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When the Stars Go Dark, Paula McLain

Hello Subscribers and Visitors of The Cozy Book Blog by Diane-Lyn,

Welcome back! Oh, it has been quite a while since I’ve posted, and I apologize for the hiatus. Life has thrown all kinds of monkey wrenches my way lately, as life often does. As an educator, I am grateful for these summer months and the chance to catch up, regroup, and share more reviews with you. Today, I offer Paula McLain’s When the Stars Go Dark. The novel is set in 1993 in a small, coastal California town; a community caught in the grips of the Polly Klaas murder and the disappearances of other young girls. I hope you enjoy my review, and thank you visiting The Cozy Book Blog by Diane-Lyn!

Best, Diane-Lyn

Synopsis (from When the Stars Go Dark)

Anna Hart is a seasoned missing persons detective in San Francisco with far too much knowledge of the darkest side of human nature. When tragedy strikes her personal life, Anna flees to the Northern California village of Mendocino to grieve. She lived there as a child with her beloved foster parents, and now believes it might be her only refuge. Yet the day she arrives, she learns that a local teenage girl has gone missing.

The crime feels frighteningly reminiscent of the most crucial time in Anna’s life, when the unsolved murder of a young girl devastated Mendocino, and changed the community forever. As past and present collide, Anna realizes that she has been led to this moment. The most difficult lessons of her life have given her insight into how victims come into contact with violent predators. As Anna becomes obsessed with saving the missing girl, she must accept that true courage means getting out of her own way and learning to let others in.

Review: The Cozy Book Blog by Diane-Lyn

I was excited to dive into this novel. The subject matter appealed to me (I’m intrigued by cold cases), as did the 1993 setting (I was young and into my first few years of teaching; a time when children were still allowed to be children, no cell phones, no standardized testing…). Anyway, I was drawn in; excited to be fully captivated and absorbed in what appeared to be a highly gripping read. The book had so much potential, but for me, it fell flat. I’m left disappointed and bored. Here are my thoughts:

  • Anna survives a traumatic childhood only to be struck again with tragedy and loss as an adult. These particulars were helpful in understanding a wounded protagonist and the anguish that shaped her. She did hit the jackpot with a great set of foster parents, but there were so many unnecessary details about them that it slowed down the pace of what should have been a brisk plot. Over time, it just became a boring, overly wordy distraction that consumed too many chapters.
  •  I really wanted to like Anna. I tried so hard to connect with her character; to empathize with the direction she needed to take following an unthinkable tragedy. However, Anna’s decision to travel across the country and throw herself into another family’s crisis felt contrived, unrealistic, and made it difficult to understand or relate to her on any level.
  • There were way too many characters coming in and out of plot. I found this confusing and often had to go back in the book to remind myself of who these people were as it was difficult to keep track of them all.
  • The whole whodunnit theme was predictable, weak, and lacked intrigue. I didn’t feel any rising tension or a big “pow” at the end, which is required in a novel of this genre.

This was my first Paula McLain novel. I’ve heard amazing things about The Paris Wife, so I may give that one a try; but this one just didn’t grab me. To be fair, there were things about When the Stars Go Dark that did hit the mark. I loved the way McLain embedded real life cases of that time frame (Jaycee Dugard, Polly Klaas) into her fictional story line. This gave an otherwise dull novel some energy and depth. McLain had clearly researched the subject area, profiles of predators, and the impact of trauma. She was able to successfully embed this knowledge into a wide array of characters. I just wish it could have been enough for me.

In Conclusion…

When the Stars Go Dark held great promise, but the execution lacked any semblance of a “wow” factor. Frankly, it was slow and boring. There were far too many confusing shifts and extraneous details, making this a frustrating read. I just cannot recommend this one.

Meh.

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A Gentleman Will Never….Forget A Lady, Emily Windsor

Hello readers, followers and visitors! Welcome back to Diane-Lyn’s Cozy Book Blog! I am pleased to be today’s stop on the book blast tour for Emily Windsor’s new release, A Gentleman Will Never….Forget a Lady. Many thanks to Amy Bruno at Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for the invite. Enjoy reading all about this intriguing new historical fiction romance! Best, Diane-Lyn

A GENTLEMAN WILL NEVER…FORGET A LADY
BY EMILY WINDSOR

Publication Date: December 1, 2022

Genre: Regency Romance
Series: The Governess Chronicles, Book 3

Synopsis:

Get swept away to a romantic and rugged land in this joyful and heart-warming Christmas tale…

Having lost her beloved, Lord Tristan, to a storm at sea, Lady Gwen Evans is planning a life of travel, writing books on her adventures.
But will the arrival of a dark, scarred gentleman one December’s eve disrupt all her plans?

With wassailing on frosty nights, dragon myths in the snowy Welsh hills, a rather unladylike list of D.I.S.G.R.A.C.E. and Hide and Seek in the seductive dark, this will be a Christmas never to forget…

‘Witty and wonderful. The storyline is unique and intriguing. And the amount of love in this story is absolutely beautiful.’ ★★★★★ Once Upon A Time

“Christmas is but a few weeks away. A time for wonder.”

Praise for ‘A Gentleman Will Never…Forget a Lady’

‘The only word that could describe this book is enchanting. I loved every moment.’ ★★★★★ Reading Rebel Reviews

‘…brimming with emotion. Filled with wonderful characters, secrets, longing, healing, new beginnings, ghouls, wassail… ’ ★★★★★ Flippin’ Pages

‘An achingly beautiful novel… I LOVED this book!’ ★★★★★ Gloria’s Happily Ever Afters

‘…breathtakingly resplendent. You will become just as enchanted with Windsor’s creations as I have been because it’s utterly magical.’ ★★★★★ sammstormborn reviews

‘Emily Windsor continues to write beautiful stories, and I was totally captivated by this one, as Tristan and Gwen found their way back to each other. I love the warmth, the family connections, and the satisfying resolution, which occurs during the Christmas holiday, the season of miracles.’ ★★★★★ Roses Are Blue Romantic Fiction Reviews

AMAZON US | AMAZON UK

About the Author

Emily Windsor grew up in the north of England on a diet of historical romance and strong tea.

