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The Paris gown : a novel / by Wells, Christine,author.;
"Paris, 1956 Three friends-Claire, Gina, and Margot-who parted as very young women with their whole lives ahead of them, reunite in Paris years later, determined to start life anew. Parisian Claire has been working hard to become a Michelin-starred chef one day, but ever since the heady time she spent in the company of socialites Gina and Margot, her dream has been to own a Dior gown. This seemed like a far-off fantasy, until her neighbor, Deidre Martin, who lives above Claire's family brasserie, mysteriously disappears from Paris, quitting her job at the United States Embassy and leaving Claire to mind her apartment. Most bafflingly, Deidre also makes Claire a very special gift: a stunning Dior gown. Meanwhile Gina, a cool American blue blood, lands on Claire's doorstep nursing a broken heart and a broken engagement after her father lost all of the family money in a risky business venture. A journalist aspiring to be a novelist, Gina has returned to Paris in the hopes of pursuing her dream. But when Deidre goes missing, Gina's journalistic instincts scent a story, and an invitation to the United States Embassy ball is too great an opportunity to miss. Only what on earth is she going to wear? Warm-hearted Claire insists Gina wear the Dior gown to the ball, and after some hesitation, Gina accepts. At Dior for Gina's fitting, whom should assist them but Margot, the friend they thought had gone back to Australia to be married. But Margot is living in Paris and working at Dior under an assumed name, and clearly is not happy to have been found. Is their close friendship at an end? Or will the wonder and delight of the Dior gown bring these young women back together? Gorgeous, perfectly fitted, lustrous and luxurious, the Dior gown has the power to change lives-as these three remarkable women are about to discover ... "--
Subjects: Historical fiction.; Novels.; Christian Dior (Firm); Dresses; Evening gowns; Fashion; Female friendship; Women;
Available copies: 0 / Total copies: 1
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The seamstress of New Orleans / by McPhail, Diane C.,author.;
'Call Your Daughter Home' meets 'Where the Crawdads Sing' in a new historical novel from Diane C. McPhail. Set in the jasmine-scented humidity of New Orleans during preparations for the first Mardi Gras of the 20th century, 'The Seamstress of New Orleans' weaves the fascinating real-life story of the first all-female krewe, Les Mysterieuses, into a powerful novel of female friendship and empowerment. Book Club.
Subjects: Historical fiction.; Novels.; Balls (Parties); Carnival; Evening gowns; Gangsters; Leap year; Nineteen hundreds (Decade); Orphanages; Secrecy; Widows; Women dressmakers;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Scary stories to tell in the dark / by Schwartz, Alvin,1927-1992.; Gammell, Stephen.;
Includes bibliographical references.The big toe -- The walk -- "What do you come for?" -- Me tie dough-ty walker! -- A man who lived in Leeds -- Old woman all skin and bone -- The thing -- Cold as clay -- The white wolf -- The haunted house -- The guests -- The hearse song -- The girl who stood on a grave -- A new horse -- Alligators -- Room for one more -- The Wendigo -- The dead man's brains -- "May I carry your basket?" -- The hook -- The white satin evening gown -- High beams -- The babysitter -- The viper -- The attic -- The slithery-dee -- Aaron Kelly's bones -- Wait till Martin comes -- The ghost with the bloody fingers.Drawn from the oral traditions of American folklore, these ghost stories and tales of weird happenings, witches, and graveyards have startling, funny, or surprising endings.Ages 8-12.LSC
