What Momma Left Behind

 

by

 

Cindy K. Sproles

 

 

Christian Historical Fiction

Publisher: Revell

Date of Publication: June 2, 2020

Number of Pages: 256

 

 

 

 

Worie Dressar is seventeen years old when influenza and typhoid ravage her Appalachian Mountain community in 1877, leaving behind a growing number of orphaned children with no way to care for themselves. Worie’s mother has been secretly feeding a number of these little ones on Sourwood Mountain. But when she dies suddenly, Worie is left to figure out why and how she was caring for them.

 

Plagued with two good-for-nothing brothers—one greedy and the other a drunkard—Worie fights to save her home and the orphaned children now in her begrudging care. Along the way, she will discover the beauty of unconditional love and the power of forgiveness as she cares for all of Momma’s children.

 

Storyteller and popular speaker Cindy K. Sproles pens a tender novel full of sacrifice, heartache, and courage in the face of overwhelming obstacles.

 

 

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Praise

 

“Worie Dressar isn’t your typical heroine—she’s tough, she’s opinionated, and she’s loud. But at her core she wants to love and be loved—just like the rest of us. Cindy’s special talent is in telling about life the way it is—hard parts and all—while preserving the beauty and wonder of love shining through even the darkest night.” —Sarah Loudin Thomas, Christy Award-nominated author of Miracle in a Dry Season

“Seldom does a story move me to tears and encourage me to examine my life. A powerful story. Highly recommended.” —DiAnn Mills, author of Fatal Strike

“Cindy Sproles has a way of placing readers inside the Blue Ridge Mountains. Her ability to transport readers into her Appalachian adventures is nothing short of genius. Leaving us hanging on every word, Cindy writes with feeling and incredible historical knowledge. This book is a must-read!” —LaTan Murphy, writer, speaker, author of Courageous Women of the Bible

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lately, I have really enjoyed reading books that are based on actual events from the past but are fiction in nature.  What Momma Left Behind takes a peek into life in the Appalachian Mountains in the late 1800s when illnesses such as typhoid and influenza were wiping out the population,  Living in the mountains, many were isolated from doctors and towns and the ability to receive medical attention was low.  Those on the mountain did what they could for each other and this story beautifully addresses the compassion given to the many orphans so that they may survive.

Worie Dressar is a complex character for just seventeen years old which is actually not surprising or uncommon for that time period.  Most young women and men were more mature and grew up faster during that time.  In fact, many were married by Worie’s age and might even already have several children.  Worie had dreams for her life that were shattered when she finds her mother dead.  But perhaps it just means a new path was forged for her without her knowledge.  I discovered this line within the book that sums up Worie to a T.

There it was – laid out on the mornin breeze.  I was selfish and judgemental. I was angry, stubborn, a tad hateful.

As I read this book, the admiration I felt for Worie grew.  She was not afraid to confront anyone, even when she should have tempered her words.  She stood up to anyone and everyone when protecting herself, her family, and the orphans she was taking care of at the time.  She fought for these children and keeping them together when others might want to split them apart for their “benefit.”  On the flip side, that strength was also her biggest weakness because she didn’t trust anyone.  She might have had a modicum of trust for Ely and Bess, but there were so many others that wanted to help her, she just needed to see past her pride and allow them into her life.

While the focus of the story is primarily on Worie, we also have interactions with her two brothers, Justice and Calvin, and these brothers are nothing alike.  Calvin is cruel to everyone and is only looking out for himself.  Justice is a little more compassionate but has his own demons to battle.  We also learn more about Momma through slips of paper left in a mason jar.  Her words of wisdom and the bits of her life that are revealed were a little shocking but also gave us greater insight into her character and why she took care of the other children that lost their parents.  That sort of compassion cannot be taught, it is inherent.

There are other characters that help round out the story and provide the help and guidance that Worie needs in this life.  After all, she is still young and has a lot to learn.  But how she adapts to taking her mother’s place in caring for the young children is admirable.  She doesn’t question taking care of anyone else and feels that it is her duty to ensure the children thrive but also understand what family means – it doesn’t necessarily mean it is who is related to you by blood, but anyone that cares about another.

Ultimately, this book is a story about trust, forgiveness, and love.  All three things that Worie exhibits and learns over the course of the novel.  It takes a lot of time because she is stubborn and sometimes those lessons have to be repeated over and over again.

Here are some of my favorite lines:

“Life ain’t easy in these mountains,” Momma would say. “When the messes happen, you swallow the ache and do what has to be done.”

“I ain’t nothin but a drunk.  But you, little lady. You are Momma made over, and that ain’t nothing but good.”

There was still more questions than answers, but a momma bird only feeds her babies a bite at a time. I reckon that was my bite.

“You understand, Worie, it ain’t your job to fix me. It’s your job to love me despite my downfalls.”

“if a man is to overcome something that has a hold on him, they has to be some trust.”

There was that word again. The same one Justice had give me, Trust. I thought trust was something you could find, but I’m seein it ain’t found – it’s gived.

If the good Lord wasn’t doin nothin else other than teachin me what it meant to trust, then I was the better for listenin.

I understood that forgiveness wasn’t for the other person.  It was for me. It was what the good Lord would use to set me free and help me make my own way.

Despite all them children had lost…there was laughter. It was a lesson I needed to learn.

 

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cindy K. Sproles is the cofounder of Christian Devotions Ministries. An author, storyteller, and popular speaker, Cindy teaches at writers’ conferences across the country and directs the Asheville Christian Writers Conference in North Carolina. Editor of ChristianDevotions.us and managing editor for Straight Street Books and SonRise Devotionals, Cindy has a BA in business and journalism and lives in the mountains of East Tennessee with her family.

