One wore blue, one wore gray. The Civil War had divided the country. The Strong v Strong Divorce Trial opened on November 23, 1865, lasted for five weeks and captivated the nation. "Seven months after Abraham Lincoln's assassination, the case provided a war-torn country with a shocking distraction and an unusual glimpse into the private world of New York's powerful and privileged elite." "The elite nature of the embattled parties, the accusations of adultery, abortion, and child abduction made for multiple headlines and the public's voyeuristic fascination."

"Ideally matched" storybook couple, Mary Stevens and Peter Strong were born to privilege in New York. Mary was raised in a home with a "high-toned puritanical atmosphere" however, she "veered slightly from the nineteenth century ideal of the passive, perfectly genteel young lady." Peter "enjoyed the life of leisure of a well-to-do gentleman, the occupation of choice for many young men of his class." His law degree from Columbia sat on a shelf, unused.

After marrying, Mary ceased "legally to exist"...A married woman's identity was 'covered' or subsumed by her husbands...the domestic realm...was 'defined a separate sphere' from the heady public, political, and economic sphere of a man." Mary's desire for a dwelling of her own would never be realized. The couple lived at the Strong family estate in Queens, New York, under the thumb of Peter's mother. Peter, leading a free-wheeling carefree life on his mother's dime, often left Mary to fend for herself. No emotional support was provided even during her several miscarriages. Her joy was their two children, Mamie and Allie. The bedroom across the hall from Mary's was occupied by Peter's brother, Edward who was recently widowed.

Strong v Strong was portrayed by the press as a cross suit: "Peter and Mary each accused the other of adultery, requested a divorce, and asked for custody of the children." "The freedom to legally remarry depended on obtaining a divorce decree, at least for the party judged innocent. The guilty party generally was barred from remarrying during the innocent party's lifetime." Peter demanded full custody of his daughters considering it to be "his traditional paternal right." Mary having a "will few could withstand", disappeared with younger daughter, Allie.

Strong v Strong. Reliable v unreliable (perhaps paid-off) witnesses. Evidence v hearsay. She said, he said. Author Barbara Weisberg presents a well researched, documented case of a salacious divorce in Old New York. Highly recommended.

Thank you W.W. Norton and BookBrowse for the print ARC in exchange for an honest review.

On the Portuguese island of Madeira, in the year 1840, five year old John Alves starved in jail alongside his mother, Serafina. She was a Presbyterian who refused to denounce her faith. "Music would feed them, they would feast upon sounds...".

Augusto Freitas, a Catholic, led the protest to free John. Augusto was head gardener of a Botanical Garden owned by aristocrats. He lovingly cared for the plants and was devoted to his daughter, Maria.

Sparks of friendship ignited between John and Maria, however, contact was lost when unrest between Catholics and Protestants caused each family, separately, to seek refuge in America.

Maria had a gift for Madeiran needlepoint work. "Maria plies threads..." She and her father cultivated plants. "On days dedicated to the trees, he wears a bowtie, because in Portuguese it is called a butterfly and the trees appreciate that...he grows a shrub with glossy dark pointed leaves and red berries...the miracle-berry or miracle-fruit plant." The father-daughter team would try to transplant the miracle shrubs in America.

New beginnings in Springfield, Illinois. John Alves studied sign language. He worked on his Sound Machine. "If only the Sound Machine could capture the gestures and swaying of his students and let the music be felt through the floor so deafness is not a prison...they would feast upon sounds...music would feed them...the melody of birds...to my listening ears all nature sings...Men are studying about capturing sounds...".

Augusto Freitas was a "maestro" of plants with a specialty in grafting. He was employed as head gardener on Edward Moore's estate. Edward's motto was "A WISHBONE ain't as likely to get ye as far as a BACKBONE." Augusto and Maria, worked side by side, trying to coax the transplant to root in this foreign soil. Success as master botanists would not entitle them to truly mix with Edward and his inner circle. They would always be viewed as "below the salt".

"Above the Salt" by Katherine Vaz is ultimately about the ebb and flow of love. Is love enough? Perhaps not, when hindrances were religious or societal. The outbreak of the Civil War compounded the obstacles and added the dimension of the plight of soldiers on both sides of the conflict in this all encompassing work of historical fiction. Altered communications and betrayals created twists and turns that were heartwrenching, if a tad soap opera-like. Highly recommended.

Thank you Flatiron Books and BookBrowse for the print ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The wisdom and council of dolls was centerstage when I met ninety-five year old, Marie. For three years I lived next door. She was all about dolls. Painstakingly, she handstitched doll clothes including Elizabethan costume, roaring twenties and downhome styles. Each beautifully attired doll was lovingly placed with a hand picked child. Marie felt dolls were better companions than people. From this vantage point, I opened my copy of "A Council of Dolls" by Native American author Mona Susan Power. I have no doubt that a doll can have spirit and help its keeper to be "strong and determined, committed."

