Glamorous Notions Audiobook By Megan Chance cover art

Glamorous Notions

A Novel

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Glamorous Notions

By: Megan Chance
Narrated by: Karen Peakes
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A costume designer’s past casts a long shadow over her well-constructed lies in this intriguing story about stolen identities, friendship, and betrayal from the author of A Splendid Ruin and A Dangerous Education.

Hollywood, 1955. As head costume designer for Lux Pictures, Lena Taylor hears startling confessions from the biggest movie stars. She knows how to keep their secrets—after all, none of their scandals can match her own.

Lena was once Elsie Gruner, the daughter of an Ohio dressmaker. Her gift for fashion design helped her win a coveted spot at an art academy in Rome. While in Italy, she became enthralled by the charismatic Julia, who drew her into a shadowy world of jazz clubs, code words, and mysterious deliveries. When one of Julia’s intrigues ended in murder, Elsie found herself in the middle of a bewildering sinister international plot. So she ran.

After fleeing to LA, Elsie became Lena—but she’s never stopped looking over her shoulder. Now, as her engagement to a screenwriter throws her into the spotlight, she’s terrified her façade won’t hold up. Will she figure out the truth about her past before everything falls apart?

©2025 by Megan Chance. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Historical Thriller & Suspense Rome

Critic reviews

“The plot is intense and dramatic, and it is always edifying to experience Chance’s scene-setting where she revels in minute detail to embed her characters firmly in time and place. The author writes superbly and never fails to weave a powerful story.”—Historical Novels Review (Editors’ Choice)
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this was good book. alot of twist and turns. long winded at times but it still was a good book

She had a lot going on

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I liked the basic storyline and the Hollywood example of McCarthyism, however the book was shallow. It seemed to repeat stories within stories so for me it was slow and sometimes boring. Too many repeated details like the smoking and the drinking.The subject and story was impressive but overall the book is forgettable.

Story is interesting but too drawn out.

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Love the story! It was very well written and enjoyed the story very much. Hope you will enjoy it too

The characters

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Overall it kept me intrigued. I usually like to listen to fiction books to help me fall asleep, however, this kept me up for a few evenings trying to figure out where the story was going. It was very suspenseful and different parts. I really enjoyed.

I would recommend this book

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Excellent narrator! Good depiction of McCarthy Era and its impact on society, especially on the movie industry. Interesting story arc.

McCarthy and the Movies

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I enjoyed it overall, but it would have made a huge difference if the reader hadn't had such a little-girl-voice, which flattened any complexity right out of the characters and the plot.

Elsie's naivete was hard to believe

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So sorry I listened to this. Hollywood blacklist was scary and probably not right. But this story went too far in glorifying communism.

Communism made OK?!

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I really enjoyed this read. For those of you who
Read and liked The Seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo, you will definitely love this one. I remain Grateful for kindle unlimited, otherwise I wouldn’t have come across it. The story does require some suspension of belief, but it was very entertaining. Isn’t that what we look for in books?

Hollywood in the 1950’s

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The title doesn't really hold a predictor of the story. This is about secrets, espionage, US culture, and Hollywood after the war. The main character is a talented designer carving out success on her way from small town to glittering city. The secret at the heart is revealed only in closing pages and holds unpredicted surprises.

Really Good

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This historical fiction was incredible.

It involved the Soviets during the 50s and start of the Cold War, spies, the design industry, and so much more.

Definitely fascinating

Excellent, Book

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