A wonderful read rich in well developed strong characters.
The storyline flowed so well.
The story is an emotional tale with a mystery element.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. A lovely book with a captivating and interesting plot.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. great descriptions and enjoyable plot and characters! I've not read this author before but will do so again in the future!

Florence is bereft, her grandmother who effectively brought her up has died and her marriage is falling apart.

As she comes to terms with everything Florence discovers a box full of dress patterns from the 1960s.

In the first is a photograph of her grandmother with friends she knows and one she doesn't, named Nancy Moon. Who is Nancy? Why did her grandmother keep all these patterns? And what story is it telling?

Florence, still grieving, uses the patterns to go on a discovery of Nancy Moon as well as discover who she really is. Are there connections between Florence and Nancy?

As Florence discovers so do we as the book using the dual time narrative, a plot device that has worked successfully here, to go back to Nancy Moon.

Nancy wants something better with her life, her skills as a seamstress are exemplary and given the opportunity she makes it to a fashion house and starts living a very different life. Until one life changing moment which is going to haunt her for the rest of her days.

When she finds herself at crossroads in life she embarks on a different path and becomes a companion to Pamela, young daughter to Peter and Caro. This takes her all over Europe and as she goes, she makes different outfits from patterns, keeps swatches of material and has a photo of memorable moments along the way.

Nancy is running away from something as much as Florence seems to be running towards something and as the pieces of this magical pattern are put together, we suddenly see the finished article. Only Florence and Nancy though will know the work that has gone into it.

This is a delightful debut novel from Sarah Steele who clearly has a flair for dressmaking, the details that have gone into using this as a means to tell a story is insightful and thoughtful. It really added to the depth of the story for me as these stories ran concurrently and then were all swept and stitched together.

I wish I had read it sooner in 2020 as I feel I was late to the party with this one and it was such a joyous read and reminds me of why I love reading great historical fiction. It also made me slightly put out that I am not overtly proficient with a sewing machine!

If you’re looking for a little escapism, a trip to the Riviera of the Sixties, then ‘The Missing Pieces of Nancy Moon’ by Sarah Steele is for you. A family mystery spanning two generations is unravelled by Flo, Nancy Moon’s great-niece, who treads in her aunt’s footsteps across Europe following the clues. It all starts with a photograph.
Told in two timelines, it is Nancy’s story that came alive for me and I would have been happy if the book had focussed solely on Nancy. Brimming with nostalgia for life in the 1960s, the Riviera, Paris, Nice, Venice, Capri, Steele tells of Nancy’s trip as companion to Pea, a teenage girl sidelined by her distracted artist father and disinterested step-mother. It is clear Nancy is running from something and, though this is billed as a historical romance, it is essentially a tale of grief and moving on.
Clearing her grandmother’s house after her death, Flo finds a photograph of her grandma Peggy and three friends. One is a complete stranger. The next discovery is a cache of dressmaking envelopes. Each is dated and inside are cut-out dress pieces and other momentoes left by Great-Aunt Nancy, photographs, postcards and oddments. Flo has never heard of Nancy Moon. Why was she never spoken of? Flo, grieving not only for the death of Peggy but for the break-up of her marriage and the loss of a baby, decides to follow Nancy’s trail across Europe.
The motif of dressmaking patterns is underlined by Steele’s beautiful descriptions of Sixties dresses, swimsuits and fabrics. We see Nancy wearing the original version of the home-made garment, and then Flo following in her footsteps wearing a contemporary version of the same outfit. At the beginning there are so many characters introduced that it’s disorientating. It took me a while to unravel them until halfway through when I realised I simply wanted to read Nancy’s story.
So, an intriguing story idea weakened by the sudden switching of narrator and timeline intended to introduce mystery. The simple addition of chapter headings with the year and location would help. In truth I figured out the mystery very early on. How much stronger this would be as a single viewpoint, traditional historical narrative without the coincidences and neat solutions of Flo’s storyline.
I was pleased I stuck with the story, despite the slow beginning. There is plenty to admire in the writing and the locations are beautiful, a real piece of escapism for armchair travellers.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-reviews-a-z/

Unfortunately it didn’t do it for me. I struggled to connect with the characters and therefore struggled to enjoy it.