Mama wanted to fight against injustice. She told daughter, Sissy about "indoctrination" at Indian boarding schools and why home schooling was best. Mama taught herself to read before attending school. As a result, a nun locked her in a dark closet "with the devil". Perhaps that was why Mama didn't want to be touched. Sissy's companion was a Thumbelina doll she received as a Christmas present in 1969. She named her doll and confidant, Ethel. Sissy and Ethel frequently hid under the bed when Mama exhibited fits of anger. Dad explained "we've had forces working to get rid of our culture and beliefs, our way of living, for many generations now." Sissy would try to remember every Dakhota or Lakhota word her parents used.

Lily was born in her ancestral lands in 1925. Lily and her sister Blanche were sent to boarding school at a very young age. At age ten, it was noticed that Lily's reading comprehension was well beyond her age. She was awarded a second hand Shirley Temple doll she named Mae. "I don't hear Mae's voice anymore. She stopped talking to me as soon as she heard I was giving her away"...and placing her in the arms of a dying girl. Mae's voice returned to minister to Lily when Lily was sent to the punishment box at school.

Cora, born in 1888, was bound with doll Winona in her cradleboard. Winona had been handed down for generations. At age twelve, Cora was sent to Carlisle Indian School, Winona in her arms. "...nearly everyone was clutching something from home...most of us dressed in traditional garb...everything we'd worn...was taken away, loaded into baskets...we were cut-hairs, against our will...our clothes and treasured items..." set aflame in a metal drum. A small black stone was all that was left of Winona....what was left of her heart. The smooth stone always seemed to flutter and vibrate allowing Cora to feel her doll's spirit and listen to her whisper words of wisdom and encouragement.

Three generations, three dolls telling a story of the devastation unleashed by Indian boarding schools and the power of dolls to reflect the spirit, courage and determination of the children trying to keep their ancestral heritage alive. Highly recommended.

Thank you BookBrowse and Mariner Books for the print ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The ancients claimed women could not share land wealth. "They claimed that the very first woman rose out of the sea while the first man emerged from earth...both women and the sea were baffling...water has no shape...is inconsistent...cannot be tamed...you cannot draw borders on the ocean...land belonged with men".

Nattetta, Uganda, a rural patriarchal village in the 1970's. Grandfather (Miiro) was a member of the school board, his mantra, "A girl uneducated is an oppressed wife in the making". Grandmother (Alikisa), in a careful, loving way, encouraged all girls whose lives she touched, to finish their studies.

At six months of age, Kirabo Nnamiiro was given to Miiro and Alikisa to raise. Their son Tom was Kirabo's father. Motherless Kirabo, now 12, wanted to find the mother who abandoned her. She secretly consulted with the town witch, Nsuuta. Deep, dark secrets! Why were Grandmother and Nsuuta, once close friends, now arch enemies? Why did Grandmother birth Tom only to give him to Nsuuta to raise? "Traditionally, wives share children. You could not leave your co-wife to live a childless life while you hoard all your progeny to yourself". It was well advised for Tom to take Kirabo to the city with him.

Upon arriving in Kampala, Tom told his wife, "That is Kirabo. This is her home". Turbulent, confusing times for Kirabo...soon off to an elite private school. If Kirabo were home, the entire village would have given her a send-off. "Let your ancestors' blessings walk with you...". Kirabo just put her suitcase in the boot of Tom's car.

Ultimately, "A Girl Is a Body of Water" by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi is a literary novel describing the roadblocks encountered by women in a patriarchal society. Men are the landowners. A wife can leave a marriage, the children must stay with their extended paternal family. Marriage itself? Young girls, if beautiful, marry early. Education keeps a girl off the marriage market thus offering her fewer choices finding a suitable husband. Issues could arise over a "ringed" wife and a husband's true love. Children, therefore, can have a "senior mother" and a "younger mother". Kirabo's thoughts, "Grandfather's biggest wealth was his children, and their education of course, he had land and land...". One of this reader's favorite scenes was a joyfully liberating torrential rainstorm! Highly recommended!

Thank you Tin House Books, BookBrowse and author Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Widowhood was thrust upon Lili Girvan in the blink of an eye when husband Dan died in an auto accident. Lili lost her grip on life and was hospitalized for several months. Rachel, her younger sister, was able to step in and has continued to encourage and help Lili with the challenges of raising Annabel, age seven and Claire, age five. Lili still feels lost and misses everything about Dan including his wet towels left on the bed. Her life, however, has become routine and predictable.

Poplar Press, Lili's employer has called upon Lili, a gifted illustrator, for an extensive job. The Bloem Company will be releasing a book on vegetables and flowers and wants the illustrations created by hand using mediums such as watercolor, charcoal and pen-and-ink. The illustrations need to be artistic with a back-to-basics style. There is a catch. She must attend a six week gardening class. Accompanied by sister Rachel and kids Annabel and Claire, she is off to the Los Angeles Botanical Garden to attend Vegetable Gardening 101 run by Professor of Gardening, Edward Bloem. The class will plant a potager garden in which flowers, vegetables and herbs are grown together. More than the garden will grow and flourish.

