She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell~a review~

ABOUT THE BOOK:
During New York City's Gilded Age...
The game is played amid banquets and balls.
The prize is a lifetime of wealth and privilege.
The rules will test friendships and
the desires of a young woman's heart.
Clara Carter is the social season's brightest star...
but at what cost?
For a young society woman seeking a favorable marriage, so much depends on her social season debut. Clara Carter has been given one goal: secure the affections of the city's most eligible bachelor. Debuting means plenty of work--there are corsets to be fitted, dances to master, manners to perfect. Her training soon pays off, however, as celebrity's spotlight turns Clara into a society-page darling.

Yet Clara soon wonders if this is the life she really wants. Especially when she learns her best friend has also set her sights on Franklin De Vries. When a man appears who seems to love her simply for who she is and gossip backlash turns ugly, Clara realizes it's not just her marriage at stake--the future of her family depends on how she plays the game.

Publisher: Bethany House
Price: $14.99
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0433-3
ISBN-10: 0-7642-0433-5
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.375
Number of pages: 400
Formats: Paperback

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Siri Mitchell is the author of nearly a dozen novels, among them the critically acclaimed Christy Award finalists Chateau of Echoes and The Cubicle Next Door. A graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in business, she has worked in many different levels of government. As military spouse, she has lived in places as varied as Tokyo and Paris. Siri currently lives in the DC-metro area. Visit www.sirimitchell.com

MY REVIEW:
Clara dreamed of studies and travel, but when she is only 17 years old her aunt decides she will debut and be out into society in just 2 months. She is told she must get a certain very rich, young man to marry her. Clara is wondering why she can't marry for love. This book talks about how she must be in a corset tightly laced which causes her from breathing well and she can't eat much because it causes pain and discomfort. You learn about the dances, unique utensils, etiquette and games and appliances used in this era of time. One neat part of the book tells about how Clara’s friend makes Skeleton leaves. Below is a picture of how they look. Thought that was sweet.
She walks in Beauty tells of the Gilded Age the splendor, beauty, and greatness of the wonderful dinners, beautiful balls, and fancy gowns.
Clara and her best friend are both suppose to get the same man to marry them. You meet that young man Franklin and his brother Harry.
Clara wants to be loved for who she is not for who she pretends to be. She finds out the God loves her just the way she is, she doesn't have to change in order for the love of God.
You will read about the rich and affluent as well as the unkempt and deprived. How Clara finds out about them and what she does with them. I really, really loved this book and read it in a few days. If you love Christian fiction you need this for your library. I highly recommend She Walks in Beauty!

Order from Bethany House Publishers
Also available from Amazon

Thanks to Jim Hart from Bethany House Publishers for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.