A young woman in a dead end government job gets an unusual career boost when she agrees to become a "bridge". Her new role has her assisting Commander Graham Gore who died in 1847 as part of the doomed Franklin Arctic Expedition. He has been brought forward in time and the bridge must help him acclimate to present day England. They live together, eat together and go to pubs with the others 24/7 Their relationship, along with the others in the program is remarkable, funny and not without its challenges - one of which is not falling in love. A very original debut complete with witty dialogue, great characters and ponders some weighty issues like a less than honest government and all that space-time continuum stuff. Fans of Matt Haig, Diana Gabaldon, Connie Willis and Kelley Armstrong's A RIP THRUGH TIME will zip through this book and demand more. 4 1/2 stars
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A young woman follows her dream by working for her favorite author at a writing retreat in Guatemala. When Jules is reported missing and presumed drowned her disbelieving mother heads to the retreat under a false name to investigate on her own. Everything is not as it should be and the more she digs the more sinister things become. In alternating chapters we follow the path that both daughter and then mother follow as they edge ever closer to the deep waters of the lake that holds many secrets. Tense storytelling that made me wonder what kind of writing retreats the author has attended! There are many good mother/daughter vibes to offset the violence and danger. 3 1/2 stars
The Great War is over and the brave men are coming home which presents a bit of a pickle for the women of England. During the war women did their share working at factories, driving trucks or ambulances and other male jobs only to have the men return and those jobs given back to them. Worse than that is the attitude that now the dainty ladies can go back to where they belong at home or in the society pages. Constance is working for an older family friend convalescing by the sea when she meets an unusual group of young women ready to defy the constraints that society puts on them. Poppy is leading the charge wanting to start a ladies motorcycle and flying club that includes a delivery service, competing in races and a flight school with a fixed up airplane left from the war. Poppy and her friends help Constance take risks and gain confidence by helping get the fledgling business off the ground. It doesn't hurt that she is attracted to Poppy's older brother who was injured in the war. This is the book for everyone missing DOWNTON ABBEY. Full of playful humor, a bit of romance and a look at Brits on the cusp of modern thinking but still struggling to keep up with tradition and society rules. A historical delight for a wide range of readers. 4 stars
The first book in a new series that focuses on powerful women of mixed cultures. Yaferi is stolen from Africa and sold to Vikings as an attendant to Princess Freydis. Freydis treats Yaferi with respect and friendship after an incident binds them together. Freydis teaches her customs, language and what she needs to know to stay alive and in return Yaferi teaches Freydis how to fight. They will need all this knowledge in order to defeat the diabolical men in charge. Yaferi longs to become a shield maiden and fight in battle alongside Freydis's warrior aunt. There is a mix of shared mythologies as well as the usual violence and political backstabbing which makes this an intriguing addition to the genre. Again we see strong women who are willing to risk everything to take back control of their lives instead of leaving their fate in the hands of self-serving men. This will appeal to fans of Vikings, A FATE INKED IN BLOOD, CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE and books by Nnedi Okorafor. 4 stars
A young woman makes a mistake that takes the life of someone's wife and mother and she goes to prison. Violet is fresh out and is looking for work and a fresh start. A chance meeting with her beloved leader of the prison book club helps land her a job she is well suited for. She also accidentally comes face to face with the man most affected by her past. Violet must accept that she has paid her dues and can start over but still feels that she will forever try to atone for that one night. This is a deep soulful story of second chances, forgiveness and family where you least expect to find it. As a bonus you learn so much about the intelligence and personality of parrots. Fans of THE READING LIST will enjoy this. 4 1/2 stars
Ella Fitzgerald is a well known name beloved for her talent but this is the little known story of what led up to that incredible career. Her mother died when she was a young leaving her to care for her little sister and under the roof of her abusive stepfather. Ella was set on becoming a dancer and worked hard to get noticed in Harlem but dancing didn't make enough so she began working for the mob as a numbers runner. When she was sent to a horrific reform school it looked like she would never get the chance to show the world what she was capable of. What some would call a lucky break was just another example of how quick thinking and hard working she was.
Just like that the dancer became the singer and the rest was history. An incredible and emotional portrait of discrimination, abuse, hard work and a young girl who was determined to make it big. This story would be perfect in tandem with CAN'T WE BE FRIENDS by Eliza Knight which showcases the friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe. 4 stars Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Count Basie are names as familiar as the founding fathers or Hollywood stars yet we know little of their struggles to become the greats of the Jazz Age. They all had to fight to play, not only because of competition, but because of their skin color. The three came from varied backgrounds but all of them dealt with racism in order to have their incredible talent heard. This is a comprehensive look not only the music industry and birth of jazz but also the history of the times. We see just what it meant to be a popular musician and the rigorous schedule they had to keep to in order to break even by playing clubs most of the year. The author does an excellent job of painting a picture of those smoky clubs, the glamorous (for some) Pullman cars and the terror of finding yourself on a dark road in an unfriendly and dangerous part of the country. Music lovers and historians alike will find much to enjoy. 4 stars
What a wonder a plant is. An organism that is beneficial to so many creatures and humans, exists in some of the harshest conditions and (as we now understand) exhibits intelligent behavior. Plants can adapt quickly to a threat of insects, animals, humans, drought etc. They communicate to other plants to warn them of threats and actively protect and guard plants around them. THE LIGHT EATERS delves into the miraculous life and behavior of plants from changing the shape of their leaves to blend in with other plants , emitting a bad taste or smell to ward off aggressive nibblers or making themselves attractive to pollinators you will be amazed and in awe of this darn near perfect ecosystem. Fans of THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF TREES and home botanists and garden enthusiasts will enjoy this book. 4 stars Happy book birthday to THEIR DIVINE FIRES by Wendy Chen
What better way to celebrate AAPI month than with this book. A multigenerational tale of what China was like before and after the Chinese Revolution, under Chairman Mao and the Cultural Revolution and then for the first generation who came to America. Daughters were considered expendable and not as important as sons yet their strength kept the bloodlines and traditions from dying out. Lyrical writing that weaves Chinese culture and myth with the new politics and upheaval. We have seen a much needed surge of Asian/American women's stories and I enjoyed this one for the focus on old China and the revolution's impact on generations. 4 stars No one can paint a picture of an event or history like Erik Larson. He is completely readable and a favorite of mine to hand to readers who don't usually enjoy reading non- fiction. This story hinges on the months before Abraham Lincoln takes the presidential oath and the growing unrest as several states pull out of the Union. In his classic story set up Larson takes the views of the country and the leading political leaders but highlights the very real problem that the military faced guarding Fort Sumter off the shore of South Carolina. They were surrounded by very upset states who were stockpiling ammunition and preparing for war which left Ft. Sumter potentially cut off of supplies and no way off the island. He gives us a very human viewpoint instead of countless facts or just the military and political angles. Loved the raw humor and anxiety of Lincoln's early days getting to Washington. For every history buff and those who want to understand how we fell apart and those who are watching MANHUNT. 4 stars |
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