What does it mean to be a woman of true beauty in a society obsessed with all the wrong things? This question is at the heart of Amelia, the debut novel-and the first installment in the City of Roses Collection-by author Laura Starr Waxman.

It's the late 19th century in Portland, Oregon. After having been sent away by her overbearing mother, sixteen-year-old Amelia Lynn Hughes finds herself living in a welcoming home with her adored Aunt Angie. Unbeknownst to Amelia, her aunt harbors a life-altering secret that will soon change everything.

Captivated by the allure of high society, Amelia tries to fit in but finds it unfulfilling. Determined, Amelia pursues her long-held ambition of becoming a journalist and enters into the male-dominated world of newspaper reporting-no easy feat for a young woman who aims to move beyond the societal columns. Complicating matters, two suitors vie for her hand. While one has her heart, the other may hold the keys to her future.

In the end, Amelia must choose the path she truly desires. Is being a journalist worth the sacrifices required? And how exactly should a young woman of substance carry herself in a changing world?