When I think of literary fiction, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and can satisfies just about every reader's heart. This is a perfect books to snuggle up with on any day.

I loved the premise and the characters. The magic was subtle and added a whimsical touch that this story needed. The author's beautiful descriptions of every settings from the streets of Boston to Soline's dresses brought each scene to life.

I also loved the narrative voice for both Soline and Rory. Each had a distinct style and made the characters jump off the page. I also enjoyed the women's relationship with each other, how they found kindred souls who could share their heartbreak. It was utterly heartwarming.

Now for the things that I didn't particularly enjoy. I felt like the story had tied up every string of plot a little too well for my liking. Some characters changed and redeemed themselves way too quickly. It felt unlikely and unrealistic.

I highly recommended this story for those who love war romances, magical realism and women supporting each other.

A lovely dual time line story about love, weddings, and war. Rorys discovery of a box while working on her new art galley leads her down the path to Soline, whose family had owned a bridal salon until....I loved the Paris setting and both women are wonderful characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Keeper of Happy Endings" and all opinions expressed are my own. This was a beautiful story. I like the mystical side of the story too. You can guess what was going to happen but the characters were great and they made the book interesting.

The Keeper of Happy Endings is an exceptional story. This exquisite story carries two timelines which are extremely easy to follow as the timeline for the 1940’s part of the story is told as memories of Soline Roussel to Aurora Grant in 1985.

Have the tissues ready as this story carries with it great heartbreak. It shows the drastic means people of wealth would go to protect their family name. The lies that were told and how one person could effect the lives of so many people and literally change who they were and who they ended up being.

This story also shows great love and compassion and how it can change and bring out the best in people. It was very hard not to get so wrapped up within this story and how much feeling could be brought about for the characters as if you yourself would want to protect them and care for them.

Life is hard and throws things at you that you never expected and this book definitely shows how that can happen. This book is definitely in my top 5 books for this year.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Barbara Davis for allowing me to read such a beautiful story. All opinions within this review are my own and were not in any way based upon the fact I was given the opportunity to read this book by the publisher.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy in return for honest feedback. The Keeper of Happy Endings is such a beautiful story which weaves the life’s of three generations of women together. The characters are so relatable, their background is in many ways, so tragic but also so beautiful. It’s hard to go into much detail without giving the story away. It is so worth a read if like me, you like to lose yourself in the characters and the stories.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. Rory's fiancé was kidnapped while working in Sudan with Doctor's Without Borders. Her whole world has stopped until she sees a building in Boston and know this is the place that she dreamed of opening her own art gallery. First though, she must convinced the owner and recluse to lease it to her. When Rory and the Soline finally meet, they both feel like they have known each other forever. They share their life stories and understand all that they have in common, especially Soline's fiancé who was kidnapped in WWII. I really loved this book. I will be reading more by Barbara Davis. #TheKeeperofHappyEndings #BarbaraDavis #Oct2021 #lakeunionpublishing

Truly a beautiful book, that moved me. Highly recommend for all those that appreciate well written historical fiction. Character development was excellent and I was pulled in from page one all the way to the end.

Beautifully written book…..so many suspenseful and intriguing moments that it will make you want to read to the very last pages.
A World War 2 historical fiction romance told in two different time periods. Spanning 3 generations, The Keeper of Happy Endings is a very heartfelt read.
Love
Secrets
Lose
Resilience
Redemption
I truly enjoyed Barbara Davis’ style of writing.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

Nothing that's never been done before in terms of WWII fiction, but an easy, enchanting read nonetheless.

What a beautiful story about two strong women. It has a brilliant plot and is exceptionally well scripted. It is a story about love, hope, second chances and family relationships that weave magic into a happy ending. Highly recommended novel for all contemporary readers. My first read of a novel by Barbara Davis but definitely not the last. Five star rating.

A lovely book which I couldn't put down. Loved it! If you are a fan of Danielle Steel you will want to read this book. It takes you, the reader, into another world.

