During a glittering age where a woman’s reputation is her most valuable possession, Penelope must decide whether to compromise her principles for love.
A young woman without prospects at a ball in Gilded Age Newport, Rhode Island is a target for a certain kind of “suitor.” At the Memorial Day Ball during the Panic of 1893, impoverished but feisty Penelope Stanton quickly draws the unwanted advances of a villainous millionaire banker who preys on distressed women—the incorrigible Mr. Daggers. Skilled in the art of flirtation, Edgar Daggers is not without his charms, and Penelope is attracted to him against her better judgment. Meanwhile a special talent of Penelope’s makes her the ideal candidate for a paying job in the Suffrage Movement. During a glittering age where a woman’s reputation is her most valuable possession, Penelope must decide whether to compromise her principles for love.
Excerpt
A young woman without prospects at a ball in Gilded Age Newport, Rhode Island is a target for a certain kind of “suitor.” At the Memorial Day Ball during the Panic of 1893, impoverished but feisty Penelope Stanton draws the unwanted advances of a villainous millionaire banker who preys on distressed women—the incorrigible Edgar Daggers. Over a series of encounters, he promises Penelope the financial security she craves, but at what cost? Skilled in the art of flirtation, Edgar is not without his charms, and Penelope is attracted to him against her better judgment. Initially, as Penelope grows into her own in the burgeoning early Women’s Suffrage Movement, Edgar exerts pressure, promising to use his power and access to help her advance. But can he be trusted, or are his words part of an elaborate mind game played between him and his wife? During a glittering age where a woman’s reputation is her most valuable possession, Penelope must decide whether to compromise her principles for love, lust, and the allure of an easier life.
Professional Reviews
Life in the Gilded Age - Susan Breen
This is an enchanting story about a feisty young woman drawn into the suffrage movement during the Gilded Age. As Penelope struggles to rebound from her father's bankruptcy, she must contend with a series of obstacles, among them her overbearing mother, an eccentric collection of friends, and a wealthy suitor who is most definitely not interested in women's rights. Set in Boston, Newport and Manhattan, this novel is filled with many fascinating details about the time. A great read.
What a great character she is - Julius Z.
Penelope Stanton, what a great character she is. I love when fictional stories merges with historical events, the author manages to do it so well I have to check the historical facts to see what was real and what isn’t. Yes, there is a wealthy guy who Penelope falls for, yes there is some romance and yes the rich guy is not that good, but overall I have nothing against it, this is a really vivid story.
The suffragette movement during the Gilded Age, different angles and unease
through the society, there is so much to look and admire, and I love that it can
be so dark at times and so light-hearted at others, you wouldn’t think this is the same book at certain points. A great journey I’m more than delighted to
recommend it to everybody who wants to know more about that point in history
and of course, how a woman can grow and change, for the better or worse.
Be your own Mistress! - BeautyFul Word
The author does a great job of bringing the 1890s to life. Her writing is descriptive , understandable and is realistic. We meet Penelope at the ball after being dumped by her fiancée due to her family's economic hardships. It immediately makes the reader feel compassion for her. The characters were well developed although not always likable. There were too many characters to touch on everyone but I will mention a few. Penelope's father was so depressed he was withdrawn from his family and idly stood by while her mother made most decisions. I didn't like Penelope's mother, she attested to the motto of image is everything and would have allowed her daughter to enter into a toxic relationship just to maintain her lifestyle. I liked Penelope's sister, Lydia and felt heart broken that at 15, she was being forced to choose marriage to save her family.
It is easy to forget in this modern age, how in that historical time period, women had little rights. How after puberty, a girl was considered to be a woman old enough to marry. At 20+, if not married a woman is relegated to be a spinster. The story pace was fast and the story kept me guessing what would happen next. There were a few times when I wanted to shake Penelope to wake her up because what she and Daggers had wasn't love. I liked the growth that Penelope experienced in working with the suffrage movement. Overall, I would recommend it to anyone who loves coming of age tales mixed with romance and history.
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Reviews for "Mistress Suffragette"
Reviewed by Nicole baker
1/28/2018
I enjoyed the book. I feel as of the descriptions seemed accurate for the time period. I felt like everything was detailed and the characters were well thought out. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.
Reviewed by Amanda Peck
1/6/2018
This book was written very well. The descriptions of people and places were very vivid and it was very easy for me to escape from my current world into the world of the Gilded age of the late 1800s. I loved the descriptions of the time period (getting a dance card filled, the lavish balls, the beautiful gowns).
That being said, unfortunately, this wasn't the book for me. The content made me a bit uncomfortable at times and I didn't like the main character very much.
I think many people would enjoy this book, especially those interested in the Women's Suffrage Movement...I just found it to be a bit too unconventional to enjoy.
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