The Jewel Box, written by first-time author Michelle McCarty, chronicles the life and loves of Jill who is a single mother trying to survive in the 1960s. She starts working in a bar called The Jewel Box to make ends meet and begins a journey that will bring a variety of characters into her life. Some are beloved, such as Beau, the loveable bar owner, and Gabriel, a man who becomes the love of her life. Some are less likeable, such as Hope and Gloria, who want nothing more than to keep Jill away from Gabriel.

                A book that follows the life of one individual can often end up losing my interest because I become bored with that character. Ms. McCarty does such a good job of developing this main character, from small town Jill to big city Cherie (she changes her name when she starts waitressing at the bar), that I found myself entertained throughout. All of the characters are rich and interesting with very diverse profiles. The main love story was realistic as Gabriel came and went from her life throughout the book but was always in her heart. The cover of the book, as read on my ereader, is intriguing and represents the story well. The format and editing were both well done and transferred to my ereader without any problem. This is a perfect chick-lit book that provided me with an enjoyable read!