After losing the love of her life to a big city journalism job, Elissa Tillman pours herself into the suffragette movement and her secretarial work helping keep her father’s Pittsburgh newspaper afloat.Cole Parker returns to the steel city with the phantom failures of his past nipping his heels. All he asks of the future is a second chance with the woman he once spurned.The murder of a … murder of a millionaire offers the perfect chance for Elissa to prove to her father and the world that she’s a serious journalist. But there’s a catch—she has to compete for the story. Against none other than Cole Parker, the very man who shattered her heart.
more
Be still my heart! This is one of the best historical romances I’ve ever read! This novel checked all the boxes, and then some. 20’s era (Yes!) Sizzling chemistry (For sure!) Mystery (Twists & turns galore!) Heartfelt faith elements (In abundance!) For those who love fast-paced, witty classic movies like His Girl Friday, you’re in for a treat. Rachel Scott McDaniel masterfully weaves to life the setting of historical Pittsburgh and a newspaper press, right along with the characters. Cole and Elissa felt oh-so-real as though they could just step off the pages, and how I wish they would! I can’t wait to see what books come next from this talented author!
This is such a phenomenal debut! I absolutely love everything about this page-turning, story! Vivid and full of page-turning drama, I felt like I was right there in the 1920s with Elissa and Cole. With a strong plot and dynamic characters, this story is one for the keeper shelf!
I loved the witty banter between these two characters, as well as their tenacity and vulnerability. The character growth and lessons learned reach far beyond the pages and right into the heart of the readers.
With a sweet reminder that in God you are enough. Our trials and triumphs do not define us God does, and it is in looking to God that we find our identity.
(I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)
What a stunning debut novel from Rachel Scott McDaniel!! I was so wrapped up in this story that I read it all in one sitting! It was that good! I loved Cole and Elissa! I’m really looking forward to reading more from her! Definitely a 5 star book!
I was given a complimentary copy of this ebook from the author, but was not required to write a review. The thoughts and comments are my own.
A Must-Read Debut Novel!
Wow! This is a fantastic story! It felt like I was watching a classic film noir type movie with an added faith element while I was reading. I loved it! The mystery was great, I really liked the danger, the twists, and surprises. Lots of sneaking and snooping. Exactly, what a good reporter should be doing.
I loved Elissa and Cole. They were not perfect people, they had real depth and flaws. I loved how Cole tried to get Elissa to at least be his friend again. I liked the history they shared and the way they talked to each other. Goodness, how those two bickered and jumped to conclusions about each other, but they also had honest discussions. It was rather heartwarming.
With each page, I was eager to see how the story ended but I also knew that each page brought me closer to the end. I didn’t want it to end. This will be a repeat read for me and I cannot wait for whatever Rachel Scott McDaniel writes next!
Above The Fold is a thoroughly enjoyable, well written debut novel by Rachel Scott McDaniel.
It is set in the roaring twenties and women have recently won the right to vote. Now Lissa Tillman has her sights set on comparable jobs and pay for women. She is an accomplished journalist and wants her by-line above the fold in her father’s newspaper.
This story has a no-nonsense heroine, a humble hero, Cole Parker, and a newspaper trying to stay afloat. It is during prohibition and the Pittsburgh Review under Lissa’s father needs some real news to break. Mr. Tillman issues a competition challenge to Lissa and Cole. Can each come up with a great story before the paper goes under?
There were a few things that I didn’t see coming but a really well conceived plot twist was just perfect. The treats are in the little details such as a dog named Darcy, a pen name of Elliot Wentworth and a typewriter named Jane! I wonder who is an Austen fan?
The Tillman family spiritual roots shine through and the turn around by the hero is well presented. The hero and heroine had their understandable ups and downs with touching scenes.
It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel. It is polished, has great historical details, unforgettable characters and a fresh plot.
*I received a complimentary ecopy of this book from the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
From the moment I started this book, I felt like I was back in an old movie starring Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant. I loved it!! It had romance and mystery and humor. The characters were fabulous. The time period was new to me and I enjoyed learning about that time in history as I read. I highly recommend it!
With snappy dialogue and fevered plot points, this story deftly moves from endearing to gripping to swoony to funny and back again. Cole is a fine hero who is written so well, I felt at times like he was trying to win MY heart! Elissa is a driven heroine who has been kept in “a woman’s place” far too long. So when her drive to succeed and correct societal wrongs took a personal toll, it made me cheer for her all the more. This book is a great mystery, a powerful and redemptive love story, and an ode to both the Roaring 20s and the city of Pittsburgh. This is the kind of debut novel that makes forever fans out of its readers. I highly recommend it!
“Truth is, the only woman I ever called sweetheart…was you.”
With sizzling chemistry and an intriguing murder mystery, Rachel Scott McDaniel thoroughly captures the essence of the Roaring Twenties in her debut novel, Above the Fold. She brings to life the culture of Pittsburgh when prohibition was the law and speakeasies were popular. When two tenacious journalists with a shared past are competing for the right to have their newspaper article placed above the fold, sparks are bound to fly.
Rachel Scott McDaniel knocks it out of the ballpark with her debut novel. My favorite parts of the novel are the interactions and witty banter between Cole and Elissa. Above the Fold is highly recommended for fans of historical fiction, and I am looking forward to Rachel Scott McDaniel’s next novel.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
Spectacular debut novel! I was immediately immersed into the story. I enjoyed watching as Cole and Elissa’s struggled with their insecurities and found restoration. The thread of hope is vibrant in this exciting story.
Recommend to readers who enjoy inspirational historical fiction.
I purchased a Kindle copy. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
I love when I pick up a book from a new-to-me author and then simply devour it. That’s what this book did for me—reeled me in from the beginning and never let go! Not only is there a wonderful inspirational message,
but there is mystery, interesting historical background, and lots of clean, swoon-worthy romance. I can’t wait to read more from this author!
In Above the Fold her debut novel set in Pittsburgh in 1922, Ms. McDaniel has penned an impressive, dramatic story of forgiveness, trust, and second-chances. It chronicles the story of the relationship between Elissa Tillman and Cole Parker as they face personal struggles as well as professional ones. As they encounter competition, danger, and mystery can their stormy past lead to a sunny future? The suspenseful plot flows at a steady pace, and the characters are believable and engaging. The inclusion of real places and issues of the 1920s adds credibility to the story and effectively reflects the culture of the era. I appreciate the faith element that is naturally woven into the story and addresses the feelings of failure and unworthiness . A favorite quote: “She might never achieve above-the-fold status, but failure to attain that goal didn’t mean she was a failure. She might never find a man who’d love her for who she truly was, but maybe she could live with that. God called her His own. God’s love made her enough.” I love Ms. McDaniel’s expressive writing style and storytelling skill and look forward to reading more of her works.
What an impressive debut novel from Rachel Scott McDaniel! This girl can write!! If you’re up for a race to get the scoop in Roaring 20s Pittsburgh, give this story a try. It’s well-paced, with robust characterization, witty dialogue, and richly detailed historical setting and culture. The ending was extremely satisfying, and the spiritual threads were sensitively woven throughout. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next.
“Seems to me, Spark, you can’t value the beauty until you understand the journey.”
What a fun debut by Rachel Scott McDaniel! It has strong and passionate and sassy characters, a well-paced and smoothly flowing plot, a great thread of intrigue and suspense that plays out with surprising twists and turns, and a romance that’s frustrating but also tender and sweet. The author also weaves into the plot the growth of women’s rights and the hypocrisy found during the Prohibition era in the city of Pittsburgh during the 1920s.
Cole and Elissa are journalists who sharpen each other and set sparks professionally and personally. They both have pasts that weigh them down with insecurities. When Cole returns to Pittsburgh after a disgrace, Elissa can’t forgive him for his betrayal and the hurt he caused five years ago. As they attempt to outdo each other in finding the biggest scoop on a mysterious death of a prominent citizen, their long-held love draws them together as they learn about what true love means.
