The Lady in Residence by Allison Pittman | Book 1 in the Doors to the Past series, where the history of America’s landmarks is met by modern day in an explosion of mystery, intrigue and romance!
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary e-copy of this book which I received from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a positive review. Also, this blog post includes affiliate links which means I will receive a commission based on sales generated via these links, at no additional cost to you. This helps keep my blog running!
A TIME SLIP NOVEL
A fantastic debut novel to the captivating, new Doors to the Past series, where the history of American landmarks is met with modern day stories in an explosion of mystery, faith, and romance!
Author Allison Pittman keeps readers spellbound in an incredible journey to uncover the mysterious haunting of the Menger Hotel in San Antonio, TX, a popular historic landmark. Moving between the story of widow, Hedda Krause, in the early 1900’s, and modern day magician, Dini Blackstone, this story immerses readers in a tale rich in history, romance, passion and intrigue! It is a must-read for readers who enjoy historical fiction and mysteries!
Can a Legacy of Sadness be Broken at the Menger Hotel?
Young widow Hedda Krause checks into the Menger Hotel in 1915 with a trunk full of dresses, a case full of jewels, and enough cash to pay for a two-month stay, which she hopes will be long enough to meet, charm, and attach herself to a new, rich husband. Her plans are derailed when a ghostly apparition lures her into a long, dark hallway, and Hedda returns to her room to find her precious jewelry has been stolen. She falls immediately under a cloud of suspicion with her haunting tale, but true ghost enthusiasts bring her expensive pieces of jewelry in an attempt to lure the ghost to appear again.
In 2017, Dini Blackstone is a fifth-generation magician, who performs at private parties, but she also gives ghost walk tours, narrating the more tragic historical events of San Antonio with familial affection. Above all, her favorite is the tale of Hedda Krause who, in Dini’s estimation, succeeded in perpetrating the world’s longest con, dying old and wealthy from her ghost story. But then Dini meets Quinn Carmichael, great-great-grandson of the detective who originally investigated Hedda’s case, who’s come to the Alamo City with a box full of clues that might lead to Hedda’s exoneration. Can Dini see another side of the story that is worthy of God’s grace?
★★★★★ | Allison Pittman completely enraptured me with The Lady in Residence. I could hardly put this story down! From the very first chapter, I was hopelessly immersed in both the characters and the story line. By the end of the story, I wanted to weep, I wanted to shout for joy, and I certainly didn’t want it to end. The Lady in Residence was a thrill to read and has already made its way to my top ten list for 2021!
Set in San Antonio, Pittman brings the Menger Hotel to life with the timeless, tragic tale of widow Hedda Krause and the ghost who haunts her at the Menger. Hedda’s story was broken, beautiful and I became quite fond of her as I viewed her through excerpts Pittman masterfully penned as Hedda in her final years, telling her own story in a book.
As a reader who is always fascinated with time-slip novels, I loved the present day aspect of this story as well! Dini Blackstone and Quin Carmichael were perfectly quirky, charming and relatable. Pittman matched those characters well and built a passionate, fantastic tale around them of history and romance. I could say so much more, but I don’t want to give too much away!
The Lady in Residence is well written, expertly planned, beautifully delivered and it was rich in history, romance and intrigue. The faith-based elements are subtle and add to the story in a soft, inspiring way without detracting from the historical or contemporary timelines. Pittman delivers just a hint of an edge to this story, making it feel quite contemporary and even passionate, while still maintaining clean reading. I believe both religious and secular readers will enjoy this captivating book. Fans of author Jaime Jo Wright will especially enjoy this story. This book is appropriate for ages 15+.
