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M. L. Gardner
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1929: Book One (The 1929 Series 1) Kindle Edition

by M.L. Gardner (Author), The Thatchery (Illustrator), Curiouser Editing (Editor) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 5,160 ratings
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As Black Tuesday triggers financial despondency, three young couples in New York City must trade their lives of luxury for poverty, tragedy, and setbacks.

When Jonathan Garrett’s brokerage firm collapses on the day of the Stock Market Crash, he unites with his closest friends (and former business partners), Aryl and Caleb, to relocate, track down a low-paying job, and cultivate a new life.

As the three men toil in their laborious jobs, their wives, Ava, Arianna, and Claire, slowly adapt to life in a shabby, rundown apartment, learning to sew, cook, and clean. With the help of their former, outspoken, Irish maid, Maura, and a new, equally Irish friend, Shannon, the wives become even closer than before.

The couples’ rocky path leads to more turmoil, however, when a business rival, Victor Drayton, creates one disaster after another. From petty tricks to outright violence, Victor’s nefarious mind will stop at nothing to beat down Jonathan’s last glimmer of hope.

Despite everything, Jonathan and his friends are fixated on surviving.

Emotional and financial destruction nip at their heels, until finally, with a lucky twist of fate, they escape city life and begin anew in their hometown of Rockport, Massachusetts.

A story set in the past, 1929 is full of romance, drama, and humor. Vivid, expertly crafted characters make this novel more than memorable—1929 is unforgettable.
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  1. Book 1 of 6
    The 1929 Series
  2. Print length
    588 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    January 7, 2011
  5. File size
    2.2 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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The 1929 Series Book 1 - Book 6
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Editorial Reviews

From the Author

What would you do if you lost everything?
 
That's exactly what I asked myself the day I watched the stock market plunge 777 points on September 29th 2008. On that same day I began a manual on how to survive the coming Depression. Much to my surprise, it wanted to be a fiction novel. 1929 and a large cast of characters were born.

Welcome to The 1929 Experience. I'm truly glad to have you. Before you begin, I'd like to take a moment to let you know that 1929 is not just another historical fiction series. It's an addictive journey that sweeps you across genres. While you get to know and become close to the characters of 1929, understand that the world around them is more than it seems. But rest assured, all is connected and all will come together. 
 
After reading 1929: Book One, do not be dismayed in Elizabeth's Heart: Book Two, when you meet Simon, whose only connection to the characters of 1929 is prophetic visions about them. And Elizabeth might only seem important to Simon but she is much more than that. She is vital to one man who finds himself in danger in 1929. 
 
Moving on to 1930: Book Three, you will again laugh and cry with our beloved characters as they grind through another year of the Depression and fight for hope and survival.
 
Drifter: Book Four will take you away from Rockport but introduces you to an important character, Detective Sloan. Drifter documents Aryl's missing year, while giving you a unique look at the life of a missing person's detective. 
 
Purgatory Cove: Book Five will take you into Elizabeth's mind, at the exact moment where she fractures into a third personality. It also explains exactly how closely Simon and Elizabeth are connected to the main cast. 
 
And 1931: Book Six brings all the cast together for resolution and closure, ending the saga. For now. 
 
I do hope you'll journey with me through the adventures of 1929. Thank you for reading.

About the Author

M. L. Gardner is the bestselling author of the 1929 series. Gardner is frugal to a fault, preserving the old ways of living by canning, cooking from scratch, and woodworking. Nostalgic stories from her grandmother's life during the Great Depression inspired Gardner to write the 1929 series-as well as her own research into the Roarin' Twenties. She has authored eight books, two novellas, and one book of short stories. Gardner is married with three kids and three cats. She resides in northern Utah. mlgardnerbooks.com

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B005C1N24I
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ M.L. Gardner (January 7, 2011)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 7, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.2 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 588 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 5,160 ratings

About the author

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M. L. Gardner

M. L. Gardner

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M. L. Gardner is the bestselling author of the 1929 series. Gardner is frugal to a fault, preserving the old ways of living by canning, cooking from scratch, and woodworking. Nostalgic stories from her grandmother's life during the Great Depression inspired Gardner to write the 1929 series--as well as her own research into the Roarin' Twenties. She has authored ten books, three novellas, one book of short stories and a cookbook. Gardner is married with three kids and three cats.

