​Igraine's life has been mapped out for her from the start.  As a second child of nobility, she was destined to be trained in the Mysteries of Avalon, dedicating herself to the Goddess.  An arranged marriage to Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall makes her a Duchess. Igraine loves her people, serves her Goddess and finds love in her marriage. Gorlois has been a faithful fighter to King Uther Pendragon.  Now, finally in a time of peace, Uther attempts to take Igraine for himself.  To Gorlois, this is an act of war.  However, the strings are being pulled behind the scenes by Vivian, Lady of the Lake and Merlin to fulfill a prophecy about Igraine's son.  Igraine has two daughters, Morgause and Morgan; however, with Gorlois turning his back to the Mysteries and choosing to worship one God, Vivian and Merlin no longer see Gorlois fit to father the King of their prophecy. After the war in her name, Igraine learns of the layers of deceit and her role as a pawn for Vivian and Merlin and decides to take her future into her own hands. 


The Chosen Queen is a historical fantasy that explores the origins of King Arthur from his mother's perspective.  Dimensional characters and expert world building bring to life Igraine, Gorlois, Vivian, Uther, Merlin, Morgan and Morgause as well as their home in Tintagel. The writing is rich in detail and has a strong atmosphere. Igraine is strong and powerful, a born leader but is used by Vivian and Merlin simply as a vessel to bring forth Arthur. I wish that I could have seen Igraine as the leader she envisioned herself as.  I was entranced by Igraine and Gorlois' relationship as well, they seemed so in love with one another despite growing differences in their faith.  The Mysteries of Avalon were also intriguing to me as well as Igraine's complete faith in her teachers, Vivian and Merlin, to lead her personal life despite their directions to be in opposition to Igraine's needs. I enjoyed Igraine's time in charge of her own castle, leading women with purpose and teaching her children skills they would soon need.  I especially loved the rituals and her bonds with the women and men left at the castle. While Igraine may not have been able to choose every step of the way, she showed immense strength while being manipulated by those she trusted.  

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

Silver Dollar Tabor, daughter of Baby Doe and Horace Tabor grew up with privilege and wealth until the collapse of silver prices.  Now, Silver Dollar wants nothing more than to help raise her family back up.  A born entertainer, Silver takes to the stage in an attempt to make a name for herself in 1920's Hollywood.  However, Silver is setback after a disastrous performance and a jealous co-star upturned her life.  To help her cope, Silver's alter-ego, Echo comes back with a vengeance, Echo brings Silver to Chicago, where she almost makes it to the silver screen.  Silver's beau, Carl, is along with her for the journey, but as Echo takes control, Carl is pushed away.  Echo gets Silver involved with the seedier side of life in Chicago, dragging Silver and her mother's remaining silver mine, the Matchless, into business with the mob. In 1932, Carl makes his way to the Matchless mine to talk with Baby Doe about a screenplay detailing the Tabor's story.  Baby Doe is intrigued, but really wants to find out about the last days of Silver's life from the only man who can tell her the truth.  

