Susan's Review of The Last Dance of the Debutante by Julia Kelly

When it’s announced that 1958 will be the last year debutantes are to be presented at court, thousands of eager mothers and hopeful daughters flood the palace with letters seeking the year’s most coveted invitation: a chance for their daughters to curtsey to the young Queen Elizabeth and officially come out into society.

In an effort to appease her traditional mother, aspiring university student Lily Nichols agrees to become a debutante and do the Season, a glittering and grueling string of countless balls and cocktail parties. In doing so, she befriends two very different women: the cool and aloof Leana Hartford whose apparent perfection hides a darker side and the ambitious Katherine Norman who dreams of a career once she helps her parents find their place among the elite.

But the glorious effervescence of the Season evaporates once Lily learns a devastating secret that threatens to destroy her entire family. Faced with a dark past, she’s forced to ask herself what really matters: her family legacy or her own happiness.

Lily Nichols’ world is turned upside down when she receives The Invitation; the invitation to be presented at court. She wanted to finish her last year of school and longed to attend university. Instead, her Grandmother and Mother are talking about dress fittings, photography appointments and sending her to a finishing school in Paris.

Julia Kelly creates a captivating story for Lily and her friends known as The Imperfects as they navigate the Season. Ms Kelly’s voice shines as she transports the reader to the 1958 London. Loved her detailed, colorful descriptions of the cocktail dresses, Worth ball gowns, shades of lipstick and hairstyles. I could hear the music and laughter and feel the excitement as the Imperfects dressed for Philippa’s ball. The gowns and the matching hats, gloves and lip color reminded me of photographs of my parents. My Mom always looked so pretty when they went out—she took time with selecting her dress, heels, hair and makeup.

Ms. Kelly’s decision to set Lily’s story during t late 1950’s added the perfect amount of drama to The Last Dance of the Debutante. Underwriting a debutante’s season was an expensive undertaking and the aristocrats were forced to compete with nouveau riche. It was important to have your cocktail party at an exclusive club, wear a Worth original; not an off the rack gown—appearances were very important. The completion between the debs was often intense and friendships were lost over one too many cocktails. Loved how Lily, Katherine and The Imperfects realized that they were not like the other debs and they banded together to endure the gossip and endless social events.

Along with the glitz, glamour and champagne, this story has a lot of heart. Lily came into her own during the course of this novel. Although Lily’s dream was to attend university, she acquiesced to her Grandmother and Mother’s wishes and left school for the season. Being a debutante was a real eye opener for Lily—she made friends, gained confidence and becomes independent from her family. She learns truths about her friends, family and herself. Loved that Lily realized that she had choices—she didn’t need to lead the life her family wanted for her—she could make her own decisions.

The Last Dance of the Debutante has all the story elements that I adore! It’s an engaging read filled with captivating characters, romance and conflict. After you finish this novel, raise a glass of champagne to celebrate Lily and the perfectly Imperfects!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by Gallery Books

Susan's Review of The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin

Inspired by the true World War II history of the few bookshops to survive the Blitz, The Last Bookshop in London is a timeless story of wartime loss, love and the enduring power of literature.
August 1939: London prepares for war as Hitler’s forces sweep across Europe. Grace Bennett has always dreamed of moving to the city, but the bunkers and blackout curtains that she finds on her arrival were not what she expected. And she certainly never imagined she’d wind up working at Primrose Hill, a dusty old bookshop nestled in the heart of London.
Through blackouts and air raids as the Blitz intensifies, Grace discovers the power of storytelling to unite her community in ways she never dreamed—a force that triumphs over even the darkest nights of the war.

The Last Bookshop in London is a poignant novel set in London during WWII. Many novels written during this time focus on military battles, European politics and romance. I was drawn to this novel because Madeline Martin chose a different route. The Last Bookshop in London depicts the fears, the strengths and the shared experiences of the everyday person who lived and worked in London during WWII.

Grace Bennett and he best friend Viv arrive in London in 1939 as London was preparing for war. They take in the sights-the double decker buses and the shops- as they walk to Mrs. Weatherford’s home. Mrs. Weatherford was Grace’s late mother’s best friend and has offered them a room to rent. Grace and Viv were not prepared to see blackout curtains, the underground Anderson air raid shelter and gas masks when they arrive at Mrs. Weatherford’s home.

The characters made this story sparkle and shine! Grace wanted to work at Harrods with Viv but, she was unable to secure a reference from her uncle. Mrs. Weatherford was able to work her magic and secured a position for Grace at Primrose Hill books. Grace was disappointed went she walked into the unorganized, dusty book store and met Mr. Evans. She wasn’t a reader and felt out of place when asked to recommend books until she was gifted a book by George Anderson, one of the bookshops customers. Reading George’s book enabled Grace to forget about the war, the rationing, and the bombings for an hour or two. I loved the connection between George and Grace and how his simple gesture provided Grace with a revelation of what she has been missing. Loved the larger than life character of Mrs. Weatherford. She was warm, caring and an important part of the community. Mrs. Weatherford welcomed Grace and Viv into her family.

Witnessing the aftermath of the night bombings through Grace‘s eyes brought the events of the Blitz in a new light. Madeline Martin’s descriptive voice allowed me to walk in Grace’s shoes as she watched incendiary bombs rain down from the sky, smell the fires and see the aftermath of the nightly bombings during the Blitz. I admired Grace’s courage and the bravery of the Londoners who worked together to protect their community. Grace starts a reading hour at Primrose Hill. As she reads the stories out loud, she notices that the number of people gathered in the room grows daily and that her love of books has brought peace and happiness to others.

I highly recommend The Last Bookshop in London! It’s the perfect blend of engaging characters and wartime drama with a bit of romance. Settle in with a pot of tea and enjoy this heartfelt, emotional read.

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

Book gifted by the author

Susan's Review of Lost in Paris by Elizabeth Thompson

When a deed to an apartment in Paris turns up in an old attic trunk, an estranged mother and daughter must reunite to uncover the secret life of a family matriarch.

Hannah Bond has always been a bookworm, which is why she fled Florida—and her unstable, alcoholic mother—for a quiet life leading Jane Austen-themed tours through the British countryside. But on New Year’s Eve, everything comes crashing down when she arrives back at her London flat to find her mother, Marla, waiting for her.

 
Marla’s brought two things with her: a black eye from her ex-boyfriend and an envelope. Its contents? The deed to an apartment in Paris, an old key, and newspaper clippings about the death of a famous writer named Andres Armand. Hannah, wary of her mother’s motives, reluctantly agrees to accompany her to Paris, where against all odds, they discover great-grandma Ivy’s apartment frozen in 1940 and covered in dust.

 
Inside the apartment, Hannah and Marla discover mysterious clues about Ivy’s life—including a diary detailing evenings of drinking and dancing with Hemingway, the Fitzgeralds, and other iconic expats. Outside, they retrace her steps through the city in an attempt to understand why she went to such great lengths to hide her Paris identity from future generations.

 
A heartwarming and charming saga set in the City of Lights, Lost in Paris is an unforgettable celebration of family and the love between a mother and a daughter.

I thoroughly enjoyed Elizabeth Thompson’s novel Lost in Paris. The novel is filled with unique characters, romance and secrets which span four generations.

Loved Elizabeth Thompson’s voice—-the vivid descriptions of Paris and its sights and sounds, and the people drew me into the story. I loved the pages where Marla and Hannah get lost in Paris the minute they step off the train from London. I imagined I was walking the streets of Paris with them. I could hear the street noise, see the architecture and the feel the joie de vivre of the city.

Elizabeth Thompson’s choice to use Ivy’s diary to connect the past to the present was executed flawlessly. Ivy’s story comes to life as Hannah reads each page—this drew me into the story. The diary provided insight into Ivy, her life and Paris during this exciting time as Paris established itself as a home to members of The Lost Generation. The author’s descriptive writing style shines as Ivy becomes part of the F Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemmingway and Gertrude Stein social circle.

