Hannah Elias became a prominent and notorious figure in 1900's New York. She grew up in poverty and abuse using her wits and female charm to become one of the wealthiest women of the city and the only black woman to do so. From prison to poorhouse to a mansion off the park Hannah took in the advice of her gentlemen friends and capitalized on prime real estate. Her adult life was not without grief, pain and deceit which culminated in her arrest and public judgement in a murder trial. As a woman she was target for social outcry but as a black woman she was subjected to the worst jails in the city. This book reads more like a biography than historical fiction. Filled with background facts on the robber barons of New York as well as corruption and the inner workings of bordellos/boardinghouses , this is a fascinating look at the city and a stunning example of strong women of color finding success not only in a man's world but a white man's world. Fans of now famous women of color as well as those who love New York City during this time period will find much to enjoy here. 4 stars
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This story is a climate change horror tale with our future spent enclosed and masked thanks to killer tree pollen. It is also a horror tale of a serial killer and a story of possession. Trying to stop a serial killer who is running around your neighborhood is not something that Izabel planned on nor did she think that her four year old's sleep conversations would alert them to the killer's whereabouts but Izabel and her family find themselves totally involved and running out of time before the killer finds them. This intense book will find many fans in readers of thrillers and apocalyptic sci-fi. Scary on so many levels, Sarah Blake blends a story of a family on the brink with a futuristic yet classic police thriller. Now I have to go have a conversation with my trees.
4 stars A firecracker debut that reads like Bonnie & Clyde meets WE BEGIN AT THE END. A 13 year old escapes a life filled with foster homes and abuse only to fall prey to a smooth talking devil who lures her away and grooms her to become his getaway driver and partner in crime. Even when Manny is caught and Kit starts over she is unable to trust and remains afraid of what will happen if he gets out of prison and finds her and her daughter. Small town secrets and a fatal attraction could ruin everything for Kit if her one chance to make it right is all wrong. Heartfelt and raw this book is violent and unsettling and it will pull you in immediately. 5 stars
A sweeping look at the melting pot of 1902 and New York's Ellis Island. They came from all over seeking a fresh start away from the poverty and violence at home - looking towards America as the land of opportunity only to find themselves in a land that didn't want them, didn't understand them and feared them. Imagine surviving a harrowing sea voyage in the belly of a ship and finding yourself in a foreign land where you don't understand the language, customs or why you are being turned away and shipped home. This island that held such hope was often full of corruption, deceit and racism for these immigrants who had already been through so much. A friendship begins between a German/American young woman with a gift for language and a young Italian immigrant who has already seen more than her share of loss. Alma and Francesca's friendship will strengthen their resolve to help rid Ellis of shoddy treatment and corruption and help each other stand up for themselves. A beautiful story of female friendship bonding over the similarities we share rather than the differences.
This will appeal to readers who want more stories of early immigrant experiences as well as those who are interested in this fascinating time in New York City's history. The author's notes and a reading group guide will be helpful for book clubs. 4 stars Ursula is successful and alone so she signs up for an intensive week of tests and evaluations which will land her the perfect companion. When she meets Rafael sparks fly and they seem perfect together - a bit too perfect. While finishing each other's sentences or knowing exactly what food the other loves or despises are important matchmaking checkmarks, there is more to romance than what data mining can provide right? An unusual debut that shows us the best and worst of expensive dating programs. People are flawed even people who find each other and fall madly in love. This is a witty romcom with an interesting arc. 3 stars
Grand Duchess Olga is the oldest child of the ill fated Romanov family. She lived a parallel life going from ballrooms to being imprisoned under gunpoint in seclusion. Her life began as a fairy tale in glittering gowns adored by the Russian subjects and her family alike, falling in love and wondering who she would marry just like any other young woman and then seeing her father's end as Tsar and her family's disgrace culminating in imprisonment. The chapters bounce from their life in Saint Petersburg and various palaces to their banishment and constant relocation. Olga struggles with the pain of watching her young brother in pain but also the defeat of her father and collapse of the only political system and life they knew. Theirs is a story of power and the belief that it was their God given right to rule over the people of Russia and the strain of keeping hope and Alexi alive as their situation grew more dire. Olga's point of view is interesting because she was old enough to be aware of the outside world's opinion of her family but also able to operate in the shadows. It did take some time for me to get comfortable with the constant shifting back and forth in time with each chapter but there is so much covered here. A sweeping historical story of the end of a powerful family. 4 stars
Cherish is what Farrah calls "white girl spoiled"and Farrah would know since they are the only two black girls in the well off neighborhood and have been joined at the hip since third grade. Cherish is coddled and spoiled by her adopted white parents which includes taking in Farrah to stay for as long as she likes when her own family goes through hard times. The perfect life begins to feel slightly less than perfect after some weird incidents happen but Farrah is still in control of her life and looking out for Cherish. The trick is to keep Farrah's life with Cherish and family on the happily ever after track. A mind numbing ending will have you going back over previous chapters to see if you missed something. This will resonate with fans of LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE. 4 stars
The GREAT GATSBY story revisited from new eyes - those of the women that pivoted around Jay Gatsby. The one that got away Daisy Buchanan, her best friend Jordan Baker, and sisters Catherine
and Myrtle Wilson are the ones who were controlled and kept in their place by powerful men. Each of these women had a history with Gatsby and each of them had a motive to put a bullet in him. With the same lush language and lazy pull of the Fitzgerald classic, Jillian Cantor gives us the characters most affected by that one summer and the frustration they felt at not being in control of their universe. It was the women who had to put up with messes created by the men who controlled them and the society that let it happen. Pour yourself a good stiff cocktail and find a comfortable settee on the veranda cause honey, you aren't going to stop reading till morning. 4 1/2 stars |
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