Trabajando en una casa de subastas en Nueva York , Julie Holt conoce a una artista en apuros y madre soltera que le recuerda mucho a su hermana menor desaparecida. Monica Guidry pinta un vívido cuadro de su familia sureña a través de historias, pero nunca dice por qué ni cómo perdió el contacto con ellos. Y tiene otro secreto: una afección cardíaca que pronto acabará con su vida.

Sintiendo como si hubiera perdido a su hermana por segunda vez, Julie hereda de Mónica un retrato antiguo, así como la custodia de su hijo pequeño. Llevándolo a Biloxi, Mississippi, para conocer a la familia que nunca conoció, Julie descubre su propia conexión. El retrato, de un antiguo pariente de Guidry, fue realizado por su bisabuelo y revela una sorprendente historia familiar.... ( )

This was a book I received that was personally recommended by the foxedbox and they are amazing at what they do. They are one of the best at getting your information and recommending you some of the best books that are out there.

I loved this book more than I thought I would. It was about a young woman who finds herself suddenly as a guardian to a 5-year-old boy because her friend, his mother, dies from a weak heart/heart problems/defects and how she goes back to her friend's home to honor her friend's wishes.

Along the way, she meets and connects with her friend's family, finds peace with her own family/personal issues and finds some sweet romance too. It takes place in/around New Orleans and mentions some about Hurricane Katrina and rebuilding and what it takes to put roots down and to commit and rebuild after storms in life and such. There's an intriguing story and mystery woven throughout the story between the past and the present and I couldn't get enough of it - I felt as if I was transported there lost in the story sometimes and had a hard time putting it down until it was over.

Now that I'm done reading it, I want to read more - it was SO good!!! ( )

Enjoyed this book a lot. ( )

A love letter to the Coastal South. Engaging. Atmospheric. Old family secrets and mysteries. So close to being five stars, except I didn't care for the way one of the plot points wrapped up. ( )

Liked the descriptions of Biloxi and New Orleans and the destruction that occurred from hurricanes along with the reasons for rebuilding. Can not believe that Monica left her family for the reason given and that she never told more about her relationship to Julie. The times when the grandmother is telling about her past were the most interesting, especially about her feelings for the two very different brothers and was glad with who she married. A bit unbelievable at how obsessed Julie became with finding out about the past for both her lost sister and the mystery of Monica. ( )