The Sacred Flame: A Novel by Nanette Littlestone

Release Date: October 22, 2015
Publisher: Words of Passion
Author Website:  http://www.wordsofpassion.com

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
In Ancient Rome, the Vestal Virgins were seen as the harbingers of safety for all of the city. They maintained the Sacred Fire which could be seen by any Roman should he or she look its way, attended several important rituals during the year, and above all, provided Rome with the feeling that all was well. Livia, a Vestal Virgin, worked closely with the High Priestess for nearly thirty years, but was soon thrust into the leadership role as the High Priestess collapsed.

Even as she doubted her ability to lead the Vestals, Livia must confront her own growing desire to leave the world she'd known behind for one with her dearest friend, Keaseo. All seemed according to plan until the flame of desire for another took her attention away from her plans. Now Livia's entire world was thrust into turmoil as she fought to maintain control. Can she give up what she wants the most in order to keep Rome safe from Hannibal's clutches? Or will Rome fall with her?


Review:
I was presented the opportunity to read and give an honest review by the author through email. I really liked the cover when I opened the package. The thumbnail used in promotions didn't do the actually cover justice. It was another reason I was intrigued enough to read a story that wasn't my usual genre. Add to that my fascination with history and ancient cultures, I couldn't wait to start reading it. The author opened the book with a casual party setting where I found the characters were at ease with their places in the world. By end of the first chapter, that world was turned upside down in more ways than one.

Livia became the focus, not only of the book, but within the scope of Rome as the High Priestess of the Vestal Virgins. These women played an important role in making the citizens of the city and empire feel safe as they tended to an everlasting fire. It was up to them to also take part in various festivities and rituals during the year to ensure order within the city was maintained. The many castes of people were also explored in the book as well. From wealthy politicians to the lower classes which only carried one name, the author created a character from all walks of life that showed how divided that world was at the time and  how people from so long ago weren't so different from us today.  They squabbled over petty things, got jealous, and tried so hard to obtain the one thing they desired most. It was easy to put myself into those places throughout the story, especially through Livia.

While much of the book centered around Livia and her struggles, the author also included a bit of Roman history as well as their names for items or places. I loved learning the Roman names for things like the carriages or the different Roman baths that were available. The author slipped these in without making the reader aware that they learned something new. With a great pace set in the beginning of the novel, the characters became embroiled in the consequences of their actions or decisions quickly. Those consequences weren't always nice to endure, but I felt that some were necessary in order for the story to be told in a way that would have been true at the time. Humanity in all its forms, both good and bad, were put on display within the pages.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. To be honest, I didn't expect the ending at all. While I do think the ending served a greater purpose, I was definitely surprised at how everything played out. The story had so many layers, bits of action, and moments of romance that it was difficult to put it down. The ending did leave me with questions about the secondary characters, so I'm secretly hoping to hear that more will be coming down the line. If you enjoy historical romances or love exploring other cultures brought to life by a writer's hand, then definitely pick up a copy of this book!

The Sacred Flame: A Novel by Nanette Littlestone will be available for purchase on October 22, 2015. You can find more information about the novel by visiting the author's website ( http://www.wordsofpassion.com/the-sacred-flame.html ) where you can read an excerpt of the novel.

Jesse by Glen Alan Burke

Release Date: May 1, 2014
Publisher: Koehler Books
Author Website:  http://www.glenalanburke.com/

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
In 1960's rural Alabama, change came slowly to the town of Jess Rulam. When Jesse Savorie entered the elementary school, he stood out like a sore thumb. He was quiet, smart, big and beyond poor, but he stood out the most because he was a black boy in a white school. As the country marched toward equal rights and the children accepted the changes more readily than the adults, the clear divide between the people persisted.

Throughout his education Jesse taught life lessons to any and all who crossed his path. By using his uncanny knack for knowing what the person needed, he was able work miracles in even the hardest of hearts. Darkness and meanness lingered, festering among the townsfolk until it reached a boiling point where Jesse was concerned. Can he weather the harshest storm to work the biggest miracle possible? Will everything he worked for fall apart?

