What is everyone reading?

I am starting The Last Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal.  One of my favorite Historical Mystery series. Last book in series. Set during WWII

Happy 4th of July!

I'm reading The Wright Brothers by David McCullough. Obviously not HF, but I needed a break from HF mysteries. 

I finished The Night Caller by David Field 4*    It was better than I expected. Book 2 in series. Set in 1891 London. Lots of discussion of early Labor Unions and especially fair treatment to working women. Mystery was okay not obvious at first. I liked our main characters.

So here is an interesting story for you

If finished  A Girl Called Samson by  Amy Harmon 

.It is set in 1700s in Massachusetts for a lot of it. It is set in Middleboro, Ma. So I looked up some of characters Deacon Thomas,  and refered to my geneology information. He is my great, great, great, great great grandfather. The main character Deborah is from the Sutcliff lineage. I am also related to them. I read the authors notes and many of Deborah's letters are at the Middleborough HIstorical Association Muesum.  When it is not so hot and humid I will take a ride down there and have a look through. There is also Thomastown Cemetary that I have been to. My Great Grandfather Abraham Lincoln Thomas is buried (yes he was born April 1865). The cemetary is loaded with our desendants.

One of the reasons I love historical fiction you never know what you learn.

Hello!  A Happy July to all!  

Currently reading The Djinn Waits One Hundred Years, by Shubnum Khan, which is pretty good.  Dual timeline, which is not my favorite thing, but this one is interesting. I'm listening to Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire.  It's a re-telling of Cinderella set in Haralem, Holland in the 17th century.  It's been years since I've read a Maguire book, and I'd forgotten how much I enjoy them.  This one is very entertaining and witty. 

Alice - That is so interesting! I have that book on my list to read for this year's HF Fiction.  I was kind of on the fence about itm but now I will be very intrigued to read it! 

Shelley - I read The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years a few months ago.  I really liked it!

CR

Hello, All! It's been years since I posted here, but life got in my way of more enjoyable pursuits. But now, I am fully, fully retired, and my time is basically my own. Linda (Mom) is doing well, as am I.

Mom's reading interests have veered away from much historical fiction. She is reading the Cork O'Connor series by William Kent  Krueger, and the Bill Slider mysteries by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles. The latter mystery series is set in the late 1980's ... NOT historical fiction! :) Incidentally, I have now read the first one, Orchestrated Death, and it was entertaining and clever ... and a very fast read.

I am currently reading The Black Pearl, book #5 in CHE's Morland Dynasty series.

Alice - very neat re: A Girl Called Samson! I like Amy Harmon, but had read mixed reviews about this book in particular. How did you like it?

Kelly!!!!  I am ridiculously excited to see you back here!  I've missed so many from the "old gang."  Give my best to Linda, and tell her that William Kent Krueger has a great book that IS HF, This Tender Land.  I recently listened to it, and it is very good. Perhaps reading it will lure her back into the HF fold.  ;) Or maybe she should re-read our beloved Uhtred books! I must admit to falling off the Saxon Series train and still have the last few books in the series to read - if Cornwell is even done with the series.  Did you guys watch "The Last Kingdom" series? 

I finished two books yesterday.  The first was The Djinn Waits A Hundred Years, which I liked.  The second was Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister which I really, really liked.  Must read more Gregory Maguire. I started reading A Study In Death by Anna Lee Huber, which is the 4th in the Lady Darby mystery series, last night, and this morning I started listening to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid.  I'm only about 40 minutes in, and we are still very much in the present day.  I an eagerly waiting for the book to go back into the past. 

I hope everyone has a good day!

I finished an excellent book Crow Mary by  Kathleen Grissom set in 1800  Montana and Canada. Crow Mary has real person. Her great granddaughter helped with the history. Very good details about Live of Indians and being pushed to reservations. I highly recommend

Shelley! Such a warm welcome. I, too, was delighted to see so many familiar names when I opened this post! And, I recently sent a book (a Sebastian St. Cyr) to our own "backyard birder" in Arizona. Mom & I have both read Ordinary Grace, This Tender Land and The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger. Ordinary Grace is Mom's favorite of the three; for me, This Tender Land edges out the other two. But all three are excellent!

