My Thoughts - The Girl from Sicily is written by Siobhan Daiko.

ABOUT THE BOOK 

Lucia loved her brother Dinu to the depths of her soul, but she also worried about him. He was intelligent yet ambitious, resilient yet hot-headed, and there was a dark side to him that could lead him into terrible trouble one day.

Sicily, 1943: Lucia and her twin brother Dinu have always been inseparable, but their bond is threatened when Gero, the son of close family friends in America, arrives in their village. Although she finds herself developing feelings for him, Lucia worries about Gero’s dangerous connections and their influence on her brother.

As the chaos of World War II closes in, Lucia must navigate love and loyalty to make a difficult choice. Will she risk that the consequences of her decision could bring untold horrors and affect her family for decades to come?

2005: When Jess inherits a baglio, an ancient feudal farmhouse in Sicily, from the grandmother she never knew, she’s determined to uncover the truth about her family’s hidden past. Following the death of her parents and on the brink of divorce, Jess travels to the island alone. There, with the help of a charming Sicilian, she embarks on a quest to unearth a web of long-buried secrets.

But answers come at a price, and Jess must decide if she’s ready to confront a truth that could change everything…

Inspired by true events, this breath-taking novel reveals the hidden secrets of one Sicilian family across generations. Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Kristin Hannah, and Kate Quinn, this is an unforgettable tale of love, loyalty, and sacrifice.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Siobhan Daiko writes powerful and sweeping historical fiction set in Italy during the second World  War, with strong women at its heart. She now lives near Venice, having been a teacher in Wales for  many years. 

Social Media Links – 

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/siobhan.daiko.author 

Twitter https://twitter.com/siobhandaiko 

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/siobhandaiko_asolandobooks/ 

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/SiobhanDaikoNews 

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/siobhan-daiko 

My Thoughts 

The Girl from Sicily is written by Siobhan Daiko. This is book 4 in the Girls from the Italian Resistance series. I have not read all of the series, but I had no problem following along. The author has a wonderful gift of transporting readers back into time. This is a dual time line story - Sicily, 1943: and 2005. 

Lucia and her twin brother Dinu have always been inseparable.. They have not been dealt the best hand in life - they struggle to survive. However  their bond is threatened when Gero, the son of close family friends in America, arrives in their village. Gero is connected with the US Army, and helps to feed them. This starts to make Dinu jealous. Although she finds herself developing feelings for Gero, Gero is working undercover for t he allies. However,  Lucia worries about Gero’s dangerous connections and their influence on her brother. Then World War II breaks out - Lucia finds herself having to make some decisions. 

It's 2005 when Jessica Brown of Bristol, England, received notification of an inheritance in Sicily, from a grandmother she had never known. Her parents had died while she was going through a divorce - she thinks that a holiday to Sicily is what she needs. However, shocked by the inheritance she starts to dig into her history and is shocked by what she finds. 

This is such a heartwarming story that is woven together seamlessly. I really enjoy this author - and look forward to reading more. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own. 

My Thoughts -Miss Wylde in the White City (The Heiresses of Adventure Book Two) Author: Grace Hitchcock

 

Miss Wylde in the White City Kick-Off Package

About the Book

Book: Miss Wylde in the White City (The Heiresses of Adventure Book Two)

Author: Grace Hitchcock

Genre: Historical Romance True Crime

Release date: November 11, 2023

While attending the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, Winnifred Wylde believes she witnessed a woman being kidnapped. She tries to convince her father, an inspector with the Chicago police, to look into reports of mysterious disappearances around the White City. Inspector Wylde tries to dismiss her claims as exaggeration of an overactive imagination, but he eventually concedes to letting her go undercover as secretary to the man in question—if she takes her pistol for protection and Jude Thorpe, a policeman, for bodyguard.

Will she be able to expose H. H. Holmes’s illicit activity, or will Winnifred become his next victim?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Grace Hitchcockis the award-winning author of multiple his­torical novels and novellas, including the American Royalty, Best Laid Plans, and Aprons & Veils series. She holds a Master’s in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives on the Northshore of New Orleans, with her husband, Dakota, sons, and daughter in a cottage that is always filled with the sounds of sweet little footsteps running at full speed. When not writing, or chasing babies, she’s baking something delightful and can usually be found with a book clutched in her fist.­­­­

 

 

More from Grace

Q&A with Grace Hitchcock:

Q: Your historical novel Miss Wylde in the White City is a historical romance set against the true crime events at the Chicago World’s Fair. How difficult was it to create a “romance” novel that includes such horrific historical details?

Grace: It was challenging, but I wrote Winnifred’s story with the thought in mind of how I would have wanted to experience it as a reader. Many of the books I’ve read about Holmes are quite dark and rightly so; however, I decided that I didn’t want my story to show the gory details and chose to focus on the romance to offer the reader a much-needed break in the dark story matter.

Q: What research did you have to do to get the details right?

Grace: I read and listened to non-fiction works on H. H. Holmes, read countless articles online, researched the different newspaper articles of the time, mostly The Chicago Tribune,

and found the newspapers’ sketches of Holmes’ “Murder Castle” along with their statements. I also read non-fiction works on the Chicago world’s fair with many, many pictures and took walk-through tours of the fair online, which gave me a unique perspective of what the white city was like.

Q: Tell us about the characters you injected into the historical events. What about them made you want to tell their story?

Grace: I’ve always loved Jane Austen’s heroine from her satire of Gothic novels, Northanger Abbey, and with Catherine Morland in mind, I created Winnifred Wylde. My heroine’s love of books often gets her into trouble, but being the daughter of a police inspector, Winnie also has picked up a few things in listening to her father’s adventures and her natural sense of curiosity was just what I needed in a heroine to uncover Holmes’ sordid crimes.

I wanted Jude Thorpe to be a protector with a heart for justice, so the role of detective fit right into the story.

Percival Valentine was one of the characters who surprised me. Originally, I just had Percy as her favorite author, but then I thought, why not let her meet him and see what happens? He is one of my favorite characters and I hope to one day give him a story of his own.

Q: Fact vs Fiction – what (if any) historical details did you have to fiddle with to make the story work? 

Grace: Oddly enough, the newspapers at the time did not get the same layouts of the “Murder Castle” in their sketches, so I based the layout of Holmes’ castle mostly from The Chicago Tribune and got a little creative. The layout is mostly correct, but I took the liberty of adding a second trap door at a convenient location for the burning trunk scene. While Holmes did bring trunks up and down from attic to the basement, he never burned a trunk on the third floor because it would have left behind far too much evidence for a man who, up to this point, was experienced in covering his tracks.

Q: How does your faith impact how you approach writing fiction?

Grace: My heroines generally learn what I am learning at the time of writing the story. If I am holding on to a verse for something I am going through personally, I give it to my heroine and we walk through it together even in different situations (because obviously I’m not trapped in a burning building haha but the principle applies).

I see writing Christian fiction as an opportunity to show God’s light even in dark, difficult situations. No matter how subtle my theme or short the verses, my stories will always point the reader to the Lord.

Thank you for joining the fun for the Celebrate Lit tour! If you are a part of a book club, I have discussion questions here! Happy Reading, friends!

My Thoughts 

Miss Wylde in the White City is part of The Heiresses of Adventure series that is written by Grace Hitchcock. This was previously part of the True Color series but has been been rebranded. I’m a huge fan of this author. She has the ability to transport readers back in history and captivate your attention within the first few pages. 

In this story, readers are brought back to 1893 Chicago. The Chicago’s World Fair is going on. Winnifred Wylde believes she witnessed a woman being kidnapped. She tries to convince her father, an inspector with the Chicago police however she’s brushed off. Her no nonsense father feels that her imagination has runaway with her. But Winnie doesn’t take no for an answer. 

She’s determined uncover the truth, she agrees to go undercover as a secretary to none other than the man she suspect. But she’s got to be able to carry a pistol. She’s also  accompanied by the ever-watchful, detective, Jude Thorpe. 

Seeing a mystery involving H. H. Holmes come to life blended with suspense, historical details and adventure this is a must read. The author keeps readers on their toes. 

Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own. 

Blog Stops

Melissa’s Bookshelf, March 13

Pens Pages & Pulses, March 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 14

Allyson Jamison, March 14

Texas Book-aholic, March 15

lakesidelivingsite, March 16

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 17

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 17

Devoted To Hope, March 18

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 18

Betti Mace, March 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 19

Bizwings Book Blog, March 20

Blogging With Carol, March 20

Lily’s Corner, March 21

Connie’s History Classroom, March 21

For Him and My Family, March 22

Mary Hake, March 22

Inspired by fiction, March 23

Holly’s Book Corner, March 23

Pause for Tales, March 24

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, March 24

Leslie’s Library Escape, March 25

Cover Lover Book Review, March 25

Jodie Wolfe , March 26

Lights in a Dark World, March 26

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Grace is giving away the grand prize of a $20 gift card with FREE SHIPPING to Grace’s Autographed Bookshop!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54172

My Thoughts Tides of Healing Author: Sandra Merville Hart

 

About the Book

Book: Tides of Healing

Author: Sandra Merville Hart

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: February 11, 2025

A Southern belle fights to reclaim her home, but will her spying destroy the Union officer she never meant to love? 

Savannah Adair has endured the unimaginable, hiding in a cave while her beloved Vicksburg was under siege. With the city now occupied by Union soldiers, Savannah cannot stand by and do nothing. So when one of the gaunt, half-starved Confederate prisoners asks her to spy for the South, she can’t refuse the chance to take back her home.

First Lieutenant Travis Lawson takes pride in the Union army’s hard-fought victory, but he quickly realizes that the challenges of rebuilding and reconciliation are just beginning . . . and not everyone is appreciative of changes he’s making. Namely, the fiery and alluring Savannah Adair. Despite their differing loyalties and the societal divide between them, Travis cannot deny the growing feelings he has for her. When he is tasked with finding Southern spies in Vicksburg and he captures a female spy, Travis is forced to consider that the woman he’s beginning to love may be the enemy.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Sandra Merville Hart, award-winning and Amazon bestselling author of inspirational historical romances, loves to discover little-known yet fascinating facts from American history to include in her stories. Her desire is to transport her readers back in time. She is also a blogger, speaker, and conference teacher.

 

 

 

 

More from Sandra

As I typed away on this final book in my Spies of the Civil War Series, it felt as if I’d written the entire series to tell this story.

Previously, I had felt a similar importance of an as yet unpublished two-book contemporary series, but the sense that the whole series climaxed with the final book was as surprising as it was welcome.

Because it seemed as if everything that happened in all the earlier books culminated in Book 6 for me as an author. Its significance reverberated in my soul while still researching the events…and weeks before I sat to pen the first page, the first paragraph, the first sentence.

That sense of importance made this book difficult to begin. The early chapters took far longer to write than normal.

I believe that those who only read Tides of Healing will have a satisfying, complete story. Those who read the entire series in order—or at least Books 4-6 set in Vicksburg—will experience a deeper impact as the characters’ stories build on one another.

There is a song in Tides of Healing. As an author, the impact of the lyrics within the story preceded it, meaning that I knew a certain song would play a significant role while still in the research phase.

Let me explain.

When I’m researching a story, I read a variety of nonfiction resources including diaries, journals, and newspaper accounts. My research for Vicksburg during the Civil War led me to song lyrics written by the enslaved.

African American Spirituals, also called Negro Spirituals, were sung before and after the Civil War. These Christian songs served a variety of purposes beyond bolstering hope and faith during dark days. They told stories about Biblical characters like Moses. Some comforted the sorrowful and some rejoiced with the joyful. They were sung in churches, in camp meetings, and in the fields.

They often contained secret messages. “Home” in a song can refer to Heaven, but the secret meaning was a free country. Author Frederick Douglas had been a former slave. He wrote that the lyrics to “O Canaan, Sweet Canaan” signified more than a hope of Heaven. Repeated singing of the lyrics “I am bound for the land of Canaan” announced an intention to go North, their Canaan.

The Underground Railroad is a theme in Tides of Healing. In 1828, Reverend John Rankin built his home on a hill overlooking the Ohio River in Ripley, Ohio. As a station on the Underground Railroad, this home was easily seen from the opposite side of the river in the slave state of Kentucky. Runaways waited for a boat to take them across the river.

It surprised me to learn that the lyrics of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” are about this station. “I looked over Jordan and what did I see?” refers to the Ohio River. The band of angels are people who rowed them across the wide river to the free state of Ohio.

Neither of these songs is referenced in Tides of Healing. The tune that is in my story was a popular spiritual leading up to the war. I listened to it many times. The message took root in my heart long before it affected my characters.

My research trip to Vicksburg’s battlefield and museums inspired the writing of Streams of Courage, Book 4, River of Peril, Book 5, and Tides of Healing, Book 6.

