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Table of Contents
About The Book
In this breathtaking debut novel, a daring dancer must take her twin brother’s place as a riveter high atop the in-progress Empire State Building to save her family from ruin.
After the death of their father, it’s up to Grace O’Connell and her twin brother Patrick to support their family as the Great Depression takes its toll on New York City. When Grace is laid off from her dancing gig and Patrick is injured at work on the construction of the Empire State Building, desperation leaves them only one solution: Grace must disguise herself as Patrick and take his place on the half-built skyscraper.
She soon proves herself as capable as any man on the steel, and her affection for the loyal men around her—especially Italian immigrant Joe—grows by the day. But when a terrible accident happens high above the city and Grace is the only one capable of saving her stranded colleague, she must make a split-second decision to risk everything or live with her conscience forever.
Set against the backdrop of a city at a crossroads, this electrifying story is full of heart and hope, family and friendship, and the sacrifices we make for those we love.
After the death of their father, it’s up to Grace O’Connell and her twin brother Patrick to support their family as the Great Depression takes its toll on New York City. When Grace is laid off from her dancing gig and Patrick is injured at work on the construction of the Empire State Building, desperation leaves them only one solution: Grace must disguise herself as Patrick and take his place on the half-built skyscraper.
She soon proves herself as capable as any man on the steel, and her affection for the loyal men around her—especially Italian immigrant Joe—grows by the day. But when a terrible accident happens high above the city and Grace is the only one capable of saving her stranded colleague, she must make a split-second decision to risk everything or live with her conscience forever.
Set against the backdrop of a city at a crossroads, this electrifying story is full of heart and hope, family and friendship, and the sacrifices we make for those we love.
About The Author
Alex Harvey-Brown
Gemma Tizzard has a degree in American studies, and a particular interest in untold women’s stories. She has written rom-coms and was longlisted for the 2021 and 2022 Comedy Women in Print (CWIP) Unpublished Novel Prize. Grace of the Empire State is her debut novel.
Product Details
- Publisher: Gallery Books (January 28, 2025)
- Length: 336 pages
- ISBN13: 9781668056943
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Raves and Reviews
"Page-turning debut...Tizzard evocatively depicts the workers’ camaraderie and the breathtaking dangers they face. Readers will love this tale of derring-do."
– Publishers Weekly
“An inspiring story… With engaging characters and a vibrant depiction of Manhattan--its glittering possibility and its stark heartbreak--Tizzard's novel soars like its namesake building, and moves along as elegantly as its nimble, determined heroine.”
– Shelf Awareness
“Themes of love, responsibility, and duty enhance the reader’s emotional investment… Populated by a cast of delightful supporting characters and set in a working class milieu we don’t always see in historical fiction, this is a good choice for fans of Marie Benedict, Dolen Perkins-Valdez, and Fiona Davis.”
– Booklist
Set in 1930s New York during the construction of the Empire State Building, this is a thrilling, heartbreaking, original story about the power of family, friendship and women struggling to survive in a man’s world. I love novels featuring strong female characters and was consequently swept away by Grace’s strength, determination and sheer resilience from the very first page. A must-read for historical fiction fans.
– Annie Lyons, author of THE AIR RAID BOOK CLUB
“Tizzard does a marvelous job bringing Depression-era New York City to the page… Grace is a believably complex and good-hearted heroine, and Tizzard’s construction scenes are dizzyingly clear… A vibrant and heart-stopping novel.”
– Kirkus
"This is a gorgeous, evocative story about the struggles of building a city from the ground up - literally! Grace is a bold, brave heroine and her adventures on the steels of the Empire State Building are so vividly described that they made me feel dizzy! I loved the 1930s New York setting, the brilliantly drawn cast of characters and their gritty resilience, and the romance. And the theme of immigrants working hard and making their mark on their new home really resonates in today’s society. I thoroughly enjoyed this thought-provoking, entertaining read."
– Kerry Barrett, author of The Book of Last Letters
"Set to the desperate backdrop of the Great Depression, GRACE OF THE EMPIRE STATE is a thoroughly enjoyable story of family, sacrifice and first love that reminds us that true strength comes from within--and that women have been quietly saving the day since the dawn of time."
– New York Times bestselling author Kristin Harmel
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- Book Cover Image (jpg): Grace of the Empire State Hardcover 9781668056943
- Author Photo (jpg): Gemma Tizzard Alex Harvey-Brown(0.1 MB)
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