Harper Dupree has pinned all her hopes on a future in fashion design. But when it comes crashing down around her, she returns home to Fairhope, Alabama, and to Millie, the woman who first taught her how to sew. As Harper rethinks her own future, long-hidden secrets about Millie’s past are brought to light.In 1946, Millie Middleton–the daughter of an Italian man and a black woman–boarded a train … train and left Charleston to keep half of her heritage hidden. She carried with her two heirloom buttons and the dream of owning a dress store. She never expected to meet a charming train jumper who changed her life forever . . . and led her yet again to a heartbreaking choice about which heritage would define her future.Now, together, Harper and Millie return to Charleston to find the man who may hold the answers they seek . . . and a chance at the dress shop they’ve both dreamed of. But it’s not until all appears lost that they see the unexpected ways to mend what frayed between the seams.
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This is a dual timeline story which I really enjoy reading. The historical fiction aspect of the book was most interesting. The author has done an amazing job of presenting a story of God’s will and how He works things out for the best … in His own time. The characters are well developed and the story itself is full of emotion and moments of highs and lows. I love how we discover aspects of Millie’s past, but are also given a peak into the future. Even with the themes of racism, there are many heartwarming aspects to the book and I strongly encourage you to take the time to read this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
The Dress Shop on King Street is one of those books with all the feels. Its primary focus is on Millie Middleton as it highlights different stages of her life. Harper Dupree also plays a strong role in the story as does a young man named Peter. As the tale passes back and forth between characters and time, the reader slowly begins to get a glimpse of how their lives have somehow been woven together over the years without their knowledge.
Sometimes difficult to read and at times heartbreaking, the story relates the struggles of a mixed race woman who appears to be white during an era when such things could be dangerous. It is a tale filled with love, dreams deferred, difficult choices, faith through it all, and eventually forgiveness and reconciliation.
I loved the relationship between Harper and Millie, especially the fact that they both had similar dreams. A surprise or two along the way were perfect touches in this beautiful narrative that left me with ample things to ponder when I closed its covers.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
Harper has all of the freedom in the world to work toward her dream but speed bumps get in the way…when plans do not go like she expected, she tends to give up and run from new possibilities because she can not see a future that is any different than what she has planned. Sometimes having all the freedom in the world can make choices even harder. She is slightly annoying because she just doesn’t get it, but can any of us say that we acted any differently when we were in our early twenties? We have dreams and plans that, if we are not careful, keep us locked in to what we think should happen instead of what God has planned for us. And so, is the story of Harper.
Unlike Harper, Millie has dreams that she isn’t allowed to have because of her heritage. The hurt and fear go far deeper than most people know. Yet, her dream of owning a dress shop is something that no one can take from her. Held back by the fences of society, Millie forges a life that includes love and loss; hurt and sacrifice. When her life intersects with Harper’s, God leads her on a journey that she knew could only be work from above.
This debut novel is southern women’s Christian historical fiction at its best. Clark’s inclusion of Charleston landmarks and Alabama nuances made this reader proud. The story is driven by deeper issues while, all the while, romance lingers in the background to give you loves to root for. The racial barriers were before my time but kept me emotionally invested in the storyline. The multifaceted timelines were each able to hold the story themes together. There is a lot of back and forth between time frames yet they were beautifully intertwined and linked in the end. This story is definitely one I will hold on to for awhile. I look forward to reading more from this author.
This book is appropriate for teens and older. There are no overly descriptive intimate scenes and no bad language. Book discussion questions are included for book clubs.
I thoroughly enjoyed this split-time novel by Ashley Clark. The racism Millie experienced, which led to unfathomable decisions, was heartbreaking and infuriating, but the author handled the difficult topic very well. I appreciate her courage to tackle a subject that deserves attention and active positive change in our current culture. I look forward to reading more from this author.
This book was heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. The book is just beautifully written and I read it in one sitting. The dual timelines and the characters kept me totally engrossed in this beautiful story.
The Dress Shop on King Street written by Ashley Clark is the life story of Millie Middleton. Millie was born to a Italian father and Black mother. This is about Millie’s past and future. It has heartache, strength, surprises, secrets, and forgiveness. It is captivating and spellbinding!
It will stay with you long after you are done reading it. Very very good!!!!
A heartfelt novel of dreams, loss, love, heartache, and the history that makes us who we are.
Tracing forwards and back lingering on pivotal moments in Millie’s life, as well as the stories of Harper and Peter, as they entwine in the past and present day. A beautifully immersive read, with captivating characters that tell their stories and search for answers. Even though the story wends its way through various points in time the lines of the story were easy to follow, and I didn’t find myself getting confused and enjoyed watching the pieces come together.
This book explores various themes, from the pain of racism, casting two shadows, the ties that bind you to your past, and following your dreams, all infused with faith that shines hope into the darkest days. Millie is an extraordinary woman, full of wisdom, gumption, and faith, and I loved following her through the turning points in her life, as well as her relationship with Harper and how she encourages her in her dreams and love. Peter is a man with big dreams too, he loves reviving pieces of history to preserve their history, while searching for the answers to his own.
Overall, a gorgeous blending of past and present, taking inspiration from real life heart rending choices that many had to make. Romance, heartbreak, and dreams realized, I loved everything about this novel. Highly recommend!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a great read!!
I enjoyed this split time novel a great deal. It’s unusual for me to enjoy both time periods in a split time equally, I tend to prefer one story line over another. But with this one, I found myself looking forward to both. Millie’s history was unique and new to me. The characters were all engaging. One aspect I particularly liked about this story was how the history of things was learned and passed on with the item. I love when something I now own comes with a history. One part of the story even surprised me in a “WHAT?!” kind of moment. I won’t give spoilers, but it was a good surprise. There’s some romance that takes place throughout the story as well, but it wasn’t the primary focus. It was the perfect amount in my opinion for the overall feel of the book. I look forward to the next in this series!
The Dress Shop on King Street
Heirloom Secrets #1
By Ashley Clark
Harper Dupree’s dreams never seem to come to fruition and she is constantly disappointed. But when she joins her dream with Millie it seems that finally, both women will see a long-held dream come true.
Millie Middleton has a secret, a secret that could cost her everything if the truth came out. A secret that made her choose who she would be. And it cost her the family she dearly loved. To deny part of oneself was not something she did lightly, but the world refused to accept her for who she was.
For more than 50 years Millie has had to deny the truth but as her long-held dream comes closer to reality she has a chance to reveal the truth. But revealing a long-held truth isn’t as easy as it seems.
The Dress Shop on King Street takes the reader on a journey through history with a pivotal moment occurring in the prologue which is set in 1860’s Charleston, South Carolina. The story offers a back-and-forth in which Millie’s story is presented (starting in 1946) and Harper’s which is present day. This back-and-forth slowly unfolds a story that is both beautiful and heartbreaking. And then there is Peter Perkins who could very well hold the key to what both Millie and Harper want. But sometimes what we think we want is so different from what we need and this is a truth that needs to be discovered personally.
I was provided a complimentary copy with no expectations but to provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.
Author Ashley Clark’s debut novel is a timely story that will make you think about how you see people. Are we making decisions based on appearance? Her characters are well developed and engaging. I really loved Millie and I think you will too.
I was impressed with this split time novel. Being Clark’s debut, she did a really good job of seamlessly moving from past to present and back again. The characters are so interwoven into each other’s lives without even realizing it; it’s brilliant. And it will keep your attention from beginning to end.
Grief, broken dreams, love lost and found, there are so many emotions in this story along with hope and dreams fulfilled. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it.
