Aimie K. Runyan's Books

A Bakery in Paris

A Novel

By: Aimie K. Runyan

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From the author of The School for German Brides, this captivating historical novel set in nineteenth-century and post–World War II Paris follows two fierce women of the same family, generations apart, who find that their futures lie in the four walls of a simple bakery in a tiny corner of Montmartre. 1870: The Prussians are at the city gates, intent to starve Paris into submission. Lisette Vigneau—headstrong, willful, and often ignored by her wealthy parents—awaits the outcome of the war from her parents’ grand home in the Place Royale in the very heart of the city. When an excursion throws her into the path of a revolutionary National Guardsman, Théodore Fournier, her destiny is forever changed. She gives up her life of luxury to join in the fight for a Paris of the People. She opens a small bakery with the hopes of being a vital boon to the impoverished neighborhood in its hour of need. When the city falls into famine, and then rebellion, her resolve to give up the comforts of her past life is sorely tested. 1946: Nineteen-year-old Micheline Chartier is coping with the loss of her father and the disappearance of her mother during the war. In their absence, she is charged with the raising of her two younger sisters. At the hand of a well-meaning neighbor, Micheline finds herself enrolled in a prestigious baking academy with her entire life mapped out for her. Feeling trapped and desperately unequal to the task of raising two young girls, she becomes obsessed with finding her mother. Her classmate at the academy, Laurent Tanet, may be the only one capable of helping Micheline move on from the past and begin creating a future for herself. Both women must grapple with loss, learn to accept love, and face impossible choices armed with little more than their courage and a belief that a bit of flour, yeast, sugar, and love can bring about a revolution of their own.

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Page Count

307

Publisher

HarperCollins

Published Date

ISBN 10

0063247739

ISBN 13

9780063247734

The Memory of Lavender and Sage

By: Aimie K. Runyan

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The Memory of Lavender and Sage

By: Aimie K. Runyan

“A standout voice in women’s fiction. I was captivated from the very first line.” — Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Summer of Songbirds Perhaps the secrets of her mother’s past in this tiny French town hold the key to her own future. . . Food critic Tempèsta Luddington has always felt like the odd person out in her family, ever since she lost her beloved mother at the tender age of thirteen. When her workaholic father passes fifteen years later, Tempèsta is not surprised that the majority of the considerable family money will pass to her dutiful younger brother, Wal. Still, she is left a modest remembrance from her mother, and for the first time Tempèsta has a world of choices before her. Lost in grief and hoping to reconnect with her memories and her mother’s past, she uses the money to buy a ramshackle manor house in Sainte-Colombe, a small village in Provence, where her mother had grown up. But she is greeted with more questions than answers. Her welcome, especially by the town’s stodgy mayor, is cold at best, and she finds herself wondering if the entire experiment was a mistake. Yet she stays, stubbornly sticking it out, slowly learning that her mother’s legacy was more than just a nest egg. Through her mother and the village, Tempèsta learns the value of community and friendship, the importance of self-confidence, and the power of love and trust. What’s more, she sees for herself that there is magic and beauty in the everyday—even something as simple as a sprig of lavender and sage. “For readers who love Under the Tuscan Sun and Chocolat, this is your next heartfelt, delightful read.” —Jennifer Moorman, bestselling author of The Baker's Man A dreamy escape into Southern France from bestselling author Aimie K. Runyan. Perfect for fans of Katherine Center, Rebecca Serle, and Sarah Jio Kate Quinn described Runyan’s previous work as “a moving tale of female solidarity and courage.” Stand-alone novel of approximately 100,000 words Includes discussion questions for book clubs

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Page Count

369

Publisher

Harper Muse

Published Date

ISBN 10

1400237262

ISBN 13

9781400237265

The Castle Keepers

A Novel

By: Aimie K. Runyan,J'nell Ciesielski,Rachel McMillan

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The Castle Keepers

A Novel

By: Aimie K. Runyan,J'nell Ciesielski,Rachel McMillan

“A fascinating story of love’s ability to overcome family curses, scandals, and even war. Told in three parts, this multi-generational tale is wonderfully heartwarming!” —Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London Leedswick Castle has housed the Alnwick family in the English countryside for generations, despite a family curse determined to destroy their legacy and erase them from history. 1870. After a disastrous dinner at the Astor mansion forces her to flee New York in disgrace, socialite Beatrice Holbrook knows her performance in London must be a triumph. When she catches the eye of Charles Alnwick, one of the town’s most enviably titled bachelors, she prepares to attempt a social coup and become the future Marchioness of Northridge. Then tragedy and scandal strike the Alnwick family, and Beatrice must assume the role of a lifetime: that of her true, brave self. 1917. Artist Elena Hamilton arrives in Northumberland determined to transform a soldier’s wounds into something beautiful. Tobias Alnwick’s parents have commissioned a lifelike mask to help their son return to his former self after battle wounds partially destroyed his face. But Elena doesn’t see a man who needs fixing—she sees a man who needn’t hide. Yet secrets from their past threaten to chase away the peace they’ve found in each other and destroy the future they’re creating. 1945. Alec Alnwick returns home from the war haunted but determined to leave death and destruction behind. With the help of Brigitta Mayr, the brilliant young psychoanalyst whose correspondence was a lifeline during his time on the Western Front, he reconstructs his family’s large estate into a rehabilitation center for similarly wounded soldiers. Alec’s efforts may be the only chance to redeem his family legacy—and break the curse on the Alnwick name—once and for all. Three beloved authors share stories of the Alnwick family through the generations, revealing how love and war can change a place—but only its people can unshackle it from the misdeeds of the past. Multiple historical timelines following generations of one family Stand-alone collection of connected stories Includes discussion questions for book clubs

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Page Count

385

Publisher

Harper Muse

Published Date

ISBN 10

0785264914

ISBN 13

9780785264910

Promised to the Crown

By: Aimie K. Runyan

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Promised to the Crown

By: Aimie K. Runyan

This debut historical novel tells the story of three bold, young women in 1667 who answered Louis XIV’s call to help France settle the New World. They are known as the filles du roi, or “King’s Daughters” —young women who leave prosperous France for an uncertain future across the Atlantic. Their duty is to marry and bring forth a new generation of loyal citizens. Each prospective bride has her reason for leaving—poverty, family rejection, a broken engagement. Despite their different backgrounds, Rose, Nicole, and Elisabeth all believe that marriage to a stranger is their best, perhaps only, chance of happiness. Once in Quebec, Elisabeth quickly accepts baker Gilbert Beaumont, who wants a business partner as well as a wife. Nicole, a farmer’s daughter from Rouen, marries a charming officer who promises comfort and security. Scarred by her traumatic past, Rose decides to take holy vows rather than marry. Yet no matter how carefully she chooses, each will be tested by hardship and heartbreaking loss—and sustained by the strength found in their uncommon friendship, and the precarious freedom offered by their new home. Praise for Promised to the Crown “An engaging, engrossing debut.” —Greer Macallister, USA Today bestselling author of The Magician’s Lie “An absorbing adventure with heart.” —Jennifer Laam, author of The Secret Daughter of the Tsar "An unforgettable saga of strength and sisterhood, one that will stay with you long after the final page.”--Anne Girard, author of Platinum Doll “A heart-wrenching and timeless tale of friendship, love, and hope that skillfully blends history and romance to educate, entertain, and inspire.”--Pam Jenoff, author of Last Summer at Chelsea Beach

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Page Count

423

Publisher

Kensington Books

Published Date

ISBN 10

1496701135

ISBN 13

9781496701138

The School for German Brides

A Novel of World War II

By: Aimie K. Runyan

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The School for German Brides

