Submerged beneath layers of history lies a long-ago buried secret.During the pandemic lockdown, Iris Pearl impulsively relocates her dulling marriage across the country in a bid to revive it. But renovating their Prerevolutionary Pennsylvania homestead gives Iris more than she bargained for when she makes a gruesome discovery, one that hurtles her and Benny’s haunted past to the present.Iris is desperately consumed by the desire to know what happened on her property over a century and a half earlier. Her search leads her to Irish immigrant Aoife Sprigett, the wife of Union soldier William. The further she digs into the mystery of Aoife’s fate, the deeper she reaches into her own secret history.While William serves in the Civil War, Aoife struggles to uphold her vow to maintain their livelihood, their farm, during his absence. Aoife’s only companion is their hired help, Thomas Walker, a freeborn black laborer. Aoife and Thomas develop a warm friendship as they toil side by side in the fields. Together, Aoife and Thomas sow deep seeds that bear deep-rooted consequences, which are now coming to light.Will unearthing the truth behind Aoife’s tragic past, which so closely parallels Iris’s own, free her and Benny from their marriage’s haunted history, or will revisiting that dark time destroy it?
Book reviews of mysteries, historical fiction and graphic novels with a smattering of non-fiction books.
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Under Water
Friday, May 3, 2024
The Merchant's Tale
Karl Scharping, a twenty-eight-year-old merchant from Danzig, has one thing on his mind—the beautiful bride awaiting him in Moscow. A careless leap from his horse derails his plans, confining him to a monastery near the White Sea. Hobbling to the window on crutches, Karl looks out on a vast expanse of water glistening in the dawn light and gasps at the sight of an English merchantman at anchor in the bay. He has no idea how much trouble that ship carries in its wake.
When Richard Chancellor departs his native London to serve the interests of his Tudor king by locating a new passage to the spice-rich Orient, he does not expect to wind up in Muscovy—ruled by Tsar Ivan IV, known as “the Terrible,” and his Romanov in-laws. The Russians welcome Chancellor and his sailors to the Kremlin, although the foreigners’ unfamiliar language poses problems and accidents delay their journey south. Then they reach Moscow, and their problems really begin.
This was an enjoyable read. I loved the Russian court setting as well as memories of Poland that were foremost in Karl and Pyotr's minds. The reader gets to see Tsar Ivan as a young ruler, long before he became Ivan the Terrible. Here "Terrible" means that he was a great ruler. Russian prince Mikhail's home was also prominent as Selina worked there as a teacher for his children. It was an opulent castle so different from Pyotr and Selina's humble home. The customs of the English traders was another part of the setting. They had different clothing and different trading practices than the Russians. However, the harsh Russian weather was the backdrop of most of the story.
Karl was a sympathetic character until he arrived in Moscow. His rigid personality became apparent in his dealings with his intended bride, Selina, as well as with the Russian court. He was not likable in this setting. Selina was an eighteen-year-old girl with romantic notions of marriage, especially after meeting Englishman Charles Anderson. Charles wooed Selina with poetry and frequently expressed his love for her. Karl had no idea how to do this and Selina did not want to marry him. Her brother arranged marriage to his buddy Karl and Selina tried to talk herself into marrying Karl. Pyotr was also a sympathetic character in the beginning of the story. As the plot moved to Moscow as the setting of the Englishmen meeting Ivan, it was obvious that Pyotr's talent as an interpreter was revealed as somewhat lacking. His biggest challenge here was a lack of confidence in himself. I loved the close relationship Selina had with her employer Vasilissa, Mikhail's wife. Vasilissa behaved as a friend rather than a boss and she was Selina's only female friend.
There is an air of mystery toward the end of the story when Charles died. It was determined that he was murdered and Mikhail did an investigation but came up with nothing. He thought Pyotr might be the killer but there was no proof. Selina, though, traps the killer into exposing himself when she questions the men when they are together. Selina is an incredibly strong person. For most of the story we are told that she is a submissive woman. We get that from Pyotr and Karl's conversations but they have not seen her in several years. What a surprise when they arrive in Moscow!
The Merchant's Tale is an entertaining story and historical fiction fans will love it. 5 out of 5 stars.
Thursday, May 2, 2024
The President’s Wife
Edith Bolling Gault was widowed, preferring to fill her days with good friends and travel. But the enchanting courting of President Woodrow Wilson wins Edith over and she becomes the First Lady of the United States. The position is uncomfortable for the fiercely independent Edith, but she's determined to rise to the challenges of her new marriage—from the bloodthirsty press to the shadows of the first World War.