The relationships between four generations of the same family are perfectly intertwined throughout the book. Marla and Hannah’s relationship is complicated at best and I really enjoyed their honest, heartfelt and often frustrating conversations. Lost in Paris is filled with great secondary characters; Hannah’s roommates: Cressida and Tallulah as well as Aiden and Gabriel.

Lost in Paris has all of the story elements that I adore—intrigue, romance and complex family relationships. Like a red wine, Lost in Paris should be savored slowly for its blend of dynamic characters and well-paced storyline. Lost in Paris is a special vintage—ENJOY!
Reviewed by Susan Gorman
ARC provided by Net Galley
Photo by Pilat

Elizabeth Thompson is a lifelong Francophile with a degree in journalism. She loves food, books, and art. Lost in Paris is her first novel for Simon and Schuster‘s Gallery Books. She currently resides in Tennessee with her husband and their Pembroke Welsh corgi, Luna.

For pre-order information, take a look Elizabeth's Blog HERE!

BUY LINKS

Simon & Schuster  | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Target

Susan's Review of The Last Garden in England By Julia Kelly

Present day: Emma Lovett, who has dedicated her career to breathing new life into long-neglected gardens, has just been given the opportunity of a lifetime: to restore the gardens of the famed Highbury House estate, designed in 1907 by her hero Venetia Smith. But as Emma dives deeper into the gardens’ past, she begins to uncover secrets that have long lain hidden.

1907: A talented artist with a growing reputation for her ambitious work, Venetia Smith has carved out a niche for herself as a garden designer to industrialists, solicitors, and bankers looking to show off their wealth with sumptuous country houses. When she is hired to design the gardens of Highbury House, she is determined to make them a triumph, but the gardens—and the people she meets—promise to change her life forever.

1944: When land girl Beth Pedley arrives at a farm on the outskirts of the village of Highbury, all she wants is to find a place she can call home. Cook Stella Adderton, on the other hand, is desperate to leave Highbury House to pursue her own dreams. And widow Diana Symonds, the mistress of the grand house, is anxiously trying to cling to her pre-war life now that her home has been requisitioned and transformed into a convalescent hospital for wounded soldiers. But when war threatens Highbury House’s treasured gardens, these three very different women are drawn together by a secret that will last for decades.

I thoroughly enjoyed Julia Kelly’s new novel The Last Garden in England!

Julia Kelly has written an engaging, poignant story for the women of Highbury House. The author chose to have this historical novel set in three time periods; 1907, 1944 and present day. This technique worked because the reader is able to relate to each of the women who are connected to the garden.

The chapters in Last Garden in England are divided by seasons. I enjoyed reading how each of the character's stories unfolded during each season. I could imagine Venetia’s plans for each garden room, smell the flowers as Diana walked through the children’s garden and imagine Emma’s disbelief when she realized that the once famous property has been neglected for years.

Emma Lovett has been tasked to bring the fabled Highbury House gardens back to life. She is honored to restore the gardens designed by Venetia Smith in 1907.

Venetia Smith has made a name for herself by designing gardens for the wealthy. She is hired by the Melcourts to create a one- of- a- kind garden showpiece. The Venetia chapters interested me because the distinction between classes was very apparent. Even though Venetia was the artist who designed the plans for the gardens; she was treated by her employers as a servant. The sketches of Venetia’s walled gardens intrigued me. Each garden portrays a piece of a woman’s life; the tea party garden, the bridal room, the children’s garden and the winter garden.

Diana Symonds is the mistress of Highbury House. She has experienced a lot of change in the past year; the death of her husband, food shortages and rationing during the war and her home being requisitioned as a hospital. I loved the friendship that developed between the Highbury house cook Stella and Beth who was conscripted during the war and served as a Land Girl. Diana, Beth and Stella are very different – their bond? The Highbury House gardens.

