Lush, tender, and utterly irresistible…
A talented milliner and a runaway aristocrat find love in an alternate Belle Époque Paris in Sikes’s historical romance. Solange wants success, not romance, and she’s worked too hard to depend on anyone else for survival. Louise-Marie escapes the glittering prison of Versailles and hides in Madame Poulet’s millinery after fleeing an arranged marriage. As the two women work side by side crafting elegant hats, fascination turns into desire. But political tensions and Louise-Marie’s hidden past may destroy their fragile happiness.
Sikes blends richly detailed historical atmosphere with subtle speculative elements, creating a world shaped by outlawed technology and rigid social expectations. The romance unfolds gradually through sharp dialogue, creative collaboration, and simmering emotional tension, giving the relationship genuine depth. The detailed depictions of millinery lend the novel unusual texture and authenticity, while the contrast between Versailles’ suffocating luxury and the freedom of the workshop highlights the novel’s emotional stakes.
A sumptuous, slow-burning sapphic historical romance full of yearning and beautifully crafted detail.
***
Pub date May 1, 2026
ISBN 979-8989801084
Print length 268 pages
Price $19.99 (USD) Paperback
