Book Review: A Deep Divide by Kimberley Woodhouse
My Thoughts:
Since watching Judy Garland’s Harvey Girls movie for the first time as a very young girl, I have fallen in love with Harvey Girls stories, so when I heard that Kimberley Woodhouse was releasing a Harvey Girl story, I was over the moon excited, stalking my mailbox awaiting its arrival.
A Deep Divide follows a gutsy heroine with a troubling past who treasures her freedom over wealth, so much so that she has kept herself from opening her heart to anyone, even friends. If you love a sweet romance with strong character growth from both the hero and heroine, you will love A Deep Divide!
Who were the Harvey Girls??
In the 1890’s, there were not a whole lot of respectable jobs for women in the West, so when Fred Harvey created his chain of fine dining restaurants, single women without an education or in need of earning their own way were given a chance to earn an honest wage without the speculation that they offered anything but food as a service. These ladies were not just ordinary waitresses. They became known as the Harvey Girls, the ladies who tamed the Wild West with fine china, good pie and exceptional service with complete propriety along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroads.
What set them apart?
As Harvey Girls, the young ladies were expected to follow a rigid code of conduct set by Fred Harvey himself. They were to live in the Harvey House and to respect curfew. If they were caught out and about after curfew, they could be dismissed.
Fred Harvey designed a uniform to dress them as modestly as possible in austere black dresses from toe to high collar, giant white aprons and large white hair bows. The Harvey Girls were not allowed to wear make up or jewelry and could only wear the approved Harvey uniform. All of this was done to protect the most important thing that a woman had, her reputation. Now, isn’t that a recipe for delightful, sweet romances? Yes, please!
My Rating:
FIVE stars!!! Easy-to-read! Entertaining! Happily Ever After! Informative! Page-turner! Romantic! Tragic! Unpredictable! Wonderful characters!
About A Deep Divide:
With her past behind her, she has nothing–and everything–to lose.
After being kidnapped as a child, heiress Emma Grace McMurray has seen firsthand the devastation that greed causes in the world, and she wants nothing to do with it. When she discovers her father has offered her up as a bargaining chip to expand his empire, she disappears into the night. Determined to stay hidden, even if it means always looking over her shoulder, she finds herself working as a Harvey Girl at the El Tovar Hotel.
When Ray Watkins arrives at the hotel on business, he is immediately captivated by the beauty of the Grand Canyon. Though his fame-seeking father aims to lure new investors to the Arizona Territory, Ray dreams of one day taking over the family business and doing good with the profits.
Ray immediately admires Emma Grace, and though an attraction begins to form, she can’t let go of the deep-rooted fear that he’s just like every other wealthy man she’s known. When suspicious activity follows Emma Grace and Ray to the El Tovar, they are pulled into a mystery that stirs up their worst fears. And as shocking revelations come to light, they are left to question all they thought to be true.
Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than twenty-five fiction and nonfiction books including The Heart of Alaska series and The Treasures of Nome series. Kim and her incredible husband of twenty-nine-plus years have two adult children. She loves the gift of story and is passionate about music and Bible study. You can connect with Kimberley on her website www.kimberleywoodhouse.com.
