The Historical Fiction Shelf

Pull of the Moon
Joanne C. Parsons
Independently Published
9781734943634, $11.99 Paper/$3.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Pull-Moon-strangers-heartache-ultimately/dp/17349436=
37

Edmund Kenney is not the kind of man to push a woman around. Even in the 18= 00s, the setting of Pull of the Moon, he's a poor Irishman with dreams beyo=
nd struggling to survive. Maybe that's why he moves from a Massachusetts ho=
me and family to embark on a journey that moves him from shame and life bet= ween households and countries to new possibilities: "I stood tall despite m=
y trembling legs as my feet touched land after the long voyage. No longer t=
he mangey Irish greenhand, I was Edmund Kenney, whalehunter."

Frances Foster is an orphaned Irish immigrant who left her home with family=
in search of a better life, only to find herself indentured and trapped in=
poverty and servitude. Her new life in America feels like "lambs going for=
slaughter" as she and her sister, fifteen and sixteen, find themselves alo=
ne and buffeted in a world that requires them to be linked to a man, whethe=
r by marriage or in servitude.

Where is God when Frances needs him? Apparently nearby, because she is call=
ed upon to help the frail Lenora and care for her newborn. Everything chang=
es as she is "sold like a cow" and ensnared in a different manner than Leno= ra, who is married to Edmund.

Pull of the Moon follows the journey of three strangers, who each suffer br= oken promises, heartache, and ultimately, for some, the courage to start ov= er. It does so with a special gift for profiling different characters, thei=
r motivations, and the rationale behind their perceptions and actions, givi=
ng the story a strong psychological depth that keeps readers thoroughly imm= ersed.

The strata of social standing in the Irish immigrant community in America c= ome to life as James Wilson confronts the "shanty Irish Catholic" who would=
wed his daughter, and Edmund in turn thinks little of Wilson's heritage: "= You're a waste of my time. Find another fish to hook. I'd be lowering mysel=
f to marry into your family. A bunch of fallen Catholics who didn't have th=
e courage to stand by their faith." He sneered, "All for money." Little abo=
ut their beginning relationship has to do with love. It's a practical arran= gement that evolves into something more complicated than Edmund, his father= -in-law James, or Frances ever could have imagined.

Joanne C. Parsons does an outstanding job of probing concepts of greed, sla= very, and cultural influences that move from Ireland to Massachusetts and i= nto forays around the world. The story moves between third- and first-perso=
n discussions, involving readers in different ways as the entwined lives an=
d loves of Lenora, Edmund, and Frances come to life.

Especially notable are the discussions of women's and men's roles in a worl=
d where love, fairness, and servitude aren't readily defined as they are to= day. Each character is in thrall in different ways, both by their heritage = and by their perceptions of themselves and their roles in life. The result = will heavily draw historical fiction readers especially interested in the I= rish community and its strata of relationships and social standings, provid= ing strong literary writing that blends high drama with choices and consequ= ences that invite understanding and new realizations.

Parsons creates a compelling story of three very different yet entwined liv=
es whose choices, secrets, heritage and objectives bring them together in c= omplicated ways. Libraries looking for powerful stories of the 1800s Irish = community in America and especially for tales replete with social and psych= ological inspection will find Pull of the Moon especially compelling in how=
it portrays these disparate lives and the forces that influence not just t= heir progression, but their relationships and how they perceive opportunity=
from angst and repressive circumstances.

The Rose of Washington Square
Pat Wahler
www.patwahler.com
Evergreen Tree Press
9781732387690, $15.99, PB, 391pp

https://www.amazon.com/Rose-Washington-Square-ONeill-Creator/dp/1732387699

Synopsis: Self-taught artist Rose O'Neill leaves the Midwest for New York i=
n 1893, determined to become an illustrator in a field dominated by males. = Mindful of her duty to the impoverished family she left behind, Rose's obli= gations require her to yield to the men who hold the reins of her career; a=
s well as the men she grows to love.

Yet despite every obstacle facing her, she excels at her craft, eventually = designing a new character, the Kewpie. Her creation explodes into a phenome= non, but Rose's disenchantment with the status quo fosters new ambitions. S=
he must decide whether to remain within the boundaries dictated for her, or=
risk everything she's gained to pursue the creative and personal passions = that ignite her soul.

