An American Duchess – Sharon Page

An American Duchess

Sharon Page

Harlequin HQN, Sep 29 2015, $7.99

ISBN: 9780373789382

In 1922, accompanied by her Mother, twentyish Zoe Gifford drives her car on the Brideswell Abbey Estate in Hertforshire to visit the aristocrat she plans to marry in haste Lord Sebastian Hazelton.  The marriage will enable Zoe to use her trust fund to pay off Mother’s disastrous debts and also her husband for cooperating before they divorce.  A blown tire forces the two women to start walking.

When Zoe and Sebastian’s older brother Nigel, Duke of Langford, meet, both are attracted to one another.  However, Nigel suffers from war-related PTSD and hates the monstrous changes wrought by the Roaring Twenties as epitomized by the upstart American female who does not know her proper place.  She, in turn, rejects his antiquated beliefs.  Love has blossomed in Hertforshire, but seems unable to overcome the vastly different philosophies.

An American Duchess is a pleasant post World War I romance starring a Thoroughly Modern Millie and a Brontosaurus in love.  Though the angst loses its edge in the last quarter of the historical, Sharon Page captures the essence of a radically changing world (see the early episodes of the People’s Century) as epitomized by this lead couple, Mother and other family members and servants.

Harriet Klausner

Streams of Mercy – Lauraine Snelling

Streams of Mercy

Lauraine Snelling

Bethany House Publishers, Oct 6 2015, $14.99

ISBN: 9780764211065

In 1907 accompanied by her children (Melissa, Joseph and Gilbert), Widow Anji Baard Moen visits her kind in-laws in Norway, who beg her to stay with them.  Instead Anji and her kids return to Blessing, North Dakota.  Anji balances being a supermom with teaching Norwegian history once a week to high school students and writing articles for the Blessing Gazette.

The circus comes to town by train, but proves not to be a joy when they bring diphtheria with them.  Dr. Bjorklund and Dr. Jeffers invoke strict health measures to keep the disease from turning into an epidemic.  When the paper’s publisher Thorliff becomes ill, Anji takes over running it.  Newcomer Minister Thomas Devlin provides carpentry services to the townsfolk and courts the widow; while healing Thorliff wishes he acted first.

The third Song of Blessing historical (see A Harvest Of Hope and To Everything A Season) is a tremendous early twentieth century Northern Great Plains inspirational drama that once again transports readers to a different bygone era (a trademark of Lauraine Snelling).  Life in small-town North Dakota during a terrible disease outbreak grips the audience, but it is Anji and several other caring folks who bring a personal touch to the captivating storyline; she in particular wonders what God prefers she choose between two caring men who both want her and her children in their respective lives.

Harriet Klausner

Valley Of Decision – Lynn Gentry

Valley Of Decision

Lynn Gentry

Simon & Schuster/Howard Books, Sep 22 2015, $14.99

ISBN: 9781476746418

Several years have passed since Dr. Lisbeth Hasting left behind her beloved barrister Cyprianus Thracius in third century Roman controlled Carthage.  Both agreed to the separation to keep their daughter safe since his beloved offspring would be an Achilles’ heel for Cyprianus as the leader of the persecuted (by Rome) Christians.  Though she fiercely misses her mate, Lisbeth raises their child and uses her medical practice to control her sadness.

Disappointed with her mom’s lack of effort over the last decade to bring her daddy home; teenage Maggie’s paternal obsession leads her to take a radical course to persuade her father that his family (at least her as she doubts her mom cares) needs him.  In Carthage, Maggie finds her grandmother accused of murder, but her attempts at rescue leads to a riot.  The Proconsul demands the death of the troublemaking teen mastermind and her rebellious family.

The third Christian Chronicles of Carthage saga (see Return to Exile and Healer of Carthage) is a complex time travel family drama, but has a “déjà vu all over again” (the late great Yogi Berra) feel to the overarching theme.  Well written climaxing with a terrific unexpected but reasonable late twist, Valley Of Decision is a fine finish to a fabulous trilogy.

Harriet Klausner

Beyond The Cherokee Trail – Lisa Carter

Beyond The Cherokee Trail

Lisa Carter

Abingdon Press, Sep 1 2015, $14.99

ISBN: 9781426795466

In 2018 the Prairie N— members claim the attack at the Trail of Trails Interpretive Center in Cartridge Cove, North Carolina.  They warn the staff to shut down the festival commemorating the 180th-year since the tragic forced march or else burn.  Linden Birchfield, who recently arrived from Raleigh, refuses as she believes in the importance of this event.  She becomes further animated when she finds a journal from a volunteer Trail of Tears’ marcher.

In 1837, Nurse Sarah Jane Hopkins accompanies the beleaguered Cherokee on their forced march from Georgia to Oklahoma in order to help the sick and injured.  Reading Sarah Jane’s odyssey encourages Linden to remain resolute though someone wants her and her program dead.  Though he has doubts about a relationship with Sarah Jane, Walker Crowe knows he loves this obstinate woman though he loathes her festival.

Beyond The Cherokee Trail is a fabulous drama due to the journal that brings alive the harrowing ordeal of the forced trek by someone who did not have to go.  The well-written romance surprisingly enhances the historical subplot because in spite of the man she cherishes and others demanding the gala aborted; Linden finds strength in what Sarah Jane willingly did.

Harriet Klausner

Golden Earrings – Belinda Alexandra

Golden Earrings

Belinda Alexandra

Gallery Books, Aug 18 2015, $16.00

ISBN: 9781476790336

In 1975 France, estranged from her father Paloma lives with her Spanish grandmother Evelina while matriculating at the Paris Opera Ballet School.  Paloma stays focused on her goal until she fails to gain a ballet spot due to her anger at a bias selectee hurting her audition.  When she receives golden earrings that remind her of her ignored heritage in Spain, Paloma begins to search her Spanish roots before the ascendancy of the recently deceased Franco.

Her efforts lead to fascinating la Rusa; who in the 1930s was considered one of the greatest flamenco dancers ever; but at the top of her fame committed suicide.  To her shock, Paloma finds several people including her secretive grandmother rejoiced when la Rusa killed herself after being accused of betraying affluent Evelina and her family.  Hoping the truth will set her free, the more Paloma learns the more astonished she becomes; while obsessing over what really happened decades ago that impact her today.

This exciting epic historical focuses on Spain just before and during the 1930s Civil War and 1970s Paris (though there are other eras like 1909 Barcelona).  Ironically though Paloma and Evelina are ostensibly the stars, la Rusa owns the entertaining storyline past and even years after her death in the 1975 present.  The storyline starts slowly to enable readers to meet the players; once in first gear, the mystery and Spain’s mid twentieth century history make for an insightful engaging drama.

Harriet Klausner

Evergreen Falls – Kimberley Freeman

Evergreen Falls

Kimberley Freeman

Touchstone, Aug 4 2015, $16.00

ISBN: 9781476799902

In 2014 in Australia’s Blue Mountains, thirty year old virgin Lauren Beck muses that if she had been sexually active, less protected by her dominating Mum in Tasmania, or even held a job before this one; she would be able to talk with handsome Danish architect Tomas Lindegaard.  Instead the coffee shop waitress knows she sounds like an idiot when she speaks to Tomas who leads the renovation of Evergreen Spa.  Still Tomas escorts Lauren though the rundown hotel where she finds a package of old letters and begins to read them.

In 1926 SHB sends love letters to a woman the author obviously loves.  Wanting to know more about the mysterious young lady and envious of how much SHB cherishes her especially since she wishes Tomas would equally covet her; Lauren seeks the identity of such adulation.  Having lost her position in Sydney, but needing money to care for her sick mom, Violet Armstrong ecstatically accepts a waitress job at the exclusive Evergreen Spa.  There she meets affluent siblings Sam and Flora Honeychurch-Blacks.

Rotating perspective between two similar women over eight decades apart, Evergreen Falls is a fascinating character study that looks deeply at forbidden love caused by social class differences.  Each lead female chooses a path, but also shares in common looking back and wondering about “The Road Not Taken” (Frost).  Although the dual subplots follow the anticipated respective courses, Kimberley Freeman writes an intense Australian drama.

Harriet Klausner

The Silver Locket – Sophia Bar-Lev

The Silver Locket

Sophia Bar-Lev

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, Apr 5 2015, $14.95

ISBN: 9781508845546

While her husband Danny serves in France, in 1942 Boston twenty-one years old Rosalie Lapkin struggles with hours of labor until Dr. Fischer performs a C-section.  However, instead of a healthy newborn, Dr. Fischer informs Rosalie that her daughter didn’t make it.

While her husband Joe works for his uncle in New Mexico; in the same hospital, choosing not to nurse her newborn, Sarah Rosenfeld feeds her healthy baby girl Dorothy.  Sarah and Rosalie become friends.  No one knows that she gave birth in the hospital; so sadly Sarah gives her “Dorothy” to Rosalie to raise as Rebecca Sarah with only Rabbi Lowenstein’s wife and very few others aware of the adoption.

Rosalie’s cousin Josh arrives from California just before Rosalie learns that Danny is MIA.  At the same time Sarah moves to Pasadena to be with Joe who has a new job there.  As the years pass, Rosalie, accompanied by her new husband and her daughter, migrates west even as she wonders if it is time to give the precious Silver Locket to her beloved Rebecca at her high school graduation.

This is a captivating historical due to a strong ensemble cast who bring to life the long term effects of heart-wrenching decisions made out of love that occur during a crisis like a war.  Readers will appreciate Sophia Bar-Lev’s enjoyable two decade saga; as a tearful mom doing what she believes is best for her offspring impacts two families.

Harriet Klausner

The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach – Pam Jenoff

The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach

Pam Jenoff

Mira, Jul 28 2015, $14.95

ISBN: 9780778317548

In 1941 Italy a frightened Momma fears for the lives of her daughter Adelia, her husband and herself; as the Fascists target Jews.  She places Adelia on a ship bound to Gibraltar where her child will catch a boat heading to Philadelphia.  In the States, her family fails to arrive on time; even as the immigration officer insists children must be met by an adult.   Uncle Meyer and Aunt Bess get there late but in time to bring their niece to their Chelsea Beach home to live with them.

The next door Irish-Catholic Connally family, especially the four sons, greet her as a friend.  Adelia is attracted to the oldest Charlie, but he enlists; while heartbroken she becomes a translator in DC.  Stunned when Charlie arrives and leaves her, she heads to London to escape her grief.  Working for a newspaper, she likes her boss Teddy until Charlie arrives again.

Moving from war-torn Poland (see The Winter Guest, The Kommandant’s Girl and The Diplomat’s Daughter) to the States and London, Pam Jenoff provides another tremendous WWII drama that leaves readers believing we traveled to the 1940s.  Through the eyes of the forced to mature rather quickly heroine, The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach is a powerful timely (after the Bush era Iraq and the present Iran drumbeats) historical as we witness the cost of hostilities on young civilians and families.

Harriet Klausner

Lady Be Good – Meredith Duran

Lady Be Good

Meredith Duran

Pocket Books, Jul 28 2015, $7.99

ISBN: 9781476741376

In London, Viscount Kit Stratton worries about the lunatic threatening his loved ones.  This military hero believes Catherine Everleigh, co-owner with her brother Peter of Eveleigh’s Auction House, can lure the maniac into the open so that Kit can end the danger to his family.

When Kit catches Everleigh Girl hostess Lilah Marshall stealing letters from her employer, he seizes an opportunity to catch the homicidal enemy.  Kit blackmails Lilah into helping him with his crusade.  Thus Lilah, who left her crime family kin behind four years ago, travels with her boss to Kit’s estate.  However, neither Kit nor Lilah expected to fall in love, which makes her the prime target of a psychopath.

The latest Rules for the Reckless Victorian (see Fool Me Twice, That Scandalous Summer and E-novella Your Wicked Heart) is a thrilling romantic suspense filled with tension and a vibrant resilient lead couple.  The entertaining relationship hooks the audience as on the surface Lilah is from Venus and Kit from Mars, but readers know before the protagonists how much they actually have in common.  The merciless predator brings out the good and fear in the targeted prey as fans of historical novels anticipate High Noon in 1886 England.

Harriet Klausner

Flame Tree Road – Shona Patel

Flame Tree Road

Shona Patel

Mira, Jun 30 2015, $14.95

ISBN: 9780778316657

In 1870s East Bengal, India young Biren Roy grieves the death of his father.  However, even more shocking to Biren is to observe the pariah treatment by previously loving family towards his mom for the crime of widowhood.  He vows to change this insane outcast custom.

Biren goes to England to study law and while there joins the women’s suffrage movement.  Eventually he returns to India with a goal to fight for women’s rights starting with education.  Though he feels he climbs Everest in winter and several times is ready to give up on what seems a helpless cause, his beloved Maya keeps him fighting for what each knows is right.

Occurring decades before his descendant’s 1940s Teatime for the Firefly drama, idealistic Biren’s battle to change the Caste System turns this into an excellent Victorian.  His efforts come at a high cost to him and Maya; as community and family ostracize them; but with his beloved’s encouraging him, Biren continues “To dream the impossible dream; … To right the unrightable wrong” (Man of La Mancha – “The Impossible Dream (The Quest)”.

Harriet Klausner