I almost didn't read this book because one of the reviews I read said that one of the characters is into white magic, spells, etc. and I thought this book probably wasn't for me. But that reviewer didn't even finish the book, and other reviews were raves, so I decided to give it a try and I am so glad I did! This is a dual timeline story, primarily about Soline Roussel and Aurora (Rory) Grant. Soline's story begins in Paris at the outset of WWII, where she works with her mother in their bridal shop. The Roussels believe they have a gift, that the charm they work into each of the wedding gowns they create guarantees the bride a lifetime of joy, but they also believe they are cursed to never have a happy ending themselves. Soline ends up in Boston, trying to put the heartbreak and losses she endured during the war behind her. We meet Rory, who grew up as the only child of a Boston upper class family, in 1985. In an effort to pull herself out of the despair she is experiencing as a result of a devastating personal loss, Rory decides to open an art gallery in what turns out to have been Soline's Boston bridal shop. The two women strike up a friendship, despite the difference in their ages. The "magic" in the book is more about having faith, believing in second chances and happy endings. The characters and the story were highly engaging and by the time I got to the middle of the book, I couldn't put it down. Although I did guess how parts of the story would end well ahead of time, there were some surprises, and even though I thought I had an idea what would happen it did not dampen my interest or lessen the emotions I felt as I read to the end.

A wonderful book. It starts out in WWII in Paris. So many lives intertwined with heartache. Couldn’t wait to turn each page. Was shocked by the end of the book with what these people endured throughout their lives during after the war. People want to believe in happy endings but you’ll have to read this book to see the outcome.

The Keeper of Happy Endings by Barbara Davis. Lake Union Publishing, 2021.

Sixty-ish Soline and twenty-something Rory are both artisans living in 1985 Boston, linked at first by interest in commercial space in an old building, then by grief, parallel life experiences and a strong friendship. The book shifts back and forth between Soline’s life in WWII Paris and in 1985 Boston, and Rory’s at that same time.

I love reading interesting stories about people easy to like and respect, especially if they include historical details. There is a hint of mysticism, narrative and dialogue that flow smoothly, strong and consistent main and supporting characters, and subplots that come together beautifully at the end. It is a wonderful book that left me feeling uplifted in some intangible way, happier and more optimistic than before I started, similar to Sarah
Addison Allen’s Garden Spells.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of The Keeper of Happy Endings for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #TheKeeperofHappyEndings #NetGalley

Souline Roussel is a young French girl learning the trade of her family, she creates beautiful wedding dresses with special charms to ensure the happiness of the couple. After her mother's death from tuberculosis during World War II, Souline volunteers to help care for injured soldiers and it is there she meets the love of her life, Anson. Very quickly he must send her away to America for her own safety. Although he sends her to stay with his family, she quickly realizes that she is unwelcome. Once it is known that Anson is MIA, his father quickly gets rid of her and the baby she is carrying. Souline then makes a name for herself in Boston as a premier dress designer.

Rory Grant is a young woman going through her own traumas and must figure out how to move forward when her fiancé goes missing in a foreign land. She decides to move forward with opening a gallery for unknown artists. As she is walking down Newbury St in Boston she feels called to open in a townhouse previously owned by Souline and reaches out to lease it. Over time, Souline and Rory become close and get to know each other and their pasts. What neither realizes is that they may be closer than just friends.

I thought the story was well told and written. Like all good historical fiction, the dual timeline shows the symmetry between the characters and allows the reader to understand the impact one character has on another. I found the story different from other historical fictions set in the same time period as there were no details of concentration camps although the author did make mention of significant milestones such as Kristallnacht, the night of broken glass. The ending was a bit obvious but it was still lovely in the way that it unfolded and anyone looking for a happy ending will find one here.

I would like to Thank NetGalley and the publisher for an arc copy in exchange for my honest review. I loved everything about this book. The writing, the characters, and the mystery told in its pages made the story flow very smoothly and kept me turning the pages to see what happened next. I love historical fiction where we get the story from the past while also getting what’s happening in the present. And this story did not disappoint. This is the first book I’ve read by this author but it won’t be my last. I will be picking up her back list titles. If you have not read this book I highly recommend you do.

