The Invitation

The sumptuous new novel set in the Gilded Age, from Belinda Alexandra, author of Tuscan Rose and White Gardenia Sometimes the ties that bind are the most dangerous of all ... Paris, 1899. Emma Lacasse hasn't seen her older sister fornearly twenty years, since Caroline married a rich American and left France. Sowhen Emma receives a summons from New York, she is intrigued - her sister has something of a proposal for her. But what she hoped would be an emotional reunion with her onlyfamily isn't quite as Emma imagined. Caroline lives a life of unimaginable excessas one of New York's Gilded Age millionaires, but the society she moves in hasa set of complicated and mysterious rules that bohemian Emma struggles tounderstand. As she is increasingly seduced by the luxury surroundingher, she begins to lose sight of what is really important. But when a tragedystrikes she realises that there is much more going on beneath the surface. The glamour of New York society hides a seething nest of deceit,betrayal ... and perhaps even murder. Praise for Belinda Alexandra: 'Reading her novels is like going on holiday for a longtime. You don't want to come back' WestAustralian '[Belinda's] scene-settings drip with atmosphere and hercharacterisations are colourful ... She is a passionate and confident storytellerand her writing is like an artist's dream' BookMuster Down Under 'Every good holiday break requires some escapist reading, and this latest novel from Belinda Alexandra makes the perfect beach or pool-side read' Sunday Age In Gilded Age New York, Money Buys Everything. What Is Your Price? Sometimes The Ties That Bind Are The Most Dangerous Of All ... Paris, 1899. Emma Lacasse Has Been Estranged From Her Older Sister For Nearly Twenty Years, Since Caroline Married A Wealthy American And Left France. So When Emma Receives A Request From Caroline To Meet Her, She Is Intrigued. Caroline Invites Emma To Visit Her In New York, On One Condition: Emma Must Tutor Her Shy, Young Niece, Isadora, And Help Her Prepare For Her Society Debut. Caroline Lives A Life Of Unimaginable Excess And Opulence As One Of New York's Gilded Age Millionaires And Emma Is Soon Immersed In A World Of Luxury Beyond Her Wildest Dreams - A Far Cry From Her Bohemian Lifestyle As A Harpist And Writer With Her Lover, Claude, In Montmartre. Emma Hopes For An Emotional Reunion With Her Only Family, But Instead She Finds Herself In The Vice-like Grip Of Her Charismatic And Manipulative Sister, Who Revels In The Machinations Of The Ultra Rich. As Emma Begins To Question Her Sister's True Motives, A Disaster Strikes, And New York Society Is Stripped Bare - Beneath The Glittering Exterior Lies A Seething Nest Of Deceit, Betrayal, Moral Corruption ... And Perhaps Even Murder. From The Bestselling Author Of Tuscan Rose Comes A Mesmerising Tale Of Two Sisters And The Dangers And Seductions Of Excess. 'a Heady Mix Of Dangerous Liasions, The Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous (a Century Ago) And Cinderella, The Invitation Is A Wildly Entertaining And Absorbing Read That Leaves You With A Lot To Think About.' Better Reading Praise For Belinda Alexandra: 'reading Her Novels Is Like Going On Holiday For A Longtime. You Don't Want To Come Back' Westaustralian '[belinda's] Scene-settings Drip With Atmosphere And Hercharacterisations Are Colourful ... She Is A Passionate And Confident Storytellerand Her Writing Is Like An Artist's Dream' Bookmuster Down Under 'every Good Holiday Break Requires Some Escapist Reading, And This Latest Novel From Belinda Alexandra Makes The Perfect Beach Or Pool-side Read' Sunday Age In Gilded Age New York, money buys everything. What is your price? The latest sweeping saga from Belinda Alexandra. Sometimes the ties that bind are the most dangerous of all ... Paris, 1899. Emma Lacasse has been estranged from her older sister for nearly twenty years, since Caroline married a wealthy American and left France. So when Caroline invites Emma to help prepare her shy, young niece for her society debut, Emma is intrigued. Caroline lives a life of unimaginable excess and opulence as one of New York's Gilded Age ultra rich and Emma is soon immersed in a world of luxury beyond her wildest dreams - a far cry from her bohemian lifestyle as a harpist and writer with her lover, Claude, in Montmartre. Emma hopes for an emotional reunion with her only family, but instead she finds herself in the vice-like grip of her charismatic and manipulative sister. As Emma begins to question Caroline's true motives, a disaster strikes, and New York society is stripped bare - beneath the glittering exterior lies a seething nest of deceit, betrayal, moral corruption ... and perhaps even murder. From the bestselling author of Tuscan Rose comes a mesmerising tale of two sisters and the dangers and seductions of excess. 'A heady mix of Dangerous Liaisons, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous (a century ago) and Cinderella, The Invitation is a wildly entertaining and absorbing read that leaves you with a lot to think about.' Better Reading The sumptuous new novel set in the Gilded Age, from Belinda Alexandra, author of Tuscan Rose and White Gardenia Sometimes the ties that bind are the most dangerous of all ... Paris, 1899. Emma Lacasse has been estranged from her older sister for nearly twenty years, since Caroline married a wealthy American and left France. So when Emma receives a request from Caroline to meet her, she is intrigued. Caroline invites Emma to visit her in New York, on one condition: Emma must tutor her shy, young niece, Isadora, and help her prepare for her society debut. Caroline lives a life of unimaginable excess and opulence as one of New York's Gilded Age millionaires and Emma is soon immersed in a world of luxury beyond her wildest dreams - a far cry from her bohemian lifestyle as a harpist and writer with her lover, Claude, in Montmartre. Emma hopes for an emotional reunion with her only family, but instead she finds herself in the vice-like grip of her charismatic and manipulative sister, who revels in the machinations of the ultra rich. As Emma begins to question her sister's true motives, a disaster strikes, and New York society is stripped bare - beneath the glittering exterior lies a seething nest of deceit, betrayal, moral corruption ... and perhaps even murder. From the bestselling author of Tuscan Rose comes a mesmerising tale of two sisters and the dangers and seductions of excess.