The Secret Life Of Sunflowers: A gripping, inspiring novel based on the true story of Johanna Bonger, Vincent van Gogh's sister-in-law (Light & Life Series) by Marta Molnar
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The Secret Life Of Sunflowers: A gripping, inspiring novel based on the true story of Johanna Bonger, Vincent van Gogh's sister-in-law (Light & Life Series)

by

Marta Molnar

(Author)

4.3

-

19,126 ratings


"This book draws all the emotions out of you. I went from tears to snorting with laughter. It was both lighthearted and heart breaking, yet it inspires me to live my best life! " Michelle Cox

When Hollywood auctioneer Emsley Wilson finds her famous grandmother's diary while cleaning out her New York brownstone, the pages are full of surprises. The first surprise is, the diary isn't her grandmother's. It belongs to Johanna Bonger, Vincent van Gogh's sister-in-law.

Johanna inherited Vincent van Gogh's paintings. They were all she had, and they weren't worth anything. She was a 28 year old widow with a baby in the 1800s, without any means of supporting herself, living in Paris where she barely spoke the language. Yet she managed to introduce Vincent's legacy to the world.

The inspiration couldn't come at a better time for Emsley. With her business failing, an unexpected love turning up in her life, and family secrets unraveling, can she find answers in the past?

"This book was so much more than I had expected, and I had high expectations... one of the most beautiful stories I've read in years." Kaela Stokes

"It touched something in my soul." Audrey McDonald

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ISBN-10

1940627494

ISBN-13

978-1940627496

Print length

404 pages

Language

English

Publisher

Dana Marton

Publication date

July 13, 2022

Dimensions

5 x 1.01 x 8 inches

Item weight

10.2 ounces


Popular highlights in this book

  • If you hear a voice within say you cannot do something, then by all means, do that thing, and that voice will be silenced.

    Highlighted by 1,851 Kindle readers

  • Think of it as I do. A place of great comfort, and lots of love, and blooming creativity. We were blessed by it for a long time. And now we release it with gratitude. May it delight all who enter the doors, for at least another hundred years.

    Highlighted by 1,152 Kindle readers



Editorial reviews

"... an outstanding look at perseverance, overcoming glass ceilings and being the strongest woman that you can be... a wonderful book that should be read by everyone." Michelle Cox

"This book has me in my feels." Kaela Stokes

"I loved the story. The back and forth between present and past. I loved the pace of the book, not rushed but a perfect storytelling of a journey into acceptance and rebuilding of life." Judy Wagner

"... this book would be an excellent book club read. It's engaging and funny, with real depth of emothion that shines through... " Gretchen Coon


Sample

CHAPTER ONE

Emsley

The first time I saw the blue box of mystery was the last time I talked with my grandmother face-to-face.

“If you want to murder that cheating boyfriend of yours, I’m in,” she told me. “I thought about it, Emsley. I can’t help you bury his body, or Diya’s, but I can provide you with an alibi.”

She adjusted her Monet-print silk robe, blue-green with a smattering of purple water lilies, until it draped over her frail body just so. The goddess in repose. Stroke or no, prop-up bed or no, she was still Violet Velar, the Artist, the Diva, the toast of New York.

The cloud of disinfectant that hovered throughout the care center like highland mist in a Robinson Hall painting didn’t dare breach her room. Her perfume embraced me. Spicy, unrestrained, bold.

I plunked a stack of art magazines and auction catalogues on her nightstand. “We can let Trey live another day. He’s allowed to have a relationship with Diya, if that’s what they want. We’re business partners. I’m prepared to stick out the rough spots.”

“You could come back.”

I kissed her cheek. “You know New York is my Camelot.” The magical kingdom I always longed for. “But LA is my reality.”

New York auction houses seemed to have a secret charter that required auctioneers to look like the host of a British documentary series. You had to sound like you went to Cambridge in the sixties to be allowed on the stage.

“I’m not of a distinguished age, and here, that matters. I don’t have a stature that commands respect.” I turned down the metal bars around Violet’s bed that the new nurse liked to pop up for safety, but Violet hated. “And I’m not the preferred sex. I’m missing the dangly bits.”

She growled at that.

My sentiments exactly. “You know what Henry Fullerton told me when I asked for a promotion?”

“Henry was always an ass.”

“Expensive pieces of art are bought by the rich as an investment. A star auctioneer must be a person the CEO of a hedge fund would find trustworthy at a glance. Someone they could see themselves golfing with on a Sunday.” Henry’s exact words, his excuse for keeping me in a junior position year after year. “Anyway, if he wasn’t an ass, I wouldn’t have started looking at other opportunities.” When I was in a generous mood, I could almost convince myself that Henry Fullerton had done me a favor. “I wouldn’t have started my own business with Diya and Trey.”

Violet’s Valkyrie gaze softened with concern. “Are you sure you want to keep living with them?”

“It’s not a matter of want. It’s a matter of being unable to predict lottery numbers.” I settled into the recliner next to her bed with my bag and teased my laptop from the mess of papers in there. “Believe me, I want to have my own place. And someday soon, I will. And then I’m going to buy Diya and Trey out of the business.”

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About the authors

Marta Molnar

Marta Molnar

Marta Molnar is the author of the dual-timeline women's fiction novels THE SECRET LIFE OF SUNFLOWERS about Vincent van Gogh's sister-in-law Johanna Bonger and GIRL BRAIDING HER HAIR about Suzanne Valadon who painted with the Impressionists then was forgotten by history. Marta is an avid art history enthusiast and a self-taught artist. She studied writing at Seton Hill University and (briefly) at Harvard University.

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Reviews

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

19,126 global ratings

Lee

Lee

5

MUST READ

Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2024

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This is one of those books that everyone needs to read especially if you are a fan of Vincent Van Gogh or the writer, Marta Molnar.

It is beautiful, interesting, funny, charming and a fast reading wonderful book. Marta has written the book like it is two books in one. One for the present day and one for Vincent Van Gogh's sister-in - laws day.

There are so many hidden messages in this book that take hold of you and you become a part of both womens lives. I couldn't stop reading it. When I purt it down I wanted to pick it up agian and see what the next chapter had to say. It became a part of my life just as a very good movie takes you into it.

I became a part of this book and this book became a part of me.

Read it women of the world!

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4 people found this helpful

marieham

marieham

5

Loving Van Gogh more

Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2024

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I have always loved Van Gogh.I'm an artist and often look at his colors and brush strokes. Now, I really know about him. This woman brought him to the world. His work is so much more now that I know him. I cried a little at the end, realizing that he really never saw any of his rewards. If only he had been able to hold on a little longer. There would be more of him in the world.

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paula m stevens

paula m stevens

5

Very good read….loved the comparisons!

Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2024

Verified Purchase

I was skeptical at first with the chapters in the past and then in the present, but there is so much comparison between the two protagonists and the ending pulled it together very nicely (satisfying). The self doubt of both these women turned into confidence and they both achieved their dreams. I loved the character of Emerley’s grandmother and the surprises throughout. Having a present day romance also brought the characters to life. I highly recommend this read. My only question is the cover of the book and the woman on it?

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