 

 

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THREE WINNERS 

 

First Winner: Copy of What Momma Left Behind + $20 B&N Gift Card 

 

Second Winner: Copy of What Momma Left Behind + $5 Starbucks Gift Card 

 

Third Winner: Copy of What Momma Left Behind

 

 June 23-July 3, 2020

 

 

 

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Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily. 

Or, visit the blogs directly

 

6/23/20	Book Trailer	Texas Book Lover
6/23/20	Author Video	Hall Ways Blog
6/24/20	Review	The Adventures of a Travelers Wife
6/25/20	Author Interview	Reading by Moonlight
6/26/20	Review	Missus Gonzo
6/27/20	Excerpt	Story Schmoozing Book Reviews
6/28/20	Author Interview	All the Ups and Downs
6/29/20	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
6/30/20	Excerpt	Jennifer Silverwood
7/1/20	Review	That’s What She’s Reading
7/2/20	Review	Forgotten Winds

 

 

 

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Synopsis

 

Aurelia has always valued love and happiness over titles and power. Though her kind-hearted father has allowed her to turn away suitor after suitor in pursuit of a love she cannot yet define, when he dies her choices die with him. Knowing that marrying the elderly governor of a neighboring province can secure her mentally challenged brother’s safety, she gives up on her dream of finding love in return for his protection.

Cassius is the ill-fated captain of the governor’s guard tasked with escorting the Lady Aurelia and her unpleasant aunt to the governor’s estate. Since the soothsayer Tullia foretold an early death for him, Cassius wants nothing more than to keep his hands busy with labor and his heart free from any connections to the world he believes he will be leaving soon. As they work through a series of misfortunes on the road to the governor’s province, the words of the soothsayer start to make sense, and together they find the courage to allow their true destiny to unfold.

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

Aurelia watched as Cassius struck again, and again, each strike more forceful than the last. She could see from the way he brought down the sword with each try the mounting tension in his body. Finally, no more than two steps into the field of thorns, Cassius growled a barely audible curse, then turned to face Aurelia. He wiped the sweat off his brow with the back of his hand, his chest visibly rising and falling as he tried to catch his breath.

She knew better than to say anything, and in any case the intensity of his eyes as he looked at her told her everything she needed to know.

As his breathing slowed and his temper cooled, he sheathed his sword and stepped closer to her. “These vines do not intend to be cut today, but perhaps we do not need them to be cut. My lady, please forgive the impropriety of this request, but if you will follow my instructions, I think we may be able to make some progress against this terrible field of thorns.”

Aurelia replied without hesitation. “Ask, and I will do as you say.”

Looking as though he had expected more of a fight, Cassius nodded. “Please, if you would come closer, my lady.”

Ignoring the lightness in her stomach at his request, Aurelia moved closer to him.

“If we cannot cut the stubborn vines, then perhaps we can move them away, far enough and for long enough a time that we may pass by.”

He took his shield in his left hand and held it in front of him. It was an oval piece of wood covered in leather that extended from his shoulders to his knees.

“I will hold my shield in position and move forward through the brambles, as though charging the enemy. If you will walk closely behind me—and I mean closer than my own shadow—then I can be your shield, and we can both get through to the other side. Do you understand?”

“I do,” she began, “but your shield is not big enough to protect you from the thorns.”

“It is true, I would give anything for my legionary’s shield at this moment, but this shield is what we have, and it will do.”

He took a breath and turned around to face the enemy thorns.

She stood a couple steps behind him and did not move.

He turned his head to look at her and motioned for her to come to him with his free hand. “My lady,” he said, almost shyly.

Aurelia felt a tingling in her chest, but took a step toward him.

“My lady, I cannot protect you unless you are right behind me. Please.”

She took another step, until her toes were nearly touching his heels.

“I sincerely apologize for the seeming impropriety of what I am about to suggest, but, if you would, please, have your feet touch mine, so that we may take each step as one. And I think it may be easier if you would—if you don’t mind, that is—put your arms about my chest and bury your head in my back. Just let me lead you. Trust me, my lady.”

“I trust you, Cassius,” she said, just loud enough for him to hear. She had not intended on saying his name.

Cassius nodded, then looked away from her and raised his arms. She appreciated the fact that he could not watch her tentative movements as she willed each arm to be raised to the level of her chest, her hands still gripping the edges of the cloak he had put on her. She slid her feet forward until her toes touched the heels of the soldier’s shoes, at the same time bringing her arms full circle around his broad chest.

She felt his right hand gently grip each of her wrists in turn through the cloak she still held tightly in her balled fists and pull her arms more closely against him, until she had no choice but to allow the fronts of her thighs, abdomen, and chest to be pressed against his body.

She swallowed hard and, closing her eyes, brought her forehead to rest against the soldier’s back. At her touch, she felt his strong body tense up, then gradually relax.

“Are you ready, my lady?”

She answered softly, speaking into his back. “Yes.”

 

About the Author

 

Kathryn Amurra is an intellectual property attorney by day and a writer of Romance novels by night. Some of her best writing takes place between the hours of 10PM and midnight (or later) when she has “logged off” from her day job and her hubby, three girls, and boxer are asleep. She currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she is working on the next book in her Soothsayer’s Path series set in Ancient Rome.

 

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Synopsis

 

At the dawn of the Renaissance, Alfred – the eponymous second son – must discover the special destiny foreseen for him by his grandfather. Now, the unthinkable has happened: Alfred’s brother is king. And it isn’t long before everyone’s worst fears are realized. Traditional allegiances are shattered under a style of rule unknown since the grand bargain that formed the kingdom was struck over two hundred years ago. These will be the most dangerous years of Alfred’s life, forcing him to re-examine his duty to personal honor and to the kingdom, while the threats posed by his brother constantly remind him of his father’s final words of advice. What choices will he have to make to try to protect the things he holds most dear?

