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Windy City Hearts #1

Moondrop Miracle

Win a free kindle copy of this book!

7 days and 20:34:23

100 copies available
U.S. only
Chicago, 1928. Pampered socialite Connie Shepherd lives the kind of glossy life other women read about in the society pages. Engaged to a handsome financier, she spends her days and nights in a dizzying social round. When eccentric Aunt Pearl, an amateur chemist, offers her an unusual wedding present—the formula for a home-brewed skin tonic—Connie laughs it off. But when the Great Depression flings her privileged world into chaos and rocks her marriage to the core, will Aunt Pearl's strange gift provide the key to survival for Connie and her baby?

By turns heartbreaking and hope-filled, Moondrop Miracle tells the story of an extraordinary and unforgettable woman whose determination to succeed changes her life forever.

300 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2020

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About the author

Jennifer Lamont Leo

21 books231 followers
**THANK YOU, dear readers, for all the great reviews, and for choosing Moondrop Miracle, You're the Cream in My Coffee and Ain't Misbehavin for your book clubs. You're the bee's knees!** Author of Moondrop Miracle, You're the Cream in My Coffee and Ain't Misbehavin'. With a passion for all things historical, Jennifer Lamont Leo captures readers' hearts through stories set in times gone by. She is also a copywriter, editor, and journalist. An Illinois native, she holds a deep affection for Chicago and its rich history. Today she writes from the mountains of northern Idaho, where she shares her home with her husband, two cats, and abundant wildlife. Visit her at A Sparkling Vintage Life (http://www.JenniferLamontLeo.com/blog), as well as on social media.

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5 stars
215 (62%)
4 stars
93 (27%)
3 stars
26 (7%)
2 stars
6 (1%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
Profile Image for Paula Shreckhise.
1,630 reviews150 followers
April 23, 2020
Triumph over tragedy.
Chicago 1928
Connie and Winston start their marriage out as comfortably wealthy and socially well-off. Then the bottom drops out of the economy and Win cannot handle things. Connie and her Aunt Pearl build a company around a product MOONDROP MIRACLE, and hold off the wolf at the door. Connie’s faith grows and her ingenuity and pluck take her places.
I liked the way the story started out in 1988 and that the main focus was the Roaring Twenties—flasback style. Then we see at the end how it all fits into place.
Connie learns first hand how God is steadfast and the faith of the people around her encourages her. The one thing I wish could have been expanded upon was the faith journey of Lawyer, Adam Devere.
Not only was this a great Rags-to-Riches-to a different kind of Riches, but I got a surprise in the setting. I grew up in Illinois very near the place outside of Chicago that Aunt Pearl had her fictional farm. This author hails from my girlhood stomping grounds! I love reading stories where the setting is personally familiar.
Fascinating, well filled out characters and a captivating story.
* I received an ebook copy of this book from the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
Profile Image for Pegg.
Author 31 books639 followers
March 13, 2022
This is one of those books that I bought a long time ago, always meant to read, and somehow didn't get around to. Whyever did I wait so long?! It's a wonderful story set in Chicago at the start of the Great Depression. Jennifer Lamont Leo reconstructs a country in turmoil when the money disappeared and families broke apart and people many times had to relearn how to survive.

Connie has it all, a wealthy husband she loves, a beautiful home, and the support of loving parents and a rather eccentric aunt. And then the unthinkable happens. We walk with her through the process of losing the things she most valued, only to find that sometimes the most valuable things of all are those you can't purchase with coins.

The story is a study in courage, integrity, and a willingness to change and grow rather than give in to despair.
Profile Image for Lynda.
422 reviews25 followers
May 12, 2020
Jennifer Lamont Leo is an author new to me, but I was looking for something a bit different, and the story seemed interesting with the juxtaposition of socialite and amatuer chemist in the same family. The story took on a bit of unexpected drama, however, when the plot intersected with history and the stock market crashed, ruining the heroine’s new husband’s career.

