This Help a Bitch Out request is from Dorothy, who is looking for an American historical:
I’m looking for a historical romance from the 1980s. It was set in turn-of-the-century Chicago, and the heroine’s father owned (I think) a very successful brewing company.
The hero is the company lawyer, and the Dad will do anything to get these two together.
The problem is that the heroine is in love with another man, who is naturally a scoundrel but she can’t see it. What I loved about this one was that it wasn’t “wallpaper historical,” and it dealt with some cool aspects of the robber-baron-like class of folks in Chicago.
Any help would be greatly appreciated! I remember this author wrote a handful of really good books with a distinctive vibe, but I can’t remember her name for the life of me!
This sounds really cool – do you recognize this book?
It sounds like it could be one of the books from Susan Wiggs’ Chicago Fire series but I don’t think any of the books exactly match your description. I hope someone recognizes this though because it sounds amazing.
Hey, Sarah! Quick edit to today’s HaBO: I’m actually looking for a different book. I think my HaBO got mixed up with another’s request.
@Sarah CW – i thought of Susan Wiggs too, but I thought those came out much later than the 80s.
Definitely not Wigg’s Chicago Fire trilogy. Those came out in the early 2000s and no brewing dynasty. Although the hero in book 2, The Mistress, is a scoundrel – a con man who thinks he’s married an heiress when in reality the heroine is a maid.
@Dorothy:
I’m so sorry- I should have specified. I have two HaBOs from two different Dorothys, and should have mentioned that. I’m sorry for the confusion!
This sounds like one of the Sunfire novels but I just looked at the list and can’t see one set in Chicago. 🙁
No worries, Sarah! And it’s nice to learn of another Dorothy who loves romance novels.
John Jakes’ Homeland?
Hooe someone knows the title of this book it sounds rather interesting.
We might be lucky like the other Dorothy and get the title and author !
Worldcat.org is a wonderful resource for finding books without titles. I just entered info for a book I read as a teenager and it popped right up! Very satisfying.
I tried your details, Dorothy, and Homeland was again the only option. I hope you find your answer!