 

 

 

 

Guest Post

 

Today we welcome author Pamela Taylor to StoreyBook Reviews and she shares with us what it is like to live with Corgis.  I’m a dog lover and know that dogs have a mind of their own sometimes but their love is unconditional.  Plus they play a role in Pamela’s new book.

 

Corgi Inspiration

“A dog walk, Mom. That’ll get your creative juices flowing. Definitely a dog walk. Like, maybe a dog walk right now?”

I’m pretty sure that’s what Maggi is saying when she comes into the office and contrives to knock my hand away from the mouse or the keyboard. Clearly, she’s thought about this, ’cause she’s pretty short and has to put her forefeet up on my leg to be able to nudge my arm. But she’s a Corgi, so she knows how to get much larger animals to do her bidding. And I have to admit, most of the time, she’s right 🙂

Once you know what to look for, you can see their herding behavior in a lot of the things they do. My other Corgi, Marlo, is really good at telling me where she wants us to go on that dog walk. She gets on the opposite side of me from the direction she wants to go and slowly moves me toward her desired path. If I don’t show signs of cooperating, she’ll circle around me and try again. It’s actually rather fun to watch her do her Corgi thing.

Without the breed being explicitly named, Corgis figure in the Second Son Chronicles. Not just their herding abilities, though that’s how they came to be the denizens of the Royal Kennel, and it’s the role they play in the broader society of the kingdom. Many of their other characteristics feature in the story as well.
They are very loving. They want nothing more than to be with their people – on a walk or sitting on the sofa or playing with a favorite toy or sharing their human’s bed. And they really do smile.

Like some Corgis, Maggi occasionally needs a good FRAP (Frantic Random Activity Period). For her, this means a mad dash around the house, out the back door, circle the yard, back through the house, and back out again, all at top speed. And you’d be astonished how fast a Corgi can run.

They all love belly rubs – and since they often sleep on their backs, there are plenty of opportunities for that. They do shed – they’re double-coated, so they do a major undercoat shed in spring and fall. Marlo says, “No, Mom, we do not shed. We emit magical fibers of joy and love.” They bark when they think something is wrong – lawn-mowing equipment is a frequent demon. But I know they would let me know if something was truly amiss.

And then there’s food. “All kinds of food, Mom. Any kind of food, Mom. We like to eat.” My girls enjoy their kibble, but they also love things like pumpkin, bananas, butternut squash, spinach, cauliflower, cheese, sweet potatoes . . . and, of course, peanut butter. I have to watch their calories or they’d look like little barrels on four legs.

But, best of all, they are just incredibly cute and sweet. Big dog personality in a package you can pick up and cuddle. I love my Corgis.

 

About the Author

 

Pamela Taylor brings her love of history to the art of storytelling in the Second Son Chronicles. An avid reader of historical fact and fiction, she finds the past offers rich sources for character, ambiance, and plot that allow readers to escape into a world totally unlike their daily lives. She shares her home with two Corgis who frequently reminder her that a dog walk is the best way to find inspiration for that next chapter.

 

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Synopsis

 

A lifetime of lies, and a truth too painful to tell.

When Suzanna Duff was ten years old, she lost her mama, and that’s when the lies began. At first, they were just harmless little fibs, a way to hide her unbearable loneliness and the truth about a daddy who came home rip-roaring drunk every night. But in time, the lies grew bigger and now, when she is a grown woman with a daughter of her own, they threaten to destroy everything she loves.

The irony of this situation is that Suzanna never planned to stay in Georgia, she was simply passing through, looking for a fresh start in New Jersey. Attending that wake with her daughter Annie, was a fluke. An opportunity to enjoy a free meal. It should have entailed nothing more than a solemn nod and a brief expression of sympathy but, Ida Parker, the grieving widow mistook her for her the granddaughter who was carried off as an infant. Too embarrassed to do anything else, Suzanna played along. What harm was there in pretending to be someone else for a few hours? Hours turned into days and days into weeks; strangers became friends, love happened, and before long a year had flown by.

Now the past is standing on her doorstep and Suzanna must decide to leave here and disappear as she has done before, or tell the truth and break the hearts of those she loves most.

 

 

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Review

 

If you are looking for a good southern fiction novel, look no further than this book.  I think I have read everything by this author and I have yet to be disappointed.

What happens when you start a new life based on lies?  Can you keep up with the lies you have told so you don’t get caught?  That is what Suzanna is having to face and it doesn’t help when you have a young child that doesn’t understand what needs to be kept secret and what you can say to others.  Add on to that the woman that has taken in her in believing that she is her granddaughter.  Is it Ida’s desire to not be alone that has her convinced, or is there more to the situation?

This book is set in the 1960s which allowed Suzanna to get away with more than you probably could today.  No social media, no cell phones, no internet, none of the modern technology that we have today.  In fact, when she gets a job there is no checking social security numbers to make sure you have the right person working for you.

As I read this book, I could feel empathy for Suzanna and what she endured when she discovered she was pregnant, the father walking out on her and not taking responsibility, the way her own father kicked her out of the house because of her situation, and ending up with someone that didn’t treat her well.  But I applaud her pluckiness in getting out of the situation she was in and off to find something better for her and her daughter.

Despite many positive characters in the book, it wouldn’t be complete without a few antagonists.  Earl and Bobby and not the kind of people you want to inhabit your life.  Earl is a drunk and Bobby is something of a misogynist.  Bobby doesn’t hate women, he just believes no woman can resist him.  Talk about your ego!  But I have to give Bobby props near the end when he actually does something that benefits someone else.  You’ll have to read the book to find out what exactly he does right.

There is romance in this book for Suzanna which allows her to see what a real relationship should look like and how women should be treated.

This is a story that will touch your heart but might also leave you a bit nervous at times when it comes to some tense situations regarding Earl and Bobby.

