• About Jess and the Dogs
  • The Books I Write
  • Contact Me
Books and dogs

Books and Dogs

A blog about books and dogs

  • Book Blog
  • In The Stacks
  • About Jess and the Dogs
You are here: Home / Historical Fiction / Book Discussion: A Certain Age by Beatriz Williams

Book Discussion: A Certain Age by Beatriz Williams

Featured, Historical Fiction

A Certain Age by Beatriz Williams and a dog

*This post contains affiliate links.*

A Certain Age by Beatriz Williams is the first book in her Jazz Age novel series. While it is not as strong or deep as Williams’ other works, it serves as a great transition from Williams’ wildly popular Schuyler sister novels, which debuted right before this.

About A Certain Age by Beatriz Williams

This historical fiction novel set in 1920s New York City establishes the story lines that will play out through the Jazz Age novels by Beatriz Williams. We are introduced to Christopher’s speakeasy, the Schuylers, and the Fortescues, and the mad cap world of the roaring 20s.

The storyline in A Certain Age is actually picked up in Cocoa Beach, the third installment of this series. But pieces of this storyline continue through all the books in this series.

Characters, Oh Characters

I love a good character-driven novel, and Williams is a master at crafting characters I’m not sure if I’m supposed to love or hate. Not so much in this one.

The premise here is Fifth Avenue socialite Theresa Marshall falls in love with her boy toy, Octavian, a WWI hero. The only problem is Octavian falls for Sophie Fortescue when Theresa sends him to investigate her when her brother announces his intent to marry her.

Whoa, love triangle or….something.

But my problem with Theresa Marshall is that I don’t really give a damn about her. She’s a spoiled socialite with a convenient husband that allows her to carry on her love affairs. Her material needs are always met, and she gets to have fun on the side.

When I’m told to feel sorry for her, I don’t. I don’t despise her though. She’s perfectly fine as a character, but I won’t root for her.

Sophie Fortescue pulls forth a little more feeling, but not really. Her problem is she’s too washed out. A young woman whose father strikes gold on a patent is suddenly thrust into the spotlight of Fifth Avenue, the prey of every eligible bachelor thanks to dear old daddy. But when I wanted her to be strong, she was naive. When I wanted her to brave, she was stupid.

Again, this didn’t make me dislike her character. It only served to make me not as invested.

Timelines

There were times when this book jumped around. It’s told in two parts: one through a reporter chronicling the trial of Sophie’s father who has been accused of murder and the present day when Octavian is sent to investigate Sophie for suitability for Theresa’s brother.

This is what got me: there were scenes of immense emotional tension that were not played out on screen. There was a gun shot, and the screen went blank!

But what happened?

The timeline suddenly jumps six months into the future at the conclusion of the trial, but you never see what happens after the gun shot.

Huh? Why wouldn’t you write this explosive scene for the reader to see for themselves? The effect was jarring, and I rewound the audiobook to make certain I hadn’t missed anything.

What It Has Going For It

It might be hard to believe, but I didn’t dislike this book. On the contrary, it was enjoyable. As I said, it sets up the Jazz Age novels nicely.

I love Cocoa Beach so it was nice to see the beginning of Virginia’s story before she goes to Florida. Although I’ll admit with the jumping timeline, it took until the very end for me to figure things out.

Williams also paints a realistic portrait of 1920s NYC. You will taste the champagne and smell the cigarette smoke because of Williams’ talent with the pen.

Trigger Issues

I don’t read books about dogs for obvious reasons, so I like to point out potential trigger issues to readers.

In A Certain Age by Beatriz Williams you will find:

  • Infidelity
  • Murder

This book is fairly bland when it comes to trigger issues.

You Might Also Like…

If you liked these books, you might also like A Certain Age by Beatriz Williams:

The Jane Prescott novels by Mariah Fredericks

The Ashford Affair by Lauren Willig

Final Thoughts

I’m glad I finally read the first book in the Jazz Age novels by Williams, and I’m looking forward to tackling her Schuyler sister novels next month.

Have You Read A Certain Age by Beatriz Williams?

If so, tell us what you thought in the comments below, but please – no spoilers!

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Share
Pin2
Tweet
2 Shares

March 17, 2020 ·

Disclosure of Material Connection

Some of the links in the page above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Previous Post: « Book Discussion: All The Ways We Said Goodbye by White, Williams, and Willig
Next Post: Book Discussion: How to Walk Away by Katherine Center, a Contemporary Women’s Fiction Novel »

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to the blog about books and dogs.