If you enjoy historical romance, you will really enjoy this novel. I received a copy of the book from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas via JustRead Publicity Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
Fabulous debut!
Set in the 1920s, this story is a great read! A first love with a second chance. Murder, suspense and just the right touch of romance! I loved the main characters of Elissa and Cole, and how they were determined to face each of their own challenges. This may be the debut novel for this author, but read more like a story from a seasoned author. I will definitely look forward to reading more from Ms. McDaniel in the future.
*I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.
Above the Fold is easily one of my top five reads for 2019. What an enticing, romantic, and gripping story. I’ll admit I didn’t want it to end because I loved reading a little every day. I enjoy the Roaring Twenties period, and Ms. McDaniel definitely did her homework on portraying the dark times of Prohibition, with speakeasies and lawlessness. The setting of Pittsburgh was also well-described, not just the physical description but the environmental tone – smells of the factories, the soot-covered windows, and the tap-tap of typewriters in the newsroom, where the book is largely set. Cole is the ideal hero – charming, ambitious, protective, and a bit vulnerable. Elissa is a strong woman for the ’20s, a follower of the Suffragettes and career-oriented. She has a journey in the story I can relate to, as she gradually discovers her confidence and self-worth.
A must-read for romance-lovers, especially if you like reading about the 1920’s! I look forward to more novels by this debut author!
This is a stunning debut! Rachel has penned a solid story with great characters. Cole and Elissa were fantastic characters and the secondary characters add much to the story as well. The newspaper business and the mystery kept me entertained and invested to see how it would all play out in the end. I had a suspicion that proved to be correct but other elements that surprised me as all the pieces came together and everything was revealed. This story was fantastic and I can not wait for more from Rachel. I would love to see a story featuring Sterling, just saying…
I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
What an incredibly fun debut novel by Rachel Scott McDaniel! This story will grab you from the very first pages and will continue to delight through to the very end. Cole is an absolute swoon-worthy hero. His humble but confident demeanor was completely captivating. The chemistry between him and Elissa was spot on! McDaniel definitely knows how to write romance. I also really enjoyed the intrigue of the story. It added just the right amount of drama and was very well written! I cannot wait to see what Ms. McDaniel will bring us next!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. All opinions expressed are my own.
As soon as I saw the newspaper theme of this book, I knew I needed to sign up to read it! Journalism is near and dear to my heart, and it’s inclusion (let alone an all-out feature) in a book is a guarantee I’ll read it.
McDaniel is a new author to me, and I love her writing style. The book kept me guessing to the very end, and I absolutely didn’t see the climax or denouement coming! I love how she tied everything together.
I sometimes wondered if this were a second book in a series, not only knowing my track record, but also due to references to character history that weren’t really explored here. It’s not a book 2, so does that mean I could beg for a prequel novella? Lol!
McDaniel could easily write a sequel, too…perhaps featuring Cole’s cop cousin Sterling. (I’m just full of good ideas, aren’t I?)
An excellent read, and one I’ll enjoy revisiting in hopes of picking up details on the second pass. I’d also like to visit Pittsburgh now; the city truly came to life in “Above the Fold”!
I received a copy of the book from JustRead Publicity Tours. All opinions are my own.
I’m a sucker for historical novels about times and locations in not familiar with. So I was super excited to read McDaniel’s debut novel. Newspapers, speakeasies, mysteries, and a spunky heroine. What’s not to love?
From the 1920s setting to the hero and heroine going toe-to-toe for a headline, to the unexpected twists, and moments of levity between Cole and Elissa, Above the Fold is a delightful and entertaining story from the first page to the last.
Rachel Scott McDaniel gives readers some Pittsburgh and women’s equality history while weaving a story of competition, romance, learning our value in being the person God created us to be, and the value of forgiveness.
This is a fresh and fun historical romance that’s a throwback to Cary Grant classics that you definitely do not want to miss.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.