We give this 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

USA Today Bestselling Author and Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby brings the wit and wisdom of her Southern Mama to works of fiction—the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery, and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away.

 

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Synopsis

 

Just after the Second World War, in the small English village of Chawton, an unusual but like-minded group of people band together to attempt something remarkable.

One hundred and fifty years ago, Chawton was the final home of Jane Austen, one of England’s finest novelists. Now it’s home to a few distant relatives and their diminishing estate. With the last bit of Austen’s legacy threatened, a group of disparate individuals come together to preserve both Jane Austen’s home and her legacy. These people—a laborer, a young widow, the local doctor, and a movie star, among others—could not be more different and yet they are united in their love for the works and words of Austen. As each of them endures their own quiet struggle with loss and trauma, some from the recent war, others from more distant tragedies, they rally together to create the Jane Austen Society.

 

AudioBook narrated by Actor Richard Armitage

 

The full unabridged text of THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY was read by the distinguished English film, television, theatre and voice actor Richard Armitage for the audiobook recording. Best known by many period drama fans for his outstanding performance as John Thornton in the BBC television adaptation of North and South (2004), Armitage also portrayed Thorin Oakenshield in Peter Jackson’s film trilogy adaptation of The Hobbit (2012 – 2014).

 

 

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Praise

 

“Just like a story written by Austen herself, Jenner’s first novel is brimming with charming moments, endearing characters, and nuanced relationships…Readers won’t need previous knowledge of Austen and her novels to enjoy this tale’s slow revealing of secrets that build to a satisfying and dramatic ending.” ―Booklist (starred review)

“Few things draw disparate people together so quickly as discovering they love the same writers. Few writers cement such friendships as deeply as Austen does. I believe that the readers of Jenner’s book will fall in love with the readers inside Jenner’s book, all of us thinking and dreaming of Austen the whole while. What could be better? Nothing, that’s what! A wonderful book, a wonderful read.” ―Karen Joy Fowler, New York Times bestselling author of The Jane Austen Book Club

“Fans of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society will adore The Jane Austen Society… A charming and memorable debut, which reminds us of the universal language of literature and the power of books to unite and heal.” —Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris

 

 

 

 

Review

 

If you are a Jane Austen aficionado then you will enjoy the references to her books and characters peppered through this book about The Jane Austen Society that was formed in the 1940s in her hometown of Chawton.  While all of the characters are fictional and the events leading up to the formation of this group may not be how it really happened, it was eye opening to see so many who cared about an author and her works and be invested in her writings.  I was intrigued by how many times these characters read her books and commenting on the new nuances they discovered and debating Austen’s thoughts while writing the book.

But this book is about more than Jane Austen.  It is about finding new friends, relationships, misunderstandings, and perhaps renewed faith and interest in life.  The cast of characters ranges in age but there is a connection between all of them, which is not surprising for this small village in England.  I enjoyed most of the characters but there were a few that were despicable but that is to be expected because not everyone can be nice.  However, those characters gave the story a little more depth and gave you someone to root against as events unfolded.

There are parts of the book that I’m disappointed by some actions of several of the characters.  While some I sort of understood in the grand scheme of life, a different choice would have resulted in a different outcome for the society.  While reading the book, I felt like I knew some of the characters better than others.  There were some that I wanted to know more about, such as Mimi.  I felt like the surface was just scratched in her case and there was more to understand about her character.

I will admit that I haven’t read any Jane Austen books that I recall but now I am intrigued and maybe one day I’ll pick up one of her books to see if I can unearth the same sort of observations as others have over time.

We give this book 3 1/2 paws.

 

 

 

 

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About the Author

 

Natalie Jenner is the debut author of THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY, a fictional telling of the start of the society in the 1940s in the village of Chawton, where Austen wrote or revised her major works. Born in England and raised in Canada, Natalie graduated from the University of Toronto with degrees in English Literature and Law and has worked for decades in the legal industry. She recently founded the independent bookstore Archetype Books in Oakville, Ontario, where she lives with her family and two rescue dogs.

 

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Lady Rosamund and the Poison Pen: A Rosie and McBrae Mystery
Historical Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Publisher: Level Best Books (April 21, 2020)
Paperback: 244 pages

 

Synopsis

Lady Rosamund Phipps, daughter of an earl, has a secret. Well, more than one. Such as the fact that she’s so uninterested in sex that she married a man who promised to leave her alone and stick to his mistress. And a secret only her family knows—the mortifying compulsion to check things over and over. Society condemns people like her to asylums. But when she discovers the dead body of a footman on the stairs, everything she’s tried to hide for years may be spilled out in broad daylight.

First the anonymous caricaturist, Corvus, implicates Lady Rosamund in a series of scandalous prints. Worse, though, are the poison pen letters that indicate someone knows the shameful secret of her compulsions. She cannot do detective work on her own without seeming odder than she already is, but she has no choice if she is to unmask both Corvus and the poison pen.

 

 

 

 

Guest Post

 

In the interest of full disclosure, I am not a character in Lady Rosamund and the Poison Pen. I am an occasional contributor of gossip to the Teatime Tattler, and I was most fortunate in that I was able to arrange an interview with Corvus, the caricaturist in the story who took London society by storm over a year ago.

No one knows Corvus’s real name, or even what he looks like. For the interview, he was completely screened from my sight. All I could discern, judging by his voice and accent, is that he is an Englishman, likely of the merchant class—educated, but lacking what is known as ton. I am relieved to know that he is not a gentleman of birth, for no such man would stoop to publishing vulgar caricatures, making game of the highest and best of English society—including Lady Rosamund Phipps, one of the stars in the firmament of the beau monde.

