NEW RELEASE….

A Novella—Book 1—Bridal Shop Series New York City dress designer to the stars, Amelia Pettipiece, cleared a unique path to fashion-glory. With her career soaring, grand penthouse apartment on Central Park, and handsome boyfriend who supports her ambitions, Amelia could not have dreamed of a better life when she left Pittsburgh after college.

But when Amelia’s signature design, the famous FiFi Hererra’s, wedding dress, disintegrates off the bride’s body as she walks down the aisle, every thread of Amelia’s charmed life unravels.

Amelia’s Instaglam life turns into an Instaslam. She runs back home to her gram’s place in Eagle Bend, Pennsylvania to hide until she can figure out what happened to the dress and how to weave her tattered life back together.

Though Amelia finds comfort in staying with Gram, she begins to see that she’s neglected the woman who raised her. Pettipiece Boutique is falling apart and a slew of hunky hangers-on are showing interest in the riverfront property and in Amelia.

Just when Amelia is at her lowest, a customer with a unique problem arrives at the boutique, distracting Amelia from her crumbled life. Can she and Gram create the dress of a lifetime for a desperate bride? Can Amelia trust herself to send another bride down the aisle after the FiFi debacle? Does any of it really matter if Amelia’s already lost it all?

My Review

Welcome to my stop on the tour for Kathleen Shoop’s novella, A Puff of Silk. Kicking off her Bridal Shop Series, Shoop introduces Amelia Pettipiece, successful designer to the stars. Amelia has set everything aside for a year to design and dress celebrity Fifi Hererra, but when Fifi walks down the aisle at her wedding, her dress literally falls apart. Amelia quickly finds herself slammed and snubbed by the fashion world and the press, as well as, realizes that her romance with Thorn was not as happy and stable as she thought. So, tucking her tail between her legs, she returns to her hometown in Pennsylvania and her to her grandmother that raised her. When she returns, things have changed for her grandmother and her boutique, but a new challenge presents itself giving Amelia another chance to shine.

Considering that my “day job” is selling bridal gowns, I was excited to read this one. I love all things bridal and the blurb sounded both awkward and cute at the same time. Of course, I immediately sympathized with Amelia in the beginning when everything fell apart. She literally loses all of the things that she felt mattered most in the world, within a few hours. But then she just, I don’t know, wasn’t very endearing.

I didn’t dislike Amelia, however, she just got on my nerves at times. The crying, the sweating, the insistence in wearing Chanel and Louboutins in ridiculous heat and humidity in her Gram’s shop… Then there were the men. Caleb, and Ethan. Although Amelia was supposedly heartbroken and shocked over the events with Thorn, she quickly starts eye-balling and fantasizing about two different men, whose purpose and motives have yet to be declared. I felt like she should focus more on her mental/emotional/financial health, or at least get out of those clothes and feel good about herself in a seasonally appropriate dress from Target before losing herself in someone’s blue eyes.

But what I truly loved about the novel, was Amelia’s Gram. What a fun and spunky character. Lord, I would do anything to be Gram when I get older. She’s talented, unique, assertive, self-assured, and hilarious. I don’t know how I will feel when the next installment in the series comes out, but I think Gram was the shining star of A Puff of Silk.

I wasn’t completely lovestruck with this book, however, I can whole-heartedly say that I am interested in the characters and the series. What will happen next for Amelia? What is the fate of Gram’s house and boutique? How in the world will Amelia get her vault and belongings from Thorn’s apartment? What will learn about Caleb and Ethan?

A Puff of Silk is a quick and light-hearted read that I think young women that are trying to build their lives and careers will be able to relate to. Or for that matter, any woman that has ever tried, failed, and picked herself up again. Amelia serves as a reminder that we are human, we screw up, yet, life goes on.

Available to buy from……
Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Paperback

“Shoop’s plot is brilliant, and her characters feel like fully-dimensional people. I had a grand time reading this well-written and compelling tale that even had me considering relocating to Pittsburgh, Amelia’s home town.” –Jack Magnus– Readers’ Favorite

“A Puff of Silk (Bridal Shop Series Book 1) is a fast-paced story that flows seamlessly from one point to the next, carrying your whole attention along with it, eager to learn how Amelia is going to get out of the unimaginable chaos that her life has become overnight. Kathleen Shoop wrote an amazing story that will draw you in. I could not help but fall in love with Amelia through her troubles and daily tears.” –Faridah Nassozi–Readers’ Favorite

“Puff of Silk (Bridal Shop Series Book 1) is a quirky, entertaining, hard to put down, light story, perfect for a cold afternoon in front of the fireplace. I found myself immediately liking Amelia and cheering her on through her disasters. I really enjoyed reading A Puff of Silk and am anxiously awaiting the arrival of Book 2.”–Trudi LoPreto–Readers’ Favorite

Coming soon to the Bridal Shop Series….

About Kathleen Shoop

Bestselling author, Kathleen Shoop, holds a PhD in reading education and has more than 20 years of experience in the classroom. She writes historical fiction, women’s fiction and romance. Shoop’s novels have garnered various awards in the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY), Eric Hoffer Book Awards, Indie Excellence Awards, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Readers’ Favorite and the San Francisco Book Festival. Kathleen has been featured in USA Today and the Writer’s Guide to 2013. Her work has appeared in The Tribune-Review, four Chicken Soup for the Soul books and Pittsburgh Parent magazine. Kathleen coordinates Mindful Writing Retreats and is a regular presenter at conferences for writers.

I adore writing historical fiction (The Letter series, After the Fog and Donora Stories that are coming soon!) but am having a blast writing romance like Home Again, Return to Love and Tending Her Heart (Endless Love series). Thank you so much for the time you take to read.

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