May Leave Stars

Immerse yourself in the daring and decadence of the Belle Époque…

Paris, 1889: Amélie Audet toils in a laundry when, only steps away, investors promise the most glittering dance hall the city has ever seen. Determined to secure an audition, she stumbles into a meeting with the alluring owner of the Moulin Rouge and must face her scandalous past.

She would have Paris at her feet.

Jasper Degrailly is enchanted by a painting come to life. He sets out to seduce Amélie with his gilded world and the dark warrens of his mind. Yet he has his own sordid entanglements, and soon the gentleman and the singer must manage the greedy machinations of bohemian and high-society Paris.

He would have her at his.

Caught between competing artists, directors, and dance halls, Amélie struggles to earn the role that could make her a star, while Jasper strives to let go of his tortured past and hold on to his bright future. Eventually, their fates collide, and they find themselves torn between their desperate hearts and their irreconcilable lives.

PLEASE NOTE: This is the mainstream edition with virtually no explicit content. “The Writer’s Cut” edition contains graphic content.

“A vivid world… of the female and society’s judgements and expectations. Of power, control, passion, troubles, and hardships.” ~ Books, Tea, and Me

“Wow! What a fantastic book. I would give it more than 5 stars if I could…” ~ NetGalley Reviewer

“Heywood’s Paris burns hotter and shines brighter—her prose clever and banter sharp—making the reader feel as though they are walking through the city’s streets.” ~ Author A.R. Hadley

“I loved Jasper and Amélie as a couple. Their chemistry was tangible…” ~ Raya’s Reads

“This book was amazing. This is the way historical fiction should be done…” ~ NetGalley Reviewer

“I absolutely love [Heywood’s] attention to detail… She really makes the world of late-19th century Paris come to life.” ~ Little But Fierce Book Diary