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Reviews by Bev C. (Latrobe, PA)

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Strong Passions: A Scandalous Divorce in Old New York
by Barbara Weisberg
Strong Passions (1/19/2024)
Strong Passions: A Scandalous Divorce in Old New York recounts the tumultuous marriage of Peter and Mary Strong and the legal and personal aspects of pursuing divorce in upper crust New York, 1862.

If you check the acknowledgments, notes and bibliography, you will realize itmore
The Witches at the End of the World
by Chelsea Iversen
The Witches At The End Of The World (8/22/2023)
Minna age 19 and Kaija 23 live in the Birchwoods of Norway. The young witches live, until her death, under the protective care of grandmother Mormor. They are then no longer bound by their magic.

Minna is fixed in vengeful anger because of the burning death of their mother.more
The Long Ago: A Novel
by Michael McGarrity
The Long Ago (3/13/2023)
"The Long Ago: a distant place where happiness and tranquility reign." is a mainstay and mental retreat for the Landsdale children.

I chose this book because the time frame resonates with me and the places interest me.
Although I am unfamiliar with the childhood traumas thatmore
Homestead: A Novel
by Melinda Moustakis
Homestead (1/14/2023)
Alaska became the 49th U.S. state on January 3, 1959.

Our story begins in June 1956 as Lawrence Beringer, 27 of Blackduck Minnesota, in the Bureau of Land Management, chooses lot 041180 in Point MacKenzie, in the territory of Alaska.
"...his land, his homestead...Where hemore
The God of Endings: A Novel
by Jacqueline Holland
The God of Endings (11/3/2022)
I'm not an expert on the vampire as a literary character or devotee of the "immortal narrator", but Collette LaSange is unique. In the 1980's she coordinates a fine arts pre-school in upstate New York.
She is tender, supportive and encouraging to all the young participantsmore
The Lies I Tell: A Novel
by Julie Clark
The Lies I Tell (3/27/2022)
Meg Williams, grifter, living by the girl code. ("We have to look out for each other because no one else will.")

Kat Roberts, journalist, obsessed with exposing her.

Lies pepper the lives of these two complicated women who forge a bond, despite painful pasts and desires thatmore
Two Storm Wood: A Novel
by Philip Gray
Two Storm Wood (1/6/2022)
This book with topic, time frame and genre seemed like a good fit for me.
But truthfully I stalled in the first portion of the book.
I am so glad I continued!
As the story evolved on the battle fields of northern France, it became evident that the plot was much deeper than Imore
The Fields: A Novel
by Erin Young
The Fields (10/15/2021)
The Field is a police procedural introducing us to Sergeant Riley Fisher, a newly promoted head of investigation for the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office.
The corn fields of Iowa are a new backdrop in my mystery reads.

Our author lives and writes in Brighton, England andmore
Lady Sunshine
by Amy Mason Doan
Lady Sunshine (5/29/2021)
In 1979, an angry 17 year old arrives in rugged Humboldt County, hours north of San Francisco at 4 Sea Cliff.

Her father and new bride are spending the summer in Europe and Jackie Pierce has chosen to stay at a place where she knew no one with relatives she has never met.
Hermore
Palace of the Drowned
by Christine Mangan
Palace of the Drowned (3/8/2021)
On November 4, 1966, an abnormal occurrence of high tides, rain-swollen rivers and winds caused the historic Venice flood of 1966.

Frankie Croy has been attempting to reconcile fan and editor demands after a very successful first novel, years ago.

There is a public breakdownmore
Black Widows: A Novel
by Cate Quinn
black widows (1/3/2021)
Rachel, Emily and Tina all bear the title of Sister-Wife. They are all distinctly different personalities with only one thing in common ("husband", Blake Nelson).

The story begins with Blake found dead in the desert.

The story weaves through scenarios with all 3 being accusedmore
The Lost Apothecary: A Novel
by Sarah Penner
The Lost Apothecary (9/12/2020)
I was drawn to this book by what promised to be a unique read.

I did find dark, creative fiction that gave me a historical perspective of the time before poison could be detected at autopsy.

The dual timeline (1791 and present day London) wove the story of a secret apothecarymore
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek: A Novel
by Kim Michele Richardson
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek (3/2/2020)
This is an incredibly touching story of 19 year old blue skinned Cussy Mary Carter.
The year is 1936 and she is a rider for the Pack Horse Library Project of Kentucky.
I see her as a shining light of hope and literacy in treacherous Appalachian mountains.

With beautifulmore
The Paris Hours: A Novel
by Alex George
The Paris Hours (2/18/2020)
The narratives within depict one day in Paris in the summer of 1927 and the penetrating experiences of 4 individuals, each "searching for something they've lost."

Secrets and stories, too painful to be told outright, delicately unfold. The novel is beautifully written. Eachmore
Catherine House: A Novel
by Elisabeth Thomas
Catherine House (1/31/2020)
Where to begin?

dark...gothic...suspense fiction
I will preface by saying: PTB (pulled the bookmark) at about 50.
Age may be a factor, but I couldn't identify or sympathize with characters or plot.

I would definitely say you either love this story or put it aside easily.
Themore
The Sun Down Motel
by Simone St. James
The Sun Down Motel (11/6/2019)
Simone St James had me once again on the edge of my chair
with the chilling panorama of events associated with the macabre Sun Down Motel.
2 time lines seamlessly interweave.
Upstate New York, 1982: temporary night clerk Vivian Delaney is saving to journey to New York City.
more
The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt: A Novel
by Andrea Bobotis
The Last List Of Miss Judith Kratt (7/9/2019)
May 1989: Miss Judith Kratt of Bound, South Carolina, begins an inventory of possessions on the old Kratt estate. At 75 years, it is time for Judith to review, reassess and reassign. And, we are privileged to overhear memories.

The prelude to the story (alternating in 1929more
D-Day Girls: The Spies Who Armed the Resistance, Sabotaged the Nazis, and Helped Win World War II
by Sarah Rose
D-Day Girls (4/3/2019)
D-Day Girls is not a quick, easy read. It's not meant to be.

I found these heroines daring and courageous and was pleased that their classified exploits were available to share.

I have seen questions concerning the accuracy of some elements
of this exposition but I willmore
The Last Collection: A Novel of Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel
by Jeanne Mackin
The Last Collection (3/13/2019)
"They danced together, two women no longer young but still needing admiration, two business women locked in fierce competition, two women who couldn't be more different in their aesthetics, their way of being in the world." (p 113 of The Last Collection)

This is amore
My Lovely Wife
by Samantha Downing
My Lovely Wife (9/28/2018)
MY LOVELY WIFE

"Our love story is simple...
We look like a normal couple...
We all have our secrets to keep a marriage alive...
Ours just happens to be getting away with murder" (book jacket)

This stand alone thriller is a debut novel. One moment is total family normalcy and themore
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