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I enjoy reading historical fiction, so it was natural to read and review My Dear Miss Dupré by Grace Hitchcock. It is the first book in the American Royalty series where we meet the Dupré family and those who are part of the 1880s Four Hundred in New York City.
"Thirty suitors, six months of courting...would it be enough time for her to fall in love?"
The 358-page paperback book opens on New Year's Eve in 1882 with Willow Dupré ice skating. We quickly meet one of Willow's suitors - Friedrich Blythe - and learn of her parents' plans to hold a competition to help Willow pick a husband. Willow had no knowledge of this competition until she saw Mr. Blythe's invitation. The idea behind the competition is to find Willow a husband to help her manage the Dupré sugar industry. Even though she had trained alongside her father to manage and eventually take over, the shareholders do not want her running the business without a husband – a man – by her side.
Throughout the book, we meet Willow's 30 suitors, those involved with the sugar business, and others. Do not think this is a book just about romance. There is also cooperate espionage as a sugar competitor attempts to push the Dupré's out of business. And to complicate matters, there is intrigue among the suitors as one is a spy for that competitor, one is leaking information to the press, and one is even more dangerous.
I have mixed feelings about My Dear Miss Dupré. I enjoyed parts of the book immensely. I found, with only about 80 pages left, I couldn't put the book down. I even think the story would translate well to the silver screen but I struggled with the book at times. I would still recommend My Dear Miss Dupré because I think it is a good book. I look forward to the next in the series. I am very curious to see if it will be about Willow's good friend, Flora. So if you like Christian historical romance, please check out My Dear Miss Dupré.
I LOVED this book! Can't wait to see the next one. :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed parts of this book so much but at times it did not hold my attention. I don't think that is the fault of the book or the author - just my own life circumstances. I hope we get to hear about Flora in the next one.
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