Unfortunately, you couldn’t study Regency slang, so she did the next best thing and gained a degree in Classics and History instead. This ‘led’ to an eight-year stint in engineering.

Having left city life, she now lives in a dilapidated farmhouse where her days are spent writing, fixing the leaky roof, battling the endless vegetation and finding pictures of well-tied cravats.

NEWSLETTER | AMAZON | FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGE | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS | FACEBOOK GROUP | PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM

Book Blast Schedule

Monday, December 19
Dive Into a Good Book

Tuesday, December 20
Reading is My Remedy

Wednesday, December 21
History from a Woman’s Perspective

Thursday, December 22
Gwendalyn’s Books

Friday, December 23
Booking With Janelle

Monday, December 26
Passages to the Past

Tuesday, December 27
Novels Alive and The Cozy Book Blog

Wednesday, December 28
CelticLady’s Reviews

Thursday, December 29
Coffee & Ink

Friday, December 30
Michelle the PA Loves to Read

Saturday, December 31
Lisa Everyday Reads

 

Review: Beyond the Crushing Waves, Lilly Mirren

Beyond the Crushing Waves Synopsis by Diane-Lyn:

London, 1950’s: Mary and Lottie Roberts are poor sisters living in London’s slums with their abusive, negligent mother. When their mother meets a man, she’s determined to begin a new life with him; one that doesn’t include her children. She sends the girls away to the Fairbridge Farm School, an agricultural program in Australia. The children are promised a better life filled with happiness, opportunity, and an education. What they got was quite the opposite. The girls become part of a brutal slave labor force and are subjected daily to abuse, molestation, and life in deplorable conditions. Their only source of comfort is Harry, an orphan boy and friend with a sad story of his own. They find comfort in each other, but the cruelty of their new world changes their lives forever.

Present Day: Dr. Mia Sato is happily married and expecting her first child. After she discovers a mysterious photograph from the past belonging to her grandmother, she yearns to know more about her family history. In an emotional moment, her grandmother blurts out a huge, dark secret – but then shuts down and avoids Mia’s questions. Mia is determined to find out what happened and goes on a quest for answers.

Review by Diane-Lyn:

Beyond the Crushing Waves is a well-written and well-researched historical fiction novel by Lilly Mirren. The book is based on actual events surrounding one of the most shameful and devastating scandals in Britain’s history; the migration and forced labor of approximately 150,000 children between 1922 and 1967. The original objective of the program was to get poor, orphaned children off the street and provide them with the necessary skills for a better future; a plan designed to benefit both the children and society. The children were sent away with the promise of an academic education and training in farm skills. However, many of the children came out of the program illiterate and traumatized. Mirren describes in poignant detail the level of neglect and abuse these children endured at the hands of tyrannical staff members, as well as the damage it caused for years to come.

The chapters alternate between the points of view of the three central characters – Harry, Mary and Mia. The time frame shifts between the past and present throughout, yet the novel maintains clarity and flows well over an almost seventy year span. I loved the progression of Harry, Mary, and Lottie from childhood into old age. Mirren did an excellent job of immersing the reader in a solid history of their hardships, and the strength it took for them to find their way out. Mya’s character, however, felt contrived and it was very difficult to understand her thought process and misplaced priorities. Her immature idealism felt forced and out of place. Her childish determination to mend the rocky relationship between her father and grandparents took center stage in her life. Even after giving birth to a baby with significant health issues, Mia’s obsession with her grandparents’ history and family strife continued. I loved this book, but found Mia’s character to be annoying, unrealistic, and unnecessary in this otherwise brilliant work. Still, the merits of Beyond the Crushing Waves far outweigh this flaw. The novel kept me so emotionally engaged that I found myself overlooking Mia and focusing more on its gripping historical context. Prior to reading this book, I had no idea that this scandal ever happened. Beyond the Crushing Waves was certainly an eye-opening experience for me in a heartbreaking sort of way. I appreciated the author’s thorough explanation at the end of the book about the real-life history of this cruel movement against children. Nothing grabs me more than a good historical fiction novel that offers a deep look into the past, combined with characters who give a voice to those most impacted. Bravo!

To purchase Beyond the Crushing Waves, click here: Amazon. Note that this is an affiliate link, which only means that when you click the link and purchase this novel, I receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. Happy reading!

Feature: The Portraitist, Susanne Dunlap

Hello readers and followers! It is my pleasure to be a part of the virtual book tour for The Portraitist, a new release by Susanne Dunlap. This historical fiction novel is based on the true story of Adélaïde Labille-Guiard, an eighteenth-century artist. I want to thank Amy Bruno at HFVBT for the invite. Enjoy the tour and thank you for stopping into The Cozy Book Blog! Best, Diane-Lyn

THE PORTRAITIST: A NOVEL OF ADELAIDE LABILLE-GUIARD

BY SUSANNE DUNLAP

Publication Date: August 30, 2022
She Writes Press

Genre: Historical Fiction

Based on a true story, this is the tale of Adélaïde Labille-Guiard’s fight to take her rightful place in the competitive art world of eighteenth-century Paris.

With a beautiful rival who’s better connected and better trained than she is, Adélaïde faces an uphill battle. Her love affair

with her young instructor in oil painting gives rise to suspicions that he touches up her work, and her decision to make much-needed money by executing erotic pastels threatens to create as many problems as it solves. Meanwhile, her rival goes from strength to strength, becoming Marie Antoinette’s official portraitist and gaining entrance to the elite Académie Royale at the same time as Adélaïde.

When at last Adélaïde earns her own royal appointment and receives a massive commission from a member of the royal family, the timing couldn’t be worse: it’s 1789, and with the fall of the Bastille her world is turned upside down by political chaos and revolution. With danger around every corner in her beloved Paris, she must find a way to adjust to the new order, carving out a life and a career all over again—and stay alive in the process.

BUY THE PORTRAITIST

Praise

“An imaginative work that brings the story of a little-known artist to vivid life.” –Kirkus Reviews

“Deeply researched and imagined, The Portraitist offers a fascinating and dramatic plunge into the world of a brilliant female artist, struggling to make her mark before and during the turbulent and treacherous era of the French Revolution. I loved this novel.” –Sandra Gulland, international bestselling author of The Josephine Trilogy

“Written with breathless drama, The Portraitist follows the rise of the gifted portraitist Adélaïde Labille-Guiard in Paris during the last years of the late eighteenth century. The novel is a luminous depiction of Paris and those terrible times seen through the astute, compassionate eyes of a woman who had to paint. Every bit of lace, or royal carriage or bloody cobblestone is alive in the writing. The rain drumming on the skylight and a misbuttoned coat speak. Go to those streets with this book in your hand to follow her footsteps and those long-gone turbulent times will come alive to you as if they were yesterday.” –Stephanie Cowell, award-winning author of Claude and Camille

“In The Portraitist, Susanne Dunlap skillfully paints a portrait of a woman struggling to make her way in a man’s world — a topic as relevant today as it was in Ancien Regime France. Impeccably researched, rich with period detail, Dunlap brings to life the little known true story of Adélaïde Labille-Guiard, who fought her husband and society to make a name for herself as a painter to the royal family, the very apex of success– only to find everything she had built threatened by the Revolution. A stunning story of determination, talent, and reversals of fortune. As a lifelong Elisabeth Vigée-LeBrun fan, I am now questioning my allegiances!” –Lauren Willig, New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Country and Band of Sisters

“[The Portraitist is a] luminous novel of Adélaïde Labille-Guiard, whose livelihood and longing for respect are threatened by the institutions that deny women artists their due, compounded by the tumultuous events of the French Revolution. Deftly written and impeccably researched. Highly recommended.” –Michelle Cameron, award-winning author of Beyond the Ghetto Gates.

Giveaway

Enter to win a paperback copy or Audiobook of The Portraitist by Susanne Dunlap!

The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on September 8th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

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Direct Link: https://gleam.io/MYlQ3/the-portraitist

About the Author

Susanne Dunlap is the author of twelve works of historical fiction for adults and teens, as well as an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach. Her love of historical fiction arose partly from her studies in music history at Yale University (PhD, 1999), partly from her lifelong interest in women in the arts as a pianist and non-profit performing arts executive. Her novel The Paris Affair won first place in its category in the CIBA Dante Rossetti awards for Young Adult Fiction. The Musician’s Daughter was a Junior Library Guild Selection and a Bank Street Children’s Book of the Year, and was nominated for the Utah Book Award and the Missouri Gateway Reader’s Prize. In the Shadow of the Lamp was an Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award nominee. Susanne earned her BA and an MA (musicology) from Smith College, and lives in Biddeford, ME, with her little dog Betty.

For more information, please visit Susanne Dunlap’s website. You can follow author Susanne Dunlap on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Instagram, Pinterest, and BookBub.

The Orphan House, Ann Bennett

Diane-Lyn’s Synopsis:

1934: Connie Burroughs lives in Cedar Hall, an English orphanage run by her powerful, wealthy and well-respected father – Reverend Ezra Burroughs. The large dwelling is home to the Burroughs family, countless young orphans, and a plethora of dark secrets. When a mysterious baby arrives at the doorstep, an infant somehow familiar to Connie, she begins to realize that nothing is how it seems and nothing will ever be right.

Present Day: Sarah Jennings is in the middle of a painful divorce. She leaves town and moves in with her father to escape the difficult situation. Decades earlier, her father had been an orphan at Cedar Hall, and spent years trying, unsuccessfully, to find his biological roots. Sarah decides to help him, but when her father is diagnosed with a terrible illness, it becomes a race against time. The orphanage has long since closed. Connie, now elderly, is the only Burroughs family member who is still alive. Memories of her domineering father and the mysteriousness of Cedar Hall continue to haunt her to this day. She lives in fear that long buried family secrets will be exposed.

And then, there’s the diary…..

Diane-Lyn’s Review: 

The Orphan House is a deeply emotional, riveting page turner. Author Ann Bennett drew inspiration for the book from her great-grandfather’s experience as a school superintendent for pauper children. She used her knowledge and family background to create a remarkable work of historical fiction. It is told from the alternating points of view of the three central characters – Connie, Sarah, and Anna. Bennett’s presentation of each was rich, detailed and intimate. I was so saddened by Anna’s story and the impact it had on so many lives for years to come. Connie’s father, Ezra, was a cruel, domineering narcissist who used his powerful position to gain control and wealth; all while hiding behind his religion. It was the 1930’s, a time when women had few choices. Wives obeyed their husbands. Secrets remained secrets. The shame and scrutiny of bearing a child out of wedlock was debilitating. And nothing was ever questioned. Ever. Ezra’s secrets and intimidation framed Connie’s childhood and kept her scared and silent even decades later. The Orphan House takes us through decades of lies upon lies, leading to complex mysteries, and explosive surprises. The story alternates between the past and the present, weaving through Connie’s tense upbringing in Cedar Hall, Anna’s unforgiving village in India, and the modern day chaos of Sarah’s life in England. Despite multiple eras and settings, the story read easily and flowed smoothly. I was completely absorbed in all of it from start to finish. This is an extremely captivating, heart-wrenching, yet hopeful novel. The Orphan House left me staggering long after I finished. If you enjoyed Before We Were Yours, and Orphan Train, you will love The Orphan House. Bravo!