As if that were not dreadful enough, some of his caricatures indicate that he has a tendre for Lady Rosamund! When I taxed him with his impudence at coveting a lady so far above him, he gave a chuckle that sent a shiver down my spine. “I wouldn’t let just anyone birch me.”

Horrors! How crass of him to refer to that ghastly drawing in which poor Lady Rosamund is doing just that. Can you conceive of anything more insulting—to expose his bare bottom to the world and suggest that Lady Rosamund would enjoy punishing him in such a way?

Although—again, in the interest of full disclosure—I have it on the best authority that Lady Rosamund did indeed say that Corvus deserved a birching. I believe we all agree with that, but never that she wished to inflict the punishment in person. Naturally, she would send a burly footman to accomplish such a disagreeable task.

“Why,” I asked him, “do you put your artistic talent to such a base use?” The reason was obvious—filthy lucre.

He laughed again. “Money, of course. That’s what you expected me to say, isn’t it? And it’s true, they are a valuable means of support for me. But that’s not all.”

“Admiration?” I asked, wishing he could see my brows raised in haughty inquiry.

“It is always a pleasure when one’s art is appreciated by others,” he said. “I’m sure you write gossip for the same reason. Deplorable as gossip is, the way you phrase it is a form of art.”

I admit, I didn’t know whether to be offended or complimented. So much for haughtiness.

I sensed his grin at my expense. “I draw to amuse the populace,” he said after a pause. “To show for their delectation the folly, venality, and indifference of the upper classes. Not that they don’t already suffer from this every day of their lives, but to have it displayed for the lower classes to see and laugh at whilst at the same time it embarrasses their so-called betters… Maybe that’s why I do it.”

There ended the interview, gentle readers. I leave it to you to decide what you think of Corvus, and whether you will continue to enjoy—or deplore—his caricatures. However, I believe we all are agreed in wondering who he is, who will unmask him…and what punishment Lady Rosamund will devise for him when that day comes.

 

 

About the Author

 

Winner of the Holt Medallion, Maggie, Daphne du Maurier, Reviewer’s Choice and Epic awards, Barbara Monajem wrote her first story at eight years old about apple tree gnomes. She published a middle-grade fantasy when her children were young. When they grew up, she turned to writing for adults, first the Bayou Gavotte paranormal mysteries and then Regency romances with intrepid heroines and long-suffering heroes (or vice versa). Some of her Regencies have magic in them and some don’t (except for the magic of love, which is in every story she writes).

Barbara loves to cook, especially soups, and is an avid reader. There are only two items on her bucket list: to make asparagus pudding and succeed at knitting socks. She’ll manage the first but doubts she’ll ever accomplish the second. This is not a bid for immortality but merely the dismal truth. She lives near Atlanta, Georgia with an ever-shifting population of relatives, friends, and feline strays.

 

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Giveaway

 

 

 

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Synopsis

 

In Victoria’s War, Hamilton gives voice to the courageous Polish women who were kidnapped into the real-life Nazi slave labor operation during WWII. Inspired by true stories, this lost chapter of history won’t soon be forgotten.

 

POLAND, 1939: Nineteen-year-old Victoria Darski is eager to move away to college: her bags are packed and her train ticket is in hand. But instead of boarding a train to the University of Warsaw, she finds her world turned upside down when World War II breaks out. Victoria’s father is sent to a raging battlefront, and the Darski women must face the cruelty of the invaders alone. When Victoria decides to go to a resistance meeting with her best friend, Sylvia, they are captured by human traffickers targeting Polish teenagers. Sylvia is sent to work in a brothel, and Victoria is transported by cattle car to Berlin, where she is auctioned off as a slave.

 

GERMANY, 1941: Twenty-year-old Etta Tod is at Mercy Hospital about to undergo involuntary sterilization because of the Fuhrer’s mandate to eliminate hereditary deafness. Etta, an artist, silently critiques the propaganda poster on the waiting room wall while her mother tries to convince her she should be glad to get rid of her monthlies. Etta is the daughter of the German shopkeepers who buy Victoria at auction in Berlin.

 

The stories of Victoria and Etta intertwine in the bakery’s attic where Victoria is held—the same place where Etta has hidden her anti-Nazi paintings. The two women form a quick and enduring bond. But when they’re caught stealing bread from the bakery and smuggling it to a nearby work camp, everything changes.

 

 

 

 

 

Praise

 

“Victoria’s War is a compelling story of a young Polish woman caught in the vise of the German invasion of Poland at the opening salvo of World War II. Written in an engaging literary style that captures the textures of Polish life, Catherine Hamilton’s gripping novel is a must read!”  — Dr. Richard C. Lukas, author of Did the Children Cry? and The Forgotten Holocaust

 

“Some stories that need to be told are never told. They languish in a limbo of forgotten stories that should never have been forgotten. Catherine Hamilton’s novel Victoria’s War resurrects one of these stories. In language intimate and natural and yet touched by the poetry of truth, Hamilton tells the story of a young girl who is the victim of war. Too often, we think only of the men who go to war, do heroic things. We forget the other victims and heroes of war, the women like Victoria in this brilliant novel.”  — John Guzlowski, author of the award-winning Echoes of Tattered Tongues

 

 

 

Review

 

What an intriguing read!  In the past, I did not delve into history and what happened during various wars or what influenced people and countries.  This book focuses on the Polish women that were enslaved by Germany and forced to work in camps, factories, or as prostitutes for the Germans.  We know a lot about what happened to the Jewish population, but not much is made known about others that were enslaved and killed just because one man did not like them.

The book focuses primarily on two young women and their relationship with each other.  Victoria was all set to attend college when her plans were dashed by the war and German soldiers.  Etta is a deaf-mute in Germany that is a talented artist but is scorned by her mother because of her disabilities.  These two women come together when Victoria is purchased by an SS officer for his parent’s bakery to assist in cleaning and whatever else they want her to do in order to stay alive.

