Set against the backdrop of the first all-female Mardi Gras krewe at the turn-of-the-century, the acclaimed author\'s mesmerizing Historical Novel tells of two strangers separated by background but bound by an unexpected secret--and of the strength and courage women draw from and inspire in each other. .. .
And as Mardi Gras draws near, a secret emerges that will cement the bond between Alice and Constance, even as it threatens the new lives each is building .
His death hasn\'t satisfied them.
But overshadowing all is the Black Hand--the vicious New Orleans gang to whom Constance\'s husband was deep in debt.
As the breathtaking gown takes shape piece by piece, it becomes a symbol of empowerment for them both.
Leap Years offer women a rare opportunity--to turn the tables on men, upending convention.
Seeing Alice\'s skill, she offers lodging in exchange for help creating a gown for the Leap Year ball of Les Mysterieuses, the first all-female krewe of Mardi Gras.
Young widow Constance Halstead has thrown herself into charity work since her husband\'s death.
In desperation, Alice leaves Chicago\'s bitter cold and travels to New Orleans, where she offers sewing lessons at an orphanage. -- Publishers Weekly 1900: Though the dawn of a new century promises social progress, there are few options for women like Alice Butterworth, pregnant and abandoned by her husband.
An undercurrent of New Orleans\'s dark side propels the story, heightening the tension and supplying Mcphail with a wealth of evocative details.
Set against the backdrop of the first all-female Mardi Gras krewe at the turn-of-the-century, the acclaimed author\'s mesmerizing Historical Novel tells of two strangers separated by background but bound by an unexpected secret--and of the strength and courage women draw from and inspire in each other
