Under a Gilded Moon by Joy Jordan-LakeMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
UNDER A GILDED MOON by Joy Jordan-Lake is a beautifully-written and captivating novel of the extremes of wealth and poverty set in and around the famous Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. The story is set around 1895 when the Biltmore House, the palatial mansion being built by one of the Vanderbilt heirs, is in its final stages of construction. Most of the poverty-stricken neighbors have been forced to sell their land to Vanderbilt to complete the project. One of those neighbors, Kerry MacGregor, was lucky enough to move away and attend an elite college in New York City, but finds herself suddenly called back home because of her father’s poor health. Despite the hard feelings she has harbored toward him, Kerry knows it is her obligation to return. On the train home, she meets several characters that will have a life-changing effect on Kerry and her family. Secrets lie, and a growing wave of clashes between classes and races leads to dangerous and tragic consequences. The author expertly portrays the stories of both the rich and poor and how their lives become interwoven. The description of the setting was so vivid I felt like I was there. I thoroughly enjoyed this compelling and well-researched work of historical fiction and highly recommend it. A GILDED MOON was my First Kindle Reads selection of 2021.
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