Geneva Langley is a socialite from Chicago and is used to having her way. When she goes too far by posing nude for a sculpture, her father banishes her along with her husband to Seattle. It is unfortunate because Ginny dreads being cast out of the glamorous life she leads in Chicago and go to a far less splendid city. It is 1888 and Seattle is no comparison to Chicago. Ginny feels alone and smothered by her husband's forgiveness that makes her ever mindful of the need for atonement for her mistakes. They arrive in Seattle and Ginny feels she doesn't know the man she married.
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Then she meets Beatrice Wilkes, an actress who has done whatever necessary to survive since she began living on her own at the age of fifteen. She trusts no one and traveling with the theater, she is never in one place for too long. Her greatest wish is to secure a role as lead actress on stage, but this dream seems further and further from reality each day. When she meets Ginny, Beatrice finds herself jealous of this woman who has everything and works for nothing. Eventually, these two are bound by fate and the great Seattle fire of 1889 and they realize they may be each others only hope. In the end, there are only two paths, but it won't be easy for the women to agree on which one leads to salvation.
Best part of story, including ending:
The only downside to this novel were the wacky twists in plot. It seemed like the author wanted a big story and was more concerned with obstacles for her characters than she was with whether or not they were believable.
Best scene in story:
My favorite scene in the book is when Ginny finds herself shut out in Chicago. The scene at the party where her nude self is unveiled is absolutely hysterical and I will say that I wasn't expecting such a dramatic decision by her father. I liked this surprise in the beginning. It really hooks the reader.
Opinion about the main character:
I did not care for Ginny's self centered personality. It was hard for me to believe that she could be so spoiled and self focused, but midway through I got it. The fact that she wasn't in tune with what was going on with her husband was ironic. I did not feel sorry for her, but I felt a little happy, like that's exactly what she got for being so self centered. Any-who, this story is filled with action and drama. Never a dull moment.
