What do you think?
Rate this book
Velvet Shoe Collection #2
An Unlikely Beginning
1929 ...
Detroit can be a dangerous place ...
Seventeen-year-old Ruth Squire's fiance, the love of her life, disappears on their wedding day, and it's up to her to find him.
A blue feather is the only clue she has, which leads her down on the docks to a seedy nightclub.
The risk to save Peter Kirby is enormous. Can she rescue him, or will she only put him into deeper danger?
Disguised as a jazz singer, Ruth steps on the stage, knowing her life is on the line ...
Knowing she may never escape ...
Detroit can be a dangerous place ...
Seventeen-year-old Ruth Squire's fiance, the love of her life, disappears on their wedding day, and it's up to her to find him.
A blue feather is the only clue she has, which leads her down on the docks to a seedy nightclub.
The risk to save Peter Kirby is enormous. Can she rescue him, or will she only put him into deeper danger?
Disguised as a jazz singer, Ruth steps on the stage, knowing her life is on the line ...
Knowing she may never escape ...
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2012
4 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Patty Wiseman
25 books236 followersLet me introduce myself...My name is Patty Wiseman. A lifetime ago, as a child, I found myself lost in the stories my 1st grade teacher opened up to me. Over the years, my love of reading deepened and another interest formed-the love of writing. I have several short stories published and a few poems. I am a history buff and love to read and write in past eras. My Velvet Shoe Collection Series includes "An Unlikely Arrangement" and "An Unlikely Beginning" ,"An Unlikely Conclusion." The 4th book in the series was released in Aug. of 2016. "An Unlikely Deception." They are based in 1929 and shadows a story of my grandparents arranged marriage. This work is fictional,. One idea sparked a whole series of fictional works. My plan is for 6 books in the series.
I've just released a new contemporary work. That One Moment. This is a stand alone. I'm very proud of it!
I've lived in Texas for over 30 years being transplanted from the State of Washington. I have two grown sons, 12 grandchildren, a great-granddaughter, and a loving husband, Ron. We live in the country with our dog, Cutter. I hope you will check out my new book and enjoy the journey with me.
Writing awards include: 1st place short Story award in Summer Contest on Angie's Diary, 1st place award in Romance with the Texas Association of Authors for An Unlikely Conclusion 2013 1st place award in Romance with the Texas Association of Authors for An Unlikely Beginning 2012, a 2nd place award in Romance with the Forward National Literary Awards for An Unlikely Arrangement, The 'Fifty Great Writers You Should Be Reading' Contest with the Author Show.
I'm a VIP member of the Worldwide Who's Who for Women, a member of the Marshall Woman's Club of Marshall, a former secretary of the E. Texas Writers Association, and member of N.E. Texas Writers Organization.
I belong to the Texas Federation of Woman's Club Marshall Chapter.
You can find me and my books on Amazon, Kindle or buy from my website to get an autographed copy. You can also order them from any bookstore.
You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and Pinterest.
I've just released a new contemporary work. That One Moment. This is a stand alone. I'm very proud of it!
I've lived in Texas for over 30 years being transplanted from the State of Washington. I have two grown sons, 12 grandchildren, a great-granddaughter, and a loving husband, Ron. We live in the country with our dog, Cutter. I hope you will check out my new book and enjoy the journey with me.
Writing awards include: 1st place short Story award in Summer Contest on Angie's Diary, 1st place award in Romance with the Texas Association of Authors for An Unlikely Conclusion 2013 1st place award in Romance with the Texas Association of Authors for An Unlikely Beginning 2012, a 2nd place award in Romance with the Forward National Literary Awards for An Unlikely Arrangement, The 'Fifty Great Writers You Should Be Reading' Contest with the Author Show.
I'm a VIP member of the Worldwide Who's Who for Women, a member of the Marshall Woman's Club of Marshall, a former secretary of the E. Texas Writers Association, and member of N.E. Texas Writers Organization.
I belong to the Texas Federation of Woman's Club Marshall Chapter.
You can find me and my books on Amazon, Kindle or buy from my website to get an autographed copy. You can also order them from any bookstore.
You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and Pinterest.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 30, 2012
As both an author and a reader, I'm well-aware of the fact sequels seldom live up to the first one. As expected, Patty Wiseman has successfully proven that curse CAN be broken. Ruth Squire's story is exciting. The 1920's Detroit setting is intriguing. And the Mob is as deadly as ever! I picked up the first book (And Unlikely Arrangement) to see what all the fuss was about. I picked up the sequel (An Unlikely Beginning) because I KNOW what all the fuss is about.... and I can't WAIT for the next one because I WANT to know how all this "fuss" will end!
Excellent Job, Mrs. Wiseman!!!
Excellent Job, Mrs. Wiseman!!!
October 22, 2012
Patty Wiseman does it again! An Unlikely Beginning is the excellent follow-up to Patty's first book of the series, An Unlikely Arrangement. She is a master at historical fiction, which is not an easy feat. The story of Ruth, Peter, and the other amazing characters cannot be lumped into one genre. The Velvet Shoe collection is an excellent, clean, romantic mystery everyone should read. Can't wait for the next installment!