Avenue of Betrayal, Book 1, is set in the Union capital of Washington City (Washington DC) in 1861, where a surprising number of Confederate sympathizers and spies lived. Boulevard of Confusion and Byway to Danger are set in Richmond, the Confederate capital in 1862. Actual historical spies touch the lives of our fictional family. The heroines in Books 1 – 3 are two sisters and their cousins. Another set of characters begin with Book 4, and three friends are the heroines in Books 4 -6.

Through both real and fictional characters, this series highlights activities spies were involved in and some of the motives behind their decisions.

I invite you to read the whole Spies of the Civil War Series!

My Thoughts 

Tides of Healing is written by Sandra Merville Hart. This is book six in the Spies of the Civil War. This series has been one of my favorite historical fiction series. It’s ok if you’ve not read the whole series. They can be read as stand alone also. The author will captivate you as soon as you start reading. 

Savannah has watched in horror as her beloved Vicksburg has burned. When she’s asked to spy for the south she knows that she’s felt to do something. Then she meets Travis. He’s a Union Soldier/Spy Catcher. 

Travis is super thrilled that the Union is winning and I’ll dare to say a bit prideful. However the fractured nation and those who have been left behind start to soften his heart. Savannah has her own trials. She’s got to learn to do basic things like cooking and cleaning now that their slaves have been freed. 

The book is well written.  The characters evolve through the story. The author has captured the Civil War time period beautifully. 

Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own. 

Blog Stops

Bizwings Book Blog, February 26

Holly’s Book Corner, February 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 28

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 1

Pause for Tales, March 2

Texas Book-aholic, March 2

Devoted To Hope, March 3

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 4

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, March 5

Betti Mace, March 5

Life on Chickadee Lane, March 6

Cover Lover Book Review, March 7

Books You Can Feel Good About, March 8

Connie’s History Classroom, March 9

For HIm and My Family, March 10

Stories By Gina, March 11 (Author Interview)

Blossoms and Blessings, March 11

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sandra is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54163

MY THOUGHTS - The Dreams We Knew by Rachel Scott McDaniel

About the Book

The Dreams We Knew written by  Rachel Scott McDaniel

Can two opposites come together to solve the murder of a rising star?

In the glitz and glam of New York City's elite circles, Delvina Salvastano Kline walks a delicate line between her privileged upbringing and her murky past. Adopted into wealth and opulence, she contends with the legacy of her birth father, a notorious crime boss. In an act of defiance, Delvina sheds the smothering label of "society's misfit" by carving her own path as a private investigator.

When a promising young fashion model is found dead, Delvina is hired to unmask the killer lurking behind the city's shimmering facade. She reluctantly teams up with detective Kent Brisbane, the man she once loved, who knows a secret that could shatter her carefully crafted persona. As they plunge deep into the shadows of New York's underbelly, they discover the stakes are higher than they'd thought. Amidst glittering parties and whispered secrets, the duo races against time to uncover the truth.

Rachel Scott McDaniel delivers a riveting blend of mystery and second-chance romance with gentle undertones of faith in this Roaring Twenties novel.

About the Author

As much as I'd love to occupy this space gushing about my fanatical penchant for all things classic movies, I probably should mention that I'm an award-winning  writer. I hope to inspire the mind and refresh the soul with words infused with faith and heart. 

Because I could never resist a good mystery, suspense and intrigue routinely sneak into my stories. My work is represented by Julie Gwinn from the Seymour Agency. I currently enjoy life with my husband and two children. Thanks for stopping by!

My Thoughts 

The Dreams We Knew is written by Rachel Scott McDaniel. Her stories always transport readers back into time. In this story, we find ourselves in the roaring twenties. This is an underwritten time period. in  which the author has captured beautifully. 

New York debutant Delvina Salvastano Kline has embraced her role as a societal misfit after discovering her birth father was a crime boss. She was briefly married to Kent Brisbane. They moved forward as private investigators and each are working on growing their own business. However, their paths cross again and they find themselves having to work together when a promising young fashion model is found dead. 

Both Delvina and Kent have secrets and baggage - but we see that they were good together. They are complete opposites. We have met these characters in previous books - so it was good to see them again. Do not fear, if you have not read the author's previous books, there is enough backstory to not confuse you. 

The author always writes such amazing historical fiction stories. I loved seeing the mystery unfold and the chemistry grow. The book is well written, the storyline engaging. Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.