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Meredith Jaeger
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The Dressmaker's Dowry: A Novel Kindle Edition

by Meredith Jaeger (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 1,122 ratings

For readers of Lucinda Riley, Sarah Jio, or Susan Meissner, this gripping historical debut novel tells the story of two women: one, an immigrant seamstress who disappears from San Francisco’s gritty streets in 1876, and the other, a young woman in present day who must delve into the secrets of her husband’s wealthy family only to discover that she and the missing dressmaker might be connected in unexpected ways.

An exquisite ring, passed down through generations, connects two women who learn that love is a choice, and forgiveness is the key to freedom...

San Francisco: 1876

Immigrant dressmakers Hannelore Schaeffer and Margaret O'Brien struggle to provide food for their siblings, while mending delicate clothing for the city's most affluent ladies. When wealthy Lucas Havensworth enters the shop, Hanna's future is altered forever. With Margaret's encouragement and the power of a borrowed green dress, Hanna dares to see herself as worthy of him. Then Margaret disappears, and Hanna turns to Lucas. Braving the gritty streets of the Barbary Coast and daring to enter the mansions of Nob Hill, Hanna stumbles upon Margaret’s fate, forcing her to make a devastating decision...one that will echo through the generations.

San Francisco: Present Day

In her elegant Marina apartment overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, Sarah Havensworth struggles to complete the novel she quit her job for. Afraid to tell her husband of her writer’s block, Sarah is also hiding a darker secret—one that has haunted her for 14 years. Then a news headline from 1876 sparks inspiration: Missing Dressmakers Believed to be Murdered. Compelled to discover what happened to Hannelore and Margaret, Sarah returns to her roots as a journalist. Will her beautiful heirloom engagement ring uncover a connection to Hanna Schaeffer? 

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  1. Print length
    356 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    William Morrow Paperbacks
  4. Publication date
    February 7, 2017
  5. File size
    6.3 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Editorial Reviews

Review

[A] deliciously satisfying tale of love and resilience.

-- "Lori Nelson Spielman, New York Times bestselling author"

A riveting tale of intrigue and suspense...Readers will be captivated by [Jaeger's] voice, that of a good old-fashioned storyteller.

-- "RT Book Reviews (4 stars)"

Alternating chapters, narrators Cassandra Campbell and Barrie Kreinik deliver a satisfying story of two women mysteriously linked across time in San Francisco...Campbell handles the first-person narration well, navigating the tension between Sarah's investigative instincts and her complicated family history. Both narrators ably distinguish numerous male and female characters, underscoring the scope of the wide-ranging story. Kreinik, however, has the added challenges voicing German and Irish accents, as well as Victorian colloquialisms, all of which she does seamlessly.

-- "AudioFile"

Jaeger's debut sends readers quickly and completely into San Francisco's history...A satisfying exploration of the timeless nature of love and resilience.

-- "Booklist (starred review)"

Meredith Jaeger deftly intertwines two tales of love and loyalty and the vast lengths to which some will go to protect those they hold dear...Compelling.

-- "Kristina McMorris, New York Times bestselling author"

From the Back Cover

An exquisite ring, passed down through generations, connects two women who learn that love is a choice and forgiveness is the key to freedom . . .

In 1876, San Francisco is a city divided. Affluent ladies and gentlemen alight from carriages on their way to the opera, while rowdy sailors and saloon girls roam the dockside. And two young seamstresses, Hannelore and Margaret, repair beautiful dresses they’ll never get the chance to wear. Then Margaret disappears, leaving Hanna to brave the gritty streets of the Barbary Coast in search of her friend. With the help of wealthy Lucas Havensworth, Hanna stumbles upon Margaret’s fate, forcing her to make a devastating decision that will echo through generations.

With a tech boom rivaling the gold rush, present-day San Francisco remains a tale of two cities. When former journalist Sarah marries into the socially prominent Havensworth family, she strives to fit into a world of charity balls and luncheons. Struggling to finish her novel, she unearths an old newspaper headline: Missing Dressmakers Believed to Be Murdered. Inspired at last, Sarah becomes determined to learn the truth behind what happened to Hanna and Margaret . . . and discovers an unsettling connection to the missing women. 

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01G1GD9WM
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow Paperbacks; Illustrated edition (February 7, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 7, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6.3 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 356 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 1,122 ratings

About the author

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Meredith Jaeger

Meredith Jaeger

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Meredith Jaeger is the USA Today bestselling author of THE PILOT'S DAUGHTER, BOARDWALK SUMMER and THE DRESSMAKER'S DOWRY. She's a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, where she was raised by a Swiss father and an American mother. A graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, Meredith wrote her debut novel, THE DRESSMAKER'S DOWRY, while working for a San Francisco startup.

THE PILOT'S DAUGHTER has been called "unputdownable" (NYT bestselling author Sally Hepworth) "stirring and powerful" (NYT bestselling author Fiona Davis) and "historical fiction at its finest" (NYT bestselling author Lori Nelson Spielman).

Meredith lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, their young daughter and crazy rescue dog.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
1,122 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this novel engaging, with a beautiful love story and well-researched history of San Francisco. The plot is captivating, with one customer noting how it draws readers in from the beginning, and the characters are well-developed. The writing quality receives mixed reviews, with some finding it well-written while others describe the dialogue as stilted.

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62 customers mention "Readability"62 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very enjoyable and interesting, with one customer noting it reads like a young adult novel.

"...The dual POV fist-person present-day and third-person 1876 narrative are smoothly intertwined, a difficult trick even for more experienced writers...." Read more

"I enjoyed this book, the setting and description are detailed, and well written, and the pacing is good overall, although it does lag in the middle...." Read more

"...guilt, abiding friendship....All in all, an entertaining reading experience for a young, romantically inclined reader." Read more

"...really enjoyed and thought the author did a splendid job of keeping the reading engrossed in the story...." Read more

37 customers mention "Plot twists"28 positive9 negative

Customers enjoy the plot twists in this novel, describing it as a beautiful love story with an epilogue that ties the story together nicely.

"...mysteries that connect past and present, well-paced plotting, some unexpected twists, a strong sense of place, and just plain good writing...." Read more

"...All in all, an entertaining reading experience for a young, romantically inclined reader." Read more

"...the plot has many twists and turns and you can almost feel like you are part of the plot while it is happening and it could almost be a real true..." Read more

"...This one had a mystery involved that I thought I could figure out and I was right to a point...." Read more

31 customers mention "Historical accuracy"31 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the historical accuracy of the book, noting that the history of San Francisco is meticulously researched and seamlessly integrated into the narrative.

"...sympathetic, resourceful women characters, historical mysteries that connect past and present, well-paced plotting, some unexpected twists, a..." Read more

"...If you enjoy historical fiction, the history of San Francisco is painstakingly researched, and Meredith does a wonderful job at bringing the..." Read more

"...Themes are timely - we deal with sexual harassment in the workplace, economic inequity, child labor, crushing guilt, abiding friendship....All in all..." Read more

"...It had a lot of history in it that I found very interesting even though I am not a history buff...." Read more

21 customers mention "Plot"21 positive0 negative

Customers find the plot captivating, with one mentioning how it draws readers in from the very beginning.

"...characters, historical mysteries that connect past and present, well-paced plotting, some unexpected twists, a strong sense of place, and just plain..." Read more

"...and description are detailed, and well written, and the pacing is good overall, although it does lag in the middle...." Read more

"...- attractive independent yet needy heroines and unbelievably understanding and handsome heroes) evil bad guys....very colorful...." Read more

"This book enlightened me with the hardships of life and the beautiful love story of the past and present...." Read more

16 customers mention "Character development"12 positive4 negative

Customers praise the well-developed characters in the book, with one specifically mentioning Hanna and Margaret.

"The characters well developed especially Hannalore and Margaret. The description of San Francisco in 1876 very enlightening...." Read more

"...were masterfully written, with incredibly vivid settings and characters, and a mystery that made me tear through the pages even though I wanted to..." Read more

"...Sarah's storyline is where I had the most trouble. Her character was a struggle to relate to...." Read more

"...The characters are very real. They have problems familiar with then and now. I did get a little confused with last and present jumping around." Read more

6 customers mention "Style"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's style, with one mentioning its lavish period costumes and another noting the contrast in font for different chapters.

"...The novel contains a lot of Spectacle: lavish period costumes, dangerous liaisons, society parties, beatings, romance..." Read more

"...San Francisco streets where the Barbary coast existed are vivid and colorful...." Read more

"...If you are a fan of Sarah Jio's work, it is a very similar style...." Read more

"...Not an easy feat to accomplish. Jaeger's clear, clean style keeps the pages turning. Loved it." Read more

24 customers mention "Writing quality"15 positive9 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality of the book, with some finding it very well written and easy to read, while others describe the dialogue as extremely stilted.

"...some unexpected twists, a strong sense of place, and just plain good writing...." Read more

"...Unfortunately, the dialogue and many of the scenes are contrived and characters are for the most part one dimensional...." Read more

"I enjoyed this book, the setting and description are detailed, and well written, and the pacing is good overall, although it does lag in the middle...." Read more

"...I will try another novel by this author because I did like her writing style and they were parts that were very well written, but I think it’s the..." Read more

Very enjoyable novel, great
5 out of 5 stars
Very enjoyable novel, great
This is a great novel that combines present with historical, I love that it happens in San Francisco and that I am learning about its history. Awesome writing, makes me wanna keep reading until i get to the end. I recommend 100%
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful debut!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Meredith Jaeger’s debut novel is a great read for anyone who likes sympathetic, resourceful women characters, historical mysteries that connect past and present, well-paced plotting, some unexpected twists, a strong sense of place, and just plain good writing. The dual POV fist-person present-day and third-person 1876 narrative are smoothly intertwined, a difficult trick even for more experienced writers. Jaeger’s meticulous historical research is seamlessly integrated, and Hanna and 1870’s San Francisco totally come alive. Without a hint of preachiness, she shows the difficult lives of the Victorian working class , paralleled in contemporary San Francisco, where gentrification is squeezing the middle and working classes. The epilogue ties the story together nicely and the photos showing many of the book’s locations make the story even more realistic. I’m eagerly awaiting Jaeger’s next book!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Laura Critchfield
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fun Read!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this book, the setting and description are detailed, and well written, and the pacing is good overall, although it does lag in the middle. If you enjoy historical fiction, the history of San Francisco is painstakingly researched, and Meredith does a wonderful job at bringing the grittiness of the city to life on the page. The dual storylines work well for this novel, and there is a satisfying resolution to both narratives. A wonderful job by a debut writer, I am looking forward to reading more!
    One person found this helpful
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  • T
    3.0 out of 5 stars A FUN READ.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I would recommend this book to teenaged women, if I were to recommend it to any one at all. The double Plot line is intriguing and for the most part well crafted. The novel contains a lot of Spectacle: lavish period costumes, dangerous liaisons, society parties, beatings, romance ( on a Harlequinn Romance level unfortunately - attractive independent yet needy heroines and unbelievably understanding and handsome heroes) evil bad guys....very colorful. Unfortunately, the dialogue and many of the scenes are contrived and characters are for the most part one dimensional. Themes are timely - we deal with sexual harassment in the workplace, economic inequity, child labor, crushing guilt, abiding friendship....All in all, an entertaining reading experience for a young, romantically inclined reader.
    10 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • maryann
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Dressmaker's Dowry: A Novel......
    Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Mary Ann's review Apr 17, 2018 · edit
    it was amazing

    ** spoiler alert ** This is one novel that I really enjoyed and thought the author did a splendid job of keeping the reading engrossed in the story. It is about two dressmakers that are immigrants and work to help feed their siblings. As the novel is written, you can tell that the author did research about the goings on in and around the area where these two young ladies worked.
    They both took care of their siblings besides working and putting long hours for little pay.
    There is a love story involved along with disappearance and murder of the young Irish dressmaker.
    However, the Bavarian dressmaker wouldn't leave it alone til she found out what happened to her and then left San Francisco giving up the love of her life for safety of her siblings and self.
    the plot has many twists and turns and you can almost feel like you are part of the plot while it is happening and it could almost be a real true story. I am sure back at the time of the gold rush, many people were killed and disappeared.
    I look forward to reading more novels from Meredith Jaeger.
    Thank you for a great read!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Ilene Martin
    5.0 out of 5 stars A little mystery a lot of romance!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this book. I especially enjoy stories that go from the present time back to a time in another century. This one had a mystery involved that I thought I could figure out and I was right to a point. The ending was surprising; not what I wanted, but, so, so good. It had a lot of history in it that I found very interesting even though I am not a history buff. It is a love story as well and I am sure most women would really enjoy this story.
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  • Pat
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Dressmaker’s Dowry
    Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Great historical fiction book about early San Francisco and the poor people and the people of S.F. society. Lucas and Hanna broke barriers. Good read.
    Helpful
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  • Marcia Adams
    5.0 out of 5 stars Meredith Jaeger - A treasure of an author
    Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book enlightened me with the hardships of life and the beautiful love story of the past and present. I could not put it down until I finished the last page!
    Helpful
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  • A.K
    3.0 out of 5 stars Some plot problems but a definite page turner
    Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This book did make me turn the pages to see what happens, but I had a few issues with the realism. For example, the author made a two-year-old speak in full sentences much like a six-year-old, which really kills it for me. Also no one in my book group could figure out what the Dowery actually was.
    The ending wasn’t that logical or believable, though it was very dramatic.
    I will try another novel by this author because I did like her writing style and they were parts that were very well written, but I think it’s the overall plot that didn’t hold together for me.
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Cheryl
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book! Very hard to put it down!
    Reviewed in Germany on February 28, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Truly one of the best books I've ever read. From the start I was totally drawn into the story and felt like I was a part of it, trying to solve the mystery and the suspense which kept me turning page after page long past my bedtime. A truly fascinating read that brings you back to the old San Francisco. The author does an excellent job of painting the picture of what it was really like back then for Hannah and Margaret and how it tied in with the present with Hunter and Sandra. I truly loved it!!
    Report
  • John
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, compelling read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 13, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Challenging and entertaining subjects presented in quite an easy to read/slip in to manner. I couldn't put it down. It threads modern San Francisco with historic San Francisco told from the view of ordinary women.
    Report
  • TW
    5.0 out of 5 stars A nice vacation read
    Reviewed in Canada on January 21, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    If you love period novels this is a good one! It was a nice read while on vacation!
    Report
  • C. Dalbec Gauthier
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on October 24, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Very interesting g
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  • michele zito
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on December 15, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    excellent book on the early days of San Francisco and good story to match. Loved it.
    Report

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