In the dazzling yet daunting world of 1930s Hollywood, Sandra Sanborn finds herself far from the glamorous life she believes is her birthright. Instead of mingling with the privileged, she’s holding a sandwich board, desperately seeking her big break in the movies. The Great Depression casts a long shadow, making her aspirations seem even more distant, but Sandra is undeterred. She carries within her the legacy of her grandmother Vira, a Gold Rush pioneer who established their family’s prominence in San Francisco, and her mother Mabel, who enjoyed a childhood of luxury and married into wealth. Success, Sandra believes, is encoded in her DNA; she just needs the opportunity to prove it to the world and escape feeling like she’s Right Back Where We Started From.
Between the sting of rejection at auditions, Sandra’s life takes an unexpected turn with a letter. A man claims to be her father, shaking the foundations of her family history and her own identity. As Sandra strives to ascend the social ladder and achieve her dreams, long-hidden family secrets emerge, threatening to pull her down and leave her feeling right back where we started from. These aren’t just whispers of the past; they are heavy chains forged from the choices of Vira and Mabel, choices that shaped the family’s fortunes – both their rise and their fall. Sandra’s journey becomes a compelling exploration of her heritage, forcing her to confront uncomfortable truths about how her grandmother and mother gained, and ultimately lost, their wealth and status.
This multigenerational saga, “Right Back Where We Started From“, delves deep into the intoxicating allure of ambition that gripped the American psyche during the Gold Rush era. It examines how this relentless drive shaped our nation’s understanding of success and failure, and the ever-elusive pursuit of happiness. Through Sandra’s compelling story, the novel becomes a meticulously crafted tapestry, rich in historical detail, interwoven with romance and suspense. It introduces us to three unforgettable women, each fiercely determined in their own right, yet bound by the intricate threads of family and fate, constantly navigating the forces that threaten to send them right back where we started from. Ultimately, Sandra’s quest is not just about fame and fortune, but about understanding her roots to break free from the cycles of the past and finally move forward.
