The limitations of my wallet ensure this won't be a regular post, but in the interest of sharing my library, I thought it'd be fun to highlight some of my recent acquisitions.
THE JOURNEY AFTER THE CROWN by Andrew Mackie
Description: A young Queen. Two sisters. A voyage that will change their fates forever.
Nineteen-year-old identical twins Violet and Daisie Chettle can hardly believe their luck when they are recruited as maids on newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II’s royal ship. It’s just the ticket they need away from cold, grey London and the tension that’s been brewing at home since the tragic loss of their parents.
But the 1954 royal tour to Australia, is a far cry from the glitz and glamour they had imagined. Life below deck is hard-work, and whilst Violet is prepared to keep her head down and be seen and not heard, Daisie has her sights on doing everything she can to hang up her apron and mingle above deck – even if it means leaving Violet behind. But as Daisie begins to win royal favour, she receives a letter from London. The sisters can’t outrun their past any longer… Violet has committed an unspeakable act of betrayal that will change their relationship forever.
With their positions on the tour hanging in the balance, have the sisters ventured too far from home to ever find their way back? Set against the stunning backdrop of Queen Elizabeth’s first royal tour with Prince Phillip prepare to be swept away with this upstairs-downstairs drama, perfect for fans of The Crown and Downton Abbey
My Two Cents:
I pre-ordered THE JOURNEY AFTER THE CROWN on a whim and I intend to read it with BEFORE THE CROWN by Flora Harding. The books were not written as companion pieces, but I thought they would pair well and liked the idea of comparing each author's interpretation of a young Elizabeth II.
A searing and compassionate new novel about a young Black nurse’s shocking discovery and burning quest for justice in post-segregation Alabama, from the New York Times bestselling author of Wench.
Montgomery, Alabama, 1973. Fresh out of nursing school, Civil Townsend intends to make a difference, especially in her African American community. At the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic, she hopes to help women shape their destinies, to make their own choices for their lives and bodies.
But when her first week on the job takes her along a dusty country road to a worn-down one-room cabin, Civil is shocked to learn that her new patients, Erica and India, are children—just eleven and thirteen years old. Neither of the Williams sisters has even kissed a boy, but they are poor and Black, and for those handling the family’s welfare benefits, that’s reason enough to have the girls on birth control. As Civil grapples with her role, she takes India, Erica, and their family into her heart. Until one day she arrives at their door to learn the unthinkable has happened, and nothing will ever be the same for any of them.
Decades later, with her daughter grown and a long career in her wake, Dr. Civil Townsend is ready to retire, to find her peace, and to leave the past behind. But there are people and stories that refuse to be forgotten. That must not be forgotten.
Because history repeats what we don’t remember. Inspired by true events and brimming with hope, Take My Hand is a stirring exploration of accountability and redemption.
My Two Cents:
I purchased TAKE MY HAND after reading a new release article that highlighted its unique adn relatively unknown historical content. I've no experience with the author and I've not read any of the reviews. I simply love compelling historical narratives and couldn't resist the potential in this jacket description.
1459. A gifted woman artist. A ruthless Scottish privateer. And an audacious plan that throws them together—with dangerous consequences.
No one on the Greek island of Rhodes suspects Anica is responsible for her Venetian father’s exquisite portraits, least of all her wealthy fiancé. But her father’s vision is failing, and with every passing day it’s more difficult to conceal the truth.
When their secret is discovered by a powerful knight of the Order of St. John, Anica must act quickly to salvage her father’s honor and her own future. Desperate, she enlists the help of a fierce Scottish privateer named Drummond. Together, they craft a daring plan to restore her father’s sight. There’s only one problem—she never imagined falling in love with her accomplice.
Before their plan can unfold, a shocking scandal involving the knights puts Anica’s entire family at risk. Her only hope is to turn to Drummond once again, defying her parents, her betrothed, even the Grand Master of the Knights himself. But can she survive the consequences?
My Two Cents:
SEA OF SHADOWS is the second installment of the Sea and Stone Chronicles. I hadn't intended to add it to my shelves until I'd finished its predesscor, but it is hard to turn a blind eye to a good sale. I don't think I'll get to this one for a while as I want to read the series in order, but it will be nice to have it on hand when the time comes.
BURNING UNCLE TOM'S CABIN by Carl Waters
The classic tale reborn as an inspiring runaway slave thriller!
Young slave George Harris is a self-taught inventor with an owner who despises him. Slavery has forced him apart from his wife, Eliza, and their three-year-old son Harry, who belong to another owner. George dreams of the day he can escape north and work for his family's freedom, but no amount of careful planning could prepare him for what came next.
When Eliza learns that her owner plans to sell Harry to pay off a debt, she runs north at once. George must escape, too, if he has any hope of finding his family before the slave hunters do. They'll all travel to Canada, a journey that's treacherous, long, and often deadly. Will George and Eliza find their freedom or die trying?
Burning Uncle Tom's Cabin is the first book in a series that nimbly reimagines Harriet Beecher Stowe's original novel. It includes nerve-wracking suspense, memorable characters, heartbreaking cruelty, and a compelling story told through powerful and refreshing writing.
My Two Cents:
BURNING UNCLE TOM'S CABIN has been on my radar for a while, but I was hesitant to take the plunge as I've never read the original story. Will my lack of familiarity matter? I'm not sure. The jury is still out, but we'll know sooner rather than later as the book is now part of my digital libary.
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