A Gilded Lady (Hope and Glory)
Early in 1901 Caroline Delacroix enjoys very prestigious employment at the White House as secretary to Ida McKinley, a job she loves despite the childish tantrums of the First Lady. Organising tea parties, galas, and dinners with visiting dignitaries are things Caroline does well, but she’s keeping a secret about her family that could get her fired. When Nathaniel Trask arrives to revamp the security at the White House, Caroline has to carefully guard her answers to his questions. Despite a growing attraction between the couple, they are afforded very limited time together, as with an election around the corner, everyone is working long hours and on high alert.
This second in the Hope and Glory series after The Spice King (older brother Gray’s story) is a bit disappointing and feels rather like filler between the two brothers’ adventures. The ambience of the White House, its staff, presidential protocols, the mores of early 20th-c aristocratic life are all well-presented, and there are many details about food, gowns, hats, and hairstyles, but the plot lags in too many places to maintain interest in the characters. I often felt as though I was on the outside looking in, seeing interactions but not feeling them. I learned about President McKinley and his wife, Ida, a sympathetic character clearly unsuited to the role she was thrust into. This novel will be of interest to readers who enjoy tales of past American presidents. The next novel, The Prince of Spies, younger brother Luke Delacroix’s story, looks to be action-packed.
