Reviews by Carol P. (Mendham, NJ)

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The Roaring Days of Zora Lily
The Roaring Days of Zora Lily: A Novel
by Noelle Salazar
Roaring Twenties (11/1/2023)
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 …more
The Lost English Girl
The Lost English Girl
by Julia Kelly
World War 2 Evacuations (3/16/2023)
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 …more
The Last Russian Doll
The Last Russian Doll
by Kristen Loesch
Russia- a story of loss, love and redemption (11/27/2022)
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 …more
The Paris Bookseller
The Paris Bookseller
by Kerri Maher
Shakespeare and Company (3/5/2022)
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 …more
Sisters of the Great War
Sisters of the Great War: A Novel
by Suzanne Feldman
Triumph amid the horrors of WWI (10/22/2021)
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 …more
The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt
The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt: A Novel
by Andrea Bobotis
Living in the South- Racial Strife (7/18/2019)
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 …more
Letters to the Lost
Letters to the Lost
by Iona Grey
Love lost and found (4/17/2015)
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. …more
The Daughters of Mars
The Daughters of Mars
by Thomas Keneally
WWI and the Extraordinary Women who Volunteered (7/3/2013)
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. …more
The Hour of Peril
The Hour of Peril: The Secret Plot to Murder Lincoln Before the Civil War
by Daniel Stashower
Introduction to Pinkerton's new Secret Service (2/8/2013)
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 …more
The Light Between Oceans
The Light Between Oceans: A Novel
by Margot L. Stedman
The consequences of our decisions (7/30/2012)
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 …more
A Simple Murder
A Simple Murder
by Eleanor Kuhns
Good Mystery (5/19/2012)
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 …more
The Dressmaker
The Dressmaker: A Novel
by Kate Alcott
The Tragedy of the Titanic (10/28/2011)
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 …more
The Borgia Betrayal
The Borgia Betrayal: A Poisoner Mystery Novel
by Sara Poole
The Borgias and treacherous times (6/27/2011)
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 …more
Prophecy
Prophecy: An Historical Thriller
by S.J. Parris
Elizabethan Espionage (4/3/2011)
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. …more
An Eagle Named Freedom
An Eagle Named Freedom: My True Story of a Remarkable Friendship
by Jeff Guidry
Moving tribute (5/6/2010)
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 …more
Savage Lands
Savage Lands
by Clare Clark
Historical Fiction- unfinished main characters (2/24/2010)
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 …more
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