Warming to her new role, Edith is soon indispensable to her husband's presidency. She replaces the staff that Woodrow finds distracting, and discusses policy with him daily. Throughout the war, she encrypts top- secret messages and despite lacking formal education becomes an important adviser. When peace talks begin in Europe, she attends at Woodrow's side. But just as the critical fight to ratify the treaty to end the war and create a League of Nations in order to prevent another, Woodrow's always-delicate health takes a dramatic turn for the worse. In her determination to preserve both his progress and his reputation, Edith all but assumes the presidency herself.
Now, Edith must contend with the demands of a tumultuous country, the secrets of Woodrow's true condition, and the potentially devastating consequences of her failure. At once sweeping and intimate, The President's Wife is an astonishing portrait of a courageous First Lady and the sacrifices she made to protect her husband and her country at all costs.
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
The Phoenix Bride
It is 1666, one year after plague has devastated England. Young widow Cecilia Thorowgood is a prisoner, trapped and isolated within her older sister’s cavernous London townhouse. At the mercy of a legion of doctors trying to cure her grief with their impatient scalpels, Cecilia shows no sign of improvement. Soon, her sister makes a decision born of desperation: She hires a new physician, someone known for more unusual methods. But he is a foreigner. A Jew. And despite his attempts to save Cecilia, he knows he cannot quell the storm of sorrow that rages inside her. There is no easy cure for melancholy.David Mendes fled Portugal to seek a new life in London, where he could practice his faith openly and leave the past behind. Still reeling from the loss of his beloved friend and struggling with his religion and his past, David is free and safe in this foreign land but incapable of happiness. The security he has found in London threatens to disappear when he meets Cecilia, and he finds himself torn between his duty to medicine and the beating of his own heart. He is the only one who can see her pain; the glimmers of light she emits, even in her gloom, are enough to make him believe once more in love.Facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, David and Cecilia must endure prejudice, heartbreak, and calamity before they can be together. The Great Fire is coming—and with the city in flames around them, love has never felt so impossible.
I loved The Phoenix Bride. I am not usually a fan of romance stories but this one has enough historical elements woven into the plot that it doesn't read like a romance novel. The story is more of a historical fiction novel. This is also a book about persevering through tough times. The title is a big clue here as to what is inside the pages.
I enjoyed reading about the healing methods for physical and mental health of the era. David used the herbs from the garden that he planted in order to mix poultices that will heal his patients. He was also attuned to how the body is affected by psychological trauma and was able to heal Cecilia with what we now call talk therapy.
I learned alot about Jewish traditions as well as the way of life of conversos, Jewish converts to Christianity. David gave up those Christian traditions upon his arrival in London and once again began practicing Judaism. His arrival in London was only possible after a 400 year old edict expelling Jews from Britain was scrapped by the British government. Several circumstances kept David separated from Cecilia, such as their respective faith traditions and the familial expectations that they marry other people. Facing these seemingly insurmountable challenges, David and Cecilia have had to endure prejudice, heartbreak, and calamity, the Great Fire of London, before they can be together.
There is a hint of gay romance in the story. David's relationship with Manuel, who died early in the story, makes the reader wonder if there was any romantic feelings between them. The plot doesn't dwell on this but the idea has been planted by the author.
The Phoenix Bride is an engrossing read. I highly recommend it and am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Book Cover of the Month: April
I love the happy color of yellow on this book cover. It was illustrated by author Abby Denson. She is an American cartoonist, writer, and musician, known for her gay young adult comics series Tough Love and her comics travel guides to Tokyo and Japan.