To Purchase:

If you would like to purchase The Orphan House by Ann Bennett, click this link: Amazon. This is an affiliate link, which only means that when you click the link and make a purchase, I receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. Happy reading!

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Book Tour Review: The Unveiling of Polly Forrest, Charlotte Whitney

Hello and welcome to The Cozy Book Blog! I am thrilled to be today’s stop on the book tour for the new release, The Unveiling of Polly Forrest, a gripping historical fiction novel by Charlotte Whitney. I read and reviewed this book after being provided with an ARC from the author. I want to thank Amy Bruno at HFVBT for the invitation. Set in a small farming community in Michigan during the Great Depression, this novel is a twisting ride of love, murder, secrets and greed. Check out my review and other information below. Thank you again for visiting The Cozy Book Blog. Enjoy the tour!

Best, Diane-Lyn

 

The Unveiling of Polly Forrest by Charlotte Whitney
Publication Date: March 15, 2022
Lake William Press
Paperback & eBook; 322 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction/Thriller
Rural Michigan, 1934.
When her new husband Sam perishes in a bizarre farm accident, would-be milliner Polly soon becomes the prime suspect in his murder. As she digs for evidence to clear her name, Polly falls into a sinister web implicating her in a nefarious crime ring being investigated by White House Police. Polly’s life and those of her family are at stake.
Narrated by Polly, her self-righteous older sister, Sarah, and Sarah’s well-meaning, but flawed husband Wesley, a Methodist minister, the story follows several twists through the landscape of the rural Midwest. During the throes of the Great Depression Polly marries for money. After her husband Sam dies in a freak farm accident, new bride Polly assumes she is financially set to pursue her dream of opening a hat-making business. Instead, she becomes the prime suspect in Sam’s murder. Secrets abound and even Polly’s family can’t figure out the truth.

Diane-Lyn’s Review:

There’s nothing like a brisk-paced, engrossing mystery – especially one with historical context. The Unveiling of Polly Forrest grabbed me right from the first page. Set in Marshall, Michigan during the Great Depression, this novel opens with the brutal “accidental” killing of Sam Forrest. When his twenty year old widow, Polly, displays some frivolous behavior following his death, she finds herself at the center stage of public suspicion in their small, gossipy farming community.

The novel is told from the alternating points of view of three central characters – Polly, Sarah (Polly’s sister), and Sarah’s husband, Reverend Wesley Johnson. All three of them are realistically flawed; their imperfections adding an authentic, relatable feel of the book. Polly and Sarah share a supportive, yet complex, sisterhood – one marked by undercurrents of tension and jealousy. I found Sarah to be responsible and dedicated to Polly, but she also harbors unjustified resentments toward her. Polly’s undeniable selfishness and immaturity cause strife between them, much of which settles as Polly evolves throughout the story. Wes’s character was the most likable of them all. Whitney captures the reverend’s human temptations and inner struggles, but also his integrity and commitment to family and the community.

Whitney interwove the financial hardships of that period deeply within the chapters, and this historical backdrop provided a clear and poignant picture of life in depressed times. Food shortages, loss of farms / homes, second-hand, ill-fitting patched clothing, the emotional toll on families losing everything. This context gave the book rich emotional layers and added to the plot line and character development.

Greed, deception, murder, the stress of plummeting finances, and the shame / secrecy of battered women are just a few of the issues presented in this multi-themed novel. And brace yourself for a huge shocker toward the end. This novel is engaging, thought-provoking and highly recommended for readers who love a compelling historical story filled with intrigue and suspense. Bravo!

To purchase this novel at Amazon, simply click this link: The Unveiling of Polly Forrest. This is an affiliate link, which only means that when you click the link and purchase the book, I receive a tiny commission a no additional cost to you. My opinions remain my own. Happy reading!

About the Author

Charlotte Whitney is the author of historical fiction set in the rural Midwest during the Great Depression. Her most recent work, The Unveiling of Polly Forrest, a stand-alone historical mystery follows her groundbreaking novel, Threads A Depression-Era Tale, which was met with much critical acclaim. In addition, she has authored I Dream in White, a contemporary romance, and How to Win at Upwords, a nonfiction book about her favorite word game.
Threads: A Depression Era Tale was a quarter-finalist in the Publishers Weekly Booklife Fiction Contest. It also received Honorable Mention in the Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards 2020. This is also an affiliate link, as described above.
She received a master’s degree in English at the University of Michigan, and after a short stint of teaching at two community colleges, worked at the University of Michigan where she was an associate director of the Lloyd Scholars for Writing and the Arts. An avid reader, she loves libraries and book clubs. Currently living in Arizona with her husband and two dogs she enjoys hiking, bicycling, swimming, and yoga.

 

Shadows in the Mind’s Eye, Janyre Tromp

Hello followers, visitors, & book lovers! Thank you for coming in today and welcome back to The Cozy Book Blog by Diane-Lyn! I am thrilled to be today’s stop on the virtual book tour for Shadows in the Mind’s Eye by Janyre Tromp. Many thanks to Amy Bruno at Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for the invite. Below you will find a synopsis, my review and some other information on this intriguing new release. Thanks again for dropping in and enjoy the tour.

Diane-Lyn

SHADOWS IN THE MIND’S EYE BY JANYRE TROMP

Publication Date: April 19, 2022
Kregel Publications

Genre: Historical Fiction/Christian

Charlotte Anne Mattas longs to turn back the clock. Before her husband, Sam, went to serve his country in the war, he was the man everyone could rely on–responsible, intelligent, and loving. But the person who’s come back to their family farm is very different from the protector Annie remembers. Sam’s experience in the Pacific theater has left him broken in ways no one can understand–but that everyone is learning to fear.

