Dreamland - Nancy Bilyeau - REVIEW and Blog Tour

Dreamland - Nancy Bilyeau - REVIEW and Blog Tour

I've been itching to post my review for the wonderful historical extravaganza which is Dreamland by Nancy Bilyeau, as I'm longing to shout about how wonderful it is.

My Thanks go to the Publisher Endeavour Press for inviting me along to Dreamland.

My Review

Stunning to look at with the beautiful midnight blue and lavish gold cover and enchanting to read, Dreamland is a feast for the senses in every aspect.

I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Dreamland, one of Coney Islands massive fairground and fun palaces. Through this book I stepped back in time to 1911 wearing the expensive and stylish shoes of Peggy Batternburg, daughter of one of America’s wealthiest families.

The early part of the 20th century isn’t perhaps the best time to be a young woman who longs to carve a life for herself, and at the beginning of the story she has a job in a bookshop, a touch of independence which she had to battle for and lean on family influence to obtain.

But family ties are all in this famously wealthy clan and Peggy is summoned home to join the family for the summer in the lavish and luxurious hotel The Oriental, only the hint of excitement promised by the nearby entertainments and attractions of Coney Island provide a hint of temptation to compensate for the loss of her independence to the young woman.

Her snobby, wealthy relatives are all about keeping up appearances. The menfolk are in the main a profligate bunch, playboys who view wives as necessary adornments and women as disposable playthings. The women are subservient, biddable, elegant and shallow. Peggy feels she doesn’t fit in, despite her love for her sister and exasperated affection for her younger brother.

Escaping to Dreamland the noisy, colourful funfair casts a spell over Peggy and when she meets a handsome, charming but penniless artist, she falls head over heels in love with the most unsuitable man she could possibly choose.

When a womans body is washed up on the beach, it is shocking but something that has nothing to do with the Batternburgs, but then another turns up and Peggy begins to feel watched, threatened, helpless. 

This lovely book turned out to be a murder mystery Agatha Christie would most likely be pleased to be compared to, coupled with romance and a great atmospheric and unusual location. 

The Author's detailed research and the lovingly recreated historical detail adds to the drama. A smashing story throughout, combining superb characters, loads of drama and a lavish and intriguing setting blend seamlessly to provide an enthralling and captivating read.

Please consider visiting some of my fellow bloggers also on this tour.

The Blurb

The year is 1911 when twenty-year-old heiress Peggy Batternberg is invited to spend the summer in America’s Playground.

The invitation to the luxurious Oriental Hotel a mile from Coney Island is unwelcome. Despite hailing from one of America’s richest families, Peggy would much rather spend the summer working at the Moonrise Bookstore than keeping up appearances with New York City socialites and her snobbish, controlling family.

But soon it transpires that the hedonism of nearby Coney Island affords Peggy the freedom she has been yearning for, and it’s not long before she finds herself in love with a troubled pier-side artist of humble means, whom the Batternberg patriarchs would surely disapprove of.

Disapprove they may, but hidden behind their pomposity lurks a web of deceit, betrayal and deadly secrets. And as bodies begin to mount up amidst the sweltering clamour of Coney Island, it seems the powerful Batternbergs can get away with anything…even murder.

Extravagant, intoxicating and thumping with suspense, bestselling Nancy Bilyeau’s magnificent Dreamland is a story of corruption, class and dangerous obsession.

The Author Nancy Bilyeau

Nancy is a writer and magazine editor who has worked as an editor at "Rolling Stone," "InStyle," and "Good Housekeeping." Her latest historical novel is "Dreamland," set in 1911 New York City and due to be published Jan 16, 2020.

In December 2019 Nancy published a novella set in old New York: "The Ghost of Madison Avenue."

She is the author of "The Blue," a novel of suspense set in the art and porcelain worlds of 18th century Europe featuring a young female artist turned spy, and a trilogy of award-winning Tudor mysteries, published in 9 countries: "The Crown," "The Chalice," and "The Tapestry."

Nancy's mind is usually in past centuries, but she lives with her family in the Queens borough of New York City.

Visit Nancy's website at www.nancybilyeau.com and follow her on Twitter @tudorscribe.

You can buy this book here