This post is up today with apologies for my lateness. I am part of the blog tour for The Mayfair Bookshop by Eliza Knight. Thanks to Random Things Tours and William Morrow Paperbacks for the copy of the book.
1938: She was one of the six sparkling Mitford sisters, known for her stinging quips, stylish dress, and bright green eyes. But Nancy Mitford’s seemingly dazzling life was really one of turmoil: with a perpetually unfaithful and broke husband, two Nazi sympathizer sisters, and her hopes of motherhood dashed forever. With war imminent, Nancy finds respite by taking a job at the Heywood Hill Bookshop in Mayfair, hoping to make ends meet, and discovers a new life.
Present Day: When book curator Lucy St. Clair lands a gig working at Heywood Hill she can’t get on the plane fast enough. Not only can she start the healing process from the loss of her mother, it’s a dream come true to set foot in the legendary store. Doubly exciting: she brings with her a first edition of Nancy’s work, one with a somewhat mysterious inscription from the author. Soon, she discovers her life and Nancy’s are intertwined, and it all comes back to the little London bookshop—a place that changes the lives of two women from different eras in the most surprising ways.
This is my first book from Eliza Knight so began the book without knowing what to expect. A historical fiction novel told over a dual timeline of the 1930s, following Nancy Mitford and the present day of Lucy St Clair.
I always say I love to be educated and entertained at the same time. This novel does just that. Nancy Mitford was a real person and is part of the infamous Mitford family. I did not know the family before I read this book, but the story of Nancy definitely enthralled me.
Lucy St Clair is a book curator and has a big interest in Nancy Mitford and mystery. One of her prize possessions is an original book written by Nancy herself. It has a dedication inside, to Iris. She arrives in London on a work assignment and a determination to find out who Iris was. This is the first step in a journey that will teach her much more than she is expecting.
Based on real events and people, it is well researched and rich in detail. This in itself had me so intrigued about the Mitford family and their lives. The way the author writes drew me to both the women and their lives. It didn’t take long for me to be invested in both of their stories. Eliza Knight has managed to portray these women in a realistic and believable way that I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.
The vivid imagery gave me a firm sense of place and that made the era come to life as I read. The present day setting added so much intrigue into this tale.The story has been layered so well, that I couldn’t tell where the facts stopped and the fiction began.
A novel that is a fascinating story for any history lovers, or anyone with an interest in the Mitford family. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
Author Bio
Eliza Knight is an award winning, USA Today and international bestselling author. Her love of history began as a young girl when she traipsed the halls of Versailles and ran through the fields in Southern France. She can still remember standing before the great golden palace, and imagining what life must have been like. Growing up in the Washington, D.C. area, her weekends were filled with visits to museums, and historical reenactments. Escape into history for courageous heroines, irresistible heroes and daring escapades. Join Eliza (sometimes as E.) on riveting historical journeys that cross landscapes around the world.
While not reading, writing or researching for her latest book, she tries to keep up with her three not-so-little children. In her spare time (if there is such a thing…) she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, staring at the stars, watching movies, shopping and visiting with family and friends. She lives atop a small mountain with her own knight in shining armor, three princesses, two very naughty Newfies, and a turtle named Fish.
Look for THE MAYFAIR BOOKSHOP a dual-narrative story about Nancy Mitford—one of 1930s London’s hottest socialites, authors, and a member of the scandalous Mitford Sisters—and a modern American book curator desperate for change, connected through time by a little London bookshop available now. Coming in 2023, AMERICAN STAR: a Novel of Adele Astaire.
For more information about book club visits, downloadable reader guides, upcoming author events, book news, newsletter and more, visit her website: http://www.elizaknight.com
If you love history and want to dive in for some fun, visit Eliza’s popular, award-winning blog:
To connect on social media, visit/follow Eliza at the following:
Twitter: @elizaknight
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/elizaknightfiction
Instagram: @ElizaKnightFiction
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