Tuesday, May 30, 2023

About the Book

Book: The Keys to Gramercy Park

Author: Candice Sue Patterson

Genre:Christian / Historical / Romance

Release date: April, 2023

Secrets Sealed Within a Wall Come to Light in Lower Manhattan

Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series of historical stories of romance and adventure.

Investigative historical journalist Andrea Andrews is tired of waiting tables to make ends meet. If she could find and write the next breakout story, she could secure a promotion with Smithsonian Magazine as their writer-at-large. But not much happens in lower Manhattan out of the ordinary until she discovers post-Civil War counterfeit bills hidden in the wall of her historic district apartment.

Politics have always been Beau Davidson-Quincy’s passion, despite his family’s real estate empire. His clean image and single status make him a target in the media as he prepares to build his campaign for New York governor. He has nothing to hide until a cute waitress unravels a mystery that could destroy his family’s reputation.

Two centuries earlier, wounded Civil War veteran Franklin Davidson lost everything—his house, his wife, his standing in society. In his darkest moment, he’s awarded a position with the newly formed Secret Service to combat the spread of counterfeit U.S. currency. His life and new home in Gramercy Park are the envy of his peers, but nothing is as it seems. Secrets are meant to be kept, and Franklin will take his to his grave.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Candice Sue Patterson studied at the Institute of Children’s Literature and is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons in a restored farmhouse overtaken by books. When she’s not tending to her chickens, splitting wood, or decorating cakes, she’s working on a new story. Candice writes Modern Vintage Romance—where the past and present collide with faith. Her debut novel How to Charm a Beekeeper’s Heart was a 2012 ACFW First Impressions finalist and made INSPYs Longlist for 2016.

More from Candice

A locked secret garden in Manhattan with historical significance and the only ones privileged to step inside are the wealthy residents who purchase a key—count me in! The plot for The Keys to Gramercy Park was born at our dining room table when my husband looked up from the book he was reading and asked if I knew about Gramercy Park. I hadn’t, so we started Googling and discovered it was a real garden in Manhattan built in 1841 for the cream of society. The fact that it’s been off-limits to the public for one hundred and eight-two years instantly brought all kinds of story ideas to my mind.

Not long after, I discovered that Barbour Publishing Inc. was looking for dual-time stories to fill their Doors to the Past series. I love reading dual-time novels but I’d never written one. I love a good challenge, so I began plotting and before I knew it, I had another first—creating a villain.

I’ve only ever seen the New York City skyline from the New Jersey ferry that travels to and from the Statue of Liberty, so after the story was contracted, I spent several weeks researching Manhattan and Gramercy Park. New York is full of rich history and it was so fun to stumble across the historical details of The Player’s, Edwin Booth, and the stories behind each home along Gramercy Square.

One of my favorite things about writing this story was the juxtaposition of the timelines. We don’t have the present without the past, and what happens in the past affects the future, but the future can also determine how we view, feel, and learn about the past. That’s essentially what The Keys to Gramercy Park is about—the butterfly effect of past events reaching ahead two centuries with dire consequences. I love how in one scene the characters are sending telegraphs and in the next scene, they’re sending text messages.

What’s your favorite thing about dual-time novels? Make sure to check out the other books in the Doors to the Past series!

MY REVIEW

I love dual time line stories and this one is one of my favorites. We travel back in time when war was at the center for many. The Civil War was brutal and left many without homes or a way to support their family. The author delivers a realistic look at this time period with historical facts that heighten the story. I couldn’t wait to see what secrets would be revealed that would affect both past and present.

What immediately intrigued me was there were twins in the story from the past. One of the men was good and respected. The other was basically a criminal. Now we must decide who to believe when more trouble comes their way. Franklin has a distinctive limp but his brother Edward has has a limp as well as a deformed ear. Edward is definitely the one to watch out for, but I fear that Franklin is going to be in a lot of trouble thanks to his brother.

The hostility Edward has towards his brother is dangerous and he is seeking to harm him. Finding out that Franklin is now a Secret Service agent for the Department of Treasury makes Edward very hostile. Knowing his brother was now someone who could arrest him makes him lose his temper. The disdain he has for his father breaks my heart. With so much hatred and bitterness Edward is spiraling out of control.

As we move to the present we are introduced to Andrea was is an aspiring journalist for the Smithsonian Magazine. Stumbling on counterfeit money hidden in the wall of her apartment starts to intrigue her and perhaps will help her get a story that will get her promoted. I liked how the author had Andrea run into the dashing and maybe next governor Beau. Their encounter brings Beau to the conclusion that Andrea is someone he would like to know better. It was funny that Andrea had no clue who he was.

With a mystery surrounding counterfeit money, secrets that could destroy families and the Gramercy Park that intertwines both time lines I was mesmerized by everything going on. Greed and deceit certainly fill the pages along with a chance to repent cause characters to take a hard look at themselves. The message of redemption is prevalent in the story along with trust. The author writes in-depth which for me was a plus for this dual story. This is one that shouldn’t be missed if you love a good mystery along with a look back at history. The brilliance of how the two time periods come together is the work of a very gifted author.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.