IN THE SHADOW OF A QUEEN By Heather B Moore

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shadow Mountain (October 4, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639930507

#IntheShadowofaQueen, #HeatherBMoore, #HistoricalFiction, #VictorianFiction, #BiographicalFiction, #Bookstagram, @authorhbmoore, @shadowmountainpub, @austenprose

Based on the true story of the free-spirited daughter of Queen Victoria.
Princess Louise’s life is upended after her father’s untimely death. Captive to the queen’s overwhelming mourning, Louise is forbidden to leave her mother’s tight circle of control and is eventually relegated to the position of personal secretary to her mother—the same position each of her sisters held until they were married.

Already an accomplished painter, Louise risks the queen’s wrath by exploring the art of sculpting, an activity viewed as unbefitting a woman. When Louise involves herself in the day’s political matters, including championing the career of a female doctor and communicating with suffragettes, the queen lays down the law to stop her and devotes her full energy to finding an acceptable match for her defiant daughter.

Louise is considered the most beautiful and talented daughter of Queen Victoria, but finding a match for the princess is no easy feat. Protocols are broken, and Louise exerts her own will as she tries to find an open-minded husband who will support her free spirit.

In the Shadow of a Queen is the story of a battle of wills between two women: a daughter determined to forge her own life beyond the shadow of her mother, and a queen resolved to keep the Crown’s reputation unsullied no matter the cost.

MY REVIEW:

Reading about royalty had always fascinated me. As a commoner, being allowed a glimpse of their extravagant lives of privilege, wealth, and the unattainable, are what my dreams were made of. That is why reading IN THE SHADOW OF A QUEEN was so interesting to me, because of the life of Princess Louise, who is clearly the anti-princess and also somewhat of a hero to me. Princess Louise's life truly is quite a story to be told, and Heather B. Moore did this amazing justice. I enjoyed every bit of this book. 

About the Author:

Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than ninety publications. Heather writes primarily historical and #herstory fiction about the humanity and heroism of the everyday person. Publishing in a breadth of genres, Heather dives into the hearts and souls of her characters, meshing her love of research with her love of storytelling.

Her historicals and thrillers are written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes women's fiction, romance and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore, and . . . speculative fiction under Jane Redd. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom. Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt and the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel. Despite failing her high school AP English exam, Heather persevered and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in something other than English.

Please join Heather's email list at: HBMoore.com/contact/

Website: HBMoore.com

Twitter: @heatherbmoore

Instagram: @authorhbmoore

Facebook: Fans of Heather B. Moore

And yes, the Blog still lives: MyWritersLair.blogspot.com

Literary honors: 2020 Goodreads Choice Award Semi-Finalist, Foreword 2020 INDIES Finalist, ALA Best New Books - September 2020, 6-time Best of State Recipient for Best in Literary Arts, 2019 Maggie Award Winner, 4-time Whitney Award Winner, and 2-time Golden Quill Award Winner.

NO ONE CROSSES THE WOLF By Lisa Nikolidakis

I have a great memoir today, that has received a lot of attention for the brace account of Lisa Nikolidakis' childhood, traumas, and redemption that leads to hope and healing. 

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little A (September 1, 2022)


A powerful memoir about the traumas of a perilous childhood, a shattering murder-suicide, and a healing journey from escape to survival to recovery.
Growing up, Lisa Nikolidakis tried to make sense of her childhood, which was scarred by abuse, violence, and psychological terrors so extreme that her relationship with her father was cleaved beyond repair. Having finally been able to leave that relationship behind, surviving meant forgetting. For years, “I’m fine” was a lie Nikolidakis repeated.

Then, on her twenty-seventh birthday, Nikolidakis’s father murdered his girlfriend and her daughter, and turned the gun on himself. Nikolidakis’s world cracked open, followed by conflicted emotions: shock, grief, mourning for the innocent victims, and relief that she had escaped the same fate. In the tragedy’s wake, questions lingered: Who was this man, and why had he inflicted such horrors on her and his last victims? For answers, Nikolidakis embarked on a quest to Greece to find her father’s estranged family and a reckoning with the past she never expected.

In her gripping and moving memoir, Nikolidakis explores not only the making of a killer but her own liberation from the demons that haunted her and her profound self-restoration in the face of unimaginable crimes.

Review


“In this frank and often searing narrative, Nikolidakis examines what she describes as monstrous abuses perpetrated by her father, who, after leaving her family, murdered his new girlfriend and her daughter before committing suicide…With compelling clarity and eloquence, she anatomizes his ability to manipulate…A brave and inspiring account of a movement through pain to a complex reckoning and self-recovery.” —Kirkus Reviews

“A gripping, brutally honest memoir that deals with some heavy themes but will leave readers feeling hopeful and reflective by the end. Readers who enjoy examining the human spirit will be drawn to this book.” —Library Journal (starred review)

“…the best of the [true crime] genre seeks to answer questions more complex than whodunnit. In No One Crosses the Wolf, out from Little A, Lisa Nikolidakis recounts her father’s murder of his girlfriend and her daughter, followed by his suicide, and traces a family history of psychological manipulation.” —Vanity Fair

“Prepare yourself: reading Lisa Nikolidakis is a revelation, the kind that makes you gasp and call your best friend and say, ‘Listen to this sentence, this paragraph, this chapter. Listen to how she has made sense of the parts of us we ran from.’” —Mira Jacob, author of Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversation and The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing

“No One Crosses the Wolf is a striking, thoughtful, and engaging exploration of the inheritance of abuse—the way it passes through generations, the way it echoes through the lives of survivors.” —Dan Chaon, author of Sleepwalk

“This is a benediction as much as a book, a plea for, as Lisa Nikolidakis so beautifully puts it, the cradle of someone else’s tongue. No One Crosses the Wolf is for anyone who has ever been silenced, anyone who has ever had to learn to be a soft cradle to themselves. As a reader, as a writer, and as someone else who lives in this broken and beautiful world, I honor what Nikolidakis has made. This book will mean so much to so many.” —Alex Marzano-Lesnevich, author of The Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir

“When a woman tells the truth by beginning with her body, she cracks open the world. Lisa Nikolidakis’s memoir, No One Crosses the Wolf, is a force of nature, a story unearthed from under the weight of a father that brings a woman back to life. Sometimes we carry generational burdens that nearly crush us. Sometimes we run like the wind. This book is a triumph and soul song.” —Lidia Yuknavitch, author of The Chronology of Water and Thrust

“Lisa Nikolidakis’s memoir illuminates the dark and unspeakable, in ourselves, in others. Her story is crucial, and her tenacious exploration of the farthest reaches of her life’s difficult corners leaves readers with a fascinating portrait of violence and survival, as well as insight into and comfort around shadows in their own.” —Gabriel Mac, author of Irritable Hearts: A PTSD Love Story

“No One Crosses the Wolf is an insightful, brutally honest, and gripping portrait of a family marked by violence, murder, and suicide. This is a voyage fueled by hope, the desire to know the truth, and incredible resilience. Lisa’s is a beautiful, fast-paced, deeply emotional journey readers won’t soon forget.” —Julianna Baggott, author of The Seventh Book of Wonders

About the Author

Lisa Nikolidakis is an associate professor of creative writing and faculty adviser of P.R.I.D.E. Her essay “Family Tradition” was selected by Jonathan Franzen for inclusion in The Best American Essays 2016, and she won Bellingham Review’s Annie Dillard Prize for Creative Nonfiction 2021 for her essay “Whale Song for the Weary.” Other writing of hers has won various prizes and mentions, including the Gulf Coast Prize, Indiana Review’s Fiction Prize, the Tobias Wolff Award for Fiction, the Calvino Prize, A Room of Her Own’s Orlando Prize, Cincinnati Review’s Robert and Adele Schiff Award for Prose, Hunger Mountain’s Howard Frank Mosher Short Fiction Prize, Briar Cliff Review’s annual nonfiction contest, and Chattahoochee Review’s Lamar York Prize. For more information, visit www.lisanikolidakis.com.

CHRISTMAS IN BLUE DOG VALLEY By Annie England Noblin @avonbooks @aenoblin @WmMorrowBooks @harpercollins

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avon (September 20, 2022)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 20, 2022

For anyone who ever loved All Creatures Great and Small, Annie England Noblin’s newest novel—about a big city vet transplanted to a small Wisconsin town—is pure delight as we meet aging alpacas, stump-tailed cats, goats in tutus, a vagabond border collie named Kevin, and the people who think they own them. And through it all, Goldie McKenzie, DVM, navigating the small town of Blue Dog, Wisconsin.


