published 11/10/26
Nina deGramont gives us an amazing look at the Gilded Age with Peregrine Hill. Set during the turn of the 20th century, we find the remains of a family after a terrible boating accident on the verge of collapse, where an arranged marriage is the only hope. Isabelle Bishop is a grieving widow who needs to secure a match quickly to secure the future for herself and her daughter. She finds favor in Gilded Age society with New York’s richest man, John Whitten. However, John doesn’t fancy Isabelle; he’s starstruck by her daughter, Mariah, who has a secret scandal that would WRECK her marriage prospects. Mariah is blackmailed into marrying John and realizes he’s a collector of pretty things (her) and keeps her locked up tight or has her followed by his henchman. Mariah makes friends with Hetty, her unexpected ally, who has a romance brewing all her own. Meanwhile, Isabelle becomes besotted by Mariah’s ex in a May-December romance, highlighting the societal pressures and expectations that can make love complicated and evoke empathy for their difficult choices.
In the spirit of families like the Vanderbilts, the Morgans, the Carnigies, and the Rockefellers, we see all sides of the household- not just the main heiress herself. And what becomes the most sensible pairing in society rarely makes the best love match, adding layers of romantic tension and secrets that invite curiosity and anticipation.
Thank you to Nina deGramont and Simon & Schuster for letting me read an advance copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review, immersing readers in the fascinating world of Gilded Age wealth, love, and societal roles that defined the era.
#GildedAge #PeregrineHill #ninadegramont #libraryninja📚
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