"Silver Echoes" continues the story of the Tabor family. Focusing this time on Baby Doe's daughter, Silver.  Silver is an enigmatic character that pulls you in and pushes you away at the same time.  After reading the real Silver's letters to her mother, the author chose to delve into Silver's identity with a diagnosis of what we would now call dissociative identity disorder.  Reading about Silver's struggles with this disorder in the 1920's was engaging, with no treatment and no understanding, Silver was left to fend for herself and deal with Echo's decisions after the fact.  Silver's character struggled, but always moved forward, showing fierce determination, strength and fortitude that the Tabor's were known for.  The writing brought to life the dazzling glitz of 1920's entertainment, the underbelly world of prohibition, the racial tension of the time as well as the beauty and danger of the silver mine.  I enjoyed catching up with Baby Doe as well, her spirit continues to be strong as she keeps the Matchless running despite dropping silver prices and her husband's death.  In the end, I'm glad that Baby Doe and Silver received the closure they deserved through Carl's movie.Overall, "Silver Echoes" is a captivating exploration of the Tabor family's enduring spirit, marked by both hardship and remarkable strength.
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I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Gitel, born in the early 1900's Belarus is the only daughter to her Jewish parents.  Immigrating to the US to follow her father in 1911, Gitel is kept constrained by her parents and religion. She is not allowed to study the same things, go to college, play sports or go out with friends.  Gitel is kept by her parents in order to learn to be a good Jewish wife.  Seeing marriage as her only option, Gitel finds a like mind in Shmuel, a liberal thinker politically, following Orthodox Jewish practices and working as a pharmacist.  Together, they open a pharmacy near Chicago, Gitel is fulfilled in her work life, but is struggling with intimacy with Shmuel. Nevertheless, they welcome a daughter.  When the Great Depression hits, Gitel and Shmuel are forced to sell the pharmacy and it seems that Shmuel enters a streak of bad luck.  Trying to survive, Gitel moves around with family, taking jobs where she can to save up money.  As soon as they are back on their feet, Gitel is pregnant again and Shmuel is injured at work.  Gitel now tries to balance being a parent, a caretaker to Shmuel and the family breadwinner. As Gitel's two girls grow up, she knows that she has done the best she can for them even though it has not been an easy life.  When Shmuel falls ill again, Gitel looks forward to the day when she can do something for herself. 

Gitel's Freedom is historical fiction based on the trials of the author's family.  Deeply steeped in the process of immigration, Judaism and women's rights, Gitel's story reverberates for many women.  The author relies heavily on exposition rather than allowing the events to unfold organically. The dialogue felt unnatural and abrupt, which hindered the development of the characters. Additionally, the narrative progresses rapidly through significant historical periods, offering a broad overview without delving into the characters' immediate experiences or emotional responses to these events.  Despite this, Gitel's story still felt important and I wanted to know about her life.  I felt for her as she was denied experiences and growth as a child, as she was pushed into a marriage where she didn't enjoy intimacy and was forced to be a caretaker for others while she neglected herself.  This expression of womanhood is one that is often repeated and throughout history and still pervades into women's lives today. Despite these stylistic choices, Gitel's story remains compelling. I empathize with her struggles, particularly the limitations imposed on her youth, her experience in a marriage lacking intimacy, and the constant demands of caring for others at the expense of her own well-being. This portrayal of womanhood, marked by self-sacrifice and deferred personal aspirations, unfortunately reflects the experiences of many women throughout history and continues to be relevant today.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

​The Anderwald's, a Polish family, settle on a ranch in Bandera, Texas on the eve of the Civil War.  Anderwald patriarch Marcin is soon enlisted to help the Confederacy with the unique project of building a wagon for a team of camels at Camp Verde.  Marcin completes his service and makes friends with the camel handlers, Khalil and Ahmad and an enemy of Private Brewer who died horrifically in battle.  Upon returning home, Marcin finds his family troubled, especially his wife, Agnieszka.  The shadow of war has followed Marcin home as tragedy strikes the Anderwald family with multiple deaths.  However, the Anderwalds carry on, welcoming Khalil, Ahmad, their camels and Sargent Kirby to their ranch.  Soon, the Anderwald's oldest son, Zacharias is married and expecting a child with his wife Liza.  However, the shadow persists over the Anderwald family, seemingly followed by a benevolent woman in white.  Zacharias and Liza's son, John Marcin grows up on the ranch and is well aware of the tragedy that has come before him, but with war looming, he enlists along with his neighborhood friends. The shadow finds John Marcin as he returns from service with a new wife, Anna, who has plenty of demons of their own.  John Marcin and Anna's kids, Lucas and Junior also cannot escape the shadow that has followed their family.

The Wretched and Undone is a multi-generational family saga that compounds the haunting effects of trauma, grief and vengeance with a supernatural curse. The writing pulled me in from the prologue with a new tenant wondering about the history and haunting of the ranch.   From there, the pacing was fairly quick, moving through four generations of Anderwalds.  Because of this, the male Anderwald's are more developed and the story is told from their point of view. However, the Anderwald women and wives were equally affected by the shadow. I would have loved to know more about Agnieszka's experience with the shadow as well as Liza and Anna's experiences with the shadow and the woman in white.  Despite the relentless haunting of the shadow and the countless tragedies that the Anderwald family incurs, they carry on and find comfort within family, friends and community.  The epilogue brought the Anderwald's story full circle with a surprising character and the continuing escapades of good versus evil at the Anderwald ranch. 

