Both Martin McAdams and his wife, Anna, had dreamed of going to the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. The trip was all they could imagine except for one thing. Anna was dying of leukemia. Anna’s most fervent wish was for her husband to find someone else with which to share the rest of his life. Martin and Anna were in their twenties and had been in love since they met in high school playing in Romeo and Juliet. Martin had married her, knowing she had not many years to live. Martin also knew Anna hoped he would have a long, happy life, filled with the love of another woman. He didn’t want to think about that. Too ill while in Paris to go to the Louvre on the day they planned, Anna insisted Martin go without her. Inside the Louvre a woman stumbled and Martin caught her, keeping her from falling. Marie Wu was an art student, a lovely, witty woman, Martin learned as they chatted, and she thanked him for keeping her from harm. A lovely woman, yes, but he had a wife whom he loved, a woman who was dying. Despite all of Anna’s wishes for Martin to find someone to grow old with, Marie wasn’t the woman, was she?

Nicola Beaumont has deftly written a beautiful, bittersweet story of true love. Forever from Paris is not a maudlin story, but in other hands, not as talented as Ms. Beaumont’s, it could have been. Writing about death is never easy, nor is it easy to read, but this story is filled with hope and sunshine through shadows. Even with the sadness of a love ending by death, there is a rebirth of another love. This inspirational story is a pleasure to read. Nicola Beaumonthas an attention to detail that makes one feel they are actually inside the Louvre and inside the heads of her characters. I loved the scene of trying to see the Mona Lisa. It was very real. I know. I’ve been there. I feel that even if one is not usually a fan of inspirational stories, a reader will enjoy Forever from Paris by talented Nicola Beaumont.

Reviewed by: Jaye Dee