Historical Fiction
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This is Where it Ends by Cindy K Sproles
How long is a body expected to keep a secret? ABOUT THE BOOK When Minerva Jane Jenkins was just 14 years old, she married a man who moved her to the mountains. He carried with him a small box, which he told her was filled with gold. And when he died 50 years later, he made her promise to keep his secret. She is to tell no one about the box or the treasure it contains. Now 94, Minerva is nearing the end of what has sometimes been a lonely life. But she’s kept that secret. Even so, rumors of hidden gold have a way of spreading, and Minerva…
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The Swindler’s Daughter by Stephenia H McGee
This is my first book by Stephenia. ABOUT THE BOOK A surprise inheritance. A cache of family secrets. A choice that will change her life forever. Lillian Doyle has lived her entire high-society life with her widowed mother, believing her father died long ago. But when news arrives that her estranged father only recently passed away–in jail–Lillian is startled to find that the man has left a business and all of his possessions to her, making her a rather unusual heiress. When she goes to take possession of her father’s house in a backwoods Georgia town, the dilapidated structure is already occupied by another woman who claims it was promised…
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The All American by Susie Finkbeiner
This one is in my top-5 reads of this year! ABOUT THE BOOK Two sisters discover how much good there is in the world–even in the hardest of circumstances It is 1952, and nearly all the girls 16-year-old Bertha Harding knows dream of getting married, keeping house, and raising children in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. Bertha dreams of baseball. She reads every story in the sports section, she plays ball with the neighborhood boys–she even writes letters to the pitcher for the Workington Sweet Peas, part of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. When Bertha’s father is accused of being part of the Communist Party by the House Un-American…
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A Match in the Making by Jen Turano
I’ve been a fan of Jen Turano’s regency romances for quite a while now, but this is the first time I listened to it on audiobook. WHAT A DELIGHT!! The narrator brought these characters to life so well. MY REVIEW I absolutely love a feisty heroine and Gwendolyn Brinley is one such terrifying lady – in a good way. Whether in the ballroom or fishing with the children, she is right at home and being who she needs to be. But perhaps, in this story, she finds a renewed purpose than what she’d thought at first. Her match-making skills are put to the test and this delightful story…
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The Weight of Air by Kimberly Duffy
MY REVIEW What a delightful read, it’s like running away with the circus! Kimberley Duffy weaves an irresistible story appealing to every child and the child within who wanted to run away with the circus. The oddities and the ordinary live alongside each other in this wonderful blend of characters who struggle to see themselves through the eyes of those they love. It’s a struggle for self-worth and a search for belonging, each taking a different path to get there. Mabel is such a wonderful character. There were times that I was giggling at the characters and other times I was shedding a tear alongside them. This colorful and vivid…
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The Blackout Book Club
MY REVIEW I’ve been a fan of Amy Lynn Green’s from the time she released her debut, and this one is just as lovely. The Blackout Book Club takes us back to the war, and gives us a peek into the lives of those living with loss, regret and despair. Together they find a way to overcome, and the secret lies in the friendships formed over reading books. Book lovers and avid readers will smile at Avis’ antics and her minutes jotted down at every book club meeting. I think those were my favourite part. A satisfying ending to a story that had some unexpected twists and turns and entertained right…
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The Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano
My Review What an incredible, unforgettable story! Joanna Davidson Palitano has outdone herself with this one in my opinion, with the right balance of all the elements, intrigue, mystery, romance, and of course, musical content. I could not put this book down, because I had to know what happened to the extraordinary Vivienne Mourdant as she finds herself in a Victorian Era Asylum. The back book blurb aptly described this book as “lyrical” and when you read it, you’ll see why. It’s not a light and fluffy, feel-good read at first, but it brings all the feels and is worth every second. It is unforgettable! The book was provided courtesy…
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Where the Road Bends by Rachel Fordham
My Review I could just imagine this book made into a stunning movie. (Yes I know the book is mostly always better than the movie, but still!) Rachel Fordham writes in such a vivid way that I could almost smell the scents in this book – the dust of the land, the freshly baked goods from the bakery and so much more. Norah is a strong character who faces her fears and overcomes them. Quincy, oh, dear Quincy. Sometimes I wanted to pat him on the shoulder and give him some advice. But all the while, I’m turning the pages to see what he’ll do. The man has heart, that’s…
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Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin
MY REVIEW Let’s talk about the cover first. All of Sarah Sundin’s covers are gorgeous, but this one makes me want to get on a plane and head to Europe, STAT. Until Leaves Fall in Paris is a page-turner and had me thoroughly entertained. When the world around me these days is a little crazy, I like to escape into a historical fiction novel. This one, although set in Paris during the Nazi invasion was an eye-opener. Seeing Europe in those days through the eyes of a ballerina was delightful and also stirred up the right amount of empathy for people living in those times. Lucie experiences the change in…
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The Lines Between Us by Amy Lynn Green
Are you reading this book yet? If not, why not? Here’s my review: MY REVIEW I should have known that I’d need to make sure my schedule was clear for The Lines Between Us because once I got started, I could not put this book down. I should have known this because it happened to me with Amy Lynn Green’s Debut, Things We Didn’t Say. I love how Amy Lynn Green weaves letters, notes, and narratives to tell a vivid story, full of spunk and one that also inspires much thought. Bringing this era to life in a realistic way, Green transports us back to WWII and brings history to…