Welcome to Blue Dog Valley. Home of the Fighting Elk. Population 3,411.

When Goldie McKenzie, DVM, vet to the L.A. pet stars, arrives from Los Angeles to Blue Dog Valley she realizes three things.Never agree to upend your life when you’re hungover
Pot-belly pigs are not true farm animals
She’s going to need a warmer coat

At first Goldie is nothing more than a fish out of water, with few clients and few friends. But after a less than pleasant encounter with a man whose dog is suffering from a possibly fatal case of bloat, she’s finally earning the trust and goodwill from her fellow Blue Dog Valley citizens. Her clientele grows to include the many farm animals in the town, including a horse named Large Marge, a cape-wearing therapy alpaca, and a yardful of sweater-wearing goats. Add in Kevin, the “worst sheepdog in Blue Dog Valley,” and a Sphinx cat named Airport, and Goldie is having the best time a vet can have. . . aside from the annoying attractive town grump, Cohen, who seems intent on making sure she always feels like an outsider.

With her newfound goodwill, Goldie comes up with an idea to reinvigorate the once flourishing Blue Dog Valley: a Christmas carnival. A petting zoo, pictures with Santa, a baking contest, what more could they want? After only some brief resistance from Cohen and his father, they begin the great plan to reinvigorate Blue Dog Valley.

Will Christmas be enough to salvage this dying town—and be enough to bring Goldie closer to a certain grumpy man?

MY REVIEW:

Picking up an Annie England Noblin novel is like getting embraced by the warmest and softest blanket during a cold winter's night. I love this immersive and escape feel-good read perfect for a nice week-end read or for winding down after a stressful day.

I picked up my very first Noblin book, St Francis Society for Wayward Pets two years ago, and Maps for the Getaway last year, both of which I loved and warmed my soul. I had been looking forward to reading CHRISTMAS IN BLUE DOG VALLEY, and I absolutely loved it!

I am from Los Angeles and a city girl and often wondered what it would be like to live and relocate in a small town. So the premise of this story intrigued me. Noblin wrote a romance read that had all the feels and write the character of veterinarian Marigold "Goldie" McKenzie so well, along with the funky residents of small town Blue Dog Valley - the alpacas, potbelly pig, goats in sweaters, and of course, Cohen. 

I adored how Goldie acclimated to the town and how slowly but surely, the town enveloped her with love and affection. The story is so heartwarming, complete with a bit of Christmas magic and the motley crew of animals that will surely bring a delightful smile to your face. Fantastic!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Annie England Noblin lives with her son, husband, and three dogs in the Missouri Ozarks. She graduated with an M.A. in creative writing from Missouri State University and currently teaches English and communications for Arkansas State University in Mountain Home, Arkansas. She spends her free time playing make-believe, feeding stray cats, and working with animal shelters across the country to save homeless dogs.

DRUNK ON LOVE by Jasmine Guillory

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley (September 20, 2022)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 20, 2022

Language ‏ : ‎ English

An intoxicating and sparkling new romance by New York Times bestselling author Jasmine Guillory.

Margot Noble needs some relief from the stress of running the family winery with her brother. Enter Luke: sexy, charming, and best of all in the too-small world of Napa, a stranger. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and Margot is delighted that she lucked into the perfect one-night stand she'll never have to see again. That is, until the winery's newest hire, Luke, walks in the next morning. Margot is determined to keep things purely professional, but when their every interaction reminds her of the attraction still bubbling between them, it proves to be much more challenging than she expects.

Luke Williams had it all, but when he quits his high-salary tech job in Silicon Valley in a blaze of burnout and moves back to Napa to help a friend, he realizes he doesn't want to tell the world--or his mom--why he's now working at a winery. His mom loves bragging about her successful son--how can he admit that the job she's so proud of broke him? Luke has no idea what is next for him, but one thing is certain: he wants more from the incredibly smart and sexy woman he hooked up with--even after he learns she's his new boss. But even if they can find a way to be together that wouldn't be an ethical nightmare, would such a successful woman really want a tech-world dropout?

