The Dress Shop on King Street
series: Heirloom Secrets
About
Harper Dupree has pinned all her hopes on a future in fashion design. But when it comes crashing down around her, she returns home to Fairhope, Alabama, and to Millie, the woman who first taught her how to sew. As Harper rethinks her own future, long-hidden secrets about Millie's past are brought to light.
In 1946, Millie Middleton--the daughter of an Italian man and a Black woman--boarded a train and left Charleston to keep half of her heritage hidden. She carried with her two heirloom buttons and the dream of owning a dress store. She never expected to meet a charming train jumper who changed her life forever . . . and led her yet again to a heartbreaking choice about which heritage would define her future.
Now, together, Harper and Millie return to Charleston to find the man who may hold the answers they seek . . . and a chance at the dress shop they've both dreamed of. But it's not until all appears lost that they see the unexpected ways to mend what frayed between the seams.
"Clark makes a moving debut . . . . While faith elements are subtle, Millie often turns to God for fortitude when facing the difficult circumstances of her past and the obstacles to finally getting her dreams off the ground. Those who enjoy inspirational time-slip stories will want to check this out." --Publishers Weekly
"Clark opens her new Heirloom Secrets series against the backdrop of discrimination against interracial families and follows a family history anchored to an embroidered satchel and its contents. Alternating between 1946 and the present . . . . this tale traces the consequences of personal decisions through the textile arts, with Millie standing as a bridge between the two eras."--Booklist
"This book moves seamlessly between timelines, stitching together a story of love, hope, and courage amidst prejudice and loss, a story that is fastened with two butterfly buttons." --Historical Novels Review
Praise for The Dress Shop on King Street
"A rich, complex, and uplifting story of family lost and found that I won't soon forget. Highly recommended!"--COLLEEN COBLE, USA Today bestselling author of the Lavender Tide series and One Little Lie
"The Dress Shop on King Street is a novel that will sweetly tug you into a story line that flows seamlessly between two times, only to intertwine in beautiful ways. Page by page, secret by secret, moment by moment, a story is woven of love lost and found, hopes and dreams restored."--CARA PUTMAN, bestselling and award-winning author of Delayed Justice and Shadowed by Grace
Endorsements
"The Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley Clark is so much more than your typical romance. It's a rich, complex, and uplifting story of family lost and found that I won't soon forget. If you loved Before We Were Yours, you will love The Dress Shop on King Street as much as I did. Highly recommended!"
Colleen Coble, USA Today bestselling author of the Lavender Tide series and One Little Lie
"The Dress Shop on King Street is a novel that will sweetly tug you into a story line that flows seamlessly between two times, only to intertwine in beautiful ways. Page by page, secret by secret, moment by moment, a story is woven of love lost and found, and hopes and dreams restored. And each page was a gift I did not want to walk away from. Enter these pages only if you want to feel Millie and Harper's stories deeply, and in the process, be reminded of how gentle God is as He guides us through dreams lost and found. You might just fall in love with a new-to-you author's writing. I know I have."
Cara Putman, bestselling and award-winning author of Delayed Justice and Shadowed by Grace
"A warm, inimitable voice and pure passion and heart underscore every carefully woven thread of this narrative's elegant tapestry. Impeccable research, touches of romance, complex characters, and dollops of charm inform The Dress Shop on King Street: the first offering from an author destined to make waves with her lush and immersive setting and powerful, resonant themes."
Rachel McMillan, author of The London Restoration
"The Dress Shop on King Street weaves together romance, dreams, and adversity into a flawless time slip that will knock on your heart's door. With Ashley Clark's uniquely southern voice and southern charm, this novel will have the reader ordering a refill of sweet tea while eagerly turning pages."
Betsy St. Amant, author of The Key to Love
"Hats off to Ashley Clark for this winning and moving novel! The Dress Shop on King Street is a full-of-hope story that readers won't be able to get enough of. From the gorgeous cover to the well-crafted writing to the tenderness and depth in every scene--The Dress Shop on King Street will linger even after readers turn the final page."
Elizabeth Byler Younts, award-winning author of The Solace of Water
The Author
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Ashley Clark
Ashley Clark (www.ashleyclarkbooks.com) writes romantic women's fiction set in the South. With a master's degree in creative writing, Ashley teaches literature and writing courses at the University of West Florida. Ashley has been an active member of American...
Continue reading about Ashley Clark
Reviews
"Clark makes a moving debut . . . . While faith elements are subtle, Millie often turns to God for fortitude when facing the difficult circumstances of her past and the obstacles to finally getting her dreams off the ground. Those who enjoy inspirational time-slip stories will want to check this out."
Publishers Weekly
"Clark opens her new Heirloom Secrets series against the backdrop of discrimination against interracial families and follows a family history anchored to an embroidered satchel and its contents. Alternating between 1946 and the present . . . . this tale traces the consequences of personal decisions through the textile arts, with Millie standing as a bridge between the two eras."
Booklist
"This book moves seamlessly between timelines, stitching together a story of love, hope, and courage amidst prejudice and loss, a story that is fastened with two butterfly buttons."
Historical Novels Review