​1946:  in the aftermath of World War II, seven year old Amerigo lives with his mother, Antoinetta in the ravaged and defeated town of Naples, Southern Italy.  Amerigo and his mother try to make ends meet as best they can, but collecting rags and mending means they are just scraping by.  A Communist group offers refuge for the children of the South, placing children on a train to live temporarily with families in the North.  Antoinetta makes the decision to put Amerigo on one of the trains.  Amerigo is confused and upset; however, once he is with his temporary family in the North, Amerigo receives new shoes, clothes, plenty of food and the feeling of a warm and loving family.  His northern family also develops his love for music. Amerigo returns home to find that nothing has changed while everything has changed.

The Children's Train is a powerful and heartfelt story of hope, finding home and family.  Most of the story is told from seven-year-old Amerigo's point of view. Amerigo's voice is rambling, taking in everything as a child would see and understand it.  Most interesting were the views of his mother and his home.  Antoinetta came off as harsh, but surviving.  Amerigo would always say that many things were not her strong point, realizing that his mother did not show affection in typical ways.  The story examines Amerigo's views of politics and hospitality versus charity as he became used to life in Northern Italy.  I was intrigued as Amerigo begins to see the impact of the decisions adults madee for him and that love can have many different forms.  The last third of the book skips to the year 1994 when Amerigo returns to Naples and begins to see the further impact of his mother's decisions.  This was the most moving part of the story for me as Amerigo realizes the different paths that his life could have taken. 

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

​August Sitwell, groundskeeper and Jennie Williams,maid are both part of the all black staff at the Barclay's residence in 1914.  The Barclay's are falling on hard times financially and may not be able to keep all of their staff, especially the three young kitchen apprentices, Mac, Frederick and Bart who were taken from the orphan asylum.  One of Mr. Barclay's business associates takes an interest in the meat sauce that Sitwell and Barclay's cook, Mamie created.   The associate offers to sell the sauce, complete with Sitwell's picture on the front under the name of "The Rib King '' bringing the Barclay's back from their financial ruin.  However, neither Sitwell or Mamie will see any money from the sale.  Sitwell's frustration reaches a peak setting forth a chain of events that will change many lives.  Ten years later, Jennie owns a successful business parlor and wants to market a healing salve that she and Mamie developed.  When the familiar face of The Rib King  comes back to town, Jennie learns just how far reaching the effects are of that fateful night at the Barclay's house.


The Rib King is an intriguing story told in two parts giving a detailed look into the lives of African Americans during this time period.  The first half of the story is told from the point of view of August Sitwell,  the second from the point of view of Jennie Williams.  This style of writing gave way to a slow burn historical fiction story that didn't begin to tie all of the pieces together until the near end.  Through both Sitwell and Jennie's narration there is an insightful view into the long term suffering of the African American population and the effects passed down on their psyche and worth.  The story goes into detail of white privilege and cultural appropriation used for profit.  I could clearly understand Sitwell's rage and pathway to revenge once his whole story was revealed.  Jennie's story revealed how someone on a completely different path than Sitwell could still be stalled by the same issues due to a common history.  My only complaint was the ending wrapped up rather quickly.  I'd love to continue to read The Talented Ribkins to continue the  stories of Mac, Bart and Frederick. 

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

Prince Ankhmakis has left his companion Natasa and daughter Helena to fight for Egypt's freedom from the Macedonian's.  Ankhmakis and Natasa use their connection to amplify Ankhmakis' mastery on the battlefield and Ankhmakis quickly becomes revered among the troops and the land.  However, there are greater threats to Ankhmakis and Natasa than war; many forces from within are working to destroy their bond so Ankhmakis can not rise to power and wish their deaths.  Natasa's role at court is changed by the Queen and places her as a healer with a promise of celibacy.  This changes affect how Ankhmakis and Natasa can interact, their spiritual connection deepens once Natasa is given the second Wand of Horus to complete the pair, her powers for healing and protection deepen.  The power of the Wands only make Natasa and Ankhmakis a bigger target for those against them. 


