A Founding Mother: A Novel of Abigail Adams, by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie

 

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Publication May 5, 2026

Wow. What a champion of women Abigail Adams was. I'm delighted to say she's an ancestor. In fact, it was that tie that lead me to pick up this book originally. I'm so glad I did. I came away wishing I could have known her.

I won't go into detail as I'm seeing many other fine reviews elsewhere that relate more content, but will say it was a fascinating, well written read. The authors obviously did their research for this fictional historic novel and it shows. They also go into detail at the end about what is true, what was shifted in time, and what was their interpretation of events. Much of the dialogue is taken from Abigail's letters to husband John Adams, then serving in France for the wannabe America, and others. It was fun to get to see another side of the usually taciturn presentation of John, giving us a view of his human side. Same with John Quincy, who certainly had his share of adventures, too, with and without his father and family. The rest of the family, especially first daughter Nabby (nickname used throughout) and even some of her romantic ups and downs. She's something of a stoic but finds love but, whoa, wait to you see just how strong and stoic she could be. Of course, like many early American families, the Quincy/Adams family was pulled apart by the war. I'm sure you'll see the same common elements of that time that seem to be reappearing today so I won't say any more about that. The strong emphasis is on Abigail, of course, and it brings home the many sacrifices and hardships the women left behind by those struggling for freedom and then to make a new country from that freedom will keep history buffs reading as familiar name after name pops up. I did get a chuckle out of the confusion many seem to have had between John and Samuel, not to mention mail meant for one going to the other. 

The history buff in me admittedly was interested in it all although it was a war of independence years that really pulled me in. After opening with a quick look at Abigail and John's first meeting and eventual marriage, it seemed like we were suddenly thrust into war. What a shock it had to be to most to find their still new land caught up in conflict and rebellion. This book gives you the human side of it, too, including not just the shock of armed soldiers in the street and neighbor pitted against neighbor, but the sudden shock of British tea becoming scarce to Abigail's distaste for the newfound drink of coffee. Ah, how times change tho' I'm a tea drinker myself. Maybe I'll claim I inherited my taste buds from Abigail? Grin. 

In any case, if you have any interest in history, particularly the era leading up to and following the revolution, including John's term as president and beyond, you'll thoroughly enjoy this book. If your interest is more human directed, you'll also find much to ponder here, from family squabbles, hardship, slavery, tenant farmers, travel difficulties, loneliness, and more. Among the names that pop up are Benjamin Franklin, Lafayette, and Thomas Jefferson, I'll note, particularly as it segues into the post revolutionary years. My sincere thanks to #WilliamMorrow and #NetGalley for allowing me this early peek at a book I expect to buy for my own shelves upon release. I have to smile picturing what Abigail Adams would have to say about modern women's rights. 

A Very Irish Mystery (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery #25), by Verity Bright

 

Publication April 10, 2026

As usual, it's the characters who keep drawing me back to this series over and over again. From the curious and unstoppable Lady Eleanor Swift, who wasn't raised to be a lady, to husband Hugh and butler/friend/master of....whatever is needed Clifford, they are a delight to spend time with. And, of course, I can't forget Gladstone, Eleanor's trusty canine. The frequently humorous give-and-take between Eleanor and Clifford has always been a highlight of the historical fiction series for me, so it was great to see it front and center. Hugh, as the Scotland Yard officer, has always seemed a bit left out of that fun but he seems to be slowly settling into his retired cop, now detective role and showing a bit more of his human side this go-round. As he notes at one point, probably a bit bemused, as a cop he used to be the one chasing the culprit but now seems to be running from the law as often as not in partnership with the often impulsive Eleanor and Clifford who always seems to have her back and know what she needs or wants before she does. Definitely an interesting trio of detectives.