Set against a lush backdrop of Napa Valley wine country, nothing goes to your head as fast as a taste of love--even if it means changing all your plans.

Editorial Reviews:

"As if we didn't already wish we can live in a Jasmine Guillory novel, the iconic author is back with another romance that will absolutely sweep you off your feet."—Cosmopolitan

"The queen of contemporary romance is back with a new tale and group of characters, this time set against the gorgeous backdrop of Napa, California."—Shondaland

"Suffused with tenderness and delight, this is Guillory's best book yet."—Booklist, starred review

"The lush background and Guillory’s signature blend of sexy, sweet, and funny keep the pages flying. This is a gem."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Guillory’s latest, imbued with her signature heat, wit, and scene-stealing secondary characters, is sure to be popular."—Library Journal, starred review

"Guillory’s latest romance is bursting with mouthwatering sexual tension and desire...Margot is a powerful protagonist, and her dedication to her career, despite the numerous challenges, is absolutely refreshing. An intoxicating romance with a strong lead."—Kirkus Reviews

REVIEW:

Steamy
Romantic
Seductive

I am such a huge fan of Jasmine Guillory's writing and have loved the characters, the Southern California setting, and the light hearted romance that touch the heart, and warms the soul. This time, the setting is in the beautiful vineyards of Napa Valley.

In DRUNK ON LOVE, I was transported to the gorgeous winery of Napa Valley. Having spent a month in Italy and enjoying Tuscany, reading this fun romance eased the longing I had spending time in a winery - and this time it's with the Noble family Vineyards.

I love a workplace romance - this one is a super hot hook-up with what ended up being your future boss. I enjoyed the story immensely and definitely got me drunk on this love story against the beautiful Napa Valley backdrop.

Be sure to check this out. I know this one is one of my favorite Guillory romance.

About Jasmine Guillory

Jasmine Guillory is the New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Date, The Proposal, The Wedding Party, Royal Holiday, and Party of Two. Her work has appeared in in O, The Oprah Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Real Simple, and Time. She lives in Oakland, California.

The Ladies Guide to Death and Deception By Katherine Cowley @KathyCowley, @TulePublishing, @Austenprose

Title: The Lady’s Guide to Death and Deception: The Secret Life of Mary Bennet  

Series: The Secret Life of Mary Bennett

Author: Katherine Cowley

 Genre: Historical Mystery, Historical Romance, Austenesque

 Publisher: ‎Tule Publishing Group, LLC (September 6, 2022)

 Length: (368) pages

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

What is a spy willing to do when both her heart and her country are at risk?

Life changes once again for British spy Miss Mary Bennet when Napoleon Bonaparte escapes from the Isle of Elba. Mary quickly departs England for Brussels, the city where the Allied forces prepare for war against the French. But shortly after her arrival, one of the Duke of Wellington's best officers is murdered, an event which threatens to break the delicate alliance between the Allies.

Investigating the murder forces Mary into precarious levels of espionage, role-playing, and deception with her new partner, Mr. Withrow-the nephew and heir of her prominent sponsor, and the spy with whom she's often at odds. Together, they court danger and discovery as they play dual roles gathering intelligence for the British. But soon Mary realizes that her growing feelings towards Mr. Withrow put her heart in as much danger as her life. And then there's another murder.

Mary will need to unmask the murderer before more people are killed, but can she do so and remain hidden in the background?

ADVANCE PRAISE

“Cowley manages to turn a little-liked, ignored, and stilted girl into one of my favorites of Austen's characters...This third novel of the series is her best. I laughed and I cried and cheered for Mary to succeed in her endeavors and hopefully find love at last.”— Carol Pratt Bradley, author of The Light of the Candle

“5 STARS. Just a delight!”— Wren, The Zebra Reader

“I really enjoyed this book. It is a great addition to the series. I loved that Mary is finding love in a logical way that fits her character…Highly recommend.”— Mariana, Goodreads

“I absolutely love Katherine Cowley's Mary Bennet series, and I think [The Lady’s Guide to Death and Deception] may be the best book in the series.”— Madison, Goodreads

MY REVIEW:

As a Jane Austen fan, there is nothing more thrilling to me than see a favorite character, Mary Bennett reimagined as a spy gathering intelligence, during the time when Napoleon escapes. The writing was suspenseful and really hard to put down. Lady’s Guide to Death and Deception is the third book in this trilogy, and the stories just keep getting better and better.

