The Improper Life Of Bezellia Grove

Nobody in Nashville has a bigger name to live up to than Bezellia Grove. As a Grove, she belongs to one of the city’s most prominent families and is expected to embrace her position in high society. And her given name, Bezellia, has been passed down for generations, which only adds to the expectations since the original Bezellia was a passionate and courageous woman.

Being a Grove is hard. Her mother is a closet alcoholic. Her father is distant and inaccessible. For as long as she can remember, servants Maizelle and Nathaniel have raised Bezellia, and though she cherishes them, to her parents, they will only ever be servants.

In 1960s Nashville, society remains neatly ordered by class and color. Black servants don’t eat at white tables, and black boys certainly don’t make conversation with white girls. So when Bezellia and Nathaniel’s son, Samuel, fall in love, their romance is met with anger and fear from both families. In a time and a place where rebelling against the rules carries a steep price, Bezellia Grove must decide which of her names will define her.