Leading up to her life in the bakery, we follow Victoria and other women through a train ride to Berlin in cramped quarters, living in a shed at the mercy of the German officers, and other events that shape their hopes and dreams for the future.  All of this because they were Catholic, Polish, Gypsies, or Serbian.  Men took what they wanted and did not care about these women or their lives.

Once at the bakery, Etta seems something in Victoria and reaches out to her in friendship, but in secret.  Had either of Etta’s parents known what she was doing they would have probably beaten Etta and killed Victoria.  Etta’s mother, Frau Tod, is fully brainwashed by the Nazi party and believes that her daughter is less because she cannot hear or speak.  Her father and brother are not the same way, but they have their own issues.  Despite everything, Etta feels a kinship with Victoria especially since Etta does not hold the same beliefs as the Nazi Party.  In fact, I think you could call her a sympathizer.  They work together to assist those being held in camps to hopefully survive.

This story, while fiction, is based on facts and I challenge anyone reading this book to walk away from it without heartache for what these people endured during the war.  Their will to survive and do whatever they had to do to stay alive and perhaps even work against the Germans to regain their freedom.  There are several heart-stopping moments and this book tore at my beliefs and my soul.  There is so much I could tell you about this book but do not want to spoil it for any reader.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

CATHERINE A. HAMILTON is a freelance writer of Polish descent whose articles and poems have appeared in magazines and newspapers including the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, The Oregonian, the Catholic Sentinel, the Dziennik Związkowy (the oldest Polish newspaper in America), and the Polish American Journal. She is the author of the chapter about Katherine Graczyk in Forgotten Survivors: Polish Christians Remember the Nazi Occupation, edited by Richard C. Lukas. Victoria’s War, her first novel, will be published in 2020 by Plain View Press. She actively publishes and blogs on her website.  Hamilton lives in the Northwest with her husband.

 

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Kelegeen

Historical Fiction

Publisher: BWL Publishing Inc. (March 1, 2018)

Paperback: 433 pages

 

Synopsis

 

Ireland 1846

 

Meg O’Connor, daughter of poor Irish cottiers, eagerly anticipates her wedding to Rory Quinn.  Her dreams of marriage and family vanish along with Ireland’s potato crop when Kelegeen’s inhabitants awaken one morning to find their sole source of food destroyed by blight.

At first Meg and Rory are able to use their skills, hers of sewing and his of wood carving, to provide for themselves and their families.  But tragedy and a costly mistake end those means of survival forcing them into more dangerous ventures.

As An Gorta Mór, the Great Hunger, continues to churn through Ireland ravaging the country’s peasantry with no let up in sight, Meg is compelled to make the most difficult decision of her life.  What she chooses could be the salvation of the O’Connor and Quinn families or it could separate her forever from all she knows and loves.

 

 

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Guest Post

 

Siobhan O’Toole

 

My name is Siobhan O’Toole and I’ve been asked to regale you with tales of my part in the story of Kelegeen. You’ll not believe it, but I’ve never stepped foot in the town of Kelegeen. As it happens, I’m not even alive when the story takes place, but that doesn’t stop me from having a role in it. You see, I was in love, long before that story began, with a man named Brian O’Malley. In Kelegeen you’ll know him as Father O’Malley, but his priestly vocation came after I died. Oh, he’s a good priest, he is. Faithful, devout, completely committed to God and his parishioners. He’d have been just as good a husband and father had I lived long enough for us to marry and give him wee ones. We were everything to each other. That’s why I couldn’t leave him even after I’d died.

You’ll be more comfortable calling him “Father” after you’ve read the book, no doubt, but to me he’ll always be Brian, so don’t think I’m showing disrespect by calling him by his Christian name.

Brian and I met one night when I was playing the fiddle for my brothers who were dancing up a storm. He thought himself bewitched at first sight of me. I can’t say I blame him, what with my long, tangled red hair flashing in the moonlight, me hopping about on a rock while I played a rollicking tune. He came and asked me to dance, so I gave the fiddle to my brother, Quentin, and we danced. From that moment on we were inseparable.

I think Brian was intrigued by the stories, legends really, that he’d heard about my family. The best one being that I had an ancestor who was one of the good people – what you folk would call a fairy. Quentin, being the mischievous sort, told him I was one, as well. He asked me if it was true. He made out like he was only teasing, but I could tell a small part of him actually wondered. I had a grand time with that, I can tell you! I never did give him a proper answer. He may have gone his whole life wondering after it for all I know.

We planned to wed, but it wasn’t to be. I’ll let the story of Kelegeen explain what happened to me and how it led him into the priesthood. Aye, but the ways of God are mysterious indeed.

When you love someone with all your heart and they love you as much, even death does not fully part you. That’s how it was for Brian and me. He talked to me often throughout his life. At times, he believed he felt me with him. Sure enough, he was right. I was always at his side. Always, that is, until he sent me away. But that he did for a noble reason – a reason of selfless giving. He would sacrifice anything for any one of his people including my cherished presence. How could I not love him all the more for that? How could I not do what he asked of me?

 

 

About the Author

 

Eileen O’Finlan calls her writing “history with a twist” because she is intrigued by the unusual and little known aspects of history – the stories on history’s margins, the things rarely taught in the classroom. For her, that’s where history really gets fun.

Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, her family moved to Worcester when she was two.  Four years later they moved to Holden where Eileen grew up and where she now resides with her 93 year old mother and two cats.

Eileen holds a Bachelor’s degree in history and a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Ministry.  She works full time for the Diocese of Worcester and teaches online courses in Catholic studies for the University of Dayton, Ohio.  She is proud to say that Pope Francis owns a copy of her debut novel, Kelegeen.  Erin’s Children, the sequel to Kelegeen, will be released by BWL Publishing, Inc. in December of 2020.

