The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove

Nobody in Nashville has a bigger name to live up to than Bezellia Grove.nbsp; As a Grove, she belongs to one of city's most prominent families and is expected to embrace her position in high society.nbsp; That means speaking fluent French, dancing at cotillions with boys from other important families, and mastering the art of the perfect smile.nbsp; nbsp; Also looming large is her given name Bezellia, which has been passed down for generations to the first daughter born to...
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Nobody in Nashville has a bigger name to live up to than Bezellia Grove.nbsp; As a Grove, she belongs to one of city's most prominent families and is expected to embrace her position in high society.nbsp; That means speaking fluent French, dancing at cotillions with boys from other important families, and mastering the art of the perfect smile.nbsp;
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Also looming large is her given name Bezellia, which has been passed down for generations to the first daughter born to the eldest Grove.nbsp; The others in the long line of Bezellias shortened the ancestral name to Bee, Zee or Zell.nbsp; But Bezellia refuses all nicknames and dreams that one day she, too, will be remembered for her original namesake's courage and passion.
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Though she leads a life of privilege, being a Grove is far from easy.nbsp; Her mother hides her drinking but her alcoholism is hardly a secret.nbsp; Her father, who spends long hours at work, is distant and inaccessible.nbsp; For as long as she can remember, she's been raised by Maizelle, the nanny, and Nathaniel, the handyman.nbsp; To Bezellia, Maizelle and Nathaniel are cherished family members.nbsp; To her parents, they will never be more than servants.nbsp;nbsp;
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Relationships are complicated in 1960s Nashville, where society remains neatly ordered by class, status and skin color.nbsp; Black servants aren't supposed to eat at the same table as their white employers.nbsp; Black boys aren't supposed to make conversation with white girls.nbsp; And they certainly aren't supposed to fall in love.nbsp; When Bezellia has a clandestine affair with Nathaniel's son, Samuel, their romance is met with anger and fear from both families.nbsp; In a time and place where rebelling against the rules carries a steep price, Bezellia Grove must decide which of her names will be the one that defines her.