Find time after the holidays are tucked away for another year, before new demands come barging in, when curling up with a good book is the best use of your time. Whether it’s sunny outside your window or the wind is howling and swirling the snow, I hope you’ll find that “just right” book. Here are a few of mine.
The Chocolate Maker’s Wife by Karen Brooks
Set in 17th century London, this is the fascinating story of Rosamund—illegitimate, beautiful, resourceful and kind-hearted—who is drawn into the world of London’s luxurious chocolate houses where the wealthy and powerful come to see and be seen, to gossip and scheme. She faces twisted plots of cruelty and revenge as she fights for her life and those she loves through the ravages of the Plague and London’s Great Fire. A beautifully written saga, delicious in its description of chocolate and details of the period.
Etta: A Novel by Gerald Kolpan
If you love westerns with drama and intrigue, come read about Etta Place, a Philadelphia debutante whose family’s reversal of fortune leaves her homeless and perused by the ruthless Black Hand mafia. Set in the 1900’s, Etta who is more fit for horseback riding than high society, escapes west and dodges the law with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Through a series of hold ups and heists, Etta and Sundance begin an epic romance and adventure, the greatest of Etta’s life.
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
One of my all-time favorites. This book celebrates the 1936 U.S. men’s Olympic eight-oar rowing team. The sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers from the American West, the boys took on and defeated the sons of bankers and senators rowing for elite eastern universities. They defeated the sons of British aristocrats rowing for Oxford and Cambridge. And finally, in an extraordinary race in Berlin they stunned the Aryan sons of the Nazi state as they rowed for gold in front of Adolf Hitler. Against the backdrop of the Great Depression, they reaffirmed the American notion that merit, in the end, outweighs birthright and reminded the country of what can be done when everyone quite literally pulls together. A wonderful story of American grit, determination, and optimism. I grew attached to all the boys in the boat and didn’t want the story to end.
The Girl Who Wrote in Silk by Kelli Estes
While exploring her deceased aunt’s Orcas Island estate, Inara Erickson discovers an elaborately stitched piece of fabric hidden beneath the stairs. As she researches the piece and discovers the secrets it holds, Inara’s life becomes interwoven with a young Chinese girl who was mysteriously driven from her home a century before after the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This story introduced me to painful events that occurred at this time in our country. What Inara eventually uncovers will shake her family to its core. It’s the touching story of two women with enduring spirit, determined to do the right thing.
I could go on and on. If you’re still searching for a great read, try Marcello’s Promise. I hear it’s worth a look!
Below is a review from EverReady Book Reviews, October 2019.
Perry has created relatable and believable characters in plausible situations. The story line is more character driven as Marcello wants to create his own destiny and Luisa wants to be his helpmate. What is best for the family is the driving force for each of them but eventually the provider vs the protector clash. Luisa’s character becomes stronger as the story develops. She is not afraid to stand up to her husband and express her fears as Marcello becomes more involved in his brother’s bootlegging operations.
Clear and concise writing moves the story’s action along at a steady pace. The reader easily is drawn into the story and its drama. Perry’s extensive research for historical accuracy gives the story an authentic tone. Her description of steerage conditions for immigrants, processing at Ellis Island, coal miming history, equipment and hazards, moonshine, and the history of Southwest Wyoming all give the story a real feel.
Perry’s grandparents were ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Their everyday courage, sacrifice, determination, faith and love are stories worth sharing. I applaud the author on writing such a wonderful story that truly comes from the heart to honor her ancestors. You know it’s a good solid story when you wish it wouldn’t end. One can’t help wonder what will happen next to the Corsi family as they embark on a new adventure.
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