Opening with a powerful scene of Ankhmakis and Howrenefer at war, Blood & Chaos lives up to its title.  This is the second book in Song of the King's Heart series and picks up shortly after book one leaves off.  I was glad to get back into Natasa and Ankhmakis' world, even if they were separated.  From the beginning, the power of Ankhmakis and Natasa's bond through Anit-Shadya is proven as she guides him through battle from miles away.  Throughout the story, the powerful writing created an intensity throughout every dramatic scene and connected me with the characters emotions.  I was glad to see Helena's powers explored more and I wish I could see her full potential.  Though not much is known of Ankhmakis and his reign, Sallak Anderson has woven together existing documents with a wonderful imagination to create a passionate story of power, greed, love and jealousy.  Natasa and Ankhmakis are both left in tenuous situations at the end of Blood & Chaos, I can't wait to continue their journeys in the next installment. 

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

Nineteen year old Anna Gallagher longs for adventure in her hometown of Seattle, Washington.  However, in 1889 young women are expected to be proper and run a household.  Anna's grandfather and brother seem to want this life for her as well. Anna gets a taste of adventure when the great Seattle fire devastates her grandfather's book store.  Anna dreams to climb Mount Rainier and places her hopes in an advertisement for a  climbing party leaving next summer.  Now, Anna just needs the funds and to start training.  With help from her Duwamish friend, Heather, Anna finds the confidence to begin training for the climb and a means to raise money.  When her brother's friend, Ben visits Washington, Anna may find a man that also fits her lifestyle.
In Sight of the Mountain is an amazing historical adventure that captivated me from the start and didn't let go.  As an avid hiker, I have always wondered about the women who have paved the path for women to be active in the outdoors.  Anna's character, though fictional is a good representation of the experiences of many of the women who were the firsts in the field.  Anna's spirit is captivating and infectious, making me want to plan for my next adventure.  Through her eyes, the grandeur of the Washington territory came alive as well as the many prejudices that people carried.  The plight of the Duwamish people, the native people of the area was brought to light through Anna's friendship with Heather as well as the limited opportunities for women and the views of the women who took matters into their own hands.  I was enchanted by the mystery of the poem in the book that Anna solved and absolutely delighted by the path of the romance with Ben.  The highlight of the story for me was definitely Anna's journey up the mountain.  While Anna's story might not have turned out exactly how she wanted the first time, her story of grit and determination is one that many people can relate to. 

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

Anna Gallagher recently was among the first women to climb Mount Rainier; however, she didn't reach the summit.  Although Anna did find passion,  renewed confidence in herself a man who appreciates her the way she is.  Now, Anna is planning a wedding and a second trip up Rainier where she can hopefully summit alongside her new husband, Ben. As they prepare for their adventure, someone in Seattle repeatedly attacks Anna's grandfather's bookstore to show their disapproval for Anna endeavors.  Meanwhile, Emily Watson, a long time friend of the Gallagher family is dealing with the death of her husband, a husband that was supposed to give her everything she wanted in life, but left her with his debt.  Emily finds that what she wanted all along might have been right next door all these years.  

Picking up right after In Sight of the Mountain, In Light of the Summit continues with Anna and Ben beginning their life together.  After Anna accounts of climbing Rainier are published, an unforeseen incident causes them to think about their next steps.  While the attacks were awful, they unfortunately weren't surprising for the time and I was surprised that so many people were accepting of Anna's adventures.  I did very much enjoy getting to see Anna and Ben preparing for the wedding and building a life together.  Although, this story focused more on her brother Levi and his romantic interests with new widow Emily.  Emily's story is intriguing as she finds out what she really values in life.  She surprises herself when she figures out that money, nice dresses and  high society isn't what fulfills her.  I also enjoyed the historical detail of 1890's Seattle's history with its founder, Henry Yesler and the opening of the Seattle Public Library.  My favorite parts of the story remain when Anna is ascending Mt. Rainier, although Anna and Ben did not begin their climb until about 70% of the way into the story.  As always, the description of the mountain and the view along with Anna's feelings are amazing.  The climb provided for some extremely suspenseful moments that I hope will be resolved in another installment of the Rainier series. 

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

Sylvie Duchenne wants to help her country of France during the war.  After travelling with her mother's dancing troupe, Sylvie has the necessary skills for a placement with the Special Operations Executive, the SOE.  She is placed at the Mirabelle nightclub in Nantes.  Sylvie is to act as a courier, but also has a more dangerous role of extracting information from any German soldiers that she may attract.  Sylvie dives into her role, ready to help in any way possible.  However, her first contact never appears and Sylvie must quickly change plans, relying on the club's pianist, Felix.  As Sylvie's missions become more involved, a German Secretary, Dieter Baumann becomes entranced with Sylvie. As the Resistance moves forward with operations, Sylvie's cover is compromised and she will have to make a life changing decision.

The Secret Agent is historical fiction of the Resistance set during World War II.  The strength of Sylvie's character drew me in from the very first scene where she was being interrogated.  I was intrigued by the training that the women of the SOE went through and the various roles that they played in the Resistance.  While Sylvie may not have been a real person, she was based upon three very real women who risked everything to help their country:  Noor Inayet Khan, Odette Hallowes and Violette Szabo.  While there may have not been a resistance cell in Nantes, I was impressed by the historical detail of the occupied town, the attitudes of the people there and the activities of the Resistance.  I was constantly amazed by Sylvie's fortitude and willingness to take on tasks.  The writing style bounced back and forth between Sylvie's point of view before the war and during the war creating an even pace and well rounded characters.  


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

​Long ago, a trader along the Silk Road overheard two former soldiers divulge of their quest to recover a powerful chalice.  The trader develops a scheme to get the treasure for himself.  However, in retrieving his prize, the trader unleashes a powerful being that wreaks havoc upon the Earth.  Years later, when the town has been experiencing a prolonged drought, the trader tells his story.  He fears his actions long ago have resulted in disaster.  Together, the trader and a younger man set off to right his wrong from long ago.  

The Demon in the Well is an epic tale told in rhyming verse.  It's been awhile since I have read anything in this format and I enjoyed the deep immersion into the story and how quickly I was pulled in.  The verse made the story move very quickly and kept me wanting to know what happened next. I was surprised by how smoothly the rhymes carried the story.  While the characters may not have been as well formed, I still feel like I knew who the characters were.  Most of all, I enjoyed the author's inspiration for The Demon of the Well and what his imagination was able to create.  Overall, The Demon of the Well is an exciting journey told in a unique way. 
This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

​Valkin is a Romany Prince of the House of Brishen who is taking the place of a Nobleman for a duel brought on by a grievance of his sister.  Valkin is repaying a debt for poaching on their land.  Dueling against him is Captain Warwick "Wil" Clifton, a second son and well-known rake.  Princess Syeira Brishen is there to witness the duel and assist with medical aid.  When the Prince is injured, Syeira jumps to action taking Wil by surprise.  Wil offers everything he can to the House of Brishen to aid in the Prince's recovery.  While Valkin is recovering, Wil learns that the Romany family is nothing like his.  He also learns that Romany women are very different from any of the English ladies that he knows.  


