About This Book:
The Davenports are one of the few Black families of immense wealth and status in a changing United States, their fortune made through the entrepreneurship of William Davenport, a formerly enslaved man who founded the Davenport Carriage Company years ago. Now it’s 1910, and the Davenports live surrounded by servants, crystal chandeliers, and endless parties, finding their way and finding love—even where they’re not supposed to.
There is Olivia, the beautiful elder Davenport daughter, ready to do her duty by getting married . . . until she meets the charismatic civil rights leader Washington DeWight and sparks fly. The younger daughter, Helen, is more interested in fixing cars than falling in love—unless it’s with her sister’s suitor. Amy-Rose, the childhood friend turned maid to the Davenport sisters, dreams of opening her own business—and marrying the one man she could never be with, Olivia and Helen’s brother, John. But Olivia’s best friend, Ruby, also has her sights set on John Davenport, though she can’t seem to keep his interest . . . until family pressure has her scheming to win his heart, just as someone else wins hers.
*Review Contributed by Kim Baccellia, Staff Reviewer*
It’s Chicago 1910 and the Davenports are one of the few wealthy Black families in the city. Mr. Davenport is a formerly enslaved man who founded the Davenport Carriage Company years ago. Within his family there is drama. The oldest Olivia is set to marry a handsome man from England but falls for a very charismatic civil rights leader. Helen loves tinkering with cars. Amy-Rose is a childhood friend who now is a maid to the Davenport sisters and longs to be with their brother. Ruby is a friend of the Davenport sisters and has a secret about her family’s current status.
There’s romance, parties, and even civil unrest. The story shows a little-known part of our history with Black Americans who had wealth and status. At the opening of the story readers see that even though Olivia comes from wealth, she still encounters racism due to the color of her skin by a store clerk who assumes she’s a maid. Then there’s childhood friend Amy-Rose who longs for much more than friendship with John but sees firsthand how others look down on her due to her being biracial.
Lush descriptions of the time period include the costly gowns, wealthy parties, and struggles that go on within families. The conflicts are shown with parents trying to force marriages on their children to keep face and also wealth in their families. Add to this betrayals, lies, and secrets that will have some in the Davenport family question not only their social status but their true desires.
Totally engaging diverse historical romance that had me wishing all the characters got their heart’s desires.
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