The Historical Fiction Shelf
Starring Adele Astaire
Eliza Knight
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9780063209206, $18.99, PB, 400pp
https://www.amazon.com/Starring-Adele-Astaire-Eliza-Knight/dp/0063209209
Synopsis: Adele Astaire was a glittering, glamorous star, dancing with her = brother, Fred, endearing herself to audiences from New York to London. But = although she is toasted by royalty and beloved by countless fans, Adele Ast= aire has dreams of a loving husband and a houseful of children. And when sh=
e meets Lord Charles Cavendish, her wishes may just come true - but at what=
cost?
Ever since Violet Wood could walk she's wanted to dance on the London stage=
.. Befriended by Adele, filled with ambition, she is more than willing to ma= ke the sacrifices it will take to becomes a star herself, and her rags-to-r= iches hopes are within reach. But the road to fame is never easy.
From the fast-paced world of roaring 20s New York to the horrors and sacrif= ice of wartime London, Adele's and Violet's lives intertwine, and each must=
ask themselves is fame worth the price you must pay?
Critique: An expertly written World War II era biographical fiction novel, = "Starring Adele Astaire" by Eliza Knight is a fully engaging read from cove=
r to cover and one that will have a special appeal to readers with an inter= est in well-wrought fiction featuring truly memorable characters involved w= ith an inherently fascinating and entertaining storyline. While highly reco= mmended for community library Historical Fiction collections, it should be = noted for personal reading lists that "Starring Adele Astaire" is also avai= lable in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Eliza Knight (
https://elizaknight.com) is an award-winning = author whose love of history began as a young girl when she traipsed the ha= lls of Versailles. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society and Nove= lists, Inc., and the creator of the popular historical blog, History Undres= sed.
The Lost Diary of George Washington
Johnny Teague
Addison & Highsmith
Histria Books
www.histriabooks.com
9781592112005, $34.99, HC, 598pp
https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Diary-George-Washington-Revolutionary/dp/159211= 2005
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Lost Diary of George Washington: The=
Revolutionary War Years" by novelist Johnny Teague you are invited to trav=
el by horse with the General, stay in his quarters, hear what he thinks, we= igh upon his decisions, listen to his prayers, and fight by his side.
Sometimes he will sound redundant. You will realize this is because many of=
the problems he faced were repetitive. Sometimes there will be little acti= on. This will bother you. Please keep in mind, it bothered him more. You wi=
ll see him in anguish and distress. You will experience his frustrations.
You will grieve because of those who betrayed him. You will be a fly on the=
wall as he strategizes with his men. You will see some of those strategies=
carried out, while others were not executed. Even knowing the glorious out= come beforehand, you will see no possible way for victory to be had - until=
finally it is.
You will be surprised to learn that this stoic figure had an inner turmoil = few have ever faced. In the end, because of his own writings, you will know=
General George Washington more for who he was, above and beyond what he di=
d or what others have said. You will hear it from his lips, in his own word=
s.
Critique: Although a work of fiction, in writing "The Lost Diary of George = Washington: The Revolutionary War Years" novelist Johnny Teague has paid me= ticulous attention to historically accurate details. The result is a true '= you are there' experience for the reader. Especially and unreservedly recom= mended for community and academic library Historical/Biographical Fiction c= ollections, it should be noted for personal reading lists tht "The Lost Dia=
ry of George Washington" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle=
, $1.99).
Editorial Note: Dr. Johnny Teague (
https://links.johnnyteague.com/home) is =
an author and historian, having earned five degrees, culminating with a doc= torate in exposition from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
The Spectacular
Fiona Davis
Dutton
c/o Penguin Group USA
https://www.penguin.com
9780593184042, $28.00, HC, 368pp
https://www.amazon.com/Spectacular-Novel-Fiona-Davis/dp/0593184041
Synopsis: New York City, 1956: Nineteen-year-old Marion Brooks knows she sh= ould be happy. Her high school sweetheart is about to propose and sweep her=
off to the life everyone has always expected they'd have together: a quiet=
house in the suburbs, Marion staying home to raise their future children. = But instead, Marion finds herself feeling trapped. So when she comes across=
an opportunity to audition for the famous Radio City Rockettes (the glamor= ous precision-dancing troupe) she jumps at the chance to exchange her predi= ctable future for the dazzling life of a performer.
Meanwhile, the city is reeling from a string of bombings orchestrated by a = person the press has nicknamed the "Big Apple Bomber," who has been terrori= zing the citizens of New York for sixteen years by planting bombs in popula=
r, crowded spaces. With the public in an uproar over the lack of any real l= eads after a years long manhunt, the police turn in desperation to Peter Gr= iggs, a young doctor at a local mental hospital who espouses a radical new = technique: psychological profiling.
As both Marion and Peter find themselves unexpectedly pulled in to the poli=
ce search for the bomber, Marion realizes that as much as she's been traini=
ng herself to blend in (performing in perfect unison with all the other ide= ntical Rockettes) if she hopes to catch the bomber, she'll need to stand ou=
t and take a terrifying risk. In doing so, she may be forced to sacrifice e= verything she's worked for, as well as the people she loves the most.
Critique: Of immense appeal to readers with an interest in historical ficti=
on and murder mysteries, "The Spectacular" by author Fiona Davis showcases = her undeniable storytelling talents. Original, deftly crafted, and with mor=
e unexpected plot twists and turns than a Kansas tornado, "The Spectacular"=
is the stuff of which blockbuster movies are made and is unreservedly reco= mmended for community library fiction collections. It should be noted for p= ersonal reading lists that "The Spectacular" is also readily available in a=
digital book format ($14.99).
Editorial Note: Fiona Davis (
https://www.fionadavisbooks.com) is the author=
of several novels, including The Dollhouse, The Address, The Masterpiece, = The Chelsea Girls, The Lions of Fifth Avenue, and The Magnolia Palace. She =
is a graduate of the Columbia Journalism School.
A Story With No Name
Patricia Burks
TriMark Press
www.TriMarkPress.com
9798986550268, $13.12, PB, 141pp
https://www.amazon.com/Story-No-Name-Patricia-Burks/dp/B0C2S6783L
Synopsis: A family secret is revealed against the backdrop of Rural Mississ= ippi of the 1920s, where freed African slaves mingled with settlers from ou= tside America; where norms and values clashed when love was spoken -- and t= hen broken. They met in front of the mansion and were photographed separate= ly, sitting on the same lawn. It was a love that segregation could not end.
Critique: A deftly crafted novel of racial history and romance in the Ameri= can South, "A Slavery With No Name" by author Patricia Burks showcases her = genuine flair as a novelist for the kind of narrative driven storytelling t= hat will keep and hold the reader's rapt attention from first page to last.=
A memorable read for fans of unique and very special historical romance st= ories, "A Slavery With No Name" is especially and unreservedly recommended = for personal reading lists and community library collections.
Editorial Note: Patricia Burks has called Florida her home for the past thr=
ee decades. Her other works include "Biography of Dr Irving Williams, I Was=
Really Walking Mom" and other short stories, to be published, and "Site of=
Conduction Delay and Electrophysiologic Significance of First Degree Heart=
Block in Children with Heart Disease."
The Snake That Did Not Bite: Nuriye's World
Louis Mitler
Canoe Tree Press
c/o DartFrog Books
https://dartfrogbooks.com/canoe-tree
9781951490133, $12.99 Paper, $4.19 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Snake-That-Did-Not-Bite/dp/1951490134
The Snake That Did Not Bite: Nuriye's World offers fictional reflections on=
about seventy years of Turkish history and change from the perspective of = Ottoman aristocrat Nuriye, who speaks into a recording device to capture he=
r memories.
