An Infinite Love Story
by Chanel Cleeton
Infinite Love Story (4/27/2026)
Chanel Cleeton has been a favorite author of mine for a few years now and this book departs from her usual subject matter related to Cuban history. She has stepped into an entirely new theme with this story based on the Space Race of the 1960s. The story of Viv and Joe is an endearing, honest and tragic love story but tells so much more about this decade in the life of those men and women who sacrificed so much to become a part of the hopes and dreams for America's future in space. After reading Ms. Cleeton's exceptionally well researched book on the space era in the 1960s I am intrigued to read even more about astronaut wives.
Feast
by Catherine Kurtz
Feast by Catherine Kurtz (4/10/2026)
My advice is to not read this book while hungry! Feast is a feast for the senses. I have never read a book so focused on food. The main character in this story, Minha, has a special gift of being able to determine what is in the food by using her highly developed sense of smell and taste. Minha suffers a great deal as a mixed race child of extreme poverty. Her father who is Indian and travels in the ship trade leaves her at birth with a mother who doesn't want her and makes what little money she can as a "woman of the night". Minha follows her mother through the dark streets of London and then waits outside wherever she goes inside to provide her services. What follows is a dual timeline story of Minha's growing up years and her present day existence as a poison taster for a French duc. The story is set in both England and France from about 1883 to 1900. If you love an excellent historical fiction set in this time period and full of adventure and intrigue then this will be a very satisfying and mouthwatering story for you.
Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I Have Known
by Scott Simon
Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I Have Known (3/11/2026)
This is a delightful book for anyone who loves pets of all kinds. Even if you are just a cat or dog lover there is plenty to entice. Mr. Simon discusses the trials and tribulations of bringing various pets into your life but even more so the wonderful experience of genuine affection and devotion to our pets as family members. There would be triggers for death of a pet in these stories. However, Mr. Simon is able to present all the stories with a sense of humor and at the same time words of beauty for the sentiments that go along with our loving our pets. Highly recommend this book of essays for all who have pets or have ever loved pets.
When the Sky Turned to Dust
by Catherine Matthias
When the Sky Turned to Dust, a Family Fighting Against the Dust Bowl (3/11/2026)
The story takes place in Kansas in 1934. This is the beginning years of the Dust Bowl in the Midwest US. Many farmers are just trying to recover from the Depression and hoping for a good farm crop and selling of farm products and animal products to provide for their family. The Dolans are a farm family in a better position than many of the time. Michael Dolan had carefully watched his finances and was able to purchase his farm and land so that he did not owe the bank. He planned to outlast the drought. As the dust storms became worse, younger children would become very sick from the dust in their lungs. Many babies had already died. The Dolans decide that they will split up for the rest of the dust period by having Mrs. Dolan and her youngest child go to Albany, NY to join two of their children who had already been sent to live with their aunt and uncle. Daniel and Caroline love the land in Kansas and agree to visit NY but return to their father to provide help with the farm. The story goes on telling about all the many difficulties family members and neighbors face throughout the worsening conditions. This is primarily a story about a strong family faced with survival in tough conditions but how they handle it by pulling together with love and perseverance. The book is very readable for young adults and I would say children over 11. It reminded me of Little House on the Prairie and O Pioneers. Triggers for the death of children.
The Pie & Mash Detective Agency
by J.D. Brinkworth
The Pie and Mash Detective Agency (12/31/2025)
The main characters Simon Mash and Jane Pye are aspiring private detectives taking a class with PI Gavin. He gives them an unsolved case about a missing woman as their final assignment. It turns out that Gavin worked on this case himself years ago. Simon and Jane are living together struggling to make ends meet so they are hoping to develop their own PI business. The mystery deepens when it's discovered that the same missing woman has been coming and going over generations.This is an excellent cozy mystery that involves many twists and turns and lots of quirky, lovable characters. You will definitely want to root for Simon and Jane to succeed. If you enjoy cozy mysteries then this one should be on your list.