A Novel of World War II

By: Aimie K. Runyan

In this intriguing historical novel, a young woman who is sent to a horrific “bride school” to be molded into the perfect Nazi wife finds her life forever intertwined with a young Jewish woman about to give birth. Germany, 1939 As the war begins, Hanna Rombauer, a young German woman, is sent to live with her aunt and uncle after her mother’s death. Thrown into a life of luxury she never expected, Hanna soon finds herself unwillingly matched with an SS officer twenty years her senior. The independence that her mother lovingly fostered in her is considered highly inappropriate as the future wife of an up-and-coming officer and she is sent to a “bride school.” There, in a posh villa on the outskirts of town, Hanna is taught how to be a “proper” German wife. The lessons of hatred, prejudice, and misogyny disturb her and she finds herself desperate to escape. For Mathilde Altman, a German Jewish woman, the war has brought more devastation than she ever thought possible. Torn from her work, her family, and her new husband, she fights to keep her unborn baby safe. But when the unthinkable happens, Tilde realizes she must hide. The risk of discovery grows greater with each passing day, but she has no other options. When Hanna discovers Tilde hiding near the school, she knows she must help her however she can. For Tilde, fear wars with desperation when Hanna proposes a risky plan. Will they both be able to escape with their lives and if they do, what kind of future can they possibly hope for?

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Page Count

362

Publisher

HarperCollins

Published Date

ISBN 10

0063094215

ISBN 13

9780063094215

Duty to the Crown

By: Aimie K. Runyan

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Duty to the Crown

By: Aimie K. Runyan

The first Canadian colonies offer a challenging future for three women in this historical novel by the author of Promised to the Crown. In 1677, an invisible wall separates settlers in New France from their Huron neighbors. Yet whether in the fledgling city of Quebec or within one of the native tribes, every woman's fate depends on the man she chooses—or is obligated—to marry. Although Claudine Deschamps and Gabrielle Giroux both live within the settlement, their prospects are very different. French-born Claudine has followed her older sister across the Atlantic hoping to attract a wealthy husband through her beauty and connections. Gabrielle, orphan daughter of the town drunkard, is forced into a loveless union by a cruel law that requires her to marry by her sixteenth birthday. And Manon Lefebvre, born in the Huron village and later adopted by settlers, has faced the prejudices of both societies and is convinced she can no longer be accepted in either. Drawn into unexpected friendship through their loves, losses, and dreams of home and family, all three women will have to call on their bravery and resilience to succeed in this new world . . . Praise for Duty to the Crown “The reader is treated to a picture of what it must have been like to reach maturity in such a world. It is a novel of both love and loss, and we come away in admiration for the women striving despite mistreatment and abandonment. I found myself sorry when I reached the end of the book, since Manon, Claudine, and Gabrielle had become like good friends of mine.” —Historical Novel Society

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Page Count

409

Publisher

Kensington Books

Published Date

ISBN 10

1496701151

ISBN 13

9781496701152

Mademoiselle Eiffel

A Novel

By: Aimie K. Runyan

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Mademoiselle Eiffel

A Novel

By: Aimie K. Runyan

From the author of The School for German Brides and A Bakery in Paris, this captivating historical novel set in nineteenth-century Paris tells the story of Claire Eiffel, a woman who played a significant role in maintaining her family’s legacy and their iconic contributions to the city of Paris. Claire Eiffel, the beautiful, brilliant eldest daughter of the illustrious architect Gustave Eiffel, is doted upon with an education envied by many sons of the upper classes, and entirely out of the reach of most daughters. Claire’s idyllic childhood ends abruptly when, at fourteen, her mother passes away. It’s soon made clear that Gustave expects Claire to fill her mother’s place as caregiver to the younger children and as manager of their home. As she proves her competence, Claire’s importance to her father grows. She accompanies him on his travels and becomes his confidante and private secretary. She learns her father’s architectural trade and becomes indispensable to his work. But when his bright young protégé, Adolphe Salles, takes up more of Gustave’s time, Claire resents being pushed aside. Slowly, the animosity between Claire and Adolphe turns to friendship…and then to something more. After their marriage in 1885 preserves the Eiffel legacy, they are privileged by the biggest commission of Eiffel’s career: a great iron tower dominating the 1889 World’s Fair to demonstrate the leading role of Paris in the world of art and architecture. Now hostess to the scientific elite, such as Thomas Edison, Claire is under the watchful eye not only of her family and father’s circle, but also the world. When Gustave Eiffel’s involvement in a disastrous endeavor to build a canal in Panama ends in his imprisonment, it is up to Claire to secure her father’s freedom but also preserve the hard-won family legacy. Claire Eiffel’s story of love, devotion, and the frantic pursuit to preserve her family’s legacy is not only an inspired reflection of real personages and historical events, but a hymn to the iconic tower that dominates the City of Lights.

