Wild Women and the Blues: A Fascinating and Innovative Novel of Historical Fiction

Denny S. Bryce

Mar 2021 · Kensington Books

About this ebook

"Perfect for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo...a dazzling depiction of passion, prohibition, and murder.“ —Shelf Awareness

“Ambitious and stunning.” —Stephanie Dray, New York Times bestselling author

"Vibrant…A highly entertaining read!” —Ellen Marie Wiseman New York Times Bestselling author of THE ORPHAN COLLECTOR
 
“The music practically pours out of the pages of Denny S. Bryce's historical novel, set among the artists and dreamers of the 1920s.”—OprahMag.com
 
Goodreads Debut Novel to Discover & Biggest Upcoming Historical Fiction Books
Oprah Magazine, Parade, Ms. Magazine, SheReads, Bustle, BookBub, Frolic, & BiblioLifestyle Most Anticipated Books
Marie Claire & Black Business Guide’s Books By Black Writers to Read
TODAY & Buzzfeed Books for Bridgerton Fans
SheReads Most Anticipated BIPOC Winter Releases 2021
Palm Beach Post Books for Your 2021 Reading List

In a stirring and impeccably researched novel of Jazz-age Chicago in all its vibrant life, two stories intertwine nearly a hundred years apart, as a chorus girl and a film student deal with loss, forgiveness, and love…in all its joy, sadness, and imperfections.
 
“Why would I talk to you about my life? I don't know you, and even if I did, I don't tell my story to just any boy with long hair, who probably smokes weed.You wanna hear about me. You gotta tell me something about you. To make this worth my while.”
 
1925: Chicago is the jazz capital of the world, and the Dreamland Café is the ritziest black-and-tan club in town. Honoree Dalcour is a sharecropper’s daughter, willing to work hard and dance every night on her way to the top. Dreamland offers a path to the good life, socializing with celebrities like Louis Armstrong and filmmaker Oscar Micheaux. But Chicago is also awash in bootleg whiskey, gambling, and gangsters. And a young woman driven by ambition might risk more than she can stand to lose.
 
2015: Film student Sawyer Hayes arrives at the bedside of 110-year-old Honoree Dalcour, still reeling from a devastating loss that has taken him right to the brink. Sawyer has rested all his hope on this frail but formidable woman, the only living link to the legendary Oscar Micheaux. If he’s right—if she can fill in the blanks in his research, perhaps he can complete his thesis and begin a new chapter in his life. But the links Honoree makes are not ones he’s expecting . . .
 
Piece by piece, Honoree reveals her past and her secrets, while Sawyer fights tooth and nail to keep his. It’s a story of courage and ambition, hot jazz and illicit passions. And as past meets present, for Honoree, it’s a final chance to be truly heard and seen before it’s too late. No matter the cost . . .

“Immersive, mysterious and evocative; factual in its history and nuanced in its creativity.”
—Ms. Magazine

“Perfect…Denny S. Bryce is a superstar!”
—Julia Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of the Bridgerton series
 
“Evocative and entertaining!”
—Laura Kamoie, New York Times bestselling author
 
“Wild Women and the Bluesdeftly delivers what historical fiction has been missing.”
—Farrah Rochon USA Today bestselling author

Ratings and reviews

I was charmed by Miss Honoree Dalcour in Wild Women and the Blues - an ambitious Black woman in Chicago in the 1920s, aiming to take her dance career to Broadway or Paris. That's one of the timelines in this debut historical fiction, focused on Honoree and new best friend Bessie (both chorus girls), the reappearance of Honoree's first love, and the dangers/excitement of the '20s (bootleg liquor, gambling, gangsters). While the main characters are fictional, the story was peppered with historical figures like Lil Hardin Armstrong and Oscar Micheaux. The other timeline is set in 2015; film student Sawyer is interviewing 110-year-old Honoree, trying to fill in the blanks for his dissertation on Michaeux while grieving the loss of his sister. As is sometimes the case with dual timelines, each time the story would switch to Sawyer's perspective, I'd itch to get back to Honoree's. This well-crafted novel made me feel like I'd been transported to 1920s Chicago. While it's historical fiction, I also think it might well appeal to readers of romance and mystery, as elements of both are weaved in. More than anything, I was a fan of this one because of Honoree (and Bessie). I look forward to reading more from this author.

This stunning debut creates a world of romance, intrigue, and family secrets that will keep you guessing to the end. With a dual timeline (1925 and 2015), the story unfolds gradually but with ever-increasing tension as dancer Honoree tries to make a living in the Chicago speakeasies under the dominion of Al Capone. The world is fraught with danger, yet this book is as much character-driven as it is plot-driven. The setting is rich, vibrant, and immersive—it begs to be adapted to film. Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I received a free electronic ARC of this excellent historical novel from Netgalley, Denny S. Bryce, and Kensington Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Denny S. Bryce is an author I am thrilled to have found - thank you, Netgalley! and will follow - her work is exciting and compelling, information shared with a sense of joy and a song in the heart. Her next, a story that spans 1928 LA to the summer of 1968, can't get here soon enough. A bright new addition to my historical reads. Chicago in the jazz age - we see it first from 1925 through the 1930s - is an era I would have loved, I think. Life was changing so FAST - everything riding on the edge of discovery. Transportation - horse and carriage and trains to cars to planes in just a couple of decades. Harnessing electricity and natural gas for cooking and heat - those jobs that previously kept someone endlessly cleaning a sooty mess from windows and walls and someone else busy hauling and chopping wood. Jazz and the Blues moved from the deep south to ChiTown and found a nest to call home. We are there, with Denny S. Bryce as she brings that life, that world to our attention. Thank you. And we see in this story told in the time frame of 2015 music and a way of life that grew in that warm enveloping nest by leaps and bounds in technology, cost, and availability of the tools of the trade. instruments and sheet music, venues, and recording abilities all became more accessible to the young and poor as the years went by. We are there, with Denny S. Bryce as she brings that life, that world to our attention. Thank you.

About the author

Denny S. Bryce is an award-winning author and three-time RWA Golden Heart® finalist, including twice for Wild Women and the Blues. A book reviewer for NPR Books who has also written for FROLIC Media, USA Today, and Harper’s Bazaar, the former professional dancer also worked for more than two decades as a public relations executive. A member of the Historical Novel Society (HNS), Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and The Tall Poppies, Denny is originally from Chicago but currently resides in Savannah, Georgia. Visit her online at DennySBryce.com.