It's a great story about women and the love that mother's and sisters share. Discovering family secrets that span 3 generations while travelling across Europe to escape the grief losing a much wanted baby and a marriage break up. I loved the clothes and how they weaved fashion through time and lots of clues along the way. Finished the book with tears of joy.

After the death of her beloved grandmother, Flo discovers a collection of sewing patterns that include photos and postcards of a mystery woman. This leads her to follow the woman’s 1960’s journey through Europe and at the same time allows her to grieve for her lost child and marriage.
This book would be particularly enjoyable for anyone with a keen interest in dressmaking or duel time novels. I enjoyed the story but found some elements to be more enjoyable than others. The 1960’s era was more engaging than the present day, mainly due to my struggle to relate to Flo.

Thanks to netgalley I received an ARC of this book. I was really excited to read it but unfortunately I couldn't get into it and found it difficult to relate to the characters.

I was so looking forward to this book on the basis of the stunning cover alone ! It has had some amazing advance praise and the book description really appealed to me.
Florence's beloved grandmother has just died and whilst going through her possessions Florence discovers a collection of vintage 1960s dress patterns. These lead her to the story of the mysterious Nancy Moon who left for Paris in 1962 and never returned home.
I loved the dual time line of this novel- the story of present day Florence and Nancy in 1960s Europe and I loved the descriptions of the 1960s. It is a beautifully written book that I so wanted to love. However despite this I found it difficult to connect with and really believe in the characters and did not become immersed in it..

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC.

A wonderful read to sooth the spirit and to escape to Europe in this time where its not so easy to do so.
A story rich in wonderful characters and a strong sense of time and place.
I enjoyed reading The Missing Pieces Of Nancy Moon, and hope you have been able to catch the posts I have been making over the last few days, in the run up to my review.  Thank you so much to Headline for sending me the stunning ‘postcards’ created by Ellie Morley. I loved them!
I was instantly engrossed in this story and quickly felt invested in the characters with their vivid presence, and wonderfully described personalities. A softly flowing story and one that was very easy to read, I found that I loved both the main characters, Nancy and Flo, and really liked the way the author mirrored their two lives.
Nancy’s tale was full of classic time pieces which only added to her story.  The wonderful clothes and her adventures really had a sense of time to them and I loved the way the author used them to connect her to the character of Flo.  Both characters had a passion for making clothes and they are brilliantly described throughout the book.  I also really liked the way the author compared and highlighted the differences time has made on the places each character visits.  I think I preferred the 1960’s version.
The story is an emotional tale but with a mystery running through it.  With each new chapter we learn more of Nancy which in turn allows the reader to follow Flo as she traces her Great Aunts footsteps, hoping to find out what happened to Nancy and why she had never heard of her before.

"Some goodbyes last merely a few hours, but some will have to last a lifetime"

Thus starts the story of the search for the eponymous Nancy Moon in a story that takes us on a fascinating journey into the Europe of the 1960s and the hedonistic pleasure places where champagne flowed and golden sunshine made everything shimmer with light and promise.

When Peggy, Florence’s beloved grandmother dies, she discovers amongst her possessions, hidden away at the back of the wardrobe, a set of vintage dress patterns and tucked inside the packets are tantalising clues to a woman who Florence has never heard of and who, it seems, had mysterious connections to Peggy, and her friends, in the 1960s. What then evolves is a wonderful dual time story which follows Florence in the present as she begins a journey, which takes her from London and Paris, to the beautiful island of Capri, and then on into Italy to discover more about the mysterious Nancy Moon.

I just loved this story from the beginning, it’s one of those immersive sort of reads which wraps itself around you so comfortably that you stop wondering where reality ends and the story begins. I travelled every step of the modern day journey with Florence, delighting when she recreated Nancy’s beautifully chic fashions and rejoicing when she discovered another small clue into what happened to Nancy. I enjoyed very much the delightful way the dual time element blended seamlessly so that when Flo’s chapters take a rest, Nancy’s story is allowed time to unfold in beautiful detail, and it’s all done with a lovely light touch and a clever eye for picking out the small nuances which make the characters such a pleasure to get to know.

