Camille Di Maio’s fifth novel THE FIRST EMMA is the true story of Emma Koehler, whose tycoon husband Otto was killed in a crime-of-the-century murder by one of his two mistresses—both also named Emma—and her unlikely rise as CEO of a brewing empire during Prohibition. When a chance to tell her story to a young teetotaler arises, a tale unfolds of love, war, beer, and the power of women.
Another great read from Camille!! I always devour her books. A great historical fiction to honor accomplishments of a hard working woman who was a large part of the beer industry. I really enjoyed her story along with the side romance and the story of the young lady who took down Emma’s story.
You’ll definitely get invested in these characters.
A fascinating read based on a true story! Just started reading and can’t wait to get back to it.
Wanting her story to be told, Emma Koehler puts out an ad for a journalist to write her book.
Wanting to escape Baltimore, Mable applies and lands the job even though she isn’t a journalist.
What Mable finds when she arrives in San Antonio is an elderly Emma with an interesting life’s story to record. She also finds relatives who aren’t that friendly except for Erik.
I thought it was clever how Ms. Di Maio introduced a character to record the life of Emma Koehler as we learned how Emma wanted women to know their value.
You will immediately be drawn into the life of Emma, the brewery, and the time period.
Ms. Di Maio has written a marvelously researched book with characters you will love.
Her writing simply pulls you in with its ease and welcoming tone.
Another beautiful book by Camille Di Maio.
You definitely will not want to miss reading this book. 5/5
This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this beautifully written book. Camille Di Maio did a wonderful job with the characters, especially the main characters – Mrs. Emma Koehler and Mabel Hartley. I instantly liked Mabel. Even though life had dealt her a difficult hand, she dared to take a chance and responded to the ad that Mrs. Koehler (or Emma as she preferred to be called) placed for a writer. I loved the relationship that they developed, with each being what the other really needed. As can be expected, I very much disliked Otto (Emma’s husband) and found Emma (the first Emma, not her subsequent nursemaids of the same name) to be very inspirational. She wasn’t just the driving force behind her husband’s success…she became the CEO of Pearl Brewery and helped the company survive during Prohibition. A truly remarkable woman that I very much enjoyed reading about in this book.
Thank you to Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review
Camille di Maio has a penchant for taking interesting historical events and weaving them into our lives in such a way that we grow from the experience. Based on a real historical figure, this book tells the story of a wronged woman and how she creates a future at a time where it was nearly unheard of for a woman to run a brewery. Fascinating, heart-tugging fiction from an author who can tell a tale!
This is the fictionalized story of Emma and Otto Holzhauer, owners and founders of Pearl Brewery in San Antonio, Texas. The story is retold by Emma when she is in her 80’s. The retelling is to Mabel during WW2. Two time lines in the story.
The book had the opportunity of being a wonderful historical novel. The past as told by Emma is fascinating….she was a feminist long before her time. A strong woman even after a car accident left her in an wheelchair. She had natural business acumen. Revered and respected in the community. But not appreciated by her husband.
The 1940’s storyline featuring Mabel and her love interest reads more like a romance novel. I found this part somewhat disappointing. Mabel is a sweet girl but the dialogue between Mabel and Erik does not match the rest of the book.
Great research by the author on San Antonio and the brewery and the health spa….it kept me Googling. The author’s notes at the end are very informative.
There are a few editing issues which I hope will be corrected for the official publication.
I have enjoyed the author’s previous books. This too was an entertaining and informative read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance readers copy.
Edited to add: I absolutely love the cover!
This is a fascinating read about an amazing woman. There’s everything you could ever want in this page-turner! A huge five stars from me!
Bravo! I just finished reading The First Emma by Camille De Maio and boy, what an amazing book it was. If you like historical fiction, you just have to pick up a copy of this book. I read everything cover to cover. I find it sad that personal documents and history about Emma Koehler are not in existence today. In spite of that Camille De Maio was able to craft a believable story of her life.
This book was so rich with with background. The description of Emma’s home, the Perle brewery, the little theater, San Antonio and even Baltimore. They were almost like characters in themselves. It brought an all around appeal to the story.
This story took place in a time in our history when women were delegated to the home and not the boardroom. It took a special woman indeed to bring the brewery through prohibition and the great depression. I believe Emma Koehler would’ve been a force all her own in that time period. She had to have been a woman to look up to.
Thank you Camille de Maio for bringing us such a beautiful and inspiring story of a magnificent woman.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a fair and honest review.
Love historical fiction? This one is for YOU.
In THE FIRST EMMA, Camille Di Maio takes a strong woman and true events from history that not much is known about and creates a story with characters you want to know more about.
