Gracie and Timmy Johansson were walking home one evening after church in 1902.  Not far from their home, the two teenagers were brutally murdered and left by the roadside to die.  The death of the two youngest Johansson siblings left a large hole in their family, Timmy was favored by his father and was being trained to take over the family farm.  Gracie was looking to further her education.  Such a crime was not common in the small town near Des Moines, Iowa.  An inspection was completed and several suspects brought in, but the murders left a black spot on the town and especially the Johansson family.  Patriarch Lukas Johansson takes the news especially hard as he believes Timmy was the only son who could take over the farm.  As time passes and no perpetrator is found, the Johannson family is left divided by their loss.

Inspired by the real life unsolved murders of Lena and Tommy Peterson in 1902, Secrets by the Knoll attempts to retell the days leading up to the murder, the investigation and the effects on the family and the town. The mystery of the children's deaths drew me in along with the strange family dynamics. The first chapter, which takes place in the present really piqued my interest as a descendant of the family goes back to find the place that the children were murdered.  However, we never come back to the present or what the descendant learned.  The writing overall was a little clunky and the dialogue unrealistic with one character saying "do this" and the other character saying, "ok, I will do this."  There are also quite a few typos, such as "Like goes on" instead of "Life goes on."  Regardless of these, I finished the book since I really wanted another point of view on who the author thought committed the murders and why.  For the most part, the story follows the actual events of the murder and investigation with the exception of name changes.  This does give a good feeling of time and place as well as people's views.  Almost the whole town was ready to convict an African-American coal miner for the children's deaths simply because he was a newcomer to the town.  I should not have been surprised as to who the author believed was responsible for the deaths as there was heavy foreshadowing and strange reactions to the character the whole way through. Overall, a historical mystery with a lot of potential, but one that needed some cleaning up and a bit more punch, such as the murder from the children's point of view or a clear and thought out motive for the perpetrator. 


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

The five Carson siblings have been in turmoil since the disappearance of their parents several months earlier.  When oldest sibling, Adam receives a packet from his parent's lawyer, the pieces begin to come together.  However, the packet reveals a secret website set up by their parents telling of their discovery of time travel portals and the subsequent adventures in different time periods.  After Adam reviews the evidence and reads through how the portals work, he gets his siblings together and they unanimously vote to travel through time in order to reach their parents.  They plan to go through a portal near their hometown in Arizona, taking them back to the 1880's; however when they step through the portal they end up near Johnstown, Pennsylvania in December 1888.  The siblings quickly try to acclimate themselves into the time and begin the search for their parents. For twin siblings, Cody and Caitlin, this means enrolling in school. For middle brother, Greg, an adventure into the truly wild west to track a lead in Arizona territory and California.  For Natalie, using her journalism skills to follow leads while Adam manages information and holds down the fort from the temporary home at the Colbert Boarding House.  Even though the sibling's main objective is to find their parents and return home, the extended stay in Johnstown has led to romantic entanglements for four of the five siblings and their parents keep slipping through their fingers.  On May 31st, 1889, the Johnstown flood devastates the town and the inhabitants leaving the Carson siblings in disarray.

River Rising is an epic time travel adventure.  This is a story you will want to take your time with and sink into.  From the moment the five siblings walk through the time portal and into 1880's Pennsylvania, ​I knew I was in for an exciting ride.  Amazingly, all five siblings: Adam, Greg, Natalie, Cody and Caitlin are very well developed and individual characters.  They each take turns at telling their part of the story through their point of view while continuing a cohesive story line. Pennsylvania 1888-89 was a wonderful year to travel back to; much like the Carson siblings I was amazed at the time period where Benjamin Harrison had just been elected President, Mark Twain was in his prime, the West was still wild and Punxsutawney Phil has made his first appearance.  Through the sibling's eyes, I was able to see many of these events first hand.  Unlike the characters in Heldt's other time travel series, the Carson siblings did not travel through time thinking about the possibility of altered timelines.  I am very interested in how their very involved actions in 1888 may have altered things in the present.  I am also very interested in how the time portals work; it is know that they appear on solstices and seem to appear in areas that are known to be sacred or have paranormal activity.  I would love to figure out more about them and where else they seem to pop up.  Near the end of the Carson sibling's grand adventure, the game of cat and mouse that they have been playing with their parents seems to be no closer to the end and the intensity increases when tragedy strikes with Johnstown flood; I had a hard time putting the book down. Ending, with a huge cliffhanger, I can not wait to see what happens with the Carson family next. 