The author’s passion for story telling shines through with every well written word. No small detail is left unexplored, from the imagery of 1960s fashion, to the painstaking attention to detail as Florence recreates the beautiful fashion items handmade by Nancy from McCall’s and Butterick’s dressmaking patterns. These are brands I know well as my late mother, herself a dressmaker, would use similar patterns in the sixties, laying the paper pieces on the floor in order to cut out and create for herself, or for me, wonderful clothes from pretty cottons and crisp linens.

It’s been an absolute delight in this lockdown summer to be able to travel to continental Europe on the train from Waterloo station with Nancy and to alight at the Gare du Nord in Paris with Flo. Family secrets, hidden heartbreak, love, loss and friendship all combine to make The Missing Pieces of Nancy Moon into something very special indeed and one of my favourite stories this year.

I received a copy of this book to review from Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity.
This book is a heart warming with lots of big characters. It weaves the two timeliness together with connections e.g. Sewing providing a common base between the two. The writing is good and richly detailed. The is humor lightening the darker times and keeping the book balanced. I particularly liked the descriptions and imagery used in the book.
It took a few chapters to get into the book. It was difficult to distinguish between different time periods at times as Flo would drift off into the 1960s.
On the whole, a nice read.

The Missing Pieces Of Nancy Moon was a beautifully written and plotted book about love, life and heartache. This is unbelievably the author’s debut novel and I can’t wait to read more from her in the future.

Firstly i loved the two main character Flo and Nancy who I enjoyed following throughout the book. I did prefer Nancy to Flo a little bit as she was such a captivating, strong lady who seemed to have a positive outlook on life. That’s not to say I didn’t like Flo and feel a lot of sympathy for her with the state of her marriage and the sad loss if her baby. I found myself feeling a little jealous of the close family and friends that she had surrounded herself with as she seemed to have a lot of people to support her.

The dressmaking part of the story helped give it a nostalgic edge that brought to life the 1960’s era for me. I found it really interesting to learn more about it especially the type of clothes made and the materials used. The occasions that the clothes were used at was nice to read about too and some were so beautiful I found myself wishing I could have worn them too.

Overall I thought this was a fabulous, multi layered story that was an absolutely joy to read. The story intrigued me from the start with its interesting prologue which hinted of things to come and lots of history between the characters. There were many twists and turns which ensured I was glued to the page, along with lots of secrets being hidden which I loved. I felt quite sad to finish the book leave the story and characters behind.

Huge thanks to Rosie from Headline for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

This story spans the timeline of two women from the same family...the modern day one to learn the past. This takes her to the Mediterranean. The book is inspired by fashion and fashion patterns. It’s an adventure, romance and detective novel.

"Most journeys begin with a goodbye: to a friend or a loved one, often to a lover, and sometimes a place… Some goodbyes last merely a few hours, but some will have to last a lifetime."

This riveting and uplifting debut encapsulates the essence of summer. It transported me from Brighton and Hove to Paris, Antibes, Capri, Venice and Tuscany, so vividly that I could feel the summer sun beating down on me and the breeze in my hair.

Florence is mourning the loss of her grandmother and her marriage when she comes across vintage dress patterns from the 1960s, each containing mementos from a European adventure taken by her Great Aunt - Nancy Moon. But Flo has never heard of Nancy before. Why did her family keep her a secret? And why has she never been seen or heard from again since that trip?

Florence decides to solve the mystery of what happened to Nancy, embarking on a pilgrimage retracing Nancy Moon's Grand Tour; remaking the dresses and following in her footsteps, slowly unravelling the untold story of her family's past.

There's been a bit of a buzz about this book and I had heard some great things, but I still wasn't expecting to fall so completely in love with Nancy, Florence and this beautifully told story of family, love, loss and long-held secrets. The author's lyrical prose and rich imagery brought the story to life as clearly as if I was watching it play in technicolour on a movie screen.

