The Fortune Tellers Of Rue Daru: A Novel by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:(summary from Goodreads)

A fearless fortune teller in 1920s Paris must use her powers to divine who she can trust—and even more importantly, learn to trust herself—in the searing new gothic novel from the author of The Haunting of Moscow House .

Spirited twenty-something Zina and her secretive grandmother, Baba Valya, own a tearoom on rue Daru in Paris, where they have lived quietly since Zina’s mother’s untimely death. By day, the women serve tea, mostly to members of the bustling Russian émigré community, but when dusk falls, they divine fortunes and perform séances for their loyal clientele.

Then the charming Princess Olga and her brother arrive, searching for answers about the disappearance of their father, the Grand Duke and cousin to the murdered last Tsar of Russia. Zina, eager to learn more about the spirit world and her powers, performs the séance. She is able to summon the Grand Duke, but to her horror, he starts to haunt the shop, and he seems to know something sinister about her mother’s death.

As Zina delves into her family’s hidden past, dark secrets are unearthed, threatening Zina and her grandmother’s found family, home, and tearoom, not to mention their very lives.

my thoughts:

A story about fortune tellers in 1920s Paris - how could I not want to read this one? Plus, that summary makes it sounds unputdownable. I'm excited to fall in deep with Zina and her family. And, it's Paris - my favorite city to read about. I'm thrilled to travel the streets and city, learning all about divining fortunes and the Russian community in Paris at the time. Plus, I want to find out if the Grand Duke truly does know anything about Zina's mother. I'm sure that I'll be gobbling up this fantastical story in no time. I can't wait!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

Now I Surrender byÁlvaro Enrigue, translated by Natasha Wimmer

(Thank you Riverhead Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

Look what arrived in the post! Hurrah! I'm thrilled to get my hands on a copy of Enrigue's latest book. I just know it will be a treat to read. His writing is top notch and his storytelling is excellent. His books are a testament to his intelligence and creativity - I am in awe! I just know I am going to fall in deep with Now I Surrender and I can't wait!

So, what is this lovely new book about? Well, it's described as...

"A visionary novelist imagines the fiercely fought end of an epoch of almost unimaginable freedom and radically recasts the story of how the West was “won.”

In the contested borderlands between Mexico and the United States, a woman flees into the desert after a devastating raid on her dead husband’s ranch. A lieutenant colonel in service to the fledgling Republica, sent in pursuit of cattle rustlers, discovers he’s on the trail of a more dramatic abduction. Decades later, with political ambitions on the line, the American and Mexican militaries try to maneuver Geronimo, the most legendary of Apache warriors, into surrender. In our own day, a family travels through the region in search of a truer version of the past.

Orchestrated with a stunningly imagined cast of characters, both historical and purely fictional, their storylines playing out in multiple eras, Now I Surrender is Álvaro Enrigue’s most expanisveand impassioned novel yet. Part epic, part alt-Western, it weaves past and present, myth and history, into a searing elegy for a way of life that was an incarnation of true liberty—and an homage to the spark in us that still thrills to its memory." (according to Goodreads)

How incredible and fascinating does that sound? I know I'm excited - we get history, fiction, and a bit of a Western all rolled into one. Sounds like a creative triumph to me. Talk about literature at its very best!

Thank you Riverhead Books for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Last Lifeboat: A Novel by Hazel Gaynor

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

Inspired by a remarkable true story, a young teacher evacuates children to safety across perilous waters, in a moving and triumphant new novel from New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor.
 
1940, Kent : Alice King is not brave or daring—she’s happiest finding adventure through the safe pages of books. But times of war demand courage, and as the threat of German invasion looms, a plane crash near her home awakens a strength in Alice she’d long forgotten. Determined to do her part, she finds a role perfectly suited to her experience as a schoolteacher—to help evacuate Britain’s children overseas.
 
1940, London : Lily Nichols once dreamed of using her mathematical talents for more than tabulating the cost of groceries, but life, and love, charted her a different course. With two lively children and a loving husband, Lily’s humble home is her world, until war tears everything asunder. With her husband gone and bombs raining down, Lily is faced with an impossible keep her son and daughter close, knowing she may not be able to protect them, or enroll them in a risky evacuation scheme, where safety awaits so very far away.
 
When a Nazi U-boat torpedoes the S. S. Carlisle carrying a ship of children to Canada, a single lifeboat is left adrift in the storm-tossed Atlantic. Alice and Lily, strangers to each other—one on land, the other at sea—will quickly become one another’s very best hope as their lives are fatefully entwined.

my thoughts:

Love, love, love! The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor is the epitome of historical fiction at its very, very best! I mean it, this book has it all in spades. The writing is superb, the characters are unforgettable, and the story is compelling. The book is unputdownable. I found myself reading late into the night, because I had to read it all at once - it was just so damn good. 

So, what is this awesome story about? It's about courage, history, and hope. Based on true events, this is the harrowing story of Operation Pied Piper during WWII - when children were shipped to Canada, New Zealand, etc. in a bid for their safety during the war. Gaynor writes the story from two perspectives: a mother named Lily, who struggles to decide whether she should have her children evacuated, especially as the bombs are raining down in London; and, Alice, a schoolteacher who decides to help evacuate British children overseas. Alice boards the SS Carlisle, along with Lily's children, Georgie and Arthur - the plan is to help get the children to Canada.  The ship has a convoy of protection, sailing alongside. Except, the convoy ends when they reach a certain point out at sea, thereby leaving the ship venerable to attack. And, it gets torpedoed. The ship sinks.  A lifeboat is left afloat and Alice is on it, along with some children, and crew from the ship. In London, the parents are finding out that the ship has sunk and they are reeling in fear and grief, eager to find out what happened to their children - Lily is one of these parents. And, that is all I will write about this amazing and beautiful story. You must check it out!!

I would happily recommend The Last Lifeboat to anyone and everyone - you are going to fall in LOVE with this story!! Make sure to get your hands on a copy of this book ASAP!! 

 

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Paris Agent: A Novel Of World War II by Kelly Rimmer

 

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

For fans of fast-paced historical thrillers like Our Woman in Moscow and The Rose Code, Rimmer’s brilliant new novel follows three female SOE operatives as their lives intersect in occupied France, and the double agent who controls their fate.

Twenty-five years after the end of the war, an aging Marcel Augustin is reflecting on his life during those perilous, exhilarating years as a British SOE operative in occupied France—in particular the agent who saved his life during a mission gone wrong, whose real name he never knew, nor whether she survived the war. Piqued by her father’s memories, Marcel’s daughter Charlotte begins a search for answers that resurrects the unrest and uncertainty from that period of his life. What follows is the story of Eloise, Josie and Virginia, three otherwise ordinary, average women whose lives intersect in 1943 when they’re called up by the SOE for deployment in France. Taking enormous risks to support the allied troops with very little information or resources, the three women have no idea they’re at the mercy of a double agent within their ranks who's causing chaos within the French circuits, whose efforts will affect the outcome of their lives.

As Charlotte’s search for answers continues, new suspicions are raised about the identity of the double agent, with unsettling clues pointing to her father, and more mysteries are unearthed from the last days of the war about the eventual fates of Eloise, Josie and Virginia.

my thoughts:

Wow. What an amazing story. I absolutely LOVED Kelly Rimmer's latest novel, The Paris Agent: A Novel of World War II. It was historical fiction at its very best -  gripping, well written, and unputdownable. Talk about the perfect book to settle down with on a long weekend. 

Noah aka Marcel is reminiscing about his time as a British SOE operative in WWII, specifically the time an agent saved his life. He never knew her name or whether she survived the war.  So, his daughter, Charlotte, decides to search for answers. Through her research we find the stories of three women: Eloise, Josie, and Virginia, all deployed for France during the war in service to the SOE. We also find out about a double agent who put everyone's lives in danger. The more information Charlotte uncovers, the more she starts to wonder about her own father's role in the war. And, the more we find out about what happened to Eloise, Josie, and Virginia. 

Rimmer has created an amazing story with a fascinating cast of characters that will have you reading all day and night, just to find out what happened. We get code names, dual timelines, the terror of war, and the compelling stories of the agents sacrificing their lives for the greater good. It is riveting. And the descriptions are vivid and rich with detail, that you can't help but see, smell, and taste everything in the story. The Paris Agent is a dynamic duo of a book - top notch writing and masterful storytelling. You will fall in deep with this story!

I would happily recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Make sure to check it out!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Woman With The Cure By Lynn Cullen

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

She gave up everything— and changed the world.

A riveting novel based on the true story of the woman who stopped a pandemic, from the bestselling author of Mrs. Poe.

In 1940s and ’50s America, polio is as dreaded as the atomic bomb. No one’s life is untouched by this disease that kills or paralyzes its victims, particularly children. Outbreaks of the virus across the country regularly put American cities in lockdown. Some of the world’s best minds are engaged in the race to find a vaccine. The man who succeeds will be a god.

But Dorothy Horstmann is not focused on beating her colleagues to the vaccine. She just wants the world to have a cure. Applying the same determination that lifted her from a humble background as the daughter of immigrants, to becoming a doctor –often the only woman in the room--she hunts down the monster where it lurks: in the blood.

This discovery of hers, and an error by a competitor, catapults her closest colleague to a lead in the race. When his chance to win comes on a worldwide scale, she is asked to sink or validate his vaccine—and to decide what is forgivable, and how much should be sacrificed, in pursuit of the cure.

my thoughts:

The Woman With The Cure by Lynn Cullen is a MUST-READ for everyone! It's an important story about an amazing woman named Dorothy Horstmann, M.D. and her discovery of the cure for polio. Yep, this book is all about women in the medical field during the 1940s and 1950s and it is awesome! Based on a true story, Cullen writes about the pandemic that was terrifying the world at the time: polio.  She writes about the race for the cure and how men were competing to be considered the 'god' who found the cure. All the while, Dorothy, was determined to find the cure to save lives. And, so she worked hard and contributed her discoveries along the way, which helped formulate the cure for polio; all the while never getting the recognition she so rightly deserved and earned. She was a woman working in a predominantly male field and it was difficult, unfair, and filled with sexism.  And yet, she always kept her eyes on the prize: to help and heal patients. 

Cullen has written a smart and thought-provoking story using history as her anchor to share all about the woman who made the cure for polio possible. I really enjoyed the way she blended fact with fiction, making the story such a captivating read right from the start. I found myself immediately immersed and intrigued by this part of history I had never heard of. Talk about historical fiction at its very best!

I would definitely recommend The Woman With The Cure to fans of Cullen and to everyone looking for their next great read- you are going to LOVE this book! Make sure to get your hands on a copy ASAP!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

Moonrise Over New Jessup: A Novel by Jamila Minnicks

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

Winner of the 2021 PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction, a thought-provoking and enchanting debut about a Black woman doing whatever it takes to protect all she loves at the beginning of the civil rights movement in Alabama.
 
It’s 1957, and after leaving the only home she has ever known, Alice Young steps off the bus into the all-Black town of New Jessup, Alabama, where residents have largely rejected integration as the means for Black social advancement. Instead, they seek to maintain, and fortify, the community they cherish on their “side of the woods.” In this place, Alice falls in love with Raymond Campbell, whose clandestine organizing activities challenge New Jessup’s longstanding status quo and could lead to the young couple’s expulsion—or worse—from the home they both hold dear. But as Raymond continues to push alternatives for enhancing New Jessup’s political power, Alice must find a way to balance her undying support for his underground work with her desire to protect New Jessup from the rising pressure of upheaval from inside, and outside, their side of town.

Jamila Minnicks’s debut novel is both a celebration of Black joy and a timely examination of the opposing viewpoints that attended desegregation in America. Readers of Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half and Robert Jones, Jr.’s The Prophets will love Moonrise Over New Jessup.

"With compelling characters and a heart-pounding plot, Jamila Minnicks pulled me into pages of history I’d never turned before."  —Barbara Kingsolver 

"An immersive and timely recasting of history by a gloriously talented writer to watch. You will fall in love with New Jessup: the town and the book." 
—Margaret Wilkerson Sexton, author of The Revisioners

my thoughts:

Wow. Moonrise Over New Jessup by Jamila Minnicks is a smart, thought-provoking must-read.  I loved it. I think this is an important book - the writing is excellent and the ways in which it explores race, history and community is superb. Moonrise Over New Jessup is classic in my opinion. And, I would wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone. 

Alice finds herself stepping off a bus in the town of New Jessup, Alabama. It's 1957 and the town is all-Black. Founded by freed slaves, the town is bent on segregation - meaning, Blacks only. And she loves it. She finds herself smitten with the town and with one of the founder's relatives.  So, she doesn't leave. She stays in New Jessup and makes a life for herself. Of course, life isn't perfect and soon enough she's having to deal with her husband's political actions, keeping the town of New Jessup safe, and her own beliefs about living in a segregated community. Talk about a book with a purpose. 

Minnicks has written about a topic we are familiar with - the civil rights movement - via a different perspective - from the inside of an all Black town wanting segregation from the white town across the way. It's fascinating and intriguing. I loved the mix of history with Minnick's own take on the subject. And, the characters were the best kind - the type you can't help but get invested in straightaway and have to know what is going to happen to them. I just loved this book to bits. It was such a great reading experience. 

Definitely make sure to get your hands on a copy of Jamila Minnicks' outstanding novel, Moonrise Over New Jessup. You are going to LOVE it!!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Secret Society of Salzburg by Renee Ryan

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

From the author of The Widows of Champagne, and inspired by true events, comes a gripping and heartwrenching story of two very different women united to bring light to the darkest days of World War II.
 
London, 1933
 
At first glance, Austrian opera singer Elsa Mayer-Braun has little in common with the young English typist she encounters on tour. Yet she and Hattie Featherstone forge an instant connection—and strike a dangerous alliance. Using their friendship as a cover, they form a secret society with a daring goal: to rescue as many Jews as possible from Nazi persecution.
 
Though the war’s outbreak threatens Elsa and Hattie’s network, their efforts attract the covert attention of the British government, offering more opportunities to thwart the Germans. But Elsa’s growing fame as Hitler’s favorite opera singer, coupled with her secret Jewish ancestry, make her both a weapon and a target—until her future, too, hangs in the balance.
 
From the glamorous stages of Covent Garden and Salzburg to the horrors of Bergen-Belsen,  two ordinary women swept up by the tide of war discover an extraordinary friendship—and the courage to save countless lives.

my thoughts:

Wow! Just, wow.  What an amazing story! The Secret Society of Salzburg by Renee Ryan is an excellent read and the perfect example of what historical fiction should be. Chock full of history and based on real life events, this story has everything: dramatic scenes, unforgettable characters, tense emotions, and the message of what hope and determination can do during horrific times. Talk about a must-read!!

Vera and Hattie are sisters living in London. They are huge fans of famed opera singer, Elsa Mayer-Braun. The two sisters manage to save enough money to see Elsa in concert - talk about exciting! Well, it gets even more exciting when they actually meet the opera singer and wind up befriending her. How cool is that? Except, this unlikely friendship is unfolding during scary and unknown times - the rise of Hilter.  Unfortunately for Elsa, her husband has befriended the Nazis and she is expected to accompany him to dinners with them and become Hitler's favorite singer. All the while she worries about her Jewish ancestry being discovered. As for Vera and Hattie, they are working tirelessly to save Jewish people, by helping to smuggle them to safety, along with their belongings and whatever useful information they can gather. The British government takes notice of the sister's network and offers to help them with their mission, since the two are working against the Nazis. Of course, the work gets even more dangerous as Hitler's power grows. 

Ryan has written a terrific story involving real-life people that is just so inspiring - these women are true heroes! Their courage and bravery is exemplary. You can't help but wonder at how strong in determination and hope these women must have had to believe that they could do these dangerous and life-threatening missions time and time again. Talk about true faith. 

I would happily recommend The Secret Society of Salzburg to anyone and everyone - you are going to LOVE this book! Make sure to check it out!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

Under a Veiled Moon: An Inspector Corravan Mystery by Karen Odden

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

In the tradition of C. S. Harris and Anne Perry, a fatal disaster on the Thames and a roiling political conflict set the stage for Karen Odden’s second Inspector Corravan historical mystery.

September 1878. One night, as the pleasure boat the Princess Alice makes her daily trip up the Thames, she collides with the Bywell Castle, a huge iron-hulled collier. The Princess Alice shears apart, throwing all 600 passengers into the river; only 130 survive. It is the worst maritime disaster London has ever seen, and early clues point to sabotage by the Irish Republican Brotherhood, who believe violence is the path to restoring Irish Home Rule. 
 
For Scotland Yard Inspector Michael Corravan, born in Ireland and adopted by the Irish Doyle family, the case presents a challenge. Accused by the Home Office of willfully disregarding the obvious conclusion and berated by his Irish friends for bowing to prejudice, Corravan doggedly pursues the truth, knowing that if the Princess Alice disaster is pinned on the IRB, hopes for Home Rule could be dashed forever.

Corrovan’s dilemma is compounded by Colin, the youngest Doyle, who has joined James McCabe’s Irish gang. As violence in Whitechapel rises, Corravan strikes a deal with McCabe to get Colin out of harm’s way. But unbeknownst to Corravan, Colin bears longstanding resentments against his adopted brother and scorns his help.
 
As the newspapers link the IRB to further accidents, London threatens to devolve into terror and chaos. With the help of his young colleague, the loyal Mr. Stiles, and his friend Belinda Gale, Corravan uncovers the harrowing truth—one that will shake his faith in his countrymen, the law, and himself.

my thoughts:

What a thrilling and exciting story! I just LOVED the second book in Karen Odden's popular series, An Inspector Corravan Mystery, titled Under a Veiled Moon. Talk about historical fiction at its very best! Chock full of history, mystery, and the Victorian era, this book is a must-read for fans of Odden and anyone interested in historical crime mysteries. 

Set in 1878, this story delves into the political conflict between Ireland and England via a maritime disaster that sets everything into motion. In September, the Princess Alice collides with the Bywell Castle on the River Thames. There are 600 passengers and they all wind up in the water.  Only 130 people survive the boat crash. It is a horrific accident. And, early on in the investigation all signs point to the Irish Republican Brotherhood as being the responsible party for the collision. Say what? Yep, the IRB may be guilty and it's up to Inspector Corravan to find out the truth. Born in Ireland and adopted by and Irish family, the Doyle's, his loyalty is questioned by both his colleagues and his friends. Convinced that only the truth will prove his loyalty to justice, Corravan sets out to find out what truly happened to the Princess Alice. Unfortunately, the case turns out to be more difficult than he bargained for when his brother gets involved and violence threatens to erupt on the streets of London. Luckily, Corravan has Mr. Stiles and Belinda Gale on his side, which means, he may just get to the ugly truth. The only thing is, will he like what he finds out? Yikes! 

Odden has written a terrific story that will hook you right from the start. Her writing is top notch and engrossing - you won't be able to put this book down for anything. And the characters are unforgettable - you will fall in deep with them and look forward to reading about their next adventure. Under a Veiled Moon is an excellent read that you won't want to miss out on - make sure to get your hands on a copy ASAP! 

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Sisters of Sea View: On Devonshire Shores #1 by Julie Klassen

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

Some guests have come for a holiday, others for hidden reasons of their own . . .

When their father's death leaves them impoverished, Sarah Summers and her genteel sisters fear they will be forced to sell the house and separate to earn livelihoods as governesses or companions. Determined to stay together, Sarah convinces them to open their seaside home to guests to make ends meet and provide for their ailing mother. Instead of the elderly invalids they expect to receive, however, they find themselves hosting eligible gentlemen. Sarah is soon torn between a growing attraction to a mysterious Scottish widower and duty to her family.

Viola Summers wears a veil to cover her scar. When forced to choose between helping in her family's new guest house and earning money to hire a maid to do her share, she chooses the latter. She reluctantly agrees to read to some of Sidmouth's many invalids, preferring the company of a few elders with failing eyesight to the fashionable guests staying in their home. But when her first client turns out to be a wounded officer in his thirties, Viola soon wishes she had chosen differently. Her new situation exposes her scars--both visible and those hidden deep within--and her cloistered heart will never be the same.

Join the Summers sisters on the Devonshire coast, where they discover the power of friendship, loyalty, love, and new beginnings.

my thoughts:

What a charming and entertaining story! I just loved Julie Klassen's latest book, The Sisters of Sea View - it's the first in her new series, On Devonshire Shores. And let me just say, it is excellent! 

Sarah Summers' father has just passed away and now her family is in desperate need of money. So, she comes up with the idea of letting out rooms in their seaside home to guests. This will alleviate their financial concerns and help them to provide for their sick mother. Talk about a win-win. Except, that other problems manage to crop up and soon the sisters are dealing with guests, romantic entanglements, and so much more. 

Klassen has written a terrific story that introduces us to a family determined to find their footing in a new business venture that manages to open up their world in ways they hadn't imagined. I really enjoyed getting to know Sarah and her sisters, along with their guests - talk about a motley crew. I can't wait to read more about them in the stories to come in this lovely new series. The Sisters of Sea View was such a treat to read! Top notch writing, unforgettable characters, and an unputdownable story - what more could I want? 

I would happily recommend this book to fans of Klassen and anyone looking for their next great read - you are going to fallen love with this book! Make sure to check it out!

Thank you to the publish for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Sunshine Girls: A Novel by Molly Fader

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

A cross between Firefly Lane and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, a dual-narrative about two sisters who realize their mother isn’t who they’d always thought when a legendary movie star shows up at her funeral, unraveling the sweeping story of a friendship that begins at a nursing school in Iowa in 1967 and onward as it survives decades of change, war, fame—and the secrets they kept from each other and for each other.

A moment of great change sparks the friendship of a lifetime...

1967, Iowa: Nursing school roommates BettyKay and Kitty don’t have much in common. A farmer’s daughter, BettyKay has risked her family’s disapproval to make her dreams come true away from her rural small town. Cosmopolitan Kitty has always relied on her beauty and smarts to get by, and to hide a devastating secret from the past that she can’t seem to outrun. Yet the two share a determination to prove themselves in a changing world, forging an unlikely bond on a campus unkind to women.

Before their first year is up, tragedy strikes, and the women’s paths are forced apart. But against all odds, a decades-long friendship forms, persevering through love, marriage, failure, and death, from the jungles of Vietnam to the glamorous circles of Hollywood. Until one snowy night leads their relationship to the ultimate crossroads.

Fifty years later, two estranged sisters are shocked when a famous movie star shows up at their mother's funeral. Over one rollercoaster weekend, the women must reckon with a dazzling truth about their family that will alter their lives forever…

my thoughts:

Love, love, love!!! What a fantastic book! Chock full of drama, relationships, family, love, and so much more - this story gave me all the feels and then some. I found myself caught up right from the start and would not put this book down for anything - I just had to find out what would happen next. I really enjoyed every minute I spent with The Sunshine Girls by Molly Fader - what a treat!

To be honest, I don't want to share much about the story, because this is one you must read for yourself - it is just too good to miss out on. Plus, I don't want to reveal anything, because that would ruin the story. So, all I'll share is that this is a story about two unlikely friends who start off as roommates during nursing school and wind up sharing a decades-long friendship - this is their story, alongside two estranged sisters. And, that's all I'll share - just know that you MUST read it for yourself to enjoy all the DRAMA, FRIENDSHIP, and FAMILY for yourself. You will LOVE it to bits!!

I would most definitely recommend The Sunshine Girls by Molly Fader to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read - you are going to fall in deep with this one. Make sure to check it out!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

Factory Girls: A Novel by Michelle Gallen

(Thank you the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

A funny, fierce, and unforgettable read about a young woman working a summer job in a shirt factory in Northern Ireland, while tensions rise both inside and outside the factory walls.

It’s the summer of 1994, and all smart-mouthed Maeve Murray wants are good final exam results so she can earn her ticket out of the wee Northern Irish town she has grown up in during the Troubles. She hopes she will soon be in London studying journalism—away from her crowded home, the silence and sadness surrounding her sister’s death, and most of all, away from the violence of her divided community.

As a first step, Maeve’s taken a job in a shirt factory working alongside Protestants with her best friends. But getting the right exam results is only part of Maeve’s problem—she’s got to survive a tit-for-tat paramilitary campaign, iron 100 shirts an hour all day every day, and deal with the attentions of Handy Andy Strawbridge, her slick and untrustworthy English boss. Then, as the British loyalist marching season raises tensions among the Catholic and Protestant workforce, Maeve realizes something is going on behind the scenes at the factory. What seems to be a great opportunity to earn money turns out to be a crucible in which Maeve faces the test of a lifetime. Seeking justice for herself and her fellow workers may just be Maeve’s one-way ticket out of town.

Bitingly hilarious, clear-eyed, and steeped in the vernacular of its time and place, Factory Girlstackles questions of wealth and power, religion and nationalism, and how young women maintain hope for themselves and the future during divided, violent times.

my thoughts:

Whoa! What a freaking fantastic story! I just LOVED Factory Girls by Michelle Gallen to bits! 

Set in 1994 during the Troubles in Ireland, we meet Maeve Murray. She's waiting for her GSCE exam results to find out whether or not she'll be attending school in London to study journalism - something she desperately wants. Because all Maeve wants is to get out of her small town and away from all the problems and troubles that reside there. So, to bide her time, she gets a summer job at a shirt factory with her best friends. It's the first time she'll be working alongside Protestants, which turns out to be an eye-opening experience for her, being a Catholic and all. Plus, her boss is known for being too handsy and forward when it comes to his female staff. Oh, and something sketchy seems to be going on at work which may test Maeve in ways she didn't realize she needed to be tested. Talk about a DRAMA-filled summer! 

Gallen has written a smart and hilarious story chock full of unforgettable characters during an unforgettable summer that you will fall in deep with - I know that I did. I really enjoyed getting to know Maeve and her friends and their hometown of Tyrone. Getting to experience a piece of Irish history via Maeve's story was just such a treat. I would happily recommend Factory Girls to fans of Gallen's work and to anyone looking for their next great read - you won't want to miss out on this book! Make sure to check it out!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

Spotlight on Under a Veiled Moon: An Inspector Corravan Mystery by Karen Odden

 

A new-to-me series by Karen Odden that is a must-read for her fans, and for anyone looking for a terrific new crime mystery series to fall in deep with. I know I loved this book and can't wait to read the first in the series - I want to get to know Inspector Corravan even more, along with his friend Belinda and his colleague, Mr. Stiles. 

So, what's this book about? Well, here's a summary to whet your appetite. My review will be coming in December and let me just say it will be a rave review. 

In the tradition of C. S. Harris and Anne Perry, a fatal disaster on the Thames and a roiling political conflict set the stage for Karen Odden’s second Inspector Corravan historical mystery.

September 1878. One night, as the pleasure boat the Princess Alice makes her daily trip up the Thames, she collides with the Bywell Castle, a huge iron-hulled collier. The Princess Alice shears apart, throwing all 600 passengers into the river; only 130 survive. It is the worst maritime disaster London has ever seen, and early clues point to sabotage by the Irish Republican Brotherhood, who believe violence is the path to restoring Irish Home Rule. 
 
For Scotland Yard Inspector Michael Corravan, born in Ireland and adopted by the Irish Doyle family, the case presents a challenge. Accused by the Home Office of willfully disregarding the obvious conclusion and berated by his Irish friends for bowing to prejudice, Corravan doggedly pursues the truth, knowing that if the Princess Alice disaster is pinned on the IRB, hopes for Home Rule could be dashed forever.

Corrovan’s dilemma is compounded by Colin, the youngest Doyle, who has joined James McCabe’s Irish gang. As violence in Whitechapel rises, Corravan strikes a deal with McCabe to get Colin out of harm’s way. But unbeknownst to Corravan, Colin bears longstanding resentments against his adopted brother and scorns his help.
 
As the newspapers link the IRB to further accidents, London threatens to devolve into terror and chaos. With the help of his young colleague, the loyal Mr. Stiles, and his friend Belinda Gale, Corravan uncovers the harrowing truth—one that will shake his faith in his countrymen, the law, and himself.

Now, how great does that sound? Like a must-read, right? Well, it is! So make sure to check it out! You are going to fall in LOVE with Odden's writing and her storytelling.

A Dress Of Violet Taffeta: A Novel by Tessa Arlen

 

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

A sumptuous novel based on the fascinating true story of La Belle Époque icon Lucy, Lady Duff Gordon, who shattered the boundaries of fashion with her magnificently sensual and enchantingly unique designs.

Lucy Duff Gordon knows she is talented. She sees color, light, and texture in ways few people can begin to imagine. But is the male dominated world of haute couture, who would use her art for their own gain, ready for her?
 
When she is deserted by her wealthy husband, Lucy is left penniless with an aging mother and her five-year-old daughter to support. Desperate to survive, Lucy turns to her one true talent to make a living. As a little girl, the dresses she made for her dolls were the envy of her group of playmates. Now, she uses her creative designs and her remarkable eye for color to take her place in the fashion world—failure is not an option. 
 
Then, on a frigid night in 1912, Lucy’s life changes once more, when she becomes one of 706 people to survive the sinking of the Titanic. She could never have imagined the effects the disaster would have on her fashion label Lucile, her marriage to her second husband, and her legacy. But no matter what life throws at her, Lucy will live on as a trailblazing and innovative fashion icon, never letting go of what she worked so hard to earn.

my thoughts:

Wow! What a fabulous story! I LOVED A Dress Of Violet Taffeta by Tessa Arlen - it was such a fascinating story about a determined, strong, and talented woman. Talk about chic fashion at its very best!

Lucy is talented. She has an eye for color and texture. Fashion is her game and she is damn good at it. And, she has to be. Why? Well, her first husband left her penniless and she has a mom and daughter to take care. Failure is most definitely not an option for Lucy. So, she throws herself into the fashion world, ready to make a name for herself. Hard work and talent wind up being the recipe for Lucy's success. Yep, her name becomes popular in the fashion world, she has stores opening up all over, and she meets a partner that becomes her husband. Unfortunately, a voyage on the Titanic upends her life, and Lucy is once again struggling to figure out what to do next.

Arlen has written a terrific story that will reel you right in and keep you reading all through the night. I know I stayed up late devouring this delicious story. I loved getting to know Lucy and her family and reading all about her ups and downs in a world that wanted to keep women down. A Dress Of Violet Taffeta is a must-read for anyone and everyone - it is fantastic! Superb writing, interesting characters, and an unputdownable story. What more could you want? I know I LOVED it to bits! So, check it out - ASAP!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

Bloomsbury Girls: A Novel by Natalie Jenner

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

Natalie Jenner, the internationally bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society, returns with a compelling and heartwarming story of post-war London, a century-old bookstore, and three women determined to find their way in a fast-changing world in Bloomsbury Girls.

Bloomsbury Books is an old-fashioned new and rare bookstore that has persisted and resisted change for a hundred years, run by men and guided by the general manager's unbreakable fifty-one rules. But in 1950, the world is changing, especially the world of books and publishing, and at Bloomsbury Books, the girls in the shop have plans:

Vivien Lowry: Single since her aristocratic fiancé was killed in action during World War II, the brilliant and stylish Vivien has a long list of grievances--most of them well justified and the biggest of which is Alec McDonough, the Head of Fiction.

Grace Perkins: Married with two sons, she's been working to support the family following her husband's breakdown in the aftermath of the war. Torn between duty to her family and dreams of her own.

Evie Stone: In the first class of female students from Cambridge permitted to earn a degree, Evie was denied an academic position in favor of her less accomplished male rival. Now she's working at Bloomsbury Books while she plans to remake her own future.

As they interact with various literary figures of the time--Daphne Du Maurier, Ellen Doubleday, Sonia Blair (widow of George Orwell), Samuel Beckett, Peggy Guggenheim, and others--these three women with their complex web of relationships, goals and dreams are all working to plot out a future that is richer and more rewarding than anything society will allow.

my thoughts:

Love, love, love! Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner is a superb story that captured my heart and kept me reading til the wee hours of the morning. I absolutely LOVED it to bits! What a book!

It's 1950 in London and Bloomsbury Books is about to meet some change in the form of three young women: Grace, Vivien, and Evie. The store is run by men and they are stuck in the past.  In fact, Mr. Dutton, the manager of the store, has a set of 51 rules that MUST be followed.  And the women are expected to make tea and handle the cashier's desk, but not much else. Talk about ignorant co-workers. These women have ideas, determination, and know the meaning of hard work - they can make the bookshop soar, if they are given the chance.  This is their story and it is awesome. I just loved getting to know Grace, Vivien, and Evie - they were such great characters. I especially enjoyed their interactions with some of history's favorite writers - what a treat!  Plus, it was such fun to read about the ways in which they showed their male colleagues how to get the job done. 

Jenner has created a fantastic story that really draws you in and keeps you hooked. The history, the literary figures, the characters, and the storylines are all top notch.  Meaning, they are written about with such rich and vivid detail that you can't help but find yourself transported to Bloomsbury Books getting caught up in all of the drama. I just loved it! Bloomsbury Girls is an engaging and entertaining story that you can't help but fall in deep with - it's just that damn good. 

I would happily recommend this book to fans of Jenner and to anyone looking for their next great read - check it out ASAP!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!