When We Were Brilliant
by Lynn Cullen
Marilyn and Eve: Unlikely Friends? (10/29/2025)
At first when we meet Eve Arnold, a documentary photographer, and understand that she is going to photograph Marilyn Monroe, it seems preposterous that these two would become friends. Even though this story is historical fiction, it soon becomes very real. Eve Arnold is a real person and through Lynne Cullen's careful research the facts turn into a real possibility in the story. Eve and Marilyn develop a strange though deeply involved friendship that benefits both women. We begin to see the real Marilyn as she recounts her background as Norma Jean and we see the true personality behind the hype. Through Eve we discover the frightened orphan that is still behind the glossy Marilyn. You will enjoy this book immensely if you are interested in what the story of Marilyn Monroe might truly have been.
Next Time Will Be Our Turn
by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Next Time Will Be Our Turn (9/21/2025)
If you love a character driven story written in the style of a very real and honest memoir then this book is highly recommended. I was immediately drawn in to the story of Magnolia Chen as she tells her granddaughter Izzy about how she developed her self-confidence and independence through life's ups and downs. Izzy is struggling to find herself in the world of her wealthy Indo-Chinese family. Her grandmother sees that it is time to give her some guidance in making life decisions by telling her own story. She was sent to California to be educated in colleges there along with her older sister, Iris.
The two sisters were total opposites and though Magnolia was tempted to rebel and become more like the American students, she returns to Indonesia and tries to lead the expected life of her culture. Meanwhile her sister Iris does everything to become a different kind of woman. There are struggles to determine what love is and who it is that Magnolia really loves. This is an excellent story that brings to life the immigrant student who struggles with the American culture and the imbedded cultural beliefs they have. Magnolia's life story will resonate with many immigrants but it is also a story of longing and love.
The Fairbanks Four: Murder, Injustice, and the Birth of a Movement
by Brian Patrick O’Donoghue
Investigative Journalism at It's Finest (4/17/2025)
Professor Brian O'Donoghue, a former reporter with the local Fairbanks newspaper, notes the crime of a murder of a young white Alaskan boy in 1997. Initially he finds flaws in the prosecution's case but four Native Alaskan men are convicted of the crime. Once Professor Donoghue begins teaching at the University of Alaska he enlists his journalism students to examine all aspects of the crime and research every document that can be found as well as conducting interviews with all possible witnesses.
The book details their years of extensive research for all information in the case that could reveal the poor conduct and discrimination of the Fairbanks police and state prosecutors. They work to present their findings to the public to force a retrial of the victims. This book details the intensive techniques of investigative journalism and brings in history of discrimination against Alaskan natives. For those who enjoy a true crime story this is highly recommended.
Also a somewhat similar story to Killers of the Flower Moon. If you are interested in justice for the Native Americans in our country still fighting for recognition today then this is an important book to read.
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes
by Chanel Cleeton
Cleeton's Newest Historical Mystery Is a Ten (2/20/2025)
Having read and reviewed several of Chanel Cleeton's novels, I find The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes is the best yet. I was drawn in to the strong and defiant women characters immediately. With the history of Cuban life brought in with the setting it was also a chance to experience life in Cuba in 1900 and 1966.
The Cuban-American cultural exchange was also a very interesting historical element that I had never heard about. The mystery develops rather quickly as our present day heroine Margo is involved in trying to recover an important book which has only one existing copy in the world. It seems that it is worth more than anyone can imagine to certain people. The background of this book involves the woman who first wrote it, the woman who was given it to rescue and the generations after who desired it.
If you have ever found a book that personally resonated with you then you will surely empathize with this story. It is a story of women who have the courage to fight for what they want and about a book that changes all of their lives.
Fagin the Thief: A Novel
by Allison Epstein
Fagin the Thief (12/30/2024)
If you loved James by Percival Everett, then you will definitely want to read this book, Fagin the Thief. This is another famous classic retold from the point of view of a different character.
This novel is based on Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. You may remember Fagin and Sikes from the original classic. This is the story of Fagin from the time he is a young child living with his mother leading to the how and why he begins his career in thievery which makes him a famous Dickens character.
He befriends Bill Sikes who is also a child when he meets him. He begins to teach him everything he knows about surviving on the streets of London. The story moves back and forth in time which stimulates interest in the upcoming events in the novel. Oliver Twist also enters the story at one point.
This is the backstory you may have always wanted to know if you have read Oliver Twist. I commend Allison Epstein on a thoroughly researched and delightful historical read while providing us with a further look at the life of Dickens' London in the early 1800s.
