By: Camille Di Maio
ISBN: 1503950123
Publisher: Lake Union
Publication Date: 5/1/2018
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 4 Stars Hearts and dreams evolve in the shadow of the once-magnificent Penn Station. Vera Keller, the daughter of German immigrants in turn-of-the century New York City, finds her life upended when the man she loves becomes engaged to another woman.
But Angelo Bellavia has also inadvertently opened up Vera’s life to unexpected possibilities. Angelo’s new wife, Pearl, the wealthy daughter of a clothing manufacturer, has defied her family’s expectations by devoting herself to the suffrage movement. In Pearl, Vera finds an unexpected dear friend…and a stirring new cause of her own. But when Pearl’s selfless work pulls her farther from Angelo and their son, the life Vera craved is suddenly within her reach—if her conscience will allow her to take it.
Her choice will define not only her future but also that of her daughter, Alice.
Vera and Alice—a generation and a world apart—are bound by the same passionate drive to fulfill their dreams. As first mother and then daughter come of age in a city that is changing as rapidly as its skyline, they’ll each discover that love is the only constant.
My Review
Master storyteller Camille Di Maio returns following Before the Rain Falls with THE WAY OF BEAUTY —a charming multi-generational love story of family, love, loss, and hope.
Meticulously researched and beautifully written, a lovely tribute to the workers who risked their lives, and the wonders of Penn Station and New York City.
As always, not only does the author provide fascinating and interesting historical facts and detailed history, her characters jump off the page.
Vera Keller, the daughter of German immigrants is devastated when discovering the man she loves is engaged to someone else. She is young and carefree and the caregiver for her aging father. The second half of the book explores Alice, her daughter. Alice is also a dreamer and wants a better life.
Camille weaves the timelines and characters storylines for a heartwarming tale, combining fact and fiction. She explores highly-charged topics of social classes, immigrants, women’s rights, activism, and loads of history and lots of heart.
Highly recommend this author. Have read all her books and each one is unique with her own winning signature style.
Check out her upcoming book, coming March 5, 2019, THE BEAUTIFUL STRANGERS!
A special thank you to Lake Union for an early reading copy.
Praise
“The Way of Beauty is a charming multi-generational love story, but it is more than that: it is a story of family, love lost, and love found…A loving tribute to the workers who risked their lives and health in building iconic structures in New York City…” —Historical Novel Society
“Fans of historical women’s fiction and light romance will enjoy this pleasant work of historical fiction.” —Booklist
“The Way of Beauty is another deftly crafted and reader-engaging novel by Camille Di Maio, and continues to showcase her genuine flair for originality and narrative storytelling. Fully entertaining from first page to last, The Way of Beauty will easily prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Contemporary General Fiction collections.” —Midwest Book Review
About the Author
Camille recently left an award-winning real estate career in San Antonio to become a full-time writer. Along with her husband of twenty years, she enjoys raising their four children. She has a bucket list that is never-ending, and uses her adventures to inspire her writing. She's lived in Texas, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and California, and spends enough time in Hawai'i to feel like a local. She's traveled to four continents (so far), and met Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II. She just about fainted when she had a chance to meet her musical idol, Paul McCartney, too. Camille studied political science in college, but found working on actual campaigns much more fun. She overdoses on goodies at farmers markets (justifying them by her support for local bakeries) and belts out Broadway tunes whenever the moment strikes.
There's almost nothing she wouldn't try, so long as it doesn't involve heights, roller skates, or anything illegal. "The Memory of Us" is Camille's debut novel and is a finalist for the Holt Medallion Award for Literary Excellence. Her second, "Before the Rain Falls" was released in May 2017.
Her third, "The Way of Beauty" May 1, 2018, and THE BEAUTIFUL STRANGERS, coming March 5, 2019 and available for pre-order now.
She appreciates you stopping by, and welcomes you to reach out and share a love of books! Read More
