The Daring Women of New York

by Gayle Callen

An epic saga from USA Today Bestselling author Gayle Callen that follows one family, one building, from the American Revolution to the Roaring Twenties to modern day Manhattan.

For two hundred and fifty years, the Featherstone women have defended their families and Harbor House, the building that has sheltered and provided for them.

The Revolution
Abigail Featherstone’s husband died fighting the British invasion of New York. Harbor House provides her a way to fight back—she risks everything by spying on the Redcoats quartered in the rooms above her tavern.

Prohibition
After her father is jailed, flapper Lillian Featherstone gives up her college dreams to manage their historic family restaurant in Harbor House. The dangerous stand she takes against the mob that entangled her father is eclipsed only by her forbidden romance with a charismatic Harlem jazz musician.

Today
Two centuries of family history aren’t enough to make newly widowed Pamela Featherstone Mosher want to hold on to the run-down building she’s inherited. She’s ready to sell the property and move on from her painful past. But cleaning out Harbor House reveals the struggles and secrets of her female ancestors, and what they endured to keep their families safe.
Can the bravery and resilience of the Featherstone women give Pamela the courage to follow her heart?

341 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 21, 2025

About the author

USA Today Bestselling author Gayle Callen writes historical romances for Avon Books. Her twenty-second novel, The Wrong Bride, was published in November 2015.

Gayle’s novels have won the Holt Medallion, the Laurel Wreath Award, the Booksellers’ Best Award, and finaled in the National Readers Choice Awards. She was a nominee for RT Book Reviews Magazine’s Reviewers’ Choice Award. Her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She also writes the contemporary romances as Emma Cane.

Gayle resides in central New York with her husband. Now that her three children are grown, she has time to read, sing, and delve too deeply into historical research. A past President of the Central New York Romance Writers, she is also a member of Romance Writers of America and Novelists Inc. Visit her website at http://www.gaylecallen.com

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an incredibly well written story! Three different time periods three different women of the same family and the building that connects them. Each individual woman would make a compelling book but all three woven together makes this one special!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harbor House, the center of the Featherstone family since the 1700’s, has served as an Inn, Restaurant, Speak-Easy bar, but is now closed after damage from a hurricane and death of the owner/manager from Covid. We read of the lives of three women whose lives are intertwined with Harbor House. All have difficulties in life, and struggle with how to manage the House. The author has threaded historical events and people throughout, adding believability to the story.

I enjoyed watching each of the women in their struggle, and to see how each life had the elements of resolution at the conclusion of their section. The characterization was well done, as was the plot for each women. Although the point of view changed from one woman to another, we were informed at the start of the chapter whose story was going to be enlarged, so that the reader is never confused by the change. Readers of historical fiction will enjoy how 3 time periods are spliced together to make a very satisfying read. There is no cursing or intimate scenes that would prevent me from recommending it to readers of every age.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Perrin Larton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can a building hold a family together? Generations of women have been holding Harbor House as their home and business.

First we hear from Abigail Featherstone who uses the house to spy on the British invaders after her husband is killed. Then we fast forward to Prohibition and Lillian Featherstone who gives up her own dreams, to take over the property when her father is jailed. In the present time, Pamela Featherstone is ready to sell the property since it's damaged and she doesn't know what it will take to be able to salvage it. As she begins to go through the house, she finds that she is not the only Featherstone woman who has had challenges. Should she be the one who gives Harbor House up?

A very good read. With lots of detail about each historical era.

[CATHERINE BURHANS · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written account of three courageous women of the Featherstone family living at the Harbor House, in New York, during different eras, spanning over 200 years. We first meet Abigail, whose husband died in the revolution while she continued to spy on the Red Coats. Lillian, was a flapper, living during Prohibition, and managing the family restaurant at Harbor House. She takes on the Mob. Modern day Pamela, inherits Harbor House and decides that she wants to sell the rundown place. As she clears out decades of memories she begins to see the bravery and courage of the women who have gone before her. A very worthwhile read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sheri-Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three brave women. Three very different time periods. Each connected by family ties and a wonderful building that served them all.

In The Daring Women of New York, Abigail, Lillian, and Pamela's stories are deftly woven together to create a beautiful tale of strength and love.

As each chapter ended and another began, I felt like I was still holding on to the other two stories...as if they were being braided together one by one until the last page was turned.

Grab a copy today and be swept away by this well-crafted and heart-touching story!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel ties three timelines together through the same building in New York.

Each story is so interesting and in each, the daring woman must make a choice that impacts the timeline.

I really enjoyed the history and the story. I just wish it had been longer! I would have liked more details.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[N.M. DESGROSEILLIERS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Story

I thought I loved her first book, but this one was an easy to read and enjoyable as the last. It is definitely a 5 star book if you enjoy historical fiction and even if you don't. This genre is not my usual wheelhouse, but the story was will worth reading and enjoying.

[Lisa H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic..

This is a women’s fiction story that spans the duration of the US. The Featherstone women have a fierce and loyal determination through the ages. We get checks in with the women and their interconnected stories, decades apart. While history lays out in the background.
Recommend.

[Mary B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed the book. It was an easy read. Not as good as The women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray but quite good.