Courting Mr. Lincoln

I am reviewing another Lincoln book today. There will be more during the month. Courting Mr. Lincoln is a fictionalized account of Mary Todd and Abe Lincoln's courtship and eventual marriage. However, the story alternates between the point of view of Mary and Joshua Speed, Lincoln's best friend and roommate. Can I presume that they were both courting Lincoln since they are both telling the story?

While Speed and Lincoln had a deep bond of friendship, there is a hint in one chapter that Speed may have wanted more from Lincoln. It was unclear whether Lincoln understood that or considered extending the relationship. He seemed to waver at the thought but my impression was that that Lincoln just had something else on his mind. He always had something else on his mind.

Mary Todd captivated Lincoln with her political intellect. If Speed was ever really a romantic interest for Lincoln, Speed could not compete with Mary's brain. Politics is what Mary and Abe had in common and its what their relationship was based on. Mary was a political strategist and wanted to marry a politician. Abe yearned for elective office so this was a marriage made in heaven.

I think Speed was gay. When he eventually married, his wife did not want to have sex with him. He was OK with that arrangement. Twenty years later when Speed and Lincoln were again together, traveling to his inauguration, it was mentioned that he and his wife still had no children.

This was an enjoyable, fast read. I am curious how much of the book is fiction, especially the part about Mary's political instincts. It would make sense that 2 people with nothing else in common would want to be together for a joint political future. I know plenty such couples today. Politicians look for spouses like that and politically astute people are attracted to politicians.

5 out of 5 stars!

Fourth of July Forgery

Fourth of July Forgery is the 6th Holiday Cozy Mystery from Tonya Kappes. It is a charming, fast paced cozy mystery that was published on June 29, 2023. 

The publisher's summary:

Fireworks aren't the only things causing sparks this Fourth of July in Holiday Junction! The much-awaited sixth book in the Holiday Cozy Mystery series, Fourth of July Forgery, immerses readers in a mystery that's more intricate than a firework's design.

When the festive atmosphere is dampened by the grim discovery of a body on the shore, it's up to our firecracker reporter, Violet Rhinehammer, to fizzle out the truth. Delving into the shadowy world of art dealing and potential forgeries, Violet must crack this case faster than a skyrocket, all while trying to keep her relationships and reputation from going up in smoke.

As she navigates the labyrinth of deception and accusation, Violet realizes that even in Holiday Junction, secrets can still explode like a M80. Can she solve the puzzle before the last sparkler has fizzled out, or will the fuse on this mystery burn too quickly for her to handle?

Violet is a news reporter for the Junction Journal and the amateur sleuth for the story. She uses her job as a journalist to investigate the murder of art dealer Graham Winston, whose body was found during the annual fireworks display. The police have no involvement in searching for the perpetrator, which is a little odd. The only time the police chief is mentioned is when he drives a car in the town’s Fourth of July parade and when he arrests the perp. However, this suspension of belief did not bother me much because Violet's mind worked fast. As a result there was a new twist on just about every other page. The reveal of the whodunnit was satisfying.

All of the characters were memorable. From Violet to her southern mother Millie Kaye, town gossip Goldie and the paper's newest journalist Radley. Violet is a return character from a prior cozy series by the author. She is the main character in each installment of this Holiday Cozy Mystery series so I already know I am going to be reading all of them.

4 out of 5 stars.

A Founding Mother

Just in time for the 250th Anniversary of the birth of the United States comes this sweeping, intimate portrayal of Abigail Adams. She was the wife of one president, John Adams, and mother to another, John Quincy Adams. Her willpower and wisdom helped shape our fledgling republic. The book has been meticulously researched, drawing on the extensive letters that Abigail wrote throughout her life. This 464 page novel was published on May 5, 2026.

The publisher's summary:

In the heart of revolutionary Boston, Abigail Adams raises her children amid riots, blockades, and the outbreak of war. While her husband, John Adams, rises from country lawyer to nation-builder, often away for years at a time, Abigail builds her own independence—managing their farm, making lucrative investments, amassing savings, battling plague and loss, and defending their home. Unafraid to speak her mind, she famously offers fearless political counsel, urging John to “remember the ladies” in the new government. Through it all, she becomes his most trusted confidante and indispensable ally.

When peace is secured, Abigail steps onto the world stage—exchanging ideas with Thomas Jefferson in the French countryside, navigating court life as the wife of the Minister to Great Britain, and presiding over the parlor politics of the early American republic in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. Even after her husband’s presidential administration, she continues battling political foes and working behind the scenes to advance her family, secure independence for the women in her life, and ensure a better life for the next generation of Americans.

From war-torn streets to the chandeliered halls of power, A Founding Mother is the unforgettable story of a woman ahead of her time—one whose voice, vision, and valor still resonate powerfully today.

The story opened with Abigail and John discussing the British army successes of 1814 against the states. The British had just burned down Washington DC and destroyed the White House and Capitol buildings. Both of them feared that the republic might be lost despite a lifetime of efforts from both of them. The story then turns back in history to 1770 where the story of the Adams's marriage was also the story of the founding of the nation. 

I am impressed with the amount of historical information presented. The authors did an incredible amount of research. I enjoyed seeing the founding of our country through the perspectives of women. Women had no say in the political decisions that the men made but women were responsible for making those decisions successful. As the men fought back against the taxes, the ladies learned to make their own clothes, to spin fiber and put food on the table without the use of food staples. If the ladies had not been able to do this, independence would not have been possible. Abigail had a double portion of hardship. She had to deal with the shortages while managing her household but also had to work the fields of the family farm in order to earn money. John Adams was frequently absent due to his law practice as well as with his work for the Continental Congress. Had he been present, he would have worked the farm.

The relationships between the Adamses, Washingtons, and Jeffersons was complicated. I wasn't aware of how intertwined their friendships were. The political differences between them only surfaced after the end of the Revolutionary War. For example, Abigail was intimidated by Martha Washington. Martha was wealthy and exhibited the airs and graces of her position. Abigail on the other hand grew up as a meager parson's daughter and had to learn how to behave around those in upper social circles, especially after her husband became president. Jefferson became a close friend of both Adamses but was closer to Abigail. They shared a love of wisdom and humor but Jefferson accepted Abigail's wish to be treated as an intellectual, unusual for the era. 

