Liza Nash Taylor Knihy

Set against the backdrop of the Jazz Age, this tale of regret, ambition, and redemption draws inspiration from true events, including the Great Moonshine Conspiracy Trial of 1935. In 1924, May Marshall seeks refuge at her father's farm in Virginia after a naive romance leads to her expulsion from college. Upon returning, she discovers her father's orchard is now a moonshining operation. Ignoring warnings from her childhood friend Byrd, she becomes involved in the illegal business. When her father is arrested, May flees to New York City, aiming to reinvent herself as May Valentine and pursue a career in costume design. The vibrant city offers both opportunities and the allure of nightlife and drugs. Starting as a seamstress at the Biltmore Hotel, she quickly ascends to designing costumes for an African American troupe heading to Paris. As she revels in her newfound success, the lines between right and wrong blur. When Byrd arrives, intent on bringing her back home, May distances herself from him and her past. However, her luck turns in Paris, forcing her to confront painful truths. May must choose between succumbing to her failures or seeking redemption and self-forgiveness to reclaim what she truly desires.

A well-researched and deftly written historical fiction novel…Highly recommended." -Booklist (starred review) This riveting story continues the journey of May Marshall, introduced in Taylor’s acclaimed 2020 debut. In the summer of 1932, as Americans grapple with the aftermath of the 1929 financial crash, May returns to her family home in rural Keswick, Virginia, striving to keep the farm and market afloat amid economic turmoil. Balancing her marriage with a tempting opportunity to revitalize the family business, she faces significant challenges. Meanwhile, in a cold-water Boston tenement, the Sykes family struggles to survive on an itinerant mechanic's wages. Sixteen-year-old Dorrit Sykes, recently bereaved of her mother, wrestles with her faith and anxiety. Seeking answers, she turns to Nancy Drew mysteries and finds solace at the Boston Public Library, where she writes fairy stories. When Dorrit joins her father in Washington, DC, to march with veterans petitioning President Hoover for early war bonuses, she embarks on a transformative journey that reshapes her understanding of faith and self-sufficiency. As Dorrit and May’s paths cross, their intertwined fates reveal unexpected connections, all set against a backdrop of true historical events, highlighting the resilience of two women during the Great Depression.