Friday, April 26, 2024
Book of the Month: April
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Can't Wait Wednesday #30
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Meaghan and Harry: Persecutors or Victims
The fall from popular grace of Prince Harry, the previously adulated brother of the heir to the British throne, as a consequence of his marriage to the beautiful and dynamic Hollywood actress and "Suits star" Meghan Markle, makes for fascinating reading in this groundbreaking book from Lady Colin Campbell, who is the New York Times bestselling biographer of books on Princess Diana, the Queen Mother, and Queen Elizabeth’s marriage.With a unique breadth of insight, Lady Colin Campbell goes behind the scenes, speaking to friends, relations, courtiers, and colleagues on both sides of the Atlantic to reveal the most unexpected royal story since King Edward VIII's abdication. She highlights the dilemmas involved and the issues that lurk beneath the surface, revealing why the couple decided to step down as senior royals. She analyses the implications of the actions of a young and ambitious Duke and Duchess of Sussex, in love with each other and with the empowering lure of fame and fortune, and leads the reader through the maze of contradictions Meghan and Harry have created—while also evoking the Californian culture that has influenced the couple's conduct.Meghan and Harry: The Real Story exposes how the royal couple tried and failed to change the royal system—by adapting it to their own needs and ambitions—and, upon failing, how they decided to create a new system—and life—for themselves.
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Pretty Girls
More than twenty years ago, Claire and Lydia’s teenaged sister Julia vanished without a trace. The two women have not spoken since, and now their lives could not be more different. Claire is the glamorous trophy wife of an Atlanta millionaire. Lydia, a single mother, dates an ex-con and struggles to make ends meet. But neither has recovered from the horror and heartbreak of their shared loss—a devastating wound that's cruelly ripped open when Claire's husband is killed.The disappearance of a teenage girl and the murder of a middle-aged man, almost a quarter-century apart: what could connect them? Forming a wary truce, the surviving sisters look to the past to find the truth, unearthing the secrets that destroyed their family all those years ago . . . and uncovering the possibility of redemption, and revenge, where they least expect it.
This story is one wild ride! It was so suspenseful that I could not do my regular Friday errands yesterday until I finished the book. It had an amazing plot with an ending I did not see coming. There were alot of twists. I did not figure out where the story was ultimately going until I passed the halfway point in the story. However, the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. While I was reading I knew the ending was going to be good but was not prepared for it. It was incredibly satisfying. Author Karin Slaughter wrote a fantastic story and she is now one of my favorite authors. If you haven't read Pretty Girls you need to get a copy of it. You won't be disappointed but don't forget that you need an uninterrupted block of time to read it. I am actually speechless right now and cannot delve further into why the book is fantastic.
5 out of 5 stars.
Monday, April 15, 2024
Four Steps Missed
Sunday, April 14, 2024
The Psychology of Secrets
We all keep secrets. 97 per cent of us are hiding a secret right now, and on average we each hold thirteen at any one time. There’s a one-in-two chance that those secrets involve a breach of trust, a lie or a financial impropriety. They are the stuff of gossip, of novels and of classic dramas; secrets form a major part of our hidden inner lives.Andrew Gold knows this better than anyone. As a public figure, he has found himself the unwitting recipient of hundreds of strangers' most private revelations. This set him on a journey to understand this critical part of our societies and lives. Why do we keep secrets? Why are we fascinated by those of others? What happens to our mind when we confess?Drawing from psychology, history, social science, philosophy and personal interviews, The Psychology of Secrets is a rollicking journey through the history of secrecy.
Friday, April 12, 2024
An American in Scotland
Sea Isle was supposed to be the fresh start Dr. Emilia McRoy dreamed of. Far from the busy emergency room across the Atlantic in Seattle, she hoped to settle down and begin this new chapter as a small-town doctor to the quirky residents who immediately welcomed her. When she stumbles across a dead body, she starts to think that she may not be as Scot free of the drama and intrigue as she initially thought.
Emilia soon learns she has bigger issues at hand. It starts with realizing she'll work closely with the less than helpful local constable, Laird Ewan Campbell. Her luck continues when she discovers that part of her new responsibilities includes being the coroner for the very body she found. Finally, when the body goes missing before she can even begin the autopsy, Emilia must convince the townspeople that a crime did, in fact, occur. The deeper she digs into the picturesque town, the more suspicious she becomes. And then there are her sleep issues. It may be due to the ever-growing list of suspects, a number of threatening letters, or the surprise visitor who breaks into her house at night. But she’s never backed down before, and she doesn’t intend to start now.
Someone doesn’t want this doctor to treat the ailments of Sea Isle, but Emilia McRoy is determined to find the murderer before they kilt again.
I loved this novel. It takes place in a lovely small village in Scotland and I enjoyed reading about the weather challenges that the characters had to deal with. With mail and package delivery severely affected in the winter months, the characters came up with ways to handle it such as ordering everything and anything they could possibly want in huge quantities. Emilia's office has been outfitted with every type of diagnostic machine, a surgical suite and plenty of medications for every type of illness and injury. It was amusing to read about Emilia's attempts to walk around the village without the proper footwear. She fell alot. Bothies are interspersed throughout the village in case someone gets stuck outdoors when a storm comes rumbling through the area. I had never heard of a bothy before and am glad that it had to be explained to Emilia.
