Cat Jordan is a photographer in NYC with a successful boyfriend and a life all planned out when she receives notice from a lawyer in Paris that she's inherited the estate of someone in Paris that she's never met. She flies to France and plans to put everything up for sale until she sees the apartment and meets the man who is the real grandson of the original owner. The apartment has been locked up since 1940 and under all of the accumulated dust are treasures from the Belle Époque era. Cat is determined to find out more about the original owner - a renowned courtesan of the era. During the historical chapters we learn all about the life of Isabelle de Florian and why she left the apartment to flee the Nazis who were invading Paris. This book had a little mystery, a little romance and a look at two women who have never met but share a connection over time. ( )

The past comes calling!

Strangely compelling story of a young woman who inherits an apartment in Paris.
Cat Jordan travels from New York to Paris, clutching an old brass key as per a letter telling her of an inheritance from an unknown woman, Isabelle de Florian. It is only when the apartment is opened in 2015, having been closed since 1940, that an even more complex puzzle starts to unfold. There are many dead ends as Cat tries to come to grips with the path that has led to her.
Let my bias reign. The story half won me at Paris and totally clinched it for me with the references to vintage fashion. Top that off with the charming Frenchman and the brash fiancé, well what can I say? Bliss!
Based on a true occurrence, Carey has written a well crafted story that brims with hope, hidden secrets and mystery.
Engaged to a merchant banker, vintage clothes collector and photographer Cat couldn't be further from her fiancé's self centered, all white minimalist, deal brokering ideas. A man who never hears her.
Meanwhile there's the vintner grandson of Isabelle, a man who's followed his dream, is encouraging and an absolute dish. What is the connection between Isabelle and Cat's grandmothers.
(What with Vespas, a wonderful Parisian apartment, vintage clothes and a secret to uncover, I started looking over my shoulder for Aimee Leduc to come into play.)
Really, the main story is Cat's determination to solve the puzzle she's been handed and to return the apartment to as she sees it, the rightful owners.
A heart warming romantic mystery, set in the romance capital of the world, with an historical bent and enough intrigue to make it more than an enjoyable read.

A Bookouture ARC via NetGalley ( )

I was utterly fascinated, when, in 2010, an apartment in the ninth arrondissement in Paris, was rediscovered, completely intact, complete with an unknown Boldini portrait, as it had been when its owner abandoned it to flee Paris in WWII. The pictures were amazing, and the suppositions and stories equally so. Apparently, Ella Carey was also fascinated. This is her novel, built with her own characters, around the occurrence. ( )

Although written first, "The Paris Time Capsule" was basically a continuation of "The House By the Lake" by the same author. While I thoroughly enjoyed the author's second novel, I found this one harder to connect with. I loved the concept and the storyline of this story and I loved the descriptions of the French countryside and the abandoned apartment in Paris.

However, I hated the writing. It was clumsy and didn't flow. The dialogue was painful to read and often had me wincing, especially at the overuse of 'honey' and 'sweetie' as terms of endearment. I found Christian, Cat's fiancé to be a condescending, officious bore. As for the ending, it felt rushed and finished with a jolt. Overall, a quick but mediocre read. ( )

I came into this book thinking "not another girl leaves boyfriend for trip to Paris. Girl meets Frenchman, then girl develops feelings for him. Boyfriend tries to bring girl home. Girl stays in France with new man. Chick lit overkill." Am I ever so glad that I couldn't have been further from the truth (well, most of it anyway). I didn't find out that it was inspired by an actual discovery until the very end. Astonishing!

To me, this book is a multifaceted gem. Cat Jordan discovers that she has inherited an apartment that has been locked up ever since 1940. Another claimant, Loic de Florian, teams up with Cat to solve a mystery of why she inherited it and not the owner's family, who were shocked to just now learn of it. He eventually gives up; however Cat's willingness to persevere pays off in the long run.

"Paris Time Capsule" fascinated me most with it's intonations. The apartment is the tangible time capsule, clearly. It had been untouched for over a half of a century. Loic takes Cat on an informational treasure hunt, for clues to his grandmother's youth, in very old buildings in very quaint villages is another. The most important one for me is what it was like to endure the loss of one's freedom, home, and possibly life once the Germans invaded France and took possession of Paris. Ms. Carey brought those hopeless days of WWII to life like no other. I was mesmerized to the very end.

Thank you, Netgalley for giving me a free copy of this book to read and give an honest review. ( )