Follow the students of Minghau as they protect: The Library of Legends by Janie Chang

 

Title: Library of Legends

Author: Janie Chang

Genre: Fantasy

Source: Physical Book

Rating: 5 paws up

It's 1937, Japanese bombs are dropping on the city of Nanking China, in order the ensure the safety of their students Minghua University order Hu Lian and her classmates to flee.  Lian and a convoy of other students, faculty and staff must walk miles to find safety in one of China's Western provinces.  A trek that is riddled with threat of enemy attacks.  While the students stive to find safety, they must also protect a priceless treasure: a collection of myths and folkore that is 500 years old: the Library of Legends.  This journey creates bonds among the students and staff.  While Lian form new friendships, she also forms an unlikely romance with the handsome and wealthy Liu Shaoming.  But their trials do not come in the form of enemy attach alone.  One classmate is arrested and another is murdered, and betryal swims through the group.  Lian realizes she must escape for her family's past secret puts her in more danger.  Lian, Shao and his madiservant, Sparrow (who has a secret of her own) make their way to Shanghai in hopes of find refuge and family. During the journey, Lian learns of the connection between her two companions and a tale from the Library of Legends, The Willow Star and the Prince. This revelation comes with profound consequences, for as the ancient books travel across China, they awaken immortals and guardian spirits who embark on an exodus of their own, one that will change the country’s fate forever. 

This was probably one of my favorite books so far this year.  I have come to love the lyrical and poetic way that Janie Change tells her stories.  She is just a gifted and talented atmospheric storyteller, that I haven't seen the likes of in a long time.  I may, dare I say, like her novels more than Lisa See.  *GASP* I know!  I was in a reading slump before I picked up this one from my shelf and it brought my reading mojo back.

This novel is filled with myth and folklore, romance, betrayal, family relationships, and so much more.  Chang provides readers with accurate historical details and weaves it perfectly with legends showing their spiritual importance and meaning.  I so want to find a copy of the Willow Star and The Prince because it seems like a beautiful story.  I enjoyed all the characters, though I kind of wanted more of Sparrow and the legends beyond their own exodus, or more on that.  I do also like that the romance wasn't the 100% focus of this story.  Chang's spent a lot of time showing readers the historical significance of her tale, as well as the spiritual.  The story is set during an event that gets overshadowed by other historical events surrounding WW2 that other historical novels focus on. It was a relief to read something that didn't focus on the typical events that we generally see in this genre.

 If you enjoy books like The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, then you would enjoy this book.  It has so much to offer.  Janie Chang will quickly become a favorite.

Making Changes in the World: The Accidental Suffragist by Galia Gichon

 Title: The Accidental Suffragist

Author: Galia Gichon

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 4 out of 5 paws.

Helen Fox is a factory worker trying to make ends meet for her family in 1912.  When her family experiences a horrific tragedy in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, Helen finds herself drawn to the Suffragist cause.  Soon she is immersed and is working alongside other suffragists to try an make a change in the world.  As she delves further into the cause and her involvment, she encounters many sources of tension within her home and out.  She quickly becomes ostrasized by neighbors, estranged from her husband, worry for her children as she goes of activist trips and more.  Helen discovers her voice in a male dominated society.

  

I recieved a gifted copy of this book for an honest review and I have to say I am very glad I took the opportunity to read this novel.  While it is a slim book, it is jam packed with heart and inspiration.  I was instantly hooked when I began reading, I didn't want to stop, even to sleep.  It was a quick read, and I feel like I will be reading again in the future.  This is such an important book, and I see it gaining popularity and becoming a huge success.  It shows a moment in time that women displayed strength, intelligence, grit, and so much more.  Something that needs to be taught more in schools, more than just a brief moment.  This is a moment in our history that shows young women what we are capable of doing. 

Galia does a wonderful job at bringing her words to life.  There are moments throughout the novel that pull at your heart; her son going to war, her husband turning his back on her, the horrors of what happened in Washington, losing her friends, the fire, and so much more.  Galia Gichon's words bring out the rawest of emotions as you are reading this novel, it took everything in me not to cry. I was deeply moved by this novel and it will stick with me for a long time.  I highly recommend this  novel to everyone.