I’m very glad I read the promotional blurb for The Keeper of Happy Endings. It mentioned that this author had also written The Last of the Moon Girls, a novel I quite enjoyed last December. Based on that previous experience and a tantalizing teaser, I decided to give her new book a go. Where to even start writing this review??? Perhaps with my frustration that I can’t give the book ten stars!

I’m not going to describe what the story is about – the blurb does enough of that. And I don’t want to take away from the absolutely marvelous experience of discovering what happens as the story plays out. Surprises galore await you!

I *will* tell you that it didn’t take very long at all for me to become fully immersed in the tales of two women’s lives, each story placed in different settings and eras. To say that this story is well-crafted is an understatement akin to saying that Rembrandt knew how to grip a paintbrush. Although, a better comparison would be to a seamstress. The stories of Soline Roussel and Rory Grant are deftly sewn together into a finished piece that is both contemporary and classic, embellished with many delicate and elaborate twists! It’s a tale I hope will stay in style for many years to come. I hope you try it on and find it fits you well.

My thanks to author Barbara Davis, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital advance review copy of this book. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Original and Enchanting

I was totally blown away by this book. It is about families, mainly mothers and daughters, with a few overbearing men thrown in, maintaining hope against all odds, and the enchantment of love. Yes, there's a little magic in it, but, is it really magic or just the 'ordinary' enchantment of love. Many other reviewers have synopsized the story and described the characters, so I don't need to. I just need to tell you that I just loved this book and highly recommend it. I consumed it in almost single day!

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-constrained e-arc via Netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.

4.5 Stars

One Liner: Beautiful!

Soline Russel belongs to a family from Paris that specializes in ensuring happy endings for others. Their hand-stitched bridal gowns are known to bind the couple together forever. But the blessing is also a curse. No one in the family has had a happy ending of their own. Soline tries to challenge the curse only to realize she can’t.
Years later, in Boston, Rory (Aurora) is trying to find hope and stay positive. Her fiancé has been abducted in another country, and there’s no news of him. The strained relationship with her mother offers no solace. Until, by chance, Rory spots an old shop damaged by a fire accident.
It rekindles her desire to make her dreams come true. Rory’s persistence brings her face to face with Soline, the owner of the store. Soline sure has made a name for herself in an unknown country, but what’s she has lost can never let her live in peace.
Rory’s situation brings Soline out of her self-imposed exile. Of course, life isn’t easy, and things change just when their bond deepens. An unexpected decision by Rory sets the ball rolling. Secrets are revealed, and a new ray of hope is found. But is it possible to hope for the elusive happy ending for either of them?
The book is 416 pages long, and as with every historical, the start is slow. But the book picks up the pace and seamlessly flows between different timelines and POVs. We get to see the story from Soline’s and Rory’s perspectives, giving us a chance to appreciate both women. Two other women play a vital role in the book- Camilla (Rory’s mom) and Thia.
The story is beautiful and heartbreaking. At about 59%, I connected the dots, but then the author threw in a twist. Of course, my guess was right, but the way she revealed it worked better than my expectations.
A book with a title as such should have a happy ending, and this one indeed does. Some of it might seem a little too neatly tied up, but hey, I wanted a happy ending and got one. No complaints.
The characters are well developed. There are subtle hints to see beyond the obvious and delve deeper into the character’s mind. That’s clever writing.
The two biggest plus points are-
• Emotions that hit the cord
• A fine balance between both timelines
Many such books end up with one timeline grabbing the limelight. That doesn’t happen here. However, there are a couple of minor issues that could’ve been addressed. Still, the book is a worthy read in many ways.
This is my first book by the author, and I’m surely going to read her other works.
To sum up, The Keeper of Happy Endings is a story of hope, love, second chances, family, relationships, and happy endings.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.