With grit and tenacity, Rose O'Neill blazed an unforgettable path as artist=
, writer, suffragist, and philanthropist during the turbulent times of the = early 20th century.

Critique: Although a work of deftly crafted fiction, "The Rose of Washingto=
n Square" by Pat Wahler is based upon the real life and accomplishments of = one Rose Cecil O'Neill (June 25, 1874 - April 6, 1944) who was an American = cartoonist, illustrator, artist, and writer. She rose to fame for her creat= ion of the popular comic strip characters, Kewpies, in 1909, and was also t=
he first published female cartoonist in the United States. This fictional b= iography is a fully entertaining read that is especially and unreservedly r= ecommended for community library Biographical & Historical Fiction collecti= ons. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Rose of Washin= gton Square" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).

Editorial Note: Pat Wahler (www.patwahler.com) is a winner of Western Ficti= oneers' Best First Novel of 2018, a Walter Williams Award winner, and the w= inner of Author Circle Awards 2019 Novel of Excellence in Historical Fictio=
n for I am Mrs. Jesse James. She has also authored a three-book contemporar=
y romance series-the Becker Family Novels, and two holiday-themed books; al=
l named Five-Star Readers' Favorites. A frequent contributor to the Chicken=
Soup for the Soul anthologies, Pat is an avid reader with a special passio=
n for historical fiction, women's fiction, and stories with heart.

Angels and Bandits
Brodie Curtis
www.brodiecurtis.com
Westy Vistas Books
9781733783521, $10.95, PB, 364pp

https://www.amazon.com/Angels-Bandits-Brodie-Curtis/dp/1733783520

Synopsis: On the eve of World War II, working-class Eddy Beane is a flight = instructor in London. He successfully completes dangerous espionage mission=
s for Air Commodore Keith Park and takes on society-girl June Stephenson as=
a student. Her ex-fiance, Dudley Thane, is also a flyer, but upper-class a=
nd Cambridge-educated. When the German Luftwaffe attacks England in 1940, E= ddy and Dudley end up serving in the same Spitfire squadron. Aerial combat =
is intense, and both men show their skills and courage, but can they set as= ide jealousy and class differences to become fighting brothers for the defe= nse of Britain?

"Angels and Bandits" by novelist Brodie Curtis takes place as the air battl=
e over Britain rages and two young RAF pilots from very different stations =
in life must somehow find common ground -- and staying alive in this lethal=
conflict where, in paraphrased words of Winston Churchill, 'So many owe so=
much to so few'.

Critique: With a very special appeal to readers who are fans of World War I=
I themed action/adventure stories, "Angels and Bandits" is a rewarding read=
from first page to last. Showcasing the narrative driven storytelling styl=
e author Brodie Curtis, "Angels and Bandits" is unreservedly recommended fo=
r community library WWII Historical Fiction collections. It should be noted=
for personal reading lists that "Angels and Bandit" is also available in a=
digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).

Editorial Note: Brodie Curtis (www.brodiecurtis.com) is the author of "The = Four Bells", a novel of The Great War, which is the product of extensive hi= storical research, including long walks through the fields of Flanders, whe=
re much of the book's action is set. His second novel, "Angels and Bandits"=
, takes his protagonists into The Battle of Britain. A lover of history, pa= rticularly American history and the World Wars, Curtis reviews historical f= iction for the Historical Novels Review.

Somebody's Business
Irene Bennett Brown
Five Star Publishing
c/o Gale Cengage Learning, Inc.
20 Channel Center Street, Boston, MA 02210
https://www.gale.com/five-star
www.cengageptr.com
9781432895433, $25.95, HC, 217pp

https://www.amazon.com/Somebodys-Business-Nickel-Hill-3/dp/1432895435

Synopsis: Jocelyn Pladson buys the livery stable in Skiddy to aid the widow=
of the previous owner. Citified newcomers with shady pasts and newly inven= ted motorcars, Maretta Rudd and J. L. Cochran intend to replace the livery = with a motorcar business. Fools, who ignore too soon the need for horses an=
d mules in transportation and farm work.

Maretta preaches the livery is smelly, antiquated. J.L. aims for a seat on = town council to bolster their plan. While Jocelyn persuades others to not v= ote for him, he arranges a 4th of July celebration to win votes. A mad dog = running through the frightened crowd ends the festivities early.