The author effortlessly moves between the dual timeliness, immersing you in their world and the mystery of what happened to Nancy. The characters are compelling, likeable and memorable, and the narrators - Florence and Nancy - are relatable and easy to connect with. But there is something about Nancy that made her leap from the page; an air of glamour and mystery that radiates from her and reminded me of the aura surrounding Marilyn Monroe or Grace Kelly; that movie-star lustre, beauty and mystery that makes them feel out of reach.

Heartwarming, uplifting, emotional and immersive, The Missing Pieces of Nancy Moon is a must-read, encapsulating the essence of summer like the sun is shining from the pages

An intriguing and fascinating story that kept me hooked.
I loved the ideas behind the plot, the dual timeline and the descriptions of the places in the '60s.
Both Florence and Nancy are fascinating characters that I loved.
The author is a talented storyteller and I will surely read other books written by her.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Another debut folks and this one has summer vibes written all over it. I have to say, I love the cover of this book! 😍

THE MISSING PIECES OF NANCY MOON is full of love, hope, friendship and loss, and is told over two timelines and two perspectives; Nancy in 1962 and Florence in the present day. There are many layers to this book with a few twists and turns thrown in as we get to follow both women’s journeys. The slow pace of the story suits the narrative and the places described in the book felt authentic and vivid, particularly 1960s Paris and Italy. I love to travel through reading especially right now! ☀️ Personally, I felt the first half was stronger than the second half as it was more intriguing, but that’s just me. Nancy’s story was the most captivating as she just oozed glamour and charisma.

If you enjoy to sew or love dressmaking👗 or fancy escaping across Europe for awhile then I’m sure you will enjoy this book.

The dual time story, set during the early 1960s and the present day begins with an intriguing prologue with a woman boarding a train bound from London to France and being seen off by a small group of friends. Who is she and why is she leaving.

Following her grandmother’s funeral, Florence (Flo) is broken, as seems is her marriage to Seamus. Personal heartache has taken its toll and she doesn’t know if the marriage can ever be repaired. Whilst going through her grandmother Peggy’s belongings, Flo comes across a box of dressmaking pattern packets, each with a fabric swatch, a photo and a note of where it was taken. Each photo includes a young woman that Flo recognises from another photo of Peggy’s wedding that includes her friends. There is a name on each photo – “Nancy”. Who is Nancy and why has Peggy never mentioned her?

Alone and now rudderless, Flo, like Nancy, a talented seamstress, decides to follow in Nancy’s footsteps by re-creating the dresses and following the photos to their destinations to try and find out what happened to this mysterious Nancy.

The story is told by both Flo and Nancy however I was captivated throughout by Nancy’s story. As a young girl following her dream, her life unexpectedly changed course and she found herself travelling across Europe – Paris, the South of France, Capri …. there was a dress and a photo for every stop. The biggest mystery however involved Nancy herself. What happened to her.

As Flo turns detective and tries to follow in Nancy’s footsteps, it gradually becomes clearer to her what she really wants from her own life. I have to admit that I did prefer Nancy’s character and I loved reading about her part in the story. Nancy had far more charisma and strength of character and the positive impact she made on others lives was quite touching. It’s just personal preference, but Flo didn’t really match up for me in quite the same way.

This is the author’s debut novel and her own love of dressmaking, such a big part of Nancy and Flo’s lives has been incorporated to form a story that has many layers. There may be glamour with fantastic locations – vividly described to give a sense of place but there is also sadness and loss with more than one character keeping secrets. Did Flo discover Nancy’s fate? – You will have to read the book to find out.

This is a story beautifully written and I loved it. There are superbly drawn characters wrapped up in an engaging story of love, loss and hope. I can’t wait to see what Sarah Steele writes next.

I loved this book. It's beautifully written, telling the tale of Flo in the present day and Nancy in the 1960s. It's poignant at times. I loved the fashion references, as well as learning about Flo's trip to Paris and various other places, as she follows in Nancy's footsteps. The ending is satisfying. I can't help wondering if there'll be a follow up - we need to know Maddie's story. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.