Julia Kelly is able to weave each of these stories together flawlessly. Venetia created the Winter garden that served as Diana’s refuge during the war. Emma’s company specializes in restoration work and she is committed to bringing the gardens back to life. Loved the authors descriptive writing—I was able to picture the gardens as Venetia designed them, as Diana saw them and as Emma envisioned them. I could imagine the neglected, mysterious Winter garden and understood its importance to Venetia, Diana and Emma.

The Last Garden in England is a complex, moving historical novel filled with hope and a bit of intrigue.I highly recommend this book if you love to read historical fiction, novels set during World War II or appreciate the beauty of an English country garden!

I enjoyed this book so much that I bought Julia Kelly's Light over London--loved it!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

Copy of the book provided by Net Galley

Julia Kelly photo by ©Scott Bottles 

Julia Kelly is the international bestselling author of historical women's fiction books about the extraordinary stories of the past. Her books have been translated into 11 languages. She has also written historical romance as well as fast-paced contemporary sports romance under the name Julia Blake. In addition to writing, she’s been an Emmy-nominated producer, journalist, marketing professional, and (for one summer) a tea waitress. Julia called Los Angeles, Iowa, and New York City home before settling in London.

Readers can sign up for her newsletter HERE.

Check out Julia Kelly's blog for her design of the Highbury House garden!

Susan's Review of The Highlanders Excellent Adventure by Shana Galen

Just because they've run away...

Ines Neves and Emmeline Wellesley have both run away. Ines hid in a carriage from a tedious suitor, only to find, too late, the carriage had traveled out of London, not just around the block. To make matters worse, the carriage is that of a stranger: a handsome Highlander. Or perhaps a big, strapping Highlander makes matters better? Emmeline Wellesley has had four Seasons and cannot tolerate another. To force her mother to listen to her, she's run away. But things haven't gone well. She's been locked in a closet, had all her money stolen, and somehow adopted a dog. When an old family friend shows up to save her, she doesn't exactly welcome his help.

Doesn't mean they don't want to be found...

Duncan Murray doesn't know what to make of the Portuguese-speaking woman in his carriage. She refuses to return to London, so he takes her to meet Nash Pope, a so-called friend who speaks Portuguese. On the way, he meets up with former soldier Stratford Fortescue and Stratford's opinionated distant cousin, Miss Wellesley. The four travel together to Nash's estate, and that's when everything goes really wrong. On the run to Scotland, Duncan finds himself increasingly attracted to Ines, even though he knows he can never marry her. Stratford has always wanted Emmeline, but his family secret means he doesn't deserve her. This excellent adventure might bring the couples together, but only if they manage to elude gun shots, a murderous brother-in-law, a vicious dog, and outlaws!

Passion! Excitement! Danger!

These three words describe the feel of Shana Galen’s The Highlander’s Excellent Adventure.

I loved Ines, Duncan, Emmeline and Stratford and enjoyed that the novel was told from each character’s point of view. This was an excellent storyline choice because it enabled to reader to understand each character’s perspective and emotions.

Ines Neves desires passion, excitement and danger—and she knows she will not find it with the men her sister and brother- in -law have selected for her. Ines wants to choose her husband and make her own decisions. She has a secret crush on Duncan Murray who exudes passion, excitement and danger! Ines hides in a carriage to avoid a suitor and imagine her surprise when she wakes up in Duncan’s coach!

Emmeline is tired of London and dreads another season. She decides to run away to a relative’s house and Stratford is determined to find her. Their adventure begins Stratford finds her locked in a closet! Loved that Emmeline and Stratford harbored feelings for each other for years. Both were insecure—in different ways-and I loved their journey it really tugged at my heartstrings.

Shana Galen’s fast paced writing style and captivating characters drew me into the story immediately. This adventure is filled with humor, romance and the chemistry between each of the couples sizzles. Loved there were so many twists and turns – I was immersed in the story and had the sense that danger was lurking around each corner.