 

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Storms of Malhado

 

by

 

Maria Elena Sandovici

 

 

Genre: Historical Fiction / Ghosts

Publisher: Independently Published

Date of Publication: March 26, 2020

Number of Pages: 252

 

 

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Galveston Island, Texas, September 2008 Katie doesn’t believe in ghosts. And she certainly doesn’t believe the rumors that her family’s home is haunted, despite its tragic history: two young women who lived there in different eras died in hurricanes—one during Hurricane Carla in 1961, one during the Great Storm of 1900, the greatest natural disaster to befall the United States. But that was the past, a fact Katie reminds herself of when she returns to Galveston to await Hurricane Ike with her parents and boyfriend in her family’s Broadway mansion, hoping to rekindle her flailing relationship.

While Katie is not afraid of the ghost stories she’s heard, she is afraid of the monster storm approaching. As even die-hard Islanders evacuate, her fears grow—fear of the looming hurricane, fear that she’s talentless as a painter, fear that her relationship with her boyfriend is already over. As Katie struggles against her fears, the past whispers to her of the women who died there and the haunting similarities they share with Katie’s own life.

Through three different timelines, Storms of Malhado weaves a story of Galveston’s past, underscoring its danger and isolation, as well as its remarkable resilience, and its capacity for both nostalgia and reinvention. Full of contradictions, at once insular and open to the world, Galveston Island is as much a character of the novel as Katie, Suzanne, Betty, their lovers, and their confidantes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Praise

 

“Taking place entirely on a beautifully moody Galveston Island, Ms. Sandovici weaves three simultaneous stories with ease. With a timeless tale, ethereal language, and complicated characters, readers will be entranced by this modern ghost story. How many times can the past repeat itself? How do we recognize people through generations? The author tackles this topic amid a backdrop of violent nature and intangible dreamscapes.”  —Courtney Brandt, author of The Queen of England: Coronation, Grand Tour, Ascension

 

“Three women, three great storms, and one house, haunted by forbidden love and frustrated ambition. Get ready to be swept away by Sandovici’s foray into Galveston Island’s tempestuous history in this tale of lives intertwined across time.” —Donna Dechen Birdwell, author of Not Knowing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Story of My 1900 Bathing Dress

 

(View the Pinterest board the author created for Storms of Malhado)

 

 

Writing historical fiction came with many challenges. The part of Storms of Malhado taking place in 1900 required tons of research and two rounds of critique from Margaret Doran, who established her expertise on Galveston Island’s history through her long collaboration with the Galveston Historical Foundation and the Rosenberg Library. Luckily, she is a meticulous critic who read my manuscript twice and picked out small—and larger—blunders. “Suzanne would not be reading a paperback,” she pointed out as part of her feedback on an early draft. Easy fix, no problem. “Why is Suzanne in Galveston for the summer?” she inquired in response to the same draft. “Wealthy women would travel to milder climates.” Addressing this was harder than the paperback issue and required inventing an illness and some serious phobias for Suzanne’s mother. This ended up adding depth to that character, so it was a win. But what was I to do about a young lady of means not being able to go to the Strand unchaperoned and definitely not being able to sneak into her lover’s room? This was tricky, but finally I came up with the Ward house—a wealthy family’s mansion, boarded up for summer, which ends up being a secret refuge for the lovers. This added an extra layer of romance to the affair, so I was happy.

 

 

It was a small, easily fixed mistake that took me on the most exciting adventure. “Suzanne’s bathing dress would not have been white,” Margaret Doran wrote. I could have simply changed “white” to “dark” and moved on, but editing is hard and yours truly loves to procrastinate. I got on Pinterest and pinned tons of pictures of young women in 1900 bathing dresses to my Storms of Malhado board. Then I happened upon an advertisement from a place called Historical Emporium, offering to sell me an accurate replica of Suzanne’s bathing dress—complete with white pantaloons! How could a small business owner struggling to make ends meet resist such a useful purchase? To make the investment complete, I immediately called my photographer, the talented Bogdan Mihai at Buburuza Productions, and booked a photoshoot for as soon as the bathing dress arrived. What’s funny is that I had just completed a photoshoot with him—dressed in my favorite outfits, studio lights aimed expertly at my face, fans blowing my hair, and all that jazz—and wasn’t crazy about the results because I just couldn’t relax. In fact, I couldn’t sleep a wink before the shoot. Afterwards, seeing the circles under my eyes shine through my Chanel makeup, I experienced an instant midlife crisis. Was this it? Was my life over, all my beautiness gone? (I assure you I’m an empowered woman well aware of my worth, but such thoughts do occasionally plague me). My wonderful photographer reassured me that posing takes practice. And playfulness. But I had my doubts.

 

 

 

My much-needed dose of playfulness arrived promptly in a package from Historical Emporium. I was back under the studio lights, fans blowing my hair, music playing, and this time I was having too much fun to be nervous. I laughed and smiled through the entire photoshoot and feigned panic at a most unexpected overflow arriving despite the Weather Bureau’s assurances that Galveston was safe. I love the resulting pictures! Turns out I can pose after all! All I need is a 1900 bathing dress! And because my self-confidence was at its peak, I entered the historical Bathing Beauties contest, a vintage bathing suit extravaganza, which has taken place every summer in Galveston for 100 years now, on Splash Day. Reader, I got in! I’m a Bathing Beauty! Splash Day had to be postponed because of the pandemic, and you bet I cried, but it’s still taking place the weekend of August 1, and my 1900 bathing dress and I will be in it!

 

 

 

 

Maria Elena Sandovici is a full-time writer, artist, and gallery owner living in Houston, Texas. After obtaining a Ph.D. in political science from the State University of New York at Binghamton in 2005, her curiosity led her to Texas, where she taught at Lamar University for fourteen years. She felt attracted to Galveston Island from her first visit and lived there part-time for three years before her artistic career took her to Houston.

 

Sandovici is a 2008 graduate of John Ross Palmer’s Escapist Mentorship Program, a program that teaches artists business skills. She resigned from her tenured academic position in December 2018 and opened her own private gallery space. Her previous works of fiction are Dogs with Bagels, Stray Dogs and Lonely Beaches, Lost Path to Solitude, The Adventures of Miss Vulpe, and Lone Wolf. She is also the author of Stop and Smell the Garbage, a volume of poetry in the voice of her dog, Holly Golightly. You can follow her daily adventures on her blog HaveWatercolorsWillTravel.blog.

 

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MAY 21-31, 2020

 

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5/21/20	Notable Quotable	The Page Unbound
5/21/20	Review	Forgotten Winds
5/22/20	Author Video	Hall Ways Blog
5/22/20	Review	The Clueless Gent
5/23/20	Playlist	That’s What She’s Reading
5/24/20	Excerpt	Chapter Break Book Blog
5/25/20	Character Interview	Texas Book Lover
5/25/20	Review	Rainy Days with Amanda
5/26/20	Review	Reading by Moonlight
5/27/20	Excerpt	Sybrina’s Book Blog
5/28/20	Guest Post	StoreyBook Reviews
5/28/20	Review	All the Ups and Downs
5/29/20	Scrapbook	Tangled in Text
5/30/20	Review	Missus Gonzo
5/30/20	Review	KayBee’s Book Shelf

 

 

 

 

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The Outlaw’s Daughter

 

Haywire Brides, Book 3

 

by

 

Margaret Brownley

 

Western / Historical Fiction / Clean & Wholesome Romance

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Date of Publication: May 26, 2020

Number of Pages: 384

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

He may be a Texas Ranger, but he only has eyes for the outlaw’s beautiful daughter . . . 

Texas Ranger Matt Taggert is on the trail of a wanted man. He has good reason to believe that Ellie-May’s late husband was involved in a stagecoach robbery, and he’s here to see justice done. But when he arrives in town, he discovers the thief has become a local hero . . . and his beautiful young widow isn’t too happy to see some lawman out to tarnish her family’s newly spotless reputation.

 

Ellie-May’s shaken by her encounter with the ranger. Having grown up an outlaw’s daughter, she’ll do anything to keep her children safe—and if that means hardening her heart against the handsome lawman’s smiles, then so be it. Because she knows Matt isn’t about to give up his search. He’s out to redeem himself and find proof that Ellie-May’s husband wasn’t the saint everyone claims . . . even if it means losing the love neither expected to discover along the way.

 

 

 

 

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Look no further for a sweet western romance that will bring joy to your heart but has a small element of danger and mystery.

This may be the third in the series but the stories do not overlap and you can read these in any order.  This story focuses on Ellie-May who has lost her husband. Neal, to heroic events.  However, Texas Ranger Matt Taggert has different ideas about Neal and thinks that he might have robbed a stagecoach and is trying to get to the truth about the events that happened that day and where the stolen money has gone.  To top things off, Ellie-May’s father was a criminal and she has been branded by the local citizens that she must be just as bad as her father.  This is sad but not uncommon thinking for people, even today.

While reading this story, I could not help but admire Ellie-May for all that she has endured during her life.  She is not afraid to stand up for what is right or to protect her family.  She is like most single parents, doing what she can to keep the family safe, clothed, and fed.  Don’t mess with her family if you value your life!  Matt may be a tough Texas Ranger, but he is running from demons of his own, and could the answer lie with Ellie-May?  Only time will tell.

There is a variety of supporting characters and two that grabbed my heart were Anvil and Jesse.  Anvil was a down and out homeless person that Neal befriended and brought home to join their family.  That kindness has made Anvil a part of their family for life and he would do anything to protect them.  I admired his character and there are even some humorous parts regarding the neighbor, Mrs. Butterwood.  Jesse is a teenager that wants to be a Texas Ranger like Matt.  Matt takes him under his wing since Jesse’s father has his own issues.  If you have sons or know teenage boys, you know that they can inhale food like there is no tomorrow.  This is a sense of amazement for Matt and perhaps he just doesn’t remember his childhood.  But the bond that grows between these two is special and will warm your heart.

Sadly this is the last in this series according to the author’s notes.  I enjoyed the time in Haywire and I hope you do too.  Make sure to read the author’s notes at the end for a few other interesting tidbits.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New York Times bestselling author Margaret Brownley has penned more than forty-six novels and novellas.

 

A two-time Romance Writers of American RITA® finalist, Margaret has also written for a TV soap and is a recipient of the Romantic Times Pioneer Award. Not bad for someone who flunked eighth-grade English. Just don’t ask her to diagram a sentence.

 

 

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Haywire Brides series,

Cowboy Charm School and The Cowboy Meets His Match

 

  May 26-June 5, 2020

 

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5/26/20	Promo	All the Ups and Downs
5/26/20	Review	Missus Gonzo
5/27/20	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
5/27/20	Review	Book Bustle
5/28/20	BONUS Post	Hall Ways Blog
5/28/20	Review	That’s What She’s Reading
5/29/20	Review	Books and Broomsticks
5/29/20	Review	The Adventures of a Travelers Wife
5/30/20	Review	Book Fidelity
5/31/20	Review	Bibliotica
6/1/20	Review	The Page Unbound
6/1/20	Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
6/2/20	Review	Carpe Diem Chronicles
6/3/20	Review	It’s Not All Gravy
6/4/20	Review	Forgotten Winds
6/4/20	Review	Momma on the Rocks

 

 

 

 

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