In this go-round, they find themselves in Dublin. They're planning to connect with a man who claims to be able to tell her something about how long missing parents. Eleanor has never quite solved the one mystery of a personal nature, why her parents abandoned her the night of their disappearance two decades ago. Well, they do ultimately meet him but there's a whole other matter that draws them before, the murder of brewery owner Fergal Finnegan. Eleanor discovers the body, no shock to long time readers, but, oh, my, what a place to find it. Nope, not telling. You're going to have to read the book. It goes without saying that they become absorbed with this case after being hired by the brewery's suddenly new manager but, in the meantime, we meet up with suffragettes, tour some of the backstreets of the Dublin of the day, find out Hugh isn't much of a sailor, and learn a bit about, uh, the oldest profession. Again, nope, not telling, you'll just have to read the book. And what's with all the rival breweries? Could one of them have killed Finnegan? How about the women, yes, plural, in his life? Oh, what a twisted web our trio has to unravel. All while, of course, awaiting the delayed arrival of the mystery man who may know something about Eleanor's parent's fate. Let's just say, that wasn't how they expected that discussion to go.

But, more than enough teasers. Obviously, I adore this series. I like the characters and they seem to wind up in some of the most fascinating places. We also learn lots about the setting of each adventure, not to mention a great deal of the history of the time. Do be sure to read the Historical Notes at the end. they touch of that subject, adding more to the story.  Thanks #Bookouture and #NetGalley for letting me time travel backwards once again for an early peek at all that is going on in Lady Eleanor's life. I did miss "the ladies" this go round but, hey, one can't be unhappy with a cozy mystery that manages to work in a Machiavelli quote seamlessly. 

Murder on a Frosty Night (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Book 24), by Verity Bright

 

Publication Dec. 8, 2025

The characters in this series are why I keep coming back. From the husband wife team of Eleanor and Hugh to their trusty butler (and now partner in their detective agency) Clifford, down to Gladstone the Bulldog, they're all well-fleshed out and distinctive. Oddly enough, I find that the relationship between Lady Eleanor Swift and her "knows what she wants before she does" butler Clifford the most fun. The banter between the two of them is sure to bring a smile to your face, even with his well timed jabs at her habit of having a, uh, healthy appetite. Husband Hugh, er, Sir Hugh Seldon, aka former Chief Inspector at Scotland Yard, is there but seems to have the straight man role more so than Clifford, so he's oddly enough often more of a restrained personality than their butler/partner/friend. Together, the make up the Bryon Detective Agency which embarks on one strange case. 

It's Christmas Eve and people are gathering at Henley Hall but, well, they want to make this agency a success, never mind that it involves making a long, difficult journey in the snow that same evening because they must arrive before midnight to accept the case. Miraculously, they do. Only one problem. Their client is no where to be found. Then, while strolling over to the local church for Christmas Eve services, they stumble over a body. It's Inigo Osmund Unwin draped over a tombstone. Oops, he was apparently their client. 

I won't really detail more of the plot except to say it's a complicated one. Let's face it. It started with complications and only gets more so. The hamlet of Yorelow, where they'd been summoned, is small but there are more than a couple likely suspects. Along the way, as they follow one lead after another, meeting some eccentric characters in the process, you'll learn about the hurdy-gurdy, early gramophone recordings, the history of midnight mass, Darwin, and even Pandora's Box...and more. And, for long time readers, never fear. Eleanor's ladies, aka "The Aprons" do make a memorable appearance. Don't forget to read the Historical Notes at the end. They're always a highlight for this former history major. Thanks #Bookouture and #NetGalley for introducing me to this delightful trio of sleuths and all their friends and associates. I'm hoping this series is able to continue for a long time despite the death of the female half of the husband/wife writing pair.

 

Revenge, Served Royal (Lady Petra Inquires, #3), by Celeste Connally

 Publication Nov. 11, 2025

The time is September, 1815. You're invited to attend a wonderful week of merriment and baking competition at Windsor Castle by Queen Charlotte. Lady Petra is happy to accept not just the invite but to be asked to serve as one of the judges of the baking contest. Even better, her own family cook is to be one of the contestants. Some humor as the naive cook is bewildered by the concept of it being a blind competition, simply meaning the judges will have no way of knowing which baked offering is from which cook. There's an added bonus for Lady Petra as one of her family's former cooks, now a former royal chef turned author of cookbooks, will be on hand. So will her romantic interest, Duncan. That's good as Sir Rufus Pomeroy, her family's former cook, is killed.

