Book Discussion by Local Writer Susan Winkler
More info here

1940, France: The eccentric Rosenswig-Assouline family is immersed in a belle-epoque lifestyle filled with art and antiques in their splendid chateau, Le Paradis, and the Matisse portrait of Lili's mother hangs in their Paris salon. The day before ardent young lovers Lili and her distant cousin Paul plan to marry, the Nazi's invade Paris and they are irrevocably thrust into the pressure cooker of war. The family flees toward Lisbon, but at the border Paul is detained and compelled to join the French army, while Lili is forced ahead to America.

As their fortunes fall, Lili and Paul and the others scramble to do what they must to survive while trying to adapt to the emotional devastation. When the beloved Matisse portrait is looted by top Nazi Hermann Goring, their fate is ultimately interwoven with that of their portrait. This is their search for lost love and lost art, set to romance and mystery, inspired by history.

The search for lost family, lost love and lost art was inspired by the Portland author's family history, and while the Rosenswig family is fictitious, other key players and events include the historic, from Matisse and Goring to French museum spy Rose Valland.