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Beautiful, Lyrical Novel of Family Legacy: The Mountains Sing Review

Title: The Mountains Sing

Author: Nguyen Phan Que Mai

Genre: Historical Fiction, Family Legacy

Source: Paperback - giveaway win

Rating: 4 out of 5

Houng is a young woman awaiting the return of her parents who have gone off to fight in the Ho Chi Minh trail conflict.  She is unsure if they will ever return as she and her grandmother find a new normal.  Tran Dieu Lan and her children were forced to leave her land during the Land Reform in the 1950's. Together grandmother and granddaughter share an experience that bonds them closer together as they struggle and overcome hardships they face within their lives.

I was lucky enough to win this book through Goodreads' giveaway; and I couldn't be happier that I have gotten the chance to read this book.  A lot of the historical fiction novels I have read have focused on World War 2, this one focused on two historical events we aren't taught much about, the Vietnam Land Reform and the Ho Chi Min Trail. Mai Nguyen has such a poetic voice that both transported me to Vietnam, but also made me want more from her.  I ended up buying her book of poetry as well which is just as beautiful.

The story is told in alternating view-points between Tran and Houng, and reflects on two points in time, but show similarities between the struggles and strength each woman finds.  In the heart of the story, I found a story of beauty, strength, and determination that is inspiring to read and think about.  It honestly makes me want to learn more about Vietnam.  The culture, language, history, and even folklore.  It is not everyday you find a novel that touches your heart and mind, and The Mountains Sing is a novel that does just that.

I honestly hope Mai writes more novels, she definitely gained a huge fan in myself and I think she will find more.

Making History and Paving The Way for A New Generation

Title: The Flight Girls

Author: Noelle Salazar

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Paperback

Rating: 5 out of 5

Audrey Coltrane dreamt of flying all her lift.  Her life belonged in the sky.  That is why she begged her dad to teach her to fly.  It is alway why she signed up to train military pilots in Hawaii.  Then she suddenly finds herself in the air over Pearl Harbor as the bombs dropped, and now nowhere seems safe.  Audrey joins the WOmen Airforce Service Pilots program.  While in the program she bonds with her fellow pilots.  Giving her hope in the face of turmoil until the handsome Lieutenant James Hart goes missing in action.  Now she finds herself on the front lines fighting not just for her country, but for the man she loves dearly.

I recently began reading historical fiction, it normally isn't my type of genre.  But there are a few novels that speak out to me and when I read them my heart aches for the characters.  The Flight Girls was that kind of novel for me.  It was a novel that made me want to learn more about the Women Airforce Service Pilots which paved the way for women in the Airforce, how cool is that.  This wasn't something I learned about in school so of course I wanted to learn more about them.

The way Noelle Salazar writes her story puts readers right into the story.  I cannot tell you how many times I cried throughout this book and even told my mom she needed to read it and prepare herself.  This was a book that gets you excited, and breaks your heart.  You keep thinking things will go one way and then they don't.  Noelle Salazar writes a beautiful novel that honestly touches your soul.  The way she writes draws out all your emotions and leaves you raw.  The characters seem like someone you could be friends with, in fact, I could see my best friend as the main character and that is something that helped this novel hit home for me.

Upon finishing this novel, readers will crave more from Noelle.  Once in a while a novel comes along that drives you wild, one that you say should be read and The Flight Girls is one of those novels.  It is a WW2 novel unlike any other novel I have read in this genre and actually makes me want to read more.  If you like historical fictions, check this book out.  If you never read historical fiction still read this book, it will change your mind, it did mine.

The Last Necromancer

Title: The Last Necromance
Author: CJ Archer
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal
Source Kindle Ebook
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 paws.


Charlie is your average 13 year old boy living on the streets.  He steals to survive until he gets caught and arrested.  Only..Charlie has some secrets, one he is actually an 18 year old girl.  Two...she can speak to and control the dead: she is a necromancer.  Her father banished her from his home when she first commanded her mother's spirit five years ago, she lived on the streets in disguise since.  When she is arrested she stirs the pot when she begs a spirit to help her escape the clutches of the other prisoners allowing her to escape jail altogether. Now There are people looking for her a mysterious doctor and Lincoln Fitzroy the head of a secret organization.  But why do these people want her and what will they do with her once they find out she is a girl and in deed the last necromancer?

I have read other books by C.J Archer, and loved the writing style enough to need to check out this novel as well.  This is the first book in a series and yes, I already bought the second book in the series.  I liked that Charlie was a little flawed in that she didn't trust anyone, was constantly denying who she was and even falling for someone older than her.  Having flawed characters make them easier to relate to, making the book more enjoyable to read.  I have read a lot of other books with the main characters having a variety of powers, but this is the first that I have read about a necromancer, and I like what Archer did with it.  Granted there was literary artistic creativity with the doctor character (I don't want to give it away).  I know some people didn't like how it was done, but I was excited once I figured out who this mysterious person was and what he wanted her for.  It is set in Victorian London and makes references to some events that have happened around the time such as the Ripper murders, which I thought was a nice touch bringing the real into the fantasy.


The story does take a while to develop to the climatic point of who the person is and finding him.  Most of the time Charlie is trapped in a manor with not much to do other than read and play cards with two other characters.  I wanted a little more from Gus and Seth, I think I liked their characters more than I like Lincoln.  There is too much we still don't know about him/felt too mysterious.  I also wasn't sure about the potential love interest between Charlie and Lincoln because of the age.  Now I know age makes no different, but it's hard to read a book of an 18 year old girl falling in love with her 30 year old kidnapper.  I actually shipped her with Seth, and would love to see that happen, something different from the normal go to of lead female falls for lead male.  Or better yet, have her not want to get mixed up with a man until she learns about her powers and how to defend herself against people out to find her.  Shake things up a bit, sure it's YA but does every girl in a YA novel need to be rescued by a man?!


There were a few things about Lincoln I was not okay with such as him "teaching" her a lesson by dropping her off in the middle of Whitechapel to fend for herself.  While she was used to being on the streets she did so under the guise of a boy, now she was all gussied up like a respectable lady and almost gets raped.  I admit I almost stopped reading right there, but low and behold Lincoln comes to her rescue and kills them man.  I find it hard to believe that is a good way to prove to someone that you would not harm them or to encourage them to help you.  And of course Charlie goes with it because she's so frazzled and see him as her knight in shining armor.


I liked the thrill of finding the doctor, but I would have liked Charlie to have been in on it a little more, or the use of her necromancy powers to be more in the story other than in the beginning and towards the end.  I wanted more from that which is why this book got the 3.5 paw rating.  There was a lot of waiting around for something to happen, but I understand the need to build a little bit of a backstory within the first book of a series. I wanted Charlie to be a stronger character, but she does come off as being weak and unable to defend herself (but then how did she survive on the streets for so long?)


It was a good enough story, kept me wanting more up til then end and made me want to buy the next book in the series, even if there are a few loop holes in the story itself.  I tried not to overthink those holes.  I am interested to see where the story takes us and what is in store for Charlie, Seth, Gus and Lincoln.  I recommend it for those who enjoy fantasy, paranormal, supernatural kind of stories.

Hearts Under Siege

 Alexandra awaits the brief return of her twin brother Jeffy, when a steamboat he is supposed to be on explodes and she fears he is dead.  Refusing to believe her brother to be dead she goes in search of him, bringing herself into the middle of the Civil War.  Her grandfather soon gets kidnapped and she is needed to deliver an important message to Confederate officers.  WHile she travels the lands she is stalked by an unknown man, and protected by a handsome man she believes to be a Yankee soldier.  Through their travels the mysterious stalker turns his sights onto Thomas.  Now they need to struggle to survive and make it through the war torn lands.  Will their affections for one another be strong enough to make it through?

Within the first few moments of this book I found myself gasping, you already find yourself feeling for Alexandra as she awaits her brother only to have the steamboat explode! Holy crap, I may have also audibly whispered "NO."  There were a few things that had me a little weary such as the events leading to Alexandra and Thomas's first meeting.  Thankful nothing too graphic was described and I like that about Kelly's writing, there isn't anything graphic or explicit in this novel.  I would be willing to allow a teenaged reader to read this novel.  It is a clean romance, by that I mean little to no sex scenes.  GASP what do I mean?  How can there be romance without sex right?  Kelly focuses on the build-up of their relationship almost in a courting like sense.

There were points when Alexandra would have memories or dreams about something and it flowed with the same text as when she was awake, it would have been easier to distinguish if the text was in italics to differentiate the state of consciousness.  There is a lot that happens throughout the story from Grand-pere being arrested, to Jackson being shot, Alexandra trying to deliver this message through war zones and the romance building between her and Thomas.  The time period is the 1800's so a few things don't fit, but at the same time would it be as interesting if the dialogue fit exactly to how a Southern Belle and gentleman solider would?  I actually liked the more modern way of speaking as it made it easier to understand their emotions and get a feel for the characters. 

There are some surprises and twists to the story and the characters are relatable.  They develop slowly and pretty much stay true to their original characteristics they had in the beginning.  I have read other reviews about the story jumping around a lot, but I honestly do not see that within this book.  It all remains pretty consistent and true to the original plot.  When George comes into the picture, I am unsure of how Thomas figures out who he is, I caught onto something that wasn't addressed during this point and doesn't makes much sense, but I may have missed something in my reading leading up to it.


That being said, I enjoyed reading this book, I pretty much finished it within a day. Hearts Under Siege was the perfect novel to read on a rainy spring day.  I do recommend this book for those who like clean romances, historical romances, and romance in general, even chick lit in general.  If an I am not mistaken this is the first book in a series and I look forward to reading other books in the series and other books from Kathryn Kelly.  As for a rating, I would give this a 3.5 because there did seem to be moments where things didn't add up for me, but it was still a great book to read to pass the day away.

Destiny's Plan By Victoria Saccenti

Fist off I want to comment on how beautiful the cover art of this novel is.  This is definitely a cover that will draw readers into the story.  The look on the woman's face is beyond enticing and what I would imagine Raquelita would look like.

Raquelita's mother is moving her and her younger sister from Texas to Florida, away from their father.  While on the train ride to Florida, Raquelita is seated next to a young soldier. They are instantly connected and begin a conversation that changes their lives.  The two quickly fall in love and must try to figure out how to manage their budding romance through harsh trials such as Raquelita's mother's iron fist, and Matthew being deployed to war.  Things do not turn out exactly as the two love birds planned and both struggle with choices they make in the time away from one another.  Will they be able to make their love work?  Will destiny have other plans?

Destiny's Plan is an interesting story in that it tells the story of not only Raquelita and Matthew, but also her mother: Isabel.  I will warn you there is a lot of adult content within this novel including abuse and allusions to rape in the past.  I actually wanted a little more of Isabel's past to be told or rather Raquelita to learn more about her mother.  There were some points in the story that felt dry and seemed to drone on, but those were far and few between, the rest of the book made up for those moments.  I was drawn into the story of Matthew and Raquelita, and honestly I was worried it would be a story of just them missing one another and trying to get past the hardship of her mother, but it is so much more than that.

Victoria has a style of writing that is very descriptive and informative.  Though it does not feel as if it was too much, it was perfect for the story.  We see Raquelita develop through the story from a scared little girl to a semi-confident woman trying to learn things on her own.  While she makes the wrong decisions and learns the harsher lessons of life the hard way, she learns and becomes stronger because of them.  As Isabel deals with her demons in various ways, she becomes a kinder woman, even if not completely.  It is interesting to see her transform and struggle with alcohol addiction, the demons of the past, and so much more.  While she may seem like a weak character, she is indeed a strong one. 