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

The five Carson siblings plus their new sister-in-law, Bridget have just stepped through a time portal from 1889 into 1918.  They are still playing a game of Marco-Polo through time trying to find their parents, Tim and Caroline who have taken a detour on their time-travel adventure. This time they are hoping to catch their parents as they visit their ancestors.  Adam and his new and pregnant wife Bridget settle in a cabin in the backwoods of Minnesota, neighbors to two women set to marry into their family.  Greg agrees to travel into the potential dangers of Mexico, hoping to find his parents near where his great-grandparents live.  Instead, Greg finds a woman that may finally be his match.  Natalie takes a reporting job on the front lines of the War in France meeting the son and husband of a friend from 1889 as well as some ancestors. Meanwhile, Cody and Caitlin track down a friend from 1889 that is very surprised by the fact they the twins are still 18 years old.  With all of their trekking through time, the Carson family seems even more scattered, but they are closer to finding their parents than they think.


An exciting, risk filled, time travel adventure filled with romance, intrigue and history, The Memory Tree picks up right where River Rising, the first book of the Carson Chronicles leaves off. I would definitely recommend reading these books in order since so much happens in River Rising. I was so happy to begin reading about the Carson clan once again in a new time period.  I have enjoyed the device used for time travel in the books, a portal that opens only at solstices and equinoxes that will transport you to different times depending on when you walk through. I was able to learn more about the portals in this book along with more information about who uses them.  In The Memory Tree, we also delve into the Carson family history by meeting many of the Carson ancestors.  I am very anxious to see the results of the future Carson's family presence in the time of the ancestors.  This time, it seems to have altered some important events in their family tree.  With having the Carson family spread out, I was also able to witness many events that happened in 1918. As World War I came to an end, Natalie witnessed firsthand accounts of injured soldiers returning from the front in France and senseless killings even after the War ended.  Adam and Bridget survived a forest fire that ravaged Cloquet, Minnesota.  Greg witnessed Tijuana before it was a tourist town and when money was above the law.  Most interestingly, Cody and Caitlin were able to reconnect with a friend from 1889 and see the effects of the War on a family that has been left behind.  With moments that range from heartbreaking to heartwarming and exciting to mysterious, The Memory Tree is another expertly crafted tale within the Carson Chronicles.  I can't wait to continue their adventures into the 1940's.



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

The five Carson siblings plus two new sisters-in-law and a new baby have entered a new time period in pursuit of their parents yet again.  Now the large group has entered into 1943 Arizona, a dangerous time especially for the three men who are all of age to be drafted.  They all quickly find jobs that will help the war effort.  Cody drives a supply truck that makes deliveries to an Internment Camp where he befriends a family.  Caitlin and Natalie maintain airplanes and meet two aviators.  Adam settles down with his wife and child as well as finding a job teaching English to Chinese pilots.  Greg along with his new wife are also finding their way in a new time, but with the same old problems that continue to haunt him.  With extensive knowledge of the events of World War II, the Carson clan must be extra careful to make sure they are fitting in with their time period.