I have read few books about the Depression, and even fewer that have given me as deep an understanding as this one has. Part of the reason for this is how the author painted a picture of how life looked before the crash and how it changed afterward. I really enjoyed how the novel showed enough of a time span to allow me to truly understand the impacts this time had on those who had money as well as those who did not.

Connie starts the novel as a woman who has her life all planned out with the perfect fiancee, perfect wedding, perfect life. We get to follow her as she achieves everything she thinks she wants, only to find that there are some things missing in her life. With the start of the Great Depression, things take several drastic dips toward devastating.

The only thing that I didn’t care for in this book was what I felt to be a rushed ending. When I have invested time with someone’s story, I enjoy getting to follow them a bit longer into their ending, especially after so much suffering throughout the book. I wanted to spend more time there rather than having it somewhat encapsulated in the last couple of pages.

This is a difficult read in parts, but for those wanting to better understand this era in history, it is a good one for gaining insight. It is especially interesting for those who might want to see how it impacted those who were privileged before the crash and the changes required to survive in the new world in which they found themselves.

I received a review copy of this book from the author but was under no obligation to post a positive review. The opinions expressed are both honest and my own.
Profile Image for Susan.
847 reviews85 followers
May 25, 2020
Jennifer Lamont Leo has hit a home-run with this story. When I first started reading, I was expecting a sweet, nostalgic story. But this was so much more. The depth of character, grit and tenacity displayed by the heroine took me by surprise.
With impeccable attention to detail, Ms. Leo pens the stock market crash of 1929 and its aftermath as the backdrop to her story. While many sunk in despair, including her own husband, Connie Sutherland finds hidden strength to provide for her family. The wisdom from Aunt Pearl and Ingrid prompt and guide the heroine's spiritual journey, giving her direction and inner strength. This young woman from a previously privileged and self-absorbed background displayed compassion and found lifetime friendships in unexpected places as she struggled to survive during the Great Depression.
This is definitely my favorite book by Jennifer Lamont Leo and I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are mine.
207 reviews1 follower
May 4, 2020
This book was such a wonderful surprise! As I read the beginning chapters, I wasn’t at all sure I would enjoy it, not having much to admire or respect about a group of young, rich, and spoiled young people who partied their nights away. However, I could not stop reading as the story progressed and I became more and more wrapped up in the main characters and their lives. I have to say that what I enjoyed the most about this book was being able to see the growth in Connie, emotionally and spiritually, during the years in which the story took place. It is said that hardship can bring out the best and worst in people, and it was interesting to see how the author showed the different characters’ true colors come out over time. I adored Connie’s Aunt Pearl, and I could not stand Winston, and I applaud Ms. Leo for bringing out these and so many other emotions in me throughout my reading of this story, which I highly recommend to other readers. I received a copy of this book from the author and am giving my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Barb.
Author 6 books63 followers
May 5, 2020