Review:
I also found this book when I searched through the offerings at NetGalley. Though historical fiction was not one of my go-to genres, I was pleasantly surprised by what I read in this book. To be honest and fair, the book started slow. It took a few chapters to settle into the world of Matt, the character who told a large portion of the story, and the town of Jess Rulam. Once I reached the third or fourth chapter, the story gained its bearing and continued a steady pace until the final chapter. To say that I wasn't expecting anything akin to the ending would be an understatement.

As mentioned above, the author used first person point-of-view for a large portion of the novel to tell the story through the eyes of Matt, a young, white boy who attended the local school system alongside Jesse, the odd boy who changed people and things wherever he went. There were also a number of chapters which featured third person point-of-view in order to give more history on the events, the town or particular characters. Though the switching between the two distracted me from the story a time or two, I wasn't put off by going back and forth. More than halfway through the novel, it didn't distract me at all.

The characters began showing their depth around the same time that the pace increased. Because this novel was set in Alabama during the 1960's and 1970's, the racial divide was much larger than today. Yes, discrimination and violence against both sides were present in the novel, but used to move the story along and provide context about the town, the people's deep-rooted beliefs and how change scared everyone. True to form the children adapted to change much faster and handled the impacts better than the adults of the town. More profound events were necessary to get them to understand how divisive the hatred or disdain was to the town at large. By the end of the novel, each of the characters had experienced a change that left them much more complex than the beginning of the book.

Overall, I was surprised when I recognized the fact that the book was a retelling of a much older story. Once that realization sunk in, I had to know the ending of the book and whether it came close to the original or not. Different emotions came to the surface at different times. Anger when I read how some of the characters were treated. Sadness when I realized that most of the treatment was based on real experiences. Joy when I saw that people began realizing they needed to change. For me, this novel hit the right buttons for an thought-provoking, enjoyable read. For those who enjoy well-written, updated versions of well-known stories or a book which makes you think, then I whole-heartedly recommend this book.

Jesse by Glen Alan Burke is available at many online retailers in either paperback or Kindle (digital) formats. The link provided below will take you to the book's page at Amazon.
Jesse by Glen Alan Burke

Ravensbrück: Life and Death in Hitler's Concentration Camp for Women by Sarah Helm

Release Date: March 31, 2015
Publisher: Nan A. Talese (Doubleday Books)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
Before the beginning of World War II, Heinrich Himmler created a concentration camp 50 miles north of Berlin to house female prisoners. Once the war was over, it came to light that more than 100,000 women passed through the gates of Ravensbruck - each of them from one of over twenty different nations. Much of the history of this camp was suppressed or erased all together because of the atrocities which took place behind its wired walls. However, many heroic women told the story of their lives inside the camp once they were freed.

Compiled from salvaged letters, mountains of declassified papers and interviews from the remaining survivors or their families, Sarah Helm has created a comprehensive history of the camp from the first brick laid until the last prisoner left the grounds. She explored the various methods used to keep the prisoners 'in line' as well as the many protests, large and small, that the prisoners attempted to better their living conditions. Giving a voice to the thousands of voiceless, the book granted a lasting memory of those who were lost behind the gates of Ravensbruck.

Review:
I stumbled upon this book while searching through the Nonfiction section at NetGalley. Something about the book caught my eye and I decided to give it a read. What I found between the covers was one of the hardest yet profound books that I have read to date. Remembering the history lessons covered by years in school in no way compared to the information that the author compiled into this book. This particular concentration camp wasn't as well known or talked about like Auschwitz or Dachau, but the same atrocities occurred within its walls to the thousands of women prisoners brought from all over Europe. Maybe the press didn't put as high a value on the female lives as on the males. Maybe because the Jewish prisoners made up a small percentage of the total camp population. There could be many reasons as to why it's taken so long to have an in-depth account of the events at Ravensbruck.

