I have really enjoyed the books in the Emma Langley series by Emily Organ. I love spending time with Emma Langley and Penny Blakely. They each have their own lives but work well together to solve mysteries. Such strong, independent, and intelligent women. And as was true during the Victorian time period, they were not valued as major contributors to society. There were lots of clues and possible suspects that kept me invested in the story and wondering who was guilty of murde

I love historical fiction books and especially those that deal with books and libraries. So many magical things can happen in the pages of a wonderful book. So this one caught my attention and I looked forward to time spent with Lily. The history of the American Library in Paris was interesting and I enjoyed getting to know the many characters featured in the book. The shelves of books and the comfort of friendship makes this a story worth exploring. Thank you to NetGalley an

I have loved the author, Fannie Flagg, for many years. So any time a new book is released, I will definitely have it on my to-be-read list. So I was excited at the opportunity to read her latest book. However, this one just did not appeal to me. The collection of short stories was okay, but not what I was expecting. “My bad” that I did not read the synopsis first. As with most of her books, there are some quirky individuals which I enjoyed. Unfortunately, the random stories w

I enjoy reading books in the historical fiction genre. And while this was a different focus than my typical read, it had a lot of positive aspects. I love the focus of a strong female character who demonstrated intelligence and strength. Set in a period of time when women were not recognized for these positive characteristics, this was a breath of fresh air.Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.   Fo

First of all, I was not the intended audience for this book. While I have enjoyed other books by the author, Evie Woods, I do not find those in the magical realism genre appealing. As a musician myself, I did appreciate the focus on musicians. Being exposed to how violins are made as well as played was informative and a positive aspect to this book. At times, I felt like the story dragged on and I had a difficult time staying focused. There are many individuals, though, who w

I enjoy reading historical fiction books. However, this was a different focus from most of my reads. Unfortunately, this one just seemed to take too long to tell the story. I struggled to stay focused. It had promise but I did not feel like it delivered. The Roaring Twenties, murder mystery, and PTSD aspects could have developed into a relatable and inspiring story. Plus the random use of the “F-bomb” was totally unnecessary. Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my a

This was a different read for me. I appreciated the historical fiction aspect of this book. However, the magical realism focus was not engaging to me. The time period of Prohibition was interesting. But there were some aspects that did not appeal to me ... the gangsters that appeared late in the book for the purpose of turning the dancers against each other or the over-the-top discussion of Nora’s fears. This book had promise, but for me, it did not deliver. Thank you to NetG

I love reading books from the historical fiction genre ... and especially when they are set during the WWII time period. The synopsis of this book intrigued me and I anticipated learning more about the enigma machines and codebreaking. While you will be exposed to a lot of information about the codebreaking efforts throughout WWII and how the Polish teams led the way in that accomplishment, the book just seemed to drag on. The romance between Beata and Harry took up too much

This was a very different book than my typical read. The medical history aspect was informational and learning about female surgeon, Dr. Nora Gibson, and her strong and determined personality as she struggled in a world dominated by men was enlightening. The author (who is actually the writing team of Jaime Fixson and Regina Sirois) has obviously done a great amount of research. But it is presented in a way that showcases the lives of the characters with depth and care. A sto

I am a huge fan of historical fiction books and especially if they are set during the WWII timeframe. This particular story is different than those I typically read because it takes place in Portugal. Getting to know Avery and Camille and journey with them through this difficult period of time was engaging. This was a story of love, loss, friendship, survival, and espionage. It will pull you in and keep you invested in the story until the final reveal. And what a great shocki

I am a huge fan of historical fiction books. This one was a different focus than my typical read. I have never explored Egyptian history much other than what I have read in the Bible and about King Tut. While I enjoyed learning about two strong women and their role during their lifetimes, this book did not appeal to me. I did not enjoy the writing style or one the female characters, Lady Evelyn Herbert. I appreciate the amount of research that the author did. But the storylin

The premise of this book grabbed my attention and I looked forward to learning about the life of Bianca and the possible cure for malaria. However, the story seemed to drag on and on and could not keep my attention. The primary character, Bianca, is not a pleasant person. She is selfish, an adulteress, and so wrapped up in herself and motivation for wealth to the point of abandoning her child that I could not stand to read about her life. Not a pleasant read for me. Thank you

I enjoy reading historical fiction books and one that deals with books appeal to me. However, this book was so difficult to get into. The different characters and time periods were confusing. I did enjoy reading about the WPA (Works Progress Administration). A disorganized attempt to share multiple viewpoints and storylines. It just did not work for me. Though I have enjoyed previous books by the author, so I will read future books by her. Thank you to NetGalley and William M

This is the first book I have read in the Temple River series. But it will not be the last! I plan to go back and read the first four books. I love dual timeline books and this one pulled me in from the first page and I was invested in the story and the lives of the characters until I had absorbed every word and closed the book with a smile on my face. The characters are richly developed and I loved the setting. The story is an emotional read. But you will grow to love Angie,

I love reading historical fiction books. This one was a different focus than my typical read. Though it does occur during the WWII time period, it does not focus on the horrors of the war. An amazing cast of characters. I was not familiar with the Hollywood Victory Caravan or the efforts actors engaged in to support the war effort and encourage patriotism. The primary character, Jackie, is not a pleasant individual. However, she does have her positive qualities and joins forc

I love reading books in the historical fiction genre and especially if they are focused on the WWII time period. This one was a different read in that part of the story occurred in the U.S. While I have read about internment camps for the Japanese individuals who lived in the United States during WWII, I was not familiar with individuals of Italian descent being arrest for being an “enemy alien.” This story is filled with love, loss, family, sacrifice, patriotism, and the los

I love the historical fiction books written by Kristin Harmel. She always manages to pull me into the story. The focus on the time during WWII is always a perk for me. As you spend time with Colette, you will be amazed at her tenacity, her bravery, her intelligence, and her willingness to the people supporting Hitler’s agenda and using it for good purposes. This is a nonstop journey of adventure and intrigue. I loved the two twists at the end. They made my heart soar with hop

I love historical fiction books and the mystery aspect of this one was a positive spin that I really enjoyed. Metting Freddie Archer, a columnist of Gotham Magazine was enlightening. Freddie’s character was based on one of the first female columnists at The New Yorker. Life as an independent and strong female in the 20s was difficult. But Freddie was up for the challenge. Experiencing this time period and the speakeasies, bootlegging, fashion designers, and glamorous lifestyl

This is a story of relationships ... family, friends, and past loves. A heartfelt tale set in Mississippi amid the love and support of Edie’s grandmother and her closeknit group of friends, the Ten Spots. When you open the book and absorb the first word, you will be enveloped in grace, caring, support, second chances, and forgiveness. Hidden secrets, self-discovery, and healing are sprinkled throughout the book. It was touching to see the characters discover the “light” of ho

I had looked forward to reading this first book in The Women of Cannon Book series. But I could not get invested in the story. I also did not connect with or care for Mary or her husband, John. While based on a true story, spreading it out into a trilogy is not appealing. I did enjoy learning about the first women postal carriers in Oregon. Thank you to NetGalley and Revell for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own. For more reviews, please visit my bl