The Dressmaker's Dowry

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.