When a horse race J.L. bet a fortune on is canceled. Rom, the teenage boy J= ocelyn took in and raised, offers a race between his mule and J.L.'s Oldsmo= bile. The winner?

J.L., furious, hires hoodlums to demolish Jocelyn's livery, expecting blame=
to land on them alone. No dice. Prison for J.L. looms, and Maretta leaves = town. Jocelyn plans to keep the Skiddy property, the land, for a promising = future.

Critique: A fun read from cover to cover, "Somebody's Business" showcases a= uthor Irene Bennett Brown's impressive and narrative driven storytelling sk= ills. Original, entertaining, this Five Star Publishing edition of "Somebod= y's Business" is unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and co= mmunity library Historical Fiction collections. It should be noted by libra= rians that "Somebody's Business" is also available in a large print paperba=
ck edition (Wheeler Publishing Large Print, 9781432895440, $$26.99).

Editorial Note: Irene Bennett Brown Brown (http://www.irenebennettbrown.net=
) is a longtime member of Western Writers of America and is a founding memb=
er of Women Writing the West.

Marvelous
Molly Greeley
https://www.mollygreeley.com
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
www.blackstoneaudio.com
9780063244092, $32.00, HC, 416pp

https://www.amazon.com/Marvelous-Novel-Molly-Greeley/dp/0063244098

Synopsis: 1547: Pedro Gonzales, a young boy living on the island of Tenerif=
e, understands that he is different from the other children in his village.=
He is mercilessly ridiculed for the hair covering his body from head to to=
e.

When he is kidnapped off the beach near his home, he finds himself delivere=
d by a slave broker into the dangerous and glamorous world of France's roya=
l court. There "Monsieur Sauvage," as he is known, learns French, literatur=
e, and sword fighting, becoming an attendant to the French King Henri II an=
d a particular favorite of his queen, the formidable Catherine de' Medici. = Queen Catherine considers herself a collector of unusual people and is fasc= inated by Pedro -- and determined to find him a bride.

Catherine Raffelin is a beautiful seventeen-year-old girl whose merchant fa= ther has fallen on hard times and offers up his daughter to Queen Catherine=
.. The queen will pay his debts, and his daughter will marry Monsieur Sauvag= e.

Catherine meets Pedro for the first time on their wedding day. Barely recov= ered from the shock of her father's betrayal, she soon finds herself christ= ened "Madame Sauvage" by the royal courtiers, and must learn to navigate th=
is strange new world, and the unusual man who is now her husband.

Critique: A magnificent work of carefully crafted historical fiction, "Marv= elous" by Molly Greely is based upon a real character in 16th Century Franc=
e whose name was Petrus Gonsalvus (c. 1537, Tenerife - c. 1618), famous dur= ing his lifetime because of his medical condition -- hypertrichosis. His li=
fe at various courts in Italy and France has been well chronicled. "Marvelo= us" is a compelling portrait of an unusual marriage and the story of a rema= rkable, resilient family. While especially and unreservedly recommended for=
community library Historical/Biographical Fiction collections, it should b=
e noted for personal reading lists that "Marvelous" is also available in a = digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio=
book (Blackstone Audio, 9798212206808, $41.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Molly Greeley (https://www.mollygreeley.com) is also the au= thor of "The Clergyman's Wife" (2019) and "The Heiress" (2021).

Within These Walls of Sorrow
Amanda Barratt
Kregel Publications
2450 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.kregel.com
9780825447013, $17.99, PB, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Within-These-Walls-Sorrow-Poland/dp/0825447011

Synopsis: Set in World War II Poland, "Within These Walls Of Sorrow is the = story of Zosia Lewandowska, a woman who knows the brutal realities of war a=
ll too well. Within weeks of Germany's invasion of her Polish homeland, she=
lost the man she loves. As ghetto walls rise and the occupiers tighten the=
ir grip on the city of Krakow, Zosia joins pharmacist Tadeusz

Pankiewicz and his staff in the heart of the Krakow ghetto as they risk the=
ir lives to aid the Jewish people trapped by Nazi oppression.

Hania Silverman's carefree girlhood is shattered as her family is forced in=
to the ghetto. Struggling to survive in a world hemmed in by walls and rife=
with cruelty and despair, she encounters Zosia, her former neighbor, at th=
e pharmacy. As deportation winnow the ghetto's population and snatch those = she holds dear, Hania's natural resiliency is exhausted by reality.

Zodia and Hania's lives intertwine as they face the griefs and fears thrust=
upon them by war, until one day, they are forced to make a desperate choic=
e -- one that will inexorably bind them together, even as they are torn apa= rt.

Critique: A compelling and deftly written work of extraordinary literary fi= ction from first page to last, novelist Amanda Barratt's meticulous researc=
h and lush, award-winning writing shine once again in "Within These Walls O=
f Sorrow", a moving story about a group of unsung heroes who fought for hop=
e and humanity in the most harrowing of times now known to us at the Holoca= ust. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book form=
at (Kindle, $9.99), "Within These Walls Of Sorrow" is a significant and unr= eservedly recommended addition to community library World War II era histor= ical fiction collections.

Editorial Note: Amanda Barratt (www.amandabarratt.net) is the Christy Award= -winning author of several novels and novellas, including My Dearest Dietri= ch: A Novel of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Lost Love. She is also a member of Ame= rican Christian Fiction Writers and a two-time FHL Reader's Choice Award fi= nalist.

Memoirs of Spurius
D. Laszlo Conhaim
www.dlaszloconhaim.com
Broken Arrow Press
9780984317547, $TBA

At first glance, contemporary readers - particularly those who are not intr= insically attracted to the genre of historical fiction - might not realize = the gem they hold in their hands with Memoirs of Spurius. The story feature=
s a figure who lived in second-century BCE Rome, and whose actions crushed = the cult of Bacchus. It will take an open mind to new possibilities in hist= orical writing and one able to spot connections between the ancient and mod= ern world to uncover the delights embedded in Memoirs of Spurius. The novel=
draws many parallels between the past and present, from cultism and terror= ism to the actions of a leader whose choices not only influence but transfo=
rm his world.

D. Laszlo Conhaim's efforts in recreating and depicting the times are parti= cularly notable, given the dearth of information about these events. Close = attention to the historical record and archaeological evidence helped fill =
in many gaps. Our narrator, Spurius Postumius Albinus, thus comes to life a=
s a believable character whose actions as Rome=E2=80=99s consul are underst= andable within the context of his circumstances and which surprisingly fore= shadow the politics of today.

One way Conhaim makes his story so vivid and relevant, even for readers wit=
h little to no prior familiarity with ancient Rome, is in the use of the Fi= rst Person to bring Spurius to life as he recounts and ponders his duties i=
n bringing order to a threatened society:

"Still rivaled by neighbors on the Italian peninsula, the state was weaker = then, but by the age of my consulship we had subdued every major enemy at h= ome and also abroad. Thus, when we suddenly discovered the state threatened=
by an internal foe, some of my colleagues in the Senate suggested that the=
gods were punishing us for having neglected public morals at home in favor=
of building the empire. Now, if the gods=E2=80=99 method of exposing our s= lippage was indeed to threaten Rome with a false and pestilent religion, th=
en they had consequently made me the champion of her moral revival."

The political and social struggles that unfold, and the moral and ethical q= uestions that arise, offer countless discussion topics for book clubs.

For example:

"As the cult gained in popularity and influence throughout Italy so did the=
amount of chattel offered to the god for the maintenance and enjoyment of = his rites. Thus the wealth of the sect burgeoned to a size comparable with = the treasury of a small state. Through free will or coercion, people began = signing away whole estates and bequeathing legacies to or through the cult,=
in effect giving Italy away to the Bacchanalians..."

Indeed, so many thought-provoking talking points arise from this novel that=
it would be impossible for one review to detail them all. Nor would it be = wise to expose all the elements of surprise and insight embedded in this po= werful exploration.

Suffice it to say that Memoirs of Spurius shatters any notion that a work a= bout ancient Rome will be one weighed down by plodding facts. Under Conhaim=
's hand, Memoirs of Spurius is lively, timely, and holds so many possibilit= ies for debate that it earns top recommendation for libraries and readers a= like.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo= ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
s from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these=
reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, inte= rnet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested indivi= duals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Califo= rnia Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwat= ch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available=
for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
(dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

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