I am looking forward to book two in the Heirloom Secrets series; Paint and Nectary.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
Author Ashley Clark uses Charleston, South Carolina and Fairhope, Alabama as the settings for this dual-time book that alternates between 1861 and present time. I loved Millicent Middleton with her red cloche hat and the two butterfly buttons that are such an integral part of both stories. Millie yearns to own her own dress shop and this desire remains with her most of her life, through her struggles with racism, tragedy, and her decision to conceal her own bi-racial identity. In the modern day story Harper Dupree dreams of being a dress designer and Millie plays an important role in her story also. It was Millie who taught Harper to sew as a child and now, as they both find themselves back in Charleston, it is Millie who may be the grantor of all of Harper’s dreams.
The Dress Shop on King Street is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, even in the worst of times. This powerful story reminds us that even though the ugliness of racism has long existed, it can be subdued with hope and love. Millie and Franklin Pinckney’s love story took my breath away and the possibility of the same for Harper and Peter Perkins kept me turning the pages. Several surprising twists made this a book that I couldn’t put down!
Clark uses the true legacy of Rose Middleton, her young daughter Ashley, and a cloth sack filled with a dress, pecans, and a braid of hair, to create a stunning debut novel that I won’t soon forget. I recommend The Dress Shop on King Street to all who enjoy historical fiction and Christian romance.
I received a copy of this book from Bethany House. There was no obligation to post a favorable review and I am voluntarily sharing my own thoughts.
This captivating debut novel displaying Ashley Clark’s excellent storytelling skill is a winner! A well-structured, intriguing plot; strong, endearing characters; sweet, slow-building romance; and relevant spiritual truths of God’s faithfulness, grace, and purpose combine to create a beautifully woven story of dreams, family secrets, friendship, difficult choices, and belonging. I applaud Ms. Clark on her amazing execution of the complex yet easy to follow dual timeline. Both storylines are compelling, but I was especially moved by the historical one featuring Millie which evoked a myriad of emotions. I like Ms. Clark’s fluent expressive style and the use of symbolism which enhances the story. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the next book in her Heirloom Secrets series.
A favorite quote: “God is faithful, and when He calls you to something, He will also give you the means, even if it doesn’t look as expected.”
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The Dress Shop on King Street is a sobering yet hopeful tale that I fell head over heels in love with. Showing the passing of time in both the past (the 194o’s) and the present, the reader witnesses the simple, yet fascinating life of Millie Middleton, the daughter of an Italian father and African-American mother, who is forced to hide her heritage in hopes of a better life, and ripping her family apart.
Millie carries this secret for years, hiding her true self from those closest to her, and the mental torture she endures while dealing with the prejudice of the times is unimaginable to me. My heart was torn apart as I witnesses the blessings and curses that Millie endured through her life, several moments bringing tears to my eyes at the unfairness of it all, and yet Millie herself was the light of the story, a woman filled with such love and grace, and touching my own heart.
Harper’s story, which is told in the present, was also a joy to read, and not just because I loved reading all the details about the vintage dresses that she repaired. Though she has a hard hit to her ego at the beginning of the book, you get to behold her and Millie together fight for their dreams, and discover the satisfaction of fighting for your hearts desire.
Reading The Dress Shop on King Street filled me with unexplained nostalgia, thankfulness for all the unknown blessings that I take for granted, and hope that maybe someday my greatest dreams could come true. It is apparent that the author poured her heart and soul into this novel, and for that I am grateful, as Millie’s story truly evoked deep emotions within me, reminding me of lost dreams of my own that I would love to one day see come to fruition. It’s a great reminder that it’s never too late.
There are so many parallels between the past and the present that are so eloquently stitched together, creating a beautiful tapestry of family, love, fighting the struggle, and finding the truth to be who you were meant to be and not giving your reverie away to fear. To see a family torn apart by prejudice and then to witness it be mended together again was so poetic. I truly loved every aspect of this deep and eye-opening novel and is another MUST READ of 2021 for me.
*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through NetGalley. All views and opinions are completely honest, and my own.
Sometimes a book finds you at a pivotal moment in time when it seems as though the story was written just for you. Like a love note from God tucked within the pages. For me, “The Dress Shop on King Street” was one such book.
