The Roaring Days of Zora Lily by Noelle Salazar is a two timeline story, but just barely. One story just bookends the other. As a reader, I invest in Zora Lily’s story. The ideas of big dreams, the courage to keep those dreams alive, and the determination to make big decisions to bring those dreams to fruition are powerful ones. The fact that the journey is filled with helpers and detractors and with successes and failures grounds the story.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2023/12/the-roaring-days-of-zora-lily.html

Reviewed for NetGalley and a publisher’s blog tour. ( )

Noelle Salazar's fascinating novel The Roaring Days of Zora Lily begins in 2023 with a curator at the Smithsonian Museum of American History's discovery while working on an exhibition of iconic movie costumes from 1920's through today. She finds a label underneath another label with the name of Zora Lily on it.

Who is Zora Lily and why was her label hidden underneath the label of a famous costume designer? That takes the story back to the days of Prohibition and the 1920's. Zora Hough was a teenager from a poverty-stricken family in Seattle. Zora helped her mother support her family as seamstresses, repairing clothes for others.

Zora's talents lay in designing and sewing beautiful dresses for wealthy women in Seattle. She spent all her time either in school or working to help her mother. Zora's best friend dances in a club downtown and convinces Zora to join her in some well-deserved fun at the clubs.

Zora is introduced to a whole new world in the dance clubs, and catches the eye of a handsome and wealthy man, a man whom all the other women desire for themselves. The dicotomy of her life at home and her night life in the clubs is striking.

Soon Zora's talents are put to use repairing the costumes for the dancers and when Zora's friends are drawn to the bright lights of Hollywood, Zora accompanies them and gets a job at a studio as a seamstress.

Although Zora was led to believe that she would be designing clothes for the movies, in fact she spent all her time sewing and repairing other people's designs. She became frustrated and was set to return home for good when an opportunity arose for her to possibly realize her dreams.

Noelle Salazar transports the reader to the 1920's era in The Roaring Days of Zora Lily. You can almost hear the music in the clubs, taste the fizzy drinks, and see the beautiful dancers moving. I also liked the Hollywood setting, meeting people like Greta Garbo. Zora being torn between her loyalty to her family and her own big dreams is something people can relate to as well.

Fans of Karen White's jazz-era Wicked City trio of novels (The Wicked City, The Wicked Redhead, The Wicked Widow) and Adriana Trigiani's All The Stars in the Heavens, (a fictionalized account of actress Loretta Young's life) should put The Roaring Days of Zora Lily on their TBR list. I recommend it.

Thanks to Harlequin Books for putting me on their Fall 2023 Blog Tours. ( )

LOVED THIS BOOK!!

Who is Zora Lily Hough?

She is a character you will fall in love with as you follow her through her days helping her family cope with poverty and tragedy and as she works as a day nanny for the Harringtons and as she waits for her dreams to come true.

Zora and her friend, Rose, take us through speakeasies and their lives as young women in the 1920's.

We follow them through heartbreaks and Zora's wish to become a fashion designer and to own her own boutique. I loved hearing about her sewing skills and fashion ideas.

You will be pulled in immediately with Ms. Salazar's marvelous, detailed writing and story line.

I didn't want the book to end because of Zora. She is a character who made you want all good things happen to.

Do not miss this gem.

It is such a beautiful read, I was actually crying. Not sad tears, but just overwhelmed at the beauty of the story. 5/5

Thank you to the publisher and Book Browse for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own. ( )

The Smithsonian museum is working on an exhibit featuring movie costumes from the 1920s to present day. As one of the curators is preparing one of the costumes worn by Greta Garbo, she makes an unusual discovery. The tag in the costume is fake. When the tag accidentally falls off the costume, it reveals the name, Zora Lilly. No one at the museum has ever heard of this costume designer.

To say I loved this novel us an understatement! I loved everything and everyone in it, especially Zora. She is struggling to keep her family together after her father’s accident and her brother’s death. She is giving up her life to make sure everyone is taken care of. Until…her best friend makes her go out on the town to a speakeasy. This opens more than one world for her.

This story captivated me from start to finish. Zora, Harley, the speakeasies, old Hollywood create a tale you do not want to miss!

AND ISN’T THIS COVER GORGEOUS!!!

Need a story that will transport you to the jazz age…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest opinion. ( )

Taking place in Seattle during the 1920s during Prohibition, Zora Hough seems to be doomed to a life of poverty. Zora helps her mother bring in extra money as a seamstress. But Zora has incredible sewing skills and a mind full of clothing designs. She can envision how a simple fabric and needle and thread can create an outfit that looks beautiful on each person. Tragedy strikes the family, a tragedy that forces Zora out into the world, away from her family. However, this opens Zora’s eyes to the possibilities available to her both in career and in love.

Salazar’s writing paints a picture of life in Seattle in the 1920’s. It is so easy to imagine Zora’s life throughout the various stages as she leaves her family and gains independence and empowerment. Salazar does a wonderful job of describing scenes without making it dull. The reader can imagine sitting in mansions and speakeasies, scenes filled with music and fashion. Salazar does a great job focusing on Zora’s growth and independence, rather than the setbacks. For each setback Zora faces, she seems to come through the other side stronger for it.

While this book was fun to read, I would have liked it if Salazar spent more time on the conflicts that arose between various characters. It might have been nice if Salazar explored the supporting characters a little bit more. However, I recommend this book to historical fiction readers, especially those who enjoy reading about the Prohibition era.

Thanks to Net Galley, Noelle Salazar, and MIRA for providing a complimentary copy of this book in hopes that I will leave my unbiased review. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and the above review is simply my opinion of the book. ( )