The Last of the Moon Girls: family, secrets and forgiveness

The Last of the Moon Girls by Barbara Davis is a moving story of family, secrets and forgiveness. Lizzy Moon wanted nothing to do with Moon Girl Farm. She left eight years ago and never looked back. Lizzy desperately wanted to distance herself from the strange family legacy and the whispered rumors. When her beloved grandmother, Althea dies, Lizzy must return and face that legacy and the rumors. Lizzy arrives at the farm, determined to sell the farm and return to her life in New York City. But when she discovers Althea’s journal, she finds it harder and harder to leave. She also reconnects with Andrew Greyson, a childhood friend, and the only one left who doesn’t believe the ugly rumors about the family. Will she accept her legacy and the path she was meant to be on? Or will she leave it all behind for good? 

Part family forgiveness, part mystery, and part self-discovery, The Last of the Moon Girls is a story that hits all the needs for a great drama. I enjoyed Lizzy’s growth from desperate to escape and forget to understanding and acknowledgment. She learns details that she couldn’t have understood as a child but as a grown woman, she begins to understand. Lizzy discovers a strength and courage she didn’t know she had. I loved that she discovers that family history doesn’t necessarily have to dictate one’s path. I also enjoyed hearing from Althea through her journal. Lizzy and Andrew’s romance was sweet. Their connection began as children but their relationship had to have the perfect moment to move forward. The resolution to the mystery was interesting and not expected. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I highly recommend The Last of the Moon Girls. 

The Last of the Moon Girls is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

The Keeper of Happy Endings: a story about fate, second chances and hope

The Keeper of Happy Endings by Barbara Davis is a story about fate, second chances and hope. Soline Roussel is well versed in the business of happy endings. For generations, the women of her family kept an exclusive bridal salon in Paris. Where magic is worked into each stitch. It is said that every bride who wears a Roussel gown is guaranteed a lifetime of joy and happiness. When World War II arrives in Paris, Soline is faced with devastating loss after another. She arrives in America with one simple dress box. She places all her memories in it, stowing them away, determined to forget. Decades later, another young woman is dealing with her own tragic loss. Rory Grant is left reeling after her fiancé goes missing with no words as to his whereabouts or if he is even alive. When she comes across an old store front, she becomes determined to open her own art gallery. Inside the storefront, she discovers Soline’s old dress box. What happens is an unlikely friendship between Soline and Rory. While they both believe they were destined to meet, their connection would have a profound impact on their future. 

The Keeper of Happy Endings is my first book by Barbara Davis and it was widely praised and recommended. Now I can see why. It is a beautiful story of love, loss and finding hope when hope seems lost. From the very beginning, I enjoyed Soline’s story as well as Rory’s. Although there were a few twists and “aha” moments that I saw them coming before the big reveal. However, figuring out the twists didn’t take away from the emotional impact of the story. It is also more than just another historical story about war and love lost. It is about the eternal struggle between mother and daughter, the constant push and pull that they seem to be engaged in and the influence that one generation has on another. The Keeper of Happy Endings also serves as a reminder that hate doesn’t change with time. One of my favorite quotes is “People always find a way to justify their hate—and give others an excuse to fall in line. They put words in people’s mouths, plant them like viruses, then watch them spread.” Words that ring true today as they did over eighty years ago. I highly recommend The Keeper of Happy Endings. 

The Keeper of Happy Endings is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook