Natasha has done it again with A Kiss From Mr Fitzgerald (well she actually did it first as this was published before A Paris Seamstress, but I read it after so I’m saying again).
The story follows Evelyn Lockhart on her journey to breakaway from the stifling expectations of women in the 1920’s. After seeing an acquaintance give birth (and die) on the side of the road, Evelyn is destined to become one of the first female obstetricians. Much to her family’s horror, she runs away from her Massachusetts home, and moves to New York where she has been accepted into medicine at Columbia University. To pay her way, she becomes a dancer at the infamous Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway, doing away with her conservative upbringing, and more or less making herself undesirable for any future marriage proposals.
Except for childhood friend Thomas Whitman, who can’t help but fall in love with her determination. Throw in Thomas’s conniving brother Charles (who’s also in love with Evelyn) and a few other likeable characters, and you’ve got yourself another great historical fiction romance.
Natasha has a certain way with words that I’ve really come to enjoy. Her descriptions are haunting, providing a wonderful insight into by-gone eras that make you feel as if you are living and breathing the time. She also balances dialogue and narrative extremely well, keeping the pace moving while still painting a beautiful picture of the setting and characters. Some of her character motivations fall short for me, and almost seem to be used as a convenient way to heighten the stakes, but that’s just one, aspiring author’s opinion.
I think there can be a lot to learn from Natasha, and hopefully one day I can take one of her courses at AWC.
Marisa Jones Author 