One cannot downplay Lili's ruminations and feelings of life without Dan. The book, however, was not maudlin. It was a laugh a minute! So many belly laughs! Claire paints her face with red marker. She pretends to be a ladybug thinking this will help her plant and grow strawberries. How about a touch of dog optimism. A half-eaten chicken nugget is out of the dog's reach. The dog indicates that by law (Dog v. Child, 19__) he, the canine, owns the nugget.

"The Garden of Small Beginnings" by Abbi Waxman uses gardening to awaken one's senses to the cycle of life. Turning over the earth, planting seeds, and sitting in the warmth of the sun can create renewal and hope. An excellent tome from an upcoming author. I can't wait to read Abbi Waxman's next literary venture.

Thank you Berkley Books and BookBrowse for the opportunity to read and review "The Garden of Small Beginnings".

Karen Neulander is a forty three year old single parent to six year old Jake. She is a political consultant and campaign manager. At age forty one, her life and that of Jake drastically change when she is diagnosed with Stage IV ovarian cancer. Karen wants Jake's life to be stable and predictable. To that end, Karen and Jake are spending the summer on Mercer Island, near Seattle, Washington. By staying in the guesthouse owned by sister Allison and her husband Bruce, a Starbucks executive, Karen hopes Jake will become acclimated to life with his aunt, uncle and cousins when the times comes.

Karen embarks upon a soul searching book odyssey. She is writing a short history of her life with Jake to be given to him at age eighteen. She wants him to know that she existed, loved him, and that he was her "happy ending". Karen muses about what decisions Jake will make in life and openly discusses mistakes she has made with suggestions for a full life that include how to choose the right life partner. Dave Kersey, her boyfriend, never wanted children and walked away when Karen was pregnant. Karen never told Dave that he had a son. Unexpectedly, Jake wants to meet his dad. Dreading the father-son encounter, Karen is floored by Dave's exuberant response to meeting his son. He brings gifts and sets up a bedroom in his apartment for Jake. Karen is frantic. She asks sister Allison to promise that Dave will never take Jake.

Karen is determined to present a facade of normalcy to those around her. Once in remission, her health is now declining and she feels unable to control her life. How can she leave Jake in the care of others? "Our Short History" by Lauren Grodstein is an explanation of Karen's life choices and a celebration of her life with Jake. Keep a tissue box nearby.

Brooklyn. December 1947. During a massive snowstorm, two babies are born and the opportunity for secrecy and deception is created.

The upstairs family in the two family house is parented by upbeat, friendly Abe and Helen. Downstairs, an atmosphere of gloom is palpable through the actions of Abe's brother Mort and wife Rose. The characters are very well defined. The reader can feel the joy, laughter, sorrow and tragedy as experienced by the families.

The buried secret is the driving force controlling choices made by Helen and Rose. Perhaps owning up to these choices will give each mother peace of mind.

An enjoyable read. I look forward to future books from this debut author.

Sometimes you choose your job profession, sometimes your profession chooses you. Such is the case in this entertaining and enjoyable read by Amy Stewart. The Kopp sisters, driving to town in their buggy in 1914 are hit by a motorcar driven by Henry Kaufman, a silk factory owner. He is a man of means used to getting his way. When Constance Kopp, the oldest sister, sends him an invoice for repairs to her buggy, all hell breaks loose!

We learn about the Kopp sisters. Constance is stubborn and single minded while trying to hide a family secret. Norma is cloistered; a shut-in more concerned with her pigeons than people. Fleurette, the youngest is a creative free spirit . These eccentric sisters, with the help of Sheriff Heath, try to collect the $50 fee from Kaufman for the buggy repair.

Henry Kaufman is a belligerent man, used to forcing his will on others but he is up against Constance Kopp, a force to be reckoned with. While Constance being schooled by Sheriff Heath, learns to use a revolver and gains investigative skills, Henry Kaufman ups his game.

We are at the mercy of Mother Nature. Sometimes a weather event such as a tornado can cut a path of destruction through a town or city but leave one house untouched. A so-called blessing can often be a curse. Catherine Chanter shows us a different stroke of luck. An ordinary family trying to make positive life changes are pulled apart as a result of their good fortune; verdant farmland in an area that has been experiencing a drought.

Ruth Ardingly and her husband Mark deal with the envy of their neighbors and government interference consisting of mandates. The isolation each spouse experiences plays out differently. Chanter expertly portrays Mark's anger. Ruth's religious fanaticism is palpable. The tension builds to a tragic outcome.

Ms. Chanter's character development is reminiscent of Kate Southwood's "Falling to Earth"; a fragmentation of family as a result of extraordinary events. Ms. Chanter has written an excellent study of the frailty of human relationships. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.