It always brings me up short to be reminded that novels that tell their stories in the years of my lifetime can still be considered historical fiction. I am pleased to welcome Danielle Martin today and share my thoughts on her book, Glimmer as you can. I thank TLC Book Tours for sending me a copy at no charge.
About Glimmer as You Can:
Welcome to the Starlite. Let your true self shine.
1962. In the middle of Brooklyn Heights sits the Starlite: boutique dress shop by day, underground women’s club by night. Started by the shop’s proprietor after her marriage crumbled, Madeline’s social club soon becomes a safe haven for women from all walks of life looking for a respite from their troubled relationships and professional frustrations. These after-hour soirées soon bring two very different women into Madeline’s life–Elaine, a British ex-pat struggling to save her relationship, and Lisa, a young stewardess whose plans for the future are suddenly upended–irrevocably changing all three women’s lives in ways no one could have predicted.
But when Madeline’s ne’er-do-well ex-husband shows up again, the luster of Starlite quickly dampens. As the sisterhood rallies around Madeline, tension begins to eat at the club. When an unspeakable tragedy befalls their sorority, one woman must decide whether to hide the truth from the group or jeopardize her own hopes and dreams. Sure to appeal to readers of Kathleen Tessaro and Suzanne Rindell, Glimmer As You Can captures the heartbeat of an era and the ambitions of a generation of women living in a man’s world–a world threatened by a wave of change.
About the Author:
Danielle Martin started her professional career as an assistant with the William Morris agency before pursuing a degree in teaching. She previously worked as a special education teacher in New York, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana. Currently she works as a freelance writer near New Orleans. Born in Putnam County, NY and raised by two generations of native Brooklynites, her depictions of the boroughs of New York were informed by her childhood experiences, family accounts, and a love of city history.
Connect with Danielle
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
My Opinion:
Glimmer as You Can takes place in the early 60ies when women were just starting to wake up and feel their power. The ladies that join together and meet at the Starlite – a woman’s club in the basement of a dress shop – are all learning that they don’t necessarily need a man to shine.
The book showcases three women all dealing with problems but finding a place of respite in the woman’s club in the basement of Madeline’s dress shop. Madeline was doing quite well making dresses for women of society until her husband ruined what she had going and she had to start over again and that led to her shop and the formation of the Starlite club. Little did he know the favor he did her …
The women come together for support, to socialize and to just be – free from the strictures that society puts on them. They develop deep friendships are are there for one another in ways that can’t be put into words. When Madeline’s husband returns, things start to change and the strength of the group is tested.
This was an involving yet fast read. The characters were ones I wanted to root for – especially Madeline. Her husband was not a pleasant guy. It was a great way to spend a day escaping from not being able to escape. Thank heavens for books in these days, right? You can get away from everything for a little while.
Rating:
4.5
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