About the Book: 
MY MOTHER’S SECRET: A NOVEL OF THE JEWISH AUTONOMOUS REGION 
BY ALINA ADAMS

Publication Date: November 15, 2022
History Through Fiction LLC
Genre: Historical Fiction

With his dying breath, Lena‘s father asks his family a cryptic question: “You couldn’t tell, could you?” After his passing, Lena stumbles upon the answer that changes her life forever.

As her revolutionary neighbor mysteriously disappears during Josef Stalin’s Great Terror purges, 18-year-old Regina suspects that she’s the Kremlin’s next target. Under cover of the night, she flees from her parents’ communal apartment in 1930s Moscow to the 20th century’s first Jewish state, Birobidzhan, on the border between Russia and China. Once there, Regina has to grapple with her preconceived notions of socialism and Judaism while asking herself the eternal question: What do we owe each other? How can we best help one another? While she contends with these queries and struggles to help Birobidzhan establish itself, love and war are on the horizon.

New York Times Bestselling author Alina Adams draws on her own experiences as a Jewish refugee from Odessa, USSR as she provides readers a rare glimpse into the world’s first Jewish Autonomous Region. My Mother’s Secret is rooted in detailed research about a little known chapter of Soviet and Jewish history while exploring universal themes of identity, love, loss, war, and parenthood. Readers can expect a whirlwind journey as Regina finds herself and her courage within one of the century’s most tumultuous eras.

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Review: 
​As Lena's father says his last words, he unleashes a secret that her mother has kept for Lena's entire life.  As Lena's mother, Regina tells of her past, Lena learns about her mother's traumatic past.   As a young woman, Regina was afraid that she would be the next target of Stalin's Terror Purge. Regina decides that it would be safest for her to escape to the Jewish Autonomous Region, Birobidzhan only to find a struggling community led by fear.  Regina finds good in Aaron Kramer, who dares to speak up and share his ideas.  When Aaron is punished with an enlistment in the Red Army, Regina follows him as a field nurse.  When she is informed that Aaron has been captured, Regina makes her way on foot with her newborn daughter to the prisoner of war camp where he is being held.  Now, Lena and Regina desperately try to find the man that Regina still loves.


My Mother's Secret is an inspiring story of hope, choices, courage and taking chances.  I didn't know anything about the Jewish Autonomous Region, so this was a particularly enlightening story.  I was constantly amazed by Regina's ability to keep going in the face of fear and tragedy.  The part of the story that took place inside Birobidzhan was disheartening, yet expertly researched. I could feel the desperation and despair, yet the need to work together and persevere.  While this section moved a bit slowly for me, it was important to learn about the experiences there and was an integral part of Regina's growth and decision making process. I was continually impressed with Regina as she found the courage to follow Aaron into war and continuously had the conviction within herself to keep going, even when the choices were heartbreaking.  In the end, I was glad that hearing Regina's story led Lena to understand more about her mother and her decisions in raising her as well as examine her own choices in life. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

About the Author
Alina Adams is the NYT-bestselling author of soap-opera tie-ins, figure-skating mysteries, and romance novels. Born in Odessa, USSR, Adams immigrated to the United States at age seven and learned to speak English by watching American Soap Operas. After receiving her B.A. and M.A. in broadcast communications at San Francisco State University, Adams worked in television as a writer and researcher. Years later she penned the As The World Turns book tie-in, Oakdale Confidential, which became a New York Times bestseller. Adams continued writing and is now a prolific and innovative writer who has authored more than a dozen books, both fiction and nonfiction. Her latest release, The Nesting Dolls, is a Soviet-Jewish historical novel published by HarperCollins in July 2020. Her upcoming novel, My Mother’s Secret: A Novel of the Jewish Autonomous Region, a follow-up to her previous historical novel, is set for release in November 2022. Adams lives in New York City with her husband and their three children.
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​Small-time crook Jake Barnum lives in Hell's Kitchen, 1978,  just scraping by.  His family needs money to take care of Jake's little brother, Emile, who was born with a disability.  When a new opportunity falls into Jake's lap at a Halloween party, Jake happily agrees. A woman dressed as Marilyn Monroe offers Jake a position with the Desire Card, an operation that allows wealthy clients to have any dream fulfilled.  Jake begins with simple tasks, but moves through the ranks quickly and learns how the card really makes its money dealing in drugs and death.  