Exhilarating and endearing, Indian Paintbrush offers an engaging time-travel adventure into 1943 with the Carson siblings.  I would highly recommend reading this series in order to get to know all of the characters and motivations.  I enjoyed diving right back into the action when the Carson family crossed through the veil into 1943 from 1918.  I was excited to learn how they would fit into a time period that they had more knowledge of and how the brides from 1889 and 1918 would do with the continued changes. After two previous time hops, the group is getting better at assimilating to the time period. As with the past two installments, I was impressed at how well immersed into the time period I felt.  Between the siblings, the writing explored the Internment Camps and the treatment of the citizens that were held there, the loss of a loved one during Pearl Harbor, the training program to be an aviator and romance during wartime.  I was surprised to see how some of the characters from the past time periods were integrated as well as how trouble the Carson's have caused in the past is still affecting them in 1943.  Their mission to find and reconnect with their parents is still their mission, however, it seems that the Carson family might be fated to near misses.  I can't wait to see how the next time period treats the Carson's.


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

​The growing Carson family has made a speedy and dangerous exit out of 1943 and has arrived in 1962- 10 years prior to the year they want to be in to find their parents.  The Carson siblings plan on settling in for a few months before they can make their next hop to 1983.  For Cody and Caitlin, this means college.  With a little help from new family members that they met in 1943, Cody and Caitlin gain admittance to Boulder University and relish their college experience in 1962.  Cody rushes fraternities, goes on panty raids and falls hard and fast for Caitlin's roommate, Molly.  Caitlin studies hard but also uses the experience to grieve for her airman from 1943 and move on.  Caitlin finds hope in two young men, Vince and Dennis.  As she gets to know the two young men, only one will win her heart.  The Carson parents arrive as planned in 1972 and quickly find out that their children have not reached the same year.  Looking back through news articles, Tim and Caroline Carson find the worst news that they could receive- one of their children has been killed in the past.  Further research gives them the name and unfortunate background of the killer and sets the Carson parents in action to attempt to stop a killer before he is born.  

Caitlin's Song is the fourth book in the Carson Chronicles series.  I would very much advise reading this series in its intended order to keep the timelines straight and really get to know the characters. I'm glad that Caitlin finally had a happy story, although it easily could have turned out differently.   In each of the Carson's adventures, there has always been a very good sense of the time period the family is in and this is no exception.  From the diners, to the cars, fraternities and hairstyles, 1962 is shown in it's glory.  The Cuban Missile crisis is the event the the Carson siblings know will cause drama in that year, but they are a little too confident that their actions have not changed anything in the past.  It was really interesting to see how things played out when the Carson's were not sure of the future.  Caitlin's story was intensely emotional as she processes grief, changing time periods, excitement of starting college and finding love again.  I was glad that this story also focused more on the Carson parents and their journey.  This time, Tim and Caroline have many difficult choices to make that involve more than just finding their children.  It was interesting to see what they did and how it simultaneously affected their children's timeline.  With the Carson's next jump in time to 1983, I can't wait to see what awesome adventures unfold for Cody.  

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

​Martha Goldenthal is simply trying to navigate through life in 1960's California.  As the world changes around her, Martha's life seems to be imploding.  Martha's parents are both abusive; from making Martha believe she isn't good enough to physical violence, Martha's family life has made her develop a tic.  Martha shrugs her shoulder whenever she feels nervous or uncomfortable, the shrug only goes away when she is playing music.  Her siblings have manifested physical symptoms as well.  Martha feels she has to be better to win her parents affection: good grades, believing in her mother's strange habits and having the same interests as her father.  Martha struggles as her home life becomes more unstable over time, if she can make it to college and get out on her own, she just might make it.

Shrug is a coming-of-age story set in the Bay Area in the 1960's. This is a story built on hope and strong characters.  While no major climax of events happens in the story, Martha's growth and gradual change of mindset take center stage.  Anyone who has lived through any kind of domestic strife or abuse could easily relate to Martha's situation.  The writing deftly conveyed the amount of anxiety and complex emotions that Martha dealt with within herself and her family.  I knew exactly what Martha was going through as her family life was falling apart but she still knew she had to do well on all of her homework or try to console her mother even though her mother did not care about her comfort.  I also understood her tick and how and why it manifested as well as the impact it had on her life.  I loved the inclusion of the music of the era and the impact that it had on Martha.  The classical music in the beginning and the change to pop music reflected the turbulence of the time period along with her home life but the calming undercurrent of classical stayed throughout.  While the ending of the book might not have seen everything solved for Martha or her family, it gave a distinct impression of hope and a brighter future which is exactly what anyone in Martha's situation is looking for.

