Harrison, Nicola

Harrison’s third historical (after The Show Girl) is a fascinating story that would benefit from further explorations of her characters’ motives. In the end, it is Laguna Beach itself that becomes the protagonist, thus the novel will appeal mostly to people who love this region and reading about the immediate postwar era.

Recommended for readers who enjoy a decisive and talented, but sometimes very flawed heroine, as well as stories set during the 1920s and a peek at the Ziegfeld Follies.

Full of substance and delightful characters with intriguing and intricate lives, Harrison's first novel will be a strong pick for fans of historical fiction featuring strong female leads, such as Kate Alcott's A Touch of Stardust and Jacqueline Winspear's popular "Maisie Dobbs" series.