Old Books and Faded Dreams

October 16, 2025 by marianne h donley in category Apples & Oranges by Marianne H. Donley, Rabt Book Tours tagged as #RABTBookTours, @RABTBookTours, DL Norris, historical fiction, new release, Old Books and Faded Dreams with 0 and 0

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Historical Fiction

Date Published: September 14, 2025

Old Books and Faded Dreams transports readers on a nostalgic journey with the townspeople of Tilden, a quaint community in Madison County, Nebraska.

At the center of the heartwarming story is Maggie Davis, a middle-aged widow and heiress to a grand Victorian estate. The stately home, which Maggie shares with her spunky nine-year-old daughter Jenna, also serves as a bed-and-breakfast to a once regular, but now transitory, clientele.

The kitchen table is the epicenter of lively, often contentious, conversation where no topics are off-limits. Maggie’s out-spoken, spinster neighbor delights in keeping everyone on guard with her opinionated, prejudicial tirades, but she is frequently reined in by an elderly, equally forthright family member who has recently become a permanent dweller at the manor.

Maggie finds herself struggling with the painful memories of her husband’s tragic death, as well as the stirrings in her heart associated with a new house guest. A scandalous scheme to swindle Maggie out of her inherited property rides on the heels of a sudden, unexpected death, pointing to a member of the
family as suspect. The startling discovery of a sinister family secret locked away for decades in an old attic trunk threatens to overshadow a highly esteemed familial image and cherished legacy. Can relationships be salvaged?

Old Books and Faded Dreams is a captivating, small-town tale about friendship,
grief, reconciliation and ultimately, unconditional love.

About the Author

D.L. Norris is a notable author and motivational speaker who has written numerous short stories and articles on health, emotional wellness, family, and cultural history.

Norris’ novels, The Long Way Home and Where the Heart Is, capture in colorful, humorous style the actual events and cultural mindsets surrounding her Scandinavian family and personal life experiences.

Norris’ expressive writing style quickly engages her readers and encourages them to sit back and enjoy a nostalgic, magical journey.

She and her husband are happily retired in beautiful Hartford, Connecticut.

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Author Details

marianne h donley

Author Details

Marianne H. Donley writes fiction in the form of short stories, funny romances, and quirky murder mysteries. She makes her home in Pennsylvania with her husband, son, and a really sweet, bad dog. She is a member of Bethlehem Writers Group, Sisters in Crime, Guppies, Capital Crime, and Charmed Writers. You can follow Marianne’s various social media here: https://linktr.ee/mariannehdonley