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Page Count

333

Publisher

HarperCollins

Published Date

ISBN 10

0063329298

ISBN 13

9780063329294

Duty to the Crown

By: Aimie K. Runyan

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Duty to the Crown

By: Aimie K. Runyan

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409

Publisher

Kensington Books

Published Date

ISBN 10

1496701151

ISBN 13

9781496701152

Promised to the Crown

By: Aimie K. Runyan

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Promised to the Crown

By: Aimie K. Runyan

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423

Publisher

Kensington Books

Published Date

ISBN 10

1496701135

ISBN 13

9781496701138

The Liberty Scarf

A Story of Three Women, One War, and a Scarf That Binds Them Together

By: Aimie K. Runyan,J'nell Ciesielski,Rachel McMillan

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The Liberty Scarf

A Story of Three Women, One War, and a Scarf That Binds Them Together

By: Aimie K. Runyan,J'nell Ciesielski,Rachel McMillan

From acclaimed authors Aimie K. Runyan, J'nell Ciesielski, and Rachel McMillan comes an evocative, three-part novel about a thread of connection during World War I--a single scarf that links three extraordinary women, each battling societal expectations, enduring the devastations of war, and striving for personal growth amidst the chaos. The Liberty Scarf is a testament to the resilience of women and the enduring power of hope and unity in the harshest of times. In the midst of a seemingly endless war, a scarf connects three women in the cold winter of 1917 . . . London: As an ambitious scarf maker, Iris Braxton spends her days surrounded by color and luxury not often seen during the dark days of war that were promised to be over by Christmas. That promise has come and gone for three years with still no end in sight, and her days continue in a monotony of rations and threads while she spins a dream of becoming Liberty's first female pattern designer. She hasn't the time or interest in rakish soldiers, but the temporarily-on-leave Captain Rex Conrad is persistent--and before long his charm wins her over. But war is cruel, and, all too soon, Conrad leaves once more for the Front, but not before vowing to meet again in Strasbourg, France, the most magical of Christmas cities. Iris begins stitching small messages into each of the scarves she makes in hopes that one will find a way into Rex's hands to let him know she's thinking of him. And when she receives word that he's wounded in Strasbourg, she rushes to his side. Along the way, she passes a woman wearing one of her scarves . . . Maine: Geneviève Tremblay, a French-Canadian immigrant, is a telephone operator living in Lewiston, Maine. Her beau is a member of a prominent family who has helped to Americanize her in a community often unfriendly to Canadians. As part of this effort, she enlists in the US Army Signal Corps to serve as a bi-lingual operator. Along the way, she meets a French officer who makes her question whether losing her identity is too heavy a price for acceptance. Belgium: Clara Janssens, a Flemish Nurse, and Roman Allaire, an Alsatian violinist, connect in a Brussels palace-turned-hospital far beyond their routine provincial and countryside lives--and the expectations in those towns. Their love of music creates a spark between them, but the destruction of battle and the transient nature of their relationship threatens the bond they have built. Still, the appearance of a kind stranger and the unexpected gift of a treasured scarf bind them long beyond their stolen moments and offer them a future brighter than they could have even hoped. The Liberty Scarf is more than a piece of fabric--it's a symbol of hope, resilience, and unity in the face of war, binding these three women together in an indelible bond. Experience their stories of love, sacrifice, and survival in this captivating novel from Aimie K. Runyan, J'nell Ciesielski, and Rachel McMillan.

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Page Count

368

Publisher

Harper Muse

Published Date

ISBN 10

1400246725

ISBN 13

9781400246724

Book's by Aimie K. Runyan

A Bakery in Paris

A Bakery in Paris

The Memory of Lavender and Sage

The Memory of Lavender and Sage

The Castle Keepers

The Castle Keepers

Promised to the Crown

Promised to the Crown

The School for German Brides

The School for German Brides

Duty to the Crown

Duty to the Crown

Mademoiselle Eiffel

Mademoiselle Eiffel

Duty to the Crown

Duty to the Crown

Promised to the Crown

Promised to the Crown

The Liberty Scarf

The Liberty Scarf

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