The House Girl

Artistic talent and skill are gifts given to chosen people and are not based on skin color or social standing as the historical novel HOUSE GIRL by Tara Conklin so beautifully illustrates.

 Josephine is a Virginia tobacco plantation slave who dreams of freedom, while in contemporary times Lina Sparrow an attorney, and daughter of an artist is beginning work on a slave reparations case.

As these two lives separated by time and sorrow merge; the story of Josephine and her mistress

Lu Anne Bell a famous artist begins to unravel – who is the truly gifted painter – was it really the young slave girl? As Lina researches Josephine’s story she learns many truths about herself, slavery, art and life.

A beautifully written book that combines historical facts such as the Underground Railroad along with rich details about plantation life for both slave and master. It is at heart a story of women reaching for more – wanting more and looking for their places in life – while trying to understand who they really are and what freedom actually means.

Author Conklin writes a seamless narrative of two worlds separated by hundreds of years that provide the reader with a depth of emotion that will linger long after the last page is read.

What happened to the son of Madame Butterfly?

I loved the idea of this book - what happened to the son of Madame Butterfly? A classic tale of love and the fruit of that love Ben "Trouble" Pinkerton has his tale related by author David Rain in a book that starts off so well you know it's  going to be a great read - and then it's such a disappointment.

I really had to struggle to stay with it and ended up wishing for a different story for the offspring of such a spellbinding love story. 

Not to Miss Books

One of the cutest books I've read in a long time, this is one of those novels that will keep you smiling long after you've turned the last page. I call it my "word of mouth," book because I have told so many people to read it - and they have all loved it. What happens when a young, fabulously talented cook is widowed in South Philly? 

Well, the next thing you know Angelina is cooking for her neighbor and soon he is joined by six other other bachelors. Her relationship with the seven bachelors, their bonding over food (plus the great recipes) makes for a delightful tale. Don't miss this feel good book that is better than a homemade chocolate chip cookie right out of the oven!

A boy and a girl, a rivalry, magic and a skilled writer weaving a tale that will enchant even the most jaded reader - THE NIGHT CIRCUS, is spellbinding and a one-of a kind novel. You won't soon forget this one and you'll wonder where the author came up with the idea for the magical mystery tour that will awaken your childhood imagination and leave you wanting just a little more.

Perhaps the most reviled woman of her time, Wallis Warfield Simpson who became the Duchess of Windsor was an intriguing personality and enigma. This book of historical fiction focuses on her early life and ends with her first meetings with the Prince of Wales. It is entertaining and at times heartbreaking. A sympathetic if stark look at how a young woman from Baltimore became the woman for whom the King of Great Britain  abdicated his throne. Rebecca Dean is a gifted writer and this is well up to her usual great writing. I'd highly recommend any of her other books too. Several of her earlier books mention minor characters from this novel that also featured the young Prince of Wales - later King Edward VIII. I really enjoyed The Golden Prince.

RAV HISDA'S DAUGHTER: BOOK I   APPRENTICE

Taken from the heart of the Talmud, a name - Rav Hisda's daughter was also the wife of well known, scholarly rabbis. Author Maggie Anton takes the name of the most mentioned female from the Hebrew text and weaves a wonderful historical novel about Hisdadukh (Persian for Hisda's daughter), and her thirst for knowledge in 3rd century Persian Babylonian society that did not look favorably upon female Torah scholars.   

From Hisdadukh's (Dada) first person perspective the reader gleans her love of knowledge and quest to escape household chores and instead study at her Father's school where he molds the minds of young scholars. One of the most fascinating characteristics of this book is how young Dada's becomes something of an enchantress or spell maker, using charms to protect patrons who purchase her work. Most importantly, however, it is a story of the heart, a timeless book of a girl struggling to define herself in a society that assigns traditional roles to both males and females. The reader sees a girl grow up and take charge of her life, from travels, to sorrow, joy to even a career, Hisdadukh becomes a woman who walks toward her destiny instead of being carried by fate. 

This is the first of two books that Anton is writing in the series and if the second book is half as intriguing as the first it will be another great read. For anyone who enjoys historical fiction with heart, that is well written, and a historical time period that seems to be little written about then this book is an excellent choice!

Midwife of Hope River

Coal mining West Virginia during the 1930’s is the setting for Patricia Harman’s engaging debut novel THE MIDWIFE OF HOPE RIVER. Patience Murphy is making a new life caring for pregnant women in Appalachia, as she reconciles her past with her new surroundings.

With the heart of Sandra Dallas, the intensity of Gay Courter and a nod to Barbara Wood the author integrates historical notes (the Great Depression, Appalachian coal mining, unions for miners and lack thereof, Emma Goldman the anarchist, Mother Jones, the Ku Klux Klan) into a seamless story about womanhood and the inherent risks of childbirth. She writes of a world where poverty, malnutrition and unequal access to quality healthcare can mean the difference between life and death. And while Patience’s story is the story of her female clients and their children’s births it is also her story.

Harman weaves Patience’s personal tale with gentleness and sudden details that leave the reader wondering how she can escape her own sadness to help her patients. Can the town vet be counted on as an ally for Patience? Can Patience reconcile her own past and move forward to be the midwife Hope River needs? Can she face the challenges for both her poorest and wealthiest of her clients? Can she train an apprentice?

An excellent book about the fragility of life, the miracle of birth, the community of neighbors, the Great Depression, love and healing and a woman’s journey to find her place in the world.  Beautifully written and a joy to read. 

A couple of other suggested books along this line are by Sandra Dallas -  any of her books are wonderful... personal favorites of mine are: Alice's Tulips and Whiter Than Snow.  From Gay Courter The Midwife and The Midwife's Advice. And from Barbara Wood Domina.

Summer Reading Suggestions

 You cannot go wrong with a Steve Berry book if you want a fun, thrilling and enjoyable read - plus some great historical tidbits. His latest still in hardback is THE COLUMBUS AFFAIR, and it is one of his better books this time focusing on Christopher Columbus - and everything you THOUGHT you knew from grade school - well forget that! Pick up the book for a tantalizing peek at a time and place long forgotten with history you really missed! Berry at his best!   If you like Steve Berry try his newest paperback too - the Jefferson Key is about the pirates who made America what she is today - the land of the free.  Believe it or not - and this is no bedtime story, (unless you plan to be all up night turning pages) you'll find some little known history from the American Revolution along with a plot that includes a Jeffersonian cipher, a document forged by the founding fathers and an assassination plot against the current US president. This is another great Cotton Malone thriller for those familiar with Berry's Magellan Billet series.  But any of Berry's books are great stand-alone novels - so pick one up to enjoy a summer beach read...

Summer Reading 2012

Prions, the CDC, a stolen Mayan codex, a race to stop an epidemic and the approaching date of 12/21/12 make for a heart pounding novel and a fun summertime read. A cross between a Robin Cook/Michael Crichton medical/biological thriller and a Clive Cussler/James Rollins action/adventure novel, it combines the best of both in an intelligently written book that takes the reader on a journey from the lab to the museum to the jungle. From the land of the ancient Maya to present day Los Angeles there is little chance for boredom and a great chance that the reader will spend time worrying about the truth behind this original story.

A WALK ACROSS THE SUN is  the  haunting and heartbreaking story of two young Indian sisters whose lives are transformed when a tsunami leaves them orphans and they become caught in the web of the international sex trade. An idealistic, but soul weary American lawyer learns about their story and begins to unravel the buying and selling of children across international borders for the sex and vows to unite the two sisters. Elegantly written and thoroughly researched, it's hard to believe that this is Corban Addison's first novel. It is at once enlightening but also a satisfying book that will keep you turning the pages as you share the thread of hope and the thread of fear  that weigh equally upon the reader. Don't miss it.

Full Black

Brad Thor's new book, FULL BLACK is a great pick for summer reading especially if sleeping is not part of the plan. This thrill ride is packed with political intrigue, terrorism and enough adventure to keep the reader guessing about what will happen next. If you are an avid Thor fan you'll enjoy this latest Scott Harveth series book - (but, it is certainly a stand-alone one as well).

When terrorists plan to pull the plug on America quite literally as it turns out, Harveth gears up for the fight of his life - spanning the world from Sweden to China and places in between he is taking on powers and forces beyond even his imagination.

Why a wealthy American would support an effort to bring America to her knees is an interesting spin and as usual Brad Thor drops historical tidbits and current headlines to make everything in the book much too plausible.

The novel will keep you up late reading, but the supposedly fictitious content may leave you sleepless long after you finish this book.