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

​A herd of elephants roams peacefully around India in the late 1800's under the watchful eye of their matriarch.  The matriarch recently gave birth and her baby watches mom carefully as she makes friends, plays and watches for predators. As the herd migrates, they notice that the funny apes keep getting closer to them and are building structures and making lots of noise.  One day while the matriarch is protecting the herd from a tiger the pale apes intervene, killing the tiger and the matriarch.  Her baby is left crying by her side.  The baby is taken and chained by the white apes, which she learns are people.  The baby named Mary and treated cruelly, punished until she learns to do what the people want.  Mary is eventually sold to Sparks World Famous Circus where she learns to perform and is hurt less often.  She learns to think of the circus performers as her herd.  However, her memory of all of the past cruelty and her life as a wild elephant never leave her. The day comes where Mary can not take the pain and loneliness.  Mary's actions that day will go down in history. 

I have always had a hard time reading books like this and I knew that Mighty Mary would be no different.  Especially since she was a real elephant and the terrible events that led to her death are true.  Mighty Mary is mostly written from Mary's point of view and displays the emotional depth that Mary and all elephants are capable of as well as the psychological changes that happen when we take an animal from the wild and attempt to tame it.  Mary's inner dialogue is heartbreaking as she is pulled from her mother and her home and dragged into the unknown to be cruelly treated, tormented, beaten and threatened with the bull stick that haunts her memories.  Mary attempts to find any connection with any living thing, even the predators was wrenching to me and when she finally gave up and seemed to forget who she was, I knew it was the beginning of the end.  Books like Mighty Mary remind me and all of us that we can do better for the animals that we share this world with and that any less is cruelty. 

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

​Cordelia was left to be raised at a convent, the Fountain Abbey School after her mother died in childbirth.  Her father, The Earl of Swanstone pays for her board, but is otherwise unattached to Cordelia until she is old enough to be married off for her father's profit.  When Cordelia's father does marry her off, it is to the elderly Earl of Middleton Park, Lord Cromwell.  Cromwell is suffering from syphilis and threatens to give Cordelia the disease if she does not do as he says.   After Cromwell dies, Cordelia is left with the title of Countess and a strong aversion to men, but little else.  Through her years of enduring the Earl and getting to know the ton, Cordelia has found a talent for seeing people who they really are and who they would fit best with.  Along with her partners, Emelia and Rodrigo, Cordelia turns her past struggles into a profitable matchmaking business for the nobility.  After years of matching others, Cordelia still prefers to be alone; however, Lord Rhys Drayson, the brother of one of her clients will challenge Cordelia's views on men, relationships and her sexual desires. 

The Countess is an erotic regency romance.  This is exactly what I was expecting for this book, so it was a little bit of a shock for me.  I did immediately feel a connection to Cordelia's character, she is level headed and tries to find the good in her situation.  Cordelia's inner strength constantly shines through.  Several time hops happen in the book that made me feel like important moments were missed in Cordelia's growth.  For example, the story begins with Cordelia at the Convent and then we jump three years forward to where Cordelia's father marries her to the Earl, another two years to when the Earl dies and then yet another two years till when Cordelia is established in her matchmaking business.  Within these time hops there are great characters that are introduced who are never seen again.  There is also a lot of growth on Cordelia's end that must be assumed instead of seen. I think there was a real missed opportunity in the last time hop to see Cordelia grow in confidence and character as she struck out on her own and began her own matchmaking business.  Once Rhys enters the picture, the heat index rises quickly, if you like regency romance with a lot of steam, the last half of the book will keep you warm and tingly.  Cordelia and Rhys' relationship became hot and heavy very quickly with talk of love after two days.  I do wish the tones of the relationship weren't forceful on Rhys' part, however I am happy with how everything turned out for Cordelia.  


