Publisher's Synopsis
Susanne Bruante awakens to find herself in an impossible place-the past. And not just any past, but the very time in 19th century Paris when her double, Nicole Bruante, had lived. That is, before Nicole exchanged places with Susanne and shot through a time-shell to the 21st century. And now, everyone-even Nicole's own mother...believes that Susanne is Nicole. Continuing the intriguing time-travel story begun in his first novel, A Portrait in Time, Charles Schneider's sequel, The Vale of Years follows Susanne as she faces a dilemma that soon becomes a challenge for the clever imposter. Somehow, the former Assistant Director of Acquisitions and Special Exhibits at the Musee d'Orsay must insert herself into the lives of famous painters of the time. By lying and deceit, she creates a clever scheme that will ensure she won't just survive...but inherit a fortune from a painter she had studied in her former life. Her plan includes posing in the nude for-and seducing and sleeping with-such famous Impressionist painters as Renoir, Degas, and Manet as her true self, while her alter-ego, a prim and proper woman who goes by the fictitious name of Charlotte Bernier, gives the outward appearance of perfect propriety. In fact, "Charlotte" will scheme her way into the last will and testament of another famous painter, Gustave Caillebotte...ensuring that she one day will possess all that he has. But first, she has to figure out how to kill the man who has taken her as his mistress...and get away with it."
