THE PARIS WINTER by Imogen Robertson is a most interesting story with captivating characters and writing filled with vivid description. I felt I was on a trip to early 20th century Paris! The book opens November of 1909 in Pigalle, Paris with the suicide of art student Rose Champion. When the news arrived at the women's art studio, an excellent portrayal of reactions of the reactions of the students catches the reader's attention immediately.

The early chapters filled with thoughts of the students involved with Rose provided active description of character and brought immediate emersion into the story, life style, and action.

The reader should expect plot twists, mystery, and surprise along with well drawn characters involved in a great story of historical fiction.

I love Istanbul so was delighted to read a book about Istanbul and its exotic ancient culture and history. The story lagged at times but still had two well drawn and interesting protagonists and a fascinating yet tragic beginning where the Princess Esma Sultan ordered the drowning guard, Ivan Postivich, to drown her latest lover as she did with all the men she called to her chambers for a night of intimacy. Intrigues, battles and love affairs followed. The pace of the novel was indeed slow at times but never did I feel I should put it aside. Unique plot twists kept me going.

I found this book tedious and almost decided to put it aside but the author's knowledge of setting was very instructive telling all the unusual and unsanitary conditions of the 17th century, upper class household customs and conditions leading to the days of the plague so I stuck with it. My main problem was with slow plot development and characters who did not create interest. There was plenty of opportunity for tension but, somehow, it never developed for me. I would not recommend it to my reading groups but feel the author's potential is good. A tighter and faster moving plot would have helped.

Some may think this is just another WWII horror story but it isn't. Yes, it is a horror story giving fascinating facts about what life was actually like in the concentration camps - the despair allied with hope.Yet, it is far more than Concentration camp horror. It tells about home life in the midst of war. It also tells of love complications, family, community, and personal complications. The book contains many twists and turns showing that all of the horror isn't just black and white and decisions made along the way and may bring unexpected consequences. The characters are well drawn and believable. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

I am a retired DoDDS English teacher and old students still contact me asking if I'd recommend some good reading. THE HOUSE GIRL by Tara Conklin will certainly be one of the books highly recommended. This book is one to take to bed and read long into the night. The story tells of two "house girls", in different time periods whose paths cross. One, Josephine, is an escaped slave from 1852 and the other, Lina, a young lawyer from 2004. Josephine had a talent claimed by another and Lina worked for reparations. Sounds simple but it certainly isn't as long buried truths correct current injustices.

A WALK ACROSS THE SUN was an interesting read about the horrors of sex slavery in India and how easy it is to be trapped into sex slavery as well as "slavery" in an ill suited, demanding profession.
The content was interesting. The book well written.
But, it didn't rivet the attention of the reader with breath holding scenes as I expected it to. Regardless, it is worth the time to read it to gain an understanding of sex slavery as well as the issues of a demanding profession. Relationship issues are well handled. A good start for a first novel.

The book All Woman and Springtime is the story of human trafficking concerning innocent young women and brothels. The story begins in a North Korean orphanage where young women in puberty become involved with human traffickers. The story moves from North Korea to South Korea to Seattle, Washington in a fast paced story of abuse and as well as hope for survival. I loved this book from the intense and innocent loyalty to the South Korean "Big Brother" to the loss of innocence, the endurance, desperation, and redemption of the characters. Wonderful.

Behind the Beautiful Forevers tells a fantastic story of Mumbai. It is narrative non-fiction and is written in the past tense that does not allow the reader to connect with the characters emotionally. The overuse of forms of "to be" became annoying as the book progressed. Stronger verbs please. Still, the story fascinates even though I was disappointed at not becoming emotionally involved with the characters. Other reviewers have touted other praises of Boo's book. They are right.
This book is definitely worth reading.

From England in 1649, King Charles beheaded, Cromwell in charge, harsh times for women, comes a story of illicit love and an out of wedlock birth. This impressive first novel is masterfully written to give the reader the full impact of emotions during twists of plot in an historically accurate setting. A high interest story, the novel is packed with substance and surprise. Stacia Brown, more please!

ALL THE FLOWERS IN SHANGHAI brings history alive in a spellbinding tale of Shanghai in the 30's to the time of the revolution. Feng, a sympathetic young girl, makes mistake after mistake after being caught in an unexpected arranged marriage while totally unprepared for the life she must lead. The book is a fine read that gives a solid overview of historical perspective.