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

​Lady Elizabeth Beckett has been trained as a code-breaker and spy for the English Crown from an early age.  Elizabeth watched in envy as her brother Jonathon took on dangerous missions and soon forced her way into accompanying him.  Being adept at the longbow and a dagger, Elizabeth excelled in the field and earned the code name Shadow.  When young ladies begin to disappear around London, Eliza makes it her personal mission to stop the man responsible for selling the women off.  However, to complete the mission, Eliza must partner with the agent, Benedict, who believes his step-brother is responsible for the missing girls.  When Eliza and Benedict meet, sparks fly, but the mission must come first. 

Saving Shadow is a fun, intriguing, historical spy-thriller with just the right touch of romance. I absolutely loved Eliza's character, for a story set in Regency London Eliza is a good blend of a lady of high society and a woman who gets to use her intellect while not being pigeonholed into the image of a proper woman.  I enjoyed that her intelligence and unique talents of memory and coding were utilized and promoted instead of stifled.  I do wish we could have seen some of the examples of the encryptions that she decoded.  My favorite scenes were those where Eliza was in action, it is truly her element.  The theme of being in control was prevalent throughout the story.  Eliza wanted to continue having control over her life after being banished from the control of her mother's household.  All of the men in Eliza's life attempted to establish control, however quickly learned that it would not work with Eliza.  The man responsible for the kidnappings of the young women also wanted to feel powerful and in control.  The pacing of the story was just right, I savored the scheme leading up to Eliza and Benedict finding the stolen women and bringing down the man responsible.  Not to mention the super-sweet romance with a wonderful amount of witty banter that added some spice. I'll look forward to reading more about the Beckett's in A Peculiar Courtship.

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

​Lady Elizabeth Beckett's sister, Lady Kate Camden has finally been released from the clutches of her fake and abusive marriage to the French spy posing as Lord Camden.  Kate is now learning how to live independently and trust the people around her. Kate has made a refuge for herself at her country estate and is being protected by Adrien, Earl of Camden and Agent of the Crown.  Adrien wants to help Kate come out of her shell; he is desperately trying to break in, but is falling for her at the same time.  Meanwhile, Adrien, Eliza and Johnathan receive a new assignment as Agents of the Crown.  The British have been warring with Napoleon and it seems as though French spies have introduced a bill to Parliament to end the War against the French.  The French have been abducting female relations of Parliament members in order to force the vote in their favor.  After some digging, it seems that Kate holds the key to eliminating the French spies, but she and Eliza are abducted soon after the conspiracy is broken.  

To Love A Spy continues the story of the Beckett family with Eliza's sister Kate. I love that these are a perfect blend of historical spy thriller and regency romance with well balance scenes of sweet adoration and action-packed danger.  Kate has made appearances in the past two books in the series, but we now learn what a tremendous impact her false marriage to a French spy has made on her life.  I enjoyed seeing Kate's transformation from someone terrified to leave her country manor and untrusting of anyone but her own staff to someone who is independent, advocates for herself and contributes ideas.  The romance was infatuating and wholesome with a lot of respect from both sides.  Through his courtship of Kate, I got to know Adrien's character better and his abilities as a spy.  It was interesting to find out about his time in France and how he carried out his present mission.  My favorite part, however, was continuing to see how Eliza's life is now with Benedict and how she and Kate were able to navigate through the French spy ring.  Overall, To Love A Spy is a wonderful read with plenty of romance, surprises and spy operations. I highly recommend reading the first two books in the Beckett Files first, it is a wonderful series to dive into. 