I recommend The Highlander’s Excellent Adventure – it’s an enjoyable novel filled with romance, danger and emotion. 

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by author

Book purchased through Amazon

Shana Galen is the bestselling author of fast-paced adventurous Regency historicals, including the RT Reviewers' Choice The Making of a Gentleman. Booklist says, "Galen expertly entwines espionage-flavored intrigue with sizzling passion," and RT Bookreviews calls her "a grand mistress of the action/adventure subgenre." She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston's inner city. Now she writes full time. She's happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making!

Susan's Review of Taken by the Rake by Shana Galen

Sometimes beauty…

Honoria Blake knows she must have had a moment of madness when she accepted a summons by the Scarlet Pimpernel to travel to revolutionary Paris and help his League. She’s an expert forger and glad her services can be of use, but the violence of the Reign of Terror has her longing for her quiet, unobtrusive life in London. Then a bloody man staggers to the door of the house where she’s hiding, claiming he was sent by the Pimpernel. Recently escaped from La Force prison, the former Marquis de Montagne is sinfully handsome and charming. He’s also desperate enough to kidnap Honoria. So much for her return to the quiet life.

Can be a beast…

Laurent is a consummate rake, but even he is captivated by the beautiful Honoria. Laurent cares almost nothing for his own life, but he was always close to the royal family and the little princess was like a sister to him. He will risk everything to save her from a life of imprisonment and possible execution. His plan is risky and surely doomed, but if he can convince Honoria and the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel to help him, it just might succeed. The only question is how far he’s willing to go and whether he’s willing to risk the life of the only woman he’s ever loved to save a doomed princess.

Taken by the Rake is set in Paris during the French Revolution. The legend of the Scarlet Pimpernel has always appealed to me—love the idea of a group of spies working undercover during the French Revolution.

Shana Galen pairs Honoria Blake, a beautiful, antiquities expert turned forger, with Laurent, a charming rake and former Marquis in this novel. I adored Honoria; she was dedicated to the League and wanted to prove herself. It took me awhile to warm up to Laurent. The author perfectly crafts this character—he oozes charm and believes he is entitled to get what he wants… now! Both characters change during the story. It takes Laurent awhile to accept that aristocratic way of life has ended. Honoria’s decision to help Laurent shows her bravery and dedication to the cause and also her ability to trust Laurent. Honoria understands why it is so very important for Laurent to undertake this rescue mission.

The characters, the setting and the suspense filled storyline kept me reading. Ms. Galen’s descriptive writing style makes this book hard to put down; I felt that I was in Paris witnessing the mobs of people attacking the aristocrats and running through the streets of Paris with Honoria and Laurent. I definitely was absorbed in the characters, their passion and desire to complete their mission.

If you are looking for a historical novel which blends passion and suspense; one click Taken by the Rake. I tried my best not to give away the story and keep my review spoiler free!

I highly recommend this novel—it’s the best one I have read in AGES!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

Book Purchased on Amazon.

Susan's Review of The Gown by Jennifer Robson

The Gown
London, 1947

Though the war ended two years ago, England’s recovery has been difficult. But the nation’s spirits are lifted when Buckingham Palace announces the engagement of Princess Elizabeth to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten. For Ann Hughes and Miriam Dassin, colleagues at the famed Mayfair fashion house of Norman Hartnell, the upcoming wedding is more than a celebration. The talented embroiderers have been chosen to create the beautiful, intricate stitching that will adorn the royal bride’s wedding gown. It is an extraordinary opportunity for an ordinary working-class English girl and a French émigrée who survived the Nazis.

Toronto, 2016

Intrigued by the exquisite set of hand-stitched flowers she has inherited from her late grandmother, Heather Mackenzie discovers the embroideries match the motifs decorating Queen Elizabeth II’s stunning gown from her wedding almost seventy years before. Among her grandmother’s possessions, she also finds an old photo of Nan with Miriam Dassin, a celebrated artist and Holocaust survivor. How did her beloved Nan, a woman who never spoke of her old life in Britain, come to possess these embroidered treasures? What was her connection to Miriam Dassin, and why did Nan never mention her? Yearning to know more about her grandmother’s past and the mystery of the embroideries, Heather travels to London. It is a journey that will unlock the secrets of Nan’s life, including her connection to Miriam, and may even lead Heather to her own destiny.

Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip married 20 November 1947 at Westminster Abbey

Jennifer Robson has written a heartfelt story of two women who created the handstitched elaborate embroidery pieces which adorned Princess Elizabeth’s wedding gown and veil. I loved that the author chose to tell the story from the embroiderer’s perspective. In my opinion, this decision made a great story an excellent read because I could relate to the characters and their journeys.

The Gown has a dual storyline. Miriam and Ann’s story begins during the bone chilling winter of 1947. Heather MacKenzie is Ann’s grand daughter and her piece is set in 2016, shortly after Ann’s death. Heather finds several pieces of embroidery work in her grandmother’s things. Heather’s journey shines new light on Ann’s life and her relationship with the now famous artist, Miriam.

Ann Hughes is lucky. She has a position as an embroiderer at Hartnells, the Queen’s favorite dress designer, and shares a house with her widowed sister-in-law Milly. Ann and Milly shared a special bond and they supported each other through the dark days of the war. Ration coupons for food and clothes were a way of life for these women. They couldn’t buy a new pair of winter boots-they had to wait for a swap meeting. Dinners were simple and tea bags were reused due to the food shortages.

Miriam Dassin is my favorite character in the story. A Holocaust survivor, she is determined to work in a fashion house in London. She lands a position at Hartnells where she meets Ann. Miriam and Ann are chosen to embroider the intricate bead work on Princess Elizabeth’s wedding gown and veil. The reader learns of the hardships and constant fear Miriam endured during the war through her conversations with Ann and Walter Kaczmarek. Ann encourages Miriam to tell her story and provides her with material so Miriam can embroider her memories. This simple gesture of kindness enables Miriam to record her life.

Princess Elizabeth’s wedding was the first royal event after the war. The wedding gave the English people something positive to focus on after years of shortages, rations and a poor economy. The bridal gown and its detailed embroidery work were kept secret which added to the anticipation of the wedding. Loved that the author included details of the dress; the silk, the tulle, the pearls and the beading as it added to the feel of the story.

The Gown is a story of friendship, the importance of friendship. Ann’s friends share clothes, shoes, and stockings with her when she has a date. Walter offers Miriam friendship and love as he listens to her story. Woman supported each other during the difficult years before and after the war. Heather’s journey enables her to better understand her grandmother and provides her with love and hope for the future.

Jennifer Robson has provided the reader with a behind the scenes look at Princess Elizabeth’s wedding. This story of friendship, love and hope has all the feels; it is rich in detail, has endearing characters and has an amazing, emotional storyline. I can’t wait to read the author’s next book.

If you are a fan of The Crown or Downton Abbey—this is the book for you.

Reviewed by Susan Gorman
Book purchased through amazon
Photos by Getty images and Susan Gorman

An academic by background, a former editor by profession, and a lifelong history nerd, I am lucky enough to now call myself a full-time writer. I’m the author of five novels set during and after the two world wars: Somewhere in France, After the War is Over, Moonlight Over Paris, Goodnight from London, and most recently The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding. I was also a contributor to the acclaimed anthology Fall of Poppies: Stories of Love and the Great War.

I studied French literature and Modern History as an undergraduate at King’s University College at Western University, then attended Saint Antony’s College at the University of Oxford, where I obtained my doctorate in British economic and social history. While at Oxford I was a Commonwealth Scholar and SSHRC Doctoral Fellow.

For a number of years I worked as an editor but am now fortunate enough to consider myself a full-time writer. I live in Toronto, Canada, with my husband and children, and share my home office with Ellie the sheepdog and her feline companions Sam and Mika.