Description: For Nell Marchwold, bliss is seeing the transformation when someone gets a glimpse in the mirror while wearing one of her creations and feels beautiful. Nell has always strived to create hats that bring out a woman's best qualities. She knows she's fortunate to have landed a job as an apprentice designer at the prominent Oscar Fields Millinery in New York City. Yet when Nell's fresh designs begin to catch on, her boss holds her back from the limelight, claiming the stutter she's had since childhood reflects poorly on her and his salon.
But it seems Nell's gift won't be hidden by Oscar's efforts. Soon an up-and-coming fashion designer is seeking her out as a partner of his 1922 collection. The publicity leads to an opportunity for Nell to make hats in London for a royal wedding. There, she sees her childhood friend, Quentin, and an unexpected spark kindles between them. But thanks to her success, Oscar is determined to keep her. As her heart tugs in two directions, Nell must decide what she is willing to sacrifice for her dream, and what her dream truly is.
My Review: I was intrigued by the beautiful cover of The Hatmaker’s Heart as well as the synopsis. Also, I had never heard of the author and wanted to give her a try. All in all, it was a nice book, but not stellar. The research put into it must have been incredible. The book is set in the roaring twenties, centered around a young English woman named Nell, trying to further her career in hatmaking in America. The premise is quite interesting, isn’t it? I’ve never read a book about the hats of the 1920’s before. It’s a rather dead practice nowadays for women to wear hats, but back then it was all the rage. It was enjoyable learning about how the hat business worked.
If you are looking for a romantic read, you won’t find it here. There is a little romance, but not too much. The Hatmaker’s Heart, to my surprise, was somewhat unpredictable. I didn’t quite know how she would end up with the man she loved in the end. I believe some of the characters were not well enough developed, so the book doesn't get all that deep or fascinating. But the historical aspect of it kept my interest throughout. I don’t think I’ll read another book by Carla Stewart. It was a nice book but not captivating. And with my being a college student now and having limited time to read and review, I’m not looking for just nice books. I’m looking for books that will captivate and enthrall.
I would suggest this book for its historical content. The vernacular of the ‘20’s can be quite entertaining. I also found the descriptive details of the hats and dresses truly interesting. The author did a fantastic job researching the time period. The main character, Nell, was sweet but not memorable. Those who like less romance and more history would certainly enjoy this.
I give The Hatmaker’s Heart 3 out of 5 stars.
**I received this book from the publishers through Netgalley. The opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.**