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A historical mystery that takes place in Columbia in 1925 which was also when a deadly earthquake and cholera epidemic broke out. A love triangle , a missing plantation owner and plenty of secrets await. Characters from the first book, THE SPANISH DAUGHTER continue in this story where Puri comes to Columbia in search of her business partner and past love have disappeared. She poses as a nun and together with the missing man's best friend set in search of what happened. Lush writing and landscape of Columbia together with the interesting time period and effects of devastating loss make for a romantic mystery. This works easily as a standalone. 3 1/2 stars 
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A frightening horror story grounded in history about families living on the Texas Mexican border in 1840's. Mexican ranching families living north of the Rio Grande were Mexican citizens yet they were given no support from their home country when American armies swarmed them ready to take the land they had held for generations and claim it for the states. Nena is the daughter of a wealthy rancher who is destined to marry one of her class not her childhood friend Nester a vaquero who works for her family. While a tragic event caused them to be separated for almost ten years those feelings have remained. However they have bigger problems on the horizon. A strange malady is taking hold of the people of South Texas as shadowy blood sucking vampires of legend are attacking more frequently and the Anglo armies land vampires are pushing south. Family loyalty, old traditions, love and magic will all be put to the test in this horror story you can sink your teeth into. Readers of historical fiction will enjoy this as much as the readers of classic horror stories. 4 stars  The second thrilling adventure of a French detective caught between a rock and a hard dangerous place namely having to work for the Nazis who have taken over Paris. Henri Lefort has no love for the Nazis running his country and in his mind messing up everything good about Paris. He really has no love for solving this case that involves yet another missing German but he also very much wants to keep living. Somehow this case leads to another that his friend with access to better food and wine, wants him to look into involving missing children. Henri's banter is sharp, his heart is big and his brushes with near death and the gestapo are becoming legendary. Included in the character list are some very real players in wartime Paris and this gives the series a real footprint with a fictional detective. For historical mystery lovers who always root for the underdog! 4 stars  Recently widowed President Woodrow Wilson would have created quite the social media scandal today if he had acted as he did then by throwing himself at Edith Boling. His daily love letters and constant attention finally won her over and she marrys him if for no other reason than to get his attention back to his job and the ever growing war in Europe. Despite public opinion and several member's of Wilson's staff, Edith becomes a voice of reason, a calming influence and a true helpmate at her husband's side. She quietly helps with his correspondence, offers sage advice and covers for Wilson's failing health. Behind the scenes she brokers for peace in Europe, suggests cabinet positions and runs the White House as her husband would. Another illuminating journey into a powerful woman behind the man in power. 3 1/2 stars  Many believe that books are magic and in this story THE SCARLET LETTER was just that. Mia is raised in a cult that took in her pregnant and alone mother years before. Their leader acting as her father is a violent tyrant who demands strict obedience and little interaction with the outside world. Her mother secretly shares stories and a love of books which leads Mia to the library and someone who will save her. A magical copy of THE SCARLET LETTER allows Mia to travel back in time where she falls for none other than Nathaniel Hawthorne. As she finds true love and acceptance she will also understand the damage she may be doing crossing over into his world. She has something that her father wants and he will stop at nothing to get control once again. A beautifully realized story of the power of books to escape and give a voice to the powerless. Once again Alice Hoffman's atmospheric writing takes us to a quiet haven within a violent world with a hint of the mystical. 4 stars  1938 and trouble is brewing in Germany but you would never know it in Paris where there are bubbles, grand parties and art and wealth everywhere. Charlie is escaping a series of bad events (one being her soon to be divorced husband) and starting over as a reporter for The Times in Paris. Determined to make a name for herself she quickly becomes one with high society and the very busy social scene. At her first big event one of the wealthy is murdered and Charlie is right in the middle of the biggest story of the year. As she digs deeper she finds herself closer to her new friends who are all keeping secrets the biggest being that one may be a murderer. Elegant and filled with the promise of endless parties, overflowing champagne flutes and more murders, this is the start of a new series and an unflappable heroine we want to know more about. This will appeal to historical murder mystery lovers the likes of Agatha Christie and MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH MURDER by Colleen Cambridge. 3 1/2 stars  The saga of a small town in Pennsylvania where Eastern European Jews and Black Americans lived and worked together to prosper and fight back against discrimination as much as they could. The Heaven & Earth grocery store is owned by a generous Jewish woman named Chona and her enterprising husband Moshe. Moshe saw opportunity in the businesses he ran such as the music hall and Chona saw opportunity to help others at the store. Together with their neighbors they fought alongside each other against the evils of the world - be it the white town a few miles away who wanted distance, the Klan or evil in the form of someone they should have been able to trust. When Chona, Moshe and their friends Nate and Addie decide to help hide a young deaf and dumb boy it brings trouble to their doorstep that will change their lives forever. James McBride has a gift for warm and witty dialogue spiced with scenes that disgust and delight us in their humanity. This is a story that takes as long to tell as it should and puts him in the company of America's great storytellers. For readers of the character rich stories of Amor Towles, Ann Patchett and Jamie Ford and THE GOLEM AND THE JINNI. 4 1/2 stars  It is the 60's and the California surf culture is at high tide. It is also a time of political upheaval, war, racial tension, free love and musical discovery. Mindy and Ginger are being raised by sometimes parents. Their mom is sometimes there but as a surfing sensation she has little skill or desire to be a mom and their dad tried but has given them up as well to begin again with a new family. It is Mindy who takes over being everything to her younger sister but when it is her turn at the big wave of stardom Ginger is left adrift and falls under the spell of a self-proclaimed surf god and cult leader. The sisters go separate ways and reunite as the ebb and flow of their lives permit but one man will have the power to keep them connected. A classic endless summer coming-of-age story filled with sunlit dreams and dangerous emotional riptides. One of Melanie Benjamin's best but as a child of the 60's and California native I may be a bit biased. 4 stars  Three generations of girls from the Dakota (Dakhota) nation have been traumatized beginning with the treatment suffered at the hands of white run Indian Schools which set out to strip them of their culture and "civilize" them. Beginning with Cora in the late 1800's and ending with Sissy in 1960's Chicago, each had a doll who they looked to for solace, guidance and connection. This trauma was passed onto the next generation with little understanding of its roots until Sissy pieces together her grandmother, mother and her own family history through the dolls. Linking the stories of the children in connection with the doll's voice allows the reader to understand the profound loss of identity and lingering trauma that Native Americans face and keep the stories preserved and passed on. Readalikes would include CROW MARY and ONE THOUSAND WHITE WOMEN. 4 stars  In 1923 Mae Foley and a small group of brave women join the prestigious New York City Police Dept. Beginning with Teddy Roosevelt's reign as Police Commissioner, women had gotten their toe in the door but still had an upward battle to prove themselves to their male counterparts. Mae began her career searching women who had been arrested and watching over subways to protect female passengers from lewd behavior and pickpockets but graduated to closing brothels and speakeasys during Prohibition. Once she made detective the fun began and Mae was very successful at undercover work even protecting female witnesses from gangster Lucky Luciano before trial and attending Nazi rallies. Anecdotes and hair raising stories of high speed chases and near misses with arrested women packing heat make this a historical romp that is entertaining and encouraging for women breaking into traditional male roles. 4 stars  |
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