I love a faith-filled, woman-empowerment story. This is a story where women build-each-other-up (rather than find fault with each other as is often the case) and they grow through adversity.

Sinking into this book from the beginning is easy. I really enjoyed Annie’s journey of learning the ins and outs of the women’s fashion industry during the early 1900s. The characters are easy to sympathize with, the plot is believable, and I the ending satisfied me.

If you enjoy historical fiction with a spiritual vein, or are interested in the fashion industry, I think you’ll enjoy The Fashion Designer.

I received a copy of this book from Barbour and NetGalley. I was not obligated to post a review.

4 Stars

Cover: Like
Title: Like
Pages: 320
Publisher: Shiloh Run Press
First Line: Annie Culver tidied her work table for the last time.

Loved this book! Annie Woods who went from housemaid to pattern designer, now with her friends Maude and Edna along with her new husband Sean become clothes designers for the modern women.
Great characters. Great sense of place. You can picture yourself in the sewing room. Can’t wait for more Annie Woods.

I thought this was a delightful book.
Following on from The Pattern Artist, which I also enjoyed, this continues Annie' s story. How courageous she and her friends were in 1912 America, going all out to have their own business. Funding is offered but withdrawn, a shop front becomes available but they don't know if they have the money. Throughout these ups and downs the faith of the group shines through, giving them peace in decisions and the wonder of seeing God's hand when least expected.
Thanks to Net Galley for a review copy.

I was delighted to read, The Fashion Designer, the follow-up story to Annie's journey into the world of design. Nancy Moser sews her research of the fashion industry in the early twentieth century into a perfect pattern of hope and determination. I loved the camaraderie of the entrepreneurial ladies and their desire to grow a business. There are many ups and downs in the story, but regardless of the situation the characters faith shines in the face of controversy. This is a book filled with excitement for women at the turn of the century, love among the wonderful characters, and hope for family and friends. I highly recommend this beautiful story. If you haven't read book one of the series, The Pattern Artist, check it out too. I received this book for free with no expectation of a good or bad review.

I love how this 2nd book in this series by Nancy Moser, takes off a couple months after the 1st book in the serie finished, in 1912. I'm glad it didn't focus on just one main female character's POV, but switched clearly, between all the female characters. This book is a stand-alone story.

Annie Culver starts her new Retail ready-made Ladies Fashion Design business, with her Butterick best friend, Maude Nascato; her Macy's mentor & Mother figure, Edna Holmquist; financed by Harold & Eleanor Sampson; & given wisdom & faith by God, & her husband, Sean Culver.

But our Christian walk of Faith, can be frought with mistakes & hardships, because we are just human. The same happens to the beginning characters in this story.

Annie & Eleanor Sampson started their collaboration with the goal of "fashionable & functional dresses for the everyday woman, at anaffordable price". But Eleanor quickly vear off track, to "Eleanor's Couture" dresses for the rich. This proves to be the major conflict for Annie to work out, because it wasn't the audience she was passionate about designing for. I love how God works this relationship conflict out in the story.

The new business adds new employees & business partnerships as it progresses. New people, & old come into the story. Some romantic relationships start, 2 marriage breaks & later are & restored. 12 Past coworkers & neighborhood women become models for Annie's new dresses. Annie is by Iris Tuttle's side, as she delivers her baby. There are some engagements. The story end with the birth of a 2nd baby! Does the Unruffled Store become profitable? Get the book & find out

This story reminded me of several Bible verses:
Heb 12:2a NLT "...keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates & perfects our faith."
Php 1:6 NLT "And I'm certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it's finally finished..."
Jer 29:11 NLT "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
Rom 8:28 NLT "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God & are called according to His pupose for them."
I love that Nancy Moser keeps pointing her characters to their Christian faith in Jesus, & His Promises. People today need these same promises; I know I do!

This wonderful Christian Pre WW1 Anerican Romance story quickly grabbed ahold my interest, & only let it go, after I read finished it. Buy it, you won't be disappointed!

Thanks to Net Galley for a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This sequel to The Pattern Artist continues the story of Annie & Sean, Edna and Maude. It is a wonderful story of triumph over adversity and the power of trusting in God’s provision. Annie struggles to be true to her vision of providing clothing for ordinary women. The book often refers to things that happened in the first book, so I think you would do well to read it before reading this one. The story rings true regarding American society and culture right before WWI. You won’t be sorry spending time with Annie and her friends again.

Nancy Moser does it again! She writes another fabulous novel! I first fell in love with Nancy's work when I read The Pattern Artist. Nancy writes flawlessly and brings a wonderful plot to life while spinning tales of vivid characters. Set in the early 1900's, this book brings so many senses to a reality as you can tell the author did her research. You are drawn in and feel like you could actually be there. This is the second book in a series and out does the first one! I really hope to see more in this series or maybe some spin-offs.