 I won't detail the plot much further other than to say it was fascinating to get a behind-the-scenes look at an earlier version of Windsor as well as the royal family. King George, who by then had descended into the madness that marked his later years, is largely scarce, for obvious reasons, although the by then Prince Regent is front and center. In fact, he's even a suspect. All does not seem to be functioning as one might expect with Rufus' valet, who turns out to have connections to Petra, is quickly nabbed as the suspect and ordered to the dungeon. True, there are good reasons for his arrest but not his treatment. Petra sets out to prove his innocence and winds up putting herself in the line of danger, not that it deters her. Be sure you read the author's back matter relating to the actual history being covered, which my history major soul loved reading. I won't spoil it for you but will say family drama, scandal, romance, writing, and, yes, baking, take the spotlight at various times.

Bottom line, despite always being taken aback initially by the large cast and rather meandering murder investigation (hey, it is 1815 after all) I wound up liking Petra and her friends. Heck, the character I thoroughly disliked initially was even redeemed, which was a twist I didn't see coming. And, no, I didn't really guess whodunit, either. But, I did thoroughly enjoy the story around the baking competition and I'm not even a fan of cooking shows. I liked that via Petra it was explained what judges were looking for in the various items as well as how they tasted and rated the entries. Thanks #StMartin'sPress - #MinotaurBooks for the early peek at a fun mystery set in a historic era I was happy to visit. Heck, I also have to admit to being curious enough to do some internet surfing to refresh my memories of George and Charlotte, including her having a young Mozart play at the palace. 

Before Dorothy, by Hazel Gaynor

 Publication June 17, 2025

The Kansan prairie might as well be a character in this one. Beautiful as it sounds in the brochures Emily has clung to for years, it also can be devastatingly destructive. The sense of the Dust Bowl hovers over the entire story, destroying dreams but, yes, bringing us home, too. I'm surely not the only child who once innocently watched the Oz movie and never once pondered why Dorothy lived with her aunt and uncle. Ah, the innocence of youth. Life can be harsh. In any case, I spent a good deal of time wishing I could somehow reach through the pages and give Emily Gale, the Auntie Em of the beloved tale, a hug. 

The author's skill put me there. I felt the wonder of the beauty of the prairie as envisioned by the hopeful young Emily while, yes, recalled the history of what happened to the overworked, over plowed soil and area. The Dust Bowl and hovering sense of doom that the talk of tornadoes creates seemed real, maybe because we've seen all too often of late how the power of nature can destroy. Even worse, how disaster can suck the life out of a person, hence my sense of foreboding for the Emily that we come to know so well as we read. I'm so glad the author caught that brief mention in the original work about Auntie Em being bright-eyed and beautiful once and how that changed. This is Auntie Em's story. You'll get to know Emily and husband Henry Gale well, their neighbors, too, and, I'm willing to bet, come to like and care for them. Dorothy, of course, and Toto, are part of the story but the focus is Auntie Em. Heck, I bet you may even have some sympathy for the "witch" of the story by the end of the book.

Needless to say, I savored this book. I must admit that I dragged it out, only allowing myself to read small sections at a time in order to make it last. I didn't want to leave this magical but deadly place.  I admired their determination to make a home there despite frightening and seemingly never-ending set-backs. The characters, and I wound up liking them all, warts and all, seemed real, like something out of a photograph of the Dust Bowl era. I could spend time listing the various "Easter Eggs", ie references to the movie or book, but will leave that delight for the readers to encounter on their own. Needless to say, we learn the backstories of many, including the now iconic trio of the Lion, Tin-Man, and Scare Crow, not to mention a hint of what may have shaped the "Wicked Witch of the West". In addition, make sure you read the historical notes at the end where you'll learn some history and the logic of some of the parts of this tale. Like, oh, where the gingham dress material often came from that we so associate with the movie Dorothy. My sincere thanks to #BerkleyPublishingGroup for reminding me that "There's no place like home" for that is where love and community exist.

Christmas with the Queen: A Novel, by Hazel Gaynor; Heather Webb

 

Publication Nov. 19, 2024

Two ordinary people, meet, date, part, then reconnect under the watchful eye of Queen Elizabeth, fresh to the crown herself. The cover is what drew me, plus the idea of getting an inside look at Christmas for the young, as yet untried, Queen. Although still in mourning for her late father, who died of lung cancer, Queen Elizabeth is determined to carry on his tradition of giving a Christmas greetings radio speech on Christmas Day. Elizabeth and Philip, however, are really minor characters in the story. Instead, the focus is on Jack, who is working in the royal kitchens of Sandringham, and gutsy Olive, who with a bit of luck and pluck, earns the BBC job of covering the speech. They have a past. Needless to say, they meet again.

