wonders if anything in her life with him was real.

Louisa herself is very likable.  I liked her strength and her willingness to try new things.  If things were tied up a little bit too nicely, I didn't mind because that was the way I wanted it to!

Part of the reason I enjoyed this book was because it is set in a country I know very little about.  If I thought about Ceylon at all, I would have thought of tea and spices, horribly hot weather and high humidity.  The author, who grew up in that part of the world, shares her love of the area and by the end of the book I found myself thinking that maybe this was a place I should visit...

 

The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis (FIC Dav)

In New York City in 1928, Clara Darden begins her career as an instructor at the Grand Central School of Art, located in Grand Central Terminal.  Because she has chosen commercial illustrating (i.e. advertising) as her medium, her talent is looked down on.  But Clara is determined to succeed.

In New York City in 1974, Virginia Clay is recovering from a recent divorce and breast cancer and trying to figure out what is going on with her 19-year-old daughter, Ruby.  Desperate to support herself and Ruby, she takes a job in the Information booth in Grand Central Terminal.  But Grand Central Terminal is a much different place than it was during Clara's time - a place for homeless, drug deals, and general filth and decay.  The City of New York is locked in a battle with Penn Central, the owner of the building, to have it declared and landmark and thereby prevent its destruction.

While exploring the building (in circumstances I'll let you find out about!), Virginia discovers the abandoned art school and a painting that takes her breath away.  While trying to discover the artist behind the painting, she learns more about the art school, the terminal, and herself.  And also more about the artist who created it.

I vaguely remember the battle to declare Grand Central Terminal a landmark so I knew the outcome of that story wasn't in doubt!  But I didn't know about the art school and the rest of my knowledge was pretty much limited to the movie based on the book The Invention of Hugo Cabret.  I loved the inside look at the terminal as well as the chance to root for two women to find themselves and come into their own.  A fun book.