Book Review >> The Dress Shop on King Street

Hullo, friends!

I hope y'all had an absolutely marvelous Christmas holiday---and also, Happy New Year! We actually enjoyed a beautiful White Christmas Eve & Day this year, for the first time in ten years. So lovely!

I have a few little updates to share, but this post is for a book review, so I'll plan to do so another day. :]

Meanwhile, Happy 2021!

I hope your weekend is a lovely one!

Now, on to my first completed book of the year. . .

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The Dress Shop on King Street

Ashley Clark

Bethany House Publishers | December 1st, 2020

Christian Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction

{GoodReads}

Harper Albright has pinned all her hopes on a future in fashion design. But when it comes crashing down around her, she returns home to Fairhope, Alabama, and to Millie, the woman who first taught her to sew. As she rethinks her own future, secrets long hidden about Millie's past are brought to light.

In 1946, Millie Middleton boarded a train and left Charleston to keep half of her heritage hidden. She carried with her two heirloom buttons and the dream of owning a dress store. She never expected to meet a charming train jumper who changed her life forever . . . and led her yet again to a heartbreaking choice about which heritage would define her future.

Now, together, Harper and Millie return to Charleston and the man who may hold the answers they seek . . . and a chance at the dress shop they've both dreamed of. But it's not until all appears lost that they see the unexpected ways to mend what frayed between the seams.

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I was provided with a complimentary copy thanks to Bethany House Publishers, in exchange for my honest review.

WARNING: Possible Spoilers!

THE BASICS

As was the previously reviewed [fiction] novel I shared on this here blog, The Dress Shop on King Street was set from the perspectives of two different women living in two very different times. One experiences the injustice & fear of racial segregation & hate during the 1940s & beyond and the near impossibility of striving to accomplish her dreams; and the other lives in our present day era while struggling to follow her own dreams in a world that seems to oppose her at every turn.

All in all, this is a sweet novel whose message speaks about how our dreams may be quite different from that which our Lord has in store for us. And we must be willing to step back & listen to what He's trying to say.

VIOLENCE

Touches deeply on racial segregation & all the events that take place because of the hate. A story is told of a black mother whose daughter was sold at the age of nine---the two never met again in their lifetimes, but their descendants remember their stories.

We learn a girl's Italian father was brutally killed while defending her against some neighborhood boys---her mother was black, making her biracial. Because of this, she lives in constant fear, hiding her half-heritage.

A few historical events are mentioned mentioning violence in regards to racial opposition. A church is bombed, killing some young girls.

Not really violence, but a pregnant woman goes into labor early, experiencing much pain & loss of blood. (She recovers!) [SPOILER] Turns out, she gives birth to twin girls. And apparently, in that day & age of racial differences, they could only keep one girl for fear harm would come to both should they be raised together (one was born with lighter complexion & the other quite a bit darker). . . This threatens to tear her heart apart. She lives in fear & regret for soooo many years due to their decision.

A man succumbs to an illness called mesothelioma, leaving behind his wife & daughter.

SPIRITUAL CONTENT

This is a Christian novel! God is mentioned often, and several characters pray to Him for wisdom & guidance throughout the story. And they learn that God's ways are not always our own.

LANGUAGE // ALCOHOL & DRUGS

None. Though it's mentioned some racial slurs are used but never described or written out.

None that I recall. . .

ROMANTIC CONTENT

A couple characters in the 1940s stick together for the sake of convenience. It's assumed they are a couple of poor, married youngsters looking for work. When they both acquire jobs at a boarding house, the owner gives them a room to share. The young man respects her space & they sleep with a barrier of pillows in between them. (Nothing happens immorally, I promise!) Eventually, they marry, but still respect each other's boundaries---aaaaand don't consummate their marriage until five years later. . .

Two other modern day characters find attraction to each other slowly growing. They strike up a great friendship that gradually blooms. I found the relationship quite sweet.

CONCLUSION

To conclude, I enjoyed the story, though it will probably not be one I'll ever re-read. I suppose this could be because of all the racial junk going on in our world today & the fact I'm just tired of all that. This book doesn't really rub it all in your face, but instead gives a great perspective on all the tidbits of history & how things were decades & decades ago.

I liked the characters. Each were fully human in their flaws & fully relatable. And I believe they were well written to the point there was no confusion with all the year hopping.

All told, a sweet story with a historical, vintage feel & a message of faith & trust in the only One who has true control over our dreams. Once these characters realized that, their dreams were fulfilled to the fullest potential, even if it wasn't exactly how they first imagined.

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