The Bradens of Kansas City (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780962632488)

Come along on an exciting journey to 1930s Kansas City, in the middle of the Great Depression. Lizabeth Braden is determined to help her family by becoming a fashion designer. With limited resources she opens a clothing store. Her troubles begin when the leading department stores try to force her out of business. She must overcome a disaster, and survive an ongoing war with a labor union.

Lizabeth's brother, Walter, works as a bartender for the corrupt Hannon political machine. He is a fun-loving guy who revels in the night life of the city. He moves up in the organization, and evntually becomes a ward boss. Walter walks a fine line to avoid being corrupted by Hannon and still help people, while skirting Jim Crow laws. Walter makes an enemy of the Klan and becomes a target for a Mafia boss.

Lizabeth's older sister, Eileen, is an amatuer actress and has hopes to become a nationally known star. When she is discovered by a Hollywood agent, she must make a decision about her loyalty to Lizabeth, and whether to rebel against the wishes of her parents, who are firmly against her choice to become an actress.

It is a time when families were close and depended on one another. And then World War 11 begins, and they face a whole new set of challenges.