Zibeline — Complete

"Zibeline — Complete" by Philippe Massa is a late 19th-century romance that introduces us to Valentine de Vermont, also known as Zibeline, a rich and unique French-American woman determined to overcome her father's scandalous history. She uses her wealth to charm Parisian high society, stepping into a world of beauty and deception. The book begins with Zibeline's arrival in Paris, where she has inherited a large sum of money from her father. The story opens with an extravagant dinner party at a fancy restaurant celebrating a military officer who just won a horse race. As different characters mix and mingle, the author shows the difficulties of ambition, personal debt, and social status, while also introducing Henri de Prerolles, a young nobleman, whose involvement in risky gambling places him on a path that will soon connect him with Zibeline. The beginning builds a story filled with mystery, commentary on society, and possible romance.