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

Lady Rachel has recently escaped an attempted kidnapping with the help of Agent of the Crown, Shadow.  She was taken hostage by those who would like to see the French influence the English Parliament.  Now, it has been determined that Rachel should be kept safe at her uncle's estate in Scotland until the French threat passes.  Rachel is left with an Agent and bodyguard David as well as a threat to neighbor and older brother of Shadow,  Luke Beckett, the Marquess of Downshire to protect Rachel.  However, when the lonely and brooding Marquess first meets Lady Rachel, he believes that she is just like every other English Lady and she only wants him for his money.  Upon meeting Lady Rachel, he believes she is a horse thief responsible for the slew of missing animals around town.  Rachel believes that Luke is a horse trainer. Luke keeps up the charade by calling himself John. As Rachel and John spend time together, Luke realizes that Lady Rachel is kindhearted and adventurous.  Before Luke can let Rachel know of the ruse, a French threat is exposed on the shores of Scotland and Rachel is endangered once again.


The fourth book in The Beckett Files, A Tangled Ruse continues to excite and entertain.  I highly recommend reading the rest of the books in the series- and in order to catch up on the Beckett family.  I was eager to continue the story with Lady Rachel who, despite her upbringing, desires more.  I enjoyed her attitude of being willing to continue on with life and waking up her sense of adventure even after  being kidnapped.  Along with getting to know more about Lady Rachel, the story dives into Larson's past and we get to meet Jonathan and Eliza's reclusive older brother, Luke.     Unlike the other Beckett's, Luke is not an Agent of the Crown but the Marquess of Downshire  and his father's heir.  At the start, Luke's attitude is distrusting of women and he is a loner and rough around the edges, hiding himself away at his stud farm.  When Rachel comes on the scene, the writing creates the feel of a life-like Beauty and the Beast, complete with large library. The writing also offers plenty of masterfully crafted witty back-and-forth banter between Luke and Rachel as well as mounting tension as the French threaten to invade Scotland's shores creating a way for the rest of the Beckett family to come into the scene.   Woven in with historical elements of the Napoleonic Wars and the madness of King George III, A Tangled Ruse is more than a regency love story. With an exciting conclusion, a sweet romance and plenty of spy action, A Tangled Ruse is a great addition to The Beckett Files.


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

William Brook is a young cleric in London hopes for nothing more than an assignment in a faraway land with adventure, hard labor and the ability to spread the word to new people.  Instead, he is given a placement as a vicar in Amberley Village, a small town with gossiping women, young ladies looking for a suitable match and men who would rather not have a young vicar in their business.  Conversely, Cecelia Grant was not expecting someone quite so young or handsome to take the previous elder vicar’s place.  Cecelia would love to stay in her beautiful home town and spend her days painting, teaching and wandering; however, her mother would love nothing more than for Cecelia to be married to someone of a higher station and with much more money, someone like John Barrington.  Cecelia’s inquisitive nature and intelligence often comes off as an eccentricity, but to the vicar, Cecelia seems to be the only one he can relate to in the small town.

The Vagabond Vicar is a sweet and charming regency set historical romance with many swoon-worthy moments. Though I don’t usually read regency romances, I was intrigued by the plot and as I read, I fell in love with the characters.  Cecelia is definitely more interesting than everyone in town makes her to be, especially because she does not want to be pushed into a marriage just for the title, money, and lands that go with it.  William is definitely more that the average vicar, he does not want to be tied down to such a small and dull town, but he is still kind hearted and feels the need to help people where he can.  From William and Cecelia’s first meeting, I could feel their draw to one another.  Through the book, their temptation for one another kept me reading.   Even the dastardly villain, Mr. Barrington, intent on taking Cecelia for no reason other than to keep her from William, added suspense and scandal to the story.   For a classic romance, the characters felt fresh and complex and I would definitely pick up the next two books in the series which seem to focus on supporting characters in Amberley.