Any anticipation that her voice or this history will be staid is immediatel=
y put to rest by the lively opening lines of Louis Mitler's story as the na= rrator reflects on her motivations for remembering, and the forces that try=
to thwart her efforts: "It is little closer to daylight than the three o'c= lock that, I believe Napoleon said, was the hour that frightened even his b= ravest generals when they awoke. The ghosts in the old house are silent ton= ight and not likely to contradict me when I talk into this machine. Rats sc= uttle through the walls while the clap-slap; slap-clap of the boots of the = armed patrols has almost died away in the lane. We had another minor milita=
ry pronouncement about two years ago and were forbidden to go out at night.=
I know that prohibition is not in force with all this rejouissance over th=
e Bridge but no danger of me gadding about tonight."
From the start, the narrator's deeply personal experiences, her observation=
s of living history in the making, and her reflections on the impact of soc= ial and political change on her life and position make for compelling readi=
ng - even for those who may know little about Turkish affairs or who lack a=
n intrinsic attraction to the historical fiction genre.
Mitler's ability to capture a wise great aunt's recitations to her great ni= ece introduces the work with the reason why she takes this time to document=
this point in her life: "Aylin, in far way America, you asked me to tell y=
ou about our family. Remember this rule in life: never ask a question if yo=
u are not prepared to hear the answer." Readers won't expect that this aris= tocrat will have encountered, interacted with, and influenced different cul= tures in the course of her life, from the religious ideas and influences of=
the Bambara African slave who helped rear her to the contrasting rigidity =
of her British governess and the restrictions on her role which are dictate=
d by her Ottoman Empire heritage as Turkey enters the modern age. From ques= tions about how an orderly society is to be regulated to the influences tha=
t separated the Turkish family and carried her nephew to America to study u= nder a scholarship, these lively reflections are embedded with observation = and emotion to attract and educate readers with rich descriptions and riche=
r realizations about this bygone world and the cultural forces that separat=
ed families from ideals and status.
The Snake That Did Not Bite is one of the more attractive historical fictio=
n works about this time and place. Steeped in Turkish history and affairs, = yet requiring no prior familiarity of the times or region from those who mi= ght know little about either, The Snake That Did Not Bite crafts a compelli=
ng voice that builds a tale filled with thought-provoking events and fast a= ction. All this is powered by a character able to step outside her status a=
nd role to see the end results of extraordinary events.
Libraries and readers seeking an evocative, moving work of historical inspe= ction will find The Snake That Did Not Bite suitable for individual reading=
and group discussions about Turkish affairs and contrasting cultural influ= ences.
The Rogue and the Jade
Steven Clark
Independently Published
9798375041155, $10.99 Paper, $5.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Rogue-Jade-Part-One/dp/B0BVDF6VT3
The Rogue and the Jade Part 1: A Buried Home opens with Amanda anticipating=
a rescue from the island she's stranded on, only to realize that the two-m= asted sloop is there to toss bodies overboard - not exactly the rescue oppo= rtunity she'd envisioned. Likewise, readers won't anticipate that a Regency=
romance could incorporate swashbuckling pirates, a woman survivor who is "=
an Eve, but one who quickly primed and loaded pistols," or the meeting of t=
wo spirited souls who harbor different ideals of their future, both separat= ely and together.
Amanda's encounter with cocky, ambitious sailor Jack Hobb evolves into thei=
r alternate personas of "The Rogue and The Jade" as they join forces to for=
ge new pathways of opportunity in their lives, only to find their ambitions=
thwarted by an opportunistic young lady and her mother, who see Amanda as =
a threat to their own visions of Jack's role in their lives. Killing anothe=
r means nothing to Amanda. But can she thwart the dangerous influences of L= ady Brayhope and her daughter Lucy, whose plots involve a way of eliminatin=
g Amanda for good?
Steven Clark does more than follow a relationship between two headstrong, a= mbition-seeking individuals. He charts the course of special interests and = nautical lives whose disparate paths dovetail in unexpected ways, creating =
a novel that sings with action and confrontations both physical and mental.=
The clashes between personalities are compellingly described as these char= acters find they are often motivated by forces beyond their control: "I see=
now that Amanda must know why she is hated. To tell her," Claudia steepled=
her hands, "will complete our enmity. I will tell her when she is helpless=
and condemned, when all she strove for dashed and obliterated."
It should be noted that this story concludes with a cliffhanger (part of th=
e word is literal). Readers can anticipate further action from a story whic=
h is set to end, but likely will live on in future books as Amanda faces th=
e certainty of death and the end of her relationship with Jack. Steven Clar= k's vivid story of family ties, adversity in love and aspiration, and swash= buckling pirate and social encounters will delight Regency readers seeking = novels steeped in the times and women who are powerful characters and adver= saries.
Libraries and readers interested in action-packed encounters, emotionally c= harged romantic relationships, and historical backdrops will find The Rogue=
and the Jade Part 1: A Buried Home thoroughly involving, marked by satisfy= ing twists and turns Regency novel readers won't see coming.
Paper Dolls
Robert Tucker
Tell-Tale Publishing Group, LLC
Wise Words Publishing
http://www.wisewordspublishing.com
9781952020254, $6.95 ebook, $35.00 Hardcover
https://www.amazon.com/Paper-Dolls-Robert-Tucker/dp/1952020255
The second book in Robert Tucker's Paper Dolls trilogy focuses on the high = society lives and loneliness of Gwen and Tess Vanderveer, sisters who live =
in a Beacon Hill mansion in Boston in the 1930s and 40s, and whose distance=
from their family is as great as that of friends whose companionship doesn=
't withstand the test of time. As with the opening book, The Discontent of = Mary Wenger, Tucker creates this story with an eye to capturing and exposin=
g both societal pressures and the trials and tribulations of women who rebe=
l against their seemingly set life courses, only to find them again changed=
by World War II.
Paper Dolls unfolds the drama behind Gwen and Tess's lives and the unexpect=
ed directions they take, but it's equally adept at exposing the undercurren=
ts of rebellion and defiance which lie at the heart of each young woman's d= ecisions and flight. The first-person revelations trace how these acts of d= efiance grow from small choices to bigger decisions, bucking societal and f= amily pressures: "I was never sure how they became friends in the first pla= ce, because Tess and I weren't supposed to associate with "the riff raff" d= own the hill, as our mother called them. But since she almost never paid at= tention to us, we mingled anyway. Tess said 'Mother didn't tell us we could= n't mingle. So we're not associating. We're mingling.' Although I didn't un= derstand the difference, Tess explained that associating meant going to par= ties, like Mother did. Mingling meant doing things with friends of our own = choosing."
Issues of privilege build the story early on to form the foundation for eve= nts which solidify the then-radical nature of each sister's changing choice=
s and progression. The contrast between how women acted and were perceived = post-war versus its aftermath is particularly thought-provoking here. This = compliments insights into the aristocracy in America, the interactions and = motivations of characters who find themselves resisting expectations, and t=
he circumstances which lead the sisters to both admire one another and stru= ggle with envy, dominance, and independence. As these young women break fre=
e of the expectations surrounding them and enter into new and unfamiliar te= rritory of personal and social achievement, Tucker's compelling story bring=
s the times and their world to life.
Libraries looking for powerful historical fiction that captures the lives, = motivations, and psyches of young women on the cusp of blossoming and trans= forming against their culture's expectations will find Paper Dolls both an = excellent addition to the trilogy and a fine stand-alone story. The questio=
ns and issues it raises will attract book clubs interested in historical po= rtraits of women changed by shifting society and personal ambition alike.
The Lost Books
Mo Conlan
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9781639888009, $17.99
https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Books-Romance-Adventure-Tudor/dp/1639888004
Historical novel readers attracted to tales set in Tudor times will find th=
e characters, background history, and events that play out in The Lost Book=
s - Romance and Adventure in Tudor Times a draw, but the real surprise of t= his story lies in its attraction and accessibility to those not well versed=
in this era. From its opening descriptive paragraph, Mo Conlan sets an atm= osphere and history that seamlessly winds into surprises to draw readers ge= ntly into the times and the challenges one woman faces in navigating the ro= mantic and political threads of her world: "When the large parcel arrived, = Morwenna Goodwin was busy in the barn helping Da repair the sheep pen. She = heard a commotion and ran to the front of their cottage, adjusting her kirt=
le and cap as she ran. This was a fine winter day in north Cornwall, a bles= sing amidst so many killing freezes that battered England in this reign of = the Tudors."
The unexpected humor that immediately follows is just one fine example of a=
story in which romance does not evolve on expected paths, but fully embrac=
es the devices of irony, wit, and a foray into different choices than is us= ually portrayed by historical novels depicting this era: "On the doorstep, = Morwenna found a pear tree. In its branches sat a fat partridge, giving her=
a rather cheeky look. A scroll at the base of the tree read. "I would wed = ye, dear heart. H. Truelove."
Well, isn't that just like him? she thought. Henry Truelove must think I am=
going to cook up this partridge into a pie for him and make him a pear pos= set. Hah!" Delightfully evocative from the start, it's immediately evident = that this is no ordinary historical novel or romance, but a romp through Tu= dor times, culture, and expectations that involves men and women in a dance=
of discovery and transformation.
Religious figures and nefarious objectives towards wealth-building opportun= ities are not immune to Conlan's descriptive touches, which lay hands on th=
e special interests that swirl through these times: "As he wound down his t= hunderous tirade, the Abbot made a small, dismissive gesture of his hand an=
d in a less wrathful tone said, 'We ought, in Christian charity, give a tit=
he to holy folk turned out and beggared. I will attend to it.' He was think= ing in terms of pence, not pounds." From the special trails of navigating "=
an upturned world in which popes and queens and holy houses did come and go=
" to Mistress Morwenna's foray into danger and a search for holy books that=
could change this world, Conlan creates a vivid saga of tumultuous times, = political moves, social conundrums, and Henry Tudor's treatment of illumina= ted manuscripts, which are destroyed when he takes over England's rich mona= steries and convents.
Conlan's intersection of personal and political special interests creates a=
vivid account of the times which is unexpectedly witty, historically enlig= htening, and a pleasure to read as Tom, Morwenna, Daniel, and others become=
immersed in the fate of holy books and their own souls. Libraries interest=
ed in choosing historical novels for genre readers that hold the rare poten= tial to reach into a wider audience will find The Lost Books - Romance and = Adventure in Tudor Times especially attractive for its lively characters an=
d a sense of purpose and humor that makes the times come to life in unexpec= ted ways. Simply delightful!
Enduv Road
Gwen Banta
Next Chapter
9798387368073, $32.99 Hardcover, $10.99 Paper, $4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Enduv-Road-Gwen-Banta/dp/B0BYR5PVV5
Enduv Road is a novel that follows the Jackson family's rich, unconventiona=
l journey through life, in which a sudden uprooting to Utah is sparked by e= ccentric Aunt Beaners' Ouija board messages.
Cimarron (Simmy) Jackson's journal begins the story in 1960 with the young = teen's account of how her aunt's prediction of another impending holocaust = unwittingly drives her family straight to a doomed rural town near Park Cit=
y where an irrepressible and hilarious ranch hand becomes their life guide.=
Simmy and her younger brother, Lefty, find the impulsive family decision i= ntriguing without knowing the underlying reason for this sudden move, an ac=
t motivated not only by Beaners' capricious predictions but also by the hid= den truths behind secret lives.
As rich in Utah history as in its characters, Enduv Road is a generational = study in contrasts that juxtaposes perspectives, experiences, honesty and l= ies. As Simmy and Lefty reach adulthood, this heart-warming saga creates a = detailed and engrossing portrait of colorful and disparate family members t= hat draws readers through excellent character development and the surprisin=
g twists that emerge from these contrasts in lives and realities.
Gwen Banta holds the uncommon ability to follow the evolution of family rel= ationships in a manner that is at once eye-opening and compassionate. The r= evelations that rock the younger generations, whose history of their roots = proves flawed, makes for thought-provoking introspection as the wise and lo= vable family members encounter changes in life and in each other: "My fathe=
r just accepted the craziness because he knew that Arty and Beaners, who wa=
s my mom's older sister, had huge hearts, even though he would often wink a=
nd refer to them as the 'Hoover Twins' due to the 'big vacuum on their top = floors.'"
Underlying themes of tolerance, discovery, and growth accompany this journe=
y through intergenerational experiences as Enduv Road unfolds generous humo=
r in its dialogues and life examinations: "Yeah yeah, I've heard all the ta= les," Simmy told Lefty in private, "and you really can't make up that kind =
of stuff. But he amuses me. There are so many people in his head it's alway=
s a party."
"Sure, we all get it, Sim. But a person could have a better conversation wi=
th fungus." "I know, Lefty, but every now and then, we hit on a topic on wh= ich he is surprisingly entertaining - from historical battles to random wor=
ks of art and literature."
"Rick can read?" The result is a study in unforgettable characters whose li= ves are touched by love, truth, and a purpose to "squeeze the day" against = all odds, shaping and maintaining the family and life connections that brin=
g the characters full circle to present day and into new realities and revi= sed ways of living.
Libraries and readers seeking an evocative, intergenerational story packed = with whimsical personalities and fulfilling revelations will find Enduv Roa=
d a glorious journey well worth taking.
German Days
Steven Clark
Independently Published
9798840621165, $16.99 Paper, $4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/German-Days-Steven-Clark/dp/B0B71CCPP7
1930s Germany and its lasting legacy on the 1970s and GI Patrick Walden, wh=
o does his tour of duty in the country and discovers love and new challenge=
s in his military service and the ongoing impact of the Nazi era, comes to = life in German Days as author Steven Clark combines a love story, a coming-= of-age tale, winding the account of Germany's history and ongoing impact an=
d legacy into a story that sparkles with depth and insights as Patrick unwi= ttingly enters into personal and political milieus well beyond his experien= ce.
Clark cements these encounters with succinct dialogue that capture the char= acter and nature of this world: "What's it like here?" "It's fucked up." He=
leads readers through a Germany still divided by both its past and the thr= eat of Russian invasion as he follows Patrick's mission to go behind the Ir=
on Curtain to retrieve a missing work of art that has obsessed his new love=
r Sieglinde with the possibilities it holds for healing Germany. Patrick's = ultimate mission, however, circles around matters of the heart as well as t=
he legacy of a war that has never really left Germany's borders.
As the legend and allure of Tannhauser comes to life and leads each charact=
er to step outside their comfort zone to effect return, readers receive a p= owerful education about German psyche and history that moves from World War=
II events to present-day angst over unresolved issues. The price of return= ing Tannhauser to its home may ultimately cost everything Patrick has newly=
envisioned for building a life in this strange new world.
Readers receive a powerful blend of intrigue, historical fiction, love stor=
y, and military observation in German Days, which supplements action with t=
he psychological profiles and developments of characters who are all influe= nced by the ghosts of World War II -- whether they know it or not. Its lite= rary and historical reflections makes German Days a strong recommendation n=
ot just for library acquisition, but for book club and reading group debate=
over modern German culture and life in the shadow of a war that ended over=
fifty years ago, but still holds influence today.
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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