Buttons and Beaus

by Margaret Brownley

In 1880, Amanda Blackwell's New York City cycling school has become all the rage. Architect Damian Newcastle wants the property Amanda's school sits on to build his dream--the city's first 20-story building. The attraction between the two is instantaneous, but when Amanda learns that the company owned by Damian's father was responsible for the building collapse that killed her own father, she knows nothing will come of the chemistry between the two. While Amanda struggles to maintain her cycling school and keep her uncle from gaining custody of her special-needs brother, Damian works to redeem his family's honor, care for his wheelchair-bound son, and construct his dream building. Both struggle to ignore the desire that grows between them, and both lose.

Brownley's rich, colorful descriptions of 19th-century New York are a delight, her characters are warm and endearing, and readers will laugh out loud at the escapades of Amanda's cycling students. Don't miss this one--it's a keeper.

Genres: Historical Romance, Bicycles, Historical Fiction, Romance

347 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 1997

About the author

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR MARGARET BROWNLEY has penned nearly forty novels and novellas. Her books have won numerous awards, including Readers' Choice and Award of Excellence. She's was a two-time Romance Writers of American RITA® finalist and has written for a TV soap. She is currently working on a new series. Not bad for someone who flunked eighth grade English. Just don't ask her to diagram a sentence.

Reviews

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of Margaret Brownley's earlier stories that lacks, in my opinion, the characteristic humorous dialogue of her later books. However, it is a charming 1880 story about Amanda Blackwell, who has a cycling school in downtown New York City.  Architect Damian Newcastle plans to build the city's first 20-story building and wants her property.  She refuses to sell; after all, how would she support herself and her handicapped brother?

Damian and Amanda are attracted to each other until Amanda finds out that Damian's father is in prison for the collapse of the building in which Amanda's father died.  To compound Amanda's difficulties, her uncle suddenly comes on the scene and wants to take her brother away from her.  He thinks Donny belongs in an institution for special-needs children and has instituted a court case to bring that about.

Donny is fairly isolated until he meets Damian's son, who is wheelchair-bound.  They form a close bond.  The author has done considerable research to make NYC seem so real.  The characters are entertaining and the story is absorbing.

[Linda C · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is 1880 and Amanda Blackwell wears bloomers and teaches people to ride bicycles. She also has a knack for matchmaking, obvious by the number of young girls in the area named Amanda. Her school is across from Central Park where she takes her students for training. Her school is how she supports herself and her brother, Donny, who is a special child. She is approached by Damian Newcastle the owner of the plot of land next to her school. He is an architect who wants to build a 20 story skyscraper on his land and hers. Amanda refuses especially after learning that his father is in prison for shoddy workmanship that resulted in the collapse of a building that killed her father. At the same time Amanda's uncle is suing her for custody of Donny and wants to put him in an institution.

I found this romance particularly interesting for the look at society at that time, attitudes toward women, bicycles, skyscrapers, the Statue of Liberty and the list of laws in effect and how things got decided. Very enjoyable.

[Noela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a ride! When this story wasn't pedalling along at a moderate pace, it was whizzing by leaving the reader breathless. Chasing down kidnappers, bouncing off hogs, and getting tangled up with the handsome new builder in town are just a few of the speed-bumps you’ll encounter.

In the late 1800’s in New York, we find Amanda Blackwell running a popular cycling school due to the stipulation at that time that one must require a license to ride a bicycle. The business enabled her to support herself and her mentally disabled younger brother that she’s basically raised from a baby. Even though Amanda’s cycling school lessons are in demand, her vocation isn't looked favorably upon by everyone. So when her wealthy Uncle suddenly gets in contact, announcing he wants to place her brother in an asylum, she is left reeling. To make matters worse, an insufferable man has decided to build a 20-story building right next door… which is sure to topple over and crush her school.

Characteristic of author Margaret Brownley’s writing, the personalities of all her characters are interesting, quirky, and endearing. But the heroes of this story, Amanda and Damien, have you cheering for those two to cross the line! Both have children in their lives with disabilities, and the love and heart our heroes have for these precious children will touch you deeply. Throughout this fun and action-packed novel, we get to learn some of the fascinating history of the bicycle as well as the intriguing history of the first high-rise that was erected in New York.

Cycling through injustices, mysteries, and danger, the journey also imparts hope when all seems lost, and love when all seems heartless. A very enjoyable read!