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

Amy Miller has found herself in a desperate situation.  Used and discarded after becoming pregnant by her employer's brother, Amy had nowhere to go.  She refused to be shamed by her situation and was graciously taken in as a ward.  At the Fortesque's, Amy is relishing in the comforts of being a mother, but is feeling overwhelmed at Mrs. Fortesque's demands for her to learn ladylike qualities.  In addition, Amy is still suffering from the attack and cannot feel that she can trust another man.  When the Fortesque's house becomes stifling, Amy escapes for a bit with her new son and runs into a longtime friend, Henry Russell.  The meeting ignites feelings for both Henry and Amy.  Henry wishes he would have asked for Amy's hand long ago, but now Amy can't even bear to touch Henry's hand.  Henry is determined to help Amy and give her time to heal, but a suspected secret may ruin his chances.


Gloved Heart is a Regency romance complete with many swoon-worthy moments.  Though I felt that the story line was very predictable, I loved the characters and felt invested in their story; especially since I have read the first book in the series, The Vagabond Vicar.   Amy is clearly a woman who knows what she wants in life; however, the past trauma she has suffered has left her scarred.  Amy's past has led her to be independent and headstrong, but has lacked love.  The big secret being held from Amy is strongly foreshadowed early on and suggested by Henry, so there was not a lot of suspenseful buildup there.  Instead, the focus is on Amy's realization that she might be able to love once again.  Henry is perfect for Amy, with a relationship rooted in friendship and an understanding nature.  I loved watching the trust build and Amy's confidence rise as she and Henry got to know one another again.  Everything about them seemed pure and true.  As a bonus for me, a look into the characters lives from the first book of the series is tied into Amy's story.  Overall, a delightful Regency romance with engaging characters.

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

Alice Roosevelt is a force to be reckoned with.  From the moment her father took office, Alice knew that she would make a mark on the world.  However, impressing Theodore Roosevelt is a monumental task.  Alice lives according to her own rules and the beliefs that her father has instilled upon her. Alice makes waves in Washington from her teenage years through adulthood, even when a Roosevelt is not in office.  Alice would love to find love, but that aspect of her life seems to continuously fall through the cracks.  As Alice survives the years and the ups and downs of Washington, she make friends and enemies but is respected by all.


I love learning about lesser known historical figures.  I of course knew about Theodore Roosevelt and the many things that he had accomplished while in office.  I have even visited the site where the book begins.  However, I have not heard much about Alice except for a few quotes.  From the moment the Roosevelt's find out that Theodore will be President, I knew that I would like Alice.  Her character has immeasurable strength and conviction that is paired with a wildness that makes everything more exciting.  I was surprised at the many things that Alice was able to accomplish both large and small- from having a color named after her to helping her father with international relations, Alice was influential in both the social and political spheres.  While Alice's public life was filled with escapades, her personal life was just as engrossing.  Her relationship with Nicholas Longworth would be fodder for every tabloid if she were alive today.  I was endeared by Alice's quest to please her father.  Written with careful detail to historical records, American Princess creates a rich and riveting story of Alice Roosevelt Longworth, a woman who earned the title of Princess and The Other Washington Monument throughout her life.  


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

​Airk Meir is a young Jewish man growing up in Los Angeles in the 1970's.  Arik does not really participate much in his faith except for hearing about the stories his father, a disabled war veteran, tells him of being in the Israeli Army.  Arik becomes a pillar of his faith after a heroic act and decides to learn more at a Zionist summer camp, Camp Moshava.  At first, Arik has a difficult time fitting in with the posh kids from New York.  Soon, Arik finds friends in Richard, Eliezer, Penny and Dahlia.  Dahlia is the jet-setting daughter of the Israeli ambassador to the United States.  Arik and Dahlia find themselves in a whirl-wind romance with promises of a future together.  However, fate seems to want to keep them apart.  Dahlia's father does not approve of the relationship and pushes Dahlia to find someone more fit for her stations. As Arik enters the Israeli Army, he faithfully writes letters to Dahlia about the trials of becomming an elite soldier.  However, the distance does damage and the two drift apart.  Dahlia has trouble finding her footing but eventually finds her calling in the Israeli Army as Arik becomes a hero for Israel. 


