Zora was truly a hardworking and ambitious young woman and I loved her character. I loved seeing Zora take her sewing skills to her highest levels designing movie set costumes during the 20's and see her resilience following a major set back. I find characters like Zora who has motivation and drive such great examples for every reader but especially women readers. The double time line present and past was an added value as we discover Zora Lily.

Zora's love interest Harley was a true gentlemen and the love to Zora was so honorable. The book did not sugar coat family and romantic relationships. The author truly had each character suffer adversity and it she drew you in to see who would overcome!

I would recommend this book to teen readers and book clubs for a story filled with history, rich vs. poor, and strong characters who all dealt with adversity. The author also provided a glimpse of the 1920's with the extreme poverty, wealth, racial tensions and competition in many areas in life to get ahead.

The Lost English Girl was a detailed recap of Operation Pied Piper which followed the evacuation of children in WWII. The author focused on one family and we follow four year old Maggie to the countryside from Liverpool moving in with the Thompson family in 1939. I enjoyed the book as the author in addition to opening my eyes to the impact to families of children who were evacuated, added many challenges to Maggie's family life focusing on her parents Viv and Joshua. The story tied in the bombings in Liverpool, Viv's struggle to find a job, Joshua's experience in the RAF, and the overall dynamics of family during the war years. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy WWII history and learning more about the impact of the war on everyday British families in the 1940's.

I enjoyed the dual timelines following Tonya through the Russian Revolution and Rosie whose family emigrated to London. The description of the Russian Revolution, starvation during the German invasion of Russia in WWII and Stalin from the perspective of Tonya and families who survived were gut wrenching. Then there is Rosie living in England who travels back to Russia with a Russian historian to uncovers clues about her family. The story follows both women through traumatic times. I found the many characters at times difficult to follow in the journeys of both Tonya and Rosie.

If you enjoy historical fiction and a focus on Russian history you will enjoy. This would be a good discussion book for book clubs

I loved this history of all the writers who congregated in Paris from 1917-1935 and the bookstore which was their haven. I had never heard of Sylvia Beach or her bookstore Shakespeare and Company. It was so interesting to "meet" James Joyce and and his struggles to write and publish Ulysses, the young Ernest Hemmingway, Ezra Pound, and Gertrude Stein and Alice Toklas to name a few.
The book also captures the challenges for women trying to earn a name in the publishing business, but also the successes of individuals like Sylvia Beach an unsung hero who should have received more recognition over the ensuing years. I also thought the author captured the relative freedom for same sex couples in Paris vs. other countries during this time. I would recommend to anyone interested in Paris between the two World Wars and the many authors who called Paris home. This is a very personal story of Sylvia Beach and her life in addition to the bookstore. It opens the door to a world in the past with many fascinating moments to treasure.

I enjoyed this story of two strong willed sisters who volunteered to go to Europe and be right at the battlefront in WWI. I enjoyed Ruth who wants to be a doctor when medical school opportunities for women were so limited at this period of time. The author details the limited surgery choices for the injured men and Ruth comes to her own as she fights against the traditional options. Elise who volunteers to be with her sister, is a mechanic and is assigned to driving an ambulance. Elise's experiences driving in the battlefields and her indomitable spirit make for an interesting read. I enjoy reading about unheralded women in history and this book showcases just that. The author also provides a detailed overview of the horrors endured by both the servicemen and women in WWI and the carnage they saw and endured. There are love interests for both sisters. I would recommend to book clubs and anyone interested in historical fiction.

I have always had an interest in books based in the South and Southern traditions. We just moved from NJ to NC and therefore thought I would try this book. I truly enjoyed how the author tied the list of items noted by MIss Judith to be inventoried to the events in the story. The dynamics of the flashbacks to her youth were very poignant. I would recommend this book to anyone interested to read more about the dynamics of the racial issues prior to segregation and the impact to those who tried to "cross the lines". I would however have liked more detail on Judith's family i.e. her father and mother to understand why they chose the paths they did. I loved the character of Olva and her commitment to Judith and found the way the author developed the story line of Judith and Olva and the mystery of Judith's brother Quincy's death, very well crafted. There is love, humor and tragedy in this book and you are left pondering what could have been if times were different. I would recommend to young people and to book clubs. There is much to discuss and compare to the changes in race relations today.

