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Barbara Davis

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The Keeper of Happy Endings Kindle Edition

by Barbara Davis (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.6 99,377 ratings

in Historical French Fiction

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An enchanting novel about fate, second chances, and hope, lost and found, by the Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Last of the Moon Girls.

Soline Roussel is well schooled in the business of happy endings. For generations her family has kept an exclusive bridal salon in Paris, where magic is worked with needle and thread. It’s said that the bride who wears a Roussel gown is guaranteed a lifetime of joy. But devastating losses during World War II leave Soline’s world and heart in ruins and her faith in love shaken. She boxes up her memories, stowing them away, along with her broken dreams, determined to forget.

Decades later, while coping with her own tragic loss, aspiring gallery owner Rory Grant leases Soline’s old property and discovers a box containing letters and a vintage wedding dress, never worn. When Rory returns the mementos, an unlikely friendship develops, and eerie parallels in Rory’s and Soline’s lives begin to surface. It’s clear that they were destined to meet—and that Rory may hold the key to righting a forty-year wrong and opening the door to shared healing and, perhaps, a little magic.

Print length

415 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publisher

Lake Union Publishing
Publication date

October 1, 2021
File size

4192 KB
Page Flip

Enabled
Word Wise

Enabled
Enhanced typesetting

Enabled
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Popular Highlights in this book

What are popular highlights?

“How a person behaves toward us is never about us, Rory. It’s about them.
Highlighted by 3,669 Kindle readers
People always find a way to justify their hate—and give others an excuse to fall in line. They put words in people’s mouths, plant them like viruses, then watch them spread.
Highlighted by 2,735 Kindle readers
Pain has a way of hardening us, each new heartbreak laying down a fresh layer of protection, like the nacre of a pearl, until we think ourselves impenetrable, immune to both our present and our past. What fools we are to believe it.
Highlighted by 2,312 Kindle readers

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Historically sound with a thread of supernatural intrigue, this exploration of shared experiences, learned adaptations, and the power of trust is a book that fans of Catherine Ryan Hyde, Erica Bauermeister, and Lucinda Riley will fall in love with.” —Booklist

“This intriguing novel is magically woven together with sorrow, surprises, and happiness, just like the wedding gowns of ‘The Dress Witch’.” —Historical Novel Society

“Davis’s tale of love and loss, expertly woven around the lives of two women who have nothing—and yet everything—in common, inspires hope that our own happy endings might be biding their time, ready to show up when and where we least expect them. The Keeper of Happy Endings is a perfect blending of romance and mystery with a sprinkling of magic—heartwarming and satisfying. Don’t miss it!” —Kerry Anne King, bestselling author of Whisper Me This and Everything You Are

“Like a wedding dress lovingly crafted, The Keeper of Happy Endings is stitched through with secrets, romance, and mystery sure to enchant…and leave readers believing in the magic of second chances.” —Christine Nolfi, bestselling author of The Passing Storm

From the Publisher

I used to roll my eyes at the saying, “Everything happens for a reason.” It just seemed like a very easy, very convenient way to explain away things we don’t understand—especially the difficult things. That all changed when I read The Keeper of Happy Endings.

In this enchanting novel, Barbara Davis expertly weaves a tale of two women seemingly brought together by coincidence. When the discovery of a vintage wedding dress and a bundle of letters causes their paths to cross, they have no idea how closely connected they are. From different generations and different continents, their stories echo one another: both have experienced great love and great loss, and both despair of repairing the damage done. Their meeting irrevocably alters their lives. Drawn together yet wary of more heartache, they slowly reveal their wounds.

But what draws them close also has the power to tear them apart. If they refuse to open their hearts and believe in the power of destiny, they may miss a second chance at happiness and reuniting with the loves they lost. That’s what the skeptic in me loves about this book. Barbara Davis deftly shows that things do happen for a reason, but it’s up to us to stay open to the magic of possibility.

—Jodi Warshaw, Editor

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08X48G5VL
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lake Union Publishing (October 1, 2021)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 1, 2021
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 4192 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 415 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #1,029 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #1 in Historical French Fiction
- #5 in World War II Historical Fiction (Books)
- #6 in Historical World War II Fiction

Customer Reviews:
4.6 99,377 ratings

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Barbara Davis

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After twelve years in the jewelry business, I finally surrendered to the muse, leaving the corporate world in order to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a writer. I was born in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, but grew up and attended school in Florida. Eventually, work led me north, where I lived in Charleston for two years, and in Raleigh for fourteen, before eventually making my home in Dover, New Hampshire, which makes me a Yankee, turned southerner, turned Yankee. (I think.)

When I'm not writing I'm an avid reader, foodie, and lover of music, a rabid football fan, and a devoted Florida Gator. I also enjoy travel with my husband/sweetheart, (same guy, I promise) who over the years has learned much more about publishing and the craft of writing than he ever wanted to know.

My most recent novel, THE KEEPER OF HAPPY ENDINGS, releases October 1, 2021. I am currently working on my eighth novel, and am still just as delighted with my job as I was the day I set my first word on the page!

