Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book shocked me with how amazing it is! I picked it up for a change of pace from my normal fantasy reading and I’m so so happy I did
Loved this book! The plot became a bit predictable in the second half, and it could’ve been shorter, but the characters were strong and likable and the two different time periods were equally interesting (often I find in books like this one time period is much duller than the other.) It has a feel-good ending.
Wanted to love it, and it was cute. But the story was basically the same as Echo of Old Books.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
“There are times for holding on in this life and times for letting go. You must learn to know the difference.” ~Esmée Roussel, The Dress Witch
Two women. Two Countries. Similar lives. Eventually, friends.
This was such a wonderful story…but a double edged sword for me.
Soline Roussel is a dressmaker from Paris like her mother and her mother’s mother. They make wedding dresses that are known to be woven with spells of joy. When Hitlers armies invade Paris, Soline volunteers at the hospital where she falls in love with an American Ambulance driver. When things become more dangerous, he sends her to America, where they will be married when he can get there.
Rory Grant is an aspiring artist from an affluent family. She is engaged to be married to her fiancé, “Hux”, when he returns from traveling to Sudan with Doctors without Borders. Her world is upended when she finds out he has gone missing.
With a beautiful piece of property and an idea, Soline and Rory meet…and a friendship blossoms.
With wonderful characters and storylines…this book has it all! Family, Love, Loss, Mother-Daughter relationships, hope and even a little bit of magic.
The double edged sword was that it was a tear jerker. I love a good cry from a book! But this one hit home. I don’t speak with my mother and this one definitely pulled at the heart strings for that. However, like the quote says, “there are times for holding on in this life and times for letting go…you must learn to know the difference.” No truer words have been said or written.
My first 5 star read of 2025…I highly recommend!
Two women. Two Countries. Similar lives. Eventually, friends.
This was such a wonderful story…but a double edged sword for me.
Soline Roussel is a dressmaker from Paris like her mother and her mother’s mother. They make wedding dresses that are known to be woven with spells of joy. When Hitlers armies invade Paris, Soline volunteers at the hospital where she falls in love with an American Ambulance driver. When things become more dangerous, he sends her to America, where they will be married when he can get there.
Rory Grant is an aspiring artist from an affluent family. She is engaged to be married to her fiancé, “Hux”, when he returns from traveling to Sudan with Doctors without Borders. Her world is upended when she finds out he has gone missing.
With a beautiful piece of property and an idea, Soline and Rory meet…and a friendship blossoms.
With wonderful characters and storylines…this book has it all! Family, Love, Loss, Mother-Daughter relationships, hope and even a little bit of magic.
The double edged sword was that it was a tear jerker. I love a good cry from a book! But this one hit home. I don’t speak with my mother and this one definitely pulled at the heart strings for that. However, like the quote says, “there are times for holding on in this life and times for letting go…you must learn to know the difference.” No truer words have been said or written.
My first 5 star read of 2025…I highly recommend!
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was not expecting the magical element, though honestly I’m not sure the book actually needed it.
The changes in tense between the two viewpoints made Soline’s parts feel more personal and immediate. I was pretty annoyed when I figured out what the second big reveal was going to end up being, so it’s a testament to the author’s writing skill that I enjoyed the book ending despite that.
The changes in tense between the two viewpoints made Soline’s parts feel more personal and immediate. I was pretty annoyed when I figured out what the second big reveal was going to end up being, so it’s a testament to the author’s writing skill that I enjoyed the book ending despite that.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Barbara Davis has become one of my favourite authors. Moving stories, lovable, flawed characters, stories that draw you in.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes