Tag: historical fiction

Small Reckonings by Karin Melberg Schwier Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviews1 Comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A small family struggles in early 20th century Canada as they fight to make a life for themselves amidst turmoil and tragedy in author Karin Melberg Schwier’s “Small Reckonings”, the latest from ShadowPaw Press. 

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The Synopsis

In the early 20th century, as homesteaders in Saskatchewan are scratching out hard new lives on the Canadian prairie, William, an adventurer from New Zealand, brings his new bride, Louise, to the freshly broken earth of his farm near Watrous.

Physical and emotional isolation take their toll on everyone struggling to survive in the harsh landscape, and when William and Louise’s second child, Violet, is born “feebleminded,” it plunges Louise—a woman burdened with a dark secret—back into a time of shame and regret, even as the child draws out goodness and loyalty from her neighbours, Hank and Emily.

Then tragedy upends the family, and William, while struggling to raise and protect his daughter and find his way to forgiveness, must come to terms with the fact that no one is infallible.

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The Review

This was a profoundly moving and heartbreaking read. The grim and gritty realities of life in early 20th century Canada as families established land and home were well developed in this historical fiction read, bringing a realistic touch to the setting and atmosphere. The tension that builds within this particular family unit and the constant hits to their family dynamics were both tragic and engaging all at the same time. 

The heart of this narrative rested in the compelling character growth and dynamics that the story established. The hardships and struggles that you see for William and Louise as Violet grows and struggles with her own problems were tragic to see and would impact any and all parents, and yet the hope and brightness that Violet brought to those around her was so moving, making the events that transpire towards the back half of the book that much more heartbreaking to behold. 

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The Verdict

Thought-provoking, emotional, and insightful, author Karin Melberg Schwier’s “Small Reckonings” is a must-read historical fiction and family drama that you don’t want to miss. The twists and turns in the family’s history and drama will keep readers invested, and the emotional investment that readers make especially in Violet’s story as she experiences hardship, loss, and unexpected trauma made this one story that will hit close to home for many readers. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Karin is a full-time freelance writer, editor and illustrator. She writes for local and national magazines and newspapers, and a variety of non-profits, businesses and government agencies. Her photographs often accompany her work, and her illustrations appear in books, presentations and private collections.

While she has a longtime focus on disability issues, she is a sought-after and versatile writer and handles each job with respect, professionalism and a sense of humour. She can find the thread of a good story in subjects ranging from kitchen design, a seniors’ ski team, bariatric weight loss surgery, to energy efficient housing, outdoor home theatres, Saskatoon’s water quality, business profiles, and volunteer accomplishments.

One favourite interview had her digging into the childhood memories of a Hollywood actor who called her “a joy to talk to and an artist” at interviewing. But it is often what she draws from less celebrated people that she finds most interesting. Another favourite was with Ukrainian babas, one 90 and the other 96, sisters who still garden in their Saskatoon back yards. She approaches every assignment knowing there’s a worthwhile story to be told, and she understands the importance of the good communications loop in every project.

She is the current editor of and writer for Saskatoon HOME magazine, and also contributes pieces to Prairies North magazine.

Her writing has appeared as invited book chapters and in anthologies in Canada and the U.S. A non-fiction contribution appears in In The Company of Animals: Stories of Extraordinary Encounters (Nimbus Publishing). She has written eight books with a focus on the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and edited several others. One best seller was translated into German, Italian, and Korean. She was pleased when not long ago actor Benjamin Bratt performed a story from one of her books as a dramatic reading at the Santa Monica Playhouse. Flourish: People with Disabilities Living Life with Passion, was launched in 2012, to critical acclaim. This book is no longer available on Amazon, but you can reach out to the author directly at karin.schwier@mac.com and purchase a copy there for $20 plus shipping.

Her debut novel, Small Reckonings, was published by Burton House Books in the spring 2020. It sold out of the first two printings by the fall, and a revised edition was released in March 2021.

The manuscript won the John V. Hicks Award for Fiction in 2019, and the novel won the Saskatoon Book Award category in the Saskatchewan Book Awards for 2021.  Later that year, the book was recognized as one of three in the Glengarry Book Award Jury Short List, Recognition of Literary Excellence.

In 2021, the sequel manuscript to Small Reckonings was completed. Inheriting Violet won the John V. Hicks Award for Fiction, 2022. The first prize was presented at the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild annual conference in September.

At the SWG awards ceremony with one of the two judges of the 2022 Hicks Award for Fiction, novelist and playwright Kagiso Lesego Molope (the other was fiction writer Kevin Hardcastle) and second prize winner Kate O’Gorman and MC Lisa Bird-Wilson. Third place winner was Byrna Barclay.

In 2013, Karin was honoured to receive a Saskatoon YWCA Women of Distinction Award in the Arts and Culture category. Karin is a member of the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild. She lives with her husband, Richard, a professor emeritus at the University of Saskatchewan, and son Jim, who had a 25-year volunteer stint with the Saskatoon YMCA, and – courtesy Street Cat Rescue – elderly Ed and Gracie, who still can’t believe their good luck. Rick and Karin also have a daughter, Erin, son-in-law Michael and 16-year-old grandboy Alexander, and a son Ben, daughter-in-law Julia, granddaughters Pearl, 4, and Dahlia, 2.

https://karinschwier.wordpress.com/

Hunger as Old as This Land by Zachary Rosenberg Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Two women in the aftermath of the Civil War must protect a small Western town and help defend the town’s citizens from malicious marauders, only to discover a much darker secret in author Zachary Rosenberg’s “Hunger as Old as This Land.”

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The Synopsis

The settlement of Grey’s Bluffs is a prosperous town. An independent community dwelling in the shadows of the mountains known only as The Hungers.

Esther Foxman and Siobhan O’Clery have grown up in Grey’s Bluffs, thriving out on the western territories in the aftermath of the Civil War. Devoted to one another and their home, the two set out to complete a regular pact at the Hungers to ensure that Grey’s Bluffs continues to prosper.

Cyril Redstone is a man who knows death well. Becoming a mercenary after the Civil War, Cyril leads the marauding Blackhawks from one slaughter to the next. Hired to destroy Grey’s Bluffs, Cyril cares little for morality, nor that he owes its founder his life.

Esther and Siobhan are left to defend the only home they have ever known from the Blackhawks, their confrontation driving them deep into the mountains.

Where the darkest secrets of the Hungers await them.

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The Review

This was an absolutely compelling and gripping Western horror novel. The emphasis the author put on getting the detail surrounding the setting and western-themed atmosphere to sound just right when moving through the narrative was astounding, and the bone-chilling tension that the story built when The Hungers arrived to show their terror to the characters made this a compelling horror read.

Yet to me, the heart of this narrative rested in the author’s ability to find a natural and heartfelt way of finding inclusivity in the narrative through characters that represented people of the LGBTQ+, Jewish, and Native American people. The protagonist embodied all of these backgrounds, and her strength and resiliency when balanced with the heart and compassion in her heart made for a moving story, which helped elevate the horror and the gritty nature of the setting immensely.

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The Verdict

Memorable, thoughtful, and chilling, author Zachary Rosenberg’s “Hungers as Old as This Land” is a must-read Western horror novel that readers won’t be able to put down. The quick pacing and the rich world-building made this story feel alive on the page and kept me as a reader hanging off of the author’s every word. If this book is any indication, I think the author is set for a long career developing the next generation of great horror classics. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Zachary Rosenberg is a horror writer living in Florida. He crafts horrifying tales by night and by day he practices law, which is even more frightening.  His forthcoming debut novella “Hungers as Old As This Land.” will be published by Brigids Gate press and his first novel “The Devils and the Deep Blue Sea” shall be published by Darklit Press. You may find his works released or forthcoming at Air and Nothingness Press, Dead Sea Press and Nosetouch Press.

https://linktr.ee/zachrosewriter

Interview with Lee Polevoi, author of The Confessions of Gabriel Ash

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn InterviewsLeave a comment

I recently reviewed The Confessions of Gabriel Ash by Lee Polevoi, calling it “Powerful, heart-pounding, and engaging … a must-read Cold War spy novel and political thriller you won’t be able to put down.” In this interview, Lee talks about his new novel and his writing career, and offers advice to aspiring writers.

Q  Tell us a little about yourself. How did you get into writing?

A  I’m a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and have lived in New England, San Francisco, New Orleans, and San Diego. My wife and I also lived for nearly two years in Cuenca, Ecuador, prior to the pandemic. I’ve worked as a zookeeper, screenwriter, temp office worker, and freelance business writer. 

I can’t recall a time when I wasn’t writing. This grows out of a fascination with language, its properties and potential, and the work of a handful of deeply influential authors, including Robert Stone, Thomas McGuane, and John Banville, among many others. My first novel, The Moon in Deep Winter, was published in 2008, and I regularly review books for the online publication, Highbrow Magazine.

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Q  What inspired you to write your book? 

A  In The Confessions of Gabriel Ash, I wanted to explore what happens when a high-profile character becomes embroiled in scandal and intrigue, largely as a result of his own hubris. It was my intention to portray this character (Gabriel Ash, a UN diplomat for a East European communist nation) at the height of his career and the rather sensational events that lead to his downfall.  

Q  What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

A  Aside from hopefully enjoying the experience of reading The Confessions of Gabriel Ash, I’d like readers to reflect on the theme, pride goeth before a fall. 

Q  What drew you into this particular genre? 

A  I’m a big fan of well-written political literary thrillers, including, most prominently The Untouchable by John Banville. I’ve also been intrigued by the murky undercurrents generated by decades of Cold War animosity. Part of the fun was creating a unique voice (from his confinement in a medieval castle, Gabriel Ash recounts the story of his downfall) that draws readers in and keeps them turning the page. 

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Q  If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?

A  I guess I’d sit the title character down and ask him point-blank, “How long can you play a role you don’t believe in?” and “Did you think you could keep living the high life and chasing women, without suffering any consequences?” The answers Gabriel Ash would give at the outset of the novel and at its conclusion might best describe his journey throughout the story.

Q  What social media sites have been most helpful in developing your readership?

A  Both Facebook and Instagram have been very useful in boosting awareness of my novel’s imminent publication. Social media is a great way of spreading the word to people who might truly enjoy The Confessions of Gabriel Ash. Reviews are already appearing on Goodreads. 

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Q  What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

A  First of all, understand that writing a novel requires a great deal of time and discipline. It means foregoing some social events, eliminating procrastination, and making a commitment to see the thing through. (The same principle holds for writing short stories.) Also, it’s important to read as widely and deeply as possible. You can learn a great deal about the craft of writing through a close reading of a favorite author’s work.

Q  What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

A  Hard to say. Several ideas are germinating just beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to bloom into a full-fledged work of fiction.

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Visit leepolevoi.com to learn more about The Confessions of Gabriel Ash by visiting leepolevoi.com. Follow Lee at www.facebook.com/leepolevoiauthor and www.instagram.com/leepolevoiauthor/. 

Guest Blog Post and Blog Tour for Author A.K. Holubek’s “The Empath and the Soldier”

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn Blog Tours, Book Events, Book Promotion, Guest PostLeave a comment

The Empath and the Soldier

Guest Post

Thanks for the opportunity to talk a little about my new book. In this post, I’d like to discuss one of the central themes of The Empath and the Soldier and where it originated. 

Growing up, I was obsessed with the movie Stand by Me. As a lonely tween and adolescent, I longed, almost ached, for the kind of friendship shared by the four main characters. In the middle of my fourth-grade year, my dad had moved us from Indiana, where I had multiple close friends, to Colorado, where I had none. For some reason I had quite a bit of trouble making new friends in our new home, and for many years I was a lonely, reclusive kid who spent hours either reading or creating imaginary worlds. So the camaraderie between the four boys in the movie was a glimpse into a world I felt I was missing out on.

Actually, looking back, I can guess why making friends was so difficult for me. I think even my pre-pubescent self knew that I was different from other boys. And it wasn’t just that I didn’t care much for sports and loved musical theater. Deep down, I knew that somehow my feelings for other boys were different than what they felt for me. I also knew that these feelings would be considered grotesque by other kids my age. I kept my distance from everyone else in order to keep them from finding out who I really was and because I didn’t think they’d like me anyway. Who wants to be around a gay kid who’d rather watch The Sound of Music than a football game?

In junior high and high school, I did hang out with people, but I never really was myself with them. It was more like I was playing the part of a typically straight, male teenager. With other boys, I pretended to like girls and be interested in “typical boy stuff.” But I wasn’t very good at this pretense, so I mostly kept quiet, earning a reputation as the tall, quiet guy who was maybe a little boring, but at least harmless.

I felt much more comfortable with my female friends. At least with them I didn’t have to feign excitement for things that were of no interest to me. But still, I held some part of me back. I was certain even they would think less of me if they knew who I truly was.

It wasn’t until my senior year of high school and into college that I finally began to make friends with whom I felt I really belonged. People who I somehow knew would accept all of me, not just a filtered version. Eventually, I came out to these friends and my instincts were proved correct; they didn’t think any less or any different of me. 

It would be impossible to adequately describe the absolute elation and contentment I felt after finding a group of friends that fit me. I finally had a crew, a squad, that I could count on, and who counted on me. I finally had what the kids in Stand by Me had. These friendships would become the benchmark against which I would measure all future friendships. I won’t call anyone a real friend until I reach the same level of comfort with them that I felt with my first group of close friends.

Finally finding “my people” in high school was such a significant point in my life, that I made it one of the central themes in The Empath and the Soldier. In the book we see the main character, Tyrran, really start to blossom as a person after finally finding a group of people with whom he feels he can relate. It’s through them that he learns self-confidence and gains self-esteem because they value him for who he is.

When I tell people about books that inspired my novel, I usually mention other fantasy books like Lord of the Rings or even the novels of Jane Austen, upon which the book’s setting is modeled. But I often forget to mention that, outside all the fantastical elements and the Bridgerton-esque backdrop, this novel is really about friendship, inspired by books and movies like Stand by Me, but also by my own experiences. One core message I hope readers take away from The Empath and the Soldier is that there’s a group out there for everyone, and if you’re at a particularly lonely or friendless point in life, know that you can and will eventually find people that fit you. It may take some time, but they’re out there. 

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The Empath and the Soldier - A.K. Holubek

A.K. Holubek has a new MM Regency period fantasy book out, The Unconventionals book 1: The Empath and the Soldier. And there’s a giveaway.

The situation seemed hopeless. But Tyrran couldn’t pretend to be ignorant of the danger and just wait for his home to disintegrate around him.

As a Favored male, Tyrran belongs to a select group of men born with one of the Four Gifts, a blessing usually reserved for women. Quiet, introverted, and filled with self-doubt, Tyrran has always struggled with living up to the responsibilities that come with being Gifted. Still, he had managed to achieve the near impossible — admission to the prestigious Lyceum Institute in Corvit, the Coarian Sovereignty’s bustling capital city. With this success, Tyrran’s future seems clear: the best education, a position in a Temple, and, one day, marriage to a young man of good fortune.

That is, until sinister forces intervene to shove him down a much bleaker path. Tyrran’s plans are thrown into upheaval when a deadly attack reveals the existence of an insidious evil festering within the ranks of the Sovereignty’s elite.

Now, he must use the privileges afforded him as a Lyceum student to uncover the secrets of a corrupt government. Targeted by relentless assassins and trying to ignore his growing attachment to the handsome exchange student Adwin, Tyrran must gather trustworthy allies to face the dangers that threaten to tear apart his nation and his home.

Bridgerton meets The Magicians in this fantasy novel about the importance of confidence and the strength of friendship.

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Giveaway

A.K. is giving away a $20 Amazon gift card with this tour:

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Excerpt

The Empath and The Soldier meme

At that moment they stopped suddenly, startled by someone crawling out of the pond almost directly in front of them. The someone turned out to be a man—an East Silacian, Tyrran noted right away, due to his black skin. He was shirtless, wearing only white tights, and he looked about Tyrran’s age. He was shorter than Tyrran and his chest, stomach, and arms were muscular—sculpted was the more appropriate term, his skin stretched tight over every muscle. His physique was compact rather than large, he had deep brown eyes, and his black hair was cut close to his head.

Tyrran had always suspected that the Silacian reputation for beauty was exaggerated, stemming from the inferiority complex Coarians held towards Silacians, whose empire was much larger, wealthier, and more advanced than the Sovereignty. But if Nyri and this man were any indication, then their reputed good looks were understated if anything.

“Good morning, soldier,” the man said, addressing Lena as he wiped water from his face with his hands. He spoke the Common Tongue with a sophisticated accent that sounded very similar to Nyri’s.

“Good morning, Adwin,” Lena replied, looking puzzled. “Did you, uh, fall in the pond?”

“Not at all. I was just going for a morning swim.” He smiled as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

“In public? In the middle of campus?”

“But of course. This appears to be the closest body of water to our college. However, by your expressions, I assume Coarian notions of decorum discourage public bathing. I did swim wearing my tights, since I know public nudity is frowned upon.”

He may as well have removed them, for what little use they were in covering his nudity. The material clung to his skin, revealing bulging leg muscles as well as other bulges that Tyrran was making a concerted effort not to stare at.

“We do tend to prefer bathing in secluded areas,” Lena said. “Spaces set aside for bathing. Like the bathhouse next to the Barracks House, for instance.”

“I did try the bathhouse, but the water is heated. Quite uncomfortable on a warm day like today. Do you suppose I shall be sent packing back to Silacia for this breach of conduct?” An impudent grin spread across his face.

“It’s early enough that I’m sure no one but us has seen you. Though I do suggest you put the rest of your clothes back on soon. Where are they, by the by?”

“My clothes? I left them further down the trail. In truth, I was swimming about the pond for exercise rather than for bathing, then I saw the two of you and thought to come greet you. And now I think I have finished with swimming. Would you mind accompanying me to fetch my clothes?”

Tyrran could see that Lena was annoyed by the request and had every intention of replying in the negative. But Tyrran didn’t want Adwin to be offended, so he quickly spoke up.

“We would be happy to.”

That earned him an evil look from Lena.

Adwin offered his arm to Tyrran. “Adwin Mekalbe, at your service.”

Tyrran grasped his forearm, “Tyrran Kens, at yours,” he replied, trying to keep his voice from squeaking.

“I assume you do not attend the Military College,” Adwin continued, as the three of them resumed walking along the trail.

“No, I’m at Roothe College. Lena and I are friends from Temple Academy.”

“Ah, yes. In Hifield City. I am truly sorry about the attacks. I do hope you were not directly affected.”

Author Bio

A.K. Holubek

The moment A.K. Holubek stumbled across a ragged copy of The Fellowship of the Ring in his elementary school library, his life changed forever. The rest of his childhood, his adolescence, and even his college years were spent living only part time in the real world. He much preferred spending time in the fantasy lands of his imagination than in the reality of life as a closeted gay kid. As real life got better, he left his fantasy worlds behind. But a few years ago, those worlds called him to return, and to share his created worlds with others who might also need a place to escape. He now endeavors to carry out this mission from his home in Baltimore, supported by his husband and two ridiculous cats.

Author Website: http://theunconventionals.com

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/andrew.holubeck

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/akholubek

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theunconventionalsbooks/

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Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

An ancient evil is unleashed in rural Pennsylvania during the late 19th century/early 20th century in author Philip Fracassi’s “Boys in the Valley”.

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The Synopsis

The Exorcist meets Lord of the Flies, by way of Midnight Mass, in Boys in the Valley, a brilliant coming-of-age tale from award-winning author Philip Fracassi.

St. Vincent’s Orphanage for Boys.

Turn of the century, in a remote valley in Pennsylvania.

Here, under the watchful eyes of several priests, thirty boys work, learn, and worship. Peter Barlow, orphaned as a child by a gruesome murder, has made a new life here. As he approaches adulthood, he has friends, a future…a family.

Then, late one stormy night, a group of men arrive at their door, one of whom is badly wounded, occult symbols carved into his flesh. His death releases an ancient evil that spreads like sickness, infecting St. Vincent’s and the children within. Soon, boys begin acting differently, forming groups. Taking sides.

Others turn up dead.

Now Peter and those dear to him must choose sides of their own, each of them knowing their lives — and perhaps their eternal souls — are at risk.

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The Review

This was a truly compelling read. The author does an incredible job of immediately setting up a haunting atmosphere. The balance of a historical setting meeting an almost gothic horror atmosphere really set the tone early on and allowed for the blend of religious undertones and rich mythos to take hold in the reader’s minds. The action and world-building were top-tier, giving a very cinematic approach to the narrative as the story progressed.

To me, the heart of the story rested in the rich character development and the unique blend of genres. Seeing the balance between historical fiction, coming-of-age storytelling, and chilling horror vibes helped sell this story as the haunting gothic read it proved to be. Yet it was the development of this cast of characters, much like an iconic Stephen King novel like It or Salem’s Lot, where each character had a unique perspective on the developing story and added an emotional depth as the story began to intersect and merge together in the climactic final moments, that the narrative really began to shine through.