In 1928 a young socialite married an up-and-coming financier who loses his own fortune in the 1929 crash, along with that of many of his friends. Left to fend for herself with a baby on the way, Connie decides to market and manufacture the skin-care tonic her eccentric aunt invented (the recipe was given to Connie as a wedding gift). A cottage industry slowly develops into a skin-care empire in this well-told tale that paints a vivid picture of the mid-twentieth century.
Profile Image for Andrea.
713 reviews8 followers
May 8, 2020
"Remember to Sparkle." Just one of Aunt Pearl's many words of wisdom.
Knowing that the Great Depression was going to happen, I could guess some of what was going to happen. However, Ms. Leo tells a wonderful story of strength, perseverance, and faith.
Connie's husband, Winston, is a cad and abandoned her and their infant son after the crash. His mother is a horrible creature too. I cringed every time I read her name on the page.
I didn't really like Winston before the left either, I liked him less upon his return. I digress.
This is Connie's story, a somewhat spoiled, wealthy newlywed, suddenly thrust into a new life when her world and the economy collapse. She works with Aunt Pearl and a few other women to create a company, a strong company that feels like a family.
I appreciated seeing Connie grow in her faith and confidence. She faced tragedy and with Aunt Pearl's help she learned to "put one foot in front of the other" and to "Be whoever God made you to be."
I loved the respect for each other and the influence they had on the lives of other women.
I highly recommend this reading this book. It is both tragic and uplifting. Something we all are facing at yet another difficult time in the world.
*Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited"
Profile Image for Cindy Huff.
Author 11 books55 followers
May 21, 2020
Moondrop Miracle
This is a delightful depression era romance and so much more. Jennifer emerged herself in the timeline. Her research shows through. The characters are interesting and I can see the settings as I read. Like her other two depression-era books You’re the Cream in my Coffee and Ain’t Misbehaving I was engaged from page one. I can’t wait to read more from her.
Profile Image for CarolynB.
651 reviews
June 24, 2020
I loved this author's previous Roaring Twenties Series, but I think this book is my favorite so far. I loved Connie, the main character. She overcame her "privileged" upbringing to make a life for her and her son following the Great Depression. I'm so glad that life turned out well for them. I think Ms Leo will have to be considered one of my favorite authors! 😊
Profile Image for Heather  Densmore .
770 reviews22 followers
August 19, 2020
In general, I liked the story themes-women helping women, persistence and perseverance, creating something from nothing. The author does a good job of creating characters and in describing life during the depression. The downside for me was in the religious underpinnings and the rather abrupt ending.
Profile Image for Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader).
1,545 reviews55 followers
July 27, 2024
The pathway of the storyline is a journey of growth and transformation. In 1988, Connie was invited by a dear friend to speak at the Young Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow banquet. Waiting to be called to the podium to give her speech, Connie recalls how her life led to the evening. As the reader turns the pages, it is a story that takes us from the exciting times with society friends, through the changes wrought by the 1929 financial downturn, up to 1935 on an earlier night filled with speeches and friends. Returning to 1988, Connie must listen as she is introduced before she walks up to the podium.