In 1914 San Antonio, Otto Koehler is found dead in the house he purchased for his mistresses, both named Emma, leaving his wife to take over and try to keep his brewing company open and successful. Fast forward to 1943 in Baltimore, where Mabel Hartley’s life keeps getting worse. The War has taken her brothers, her father has disappeared, her fiance’ found someone else, and her boss could care less about his employee, other than the fact that she is young and pretty. When she takes a chance and answers an advertisement for a writer, she is shocked when chosen and leaves everything for a new start in San Antonio. When she meets the octogenarian, Emma Koehler and starts to hear her story, she is instantly drawn into the wonder of Emma’s life and her strength over the years when women still (in 1943) weren’t in positions of leadership. As Emma shares her story and Mabel records it, she begins to find her own strength and direction.
This is another well-written historical novel by Camille Di Maio. I discovered her novels several years ago, and she has become a must-read for me and I have yet to be disappointed. Her characters are well-developed, and her historical events and settings are well-researched. Prior to this, I had not had much experience reading about Prohibition or the Great Depression and how the businesses weathered them and the challenges. Emma Koehler weathered these, the scandal of her husband’s murder, and other devastations in her life to come out successfully on the other side and Di Maio captured this and more with the way she developed the novel. I was drawn in and transported.
If you are looking for a historical novel with strong, resilient female characters, this one is for you. Find a quiet place, maybe a nice beer, and jump in.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
#TheFirstEmma #WyattMackenziePublishing #CamilleDiMaio
Camille DiMaio’s THE FIRST EMMA is a wonderfully researched and beautiful istoriacal fiction story about the brave and strong women and their complicated roles in history especially that in the early 1900’s, the Prohibition era, and the amazing history of the breweries in San Antonio.
The story begins dramatically in 1914 as we hear about the murder of one of the richest and influential men in the country, Otto Koehler by one of his many mistresses ( the other Emma). The first Emma despite the misfortune of being in a wheelchair from a tragic accident takes over the helm of their business in the brewery, mining and hospitality.
Mabel Hartley answers a plea from Emma Koehler to help write her memoir. This develops an unlikely friendship between these women, and through this journey upon Emma’s death bed, we are privy to these amazing stories, and what stories Emma had to share.
Di Maio is an exceptionally talented storyteller that delivered such an amazing story of not only a strong woman but one that is inspiring, fearless and one to be admired. This is a and moving true story that I enjoyed reading about.
Behind every successful man is a successful women. Nothing proves this more than The First Emma. The First Emma is the true story of Emma Koehler and her tycoon husband Otto. They owned the Pearl Brewing Company along with mines and a Hotel Hot Springs in 1914. Otto is killed by one of his mistresses and it becomes the crime of the century.
Emma, now in her 80’s, hires Mable to write her story. The story starts from Emma and Otto falling in love to moving to Texas to run the Pearl Brewery. Ema was just as much a part of running the Brewery as Otto. After Otto’s death, Emma successfully kept the brewery open through prohibition with keeping all the employees working.
I liked that between chapters there are news clippings of the Murder Trial. Not only does Emma find her strength through her life, but so does Mable. It is a tale of love, war, and the power of women. I have read all of Camille;s books and the stories always have me interested in the characters. I always do a search to see if I can find information on the characters and era. Thank you to Camille DiMaio, Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing, and Netgalley for a copy of this book and this is my honest review.
Camille Di Maio has written Emma Koehler’s story in such a wonderful way. Mabel and the first Emma were such strong, brave women and while historical fiction isn’t usually my thing, I didn’t want this book to end.
It’s obvious a lot of research went into this book. It was filled with little bits that make the history come alive and helped to keep me engaged. I love reading books that make me feel like I’m there and especially enjoy books that teach me something I didn’t know. The FIrst Emma did both for me.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has even thought of picking up a historical fiction novel. Pick it up, give it a chance and fall into the story of Emma.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for approving my request for an ARC. All thoughts in this review are my own and happily given.
First Emma by Camille Di Maio
I really enjoyed this book. It was well-researched and well –written. The characters were believable and relatable. The back story is told through the main character Emma, relaying her past to a young woman who will eventually write her biography. Emma led an interesting life. She was a woman ahead of her times. Although this book is listed as historical fiction, it is loosely based on a real-life person and many of the details are filled in by the author’s creative mind. The author does a great job of not boring the reader with a bunch of boring detail. In fact, just the opposite is true. Camille Di Maio draws the reader in from the beginning and has you staying up late to learn Emma’s real story. This book does not disappoint!!!