I loved The Fashion Designer. It is a clean read. It has interesting history, sweet romance, and great characters. It is a wonderful follow up to Ms Mosers previous book The Pattern Artist. I grew up in a house full of seamstresses, although I cannot sew a straight seam. I loved this book and I am sure you will too. I was given a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher, the opinions are my own.

I can't say how much I enjoyed this book. Partially because of the pattern designing and the sewing, and partially because it was like meeting up with some old friends. This book continues the story started in the Pattern Maker. Annie has hit on a beautiful idea to make fashions for the ordinary woman and affordable for the ordinary woman.

Annie's sponsor wants her to make clothing for her own set, sure that they will be buying Annie's clothes hand over fist. But her first fashion show with her sponsor's friends is a bomb. So Annie goes back to her drawing board, and makes twelve designs in twelve different sizes. With her friends backing her up and standing beside her, she works her fanny off to make her business a go.

Nancy Moser has made The Fashion Designer a true delight to read--it is so easy to envision the women in a room making the dresses, and then getting a storefront to sell them from. After getting the storefront, Annie goes to the other vendors to show some of their wares with her designs.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs, and a new dress designed just for you.

My thanks to Barbour Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.

This book was a wonderful follow up to The Pattern Artist. Annie is a strong female character who is following her dreams of having a career and a family in a time when that was not the norm. This book touches on a lot of social issues and I found it handled them with grace. I can not wait for the next installment.

THE FASHION DESIGNER by NANCY MOSER is a charming book. I love the theme of fashion design and dressmaking. Although it is the second novel in The Pattern Artist series it can most definitely be read as a stand alone. The characters are very real and the story is lovely.
The novel is set in 1912, a time when women were not expected to break out of the stereotypical roles into which they were born.
Three friends give up their jobs to follow a dream. Led by Annie Culver, former housemaid, and promised funding by Eleanor Sampson, they rent the apartment above and get down to work. Maude Nascato worked with Annie at Butterick and Edna Holmquist worked at Macy's. Annie's husband, Sean, keeps his job at Butterick, but is very much a part of the whole project. They want to improve life for the ordinary woman by designing and making clothes that are comfortable, affordable, and that make them look and feel good.
Annie and her friends have experienced so many miracles, including missing the train which would have got them to the Titanic in time for its departure, and this helps them hold on in faith when things seem to be hopeless. We see how important it is to follow God's leading and how easy it is for things to go wrong when we leave God out and try and make things happen in our own strength.
It is a really enjoyable read with a strong Christian message.
I was given an advance copy by Barbour Publishing Inc from NetGalley. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to Net Galley and Barbour Publishing, Inc. for the chance to read and review this book.
I loved this book! I had read the other book in this series, and this one was just as good. Annie Wood, a pattern designer in 1912 New York, is trying to develop her own clothing line. She has the help of several good friends, as well as her husband Sean Culver. Even though she suffers several setbacks, she never gives up. I really like books about sewing and fashion. I hope Nancy Moser continues to write about these beloved characters!

An uplifting read full of inspiration, interesting history, and tender romance!
Annie's story, begun in The Pattern Artist, continues on as she finds herself and her friends stretching out to fulfill the dream of starting their own clothing line. The setting of 1912 New York City hosts the growing market of working women whose needs for practical, affordable clothing spark the ideas for Annie's new designs.

This next segment of the story held my interest clear through, with many faith-filled moments, and the additional side characters with their struggles. This isn't a fluffy read, as couples struggle with marital problems, domestic violence, pregnancy, and the aftermath of assault. A lot of personal risk is involved, starting a company, standing up for the underprivileged, leaning on faith and hope, and learning to trust in God through hard times. As Annie learns in this struggle, it takes "faith, hope and a lot of hard work". Her husband is a great source of encouragement, Their conversations were my favorite as they were full of reminders to lean on God and His perfect timing, His provision, and deep love for us.

Recommend to readers who enjoy historical fiction with romance and faith. There are many recaps from book one, so it can be a stand alone read, but probably better enjoyed after reading the first in the series.

I loved this book, and will be looking for more from this author! In fact, this did appear to be part of a series, where I've already missed one, maybe two, of the stories...so I'm going to go back and try to find them. It has great historical tidbits, a good mystery, struggles, romance...all the makings of a cozy-historical-fiction-mystery. I also learned so much about the early fashion industry....maternity corsets?!

The Fashion Designer continues the story of Annie and her friends from The Pattern Artist. Annie is married and expecting a baby. The small group of ladies want to open a storefront that sells dresses for the working woman. They have many twists and turns in their journey, some welcome, some most unwelcome.

I thought this was a very good read. I enjoyed Annie's story previously and was happy to peek into her life once more. I thought the plot flowed well, and the romance was sweet and not overwhelming. My only slight complaint, is the amount of new characters. New romances and new family members made it a bit hard to keep track of who's who. Not a big deal, I just had to go back a few times and refresh my memory about the characters.

Overall, I recommend reading The Fashion Designer. I look forward to future books by Nancy Moser.