In this new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Dressmaker’s Dowry, two young women two generations apart discover the joy and heartbreak of following their dreams. Aspiring Hollywood actress Violet makes a shocking choice in 1940, and seventy years later, Mari sets out to discover what happened on that long ago summer.
Santa Cruz, Summer 1940: When auburn-haired Violet Harcourt is crowned Miss California on the boardwalk of her hometown, she knows she is one step closer to her cherished dream: a Hollywood screen test. But Violet’s victory comes with a price—discord in her seemingly perfect marriage—and she grapples with how much more she is willing to pay.
Summer 2007: Single mother Marisol Cruz lives with her parents in the charming beach cottage that belonged to her grandfather, Ricardo, once a famed performer on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Drawn to the town’s local history and the quaint gazebo where her grandparents danced beneath the stars, Mari sells raffle tickets at the Beach Boardwalk Centennial Celebration, and meets Jason, a California transplant from Chicago.
When Mari discovers the obituary of Violet Harcourt, a beauty queen who died too young, she and Jason are sent on a journey together that will uncover her grandfather’s lifelong secret—his connection to Violet—a story of tragedy and courage that will forever transform them.
Genre: Historical
Santa Cruz, Summer 1940: When auburn-haired Violet Harcourt is crowned Miss California on the boardwalk of her hometown, she knows she is one step closer to her cherished dream: a Hollywood screen test. But Violet’s victory comes with a price—discord in her seemingly perfect marriage—and she grapples with how much more she is willing to pay.
Summer 2007: Single mother Marisol Cruz lives with her parents in the charming beach cottage that belonged to her grandfather, Ricardo, once a famed performer on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Drawn to the town’s local history and the quaint gazebo where her grandparents danced beneath the stars, Mari sells raffle tickets at the Beach Boardwalk Centennial Celebration, and meets Jason, a California transplant from Chicago.
When Mari discovers the obituary of Violet Harcourt, a beauty queen who died too young, she and Jason are sent on a journey together that will uncover her grandfather’s lifelong secret—his connection to Violet—a story of tragedy and courage that will forever transform them.
Genre: Historical
Praise for this book
"In Boardwalk Summer, Meredith Jaeger expertly entwines two stories of two strong women living decades apart in Santa Cruz. By turns a gripping mystery, a richly-detailed exploration of history and family, and a beautiful love story - I was absolutely captivated." - Jillian Cantor
"Boardwalk Summer's atmospheric and beautifully intertwined storylines kept me guessing until the very end. Mystery, history, and romance...Jaeger's latest has it all!" - Meg Donohue
"Rich in historical detail, Meredith's novel depicts the lives of two women who dare to dream beyond the roles in which they are cast. The powerful ending gave me goosebumps." - Sally Hepworth
"Meredith Jaeger creates a compelling story that channels both the glamour and big dreams of old Hollywood with the charm and thrills of Santa Cruz's boardwalk as two daring women risk everything to find love." - Elise Hooper
"Boardwalk Summer is a joy to read, with an incredibly clever twist I never saw coming [...] had me hooked from page one. Punctuated with glamorous Hollywood details and a truly satisfying ending, Jaeger's story is sure to delight." - Lori Nelson Spielman
"Boardwalk Summer's atmospheric and beautifully intertwined storylines kept me guessing until the very end. Mystery, history, and romance...Jaeger's latest has it all!" - Meg Donohue
"Rich in historical detail, Meredith's novel depicts the lives of two women who dare to dream beyond the roles in which they are cast. The powerful ending gave me goosebumps." - Sally Hepworth
"Meredith Jaeger creates a compelling story that channels both the glamour and big dreams of old Hollywood with the charm and thrills of Santa Cruz's boardwalk as two daring women risk everything to find love." - Elise Hooper
"Boardwalk Summer is a joy to read, with an incredibly clever twist I never saw coming [...] had me hooked from page one. Punctuated with glamorous Hollywood details and a truly satisfying ending, Jaeger's story is sure to delight." - Lori Nelson Spielman
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