This is a really nice book. In The Roaring Days of Zora Lily by Noelle Salazar we meet Zora Hough. Zora has a talent for sewing and designing clothes. It is her dream to design her own clothes with her label and to have her own store. We follow Zora through her many efforts and challenges in fulfilling this dream. Along the way, she will meet many people who will help her. Surrounded by a loving family, great friends and the love of her life, Harley, you will follow her path toward her dreams and admire her strength and persistence. I liked this book very much.

I love reading about the 1920's. It seems like such an exciting time to have been alive. Jazz, prohibition, the Charleston, fashion, and that is just the tip of the iceberg. What Noelle Salazar has created will bring you roaring back to another time. The book so descriptive and detailed I felt as though I was in the hot, sticky, bar, a Mary Pickford slowly cooling my throat, the trumpet wailing in the background, the ground vibrating from the intense dancing. The characters will make you want to jump in and say hello. Rich backgrounds that make you want to learn more about each and every one. The romance that blooms, the friendships that grow, and a family that has had more than its fair share of let downs.

Zora Hough is from a large family, which has been down on its luck. Her father is an alcoholic who cannot hold down a job. The older siblings have taken jobs to help pay the bills, but it is still not enough. When Zora is offered a nannying job she jumps at the opportunity, hoping that the income will be enough to help her family and help herself find her way. She has always had an incredible talent for fashion. Able to read a room and draw inspiration for her next creation. She helps any woman in a jam when it comes to her attire. Zora just does not know how to make it profitable and work to her advantage. She meets a fella at the local club her friend works at. They simply cannot take their eyes off one another. Zora never feels like she is enough. That she will always be the poor girl who should not expect more. Will she allow her thoughts to keep her back?

This book has so many layers and depth that I want to discuss each detail. I will hold back to allow you to enjoy this book on your own. It is a must read if you enjoy the 1920s, fashion, and reading about incredibly talented women who make it on their own. Determination and class are what Zora is, and she is the character I fell in love with. Thank you to Noelle Salazar and Mira for this my gifted copy.

Although predictable, The Roading Days of Zora Lily is an enjoyable read. The characters had a mix of goodness and flaws. The 1920s glitter and poverty provided further contrasts and interest. As a sewer I couldn’t help but to be drawn to Zora’s craft which came alive on the pages.

This is quite possibly the best book I have read this year. That is saying a lot since I have read some pretty good book so far. I can't name other author's but I have to say Noelle Salazar's work is right up there with the very best. I read and adored ANGELS OF THE RESISTANCE and this one is even better.
It is a must read if you love historical fiction/women's fiction/fashion. It's marvelous.

A book that is this well written is kind of rare. It's almost lyrical in a way. It captured my heart from the start and didn't let go until the very end. I will be looking for more by this author no doubt. A very touching book filled with so many emotions: Hopes, dreams, anger, fear, heartbreak, redemption and romance. Just as it says in this beautiful quote:

"Hopes, dreams, anger, fear, heartbreak, redemption, romance, and the thrilling sensation of falling in love all resided in an artist's work, the admirer of such pieces never knowing what emotions and story had shaped it.

My very favorite line in this book is just two words and them at the end of a chapter: "Hello, Harley."

I adored Harley. I would have fallen in love with him in a heartbeat. He sounds like the perfect male. Of course he had the perfect partner too. Zora Lily Hough. Zora Lily loved helping her mother mend clothes. She dreamed of owning her own boutique one day with her own designs in it. Her creations being sold to not only the rich but also the middle class and the poor. Zora was from a very poor family. She had a hard time because of it. But she didn't let it deter her from chasing her dream. She never gave up on that.

This book will make you laugh and cry. Make your heart ache for Zora Lily and Harley. For her best friend, Rose and the black man she fell in love with. The heartache and happiness when Zora, Rose, and Jessie went to Hollywood to work. Rose and Jessie as dancers in a big time movie and Zora as a seamstress fixing the outfits the characters tore. Little did Zora know the heartache she would experience while there. It was not all sad but when it was it as tearjerker bad.

Just when you think the excitement is over you turn the page to another wonderful happening. When this story starts out it is 2023 and two young women are working on a museum exhibit. Sylvia has put her heart and soul into this work and what she uncovers while mending clothes worn by Greta Garbo is amazing. A whole story and the truth of things comes to light by one fallen label.

This is a book I highly recommend you read. I can't imagine you won't love it. It's just beautiful. I almost passed it up but I am so very happy I didn't. I now need the hardcover to go on my favorites shelf in my book room..

