Synopsis:~
Lucy Banning may live on the exclusive Prairie Avenue among Chicago’s rich and famous, but her heart lies elsewhere. Expected to marry an up-and-coming banker from a respected family, Lucy fears she will be forced to abandon her charity work–and the classes she is secretly taking at the newly opened University of Chicago. When she meets an unconventional young architect who is working on plans for the upcoming 1893 World’s Fair, Lucy imagines a life lived on her own terms. Can she break away from her family’s expectations? And will she ever be loved for who she truly is? Readers will love being swept away into a world of mansions, secrets, and romance as they follow Lucy through the streets of the Windy City during one of the most exciting times in the city’s history. From opulent upper-class homes to the well-worn rooms of an orphanage, Olivia Newport breathes life and romance into the pages of history–and everyone is invited.
My take:~
Olivia Newport transports readers to bustling 1890s Chicago in this entertaining and intriguing novel about a young woman torn between the desire to please her family and her secret love of learning. With an eye for detail, Olivia brings Prairie Avenue and its inhabitants alive, as they strive to maintain the strict social expectations befitting a resident of the prestigious avenue. Lucy’s sense of responsibility to her family is put to the test as she secretly pursues her education, and meets Will Edwards, a quietly ambitious man with a good heart but not the expected social standing. A delightful romance is woven between the pages, as the charming and determined Lucy battles against prejudice and injustice in her sweet and indomitable fashion, while Will attempts to mark his place as an up and coming architect. The Pursuit of Lucy Banning showcases Olivia as an up and coming talent in this historical market, sure to be loved by fans of this every popular genre.
Available May 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group
With thanks to Revell for my review copy
Relz Reviewz ExtrasVideo of Debutantes’ Story SoireeInterview with OliviaOlivia’s Author AlertVisit Olivia’s website and blogBuy Olivia’s books at Amazon or Koorong
May 18, 2012 at 2:15 pm
Looks like a great book and a totally gorgeous cover. :O)
May 18, 2012 at 2:18 pm
I think the cover is attracting a lot of readers, Diane! The inside is good, too 🙂
May 18, 2012 at 4:55 pm
Will definitely HAVE to pick this one up next trip to the bookstore. (That cover is lovely. ;D)