“The Lost Queen” by Signe Pike

Title: The Lost Queen
Author: Signe Pike
Publisher: Touchstone
Year: 2018
Genre(s): historical fiction
Part of a Series: No
Rating:

Why I read it: It was a Once Upon a Book Club pick.

Synopsis: Lailoken and Languoreth are the twin children of Morken, a chieftain in the time before Britain was Britain. Various tribes throughout the island continue to clash and it grows worse as Christianity starts to spread, bringing more strife as Christian monks threaten the people’s pagan ways. In these tense times, Lailoken is destined to become a Wisdom Keeper, trained in the Old Ways, while Languoreth is destined to marry a great lord to strengthen her father’s lands. But will her destiny lie with the upstart Pendragon, a champion of the Old Ways, or with ruthless Tutegal, who welcomes Christianity?

With an Old World on the verge of becoming a New World, Lailoken and Languoreth find their lives tied to both – and to one of the greatest stories of all time: King Arthur and the wizard Merlin.

“Queen Hereafter: A Novel of Margaret of Scotland” by Susan Fraser King

Title: Queen Hereafter: A Novel of Margaret of Scotland
Author: Susan Fraser King
Publisher: Crown
Year: 2010
Genre(s): historical fiction
Part of a Series: No
Rating: 

Why I read it: It was recommended by Amazon years ago

Summary: Margaret is a princess without a kingdom. Her father was supposed to take the throne of England but died before he could do so. And when the king protecting her family dies, they are even more at risk. They flee to Scotland, hoping to find protection with King Malcolm. He grants it to them and Margaret ultimately marries him to secure their alliance. Margaret works to help reform what kind of king he is and her own spirituality pushes her to help those less fortunate in Scotland as well as push them closer to the church in Rome.

Eva is the granddaughter of Macbeth and there is still tension between her family and Malcolm. She is sent to his court in order to discover if he has really ordered a book written to detail Scottish history and if so, to find out how he has ordered Macbeth to be depicted. She is also to provide information to her grandmother about Malcolm’s court. And while Eva and Malcolm clash, she develops a close friendship with Margaret. Her loyalties are soon divided and she must choose between her grandmother and her friend.

“Why They Marched: Untold Stories of the Women Who Fought For the Right to Vote” by Susan Ware

Title: “Why They Marched: Untold Stories of the Women Who Fought For the Right to Vote”
Author: Susan Ware
Publisher: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press
Year: 2019
Genre(s): Non-fiction, history
Part of a Series: No
Rating: 

Why I read it: I saw in the Museum of American History’s giftshop and thought it looked interesting

Summary: Ware uses primary documents to tell the stories of some of the women who marched and fought for the right to vote. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Alice Paul and other big names are minor players and Ware lets those who didn’t make the history books have their moments to shine.

“Patriot Hearts: A Novel of the Founding Mothers” by Barbara Hambly (Revisited)

Back in 2013, I reviewed Barbara Hambly’s novel “Patriot Hearts: A Novel of the Founding Mothers.” In the story, it alternated between Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, Dolley Madison…and Sally Hemings. It is a historical romance and this is what I wrote in regards to the Sally/Thomas Jefferson romance:

The place where Ms. Hambly took the most artistic license was with Sally Hemings. As Ms. Hambly notes, we don’t know much about her relationship with Thomas Jefferson. So she had to imagine it. And I think she did a good job. We see Sally go from young romantic girl to a woman making the best of her situation, which is loving a man who society won’t let love her back. And who doesn’t realize how unfair it is for her.

Yeah, I cringed when I went back to reread that review. 2013 me certainly had a lot to learn…or rather a lot to finally come to terms with. 2020 me probably still has just as much to learn and to reconcile as well, so I’m trying to be forgiving to 2013 me.

But I do think I need to revisit that particular part of the review now that 2020 me has grown and learned much more than 2013 me.

Rewind: "Sorry Not Sorry" by Naya Rivera

I think in light of what happened this week, I want to spotlight my review of Naya Rivera's memoir, Sorry Not Sorry.

In it, she looked back at her time as a child actor as well as being on Glee, which had just recently ended when the book was published in 2016. She touched upon past relationships and discussed some past decisions she made, both good and bad. Naya reflected on how all of those decisions and events made her the person she was at the time of the book. 

And I'm sorry we won't ever get a follow up from her. 

Please keep her family and friends in your thoughts/prayers/whatever you prefer as they go through this difficult time. 