Victoria does a fantastic job with this story, I would recommend this for those who enjoy a historical romance.  She does her homework in the Vietnam war and includes that into the story.  She is a very talented author and I look forward to reading more.  I give this book a 4 out of 5 because of the dry moments that seemed dull, but as I stated, the story really picks up in other places.

Driving Grandfather by John Redstand

Grandpa was once an airplane mechanic during World War 2.  Now he is chauffeured around doing errands with his grandson.  Through their travels, Grandpa regales his grandson with elaborate and humorous stories from his time in the Army.  The grandson is a contractor who empties out abandoned buildings, while trying to help grandpa renew his license, among other things makes for a hilarious tale.

This novel is full of humorous and all-too-real stories told by a spirited old man.  Redstand has the magic ability to weave present day with memories from long ago.  While Grandpa may be seated in the passenger seat, it felt as if I was in the backseat listening to his stories as well.  The author has the disclaimer that the stories told are historical fiction, but they feel as if they are real stories that have happened.  One thing I particularly enjoyed was that Grandpa told stories about the men he was serving with rather than the war itself.  There was a time when I had the honor of talking to men about when they served with my grandfather, reading this book brought back the memory of some of those stories.  That element in itself adds a personal and almost intimate touch to the story.

In about 133 pages, Redstand develops his characters and story so much so that readers don't want this book to end.  Almost every review I have read is agreement, no one who has read this book wanted it to end.  We all want more.  The book is fast paced, but that is only because you want to "hear" the next story to be told, you want to see the antics grandpa and grandson will get into next together.  Throughout the book we see an incredible bond between grandpa and grandson that is completely heartwarming.  The character of grandpa reminded me of my own grandfathers, and miss them terribly.

There honestly is no way to pick a favorite part of the book because it is wonderfully written.  Redstand does a phenomenal job with the book and I look forward to being able to read anything by this talented author.  The description of the book amazon mentions that John takes us on a tour of the last few months of his grandfather's life; this is a tour you don't want to miss.  This book is the perfect way to honor family and keep a loved one and their legacy alive.  I give this book a 5 out of 5, and recommend it to everyone.

After The Auction/ The Lost Torah of Shanghai

I am going to do something a little different than normal, I am going to combine two books into this review because if you read one, you need to read the other.

After The Auction and The Lost Torah of Shanghai by Lind Frank
Media source: Paperback

Rating 4.5 out of 5

Recommendation:  I highly recommend these novels for anyone who enjoys a good mystery, historical elements.  I was enthralled with both books and recommend them to anyone who wants a good book on their shelf.

Both novels focus on Lily Kovner as she searches for lost Jewish artifacts.  She is a spry woman who lets the journalist aspect of her character sometimes get the best of her.  Much like Rachel in The Amber Room, Lily travels across the globe searching for answers, only to get more than she bargained for.

After The Auction:

While attending an auction for work, Lily Kovner is shocked to see a Sedar plate on the auction table.  What's special about this plate?  It is the plate that was stolen from her family home by Nazi soldiers.  Lily embarks on a quest to not only get the plate back but also find justice even if that means she needs to travel to various continents to find it.  She and her family and friends are shaken once Lily begins to received threatening notes and phone calls.  Even though a woman who was aiding in the search is found dead, Lily continues her search.  Along the way Lily reconnects with long lost family, begins a love affair, and learns more about the looting of Jewish artifacts and what happened afterwards.

From the very beginning, I was engrossed in this story.  I have always been a sucker for stories dealing with the Holocaust, even if they are fiction.  I found Lily's story to be fascinating and hung on every twist and turn.  Frank included surprises you didn't expect, even if you expected it to happen, you were still surprised.  She created a character in Lily that readers feel immense compassion for, and are able to feel each emotion she goes through during the course of her quest.  I have heard and read stories about the Holocaust and survivors etc, but nothing about the looting and recovery of art/artifacts.  The plot was well designed and unfolded wonderfully; it kept you interested all the way through.  There was not one point where I wondered when the story would climax, everything built up perfectly. 

