Artist Suzanne Valadon is one of many uncelebrated artists whose art is locked away in museums and whose story is lost to history, until now. Born to an unwed mother, raised in poverty, in the late 1800's she survived many hardships. Desperate for work and willing to take chances to follow her creative passions she finally broke into France’s art scene and became a top model for the great artists of the time. Even with that success she still wanted to do her own art, but the doors were closed to all but a few women. By watching the artists she modeled for she gleaned the knowledge she wanted to use in her own art. Mixed with this story is a contemporary story about Ellie who is grieving the loss of her husband and their home, and is also lost in her new reality not knowing what her next step will be. When she comes across Suzanne’s art in the back room of the storage area in a museum a tiny spark of what she could use her own talents and gifts for emerges. Another fascinating novel by Marta Molnar. ( )