“A Royal Christmas Wish” by Lizzie Shane

Title: A Royal Christmas Wish
Author: Lizzie Shane
Publisher: Hallmark Publishing
Year: 2019
Genre(s): Romance, contemporary, holiday
Part of a Series: No
Rating: 

Why I Read It: Once Upon a Time Holiday Box

Summary: Jenny has no direction in her life.  When she meets Prince Dominic of San Noelle, though, she feels a connection but knows nothing will ever become of it. She makes a wish and a mysterious duchess grants it. Jenny then wakes up as Princess Jennifer, Dominic’s wife. As she gets to spend time in San Noelle, she starts to find a purpose for her life and experience life with Dominic. But with the wish due to expire once Christmas ends, can she find a way to make her wish a reality?

“Ayesha at Last” by Uzma Jalaluddin

Title: Ayesha at Last
Author: Uzma Jalaluddin
Publisher: Berkley
Year: 2018
Genre(s): fiction, romance, contemporary
Part of a Series: No
Rating: 

Why I read it: It was a Once Upon a Book Club pick

Summary: Ayesha lives surrounded by Toronto’s Muslim community. She is a poet but has put her plans on hold to pursue teaching, deemed a more sensible career. It will also help her pay off her debts to her wealthy uncle, who then ropes her into helping his daughter Hafsa plan a conference at their mosque.

Khalid is also surrounded by Toronto’s Muslim community. He has been raised to be more traditional, from how he dresses to how he interacts with people. It leads to some problems at work and when he first meets Ayesha, the two clash.

As they work together on the conference, they get to know each other and realize their own prejudices. They grow as people and have a chance to become more – if they are willing to defy the expectations of everyone around them.

“Bad Girls Throughout History: 100 Remarkable Women Who Changed the World” by Ann Shen

Title: Bad Girls Throughout History: 100 Remarkable Women Who Changed the World
Author: Ann Shen
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Year: 2016
Genre(s): nonfiction, history, contemporary
Part of a Series: No
Rating: 

Why I read it: Because I saw it in the gift shop at the Museum of American History and was intrigued.

Summary:  Ann Shen gives short blurbs about the lives and accomplishments of 100 “bad girls” who changed their worlds in multiple realms – politics, entertainment, science, faith, literature, technology, fashion, arts, etc.

“Housewitch” by Katie Schickel

Title: “Housewitch”
Author: Katie Schickel
Publisher: Forge
Year: 2015
Genre(s): (sub) urban fantasy, contemporary fantasy
Part of a Series: No
Rating: 

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club

Summary: Alison Darling just wants to be like the other moms in her small New England town of Monrovia. She wants to wear nice clothing, go to yoga and drink lattes as she carts her perfect children around. Instead, she’s barely holding it together as she and her husband raise their three children – Gillian, Henry and Sophie.

When the mother who abandoned her as a child dies, Alison finds herself swept up in a strange world of witchcraft. At the same time, she is invited to join the Glamor Girls – Monrovia’s version of Mary Kay or Avon. She soon learns that all their beauty products are just potions and that they use magic to attain their perfect life. For the first time, Alison feels like she finally belongs.

However, Alison soon learns there is a price to pay for all of that and she wonders if it is worth it. Will she give in or will she find the strength to embrace her true heritage in time to protect her family and town from the Glamor Girls?

“What the Wind Knows” by Amy Harmon

Title: “What the Wind Knows”
Author: Amy Harmon
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Year: 2019
Genre(s): historical romance, some fantastical elements
Part of a Series: No
Rating: 

Why I read it: Recommended by Amazon and I enjoyed Harmon’s Sand and Ash

Summary: Following the death of her beloved grandfather, best-selling author Anne Gallagher travels to Ireland to honor his final wish – for his ashes to be spread on one particular lough near where he grew up in Ireland. While out on the lough, she is caught in a strange mist and when she is rescued, she finds herself no longer in 2001 but in 1921. This Ireland is a dangerous place as it is a county on the brink of war, trying to gain independence from the British.

Anne is taken in by Dr. Thomas Smith, who has mistaken her for her great-grandmother. She is surprised to find her grandfather as a young boy and struggles to adjust to the 1920s as she is forced to pretend she is someone else. Will she find a way back to her time? Or is she destined to become a part of the history she has fervently studied?

“Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance” by Ruth Emmie Lang

Title: “Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance”
Author: Ruth Emmie Lang
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Year: 2017
Genre(s): fantasy, contemporary, coming-of-age, some romance
Part of a Series: No
Rating: 

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club selection

Summary: Weylyn Gray is far from average. After being orphaned, he was raised for a bit by wolves. He’s always felt more comfortable with animals and has a special connection to them. Weylyn also appears to have control over nature itself – including stopping a tornado one Christmas. He travels the country and crosses paths with many people, amazing them and changing their lives. But he keeps himself separate from other people due to his powers, slowly learning that maybe he isn’t dangerous after all.

My Books of 2019

This past year wasn't a good one for my reading. I only got a few books read, which you probably could tell by the lack of reviews this year. Hopefully, 2020 will bring more books and reviews.

Happy 2020!