Subjects: Ghosts; Ghosts; Tales;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The witch hunter / by Seeck, Max,1985-author.; London, Kristian,translator.; translation of:Seeck, Max,1985-Uskollinen lukija.English.;
"A shocking murder in an affluent Helsinki suburb has ties to the occult in this thrilling US debut from Finnish author Max Seeck. A bestselling author's wife has been found dead in a gorgeous black evening gown, sitting at the head of a formally set dinner table. Her most chilling feature - her face is frozen in a ghastly smile. At first it seems as though a deranged psychopath is reenacting the gruesome murders from the victim's husband's bestseller, The Witch Hunter. But investigator Jessica Niemi soon realizes she's not looking for a single killer but rather dozens of believers in a sinister form of witchcraft. They know her every move and are always one step ahead. As the bodies start piling up, Jessica knows they won't stop until they get what they want. And when her dark past comes to light, Jessica finds herself battling her own demons while desperately trying to catch a coven of killers before they claim their next victim"--
Subjects: Detective and mystery fiction.; Policewomen; Murder; Witchcraft;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Looking for Miss America : a pageant's 100-year quest to define womanhood / by Mifflin, Margot,1960-author.;
Includes bibliographical references."Looking for Miss America is a fast-paced narrative history of the Miss America pageant from its start as a shocking east coast bathing-beauty revue in 1921 to its recent rebirth as a swimsuit-free "scholarship competition." It introduces the dreamers and dissidents, hustlers and heroines who won; the celebrities, including Norman Rockwell, Joan Crawford, and Rod McKuen, who judged; and the masterminds behind it, like director Lenora Slaughter, who "picked the pageant up by its bathing suit straps and put it down in an evening gown" in the 1930s, transforming it from a seaside skin show into a national institution. Approaching its 100th anniversary, the pageant has survived scandal, protests, mockery, and the mutiny of a queen who got cold feet and skipped town the night she won. One winner called Miss America "the kind of girl who would go into a bar and order orange juice in a loud voice"; another claimed "she's not a real person. She's something that happens every year." Looking for Miss America breaks down the blend of capitalism, patriotism, class anxiety and cultural mythology that has fueled the pageant, the racial biases it has perpetuated, and the social mobility it has enabled"--
Subjects: Miss America Pageant; Beauty contests;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The Paris secret / by Lester, Natasha,1973-author.;
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Orphan comes an unforgettable historical novel about a secret collection of Dior gowns that ties back to the first female pilots of WWII and a heartbreaking story of love and sacrifice. England, 1939: The Penrose sisters couldn't be more different. Skye is a daring and brash pilot, and Liberty the one to defy her at every turn. Even if women aren't allowed in the Royal Air Force, Skye is determined to help the war effort. She's thrilled when it reunites her with her childhood soulmate, Nicholas. She's less thrilled to learn Nicholas is now engaged to an enigmatic Frenchwoman named Margaux Jourdan. Paris, 1947: Designer Christian Dior unveils his glamorous first collection to a world weary of war and grief. He names his debut fragrance Miss Dior in tribute to his beloved sister Catherine, who forged a friendship with Skye and Margaux through her work with the French Resistance. Present Day: Fashion conservator Kat Jourdan discovers a priceless collection of Dior gowns in her grandmother's vacant cottage. As she delves into the mystery of their origin, Kat begins to doubt everything she thought she knew about her beloved grandmother.