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

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Boy With Wings  tells the story of Johnny Cruel, a  boy born in the 1920's with unusual features who is blamed for the misfortunes of his town. His mother, Lena,  stages his death to escape, but she soon falls ill, leaving Johnny at a turpentine camp. There, he is cared for by former slaves until he is discovered and sold to a freak show. Johnny becomes the star attraction, finding acceptance and friendship among the other performers, especially the owner's daughter, Winifred.  However, hard times and a figure from his past threaten his newfound happiness.  A tragic accident leaves Johnny on his own for the first time where he must figure out who he is without cover of the freak show. 

Boy With Wings is an intriguing historical fiction story that explores the themes of  acceptance and belonging compellingly.  The most interesting thing about Johnny's character is not his wings, but his outlook on life, his perseverance and his relationships.  Johnny has dealt with a multitude of setbacks, hardships and social injustices in his life, but is still determined to be a good person.  The writing captures the feeling of the late 1920's and early 1930's as Johnny encounters racism, sexism, crumbling economics and dirty politics. Johnny is able to learn and take away something from  each place he lands in, taking what comes to him in stride.  The point of view rotated between Johnny and the other characters in his life, bringing the story deeper As Johnny grows, so do his wings, which added an element of magical realism and created a bigger mystery around Johnny.  While Johnny's story may not have taken him where I thought, it seemed like the next appropriate step in his life.  

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



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In 1814, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin fell in love with family friend, Percy Bysshe Shelley. Mary is a teenager and Percy is married with a young child.  Mary's father and stepmother are completely against the idea.  Nevertheless, Mary and Percy run off together with the help of Mary's stepsister, Claire. Together, the couple struggles as finances suffer and their families refuse to recognize them. The couple and Claire take to moving around, meeting a host of new friends and writers including Lord Byron, whom Claire falls for.  Their journey, while filled with love and excitement, is also fraught with a series of tragedies.  While spending time with Lord Byron and a request for a ghost story contest, Mary begins writing Frankenstein, flushing out the story as events in her life begin to influence her writing.  

The Aziola's Cry is a fictionalized story of Mary and Percy Shelley's romance and writing careers.   The writing brings Mary, Percy, Claire and their friends and family to life through their eyes, reflecting the Shelleys' moods, observation and gothic undertones.  I was constantly amazed by Mary's boldness in life, through the good and the bad that she endured.  I had to constantly remind myself that Mary was still a teenager as she ran away from home, dealt with tragic losses, published works and travelled around Europe. It was interesting to learn about the Shelleys' ideals of free love and interactions in society.  The depression that seemed to run through Mary's family was also poignantly highlighted with her mother, her sister Franny and Mary herself.  As Mary's life became increasingly marked by tragedy, she was simultaneously writing "Frankenstein." The novel effectively illustrates how these events shaped her story, with Mary's character herself stating that "Frankenstein" was a condemnation of herself. The Aziola's Cry is a unique and insightful look into the lives of two extraordinary authors. 

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

​Twenty-one year old Florence Continni is looking for a job during the throes of the Great Depression.  She replies to an advertisement for a secretary to the wealthy recluse, General Alexander Sterling. General Sterling came from England after the War escaping the pain of a deceased wife and child along with a mysterious illness.  Despite the best efforts of General Sterling's housekeeper, Mrs. White, Florence is hired immediately.  As Florence begins to go through General Sterlings affairs, she tries to uncover what he is hiding; however, Florence instead falls headfirst in love. Something is amiss at General Sterling's villa and just as Florence is about to give up everything, she is pulled into the past in order to learn the truth.

Awaken is a haunting, gothic, love story about a love that can defy death.  From the beginning, the author created an air of mystery surrounding Florence and Alex as well as his staff.  Florence's existence is a mystery, a baby dropped off to the monastery as well as Alex's illness and death of his family.  I was completely engrossed in Florence's and Alex's love story as they circled one another only to collide head on.  The suspense picked up as Florence was vaulted back in time to the midst of World War I as Florence and Alex met for the first time.  I loved their back and forth flirtatious and competitive nature of their relationship that created a fun and exciting romance.  The dangers of the War and its encroachment upon Florence's home put peril in front of them and tested Alex and Florence's new relationship.  The supernatural elements added a haunting undertone, a surprising set of twists and the growth of a complex villain. Overall, I found "Awaken" to be a captivating and suspenseful love story that defied expectations. The author's ability to blend romance, mystery, and the supernatural resulted in a truly unique and memorable reading experience.

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

​Rachel Jackson is entering another election season with her husband, Blake for his seat in Congress. Saddled with acting like a perfect wife and dealing with Blake's father's ideals about how she should act, the last thing Rachel needs is to find a women's scarf in Blake's briefcase.  Pushing her own needs aside, Rachel dives into a family mystery of her own, researching her great aunt Marit.  Rachel is in possession of Marit's trunk, but can't seem to find any information about her, other than the fact that her family has always called her crazy Aunt Marit.  Rachel begins research in earnest about Marit, finding devastating details about women's rights and the state of asylums and experiences for herself how easy it is for a woman to lose control of her body. 


The Blue Trunk is a compelling dual-time story told from alternating points of view for Rachel and Marit.  I absolutely love dual time stories where the past and present collide and truths from the past are uncovered to help those in the present.  Marit's story captured me from the beginning with her upbringing in Norway in the early 1900's and the secret that she kept for her brother, Jorgan that eventually led to her imprisonment in the asylum in Wisconsin after she and her siblings immigrated.  Marit's commitment into the asylum and time there is unfortunately all too familiar with misunderstandings of the female body and hurtful treatments.  I was also awed by her time as a tuberculosis nurse Marit's strength and resilience through her many trials, abuse and false accusations  directly contributed to her survival when she was out.  In the present, Rachel is unfortunately reliving some of the same inequalities as Marit as she discovers just how much control others can have over her body.  Marit and Rachel both want to fulfill their roles for the happiness of others, but find that they need to find their own happiness first. Marit and Rachel's journeys showcase the power of forgiving yourself for the actions others have posed on you.

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

​In 1740, Douwemout van der Meer, captain of the Knappenhof for the VOC has landed in Calcutta, India where he has been given an interesting proposition by his boss.  Jan Sichterman, in charge of all trade in Bengal, has offered Douwe a young Indian Rhinoceros, Clara, that has been in his care since Clara's mother was slaughtered.  However, this would mean that Clara's return trip would also be Douwe's last as captain.  Douwe is enchanted by Clara and takes her on, along with her young caretaker, Zubin.  Douwe travels with Clara and Zubin all around Europe, bringing the joy of a never before seen animal to everyone from commoners to royalty.  Presently, aspiring historian, Andrea Clarkson has decided to take a semester abroad in Holland after a painful breakup.  She uncovers a document with a curious picture, a rhinoceros, and then a gravestone with a similar picture.  Andrea and the team in Leiden think they have found the link to the mysterious rhinoceros that visited Leiden.  


The Rhino Keeper is a captivating dual-timeline historical fiction based on true events. I was pulled in immediately by the opening chapter with Andrea making a strong and definitive decision about her life based on her morals.  Her convictions about animal welfare are very strong, and while I agree, it would've been great to know some backstory about her experience with animals.  Andrea's choice leads her to Leiden where she is working on preserving history through gravestones.   I love this project and it was a great example of how we currently uncover historical mysteries.  The timeline in the present, however, was not as developed as Douwe's timeline in the past.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Douwe, Zubin and Clara's adventures through Europe.  It was clear that the author loves history and did impeccable research.  I enjoyed learning about how Clara traveled, her care and the impact she had wherever she went.  There was suspense added in both timelines as the value of Clara's horn reached the wrong people. Overall, The Rhino Keeper is an amazing story that brings history to life.                                                                                                                                                                    
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.