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The White City by Grace Hitchcock: Mystery & Romance at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair (Book Review & Blog Tour)

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About the Book

white city cover

Book: The White City

Author: Grace Hitchcock

Genre: Christian Historical/Suspense

Release Date: March, 2019

Mysterious Disappearances Taint the Chicago World’s Fair

Step into True Colors—a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime

While attending the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, Winnifred Wylde believes she witnessed a woman being kidnapped. She tries to convince her father, an inspector with the Chicago police, to look into reports of mysterious disappearances around the White City. Inspector Wylde tries to dismiss her claims as exaggeration of an overactive imagination, but he eventually concedes to letting her go undercover as secretary to the man in question—if she takes her pistol for protection and Jude Thorpe, a policeman, for bodyguard.

Will she be able to expose H. H. Holmes’s illicit activity, or will Winnifred become his next victim?

 

Click here to order your copy.

 

About the Author

white city author

Grace Hitchcock is the author of three novellas in The Second Chance Brides, The Southern Belle Brides, and the Thimbles and Threads collections with Barbour Publishing. The White City is her debut novel and releases March 2019 with Barbour Publishing. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in southern Louisiana with her husband, Dakota, and son. Visit Grace online at GraceHitchcock.com.

 

Guest Post from Grace

True Colors—Fiction Based on Strange, But True, American Crime Stories

True, riveting stories of American criminal activity are explored through 6 unique stories of historical romantic suspense in the exciting new True Colors series.

In book one, The White City, Winnifred Wylde believes she witnessed a woman being kidnapped while attending the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. She tries to convince her father, an inspector with the Chicago police, to look into reports of mysterious disappearances around the White City. Inspector Wylde tries to dismiss her claims as exaggeration of an overactive imagination, but he eventually concedes to letting her go undercover as secretary to the man in question—if she takes her pistol for protection and Jude Thorpe, a detective, for bodyguard.

Will she be able to expose H. H. Holmes’s illicit activity, or will Winnifred become his next victim?

The Real Criminal Behind the Story

While Winnifred Wylde is a fictional character, Doctor H. H. Holmes was very real and became infamously known as America’s first serial killer. Learn more about him HERE.

 

My Review of The White City 

The White City was fast paced, well written, and a great romp through history! I really enjoyed this book. My life has been really hectic lately and this was the perfect light and fluffy read to help put a smile on my face.

The pacing of this novel was pitch perfect. The author grabbed me right from the very first page. I breezed through this book incredibly quickly. The plot is tightly knit, the characters are likable, and the historical setting gave the entire book a very unique flavor. I love reading historical fiction and I’m particularly fascinated with the Gilded Age.

Last winter, I read The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. I found Larson’s retelling of the murders at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair to be particularly fascinating and that is why I was interested to read this novel. Larson’s book is nonfiction and full of disturbingly graphic details regarding the true crime events; therefore, I was a little worried, that this novel would be overly graphic as well- but that wasn’t the case at all!  Grace Hitchcok, does a great job of building suspense without being overly gruesome. Her unique spin on the 1893 World’s Fair was a delight to read.

I was also huge fan of the protagonist, Winifred.. I can really relate to her overactive imagination and her love of books. Her relationship with Jude is very sweet and it was fun to read about the two of them falling in love.

This book was a solid start to a new series of historical Christian novels and I’m interested to see what other surprises the series has in store. I recommend this book to fans of mystery, inspirational romance, and historical fiction.

Note: I received a free digital copy of this book from Celebrate Lit Tours in Exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Blog Stops

Just the Write Escape, March 14

A Baker’s Perspective, March 14

The Lit Addict, March 14

janicesbookreviews, March 14

The Power of Words, March 15

Multifarious, March 15

Back Porch Reads, March 15

Livin’ Lit, March 16

Lis Loves Reading, March 16

Just Your Average reviews, March 16

Rev. Rebecca Writes, March 17

For the Love of Literature, March 17

Bibliophile Reviews, March 17

Reflections From My Bookshelves, March 18

Through the Fire Blogs, March 18

By The Book, March 18

A Reader’s Brain, March 18

Girls in White Dresses, March 19

Stories By Gina , March 19

EmpowerMoms, March 19

Inklings and notions, March 19

All-of-a-kind Mom, March 20

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 20

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 20

Bigreadersite, March 21

Genesis 5020, March 21

Blossoms and Blessings, March 21

The Becca Files, March 21

Emily Yager, March 22

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, March 22

Pause for Tales, March 22

Inspired by fiction, March 23

Mary Hake, March 23

Book by Book, March 23

Real World Bible Study, March 23

Blogging With Carol, March 24

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, March 24

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, March 24

Maureen’s Musings, March 25

amandainpa, March 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 25

Older & Smarter?, March 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 26

Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner , March 26

Godly Book Reviews, March 27

For Him and my Family, March 27

Texas Book-aholic, March 27

The Author Is Having a Giveaway

amazon gift card

To celebrate her tour, Grace is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of The White City!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/dd7d/the-white-city-celebration-tour-giveaway

 


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4 thoughts on “The White City by Grace Hitchcock: Mystery & Romance at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair (Book Review & Blog Tour)”

  1. I’m quite intrigued by your reference to a murder mystery as a “light, fluffy read!” Those two don’t seem like they would go together. I might need to get hold of this book and find out for myself what you mean.

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