Tongues start wagging after Sam nearly kills his own brother. Now when he claims to have seen men on the mountain when no one else has seen them, Annie isn’t the only one questioning his sanity and her safety. If there were criminals haunting the hills, there should be evidence beyond his claims. Is he really seeing what he says, or is his war-tortured mind conjuring ghosts?

Annie desperately wants to believe her husband. But between his irrational choices and his nightmares leaking into the daytime, she’s terrified he’s going mad. Can she trust God to heal Sam’s mental wounds–or will sticking by him mean keeping her marriage at the cost of her own life?

Debut novelist Janyre Tromp delivers a deliciously eerie, Hitchcockian story filled with love and suspense. Readers of psychological thrillers and historical fiction by Jaime Jo Wright and Sarah Sundin will add Tromp to their favorite authors list.

Review by Diane-Lyn:

Oh my – nothing is as it appears to be in this stunning historical fiction novel by Janyre Tromp. The constant twists and turns left me, as well as the main characters, wondering what was real and what was imagined; begging the question of delusion versus reality.

Tromp has written a love story of perseverance; the endurance of two hurting souls trying desperately to hold their family together after unimaginable trauma. Sam returns home from war a broken man, struggling with what is now known as PTSD. As he works to integrate himself back into his family, nightmares, flashbacks and triggers take hold – putting him on the brink of insanity. To make matters worse, strange things begin to happen on their farm, and even Sam cannot discern what is real and what is imagined. It doesn’t help to live in a community filled with organized crime and corrupt political leadership. Still, everybody around Sam begins to question his mental capacity. Tromp did a brilliant job of immersing the reader into Sam’s post-war inner battles, as told from alternating points of view between Sam and his wife, Annie.

This novel has great historical context. Set in Hot Springs, Arkansas, post World War II, I enjoyed the authentic early southern dialect and spiritual themes. Tromp’s writing is smooth and clear. The book is well researched and well organized. The plot line flowed beautifully. The characters are insightful, well developed and realistic. I was intrigued by Annie’s traumatic childhood and her level of strength and love despite her agonizing start in life. My favorite was Sam’s mother, Dovie May, who was such a source of strength, support and wisdom throughout the novel. Shadows in the Mind’s Eye incorporates love and family with crime and corruption. Addiction, murder, family secrets, betrayal, and the tremendous emotional aftermath of war all come together in this is multi-layered and multi-themed book. There were so many parallels between Sam’s story and that of Louie Zamperini, the former WWII POW. Both suffered nightmares and flashbacks in various settings. Restaurants were difficult for both of them as even certain food items triggered horrific memories and reactions. Both marriages were profoundly tested after the war. The story lines are different, but the general themes are comparable. If you were moved by Zamperini’s story, you will enjoy Shadows in the Mind’s Eye. This novel is well written and uncovers the realities of post-war trauma, including its effect on entire families. I recommend this book to historical fiction lovers, or to anybody looking for a good read about a family in turmoil. Brace yourself for an array of characters and some surprise endings. Well done!

“Sometimes God uses broken things to save us. Ain’t no light that can get through something solid. It sneaks through the broken places.” Dovie May, Shadows in the Mind’s Eye (Tromp)

**I was provided with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. My opinions on this novel are my own.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | INDIEBOUND

Praise

“Readers will enjoy this emotional exploration of a soldier’s journey as he returns home to his family’s farm after fighting a war in the Pacific. This story examines not only the traumatic impact on his own psyche but on the lives of all who love him most. With alternating points of view, Tromp weaves a complex historical tale incorporating love, suspense, hurt, and healing―all the elements that keep the pages turning.” — Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of Perennials

“Oh my! What a story! Shadows in the Mind’s Eye is a stunner of a debut novel. Sam and Annie’s love is beautifully rendered, Sam’s combat fatigue (what we now call PTSD) is compassionately portrayed, and Janyre Tromp’s writing effortlessly captures the Southern voice. And the last half of the book is one dangerous, breathtaking twist after another, as Sam’s worst nightmares come to pass. A compelling look at a town struggling to find its soul and a wounded couple struggling to reclaim their love. Not to be missed.” — Sarah Sundin, ECPA best-selling and award-winning author of Until Leaves Fall in Paris

“An achingly poignant tale of rediscovering love and trust between wounded hearts. Love, forgiveness, and danger weave together in Tromp’s emotional tale where the greatest of battles are fought in the mind. Beautiful in description with complex characters, readers will not forget this emotional journey.” — J’nell Ciesielski, best-selling author of The Socialite

“Stunning and compelling, Janyre Tromp’s Shadows in the Mind’s Eye kept me turning pages. With a cast of true-to-life characters, pitch-perfect narrative, and a plot that will keep the reader wondering what is true (and what is imagined), this novel is not to be missed. Intense and full of heart, Tromp delivers a fresh voice in the world of fiction.” — Susie Finkbeiner, author of The Nature of Small Birds and the Pearl Spence Series

“With twists and turns as unexpected as an Arkansas thunderstorm, Tromp brilliantly explores the things war can change and the important things it can’t.” — Lynne Gentry, USA Today best-selling author of Lethal Outbreak

“A hair-raising, mind-bending psychological thriller, Shadows in the Mind’s Eye by Janyre Tromp deftly explores a marriage torn asunder by war. Is a marriage worth fighting for when you cannot see the people your husband is fighting, or when you even become the one he is fighting? Tromp’s nuanced empathy elevates this story to another level and blurs the line between villain and hero, causing readers to ponder the lengths they would go to protect themselves, even against the ones they love.” — Jolina Petersheim, bestselling author of How the Light Gets In

“Shadows in the Mind’s Eye is an intense, beautifully written novel about secrets and sacrifice. A story about poignant trauma and truth potent enough to heal a broken family. A fabulous debut!” — Melanie Dobson, award-winning author of The Winter Rose and Catching the Wind

“With pitch-perfect dialect, lyrical prose, and homespun wisdom, Tromp delivers a slow boiling mystery that dares to ask the deepest questions about faith, love, suffering, evil, and hope.” — Elizabeth Musser, award-winning author of The Promised Land

“Tromp’s debut novel is the perfect blend of historical fiction and psychological thriller. Shadows in the Mind’s Eye hooked me early on and kept me enthralled until the very end. A story of war, of heartache, of love and healing, this novel will appeal to a broad swath of readers. Tromp is a new author to watch!” — Kelli Stuart, award-winning author of The Fabulous Freaks of Monsieur Beaumont

Author Janyre Tromp

In case we get to meet in person some day, you pronounce that first name Jan-air. Kind of like the stove. I’m a developmental book editor by day and a writer at night.

