I have yet to read all of the books in Barbour’s True Color series, but The Purple Nightgown is one of the best I’ve read so far. This seems to be A.D. Lawrence’s first novel, and I hope to goodness it’s not her last.
Book Blurb
Heiress Stella Burke is plagued by insincere suitors and nonstop headaches. Exhausting all other medical aides for her migraines, Stella reads Fasting for the Cure of Disease by Linda Hazzard and determines to go to the spa the author runs. Stella’s chauffer and long-time friend, Henry Clayton, is reluctant to leave her at the spa. Something doesn’t feel right to him, still Stella submits herself into Linda Hazzard’s care. Stella soon learns the spa has a dark side and Linda a mean streak. But when Stella has had enough, all ways to leave are suddenly blocked. Will Stella become a walking skeleton like many of the other patients or succumb to a worse fate?
My Thoughts
Stella came across as selfish and entitled, and at first, I couldn’t decide how I felt about her. But she has a great character arc. I enjoyed seeing her grow throughout the novel.
Henry is a wonderful hero. He’s sweet, determined, and not afraid to stand up to Stella. His character arc is just as good as Stella’s. He really grew into himself and I was so proud of him at the end. At least, as much as you can be proud of a fictional character…
Stella and Henry make it easy for you to root for them to be together, but the suspense is what kept me turning pages. Lawrence did a great job of making me wary of Linda Hazzard the moment the fake doctor walked onto the page. Most importantly, Lawrence did a great job of making me believe that Stella would actually agree to the treatment. Stella’s strong will, which could serve her well in many instances, is often her downfall, and her stubbornness and pride, as well as her debilitating migraines, made me understand why she was desperate to try the treatment.
Throughout the novel, Lawrence managed to surprise me even though I had done a little research on Linda Hazzard. And every time a new tidbit surfaced or the stakes were raised, I would grab my phone wanting to research Linda again to see if it was true. Lawrence did her research, and it shows. But she doesn’t just dump information into the book willy-nilly. Instead, she uses it to craft a compelling narrative that made it hard for me to put it down.
Overall, The Purple Nightgown is a great read for historical and suspense fans alike.
(Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)
Further Information
Click the book cover to purchase your own copy of The Purple Nightgown from Bookshop.org, a website that supports independent bookstores. Or you can visit your favorite book retailer.
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