I love how Cowley incorporates a well plotted mystery, sprinkle in a well deserved romance for Mary, and seeing sisters Lydia and Kitty make an appearance here. The series is quite the read that I highly recommend - it was intriguing, fast paced, and a thrilling historical fiction at its finest. Well don’t Kathy Cowley for on incredible series.

PURCHASE LINKS

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AUTHOR BIO

Katherine Cowley read Pride and Prejudice for the first time when she was ten years old, which started a lifelong obsession with Jane Austen. Her debut novel, The Secret Life of Miss Mary Bennet, was nominated for the Mary Higgins Clark Award. Her Mary Bennet spy series continues with the novels The True Confessions of a London Spy and The Lady’s Guide to Death and Deception. Katherine loves history, chocolate, traveling, and playing the piano, and she has taught writing classes at Western Michigan University. She lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan with her husband and three daughters.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

 

EXCLUSIVE AUTHOR INTERVIEW

 

·         Read an in-depth interview with author Katherine Cowley revealing insights into her new historical mystery novel, The Lady’s Guide to Death and Deception.

 

THE NO-SHOW BY Beth O'Leary @berkleypub @berkleyromance #Betholeary

 

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley (April 12, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593438442

Thank you Berkley Pub for providing me a free copy of the book for review.

Synopsis:

Three women who seemingly have nothing in common find that they're involved with the same man in this smart new rom-com by Beth O'Leary, bestselling author of The Flatshare.

Siobhan is a quick-tempered life coach with way too much on her plate. Miranda is a tree surgeon used to being treated as just one of the guys on the job. Jane is a soft-spoken volunteer for the local charity shop with zero sense of self-worth.

These three women are strangers who have only one thing in common: they’ve all been stood up on the same day, the very worst day to be stood up—Valentine’s Day. And, unbeknownst to them, they’ve all been stood up by the same man.

Once they've each forgiven him for standing them up, they are all in serious danger of falling in love with a man who may have not just one or two but three women on the go....

Is there more to him than meets the eye? Where was he on Valentine’s Day? And will they each untangle the truth before they all get their hearts broken?

EDITORIAL REVIEWS:

“Beth O’Leary is that rare, one-in-a-million talent who can make you laugh, swoon, cry, and ache all in the same book, and The No-Show is her most moving yet. O’Leary’s wit, charm, and heart are on full, fantastic display in this cozy, surprising, and deeply satisfying novel. I couldn’t possibly love it more.”—Emily Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation

"Achingly clever."—Sophie Cousens, New York Times bestselling author of I Just Haven't Met You Yet

"Even as it taps beautifully into emotions and experiences that feel so universal, The No-Show is fresh, surprising and oh-so clever. It made me laugh, brought me to tears, and kept me reading late into the night. It's the kind of book that leaves an impression on your heart. A truly special read."—Holly Miller, author of The Sight of You

"Sweepingly romantic, bursting with character, and so, so clever I gasped out loud. Many writers make you feel good, but O'Leary also makes you think."—Gillian McAllister, Sunday Times bestselling author of That Night

“With thoroughly likable characters—even Joseph becomes appealing—this plot-driven novel is fast-paced and engaging throughout. Full of both humorous and heart-wrenching moments, the novel is packed with the perfect mix of contradictions to keep it engaging... An expertly plotted romantic surprise about self-forgiveness and second chances.”—Kirkus Reviews

"The No-Show by Beth O'Leary is a rom-com with a side of mystery."—PopSugar

MY THOUGHTS:

THE NO-SHOW by Beth O’Leary is another winning book. The writing is superb and in this story, the plotting was absolutely brilliant.

THE NO-SHOW is about three very different women who has no attachment to each other, except that they were all stood up on Valentine’s Day by the same man.
Three strangers whose stories are told through their point of views create a story that seem so convoluted and complex, but all the while, I find myself intrigued and turning those pages to see how the story will weave together. Dare I not fret since this story was in the hands of a masterful plotter, this story came through so beautifully in the end. I enjoyed The No-Show so much!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Beth studied English at university before going into children’s publishing. She lives as close to the countryside as she can get while still being within reach of London, and wrote her first novel, The Flatshare, on her train journey to and from work.
You’ll usually find her curled up with a book, a cup of tea, and several woolly jumpers (whatever the weather).

