Henderson House
Henderson House by Caren Simpson McVicker, published by Inkshares on August 1, 2023, is a historical fiction novel that explores the lives of the Blackwell sisters in 1940s Oklahoma. Set against the backdrop of a small-town boarding house, the story unfolds as Bessie and Florence navigate personal challenges, romance, and family dynamics amidst the changing world around them. With a page count of 434, this edition invites readers to immerse themselves in a narrative filled with heartaches and hopes.
The novel presents an enchanting tale of sisters, secrets, and later-in-life romance, focusing on Bessie’s unexpected connection with Frank Davis, a new tenant at Henderson House. As Florence strives for a better future for her son while grappling with her own past, the sisters’ relationship is tested by their differing aspirations and a hidden secret that threatens to alter their lives. Readers will find a rich depiction of life in a boarding house, intertwined with themes of love and resilience, all while experiencing the charm of a bygone era.
Official synopsis Publisher
“Like a love song to my Oklahoma roots. Henderson House offers a sweet window into a past when lives and loves moved to the gentle rhythm of small-town cafes, front porch swings, and old two-lane highways.” — Lisa Wingate, New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours
An enchanting boardinghouse tale of sisters, secrets, and later-in-life romance, Henderson House invites you to pull up a rocking chair and lose yourself in the heartaches and hopes of 1940s Oklahoma.
In May 1941, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, hums with talk of spring flowers, fishing derbies, and the growing war in Europe. And for the Blackwell sisters, who reside in a quiet neighborhood boarding house, the winds of change are blowing.
Bessie Blackwell, copy room manager at Phillips Petroleum and faithful churchgoer, is the reluctant owner of a new pair of glasses. The young women in the office swear by Bessie’s romantic advice, despite the fact she’s a self-proclaimed spinster. Frank Davis, Henderson House’s newest tenant, throws that status into question with his gentle eyes and ready smile. But the scar on his forehead and rumors of divorce speak of a troubled past.
Bessie’s sister, Florence, a sales assistant at the men’s clothing store downtown, knows all about troubled pasts. Her husband is dead, and it’s only with her sister’s help that she’s able to raise Johnny. Life at Henderson House is luxurious compared to growing up in Cherokee Indian Territory, but Florence wants more for her boy than a rented room. When the flagship store in Tulsa offers her a management position, Florence sets her sights on the future and keeping the family together. And neither future nor family includes Frank Davis.
Mrs. Henderson, the landlady, cook, and adopted matriarch of the Blackwell clan, possesses an uncanny intuition about all her boarders. She knows true love when she sees it. But soon even her vision becomes clouded as Florence schemes to undermine her sister’s budding romance. In a desperate attempt to keep Bessie by her side, Florence exposes the sisters’ darkest secret. A secret that will change their lives, and the lives of those they love, forever.
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