Eye of the Beholder

About the Book Eye of the Beholder

Left with physical and emotional scars after the Great War, Hank Drake has been shunned by polite society as the Ugly Duckling. Fine by him. He’d much rather be alone. Until he meets the kind proprietress of a tea stand at New York’s World’s Fair who isn’t repulsed by his appearance. Can he hope for acceptance…or even love?

Grace Sutton has no interest in marrying and is tired of her parents’ snide comments that she’s still single on the eve of her 40th birthday. After she loses her job thanks to budget cuts, she decides it’s time to follow her dream of feeding others. Armed with Mrs Canfield’s cookbook, she opens a refreshment stand at the World’s Fair, unaware that one man will turn her life upside down and upset the apple…er, tea cart.

About the Author of Eye of the Beholder

Linda Shenton Matchett writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. A self-professed history geek, she is a volunteer archivist and docent at the Wright Museum of World War II. Linda has published more than twenty-five books. When not writing, she enjoys exploring historical sites and immersing herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.

My Thoughts on Eye of the Beholder

I love Linda Shenton Matchett for historical fiction novels.  I always know that they’ll be amazing.  She does her research, and she does it well.  I’ve never found a historical mistake in a single one of her novels, which is almost unheard of!

In Eye of the Beholder, we get to know Grace.  Grace is an “older woman” for the time period, and she’s unmarried.  I believe she’s around my age of 40.  And she’s never married.  She was engaged once, but he left her for someone else.  She’s also an entrepreneur.  You see, it’s the World’s Fair, and she has a food vendor booth. 

Her brother says she won’t succeed.  That it’s a horrible idea.  But she has a dream, she has the will, and she has the time.  She worked at a library but lost her job.  This gives her purpose and allows her to do something she loves, baking.  

Her plan?

She’s having a tea cart at the fair!  She sells pastries and tea.  As the book progresses, her available items shift and change, but I’m not sharing the whys and hows.  

It is through this booth and the fair that Grace meets Hank.  He steps up to help her with a customer.   He’s there because he’s working as a janitor.  

Hank has had a hard life.  He was in the Great War and came back with physical scars from it.  He hides his face behind a bandana to avoid making other people uncomfortable.  

I can’t imagine all of the stares and unkind words he must have endured.

Hank is not a Christian. 

But he’s a good man.  And Grace wants to know him better.  Plus, Hank is nice to Grace.  He finds her intriguing as well.  And he wants to know her better.  Their paths continue crossing, and they get to know each other plus help each other. 

This was such a wonderful novel.  I loved the characters.  I enjoyed that they weren’t just young kids but rather both adults with flaws and differences.  

The pastor was an especially fun character!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.