Stand the Storm

Stand the Storm is the latest book by Breena Clarke. It is an historical fiction book about Sewing Annie and her son Gabriel. Born as slaves to Jonathan Ridley they both are able to live and work in Georgetown prior to the civil war. They even manage to buy their freedom but, at what a price? Slavery was a mark upon a persons soul that could never be erased. Annie and her son try hard to make new lives for themselves and over come the painful legacy of slavery. There are many memorable secondary characters in Stand the Storm. Some black and some white who help to make this story what it is. A truly engrossing read about the power of talent and the desire to change history.

Don't Make Me Choose Between You and My Shoes

The title of this book caught my eye and I couldn't pass up reading it. It's a cute cozy about 2 beauty shop/private eye partners that are invited to the National Association of Private Investigators in New York City. An all expenses paid trip in the Big Apple! What more could two women from Salt Lick, Texas ask for. In New York they meet up with Celina, a small town librarian also from Texas who has been robbed and Cher, a working girl with a heart of gold. Debbie Sue and Edwina take them both under their wing and before you know it they are involved in a murder investigation that just could end up with both of their demises. It was cute, funny and a little out there , but all in all a good summer read.

Mistress of the Sun

I was a big fan of Ms Gulland's Josephine B. trilogy and looked forward to reading her latest Mistress of the Sun. This book is the story of Louise de la Valliere mistress to Louis XIV, France's Sun King. Louise loses her father at a young age and spends her childhood in a convent run by her aunt. When her mother remarries Louise secures a position at court and meets up with Louis where he soon wins her heart. I really enjoyed this tale of Louise and the french history it entailed. With a little mystery and intrigue to keep one guessing this was a very good read.

Time is A River

I have always enjoyed Mary Alice Monroe's books and was so happy to get her latest Time is A River. Mia Landan is a breast cancer survivor. She decides to take up fly fishing and after returning home from her first fly fishing retreat finds her husband in bed with another woman. Mia runs back to her teacher Belle who offers her the use of her family cabin in the mountains of Ashville North Carolina for the summer. The cabin belonged to Belle's grandmother Kate who Belle never knew and was the subject of a scandal while she lived in the cabin. Mia finds Kate's journals and starts to unravel the mystery of Kate who was a legendary fly fisher and how she came about being accused of murdering her lover. I liked the setting of the book. Who wouldn't want to stay in a cabin in the mountains of North Carolina right next to a river. Mia finds herself and also helps Belle to find out who she is and the grandmother she never knew.

I have enjoyed Ms Monroe's previous books a little more. Swimming Lessons, The Beach House and Sweet Grass but, think that may be because they take place on the coast. All in all Time Is A River was a good read.

This is the story of three generations of the Paint Family as they struggle to make a life on the western plains. Enroute from Mississippis to the Dakota Territory at the height of the Civil War Ebenezar Paint meets twice widowed Cora and marries her. They have twin sons Eli and Ezra. By 15 the boys are orphans and the story tells how they struggle to make a part of the wild west their own. The story has an unforgettable cast of characters who do there best to make it in an ever changing frontier. Letters and diaries from the authors own family form a basis for the story and I really enjoyed the book. It was an especially easy read for me as the author did not over do it in my opinion with frivilous wording. The story just seemed to flow and I highly recommend it for any historical fiction fans.

Blogging

I have been so bad about this blog and really want to try and get back into writing short reviews of what I am reading. I love reading other people's blogs and see no reason why I can't give it another go and see if I do better at it this time....