The high drama of an Old Hollywood mystery completely entranced me.

There was an early wardrobe malfunction (which exposed a teenager to a large in-person audience as well as an international on-television audience) that needed to be overcome.

Boy, did this story deliver!

Lauren’s fashion design was exquisite and a bright gem in this novel. Each dress was unique. The skills Lauren displayed were fantastic and detailed. And Miss Montgomery’s wardrobe was a dream!

The recluse aspect was artfully presented. I love that Miss Montgomery retained her flair for the dramatic through all the heartache she had endured. Her lack of trust was well written and made me weep for her—everyone should have a sense of security in their own neighborhood and beloved friends to cherish and share life with.

There was a touch of romance that served as an accessory to the attire of the core story. It was sweet and made me happy.

The biggest highlight for me was the beautiful, rich faith. With the focus being on loyalty, this aspect felt timely as I am focusing on faithfulness this year (2025). Perhaps that made Lauren’s faith journey mean even more to me… Either way, it was excellent and superbly delivered.

Once again, Mrs. Cushman’s master storytelling dazzled me. I definitely want more books, Mrs. C!

Favorite Quotes (and my commentary):

“Eric Hoffer once said that rudeness is the weak person’s imitation of strength.”
(They fail to see that they simply attempt to make everyone as miserable as they already are. A truly strong person will be jolly despite the rudeness thrust upon them by the weak.)

“Don’t let an old crank keep you from doing nice things. People who do nice things are getting fewer and farther between.”
(Yes!!! Always choose kindness even if the other person is a meany.)

“A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what ships are built for.”
(God, help me to trust You to help me do what You created me to do—especially when it’s hard.)

“Help me to keep sailing out into the waves, and please point me in the right direction.”
(Absolutely! God, grant me this sort of bold courage.)

“Lauren crumpled in despair for only a few seconds. She thought back to her resolution, to her prayer. She would change herself in the way that she needed to change and leave the results up to God.”
(Such a beautiful reaction! I love this. Grieve the tough stuff, but limit that sorrow—God’s got better for you around the corner.)

“Tell me again why we couldn’t just put a zipper in? It would have made this whole process a lot easier.”
“Because they didn’t have zippers in this time period, and it wouldn’t be authentic.” Lauren continued to work the satin buttons through their respective loops.
“Yes, but who really cares?”
“Mr. Rivers cares, for one, and the Disney people, and believe me, there are plenty of people in the audience who care about those kinds of details. And even if none of that were true, I would still care. I like for things to be done correctly.”
(Yes! Historical accuracy matters, whether it’s for a stage play or a novel. Let’s look up those details and keep them true to history, friends!)

Content: alcohol, affairs mentioned often, illegitimate child, wardrobe malfunction (teen), tobacco

There are some books that draw the reader in and make you feel as though you are experiencing the events with the main characters. For me, this was one of those books. Cushman's characters were well-developed and her descriptions of the events allowed me to feel as though I was in the cul-de-sac where Lauren has moved. I empathized with Lauren and her struggles, and was pleased with how the book wrapped up. I loved the exquisite fashion descriptions. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes light-hearted stories with a little hint of romance, where the characters find themselves through adversity. Loved this book!

Thank you for the chance to review this book, however, unfortunately, I was unable to download this title before it was archived