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Wartime ,North Carolina Lucy and Bert are sisters by choice if not by blood. Joined at the hip they help working on Lucy's family tobacco farm filling the government contract for bees wax. They are wary, as is the rest of the town, of the workers who come from the German POW camp to work the farm. They also share a love of Nancy Drew mysteries so when people go missing the girls, with help from a local psychic, put on their detective hats and jump into the danger. Southern coming of age story in a time of war full of distrust, an end of youthful innocence and big changes for both the girls and the small town. The writing is reminiscent of Pat Conroy and you can't help but fall for these quirky small town characters. An added bonus are a selection of recipes and a reader's guide that will make this a book clubber's delight. 4 1/2 stars 
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This is one of those books that proves that the best fiction is pulled from real life. Mirielle West sees a doctor for a burn and never gets to say goodbye to her husband, children and the glamorous life she had in Hollywood. Instead, she is dumped in a cattle car along with other unfortunates and whisked away to a leper colony in Louisiana. In the 1920's Hansen's disease or Leprosy as it was more commonly known, was feared so that sufferers were treated like criminals, shunned and hidden away in facilities that resembled prisons more than hospitals. When Mirielle arrives at Carville a spoiled woman who loved her family but relinquished the children to nannies and running the household to the help, she is little prepared for her new life. She will find new family, mother a young girl who has been cast aside in a world of adults, love and lifelong friendship. Even though she may have been given a death sentence, she will not stop fighting and may find her true calling. Well researched this is the perfect historical fiction companion to the history of Carville, CARVILLE'S CURE by Pam Fessler. 4 1/2 stars  A sweeping story of a young woman Ailey trying to find her place and her ancestor's stories that make up her rich heritage and multi- racial background. In beautiful prose (which we would expect from the author's previous poetry) we jump from Ailey and present day back and forth to stories of her genetic pool and all the horrible conditions in which they lived and their joys. This weighty tome spans from Colonial slavery to present day. Jumping from many characters back and forth did take me some time to follow but it feels very lyrical and once you adjust to the rhythm it gets easier. 4 stars  What a grand adventure! Two sisters follow the path of their grandmother and her sister and the famous Nellie Bly when they travel to Europe for a grand tour alone and on the eve of unrest from the blooming Nazi party. Maddie and Clara do not see eye to eye but they do agree that the task that their beloved grandmother has given them must be done. We witness the glamour of Paris, Venice in fog, Vienna's growing tensions as well as their voyage on the Queen Mary, Orient Express and ill-fated Hindenburg. Armchair travel at its very best this is a story of love, the challenges of family and following your dreams. 4 stars  Another shining example of the heroism and determination of women in the fight for equality. Alice Paul, Maude Malone and Ida B. Wells came from different backgrounds and parts of the country but they came together to risk everything to campaign for women's rights. Each gained attention for the Suffrage Movement by putting themselves at the front of every protest, political campaign stop and rally until Woodrow Wilson and others could not ignore their strength or numbers. A fascinating look at history but with a more personal look at these courageous women. It was amazing to see how many times they were thrown in prison, manhandled and the target of verbal abuse just to gain one baby step for women for each giant leap of the men in charge. 4 stars  Saskia is left adrift by her parents first to her grandmother's house and then passed to another family who in turn uproots the family to live at a strange commune called "home". After taking all their money and possessions the charismatic leader, Abraham tries to teach them the benefits of unthinging and living off the land. Saskia falls hard for Abraham and begins to appreciate the teachings then but something bad happens. Years later Saskia and the other teens from Home are sent threatening letters that tell them to come Home or else. Reluctantly they return to confront the blackmailer and the incident that changed their lives. The book jumps back and forth between Saskia's youth and teen years at Home and current day. The sudden jumps and short chapters took me some time to adjust to but add to the suspense. This is a coming of age story with a thriller edginess. Recommended for readers of Emma Cline's THE GIRLS and I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER. 4 stars  Zhu was once a worthless girl child whose father couldn't even sell her to feed himself and his son. When she is left an orphan she takes on the name and life of her brother whose destiny was for greatness. She lives at a monastery somehow hiding her female past and then begins to form her own destiny as a warrior monk who knows no fear and whose desire for power is only seconded by a desire for the beautiful Ma. This is CROUCHING TIGER meets MULAN and inspired by the founding Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Power, determination and a belief in greatness no matter what sex you are born. Her beautifully choreographed writing style that is as graceful as watching a martial arts exercise. 4 stars  Leigh and her younger sister Callie had a tough time growing up and even though they did something very bad as teens, it had to be done. Years later Leigh is a successful defense attorney. Callie has had a tougher time struggling with addiction and is no longer in Leigh's life. Now someone has popped up from their past and has the power to take it all away from them. Written during the pandemic (it still feels weird to read about wearing masks) the story incorporates COVID and still delivers a one/two punch to the gut which Karin Slaughter is known for. A brutal story of abuse of a child and revenge, this is not an easy story to read but justice is sweet. 4 stars  This is a classic horror tale of why you should never go home again. Nathan, his wife and their teenage son Oliver have just moved back to Nathan's childhood home after his abusive father dies. Something evil has happened around there and it begins to affect all of them. A serial killer who disappears into thin air, a haunted coal mine, a really creepy kid who befriends Oliver, a strange book that shares visions and ghosts galore. This scary tale is reminiscent of early Stephen King and the HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE. 4 stars  New moms everywhere have issues and insecurities but this is the first time I have ever heard of a mom convinced she is turning into a dog. This unusual debut has moments of absolute clarity for every mom - being constantly woken at all hours by toddlers fists and feet, a husband who is able to escape via business travel, frustrations over putting your career on hold and having it replaced as a caregiver to a stubborn tiny human plus the endless struggle to escape the constant caregiver routine. Believing her canine teeth are getting sharper and the strange discovery of course hair on her neck convinces "the mother" that she is becoming a dog but she finds wisdom in a library book. A weird mix of folklore, motherhood and society's lack of appreciation for mothers - this will appeal to all moms feeling a bit lost in their new role as well as readers looking for a fresh voice . 3 1/2 stars  |
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