THE WAY OF BEAUTY

by

Camille Di Maio

Genre: Historical Fiction / 20th Century / Literary

Publisher: Lake Union Press

Date of Publication: May 1, 2018

Number of Pages: 384

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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.

Praise

“The Way of Beauty is a thing of beauty. The writing is gorgeous, the story is engaging, the characters are amazing. The amount of research that goes into historical fiction just astounds me. Add this to your TBR!”

“If you want to be swept away by a love story set in a fascinating and meticulously researched past, Camille Di Maio is the author for you. Don’t miss this one.”

“A captivating story of love and family that spans several generations.”

“The writing transports you to the time, not so long ago when women had to choose between love and their rights. Camille Di Maio’s dialogue, descriptions, and relationships create a complete picture of the era and struggles. Great book club book.”

Check out the Trailer!

If you enjoy historical fiction and love old buildings/landmarks, you will want to read this book!

This story spans several generations and starts in the early 1900s and ends in the 1960s and encompasses two world wars, the women’s suffragette movement, and love. I especially enjoyed learning about Penn Station (which was torn down in the 60s) and how it impacted the lives of our characters. It was a central focus for various reasons and I think my favorite reason was for the adventure and possibilities it held since you could take a train from this building to almost anywhere.

The love story was just the right amount of happiness, sadness, and struggles to reach that point.  Vera and Angelo may eventually find true love together, but it is a path fraught with heartache and even a little misdirection before they are able to start their happily ever after.  I admired Vera for not giving up on her belief that she and Angelo were meant to be together.  Then their daughter, Alice, is torn between two men.  They both proclaim to love her, and she loves both in their own way but which one will be her true love?  Will her path mirror Vera’s?

While I didn’t make note of each one, there are many memorable lines throughout the book that will warm your heart and maybe even make you think just a little bit!  This is one quote that I enjoyed, mostly because I love books and it compares books to buildings:

“There are some things that are better as they age. Wine. Cheese. Books. Who doesn’t love the smell of an old book? That’s exactly why I love old buildings. They have history. The things they’ve seen. A new building is an empty shell. Sure, its plumbing may run smoothly, but has it ever embraced a cheering crowd or housed a dramatic performance or sponsored a ghost?”

Overall this is just a feel good, turn of the century romance that will leave you smiling.

We give this 5 paws up!

~Romance Writers of America Honor Roll Inductee~

Camille recently left an award-winning real estate career in San Antonio to become a full-time writer. Along with her husband of 19 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 farmer’s 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 was Camille’s debut novel. Her second, Before the Rain Falls was released ‪on May 16, 2017, and The Way of Beauty is her third novel.

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GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

TWO SIGNED COPIES!

MAY 1-10, 2018

(US ONLY)

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