Thank you Camille Di Maio, Suzy Approved Book Tours, and the publisher for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
(from Goodreads) Inspired by true events…1914 – Young bride Emma Koehler dreams of a happy marriage and a simple life with her husband, but her hopes are quickly dashed by Otto’s obsession with his business. Though they become one of the wealthiest couples in the country – a fortune made on beer, mining, and hospitality – Emma is lonely in their stone mansion, unable to have children and unable to keep his attentions at home. When a tragic accident changes everything, Otto presents a new betrayal – and Emma must choose between loyalty and independence in a world that demands convention. 1943 – Mabel Hartley flees Baltimore after the war leaves her broken and alone. She answers the advertisement of a dying woman in San Antonio, with an urgent plea to come write her memoirs. In Emma Koehler, Mabel discovers astounding resilience – a pioneer who weathered personal devastation and navigated her large brewery through the storm of Prohibition. Soon Mabel realizes that Texas holds more for her than this new friendship. Romance blooms even as she’s given up on love, and an unexpected phone call gives her hope that not all goodbyes are final.
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This novel offers everything a historical fiction fan could want. The First Emma includes exciting scenes from two parts of United States history that creates a wild picture of loss and resilience. The characters are bold and developed. By the end, I wanted to continue the story to see what happens next to Mabel, one of the main characters. I loved how history and romance entertwined in the story. The aspect of a true story also piqued my interest because the past storyline was incredibly engaging and unique. I enjoyed learning more about this part of history through a fictional standpoint. One aspect I would change is the use of the name Emma. Although the title is about Emma, there were times when it became a bit confusing to keep track of what was going on. Otherwise, the plot, characters, and themes were rock solid.
This novel earns a 4 out of 5 stars.
Camille Di Maio, Author of “The First Emma” has written a novel based on true events, which is captivating, intriguing and memorable. The Genres for this Novel are Historical Fiction and Fiction. The timelines for this story are in 1914 and 1943. The timeline goes to the past when it pertains to the events or characters. The characters connect in a certain way between both timelines. Camille Di Maio describes her characters as complex and complicated.
I appreciate how the author vividly describes her characters, events, and motivations. In 1914, Otto Koehler marries Emma, and they embark on a journey together to build a business. Emma is an intelligent woman and offers a great intellectual and hands-on approach in their beer business. Otto is not content with having one business and branches into other businesses. Besides personal tragedy and betrayal, Emma is a very strong and independent woman.
In the timeline of 1942, an older Emma puts an advertisement in the newspaper looking for someone to write her memoir. Mabel Hartley applies for the position and honestly writes that she is not a writer, but gets the job. There seem to be other motivations in Emma’s decision to hire someone to write her biography. Mabel is quiet and hardworking and has had a disappointing live with tragedy and betrayals as well. The two women do work well together and form a significant bond.
Somehow, as Emma retells her story, and Mabel listens, there is a new change. Mabel becomes more assertive and confident and has the courage to speak her mind. Mable also has confidence and self-worth.
I appreciate that the author discusses that women can be courageous, bold and brave in times of adversity in a man’s world. Camille di Maio mentions the importance of moderation. The author also discusses the importance of respect, family, friendship, love, and hope. I would highly recommend this wonderful story.
THE FIRST EMMA by Camille Di Maio is a beautifully-written work of historical fiction based on the true story of Emma Koehler, an intriguing woman who, against all norms of the time, rose to the powerful position of CEO of the Texas brewing empire started by her husband. Her husband, Otto Koehler was murdered by one of his two mistresses in a brutal crime that captured the attention of the nation and world in the early 1900s. As Emma K. nears her own death in her eighties, she hires a young woman, Mabel Hartley, to record her remarkable life. The story switches back and forth seamlessly from Emma’s past to 1943 when she is relating her fascinating tale to Mabel. As her history unfolds, the reader learns how Emma’s resilience and sharp business sense kept the brewery in business even through Prohibition and the Great Depression. The characters are brought to life with a touch of mystery, romance and family drama that had me totally immersed in the story. I enjoyed how the author crafted such a compelling tale despite the lack of detailed historical records pertaining to Emma Koehler. I have read and loved all of Camille Di Maio’s books and this new one is no exception. I highly recommend it! Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a chance to read an early copy.
This is truly an amazing story. I love that it’s written based on true story.. the first Emma was a very strong woman.. she believed in doing things standing up for herself.. the author did research got what she could for this story and it is an absolutely amazing story I love this book.. the first Emma is out to hire someone to do a biography you might say on her life, she sends out, gets many responses. But the one that gets her attention is Mabel. A young girl who has been hurt by love with war.. lost her mother possibly her brother. Definitely another. Mabel moves from Baltimore to Texas.. not only is she doing the story for the first Emma which is incredibly amazing.. she meets someone by the pool.. Eric.. Emmas nephew.
I absolutely fell in love with this book the story the first Emma. There’s actually three Emma’s in this book It’s a Wonderful story that anyone would want to read it’s incredible..
Thank you Netgally
For choosing me to read this book early.. I just can’t say enough about this book I truly I think this is a wonderful story thank you her writing this amazing book….
Camille Di Maio.