The Lost Torah of Shanghai:

The Lost Torah of Shanghai takes place about a year after After The Auction lets off.  Ruth, Lily's cousin, learns a valuable Torah her family protected has been stolen.  She contacts Lily and Simon to help her solve the mystery of who stole it and why.  Once again Lily travels across the world in search of this Torah.  Just as the year before, she is plague with threatening letters and phone calls trying to sway her from finding this artifact. 

There are a lot of the same elements between the two books.  In both she is threatened in somewhat the same manner (phones calls, notes), a relative is revealed, family history is discovered, even someone related to the search is murdered again.  While there are the same elements, it is done differently and presented in a different way.  It becomes new in the second book.  I found the history behind the different types of Jewish heritage very interesting and found myself wanting to research them to learn more for myself.  Both novels holds the readers attention and captivates them through each novel.

Linda did an exquisite job with dialogue, descriptions, character development.  We have a strong, independent woman in Lily, her independence almost becomes a fault as she doesn't let others assist or protect her. A woman who feels she can take care of herself and hold her own against threats, which she does.  Most strong characters are younger, but we see a 60 something year old woman fighting off assailants, highly intelligent and resourceful.  She is an amazing character. In the second book: Lost Torah of Shanghai, we see her evolve, display vulnerability, and reveal aspects of herself we didn't see in the first book.  Throughout Lost Torah, Lily is referred to as the Jewish Miss Marple; a slight nod to the Agatha Christi character, but I am not sure if I would compare these two books to the Agatha Christi series.

Simon's character, I wanted so much more from.  He held a lot of mystery and intrigued, but wasn't used as much as I would have expected, especially in the second book.  The first he was Lily's love interest, and while he remains the love interest, he doesn't seem to have a bigger role than a little fluff with an argument or moments of agreement with Lily.  The same with Ruth, while it is her family the story deals with, she is not a major character in the story. I expected her to be almost like a side-kick in this story but she fell to the background.

I highly enjoyed reading both books, I devoured them within a day that I started reading them.  I couldn't get enough of the story.  So much in both novels were interesting that I wanted to look up afterwards to learn more about such as the Kindertransport and the different Jewish heritages.  Both novels spark a renewed interest in history for me. 

Infinite Sacrifice By L.E Waters

Title: Infinite Sacrifice by L.E Waters
Media source: Kindle

Rating 4 out of 5

Recommendation: This book is different from most other books.   It takes you on a journey through various time periods and opens your eyes to ideas you didn't think about.

 

Infinite Sacrifice is a novel that would be considered historical fiction, because it takes place in various different time periods.  It is a fiction novel focusing on the various lives of the main character.   I cannot give you a name or even a gender because it is different in each life.

 

The novel starts off with the main character entering a "holding area" if you will and is told they need to witness their previous lives before continuing on.  Then the lives begin.  We are taken through ancient Egypt to Sparta then we are off to Denmark and then London.  But that is only the beginning, there are two more books in the series.   Each life the main character is a different gender as are the secondary characters, but they all remain together in one way or another.

 

This novel takes an interesting look at reincarnation.   The idea that each life helps the soul learn a specific lesson is used as the basis in the story.   After a few lives,  readers can begin to pick up on what that lesson is.  The author does a fantastic job at creating multiple characters in each life that develop in their own ways.  I especially enjoyed the addition of a beloved pet following in the reincarnation process.  Do animals reincarnate?    It really got me thinking about reincarnation and things I didn't think about before such as each soul group always being together.  Like the thought that my friends and family could have been with me in previous lives.  It is an interesting idea.  One that I don't think is explored enough.

The novel is captivating as each life began I found myself wondering how each character will present itself and how each life will end.  The author includes a chart at the end of each life to help keep track of who is who and what their beacons are.  Beacons are described as a characteristic that remains with a soul throughout each reincarnation such as a mole, scar, or even color of one's eyes. I find it impressive to able to take a character and develop it through the story, while making it into other characters.

