Love on a Dime

JAMES, CARA LYNN

LOVE ON A DIME

Newport, Rhode Island, 1899, is a place of shimmering waves, sleek yachts, and ladies of leisure. Of opulent mansions that serve as summer cottages for the rich and famous. Home of railroad magnates and banking tycoons -- dashing young men and the women who inspire them.

But it's not the place for lady novelists. Especially not those who pen disreputable dime novels. This poses a problem for Lilly Westbrook, because that's exactly what she does.

No one in Lilly's social set knows she pens fiction under the nom de plume Fannie Cole. Not her family or the wealthy young man about to propose to her. And especially not Jackson Grail, the long-lost beaut who just bought her publishing company...and who stirs her heart more than she cares to admit.

But Lilly must put aside her feelings and follow the path that will maintain her family's social stature and provide the financial security everyone is depending on.

Now Lilly faces a double-dilemma. Can she continue to protect her secret identity? And will she have the courage to choose the man who will risk it all just to win her heart?

THIS IS A WONDERFUL STORY ABOUT A YOUNG WOMAN WHO IS AT ODDS WITH RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON A YOUNG LADY OF QUALITY IN THE 19TH CENTURY. LILLY IS FIERCELY LOYAL TO HER FAMILY TO THE POINT OF NEARLY LOSING HERSELF AS SHE STRIVES TO BE THE PERFECT DAUGHTER, SISTER AND FIANCEE. THE TROUBLE IS THAT THE REAL LILLY ISN'T AS PROPER AND MALLEABLE AS EVERYONE THINKS! WRITING DIME NOVELS ON THE SLY PROVIDES LILLY WITH AN OUTLET FOR HER CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATIVE NATURE BUT SOON THREATENS EVERYTHING SHE HOLDS DEAR.

LILLY IS A MULTI-FACETED CHARACTER. I LOVED THE CONTRASTS IN HER. SHE HAD LEARNED TO PLAY HER ROLE SO WELL THAT SHE WAS IN DANGER OF BELIEVING IT. I WANTED TO SCREAM AT HER AT TIMES, SHAKE SOME SENSE INTO HER AS SHE SEEMED RESIGNED TO FOLLOW A FUTURE THAT REALLY HELD NO APPEAL TO HER. SHE WAS SO DETERMINED TO PLAY THE ROLE OF DUTIFUL DAUGHTER THAT SHE IGNORED THE FACT THAT SHE WAS MISERABLE. SHE HAD THIS MISGUIDED IDEA THAT WHAT SHE WANTED DIDN'T COUNT. I ENJOYED WATCHING THIS 'LOST LILLY' FIND HERSELF WITH THE HELP OF HER FORMER SUITOR, JACK.

I LOVED THE INNOVATIVE DIME NOVEL ANGLE! WRITERS AND READERS OF INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE CAN DEFINITELY RELATE TO THE TIMELESS DEBATE ABOUT THE WORTHINESS OF THIS TYPE OF LITERATURE. AND LILLY'S DIME NOVELS REVEAL A REBELLIOUS STREAK AS SHE FIGHTS AGAINST COMPLETELY CONFORMING TO SOCIETY'S DEMANDS.

JACK HAS ALL THE ELEMENTS OF A SWOONWORTHY HERO. REPENTANT, DETERMINED, BESOTTED AND BOLD. A SELF-MADE MAN WHO DISCOVERS HE NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OR HE COULD LOSE HIMSELF IN HIS NEW-FOUND WEALTH.

THIS BOOK IS ABOUT FINDING A BALANCE WHILE KEEPING GOD AT THE CENTER. A FANTASTIC DEBUT NOVEL.