Kaaren Christopherson’s brilliantly observed novel captures the
glamour and grit of one of the world’s most dazzling cities during one
of its most tumultuous eras–as seen through the eyes of a singularly
captivating heroine…
In 1890s New York, beautiful, wealthy Francesca Lund is an intriguing
prospect for worthy suitors and fortune hunters alike. Recently
orphaned, she copes by working with the poor in the city’s settlement
movement. But a young woman of means can’t shun society for long, and
Francesca’s long-standing acquaintance with dashing Edmund Tracey
eventually leads to engagement. Yet her sheltered upbringing doesn’t
blind her to the indiscretions of the well-to-do…
Among the fashionable circle that gathers around her there are
mistresses, scandals, and gentlemen of ruthless ambition. And there is
Connor O’Casey–an entirely new kind of New Yorker. A self-made
millionaire of Irish stock, Connor wants more than riches. He wants to
create a legacy in the form of a luxury Madison Avenue hotel–and he
wants Francesca by his side as he does it. In a quest that will take her
from impeccable Manhattan salons to the wild Canadian Rockies,
Francesca must choose not only between two vastly different men, but
between convention and her own emerging self-reliance.
Rules Of Decorum
A gentleman should not be presented to a lady without her permission
being previously asked and granted. This formality is not necessary
between men alone; but, still, you should not present any one, even at
his own request, to another, unless you are quite well assured that the
acquaintance will be agreeable to the latter.
If you wish to avoid the company of any one that has been properly
introduced, satisfy your own mind that your reasons are correct; and
then let no inducement cause you to shrink from treating him with
respect, at the same time shunning his company. No gentleman will thus
be able either to blame or mistake you.
The mode in which the avowal of love should be made, must of course,
depend upon circumstances. It would be impossible to indicate the style
in which the matter should be told… Let it, however, be taken as a rule
that an interview is best; but let it be remembered that all rules have
exceptions…
Publication Date: March 31, 2015
Kensington Publishing Corp.
Foramts: eBook, Paperback, Audio
Pages: 425
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance
***1/2
Karen Christopherson is a new author to me, this always excites me. Taking place in the 1890's it is a time period that I recently started to enjoy, reading of social classes and the struggles women had to face.
Decorum starts with a bang (literally). Francesca does not conform to the wishes of others but takes control of her own life. It's the late 1800's when women were still governed by fathers and husbands. I liked the way she was portrayed here, she is strong and determined though venerable but still is level headed. I could cite numerous examples but for fear of giving too much of the story away I will refrain. Smart, cautious I enjoyed her journey.
Each chapter begins with a little lesson in decorum, relating to the time period, I found that to be an interesting and unique feature. The plot doesn't just center on the life of Francesca, there are other subplots that the author neatly brings together. I was a little nervous about the predictability factor, thinking I had things figured out, but I was wrong. A book is much more enjoyable when twists and turns take place that you don't see coming.
This isn't a short book, the audio version is 15 1/2 hours long, read by Susie Bernei's who did a good job. There were a few times I thought it might have dragged a little. As well as spots where the audio stopped in the middle of a sentence only to pick up at a different place, making me wonder what/if I missed something.
All in all a good read that will appeal to fans of this time period featuring strong women ahead of their time.
PRAISE
“Reminiscent of Washington Square but with a more modern heroine,
Decorum illuminates the dark world beneath New York society. …” – RT
Book Review, 4 stars
“Christopherson provides the reader with a fully-realized world of
brazen and aspiring women, ambitious men and strict expectations
regarding how to conduct one’s private and/or social life. The
characters are so beautifully drawn that I felt like I could start
casting the mini-series the minute I put the book down. And, this book
would make a wonderful TV series with settings ranging from early New
York City to the Canadian Rockies. …I loved every minute.” – Nancy,
Goodreads reviewer
“…the novel is remarkable in its similarities to the work of Edith
Wharton. The reader feels drawn into a world of glamour, glitz, and
supreme hypocrisy. Everything is permissible as long as one does not get
caught. It is a drama of manners and the stakes are high—one misstep
could mean social oblivion. … This novel will appeal to a wide range of
readers, particularly those who enjoy period novels such as Age of
Innocence and The Portrait of a Lady.” – The Historical Novel Society
“New York, 1890, and the glitz and glamor of the time and setting,
are the backdrop for this novel about a young heiress who suddenly finds
herself alone in the world. I loved how each chapter began with a rule
of etiquette based upon the societal norms of the time. The story gave
me a glimpse of what it would have been like to live among the
wealthiest and most prominent citizens. Of course, all is not perfect,
for the heroine must maneuver her way through treachery, greed, and
scandal to find which of the two men in her life is her true love. I
thoroughly enjoyed how the characters interacted, and how authentic they
felt to me. Lots of wonderfully rich descriptions of places and gowns
really brought the era to life. … I definitely recommend this book to
anyone who enjoys New York in the Gilded Age. A good historical read!” –
Mirella Patzer, Historical Novel Review
“In this remarkable first novel, Christopherson takes us back to
1890s New York — to tell a tale so pitch perfect it hurts. Bridging the
divide between historical fiction and literary fiction, the story of the
rising immigrant Connor and the unlikely pairing with orphaned
socialite/settlement house worker Francesca is beset with conflict from
her devious fiance Tracy, Connor’s lover the scandalous Blanche and
Francesca’s meddling guardians the Jeromes. Some of the most gorgeous
scenes are set in an art warehouse examining paintings that have just
arrived from Paris, a hat shop, a delightful tea house and of course,
tangled in the bedsheets! Between murder, trials, and lies, this tale
takes us to Argentina and Louisiana, Ireland and Chicago, the lower east
side to the upper west side and finally to a real resort in Banff
Canada where our unlikely pair will finally get a chance. Or will they?”
– Booksmart, Amazon review
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kaaren Christopherson is the author of
Decorum—a novel about Gilded
Age New York—that began taking form in 1999 during a course on writing
historical fiction. From that moment, Connor O’Casey (who had been
rattling around in her brain for months) finally appeared one night and
said, “All right, woman. Here I am. What are you going to do about my
story?” So she began to put his words on paper, and he hasn’t kept quiet
since. Soon Francesca, Blanche, Tracey, Vinnie, and the rest of the
characters began arguing, gossiping, loving, and forming themselves into
Kaaren’s first novel.
Kaaren has had a professional career writing and editing for over 30
years and is a senior editor for an international development nonprofit
organization in Washington, DC.
She has written fiction since her school days, story poems,
children’s books, historical fiction, and time travel, and continues to
be active in writer’s groups and writing workshops. In addition to her
career as a writer, Kaaren was the owner of a decorative painting
business. She loves to travel and prowl through historical sites,
galleries, and museums. She is active in several churches in DC and in
her local Northern Virginia community, where she shares her home with
feline brothers, Archie and Sammy.
A Michigan native, Kaaren received her BA in history and art and her
MA in educational administration from Central Michigan University in Mt.
Pleasant, Michigan.
For more information visit Kaaren Christopherson’s
website. You can also find her on
Facebook,
Twitter, and
Goodreads.
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