The Hostage Heart - Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

I read the entire Morland series (over 35 books) several years ago that this author had written.  Those were the story of a fictional family through English history, from the War of the Roses through WWI. 

This story was written when the author was a young woman and she recently updated it and had it re-published.  She's written over 90 books at this point.  She also has a detective series I haven't read.

This story was of young love, between a young teacher looking to get away from a recent break-up and a rich, handsome heir to an estate where she goes to be a nanny to his younger half-sister.  Cheesy and predictable but still a good storyteller and I can see the seeds of the author's future style.  Fun read.

Published:  1997  Read: August 2019  Genre: Fiction

News of Our Loved Ones - Abigail DeWitt

A story of a French family torn apart during WWII, told from the perspective of the different family members.  It was hard to keep track of the different story lines, especially if you don't read the book all at once.  I thought it ended elegantly and enjoyed reading it.

Published:  2018  Read: 2019  Genre: Fiction

Lilac Girls - Martha Hall Kelly

Finally, a good summer read!  This is the story of polish women taken to an all women's concentration camp during WWII by the Germans.  They were experimented upon and were receiving no reparations when a NY socialite found their story and raised money for the health needs and an extended trip to America.  Great insight on the attitudes of first world countries during WWII and a startling contrast between the upper class life of the socialite and those of the middle class Polish citizens.  Great read.

Published:  2016  Read: August 2019  Genre: Memoir

Pioneer Women - Joanna L Stratton

Letters from early 1900's tell stories of homesteading in Kansas territory.  Contains biographical names list.  I enjoyed reading this book.  The author came across letters sent to her great-grandmother who published a newspaper or magazine but had never gotten to these.  Stratton weaves them into a tale of what life was like in the settler's time. 

Published: 1981  Read: August 2019  Genre: History

Wallace Stegner : A Biography - Jackson J Benson

I admit I did not read this entire book.  I received it from a client who was looking for a possible relation to Stegner.  I'd read Stegner's works (Wolf Willow, Angle of Repose) and was intrigued to explore his life from a genealogical perspective.

The biography was written while the author was alive.  He was born February 18, 1909 near Lake Mills, IA during a visit; his parents were living in Grand Forks, ND.  He married 1 September 1934. 

Published: November 1996  Read: July 2019  Genre: Biography

The Bitter Season - Tami Hogg

A police partnership story with the partners being split up and working on separate cases that eventually cross paths.  A bit implausible in the ending but an okay summer read.

Published: 2016  Read: July 2019  Genre: Fiction

Association of Small Bombs - Karan Mahajan

I enjoyed the writing in this book.  It tells the aftermath of a terrorist bombing in a market in India from the viewpoint of the terrorists, the parents of children lost in the attack, a survivor and the activist involved.  It's sad and enlightening, with all of the characters fleshed out.  I would recommend it.

Published: 2016   Read: June 2019  Genre: Fiction

Taken from Home - Eric Francis

I picked up this "true crime" book from a visit to a private investigator friend.  It's the story of a woman and her daughter who disappeared from their home and her husband becomes a suspect.  He was able to evade the police for a long time before they accumulated the necessary evidence to try him for the crime.  I'd hoped for a twist in the plot at the end, but it was very predictable, reminding me why I don't like reading this genre or watching shows of the same type.  It was interesting to read the details of the police investigation and interviewing techniques.

Published: 2008  Read: August 2019   Genre: True Crime