#historicalfiction – Rosepoint Publishing

Lady Reid’s Legacy by Jean Grainger #BookReview #HistoricalIrishHistory #TuesdayBookBlog

The Dunmara Series – Book 3

#1 Best Seller in Historical British & Irish Literature

Book Blurb:

In 1846, a young bride arrives at Dunmara as the Great Famine tightens its grip on Ireland. Evelyne Reid quickly learns that her marriage is nothing more than a debt repaid, and that her husband, Lord Reid, is as cold and merciless as the hunger stalking his tenants. Powerless by law, Evelyne must choose between obedience and her conscience.
But Evelyne makes a decision in 1846 that will echo across two centuries.

Over 150 years later Dunmara Estate is in grave peril.
On Ireland’s wild West Coast, a ruthless developer has this ancient place in his sights, and those fighting to save it are losing ground with every passing day. The answer to Dunmara’s survival is hiding in plain sight. But first, someone has to see it.
Evelyne’s legacy is all but forgotten, reduced to a whisper as the years roll on.
The question is whether anyone will hear it — before it’s too late.

My Review:

Ah, the third in the series, and my favorite so far, gets ever deeper into Orla’s contemporary fight to save her historic Dunmara House, ring fort and tower. This installment, however, introduces us to Becca who becomes a co-main character with split timeline Evelyne Reid.

I usually enjoy the early portion of the timeline more so than the contemporary one, but in this installment, I found both were pretty fascinating reading, following the author’s expert storytelling as she weaves in the background of Becca and her quest to find her (Irish) roots and that of Evelyne Reid.

Evelyne of the nineteenth century is unfortunate enough to have been married off to Lord Reid as her poverty-stricken parents face losing their home and their lives as well as those of the younger children. Evelyne is nothing more than a means to provide Lord Reid of an heir. What he does with her after she is successful is horrible and my heart sank—trying to help Ms Grainger with ways to save her. Fortunately, Ms Grainger had her own ideas.

As the Great Famine of the time wields a shocking axe to the population and changes forever the path of their lives, the author once again details the agony of hunger and the role of the overlords. Also, there is ample use of, as well as explanation of, folk or Celtic lore, which is usually an eye-opening history of a current tradition.

“…there was a cross on a donkey’s neck where it met their back to remind the world that the noble animal had carried the baby Jesus.”

“Oscar Wilde used to say? I can resist everything except temptation.”

Also, love the colorful turn of phrase, humor, euphemisms, and accents and these are also included in abundance.

Does Orla find proof of help in her fight to save Dunmara House? Does Becca find that missing link that may lead to surprising roots? You and I will both have to wait to find out but I can tell you this saga is heating up beautifully, the tension is building, and is there a possible budding romance or two coming at us in Book 4?

Well! This time, even I hope so.

Many thanks to the author for providing me with the ARC and the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Rating: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Historical British & Irish Literature, Historical Irish Fiction, Historical Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Fiction
Publication Date: September 24, 2026

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Jean Grainger is a USA Today bestselling author with over 100,000 5* reviews of historical and contemporary Irish fiction. She is acclaimed for her authentic portrayal of Irish life and history. Born in Cork, she draws from her experience as a history lecturer, teacher, and tour guide to craft characters that feel like friends, and sometimes foes. Grainger’s works span multiple series and standalone novels, covering significant periods in recent Irish history, but told from the perspective of families, the humans behind the headlines. Her stories often intertwine historical events with personal journeys, exploring themes of family, friendship, and human resilience. Grainger’s writing style, characterized by its warmth and authenticity, has earned her comparisons to renowned Irish authors like Maeve Binchy. Her dedication to research and character development has resulted in a loyal readership who feel deeply connected to her stories and characters.

delighted with book — Delighted with book, graphic courtesy ChatGPT

Secrets of the Artis Zoo by Paulette Mahurin – #BookReview #HistoricalWorldWarIIFiction #NetGalley

An Unforgettable Story of Love, Grief, and Found Family in the Shadow of War

Book Blurb:

During the dark days of World War II, amid Nazi domination and the deportation of Jews, the light of hope shines, often from the most ordinary of people. Such is the case in occupied Holland, where neighbors support one another and where unlikely friendships blossom.

After the death of his wife leaves Karl alone and bereft, the elephant Vrij at Amsterdam’s Artis Zoo, where Karl is employed, becomes his closest companion. Soon, he strikes up a friendship with a Jewish family named Wolff, who have a little boy named Daniel. Karl is touched by the plight of the family, and he fears for the future of the little boy. But dark clouds loom on the horizon, and the family is threatened. Because of his close bond with the Wolffs, Karl too is in danger. There seems no way of escape, until fate takes over.

Based on the remarkable true story of the role the Artis Zoo played in helping refugees during World War II, Secrets of the Artis Zoo is a testament to the power of ordinary people to perform extraordinary acts of courage. In the worst of times, love and loyalty transcend all boundaries-even between species.

His Review:

Nazi Germany held no safe places for Jews. The maniacs in leadership followed the hatred of their leader for these individuals everywhere. There were no places for Jews to hide and if they were caught both the person or family hiding the individual were killed. The zoo seemed to be an answer because there were places in the zoo that had openings where the fugitives could be hidden.

The zoo was also a place loved by Hitler and enjoyed by his chief followers. Visitations were scheduled around the needs of the habitats for the animals. Large boulders and other structures were hollow and in some cases whole families would hide within these enclosures. Many of the staff were helping to hide these unfortunates and if caught were sent to the gas chambers along with their friends.

A quick bullet in the head was considered too expensive and a waste of ammunition. Therefore, elaborate alternatives were developed. This author captures the terror and desperation of these times. Well written and very suspenseful. C E Williams I recommend it as an empathetic and well-researched and written narrative. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this ebook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Historical World War II Fiction, Historical World War II & Holocaust Fiction
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Publication Date: October 22, 2026
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble

Paulette Mahurin - author — Bio photo courtesy Goodreads

The Author: Paulette Mahurin is an award winning international best selling literary fiction and historical fiction novelist. She lives with her husband Terry and two dogs, Max and Bella, in Ventura County, California. She grew up in West Los Angeles and attended UCLA, where she received a Master’s Degree in Science. [Amazon]

Her first novel, The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap, made it to Amazon bestseller lists and won awards, including best historical fiction 2012 in Turning the Pages Magazine. Her second novel, His Name Was Ben, originally written as an award winning short story while she was in college and later expanded into a novel, rose to bestseller lists its second week out. Her third novel, To Live Out Loud, won international critical acclaim and made it to multiple sites as favorite read book of 2015. Her fourth book, The Seven Year Dress, made it to the top ten bestseller lists on Amazon U.S., Amazon U.K. and Amazon Australia. Her fifth book, The Day I Saw The Hummingbird, was released in 2017 to rave reviews. Her sixth book, A Different Kind of Angel, was released in August, 2018.

Semi-retired, she continues to work part-time as a Nurse Practitioner in Ventura County. When she’s not writing, she does pro-bono consultation work with women with cancer, works in the Westminster Free Clinic as a volunteer provider, volunteers as a mediator in the Ventura County Courthouse for small claims cases, and involves herself, along with her husband, in dog rescue. Profits from her books go to help rescue dogs from kill shelters. [Goodreads]

Reading couple

Rosepoint Reviews – September Recap – Did you catch that Harvest Moon?

Rosepoint Reviews - September Recap

Usually we have a beautiful Harvest moon just about the autumn equinox, but with the crazy early fall weather we’ve had this year, pretty hard to see the moon or stars. Do you have a celebration to welcome in the change to seasons now or later?

Perhaps we are more inclined to celebrate the period around Halloween, although we are not due now a full moon on Halloween night until October 31, 2039. I’ve always been fascinated by the origins of the ancient festival celebrations around the end of October as it felt more like the end of the harvest season to us. I must admit, however, that my garden gave it up early this year and I’ve already spent the time to clean it up. I’ve salvaged a few acorn squash and one lonesome bell pepper.

Because the weather took such a turn, I began preparation to move the little water garden critters inside. You may remember that I mentioned setting up a little water feature in my May Recap. The orange Mystery Snails and Rosy Red Minnows have actually made the move successfully (so far) to a small aquarium. The minnows are hardy, look like goldfish, and withstand both water level and temperature fluctuations. Orange Mystery Snails - breathe both air and water The snails are the clowns of the aquarium, breathe both water and air, will go exploring, eat most any veggie and are tolerated because they clean up algae. The downside, of course, is that they reproduce like rabbits and put a heavy load on otherwise clean water. It’s been an education.

Speaking of education, a gal in one of my exercise classes started talking to me about her participation in Mahjong. Well, Mahjong! Mah Jong tiles I was introduced to the original Mahjong over in Japan when we lived there and, fascinated, went out and bought and brought home, a set of Mahjong tiles. I paid 800 Yen back then, or about $2.20, and now approximately $5.08 USD. Of course, no way, shape, or form could the Asian game be close to the now sanctioned National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) game, not that I remember how we played it back then. Needless to say, I’ll be starting a beginner class shortly. I guess it’s really catching on in the States now.

The first week of October will be our third anniversary with Punkin the Pom, who has finally allowed me to pet her (by invitation only), and has jumped up on the couch if we aren’t there and the bed when we are, though doesn’t stay close longer than to say goodnight. She will turn seven years old two weeks after that. I must say, she is a very easy dog to live with, for the most part undemanding.

Despite all the above and another trip to the VA for the CE, I did manage to read and listen to nine ebooks and audiobooks. Still trying to play catch up and not doing a very good job of it while so much is going on. As always, the link is to my review that also includes purchase links.

#RosepointPublishing - September Recap

EBooks

Every Secret Thing by Susanna Kearsley
How to Kill a Crime Writer by Sarah Lotz

Audiobooks

Whisper Creek by Allison Brennan
Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple (bookclub selection)

Poppy Montgomery Gets Even by Gordon Jack*
The Secrets We Hide by Karin Slaughter*

Dead Men Don’t Play Fetch by David Rosenfelt*
Shadow of the Solstice by Anne Hillerman*

Keep Them Close by David Ellis

Favorite Book of the Month

I went back and forth between Poppy Montgomery Gets Even and How to Kill a Crime Writer, but decided in the end that I enjoyed the unique plot device as well as the paranormal element in How to Kill a Crime Writer by Sarah Lotz just a little more.

Favorite for September – How to Kill a Crime Writer

My Reading Challenges page…Between doctor visits, moving aquatic critters, cleaning up the yard, and trying to learn Mah Jong from YouTube videos, my reading suffered in September. I reduced my Goodreads goal to 125 and posted those audiobook reviews from last month, now showing 98 books completed and 5 ahead of schedule. Hopefully, now I can settle down to an almost indoor reading schedule and complete some goals.

To my readers and fellow bloggers: apologies once again for lagging on blog hopping. I’m also a member of the Amazon Vine community and they are finally beginning to post a few items which I do want and have received, prompting required reviews. A time sink but worth it. Still, I appreciate every view and like and appreciate so much your taking the time to check out my posts and leave your comments.

Audiobooks

*Mini-reviews

Every Secret Thing by Susanna Kearsley #BookReview #HistoricalWWIIFiction

Book Blurb:

Some secrets refuse to die.

When journalist Kate Murray is approached by a stranger desperate to reveal the truth about a long-buried crime, her life is upended, and a dangerous journey begins. A tangled web of betrayal, loyalty, and courage draws Kate in as she follows the trail from present-day London to the shadowy alleys of wartime Europe. The answers lie in her own family’s hidden past, but with every step, she awakens powerful enemies. To bring a killer to justice, Kate must risk not only her career—but her life.

My Review:

When Andrew Deacon is killed right in front of Canadian journalist Kate Murray, she is drawn into who and why. Kate is in London covering a murder trial when an elderly British gentleman approaches and engages her in a quick invitation to meet regarding a murder story that never saw justice. He is killed by a hit and run driver as he’s walking away.

Every Secret Thing by Susanna Kearsley — Every Secret Thing – US cover

Perhaps she would not have given the man the time she did except that he asked after her grandmother.

It devolves into a split time line—that of WWII involving her grandmother—and a more recent somewhat hazy decade. Complexity ramps up with the sense of time and multiple locations and the transition is not always as smooth as it might be. How does a journalist afford to traipse all over the world, chasing clues, entirely on her own?

There is a mystery that works hard on suspense, with a side helping of a small but impactful romance. Oh, and I enjoyed that part, very poignant. For his very short appearance in the book, I grew to love Deacon.

Suddenly we are in a complicated novel of espionage spilling out of a WWII British embassy in Lisbon. There were occasions of disbelief—okay—just go with it. Decades after the war, suddenly Kate becomes the hunted and those around her at risk, including her grandmother. Hers was just the first of the body count. Still, that wasn’t Kate’s clue to stop interviewing people possibly associated with either the present or the murder never brought to justice.

The good guys and the bad guys, neither of whom could be wholly explained or examined as it was all national security, hush-hush. Parts I liked (the romance—yeah, me, liked that part—and parts I didn’t. Why the extensive confession—the long explanation—which still didn’t cover all the unexplained threads?

I think I was supposed to love this novel more than I actually did. Sorry about that but when you catch yourself dosing between chapters, there is bound to be something missing. Hard to know the bad guys; seems like all have an agenda and difficult to decipher which one was a positive.

Not just themes of war, but of disease, suicide, theft, and loss. Profound loss. If you love historical fiction and appreciate the spy game, you may very well enjoy this more so than I.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Rating: Three point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Historical World War II Fiction, World War II Historical Fiction, Historical World War II & Holocaust Fiction
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: November 17, 2026

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Susanna Kearsley - author — Susanna Kearsley – author

The Author: I’m a former museum curator, avid amateur genealogist, and writer of modern gothic novels that interweave contemporary suspense and romance with historical adventure, meaning they don’t fit neatly into any category and are therefore a marketer’s nightmare.

The Bookseller once said of me, in a review, “She has a poetic sensibility and a sense of mystery; she could write the modern Rebecca.”

So that’s what I strive for.

Deserters: A Novel by Jerry Gabriel – #BookReview #TravelAdventureFiction #NetGalley #AcreBooks

Book Blurb:

An immersive adventure story set during the American Civil War follows four travelers as they escape toward the Western territories.

It is fall 1864, and Robert Riley has deserted his Army of the Potomac unit outside Petersburg, Virginia. Exhausted from years of war and worried about his motherless sons in Ohio, he returns to collect thirteen-year-old Michael and Sean, three years older, and flees to the Western territories. Along the way, he encounters Janey, an orphan at sixteen, who is also eager to go West. When Riley sees in her a quickness of mind, a brand of cunning that mirrors his own, he is persuaded to take her along.

Crossing the lower Midwest on horseback with little money and few possessions, the four are pursued by a wily private detective after the reward for turning in Riley. He manages to thwart the ragtag group, who abandon their plan of crossing the plains. They slip away by train to Chicago, and there, in that cold, stinking, dangerous metropolis, just before the 1864 election, they meet with problems beyond Riley’s ability to resolve. All four find themselves alone, at the mercy of fortune . . . and the fortune hunter, who finally gets the chance to face down his nemesis.

Deserters alternates between the perspectives of the four major characters as their relationships grow and shift, and as each of them strives to forge their way forward in the late war’s murky upheaval. A book whose antecedents include Charles Portis’s True Grit and Paulette Jiles’s News of the World, Gabriel’s immersive novel is an adventure story with psychological intricacy, emotional intensity, and historical heft.

His Review:

The tragedy that was the American Civil War took more American lives than any other conflict in history. The issue was the northern states fighting a group of southern states. Sometimes even brothers within a family were split between their loyalties to the area they were born and the flag they chose.

This book concentrates on the misery that was felt on both sides and the young people who decided that they did not want to fight in that war. One of the facts of this conflict was that it was illegal to avoid conscription into this war. Either on the side of the north or the south, avoiding being conscripted was punishable by death or immediately being sent back to the front, sometimes without a weapon.

Jerry Gabriel explores the paranoia and fear that any deserter had. Escaping this turmoil was fraught with danger. Even young children were employed to help find the deserters. Bounty hunters made a living capturing these individuals and getting them back to their respective armies.

The time was brutal and vicious and avoiding capture meant never going into a town if it could be avoided. Bounties being paid during times of economic tragedy resulted in hundreds of thousands of people being put back into inhumane prisons with no future. Read this story and witness the many facets of the Civil War not taught in schools. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this ebook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Travel Adventure Fiction, Action & Adventure Literary Fiction, Literary Fiction
Publisher: Acre Books
Publication Date: May 15, 2026
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Jerry Gabriel is the author of two books of fiction, Drowned Boy and The Let Go. His first book, Drowned Boy, won the Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction and the Towson Prize for Literature. He lives in Maryland with his wife and children, where he teaches writing at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Reading couple — Graphic courtesy ChatGPT

Woman on Fire: A Novel by Lisa Barr #AudiobookReview #ThrowbackThursday #WWIIHistoricalFiction

Book Blurb:

From the author of the award-winning Fugitive Colors and The Unbreakables, a gripping tale of a young, ambitious journalist embroiled in an international art scandal centered around a Nazi-looted masterpiece—forcing the ultimate showdown between passion and possession, lovers and liars, history and truth.

After talking her way into a job with Dan Mansfield, the leading investigative reporter in Chicago, rising young journalist Jules Roth is given an unusual—and very secret—assignment. Dan needs her to locate a painting stolen by the Nazis more than 75 years earlier: legendary Expressionist artist Ernst Engel’s most famous work, Woman on Fire. World-renowned shoe designer Ellis Baum wants this portrait of a beautiful, mysterious woman for deeply personal reasons, and has enlisted Dan’s help to find it. But Jules doesn’t have much time; the famous designer is dying.

Meanwhile, in Europe, provocative and powerful Margaux de Laurent also searches for the painting. Heir to her art collector family’s millions, Margaux is a cunning gallerist who gets everything she wants. The only thing standing in her way is Jules. Yet the passionate and determined Jules has unexpected resources of her own, including Adam Baum, Ellis’s grandson. A recovering addict and brilliant artist in his own right, Adam was once in Margaux’s clutches. He knows how ruthless she is, and he’ll do anything to help Jules locate the painting before Margaux gets to it first.

A thrilling tale of secrets, love, and sacrifice that illuminates the destructive cruelty of war and greed and the triumphant power of beauty and love, Woman on Fire tells the story of a remarkable woman and an exquisite work of art that burns bright, moving through hands, hearts, and history.

My Review:

Much has been written and the subject of movies regarding the theft of the world’s masters by the Nazi’s during World War II. It is still the subject of mountains of conjecture, tales of confiscation, and missing pieces that may never be found.

Woman on Fire is the last painting that fictional Jewish artist Ernst Engel created before he is murdered by the Nazis during their purge of impressionist artists they labeled degenerate.

The protagonist, Jules Roth is a recent grad, a journalist who has set her sights on a job with Dan Mansfield of the Chicago Chronicle. Perfect timing, as he’s been asked to help him find a painting for his best friend, Ellis Baum, before he passes. It was his mother who was the subject of the painting and shot in front of Ellis.

While the book was heavily researched and a subject dear to the heart of the author, she layers the plot with intrigue, tension, and suspense. I should also mention she adds the requisite romance that once again I could have done without, as there was quite enough grist to sink teeth into regarding the massive theft of art without forming an alliance with Ellis’s grandson. (Gimme a break.)

There is an antagonist to Jules protagonist, Marqaux de Laurent. OMG, the mental picture of this woman! Margaux comes from money. Big money. And she feels she has the right of ownership to the painting, given her grandfather’s vast art collection that included this piece as well. Mad to open a new gallery, the painting will be her linch pin.

The big question here is, “If you steal something from someone who stole it from someone who stole it, is it stealing?”

I’d assume the original recipient of the painting would be the rightful owner, but amazing the arguments stemming from such a simple question.

Jules and Adam follow each clue in tracking the painting from France and Germany and beyond. The characters are well developed, the subject well described, and possibly raises more questions than answers.

Not a new plot, but possibly a unique take on the subject. If you enjoy tracking the lost treasures of WWII, this may very well interest you.

Many thanks to my local library for providing me with the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four Stars

Book Details:

Genre: World War II & Holocaust Historical Fiction
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Narrator: Carlotta Brentan
Release Date: March 1, 2022

Title Links:

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Lisa Barr is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of THE GODDESS OF WARSAW, WOMAN ON FIRE, THE UNBREAKABLES and the award-winning FUGITIVE COLORS. Lisa served as an editor for The Jerusalem Post, managing editor of Today’s Chicago Woman, managing editor of Moment magazine, and as an editor/reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times. Among the highlights of her career, Lisa covered the famous “handshake” between the late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, the late PLO leader Yasser Arafat, and President Bill Clinton at the White House. Lisa has been featured on Good Morning America and Today for her work as an author and journalist. Woman On Fire, The Unbreakables, and The Goddess of Warsaw have been optioned for film adaptation. Her new historical thriller The Shadow Artist publishes on March 9, 2027.

#ThrowbackThursday

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline #FeelGoodFiction #bookclub #TuesdayBookBlog

A Heartfelt Historical Novel Spanning Generations and Friendship

Nominee

The upper midwest experienced a bad T-storm that resulted in lots of tree loss, roads closed, and power outages, including our area residences and businesses. That included the YMCA where we missed having our regularly scheduled book club meeting last week. Rescheduled for this week, we had a smaller group than usual, but as always, a lively group.

This book club selection was a Goodreads Choice Award Nominee as well as a #1 New York Times bestseller. The author has eight bestsellers, has been published in forty countries, and is a prestigious award winner. (Not all of the books we’ve read for book club have been out for more than ten years, but I’ve become aware that few were recently released. They’ve stood the test of time and prevail on the charts.)

My Thoughts

Molly Ayer is about to age out of the foster care system and good riddance! Busted again for a minor theft, she is given the option of community service and she chooses to help an elderly woman clean out her attic. The woman is ninety-one and doesn’t want to part with anything, but as they go through boxes and share stories, the more Molly realizes that despite being generations apart, they have very similar experiences.

Vivian Daly lives in Maine, an Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City. A young red-headed Irish girl back when that was not cool, she was deemed a difficult adoption prospect and sent with others on the orphan train out west where the train stopped for prospective parents. Granted, many had no intention of being parents; their objective was to obtain young, free labor services.

Molly is a Penobscot Indian, unwelcome and abandoned young, who has also been in and out of foster homes, a couple of which she had to flee. She’s developed attitude, hardened to life, cynical. Both of them have questions about their past and harbor secrets.

It’s an epic tale told in emotional description, a story sincere and genuine, and it plays out with unexpected revelation.

Many thanks to our local well-stocked library for providing me with the opportunity to read this novel. The thoughts expressed here are my own as well as my interpretation of the consensus of the book club participants.

Book Club Thoughts

The publisher provided the questions for discussion at the book club, and we tackled Orphan Train after a quick introduction to next month’s book and interesting information about that author.

Among questions for discussion were:

► Both characters experienced several name changes depending on who or where they were—contrasted—the group acknowledged both had similar experiences with either their names being changed for convenience and ease of clarity or of their own choice (the marriage of Vivian). The impact of those changes probably impacted Vivian more so at the beginning, but both names reflected their heritage, a larger degree of identity loss.

► Vivian’s ghosts were a recurring theme in her POV (told as first person, while Molly’s POV was third). As Vivian was portrayed as a 91-year-old with many years of experiences, much of the story regarded her childhood.

► Interesting that adoption included the promise to send the child to both school and the church of their choice—which didn’t happen for either child and included debate whether or not it was either child choice or whether or not they cared. Yes on the education.

****SPOILER***

► Was the reader surprised by Vivian giving up a baby when her own childhood was that of an orphan? YES! But discussion led to much observation between social services back then and now, which would have been handled much differently. Still, it was an unsettling twist.

Memorable Quote:

Sometimes you don’t look for perfect. Sometimes enough is the most you can hope for.”

The heritage of both children set off an extended discussion of the current strides in DNA and interest in ancestral history. That discussion could have continued much longer were we not required to vacate the room.

Book Club and my star ratings

Book Details:

Publisher: Mariner Books
Publication Date: April 2, 2013

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: A #1 New York Times bestselling author of eight novels, including The Exiles, Orphan Train, and A Piece of the World, Christina Baker Kline is published in 40 countries. Her novels have received the New England Prize for Fiction, the Maine Literary Award, and a Barnes & Noble Discover Award, among other prizes, and have been chosen by hundreds of communities, universities and schools as “One Book, One Read” selections. Her essays, articles, and reviews have appeared in publications such as the New York Times and the NYT Book Review, the Boston Globe, the San Francisco Chronicle, LitHub, Psychology Today, Poets & Writers, and Salon. Born in England and raised in the American South and Maine, Kline is a graduate of Yale (B.A.), Cambridge (M.A.) and the University of Virginia (M.F.A.), where she was a Hoyns Fellow in Fiction Writing.

Kline lives in NYC and Southwest Harbor, Maine. She serves on the advisory boards of the Center for Fiction (NY), the Jesup Library (Bar Harbor, ME), the Montclair Literary Festival (NJ), the Kauai Writers Festival (HI), and Roots & Wings (NJ), and on the gala committees of Poets & Writers (NY), The Authors Guild (NY) and Friends of Acadia (ME). She is an Artist-Mentor for StudioDuke at Duke University and the BookEnds program at Stony Brook University.

The YMCA Book Club

Rosepoint Reviews – July Recap – Dog Days of August Are Upon Us

Actually, I thought the “dog days” referred to all of August. Wrong! It’s actually from July 3^rd to August 11^th. Who Knew? The Dog Star, Sirius, is the brightest star in the night sky, sitting in the constellation Canis Major. Those ancient Greeks and Romans had some amazing ideas, huh?

Our July was first spent in healing and convalescing and then the passing of one of our Navy buddies. The good news is that the second trip to the hospital was the charm for the CE. Now the process involves healing on the inside as well as the outside and the wait for release to resume the activities we were formerly enjoying.

The bad news is the loss of Ted. The CE served with him in the Navy in Taiwan back in the late 60s when we met he and his wife and their two babies. We enjoyed a number of great get-togethers through the years, and it was nice to see their “babies” all grown up with kids and grandkids of their own.

The water garden with fairly new Rosy Red Minnows was cared for during our time away in Texas for the memorial service by a neighbor. Fortunately, the week was forecast for pleasant 70^o temps, but we arrived back home in the middle of one of the Northwest’s famous severe T-storms. While our neighborhood was spared, many were not.

The veggie garden got a good soaking, so both the water garden and the veggie plants were happy at least. Texas was predictably very warm.

We continued to read and listen to audiobooks (albeit sparingly with traveling and visiting in Texas). The links on the titles are to our reviews that also include purchase information. I expect to review the titles we managed to finish beginning in August.

Rosepoint Publishing - July Reviews

EBooks

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick (bookclub book)
Captain Hope and the Battle of Attu by Neil Perry (CE review)
The Rector’s Daughter by Jean Grainger

Favorite Book of the Month

Favorite for July – Captain Hope and the Battle of Attu

My Reading Challenges page…I’ve been lucky to turn on the computer. My Goodreads count won’t be accurate anyway, but the opening page shows 79 books (twenty-two behind schedule). I think it’s obvious I’ll have to edit the goal. Also, I have several audiobooks finished but not posted and soon coming.

UpComing Audiobook Mini-Reviews

The Final Target by Nora Roberts
The Keeper by Tana French
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

To my readers and fellow bloggers, I appreciate every view and like and appreciate so much your taking the time to check out my posts and leave your comments.