Lone Soldier is an epic journey of two young people in the 1970's with many twists and turns as well as unexpected ups and downs. Lone Soldier is quite a tome rounding out at 625 pages in length.  While I don't think that the book needed to be quite this long, the characters and plot kept me interested the whole way through.  Arik's character is very easy to like, he was hardworking, wholesome and could see the bigger picture in life, though he can almost seems too perfect at times.  Dahlia is, at first very much a spoiled princess, however, her intelligence, caring nature and charisma is enhanced once she is paired with Arik.  I enjoyed watching their relationship grow and change as they became adults. One thing that did bother me early on was the dialogue and overall wordiness.  The amount of times that "I love you" was written out was too many to count and many points were unnecessarily repeated to the reader. Some of the dialogue also felt unnatural and clunky as all the characters readily said exactly what was on their minds and were overwhelmingly honest with their feelings.  What could have used a little more explanation were some Jewish customs, holidays and phrases.  Though I am familiar with some of the Jewish culture, I still had to stop and look up some things.  The story had a unique lens of the Jewish-American community in the 1970's to give a different perspective on the decade.  Through Arik, the trials of racism and the African-American community of Los Angeles was shown in a new light, especially the impact of basketball on the community of Watts.  I did thoroughly enjoy reading about Arik's time within the Israeli Army and his part within the Arab Israeli conflict.  I could tell that the author had done a lot of research and had passion for this time.  

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

Pincus Potasznik is a Jewish cobbler living in Galicia.  In 1910, he receives an opportunity to travel to New York and set up a landsman society through his rabbi. Pincus decides to travel to New York making the decision to leave his pregnant wife Clara and their children at home and return for them later.  On the voyage to New York, Pincus does not fare well, but with the help of Jakob Adler, her makes it.  Jakob befriends Pincus and they decide to help one another after landing.  However, Jakob is running from an accidental murder of a Warsaw crime boss and has fallen right into the Jewish gangs of New York with boss Leo Gorpatsch.  On the boat over Pincus also has his palm read and receives a warning to bring his oldest son over within the year.  With the help of Jakob's connections and Pincus' skills, they set up a cobbler shop which also fronts as a way for Jakob to collect payment for Gorspatsch.  Soon Pincus is so busy with his shop and Landsman Society that he can't imagine finding time to go home to retrieve his family.  Back in Galicia, four years have passed.  Clara has had her baby and the children have grown.  She has kept her home and the cobbler shop running.  War has broken out near Galicia.  Pincus and Jakob plan to rescue the family while delivering a package overseas for Gorspatsch.  This opens up a whole new world of trouble for everyone, but also a world of hope.


A Cobbler's Tale combines an immigrant's story along with the suspense of the Jewish Mafia, World War I and mysticism. The story focuses on Pincus, but the point of view bounces between Pincus, Jakob and Clara giving a rounded to view to the immigrant experience and the time Clara was left in Galicia.  I was surprised at the reach of the Jewish Mafia.  Pincus and Jakob might not have survived their first years with same ease if it were not for Gorspatsch, although it would have saved them a world of heartache later.  PIncus' journey closely reflected that of a Jewish immigrant at the time and was loosely based on the author's grandparents.  The writing easily conveyed the living conditions and the feeling of community within the Lower East Side.   I felt a lot of sympathy for Clara's character, left to raise children, run a shop and survive in a war zone without knowing when Pincus would come back for her and the children.  Her strength and courage shone as Clara protected her children and helped her community.  Jakob's character was very interesting, always seeming to find trouble and falling in with the gangs, despite his friendship with Pincus, he tends to cause trouble for him over and over.  There was a layer of added suspense and mystery with PIncus' oldest son, Moshe and his talent of foreseeing grim events.  Known as a tzaddik, Moshe's talent can help his family, but is sought out by others.  Incorporating this mysticism creates an exciting and dangerous ending that pulls together Pincus' journey.  Overall, A Cobbler's Tale has a lot going on and offers an action packed historical journey of a Jewish immigrant with a touch of magic.


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