4 out of 4 stars
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Her feelings for Mr. Daggers were confusing. First of all, he was married. Still, Penelope could not deny that he made her swoon. These were the main reasons that she could not stay with them. She and her good friend Lucinda had worked out the perfect plan to keep Penelope from Mr. Daggers. Author Diana Forbes tells the story of a young girl learning to care for herself in late nineteenth-century America in Mistress Suffragette.
Penelope’s father was feeling desperate. His business was failing due to the financial Panic of 1893. The Stanton family was slowly losing their beautiful Newport, Rhode Island estate. Penelope’s parents insisted that she move to New York to live with Mr. and Mrs. Daggers. They promised to introduce her to prospective employers. The entire situation upset Penelope. She would not go. Penelope and her good friend, Lucinda planned to run away to Boston together. Lucinda had serious interest in the Women’s Suffrage Movement in Boston. To her surprise, Penelope’s life changed forever in Boston. She accidentally became a suffragist, and her love life became an unexpected journey.
This is historical fiction at its finest. Historical fiction is always my first choice, and this book did not disappoint. There is a perfect balance of dramatic storytelling and conveyance of historical facts. I really enjoyed learning about the foundation of many of the aspects of the Women’s Suffrage Movement. Readers of romance and historical fiction will enjoy this book.
The variety of characters in this book made it easy to relate to many of the personalities in the story. Each character is beautifully developed with their own unique flaws and personality. I was emotionally invested in all of their stories. These well-developed characters experience refreshing growth in a progressive time in American history.
This book is skillfully written, organized, and edited. Furthermore, the author’s expert use of descriptive language creates a pleasurable reading experience. There is one missing word in the book, but it caused no distraction and did not disrupt the flow of the story.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The story is written with understandable language, and this makes it very easy to follow from each moment to the next. I highly recommend this novel to all fiction readers. This expertly written page-turner kept me entertained from start to finish. Aside from the entertainment, this story provides a true understanding that social justice and societal change starts with regular, passionate people.
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Mistress Suffragette
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