I have read each book Camille Di Maio has written and each one is better than the previous! This is just a wonderful, informative trip back in time that everyone will enjoy!

This is a historical fiction novel retold in 1943 to a young lady named Mabel Hartley.
She has been hired to write the memoir of the brilliant Emma Koehler, a quiet trend setter, that began in the early nineteen hundred's at Pearl Brewery in Texas.
As life is winding down for Mrs. Koehler, there are other pressing needs on her agenda to finish up before she leaves this world.
Hence- the need for Mabel; who will also learn many invaluable lessons from this lovely woman.
There are no coincidences in life and this is proven throughout this journey with Mrs. Koehler and Mabel!

Let me say it again- I loved this novel!

A well written, gentle novel which I enjoyed; that a true story provided a springboard for the tale was an added bonus. It was thoughtfully constructed, with likable characters and the details were carefully researched.
In some ways the main surprise was that is was so gentle, given the violent murder of a key character, as the basis for the tale.

The First Emma by Camille DiMaio published by Wyatt-MacKenzie is a full length, stand alone historical romance novel. The story is inspired by true events and tells a tale of strong women.

Emma Koehler dreams of the picked fence life. But reality shows a different picture. She's rich but lonely. Her beloved husband has other interests and when tragedy strikes, Emma must decide between loyality and independence.
Emma Koehler is such a strong heroine, an extraordinair woman in a time where it's more than difficult to be female and successful she manages to be on top of her world.
But there isn't only Emma's story to be told.
Fast forward, 3 decades later, another young woman has decisions to make. Mabel Hartley travels to San Antonio to write the memoir of an outstanding woman. And what she never dreamed off comes true, there's more than a job in Texas.
The First Emma is a gripping read, unputdownable, excellent written and totally on my re-read list.
I recommend the book, 5 Stars.

What an amazing story!! So many women were the backbones of industries all those years ago, and did not receive any recognition for it. I loved how Mabel’s sense of family never wavered, and she never forgot where she came from. So beautifully written.

This amazing book is the first book I’ve read by Ms DiMaio. I’ll be looking for more. Emma Koehler was an incredible woman who was a forerunner to the women’s movement. Her husband, Otto, was not a loving husband, and eventually had two mistresses, both named Emma. He owned several businesses, one of them a brewery. When he asked for a divorce, Emma refused, and seized the opportunity to be on the board of the brewery in exchange for her silence about his mistresses. After his death, she played an active role in keeping the brewery in business through Prohibition and the Great Depression. In the book she tells her story to a young woman she hired to write her memoir. The book switches back and forth between her past and 1943. I’m not always fond of authors switching back and forth in time because it can be confusing, but Ms DiMaio writes in such a way that the changes are easy to follow. Historical fiction readers should not miss this book! I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.