A Founding Mother is a fascinating account of the events surrounding the birth of a nation. There is so much to learn from its pages and I highly recommend it. Women will definitely want to read the book. 5 out of 5 stars.

America’s First Daughter

America's First Daughter is a well researched historical novel on the life of Thomas Jefferson's daughter Martha "Patsy" Jefferson Randolph. Patsy has to deal with the knowledge that her father loves his country more than he loves his family. When her mother dies, she rises to the challenge and becomes Jefferson's constant companion and helper. She even travels with him to France when he is appointed as America's minister to France. While they are in Paris, Patsy first learns about her father's affair with a slave named Sally Hemings who is the same age as Patsy. Both are fifteen-years-old. She loves appearing at French royal court functions where the dresses, food and atmosphere captivate her. Here, Patsy falls in love with one of her father's assistants, William Short. Short is an ardent abolitionist and has high ambitions for his political career. Patsy has a dilemma to resolve. Should she follow her heart and marry Short or continue as a devoted assistant to her father? Patsy chooses her father in this impressive historical biography and marries an American instead.

A french royal court setting is always going to be alluring for me. I just love reading descriptions of the food and dresses that the ladies wore. Post-revolution America is not as enticing but the author has written into the plot several controversial topics of the time, some of which I never heard of before and they were quite interesting. The women in the novel had to exert their power indirectly as the men had the real power in the nation and in their homes. While I know that this just reflected the times, I hate reading about women having to live this way. 

I knew nothing about Jefferson's daughter before reading this book. She certainly was a plucky character. Patsy's life story included running from the British during the Revolutionary War, handling many of her father's business affairs, helping him run the White House while he was president and, of course, giving birth to eleven kids after her marriage to her American cousin. I imagine that many women of this era had similar life stories to tell and I wish that I could find these stories. Alas, they were not written down unless they were members of famous families.

The authors also wrote a historical biography of Alexander Hamilton's wife Eliza. I loved that novel too and hope that this writing duo continues to write about the ladies of our American revolution. 5 out of 5 stars.

Constitution Illustrated

Constitution Illustrated gives the reader the entire text of the U. S. Constitution. It is a graphic novel with drawings done in the iconic styles of over one hundred different classic and contemporary American comic artists. The characters are well known cartoon characters. This book was published in 2020. 

The publisher's summary:

Among Sikoryak’s spot-on unions of government articles and amendments with famous comic-book characters: the Eighteenth Amendment that instituted prohibition is articulated with Homer Simpson running from Chief Wiggum; the Fourteenth Amendment that solidifies citizenship to all people born and naturalized in the United States is personified by Ms. Marvel; and, of course, the Nineteenth Amendment offering women the right to vote is a glorious depiction of Wonder Woman breaking free from her chains. American artists from George Herriman (Krazy Kat) and Charles Schulz (Peanuts) to Raina Telgemeier (Sisters) and Alison Bechdel (Dykes to Watch Out For) are homaged, with their characters reimagined in historical costumes and situations. We the People has never been more apt.

 

This is a short graphic novel; just 132 pages. The "dialogue" or text in this book consists solely of the words of the Constitution. The characters are from TV shows or cartoons. Donald Duck, Dennis the Menace, Charlie Brown, Lucy and Dagwood Bumstead are some of the characters. 

I like that there is background material at the end of the document. There is a Comics Index, Notes on the Constitution itself, amendments made to the original language by Congress, a Chronology of the drafting of the document and the Selected Bibliography. After Congress approved the final draft of the Constitution it was sent to the states for ratification.

There were some amendments that I forgot about so I had a nice learning experience. With the recent decision of the U. S. Supreme Court confirming birth right citizenship, the Fourteenth Amendment was fascinating to read. This book is an entertaining way of learning American history. It is fun and easy to read. I highly recommend it to readers of all ages.

5 out of 5 stars.

My Dear Hamilton

My Dear Hamilton is the story of Alexander Hamilton's wife Eliza Hamilton, from her coming of age to the end of her life. Eliza, known as Betsy by her family, grew up in Revolutionary New York as the daughter of an army general, Philip Schuyler. She is a champion of independence and when she meets George Washington's aide, Alexander Hamilton, she is captivated by his charisma and brilliant intellect. They soon fall in love and marry, despite Hamilton's bastard birth and the uncertainties of the war. Their marriage and the new American nation are far from perfect. The Hamiltons are at the center of the glittery inaugural balls and the bloody street riots as well as the nation's first sex scandal, which forces Eliza to struggle through heartbreak and betrayal to find forgiveness. When her husband dies in a duel, Eliza fights her husband's enemies in order to preserve his legacy. However, long buried secrets threaten everything that Eliza believes about her marriage and her own legacy. She tries to understand the flawed man that she married and the imperfect union he never could have created without her.

I loved this novel. I did not know much about Alexander Hamilton before reading this book and learned a substantial amount of information about him. While I always thought myself to be an expert on the founding of the U. S., I also learned a considerable number of facts about the founding of it's government. Hamilton and how the emerging nation was formed go hand in hand. We simply could not have done it without him.

The writing here is fluid, making this a fast read. The "characters" were all people in real-life and I don't think that any author could have created such characters on their own. The strengths and flaws of each person probably would not have been combined in a made up character as they do not seem to go well together. However, in this novel the author did not have to worry about that. In addition, we don't usually see how our first 5 presidents interacted with one another during both the Revolutionary War and its aftermath. This was fascinating to me. I have never read anything like this before. Another interesting fact was that Mrs. Hamilton kew Congressman Abe Lincoln. I never considered Lincoln to be a contemporary of our founding fathers and mothers but as their careers were ending, Lincoln's was beginning.

My Dear Hamilton is a fantastic historical novel and I cannot recommend it more highly. 5 out of 5 stars.

The Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary Guide

This 100 page pamphlet is a full-color guide to the document that made a nation, the Declaration of Independence: what the Founding Fathers wrote, what they really meant, the wording that Congress changed, and the full story of America’s founding.

The publisher's summary:

250 years ago, 56 men from the 13 British colonies in North America pledged their lives for freedom in a document that would change the world. This illustrated anniversary book is the ideal Independence Day gift for history buffs, patriots, students and teachers alike ... anyone who wants to rediscover the full story of the Declaration that gave birth to America.

The complete text, with detailed analysis — Read the Declaration of Independence in full, with page-by-page annotations, unpacking exactly what the Founding Fathers meant by every word and phrase.

Examine how Congress altered Jefferson’s draft — The original rough draft alongside Congress’s detailed edits, in full color — the passages removed, the compromises inserted, and how those changes helped define the nation that emerged.

The men who made America — Biographies of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman ... and fascinating facts about many of the other 56 signers. Plus: Jefferson’s eye-witness account of the events of 1776, taken directly from his autobiography.

A full visual history of 1776 — A timeline of the American Revolution from its origins in 1763 to July 4, 1776, with full-color images throughout, completes this essential reference book for America’s semiquincentennial.

Whether you are rediscovering the Declaration of Independence or exploring it for the first time, this is your ideal companion guide for the July 4, 2026 celebrations – an engaging addition to your home library or classroom, and a thoughtful gift for any citizen keen to delve into the origins of America’s lasting values.

I loved reading about the history of the document's drafting and the roles of some of the signers, as well as those who were opposed to it. South Carolina and Georgia balked at accusing the King of beginning slavery in the then colonies and that slavery was inhumane so that paragraph was deleted ftom the original text. The book also has maps and fine art commemorating the events surrounding the signing of the document as well as portraits of the signers. There is a listing all the signers and their occupations. I liked that the occupations were presented.

In the two years before the Declaration was signed most of the signers wanted to remain part of Britain. After several attempts at negotiating with King George III had failed, they decided that independence was the only option. These were brave men. They signed the Declaration of Independence without any idea of being successful at separation from Britain. Their lives were on the line as the Declaration was treason to the King. 

I read an electronic version of the book but I would like to own a hard copy. I will definitely buy a physical copy of it. This small book is a great resource for information on how the U. S. came into existence and I highly, highly recommend it. 5 out of 5 stars.

Declaration Illustrated

Declaration/Emancipation Illustrated is a unique, double-sided graphic novel by cartoonist R. Sikoryak. It pairs the unabridged text of the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Gettysburg Address with visuals rendered in the iconic styles of over 100 different classic and contemporary American comic artists.

The publisher's summary:

The severing of colonial ties to Great Britain and the critical turning points in American history that followed have never been more vividly manifested than in the skillful hands of Sikoryak, who doesn't hesitate to dream up Jeffy from Family Circus as Thomas Jefferson and Mr. Magoo as a British loyalist. King George III is deliciously portrayed as pop culture’s most famous villains, such as Thanos, The Joker, Scar from The Lion King, and many more. Sikoryak also skillfully adopts the styles of such comic artists as Will Eisner of The Spirit, Allie Brosh of Solutions and Other Problems, Morrie Turner of Wee Pals, Mark Beyer of Amy and Jordan, and Floyd Gottfredson of Mickey Mouse. The Civil War era pays homage to Black Panther, Barney Google and Snuffy Smith, Steenz’s Heart of the City, Justice League, and many more.

The comic is short; just 134 pages. The Declaration part of the book is on one side of the book. Turn it over and you find the Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg Address. The verbage is exclusively the words of the Declaration, the Proclamation and the Address. At the end of each of these three documents is a chronology of events that brought us the documents and a bibliography. The illustrations use characters ftom comic strips and TV series including The Simpsons, Black Panther and the Powerpuff Girls.

The author stated in an online interview that he had a rule to only use American characters in this book. Also, his reason for putting the Emancipation Proclamation as the second side of this book was because 

"someone, Abraham Lincoln, took what was in the Declaration and said, ‘This is important, this part at the beginning about “All men are created equal,” because he references the Declaration in the Gettysburg Address and in the Emancipation Proclamation. 

“Four score and seven years ago,” that’s referring directly to the Declaration, so you can take these documents and you can think about what they’re saying to you, and you can act on them."

I had no idea that that the Gettysburg Address referred to the Declaration. I always wondered what "four score and seven years ago" referenced. 

I agree with the publisher's blurb that this book is an entertaining trip through American history.  It is a fun, easy to read history of three of the U. S.'s foundational documents and I highly recommend it to readers of all ages.

5 out of 5 stars.

Daughters of the Sun and Moon

Lisa See's newest novel takes place in post Civil War Los Angeles. I have never read nor heard of any book concerning Chinese immigrants at this time and place. It was eye opening to learn about this era. The book was recently published on June 9, 2026.

The publisher's summary: 

In 1870, three Chinese women arrive in the small, dusty, and violent pueblo of Los Angeles. Dove, the bound-footed daughter of an imperial scholar, is entrancing and innocent. These characteristics should bring her great rewards, beginning with her arranged marriage to a much older merchant. Petal, the big-footed daughter of peasants, has grown up hungry and with dirt between her toes. In a moment of desperation, Petal’s father sells her to buy money for rice seed, and she is loaded onto a ship to the Gold Mountain—America—where she is once again sold. Moon is married to a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine. She is educated, speaks fluent English, and has been endowed with a face of great beauty, yet her failed footbinding as a child has left her with a limp that lessens her value in the eyes of many.

Each woman has her own desires. Dove wants to love and be loved, Petal desires freedom, and Moon seeks justice. Together they face a larger society that wishes them not one ounce of good will. Anti-Chinese sentiment is strong in Los Angeles, and this eventually leads to the Night of Horrors during which all three women are challenged in ways they could not have imagined. Brought together by hardship and heartbreak, they must use their bravery, endurance, and ability to “eat bitterness” to discover their voices, find freedom, and connect through solace and friendship. Together they are daughters of the sun and moon.

The story is told from the alternating perspectives of each of the three friends. We read about the life stories of Moon, Petal and Dove from two different years: 1870 and 1926. In 1870 all three girls met on the ship from Hong Kong to San Francisco. Their families had sold them to men in America who were looking for wives. Moon is the only woman whose promised marriage was successful. Dove's marriage contract married her to an old man. Petal, unfortunately, was sold by her parents unknowingly into prostitution. The story is character-driven and quite emotional. All three girls went through horrors of their own upon arrival in America. I was astonished at how quickly they adapted to being sexually abused by their husbands and other men in both China and America. These were strong women.

The book focuses on the small community of approximately 200 Asian immigrants in Los Angeles, a county of only 5,000 people in 1870. At the time, anti-Asian sentiment was rampant and tensions built up into a night when a mob massacred 18 Chinese men. It was called The Night of Horrors and it actually happened. The book highlights this awful night in detail. We read about Chinese men being hung and shot numerous times with rifles with the mob screaming to kill more. The lengthy description of each murder was difficult for me to handle. I felt like I was there witnessing it myself.

The characters are based upon real women and men who lived in Los Angeles during the early 1870s. A list of the real characters is at the back of the book. Moon is based on Tong Yu who was married to Dr. Tong, and Dove is based on Yut Ho who was the wife of a much older merchant. Petal's character is a composite of two real life ladies. Sing Ye was kidnapped and tortured by one of her husband’s rivals. Sing Yu ran away from her brothel several times. Others include secondary characters that the girls knew. 16 of them were hanged during the Night of Horrors: hotel worker Ah Wing, laundrynan Leong Quai, cigar maker Ah Long, Moon's husband Dr. Gene Tong, Dr. Tong's assistant Chang Wan, Dr. Tong's brother Wong Gim,  liquor maker Ah Cut, cooks Wan Foo, Tong Won, Lo Hey, Ho Hing, Day Kee, Ah Waa, Wing Chee, Ah Won, storekeeper Wong Chin and Petal’s fourteen-year-old brother Ah Loo. Ah Loo had recently arrived in Los Angeles 3 or 4 weeks before his murder. Two additional men were shot to death. You will find all their names in the Wikipedia account of the event.

I am amazed that the author was able to write this fictionalized account, given the restraints of so many known facts about the event. How she wove these real life characters into the story is beyond me. I had never heard of The Night of Horrors before reading this novel. After finishing the book I read several online historical accounts of what happened. The author got all the facts right. This history was eye-opening to say the least. History always asks the question: have we learned from the past or are we destined to repeat it?

Concerning the title of the book, I am a little confused. I do not understand what it means to be a daughter of the sun or a daughter of the moon. Internet research did not find an answer so I sent an email to the author requesting information. A link to an interview with the author about the book can be found here.

5 out of 5 stars.

The Rail Splitter

The Rail Splitter is a historical fiction novel about our 12th president Abraham Lincoln. It tells about his journey from his youth living in a log cabin to his candidacy for the Presidency.

The story begins with Lincoln’s youth on the frontier, where he grows up with an ax in one hand and book in the other, determined to make something of himself. He sets off on one adventure after another, from rafting down the Mississippi River to marching in an Indian war. When he is twenty-six, the girl he hopes to marry dies of fever. He spends days wandering the countryside in grief. A few years later, he purchases a ring inscribed with the words “Love Is Eternal” and enters a tempestuous marriage with Mary Todd.

Lincoln literally wrestles his way to prominence in Illinois. He teaches himself the law and enters the rough and tumble world of frontier politics. With Mary’s encouragement, he wins a term in the US Congress, but his political career falters. They are both devastated by the loss of a child. As arguments over slavery sweep the country, Lincoln finds something worth fighting for, and his debates with brash rival Stephen Douglas catapult him toward the White House.

The story has many aspects to it. It is a coming-of-age story, an adventure story, a love story, and a rags-to-riches story. The Rail Splitter shows the reader the making of Abraham Lincoln. The story of the rawboned youth who goes from a log cabin to the White House is, in many ways, the great American story. The Rail Splitter reminds us that the country Lincoln loved is a place of wide-open dreams where extraordinary journeys unfold.

I loved this book! It was a page turning exploration into Lincoln's life. I wondered as I read whether the story would be as interesting if it was not about Lincoln. I couldn't figure that out because Lincoln is such a beloved figure in America that it doesn't matter. I also wondered what parts of the story were historical and what parts were fiction. Obviously, Lincoln's work history was true. I am wondering whether the social aspects of the story were true. The author tells us in the Acknowledgments that he found information about Lincoln's social life in the Abraham Lincoln Museum in Springfield, Illinois. 

One thing that surprised me was that Lincoln's bouts of depression and anxiety began in early childhood. I had always thought that the depression began while he was in the White House. However, he had an episode of delirium that lasted 3 days before he was even 18. Later in life he tried hard not to give in to these impulses. It would be interesting what diagnosis today's psychologists would come up with. I am sure the death of his mother when he was young was a factor but I have never heard any commentary on this subject.

The book does not tell us why Abe left home at 18 but if you really think about it, there had to be trouble at home. The book shows Abe having a good relationship with his step-mother. That leaves his father Thomas as the source of the family feud. Lincoln couldn't wait to get away so this relationship had to be tense. 

Wife Mary appears sympathetic until she reaches her 50s, around the time her husband is being considered to be a candidate for the Presidency. She has become a nag and has violent arguments with Abe. She even hit him with a piece of wood on his nose,causing it to bleed. Since I am female, my mind automatically goes to menopause as the cause of her outbursts. Again, I have never heard any realistic reasons ever being given for her mental disorder.

You will not be able to put this book down. I highly recommend it. 5 out of 5 stars.

The President's Wife

The President's Wife is a historical fiction account of the life of Edith Wilson. She married President Woodrow Wilson three years into his first term as President. She is most known for taking over his job after he suffered a stroke during his second term.  

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 which include the bloodthirsty press and the shadows of the first World War.

Warming to her new role, Edith is soon indispensable to her husband's presidency. She replaced the staff that Woodrow found distracting, and discussed policy with him daily. Throughout the war, she encrypted top-secret messages and despite lacking any formal education becomes an important adviser. When peace talks begin in Europe, she attends the meetings 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 this First Lady and the sacrifices she made to protect her husband and her country at all costs.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It has alot of minutiae surrounding Edith's role in her husband’s administration. However, I wondered whether readers who are not interested in politics would like the book. In the past, I always assumed that Edith was falsely accused of being acting president. After reading this book I am not so sure. She definately wanted to know how Woodrow came about making his decisions. Early on in their relationship she asked to be part of all of his meetings so that she could advise him. While there was a physical attraction between them, I think Edith sought out the power she would be able to gain from her association with Woodrow. 

The President's Wife is a well written historical biography that reads more like history than a fiction story. I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

Choke Point

Choke Point is the 25th novel in Brad Thor's Scot Harvath series, a political thriller where Harvath hunts a rogue American operative assisting China's plan to seize a critical geopolitical "choke point" in Southeast Asia, leading to a high-stakes conflict with global implications. It was published on June 16, 2026.

The publisher's summary:  

A devastating series of bombings tears through Bangkok. Scores of American citizens are dead. The attacks send shock waves around the world.

As global assistance pours into Thailand—including the FBI’s famed Evidence Response Team—the president of the United States quietly prepares a plan B: Scot Harvath, America’s top spy, trained to operate outside the law and probe the dark corners others can’t…or won’t.

But the bomber Harvath is pursuing isn’t a terrorist. He’s something far more dangerous—one of ours.

Meanwhile, in Washington, a former United States Marine is being hunted—and he has no idea why. Desperate for answers, he turns to the one person he still trusts—his ex-fiancée, a rising star in the White House. The problem is, she isn’t sure she can trust him.

As Harvath closes in on the bomber, a devastating truth begins to emerge. China has quietly deployed its most elite intelligence unit to Thailand. Their objective: to ignite chaos, trigger a military coup, and seize control of a narrow but critical piece of land, one that could give Beijing a decisive advantage.

If the plan succeeds, Beijing will secure a key gateway between two oceans, eroding American naval dominance and tipping the balance in any war between the world’s great powers.

China will control the ultimate geopolitical choke point.

The story opened with Kevin Koebler setting off a car bomb and then walking away. Each of the subsequent chapters alternate between Koebler's activities and Harvath's activities. Harvath's involvement began after a significant bomb was set off in Bangkok that resulted in the deaths of over three hundred people.

Harvath and his team of four were called in to the U. S. Embassy in Manila for a briefing on the disaster. The team was tasked with determining the identity of the bomber and then to capture him. The politics of the region were highlighted in the briefing. Thailand and neighboring Cambodia have been in a cold war for twenty years because of border disputes. If evidence of the involvement of the Cambodians was discovered there was a fear that the Thais would begin a war against them. While the blueprint of the bombs pointed toward a Cambodian bomb maker, Chinese men are always seen at the bombed out sites. 

I was pleased to see that Scot Harvath's post spy career made much more sense in this installment of the series than in earlier novels. We read that he was recalled from retirement to help out in a mission in Thailand. Nothing more. I was glad there were no scenes with Harvath's new wife.

It seemed that the whydunnit of the story was based off the current Iran War. It even included a mention of the closing of Hormusz. However, I have been seeing ads for the book for at least five or six months. The timeline of the publication doesn't meet this test though. The mention of Iran and Hormusz was fleeting but the exact same scenario taking place in the Gulf of Thailand is ironic. 

I always enjoy a Thai setting. In this story, it's the politics of the country that are described. There wasn't any depiction of the foods, architecture, or other cultural aspects of Thai society. I learned alot, though, about the politics of the areas surrounding Thailand. 

Choke Point is a fast paced story with fascinating twists. It was an enjoyable read but the first half of the book lacked the suspense seen in the latter half. I am rating it 4 out of 5 stars.

All This And More

All This and More is an intriguing story about a divorced woman whose life is in a rut. She becomes a contestant on a reality TV show in order to change her life into the life she dreamed about as a youth. This 472 page book was written by Peng Shepherd, the author of The Cartographers and was published in 2025.

The book begins with this prologue:

This is a book about choices. Their allure, their power, and their consequences. And so, of course, you have a choice about how you want to read it. At certain points in the text, the story will present you with several options about what to do next. You can either allow the book to guide you along like a more conventional novel, or you can forge your own path by choosing to jump to a different chapter. It’s entirely up to you. To stay on the guided path, or, if you’re ever not sure what to do next: Pick the first option. To forge your own path through the story: Pick any option you like. Have fun! And remember: you could have All This . . . and More.

I wasn't sure what that meant even after reading the publisher's summary: 

Meek, play-it-safe Marsh has just turned forty-five, and her life is in shambles. Her career is stagnant, her marriage has imploded, and her teenage daughter grows more distant by the day. Marsh is convinced she’s missed her chance at everything—romance, professional fulfillment, and adventure—and is desperate for a do-over.

She can’t believe her luck when she’s selected to be the star of the global sensation All This and More, a show that uses quantum technology to allow contestants the chance to revise their pasts and change their present lives. It’s Marsh’s only shot to seize her dreams, and she’s determined to get it right this time.

But even as she rises to become a famous lawyer, gets back together with her high school sweetheart, and travels the world, she begins to worry that All This and More’s promises might be too good to be true. Because while the technology is amazing, something seems a bit off.…

Can Marsh really make her life everything she wants it to be? And is it worth it?

I attempted to read the book when it was first published. For some reason I couldn't get into the story. I cannot figure out why because this is a fantastic book. I initially read the story conventionally from page to page. I then re-read the book and jumped chapters as suggested at the end of each of the chapters. I can honestly say that I did not miss part of the story by reading it either way. 

As a character Marsh is meh. She doesn't have an exciting life or career nor does she have any idea how to craft such a life for herself. Her husband Dylan is equally meh. Dylan is a dull workaholic who has convinced Marsh that his career is the most important thing in their marriage. These two vanilla characters make a perfect couple. However, after Marsh catches Dylan having an office affair she leaves him. Once divorced and raising a teen daughter Marsh wonders whether she made the right decisions for her life. With not-too-strong characters, the plot is the driving force of the novel. 

The concept of being able to change your life on a reality TV show is an interesting one. It would be nice if it was possible. I would sign up immediately to be a contestant. It's really just hype though. Still, I give the author kudos for dreaming up this intriguing plot. 5 out of 5 stars.

The Devil's Symphony

I wasn't expecting this installment of the Vatican Archeological Thrillers to really be about the devil. I thought that the devil's symphony was a metaphor for something else. However, the devil is the cause of the problem that amateur sleuths Father Michael Dominic and Hana Sinclair face.

The publisher's summary:  

In the shadowed depths of the Vatican’s Secret Archives, archaeologist Marcus Russo, Father Michael Dominic, and investigative journalist Hana Sinclair uncover a chilling artifact—a centuries-old music box intricately crafted and bound with symbols of forgotten rites of alchemy. What begins as an academic curiosity quickly turns into a dire warning, as whispers of its sinister origins surface. The box, linked to an enigmatic 18th-century composer, Vincenzo Malvagio, holds within it a melody unlike any other—a composition rumored to have the power to summon forces beyond human comprehension. When the music is played, reality itself begins to shift, and darkness awakens from its long slumber.

As the trio dig deeper, they trace Malvagio’s legacy through the abandoned monasteries of Switzerland, secretive alchemical guilds, and a Vatican conspiracy that sought to bury his work forever. Their search reveals an unsettling truth: the symphony was never meant to be merely heard—it was designed as a ritual, a key to unlocking something buried beneath the veil of history. Each note played draws them closer to an inevitable reckoning, as unexplainable phenomena spread from the Vatican to cathedrals across Europe. The music is no longer contained; it is spreading, imprinting itself onto those who hear it, bending minds and warping reality in ways neither faith nor reason can fully explain.

With time running out and the fabric of the known world unraveling, the team must find a way to silence the music before it reaches its final, apocalyptic crescendo. The melody’s influence is growing, seeping beyond the walls of the Vatican and into the minds of those who hear even a fragment of its haunting refrain. As they race to uncover the final pieces of Malvagio’s lost composition, they realize that the symphony itself is a force of its own—a vessel for something ancient and insidious, waiting to be unleashed. But can they stop a song that refuses to be forgotten, or has the Devil’s Symphony already begun its final performance?

The story opened with two archivists at the Vatican Secret Archives opening up a room that had not been opened in two hundred years. The room had been sealed by papal decree as the artifacts inside were linked to heretical movements. Their task was to catalog all of the artifacts. Several hours later they found a music box. Upon opening it, music was released that caused the temperature to drop, crack the floor and cast shadows against the wall. The next day the same things happened throughout the Vatican and Father Michael Dominic was brought in to help investigate the phenomenon. Further investigation and research showed the music to be mathematical and using new frequencies of sound that correspond to specific emotions in the brain.

The pace moved quickly as an extensive plot began to be revealed. At the halfway mark in the story I thought that the story could be over. Father Dominic, the two archivists and Dominic's fiancé Hana Sinclair had figured everything out concerning the music box. Of course, there was more but compared to previous installments of the series The Devil’s Symphony is much more complex. Opposing the group is Adrian Baumann, an expert on Vincenzo Malvagio.

The plot led Father Dominic to locate a Black Hymnal in order to further decifer the music. After spying on Adrian Baumann and his group of followers, Dominic learned that the Black Hymnal was at the Red Messiah Monastery in Austria. This all sounds Revelationish to me. Dominic spends the remainder of the story looking for a sequence that will destroy the music. He was led to Prague, France, Switzerland and back to Rome before the ending. A cheesy ending.

I enjoyed the book but must admit that the darkness surrounding the music was disturbing. When heard at certain frequencies it was able to manipulate people by manipulating their emotions. This was just plain scary.

3 out of 5 stars.

A River Red With Blood

A River Red With Blood is the 23rd Charlie Parker novel by John Connolly. It is a dark and atmospheric story that takes place in small town Maine. In this installment of the series there are two disappearances for Charlie to solve.

The pulisher's summary:

Two intertwined disappearances leave a rural community in shock in the latest gripping Charlie Parker novel from New York Times bestselling author John Connolly.

In a darkly brilliant thriller set in Maine’s rural Kennebec River Valley, the body of a young runaway from a “troubled teens” school has been found in the water, seemingly drowned, while a teenage girl has gone missing, believed dead. Now it is up to one man, private investigator Charlie Parker, to find the connection, and bring two evils—one new and one ancient—to an end…

I had a hard time maintaining interest in the book in the beginning. Each of the chapters on the disappearances gave little information to make me want to read further. I continued though and by the middle of the story each subplot was fascinating and I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen.

The part of the book that I  enjoyed the most was the group of three killers who call what they do "the game."  Originally there were four participants. When one of them violated the rules of the game he was eliminated. This worked out well for the remaining three because they could be the leader of the game sooner. Every third year each of them got to select the victim, the method of murder and actually commit the murder.  Another fascinating part of the book was the action at Spero School. Spero is a place for troubled teens whose parents have given up on. It's more of a prison than a school with ridiculous rules and severe punishments. 

As far as the characters are concerned, I did not feel that Charlie Parker was a  sympathetic character. There was certainly nothing exciting about his character. The characters who were awesome were the three involved in the game. They were the villains but most of the plot involved them. I guess because I know more about these three men that they seemed to be much more interesting. Another interesting aspect of these three characters was their psyche allowing them to be willing to kill. I wondered what had happened to these men that made them the monsters that they were.

My thoughts about the book are mixed. The beginning was slow but the ending was satisfying. I am rating the book 3 out of 5 stars.

Wanting Daisy Dead

Wanting Daisy Dead is my selection for What's in a Name Reading Challenge this month. The title fits the "flower" category. The story is a psychological thriller and it was published on October 1, 2025.

The publisher's summary:  

They all had a reason. Only one had the nerve.

Twenty years ago, student Daisy Harrington went out for the evening and never came home. Her body was found a week later. The killer was caught. Case closed.

Now, on what would have been her fortieth birthday, her five university housemates are invited to a weekend gathering. None of them want to go. But none of them can refuse—the invitation makes it clear that if they don’t attend, the past they’ve spent two decades hiding will finally come to light.

Because the man convicted of Daisy’s murder was innocent. And one of the five has known this all along. As the weekend unfolds, the truth threatens to finally be revealed…

They all wanted Daisy dead, but one wanted it more. The question is…who? And why?