I love this beautiful story. I truly enjoyed the parallel stories of Dan and Stella in 1943 and Jess and Will in present day! Dan a WWII American airman falls in love with Stella a married woman. Seventy years later Jess has found Dan's letters to Stella trying to find her. Jess has broken off from an abusive relationship and is hiding in an empty home she has broken into where she finds the letters! As Jess searches for Dan's long lost love she also finds love!

I would recommend this story for anyone interested in WWII and true love stories!
Great for a bookclub to discuss changes in social mores between 1943 and 2011. Brought tears to my eyes!

I was always interested to read about WWI and this period in history and this story about two sisters volunteering to be nurses during WWI seemed to be a perfect reading choice.

Sally and Naomi met many other exceptional women as they cared for so many wounded in battle. They also met exceptional men who demonstrated remarkable bravery.

Mr. Keneally is a gifted writer and there were aspects of the story that were very touching- you truly see the horrors of war and yet you also are made aware of the bravery of those who sacrificed their lives. The author also touches on the women of the time and the social mores impacting them.

There were highlights in the book which drew me into the story but I also found I lost track of the characters. Mr. Keneally focused on multiple characters while at the same time moving from Sally to Naomi and at times I had to go back and double check where I had left off. The sisters also shared a secret regarding the death of their mother and it seemed the resolution of this secret lost its focus.

I would recommend this book to those interested in reading about WWI from the perspective of the women and men facing the war from the trenches. There is a beauty in the words of this novel which captures the reader.

I enjoyed being introduced to new characters in this very detailed novel following Lincoln’s pre-inauguration trip to Washington DC. I never realized the danger Lincoln was under as he made his way to Washington. Alan Pinkerton’s secret service agency which included a female agent Kate Warne, were new historical elements to a very tumultuous time.
The author provided great perspective of the political dynamics impacting the decision of how Lincoln would arrive in Washington due to the secessionist climate in Baltimore. Ultimately Pinkerton prevailed and Lincoln arrived in DC by bypassing the city. Unfortunately this decision created a negative view of Lincoln’s character and many, who did not believe in a potential assassination plot, portrayed Lincoln as a coward.
It is a tragedy to think of Lincoln’s tragic death so soon after the Civil War ended. Mr. Stashowever’s novel made me realize how fortunate our country was to have had this gifted man as our President at all.
I would recommend to book clubs to discuss the role of women in the civil war and to review the political climate and impact on society in the 19th century

What a wonderful debut novel. The setting is after WWI in Australia. Tom and Isabelle marry and move to Janus Island where Tom is the lighthouse keeper. They both would love a family however Isabelle suffers multiple miscarriages. One day however a boat reaches the island with a dead man and a crying baby on board. The decision Tom and Isabelle make about baby Lucy will impact friends, family and will devastate one family on the mainland.
The author brings you into the tragic decision created by Tom and Lucy and the compounding impact to so many characters. I wash brought to tears many times as Isabelle and Tom reach their own moving choices!
I think this is a great book club selection. Many great discussion topics on right and wrong and the moral dilemma created by what seemed to be an easy decision. I would also recommend this book for young adults.
I hope to read another book by this author who develops such wonderful characters.

I was interested to read a Simple Murder due to the time period it took place -1796. I did find the mystery of the murder, the main character's sleuthing skills and the characters in the story interesting however I did not feel immersed in the time period. I was also disappointed in the ending which was very abrupt. I did not experience the resolution I expected to tie up all the characters in the story. I would recommend this book to young adults. The author did write a clever mystery. I would have loved to have the author bring more of this extraordinary time period after the Revolution into the story.