Wings: A Novel Of World War II FlyGirls

Women, airplanes and war are the premise for Karl Friedrich’s WINGS: A NOVEL OF WORLD WAR II FLYGIRLS, which could have been subtitled “sassy skirts take on D.C. bureaucrats for the chance to fly military aircraft for the war effort.” Friedrich’s lead character, Sally Ketchum is a somewhat clichéd backwoods, dirt poor farm girl who traded that life for one of adventure when she met a young pilot who taught her to fly both literally and figuratively.  After his tragic death in a flying accident she volunteers for the “WASP” program (Women’s Airforce Service Pilots). She finds herself at the school where she will learn to fly military aircraft –to ferry them to bases, etc. and free up military pilots for combat. 

The aptly named “Avenger Field ” program in Texas is tough and is complicated by a Congressional “spy” who seems to dislike Sally in particular and female pilots in general. He is looking for problems and seems bent on closing down the WASP program.

With this conflict simmering, Frienderich who based his novel on real-life stories of WWII flygirls gives the reader a massive helping of the long hours, tough classroom and flying conditions experienced by the women in the program. He also adds a dash of romance, mystery and history to his book pulling in historic figures as well as pertinent war information.

It’s an easy and interesting read and if it is true that this will be a series, a TV mini-series seems probable as well.  Entertaining with believable characters (perhaps just a bit too black and white in terms of the good vs. bad guys) but a delicious slice of history for anyone interested in aviation. 

April suggestions

Need a few suggestions for your April reading? Well, you are in luck -  there are many great novels including several great historical novels out this month. Here are a few of my picks for the month:

 Writer Michelle Moran is back with another novel about one of histories most intriguing women - this time Marie Grosholtz who became  Madame Tussaud of waxworks fame. How this petite girl became a front seat participant to the French Revolution is an intriguing story and one sure to keep you riveted. From the family salon where she helped entertain the likes of Robespiere to the court of Louis the XVI and the lovely Marie Antoinette to the horrors of the guillotine, Marie watched her country go from a monarchy to anarchy to a semblance off a republic albeit one awash in blood.  Fascinating read about this wax sculptress who made models of the famous and infamous and eventually death masks for the royals she had befriended.

Garden Spells writer Sarah Addison Allen's new book takes place in Walls of Water, N.C. and like her previous works there is a thread of magic woven through the multi-generation story that brings two diverse families together as a historic home "The Blue Ridge Madam,"  is renovated and re-opened as a magnificent bed and breakfast. Willa's family who lost their money in the 1930's owned the Madam - but she has never been in the old house unlike  Osgood heiress and former classmate Paxton who has taken on the challenge of restoring the Madam. But just what secrets does the Madam hold and what do the elderly Grandmother's of the two young women know? Will the secrets of the house long buried (literally) impact the lives of Willa and Paxton? Another of this author's tempting books will keep you reading to find  the answer!

Before Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII loved Bess Blount and she bore him a son who lived until he was in his late teens.  Who was this girl who captured the heart of a young king? Diane Haeger explores the story of Elizabeth Blount and the unpolished girl's entry to the glittering if sometimes solemn court of Henry and his Queen Katherine of Aragon. With a head filled with romance and tales of Camelot, Lancelot and courtly love, Bess is naive and thinks Henry VIII is in love with his Queen and doesn't have affairs. She quickly falls for the dashing king - never expecting she will be in his bed and become the first official mistress. Her dearest friend, Gilbert Tailboys (secret son of Cardinal Wolsey) becomes her husband following the birth off a royal son and Bess finds happiness in the marriage although it seems a part of her will always have a fondness and flame for Henry. 

A kind heart distinguishes Bess from so many tales of other royal mistresses and Haeger paints an appealing portrait of this woman who captured Henry VIII and gave him his heart's desire - a healthy son. 

When Alice Ibbetson, an artist and gardener covets and eventually follows her obsession for a rare orchid and under cover of darkness steals it - she cannot imagine the chain of events that will transpire. Her neighbor, Richard Wheeler a Quaker is dismayed by the theft of the "Lady's Slipper" orchid and confronts her about the theft. In denial, Alice's doesn't realize realize her crafty maid is set upon vengeance and finds a way to bring down heaven's wrath.  The novel takes place in turbulent 17th century England Charles II was on the throne following Cromwell's death (The Restoration) but memories of the Civil War still divide the land. Quakers are heavily persecuted. This religious intolerance is just one facet of the book that adds another layer of intrigue to the orchid theft. Numerous characters feel drawn to the orchid and lay claim to it for various reasons chief among them medicinal - tragedy is a cornerstone of this greed and the book doesn't gloss over the judicial system of this time period. A worthy read.