Thursday, May 10, 2012

Thursday spotlight

I love Lucy!

No, I'm not talking about that Lucy, but since today is Blog Me MAYbe's "May I tell you something about someone else?" day, I'm excited to introduce you to another Lucy: Lucy Banning, the heroine of Olivia Newport's debut novel, The Pursuit of Lucy Banning (Avenue of Dreams, Book 1).

From the publisher:

She has a secret to keep. But will she give her heart away?

Lucy Banning may live on the exclusive Prairie Avenue among Chicago's rich and famous, but her heart lies elsewhere. Expected to marry an up-and-coming banker from a respected family, Lucy fears she will be forced to abandon her charity work and squeeze herself into the mold of the well-dressed wife who spends most of her time and money redecorating.

When she meets Will, an unconventional young architect who is working on plans for the upcoming 1893 World's Fair, Lucy imagines a life lived on her own terms. Can she break away from her family's expectations? And will she ever be loved for who she truly is?

Get swept away into the lavish world of Chicago's high society as Olivia Newport brings to life an age of glitz and grandeur, stark social contrasts, and one woman who dares to cross class lines for what she believes.


When I begin a new book, I'm always drawn first to the main character: Is she likable? Is she portrayed realistically? Is there something compelling about her that makes me want to spend the precious few reading hours I have immersed in her world? And as I discovered from the first page of The Pursuit of Lucy Banning, without a doubt, Lucy is a character worth getting to know.

In fact, the thing I find most impressive about this debut is Newport's ability to create a strong, memorable heroine. In a time when women of her social class are expected only to marry well and devote their lives to their families and homes, Lucy decides she wants more--an education--and she takes the initiative to go out and get it, even though doing so means keeping a secret from her family and friends. But while she is passionate about following her dreams, for me it's Lucy's heart for others that truly makes her a character worth investing time in. She's very aware of the disparity between her world of privilege and the world of those less fortunate, and she works to better the lives of those in need. And when she learns that Charlotte, a member of the household staff with a secret of her own, is in need of help, Lucy unhesitatingly offers both friendship and support. (Charlotte herself is an intriguing character, and I was pleased to discover that the next book in the series will focus on her.)

The Pursuit of Lucy Banning is a love story, but it's more than that: Newport weaves in elements of suspense, intrigue, and humor in a way that had me turning pages late into the night. I enjoyed this well-paced debut. Lucy Banning is exactly the type of heroine I hope to find within the pages of any book, no matter the genre, and I'm looking forward to the next two novels in this series.

Olivia Newport's novels twist through time to discover where faith and passions meet. Her husband and two twentysomething children provide welcome distraction from the people stomping through her head on their way into her books. She chases joy in stunning Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, where daylilies grow as tall as she is.

Visit Olivia at her Web site.

(Thank you to Revell Publishing for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.)


So tell me, what criteria do you use for selecting the books you read? Have you read any great ones lately that you'd like to recommend?

30 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great read! (adding it to my list...)

    ReplyDelete
  2. This sounds fantastic! As a former Chicagoan, I love any and all books set there. I've been looking for more historical fiction, too. Thanks for recommending it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome. I'm sure you'll love it!

      Delete
  3. You write a great review!! Did so enjoy reading it and your thoughts about the main character, likeable, etc. I'm going to have to check this one out! When I'm picking books to read, I like modern day fiction over historical fiction, not much of a romance fiction reader and definitely not into science fiction, LOL. I like stories that I can relate to. Unfortunately, with my work schedule and then of course blogs and Facebook, I have less time to read (or I should say I make less time to read) so that's why I've signed up to do some book reviews just so I'm "forced" to read. I really do like getting immersed in a good book, don't know why sometimes I let other things get in the way of doing so.....

    again, great review!!!

    betty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Betty. I highly recommend this book and am really looking forward to books two and three. I generally choose modern-day fiction as well. Historical fiction really has to grab me to get me to read it, which says a lot for this book and this author.

      Delete
  4. This was such a great review! I love the sound of Lucy. I'm like you, I'm always drawn to the main character too. It's kind of a strict criteria for me, I need to feel connected to the main character and really care what happens to them. It's getting more and more rare these days that I'm finding a book where I can't stop turning the pages. I think I'm getting more picky. But I'm going to look out for this one, it sounds exactly like my kind of book!

    I like a lot of different genres but particularly fantasy and historical fiction. I read The White Queen by Philippa Gregory a couple of years ago and I absolutely loved it. You should look out for it, if you haven't already read it :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, if I don't connect with the main character, I don't finish the story, no matter how great the plot is.

      I haven't read that one yet. Thanks for the recommendation!

      Delete
  5. This sounds like a great book, since historical has always been my favoritest genre to both read and write. I've been kind of disappointed since the last two recent historicals I read were kind of like Gossip Girl in period clothes, and didn't really accurately depict the social climate and women's roles accurately. It seems like some modern writers have forgotten how to depict a woman who's smart, feminist, and empowered for her time without making her like a 21st century woman in a costume play.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really think this is a book you'd enjoy. Newport did a great job of accurately depicting her characters' roles. I could tell she really did her research.

      Delete
  6. Even though it is not quite the genre I like to read I am very interested now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's not my usual genre either. I mentioned in a comment above that historical fiction really has to grab me to make me want to read it, and this one did, which says a lot for both the book and the author. :)

      Delete
  7. it sounds lovely---i am reading inspirational books right now and political ones and still working on one of diana gabaldon's--when i actually do read lately

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really is, Lynn. Revell publishes Christian and inspirational books, and I think you'd really like this one!

      Delete
  8. We're back in business, Dana!! This sounds like a good book. I'll keep an eye out for it. I especially like the fact it's set at the time of the Chicago 1893 World's Fair! Have you ever read "Devil In The White City" by Erik Larrsen?? It's a wonderful book that combines the trials that faced the men trying to build the World's Fair and story of a serial killer. SO good. I think you'd like it. I'm going to look for this one. Thanks for telling me about it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you're back! Sorry about the comments problem.

      No, I've never read that book, but it sounds good. I'll check it out.

      I think you'll really enjoy Newport's book. Happy reading!

      Delete
  9. Ohh this sounds so good! And I love that cover and dress! I will have to check this book out :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you do check it out. :)

      The dress is beautiful! I don't want to say how long I just sat and stared at the cover. LOL

      Delete
  10. I like intrigue. I spent a couple years catching up with all the Patricia Cornwell "Kay Scarpetta" series. I picked them because the early ones in the series were set in Richmond, Virginia, about 90 minutes from where I live. Now we have a vacation home in Smith Mountain Lake where David Baldacci lives, so now I'm reading his books, for now just the Camel Club series. Evidently I'm drawn to that local connection.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've heard good things about the Kay Scarpetta series. Maybe I should give it a try.

      I don't think I've read any books recently that are set in places I've lived, but I do try to pick them up when I see them. I like that connection, too.

      Delete
  11. Sounds like a wonderful book with a strong protagonist.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Have you seen Downton Abbey? Oh my goodness, I'm hooked. I don't have cable or TV reception, so I just watch via Netflix, and I can't wait until Netflix updates with the new series. You NEED to watch it! The protagonists are wonderfully complex, and yet romantic...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's funny you mention that: this book has been compared to Downton Abbey! Maybe I'd better Netflix it, too. :)

      Delete
  13. I definitely look for a great character, well, more than just one great character. I have to be able to care about what's going to happen to the characters in the book in order to keep reading.

    ReplyDelete
  14. It does sound like a wonderful book. I have had trouble finding the time to read lately, but I do make up for it reading blog posts!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know what you mean! Ever since April, I've been spending a lot more time in front of the computer. I didn't read nearly as many books last month.

      Delete
  15. Sounds like a great book. I usually pick books based on the recommendations of others. Or if the back cover blurb makes them irresistible.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I read a lot of books based on recommendations. Luckily, I have friends who read great books! LOL

      Delete