⭐⭐⭐⭐ In The Comfort of Ghosts, Jacqueline Winspear gives Maisie Dobbs one final case—and it’s a poignant one. Set in post-WWII London, the story centers on four adolescent orphans squatting in a crumbling Belgravia mansion. Traumatized, street-smart, and fiercely loyal to one another, the teens are under the watchful eye of a wounded ex-soldier and a troubled nurse. When Maisie is asked to intervene, she uncovers secrets about the house, the young squatters’ pasts, and a wartime murder that still casts a shadow. As always, Maisie brings empathy as much as intellect to the investigation. Alongside her inquiries, she’s grappling with big life decisions—about love, family, and her future. Familiar characters […]
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Dual‑Timeline Tale of WWI and WWII Wrens
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars) If you enjoy wartime fiction with strong female leads, add The Call of the Wrens to your reading list. Jenni L. Walsh takes us on a ride—literally—through two world wars with dual heroines who sign up for the Women’s Royal Naval Service, better known as the Wrens. Marion is an orphan in WWI who finds purpose as a motorcycle dispatch rider. Evelyn is a wealthy young woman in WWII, born with a clubfoot and aching to break free from expectations. Their stories are told in alternating timelines, and I found both characters really likeable and well-drawn. I was especially moved by how their paths ultimately connect in a meaningful […]
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Pretty Threads, Uneven Weave: A Promising Idea That Doesn’t Fully Stitch Together
⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Liberty Scarf tells the story of three women—each in a different place and phase of World War I—linked by a single silk scarf. The idea is lovely: that a handmade item, stitched with care and hidden messages, could travel across borders and connect lives. And for the most part, it works… just not as smoothly as I hoped. Iris, the Liberty scarf designer with big dreams and a guarded heart, was the standout for me. Her chapters were full of hope, creativity, and a touch of romance. Geneviève, a French-Canadian Signal Corps recruit, brought up timely questions about assimilation and identity, but her story felt rushed. Clara, a […]
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Royals, Rascals, and a Rattled New Mom: We Three Queens Is a Cozy Escape Worth the Read
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rhys Bowen’s We Three Queens is a delightful entry in the Royal Spyness series, blending royal intrigue, murder, and new-mom chaos. Lady Georgiana Rannoch has barely figured out how to burp her baby when she’s asked to hide someone far more troublesome—Wallis Simpson. Yes, that Wallis. As Georgie tries to keep the soon-to-be Duchess of Windsor out of sight, a film crew shows up to shoot a period drama about Henry VIII. Cue the chaos: egos, costumes, and a murder on set. Between diaper duty and damage control, Georgie has her hands full. I alternated between the eBook and audiobook, and the audio version was extraordinary. The narrator nailed […]
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The Artful Origins of a Notorious Rogue: Fagin Gets His Say
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars) What happens when a classic villain gets a second shot at telling his side of the story? In Fagin the Thief, Allison Epstein breathes fresh life into the teeming streets of Dickensian London and reclaims one of literature’s most misunderstood characters. This is not the Fagin of Oliver Twist fame—at least, not entirely. Epstein’s version is still a thief, a liar, and a rogue, but he’s also a survivor, shaped by loss, poverty, and prejudice. The story takes us back to Fagin’s childhood in a Jewish enclave, where he lives with his mother and eventually falls under the spell of a charismatic pickpocket. From there, we’re swept into the dark […]
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Secrets, Skeletons, and Supernatural Twists in The Last Daughter of York
3.5 stars For 11 years, her twin sister Caitlin’s disappearance has haunted Serena Warren. The discovery of Caitlin’s bones in an untouched 18th-century church vault thrusts Serena into a tangled web of family secrets, historical mysteries, and a relic with otherworldly power. Add in the Wars of the Roses, the Princes in the Tower, and a dash of paranormal intrigue, and you’ve got Nicola Cornick’s The Last Daughter of York. This dual-timeline novel spans centuries, weaving the stories of Serena in the present and Anne Lovell in the 15th century. Francis and Anne’s tale of loyalty and loss during the fall of Richard III is rich with drama, but Serena’s […]
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The Resilience of Women and Books in The Underground Library
In The Underground Library, Jennifer Ryan masterfully captures the enduring strength of women and the profound power of books during one of history’s darkest times. Set against the backdrop of the Blitz, the story intertwines the lives of three resilient women: Sofie, a Jewish refugee seeking solace from her tragic escape; Juliet, a determined new deputy librarian fighting to transform the quiet Bethnal Green Library into a sanctuary; and Katie, a young woman grappling with personal loss and a life-altering secret. When bombs threaten to reduce their beloved library to rubble, Juliet bravely moves it to the Bethnal Green Underground Station. Here, amid air raids and uncertainty, books offer a […]
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A Novel About the Power of Books
3.5 rounded up to 4 If you love the smell of old books and the worlds they unlock, The Bookbinder will resonate with you. Set in 1914 Oxford, the novel follows 21-year-old twins, Peggy and Maude, who work at the Oxford University Press bindery. Peggy, captivated by the books she binds, longs for an education beyond her reach as a working-class woman. Meanwhile, Maude, who is developmentally disabled, finds contentment in their simple life, leaving Peggy to shoulder the responsibility for her sister. As World War I looms, women keep the nation running while men fight. Williams weaves historical detail with themes of class, gender, and literature’s transformative power. Peggy’s […]
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