by admin | May 2, 2022 | 1920's, Books, Chicago, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Shadowed Loyalty, latest stand alone novel by Roseanna M. White is a gripping tale where the protagonists must choose where their true loyalty lies. Set in Roaring Twenties Chicago and featuring members of the ruling mafia families, this book illustrates a life where men had two personnas, the loving family man who attended church every Sunday and the crime boss who would do almost anything to stay at the top – perhaps even murder.
It was interesting to me how the women of the families seemed to turn blind eyes to how their husbands and fathers made their livings. It had to be nerve-wracking to always wonder if their husband would come home that evening or could he be a victim of a street shooting, a police raid, etc. Sabina Mancari was one such woman. The daughter of the leading mob boss, she had been sheltered and had never actually given it much thought until she met the truth face to face. Knowing the truth, it was up to her whether to make the right decision about her own life.
From the very first page, my interest was captured. The plot moved at a steady pace with plenty of action and suspense and numerous twists and surprises. Although I thought Sabina was a spoiled and fickle young woman at first, I was pleased to observe her growing maturity as the story progressed. I liked Lorenzo somewhat better but in his zeal to protect Sabina, he actually hurt her.
Shadowed Loyalty is a wonderful story with all the necessary elements to satisfy me. A sometimes emotional tale, it delves into family dynamics and true faith. It is definitely well worth picking up a copy.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Chrism Press?. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Sabina Mancari never questioned her life as the daughter of Chicago’s leading mob boss until bullets tear apart her world and the man she thought she loved turns out to be an undercover Prohibition agent. Ambushes, bribes, murder, prostitution—all her life, her father sheltered her from his crimes, but now she can no longer turn away from the truth. Maybe Lorenzo, the fiancé who barely paid her any attention in the last two years, has the right idea by planning to escape their world. But can she truly turn her back on her family?
All his life, Lorenzo’s family assumed he would become a priest, but he has different ideas—marrying Sabina and pursuing a career in the law. Despite his morals, he knows at the core he isn’t so unlike his mafiosi father and brothers. Has he, in trying to protect Sabina, forced her into the arms of the Prohibition agent bent on tearing her family apart? How can they rebuild what has so long been neglected and do it in the shadow of the dark empire of the Mafia?
Shadowed Loyalty, set amid the glitz and scandal of the Roaring Twenties, examines what love really means and how we draw lines between family and our own convictions, especially when following one could mean losing the other.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.
GIVEAWAY:
One lucky winner, to be drawn on June 3, 2022, will receive:
A set of the art deco dangling earrings featured on the book cover
A tin of Italian pastries
A seat at the July Tea Party Book Club where we chat about the book!
Enter between now and June 2 using the form at this link!
by admin | May 4, 2020 | Books, Chicago, Gilded Age, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Jen Turano has remained as one of my must read authors since her very first book. I am pretty certain that I have read them all and always recommend them to those who enjoy a bit of humor and suspense with their historical romance.
Once again this author has shared another of her signature tales with readers and once again I reached the final page with great satisfaction. As always, the plot is well paced with lovable, eccentric characters that will steal readers’ hearts. Plenty of witty dialogue that sometimes borders on bickering and some well placed slapstick humor added to my enjoyment. I loved being able to escape our pandemic quarantine for a few hours and spend time with Beatrix, Norman, Theo, Aunt Gladys, and the other fine characters who populate this tale. There are even several cats as well as Mort the mule who steal a few scenes.
Obviously Storing Up Trouble is another boy gets girl story but what fun is to had along the way. It was fun getting to know Beatrix with her kind and giving heart even though she did have a tendency towards mishaps. I also loved Norman who was so very eccentric and self-centered but became aware of his shortcomings through his friendship with Beatrix. And speaking of friendships, I loved Theo and how she blossomed throughout the book, mostly due to the influence of Beatrix and Aunt Gladys.
I could elaborate more but this is one book readers will want to read for themselves. It would be so difficult to avoid spoilers if I continue. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy ASAP.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author and Bethany House Publishers. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When Miss Beatrix Waterbury’s Chicago-bound train ride is interrupted by a heist, Mr. Norman Nesbit, a man of science who believes his research was the target of the heist, comes to her aid. Despite the fact that they immediately butt heads, they join forces to make a quick escape.
Upon her arrival in Chicago, Beatrix is surprised to discover her supposedly querulous Aunt Gladys shares her own suffragette passions. Encouraged by Gladys to leave her sheltered world, Beatrix begins working as a salesclerk at the Marshall Field and Company department store. When she again encounters Norman on a shopping expedition, he is quickly swept up in the havoc she always seems to attract.
But when another attempt is made to part Norman from his research papers, and it becomes clear Beatrix’s safety is also at risk, they soon discover the curious way feelings can grow between two very different people in the midst of chaos.
Read an excerpt here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Named One of the Funniest Voices in Inspirational Romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today Best-Selling Author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publisher Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. When she’s not writing, she spends her time outside of Denver, CO. She can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jenturanoauthor/ or visit her on the web at www.jenturano.com. She is represented by the Natasha Kern Literary Agency.
by admin | Feb 12, 2016 | Books, Chicago, Gothic Romance, Suspense
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingSoul’s Prisoner(WhiteFire Publishing (December 15, 2015))byCara LuechtABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A Word from the Author:I never planned to be a writer.
In fact, it took me a while to finish college. But I did, and here I am. And I now I can’t imagine not being a writer.
By day, I am an English Instructor for a local college, mother to four amazing children, and wife to an eternally patient and supportive husband.
In the evening, when I can squirrel away some quiet time, I read and write historical fiction.
I have a B.A. in English Lit. from UW Whitewater and an M.F.A in Creative Writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, NJ.
If you have a question for me, or if you are local and would like me to stop by your book club or writer’s group, please drop me a line via the “Ask the Author” tab. I always love the opportunity to meet with others who share my love of books.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
She’ll fight for her future…but can she escape her past?
Chicago, Winter, 1891
Rachel is in danger. She s seen too much.
She creeps along the cement walls through the dank underbelly of the asylum. She d never planned to leave her quiet farm life, never thought she d find a place in the city, never imagined she d be in the kind of danger that would have her cowering in Dunning s cold, labyrinthine basement.
Jenny has finally found her place. After a childhood of abuse, she has friends, a real job, and her only wish is to give her adopted son the kind of life she never had.
A life of stability, without the risk and uncertainty of a father.
But when Jeremy, Rachel s brother, stumbles into their warehouse, asking for help to find his missing sister, Jenny s carefully constructed life begins to crumble.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Soul’s Prisoner, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
I find it hard to believe it has been nearly two years since I had the privilege to review Cara Luecht’s novel “Soul Painter”. You can read my review HERE. As a long-time lover of Gothic romance, I was quite impressed with that novel and am happy to say that Soul’s Prisoner just reinforced my esteem for this author.
The dark and brooding atmosphere is the perfect setting for the evil that permeates the asylum and the suspense continues to build as the reader wonder whether Rachel will be rescued from her cruel fate. Many of the characters from “Soul Painter” make their appearance withing the pages of Soul’s Prisoner and new members are added to Miriam’s growing “family”. Once again Miriam is painting – portraits of a woman unknown to her – a woman she knows is in immense danger. The game has changed but Miriam cannot resist her calling and is somewhat surprised at her new husband’s staunch support.
What can I say without spoilers? The plot grabbed me from the beginning and drug me along to the end without letting go. Despite overwhelming evil, there was still a strong feeling of hope and faith. I liked the eclectic mix of characters. Some were malevolent, some were shining lights, and at least one saw the error of his ways and changed his course. There were a few surprises along the way and at least one budding romance. Naturally the bad guys got what was coming to them by the end but what fun reading to see how everything played out.
Soul’s Prisoner is the perfect book for anyone who enjoys historical suspense/mysteries. I have thoroughly enjoyed both books in the Portraits of Grace series and sincerely hope that many more sequels will be written. I also hope I won’t have to wait two years for the next one. I can be quite impatient when I love a series!
by admin | Nov 13, 2014 | Books, Chicago, Contemporary Fiction
MY REVIEW:
In “Pound Foolish”, the Jackson’s fourth book in their Windy City Neighbors series, the reader is offered another side of the ongoing parallel story from the unique viewpoints of Greg and Nicole Singer. Included are such hot topics as job loss, marital miscommunication, submission of wives to their husbands, and the prosperity gospel, to name just a few. A valuable lesson about what is most important in life and how God really blesses His children, “Pound Foolish” can be read as a stand-alone novel but would be enjoyed even more after reading previous novels in this series.
I will be honest and admit that at times I had difficulty staying with this particular novel. I really did not care for Greg Singer at all. He was a know-it-all who made increasingly unwise choices for his family while refusing to listen to any input from his wife Nicole. Of course Greg was the very definition of the book’s title “Pound Foolish”. My familiarity with previous books of this series as well as other books by the Jacksons encouraged me to press on so I did finish the book. Needless to say, I was rewarded with the usual wisdom I have found in all their novels and witnessed spiritual growth and a restored marriage by the end.
I like the way each novel focuses on different members of the neighborhood. While Estelle Bentley has played a prominent supporting role in some of the other books of this series, her husband Harry had a pivotal role in “Pound Foolish”. Harry’s spiritual maturity, support, and advice were invaluable to Greg’s positive outcome. In my opinion, each and every one of the Jackson’s novels is an entertaining way to gain priceless Christian wisdom from fictional situations that emulate real life. Readers cannot go wrong with any of their novels.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Pound Foolish | Book Four in the Windy City Neighbors series (Castle Rock Creative, October 2014)
Greg Singer coordinates consumer sports shows for powerboats, four wheelers, snowmobiles, and jet skis-macho toys for outdoor men like himself. But the job puts tremendous stress on his marriage with Nicole, who for the first time notices the handsome lawyer at the end of the block. “Greener pastures?” When the recession hits Greg’s industry, he thinks the crisis is merely an opportunity for God to bless him with unmatched prosperity, a promise he hears preached each Sunday, and he steps out in bold faith . . . But is he being “pound foolish”?
The fourth in the Windy City Neighbors series, Pound Foolish explores the economic upheaval and uncertainties challenging every family. Intersecting with Penny Wise (book three), the Jacksons employ the innovating storytelling technique of “parallel novels.” Though each book follows its own drama and story arc, the characters’ lives become intertwined and affect one another. Pound Foolish returns us to Beecham Street-a typical American neighborhood . . . where a growing friendship brings new meaning to prosperity.
Learn more and purchase a copy here.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Dave and Neta Jackson are award-winning authors living in the Chicago area where their parallel novels from the Yada Yada House of Hope and Harry Bentley series are set.
As a husband/wife writing team, Dave and Neta Jackson are enthusiastic about books, kids, walking with God, gospel music, and each other! Together they are the authors or coauthors of over 100 books.
Find out more about Dave and Neta at http://www.daveneta.com/.
