Synopsis

April 18, 1906 – A devastating earthquake rocks San Francisco and Templeton Morehouse fears her husband is lost forever. A powerful and compelling story from
USA Today bestselling author Bette Lee Crosby

Chances were a million to one that a girl born and raised in Philadelphia would encounter a stranger from California on the trolley and fall madly in love, but that’s what happened. Templeton was not only taken with John Morehouse, but also with his tales of life in San Francisco. As an aspiring fashion designer, the dazzle of a city called the Paris of the West, with its towering department stores and European couture was too much to resist.

Despite her family’s objections, she and John are married and, on their way back to California, before the month is out. To ease the heartbreak of such a move, Templeton promises to return for a visit every summer. She intends to keep that promise, but when her design business grows more demanding, the trips back to Philadelphia become less frequent and she makes foolish choices she will come to regret.

Now, when she is on the verge of having everything she’s ever wanted, a devastating earthquake tears across San Francisco and she discovers the father of her baby is missing.

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Review

There are a few authors that never disappoint and Bette is one of them. She weaves a tale of perseverance, strength, hope, and happiness of women.

Templeton is not your average young woman for the times. She has dreamed of becoming a designer since she was a young girl. She never expected to meet a man and fall in love and have those dreams tested. That is until she met John on a streetcar and they had a whirlwind romance that has them married within a few weeks and moving to CA from PA because that is where his business is located, specifically San Francisco. It is here that Templeton realizes that it is hard for a woman to do it all – have a successful career and a family. She does her best to balance work and her life with John, but she becomes consumed with her designs and calling on stores to carry her designs. John loves her, but he becomes increasingly frustrated with her. While I understand his frustration, he knew who she was and what she was like when he married her.

This story is fraught with emotion, decisions, mistakes, and most importantly love. Despite everything, the couple does have a deep love for each other and it is a matter of finding the right balance to make their relationship work. They are both tested when John returns home after a visit to Templeton’s family and the devastating earthquake hits. We don’t know if he survives or not until much later as we learn how Templeton reacts to the news especially since she has discovered she is pregnant. As we read about the devastation in the area and what people went through, it is not hard to sympathize with the characters and all that they endured.

I like how real the characters felt and that they didn’t always do the right thing for themselves or others, but were true to who they were. I feel like the historical aspects were well researched and added depth to the story and what they endured.

We give this book 5 paws up.

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling Author and Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby brings the wit and wisdom of her Southern Mama to works of fiction—the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery, and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away.

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