A DRESS OF VIOLET TAFFETA by: Tessa Arlen @BerkleyPub, @Austenprose

 

·         Title: A Dress of Violet Taffeta: A Novel

·         Author: Tessa Arlen

·         Genre: Historical Fiction

·         Publisher: ‎Berkley (July 5, 2022)

·         Length: (352) pages

·         Format: Trade paperback, eBook, & audiobook 

·         ISBN: 978-0593436851

·         Tour Dates: June 27-July 11, 2022

BOOK DESCRIPTION

A sumptuous novel based on the fascinating true story of La Belle Époque icon Lucy, Lady Duff Gordon, who shattered the boundaries of fashion with her magnificently sensual and enchantingly unique designs.

Lucy Duff Gordon knows she is talented. She sees color, light, and texture in ways few people can begin to imagine. But is the male dominated world of haute couture, who would use her art for their own gain, ready for her?
 
When she is deserted by her wealthy husband, Lucy is left penniless with an aging mother and her five-year-old daughter to support. Desperate to survive, Lucy turns to her one true talent to make a living. As a little girl, the dresses she made for her dolls were the envy of her group of playmates. Now, she uses her creative designs and her remarkable eye for color to take her place in the fashion world—failure is not an option. 
 
Then, on a frigid night in 1912, Lucy’s life changes once more, when she becomes one of 706 people to survive the sinking of the Titanic. She could never have imagined the effects the disaster would have on her fashion label Lucile, her marriage to her second husband, and her legacy. But no matter what life throws at her, Lucy will live on as a trailblazing and innovative fashion icon, never letting go of what she worked so hard to earn.

 

ADVANCE PRAISE

“Fans of the 1991 BBC series The House of Eliott will find familiar comfort in Arlen’s descriptions of fabrics, colorworks, and evolving fashions.” —Library Journal

“Tessa Arlen’s novel is as elegant as a Lucille gown, full of movement, color and beauty…For anyone interested in fashion, in the Gilded Age, in stories about strong, visionary woman, Tessa Arlen’s novel is a must read!” —Jeanne Mackin, author of The Last Collection

“A sumptuous treat of elegant prose, evocative descriptions, and compelling emotions. Arlen’s writing absolutely shines.” —Anna Lee Huber, USA TODAY Bestselling author of A Perilous Perspective

“Tessa Arlen delivers a fascinating tale based on the real-life fashion icon, Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon, who went up against a male dominated industry and revolutionized it…A must read for fashion fans everywhere.” —Renee Rosen, USA Today bestselling author of The Social Graces

“…written in a sumptuous, engaging style that appeals to all the senses and brings Lucy, her creations, and her world vividly alive.” —Alyssa Maxwell, author of The Gilded Newport Mysteries

 

PURCHASE LINKS

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 MY REVIEW:

I have always loved reading about fashion in the books I read, and this time, this story is about the icon of British fashion of the 19th and 20th century, Lady Lucy Duff Gordon. In addition to her fashion sense and style, she is one of the surviving passengers of the Titanic in 1912. Lucille is definitely a woman well ahead of her time, with a male dominated fashion industry, she is considered a trailblazer despite having to make her own way even after her cheating wealthy husband leaves her. 

Lucille's life is not only a study in resilience despite harrowing circumstances, but she is also a woman determined to succeed with whatever she has - her talents, creativity, and finding opportunities and to never give up.

I found the writing enthralling, and inspirational. The descriptions were immersive and really drew me into the Belle Epoque era, including the sights, sounds, and textures. This very well researched story was astounding and such a joy to read.

AUTHOR BIO

Tessa Arlen writes historical fiction when she is not toiling away in her garden. She is the author of the Edwardian mystery series: Lady Montfort and Mrs. Jackson; the Woman of World War II mystery series. Poppy Redfern. And two standalone historical novels: In Royal Service to the Queen, and A Dress of Violet Taffeta.

 

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

 

EXCLUSIVE AUTHOR INTERVIEW

 

·         Read an in-depth interview with author Tessa Arlen revealing insights into her new historical fiction novel, A Dress of Violet Taffeta.