by A. G. Howard
First published 2017
Willow Antoniette has lived at The Manor of Diversions for eleven years, ever since she fled a circus disaster as a child. The English holiday resort became her home, where she grew up with the owner's children: Julian, his twin Nick, and sister Emilia. Now eighteen, Willow refuses finishing school and dreams of a life with Julian Thornton, the brilliant engineer who sees her only as a friend. Julian plans to transform their family resort into a modern amusement park, but he needs investors from America. He books passage to the St. Louis World's Fair, hoping distance will also cure his growing feelings for Willow. She secretly boards the same ocean liner. When a silent orphan boy named Newton appears on deck wearing mysterious Italian shoes, Willow and Julian must work together to uncover his story. The shoes carry a vengeful ghost seeking justice for her murder, and she draws Willow and Julian into a deadly game of revenge that spans the Atlantic.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, mystery, 19th-century, fantasy-romance
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: America, Atlantic Ocean, England, Italy, St. Louis
Period: 19th Century, 20th Century
418 pages · Paperback · Golden Orb Press
Content warnings: death, violence