I won't detail the plot. It covers five years of Christmas meetings and slowly coming to realize that there are still feelings there. As the book opens, Jack has just lost his wife in the London fog storm, I guess you'd call it, of 1952, and Olive is a single mother. She has a secret although, quite frankly, if I were a betting woman, I'd say you'll figure out what it is pretty easily and quickly. That said, it remains her secret for years as they meet and separate. In the process, Olive forms an unexpected bond of sorts with the Queen as both are young mothers, while Prince Philip offers advice to Jack. It was a delight to imagine the royals as "real people", you know, just like us, even if it took awhile for Jack and Olive to ultimately come together. Oh, come on. This is a holiday romance. You know there will be a happily ever after. It's the getting there that will alternately charm and frustrate readers as slow build romance meets its true match here. You'll like the characters, however, and learn quite a bit of history and human spirit, so to speak, as you follow them through those years. 

Bottom line, despite finding it slow at times, I thoroughly enjoyed this charming historical love story. Be sure you read the authors' notes at the end, too! It was beautifully written with multiple themes. ranging from the expected second chance at love, to love and loss, aspirations and dreams, of somehow maintaining traditions while beginning new traditions as well, themes as applicable to the Queen and her Prince as Jack and Olive, I might note, and doing one's duty through it all, never letting your dreams of the future slip through your fingers. Yes, a bit of a cliche, but it works. My thanks to #WilliamMorrow for giving me an early peek behind the scenes of Sandringham, so to speak. Despite the setting, the authors created a cozy feeling with characters you'll enjoy spending time with. It also made me wish I'd "known" Queen Elizabeth in her younger days. I admired her greatly as a Queen but the woman behind that throne, you know, the one who in more modern times than related here made an appearance with both James Bond and Paddington Bear, made her relatable to us "commoners".

Maria: A Novel of Maria von Trapp, by Michelle Moran

 Publication July 30, 2024

There are already a lot of quite detailed reviews out, so I'm not going to try to summarize the contents. I'll simply say, I liked it. Perfect? Of course not. No matter how much we reviewers gush over books we've really liked, no book is perfect. This one, however, does an excellent job of not only pulling the curtain back on the real backstory of Maria von Trapp.but the story behind the making of the musical "Sound of Music". Many of us have seen the movie version repeatedly and simply looking at the cover is enough to start hearing the title track in our minds. Michelle Moran has done an intensive, in-depth research effort here and it shows. 

Being a history buff, I found myself putting the book aside at times to do a deep dive into the proverbial rabbit hole to see what else I could glean of the times of Maria's life. I was actually somewhat surprised to discover how many of the probably "little known facts" I actually knew, maybe because at some point I recall reading Maria's own book. What I didn't know or had forgotten, however, were the darker elements of Maria's own childhood. Reading about it, it's easily understood why finding her own family, her own place of security, was so important to Maria. With the fictional Fran Connelly as the conduit, we get a glimpse of the real Maria. The strength and, yes, stubbornness that surely helped her survive her youth and endure. Is she always a sympathetic character? Far from it. Unlike the sweet faced, perky, seemingly always cheerful character depicted by Julie Andrews, Maria was far more complex.

As it turned out, due to "life", I wound up reading the book over a period of days in spurts. Normally a negative, this may have worked to my benefit. The book is broken into sections, or points of view. By sheer luck, I usually found myself finishing one POV just as I had to take a break from reading. Fran's were in what we'll call the then present time while, for lack of a better way of explaining it, Maria's might best be described as flashbacks containing flashbacks. There's a great deal to take in. For me, while Fran's sections didn't hold my attention as well as those featuring Maria -- after all, that's who we come to this book to read about -- they did a good job of linking the past and present. especially as we see how Maria's story helped Fran work through a difficult span of her own life. In the process, we not only get to learn about Maria's life but get to see a side of how musicals/movies are created and the hows and whys of what might be included or rejected.

Bottom line, I highly recommend this book. Knowing the "rest of the story" only enhances our enjoyment of both. Sure, the plot may not be 100% accurate but the core of the story, as we learn, is there. In fact, for the curious, make sure you read the author's notes and "Whatever Happened to..." section. Those were fun. Maria's story is complex and intriguing and you'll come away feeling more empathy and kinship with the entire von Trapp Family. My thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHousePublishingGroup for allowing me this peek behind the scenes of a story we all thought we knew. Nope. We weren't even close. Let's face it. Life is complex.

Operation: Happy: A World War II Story of Courage, Resilience, and an Unbreakable Bond, by Jenni L. Walsh , Gail Shalan (Narrator), Brian Holden (Narrator)

 

Available April 2, 2024    Audio Book   4 h  54 m

Narrated by Gail Shalan and Brian Holden

While I was first attracted by the cover of the dog and his girl, the history buff/major/teacher in me was psyched to see the topic. Not only WWII but the Pearl Harbor attack through the eyes of a young girl who had to grow up much too fast. Happy the dog helped her along the way, living up to the motto he'd adhered to as a Marine sentry dog to protect and always be faithful. He'd come to live with Jody and her family after being retired but Jody's family is a Marine family, too. Bottom line, to them, especially Jody, that means they're all Marines and bound to do their duty. She finds out just how difficult that can be as the story progresses, battleship row is bombed, and her family is split up. Inspired by a true story, I found it a slow start but an excellent intro to not just the historic event but warfare's impact on all caught up by it, then and now.

I had the audio version and, quite frankly, I think I'd recommend to teachers that they do their best to get hold of an audio version of this. The narrators do an excellent job of conveying the often wildly swinging emotions and Jody's fear and panic during the bombing is chilling. Kudos to the narrators, of which there are two. The male voice is used for male voices and Happy's thoughts and reactions, ranging from a trip to the vet to helping his humans to shelter and protecting them from harm. 

Needless to say, dog lover that I am, I was relieved to see the author's note at the start that no harm would come to Happy. That was a relief. I honestly didn't pay attention but I believe all the chapter changes were announced in the Jody voice, her tone mirroring the mood as she shared the chapter title/focus. As noted, after a relatively slow start, the plot moved along nicely, including humor to break up some of the more intense, uncomfortable scenes. You'll love Happy, that's for sure, as he shines in his golden years and proves his worth over and over. Honestly, I felt like I knew Happy better than the humans, especially wishing we'd gotten a peek at Peggy's diary. Jody's thoughts are the narrative that moves the story along, including having to deal with new places and schools, including snotty classmates, and the sudden realization that even Japanese-Americans were suffering due to nothing they'd done. You'll also root for Jody's mom, who faces challenges Jody can only guess at. 

Bottom line, an excellent read/listen and one history/social studies teachers in particular should have available. Thanks #NetGalley and #Zonderkids for sharing this peek listen with me. It fed both my dog and history loving soul. Dog lovers will enjoy the premise of Operation Happy while learning some of our more painful history in the process. 

The Shadow of War: A Novel of the Cuban Missile Crisis, by Jeff Shaara

 

Publication May 14, 2024

Wow. I was unnerved after-the-fact as I read this book. You see, I largely grew up in Florida, a mere 90 miles away from Cuba as the news kept reminding us. Although I was either too or too naive to fully grasp the sense of fear many adults knew, it still made an impact. While I've read history books about the time, there's been a sort of filter between the events of those readings and me as a reader, so to speak. This one tore down that filter. You are there. You are living this nightmare. Shaara puts us, to paraphrase a line from Hamilton, in the rooms where it happened. And, unlike my young self, I'm old enough now to shiver as I realize how very, very close we came to annihilation. That's the power of Jeff Shaara's writing style. While historical fiction, he evokes that "you are there" sense, relying on in-depth research and extensive readings to create the scenes that reveal how close we came to the edge.

I won't detail the cat-and-mouse games that lead us to that point as, quite frankly, I'd be depriving you of experiencing the scenario as it unfolds by trying to even hit the highlights. Trust me, there are many, from the opening scenes revolving about the Bay of Pigs fiasco to the aftermath, revealing not only how Kennedy's stand paid off -- and it came close to not doing so -- so what happened to each of the players of the story. One thing I will note, however, is how this showed the growing maturity of both John and Robert Kennedy, their ability to learn from mistakes, as well as their ability to accept their responsibility for the situation. The thoughts attributed to Joseph Russo, another real character you'll get to know well throughout the story, at the end should also evoke thought. 

History buffs or those who lived through this should grab a copy of this book as soon as possible. If old enough, you'll be compelled to read, even as you shudder after the fact, realizing how close we came to not growing up. Teachers, history teachers in particular, of which I was one, you definitely need to read this book and make sure it's on library shelves. Thank you to #NetGalley and #StMartin'sPress for sharing this early glimpse of, well, what I'm rather glad happened too early in my life to have left much impact. I hope we never come face to face with possible annihilation again. 

A Most Intriguing Lady, by Sarah Ferguson

 

Like many, I'm sure, I opted to read this book out of curiosity. It was highly publicized given Ferguson's title as Duchess of York, but I'd somehow never gotten around to it until now. Honestly, my expectations weren't high. I was pleased to discover, however, that I was wrong. It was an interesting, well-written read. 

I won't belabor the plot as I'm sure it's been retold countless times by now. Instead, just a quick look at the characters that kept me reading, Lady Mary Montague Douglas Scott and Colonel Walter Trefusis. Tre, as Mary winds up calling him, seems an unlikely hero. He's obviously suffering from some sort of PTSD and has a splitting headache and is feeling woozy. Unfortunately, he's seated at a crowded table while leaving the table is seen as, at best, rude. Yet, he manages to leave the crowded space and go outside from some much needed air. Much to his surprise, he notices the young woman who was seated across from him is outside, too. Lady Mary. Even more surprising, she isn't just taking in some fresh air, she's doing a sort of tight-rope walk across a narrow, raised area. Mary hadn't planned on doing it but, well, she just couldn't resist. It thus becomes obvious that though she's spent her life in the background, rarely garnering attention, there's another side to her. A more daring side. 

Inevitably, the two connect and find kindred spirits in each other. While there's an underlying current of romance, the story focuses on how they're able to combine their strengths to solve crimes. Already intrigued by their characters, I thoroughly enjoyed the story of how they worked together, which was far more the focus than any budding romance. I have to admit, I found that refreshing. You'll certainly learn a bit about expectations based on rank and sex during this time period, as well as what motivates Tre and Mary. Glad I finally got around to reading this #Avon book that blends in some real events, I might note.

The Austrian Bride, by Helen Parusel

Publication Jan. 15, 2024

Part history lesson, part romance, part a cautionary tale.

Although beautifully written, this was a hard read at times. Not because of the words but of the horror they conjured up. The horror of seeing people beaten in the street. Bullies, including a romantic partner, randomly taunting and abusing innocent Jewish citizens in the streets, even using them to rest their muddy boots on. Seeing Jewish families being terrorized in their homes and businesses. Then, being forced out of those homes and businesses, even being arrested and taken away. Where? It's vague to them. The characters don't know the full horror of it yet but, you, the reader do. Linz, Austria, went from being hopeful to being frightened and distrusting of friends and neighbors as atrocity followed atrocity. 

Again, we readers know the reality behind the bewildering events they are enduring and want to yell, "Run! Get out while you still can!" We know the reality of that warning, even in the earliest days, being futile, of course. Ella, the story's focus, doesn't. She starts out just turning 21, a rather naive and innocent young girl caught up in the romance of being picked by handsome Max as his girlfriend. Yes, there's a bit of pride in that, too. All too soon, however, she confronts reality. She's unnerved by Nazi officers overseeing the annexation vote early on, for instance. Then Max wants her to attend a Bride School for potential Nazi wives. It's more boot camp than bridal, with an emphasis of having lots of children and being subservient to your husband. Just to complicate things, Ella realizes she has feelings for an old friend, an old friend who just happens to be Jewish. How can she help him and others while remaining safe herself? That is the focus of the story, really, the resistance, in this case from inside.