And that all happens from my kitchen table when I’m not hanging out with my husband, two kids, and slightly eccentric Shetland Sheepdog. Unfortunately, I spilled coffee on my super cape and then the dryer ate it. So you’ll just have to imagine I can do it all!

I have four traditionally published books—a WWII era novel, Shadows in the Mind’s Eye; a juvenile fiction, That Sinking Feeling; and two board books in the All About God’s Animals series—and 2 indie books—Wide Open, a historical novella and It’s a Wonderful Christmas, a Christmas novella collection (coming October 2021).

But my passion is writing about the beauty of the world—past and present—even when it isn’t pretty.

After all, isn’t it the beauty in the world that gets us through the day?

Hopefully after you hang out with me for a bit, we’ll be able to see things a little more clearly, find a little bit of meaning, and make a bigger impact.

With me what you see is what you get…all the Beautiful, all the Ugly, all the Me.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

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The Viscount’s Lady Novelist, Alissa Baxter

Hello, and welcome to The Cozy Book Blog by Diane-Lyn. I am thrilled to be today’s stop on the virtual book tour for The Viscount’s Lady Novelist by Alissa Baxter. Many thanks to Amy Bruno at Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for the invitation. Below please find an excerpt and other information about this intriguing new novel. Thank you for visiting my book blog and enjoy the tour!

Best, Diane-Lyn

 

THE VISCOUNT’S LADY NOVELIST
BY ALISSA BAXTER

Publication Date: April 26, 2022
Vinspire Publishing

Genre: Historical Romance
Series: The Linfield Ladies, Book 2

Harriet Linfield is a lady novelist who has been disillusioned by love. She sets out to write more realistic tales about the emotion when she returns home to Linfield Court for the summer. Vowing to avoid any romantic entanglements along the way, she focuses instead on her writing and her plan to turn the estate she inherited from her uncle into a refuge for orphans.

Oliver, Viscount Wentford, is determined to restore his family fortunes. But his plans for the estate he inherited are in direct opposition to the wishes of Harriet, his new neighbour. Upon meeting her, Oliver is amused when, in response to his provocative comments, she informs him that she intends to make him the villain of her next book. But his amusement swiftly turns to dismay when circumstances align to show him in that exact light.

When an enemy comes back into Harriet’s life, she sees that love isn’t as clear-cut as the romantic tales she pens. But will the viscount manage to discard his villainous mantle to become Harriet’s real-life hero?

Excerpt:

“Will you be staying long in North Somerset?”
A slight smile touched his lips, but his solemn voice reflected no hint of humour. “My
man of business has hired a team of servants to make Greenacres liveable. I plan to move in
shortly, as I have business concerns to attend to there. I don’t wish to trespass on your parents’
hospitality for too long.”
“No, indeed, my lord. They are delighted to have you stay. Before you arrived at the
breakfast table this morning, Papa said he was eager to show you his natural history collection. It
is housed in what was, until recently, the southeast wing of the stables.”
“I look forward to viewing it.” He studied her for a moment and then spoke softly, “Poor,
harried Harry—surrounded by natural historians, and unable to escape.” He tucked her hand into
his arm and drew her closer to the colliery wall. “I gather your whole family calls you Harry?”
“My brothers and sister do…and some of my friends. But not gentlemen I barely know.”
He drew to a halt. “That is something I hope to remedy.”
“What is?” She eyed him warily.
“Barely knowing you.”
“Oh!” She blinked and then found herself quite unable to avoid speaking in a rush of
verbiage. “Let me show you our five-hundred-year-old oak while we wait for James.” She
pointed towards the other side of the colliery before walking ahead to the ancient tree. Looking
over her shoulder, Harriet found him close behind her. He stared at the majestic oak and let out a
soundless whistle. “A magnificent specimen.”
Up in these branches is a comfortable nook where I used to read The Juvenile Budget by
Anna Laetitia Barbauld as a little girl, and then later, much less—um—improving tales. I stole

many hours alone here, and my brothers and sister never discovered my hiding place.” With a
hesitant smile, she indicated her old hideout amongst the wide, crooked branches.
He leaned against the rough tree trunk and examined her closely. “Have you always felt
the need to retreat from the world?”
“I suppose I have.” She rubbed a gloved hand over her eyes. “I love my family, but in
order to maintain my equilibrium, I must withdraw from the clamour of communal life quite
frequently.”
“I had the opposite problem as a child before I was sent away to school.”
“I can’t imagine how very lonely you must have been, having no brothers or sisters to
play with.”
He shrugged. “Children grow accustomed to their situations, and I was used to being
alone.”
Pressing her lips together, she frowned. “Your parents were frequently away from
home?”
“My mother died when I was five from influenza. My father also contracted the illness
and never fully recovered. He was an invalid for the rest of his life.”
Tears welled up, and she blinked the moisture away.
“You have such a tender heart, Miss Linfield.” A smile flickered on his lips.
Harriet turned to one side. “It, well—it’s a tragic story.”
“With a sympathetic nature such as yours, life cannot be easy.” His voice softened.
“It is my greatest fault—feeling things too deeply.” She drew in a trembling breath.
“I wouldn’t call it a fault per se… But it wouldn’t do you any harm to develop some
armour. In a harsh world, it is the sensitive plants that are blighted first.”