Alice, I loved Crow Mary! I read it earlier this year and it completely captivated me! Of course, how can any book by Kathleen Grissom disappoint!

Kelly, I'm glad to hear Jeanne is still wandering PBS land here.  She and I used to private message each other once a year or so to catch up, but it's been a few years since we've done that. Interestiingly, Jeanne was the only ol' HF gang member I actually met in person.  Several years ago when I was visiting my sister and brother-in-law in Phoenix, I met her for lunch.  I plan to read Ordinary Grace soon.  

Such fun, getting to meet Jeanne! I met Deb (bklover?) on a trip to Washington DC to visit my daughter.

I think you will love Ordinary Grace! WKK is a wonderful writer!

I finished The Black Pearl, book #5 in the Morland Dynasty series by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles. They are wonderful books, and I'll get to book 6 before too long. Later today, I'll be starting The Berry Pickers by Amanda Berry. 

Kelly I enjoyed A Girl Called Samson. The first 2/3 of book was stronger that last 3rd.  Good history

Thanks, Alice!

I finished The Lantern's Dance by Laurie R. King, the 18th and latest book in her Russell/Holmes series.  I quite enjoyed it!  I felt that the coupe of previous books had been lagging, but this one was quite entertaining.  

I am now onto The Stranger Fro the Sea by Winston Graham.  Trying to work my way through the Poldark series...

CR

Finished A Stroke of Malice (Lady Darby, Bk 8) by Anna Lee Huber.  Pretty good but it could have been edited a bit more.   Wordy in spots.  Oh, yes, I finished Diva by Daisy Goodwin in June.  What a cad Onassis was!  Maria Callas was was so talented but I wanted more of an ending.  Thought it was abrupt when so much more could have been written.

I also read Diva.  Didn't much like Onassis either. 

Hello!  I finished A Study In Death by Anna Lee Huber (Lady Darby #4) last evening.  It was okay.  I'm not usually a fan of mysteries, but this series sits okay with me.  I started reading Love in the Time of Cholera last evening. 

Good morning! I finished listening to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo yesterday, and this morning I started Ordinary Grace, by William Kent Krueger.  We had just discussed it above, and it's actually a freebie on Audible (at least for now). Bonus that it fits the B&O Railroad category of this year's challenge.  

The prequel to William Kent Krueger's Cork O'Connor series is set in 1963, so (sadly enough) counts as historical fiction ... as do I, I guess; although I would ponder the word fiction. :)

It is wonderful - a boy, 12 years old, wondering about all the questions a 12 year old has; and eager to help his dad solve a mystery. Superb writing as we expect from WKK including this:

"... we all stumble in the dark, but that's why the Great Mystery gave us voices, so that we can call out, seeking others in that dark. And we were given hands so that we can reach out to help one another. Alone, the darkness swallows us. But together, we help each other through. So, when things seem bleakest, I try to remind myself to call out. I do my best to be ready to offer a hand."

He develops his characters so deftly, and gives them such voice. I love a thoughtful, careful author.

Next up is A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly.

Finished The Perfune Collector by Kathleen Tessaro and quite liked it.  If you haven't read it you might enjoy it.  I thought it was a mystery and in a sense it could be without murder, robbery or other mayhem.  This one f\has a young woman who inherits a fortune from a stranger searching who this person is.   Had been focusing on fantasy which helps me remove myself from the stress during the chemo treatment series for DH.  Going well but still encountering bumps in this journey.

Starting The Briar Club by Kate Quinn.

Checking in on this last day of the month. I am about 40% through A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly, and enjoying it quite a bit. It is about the 1906 murder of Grace Brown on Big Moose Lake, New York. It is interesting and well-developed, and now I want to visit Eagle Bay, New York.

REK, I feel for you and for your husband. As you may or may not remember, I went through this in 2009, and I know the struggles you and he are both going through. My prayers are with you. Take strength and find solace wherever you can, even if it's a simple bubble bath, or a trip to the library.