August 24, 2012
Could not lay this book down! Once again, I quickly became caught up in a Patty Wiseman novel! Drawn to intrigue, I dove into the sequel, An Unlikely Beginning, and the story continued to impress me. Patty delivered unexpected twists and turns, totally surpassing what I'd hoped for! Great work and well written! Can't wait for the third book in the series!
November 11, 2012
i won this book on goodreads and loved it fron the first page. the story held my intrest from the first chapter and i was not able to solve the mystery untill the very end.
i will recoment ths book and am definatly putting the first book on my reading list.
i will recoment ths book and am definatly putting the first book on my reading list.
August 9, 2013
Wow! Another fabulous read from Patty Wiseman. Front the first page to the last, it's compelling you to get more. A must read for all romance lovers, and even if you're not, the mystery is captivating. I highly recommend this book.
June 20, 2023
270 pages I read the book and loved it. Can’t believe Ruth and Peter are finally getting married
November 13, 2015
Second in the Velvet Shoe Collection, AN UNLIKELY BEGINNING is a romantic mystery that got me thinking, laughing, sighing and crying. They say that a good mystery should leave you anticipating with each page turned. This one certainly did not disappoint. And they say a good historical writer can take you back in time. Well, I was hereby transported to another place and time.
Set in 1920's crime-ridden Detroit, a blue feather leads seventeen-year-old Ruth Squire on a search for her missing fiancée, Peter Kirby. She cleverly disguises herself as a seductive jazz singer in order to gain entrance into the seedier side of town. Mobsters and Riff-Raffs fill the pages as Ruth pursues her rescue mission. She follows one telling clue after another. Back-history is trickled in, which makes the story even more interesting.
Overall, AN UNLIKELY BEGINNING is a fabulously entertaining read worthy of five gold stars. Having already read the first in the series (An Unlikely Arrangement), I'm now ready to dive into Book three.
Set in 1920's crime-ridden Detroit, a blue feather leads seventeen-year-old Ruth Squire on a search for her missing fiancée, Peter Kirby. She cleverly disguises herself as a seductive jazz singer in order to gain entrance into the seedier side of town. Mobsters and Riff-Raffs fill the pages as Ruth pursues her rescue mission. She follows one telling clue after another. Back-history is trickled in, which makes the story even more interesting.
Overall, AN UNLIKELY BEGINNING is a fabulously entertaining read worthy of five gold stars. Having already read the first in the series (An Unlikely Arrangement), I'm now ready to dive into Book three.
May 29, 2014
An Unlikely Beginning is the sequel to a"An Unlikely Arrangement", the second in a series of 3 books. Do yourself a favour and read the first one so you get the full flavor of the Velvet Shoe Collection.
In this book Ruth Squire and Peter Kirby (the milk man whom her parents had initially sought to marry her off to, before corruption and deception interviened in book one) struggle to build a relationship and get married. But this book is also riddled with secrets and crime. Peter is kidnapped and Ruth takes matters into her own hands in an effort to save him. Some of her mother’s secrets also come to light, and the reader learns that many things are not what they seem to be. This is not a case of the sins of the father being visited upon his children, it is quite the opposite.
Once again Wiseman did an outstanding job and this book fit like a glove with the first one. I loved the continuing story--I also loved the cover!
In this book Ruth Squire and Peter Kirby (the milk man whom her parents had initially sought to marry her off to, before corruption and deception interviened in book one) struggle to build a relationship and get married. But this book is also riddled with secrets and crime. Peter is kidnapped and Ruth takes matters into her own hands in an effort to save him. Some of her mother’s secrets also come to light, and the reader learns that many things are not what they seem to be. This is not a case of the sins of the father being visited upon his children, it is quite the opposite.
Once again Wiseman did an outstanding job and this book fit like a glove with the first one. I loved the continuing story--I also loved the cover!
August 2, 2015
Ruth is back, in this second book in the series, ‘Velvet Shoe Collection’. This time her life is in danger. Masquerading as a jazz singer, she journeys to a dingy nightspot in search of her fiancé, Peter. The only link she has in hopes of finding him, is a blue feather. She goes down to the docks, to a dodgy club searching for him. Of all times for Peter to vanish it was on their wedding day. Will she find him? If she does find him, can she save him? It’s a dangerous task and Ruth is well aware that she may not get out of this alive. Patty Wiseman incorporates her fascinating and vibrant imagination into her well plotted stories. Once I started this story I was soon imagining myself with Ruth following along with her in the 1920’s era. I found this to be a wonderful mystery, and I could picture book 1: (An Unlikely Arrangement) and it, as a miniseries made for tv in something like Masterpiece Mysteries.
August 22, 2013
An Unlikely Beginning is the must read follow-up to Author Patty Wiseman's excellent first novel, An Unlikely Arrangement.
The reader is seamlessly pulled into this story which is set in mob-ridden Detroit, Michigan, in 1929. Young, strong-willed Ruth Squire's mother has been shot, and to make matters worse, her husband-to-be, Peter Kirby, has been kidnapped by the mob because they believe he is from a rival gang. What is Ruth going to do?