Thank you #NetGalley, #NoelleSalazar, #HarlequinTradePublishing #MIRA for this ARC. This is my own true heartfelt feelings about this book.

Five huge stars and I'd give it a thousand if I could. Grab it. Devour it. Or do as I did and take your time to savor it. It's wonderful!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story follows the life of Zara Hough who lives in Seattle in the 1920s, she who works as a seamstress but dreams of one day opening her own dress shop.

This was a heartfelt and moving story, I enjoyed following all of the characters through the ups and downs of their lives and the heroine is one you can really root for the whole story. The 1920s fashions and prohibition era clubs are beautifully described and the writing made me feel immersed in the story.

I would receive this to anyone who enjoys character driven storytelling, and stories about fashion and history this was truly an enjoyable read.

Title: The Roaring Days of Zora Lily
Author: Noelle Salazar
Genre: historical fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5

2023, The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History: A costume conservator is preparing an exhibition featuring movie costumes from the 1920s to present day. As she gingerly places a gown once worn by Greta Garbo on a mannequin, she discovers another name hidden beneath the designer's label, leaving her to wonder—who is Zora Lily?

1924, Seattle: Poverty-stricken Zora Hough spends her days looking after her younger siblings while sewing up holes and fixing hems for clients to bring in extra money, working her fingers to the bone just to survive. But at night, as she lies in the bed she shares with one of her three sisters, she secretly dreams of becoming a designer like Coco Chanel and Jeanne Lanvin.

When her best friend gets a job dancing in a club downtown, Zora is lured in by her stories of music, glittering dresses and boys. She follows her friend to the underground speakeasies that are at once exciting and frightening—with smoke hanging in the air, alcohol flowing despite Prohibition, couples dancing in a way that makes Zora blush and a handsome businessman named Harley. It’s a world she has only ever imagined, and one with connections that could lead her to the life she's always dreamed of. But as Zora's ambition is challenged by tragedy and duty to her family, she'll learn that dreams come with a cost.

This was a fantastic read! Granted, the 1920s are one of my favorite time periods to read about, but Zora captivated me from the very first page. She is so determined to move past her present and make a life that she loves for herself, but she also remains loyal to her family and those who helped her. It’s a testament to the writing and story that the fashion details fascinated me instead of boring me, but Zora herself is truly the reason I couldn’t put the book down. This is so well done, and I would recommend it to everyone!

Noelle Salazar lives in Washington. The Roaring Days of Zora Lilly is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/MIRA in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 10/4).

Dancers, bootleggers, underground clubs... everything you'd want in a roaring twenties novel! I fell in love with Zora and the people she surrounded herself with, and you'll root for her the whole way! What was really interesting to me was how Zora wasn't necessarily a "good girl" - she went to clubs, drank a little, stayed out late, and fell in love, and yet there is a sweetness and innocence about her that is so alluring (and a good part of why Harley fell in love with her in the first place). Everything she does is for her family and out of love - for others and for her art.

But when things go wrong, she has lessons to learn - both in her romantic life and her professional one. While I might have been a little frustrated at some of her decisions toward the end, I also had so much respect for her strength and her determination to succeed on her own! It is a brilliant growth arc and leads to an incredibly satisfying ending.

Honestly, I think Salazar gets better with every book. :)

This book mixed the modern day with the roaring 20’s - and I loved it. As someone who enjoys sewing, this book really drew me in. I love this time period and enjoyed the book! I felt Zora's desire to design her own clothes was beautiful and the lengths she went to to push her dream forward are inspiring.

I first became a fan of Noelle with her book Flight Girls. I have been looking forward to this book since she announced it. I received a digital ARC of this book from Net Galley. I read the entire book today. I couldn’t put it down. The book opens in present day Washington DC at a museum that is doing a display of iconic movie dresses. The curator notices that a tag with a well known designer name falls off, and under it is embroidered a name she’s never heard of. Most of the rest of the book is the life story of that designer. She came from poverty, and her family is still poor. At 21 she’s living at home helping make money for her family to scrape by. Dragged out one evening by her childhood bff, she meets a handsome and mysterious British man. Tragedy strikes her family and she now has to help even more. She becomes nanny for a wealthy family in the city, and comes to see this man more often. This story is set in the Seattle area in the 1920’s, where classes of people are looked down upon. It touches on many of the issues of that time period, biracial couples, bootleg alcohol, secret underground clubs, separation of the lower and upper class. Noelle takes you on a roller coaster of emotions with Zora’s story. You will not want to put it down.