I won't detail the plot further as I don't want to dilute the impact of Ella's story. You'll like and sympathize with her, a person who manages to find good in even her more strident fellow "brides" while risking it all to help those being persecuted. You'll definitely like her mother, too, and older readers will sympathize not only with her situation but her female changes, let's call them, too. She has a horrible secret, too, one that haunts her throughout the story. There are other fascinating characters, one who will feel real to you and, hey, you should look up Albert Goring, Hermann Goring's brother.

Bottom line, you'll immediately realize how relevant this story is to events happening today. The air of potential danger that hovers in the air is likely to give you chills at times. You'll being with the euphoria of Ella and her fellow Austrians as Hitler visits Linz and follow her heart-wrenching story through to the end. She learns a great deal about others and, more importantly, herself. What is important to her. You'll fret over her safety throughout, wanting to comfort her as she meets disappointment after disappointment. You'll also wonder if such a thing as Bride Schools existed. Yes. So did the Kindertransport, complete with reassurances to the children that Ella knew by then were unlikely to be true. 

In other words, a heart-breaking but, oh, so wonderfully powerful and important read. While I cringed at the brutality, the hate, the sheer arrogance, and violence, I felt hope as Ella grew as a person and did what she could to make a difference. Thank you more than you know #BoldwoodBooks and #NetGalley for making this available to me early. It needs to be widely read. We must never forget, especially when we see the same patterns emerging again.

The Lost Daughters of Ukraine, by Erin Litteken

Devastating. Uplifting. Tragic. Hope. Cruelty. Tenderness. Evil. Love. Inhumane. Human. All these words fit. It's man's inhumanity to man while, somehow, still radiating a sense that where there is life there is hope. 

In other words, this one is an emotional roller coaster. Having read Litteken's first book based on family memories, I opted to read straight through. No notes but frequent breaks when the story became almost too much to bear. Quite frankly, even if I'd taken extensive notes I couldn't come close to capturing this story in the relatively few words of a review. It's a story that needs to be told, however, and Litteken does a wonderful job of, while not omitting the horrors, conveying the resilience and hope that shines from her three main characters. 

In some ways I felt most akin to artistic Liliya, but all faced the horrors of war in their own unique ways. The words that were left ringing in my mind came early, to be brave and keep fighting because, yes, where there is life there is hope. That inner strength goes a long way toward explaining the need the Ukrainians have to keep fighting against invaders.

Read this book. 

Thank you #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for reminding me that even when hope seems slim, it is always there.

The Old Lion: A Novel of Theodore Roosevelt, by Jeff Shaara

 Publication May 16, 2023

No one does it better that Jeff Shaara. When it comes to bringing historical figures and events to life, he shines. As a history major and history lover, I thought I knew a great deal about Theodore Roosevelt. I wasn't totally wrong. Being familiar with his life and times, however, was nothing like seeing it through the eyes of Roosevelt. 

True, this is historical fiction, but Shaara backs his story with solid research. You'll feel like you're there, whether through the eyes of the young, terrified boy who feels every breath he takes may be his last. Asthma had him in its grip as a young man and treatments were not only often vomit inducing but painful to the then frail Roosevelt. His father's suggestion that he fight back by making himself stronger and spend more time outdoors, not to mention take up boxing, colored much of his early life. You'll feel his desire to make his father proud.

 Later, you're there with him then, just as you are when he loses both his wife and mother on the same day. You'll join him on horseback in the Badlands, during the height of his military fame, as he rears his own family, and enters politics. Most notably, you'll probably understand why many of his political foes wished he'd stayed in the Badlands. You campaign with him, knowing what it's like to be the target of an assassin. You'll travel with him to Panama. You'll feel his ever growing weakness as pain invades, pain only adding to his despair at the loss of his son Quinton in WWI. 

That's really only skimming the surface of Roosevelt's eventful, meaningful life. Shaara does an excellent job putting you in his shoes, letting you feel his pain/hopes/triumphs/and more, allowing you to see it all through the eyes of Roosevelt himself. I first encountered a Shaara book while seeking insight into the Battle of Gettysburg as part of my family roots search. I'm delighted to have run into him and the sometimes exasperating, always amazing Theodore Roosevelt now. As is probably obvious, I highly recommend you read this one. 

Thank you #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for reminding me what I've been missing by not reading a Jeff Shaara book for, well, too long.