The House Book Trilogy, Part II: An Uncertain Legacy

In 17th century France, where women had virtually no rights or legal protection, the Church was all-powerful and determined to root out heresy and witchcraft wherever it could find it. For one young girl, preparing to leave the Convent of Montmartre and unwilling to take vows of chastity and obedience, life was about to become doubly dangerous.

In 1659, at just 15 years old, Elisabeth Osborne found herself alone, beautiful, naive, and easy prey as she ventured to Paris, believing she could manage on her own. A chance meeting with the madam of a gentlemen's club changed her mind. It was here that she received protection, an education not taught in convents, and the freedom to practice her skill with herbal remedies without fear.

Her unusual knowledge of plants and the workings of the body wasn't the only thing that could land her in danger. In times of stress, she was capable of extraordinary feats she couldn't always control and struggled to keep secret. She also had a recurring vision of a house somewhere, calling to her and soothing her when life became difficult.

Blessed with good looks, education, and an aristocratic air, Elisabeth was quickly pursued and swept up into high society, where she learned that women who wished to be independent needed to be clever, as there were few choices open to them in a patriarchal society where the law was against them.

As she grew older, wiser, and richer, Elisabeth still had unfinished business. She didn't know her mother's English family or who her father was, and she didn't know why she was able to see and do things others couldn't. She set out to find answers, traveling to Brittany and across to England, where London was gripped by plague and fire.

But was she prepared for the answers? That's the question. A perfect book club read for fans of Kate Morton, Rachel Hore, and Katherine Webb.

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