Quick and Dirty⁣
-Jazz Age historical fiction⁣
-highly feminist⁣
-closed-door romance with plenty of steam⁣
-tons of glitz and glamour but even more heart⁣
⁣
Thoughts⁣
Oh. My. Goodness. Is there anything Noelle Salazar cannot do? Seriously, y'all! I will read anything she writes because I know it's going to be amazing! Zora is very much in keeping with her style: there's a little bit of something for everyone. It's steeped in glamour and fashion, but at its heart, this novel is a highly feminist story. Zora is determined to break the chains of society's expectations of women and the cycle of poverty. She is ferocious and tenacious and will not let anyone, man or woman, stand in her way. She might fall flat on her face, but she's going to try. Along the way, she loves hard and fails harder, but she eventually finds herself. I loved everything about this character and think that anyone who appreciates a headstrong female protagonist will, too! And don't even get me started on the romance. It might be closed door, but it's still sexy and steamy, perfect for romance readers. I loved the social commentary sprinkled throughout the novel. From poverty to racism and sexism, Salazar tackles it all in a way that is thoughtful and compelling. While it might be considered a dual timeline, don't expect very much of the modern character story. It essentially bookends the book, keeping us in the historical timeline for 95% of the book. I really loved this approach and wish more writers would consider this. Overall, this book was EVERYTHING I hoped it would be and more! She did it again!!!

This was probably a 3.5-star book for me, but I'm rounding up because I connected with the main character Zora. Suffering from a bit of imposter syndrome, while growing into her adult self resonated with me. Frankly, I saw a bit of myself in her with her avoidance issues and I couldn't help but continue to see how things played out with her.

The format was a bit off, especially in the second half of the book The timeline zoomed right along and suddenly the next paragraph was months later. It felt a bit like reading the highlights of someone's life on Wikipedia. You get the broad overview but are light on the details.

Salazar is back with another historical fiction winner. This one takes place during the 1920s and focuses on aspiring fashion designed Zora Lily Hough. Coming from a huge family and limited income, Zora is a dreamer. When she lands an opportunity to be a nanny for a wealthy family, she agrees in hopes of making enough money to support her family. It is introduction that opens her world to the wealthy and high-end fashion. Through the connections she makes, grows closer to achieving her dream. This book is full of prohibition fun, with references to music, dancing, fashion, bootlegging, and the Hollywood glamor-- it was transportative.

In 2023, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is getting ready to launch a new exhibit featuring movie costumes from the 1920s to the present. While working on one of the dresses, a conservator uncovers a name hidden under the garment label, prompting her to wonder-- who is Zora Lily?

In 1924, in Seattle, Zora Hough and her family are merely trying to make ends meet. Zora spends most of her time patching clothing to bring in extra money, silently dreaming about becoming a famous designer. When her best friend gets a job dancing at a jazz club, Zora gets swept up by the glamour of it all. Soon, Zora is fixing costumes and catching the eye of a handsome businessman. Suddenly, Zora has connections that could lead to the life she's always wanted, but at what cost?

This book wasn't what I expected, but I enjoyed it. I thought it would be a dual timeline/POV story following the museum conservator and Zora. I thought we'd watch the curator uncover Zora's story together, but that wasn't the case. Her character seemed to be there to introduce Zora and then wrap her life up at the end. It felt a bit pointless, and I thought the end bit between her and Zora's family wasn't as impactful because we knew nothing about her character. Other than that, I liked Zora's story. She had such determination and grit. I loved watching her work to make her dreams come true on her terms. I also found the romance between her and Harley to be super sweet. If you love historical fiction or fashion, I recommend checking it out.

The Roaring Life of Zora Lily is a historical fiction novel by Noelle Salazar that tells the story of a young woman named Zora Hough who dreams of becoming a fashion designer in the Roaring Twenties.

The novel begins in 1923, when Zora is working as a seamstress in Seattle. She is poor and struggling to make ends meet, but she is also passionate about fashion and design. One day, she is working on a gown for a wealthy client when she discovers a hidden label with the name "Zora Lily." This leads her to discover the story of a famous fashion designer who lived in Seattle in the early 1900s.

Zora is inspired by the story of Zora Lily, and she decides to pursue her own dream of becoming a fashion designer. She works hard to learn the trade, and she eventually opens her own design studio. However, her success is not without challenges. She faces discrimination because of her race and gender, and she must also deal with the death of her loved ones.

Despite the challenges, Zora never gives up on her dream. She is a determined and resourceful woman who is willing to work hard to achieve her goals. In the end, she achieves success and becomes a famous fashion designer.

The Roaring Life of Zora Lily is a heartwarming and inspiring story about the power of dreams. It is a reminder that anything is possible if you are willing to work hard and never give up.

I appreciated the way the novel explored the themes of ambition, family, and duty. Zora is a complex character who is driven by her dreams, but she is also aware of her responsibilities to her family. The novel does a good job of showing how these two forces can sometimes conflict.
I also enjoyed the setting of the novel. The Roaring Twenties was a time of great change and upheaval, and the novel captures the excitement and danger of that era. The descriptions of the speakeasies and the fashion shows were particularly vivid.
Overall, I thought The Roaring Life of Zora Lily was a well-written and enjoyable novel. It is a story about following your dreams, even when the odds are stacked against you. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or inspirational stories.

In the past year or so, I would have to say that this is one of my favorite books. I was debating between giving this book a 4 or a 5, but I ended up giving it four stars. I loved the writing, the characters, and the setting. I would have loved to get to meet these characters in real life. I can't wait to see what Noelle Salazar writes next

I didn't know what to expect since this was my first novel by Noelle Salazar. However, this book was incredible! It was beautifully written and the story flowed so well.

I felt as though I was there with Zora, her friends and her family. I could feel her emotions when she fell in love, when she felt hurt by others in her youth and how she felt about her family. I followed her dreams with her, felt the excitement she felt I rooted for Zora. I was completely connected.

I love historical fiction and this was one of the best I have read, I loved everything about it and cannot wait to read more by this author, Very well done!

I loved this story and I was I really rooting for the main character, Zora Lily. It begins when a conservator from the Smithsonian works on an exhibit with dresses that Greta Garbo wore in a movie. Behind the original tag, was the tag made by Zora Lily. From there we discover the world of Zora Hough, a hard-working seamstress from the wrong side of the tracks. She works hard watching after her siblings and helping her mind with sewing. When her best friend starts working as a dancer at one of the local clubs it opens up a new world for her with jazz, dancing, and alcohol flowing despite the prohibition. There she meets a handsome businessman named Harley and a new world opens up for her, including her dream of a clothing designer. It's a great story for someone who loves jazz, dancing, and the history of that time.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Netgalley, and Noelle Salazar for an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own

What a wonderfully written, heartwarming story of a young woman in the 1920s finding her way in the competitive fashion world. Zora Lily Hough grew up in poverty, but due to family tragedies, found herself having to make decisions to support her family. Zora discovered the vibrant speak easy world of Seattle with her friends and ended up working on a Hollywood set creating costumes for Greta Garbo. Her naivete led to her name being scrubbed from the history of the movies. Zora eventually comes back to Seattle to work for another seamstress but always strived to have her own boutique one day. She saved up enough ideas and courage to open her own shop and was a very successful designer for years to come.
The book begins in present day with a new exhibit being created at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and a mystery is discovered: Who was Zora Lily? This chapter pulled me in and I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. Most of the book is set in 1920s Seattle covering opulence, poverty, fashion, and the seedy belly that emerged because of Prohibition. At the end of the book, you are returned to 2023 Washington, DC and you find out all of the missing pieces to the story of Zora Lily. When I got to the last page, I was smiling and feeling content.
I absolutely loved this book! It gives me everything I want in a book: history, compelling characters, range of emotions, two time periods, and page turning storytelling. There is a little romance as well for several characters, including Zora. If you enjoy a compelling historical fiction that carefully pulls back the layers of the story to reveal how Zora finds her place in the world, I highly recommend this book.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Who is Zora Lily Hough?

She is a character you will fall in love with as you follow her through her days helping her family cope with poverty and tragedy and as she works as a day nanny for the Harringtons as she waits for her dreams to come true.

Zora and her friend, Rose, take us through speakeasies and their lives as young women in the 1920's.

We follow them through heartbreaks and Zora's wish to become a fashion designer and to own her own boutique. I loved hearing about her sewing skills and fashion ideas.

You will be pulled in immediately with Ms. Salazar's marvelous, detailed writing and story line.

I didn't want the book to end because of Zora. She is a character who made you want all good things happen to.

Do not miss this gem.

It is such a beautiful read, I was actually crying. Not sad tears, but just overwhelmed at the beauty of the story.

Thank you to the publisher and Book Browse for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

I love stories about fashion, glamor, and the roaring 20's so when I saw The Roaring Days of Zora Lily I knew I had to read it. Living near DC and visiting the museums quite often, it was quite the treat getting a glimpse behind the scenes into all the hard work that goes into exhibits. Flashing back to the 1920's, I could feel the jazz humming in my bones, could feel the slender prick of a sewing needle on my finger, and wanted nothing more than to slip on a fringe dress and dance all night. Zora was a very empathetic character who picked herself up and went after what she wanted without losing a sense of kindness and humility.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me an early read of this book!