Bernie Brown

I read about this debut novel in a Facebook group and pre-ordered it from Amazon so that I could have it on the day it was published. I love reading books by debut authors and I love reading books by NC authors and this book was all that I hoped for. Bernie Brown wrote a terrific first novel and I am definitely looking forward to her future novels.

Anna and her daughter Katya live in a small town in Iowa where Anna owns a dress shop. It's just been the two of them for years and they are best show more friends. Anna is sad when Katya moves to Chicago to go to college but realizes that its part of growing up. At the same time, Anna is also excited to know that she'll be able to spend more time with Dave, her married love. They've had to sneak around for years because she didn't want her daughter to know. Katya soon has secrets of her own when she finds herself attracted to girls and her biggest fear is that her mother will find out and hate her. When the inevitable happens and they find out each other's secrets, they both claim that they never want to see each other again. Can they become a loving mom and daughter again or will their bitterness and hurt totally end their relationship with each other?

This is a beautifully written novel about family and love; betrayal and forgiveness. This was a thought provoking book that is as applicable today as it was in the 1960s - people are still trying to be who they are without guilt and without prejudice. show less