Welcome to the Blog Tour for Perfect by Kimberly Keagan, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! This cover is so fun! It reminds me of back in the day of Cathy Marie Hake covers. Be sure to check out Kimberly's author post where she answers a couple of my questions!
About the Book
Title: Perfect
Series: Hearts on Display #1
Author: Kimberly Keagan
Publisher: Ventana Publishing, LLC
Release Date: May 6, 2025
Genre: Historical Romance
In the glittering era of the Gilded Age, the heirs of Philadelphia’s Denwall Department Stores navigate family expectations, relentless ambition, and unexpected love.
William Walraven’s picture perfect life is turned upside down when his fiancée jilts him for an English aristocrat and his father refuses to name him as his successor. To prove he’s worthy of leading Denwall Department Stores, Will must open their first New York store under budget and before the Christmas shopping season.
Overwhelmed by disappointment and a nearly impossible deadline, Will has no time for distractions—especially not the captivating bookseller he saves from being crushed by a beer wagon.
Ivy King and her aging grandmother are barely keeping their struggling bookshop afloat. Though drawn to the charming, enigmatic man who saved her life, Ivy has no illusions about her place in the world. It certainly isn’t beside a department store heir whose dazzling emporium threatens to close her family’s business.
Brought together in the wake of an attack on Will’s brother, Will and Ivy find themselves at a crossroads—torn between the expectations that define them and a future neither expected.
Perfect is a clean, wholesome historical romance featuring opposites-attract tension, class differences, a touch of mystery and humor, and an inspirational journey of faith and love.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub
Guest Post
The idea to set my story during the Gilded Age came from an unexpected place. I was helping someone research their family tree when I stumbled across an 1895 newspaper article about the growing backlash against department stores. Small shop owners were worried, and rightfully so, that these big, shiny stores were going to push them out of business. That little discovery opened a door for me.
What I love most about the Gilded Age is how much change was happening all at once. Technology was advancing, cities were booming, social expectations were shifting, especially for women. It was a world trying to figure out who it was going to be. To build an authentic world for my story, I spent weeks researching daily life in the 1890s, especially Philadelphia and New York. I read many newspaper articles, studied fashion plates, and researched travel guides published in the late 1800s.
2. How do you decide the characters' professions and how they'll factor into the story?
I love picking professions that aren’t just interesting, but that mean something for the character’s journey. Their work isn’t just a background detail, it’s often the stage where their biggest struggles and growth happen.
For example, my heroine Ivy is a bookseller running her family’s little shop in New York. That idea came from another article I found during research about newsdealers in Brooklyn who were trying to figure out how to survive against the rise of department stores. I loved the thought of someone like Ivy having to fight for her place in a world that's changing faster than she can keep up.
On the flip side, Will, the hero of the story is one of the heirs to Denwall, the very department store that threatens shops like Ivy’s. It sets up natural tension between them but also opens the door for a lot of growth, compromise, and ultimately, understanding.
In general, when I’m deciding on professions, I ask: How can this job challenge them? How can it reveal what they value—and what they’re afraid of losing? Whether it’s a bookseller or a department store executive, each role helps drive the heart of the story.
About the Author
Kimberly Keagan discovered her love for romance novels at thirteen, often choosing a book over chores. She believes there's nothing like being transported to another time and place to find a happily ever after.
Kimberly is blessed to have her own handsome hero husband and two wonderful children. After earning a degree in accounting, she enjoyed a career in investor relations, writing financial reports and press releases—terrific jobs, though not very romantic. Now, she's pursuing her dream of writing historical romance. Her short stories have been published in Spark Flash Fiction and Short Fiction Break. Kimberly's debut novel will release in 2025. When not reading or writing, Kimberly enjoys baking, gardening, watching sports, and researching her family tree.Connect with Kimberly by visiting kimberlykeagan.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Tour Giveaway
(2) winners will receive a “Perfect” Tea Time Bundle which includes a lovely tea set, a signed copy of Perfect, and other cozy reader treats—like a candle, stickers, coaster, and bookmark!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight May 6, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 13, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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