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The Verdict

Memorable, thoughtful, and engaging, author Philip Fracassi’s “Boys in the Valley” is a must-read horror novel of 2023. The unique contrast between faith and identity, and the gripping theme of sacrifice, made this story come to life on the page, and the haunting final moments of this beautifully written novel will both captivate and bring readers to tears as the story plays out its bloody hand. If you haven’t yet, be sure to preorder your copy today or grab a copy on July 11th, 2023!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Philip Fracassi is the author of the story collections Beneath a Pale Sky (named “Best Collection of the Year” by Rue Morgue Magazine and a finalist for the Bram Stoker award) and Behold the Void (named “Best Collection of the Year” by This Is Horror). He is also the author of several novellas, including Sacculina, Shiloh, and Commodore.

His novels include Don’t Let Them Get You Down, A Child Alone with Strangers, Gothic, and Boys in the Valley.

Philip’s books have been translated into multiple languages and his stories have been published in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Best Horror of the Year, Nightmare Magazine, Black Static, Southwest Review, and Interzone.

The New York Times calls his work “terrifically scary.”

You can follow Philip on Facebook, Instagram (pfracassi), and Twitter (@philipfracassi), or at his official website at www.pfracassi.com.

https://twitter.com/PhilipFracassi

A Gilded Drowning Pool (The Roddy and Val DeVere Gilded Age Series) by Cecilia Tichi Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviews1 Comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

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A couple in late ninetieth century America are ensnared in a deadly murder investigation in a small town where they become the police chief’s prime suspects in author Cecilia Tichi’s “A Gilded Drowning Pool”, the latest book in The Roddy and Val DeVere Gilded Age series.

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The Synopsis

As a girl in the West, Valentine Mackle dodged quicksand along the rivers of the mining camps, but as Mrs. Roderick W. DeVere of New York’s Fifth Avenue, Val is sucked into Society’s own quicksand in spring, 1899, when a weekend at a country estate in the Hudson Valley turns deadly. Val’s “soul sister” drowns on family property, and the host’s best “practical jokes” double as death traps.

A Gilded Drowning Pool snarls Val and husband Roddy in a bogus adult health camp, a brothel, a town-and-country pocked with probable killers—and an ambitious police chief convinced that Val and Roddy DeVere played a part in the death that is ruled a homicide.

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The Review

This was an engaging and thrilling mystery read. The author found the perfect balance to showcase both the suspense surrounding the murder mystery aspect of the narrative and the attention to detail involved in the historical period that the setting takes place in. The pacing here is great, giving readers enough detail to really feel transported to this era while also allowing for the action and thriller genre aspects of the story to hit the reader fast. 

To me, the author’s work really shined brightly in both the character development and the rich detail in the historical nature of the narrative. The way the author was able to capture the language, the mindset, and the intricate details associated with the gilded age, even the fashion and era-accurate cocktails, really brought the historical time period to life and helped elevate the narrative. Yet the interesting part came in the contrast between both Roddy and Val, as she brings the strong, independent nature that we love to see in a great protagonist while also going up against her husband’s narrow-minded family and the difficulty of getting her husband to see and appreciate her for who she is, something that happens gradually throughout the narrative.

The Verdict

Memorable, thrilling, and entertaining, author Cecilia Tichi’s “A Gilded Drowning Pool” is a must-read historical fiction meets mystery thriller novel and a great addition to this growing historical fiction series. The twists and turns in the narrative, the rich detail of the era, and the captivating relationships explored in the narrative will keep fans of this series enthralled and newcomers eager for more of the author’s work. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy on May 9th, 2023!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

A fresh start for every new book, and author Tichi’s zest for America’s Gilded Age and its boldface names draws this seasoned writer to a crime fiction series while uncorking the country’s cocktail cultures on the printed (and ebook) page. Tichi digs deep into the Vanderbilt University research library to mine the late 1800-1900s history and customs of Society’s “Four Hundred,” its drinks, and the ways high-stakes crimes in its midst make for a gripping “Gilded” mystery series that rings true to the tumultuous era. The decades of America’s industrial titans and “Queens” of Society have loomed large in Tichi’s books for several years, and the titles track her recent projects:

• Civic Passions: Seven Who Launched Progressive America (and What They Teach Us)

• Jack London: A Writer’s Fight for a Better America

• What Would Mrs. Astor Do? A Complete Guide to the Manners and Mores of the Gilded Age

• Gilded Age Cocktails: History, Lore, and Recipes from the Golden Age

• Jazz Age Cocktails: History, Lore, and Recipes from the Roaring Twenties.

• A Gilded Death (crime fiction)

• Murder, Murder, Murder in Gilded Central Park (crime fiction)

• A Fatal Gilded High Note (crime fiction)

Cecelia is at work on a fourth in the series, “A Gilded Free Fall.” She enjoys membership and posting in Facebook’s The Gilded Age Society. You can read more about Cecelia by visiting her Wikipedia page at: https://bit.ly/Tichiwiki or her website: https://cecebooks.com.

https://twitter.com/ceceliatichi

Dollybird by Anne Lazurko Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A young woman with dreams of working in medicine is forced out of her home and into the wild after she becomes pregnant out of wedlock in early 20th century Saskatchewan in author Anne Lazurko’s “Dollybird”. 

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The Synopsis

Housekeeper—or whore?

Twenty-year-old Moira, the daughter of a Newfoundland doctor, dreams of becoming a doctor herself; but when she becomes pregnant out of wedlock, she is banished to the bleak landscape of southern Saskatchewan in 1906. There, she must come to terms with her predicament, her pioneer environment, and her employment as a “dollybird,” a term applied to women who might be housekeepers, whores—or both.

A saga of birth, death, and the violent potential of both men and the elements, Dollybird explores the small mercies that mean more than they should under a vast prairie sky that waits, not so quietly, for people to fail.

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The Review

This was a visceral, captivating, and engaging historical fiction read. The author did a wonderful job of using imagery and atmosphere to their advantage, taking readers deep into the past to experience the hardships and struggles of life in the west. The grit and harsh conditions of the atmosphere during those times added to the wealth of struggles the protagonist faced, and really brought the era to life in the reader’s mind so perfectly.

Yet it was the powerful themes of double standards found between the expectations of men and women during those times, and how misogyny has plagued our world for so long, that really drew me into the narrative. The violence and cruelty of men and the unfair expectations placed upon women to fit a particular mold in society and live a certain way to be considered “civilized” was felt through every chapter of this book, and it was through protagonist Moira that the reader really felt the strength and resilience of her journey. The way she fought for what she believed in and made her own way in the world despite her “banishment” and yet found the means to learn the skills to survive in the wilds of the frontier made this a compelling read.

The Verdict

Visceral, captivating, and entertaining, author Anne Lazurko’s “Dollybird” is a must-read historical fiction novel. The twists and turns in the narrative will keep readers hanging onto the author’s every word, and the memorable themes will resonate with readers today in a very profound and heartfelt way. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Anne Lazurko is an award-winning novelist, a no-awards farmer and a sometimes poet. As the youngest of six daughters born to Dutch immigrants, she grew up with a nuanced view of people and their stories.

‘What Is Written on the Tongue’ (April/22 ECW Press) was shortlisted for the Glengarry Book Award. Her first novel ‘Dollybird’ won the Willa Award for Historical Fiction and Anne received a 2018 Saskatchewan Foundation for the Arts Literary Award.

A graduate of the Humber Creative Writing program, Anne is published in literary magazines and anthologies. An active editor, mentor and teacher in the prairie writing community, she writes from her farm on Treaty 4 territory in Saskatchewan. 

WHAT IS WRITTEN ON THE TONGUE, a novel

No Quiet Water by Shirley Miller Kamada Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A young Asian American family must learn to survive and endure in the wake of the prejudices found in the United States after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1940s America in author Shirley Miller Kamada’s “No Quiet Water”.

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The Synopsis

After the U.S. declares war on Japan in 1941, all persons of Japanese descent in the Western U.S. come under suspicion. Curfews are imposed, bank accounts frozen, and FBI agents search homes randomly.

Despite the fact that two generations of the Miyota family are American citizens, Fumio and his parents and sister Kimiko must pack meager belongings and are transported under military escort to the California desert to be held at Camp Manzanar, leaving their good friends and neighbors the Whitlocks to care for their farm and their dog, Flyer.

The family suffer unimaginable insults, witness prejudice and violent protests, are forced to live in squalor, and are provided only poor-quality, unfamiliar food which makes them ill. Later, they are transferred to Idaho’s Camp Minidoka, where Fumio learns what it means to endure and where he discovers a strange new world of possibility and belonging.

Lyrical, visual, and rendered with strict attention to historical accuracy, No Quiet Water, shines a poignant light on current issues of racism and radical perspectives.

The Review

This was such a unique and special read. The author does an incredible job of crafting a narrative for readers that feels accessible on a large scale to a multitude of readers while also diving deeply into the heart of the narrative and the themes that they explore, which feel personal and painfully intimate to the characters involved. The themes took on a serious tone as the author delved into some serious subject matter, including themes of racism and mistrust in the wake of tragedies, and the way fear and doubt warp people’s perception of others, something that is happening even now in our own modern times, which made this story feel tragically more relatable than ever before.

The heart of this narrative was the rich character development and the multi-POVs that the story takes on. The heartbreaking and enduring story of Fumio and his family create that emotional relatability between the reader and the narrative that a historical fiction of this magnitude has while also creating a unique perspective through the eyes of the family dog who is forced to be left behind on the family farm in the care of neighbors gave this story the YA and middle-grade genre twist that will make the narrative accessible to a broader audience.

The Verdict

Captivating, emotionally driven, and memorable, author Shirley Miller Kamada’s “No Quiet Water” is a must-read historical fiction Japanese and United States historical fiction read. The heart and passion for which the author wrote, as well as the important themes that touched upon some of our society’s most vital issues that need to be addressed, showcased how we need to learn from our past and the power that resides within us all as we discover who we are in moments of great tragedy and crisis. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Shirley Miller Kamada grew up on a farm in northeastern Colorado. She has been an educator in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington, a bookstore-espresso café owner in Centralia, Washington, and director of a learning center in Olympia, Washington. When not writing, she enjoys casting a fly rod, particularly from the dock at her home on Moses Lake in Central Washington, which she shares with her husband and two spoiled pups.

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Children of the Revolution (Westward Sagas Book Three) by David Bowles Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviews1 Comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A young woman works to keep her family together as she grows into a stronger role within her family and she begins to be courted by British nobility in author David Bowles’s “Children of the Revolution”, the third book in the Westward Sagas series.

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The Synopsis

Children of the Revolution is the story of the progeny of patriot Adam Mitchell, who fought during the American Revolution at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse on March 15, 1781. This pivotal battle culminated in his cornfields, which adjoined the one-acre site of the first Guilford County, North Carolina courthouse.

The hundred-year odyssey of the Westward Sagas is not about war, but about how it affected the Mitchell family. Children of the Revolution: Book 3 in the Westward Sagas Series takes up where Adam’s Daughters: Book 2 left off-in Tennessee shortly after statehood. The series continues with the next generation of the Mitchell Family. Peggy, the protagonist in Adam’s Daughters, takes on a stronger role as she matures into a confident woman courted by British nobility. Children of the Revolution uncovers the untold reason North Carolina never ratified the U.S. Constitution. Adventure, intrigue, romance and tragedy are woven into the story of the first generation of Americans. 

The Review

This was an engaging and emotional addition to this captivating historical fiction series. The author did an incredible job of showcasing the realities of war and the psychological effects that these battles had on the survivors and the innocent people caught in the crossfire as a decisive battle that would eventually turn the tide of the war effort left deep scars on the land and those who worked it. The imagery really did an incredible job of breathing life into this rich setting as it not only showcased the hardships of life on the frontier, but early life in pre-American lands ravaged by war.

The heart of this narrative came in the author’s ability to bring a dash of emotion and heart to the character’s evolution along with the historical elements that made this story feel alive and vibrant on the page. The exploration of this family saga and the evolution of Peggy’s story in particular were fascinating to behold, and the strength of her character and her choices made the impact of those choices feel that much more prevalent. 

The Verdict

Captivating, engaging, and thoughtful in its approach, author David Bowles’s “Children of the Revolution” is a fantastic continuation of the Westward Sagas and the story of the Mitchell family. The history and culture of the era kept the story flowing smoothly, and the rich character development will keep readers invested in this growing historical fiction series. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

David Bowles is the fifth generation of his family to be born in Austin, Texas. Both parents are from pioneer settlers. His great grandmother Elnora Van Cleve was the first child born in Austin on April 14, 1841. His stories are based on many years of historical and genealogical research. He and Becka his yellow lab travel extensively telling the stories of the Westward Sagas. A prolific writer Bowles has written hundreds of stories about history and the true-life characters he has met. The fifth book in the Westward Sagas will be released in the Spring of 2023.

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