The Girl from the Savoy - by Hazel Gaynor (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Presenting a dazzling new historical novel ... The Girl From The Savoy is as sparkling as champagne and as thrilling as the era itself.

'Sometimes life gives you cotton stockings. Sometimes it gives you a Chanel gown ...'

Dolly Lane is a dreamer; a downtrodden maid who longs to dance on the London stage, but her life has been fractured by the Great War. Memories of the soldier she loved, of secret shame and profound loss, by turns pull her back and spur her on to make a better life.

When she finds employment as a chambermaid at London's grandest hotel, The Savoy, Dolly takes a step closer to the glittering lives of the Bright Young Things who thrive on champagne, jazz and rebellion. Right now, she must exist on the fringes of power, wealth and glamor--she must remain invisible and unimportant.

But her fortunes take an unexpected turn when she responds to a struggling songwriter's advertisement for a 'muse' and finds herself thrust into London's exhilarating theatre scene and into the lives of celebrated actress, Loretta May, and her brother, Perry. Loretta and Perry may have the life Dolly aspires to, but they too are searching for something.

Now, at the precipice of the life she has and the one she longs for, the girl from The Savoy must make difficult choices: between two men; between two classes, between everything she knows and everything she dreams of. A brighter future is tantalizingly close--but can a girl like Dolly ever truly leave her past behind?

From the Back Cover

"Once begun, I dare you to put it down."--Kathleen Tessaro, New York Times bestselling author of Rare Objects

London, 1923: Welcome to The Savoy hotel, a glittering jewel in London's social scene, where the lives of the rich, the famous, and the infamous intertwine

Here, amid the cocktails and the jazz, two women with very different pasts try to forget the devastation of the Great War and forge a new life in a city where those who dare to dream can have it all.

Dolly Lane is The Savoy's newest chambermaid, her prospects limited by a life in service. But her proximity to the dazzling hotel guests fuels her dreams--to take the London stage by storm, to wear couture gowns, to be applauded by gallery girls and admired by critics . . . to be a star, just like her idol, Loretta May.

The daughter of an earl, Loretta has rebelliously turned her back on the carefully ordered life expected of a woman at the top of society's elite. She will love who she wants, and live as she likes. Outwardly, her star burns bright, but Loretta holds a dark secret. She alone knows that her star cannot burn forever.

When an unusual turn of events leads Dolly's and Loretta's lives to collide, they must both learn to let go of their pasts in order to hold on to what they most desire.

"As sweet as a love song, as energetic as a tap dance, and full of dazzling details."--Jeanne Mackin, author of The Beautiful American

Review Quotes

"Hazel Gaynor's artistry as a storyteller shimmers like satin in THE GIRL FROM THE SAVOY. Evocative, transportive and redemptive, this is an enchanting gem of story." - Susan Meissner, author of Secrets of a Charmed Life
"Gaynor struts her historical stuff once again in her latest novel, set in 1920s London... Gaynor's (A Memory of Violets, 2015) latest quickly and completely takes readers into the exciting world of London between the wars. This story of loss and longing and of the power of ambition and dreams to carry us forward is filled with rich period details and unforgettable characters." - Booklist
"Hazel Gaynor captures both the heartache and hope of England between the Wars in this richly imagined novel peopled with unforgettable characters, impossible ambitions and unexpected twists of fate. Once begun, I dare you to put it down." - Kathleen Tessaro, New York Times bestselling author
"A disarmingly charming story of a young woman determined to make her dreams a reality... as sweet as a love song, as energetic as a tap dance and full of dazzling details about life in London after the disasters of the Great War. I won't soon forget Dolly Lane..." - Jeanne Mackin, author of THE BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN
"Gaynor once again brings history to life. With intriguing characters and a deeply absorbing story, her latest is a fascinating examination of one city's rich history and the often forgotten people who lived in it." - Booklist
Praise for A Memory of Violets: "Gaynor has written a masterpiece of a story, one that will linger long in the memory of readers." - The Sun News
"A beautifully moving tale that shows how people can transcend even the darkest of situations or perceptions." - Fresh Fiction
Praise for The Girl Who Came Home: "With the true story so well-known, Gaynor's first novel is a wonderful, albeit predictable read. If you're interested in the history of the Titanic and love romantic side-stories, you will enjoy The Girl Who Came Home." - Portland Book Review
"The Girl Who Came Home follows on the centenary remembrance of the Titanic in 2012. Is the world ready for yet another account of this tragedy? With this novel, the answer is a resounding yes." - New York Journal of Books