Book: A Summer on Bellevue Avenue
Author: Lorri Dudley
Genre: Christian historical romance
Release Date: January 9, 2024
In the world of the elite, reputation is everything…
Wealthy heiress Amanda Mae Klein is set to marry the man she loves, Wesley Jansen—the only person she trusts to help ease her anxiety among the social climbers of high society. Until the daughter of a union boss falls down a flight of stairs at Wesley’s office in the middle of the night…and the woman claims Wesley pushed her.
Seeking solace from the growing scandal, Amanda flees to the mansion-dotted seaside of Newport. Wesley follows to disprove the rumors and win back the trust of Amelia and her father. But soon, Amanda finds not only her social status but her life at risk. As dire events pit the two against each other, will their love find a way to survive?
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Lorri Dudley has been a finalist in numerous writing contests and has a master’s degree in Psychology. She lives in Ashland, Massachusetts with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone filled household.
More from Lorri
Moguls, Millionaires, and Midas
Imagine parties where the dining guests could dig through a sand centerpiece for rubies, diamonds, sapphires, and other precious stones to take home as party favors. Or celebrating elaborate pet birthdays, where dogs are seated around a formal dining table and served liver, rice, and cake. Fancy dining on horseback as guests eat while riding. At the mention of the Gilded Age in Newport, Rhode Island, Robin Leach’s voice naturally pipes in my head, “These are the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.”
Imposing wrought iron gates, expansive manicured lawns and gardens, and opulent French chateaus or Italian palazzos—the summer “cottages” of Newport’s famous self-made moguls of America’s Gilded Age stir the imagination and leave us wondering if we glimpsed a bit of what heaven may look like. What was accomplished, built, and achieved still impresses, and I had oodles of fun researching the era and its eccentric society walkers.
One of my favorite stories regarding the elites was the rivalry between “old money” Caroline Astor and “new money” Alva Vanderbilt. Legend has it that Caroline Astor frowned upon the Vanderbilts and did much to prohibit the new money Vanderbilts from having true social standing. Alva Vanderbilt concocted a plan to pry her way into old-money elitism by planning a fabulous costume party with all the who’s who of New York’s knickerbockers. Alva personally delivered Mrs. Astor’s invitation, and when Mrs. Astor refused to receive her, Alva Vanderbilt rescinded Caroline Astor’s daughter, Carrie’s, invitation. Hearing she was uninvited to the event, Carrie bent her mother’s ear and got her to acquiesce. Caroline Astor formally visited Alva Vanderbilt and attended the costume party, solidifying the Vanderbilt’s arrival into high society.
Living a little over an hour from Newport, I’ve toured many of the mansions and hiked the cliff walk along the luxurious shoreline. It was during one of these tours that the plot idea struck for Summer on Bellevue Avenue and the romance between two Gilded sweethearts torn apart by scandal was born.
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Texas Book-aholic, January 27
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 28
Sylvan Reads, January 28
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 29
Locks, Hooks and Books, January 30
Betti Mace, January 31
Alena Mentink, January 31
For Him and My Family, February 1
Simple Harvest Reads, February 2 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
An Author’s Take, February 2
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 3
Cover Lover Book Review, February 4
Blossoms and Blessings, February 5
Holly’s Book Corner, February 5
Life on Chickadee Lane, February 6
Pause for Tales, February 6
Connie’s History Classroom, February 7
Book Looks by Lisa, February 7
Lily’s Corner, February 8
She Lives To Read, February 8
To celebrate her tour, Lorri is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/299bf/a-summer-on-bellevue-avenue-celebration-tour-giveaway
4 comments:
What personal experiences are you hoping to explore in your future works?
I definitely like the time period that is the setting for this romance.
Kendra - Thank you so much for another wonderful review. I'm so glad you enjoyed A Summer on Bellevue Avenue and Amanda and Wesley's heart journey. This was a different era than I normally write it, but it was a lot of fun. There were I lot of great an quirky people back in Newport's late 1890s and early 1900s. Thanks again for blessing me! Hope you and the boys are doing well!
@traciem
Hi Tracie, even though my characters often will represent different aspects of myself, I don't always write about my own personal experiences. However, in A Summer on Bellevue Avenue there is a red dress scene that something similar did happen to me. I was invited to a party at an Ivy League school and showed up in a red dress where everyone wore black. Needless to say, I stood out like a splash of color in a black and white photo. At the time it seemed mortifying, but now I look back and laugh. In the opening scene of my next book my heroine rescues the hero from being held at gunpoint, but I can't claim to have done anything quite that brave.
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