Happy Land
by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (11/25/2024)
I have enjoyed Ms. Perkins-Valdez's historical fiction books since she began writing. Each one has enlightened us on a time in black history with excellent research to provide historic details and exhilarating characters that are unforgettable. Her newest book Happy Land is no exception. Again she has discovered a little known piece of black history which provides a suspenseful tale of two women's lives more than a century apart. One story is based on a real group of black formerly enslaved people who migrate from South Carolina to an area of western North Carolina where they seek safety and a chance to form their own community which they call a kingdom. They set up their own governing body and set about finding sources of income from working at the inn whose land they are settled upon and some of the men work in mines and for the railroad being built. The corresponding story centers on Nikki who is summoned by her grandmother to find her roots. The characters are all strong women who changed their fates and sought a better future for their children. This is a work of historical fiction which should not be missed.
Harlem Rhapsody
by Victoria Christopher Murray
Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray (9/30/2024)
Ms. Murray has done excellent research in discovering and enhancing the story of Jessie Fauset's eight years as the literary editor of a magazine called The Crisis which was sponsored by the NAACP. Ms. Fauset was also a well known novelist and educator during the 1920s and 30s. Ms. Murray has developed the relationship between Jessie and W.E.B. DuBois who is more famous as a civil rights activist but was also the editor of the magazine and hired Jessie. There is no indication in historical accounts that Jessie and W.E.B were lovers but Ms. Murray uncovered some material that strongly suggests the relationship was intimate. The historical novel focuses primarily on Jessie's years as the literary editor and how she discovered and supported many black poets and writers during a time called the Harlem Renaissance. We must thank Ms. Murray for bringing the story of this ambitious and talented black woman who did so much to promote the rights of blacks and women of all races. It was certainly an eye-opening story with much to learn about this time in our history and the trials and tribulations of black intellectuals and their struggle for recognition. Many of the women she discusses as friends of Jessie's were very well educated but could not find employment. She also delves into the struggle for women's right to vote in this novel. Victoria Murray has done an excellent job with her first historical fiction presentation on her own. I will hope to see many more historical novels coming from her in the future.
Follow the Stars Home
by Diane C. McPhail
Follow the Stars Home by Diane McPhail (5/30/2024)
This is the story of the first steamboat to travel down the Mississippi River in 1811. Lydia is the main character and you will quickly grow to love her as a strong and courageous woman. She wants to support her husband Nicholas who engineered the construction of this steamboat and now will make the risky trip down the Ohio and Mississippi River to advertise the new method of travel. Not only is the trip adventurous for any woman but Lydia is supervising her toddler daughter and her nanny and about to deliver a second baby on board this boat. This follows the true history of the New Orleans, the first steamboat to travel on the river.
If you love historical fiction you will definitely enjoy this book and the chance to experience what river travel was like in its early days. This is a subject that I knew little about and was pleased to have the opportunity to discover this story about the early steamboat travel and what life was like in the early 1800s in this part of the country.
The House on Biscayne Bay
by Chanel Cleeton
Historical Mystery Gem (1/16/2024)
Chanel Cleeton does an excellent job of using early Florida history as a background to a suspenseful mystery. You are immediately drawn into the lives of both Anna and Carmen and follow them through dual timelines, Anna during the 20s and Carmen during the 40s. We are also introduced to Marbrisa, an infamous estate built in the early days of Miami's development and a developing story containing all the intrigue that surrounds these people of wealth and their times. Carmen finds herself in Marbrisa with a quickly intensifying mystery that many think revolves around events that happened during the time of Anna's residence. If you enjoy a well written mystery that combines learning about a historical time period then this is the book for you. I especially enjoyed Cleeton's author notes that explain an even more factual historical connection to Marbrisa, the house on Biscayne Bay.
Daughters of Shandong
by Eve J. Chung
Excellent Debut Historical Fiction- Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung (11/12/2023)
This debut novel is a champion work of historical fiction. Based on true events in Eve Chung's family background the story of the Mao takeover of mainland China comes to life through Ms. Chung's writing. This is a period of history that is important for all to know the details of but is not well covered in Western education. I am pleased that Ms. Chung has brought this period of Chinese history to us in a very readable novel format. The characters are engaging and quickly draw you in to the story. You are going to cheer for these neglected and abused girls as they adjust to the peasant refugee life with their mother. Their survival depends on their wits and perseverance which they demonstrate at every turn in the story. The plight of the peasant class in China during Mao's takeover is so illustrative of other parts of the world where a dictator reigns and the rights of women are challenged. These women are all heroes in this story and will long remain in my memory.