The beginning. 1928. Constance (Connie) Shepherd is the fiancée of Winston Sutherland III, an associate at the Carruthers & Mullin Financiers investment firm. Connie has always lived among society's Chicago elite: her father, real estate magnate Marcus Shepherd, and her mother, Opal, a tireless contributor to charitable boards and committees. Marrying Winston, Connie's future in society is assured, her place among the elite secure.

One of the most heartwarming aspects of this story is Aunt Pearl's role in Connie's life. She is a dear, eccentric figure who delights in spending time in the lab of her barn, about an hour north of the city in Hoosier Grove. Aunt Pearl's presence adds depth to the character dynamics, and she is the one who gives Connie a unique wedding gift: an envelope containing a formula—a formula to keep somewhere safe.

Through Connie's reflections, the reader is given a window into women's experiences during this period and the differences in socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Beautifully written, this inspirational Christian fiction is a testament to the power of faith, love, and hope. It weaves a powerful narrative of women supporting women, a key theme that uplifts the spirit.

I encourage everyone to read The Author's Note at the end of the novel.
348 reviews13 followers
May 7, 2020
Set in the time of the Great Depression in Chicago, this book chronicles the life of Connie Shepherd, a young socialite who starts a company with her Aunt Pearl after the Depression makes her desperate for income. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I will simply say that this is one of the best books I've read in a long time. The characters seemed like they could pop right out of the book, and I couldn't put it down. The author is quite skilled in her realistic writing as well as her ability to create characters that are easy to sympathize with and get attached to. Connie and her friends are inspiring and strong through devastating circumstances. The author also includes biblical principles that encouraged me personally through this difficult time. Please read this book! I highly recommend it and am looking forward to reading the next one.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author and a positive review was not required. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Profile Image for Laura.
368 reviews6 followers
October 18, 2021
This was a wonderful story of strength through adversity. Set in the late 1920"s, this is truly the story of Connie. She starts out as a wealthy, slightly vapid, socialite. Newly married to a man who we have all seen before - selfish, full of himself, controlling, "never" wrong - who folds when the going gets tough. Connie though, she finds a strength in her that even she didn't know she had. It starts with faith in the Lord, and some exceptional friends who support her and her young son. I enjoyed how brave she was, she did not give up on her dream even though the road was nearly impossible at times. To me this book was uplifting and fun to read. It takes place in Chicago and the surrounding area and since I live in the area it was nice to recognize landmarks. I received a copy of this from a Goodreads giveaway.
13k reviews195 followers
May 24, 2020
What an intriguing story. Connie leads a wonderful life until the Great Depressing hits. Then life changes for her and she must find other ways to survive. Thoroughly enjoyable.
49 reviews
May 7, 2020
Excellent. My favorite so far.

Depression era Christian novel.
Profile Image for Melissa B.
725 reviews25 followers
March 27, 2021
I am SO glad that I did not live through the late 1920s on up with the repressive attitude toward women - the stay-at-home weaker sex. Many women had their strength tested during that era and came out on top, showing society that women have as much gumption and intelligence as men - in many cases much more!
Profile Image for Charlene.
1,424 reviews41 followers
May 1, 2020
Really interesting book about Chicago in 1928. Connie is a socialite living the good life. Depression comes and her life is changed forever. She has perseverance and succeeds in ways she never imagined.I loved this book! I received an arc copy from the author and thank her so much for the honor! this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Janet Graham.
2,506 reviews11 followers
April 26, 2020
Heart Warming Women's Fiction
This is a wonderful story about a woman in the dark years of The Great Depression, created a business empire that supported many families and elevated many women from deep poverty. In those years, there were no safety nets. You might get help from soup kitchens, but women had a terrible time finding work. It was extremely unusual for a woman to own a business without her husband's help, blessing, and credit. This is a great story that was difficult to put down. All of this author's works are just as great. I received this ARC for free from the author and this is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Sandy.
7 reviews1 follower
April 25, 2020
In 1928 Chicago, Connie Shepherd is a society girl engaged to an ambitious investment manager, and eager to start their dream life together. The stock market crash throws their life into chaos, and Connie finds herself alone with her baby after her parents die and her husband abandons her--always promising to come back. She has to build her future from the ground up, with her own determination and a formula for skin treatment from her eccentric Aunt Pearl. She faces challenges that her upbringing never prepared her for. In the process she finds a spiritual faith and personal strength.
Well written and engaging, with believable characters and smooth prose. A good choice for fans of Michelle Cox. I was given an advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.
Profile Image for Jane.
1,351 reviews47 followers
May 29, 2020
Jennifer Lamont Leo did a great job of tackling the time period. Her characters seem to struggle with things women in the 1920’s and 1930’s most likely struggled with - desertion by husbands who lost jobs, finding a way to support the family, being a single parent, and more. The plot seems to be historically accurate as well. I appreciated the fact that the main character stayed true to her marriage vows, even when her husband had been gone for 4 years and a loving man wanted to help her. I liked the way Leo framed the main part of the story with an event when the main character was in her eighties, giving her a reason to reminiscence while showing the reader the impact her life had on others. The themes of fidelity and hard work no matter your field are important ones for all women. For those who enjoy historical fiction or like learning more about life in the early 1900’s, I recommend Moondrop Miracle.
While this is an adult historical romance, I would not have a problem adding Moondrop Miracle to a k-12 Christian school library. It is appropriate for older middle school and up.
I received a complimentary copy of Moondrop Miracle. This is my honest review.
Profile Image for bekah_boo_books .
905 reviews11 followers
May 29, 2020
The end of this book brought tears to my eyes. Not tears of sadness, but of love and good feelings.

