The Seamstress

Title: The Seamstress

Author: Frances De Pontes Pebbles

Summary: Luzia and Emilia dos Santos, orphaned and living with their Aunt Sofia in Brazil's interior, want to escape their tiny village Taquatitingia. Emilie seeks after a finer life, like the ones depicted in the pages of Fon Fon magazine, which she keep safely under her bed. Luzia wants to escape the cruel taunts of the villagers who call her Victrola, because of her crippled arm and seeks her solace in prayers to the saints. They both are tutored by Sofia in the sewing arts hoping it will shield their poverty and provide an escape... Their lives intersect with a gang of vigilante bandits and Luiza joins them while Emilie escapes to the city with Degas Coelho, the son of an influential physician. Able to achieve almost everything she dreamed, Emilia realizes she is truly alone except for her sister. Luiza, finds she must deny her desires in order to lead the cangaceiras. Set against the huge backdrop of Brazil, torn by revolution and the beginning rumblings of the Axis rise to power, Seamstress is a richly charactered tale of two women on completely different paths who are bound together by blood and love.

Recommendation: This is a great summer read and I highly recommend it.
Characters are vivid and the story keeps you enthralled.

Hearts: 4