A Gown of Thorns

US Reviewers Only

Hidden within the wardrobe’s embrace, she rifled through the folds of cloth until her fingers stopped at a gown of violet, lavender and silver-grey pleats. She lifted it off its hanger and turned towards the mirror…

Shauna Vincent arrives in the little French village of Chemignac after accepting an offer to be an au pair to the grandchildren of an old family friend.

As she begins to explore her new home at the ancient Chateau de Chemignac with it’s beautiful vineyards, she discovers a locked tower room where she unearths a treasure trove of exquisite vintage dresses. One gown feels unsettlingly familiar.

When Shauna falls asleep one afternoon in a valley full of birdsong, she has a strange dream of a vintage aircraft circling threateningly overhead. So when she suddenly awakes to find charming local landowner Laurent standing over her - Shauna wonders if he might be just the person to help her untangle this unexpected message from the past.

A Gown of Thorns draws you into a richly evocative world steeped in secrets that will mesmerize fans of Rachel Hauck’s The Wedding Dress, Kristen Hannah’s The Nightingale and Adriani Trigiani.

*** This is an uncorrected advanced review copy ***

The Dress Thief:
WINNER - 2014 Festival of Romantic Fiction's Best Historical Read
WINNER - 2015 Public Book Awards
Shortlisted - 2015 Romance Writers of America (RWA) RITA Awards

What readers are saying about Natalie Meg Evans’s bestselling novels:

‘The Dress Thief sweeps readers into the heart of Paris during the rise of the fashion industry… one to be savoured for its wonderfully rich descriptions and details.’The Great Historical Fiction Review

‘An amazing look into couture Paris of the 1930's. Natalie Meg Evans has woven, like the tapestry of a beautiful fabric, amazingly diverse characters that will beguile you with their faults and their attempts at redemption.’ Ask A Bookworm

‘The Dress Thief goes way beyond a story of Parisian fashion. It is a story of mystery, romance, friendship and the everyday struggles of life. Right from the start this book will grip hold of you and draw you into Alix’s story and it won’t let you go till the very last page…’ That Thing She Reads

'A delicious treat of a novel. I loved the setting in 1930s Paris - a place of intrigue, exquisite silk frocks, and dangerous secrets. And I was utterly charmed by the story's delectable heroine, as she struggled to make her mark in this seductive but perilous world.' Margaret Leroy

'A truly accomplished and delicious debut novel.' Laurie Graham

'A fascinating evocation of a great fashion house and the knife-edge the designers live on. Natalie Meg Evans is a born storyteller.' Sara Craven

‘A charming novel that totally transported me to the Paris fashion houses of the late 1930s.’ Trip Fiction

'Rich in detail, this is a pacy and engaging read,full of cloak and dagger intrigue, beautiful clothes and romance.' Sunday Mirror

'I loved this story, the way that Cora grows from a self centered young girl into a strong, independent woman who had me reading late into the night.' Books for Avid Readers