Recent Reads - The Keys to Gramercy Park

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The Keys to Gramercy Park by Candice Sue Patterson - Andrea is a historical journalist hoping to find a great story that will earn her a promotion for her magazine, so it seems like a great stroke of luck to find a stash of post-Civil War era counterfeit bills hidden in a wall of her historic district apartment. Around the same time, she meets Beau Davidson-Quincy, an aspiring politician, who has connections that help her in investigating where the bills came from and why they were hidden there. As their relationship―and the research into the story―progresses, they realize that there's a possibility the counterfeit is connected to Beau's family somehow, and if so, publishing the story could have a devastating effect on his hopes in the upcoming election.

In the historical timeline following the Civil War, Franklin Davidson works hard to provide for his wife and daughter, and to protect his reputation from being marred by the apparent crimes and scheming of his estranged brother, Edward. Franklin's big breakthrough comes when he's offered a position with the newly formed Secret Service, where he'll work to stop the spread of counterfeit currency. Following a tragedy that costs him everything, he moves to fashionable Gramercy Park in New York with his young daughter in an effort to build a new life while holding on to his secrets. His only goal is to provide the best life possible for his beloved daughter, but as she gets older, she starts asking uncomfortable questions, and he becomes more determined than ever to keep his own past life and secrets from her. 

The fact that there's a connection between the character Franklin and the contemporary character Beau is apparent early on, but the details and how it will all play out is teased out slowly enough through the unfolding story to add suspense. Andrea and Beau have a promising relationship, despite her reservations about trusting him and their suitability. Beau pursues her patiently, but the threat of negative press for him if she gets her breakthrough story can't be ignored. Her commitment to good journalism and her desired promotion are at odds with Beau's dedication to winning his election and furthering his political career, so there's plenty of emotional conflict. In the past, meanwhile, brothers Franklin and Edward have their conflicts and secrets, and their lives are more intertwined than either of them would wish. It seems impossible that Franklin can keep all his secrets from everyone around him, especially his daughter, considering how close their relationship is. This keeps the tension in his timeline high, and there's a lot of complexity in his story and character.

Overall, I was drawn into this story and all its intrigue in both timelines. All the lead characters were well-developed and each faced their own series of dilemmas and moral decisions that would shape their lives and the lives of those around them, and the best choice was not always obvious. I enjoyed the portrayal of a politician as a positive character, and the layered nature of the historical timeline. By the end of the story, the reader has learned all the secrets, but not all the characters have, and I appreciated that while the story is wrapped up to satisfaction, the final chapter leaves enough of an opening for the reader to wonder what will happen when those final secrets are revealed.

Secrets Sealed Within a Wall Come to Light in Lower Manhattan

Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series of historical series of romance and adventure.

Investigative historical journalist Andrea Andrews is tired of waiting tables to make ends meet. If she could find and write the next breakout story, she could secure a promotion with Smithsonian Magazine as their writer-at-large. But not much happens in lower Manhattan out of the ordinary until she discovers post-Civil War counterfeit bills hidden in the wall of her historic district apartment.

Politics have always been Beau Davidson-Quincy's passion, despite his family's real estate empire. His clean image and single status make him a target in the media as he prepares to build his campaign for New York governor. He has nothing to hide until a cute waitress unravels a mystery that could destroy his family's reputation.

Two centuries earlier, wounded Civil War veteran Franklin Davidson lost everything―his house, his wife, his standing in society. In his darkest moment, he's awarded a position with the newly formed Secret Service to combat the spread of counterfeit U.S. currency. His life and new home in Gramercy Park are the envy of his peers, but nothing is as it seems. Secrets are meant to be kept, and Franklin will take his to his grave.

Visit Barbour Publishing for more info on where to buy.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

By the same author: All That Glitters (novella) in the Lumberjacks and Ladies collection.

This is a book that sent me down a rabbit hole (#29) for The 52 Book Club's 2023 Reading Challenge

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2023

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