Daisy Lindberg and Lily Boyle traded a colorful past for
a fresh start as seamstresses in Autrie, Texas, and their aim to spark a
women's rights movement is raising eyebrows among the town's dumbfounded men.
But among the ladies? Tired of being treated like possessions, they have two
words: Amen, sister!
Beulah, a sassy shop owner as formidable as a cannon
shot, is on board. So is Alma, a timid preacher's wife who hit her breaking
point. Before long, a courageous female posse has a liberating petition of
demands. Surprisingly, they also have an empathetic ear in sheep rancher Matt
Maguire, who's as keen on women's independence as he is on Lily.
As Daisy and Lily make waves in the small town, their
secrets threaten to come out. But they haven't traveled this far to let their
past define them. In fact, with love and the forging of new lives on the line,
they've never felt more defiant.
This was my first historical novel by Carolyn Brown. I am
a huge fan of her contemporary stories, and this historical did not disappoint.
I believe this is linked to the author's
Sisters in Paradise series and
upcoming
The Paradise series.
Lily and Daisy formerly worked at The Paradise, a brothel
in Spanish Fort, Texas. With the closing of the brothel, they pack up and move
to Autrie, Texas, determined to start new lives as seamstresses, far from their
old life. In addition to starting their business, they also plan to start their
own women's rights movement. One of the first people they meet is Buelah, owner
of the only general store. Outspoken as they come, Buelah is entirely on board
with their plans.
I loved watching Lily and Daisy jump right into their
plans. They don't back down when faced with the disapproval of some of the men.
It isn't long before they're holding Women's Auxiliary meetings in their shop,
and encouraging other women to stand up for themselves. When the men show no
sign of changing their ways, the ladies go on strike. I loved watching them
band together and support each other. The scenes of their efforts were
fantastic. I loved the part with the rattlesnakes. I cheered for the part where
the "shady ladies" from the saloon joined the movement, and loved how
they were accepted into the group.
It was fun to see them assemble their list of demands and
the reactions it received from the men in the town. I felt the reactions were
realistic, and I enjoyed seeing the effects. It wasn't perfect, and things got
complicated when Lily and Daisy's past came out. I loved the support they
received and the solution to their problem. The concurrent stories of some of
the other women added more depth to the characters and provided a variety of
outcomes to their efforts.
There is also a little bit of romance in store for our
intrepid suffragists. Neither Lily nor Daisy had plans for relationships. Past
betrayals left them with trust issues. But local sheep farmers Matt and Claude
Maguire had different ideas. From the moment he met her, Matt's admiration and
respect for Lily were evident. Lily was wary, but couldn't deny her growing
feelings for him. She worried about his reaction when she finally got around to
telling him about her past. Claude was equally impressed with Daisy, and I
loved how easily they connected. An unexpected revelation cleared the way for the
futures Lily and Daisy had only dreamed of.
I'd love to see stories for the new arrivals and some of
the secondary characters.
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