The Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley Clark Review

 Hello Friends :)

I hope you're all enjoying this last week before Christmas, and that you're looking forward to the season. 

Today I have an especially exciting book review to share with you all.

Earlier in the year, I read Paint and Nectar by Ashley Clark (review here), and it ended up being one of my favorite reads of the year so far.

I'd always wanted to go back and read the first book, and I recently finally got the chance to do so.

Today I'm here to share with you all what I thought about it.

The Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley Clark:

Source: Libby App

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: December 1st, 2020

Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction/Contemporary/Dual Timeline

Series: Heirloom Secrets

Synopsis:

Harper Albright 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 to sew. As she rethinks her own future, secrets long hidden about Millie's past are brought to light.

In 1946, Millie Middleton 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 and 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. 

(synopsis from goodreads)

My Review:

The Dress Shop on King Street is a vibrant and poignant dual timeline novel that highlights racial tensions and multi generations in a story both sweet and heartbreaking, as timelines weave together in ways the reader will never see coming.

Millie always dreamed of owning a dress shop, but life had other plans for her and she doesn't think she'll ever see her dreams come to fruition. In present day, Harper has also always dreamed of owning a dress shop, but circumstances seem to be shutting down everyone of her dreams. When Harper decides to take a break away at the boarding house Millie operates, the two women decide to tackle a part of Millie's past by pretending to open a dress shop. Only Millie doesn't seem to actually be pretending, and Harper's not sure she's ready to take a chance on her dreams once more. As Harper falls more and more for their landlord Peter each day, she can't help wondering if things can truly ever happen for them when she's harboring a big secret that could change his life.

Told in Millie, Harper and Peter's POV's, The Dress Shop on King Street is a stunning debut novel that will leave readers everywhere wrapped up in the beautiful but heart wrenching history that Millie has been forced to face.

Ashley Clark has a wonderful gift of storytelling, and I loved how she's able to bring the vintage feels alive on the page with her descriptive writing style that makes everything come across as vibrant and rich.

I truly adored this one, although I think the second book is still my favorite. I look forward to reading the third book when it releases next year!

Final Rating: 4/5.

Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day :)

This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The photo does not belong to me, and all rights to the respective owners.