The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier

When Ella Turner's husband is sent to work in France, she looks forward to the opportunity to explore the world of her Tournier ancestors. Isabelle du Moulin is a young girl in the 16th century when her family leaves the powerful Catholic church to follow the teaching of John Calvin. However, her copper colored hair continues to connect her to images of the Virgin Mary and leads to accusations of witchcraft and physical attacks. These two women in search of their own versions of truth move both forward and backward in time to the point where their lives connect. Alternating chapters, a bit of a mystery, a lot of romance and above all the identifiable Chevalier version of historical fiction. This is her first novel and, although I think she got better, it is a fine beginning.