Absolutely wonderful story I found this one hard to put was just amazing thank you for this read. I would give this story 8 stars if it was. I have read several books by this author and each one has been absolutely amazing.

This is a dual timeline book that will have you experiencing life with Soline in Paris during WWII. The second timeline is in 1985 and we meet Rory and how she connects with Soline. The author has done a good job with the multiple timelines and different points of view. They are presented clearly and are not confusing. The characters are developed well. The one negative comment I have is that the first half of the book is extremely slow. But once you get to the second half it is much better.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. The cover is beautiful. A good historical fiction novel. Recommend

A beautiful story which weaves the lives of generations of women together. Perfectly done so that characters jump right off the page, making their stories relatable even now.

You feel empathy for their tragic circumstances and overall are able to lose yourself in their stories. Fate and second chances weave throughout keeping the reader engaged until the very end.

Thank you to Netgalley for the reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fabulous historical fiction book! I enjoyed everything about it! The characters are well developed, the story lines had depth, and the dual timeline was on point. I looked forward to see what was next. I was never disappointed.

A heart warning novel about second chances, fate and hope, lost and found, written by bestselling author of The Last of the Moon Girls. Soline Roussel is a well schooled in the business of happy endings. For many generations, her family has kept an exclusive bridal salon in Paris, where magic is worked with needle and thread. I love the touch of magical realism. So beautifully written that I found it difficult to put form.

Any book that can make me blubber and sob, deserves 5 stars. The characters were so well developed, I could picture them clearly in my mind. The flashbacks were clear and not confusing. This is the first book I've read by this author. I'm looking forward to finding and reading the others! Very well done!

* knock, knock*
* Who's there?*
* Hiii, I'm really sorry for bothering you, i just can't seem to find plot, have you seen her? *
.........
I'm going to sound like a cranky old woman here, but hey, a girl needs to vent.
This book has some really good aspects, like the writing, it was poetic and so elegant, some parts were engaging enough, so I wasn't bored all the time.
But that's it, nothing else was done right, the plot, if we're being generous calling it that, was literally nonexistent, i didn't get the purpose of the whole book, the whole thing was kind of based on coincidences, but the author just painted them in the magic and superstition light, it was all magnified horribly to give some kind of allure to the book.
The characters, although it being a considerably big book, lacked personality, they felt two-dimensional and kind of blurry, it was all tell and not show, it was one of those books where the author tells how to feel instead of you making up your opinion.
The ending or specifically the reveal was pretty predictable, i worked it out on the half mark, so wasn't totally floored by it.
* I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley and the publisher in exchange of an honest review*

Rory has recently purchased an old wedding dress shop with the intention of turning it into an art space. Shortly thereafter she uncovers a box containing letters, mementoes and a gorgeous wedding dress.

What happens next is a beautiful story about two women with similar heartaches, decades apart, finding friendship through tragedy.

📌 Pub Date: October 15, 2021

I was given an ARC of this story to read; but thoughts and opinions are all my own. Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the chance to read this book!

What a tremendous book. I read a lot of historical fiction and this one is in my top 10. The writing is excellent, the story creative, and the characters will stay with me for quite a while. I highly recommend this book, 5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I could not have loved this book more, nor can I put into words just how much! It was so engaging and well written. I loved the past meeting the present. And the lesson of learning to go on and love. Definitely a must read for all historical fiction fans!! Cannot wait for the next book!!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

This book unfolds over two timelines, 40 years apart. In one, we meet Soline, a young Parisian with a family secret embedded in their history, wrapped in mystery and la magie. In the later, we meet an older Soline, and young Rory, whose own personal life has echoes of the experiences Soline has endured.

I wasn’t too sure what to expect from this novel; however, I was utterly blown away. Davis has a wonderful way of writing which ensures you fall in love with her characters – even the ones who maybe aren’t perfect. I actually feel bereft now Soline is no longer a part of my day to day life!

This is a warming story featuring romance, love, something for the historical fans, and a lovely helping of magic and whimsy. Had life not had other plans, I’d have blitzed through this in two sessions. I’ll definitely be checking out more by this author – this was wonderful!

Do you believe in magic? This is a question for readers to ponder as they navigate through this novel. This is a story of two women told through a dual timeframe. Soline is from a family of bridal dressmakers whose dresses are supposed to bring a lifetime of happiness and success to those who wear them. As war descends in Paris, Soline volunteers in a hospital and her life is forever changed when she meets Anson, an American ambulance driver and the love of her life. Tragedy strikes and Soline is forced to reinvent a life for herself in America and while she succeeds in some respects, she remains haunted by her past.