Emilia's home and office are inside a defunct church and has a gorgeous view of the sea. It comes with a gardener and maid/office assistant. These two helpers, Abigail and her brother Tommy, seem to be in her home all the time. Abigail has a key, as does the constable, which is rather eerie. They show up at all hours of the day and night which scares Emilia almost every single day. However, all three get along well.
The characters are quirky but lovable. Mara, who works in her grandparents pub, The Pig and Whistle, becomes a fast friend as does Angie who works in her family's fabric store. Angie is engaged to a duke. Abigail is devoted to her disabled brother Tommy and has given up on living her own life in order to take of him. Constable and Laird Ewan is full of surprises and is hard to figure out. He basically owns the town and has his own mansion and a castle. He is the richest man in Britain according to UK newspapers. For some reason he prefers to live in this tiny village. With other interesting shop owners as characters, there are plenty of scenarios for future stories.
The mystery to be solved is who killed an old man named Smithy. Nobody liked him. He had an ugly personality and did not get along with anyone in the village, including Emilia. He was rude to her on the day she moved in and she later found out that he did not like the McRoy family, her family. Since part of Emilia's job was to act as a coroner, she took it upon herself to investigate the murder. Being new in town she fell afoul of several residents who did not like having an American doctor around. With her new friends help, Emilia slowly learns how to adjust to life in Scotland.
The story was an enjoyable and relaxing read. The author has done a great job of setting up the series for future installments. I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Can't Wait Wednesday #29
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Uniquely Japan
Displacement
Saturday, April 6, 2024
The Museum of Lost Quilts
Summer Sullivan, the youngest founding member of Elm Creek Quilts, has spent the last two years pursuing a master’s degree in history at the University of Chicago. Her unexpected return home to the celebrated quilter’s retreat is met with delight but also concern from her mother, Gwen; her best friend, Sarah; master quilter Sylvia; and her other colleagues—and rightly so. Stymied by writer’s block, Summer hasn’t finished her thesis, and she can’t graduate until she does.
Elm Creek Manor offers respite while Summer struggles to meet her extended deadline. She finds welcome distraction in organizing an exhibit of antique quilts as a fundraiser to renovate Union Hall, the 1863 Greek Revival headquarters of the Waterford Historical Society. But Summer’s research uncovers startling facts about Waterford’s past, prompting unsettling questions about racism, economic injustice, and political corruption within their community, past and present.
As Summer’s work progresses, quilt lovers and history buffs praise the growing collection, but affronted local leaders demand that she remove all references to Waterford’s troubled history. As controversy threatens the exhibit’s success, Summer fears that her pursuit of the truth might cost the Waterford Historical Society their last chance to save Union Hall. Her only hope is to rally the quilting community to her cause.
The Museum of Lost Quilts is a warm and deeply moving story about the power of collective memory. With every fascinating quilt she studies, Summer finds her passion for history renewed—and discovers a promising new future for herself.
Friday, April 5, 2024
Three Weeks in Washington
The publisher's summary:
Encountering a Shooter . . .
CIA intelligence operative, Titus Ray, arrives in Washington, D.C. on the day a terrorist enters the Washington Navy Yard and murders five people. Convinced the incident is connected to a Hezbollah plot to use chemical weapons on an American city, Titus jeopardizes his own career to interrogate the killer and learn the truth.
Exposing a General . . .After the shooter reveals the identity of an Iranian deep-cover operative living in Washington, D.C., Titus embarks on an intelligence operation spanning two continents and exposing an Iranian general obsessed with destroying America.
Engaging an Enemy . . .As time runs out, Titus engages the enemy in a treacherous game of cat and mouse to save the lives of thousands and defeat the terrorists. Can his faith sustain him as he faces his greatest challenge yet? Is he willing to lose Nikki to save his country?
What People Are Saying About Titus Ray Thrillers:“The characters are very well-developed and believable. I enjoyed the way the author described Titus Ray's internal struggles and character flaws creating a very authentic main character. The story was action-packed and one is left wondering how the author could be so knowledgeable of the CIA and the work of their covert operatives.”