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Anne Neville: Queen and Wife to Richard III by Rebecca Batley: A Book Review

Anne Neville: Queen and Wife to Richard III  Author: Rebecca Batley Genre: Nonfiction, History, Biography  Publisher: Pen & Sword History  Book Release Date: 2024 Pages: 256 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Anne Neville, often seen as a victim depicted by Shakespeare, was a powerful and influential figure in medieval England. Daughter, Wife, Princess, Widow and Queen: Anne Neville had many faces. Shakespeare presents her to us as a woman consumed with rage, bitterness and grief. He has her cursing the killer of her husband and father, before marrying him and condemning herself to despair. She rages, screams and weeps but ultimately she is shown as nothing more than a passive victim of the men who used and exploited her. This could not be further from the truth. Born into one of the most powerful dynasties in medieval England, Anne knew her worth, and her power. She was a great survivor escaping the tide of blood that consumed Eng...
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Kings of the Coast: Montauk by David Cataletto: A Book Review

Kings of the Coast: Montauk Author: David Cataletto Genre: YA, Historical Fiction Publisher: David Cataletto  Publication Date: June 4, 2026 Pages: 325 Source: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: MONTAUK — THE EDGE OF THE WORLD AND THE CENTER OF IT ALL       Based on true events. Inspired by a stolen princess.               A coast is thrown toward war. And two young heroes must rise.       In the dangerous world of 1600s Long Island, Princess Storm Lily and Seahawk come of age as Native nations struggle to survive the pressures of rivalry, invasion, and betrayal. When Storm Lily is kidnapped, her capture becomes more than a family tragedy, it becomes a threat, and the spark that could set the region ablaze.         As Seahawk crosses land and sea to bring her home, Storm Lily wages he...
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The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleeton: A Book Review

The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes  Author: Chanel Cleeton Genre: Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery & Suspense Publisher: Berkley Book Release Date: 2025 Pages: 344 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: A mysterious book with a legacy spanning from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present day unites three women—and their secrets—in this unforgettable novel from New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton.        London, 2024: American expat Margo Reynolds is renowned for her talent at sourcing rare antiques for her clients, but she’s never had a request quite like this one. She’s been hired to find a mysterious book published over a century ago. With a single copy left in existence, it has a storied past shrouded in secrecy—and her client isn’t the only person determined to procure it at any cost.        Havana, 1966: Librarian Pilar Castillo has devoted her lif...
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The Serpent's Longing: The Naga Princess and the Himalayan Yogi by Namita Kumari: A Book Review

The Serpent’s Longing: The Naga Princess and the Himalayan Yogi Author: Namita Kumari Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Romance Publisher: Namita Kumari Book Release Date: May 29, 2026 Pages: 216 Source: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: She has worn a thousand shapes and never wanted to keep a single one.         Soma is a Naga princess — a shapeshifter of the deep waters, ageless and unknowable, meant to be alone forever. Kaundinya is a yogi from the far mountains of India, who gave away everything he owned and crossed a sea with nothing but a dream of her. When he lands on her shore at the edge of the ancient world, neither of them is built to survive the one thing they find in each other: being truly known, and not wanting to be anywhere else.         For eleven stolen days, in the warm green dark, they are simply, secretly happy — talking late, laughin...
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The Night Ends With Fire by K. X. Song: A Book Review

The Night Ends With Fire Author: K. X. Song Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy Publisher: Ace Book Release Date: 2024 Pages: 430 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Infused with magic and romance, this sweeping fantasy adventure inspired by the legend of Mulan follows a young woman determined to choose her own destiny—even if that means going against everyone she loves.       The Three Kingdoms are at war, but Meilin’s father refuses to answer the imperial draft. Trapped by his opium addiction, he plans to sell Meilin for her dowry. But when Meilin discovers her husband-to-be is another violent, ill-tempered man, she realizes that nothing will change for her unless she takes matters into her own hands.       The very next day, she disguises herself as a boy and enlists in her father’s place.        In the army, Meilin's relentless hard work brings her recogn...
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Single Girls by John Searles: A Book Review

Single Girls Author: John Searles Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Mariner Books Book Release Date: July 7, 2026 Pages: 376 Source: This book was given to me by the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: An infectious and utterly charming fictionalization of the iconic Helen Gurley Brown’s early years at the helm of Cosmopolitan , and the intrepid group of women she took under her wing to create one of the most talked about magazines of all time.        In 1965, Helen Gurley Brown, a soft spoken, self-professed “mouseburger,” is fresh off the runaway success of her book Sex and the Single Girl , a revolutionary call to single women urging them not to rush into marriage on anyone’s timeline but their own, and, even more radically, to enjoy their sex lives, gloriously free of shame. Upon the book’s publication, half the country is outraged (her mother, for one, hates it), and the other half will follow her anywhere. Moved by the thousa...
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Author Interview With Lisa K. Winkler

      Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing author, Lisa K. Winkler. She is the author of Gershwin's Bess , which is a biographical novel of African American opera singer, Anne Brown, who originated the role of Bess in George Gershwin's opera, Porgy and Bess . In this interview, we discussed why Anne Brown is a trailblazing figure. We also discussed opera, especially on how there is a large disparity of African American opera singers and on whether opera is a dying art. Thank you, Mrs. Winkler! What inspired you to write  Gershwin’s Bess ? Gershwin’s Bess began life as a short play I wrote for 365 Women’s Play Writing. https://365womenayear.wordpress.com/about-project-365/ .  I had written two plays and was looking for inspiration for my next play. The site has a data base of women who hadn’t yet been written about and I started googling. The names were listed in alphabetical order by first name. Anne Wiggins Brown caught my attention. I immediately began ...
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