The Story of Land and Sea by Kathy Simpson Smith takes place along the coastal shore of North Carolina towards the end of the American Revolutionary war and spans from 1771-1794/. It takes us into the lives of three generations of families from landowner to slave. It is a glimpse into their hardship and love.
Deep Summer is the first novel in the Plantation Trilogy originally published in 1946 and thanks to Open Road Media it is now available digitally. It takes us into the lives of Judith Sheramy who along with her family traveled down the Mississippi River from New England to begin life anew in Louisiana. Along the way they encounter Philip Larne, a charismatic slave smuggler who enchants young Judith and encourages her to come build an empire with him.
I love Michelle Diener’s historical suspense mysteries. They are all based around actual events, with delightful characters and a side dish of romance. A Dangerous Madness is connected to her previous novels; The Emperor’s Conspiracy and Banquet of Lies since we see characters from those novels but all are standalone and can be read in any order.
I love crime novels, mysteries and serial killers! Mix in supernatural elements and I am drawn to these stories like moths to a flame. Delia’s Shadow is the first novel in the Delia Martin series by Jamie Lee Moyer. Set against the historic city of San Francisco, Moyer drew me in with her easy writing style, dark descriptions and engaging characters. Mini review: Dark and suspenseful. Old school detective work with a rich plot that kept me captivated as Moyer balanced darkness with light.
In 2012, I read Betty Lee Crosby’s novel Spare Change and absolutely fell in love with the characters in the small town of Wyattsville. I enjoyed it so much I gifted it to friends and family that Christmas. At the time, the book was a standalone, but Betty told me that, Jubilee’s Journey, came to her and I am delighted that it did. In Jubilee’s Journey, I was once again transported back to the apartment complex and reconnecting with Ethan Allen and Grandma Olivia. Mini review: Touching, engaging and heart-warming. The characters spring to life and wrap themselves around your heart.