The Dressmaker provided a new fresh perspective to the Titanic tragedy- why did none of the lifeboats return to help survivors? The focus of the book was on Lady Lucille Duff Gordon, famed designer and her personal assistant Tess. Eye witnesses have stated Lady Duff Gordon bribed the crew to not pick up any other survivors on her lifeboat. Senator Smith is now investigating and hearings have begun.

The author did a great job blending stories about Tess and her perspective of Lady Duff Gordon, Pinky the reporter, the hearings and the love interests of Tess.

I would recommend this book for book clubs. The history of the Titanic and the survivors would be an interesting study. The moral dilemma around the social classes on the ship and who were saved would also lead to an interesting discussion.

Even though we know how the story ends, Ms Alcott does a wonderful job of bringing you into a new aspect of the sinking of the Titanic with interesting storylines. As next year will be the 100th anniversary of the sinking I would recommend this read to those who enjoy historical fiction.

I tend to gravitate to historical fiction so although I may be biased, I thought Sara Poole did a wonderful job providing a view of a very turbulent time in Italy and around the European continent. Her narrative brings you into the intrigues, and lust for power being taken by the aristocracy and the church. At the same time however, you are able to envision the city of Rome, the streets and back alleys and all the sights and sounds of a city in tumult. The main character Francesca, a woman poisoner, brings to life the family story of Rodrigo Borgia, Pope Alexander VI, his sons Cesare, Juan and his daughter Lucrezia and the power feuds and treachery encompassing them all.

I would recommend to book clubs as a great discussion vehicle for the changes occuring in the Church, and the changes to political families in power.

Prophesy fits the bill as a historical thriller set in Elizabethan England. The main character Giordano Bruno is an undercover agent and humanist trying to discover how true the rumors are that Mary Queen of Scott and her followers are plotting to overthrow Elizabeth I. Bruno is following leads by intercepting letters to Mary Queen of Scots, deciphering the code in the letter and then sending to Mary after carefully resealing. Bruno, an Italian expatriate, has a relationship with John Dee an astrologer of Elizabeth’s court. Astrological signs and symbols are the focus for Bruno who now has the job to discover who has murdered two young women of the Court with astrological signs carved on their dead bodies. Questions arise as we follow Bruno as he searches for the murderer. Is the suspect in the Queen’s Court, within her Catholic rivals, the French, the Spanish or among Bruno’s own group of undercover spies? In addition to the murder mystery, the author has done an outstanding job drawing the reader into the time period. You clearly see, smell and hear the London of the 16th Century. You feel the intrigue and fear as the author takes you deep into the conspiracies of the court.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction or mysteries. I am now planning to read Heresy the author’s first book to learn more about Giordano Bruno.

When I first received this book and read the preface I had tears in my eyes. A beautiful eagle saved by a wildlife enthusiast who then is diagnosed with non Hodgkin's lymphoma. I couldn't wait to open the book and in fact I finished in one evening. I was very interested in the Sarvey Wildlife Care Center where the author volunteered and especially the commitment made by these caring individuals to help so many displaced or injured creatures. Freedom the Eagle's successful recovery was a true testament of the success of these wildlife centers. The author's struggle with his disease and his bond with Freedom brought richness to the story. After reading the book I felt disappointed that it did not tug on my heart strings as I had initially expected. Good read however as there were many rescues with happy endings for both the author Jeff and our wildlife friends. If you are an animal lover this book is for you.

I expected much more from Savage Lands. There were gaps in the stories behind the main characters, Elisabeth, Auguste and Jean Claude. Elisabeth comes to America as a young bride-to-be for a man she has never met to "populate the colonies. The story centers around Mobile and New Orleans and the very difficult world women like Elisabeth had to adapt to. The rich dialogue was overshadowed by the lack of detail with time and place.

I was very interested in this book as this time period focusing on strong women who survived diseases, lack of food, trauma of childbirth and isolation portended a great read. Unfortunately Savage Lands did not live up to expectations.