The Lost English Girl
by Julia Kelly
World War II Historical Fiction at its Best (2/14/2023)
This story covers so many themes; family, friendship, motherhood, religious differences, all within the scope of World War II England. Viv is an enduring character that you will grow to care for immediately. She has to make so many difficult decisions as a young mother as the war begins with bombing in Liverpool. As a story centering on the history of child evacuation from the cities it gives you the historical perspective as well as the searing emotions involved with these decisions. You can't but help cheer on Viv and Joshua as they face the turmoil of the war and making decisions about their own survival and that of their families and their future. If you enjoy historical fiction set during World War II this is not to be missed.
Sisters of the Lost Nation
by Nick Medina
Sisters of the Lost Nation (11/10/2022)
The characters of Amanda Horn and her sister Grace honor the memories of all the lost Native women over history. This is a coming-of-age story of a teen Native woman living on a fictional reservation in Louisiana. As with many reservations, there is a contrast between the life in town versus the reservation and the financial dependence on the casino to provide jobs and income for the native people. Also brought up within the story is the conflict in jurisdiction legally for law enforcement. Anna is conflicted in becoming the spokesperson for the Native culture and the passing on of the "stories" and feeling that she is unworthy as a downtrodden and demeaned Native woman as reinforced by her treatment from the townspeople and especially her off the reservation White classmates. She embodies being one of the Two Spirits, described as being neither male or female and honored for their ability to take on and carry out the traditional roles of their tribes. This is all explained in the Author's Note at the end of the book and explains a lot of the theme of the story. This book is an excellent addition to the literature collection of those who choose to gain more understanding of the history of mistreatment of Native Americans in this country. I caution that the story moves back and forth in time throughout the first half of the book so it is important to keep track of the day reminders at the head of each chapter. Though confusing at first you will find that sticking with the story will be rewarding,
The Last Russian Doll
by Kristen Loesch
Everything You Want in Good Historical Fiction (10/12/2022)
The Last Russian Doll will take you through the history of the Russian Revolution and into late 20th century Russia with well defined, believable and enthralling characters. You will meet also a modern day woman of Russian descent who is looking for information on her mother's past and ends up searching in Russian archives, meeting people from her mother's past and discovering much about herself. All of this presents a mystery which you will continually be trying to solve throughout the story, Bravo, Ms. Loesch for bringing it all together in one story, history, enthralling characters, and a great mystery to solve. This book is definitely for historical mystery lovers!
Daughters of the Flower Fragrant Garden: Two Sisters Separated by China's Civil War
by Zhuqing Li
Two Sisters of China (5/8/2022)
This enthralling story of two sisters Jun and Hong reads like a novel but is a true story of the Chen family over 40 years of Chinese history. The author Zhuqing Li relates the events in the lives of primarily her two aunts and the disastrous turn their lives take during the Chinese Civil War which left one sister choosing a future in the medical field and supporting the Communist Chinese while the other sister becomes an educator and supporter of the Nationalists on Taiwan. The family remaining in mainland China soon found that their survival would depend on disowning the sister on Taiwan. If you enjoy a story of women who survive against dire oppression and rise up to provide strength to others then this book will appeal. I also found that I was learning a great deal about a time and place in history that I have not seen covered in memoirs such as this. This is an important personal recounting of the Chinese history that brought about the splitting of China and Taiwan and will certainly provide understanding as we face the uncertainties of that situation in our present time.
Only Child
by Rhiannon Navin
Only Child: A Heartgrabbing, Emotionally Searing Tale (1/30/2018)
Only Child is a truly heartbreaking and difficult to read story. With news in recent years of school shootings this book brings a tragedy like this very much to life again. Told through the eyes of a 6 year old survivor, we are drawn into the total sadness and disbelief of everyone affected. The emotions and thoughts brought out by the 6 year old Zach take us to the depths of despair and agony for this family. The story seems like nothing but depression for most of the reading but ends on a hopeful note thankfully.
This was an emotionally exhausting read and reminded me much of Room with a young narrator trying to make sense of his situation based on limited experience. However, this young narrator finally discovers the key to reuniting his family and finding a way to move forward. Anyone experiencing deep grief will relate to this story but may find it difficult to handle emotionally.
