The Fashion Designer

Moser returns to Annie Culver and her friends in this enjoyable sequel to The Pattern Artist. Annie and her husband, Sean, have partnered with their friends Maude and Edna to start a dress shop in 1912 New York. When discussions between Annie and her financial backers take a drastic turn from her original vision of bringing fashion to working women at an affordable price, Annie cuts ties with the backers and turns to others for advice. Soon, Annie, Maude, and Edna work to acquire funding, order supplies, create designs, and stay true to their commitment. As the travails and successes mount, readers will become invested in the many characters surrounding Annie, who strives for personal independence in defiance of the cultural norms of the time. Annie struggles with fear and doubt, not only for her idea, but also for God’s provision in her life. Other characters experience their own challenging dilemmas requiring them to ask hard questions of themselves and God, but those issues never overshadow the optimistic tone of the story. The slogan of the store—“unruffled, unveiled, unstoppable women”—is a perfect descriptor for the tenacious religious feminists who here pursue the American Dream. (Aug.)