The Typewriter Girl — Alison Atlee

A passionate historical debut novel about a young woman in turn-of-the-century England who finds love and independence at a seashore resort.

In Victorian London, there's only so far an unmarried woman can go, and Betsey Dobson has relied on her wits and cunning to take herself as far as she can--to a position as a typewriter girl. But still, Betsey yearns for something more...so when she's offered a position as the excursions manager at a seaside resort, she knows this is her chance for security, for independence, for an identity forged by her own work and not a man's opinion. Underqualified for the job and on the wrong side of the aristocratic resort owner, Betsey struggles to prove herself and looks to the one person who can support her new venture: Mr. Jones, the ambitious Welshman building the resort's pleasure fair. As she and Mr. Jones grow ever closer, Betsey begins to dream that she might finally have found her place in the world--but when her past returns to haunt her, she must fight for what she's worked so hard...or risk losing everything.

This eloquent debut novel displays firm propriety barely restraining seething passion--a sizzling combination reminiscent of "Downton Abbey."