Walker does an outstanding job with this novel.  I have it in ebook format, I want to get this book and the other two in the series in paperback.  This novel has provoked many in depth conversations and discussions with friends in regards to the theory on reincarnation and how the soul needs to learn something in each lifetime.  I highly suggest this novel.<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0062F67L8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0062F67L8&linkCode=as2&tag=litecat08-20&linkId=QDZEKEORGPRXVQ5E">Infinite Sacrifice (Infinite Series Book 1)</a><img src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=litecat08-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0062F67L8" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />

Portrait of Stella

Portrait of Stella:  Susan Wuthrich

Media: Ebook

Rating 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Portrait of Stella is a novel about a young woman who discovers what she thought of her origin of birth and family history were not correct.  While trying to get a passport for work Jemima discovers she is not a British citizen.  This leaves her completely befuddled and she begins a journey to discover not only who she truly is, but also the history of her mother and father.  With each new answers comes a new question.  She realizes she knew very little of the woman that was her mother and even less about her father.  As she learns her mother's secrets she embarks on a journey which takes her to Australia and South Africa. She quickly learns of the hardships her family endured and in turn faces some of those hardships herself. The answers she seeks throw her world upside down, more so than it already has become.  Along the way, she makes numerous ties in different cities and builds relationships with new friends who will stay into the future and some who do not.  Portrait of Stella is a whirlwind tale of deep family history and finally discovering one’s own heritage.

From the beginning of the book until the end, this story holds the reader captive.  It pulls readers in quickly by tugging at heartstrings quickly.  It builds up the excitement and desire to know what happened to Jemima’s parents, and why her birth certificate was forged.  Never does one think it would become the tale that it does.  It ranges on so many different topics, but does so in a way that it does not seem like too much information.  Just when one thinks they have it figured out something new is revealed which changes the whole course of the story.  The telling of the story through the eyes of different characters was a wonderful element.  It added a depth to the story which might not otherwise be present.  The author develops characters that readers can relate to.  The character of Jemima is astounding, although some of her actions do seem out of character for what readers know of her.  The other characters compel the reader to continue and learn more about them.  

Susan Wuthrich does a phenomenal job at bringing all the elements of the story together.  She brings out various different emotions from happiness to sadness and pain.  It is easily one of those books that can be finished in a night.

Treasure of the North

Treasures of The North (Yukon Quest Book #1), by Tracie Peterson
Media: ebook - Nook
Rating 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation:  I would recommend this novel for those who enjoy both Christian novels with focus on relying on God as well as those who like old west novels, novels about the gold rush and romance.


Treasures of the North is the story of a young woman, Grace Hawkin, who travels to the Yukon with her governess, Karen Pierce, to escape the potential to marry an abusive man.  Karen travels to the Yukon in hopes of finding her father who has gone missing during a missionary trip among the natives in Alaksa.  Along the way they met and make new friends in Peter Colton, a ship captain who sees the gold rush as a way help establish the family shipping business and Bill, a widower who packs his kids up to head north in hopes of achieving riches with the gold to be found.  Martin Paxton makes his way to the Yukon unbeknown to Grace and Karen.  Martin continues to manipulate her family to bring down their ruin, and he is determined to bring down Grace as well.

This is one of those novels that you can find yourself getting lost in and lose complete track of time.  I almost finished it in one night.  The story is compelling, the characters are thrilling, and you find yourself hoping each of their dreams come true (aside from Martin who you love to loathe).   There are a lot of references to religion and God throughout the novel, so if that is not something you dislike, this isn't a book for you.  That being said those references were done very well, it displayed the beliefs of Grace and Karen, and sometimes Peter.   It added quality to each of the characters to see how their faith fit into their lives. 

Peterson does a wonderful job with this story. It flows nicely and the changes in storylines, meaning changing to the different characters flowed together well. Readers aren't left wondering what is happening or where the story is headed.  There are questions that arise and go unanswered, but that is why there is a second book in the series.  The novel doesn't necessarily end, but prepare readers for the next novel.  It almost leaves you hanging which drops the rating down slightly.

Will I return to it?  I am not sure if I would return to this particular novel, but I will continue to read the series.