Staring up at him, she shook her head. “It is difficult to change one’s nature.”
“Indeed. And natures such as yours have unique compensations. I forgot that.”
“Compensations?”
“A rich internal world and spiritual resources to draw upon in grim times. More robust
characters might lack those things.”

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

Praise

“A charming love story set in the English countryside that’s grounded in impeccable research.” ~ Kirkus Reviews

“Alissa Baxter’s writing is period perfect.” ~ Mimi Matthews, USA Today bestselling author of The Matrimonial Advertisement

“This book is gorgeous!” ~ Rachel Burton, author of The Tearoom on the Bay

“A truly traditional Regency romance, with lots of witty banter, very reminiscent of Georgette Heyer. Recommended for anyone who likes a completely clean traditional Regency, with strongly authentic writing, historical accuracy and a satisfying romance. Baxter’s writing is excellent, and her dialogue, manners and settings are true to the era.” ~ Mary Kingswood, author of traditional Regency romances

“While immersing the reader in the mores and life of the Regency era, Alissa Baxter manages to write strong, independent heroines whom modern-day women will cheer and root for. Plus the addition of little details that wrap around the plot and the characters make reading her books all the more special because you never know when you might land on a little Easter egg morsel in the beautiful and engaging prose. Historicals with heart and engaging characters that read real—that’s what you get in Ms Baxter’s books.” ~ Zee Monodee, USA Today bestselling author

About the Author

Alissa Baxter was born in a small town in South Africa and grew up with her nose in a book on a poultry and cattle farm. At the age of eleven, she discovered her mother’s collection of Georgette Heyer novels. The first Heyer novel she ever read was Sylvester and she was hooked on Georgette Heyer after that. She read and reread her novels, and fell totally in love with the Regency period and Heyer’s grey-eyed heroes!

After university, where she majored in Political Science and French, she began writing her first Regency novel, before moving to England, which gave her further inspiration for her historical romances.

Alissa has lived in Durban and Cape Town but she eventually settled in Johannesburg where she lives with her husband and two sons. Alissa is the author of two chick-lit novels, Send and Receive and The Blog Affair, which have been re-released as The Truth About Series: The Truth about Clicking Send and Receive and The Truth About Cats and Bees.

Alissa’s Linfield Ladies Series features women in trend-setting roles in the Regency period who fall in love with men who embrace their trailblazing ways… at least eventually. The Viscount’s Lady Novelist is the second book in this series.

 

Thank you!

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The Hour I First Believed, Wally Lamb

The Hour I First BelievedSeveral years ago, my husband purchased The Hour I First Believed for me. At the time, I had never even heard of Wally Lamb. I wouldn’t have reached for this book on my own because admittedly, I tend to gravitate toward female authors. Well, this chance encounter with a Wally Lamb novel became the springboard for my obsession with the works of this incredibly gifted writer. After quickly and easily plowing through all 730 pages, I was left speechless (a rarity for me!) and found myself wanting more. Since that time, I have read I Know This Much Is True, She’s Come Undone, We Are Water and Couldn’t Keep It to Myself. Every one of these books were just as satisfying as the first, and left me still wanting more.

Caelum Quirk is a high school English teacher who grew up on a farm in the fictional town of Three Rivers, Connecticut. His ancestors ran a local women’s prison situated near the farm. The son of an alcoholic father, Caelum struggles to open up emotionally and is working to manage his anger issues. He is on his third marriage to wife, Maureen, a school nurse. Maureen’s emotional foundation is shaky as well, the result of her own difficult childhood. Still wrestling with these issues, she tends to identify and connect strongly with vulnerable students. She forges a bond with Velvet, a troubled teen who refers to Maureen as her mother.

After moving to Littleton, Colorado, Caelum and Maureen both become employed at Columbine High School. When Caelum must return to Connecticut to care for his ailing aunt, Maureen remains in Colorado. On April 20, 1999, Maureen reports to work as she always did, never imagining what would unfold on this seemingly typical day. She and Velvet are in the school library, along with some other students and staff members, when they start to hear gunshots. Panicked students run for cover under tables. Maureen crawls into a cabinet to hide, frozen in fear as she hears the taunting voices of the shooters mocking and then killing their victims. Then, finally, it is over. Maureen has survived, but she is left with intense emotional trauma, and unable to recover from the ensuing PTSD and survivor guilt. She and Caelum move back to Connecticut, but things only get worse. As they settle into Caelum’s newly inherited farm, Maureen finds herself still unable to cope with the haunting flashbacks of that fateful spring day. Spiraling further and further downward, she turns to anti-depressants, develops an addiction, and the result is another tragedy.

Caelum’s return to his childhood home presents more problems. In addition to being forced to relive some traumatic childhood memories, he makes bombshell discoveries about his family. Old diaries and newspaper clippings reveal decades of chilling family secrets. As he sifts through this painful new knowledge, he must come to terms with the truth about his own identity and his prison reforming ancestors.

Anybody familiar with Wally Lamb’s writing is well aware of his ability to intertwine multiple stories and characters together seamlessly into one novel, and The Hour I First Believed is no exception. Lamb expertly embedded true historical events spanning over decades, some of which include the Civil War, the famous Cocoanut Grove fire, the Iraq War, Hurricane Katrina, and of course, the Columbine school shooting. I especially loved how Lamb interwove Quirk’s fictional post Civil War abolitionists ancestors with real-life heroes of this movement – Louisa May Alcott, Dorothea Dix and Harriet Beecher Stow being among them.