Immoral Origins is a fast-paced thriller where I never knew what was coming next.  Like other Lee Matthew Goldberg books, I was completely immersed in the time period and setting of Hell's Kitchen in the late 1970's with descriptions of music, people, clothing, the apartments, diners and clubs.  The characters are also all dynamic and surprising.  I was really intrigued by all of the members of The Card wearing a mask of a celebrity and assuming their name, eventually taking on their mask's character, mannerisms and voice.  The masks also seemed to fulfill something different for each character, Marilyn's beauty and Jake's need to fit in with his Errol Flynn persona. The Card as an organization was interesting as well.  Their true nature, greed and hold over the city slowly spilled out as Jake began to climb through the ranks.  However, as Jake became more ingrained with The Card, the dangerous tasks that they asked him to do seemed less against his morals.  


This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

​After a short stint in Iraq, sniper J.D. Storm is discharged with a career ending eye injury.  After losing his way and suffering through depression, he is recruited into the Desire Card organization, a shadow organization that promises any wish to be fulfilled for those who can pay enough.  The Desire Card gave him the persona of James Dean and put his sniper skills to use.  After years of killing, one job gets to J.D. and he begins to question his part in the Card.  J.D. leaves his mark alive and knows that he must disappear.  However, the reach of the Card is deeper than J.D. would have guessed and now he must kill off the other members of the Card sent to dispatch him or be killed himself.

Prey No More is the second book in The Desire Card series.  I would recommend reading book one, Immoral Origins, first since it explains how the Desire Card operates.  Prey No More jumps right into the action as J.D. is deciding what boundaries he is willing to break for the Card and how to escape their clutches.  From there, the action continues as the writing jumps back and forth through time as J.D. is recruited by the card, enters their clutches, receives the assignment that causes him to leave and is on the run.  The characters are all very realistic, fully developed and make you feel for them even if you don't like them very much.  J.D. goes through several transformations as he enters and is discharged from the military and enters and attempts to leave the Card. More of how the Card functions and the mysterious man behind the Clark Gable mask is revealed as J.D. attempts to bring down the Card.  With an ominous ending, I can't wait to jump into the next book in The Desire Card.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

​Kyle Dillon believes he has finally moved on from the sexual abuse he received from his boss when he was a model.  Now, as a food photographer, Kyle has a steady career and a loving girlfriend, Rebecca.  Rebecca had personal troubles of her own, but since therapy has overcome them.  On the side Rebecca blogs about overcoming her troubles on Bedroom Diaries.  Her site gains the attention of the magazine, MOD and Rebecca happily jumps into a new endeavor.  However, she learns that the executive at MOD is exactly who hurt Kyle.  Rebecca thinks there is no way that they'll be connected, but Rebecca's involvement with MOD takes a toll on Kyle.  Luckily, Kyle is also going to counseling.  The secrets that Kyle and Rebecca have kept come to a head as  Kyle's sister's wedding approaches and soon become unavoidable. 

What We Never Say is hard hitting contemporary fiction.  Centering around male survivors of sexual abuse, but covering a wide variety of issues such as seeking help, female pleasure and reporting abusers, What We Never Say covers a lot of topics in one story.  Opening right into the action as Rebecca discovers a secret from Kyle's past, the entire book carries a tumultuous undercurrent as secrets are revealed to the reader that not all of the characters know.  Suspense was created as the consequences of all of the secrets began to unravel and affect the lives of every character.  Each of the characters were very realistic and  flawed in some way.  While I definitely didn't agree with all of their decisions, it made for a fast paced entertaining read.  In the end, everyone did receive the help that they needed and actions were accounted for. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

​For generations, the massive Texas ranch, The Thorn has been run by a Rosales matriarch.  Now that Emma, the fifth generation of Rosales women has graduated college with a degree in veterinary medicine, she is gearing up for her inevitable duties on The Thorn.  Emma decides to take her horse and ride around some of the less explored areas of The Thorn's property; however, Emma becomes stranded in the wilderness, a several days walk from home.  She is rescued by an unlikely group of people, the first people to inhabit the land of The Thorn, long before it belonged to the Rosales family and who still inhabit the land in secret.  Simply calling themselves The People, Emma is amazed at their way of living.  Although, when she asks to return home, The People fear for their own safety if Emma were to return and tell of their presence.  Meanwhile, at The Thorn, Emma's parents lead a frantic search for their daughter and the heir of the land.  

The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch is an unlikely adventure combined with ancient secrets and romance.  From the beginning, the internal strength as well as momentous responsibility of the Rosales women is made known.   I loved that The Thorn was a Texas Ranch run by a matriarchal line.  I could feel how much they cared for the land, the animals and the people that they worked with.  The writing switched between the points of view of Emma, her parents, and two of The People creating a fast-paced story that retained my interest.  Of course, Emma's storyline was the most interesting to me as she navigated the lands around The Thorn and learned to live a new life among the people.  Emma's internal strength, unique skill sets and mental fortitude helped her accept her new conditions and the people there.  I was amazed at the world that The People had continued to live in and their strength in persisting with their culture in a modern world.  Kai and Chatpa were amazing teachers and leaders as they too learned skills from Emma's world and accepted her knowledge as a woman from the outside world.  It was also interesting to see the disappearance from Emma's parent's point of view and how long they held out hope.  The ending wrapped up in an exciting, unexpected and beautiful way.  I'd love to know what happens next!

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

Review: 
Soon after the death of his wife, Paul Brickner and his 12-year-old daughter, Spring escape their small town of Phoenicia for a New York City sublet.  Paul and Spring embrace the change and need to be around more people.  Paul soon finds a connection with Blues singer, Tara and Spring finds a friend in Tara's daughter, Irina.  However, Paul seems to be seeing his wife Nadia's ghost everywhere while Tara is haunted by the very real members of a cult that she escaped and the ancient Tibetan vessel that she took with her when she left. Paul keeps seeing Nadia and soon Spring does too.  Paul's family has varying opinions on what he should do about his grief and Nadia's ghost but Paul may have bigger issues to deal with. 

Dangerous Blues is a creative mix of contemporary fiction, ghost story, cult antics and cursed relics with an undercurrent of mysterious blues music.  Told through Paul's point of view, I could feel his deep sense of grief, his confusion and loss.  The appearance of Nadia's ghost throughout the story served as almost a guidepost, a reminder or warning for Paul.  I did love both of Paul's wacky in-laws, Pearl and Dr. Maire who both had very different ideas of why Paul was seeing Nadia's ghost.  Spring was amazing.  She was able to deal with her grief as a pre-teen while also dealing with immense changes in her life in a graceful manner.   The suspenseful part of the story surrounded the odd relic that Tara has and the danger created from the cult that still chases her. I was super interested in the cult, how it functions and how the vessel works.  The mood of the story is set with the many blues lyrics throughout, haunting, suspenseful and dangerous.  

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

About the Book: 
THE MYRTLE WAND 
BY MARGARET PORTER
Publication Date: October 11, 2022
Gallica Press
Genre: Historical Fiction

The Myrtle Wand, a retelling and a continuation of the classic ballet Giselle, restores original story elements to transform a tale of blighted romances and betrayals into a quest for redemption and restorative love.

Princess Bathilde de Sevreau, her school friend Myrte, and the peasant girl Giselle have heard the legend of the vilis, ghostly maidens who rise from their graves by night to roam the forest, seeking revenge on faithless lovers. Each will fear being ensnared by that spectral sisterhood…

Bathilde, destined for a marriage of convenience with Albin, Duc de Rozel, leaves her ancestral château for the Sun King’s sophisticated and scandalous court. As participants in royal ceremonies and entertainments, the princess and the soldier gradually recognize their deep feelings for each other, as well as mutual hopes for a happy and satisfying union. But the tragic consequences of Albin’s brief masquerade as a commoner and the amorous Louis XIV’s quest for a mistress divide the betrothed couple. Together and separately, they must overcome conflicting duties and unexpected dangers to determine their fate.

Praise
“An absorbing and touching tale . . . a fully realized, moving portrait of the storied court of Louis XIV.” ~ Kirkus Reviews

“Lushly atmospheric . . .rich with historical detail. Porter imagines the story behind the iconic Giselle, transporting us to France during the early reign of the Sun King.” ~ Leslie Carroll, author of Royal Romances


Review: 

Princess Bathilde de Sevreau has attended school at the Convent of the Ursulines in Niort, France.  Bathilde forms fast friendships with Myrte Vernier, Francoise d'Aubigne and one of her family's vineyard worker's daughters, Giselle.  However, Bathilde knows that she is destined to marry and fulfill her obligations as a Princess.  She soon learns of her engagement to  Duc de Rozel Albin and must learn to navigate the court of  Louis XIV, the Sun King and his interests in Bathilde.  


The Myrtle Wand brings to life the continued story of the ballet Giselle. Through the perspectives of Mytre, Giselle and Bathilde, life in 17th century France was shown through multiple viewpoints.  The writing not only vividly described the landscapes, festivals and court, but deeply defined the characters and their emotions as they navigated life.  I was very intrigued by Bathilde and her relationships with Albin and Louis XIV. The complications of court life and their own decisions created many tense moments.  The Myrtle Wand is a slower paced historical fiction steeped in imagery and detail.  

About the Author
​
MARGARET PORTER is award-winning, bestselling author of The Myrtle Wand (October 2022), The Limits of Limelight (September 2021), Beautiful Invention: A Novel of Hedy Lamarr, and twelve other historical novels. After studying British history in the U.K., she worked professionally in theatre, film, and television. A historian and avid traveler, Margaret returns to Great Britain and Europe for research. She lives in New England with husband and dog, dividing her time between an architecturally unique book-filled house in a small city and a waterfront cottage on one of the region’s largest lakes.

More information is available on her website and blog. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads.

About the Book: 

Based on the True Story of the Free-Spirited Daughter of Queen Victoria.

Princess Louise’s life is upended after her father’s untimely death. Captive to the queen’s overwhelming mourning, Louise is forbidden to leave her mother’s tight circle of control and is eventually relegated to the position of personal secretary to her mother―the same position each of her sisters held until they were married.
Already an accomplished painter, Louise risks the queen’s wrath by exploring the art of sculpting, an activity viewed as unbefitting a woman. When Louise involves herself in the day’s political matters, including championing the career of a female doctor and communicating with suffragettes, the queen lays down the law to stop her and devotes her full energy to finding an acceptable match for her defiant daughter.

Louise is considered the most beautiful and talented daughter of Queen Victoria but finding a match for the princess is no easy feat. Protocols are broken, and Louise exerts her own will as she tries to find an open-minded husband who will support her free spirit.

In the Shadow of a Queen is the story of a battle of wills between two women: a daughter determined to forge her own life beyond the shadow of her mother, and a queen resolved to keep the Crown’s reputation unsullied no matter the cost.

PURCHASE LINKS
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Review: 
Princess Louise is the fifth daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.  Growing up she is doted upon for her beauty and artistic ability.  When her father dies an untimely death, the household retreats into prolonged mourning period and Louise is pulled in closer to her mother and her ideals.  Throughout their mourning, Louise practices her art and yearns to be a sculptor.  As wars plague Europe, Louise dives into the politics of the disagreements and forms opinions and a world view that often is the opposite of her mother's.  With the passing years, Louise watches her older siblings marry into different families from different places. Soon, Louise becomes her mother's personal secretary and must make a choice on who to marry, which might be the most difficult decision yet.

In the Shadow of a Queen is an immensely detailed, historically accurate and intimate look into the life of Princess Louise from her adolescence to her marriage.  From a young age I could feel the weight of responsibility on Louise's shoulders.  She knew her position and obligations, but was pulled between her sense of duty to her mother and her own sense of justice and independence.  The writing made Louise and her vivacious character come alive as she tested boundaries and pursued her own unconventional dreams.  I loved that Louise was able to sculpt and even go to a public school, though it seemed short lived.  I was also amazed that Queen Victoria was against women's suffrage and that Louise was able to help in her own ways despite being forbidden by her mother.  Of course, even with all of Louise's accomplishments on her own, the most interesting part of her story was her decision on who to marry.  Louise was able to break the mold once more as her mother allowed her to marry outside of royalty.  An amazing story of just one of Queen Victoria's children and the life of compromise between two extraordinarily willful women. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 
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AUTHOR BIO

Heather B. Moore is a USA Today best-selling and award-winning author of more than seventy publications, including The Paper Daughters of Chinatown. She has lived on both the East and West Coasts of the United States, as well as Hawaii, and attended school abroad at the Cairo American Collage in Egypt and the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel. She loves to learn about history and is passionate about historical research.

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About the Book: 
Steeped in heritage, “Valley of Shadows” shifts back and forth through time, kicking off in West Texas in 1883, but slowly revealing its protagonist’s past in sections dating back to the mid-1800’s, when the Rio Grande became the new border between the U.S. and Mexico, and the 1860’s, when Mexico battled the French Imperial invasion. The hero of the story is Solitario Cisneros, a former Mexican lawman who lives up to his solitary name. He lost his wife, his family, even his country when the river shifted course. He has resigned himself to a life of solitary regret, communing with spirits and whispering to horses. But a gruesome series of macabre murders and abductions, along with the friendship of an unlikely ally, present him with an unexpected second chance at life, or death.

Through its intimate story, and the perspectives of its lead characters, which include newly minted Mexican-Americans, Anglo settlers, and Mescalero Apaches who had long before called West Texas home, “Valley of Shadows” sheds light on the dark past of injustice, isolation, and suffering along the U.S.-Mexico border. Through luminous prose and soul-searching reflections, Rudy Ruiz transports readers to a distant time and a remote place where the immortal forces of good and evil dance amidst the shadows of magic and mountains.

As readers follow Solitario and his Mexican-Apache friend Onawa into the desert, they join them in facing haunting questions about the human condition that are as relevant today as they were back then: Can we rewrite our own history and shape our own future? What does it mean to belong to a place, or for a place to belong to a people? And, as lonely and defeated as we might feel, are we ever truly alone?

Review: 
Solitario Cisneros was the sheriff in the town of Olvido, Mexico until the Rio Grande changed course and left Olivido and its inhabitants as part of the United States.  Along with losing his job, soon after Solitario lost his wife, Luz.  He blames a curse, a malediction placed on his family, but he is still comforted by Luz's ghost that visits every night.  Now, a gruesome killing has hit Olvido and Solitario has been asked to investigate.  He wants to stay away, but the ghost of a young boy killed that night encourages Solitario to find his siblings.  Solitario agrees to take the case, but as he makes headway in finding the lost siblings, more ritualistic killings occur and more children are taken. With the help of Apache seer Onawa, an old bruja as well as the ghosts of those who have passed, Solitario is on the hunt for those behind the murders. 

"The night is dark, but it is also full of light."

Valley of Shadows is a masterful blend of western, horror, historical fiction and magical realism.  I have previously read the Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez and this book takes place before it, explaining more of the history of the curse, it was nice to fill in some backstory there.  The story starts off immediately in the action and pulled me into the mystery of the strange murders.  Solitario's character brings in more mystery as his complexities arise.  Solitario is cursed and lonely, but he also has a strong sense of justice and a special set of abilities that have been bestowed to him.  Through some flashbacks, Solitario's past, love life, curse and the experiences that made him the man he is are revealed.  It almost seemed  like this could have been another book.  As the crimes continue to build, Solitario realizes the impact of racism, fear and greed that has overtaken the town.  Solitario must relinquish his loneliness and use his abilities to fight for the people of his town and bring down an evil that wishes to separate them.  Valley of Shadows is a complex story from unique viewpoint of a Mexican-American in the 1880's that creates a haunting and compelling mystery. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

​

Cora James works as a librarian in Harlem.  As a black woman in 1928, she is attune to the struggles of the women around her.  Cora longs to be a writer and strongly identifies with a poem written by library patron and friend, Langston Hughes.  Cora begins corresponding with Langston and divulges her dream.  Langston encourages Cora to enter a writing contest by the National Urban League.  However, Cora's life soon takes a turn as she is encouraged by her family to take a leave from the library to help her cousin Agnes by filling in as a family cook for the Fitzgerald family.  Cora reluctantly does her duty for the family and finds that she has time to write as well as a unique insight into family life different from her own, yet still struggling with the same emotional burdens.  Over the weeks, Cora forms a friendship with Eleanor Fitzgerald and shows Eleanor her writing.  With encouragement from Eleanor and Langston, Cora finishes a story to submit.

Cora's Kitchen is a historical fiction story showing the emotional struggle and mental weight that black women must bear.  Through the writing I could feel Cora's passion for her writing and her strong connection with the pains of all women.  I could definitely connect with her feelings of wanting more out of life than being a good wife and mother.  I loved the unlikely connection between Cora and Eleanor and how they were able to help one another grow and give one another the courage to get what they wanted out of life.  Eleanor was a surprising character, growing in depth through the story and revealing an inner strength.  Cora's correspondence with Langston Hughes adds another point of view to the story and I loved reading their letters to one another.  I'm glad that Langston challenged Cora and that Cora was able to stand up for herself, her work and the struggles that all women face.