The Women of Wynton's by Donna Mumma Review

 Happy Monday Sweet Friends :)

I pray today finds you all doing well, and I'm so thankful you've taken the time to drop on by The Preppy Book Princess today for another book review.

I'm currently getting ready to spend a fun day out with my hubby, and we're both very much looking forward to a day off to spend some time together. However, before we start our day, I wanted to jump on here and tell you all about a fun, upcoming release that I recently had the opportunity to read and review.

I hope you'll all keep on reading, and join me today for a fun review.

The Women of Wynton's by Donna Mumma:

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Barbour

Publication Date: July 1st, 2024

Genre: Christian Fiction/Cozy Mystery/Historical Fiction

Synopsis:

Mid-Century Glam Meets Murder Mayhem   Get swept away to the glamor of a 1950’s department store where four women’s loyalties, vanity, friendship, and detective skills are put to the test.   Audrey Penault once led a glamorous life as a model but now works as devoted secretary to Mr. Wynton. To her fellow employees, she is too vain and uppity.   Mary Jo Johnson, a wife and mother, longs to find her worth in the cosmetics department, but it may take a while for the shy housewife to discover her voice.   Vivian Sheffield owns and runs the bridal salon within Wynton’s. She is proud of her accomplishments and won’t let anyone take them away.   Gigi Woodard dislikes her job as waitress in the store’s lunchroom, but she is determined not to let her secret shortcomings cause her to lose the position.   These four women have much to dislike about each other, but they unanimously agree that Mr. Wynton is the best of employers and must be protected at all costs from someone who seems determined to see him gone for good. When other employee deaths occur, can the women band together to solve the murders, or will they discover it is one of their own bent on destroying Wynton’s from within?  

My Review:

It's so refreshing to see more cozy mysteries popping up within the Christian fiction genre, and The Women of Wynton's was a fun, original story that I had a hard time wanting to put down. A mixture of mystery, combined with a women's fiction tale about the workforce in the 1950's, set amidst a backdrop of a fancy department store, this one was a definite winner in my eyes, and unlike anything I'd truly read before.

The reader follows four women across differing positions in Wynton's prestigious department story. Audrey is one of the head honcho's, and has had to deal with being at the center of the store's gossip for many years. Vivienne has been designing bridal gowns for more years than she can count, and has established her salon as one of the nation's most sought after. Gigi is a little down on her luck, and is desperate to move herself out of the cafeteria line up. And Mary Jo is a former homemaker, who due to situations outside her control has had find work on the shop floor at Wynton's. While the women don't seem to have much in common on the surface, they all have a desire to see justice served when murder and mayhem starts wrecking havoc on their beloved workplace. Working together, this unlikely group just might be able to achieve the impossible.

With strong female characters, a lovely setting, a well plotted mystery, and many important pieces of actual history woven into the narrative, The Women of Wynton's is a lovely read, and a wonderful treat for any fans of cozy mysteries. While the faith element is light, there is a beautiful emphasis on not judging others by misconceived perceptions, and how there's more to every one of us than first meets the eye.

While I felt the culprit was a little obvious, I still enjoyed the way the characters came together to see justice served, and how emphasis is put on friendship alongside the journey. It also speaks to the author's talent that she was able to have the story be told through four different POV's, without it ever being confusing to the reader. 

All in all, this is a delightful read that I would wholeheartedly recommend, and I hope to read more from this author in the future. I also hope Barbour continues to publish more Christian cozy mysteries.

Lastly, I can't conclude my review without mentioning the stunning cover. It suits the story perfectly, and the design team did such a beautiful job.

Final Rating: 4/5.

Thanks so much to Barbour for allowing me to advance read and review this title.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Barbour) via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review.

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