Reading The 1929 Series in order:

The Evening Star: A Prequel Novella

1929: Book One

Elizabeth's Heart: Book Two

1930: Book Three

Drifter: Book Four

Purgatory Cove: Book Five

1931: Book Six

Purling Road: A 1929 Serial: The Complete First Season

Purling Road: A 1929 Serial: The Complete Second Season

Purling Road: A 1929 Serial: The Complete Third Season

Short Stories from 1929 *Can be read at any time.

A Homespun Christmas *Can be read at any time.

The 1929 Series Boxed Set: Books 1-3

The 1929 Series Boxed Set: Books 4-6

Purling Road: The Boxed Set: Seasons 1-2 plus Bonus Novella

Other works:

The Rebellion - Eris: Book One

The Unraveling of Us

Frugal Eating in the New Depression

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
5,160 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They appreciate the realistic plot and believable characters. The writing quality is praised as well-crafted and easy to understand. Many describe the story as heartwarming and emotional, with a blend of triumph and tragedy that leaves readers feeling moved.

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ReadabilityStorylineCharacter developmentWriting qualityHeartwarming storyHeartbreaking storyReading pacePacing
701 customers mention "Readability"701 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find the story well-written, interesting, and engaging. The book is described as a pleasant and well-paced historical fiction that shows the good, bad, and ugly sides of each character.

"...Tragedy followed them there as well. This is a fantastic book of the love of their close childhood friends and their wives...." Read more

"...own families, and care for their aging parents develops into a worthy story...." Read more

"...This riches to rags story is captivating and reaches out and embraces the reader and demands their attention...." Read more

"...Though the story was good and I enjoyed reading what happened in the story, I felt it very unrealistic that three couples who were best friends..." Read more

581 customers mention "Storyline"465 positive116 negative

Customers find the story gripping and realistic. They say it's an inspirational story of survival, pain, betrayal, and close friendships. The plots are believable and the conflicts are realistic. Readers appreciate the author's historical perspective and how she brings each character to life.

"...I would allow my Young Adults to read this. it is also a great book for Book Club Discussions. I am anxious to read the continued trilogy...." Read more

"...This is not your sexy mystery, but rather, a story of the trials of three couples, the men having grown up together as best childhood friends, and..." Read more

"...I will read them as I devoured this book. This is a book for a book club and further discussions about the characters and events in this unique..." Read more

"...This author shows the good, bad, and ugly about each of her characters and I really learned to care for them...." Read more

372 customers mention "Character development"334 positive38 negative

Customers find the characters well-developed and engaging. They describe the physical settings as realistic, and the conversations and fights between them as true to life. The characters have different personalities that complement each other. Readers are able to picture each character and their mannerisms easily. Overall, they appreciate the author's portrayal of men as strong problem solvers while women are weak and dependent.

"...The writing was superb. The character development was thorough, the scenes were portrayed in a picturesque manner...." Read more

"...The character developments are superb and the reader even has their favorites and then a reversal of the character they champion disappoints them...." Read more

"...This author shows the good, bad, and ugly about each of her characters and I really learned to care for them...." Read more

"...impressed with her dialogue; every discussion or fight amongst the characters was so true to life that I really felt like a fly on the wall in the..." Read more

193 customers mention "Writing quality"163 positive30 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book. They find it easy to read, with well-described lines and dialogue. The characters are well-defined and there is no bad or obscene language.

"...tastefully done between the married couples, and there was very little profanity. This is worth the read and I will be reading more from this author!" Read more

"...I was especially impressed with her dialogue; every discussion or fight amongst the characters was so true to life that I really felt like a fly on..." Read more

"...A very well written historical fiction book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment...." Read more

"...that did hit me after I finished this book, there was never any bad or obscene language in this book...." Read more

177 customers mention "Heartwarming story"177 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story about friendship and relationships. They find the characters well-developed, with strong bonds that keep them close. The journey and relationships are heartbreaking, funny, poignant, and full of love. Readers feel connected to the characters and their families.

"...You will laugh and cry along with these extremely devoted couples. there are some occasions where crude language is used but not real profanity...." Read more

"...These books show the value of bonding friendships, of helping one another, of loving and forgiving the mistakes of others and the exhaustion but..." Read more

"...during the most stressful time in our history and gives insight to the eventual hard times that befell the rich...." Read more

"...of human struggle, suffering and turmoil but their bond of friendship kept them close. Working out all the kinks when they appeared...." Read more

90 customers mention "Heartbreaking story"82 positive8 negative

Customers find the story heartbreaking and emotional. They describe it as a powerful, inspirational story filled with triumph and tragedy. The characters are well-drawn, and the book has them laughing and crying with their life experiences. Readers appreciate the symbolism toward humanity and how it makes them relive past pains while hinting at hope.

"...friendships, of helping one another, of loving and forgiving the mistakes of others and the exhaustion but satisfaction of hard work to attain goals...." Read more

"IMO, this is a po.werful emotional, inspirational story of 3 men, and their wives during the most stressful time in our history and gives insight to..." Read more

"...It pulled the heartstrings and made you laugh and cry as the story unfolded. A superb story that goes to the heart of a person while embracing life...." Read more

"...This is that kind of book. It is powerful. It makes you relive past pains while it hints at hope that you too can survive anything as these..." Read more

106 customers mention "Reading pace"48 positive58 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's reading pace. Some found it engaging and kept them hooked until the end, describing it as a page-turner with well-drawn characters. Others felt the story was depressing, boring, and predictable, with too much pointless drama.

"...are strong, weak, likeable, unlikeable, good, bad, interesting, annoying, sometimes all in one character. Don't we all know people like that?..." Read more

"...sentimentality, but the story is compelling nonetheless and propels you to keep reading if only for the relief of knowing what happens next...." Read more

"...and Aryl at pretty much the end of the book was very depressing and distressing. I'm not sure I can deal with more. I will have to consider it." Read more

"This is escapist reading not even close to a profound commentary on the Great Depression...." Read more

82 customers mention "Pacing"41 positive41 negative

Customers have different views on the pacing of the book. Some find it engaging and riveting, with good writing that takes them on an all-too-real journey. Others feel the story starts slowly and confusing, with sections that seem to drag on forever.

"...This book was excellent! The story line tight and riveting (with three couples involved, there was always something happening)...." Read more

"...this book ordered from Amazon on my Kindle and it was a slow starting book initially but because of my interests in history, I stuck with it and I..." Read more

"...The book itself was very well written and alway drew me in and I couldn't wait to get back to it...." Read more

"...The first book moves somewhat slowly, chapters named by the days they cover, sometimes with no breaks from one day to the next, and like real life,..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • LAWonder10
    5.0 out of 5 stars 1929 (Book 1) -Attention Book Clubs! A great book about backlash of the Great Depression
    Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    1929: Jonathan's Cross (Book 1) is a tremendously informative novel about the stock market crash and delves into the great depression. It centers primarily on three couples.....

    Jon made it very big on Wall-Street and contacted his two childhood friends to join him in the great success. Jon's father and those who knew him well also became a part of his firm and were all very confident in him and his uncanny talent in buying and selling at just the right time. They were all living in High Society and doing well until - in a matter of minutes one day - everything crashed and many lost everything they had ever worked for, including Jon, Aryl & Caleb.

    How could life so completely fail so quickly? Because of the deep love they each had for their wives, they had to somehow do something. The each were very different yet their personalities and skills complimented each other in a way they fit together like a strong unit. Jon divided responsibilities according to individual strengths and set a time for them to meet together later that day. This resulted in letting go of Jon's very devoted and beloved staff and friends, and Caleb locating apartments - the only ones available in their now depleted budget - in a horrible place of town, in a horrible building in which they would have to do repairs and make as livable as possible in just a couple of days.

    The landlord was also a very bad enemy of Jon & his wife. He was the x-boyfriend of Jon's wife, Ava, whom he rescued her from. Jon had also been responsible for exposing his dishonesty and inside trading of their law firm which ended in Victor's loss of employment. Victor was set on revenge. The couples experienced many difficult times during the next few months Which ultimately caused them to accept the opportunity to go back to their home town to establish a new business together. Tragedy followed them there as well.

    This is a fantastic book of the love of their close childhood friends and their wives. It goes on to include some other key people in their life's journey. It allows the reader the second-hand experiences of some of the great hardships suffered by many during those years. It portrays doubts, fears, betrayal, life's various complications and challenges. You will laugh and cry along with these extremely devoted couples. there are some occasions where crude language is used but not real profanity. I would allow my Young Adults to read this. it is also a great book for Book Club Discussions. I am anxious to read the continued trilogy.

    The writing was superb. The character development was thorough, the scenes were portrayed in a picturesque manner. the title and cover page were meaningfully brought to light as the tale "unfolded".
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Ms. B
    4.0 out of 5 stars DRAMATIC, EMOTIONAL READ
    Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Twice before, I tried to read this book and finally, I was in the proper frame of mind to finish it. This is not your sexy mystery, but rather, a story of the trials of three couples, the men having grown up together as best childhood friends, and their extremely different wives.

    The Stock Market Crash of 1929 is the stark beginning of many life changes these couples learn to endure. They have to leave their luxurious homes, letting go the servants, and move to the New York tenements; scratch out a meager wage at the shipping yards working at manual labor; and learn how to pull themselves up by their bootstraps while keeping their self-respect, integrity, and marriages intact. This is an era of men taking total responsibility for their households.

    The personalities and strengths of Jonathan, Caleb, and Aryl play compliment among the trio. While one may falter, the other two instinctively know what to do to assist and help resolve the matter, whether it's business or personal. No decisions are made without consideration of all three couples.

    When an uncle from their hometown dies and wills his lobster business to Caleb, all vote on and make the move back home. No change of this magnitude is ever easy, and comes with family stresses and some anger. The couples live with their parents while getting the lobster business running profitably. The profits are shared as well as the decisions to save for business growth and shared as individual emergencies occur.

    Watching the young couples mature in their loves and lives, desire for their own families, and care for their aging parents develops into a worthy story. I gave it four stars because it was a rather long and repetitive in some areas.

    If you are looking for intrigue or wild romance, this is not your read. If you crave old-fashioned family values and growth, drama and resolution, and maturity and mutual respect, this is your book.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • wej foxall
    5.0 out of 5 stars From Riches to Rags and Back Again
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 14, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    When an author has an idea and pursues it, thinking through the consequences of various activities, we have a good novel. When that is allied to a particular incident, out of which a disaster leads to the clinical analysis of six people in their sadness and joy, you have a great novel. This is one such. The great American stock market collapse of 1929 is the seed of this substantial story. Three young men, friends and colleagues from childhood, have made it successfully in the financial sector and become fairly rich with a comfortable and even luxurious life style. The ensuing cataclysm leaves them almost penniless, or without a dime, and the reaction of the three young men, Jonathan, Caleb and Aryl, is to get off their backsides and find cheap housing and work that is physically hard and wearing. Enter the wives who are a different kettle of fish. Ava, Ariana and Clair have become good friends because of their husbands but two of them cannot cope with the changed situation and severely dis advantage their husbands who are trying to get back on their feet. There is a complication with Ava, who was once with Victor, now their landlord, and a nastier piece of dirt is hard to find. M L Gardener is in fact a female author but she pulls no punches in portraying two of these girls as completely solipsistic. She constructs a brilliant story which sees these girls change and eventually grow up and become good wives and a benefit to the men. This is a heart stopping novel which obviously has succeeding books to follow because this book has a disaster in the final pages which is not resolved and leaves us hanging in the air. The perfect motivation to get Book 2 is complete.
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  • Sandra
    5.0 out of 5 stars A trip in time travel backwards - well done!
    Reviewed in Canada on September 5, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    After reading the 'blurb' on this book, I can't really say much more about the actual story without giving spoilers on the story itself, but I can say that this was a very well done and comprehensive story of the lives of three families affected by the 1929 market crash. The main characters in the story, Jonathan, Ava, Aryl, Claire, Caleb and Arianna are all very well developed and entertaining individuals. I was especially amused by Arianna as I know someone so much like her and Ava actually reminded me of myself in a number of ways. I am looking forward to reading more books in this Series.

    Thanks M. L. Gardner for some great reading.
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  • Rossana
    5.0 out of 5 stars I liked it.
    Reviewed in Italy on November 24, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I read all the books of the series and I enjoyed them very much. I can't really comment on writing styles because I don't know much about that, but I thought it was a good story. You definitely get attached to the character which kept me turning pages and looking for the next book!
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Revelation
    Reviewed in Germany on May 17, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This book (and what I've read of the series to date) has proven to be a revelation of sorts to me. For some reason the characters introduced in the book managed to capture my interest and attention in a way I wasn't expecting. I found myself caring about them and their dilemmas as though they were acquaintances or relatives. I found myself telling my daughter about the plot over the phone, and we discussed Jonathan's and Anna's situation after the arrival of Jean for quite some time.

    The "human-ness" of the characters' portrayals alone make me want to highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in period family sagas.
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  • Caroline Ouellette
    4.0 out of 5 stars I recommend reading this book.
    Reviewed in Canada on July 24, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This book has many twists to it. Never a boring moment. And despite all the hardships and challenges, it is nice to see that strong friendship bond amongst three families held through it all. I can't wait to read the other books in The 1929 Series.
    Report

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