This isn't the 1st book I have read from Fiona Davis. I like her books. They are history with some fiction intertwined into a story.
Most of what she writes on is something I have seen, or heard of.
Of the two storylines I believe I like the one with Lily, who of her own bad luck ran away from something to accidentally wander and the staff thought she was there for a job. And got the job to be private secretary to daughter of Henry Clay Frick. His daughter, Helen was a hard one to please. As it turns out Lily was able to get along with her.
The house that they were staying at was the residence of Henry Frick in 1914. He was a steel magnate who collected and loved art. He built his home to one day leave, with the large art collection to the city as a museum.
Lily although got in trouble after the death of Henry Frick. She ran and married the person who helped her escape. Had a good life. In the very distant future she finally got her time to explain what really happened to Helen about her father. Some foal play I believe.
Mrs. Frick and Helen lived there til 1931 and than the house was renovated and opened in 1935 to become the museum it is today. There was also a Magnolia diamond it was said it was given to another daughter before she died. And are known for the Magnolia trees on the front lawn. Strange the diamond was said to be stolen but never a report on it. No one has seen it since.
The second storyline about Veronica Weber a model, was doing a shoot at the Frick mansion things got said back and forth and she was told she was done. Veronica wandered, being that there was a snowstorm and she couldn't go anywhere. She found secrets and hidden clues to the pink diamond called Magnolia diamond. As she did this, with the help with a fellow she saw and learnt about the history of the building. This was in the 1960's.
The connection to these storylines is art. Being that Lily was a muse for artist and living in the Frick house that had an art collection. She learnt of the history of art and was appreciative of it.
As for Veronica, also a model found art collection intriguing .
With the relationship with Lily and Helen it gives me as the reader the original version how things came to be. That's why I prefer the first storyline over the second.
I give The Magnolia Palace (which the author named it) 5 
Hope to read more of Fiona's stories
