Book Synopsis:
One woman’s journey to find herself and help secure the vote. Perfect for the fans of the TV series Mr Selfridge and The Paradise.
1911 Bath. Banished from her ancestral home, passionate suffrage campaigner Esther Stanbury works as a window dresser in Pennington’s Department Store. She has hopes and dreams for women’s progression and will do anything to help secure the vote.
Owner of the prestigious Phoenix Hotel, Lawrence Culford has what most would view as a successful life. But Lawrence is harbouring shame, resentment and an anger that threatens his future happiness.
When Esther and Lawrence meet, their mutual understanding of life’s challenges unites them and they are drawn to the possibility of a life of love that neither thought existed.
With the Coronation of King-Emperor George V looming, the atmosphere in Bath is building to fever pitch, as is the suffragists’ determination to secure the vote.
Will Esther’s rebellious nature lead her to ruin or can they overcome their pasts and look to build a future together?
A Rebel At Pennington’s is available in ebook and paperback now, you can purchase a copy of both using the link below.
My Review:
I love historical fiction that’s set in an old fashioned department store! There’s something about the descriptions of the staff and the different things on sale that sends a shiver of delicious anticipation down my back as I know I’m in for a good read.
A Rebel At Pennington’s was no exception as I soon fell in love with the shop and the fabulous staff. They all seemed a lovely, varied bunch of people who seemed to have a great relationship with each other. The descriptions of the many departments and the everyday interactions with staff and customers was great to read about and I soon felt fully absorbed in the story.
Esther was an interesting character who took a little while for me to warm to. On one hand I loved her determination and outspokenness regarding the suffragette movement but in the other she annoyed me as it seemed like that was all she cared about! I wanted to reach into the book and give her a shake as I felt she was missing out on so much right under her nose! This was especially true in her budding relationship with Lawrence which was brilliantly and tantalisingly played out. I so wanted Esther to have a happy ending that I felt she deserved but felt she was being too difficult regarding her views which was very frustrating.
The author has clearly done her research and the historical details were fascinating to read about. I love books that describe the suffragette movement so loved reading about all the details and events included in this novel. I felt swept along with the movement and wished I could have been there to help Esther and her friends out.
This is the second book in the series and while it can be read as a standalone it’s probably best to read the books in order as you get to know the characters and shop more. I so hope there is more to come in this wonderful series!
Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book which I received in exchange for an honest review. If you like fantastically researched, absorbing historical fiction then you need to read this book!
About The Author:
Rachel lives with her husband and two teenage daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. Her first novel was published in 2007. Since then, she’s had several books published with small presses and since 2012 has written mainstream romance and romantic suspense for Harlequin Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories) and Victorian romance for eKensington/Lyrical Press.
In January 2018, she signed a four-book deal with Aria Fiction for a brand new Edwardian series set in beautiful Bath. The first book, The Mistress of Pennington’s was released in July 2018 with book 2, A Rebel At Pennington’s, following in February 2019.
Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England. And in the evening? Well, a well-deserved glass of wine is never, ever refused…
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