Subjects: Domestic fiction.; Historical fiction.; Christian Dior (Firm); Betrayal; Families; Family secrets; Fashion designers;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Growing up Getty : the story of America's most unconventional dynasty / by Reginato, James,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."Oil magnate J. Paul Getty, once the richest man in the world, is the patriarch of an extraordinary cast of sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. While some have been brought low by mental illness, drug addiction, and one of the most sensational kidnapping cases of the 20th century, many of Getty's heirs have achieved great success. In addition to Mark Getty, a cofounder of Getty Images, and Anne G. Earhart, an award-winning environmentalist, others have made significant marks in a variety of fields, from music and viniculture to politics and LGBTQ rights. Now, across four continents, a new generation of lively, unique, and even outrageous Gettys are emerging, and not coasting on the dynasty's still-immense wealth. August Getty designs extravagant gowns worn by Katy Perry, Cher, and other stars; his sibling, Nats-a fellow LGBTQ rights activist who announced his gender transition following his wedding to transgender icon Gigi Gorgeous-produces a line of exclusive streetwear. Their fascinating cousins include Balthazar, a multi-hyphenate actor-director-DJ-designer, and Isabel, a singer-songwriter-MBA candidate. A far-flung yet surprisingly close-knit group, the ascendant Gettys are bringing this iconic family onto the global stage in the 21st century. Through extensive research, including access to J. Paul Getty's diaries and love letters, and fresh interviews with family members and friends, Growing Up Getty offers an inside look into the benefits and burdens of being part of today's world of the ultra-wealthy"--
Subjects: Biographies.; Getty family.; Children of the rich; Millionaires;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The wedding dress sewing circle : a novel / by Ryan, Jennifer,1973-author.;
"Three plucky women lift the spirits of homefront brides in wartime Britain, where clothes rationing leaves little opportunity for pomp or celebration-even at weddings-in this heartwarming novel based on true events, from the bestselling author of The Chilbury Ladies' Choir. After renowned fashion designer Cressida Westcott loses both her home and her design house in the London Blitz, she has nowhere to go but the family manor house she fled decades ago. Praying that her niece and nephew will be more hospitable than her brother had been, she arrives with nothing but the clothes she stands in, at a loss as to how to rebuild her business from a quaint country village. Her niece, Violet Westcott, is thrilled that her famous aunt is coming to stay-the villagehas been interminably dull with all the men off fighting. But just as Cressida arrives, so does Violet's conscription letter. It couldn't have come at a worse time; how will she ever find a suitably aristocratic husband if she has to spend her days wearing a frumpy uniform and doing war work? Meanwhile, the local vicar's daughter, Grace Carlisle, is trying in vain to repair her mother's gown, her only chance of a white wedding. When Cressida Westcott appears at the local Sewing Circle meeting, Grace asksfor her help-but Cressida has much more to teach the ladies than just simple sewing skills. Before long, Cressida's spirit and ambition galvanizes the village group into action, and they find themselves mending wedding dresses not only for local brides,but for brides across the country. And as the women dedicate themselves to helping others celebrate love, they might even manage to find it for themselves ..."--
Subjects: Historical fiction.; Novels.; Fashion designers; Sewing; Wedding costume; World War, 1939-1945;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The last grand duchess : a novel of Olga Romanov, Imperial Russia, and revolution / by Turnbull, Bryn,author.;
Includes bibliographical references.This sweeping novel takes readers behind palace walls to see the end of Imperial Russia through the eyes of Olga Nikolaevna Romanov, the first daughter of the last tsar. Grand Duchess Olga Romanov comes of age amid a shifting tide for the great dynasties of Europe. But even as unrest simmers in the capital, Olga is content to live within the confines of the sheltered life her parents have built for her and her three sisters: hiding from the world on account of their mother's ill health, their brother Alexei's secret affliction, and rising controversy over Father Grigori Rasputin, the priest on whom the tsarina has come to rely. Olga's only escape from the seclusion of Alexander Palace comes from the grand tea parties her aunt hosts amid the shadow court of Saint Petersburg--a world of opulent ballrooms, scandalous flirtation, and whispered conversation. But as war approaches, the palaces of Russia are transformed. Olga and her sisters trade their gowns for nursing habits, assisting in surgeriesand tending to the wounded bodies and minds of Russia's military officers. As troubling rumors about her parents trickle in from the front, Olga dares to hope that a budding romance might survive whatever the future may hold. But when tensions run high and supplies run low, the controversy over Rasputin grows into fiery protest, and calls for revolution threaten to end three hundred years of Romanov rule. At turns glittering and harrowing,The Last Grand Duchessis a story about dynasty, duty, and love, but above all, it's the story of a family who would choose devotion to each other over everything--including their lives.
Subjects: Biographical fiction.; Historical fiction.; Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia, 1868-1918; Olʹga Nikolaevna, Grand Duchess, daughter of Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia, 1895-1918; Romanov, House of;
Available copies: 2 / Total copies: 2
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