A young noblewoman in 16th century France finds she has no control when her cousin becomes her guardian. Her studies, her home, fortune and basically the clothes on her back now belong to her abusive guardian. After squandering most of her fortune away he takes her and her maid with him on a dangerous sea voyage to the unknown coast of Canada. When love finds her he takes that as well and her freedom stranding them on an uninhibited island without little chance of rescue or survival.
Based on the true story of Marguerite de las Rocque de Roberval this harrowing adventure of brutality, strength and faith shows an absolute determination to survive. Sure to please historical readers as well as those who read stories of women who defy the odds this is a grown up version of ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS. Intoxicating writing that is so expressive you feel the sea spray and hear the call of the island birds. 4 stars THIS BOOK WILL BE PUBLISHED ON 2/4/25
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A dive into the excitement of the Harlem Renaissance starring none other than the illustrious W.E.B. Du Bois. He pulls a young Jessie Redmon Fauset to become the first literary editor of his Negro magazine, THE CRISIS introducing her to the rising stars of Black literature. Every dream she has ever had comes true except that her lover, mentor and boss is the very married W.E.B. Du Bois. It is enough of a challenge to be a Black woman fighting for prominence in a white man's world but she must also risk everything for the man she loves. A wonderful time period and setting with a variety of characters this will appeal to historical fiction readers especially those of less know women. 4 stars THIS BOOK WILL BE PUBLISHED ON 2/4/25
While sorting through a donations box in post war London Louise finds a necklace that she has seen years before while helping the Red Cross bring supplies to POW camps in Germany. Leaving family behind she tracks down an old ally who may be able to get her the answers she needs in Paris. The story that is woven into Louise's search is about the owner of the necklace and how she came to be arrested and sent to a hidden Nazi war camp within a famous Parisian department store. An interesting story that we have not heard much about. Not only does the author tackle the horrors of war and separation but also the unlikely heroes and guilt at not being able to do more. Readers of wartime heroines will have much to like about this book. 4 stars THIS BOOK WILL BE PUBLISHED ON 2/4/25 Dark and diabolical this is a cautionary tale of a governess pushed to the limit. She comes to a family estate to care for two spoiled brats and must deal with a barrage of verbal and physical abuse which fans the darkness within until Christmas arrives and she can take it no more. The Victorian privileged class has never looked so repulsive and while Winifred Notty is not a tragic figure you are rooting for her to put the Pounds family underground. Virginia Feito does a fantastic job of illustrating the food, speech and ridiculous customs of the day. A gruesome gothic tale full of dark wit and horror reminiscent of Sweeney Todd or a Victorian version of Alfred Hitchcock. 4 stars THIS BOOK WILL BE PUBLISHED ON FEB 4, 2025
The story of the first female ruler of the Assyrian empire is lavishly illustrated in this tale of a woman who came from nothing yet ended up loving two men and leading an empire. In a time of great turbulence both in her personal life and in the warring kingdoms Semiramis straddled the line between success and death many times. She married the king's brother but fell for the king, she was meant to stay in her husband's shadow yet filled in for him in the council and battleground and she relied on her spy but needed to trust someone in the court. Richly detailed, the ancient world lifts off the page and showcases a violent empire full of political intrigue, love, danger and unquestionable loyalty. Costanza Cosati has a gift for making the ancient world come alive and her many fans will enjoy this as much as they did her first book. I really appreciated the reference materials at the start of the book to guide me into the world of the Assyrians. For readers of strong female warrior queens who have been overlooked and underwritten. 4 1/2 stars Happy book birthday to THE FAVORITES by Layne Fargo
You remember the news stories, the rumors, the scandals, the brutal competition to bring home the gold and be crowned the best. Olympic athletes are in a class by themselves and we see them as machines devoid of emotion especially when on camera. THE FAVORITES takes us behind the scenes of ice dancing from childhood dream to hopefully an Olympic podium focusing on a pair of skaters who have been at each other's side and back since they first laced skates. Katerina and Heath quickly learn that they must overcome a rocky start become one fluid person without emotion other than the obsessive drive to be the best. Emotions run high in this glittery world that praises you one minute and runs a skate across your throat the next. This story has all the adrenaline, passion, bright lights and backstabbing that will have readers flipping pages faster than you can lace up your skates. It does for Olympic ice skating what DAISY JONES AND THE SIX did for rock bands or what THE BALLERINAS by Rachel Kapelke-Dale did for professional dance. An emotional roller coaster love/hate story that will leave you reeling. 4 1/2 made for tv stars They said they were disgraced so they shipped them away shamefully to a home for unwed mothers where they would rid themselves of their mistake and return to their former life. They arrived a bunch of little girls but left as rebellious young women and it would take supporting each other and a group of witches to set the record straight. There were no options other than eat what we tell you, do what we tell you and don't worry about understanding what is going on or what will happen to your baby. They weren't even allowed to use their own names but when these teens find themselves with a borrowed library book on witchcraft they begin to fight back. The story takes place in 1970 but the labels and backward thinking go back much further when any outspoken girl wanting control of her body was branded a witch and set aflame. The humor balances the horror of their pregnancy backstory and trauma. Loved the "wicked" band of women and how they supported one another under the radar. A spectacular blend of historical fiction and horror story that Grady Hendrix does so well. 4 stars
Two women who knew each other end up on opposite sides of the prison camp fence. Hannah is placed in what is believed to be a model Jewish community but behind the Hollywood backdrop Theresienstadt is simply a prison camp. Hilde is desperate to prove herself as a filmmaker and is involved with the making of a propaganda film that is being produced to show the world how "good" the Jews have it. It is interesting to witness just how both of them bought into the propaganda of the Nazis and amazing to think that much of the world could not believe that starvation, unsanitary conditions and cruelty that was really going on. Fans of Jennifer Coburn and those harrowing tales of brave women in WWII from different points of view will appreciate this. 4 stars
The latest in historical mysteries featuring a well known armchair detective. This story is centered around the former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt after leaving the White House but still very involved on the hill. While helping locate an old friend's missing daughter she and her new assistant are shocked to discover the daughter's body on a train. Mrs. Roosevelt's new assistant Kay is hoping to snag a rich husband and instead ends up chasing the First Lady while she meets with Soviet spies, Washington political heavyweights (like the Kennedy brothers) and the police. The police are quick to blame the black porter until his and other bodies start turning up. Quick paced and a nice nod to the often overlooked intelligence and kindness of Eleanor Roosevelt. This falls into the cozy end of historical murder mysteries that covers a wide array of characters and Cold War territory. 3 1/2 stars THIS BOOK WILL BE PUBLISHED ON 1/21/25 A well researched tale of Ruth Handler and the doll that launched Mattel toys into the big league. Ruth Handler was a tough business woman at a time where women held jobs in a more traditional workforce. She was an on again/off again mother, trailblazer and fought to bring a great idea to market against the odds. Her ideas should have been embraced by the Women's Movement buoyed by her own career experience and the hopes she had for her own daughter. Up until Barbie little girls had baby dolls which prepared them for the task of motherhood and little else. Barbie promised more - a career, a car, a house, boyfriend and girlfriends who were equally career minded. As sales grew Barbie's world expanded that would send little girls going to the moon, becoming doctors and more. Ruth was a fascinating character as were her creative and engineering team and I wish there had been a deeper look at her relationships with her husband and kids. It is an amazing story of a brilliant marketer and the little doll that empowered future generations to dream bigger. 4 stars
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