Today’s post is pretty exciting because not only did I live in Wilmington, North Carolina for a few years, Adria is the powerhouse behind the #30Authors Legacy: An Anthology book (more on that tomorrow). Needless to say, this is a great pairing so check it out and enter to win the fantastic giveaway at the bottom of this post!

About the Event

#30Authors is an annual event connecting readers, authors, and bloggers. Throughout the month of September, 30 authors review their favorite books on 30 blogs in 30 days. The event has been met with incredible support from and success within the literary community. In the six months following the event’s inaugural launch, the concept was published as an anthology by Velvet Morning Press (Legacy: An Anthology). Started by The Book Wheel, #30Authors remains active throughout the year and you can join in the fun by following along on Twitter at @30Authors, using the hashtag, #30Authors, or purchasing the anthology. To learn more about the event and to see the full schedule, please click here.

Kristy Woodson Harvey Reviews Paris, Rue des Martyrs by Adria Cimino

One of my favorite conventions of fiction is when a group of seemingly random characters, whose individual stories have already captivated me, begin to cross paths, their seemingly unrelated stories putting them in a position to change each others lives. So, the moment I began Adria Cimino’s exquisitely written Paris, Rue des Martyrs, I knew I was in for a treat.

Andre, the recently injured actor with the golden voice is struggling with the loss of his career and whether to accept the offer of a relationship from the son he abandoned. Cecile, the bored housewife, feels as though she is treading water, desperate for her own place in the world, until the promise of an unexpected romance enters the picture, shaking her world. Rafael, the Columbian emerald heir, flees tragedy to discover the secret about his birth mother. And Mira, the heartbroken artist, runs away from her cheating fiancé to find new love and a chance at reconciliation with her estranged brother.

The characters are so richly drawn that they come to life before you on the page, their paths winding and meandering around one another on the fateful, sometimes dark, sometimes glorious Rue des Martyrs.

I was in awe of the complexities and layers in the ways in which these characters are connected to one another and astonished by the depth of Cimino’s characters, complete with quirks and flaws that make them all the more real. She draws the relationships in this novel—both romantic and familial—in such believable ways that I found myself feeling as though I was following the lives—and discovering the secrets—of good friends.

This is a story of love, loss, redemption, and, most of all, living life on your own terms. I highly, highly recommend it!

What book leaves @kristywharvey in awe of its complexities? Click to find out on #30Authors - Click To Tweet

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About Kristy

Kristy Woodson Harvey is the author of Dear Carolina. She blogs at Design Chic about how creating a beautiful home can be the catalyst for creating a beautiful life and loves connecting with readers at kristywoodonsharvey.com. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s school of journalism and holds a Master’s in English from East Carolina University. She is a regular contributor for The Salisbury Post, Domino magazine and Houzz. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and three-year-old son. You can fin her on Facebook and Twitter, or check out her book on any of the following websites:

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