From the camp's creation, Himmler wanted a place where he could contain the women which he consider inferior - political protestors, prostitutes, and Jews as well as many other nationalities deemed a poison to the German population at that time. The book not only presented the accounts of the prisoners with details and thorough fact-checking, but it also examined many of the SS guards which controlled the camp in the beginning up to the final year before liberation happened. In the beginning it was easy to tell which side was which as the prisoners had their uniforms and the guards had a distinctive look to their own as well. By the end of the war, there was such a shortage of officers and guards in the ranks of the SS that many of the prisoners were assigned jobs such as running each barrack or a particular area of the camp. Because of this intermingling, it was difficult to determine who was and wasn't trustworthy. In truth some of the prisoners acting as guards, or blockovas, were more ruthless than the SS guards - a fact that even disturbed Himmler at times. Rules were strictly followed as the camp accepted its first prisoners. Near the end of the war, thousands upon thousands of women streamed into the camp and made it difficult to enforce any of the rules all of the time.

The author gathered information from living survivors as well as the families of some who were now gone. Declassified documents from several governments and letters smuggled out of the camp helped to shape the manuscript into a comprehensive history of the camp and its inhabitants. It was written in such a manner that the events of each chapter flowed almost seamlessly into the next without a lot of backtracking when new people were prominent in the writing. The author's writing style would've made this book a quick, interesting read. However, the details of the horrific abuse and heartbreaking realities that these women endured made it difficult to wade through. There was so much in each sentence of the book that I could not skim the paragraph or chapter without losing vital information about the camp, a particular prisoner or even a significant change within a guard. The author's style of writing also gave dimension to the people involved in each of the situations. Everything about them came through in the narrative, creating a running movie in my mind and giving them the respect of being actual people who lived and breathed instead of merely characters in a story.

This book was truly a hard one to read because of the abuse and neglectful conditions that the women lived through. It occurred at any of the camps that they were sent after being processed at Ravensbruck, but the first taste of hell for many was the moments they stepped off the trains onto the grounds of Ravensbruck. What struck me first was the fact that a large portion of the women sent to the camp in the beginning weren't Jewish. They were mainly political prisoners, dissenters or even Jehovah's Witnesses who refused to help Hitler's cause. Once the war was under way, the women of each town the Germans conquered were sent to the camp until there were over 21 different nationalities and ethnic backgrounds among the women. This included Americans or the spouses/relatives of Americans such as Virginia Lake, the sister of Mayor La Guardia of New York at the time. Many of the women showed strength and determination in the face of such horrors and death itself in order to ensure what was happening to them got to the world outside the camp. This book gave a voice to the voiceless and allowed a light to shine on one of the few remaining unknowns of Hitler's reign of terror during the war. If you are a lover of nonfiction or are emboldened by people who find strength and determination when all hope is supposedly lost, this book is a must read.

Ravensbruck: Life and Death in Hitler's Concentration Camp for Women by Sarah Helm is currently available at several online retailers and local bookstores. It can be purchased in either hardcover or digital (Kindle) formats at the book's Amazon page. The link is provided below.
Ravensbruck: Life and Death in Hitler's Concentration Camp for Women by Sarah Helm

Woods Runner: Massacre at Schenectady 1690 by Rejean Giguere

Release Date: February 15, 2015
Publisher: Smashwords
Author Website: http://www.rejeangiguere.com/

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Before the countries of North America had their present boundaries, the lands and water between Canada and the US were under the control of the French and the English respectively during the late 17th century. Alongside these new settlers were the various Native American tribes, each with their own customs and ways of maintaining their territories. It was into this strange mix of old and new worlds that Jean Baptiste Giguere was born and raised to become a Woods Runner, or an explorer who'd help to shape the new worlds in the coming years.

Once a settlement on the French side was attacked, Jean Baptiste signed up to avenge the deaths of the innocent and followed a long line of soldiers, other woods runners and even Native Americans into battle on the land claimed by the English. But in the whirl of axes, clouds of gunsmoke and flashes of knives, he began to feel as though he made the wrong decision. The long march back home gave him plenty of opportunity to go over everything in his mind as the weather conspired to keep them on the road longer than anticipated with surprises along the way. Can the entire column reach before it's too late? Will Jean Baptiste be able to live with what he's done and seen?