The story is full of twists and turns. Just when you think you figure out what is going to happen next, a wrench is thrown into the mix. We learn with Ruth that her mother, Priscilla, has her own dirty little secret and that real the leader of the mob isn't who we think it is.
This book is a page turner that you will not put down until the wee hours of the morning. Well done Patty Wiseman!
The reader is seamlessly pulled into this story which is set in mob-ridden Detroit, Michigan, in 1929. Young, strong-willed Ruth Squire's mother has been shot, and to make matters worse, her husband-to-be, Peter Kirby, has been kidnapped by the mob because they believe he is from a rival gang. What is Ruth going to do?
The story is full of twists and turns. Just when you think you figure out what is going to happen next, a wrench is thrown into the mix. We learn with Ruth that her mother, Priscilla, has her own dirty little secret and that real the leader of the mob isn't who we think it is.
This book is a page turner that you will not put down until the wee hours of the morning. Well done Patty Wiseman!
November 13, 2012
Won this book in goodreads first reads!!!
So because i didn't read the first book in the series i decided after winning it to buy the first one!! It was really good and i couldn't wait to read the second one. Unfortunately with my work schedule it took a little longer then i thought it would. I give this a four star. It took me a little while to get into though and I'm not sure if it was just because i couldn't read as consistently as I'd like or if it was that I thought it took a little to get to the good action stuff. But it did eventually pick up for me and was very good. Over all a very good read with a little romance and a little action mixed with history its a win win. I can't wait to see more from Patty wiseman and I hope she comes out with more for the velvet shoe collection!
So because i didn't read the first book in the series i decided after winning it to buy the first one!! It was really good and i couldn't wait to read the second one. Unfortunately with my work schedule it took a little longer then i thought it would. I give this a four star. It took me a little while to get into though and I'm not sure if it was just because i couldn't read as consistently as I'd like or if it was that I thought it took a little to get to the good action stuff. But it did eventually pick up for me and was very good. Over all a very good read with a little romance and a little action mixed with history its a win win. I can't wait to see more from Patty wiseman and I hope she comes out with more for the velvet shoe collection!
October 10, 2013
The adventure continues for young and beautiful, Ruth Squires, amidst murder, mayhem, the mob, romance, and secrets. The second in a series of 3 novels, Patty Wiseman's "An Unlikely Beginning" will take the reader to the roaring 20s of Detroit, and the characters come alive to entertain the reader with a plot that has twists and turns, secrets and danger, romance and excitement; but above all, it follows young Ruth's coming-of-age journey, and how she transforms from the petulant, precocious and innocent girl she used to be to the "beginnings" of womanhood, and the path to wisdom.
Well written, and well done!
Well written, and well done!
April 28, 2014
This book is the 2nd in a series of books by Patty Wiseman based on a true story from her own family history. Patty has vividly captured the voice and tone of works of the period with enough twists and turns in the action to keep you turning pages at a rapid rate.
The story of a young couple that, despite being setup to marry each other by their parents, fall madly in love and face enormous obstacles to just get to their own wedding.
I highly recommend these books. You will not regret.
The story of a young couple that, despite being setup to marry each other by their parents, fall madly in love and face enormous obstacles to just get to their own wedding.
I highly recommend these books. You will not regret.
June 16, 2014
I really enjoyed this book! The mystery of the shooting and the mob story as great! I had a few moments where I was worried the story wouldn't go the way I thought it should. I love how Ruth continued to grow and find herself as a woman. She found an inner strength I don't think she knew she posed. The side story with Cal and Hattie is great too! I hope they eventually get their own book! Can't wait to see how this trilogy ends!
February 19, 2014
A palpable and dynamic story. Once again, Patty Wiseman does not disappoint with richness of plot and character in An Unlikely Beginning, the second of The Velvet Shoe Collection trilogy. A multi-award-winning author, Patty consistently shows writing mastery with her engaging characters and surprising plot twists. The entire Velvet Shoe Collection is a worthy addition to any library!
June 6, 2013
This book is packed with activity. I couldn't put it down because I had to know "what next?" This was a wonderful read. Patty Wiseman is an author that leaves you wanting more...waiting in anticipation for the next installment in the series. If you haven't read her books it should be next on your list.
August 6, 2013
Patty Wiseman does it again. An Unlikely Beginning is the perfect follow-up to An Unlikely Arrangement.The story draws you in and sets you down in 1920's era Detroit, where a young couple struggles to be free of the "bad guys". The characters are likeable and the storyline is intriguing. Thanks Patty!
August 27, 2016
Author Patty Wiseman brings back familiar characters; Ruth, the main character once again meets up with drama and shady events. Her fiance, Peter, has vanished, and Ruth sets out to find him. Set in the 1920's "An Unlikely Beginning" is a great read and keeps you guessing throughout; a true mystery. Great reading for everyone.
January 9, 2014
I did not want this book to end... Now I cannot wait to read book 3 to find out what happens to Peter and Ruth. Will love conquer all? Will they live happily ever after? Or will the past intervene? Patty has done it again! Great read!!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews