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.

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 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.

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.

The Sapphire Child

The Sapphire Child is the sequel to The Emerald Affair. It is part of a trilogy that takes place in India during the British Raj era. The sequel concerns the same characters as well as their progeny. The book is chunky with its 515 pages and qualifies for the Big Book Summer Challenge as well as the Color Coded and Historical Fiction Challenges.

The publisher's summary:  

In 1930s Northern India, childhood friends Stella and Andrew have grown up together in the orbit of the majestic Raj Hotel. Spirited Stella has always had a soft spot for boisterous Andrew, though she dreams of meeting a soulmate from outside the close-knit community. But life is turned on its head when one scandal shatters their friendship and another sees her abandoned by the man she thought she loved.

As the Second World War looms, Andrew joins the army to fight for freedom. Meanwhile in India, Stella, reeling from her terrible betrayal, also throws herself into the war effort, volunteering for the Women’s Auxiliary Corps, resigned to living a lonelier life than the one she dreamed of as a child.

When Andrew returns to the East on the eve of battle with Japan, the two former friends are reunited, though bitter experience has changed them. Can they rekindle what they once had or will war demand of their friendship the ultimate sacrifice?

The Sapphire Child is a captivating and sumptuous novel. It is well researched with vivid descriptions of an India of yesteryear. The weather descriptions were spot on. I could feel the oppressive humidity. The pungent smell of spices were fully described. I was totally lost in this exotic setting. I didn't expect that the book would be better than The Emerald Affair but it is way more entertaining than Emerald. 

This novel was much more emotional than the Emerald Affair. I had my heart in my hands from start to finish. I worried about Stella the most. Stella was taken advantage of by just about everyone. She is a sweet woman so it always felt wrong for her to be mistreated. Esme and Tom held second place but as the plot unfolded I got tired of Tom’s depression and outbursts. Lydia, Andrew’s mother, was the villain. You knew she would hurt everyone around her and she did. When Andrew grew up he joined the army. His exploits during WWII were intense. We read alot about the progress of the war. I think Andrew was one of the most mature characters in the story, with the exception of the easy-going Esme. 

Childhood friends Stella and Andrew grew up together in the majestic Raj Hotel, owned by Andrew's father Tom Lomax.  Stella has always had a soft spot for Andrew, but she dreams of meeting a soulmate. She gets reacquainted with a man she met on the ship from Scotland to India. Hugh Keating seems to be the perfect man. He's attractive, suave, and available. Hugh proposes but avoids conversations about getting married so I knew he was too good to be true. He had both me and Stella fooled. Much more happened between these two but I don't want to be a spoiler. Suffice to say this relationship was heart-wrenching.

The Sapphire Child was enjoyable from beginning to end. I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

Honey in the Wound

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Honey in the Wound is the debut novel of Jiyoung Han. The story is about a Korean family confronting the brutality of the Japanese empire. The Japanese occupied Korea and parts of China during this era. It's an epic tale of five generations of one family. It was published on April 7, 2026.

The publisher's summary:

A sister disappears and returns as a tiger. A mother’s voice compels the truth from any tongue. A granddaughter divines secrets in others’ dreams. These women are all of one lineage—a Korean family split across decades and borders by Japanese imperialism.

At this saga’s heart is Young-Ja, a girl who infuses food with her emotions. She revels in her gift for cooking, nourishing the people she loves with her cheerfulness. But her sunny childhood comes to an end in 1931 when Japanese soldiers crush her family’s defiance against the Empire. Young-Ja is cast adrift, her food turning increasingly bitter with grief. When a Korean rebel fighter notices her talents, however, she is whisked off to Manchuria to join a secretive sisterhood of beautiful teahouse spies. There, Young-Ja finds a new sense of belonging and starts using her abilities for the resistance. But the Imperial Army is not yet finished with her…

Decades later, Young-Ja lives alone in Seoul, withdrawn from the world until her Tokyo-born granddaughter Rinako bursts into her life with the ability to see into dreams. In cultivating a tentative bond, they confront the long-buried past in a stunning emotional climax.

As an unforgettable family perseveres in the long shadow of colonialism, Honey in the Wound transports readers to mountain forests where tiger-girls stalk, to Manchurian teahouses and opium dens where charming smiles veil secrets, and to the modern metropolises of Tokyo and Seoul where restless ghosts stir. This debut novel is a tender yet powerful multi-generational drama that shines light onto the twentieth century’s darkest corners and gives voice to those who bore witness.

I found writing my review of this book was difficult. So much happened that I didn't know where to start. It's an emotional story for sure and I felt that my emotions were overwhelmed. Heart-wrenching is the best word to describe the book. The story centers on Young-Ja, whose ability to cook her emotions into food was her superpower as a youth. This is where the magical realism joins the plot. When her family was executed by Japanese soldiers, Young-Ja ran and hid. She was lucky to survive but her overwhelming grief made her susceptible to corrupt men. Right after Young-Ja's family passed away, she was found unconscious near a lake. A barren couple took her in and treated her as their own. Young-Ja stayed with them for several years but when the husband began sexually assaulting her during the night, the wife gave her to a man who offered Young-Ja a fantastic job in China. 

The job was not fantastic. Young-Ja was forced to work long hours in a tea house kitchen in the northern area of Korea.  However, she thrived there and was promoted to hostess in the tea rooms. She and her fellow hostesses and servers listened to conversations that Japanese soldiers had among themselves. This information was given to people in the resistance movement. After nine years, the Japanese arrested the tea house owner and burned it to the ground. Unfortunately, Young-Ja ended being kidnapped and taken to Manchuria to be a comfort woman for Japanese soldiers. Her life gets even worse.

This is a sad story but realistic for the time and place. The author did a fine job writing about this unknown event in history. She showed how horribly the Koreans were treated by the Japaneses soldiers. Young-Ja's life affected me deeply. I mourned with her every time something bad happened to her. 

All of the characters were well developed. Young-Ja's grandparents had an interesting backstory. I loved reading about them. Her grandmother Myoung-Ok toiled as a farmer. When Myoung-OK eventually married Dahn, who was considered a giant by the villagers, she left her agrarian existence and moved to the mountains with him. There they gave birth to twins. Geum-Jin married Song Jung-Soon even though she had a facial disfigurement. They raised several children including Young-Ja. Their story was also intriguing and one of the best parts of the book. 

While Honey in the Wound is a good book, I don't know if I should recommend it. It made me sad for about a week after I finished reading. Who wants to deal with that! My rating of 5 out of 5 stars reflects the fantastic research that went into the story as well as the writing of this saga.

The Emerald Affair

The Emerald Affair is the first book in The Raj Hotel trilogy by Janet MacLeod Trotter. The series is about four friends from Scotland, Esmie, Lydia, Tom, and Harold, who move to India following WWI. With 545 pages, it is 5 pages shy of being a chunkster.

The publisher's summary:

In Scotland in the aftermath of the First World War, nurse Esmie McBride meets handsome Captain Tom Lomax at her best friend Lydia’s home. Esmie is at first concerned for Tom’s shell shock, then captivated by his charm, but it’s effervescent Lydia he marries, and the pair begin a new adventure together in India.

When marriage to Tom’s doctor friend Harold offers Esmie the chance to work in India, the two sets of newlyweds find themselves living wildly different lives on the subcontinent. Esmie, heartbroken but resolved, is nursing at a mission hospital on the North West Frontier. Lydia, meanwhile, is the glamorous mistress of the Raj Hotel, where Tom hopes his sociable new wife will dazzle international guests.

As Esmie struggles with her true feelings for Tom and the daily dangers of her work, Lydia realises the Raj is not the centre of high society she had dreamed of. And when crisis strikes both couples, Esmie faces a shattering choice: should she stay the constant friend she’s always been, or risk everything and follow her heart?

The Emerald Affair is a story about life in Ralwalpindi, India in the 1920’s. The setting isn't described in too much detail which I was expecting. The fears that the British had of the natives becoming violent was about the only aspect of the setting involved in the story other than the insufferable heat and humidity. Both couples had marriage difficulties which was basically due to marrying fast, marrying the person you were expected to marry and not marrying the person they were in love with. As with all British Raj novels there were plenty of sexual affairs.

Esme is the heroine of the book. She is overly conscientious and devoted to her job as a nurse. Her husband Harold is even more married to his job as a physician. Harold has intimacy issues that Esme cannot figure out and she is unhappy in the marriage. Esme's best friend Lydia is the complete opposite. Lydia loves partying. One social event per day is not enough for her. She wants to be socializing from morning to midnight. Since Lydia's husband Tom spends most of his time trying to develop his new hotel, there is alot of conflict between them. 

It took me three reading sittings to finish the novel. This is highly unusual for me. While I enjoyed the story, the pace was a little slow. I am going to rate the book a 3.5 out of 5 stars 

The Star of Ceylon

The Star of Ceylon is the first book in a trilogy by Clare Flynn. It's an atmospheric novel about forbidden love and is set in the last days of the British Raj. The book was published in May 2025.

The publisher's summary: 

Ceylon, 1906: Stella Polegate steps off the ship in Colombo harbour, her heart beating with contradictory emotions. As her father’s unofficial research assistant, she’s thrilled to explore this island of ancient temples and verdant tea plantations—yet painfully aware that her brilliant mind will remain uncredited, her academic ambitions dismissed simply because she is a woman.

When her father’s doctoral student makes unwelcome advances that escalate to violence, Stella’s carefully ordered world shatters. With her reputation and future hanging in the balance, she finds an unexpected ally in Norton Baxter, a principled young civil servant whose growing disillusionment with colonial rule mirrors her own questioning of societal constraints.

As Stella navigates the suffocating expectations of colonial society, she must make an impossible choice. Should she accept the limitations imposed upon her gender or fight for the academic future she deserves? And can she trust Norton with her damaged heart when every man in her life has sought to control her destiny?

From the misty highlands of Kandy to the bustling port of Colombo, Stella’s journey becomes a defiant quest not only for love but for something far more elusive—the freedom to become the author of her own story.

What I loved most about the novel was the rich setting in Ceylon, now known as Sri Lanka. As I was reading I could feel the oppressive heat and humidity of this island as well as the cultural traditions of the natives. I also loved the descriptions of the temples with their impressive architecture and colors. The names attached to the temples were funny such as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. The scent of incense and flowers in the air completed this dreamy setting. 

Into this exotic place, Englishman Norton Baxter arrives. He is completely focused on his career as a civil servant but is always being pulled aside by the the government agent's spoiled and overbearing daughter, Cynthia Metcalfe, who wants to marry him from first look. Norton’s job included witnessing floggings, hangings and gathering witness statements for divorce hearings. He is horrified by the penal code and considers it barbaric while all of the other English men and women just take it in stride. They believe that they are superior people. One lady has a different viewpoint. Stella Polegate has accompanied her anthropologist father and brother Ronald to Ceylon as they research differences between the north and south Tamil people. Ronald is a bum and lives off of his father’s wealth. Stella wants to study anthropology on her own at Cambridge University. As a woman that is nearly impossible. Women were not lawfully allowed to be given degrees although in rare cases they could attend classes. When she meets Norton there is an easiness between them. However, Stella’s father wants her to marry his official research assistant Gordon Blackstone. He believes that the only way for her academic research to reach an audience is under her husband’s name. Additional characters include Norton’s new friend Paul Carberry. He is a happy go lucky tea planter. His roommate Bertie Frobischer completes the main characters. 

There is a sexual assault in the story. If this will upset you please note that it isn’t described in much detail. The era normally forced women to marry their attacker which infuriated me. The thought at the time was that the woman was sullied and had to marry the first man who took her virginity. The idea was to protect women.

In this first book of the trilogy the author has set up her story for the future. There are well developed characters, an interesting setting and tension between the characters and the native populace. The story can only grow from this foundation.

3.5 out of 5 stars.

Cleopatra

Saara El-Arifi's Cleopatra is the third historical fiction account of Cleopatra's life that I have read in the past month. Many of the characters were already familiar to me when I opened the pages of this book. While the storylines are similar, all three books are different. In this particular novel Cleopatra is the narrator. Her political skills are focused upon instead of her seductive behaviors. The novel was published in February 2026. 

The publisher's summary:

YOU KNOW MY NAME, BUT YOU DO NOT KNOW ME.

Your historians call me seductress, but I was ever in love's thrall.

Your playwrights speak of witchcraft, but my talents came from the gods themselves.

Your poets sing of my bloodlust, but I was always protecting my children.

How wilfully they refuse to concede that a woman could be powerful, strategic, and divinely blessed to rule.

Death will silence me no longer.

This is not the story of how I died. But how I lived.

The story is a memoir, but told by Cleopatra while she is in the afterlife. She has been dead for over two thousand years and is aware of the lies told about her over the millennia. I thought this was an intriguing perspective for the author to write from. Much of Cleopatra's narration refutes what historians have said about her, that she was a nymphomaniac. Of course, the male historians would say that. Cleopatra instead tells us how she chose her strategies for success. While she slept with Caesar and Marcus Antonius, we see how she used them for political gain. Truth be told, she did nothing that wasn't for her gain. 

The opening scene of the book was on the day that Cleopatra became queen. She was still a teen but immediately knew how to behave as a queen as well as how to remain as queen and pharoah. Her father taught her well but it seemed that she was born for her future role. Perhaps that's more guessing on what she was like but for a woman to succeed at being pharaoh Cleopatra must have had the goods to hold onto power as long as she had. That's impressive. 

The novel included Cleopatra's relationships with her siblings. In this retelling of her life we read that she loved her brothers and sister and thought they loved her in return. She was generous to them. When each of them tried to take the throne away from her she was stunned. Eventually she had them killed. The only problem she had was her sister Arsenoe. Arsenoe made several attempts to dethrone Cleopatra. After each loss Arsenoe kept coming back. Cleopatra never agreed to execute her until after the third attempt. I loved her villainous character. Arsenoe was awesome. The author's creation of the brothers characters showed them to be weak with no political skills and easy to depose. 

The ending gives us a different perspective on how Cleopatra's life could have ended. I must say that the author was imaginative with her plot. The book was a fantastic read. I believe all readers will love it too. 5 out of 5 stars.

Daughter of Blue City

Daughter of Blue City is a sequel to Mother of Red Mountains which I read and reviewed last month. It is a historical fiction novel that takes place in post-Revolution China and continues the tale of the Zhou family into the next generation.

The publisher's summary:

How do you survive when the world you know is at war with itself? In the unyielding chaos of China's Cultural Revolution, young Lianlian's life is a constant battle against family violence, public shame and brutal poverty. Raised by a resilient mother and anchored by her little sister, she learns to endure, but with a family fractured by divorce a future seems impossible.

When the political climate finally shifts and the nation scrambles for direction, Lianlian discovers her most powerful weapon is her mind. With few options left, she fixates on a single hope: a chance at a university education. Fueled by sheer will and the quiet support of her mother, she fights for her spot at a top university, seeing it as the one true path to building a life of her own.

When the prior book ended, Lianlian's mother Jun was struggling to work and take care of her kids. Lianlian was probably two or three years old. I cannot remember. Mother of Red Mountains ended abruptly and I expected that the sequel would continue her story. However, Daughter of Blue City begins with Lianlian in middle school. The book is Lianlian's story, not Jun’s. She attends the top school in her community and hopes to attend high school and then university. Lianlian's grades were so high that she was later accepted into Peking University which was the best in China. Most of the book centers on Lianlian's educational achievements and her hopes for a top job.

Lianlian and her sister Shanshan grew up in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia which is in northern China. Hohhot is known as the blue city because of its intense blue skies. We read about how their lives were affected by politics. The author does not give us a narrative of the historical events but rather writes how the Zhou family mourned the deaths of Zhou Enlai and Mao Zedong. As the politicians changed educational possibilities for the common people, Lianlian benefited and was allowed to try for higher education. Of course, as the top scoring pupil in Hohhot her possibilities were enormous and she applied for acceptance into the top three universities. Lianlian and her sister Shanshan were very close. Shanshan insisted on accompaning Lianlian everywhere. She was not interested in making friends with kids her own age.

As an admirer of all things Chinese, I couldn’t put the book down. The plot was riveting and the Zhou family characters were adorable. It would be nice if there was a third novel, maybe highlighting Shanshan or Lianlian's life after university. 5 out of 5 stars.

Death in the Church

Death in the Church was published on March 31, 2026. It is a historical fiction story set in the time of Constantine the Great.

The publisher's summary: 

A controversial priest dies suddenly on the steps of the great cathedral, moments before his long‑awaited readmission after years of excommunication. Church leaders hail his death as a divine sign.

But Captain Aurelius — the trusted imperial aide assigned by Constantine himself to investigate — is not convinced. Was this truly an act of God, or the work of someone far more earthly? As he retraces the priest's final moments and unravels the decades of disputes that made the man a target, Aurelius uncovers secrets capable of igniting civil war in both the Empire and the Church.

Named for the philosopher‑emperor of earlier days, Aurelius soon realizes that the future of his world may hinge on what he discovers. And as the lines between faith and ambition blur, he must confront a question more dangerous than any enemy. Is his world being led by saints… or by demons

The mystery itself was about the death of Arius. It took a long time in the story for Arius to be killed. Common folks believed that God smote him before he could enter the local Cathedral and that his intestines burst open and spilled on the ground. Arius had a following among the poor. His belief that Jesus was a regular human being who later became god. Most of the priests in the church believed otherwise, that Jesus was always God and only became man to redeem the world. Emporer Constantine tasked his aide Aurelius to determine what was happening in his empire. 

Constantine eventually had to convene a gathering of priests in Nicea to determine whether Jesus was both human and divine. The document that came out of the gathering is the Nicene Creed. So, Arius was definitely controversial. Soon thereafter a fellow named Arsenius went missing. Bishop Arsenius was from Mellitia. His supporters feared that he was kidnapped by the Alexandrians. 

Another church battle took place in Alexandria where a schismatic priest named Melitius stirred half of Upper Egypt into rebellion against their bishops. He was also ordaining priests without the Church’s permission. This event took up alot of space in the story.

I didn't see much of an investigation into the death of Arius. Eventually we read that he never died and that the poor were telling tales concerning his death. The dialogue between the characters was florid. I had some difficulty keeping track of who said what because the character names, while normal for the 300s, were hard to read. I got bogged down with the verbage.

The setting was supreme. The character names are supported by historians and the religious debates of the age are described in detail. My problem is that there wasn't much else in the book other than the setting and era. I expected a historical mystery but obviously my expectations were wrong. 

I am rating the book 2.8 stars out of 5 stars.

I Am Cleopatra

I was intrigued by the title of this book when I first saw it. However, it was the stunning cover that convinced me to get it and I was not disappointed. The story of Cleopatra is always shrouded in mystery and the writing style of author Natasha Solomons continues in this vein. I Am Cleopatra is a fantastic historical fiction account of this most intriguing woman.

The publisher's summary: 

The favored daughter of the Pharaoh, Egyptian Princess Cleopatra spent her childhood hiding amid the scrolls in the great library of Alexandria, dreaming of one day writing her own story.

When her father dies, naming both Cleopatra and her selfish brother Ptolemy as his successors to the throne, danger arises. While the young Queen sails the Nile to greet her people, her brother plots to eliminate her and rule the empire alone. But while Ptolemy has the power of the kingdom behind him, Cleopatra has her cunning wits. When the great Caesar arrives from Rome, she realizes he could be the key to her salvation—though courting this powerful man could cost her everything.

Can Cleopatra save her life, her throne, and her beloved Egypt and finally write her own history?

Told from the dueling perspectives of Cleopatra and Caesar’s mistress Servilia, I Am Cleopatra is a powerful, addictively readable reimagining of the alluring queen’s life. A modern retelling that goes beyond previous caricatures, I Am Cleopatra is a fascinating portrait of the flesh-and blood-woman behind the great legend. Natasha Solomons’ spellbinding story of female power and fragility, love and loss, fierce friendship and terrible betrayal introduces at last the real Cleopatra in all her glory and vulnerability.

Throughout the book Cleopatra maintained a mysterious persona. Even the narration, almost always from her perspective, was mysterious. After 100 pages or so I wished that she was more relaxed but it never happened. Perhaps it'a because there were many people hoping for her death. That would make anyone standoffish. Toward the midway point in the story we read chapters from the perspective of Servilia. Servilia was also one of Caesar’s mistresses but this relationship lasted for decades. No matter who Caesar had dalliances with, he always returned to Servilia. The mysterious trait of Cleopatra became old after awhile. I did adjust to her narration but it bothered me that she was distant in her relationships.

Cleopatra's slave Charmian was her best friend. Cleopatra and Charmian were paired together from a young age and they grew up together. Charmian was the only person that she accepted advice from. Charmian was 100% devoted to her. Cleopatra's first husband was her stepbrother. They despised each other. Their father, Auletes, arranged the marriage and was pleased to keep the dynasty in the family. After his death Cleopatra's father had already arranged another marriage for her. This time the groom was her three year old brother Ptolemy. Cleopatra and Ptolemy were going to reign as co-pharoahs.  Ptolemy was a child and uninterested in the affairs of state. However, Cleopatra was born to rule. She was a fantastic political strategist who advised her father from an early age. 

The Egyptian setting was glorious. I loved the food descriptions and could feel the usually fresh air on the Nile. If Cleopatra sailed too close to the shore the smell of excrement was overpowering. Cruising the Nile to Memphis and Thebes made Cleopatra relaxed. There were always citizens waving to her. The images from the royal palace were also alluring with its marble floors and unique flora and fauna. The section of the story that took place in Rome described an inferior setting. It was hot but without the cool breezes from the Nile. During winter Cleopatra froze. She hated Rome.

The story covered Cleopatra's life from age thirteen until she left Rome pregnant with her second child from Caesar. History tells us much more about Cleopatra's life but this is where the story ended in I Am Cleopatra. Much of the book concerns threats from her stepbrother Ptolemy as well as her intimate relationship with Caesar. Ptolemy was constantly outmaneuvered but never gave up on his attempts to kill her. He wanted to be the sole Pharoah of Egypt but he also had a misogynistic attitude towards women in general. 

I enjoyed the story but reading the narrative was awkward in some places. I must say, though, that the author showed us the real Cleopatra which basically was her job. She did that well. 4 out of 5 stars.

The Ivory City

I discovered this lovely book from my kindle ad feed. It is a historical mystery and the author is new (to me). Emily Bain Murphy has written several books including YA fantasy and adult historical fiction. The Ivory City was published in November 2025.

The publisher's summary:

The St. Louis World’s Fair, 1904:  A miniature city of palaces and pavilions that becomes a backdrop for romance, betrayal—and murder.

Cousins Grace and Lillie have been best friends since birth, despite Grace’s vastly inferior social status ever since her mother married for love instead of wealth. When Lillie invites Grace to the biggest event of the century—the legendary World’s Fair, also known as “The Ivory City”—Grace hopes her fortunes might be about to change.  

But when a member of their party is brutally killed at the fair, and suspicion falls on Lillie’s brother Oliver, Grace must prove Oliver’s innocence before her beloved cousins’ family is ruined forever.

Along the way, she'll discover that the city’s wealthy elite—including Oliver’s handsome but irritable friend Theodore—aren’t quite who they appear to be. And amidst the glitz, glamor, and magic of the Ivory City lurks a danger that just may claim her life. 

While this novel is a well plotted mystery, it is the characters that bring it to life. Grace Covington, 18, is the main character. She is socially inferior to every other character because her mother married down. Grace is the most moral person in the story though. She has high standards to live by and she actually follows them. Her beloved cousins Lillie and Oliver love being rich, especially Lillie. Lillie, also 18, tends to follow all of high society's rules with the exception of including Grace in all of her activities. She receives alot of throwback from her friends and her mother but loves Grace too much to exclude her. That said, Lillie behaves like the spoiled brat that she is. She lies in order to get her way and frequently sneaks out of the house. Oliver is a happy go lucky twenty year old. He loves going to all of the balls and other high society functions. All of the ladies are trying to catch him because of his family’s extraordinary wealth. 

Aunt Clove is a villain but not the true villain of the book. She hates Grace and wants her out of her kids' lives. She believes Grace is reducing their marriage prospects. The name Clove is interesting. Cloves are a sweet but pungent spice that requires additional spices to make it palatable. Pungent is a good adjective to describe Aunt Clove. Lillie’s friends complete the characters. All of them are rich snobs who lie and cheat in order to advance themselves socially. Lillie unfortunately does not see this. 

The setting is extraordinary. The reader can feel the awe that the fair's exhibits draw from the characters. They see the Chinese emporer living within a replica of one of his palaces. The Japanese exhibit had extravagant detail, and Thomas Edison was present at the Electrical City. He gave lectures on the promise of electricity. The Philippine Villlage was the largest one. It was used so the United States to show off the colonization of this recently acquired territory. Many more exhibits were described in detail. I can imagine how awe inspiring all of the exhibits were to those living in the 1800s. I felt the same wonder as the characters. One part of St. Louis was called the Tunnels. This is where you can find drugs and prostitutes. Addicts and prostitutes not only do business there but also live there. The Tunnels were described as being dangerous enough that you could get killed there. Author Emily Bain Murphy's description of the Tunnels scared me as well as the characters. She did a fantastic job of showing the reader the setting.

The death occurred about 100 pages into this 340 page story. Oliver’s secret girlfriend Harriet died right after he gave her a cocktail to drink. Harriet was despised by the rich because she was an actress. The police arrested Oliver and charged him with Harriet's murder as there was strichnine in the cocktail. Lillie and Grace vow to clear him but it is really Grace who works to identify the actual killer. Lillie is too consumed by society's rebuke of her family following Oliver’s arrest. Grace and her new found friend Theodore Parker made a list of possible killers. As they considered each one, the two of them spoke with several of them to determine whether they should be crossed off the list. There were plenty of red herrings while these two worked their list. The real whodunnit was a surprise though.

The Ivory City was recommended to me by several people. I knew it would be good but I was not prepared for how good it actually is. I absolutely LOVED this historical mystery. 5 out of 5 stars.

Daughter of Egypt

Daughter of Egypt explores the lives of two powerful women separated by thousands of years. Hatshepsut lived in 1486 BCE in Thebes, Egypt. Evelyn Herbert lived in the 1920s in Hampshire, England. She grew up in Highclere Castle and went with her father Lord Carnarvon and his friend Howard Carter to Egypt every summer. They were excavating the royal tombs for treasure. The book was published on March 24, 2026

The publisher's summary:

In the 1920s, archeologist Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle made headlines around the world with the discovery of the treasure-filled tomb of the boy Pharaoh Tutankhamun. But behind it all stood Lady Evelyn Herbert―daughter of Lord Carnarvon―whose daring spirit and relentless curiosity made the momentous find possible.

Nearly 3,000 years earlier, another woman defied the expectations of her time: Hatshepsut, Egypt’s lost pharaoh. Her reign was bold, visionary―and nearly erased from history.

When Evelyn becomes obsessed with finding Hatshepsut’s secret tomb, she risks everything to uncover the truth about her reign and keep valued artifacts in Egypt, their rightful home. But as danger closes in and political tensions rise, she must make an impossible choice: protect her father’s legacy―or forge her own.

Propelled by high adventure and deadly intrigue, Daughter of Egypt is the story of two ambitious women who lived centuries apart. Both were forced to hide who they were during their lifetimes, yet ultimately changed history forever.

The story was told in an alternating format. Four or five chapters were devoted to Hatshepsut and then four or five to Lady Evelyn. I quickly became interested in Hatshepsut. She was a pharoah in her own right and this impressed me. Her political strategies helped elevate her to Queen, Regent and then Pharoah. I don't know if her machinations were true to life or imagined by the author. Lady Evelyn or Eve didn't excite me until her parents allowed her to travel with them to Thebes for archaeological digs. Her story then picked up. Her mother was trying to marry her off so Eve had to attend balls in both England and Cairo. She wasn't interested in marriage yet but never really met anyone who wanted a smart wife and she intended to continue her educational pursuits. Eve was fascinated with Hatshepsut. Howard Carter shared this fascination and they would select places to dig based on where they thought her tomb was located. Lord Carnarvon was none the wiser.

The politics of 1920s Egypt was a part of the story. There were Egyptian insurgents who were fighting for Egypt’s independence. In the story it took about ten years. Before the insurgents became successful, the laws allowed Carter and Carnarvon to keep whatever artifacts they dug up. They got rich by selling a few pieces but both men had huge private collections of Egyptian art. After the first elections on Egypt those laws were changed. The nation then owned everything found in the tombs. We know from history that this archeological team discovered King Tutankhamun's tomb. 

I enjoyed reading about both women's passion to be more than society allowed. Both achieved their wishes and the book had a feminist feel good vibe that I am always attracted to. I have read other accounts of Hatshepsut’s life and it never gets too old for me. She is such a captivating character from history. There is much more to the story though. Alot of pages are devoted to the archeological excavations and the banter between Carter and Lord Carnarvon.

I loved the book. I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars. 

Mother of Red Mountains

Mother of Red Mountains  was published on December 16, 2024. It's a family saga that takes place in China after the Revolution. The story is a historical fiction novel that is based on true events and real people. It won many awards in 2025 and 2026.

The publisher's summary:

In the shadow of China’s tumultuous mid-20th century, an ambitious civil engineer is determined to protect her baby girls.

Despite a childhood marked by tragedies, Jun carves out a stable life for herself while shrewdly and skillfully navigating a male-dominated and politically charged society. As she rises through the ranks in her profession, she turns to her in-laws to help care for her daughters.

But when the Red Guards threaten her young family due to their connection with her in-laws’ capitalist class, Jun fears their very existence is in jeopardy.

Amid frequent threats to their safety, can Jun rise above the challenges and safeguard both her family’s future and their fragile stability?

Mother of Red Mountains is a historical tale that creatively weaves together history, personal stories, and the complex culture of revolutionary China, magnificently crafted by Apple An. Showcasing the power of sheer grit and determination, this book traces the journey of a formidable woman who dares to dream against all odds.

The book sweeps across multiple remarkable decades during which China was experiencing the throes of socio-political upheaval. Laying between its covers is the intriguing story of Jun, from an innocent girl who helps her Baba’s shop to an ambitious woman, who despite hardship and amid rampant gender inequality, aspires for more than her preordained life. With grit, wit, and hard work, Jun becomes a star civil engineer at the best institute in the country with a great promise for a bright future. Jun’s life takes an unexpected turn at the onset of China’s Cultural Revolution when constant raids of Red Guards frighten her toddler girls, being cared for by her capitalist in-laws.

Apple An encapsulates the authenticity of a dramatic era and the soul of a woman who navigates political and personal turmoil and eventually finds her motherhood surpasses all her ambitions and expectations in life. Each character is finely etched, while the vivid descriptions of China - its vast landscapes, unique customs, and people - strike a chord of familiarity yet curious fascination.

I enjoyed the book but must say that the summary above is a little deceptive. Jun does not have to deal with the Red Guards until the very end and her contact with them was only with their poor treatment of her in laws.

Xiaojun, or Jun, grew up in Chifeng, which means red mountain, with older brothers Xi-Chang and Xi-Dan and a younger sister named Xia. Jun helped her father with the bookkeeping for the family’s grocery market from a young age. She was very smart and learned fast. Jun was her father’s favorite child not only because she was smart but because of her beauty. Jun’s mother died when she was twelve. She became responsible for Xia as oldest brother Xi-Chang was in the army and Xi-Dan married quickly in order to get sons that could carry on the family business. Soon thereafter Jun’s father turned sixty and sold the family business. Money was left for Jun to continue her educational pursuits as well as Xia's. Jun was on her own with responsibility for Xia while she was still in middle school but she didn't have any concerns about any of it. Jun developed romantic feelings with Yanshao. She thought these feelings were reciprocated as the two of them spent every available time together.

Jun wanted to attend college but that required three years of high school. Being shrewd, Jun decided to attend vocational school with Yanshao. She would still be able to work as a civil engineer. The school was located in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia where both male and female students were accepted. She selected this career because it would help rebuild China under the communists. Jun thought that the country would benefit from the communist doctrine. She graduated and began working as a civil engineer. Jun always impressed her bosses with her work ethic and ability to solve problems. However, she was placed in a job near the school but Yanshao was sent to a rural area. Jun was courted by Bin-Kai and they soon married and had a daughter named Lianlian.

The story ended abruptly with the Red Guards harassing Jun's in-laws. You have to get another book to find the ending. This disappointed me. I can see Jun’s story continuing in another volume but feel there should have been more to this particular novel. 

All things considered, I loved this novel and am rating it 4 out of 5 stars.

Bamboo Island: The Planter's Wife

Ann Bennett's Bamboo Island was published on October 4, 2019. It is a WWII story that takes place in Thailand. The book was previously published with the title The Homecoming and Bamboo Road. All of the titles have different book covers so I had some confusion over which book I was actually reading.

The publisher's summary:

1938: Juliet and her sister Rose arrive in Penang to stay with an aunt, after the death of their father. Juliet quickly falls under the spell of Gavin Crosby, a plantation owner, who despite his wealth, charm and good looks is shunned by the local community. Rushed into marriage, Juliet is unprepared for the devastating secrets she uncovers on Gavin’s plantation, and the bad blood between Gavin and his brother… But in 1941 the Japanese occupy Malaya and Singapore sweeping away that world and changing Juliet’s life forever.

For decades after the war which robbed her of everyone she loved, Juliet lives as a recluse back on the plantation. But in 1962 the sudden appearance of Mary, a young woman from an orphanage in Indonesia, forces Juliet to embark on a journey into the past, and to face up to the heart-breaking truths she’s buried for so long.

The story is told in a dual timeline, from the late 1930s to the 1960s. It was difficult for me to follow along in the beginning. Juliet endured many flashbacks, some to times in England with her family and others to life in Malaya with her abusive husband. Eventually I figured it all out. However, the story was not promising until the halfway point. WWII was raging then.

The story began, though, with a young woman arriving on her doorstep in 1962 who claimed to be Juliet's niece. Juliet's sister Rose and Rose's daughter Claire were lost at sea twenty years beforehand. Juliet quickly rebuffs the girl, Mary, but because she is lonely Juliet continues to maintain contact with her. Mary asks alot of questions that cause Juliet pain. She eventually gets answers but Juliet is forced to replay in her mind the Japanese occupation of Malaysia and her time in a Japanese prison.

Far Asian settings usually entice me but this setting was during a war. There were food shortages, impromptu home searches by Japanese soldiers and the constant threat of arrest and execution. Three years of Juliet's story occurs in Changi Prison in Singapore. Afterwards she and other women were marched to a prisoner of war labor camp. This is not the usual exotic Asian setting I am used to reading about.

The author wrote a compelling story which I believe maintains historical accuracy. It was an enjoyable read and I am rating it 4 out of 5 stars.