Born to an unloving prostitute in a popular Chicago brothel, timid seventeen-year-old Dinah Hubley was raised amidst the secrets held in every dark, grimy room of her home. Anxious to escape, Dinah pursues her dream of becoming a Harvey Girl, waiting tables along the railroad in an upscale hotel. But when she finds out she isn’t old enough, her only option is to accept a job as a chambermaid at the Clifton Hotel in Florence, Kansas. Eager to put everything behind her, Dinah feels more worthless than ever, based on a single horrible decision she made to survive.
The Clifton offers a life Dinah has never known, but blinded to the love around her, Dinah remains buried in the shame of her past. When a handsome chicken farmer named Amos Ackerman starts to show interest, Dinah withdraws further, convinced no one could want a sullied woman like her. Despite his self-consciousness about his handicapped leg and her strange behavior, Amos resolves to show Dinah Christ’s love. But can she ever accept a gift she so desperately needs?
Heidi here. I loved how Dinah, ashamed of her upbringing, creates an even worse situation for herself before leaving the brothel for good. In running from her past, Dinah is rooted in fear for the majority of the novel, so she builds a wall between others to protect herself. But each time she interacts with Amos, the wall isn’t quite high enough, and they become friends.
With a fresh set of characters, Kim Vogel Sawyer is a master plotter and wordsmith. I enjoyed reading about the Harvey House environment, this time as a chambermaid. I’d highly recommend this novel to others.
I was given an advance reading copy by WaterBrookPress.