This is a story of struggle, hardship, survival, loyalty, heartbreak, love, loss, hope and second chances. The author takes the reader on an emotional journey and does an excellent job with creating strong and inspiring female lead characters. The characters are well-developed, and the author does a wonderful job of portraying the characters thoughts, feelings, emotions, and insecurities making them likeable and relatable. The dual storyline transitions back and forth seamlessly and the reader is actively engaged in both past and present storylines. The novel is thought provoking forcing the reader to examine the characters choices, dilemmas, and behaviors throughout the novel.

This novel keeps you on the edge of your seat and pushes the reader to examine issues of strength, survival, hope and love. It highlights true strength and acts of heroism and humanity. The author does a wonderful job of bringing the stories together in an interesting and heartwarming way towards the end of the novel connecting the two stories. The reader is left with feelings of love, hope, and new beginnings. While not entirely believable at times, it was a great story with an upbeat and fairy tale ending.

I would have liked a bit more on the spell weavers and crafts that went into a Roussel wedding dress and its impact on Soline’s clients, particularly once she re-established herself in Boston. That part of the story felt a bit rushed at the end of the novel as Soline shared her family’s rich history with her daughter and granddaughter.
This novel is captivating and was a quick and enjoyable read. Both stories were engaging and kept the reader’s attention. Often, readers favor one storyline over the other, however here the stories are equally satisfying filled with interest, intrigue, heartbreak, and hope. The ending is heartwarming and a nice touch of pulling the storylines together bringing closure.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

The Keeper of Happy Endings is the story of Soline, the owner of a bridal salon in Paris. The dresses her family has made for generations are supposed to bring a lifetime of joy to those who wear them. Tragedy strikes when World War II happens, and Soline’s life is forever changed. Two storylines that are connected down the road. Rory is an art collector, Both had similar heartaches and they have a passion in common.
Great story, great characters, and beautiful prose. Wonderfully written, this is the first book I have read by this author and I am intrigued by her writing!
Thank you Net Galley and the Publisher for a copy of this book!

What a lovely book this is! The story is told with dual timelines, WW2 and 1985. Soline and Rory are the two characters and it turns out these women have an unknown connection. This is a character driven story and I loved how wonderfully the characters and the time periods were woven together. The writing is beautiful and I was captivated by the story. Be sure to pick this one up if you are a historical fiction reader.

I enjoyed this story very much. I thought the characters and their stories were woven together beautifully. And the ending was unexpected.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

Oh my goodness, I loved this book! This was my first book by Barbara Davis, and it will not be my last. I must say that it was a little slow at the beginning. I have never read a book with a wedding gown theme, and it was just like a palate cleanser for me after reading mostly thrillers lately. I loved the dual timeline, and it wasn't confusing at all. I highly recommend this book for any historical fiction lover.

A lovely book that's beautifully written.
There are plenty of lines to savor. "I’ve come to believe we create our own curses and carry them through life because we’ve been told it’s our lot. We’re taught to relive our mothers’ heartaches, to accept their sufferings as our own, and pass them on to the next generation, again and again."
And loads of lovely descriptions of Paris and '80s fashions in the US, plus an Audrey Hepburn-dressed character, who you can instantly see as you read.
It was pretty easy to figure out how things would go down, but that didn't detract at all from the pleasure of reading it.
My only quibble would be that people during the war didn't really know where the Germans kept their prisoners or the conditions there until the end of the war, whereas in this novel, it seems that everyone knows. but this is really a minor thing.
All in all, the book is very aptly named, and I recommend it to anyone who loves good writing, women's fiction, WWII stories, and HEAs. 4.7

What a wonderful book to start my 2022 reading! The Keeper of Happy Endings by Barbara Davis is richly romantic historical fiction with a touch of magic. It is a tribute to lost love and persevering in the face of tragedy. I absolutely loved this novel!

Told in dual perspectives, the stories of Soline Roussell and Rory Grant have many parallels. Their friendship fills a void in each woman's life, and as they learn each others' stories, the reader is drawn into the sense of longing in both, as well as the determination to move on with their lives.

I have not read any of Barbara Davis's previous novels, but will be seeking them out immediately. This novel has echoes of Fiona Davis's novels or Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale, which are among my favorites.

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the electronic copy of the book. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

A lovely story of chance meetings, a book where not all hope is lost and a story that rakes you on a journey that is somewhat magical and every bit enthralling.

It is well written, a story that is relatable and is also full of emotion, at times happy and at other times there is sadness.

The story flows well, the characters really make the book and I really enjoyed reading it. It gives us all hope. Highly recommend it.