The Dress Shop of Dreams

November 15, 2014
Four couples search high and low for romance amid the magical byways of Oxford, England, in this second novel.Twenty years ago, when her parents died in a mysterious fire, Cora Callaway (who was just a child at the time) shut down all her emotions. Since then, she's felt neither fear nor anger-nor happiness, nor love. Her only wish is to continue working on the scientific breakthrough her parents had been about to announce at their deaths. Her grandmother Etta, who owns a magical dress shop where women can find their hearts' desires, decides it's way past time for Cora to learn to feel again. She works her sewing magic on her granddaughter and waits for the inevitable flood of emotions to arrive, especially Cora's long-suppressed love for Walt, her childhood friend and owner of the bookstore where Cora has spent many hours happily reading science tomes, oblivious to Walt's feelings for her. Walt, in an effort to excise Cora from his heart, starts reading Jane Austen novels at night on the radio, which brings him to the attention of Milly, a widow trying to mend her own broken heart, and Dylan, the radio-station manager who starts writing to Milly under Walt's name. Meanwhile Cora seeks out the aid of police detective Henry to help her solve the mystery of her parents' deaths, all while Henry pines for his ex-wife, Francesca, who harbors a deep, dark secret. And though Etta has set all this in motion with a few stitches of red thread, she can't seem to work her magic on herself and her long-lost love. A few too many secrets and a murder-mystery plotline that feels like a bit of an afterthought can't mar this brightly colored fabulist confection, more sweet than filling but still sure to delight those looking for a little fairy dust in their romance.

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October 15, 2014
As a child, Cora Sparks hid her heart away after her parents died in a mysterious fire. Cora is now a grown scientist, and her logical mind never strays into the world of imagination and frivolity, avoiding love and the danger of being hurt. But her grandmother, Etta, having suffered her own share of youthful losses, longs to see Cora happily settled with Walter, Cora's childhood friend and lifelong admirer. With the help of a few magic stitches in her dress shop, Etta aims to endow Walter with the courage he needs to pursue Cora and to return to Cora the gift of emotion, but her handiwork also awakens the past and sends them all down a path of discovery that even Etta could not have foretold. The Dress Shop of Dreams is a delightful blending of many love stories plus a tale of murder and suspense. Van Praag has a knack for balancing a large cast of engaging characters, and her references to beloved authors and historic scientists are enjoyable touchstones between doses of mystery and magic.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2014

Taking her cue from her recent The House at the End of Hope Street, nicely reviewed here, but writing in a more popular vein, English author van Praag dreams up a dress shop whose lush, rainbow-hued clothes can be imbued with magic following a few stitches by the owner, Etta Sparks. The dresses give those who wear them stunning confidence, but the spell doesn't seem to work for Etta or ambitious scientist granddaughter Cora.

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2014

Everyone in van Praag's (Men, Money, and Chocolate) latest novel is a little magical. Etta Sparks owns a small dress shop in Cambridge, England, but it's not just any dress shop. Etta and her dresses are able to give customers the supernatural push they need in their lives, whether that be to go after a big promotion, gain long-lost confidence, or find love. Etta's granddaughter, Cora, has long been under a spell without knowing it. A scientist, Cora has devoted her life to continuing her deceased parents' dream: to save the world. Etta lifts the spell and encourages a romance between Cora and her childhood friend, Walt. But Cora's awakening stirs memories from the night her parents died. Along with a handsome detective with an uncanny ability to tell when someone is lying, Cora begins to investigate her parents' death while struggling with the new feelings she has for Walt. VERDICT Even the least cynical will find the constant reminder that love will either conquer all or find a way a bit too saccharine. Fans of Sarah Addison Allen will probably take the bait but might be a little disappointed in the inferior storytelling. If you're looking for a quick read with a little mystery, magic, and romance, however, this one is for you. [See Prepub Alert, 6/16/14.]--Brooke Bolton, North Manchester P.L., IN

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.