Review:
I was contacted by the author and asked to read this book in order to give it a fair and honest review. Needless to say, his email intrigued me when he included a passage about the novel's inspiration being his research into his family tree. Combining two of my favorite ways to pass time into one book, I was hooked by the time I finished the end of the first chapter. I needed to know more about Jean Baptiste and why he was with a large column of people marching through winter to enact revenge. It seemed a stiff penalty for whatever the English had done to the French - which wasn't revealed until the end of the book.

Jean Baptiste was the main character of the book. He was joined by two Native Americans which he considered brothers. Kitchi was a member of the Algonquin tribe, while Okemos was from the Sault tribe. Jean Baptiste, or Etchemin as he was known by the Saults, came to know both of the tribes as he spent more than half a year with each during his training to become a Woods Runner. The first introductions and the first time Jean Baptiste stayed with the Natives were pretty comical, especially when he stumbled over certain traditions and competitions that the Algonquin held. There were also some funny moments when he joined the Sault tribe, but not as many once he noticed that both tribes shared similar traditions. Many secondary characters filled the ranks of friends, family and enemies. Each group had their own distinct way of working in the fields or taking care of their families based upon their different belief systems. Yet, the strange mix of people worked well together until they were put under the increasing amount of stress during the return home from a long march during the harsh winter storms.

The overall story is broken into three periods of time - becoming a woods runner, heading south and heading north. Each of these periods were mingled throughout the book, but denoted at the beginning of each section along with the date. Although these sections weave in and out of the timeline, the overall story flowed well from past to present and back again. The pace of the story started strong and stayed very steady until the last word. Plenty of action kept the soldiers, Natives and woods runners moving on their trek to the English territory and back home. At times I wasn't sure which of their enemies was the worst - the weather, the warring tribes on their trail or the marching men themselves. Despite the grimness of the march, the author layered scenic descriptions around the action which helped to ease the long walk home. Along with the flashbacks to Jean Baptiste's beginnings as a woods runner, the land and large bodies of water played as much a role in the book as the characters themselves.

I really enjoyed this book for a few reasons. I liked that the inspiration was the author's own ancestor and what that ancestor may have had to endure during his lifetime. From doing research into my own family tree, I know that after a certain point in history that records become scarce. A lot of details were lost when not passed down through oral or written tradition. The author was able to recreate what might have been through research, creating a believable, unexplored world with characters easy to relate to and root for. There were many times that I forgot I was reading fiction because the author did a great job making them come to life. I also thought the balance between action and adventure was near perfect. It was so easy to keep reading whenever I needed to stop because I wanted to know what was going to happen to the characters next. I will say one thing about the ending. I'm glad that there were some avenues left open. I'm excited to see what will be in store for Jean Baptiste and his exploration party. If you're looking for some historical fiction with plenty of action and adventure, then this is the book you need to get on your TBR list.

Woods Runner: Massacre at Schenectady 1690 by Rejean Giguere is currently available at many online retailers in either paperback and digital formats. The following link will take you to the book's page at Amazon.
Woods Runner: Massacre at Schenectady 1690 by Rejean Giguere

Lucky Us by Amy Bloom

Release Date: July 29, 2014
Publisher: Random House


Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
In the midst of turmoil between WWI and WWII, Eva Acton was dropped off on her father's doorstep after his wife passed away. She soon learned that all the illusions she held about her father were simply those - illusions. Combining her love of literature and her half-sister's acting talents, the girls struck out for Hollywood. It wasn't long before they find themselves on the wrong end of the stick and back to the East Coast.

As the years passed the family's paths diverged and left each in a different part of life as well as the world. Eva did whatever she could to survive in years following WWII when her little area of New York changed with the flood of returning soldiers and immigrants looking for their own better life. Trials and tribulations came in all shapes and sizes, but it's sweetness and kindness of life's moments that made it worth continuing.

Review:
NetGalley had this title for request. I decided to step out of my comfort zone a little and requested the title for review. From the outset of the story, it was evident that this wasn't going to be your usual coming-of-age story set in the time period between the WWI and the end of WWII. Much of the novel followed the lives of Eva Acton and her rag-tag family through the years. When I said her family wasn't the typical family of that generation, I meant it. Her father had two families, keeping Eva's a secret until the moment his first wife passed away. Even after she joined the family, her true identity was kept away from inquests for fear of shaming Iris, her half-sister.