The main character Connie was a kind and love able character. I found my self truly affected by all her hardships. I was so happy that she pushes through them to a world of friendship and success. All the side characters in this story were wonderfully written. The plot was realistically set in 1920s -30s Chicago. The life of Connie from being rich socialite to poor during the Great Depression happened to a lot of people, and her story helped make history a little bit more real to me.

I love that the story supports being a successful woman while not relinquishing femininity. That a person can still stay true to vows and God despite their circumstances. Circumstances that will end in happiness when God is on your side.

The plot of this story was truly engaging. I was very glad for the twist at the end, and the religious aspect of the book was not forced or over bearing.

I highly recommend that every woman read this book. It has inspired me to be my best self, to keep my trust in the Lord, and to ALWAYS REMEMBER TO SPARKLE.
Profile Image for Ann.
2,680 reviews3 followers
April 23, 2020
This book was so good! It is well written and will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. It's an inspirational read that shows how God and true friends will help you through your pain and troubles to start a new life. This book is a Must Read! I received an ARC copy of this book and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Zippy.
114 reviews1 follower
April 22, 2020
A great story about true feminism, friendship, inner strength, integrity, and courage to change . Be true to yourself and sparkle.
Profile Image for Mallory Reynolds.
40 reviews
April 13, 2020
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I really enjoyed it. Connie was a spoiled socialite until the stock market crashed and her husband abandons her and her infant son. But through determination, her faith in God and true friends she make a new life for herself and her son. I highly recommend this book.
258 reviews9 followers
April 13, 2020
I really enjoyed this book.
1,616 reviews
May 12, 2020
Thank you Ms. Leo for giving me a mini vacation back to 1930s Chicago. I'll try not to drop any spoilers. This is a tale of Connie, a sheltered young wife who spends her time shopping and lunching. Then, the 1929 Stockmarket Crash changes everything. The story of how she recovers is exciting and sounds like a fairy tale if I tried to explain it, but it's not. Connie doesn't have it easy. She endures many setbacks and challenges but eventually finds God and a backbone.

You know she's not unlike any 2020 woman who thought her life was going a certain way before COVID 19 blew into town.

The message of the book is God's in control, you can do it, and make "doing it" a joy to yourself and others. Not bad advice at anytime.

BTW best novel yet, Ms. Leo. I would read other novels about these same characters.
Profile Image for Lisa.
1,259 reviews56 followers
April 13, 2020
An elderly Constance Shepherd has been invited to speak at a Young Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow Banquet and attends somewhat reluctantly. After all, what does she have to say to a group of aspiring young women? So begins the remarkable tale of a woman who had faith, perseverance, and a gift that helped her build a company that would help a great number of people.

I liked the quote that Constance says, "If you want to know the secret of my success, this is it. Be whoever God made you to be. Honor Him, and the rest will fall into place. " If you are wanting to read a book that is encouraging I would recommend Moondrop Miracle.

Catherine O'Hall's struggle to have a child nearly cost her everything she held dear. This story addressed the hard issues of infertility and disappointment in a loving and tasteful manner.

Catherine grew through her loss by having support from her cousin Becs, who was also dealing with loss. Becs helps Catherine to have a better understanding of not losing sight of what is really important in life. A quote that I found insightful was, "Just because we trust Him, doesn't mean we won't walk through the valley of the shadow of death, or climb mountains."

I found it to be amazing that Claire Lagerwall could write such a great story in such a short time, from writing to publishing in six short months.


I was provided a free copy of this book by the author. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Profile Image for Relyn.
4,250 reviews75 followers
January 13, 2023
So sorry. I was bored, bored, bored by this book. Maybe it was my mood - I dunno.

I absolutely love the cover of this book. Plus, it was recommended to me by Youtuber, Darling Desi, who has pointed me to several great books. Even so, this one just didn't do it for me. I absolutely could not care about a single character.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews