The 1950s were the post-war decade where everyone grasped
for a slice of American pie. It was a time of change for
women's roles and a critical period in the explosion of
racism. Four families, from all parts of the country, end
up together and discover, with many struggles and tragedies
along the way, the American dream.
Sarah Robbins, singer, part club owner and single mother,
struggles to balance it all out and find true love along
the way. After a whirlwind romance, she marries a man who's
not what he claims to be. Striking out on her own, Sarah,
along with her son Billy, embarks upon a journey to the
riches of California.
Neil Dvorak discovers his wife, Anne, has been cheating on
him. He gets a divorce, meets Janet and they marry and have
a daughter. He's under her spell and doesn't seem to notice
the ill treatment their daughter, Amy, suffers. When the
truth is revealed, he takes Amy and they move to California.
Thomas and Dolores Drake have a marriage that's as volatile
as the racism that's sweeping across the country. Dolores,
pregnant again and growing weary of the abuse Thomas dishes
out, takes their two daughters and leaves. They move in
with Ruthie Jackson who, according to the attitudes of the
time, is the wrong color. Their friendship grows, but at
the cost of endangering their lives. After giving birth to
her son, Dolores is advised to send her daughters away for
their protection. After a near tragedy almost kills her
son, Dolores and he make their way to California.
David and Karen Stratton are America's golden couple. After
meeting in high school and falling in love, David proposes
right before he leaves for college. While away getting a
degree, Karen learns how to become an executive's wife.
They marry and David gets a great job in California. But in
order to survive in the business world, he succumbs to some
unethical business practices that not only threaten his
career, but his marriage as well.
As the families merge for a variety of reasons, there's one
individual who threatens to destroy their happiness and
their dreams.
BETTER DAYS AHEAD is Charlie Valentine's debut novel
and is the first installment in a trilogy, which I am most
anxious to continue. Ms. Valentine has put together a great
drama with style and flair. Her characters are a perfect
blend of likable and not so likable individuals, creating a
very realistic and balanced story.
Welcome to the 1950's where four uniquely intriguing
families are in search of the American dream. In BETTER
DAYS AHEAD, debut novelist Charlie Valentine
brings mid-century America to dazzling life in this
enthralling tale of passion, power, and betrayal that
sweeps from the Midwest to the deep South to the West
Coast.
During the course of this dramatic saga, readers will be
enthralled with these four interwoven stories and will
relate to the sacrifices each family must make and the
consequences they must live by in order to realize their
visions for a better way of life.
We meet:
Sarah Robbins, a lounge singer with a drinking problem from
Cleveland. Her life will soon change forever when she
discovers at the last possible moment that she is pregnant.
Readers will become acquainted with her adorable son,
Billy; her business partner, Sam; her svengali, Judge Henry
Kinslow; and her lover, Jack Stratton.
Neil Dvorak, a Detroit native with exquisite taste in
woodworking and rotten taste in women. After his first
wife, Janet, is caught in a bold affair, he leaves her and
loses his beloved daughter, Amy, in the process. Neil
thinks his luck has changed when he meets Anne -
a "respectable and kind" woman, but after she gives birth
to baby Victoria, Anne's true nature emerges with
unforgivable consequences.
Dolores Drake, a devoted mother of two teenage daughters,
with a baby boy on the way. She works long hours in a local
Alabama sweatshop to provide for her two teenage daughters
and her drunk, abusive creep of a husband. The rest of her
hours are spent keeping her children safe from the clutches
of her leering husband and warding off his drunken blows to
her unborn baby. When she finally gains the courage to
leave him and accepts the help of Ruthie Jackson, a black
woman in town, ugly racism bubbles to the surface and lives
are changed irrevocably.
David and Karen Stratton, the California golden couple who
has everything going for them - stunning looks, excellent
breeding, the best educations, and wealth. But even the
Strattons are not immune to loss and tragedy as they learn
when David becomes way too close to one particular client,
Jessica Heisen.
Eventually, circumstances compel three of these families to
head West to California in search of a fresh start for
their children. No one can predict the high-stakes drama
and devastating results that ensue when their lives
intersect.
BETTER DAYS AHEAD is filled with historical detail, drama,
and romantic intensity. With moving prose, Charlie
Valentine tantalizes readers with a captivating saga that
explores the struggles of love, hope, disappointment, and
loneliness - universal themes that touch us all.
Ultimately, this tale, the first in a trilogy, is a story
of possibilities and hope...of BETTER DAYS AHEAD.
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