Orleans Embrace is an exquisite coffeetable book. Filled with gorgeous, poignant pictures, this book is beautiful in and of itself, but when you realize that the publisher is actually donating all of their profits to restoring the grandeur of New Orleans’ French Quarter, it becomes more beautiful on an even deeper level.

Seeing the beauty of the city makes one even more grateful that, terrible though Katrina was, she did not sweep away more of the history that is New Orleans. Many of the pictures are breathtaking, but some are more subdued. Perhaps that was intentional on the part of the photographer, to illustrate the sadness of loss contrasted with the joy that remains.

Orleans Embrace makes a welcome addition to your home, and purchasing it provides much-needed assistance to saving historical New Orleans from the ravages of Katrina.