The Hour I First Believed is multi-themed and multi-layered. In addition to school shootings being the central theme, there are also elements of adultery, substance abuse, marriage, divorce, child molestation, child abuse, mental illness, war, grief, prison reform, family dysfunction, abolition, faith, abortion, and of course, trauma. Maureen’s character clearly reminds us of the deep, long lasting impact of childhood trauma, but also demonstrates the way in which trauma deepens one’s capacity for empathy and understanding. It seems that Maureen’s ability to understand and identify with troubled students was rooted in her own difficult past. Sadly, Maureen’s character also serves as a reminder that none of us are infallible, and despite our best efforts, every single one of us has a breaking point.

The Hour I First Believed is a heavy, gripping, emotional read. It has multiple moving parts, but is at no point overwhelming or confusing. I found myself drawn into each and every sub-plot, all of which were well paced, well organized and flowed beautifully. In the 700+ pages, there was no idle time. Every page offered dense substance and moved the story development forward. This novel is extremely well written, focusing on a wide range of life events over several generations, and touches on every human emotion. I highly recommend The Hour I First Believed for any adult looking for a thought-provoking, meaningful novel.

On a side note – I was pregnant with my daughter when the news broke about a school shooting in Colorado. I remember wrapping my arms around my swollen belly, thinking about the dreaded day when my innocent child would be out in the world without me there to protect her. I worry just like all parents worry, but what happened in Columbine and the additional school shootings that followed have added a whole new dimension of anxiety to parenting and to the world in general. It seems that every day, our lives become increasing vulnerable and will continue to do so until mental illness is better addressed. Our world is complex, the struggles are real, and this all continues to escalate with each new generation. I believe that over the years, the demands of life and our expectations of children have soared. Priorities have shifted. Society has broken down. Of course there are multiple factors that go into school shootings, and the layers of mental illness run deeper than anything I can possibly understand or explain. I do believe, however, that at some point we lost control. Sadly, our children are the ones who pay the price.

To purchase this book on Amazon, click here. This is an affiliate link, which only means that when you click the link and purchase the book, I receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. My opinions remain my own.

See my review for Wally Lamb’s I Know This Much Is True here.

“They did not kill their spirits. They did not kill our spirits either” – Tom Mauser, father of Columbine victim Daniel Mauser (denverpost.com)

Before We Were Yours, Lisa Wingate

This is one of my favorite novels of all time, but also the most heartbreaking. Inspired by true events, Before We Were Yours takes us on a rollercoaster ride through one of the most criminal adoption scandals in American history.

For more than 20 years, Georgia Tann was director of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, a black market baby mill disguised as a legitimate orphanage. During her tenure, she arranged for the kidnapping of approximately 5,000 poor children. The children were renamed and then sold out to prominent, wealthy, and sometimes famous clients (Dick Powell, Lana Turner and Joan Crawford to name a few). Tann’s crimes made her a millionaire, but forever destroyed thousands of families.

Wingate seamlessly intertwines two fictional families into real-life events surrounding the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. In 1939, the Foss family lived an unconventional but happy life on their shanty boat. When their mother went into labor with twins, the parents rushed to the hospital. Rill, a responsible 12 year old and the oldest of their five children, took care of her siblings during this time. That is, until corrupt police officers showed up at the door, forcefully seized the children and quickly brought them to the “orphanage”. Under the complete control of a merciless director, the Foss children lost their identities and lived in constant fear of separation, all while enduring neglect, abuse, malnourishment, molestation, and an unthinkable tragic loss. As they eventually lost everything they ever knew and were placed with new families, they had to face the realization that their futures were no longer their own, and nothing would ever be the same again.

Fast forward to present day. Avery Stafford comes from a wealthy, political family and has a successful career. Her grandmother, Judy, suffers from dementia and her father, a senator, is diagnosed with cancer. Avery travels back home to assist her family. When she makes a political appearance at a nursing home, she meets May, an intriguing elderly patient who mistakenly thinks Avery is her long lost sister. When Avery later finds a mysterious photograph in May’s room, she begins to investigate and discovers a long kept secret that could potentially destroy their political family forever.

Lisa Wingate did an excellent job of drawing on so many emotions while presenting one of the most shameful crimes ever committed against American families. One painful image I cannot get out of my mind is that of a father coming to the orphanage to get back his son, Lonnie, only to be told that the boy had been adopted out. The devastated man fell to his knees and sobbed on the porch. He was then picked up and put back in his truck, where he sat all day looking for his son, who was long gone. He would never see Lonnie again, and there was nothing he could do.

This novel is educational and thought-provoking on so many levels. The deeply interwoven themes include crime, politics, family, the abuse and exploitation of children, greed, child murder, and abuse of power. We are reminded of the horrific results from combining power and authority with corruption and greed. Georgia Tann had enormous power. The poor had no recourse. They were deemed “unfit” due to their social standing and the political pull Tann had with judges. The results were devastating. We are left to wonder how anybody could get away with this, yet throughout history evil power has allowed for so much to happen. Still, when it happens in America and children are involved, it hits even closer to home. As a parent, this novel absolutely tore my heart out. I did some research and learned some of the affected families had successfully reunited decades later, but so many others went to their graves never knowing what happened to their children or siblings. Years later, Georgia Tann’s crimes finally caught up with her, but she died of cancer before ever even going to trial.

Before We Were Yours is a gripping page turner that you will not be able to put down, nor will you forget about it after you are done. You will fall in love with the Foss children, who were forever shaped by their history, yet somehow found the strength to survive. Poignant and well written, I loved reading Before We Were Yours and highly recommend this novel.

***You can purchase your copy of this book at Amazon here. Please note that when you click and purchase the book through this affiliate link, I receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. My opinions remain my own.

“For the hundreds who vanished and for the thousands who didn’t. May your stories not be forgotten. For those who help today’s orphans find forever homes. May you always know the value of your work and your love.”

Lisa Wingate, Before We Were Yours,