New Novel Takes Chicago World’s Fair Readers Southwest With Harvey Girls

Mountains of Love is the latest novel by prolific Great Lakes Romances author Donna Winters. It also represents a new starting point for Winters, who has previously set his novels along the Great Lakes, where he has lived for many years. A few years ago, Winters moved to the Southwest and that has influenced his latest novel. Cedena Rossier, 23, the heroine of the book, is from Fayette, Michigan, where Winters previously established a trilogy, but Cedena travels to the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 and then to Kansas City and Las Vegas, New Mexico.

And Cedena’s journey is quite a journey. Like the Ferris wheel Cedena rides on at the World’s Fair, this novel is filled with wonderful views of the late 19th century America, as well as some gasps from the excitement that runs through its pages.

The story begins when Cedena accompanies his mother, aunt and uncle to the Chicago World’s Fair. Cedena and her mother have been through difficult times. His father and brother were involved in the iron industry in Fayette, Michigan, until the Jackson Iron Company withdrew from the city. They then went fishing to support the family, but two years ago, they got lost in a storm on Lake Michigan. Since then, Cedena and her mother have struggled to make ends meet and Cedena’s Uncle James has had to send them money so they could survive. Now Cedena’s aunt and uncle have invited her to attend the World’s Fair in Chicago with them, where Uncle James has a booth for Paxton’s Pharmaceuticals, his own Kansas City-based company. The cabin attendant is a young man named Matthew, who immediately likes Cedena.

However, Cedena is more interested in seeing the sights of the fair than in getting involved with Matthew. She finds him somewhat overbearing, and when she meets the handsome Orin Young and his sister Alice, who seems to like Matthew, Cedena hopes that Matthew will fall in love with Alice while she spends time with Orin.

One of the splendors of this novel is the Chicago World’s Fair. It was the show of the decade, and Winters takes us on a tour, showing us everything from camel racing to hot air balloon ride, 4th of July fireworks, and Chinese people. We are drawn in, seeing it all through Cedena’s eyes, and we just wish we could go back in time to see it for ourselves.

But eventually, Cedena’s visit to the fair comes to an end and she must make some tough decisions. She realizes that there is nothing in Fayette she can return to, and she’s also tired of her mother’s controlling ways. She has also met some people at the fair who make her want to stay in Chicago. When she accepts her uncle’s offer to stay and help him, she comes into immediate conflict with her mother, causing her mother to disown her. Worse still, the Depression of 1893 is just beginning, and when the fair ends and Cedena returns to Kansas City with her aunt and uncle, her uncle’s business is in such decline that Cedena must learn to fend for herself. Then she has the brilliant idea of ​​living the adventure of her life by becoming a Harvey girl.

To say more would be to spoil all the fun, but Cedena’s experiences in the Southwest are anything but boring as you meet nasty new characters, try to be self-reliant, and fight with the feelings in your heart and make the best decisions for your future. .

Donna Winters has written many other novels and I have read many of them, from Mackinac to her Fayette Trilogy and her most recent Saving Mossy Point. After writing so many historical and Christian romances, you would think that the books would become formulas, but that is not the case at all. Winters writes about real people facing real life struggles in historical settings that make you feel like you are there with the characters. I could feel Cedena’s excitement at the fair, her exhaustion after working long shifts as Harvey Girl, her frustrations dealing with difficult people, from family members to coworkers, and ultimately her courage to take the best. decisions for herself. She and her companions will stay with you for a long time.

Anyone who loves historical fiction and romance will find Mountains of Love a wonderful saga to get lost in and wish there were more mountains.