Always a Princess is an unlikely Regency Romance.  Focusing on a romance between two different cultures rather than just two different mindsets.  From the beginning, I was intrigued by the Romany culture at this time and their interactions with the English houses.  Syeira's character and her role as a Romany princess was also intriguing to read about.  I was very interested in the trades that the Romany engaged in with the English households and the attitudes of the English about the Romany camps ranging from helpful to tolerant to an annoyance. While Wil and Syeira's romantic interest was apparent from the start, the writing let the characters take time to get to know one another.  The focus for Syeira was always on healing her brother and Wil focused on getting the estate in order while trying to figure out his next step in life.  I really liked that their relationship was always respectful and Syeira called out Wil and her brother when decision were being made about her when she was not present.  Overall, a unique, sweet and engrossing cross-cultural Regency romance.


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

 1875 in Greenbriar, West Virginia, Zona Heaster quickly falls for the new blacksmith in town, Trout Shue.  The relationship doesn't please Zona's mother, Mary Jane, especially when she learns of Trout's reckless past.  However, Zona seems happy and it is far past the time when a mother should let her daughter go, so Mary Jane relents. As soon as the couple is married, Trout's true colors show and  Mary Jane finds out that Zona has died just a few months after.  Zona's official cause of death is listed as an accidental fall, but Mary Jane is convinced of foul play.  After Zona's ghost comes back to Mary Jane, she begins an official inquest into her daughter's death. 


In 1930, attorney P.D. Gardener is committed to the asylum for the Colored Insane after a failed suicide attempt.  His doctor is trying out a new kind of therapy involving talking and P.D. reminisces about a unique case of defending a white man for murder where the testimony of his deceased wife was used against him. 

Part historical fiction, party murder mystery and part ghost story, The Unquiet Grave is based upon the real murder trial of Zona Heaster Shue.  I was pulled in the most by P.D.'s character and his confinement within the asylum as well as his rise to be a Black attorney in West Virginia.  P.D. gave insight into the time period as well as context for how people acted and what they believed.  Though we didn't know Zona's character for long, her spirit and tenacity was apparent. Zona didn't always make the best decisions in life, but seemed to do better in death by inciting her mother's interest.  The point of view switches between P.D. in 1930 and Mary Jane in 1875, both telling the story, in a rather roundabout way, of how Zona came to be murdered and how her killer was finally convicted.  The writing is very thorough and did seem to get a little bogged down in the details for me at times, but I was impressed by the amount of historical fact that was put in.  I love that Zona's ghost continued to be a character and made sure that her death was not forgotten as well as having a testimony in her own murder trial.  Overall, a unique telling of a historic true crime story. 


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

As a child, Pulcheria is brought to see her mother's body by her father, Roman Emperor Flavius Arcadius.  At this scene, Pulcheria is told to follow God, protect her brother and her people.  Pulcheria takes this to heart and when her father dies suddenly leaving seven-year old Theodosius II as Emperor, Pulcheria does everything in her power to keep the control with her and her brother and not be cast aside.  With her strict religious training, Pulcheria and her sisters vow to be sworn virgins of the Church, evading being married off and sent away.  Pulcheria quickly becomes Theo's most trusted advisor and rules beside him as his equal.  However, as Theo ages his interests are pulled toward romance and ruling as his own man.  As Pulcheria is pushed out of the government and into the Church, she continues to provide for the people of Rome.  As Theo's reign is endangered by one of his eunuchs and the Huns threaten to invade, Pulcheria must win her way back into her brother's heart to help save the empire she loves.

Covering 50 years of history, Dawn Empress is the second book in The Theodosian Women series.  Pulcheria is yet another strong woman and a force to be reckoned with.  She honed her power in interesting ways:  always sensing others motives and being one step ahead,  and a manipulative decisiveness paired with a caring nature.  The writing pulled me into 5th Century Rome with well researched descriptions of the dress, food, palace and churches.  I enjoyed reading about the many true events that the book incorporates and especially the rule of Theodosious II and the reasoning behind his decisions that defined the period.  I was intrigued by Pulcheria's need to protect her brother and family coupled with her need for control and power over her people's religion.  While Pulcheria made some wonderful decisions for Rome, others left me questioning her reasoning.  Overall, another amazing story of a compelling, influential woman in history.