The story's suspenseful beginning had me hooked. First one ex-roommate of Daisy’s received the invitation to her 40th birthday party. Then the next and the next and the next. All of them thought about their college secrets so it was impossible to determine who the whodunnit was at this point in the story. The weekend birthday celebration was sponsored by a true crime podcast called The Killer Question. The podcast looks at unsolved crimes as well those where there has been a conviction. If the podcasters believe the wrong person is incarcerated they will investigate the crime and find the real killer. In Daisy’s case, they believe the wrong man was convicted. 

As the plot moved forward, each roommate seemed to me to be her real killer. The chapters alternated between their perspectives. Maddie, Lauren, Dan, Alex and Georgie seemed innocent enough but each feared their secret being exposed. If they were smart, the roommates would have spoken with each other and decided as a group not to go to this party. I eventually settled on Lauren as my prospective whodunnit. She continued to think about her actions during the night Daisy died as evidence of her guilt. Was she just the obvious choice? I can't say.

All of these characters were ridiculously stupid. None of them should have attended the party but once they were there, they made one bad remark after another. Georgie was my favorite character. She broke up with Alex while in college and married Dan for financial security but  ruled over him harshly. Georgie also talked alot about violence toward people she didn't like and she was highly excitable. In my mind she was the bright star among the other milquetoast characters. However, she made a mistake with Alex. He became a tech billionaire. Lauren was an author who was planning to write a non-fiction book about Daisy’s murder. When the friends spoke about wanting to leave early, in order to prevent them from leaving Lauren reasoned with them to stay. The longer the roommates stayed at the party the more treacherous it became for each of them. 

Wanting Daisy Dead was a quick read. Each twist in the story made me think and this notched up my enjoyment of the book. 5 out of 5 stars.

The Editor's Daughter

The Editor's Daughter is a historical fiction novel set in 1814 Washington, featuring Ella Rutherford. Ella is a secret editorial writer who must navigate political upheaval, romance, and the British invasion. I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review. This 411 page novel was published on May 26, 2026.

The publisher's summary:  

A war. A fire. A bond written in ash and ink. And a voice that refused to be extinguished.

In Washington, 1814, Ella Rutherford grew up amid the noise of the printing press and the uproar of congressional halls as the secret protégé of her father. Skirting society's demands, she authors editorials under a false name while waging a rivalry with cynical war correspondent Grant Dashwood and avoiding every attempt at a match.

When British troops march on the capital in a night of fire and smoke, Ella loses everything. With no inheritance and even fewer options, Ella must wed—but the cost of marriage is more than she can afford. Through ruin, conspiracy, and a love written between the lines, she must choose between the people she loves and who she was meant to be.

I always enjoy historical fiction stories about feminists in earlier eras. Ella Rutherford is one such woman. She is in the fourth season of the marriage market but continues to reject every suitor. All of them wanted to stifle her intellectual curiosity and talents. Ella has no intention of being obedient to a man so she believes she cannot marry. Female obedience is expected on marriage. That said, Ella has an attraction to Grant Dashwood who has liberal ideas concerning women.

Since the backdrop to the story is the War of 1812, Dashwood tries to warn the Rutherford's that the British were soon to be in the new city of Washington where the Rutherfords reside. Ella's father decides to ignore the warning and when the British knock on his door they immediately shoot him dead. Ella flees with Dashwood and later learns that her mother and younger sister have taken refuge with their Montgomery cousins. She is now destitute and must live with them also. The British troops burned the entire city of Washington. If memory serves me correctly, Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Bangled Banner during this siege.

The story is a historical romance. Dashwood and Ella exchange letters while Dashwood is serving as a war correspondent with the American troops. Both are trying to avoid their feelings for each other. In the meantime Ella's mother has foumd another suitor for her. Thomas Gray is wealthy and Ella's family is pressuring her to marry him. Ella is concerned about his weak view of women but knows she must make a match soon.

I don't want to gave any further summary of the plot. It's best to read the book for yourselves to find out what happens to Ella. I loved her character though. She was such a strong woman for the era. Her mother, however, was the stereotypical wealthy wife bent on fitting into society at any cost. I was surprised that Ella's father gave in to her mother regarding her prospective suitors. In the beginning of the novel he always sided with Ella and let her write news stories for his paper. Grant Dashwood was, of course, dashing. 

I enjoyed this book. It gives alot of detail about the War of 1812 and I learned alot. The story was somewhat slow in parts so I am rating it 4 out of 5 stars.

The Margin of Death

The Margin of Death is a financial crime thriller featuring Detective Sarah Reeves. She has a missing-person case that later becomes a murder investigation and then a much larger investigation into genealogy, wealth and ancient secrets. I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review. The book was published on May 5, 2026.

The story began quickly and I was instantly hooked. Sarah is working on a financial crime investigation into insider trading at Apex Capital. She had received an email complaint from portfolio analyst Marcus Chen. Chen almost immediately disappeared so Sarah made an appointment to see his boss James Harrington. The complaint was related to the Cross Industries merger announcement. Chen claimed to have evidence of options trades placed weeks before the public announcement, using client accounts without authorization.

Cross Industries was owned by U. S. Senator William Cross who was the chair of the Senate Banking Committee and was running for president. Sarah discovered that Cross was using his daughter's shell companies to launder illegal foreign contributions from Russian oligarchs, Saudi nationals and Chinese businessmen. He laundered forty-seven million dollars over two years.

Harrington allowed an IT technician to open up Chen's computer for Sarah to review. The tech informed Sarah that Chen had him set up a deadman's switch on his computer so that if he didn't log in every 48 hours an automated email would be sent out. With Chen's disappearance 2 days ago, the switch was triggered. What Sarah found in a "deleted emails" folder was the beginning of her investigation into the firm. Chen was close to the firm's Head of Compliance Leo Jenkins. They attended college together and were long time friends. However, Leo was found dead that same day. His murder was set up to look like a suicide as was Chen's. I found this start to the plot riveting and I couldn’t put the book down. I read it in one sitting.

As Sarah began organizing the facts of the crime, she found additional factors that changed the essence of the investigation. The financial crime investigation process continued but Sarah was led to a spreadsheet with 37 lines. Each line referenced a name and the date killed. Her father was #4 on the list and she was #37. Her murder was pending. The investigation further led her to genealogical insights into the Parke family dating back to 893 AD and the family of Æthelflæd. I loved this part of the plot as genealogy is a hobby of mine. The Æthelflæd connection became a major part of the plot. 

What is the margin? It is explained toward the ending. I was not expecting the explanation. It was a surprise that I had to think about for awhile to fully understand it. 

There is so much more to the plot that I cannot expand on due to space restrictions. For each of the story descriptions above, there is much more detail than I mentioned. Suffice to say that I  was stuck to my seat while reading this riveting story. I loved the intersection of politics, money and old family secrets. 

5 out of 5 stars.

The Singapore Secret

The Singapore Secret is a new release from Clair Willis. The narrative alternates between 1942 Singapore and present-day England. A young woman named Dorothy makes a promise during the evacuation of Singapore. Years later, her granddaughter Annabel finds a photo of her with an unknown man and Anabel begins to research the photo. 

The publisher's summary: 

Singapore 1942: With the war drawing ever closer, Dorothy faces a heart-rending choice to leave the country she has come to call home and the people she loves most. As she boards a boat full of evacuees with warplanes advancing across the ocean, a tiny baby is pressed into her arms. In that moment, Dorothy makes a promise that will echo through the years...

England, 2019: When Annabel's grandmother, Dotty, passes away aged one hundred she discovers a bundle of letters and photographs hidden in her desk that document her life in Singapore during the 1930s. But Dotty had always said she never travelled further than their small village in Cornwall. What could have made Dotty conceal this past life? Who is the man standing next to her in a wedding dress who is not Annabel's grandfather?

Determined to uncover the truth, is Annabel prepared for what she will find?

What a great story! I was hooked from the first chapter. Dorothy's story is extraordinary. She suffered so much during her eight years living in Singapore but ended up with a long and happy life in Cornwall. The book is written in a dual timeline which is a format that I enjoy. The chapters alternated between Dorothy's perspective and Annabel's perspective. I enjoyed Dorothy's story more because she had unusual life experiences. 

The story opened with Annabel Penrose deciding to spend the Easter holiday with her beloved grandmother, Dotty, in Cornwall. She needs to get away for awhile from her cheating boyfriend. When she arrives, she finds Dotty has suffered a fall and is in the hospital. Scans reveal Dotty has a tumor and could not have ever had children. Annabel is shocked because her father Noel has always been known to be Dotty’s son. Dotty soon passes away and Annabel finds herself traveling to Singapore to find out more about her grandmother. 

The story is set in Singapore during WWII. I didn't know much about the Japanese occupation of the island before reading the book but it was horrific. I don’t know how anyone could possibly have survived. Many died but many also forced themselves to survive on a day to day basis. The people living in Singapore at that time had harsh existences; too awful to describe. Reading how the war affected them was certainly eye-opening. 

The Singapore Secret was an engrossing read. I think it offers a unique perspective on the WWII historical fiction sub-genre. 5 out of 5 stars.

Midnight in the House of Commons

Midnight in the House of Commons is the 16th Charles Lenox mystery by Charles Finch. In this installment of the series a member of parliament is poisoned. The series takes place in the Victorian era in London.

The publisher's summary:

In the spring of 1881, Lenox is caught up in the whirl of London life when his brother arrives to tell him that there’s been a murder in the House of Commons. Robert Baddeley, a charismatic, womanizing Member, has been found poisoned in the hallowed chamber itself. Suspicion immediately falls on the women in his life, including his wife and mistress, but as Lenox digs deeper, he realizes that there were more than a few people who might have wanted Baddeley dead. 

Meanwhile, Lenox must balance his investigation with his family life, which has grown increasingly complicated: his ward Sari struggles with heartbreak, the Lenox household receives an odd visitor, and a young woman comes to Lenox to implore him to find her fiancé, who has mysteriously vanished. 

And just when Lenox is nearing the truth of Baddeley’s murder, someone close to him is arrested for the crime—and Lenox must race to solve the case before losing everything.

Joyfully set in ballrooms, supper parties, palaces, and Parliament, Midnight in the House of Commons takes Charles Lenox through his trickiest, most satisfying case yet.

I was disappointed with the book. It wasn't much of a whodunnit. There was plenty of Victorian era verbage that I did not see advancing the plot and after awhile I became bored. This is highly unusual for me with a Charles Finch novel. In addition, it took a few chapters for the unknown woman, Violet Goodhue (I love this name) to see Lenox and describe her predicament, which was that her fiance disappeared. Lenox interviewed the man's family and closest friends who all said he wanted out of the engagement. Of course, there is more to this subplot.

 The murder itself did not occur until we were almost at the halfway mark in the story. That is too late for a mystery novel but note that the plot picked up speed here. Member of Parliament Robert Baddeley was found dead at midnight in the House of Commons Chamber. Baddeley was known to work late into the night so none of the maintenance crew were surprised to see him working late that evening. They were surprised to find his body when they opened up the Chamber for cleaning. The police later determined that he was poisoned with chloral. Chloral will kill within 15 minutes of exposure. For his investigation, Detective Lenox interviewed Baddeley’s associates as well as the night crew on site that evening.

I have been known to watch Prime Ministers Questions which is shown live on TV from the House of Commons Chambers on Wednesdays. As such, I am familiar with the decor and procedures in the House. The author accurately portrayed the scene. I was surprised where the body was placed in the Chamber and instantly knew it was staged. However, the Chamber was locked and no one should have been able to access it. A woman claiming to be Baddeley’s sister signed herself in on the premises though. The sticky point here is that Baddeley did not have a sister. Another unusual fact was the location of his office. Baddeley should have been assigned a better location for his office. Lenox was told by several men that the office was where men could meet their mistresses. All these facts Charles Lenox had to sift through in order to find the killer. The rest of the story followed the murder mystery formula with several twists and turns.

The suspects included Baddeley’s chief assistant whom he was going to fire. Mr. Cole was the last person to see him alive and his father was a chemist. The French and Russian governments were also considered. Baddeley’s wealthy wife and mistress rounded out the pool of suspects. 

I am rating the book 3 out of 5 stars. While the beginning was slow, once the investigation began the story became much more interesting. Also, note that I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.