In my opinion Eva was the main character of the book despite the letters from other characters or portions of chapters from another character's point-of-view. She may not have been in the middle of all the events that took place in the book, but they definitely impacted her life. These events had more of an impact on her than those directly involved. For every person that left her, another came along with the love, support, or whatever she needed at that time. The reader was shown what happened to the other characters including Iris, her half-sister; Edgar, her father; Fransisco, make-up artist extraordinaire; and Danny, her one saving grace.

There were lots of descriptions about the time, place and events in this book that brought the era to life for me. The opulence of Hollywood came through the author's words as Iris and Eva struggled to make Iris a movie star. Just as striking was the poverty and hard climb back to middle class that the family endured when they moved to New York in order to start their lives over. As wonderful as those parts were, I felt some of the story was slow moving, although they moved the entirety of the story along. At times the passages seemed a bit disjointed but ultimately came together in the end.

Overall, I liked this story more than I thought I would. There are a number of layers in this story from a girl who struggled to find her true place in a world trying to do the same to the harsh reality of a country frightened by war and spies. I was a little surprised to find so many characters present in the story that would be considered "outsiders" during this particular generation. From being black, Jewish, lesbian, or from German heritage, there were a lot of differences that still managed to bring people together in the end. If you're looking for something a little out of the ordinary or want to read about a girl's unique journey to womanhood and beyond, I would recommend putting this book on your TBR list.

Lucky Us by Amy Bloom is currently available online and local bookstores. It can be purchased in either hardcover or digital versions. Clicking the link below will take you to the book's page at Amazon.
Lucky Us by Amy Bloom

House of Bathory by Linda Lafferty

Release Date: January 14, 2014
Publisher: Amazon Publishing

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Dr. Betsy Path has her hands full with her latest patient, sullen teen and Goth extraordinaire, Daisy Hart. Despite her best efforts, Dr. Path was unable to have any type of breakthrough until she was in the midst of her own personal crisis. The two lives became entwined as a series of unexpected events led them halfway around the world and explored the ramifications of history 400 years earlier.

Secrets from the pasts of both Dr. Path and Daisy played a crucial role in the continuing legacy of Elizabeth Bathory, one of the most prolific killers in history. While in Slovakia at the very castle in which a majority of evil deeds were committed, Betsy learned the truth behind her father's cryptic messages and found that sometimes it pays for life to be a bit logical.

Review:
I was able to read a copy through NetGalley and I have to say, I really enjoyed it. This was my first time reading anything by Linda Lafferty, something that I will look into rectifying as soon as I'm able. The author did a great job weaving together events that happen 400 years apart. Though it did get a little confusing at times (especially when I forgot to read the small bit of information at the start of each chapter), I was able to find my way in the story with little difficulty.

The author had a great many layers to her novel. From the legends surrounding an actual figure in history to incorporating Carl Jung's writings and methods of psychoanalysis, they all became as threads woven in a tapestry and revealed how interconnected human life can really be - even in the modern day. I loved that the author took the time to write what life might have been like living under Countess Elizabeth Bathory's rule. It was a departure from simply taking the historical information available and interjecting it throughout the modern side of the story. Instead, the world of Bathory came alive and shared the richness of the colors, the sharpness of its smells and the lingering tang of fear in air.

After a slow start, the pacing of the story picked up and continued steadily until the end. In fact, I'd say there were a few places where it seemed a little rushed but with the events unfolding, it was plausible to be moving at a faster rate. When it came to the characters, I felt more of a connection with those in the 1600s than with the main character and others from modern times. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the other characters. The cast as a whole were well-rounded and seemed to have enough personality differences to keep them from running together.

The only drawbacks I found with the book were small ones. As I mentioned previously, I felt like some of the moments were rushed and that left some explanations for things by the wayside. For example, there is a Bathory cousin who devotes himself entirely to Elizabeth's memory and yet there's no reason to explain why other than he's mentally ill. There was an attempted explanation within a letter left by Betsy's father, but it never conclusively mentioned a source of the obsession. Some decisions made by a few characters seemed off somehow such as Daisy and Kyle's meeting and his character not adding much to the story other than to fill a plot hole.

All in all, I enjoyed this book. It was a fairly good mixture of past and present that kept me turning pages to find out what was going to happen. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction and this novel genuinely reflected that notion within its pages. If you're looking for a great way to spend a few night's wrapped in legend and family struggles, this is the book for you.

House of Bathory by Linda Lafferty is currently available at many retailers. It can be purchase in paperback, Kindle and audio-book formats at Amazon by clicking the link below.
House of Bathory by Linda Lafferty

A White Wind Blew: A Novel of Waverly Hills by James Markert

Release Date: February 4, 2014
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Wolfgang Pike came to Waverly Hills in order to heal the patients, both physically and spiritually. He was a priest-in-training when he fell in love with Rose, the woman who laid claim to his heart and revealed his second passion for healing others. It was in her memory that he continued tending to the many patients fighting the scourge of the time - tuberculosis.

Yet, in the midst of the fight, forces all around the sanatorium seemed to pull Wolfgang in dozens of directions. Will he be able to follow his own moral and ethical code when faced with difficult decisions? Will he be able to withstand the unrelenting pressures of living within the shadow of death and disease at Waverly Hills?

Review:
The history of Waverly Hills has always intrigued me since I first learned of it decades ago. The amount of heartache, tests of faith, and sorrow experienced within its walls must have been overwhelming to those who struggled to care for the many patients who turned to the staff for healing. Therefore, my interest was definitely piqued when I saw this novel available at NetGalley.

The events written within the novel were fiction but based upon the rich history of Waverly Hills, the surrounding areas, the city of Louisville and the current events sweeping the nation during the time period in which the novel was set. To me, the author did a wonderful job of mixing the racial tension, animosity leftover from the World War I and the trouble between Prohibition keepers and the bootleggers. I truly enjoyed the many layers of the book and especially liked the moments where the injustices were challenged. That's not to say the book was all rainbows and happiness. There were real consequences for the characters in the book whenever they began to go against the norms society held in place.

Much of the book centered around Wolfgang Pike, a doctor and student in training for the priesthood. Within the walls of Waverly, he had a small group of devoted friends among the staff and patients. Each of them played their part well in the story as it unfolded. The sweeping changes that took place, both in the characters themselves and the sanatorium, were realistic to the time in which the story was set. It was very easy to become lost within the story and feel what Wolfgang was going through at certain parts of the book. That made it much more enjoyable for me.

I was surprised that the author was able to mix some actual history into the story. The descriptions of the various floors and surrounding landscapes created a picture within my mind of a majestic, state of the art hospital in its time and not the broken down vessel often shown on TV or in pictures today. The author's use of the hospital's lore also gave the story an added dimension of realism, especially the use of Nurse Rita and the story of the Death Chute.

All in all, this book was a wonderful read that kept me up late every night that I was able to read it. I was able to see the story as a movie within my mind as I read the words, a testament to the dedication to realism that the author employed. There were some moments when I felt the pacing began to slow down, only to have it pick up again in the next moment. For anyone who enjoys historical fiction, Waverly Hills or simply a well-crafted stories that hits all the right buttons for a reader, I recommend this one highly.

A White Wind Blew: A Novel of Waverly Hills by James Markert is currently available in either paperback, hardcover or Kindle formats. You can purchase a copy from Amazon by clicking the link provided below.
A White Wind Blew: A Novel of Waverly Hills by James Markert

The Resurrection of Mary Mabel McTavish by Allan Stratton

Release Date: June 7, 2014
Publisher: Dundurn Group

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
During the Great Depression, times were tough for everyone including Brewster McTavish and his daughter, Mary Mabel. In exchange for their work as a handyman around the Bentwhistle Academy for Young Ladies, Mary Mabel is allowed to attend the classes alongside the more affluent girls. Through the dreariness of her days, Mary Mabel holds on to only two things - her books and her death.

When her deceased mother appears to her with the hour and manner of her death, Mary Mabel is filled with joy, setting about putting the plan into action. However, her plan goes awry when she doesn't die. Worst yet, she revives a young boy who died from electric shock. Her world is quickly turned upside as she tries to discover if this was a one-time resurrection or if there's a greater force behind her actions.

Review:
When I read the description for this book on NetGalley, I was very much intrigued and requested the book for review. To be honest, I wasn't quite sure how I felt about the book until I was a little over halfway through the story. There was a lot to the story, not only in the cast of characters but locations as well. The story began in a small town in Canada but soon spanned the entire continental United States.

Though the story did have a handful of main characters, the supporting cast was quite large. Many of the well-known names of the Depression era appeared in the story as it progressed, including William Randolph Hearst and J. Edgar Hoover. Though they were supporting characters in the book, their depictions were every bit as big as the papers of the day described them. Each of the main characters had their own depth and background as well, making them stand out from the crowds in the book. It was easy to despise those who thought only of themselves (Floyd and Ms.Bentwhistle) or empathize with the ones caught in the trap of fame (Mary Mabel and Doyle).

I thought the author made a good decision in setting the story within the midst of the Great Depression. The overwhelming and crushing despair of many families during these years became a beacon for those with get-rich-quick scams. People were hungry for food, for hope and for some sort of financial stability. Combining all of this, the author had the perfect recipe for Mary Mabel's meteoric rise to fame. Unfortunately, greed never really goes unpunished and the characters soon come to realize exactly what that means by the end of the book.

Because of the large cast and number of locations, the story set a good pace in the beginning but stalled a few times along the way. Though it took a little while to build the momentum, what took place in those slower-paced chapters made me empathize with Mary Mabel's plight more. Because of that, I wanted to see how things turned out for her - whether she was able to rid herself of some weighty problems and find happiness. Of course, I was completely invested by the middle of the book and couldn't wait to turn the next page.

All the trouble and schemes that poor Mary Mabel found herself in made me smile and at the same time, I wondered how she was going to break free. I also enjoyed seeing how life was during the Depression for people on each side of the monetary fence. The author painted a larger-than-life picture of those who were rich during those years and at the same time gave an accurate depiction of the those suffering without money, food and jobs. All in all, the book was enjoyable. Those who enjoy historical fiction or a rambunctious, whirlwind of tale will definitely want to pick up a copy of this book.

The Resurrection of Mary Mabel McTavish by Allan Stratton is available for pre-order in paperback at many online retailers. You can reserve a copy at Amazon by clicking the link provided below.
The Resurrection of Mary Mabel McTavish by Allan Stratton

Writers Between the Covers: The Scandalous Romantic Lives of Legendary Literary Casanovas, Coquettes, and Cads by Joni Rendon, Shannon McKenna Schmidt

Release Date: October 29, 2013
Publisher: Plume

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Before reality television and social media created a demand for gossip and paparazzi, the lives of many beloved and famous writers were made into legend through speculation and rumor. Violent fights, suicide attempts, drunken brawls and tempestuous lovers both fueled some the greatest written works and tormented those who created them.

Within the covers of this book, the lives of literary greats are examined. Included within are F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Lord Byron, Virginia Woolf, Norman Mailer and many, many more. Sometimes what happens off the page is much more scandalous and bizarre than anything that was written.

Review:
When NetGalley offered this book to review, I jumped at the chance to read it. I've always been fascinated by writing and the lives of those who felt called to do it. Let's just say that I wasn't disappointed with the book in the least bit. While I know some of the tidbits for a few of the authors, most of what was written came as a surprise to me. Therefore, I really enjoyed the book.

In a time before TMZ and gossip/reality shows, the antics that many of the authors did would have put even Miley to shame. Many believed in being as free with their love as they were with their words, leading to many affairs and secret liaisons. I do think that if the gossip columns were around during those times, they would have had a field day with the information!

Despite revealing a scandalous side of the artistic endeavors, I think the book serves as a reminder of how human the authors, both male and female, within truly were during their lifetimes. They loved, fought, felt and made bad choices - as any one of us have or might have when placed in their position. Their stories were told in a way that brought them to life in way that the reader could easily empathize with the authors.

All in all, this book was a great read. Full of information and yet not overwhelmingly so, the book wets the reader's imagination about the various lives of fellow writers. If you love nonfiction or any of the various authors listed with the book's own covers, I would suggest taking a chance with this book. You never know what you might learn.

Writers Between the Covers: The Scandalous Romantic Lives of Legendary Literary Casanovas, Coquettes and Cads by Shannon McKenna Schmidt and Joni Rendon is now available through various online retailers. The book is available in paperback, Kindle and Audiobook format at Amazon. You can purchase a copy by clicking the link below.
Writers Between the Covers: The Scandalous Romantic Lives of Legendary Literary Casanovas, Coquettes and Cads by Shannon McKenna Schmidt and Joni Rendon

The Blood of Gods: A Novel of Rome by Conn Iggulden

Rating:  4 out 5 stars.

Synopsis:
The book opens immediately after the Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar, has been assassinated by a group of Senators who name themselves the liberators of Rome. From that moment onward, Roman history is laid bare by the actions of the Senate and the boy who returns to Rome in order to collect his inheritance. Octavian Caesar Augustus is not content to let the murderers of his beloved father enjoy their hastily awarded amnesty. They must face Roman justice and he will die trying to fulfill that oath. Joining forces with Mark Antony and other characters from Roman history, they seek out those hiding from retribution and attempt to deliver justice in any manner fitting.

Review:
I was very fortunate to win an ARC of this book in a Goodreads.com giveaway. Delving into the historical fiction genre is new to me but I'm finding that it's a worthwhile genre when the author is as dedicated and talented as Conn Iggulden. Right from the beginning, the reader is thrown into the action and we see the aftermath of a brutal assassination. While there are a number of battle scenes, both on land and sea, there isn't an over-the-top amount of description of the blood and gore associated with such scenes. The author does a wonderful job of revealing the underlying thoughts and feelings that each major (and often minor) characters are balancing in order to achieve his goal. Overall, the book is very well written and flows easily from scene to scene. Because I'm not well versed in military strategy or fleet manuevers, I had some difficulty with those scenes. It was not because of the writing but my lack of knowledge in those areas. The book is definitely a must read if you are a lover of tales concerning Ancient Rome or any of the players involved in the Caesar era.

The Blood of Gods: A Novel by Conn Iggulden will be available in hardback and Kindle form on July 2, 2013. It can be pre-ordered at Amazon.com with the link below.
The Blood of Gods: A Novel of Rome by Conn Iggulden

True Crime: Michigan: The State's Most Notorious Criminal Cases by Tobin T. Buhk

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
True Crime: Michigan is a book full of murder, mayhem and history from across the state of Michigan. Beginning with some of the crimes known to have taken place before Michigan had been given statehood, the book shows the rough and tumble way of life that has come to those in Michigan. The stories include many arenas of the criminal world including murders, extortion, gang activity and even a disappearance. Each is a true account given with background information concerning the key individuals and several theories, if applicable. Some examples of cases covered within the book include the Michigan victims of the Lonely Hearts Killers Raymond Fernandez and Martha Beck, the rise and fall of the Purple Gang, an island where one man's perception of religion ruled, the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa and many more.

Review:
As a lover of true crime novels, I was quite pleased to find this book on a day when the Kindle version was free. I was immediately taken in by the history of the state we've come to know as Michigan. The author lays out how the land and its people moved from uncharted, wild territory into the state we may visit today. Along the way, we learn some of the shady characters that make the history colorful, to say the least. I really liked how the author kept his writing unbiased, presenting the information in both an entertaining and informing narrative that was quite easy to follow. Of course, I feel as though the book was a bit short but that's only because I do enjoy the genre. All in all, the book is a solid, entertaining read that provides as accurate information as allowed by records that have been kept or media coverage of events. If you are a true crime lover, this book is one you should consider checking out.

True Crime: Michigan: The State's Notorious Criminal Cases by Tobin T. Buhk is available in both paperback and Kindle form. It can be purchased from Amazon.com at the link below.
True Crime: Michigan: The State's Most Notorious Criminal Cases by Tobin T. Buhk