The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow: A Novel (Avenue of Dreams, #2)

by Olivia Newport

Charlotte Farrow, maid in the wealthy Banning household on Chicago's opulent Prairie Avenue, has kept her baby boy a secret from her employers for nearly a year. But when the woman who has been caring for her son abruptly returns him, Charlotte must decide whether to come clean and face dismissal or keep her secret while the Bannings decide the child's fate. Can she face the truth of her own past and open her heart to a future of her own? Or will life's tragedies determine the future for her?

This compelling story set against the glittering backdrop of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition captures the tension between the wealthy class and the hardworking servants who made their lives comfortable. Author Olivia Newport expertly portays social classes while creating a story of courage, strength, and tender romance.

• ISBN10: 0800720393
• ISBN13: 9780800720391
• Publish Date: 1 January 2013
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 4 March 2021
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
• Imprint: Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 320
• Language: English

Reviews

[cherryblossommj]

[b:The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow|14059909|The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow (Avenue of Dreams, #2)|Olivia Newport|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1340918005s/14059909.jpg|19696413] is the second novel in the Avenue of Dreams series from new Christian Historical Fiction author [a:Olivia Newport|5289246|Olivia Newport|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1326248748p2/5289246.jpg] and while it is a pick up a year later, you could get by reading it alone. However I think you'd understand a lot more and enjoy watching the characters grow from reading both novels. Now to express my thoughts I have to go back to what I said for [b:The Pursuit of Lucy Banning|12933801|The Pursuit of Lucy Banning(Avenue of Dreams, #1)|Olivia Newport|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347331225s/12933801.jpg|18089780] to really get an idea of how to express myself because my thoughts remain in the positive same.

Coming across a new author is always a little intimidating because the adventure of a read may really go either way. Reviews out there are almost all favorable and this Christian Historical Fiction reader agrees with all the positive! Olivia Newport transports readers into a fast paced, but enjoyable read in an area and time not often covered. This book will be enjoyed by Downton Abbey fans as well as many others. Step your feet in to enjoy the world of both the Chicago aristocracy as well as the maids and others downstairs.

The title for The Pursuit of Lucy Banning, however, Lucy is not the only story you will find. Enter in and follow Lucy and Charlotte. Pick up and go deeper into Charlotte's story in The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow.

Olivia Newport is a new to this reader author and this first novel into the Avenue of Dreams is not the last be added to the shelf for the Creative Madness Mama. Continuing and understanding of the social classes was enjoyable and interesting. The romantic heart wants to scream leave them all and run away for love! Yet the practical is curious how anything could possibly work out in the end. Olivia did an impressive and engaging job keeping all the characters alive and coming off the page again and again. So much to wonder and guess what may be.

After Lucy's story with snippets on Charlotte's story, I was eagerly looking forward to what her story would entail. Now let me tell you I had my month planned for which books I was to read when and one night I decided to just preview a bit into Charlotte's story before going to bed. Well... thank you very much Olivia, but I did not get to sleep that night until I think well beyond 3 AM and nearing the early morning as I could not put the book down until I was well and complete. I was tense and nervous and full of anticipation as I just HAD to know what would happen to Henry. I think that I read the beginnings of Charlotte and Henry's story when my OrangeBlossom was just a newborn herself and so now to continue their story where Henry is nearing his first birthday and my own baby just had hers a few months back makes the feelings of connection with Charlotte as a character and person off the page so much stronger. It is much in the way of I cannot imagine being in her situation!

In the first book I was not certain I would like her, but oh she definitely won me over and I'm quite glad to say I enjoyed her story. Olivia has definitely won me over as a reader an fan. Bring it on! I want more! :) I think that readers will quite enjoy Olivia's books, especially those with a love of Upstairs/Downstairs type renditions as in Lucy's story we had the upstairs, and now with Charlotte's story it is all about the downstairs.

*Thank to Revell Books for providing a copy for review.*

scheduled: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2013/01/21/the-dilemma-of-charlotte-farrow/