With southern charm and a whole lot of heart, Ashley Clark has created a story with the skilled craftsmanship, exquisite detail, and unique beauty of a couture gown from days gone by. In hat-wearing Millie and vintage-loving Harper, I found kindred spirits. And in their story, I found a gleaming thread of hope to mend the fabric of a long cherished dream.
Two women bound together by a dream…
Some books are packed with a much deeper emotion than your average paperback, and they elicit a stronger emotional response in the reader. The Dress Shop On King Street is one of those books. I initially chose this book because I love split time stories. I love how the past and present are intertwined and how one has a direct effect on the other. Ashley Clark skillfully blended those aspects in the first book in her Heirloom Secrets series.
There’s a lot to unpack in The Dress Shop On King Street but the two things that really got me thinking the most were, Harper’s struggles with discouragement and not giving up, and Millie’s struggles with fear and trust. Most of us have faced dreams not panning out, people’s lack of faith in our abilities, and those things sting. And, while most of us haven’t had to hide our heritage it did make me think more about my own ancestors as some of them made the same choice that Millie did, to choose one heritage over the other. Kudos to author Ashley Clark for her portrayal of the pain and angst of such a decision and the long term effects for everyone involved.
I will say that the choice to capitalize one race and not the other was a bit uncomfortable for me as a reader. I would have preferred that they both be capitalized or neither of them.
As a history lover I have to say how much I liked the premise of the two story arcs hinging around a pair of antique buttons, and, as a museum volunteer the restoration aspects were a hit. If you enjoy emotionally consuming novels that will make you chuckle and tug at your heartstrings you should definitely check out The Dress Shop On King Street, Ashley Clark’s debut novel and the first book in her Heirloom Secrets series…
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
The Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley Clark started out rough. While well-written, the heartbreaking situations in the first few chapters made it difficult to continue into the novel. However, I persevered to discover a dual-timeline story full of love, fear, and redemption. My journey with Harper and Millie reaped rewards as the deep themes of the book settled in my mind.
The Dress Shop on King Street plunged into issues relevant to modern society. Racism, in the past and present, deeply affected Millie and her decisions. Disillusionment drove Harper to turn from her dreams. Yet, I loved the novel’s theme of redemption – for people, items, and history. Threads about discovering and preserving history weave through the novel as characters seek to understand their family history, restore vintage pieces, and cultivate hope for the present and future.
I enjoyed the slow, deep exploration of issues in The Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley Clark. Readers who enjoy dual timeline fiction that dives into painful issues and searches for hope will likely enjoy this novel.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
What a wonderful story of redeeming pieces of the past that are sewn together for a better future in this tale of a woman caught between two heritages and the impossible choices she makes in their wake, which follows her to the present day to intertwine her life forever with two young people who both hold a key to that same past. Beautiful prose, relatable characters, an evocative setting set amid a tumultuous time in American history. Southern fiction at its finest. Ashley Clark is a novelist to watch! I eagerly await her next novel.
I loved this story. The characters were so endearing and realistic. I wanted to stay at the boarding house and have Millie teach me how to sew, take a walking tour of Charleston with Peter and buy one of Harper’s vintage dresses at the shop on King Street. It hurt my heart what Millie had to suffer because of the color of skin. Recommend this to anyone that wants a nice clean read.
WOW! This is such a beautiful story. It is a multi-generational novel that takes the reader from before the Civil War into the present day.
Millie is a woman who is half white and half black. Her mixed heritage gives her more freedom to live in the white world. Her story begins before Martin Luther King changed life for many black people.
Her life is threatened when a white young man learns of her mixed heritage. In order to protect her, Millie’s mother puts her on a train to move to an area where she can pass as a white woman.
The story “packs a punch” as injustice is described. Millie has a love story that is beautiful, but her heart is broken when she becomes a mother. To me, it is unfathomable the way that people in the black community were treated. It is because I have never experienced it, that I have a hard time wrapping my head around it.
While there is a lot of pain, there are good times too. The story really is one of hope. It comes full circle when dreams are realized and that generations following have more opportunity.
I cannot give this book a higher recommendation. This will remain in my head and heart for a long time to come.
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.