Review
In what is, quite easily, one of the most pleasingly quick-witted, funny, highly intelligent, and even spiritually insightful books to come out for many a year, Bridget Finklaire's Red Dress is a book that perfectly embodies the phrase "page turner."
A story that lends itself unerringly well to a lot of us these days, even more so than before due to the world we currently live in, Red Dress is an elegantly, free flowing tale of a woman feeling trapped within her expansive set of hourly and daily responsibilities.
Whilst also trying to figure out how to extricate herself from a bad marriage (albeit one spent with an admittedly handsome husband), our lead character Katy - a career mum in her 40s, supportive, as best she can be, of her two teenage children - has a thriving therapy practice in the prestigious London area that holds forth Harley Street.
I won't give away the impulsive decision that she makes to suddenly set in motion a domino effect that changes her life forever, but what I will say is that if Katy can do it, and even details her road map (complete with pitfalls) here for you within this book, perhaps it could now become all the more easier for others (in the real world) to follow suit?
For that's just how good Finklaire's prose is, for it allows the reader to not only get within the layered textures of Katy's unfolding, and at times unraveling life, but to learn along the way more about how they themselves feel; and possibly even match up in similar mannerisms alongside her.
Embedded throughout, for the most part, with a sense of spiritual development and self-awareness, Red Dress is an honest and extremely relatable book that breaks the, at times, spiraling tension with perfectly placed pockets of both wisdom and humor.
Trust me when I say that if you are anything like me, you will quickly become immersed in Katy's life, her struggles, her bouts of self-evaluation, her search, coming out the other end with her as a changed, fresher, more confident and self-approved loving version of yourself also.
Anne Carlini - Russell Trunk's Exclusive Magazine.
"A well-written fictional book with many life lessons interwoven. I found I related to so much of Katy's story. Many ah-ha moments and some interesting new perspectives. This book is for anyone who is intrigued about their life and how to make positive changes. It's witty, honest and relatable. Totally loved it!"
Jana Jenkinns, BookishWiccan, Reviewer
From the Author
Hello & Welcome!
I wrote Red Dress, a novel, to inspire people who may feel their lives are not quite as rosy as they'd hoped! Described by reviewers as a witty and clever page-turner, the book is also packed with authentic spiritual wisdom!
The story of a stress-out, time-starved career mom is honest and highly relatable to many women. You can take it on different levels. Is it simply a story of someone approaching burn-out whose search for self leads her down a new path, or is there more?
Within the context of an engaging novel, I've included a tale of how toxic relationships affect people mentally and emotionally and how they can work through their inner concerns with therapy. But don't let that put you off! Red Dress is not a dry account of analysis! Far from it! Katy, the protagonist, simultaneously embarks on a spiritual journey of discovery. The path she chooses enables the reader to observe what it's like to awaken to something more. Because although it's a fictional read, Red Dress plots the course of a genuine and authentic path. Katy meditates, does yoga, reads spiritual books and enrols on weekend courses. Every modality that she encounters is true to life. In this regard, Red Dress is the map and the compass that you can choose to follow in creating a life that's more in alignment with who you are.
Through the tension, pockets of humour and nuggets of wisdom, you may recognise Katy's life as your own: Her struggles, her bouts of self-doubt, her search, her longings, and even her craving for chocolate!
Will you come out the other end, as Katy does, as a changed, happier, more alive version of herself?
Love, Light & Blessings,
Bridget
From the Back Cover
"The kind of enlightened romantic drama Shakespeare would have written if he were alive today."
- William Whitecloud, author of The Magician's Way
About the Author
Bridget Finklaire is an author, teacher and facilitator for change. She has a background and training in psychotherapy, hypnotherapy and healing. Bringing together the threads of her spiritual and professional journey, she created "The Bone Circle" (c) - a training for women to access their highest potential and support each other in creating the lives they'd love. As of 2021, The Bone Circle will be open to both men and women. She lives in Cape Town, South Africa.
