Spotlight: Gilded Dreams by Donna Russo Morin with excerpt + giveaway link

Gilded Dreams
by Donna Russo Morin

Publication Date: June 16, 2020
Magnum Opus
Paperback & eBook; 495 pages

Series: Newport’s Gilded Age, Book 2
Genre: Historical Fiction

From the bestselling author of GILDED SUMMERS comes a powerful novel of the last eight years of the American Women’s fight for suffrage.

The battle for the vote is on fire in America. The powerful and rich women of Newport, Rhode Island, are not only some of the most involved suffragettes, their wealth – especially that of the indomitable Alva Vanderbilt Belmont – nearly single-handedly funded the major suffrage parties. Yet they have been left out of history, tossed aside as mere socialites. In GILDED DREAMS, they reclaim their rightful place in history.

Pearl and Ginevra (GILDED SUMMERS) are two of its most ardent warriors. College graduates, professional women, wives, and mothers, these progressive women have fought their way through some of life’s harshest challenges, yet they survived, yet they thrive. Now they set their sights on the vote, the epitome of all they have struggled for, the embodiment of their dreams.

From the sinking of the Titanic, through World War 1, Pearl and Ginevra are once more put to the test as they fight against politics, outdated beliefs, and the most cutting opponent of all… other women. Yet they will not rest until their voices are heard, until they – and all the women of America – are allowed to cast their vote. But to gain it, they must overcome yet more obstacles, some that put their very lives in danger.

An emotional and empowering journey, GILDED DREAMS is a historical, action-packed love letter to the women who fought so hard for all women who stand on the shoulders of their triumph.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

About the Author

Donna Russo Morin is an award-winning historical fiction author. Donna has dabbled as a model and actor, working on Showtime’s Brotherhood and Martin Scorsese’s The Departed. Branching out with her storytelling skills, Donna is now a screenwriter. A graduate of the University of Rhode Island, Donna lives on the south shore of Rhode Island close to the ocean she loves so very much. She is the proud mother of two sons, Devon and Dylan, her greatest works in progress.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Excerpt

We had been instructed, and more than once, that we should wear no smiles as we marched, for what we did was not frivolous or jovial. What we did, we did to change our world. 

The bell atop Trinity Church began to clang. As it gonged for the twelfth time, I looked at Pearl, she at me, and once more we took steps unknown together.

My legs shook, knees feeling weak. If one is lucky, there are moments in life that you know, not when looking back but when looking from within them, that what you do is a great thing, a powerful thing. I was so very lucky that day. 

We did not walk long until we saw the lines of people formed on both sides of the avenue. There, on Bellevue Avenue, where the elite of Newport society had built their cottages, we were bathed in words of encouragement. Servants cheered their fellows as they passed. The wealthy who were still in residence long after the season had passed encouraged us in the most polite manner, the soft thuds of applause by gloved hands.

From Bellevue, we would turn east on Bath Street then north again onto Spring Street, which would take us all the way to the Great Common and the band of musicians we had arranged to carry us into the square. 

Would our reception be the same all along that route?

“We begin with glory and we shall end with it.” Pearl pondered as I did. But where I worried, she stomped forward in battle. 

Ours would be a nearly three-mile walk, far shorter than the one in New York, and still it would take us close to two hours to complete, at the least. More importantly, we would pass Newporters of every rank, station, and purse. The route took us from the enormous cottages, through a commercial district, then through neighborhoods of ‘regular’ people. We would pass before eyes that saw life through many different lenses. 

Quiet reverence brought us to the end of Bellevue, just a few feet from the Casino, the center of Newport’s socialites’ social life. We made the turn onto Bath Street, a street crowded with businesses and selling stalls owned and operated by men. 

Words showered us once more, words that cut to the quick, thrown like sharp stones at the men in our ranks. 

“Where are your skirts?” a fat-bellied man with a rough-looking beard covering his round face bellowed.

Pearl turned. I knew she looked at Peter. It would be hard for him, to hear these words, to suffer the slings and arrows of men aimed at men; he was far too righteous. Holding his tongue would be a struggle. But then, were he not such a man, he would not have been a match for Pearl. 

“Nothing to say, henpeck?” Another man joined the slinging of epithets. 

“He has much to say,” I heard Pearl whisper though her lips did not move, “but not to the likes of you.”

Our turn onto Spring Street found both our steps faltering…the thick crowd lined both sides of the street; we could not see the fences and their decoration of fall chrysanthemums behind the so many of them. 

I looked over my shoulder and saw a river of snow; we had not lost any of our marchers in their blazing white clothes. But the harder test was upon us.

At first, we heard quiet applause.

“Thank you!”

Pearl and I both turned. A woman in threadbare clothes stood with a child in her arm and three others at her feet. We saw no man with her. From the look of her and her children, so thin and pallid, there might be no man in her life, or worse, a bad one. Pearl and I both walked taller, for her and all those like her. 

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, August 10
Review at Books, Cooks, and Looks

Wednesday, August 12
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books

Friday, August 14
Review at Books, Writings, and More

Saturday, August 15
Review at Reading is My Remedy

Monday, August 17
Review at Amy’s Booket List

Wednesday, August 19
Review at Book Bustle

Friday, August 21
Guest Post at The Intrepid Reader

Monday, August 24
Review at Books and Zebras

Tuesday, August 25
Feature at What Is That Book About

Wednesday, August 26
Review at The Love of Books

Friday, August 28
Interview at Passages to the Past

Monday, August 31
Review at Passages to the Past

Wednesday, September 2
Excerpt at Bookworlder

Friday, September 4
Review at A Darn Good Read

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a copy of the book + a painting of a scene from the book painted by the author! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway is open to US residents only and on September 4th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

Gilded Dreams
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