March, 2024 

“Black Shield Maiden by Smith & Hendel 

Yafeu, an African, has always felt different from her villagers.  When her village is destroyed and she is forced into slavery, she must dig deep into her inner strength to survive.  As she was taken to the slave auction, a group of Vikings raided the village.  Mesmerized by the women warriors, Yafeu willingly joined with the Vikings.  However, once they landed, she was once again enslaved.   

It is hard to give this book a broad enough description to capture the book’s nuances.  Well crafted, this book blended two worlds and cultures in a fascinating way.  The characters were multidimensional and well crafted.  They showed growth and expansion throughout the book.  I would love to read a sequel.  This is definitely an author I will be watching!

“The Real Deal” by Caitlin Devon

Belle Simon was one of six girls chosen to be on a reality tv show The Real Deal.  Starring Donna Mayfair, the program aimed to turn the girls into actors, dancers, singers, and stars.  15 years later, Belle is contacted about filming a reunion special.  

This book unraveled nicely, mixing past and present storylines in a cohesive and fun way.  I enjoyed the novel and the characters.  The book felt very realistic and could easily have been a tell-all memoir.  Overall, a fun, hard to put down, read.

“Daughters of Shandong” by Eve. J. Chung

When civil war threatens the Chinese countryside, the Ang patriarch leaves his wife and daughters behind on their farm.  Hai, the eldest of the daughters, often fights with her sister Di, who is headstrong and willing to abandon the traditional beliefs of their family.  When the Communist army finds the women left behind, they take Hai to a public denunciation in her father’s place, nearly beating her to death.  Knowing that they must escape, the women gather their resources and flee.  Along the way they are subject to starvation, disease, and unsafe conditions.

This was a well written and engaging book.  The author is a great storyteller.  The story itself was heartbreaking.  I felt for Hai and her family and cheered for them as they endured one thing after another.  I would love to read more from this author.  Overall, highly recommended.

“Paper Wife” by Laila Ibrahim

Mei Ling’s parents arrange for her to marry a Chinese widow based in California.  In order to facilitate immigrating to the U.S., she must pose as his first wife and mother of his young son.  They marry in China and then take a boat to California.  On the boat, she studies the details of his life and the woman she is supposed to be.  Knowing that one mistake would send her back to China she does her best to be the wife and mother she is expected to be.

I thought this book was fascinating.  I’ve heard about paper son’s, and the lengths Chinese families would go to immigrate to America, but it was enlightening to read a novel about it.  The book was well paced and the characters were dynamic and well rounded.  Overall, 4 out of 5 stars.

“The Sunflower House”by Adriana Allegri 

After the Nazi’s raid her village, Allina is taken by a high ranking SS officer to a Leensborn home.  Brutalized by the Nazi’s, she is fearful of everyone around her.  Put into service as a nurse, she wonders why half of the children are left disabled by the Nazi’s parenting techniques.  

I have to admit that I didn’t love this book.  The passage of time did not really work, and took away from the growth and development of the characters.  Overall, not a book I would reread or recommend.

"For a Lifetime” by Gabrielle Meyer 

In Salem, the twins live with their father, an innkeeper.  As the community begins making accusations of witchcraft, the sisters must walk a careful balance between biding time and survival.   In New York,  Hope dreams of becoming a female pilot while Grace works as a journalist.  When the financial security of their parents' orphanage is threatened, the two do everything they can to raise money.

I really enjoy this series.  It is well written, the time periods are meticulously researched, and the characters are fun.  I particularly enjoyed reading the twins alternating viewpoints.  It added an extra dimension to the story.  I was a bit more interested in the Salem witch trials than the aviation storyline but both were very well written.  I can’t wait to read the next story in the series!

“Mayluna” by Kelley McNeil

In the present day, after the death of their father, Evie’s children discover an old magazine of a mystery girl with rockstar Carter Wills.  Evie begins telling the story of her relationship with Wills and the band Mayluna.   Interspaced with her story, Carter finally decides to tell his story during an interview while he travels to his next gig.

This book was extremely nostalgic and felt sad.  I wished it had been written in the present day rather than having both narrators telling us a story about the past.  The story itself was interesting, but the pace was very slow.  Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.

"We Burn Daylight” by Bret Anthony Johnston 

Set in Waco Texas, teenager Roy is the son of the local sheriff.  When he meets mysterious Jaye, he quickly falls for her charm and beauty.  When he realizes  that she is one of David Karesh’s followers, and the FBI has begun their siege, he is rocked with fear.

I had some trouble with this book.  I thought the teenage characters were much wiser than their years.  I just didn’t buy them as characters.  I don’t want to give anything away, so all I will say is that I thought the ending wasn’t very plausible.  Overall, not a book I would reread or recommend.

“To Look Upon the Sun’ by Shannon St. Hilaire

After discovering that she is pregnant, Isle is thrown out of her house with little options.  In desperation, she joins the Lebensborn, a home for expectant German mothers.  Terrified that the Nazi’s will discover that the father is Jewish, she keeps to herself and does everything she can to get along.  When her baby is born with deformities, the true horror of the Lebensborn home is revealed.

While Ilse was an interesting and well-developed character, the plot seemed to move slowly.  The book was not predictable and had a number of unexpected turns that kept me reading.  Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.