I'm Jess and these are the dogs. Come on in, and let's find your next favorite read. Read More…

Browse by Category

Subscribe to Books & Dogs via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Search

Let’s connect.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Find Your New Favorite Author

a.g. riddle abby jimenez alex michaelides alex north beatriz williams camilla sten charlotte bronte christina lauren daisy prescott deanna raybourn diana gabaldon elle cosimano elly griffiths erica ridley j. ryan stradal jane austen jerry seinfeld joanna schaffhausen julia quinn karen odden karen white kate bateman katherine center kendra adachi laura dave laura zigman lauren willig liane moriarty lisa kleypas loretta chase lucy foley lynn kurland matt haig mike rowe nedra glover tawwab orson scott card rick riordan ruth ware sally thorne sarah maclean sarah pinborough shari lapena simone st. james teri wilson tessa dare
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright Policy
  • Disclosures and Disclaimers
Have I mentioned this really hot sale of steamy hi Have I mentioned this really hot sale of steamy historical romance novels? Maybe once or twice? ⁣
⁣
Time is running out to save big and fill your ereaders with historical romances that are sure to keep you warm this winter. Check out the sale now by following the link in my bio!⁣
⁣
#historicalromance #romancebooks #books #reading #hothistoricalromance #ebook
I'm so glad I gave Not a Happy Family by Shari Lap I'm so glad I gave Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena a second chance. I had started it as an ebook and just couldn't get into it, but when I switched to audiobook, I was hooked. This is just another example of how changing a book's format may help the reader engage with the story. I definitely recommend this strategy if you're just not getting into a book you thought you might love.⁣
⁣
Not a Happy Family is a fantastic whodunit mystery with a delicious, unsavory cast that you can never trust. If you're looking for great, twisted mystery to curl up with, this might be for you. Check out the full discussion on the book blog. Link in my bio! ⁣
⁣
#whodunit #mystery #agathachristie #murdermystery #thrillers #psychologicalthriller #murdercase #cozymystery
Have you stopped by the Cold Nights, Hot Historica Have you stopped by the Cold Nights, Hot Historicals ebook sale yet? ⁣
⁣
You'll find When the Earl Falls in Love for only $0.99 for a very limited time in select markets. Get started on The Secret Matchmaker series before the next book in the series comes out next month!⁣
⁣
Link for the sale is in my bio!⁣
⁣
#secretmatchmaker #historicalromancenovels #romancenovels #amreadingromance #romancereaders #readers #readersofig #amreading #ebooksale #booksale #discountedbooks
FREE BOOK!⁣ ⁣ The Marquess She Loved is FREE f FREE BOOK!⁣
⁣
The Marquess She Loved is FREE for a very limited time! ⁣
⁣
She's loved him forever. But he only has eyes for someone else. But when fate throws them together, can they find their way to love?⁣
⁣
This is the second book in the Atwood Sisters series, and a friends to lovers historical romance. ⁣
⁣
Link is in my bio!⁣
⁣
#freebook #romancenovel #victorianromance #atwoodsisters #series #books #bookworm
Looking for some snowy reads to snuggle up with th Looking for some snowy reads to snuggle up with this winter?⁣
⁣
Definitely check out Ruth Ware's In a Dark Dark Wood. This is a locked room, Agatha Christie-type mystery of whodunit, and I love how Ware has constructed the story to unfold with the unreliable narrator in the present trying to remember the past. Brilliantly done to raise the stakes and ramp up the tension.⁣
⁣
Check out my full discussion at the link in my bio.⁣
⁣
#bookblog #mystery #thriller #bookstagrammer #booksta #booksanddogs #books #amreading #readers #mysterybooks #mysterynovels #thrillerbooks #suspense #agathachristie
Did you know my audiobooks are now on Spotify?⁣ Did you know my audiobooks are now on Spotify?⁣
⁣
Head on over and take a listen at the link in my bio!⁣
⁣
#audiobooks #dukes #romance #spotify #amlistening #audiobookstagram #wallflowers
It’s time to meet the Shadowing London series. It’s time to meet the Shadowing London series. 

This series remains a fan favorite, and it’s not hard to see why. Each story is full of the tropes you love, yes, but they’re also packed with mystery, adventure, and daring. If you’re looking for historical mystery with romantic elements, don’t miss the Shadowing London series.

#shadowinglondon #spies #spybooks #romancebooks #historicalromance #historicalmystery #mystery #thrillerbooks
Looking to warm up this winter? ⁣ ⁣ I've teame Looking to warm up this winter? ⁣
⁣
I've teamed up with some of your favorite historical romance authors to bring you Cold Nights, Hot Historicals. Check out this collection of discounted steamy historical romances and fill up your ereaders for those cold, winter nights!⁣
⁣
Link in bio!⁣
⁣
#historicalromance #booksale #ebooksale #ebooks #ereaders #kindle #nook #amreading #readers #readersofig #romancereaders
Here I am once again asking you to join my newslet Here I am once again asking you to join my newsletter. Here's why.⁣
⁣
1. You will be the first to know when something really cool happens like a pre-order, a sale, or behind the scenes things like pictures of my dogs napping. ⁣
2. Amazon only shows you my books that it thinks you'll like based on your purchasing history. It won't show you all of them. So to get the whole picture, you want to be a part of this club.⁣
3. I host incredible guest authors, and we have a lot of fun. Are you always looking for new authors to binge? You'll find them in my newsletter.⁣
4. Isn't 1-3 enough? I'm going to need far more coffee to come up with a fourth reason.⁣
⁣
Join today at the link in my bio.⁣
⁣
#authorlife #authors #authorsofig #writer #writerlife #amwriting #readers #readersrock #readersarecool #ilovereaders

Disclosure of Material Connection

Some of the links in the page above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure

Books & Dogs is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and its affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2022 · Anchored Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in