The story is told from the perspectives of Soline and Rory. Soline tells her story in the present tense, and Rory tells her story in the past tense. The chapters are labeled with either Soline or Rory, the date, and the location. At the beginning of the prologue and chapters devoted to Soline, the author includes a quote that ties in beautifully with the subject matter. Davis provides the translation for French words and phrases used in the story. The author created a great mix of believable characters, whether they are prone to positive or negative behaviors. The use of sensory language makes readers feel as if they have traveled into the same place as the characters and are experiencing everything along with them. Davis captures readers’ attention at the beginning and compels them to keep reading. My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of “The Keeper of Happy Endings”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Although the 1943 setting in France certainly had some very serious and heartbreaking elements in it, given what was going on in France at that point in time in history, there was still a heartwarming element to the story which stayed with me through the entire book. There are so many beautiful quotes in this book. One of my favourites was “ I’ve come to believe we create our own curses and carry them through life because we’ve been told it’s our lot. We’re taught to relive our mothers’ heartaches, to accept their sufferings as our own, and pass them on to the next generation, again and again.” The book unfolds across multiple timelines: both Nazi-occupied Paris during World War II in the 1940s and Boston in the 1980s. The story follows two women both dealing with devastating losses and heartbreak after fate keeps them from their true loves. Soline is now elderly and a bit of a recluse and not receptive to guests. For many years her family owned an exclusive bridal salon in Paris. It is said that any bride who wears a ‘Roussel’ gown is guaranteed a lifetime of happiness. It is believe that there is magic woven into the gown with each stitch.She tells Soline and Rory’s story by describing their experience and expressing sympathy. It drew me in and had me anxious to know more about their past.

Do you feel like the magic was enough to explain the coincidence of Soline and Rory finding each other? Just the kind of book I always hope for. Two women, Soline and Rory, from different eras and with different pasts come together in a twist of fate that leads them to a stunning and unexpected discovery that changes everything. When you find out how the women are connected, what was your initial reaction? Did you see it coming? Source: UnsplashWant to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this uncorrected- proof. This file has been sent to me for an honest professional review.

Errors aside, I enjoyed the story again and she has some lovely little remarks in it, such as, "There are all sorts of heroes, and almost none of them will ever have something shiny pinned to their chests" and I love the idea of the echoes as well. This made me smile-"I've been warned about Americans, all disarming smiles and apple pie" and the passage about a bride's spine is a tremendous one as well.I liked the book club questions at the end. I don’t usually read this section but this time I did and they were fascinating! He has been angry with her all these years because he thought she didn’t want him once she found out he may never walk again and thought she had moved on to another lover (who was actually her gay best friend). Rory (Aurora) Grant is leasing and renovating a building that had been in a fire, as she knows it will be perfect for her art gallery. While cleaning up she comes upon a box with letters, memorabilia and a vintage wedding gown inside. She figures she will return it to the owner of the building Soline Roussel.

Rory received a Roussel wedding dress from her fiancé before the war, but he was captured, and has not come home. Or has he? What spell was cast for her? Davis’ tale of love and loss, expertly woven around the lives of two women who have nothing—and yet everything—in common, inspires hope that our own happy endings might be biding their time, ready to show up when and where we least expect them. The Keeper of Happy Endings is a perfect blending of romance and mystery with a sprinkling of magic—heartwarming and satisfying. Don’t miss it!" Unlike my usual experience, both the contemporary and the historical timelines appealed to me equally. Also, the two storylines begin independently but merge pretty well. Decades later although she is established in her own bridal shop in Boston, her heart has not moved on. After an incident that means the shop is almost destroyed she allows it to sit there empty refusing to sell it. A young woman Rory Grant who has ambitions to own an art gallery is interested in leasing the property. Soline is reluctant until she hears that the girl has searched thoroughly and this property is the only one she feels drawn to. The story comes to us from the first person perspectives of Soline in 1941 and 1985, and from the third person perspective of Rory in 1985.Sigh. This is one of those feel-good, curl up with a good mug of tea or hot chocolate on a cold and rainy day kinds of books. I didn’t know it would be that for awhile though… I was cringing at times, fearing that I was in for a tragedy, or a bittersweet story at best. But Barbara Davis didn’t let me down. BTW: Don’t stop at the end of this story as the ‘Book Club Questions’ are great and will give you something to think about even if you aren’t in a book club. Soline Roussel made wedding dresses for her exclusive bridal salon before a fire burned down her studio and left her with hands unable to hold a needle. Rory Grant is barely living ever since her fiance disappeared on a mission in Africa. It’s also the story of Rory, decades later. When she leases the property owned by Soline’s family to open an art gallery, she finds letters and a dress with special meaning. Soline and Rory’s paths cross in an unexpected way.