In Lynn Stewardโs debut novel, Set in 1970s New York City, a well-heeled junior executive at B. Altman, a high end department store, is about to learn how the art of seduction will affect both her marriage and career.
Although Lynn Stewardโs debut novel, A Very Good Life, takes place in 1970s New York City, the emotional story transcends any period. Dana McGarry is an "it" girl, living a privileged lifestyle of a well-heeled junior executive at B. Altman, a high end department store. With a storybook husband and a fairytale life, change comes swiftly and unexpectedly. Cracks begin to appear in the perfect facade. Challenged at work by unethical demands, and the growing awareness that her relationship with her distant husband is strained, Dana must deal with the unwanted changes in her life. Can she find her place in the new world where women can have a voice, or will she allow herself to be manipulated into doing things that go against her growing self-confidence?
A Very Good Life chronicles the perils and rewards of Danaโs journey, alongside some of the most legendary women of the twentieth century. From parties at Cafรฉ des Artistes to the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony, from meetings with business icons like Estรฉe Lauder to cocktail receptions with celebrity guests like legendary Vogue editor Diana Vreeland. Stewardโs intimate knowledge of the period creates the perfect backdrop for this relatable story about a womanโs quest for self-identity.
Review
"This is a good one to pack along to read on a flight or while hanging out at the beach this summer"ย ย -Confessions of a Psychotic Housewife
"This earnest tribute to the '70s offers optimistic commentary on personal empowerment and larger-than-life characters."ย *-*Foreword Reviews
"The story is well told by an author very familiar with the makings of the legal and fashion industries in New York. The places, settings, and intrigues make the novel interesting.... I found myself caught up in the story and wondering what will happen to Dana next. Will her Very Good Life continue? We've now learned about the first eight years. I look forward to reading about the next eight."ย -ย Book Loons
"Lynn Steward highlights nuances of 70s life in New York City that are rarely featured in books or in films set in that period...But there is nothing old fashioned about this novel. Dana McGarry, the main character, navigates marriage, career, and New York's stratified social scene in a way that resonates across the decades....It's a New York story told in New York style." - Ask a New Yorker
About the Author
Lynn Steward is a successful business woman who spent many years in New York Cityโs fashion industry in marketing and merchandising, including the development of the first womenโs department at a famous menโs clothing store. Through extensive research, and an intimate knowledge of the period, Steward created the characters and stories for a series of five authentic and heartwarming novels about New York in the seventies. A Very Good Life is the first in the series featuring Dana McGarry.
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