For more about me and my books, please visit my website at: www.barbaradavis-author.com, or find me on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barbaradavisauthor OR on Twitter: @bdavisauthor.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5

99,377 global ratings

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Bonnie F

Excellent

Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2024

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I loved this book, the prose was superb, the plot engaging, and the characters quickly made their way into my heart so I was quickly cheering for Happy Endings for all. This book is a duel time line set in WWII and the mid 1980s. It alternates between Solice a French dress maker and Rory an aspiring gallery owner. Both have endured being separated from their soulmate whose fate is unknown. Other ties bind them as well. I liked that each character was given several chapters before switching back to the other. This helped to avoid the clunky cadence I often find in duel timeline novels that makes me feel like I reading two novels shoved together rather than a complete story. Barbara Davis was excellent in avoiding this, the two points of view and time lines were woven with the thread of her beautiful prose to create a masterpiece. I can't believe this gem is been in my to be read like for so long!

6 people found this helpful

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Food for thought

Lovely

Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2024

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Such a charming and embracing story. A wonderful storyteller. Barbara Davis makes the reader feel what the characters feel instead of just telling the reader. This is the second book of hers I have read. Each one is charming and a delight.

Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2024

Verified Purchase

This is a love story. Beautifully written with a lot of heart. Well paced and easy to follow the changing timeline. The tension between the different characters is very believable. And the aftermath is realistic as well. Plus who doesn't love a happy ending full of romance. Definitely a fun read.

8 people found this helpful

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C. Bird

Lovely

Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2024

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I am usually drawn to action, mystery, espionage. So I am not certain why I was drawn to this book. Maybe it was France, history in WWII, not sure. I loved the trip, the words, the story. Such an emotional trek with ups and downs and twists and turns. Love story, mystery and hope!

One person found this helpful

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diana jaycox (my friends call me DJ)

I laughed, I cried and devoured every word I read as though it was food for my soul!

Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2022

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The Keeper of Happy Endings by Barbara Davis is a first read for me. It has been on my TBR shelf for some time. The circumstances of life around me , had me searching my shelves for a book that would remind me of happily ever after. The Keeper of Happy Endings touched emotions deep inside of me; you could say it touched my soul! There is magic in Barbara's words, and she weaves it throughout this tale of women who can predict a brides chance of happiness and spell a charm to protect it in the future. It is not just an enchanting tale, it is a powerful drama crossing several generations. I devoured it as though it was food for my soul!

Barbara's characters were so well-developed it was like watching my own interactions with my mother played out on a stage in front of me. I was moved to tears as bittersweet memories of many a soul searing discussion with my own mother played out before me. But the real magic is in how Barbara Davis through the interactions of Rory, Camilla and Solene, shows not tells, the reader of the power of love, forgiveness and strength of family, brings the happy endings. It is as Solene points out:
"for there have always been mothers who knew best. Just as there have always been daughters who knew better. It’s a contradiction that is part of every woman’s journey—the need to shape in one’s own image versus the aversion to being shaped at all."
Barbara Davis offers a new perspective on how little daughter's truly know the and understand the lives our mother's lived before us.
Barbara's novel hit many a raw nerve but then offered calm, soothing healing as love and forgiveness as the story played out over time.

The settings described in rich detail throughout the novel again demonstrated Barbara Davis's artistry with words. Boston and the North Eastern Coastal area were described as a Master would have painted. Again it was feast for the senses and had me planning my next vacation to Boston!

I am afraid my own words pale in comparison to Barbara Davis. I always thought I was so good with words, but the depth and breath of Barbara Davis's talent puts me to shame.

I highly recommend you pick up The Keeper of Happy Endings. But keep the tissues ready for the emotional roller coaster you will experience.

32 people found this helpful

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Reens

Oh my heart 😭

Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2024

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This book broke my heart and made me cry multiple times 😭😭 but I'm so glad there is a happy ending. Well, I hope I'm not ruining that for anyone. I mean it's in the title. Of course there is a happy ending, but before getting there, your heart will break so many times while reading this masterpiece. I absolutely loved this beautiful book. I don't even know how to describe it. Barbara Davis is a master storyteller and this is truly a masterpiece. There are two parallel storylines. In the past (during WWII), two young lovers separated by war and kept apart because of a cruel father's lies. Then in the present timeline (which is the 80s), a young woman is navigating life as a gallery owner who's suddenly lost in touch with her fiancee, who is doctor in a warzone, for several months. The two stories are woven together beautifully and when you finally see how the two are connected, it all makes sense. It's a lesson in dealing with past hurts, lies, and wounds, forgiveness, and acceptance. It's a story about love and not just between lovers, but between mothers and daughters, grandparents, brothers and sisters. All kinds of love are explored in this story.
It was a bit of a slow start, but the second half of the book picked up and you are pulled into the scene and feel all the emotions. I love the quotes by the dress witch at the beginning of Soline's chapters. They are all little nuggets of wisdom about love, life and perspective. I found myself highlighting some of them and rereading them again and again. I think I need to reread this book again to truly appreciate the details of the story. I missed a lot of things in the middle, especially when I was listening to some of it on audiobook. The voice of Soline has a heavy French accent so it's sometimes difficult to hear what she's saying clearly. But I like that they used the French accent to make the character come to life.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely be checking out more of Barbara Davis's books. This is the second book I've read by her now and I've become a huge fan.

28 people found this helpful

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Dana L. Schutter

Great story!

Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2024

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Loved this story! Both Soline and Rory were solid characters - it was heart wrenching and wonderful to follow them on this journey!

One person found this helpful

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