Sawyer Hayes needs to finish his PhD thesis after a year's absence from mourning the death of his sister.  His hope lies in proving that his grandmother's old films are original Oscar Micheaux's.  The last living link to the film is 110 year old Honoree Dalcour. Sawyer needs to interview her for his thesis, but Sawyer will have to prove his worth in her eyes in order to hear about Honoree's life among the legends of 1920's Chicago. 


Wild Women and the Blues drops into jazz age Chicago, specifically Bronzeville representing the African American experience during this time period.  Honoree's story is one of loss, heartbreak, and danger, but also one of hope and the promise of freedom. We are introduced to Sawyer first, however most of the story is from Honoree's point of view with several intermittent chapters that bring the point of view back to the present. I was completely wrapped up in Honoree's point of view from her youth.  Her personality is rough and crude, but she knows what she wants and gets it done.  The writing brought alive the Dreamland Cafe with glittering costumes, rowdy customers and free flowing bootleg whiskey.  Honoree definitely lived a wild life as a dancer who cavorted with Louis Armstrong, Oscar Micheaux and Capone's gang. The mystery that ran through Honoree's story was enticing, her secrets run deep and were teased out slowly. ​

William Durant returns to Eagle's Nest, one of his Adirondack Great Camps in 1931, after losing all of his land.  William is there to talk to Harold Hochschild, the current owner of Eagle's Nest who is writing a history of the area.  Simultaneously, William's sister, Ella Durant visits her longtime friend, Poultney Bigelow who is a journalist for Harpers.  Poultney talks Ella into telling her side of the family story.  The siblings recount their versions of the family's properties after their father's death and their time spent in the Adirondacks. 

The Night is Done is the third book in the Durant Family Saga.  I have only read this one and didn't feel like I missed anything.  I was also lucky enough to read this while in the Adirondacks looking over some of Durant's former land, which gave me a great sense of perspective and place.  William's story begins with glory, riches and dreams before turning south.  Ella's story begins with a ruined reputation, going after her brother for money and land before finding her place.  The Durant's story in this book is one of their downfall, showing the effects of greed and mistrust.  I enjoyed reading about Durant's construction of some of these iconic Great Camps.  It is obvious that Durant took great care in the building and design of each of his camps and valued the land and nature that they were built on.  With that, Durant isn't exactly a likeable character, his constant need for bigger and better eventually concretes his downfall.  His interactions with Ella and refusing to give her any land to the point of a lawsuit over inheritance sets the siblings up for a public display of tearing one another apart.  Ella is also not the most likable, making a series of questionable decisions and fighting over land that she doesn't necessarily want or need. The Durant's are characterized through their pride, greed and stubbornness.  The story is obviously well researched and gives an insight into the family that opened up the Adirondacks as a resort for the wealthy. 

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

When 15 year old Forrestina Bradley runs away from her Missouri home in 1906, she dreams of becoming a circus aerialist. She joins up with the Ringling Brothers and soon begins training on the tightrope. Forrestina loves her circus life and the freedom it offers her.  However, after a bad fall and a worse marriage, Forrestina finds her way into the carnival world where she runs a rat game.  Now known after her fiery hair color, Red settles on the banks of the White River in Arkansas with a new husband, a dance hall and a moonshine operation.  After another bad divorce, Red settles in town becoming a local legend providing entertainment for kids and families.  

As soon as Forrestina's character burst onto the page, I knew her story would be entertaining. Forrestina's story is told through her point of view as an older woman with a newspaper reporter, Betty gathering her stories in 1972. From her perspective as an older woman, Red had the opportunity to reflect on her whole life and choices, the good and the bad.  Red's exuberance, love of life and precocious nature shone through from the very beginning and was evident throughout her life's story, even when things weren't going well.  Red's story is a lesson in being a good person, following your heart and living the life you choose.  I was pleased to learn that White River Red was a real person and while her story was fictionalized, her larger than life personality and contributions were all real.

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