Beauty, Charm, and Grace—something the nouveau-riche Sullivan sisters of Colorado Springs lack. But a wish at a magical rock formation is about to change all that, in a most a-MUSE-ing way. . . .
The three Sullivan sisters, named for the Three Graces of Greek legend who embody beauty, charm and grace, don’t live up to their names. Belle is no beauty. Charisma lacks charm. And Grace is somewhat less than graceful. But this doesn't deter their ambitious mother from bribing three bachelors to escort them to Colorado Springs’ beautiful Garden of the Gods.
When the girls overhear their escorts mocking how little they resemble their names, each girl makes a wish at the magical Three Graces rock formation. Charisma wishes aloud for charm, but secretly hopes to make a difference in the world.
When William Barclay, a candidate running for the Colorado congress, asks Charisma to be his platonic escort to functions in the city, Charisma is ecstatic. A suffragette-in-training, she can make Will see that rights for women are important. But her plain speaking almost ruins her opportunity before it even starts.
Fortunately, a newly-arrived Greek widow in town agrees to tutor Charisma in the art of charm. And it works . . . most of the time. Even as Charisma finds herself falling for Will, she can’t stop herself from trying to help those in need, threatening her reputation in the process. Will she end up pushing Will away or will he realize that what he needs is an impulsive, plain-speaking, do-gooder?
Why Did I Write This Book?
My critique partners and I had such fun writing the Hope Chest series that three of us put together another series for Zebra Ballad. We set the book in 1882 Colorado Springs, a time when the city was known as “Newport of the Rockies” and “Little London,” a time when policemen were called bobbies and natives carried umbrellas when it rained in London.
We conceived of three sisters–Belle, Charisma and Grace, named after the three graces. However, none of them embodies the grace for which they were named. Belle isn’t beautiful, Charisma is appallingly blunt and Grace is a first-rate klutz. But their fervent wishes made before the Three Grace rock formation in the Garden of the Gods change everything. Suddenly, each sister discovers not only her spoken wish, but her unspoken desire as well.
