My Favorite read of April 2024: The Women of Chateau Lafayette

“To ask why was only to demand justification.
To ask why not assumed endless possibility…”
― Stephanie Dray, The Women of Chateau Lafayette

Title: The Women of Chateau Lafayette

Author: Stephanie Dray

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: March 31, 2021

Goodreads Synopsis:

Most castles are protected by men. This one by women.

A founding mother…
1774 . Gently-bred noblewoman Adrienne Lafayette becomes her husband, the Marquis de Lafayette’s political partner in the fight for American independence. But when their idealism sparks revolution in France and the guillotine threatens everything she holds dear, Adrienne must renounce the complicated man she loves, or risk her life for a legacy that will inspire generations to come.

A daring visionary…
1914 . Glittering New York socialite Beatrice Chanler is a force of nature, daunted by nothing—not her humble beginnings, her crumbling marriage, or the outbreak of war. But after witnessing the devastation in France firsthand, Beatrice takes on the challenge of a convincing America to fight for what’s right.

A reluctant resistor…
1940 . French school-teacher and aspiring artist Marthe Simone has an orphan’s self-reliance and wants nothing to do with war. But as the realities of Nazi occupation transform her life in the isolated castle where she came of age, she makes a discovery that calls into question who she is, and more importantly, who she is willing to become.

Intricately woven and powerfully told, The Women of Chateau Lafayette is a sweeping novel about duty and hope, love and courage, and the strength we take from those who came before us.

My thoughts:

I love books with interwoven stories, but usually one is not as interesting. In the beginning, I was primarily interested in the story of Adrienne, wife of the the Marquis de Lafayette. But, as the story progressed, I found Beatrice and Marthe’s stories more fascinating. It’s a beautiful story of the strength of women and the power of their contributions throughout history.

May 1, 2024

March Catch-up Post: Favorite Read and Anticipated Book Releases

I had issues posting back in February, so I missed my favorite book of the month and new releases for March posts, then I just didn’t get back to it. So, I thought I would just do a combined, abbreviated post.

Favorite Read of February 2024

This novel tells the true story of a boat carrying children evacuated from Europe during WWII, that was hit by a torpedo. One lifeboat is left stranded in the ocean for days. The story follows the events on the lifeboat and the family members left behind who are fighting to continue the search. This is why I keep going back to WWII novels, there are so many different angles and stories that there’s always something new to learn.

Anticipated releases for March 2024

Click on books for the goodreads link

March 24, 2024

My Favorite Read of December 2023

Goodreads Synopsis

Two years into World War II, Britain is feeling her losses: The Nazis have won battles, the Blitz has destroyed cities, and U-boats have cut off the supply of food. In an effort to help housewives with food rationing, a BBC radio program called The Kitchen Front is holding a cooking contest–and the grand prize is a job as the program’s first-ever female co-host. For four very different women, winning the competition would present a crucial chance to change their lives.

For a young widow, it’s a chance to pay off her husband’s debts and keep a roof over her children’s heads. For a kitchen maid, it’s a chance to leave servitude and find freedom. For a lady of the manor, it’s a chance to escape her wealthy husband’s increasingly hostile behavior. And for a trained chef, it’s a chance to challenge the men at the top of her profession.

These four women are giving the competition their all–even if that sometimes means bending the rules. But with so much at stake, will the contest that aims to bring the community together only serve to break it apart?

Reasons I loved the book

It’s no secret that I love WWII fiction, but there were a few things that made this one stand out:

While the characters experience a lot of hardship, as a whole this was a feel-good story
The focus was on the women’s friendship, not a romance
It has recipes!

Check out the rest of my favorite books of the year here

January 1, 2024

My Favorite Read of November 2023

Goodreads synopsis:

The latest historical novel from New York Times bestselling author Lisa See, inspired by the true story of a woman physician from 15th-century China—perfect for fans of See’s classic Snowflower and the Secret Fan and The Island of Sea Women.

According to Confucius, “an educated woman is a worthless woman,” but Tan Yunxian—born into an elite family, yet haunted by death, separations, and loneliness—is being raised by her grandparents to be of use. Her grandmother is one of only a handful of female doctors in China, and she teaches Yunxian the pillars of Chinese medicine, the Four Examinations—looking, listening, touching, and asking—something a man can never do with a female patient.

From a young age, Yunxian learns about women’s illnesses, many of which relate to childbearing, alongside a young midwife-in-training, Meiling. The two girls find fast friendship and a mutual purpose—despite the prohibition that a doctor should never touch blood while a midwife comes in frequent contact with it—and they vow to be forever friends, sharing in each other’s joys and struggles. No mud, no lotus, they tell themselves: from adversity beauty can bloom.

But when Yunxian is sent into an arranged marriage, her mother-in-law forbids her from seeing Meiling and from helping the women and girls in the household. Yunxian is to act like a proper wife—embroider bound-foot slippers, pluck instruments, recite poetry, give birth to sons, and stay forever within the walls of the family compound, the Garden of Fragrant Delights.

How might a woman like Yunxian break free of these traditions, go on to treat women and girls from every level of society, and lead a life of such importance that many of her remedies are still used five centuries later? How might the power of friendship support or complicate these efforts? Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is a captivating story of women helping other women. It is also a triumphant reimagining of the life of a woman who was remarkable in the Ming dynasty and would be considered remarkable today.

Reasons I loved this book:

Though fictionalized, Yunxian is a real person with a fascinating life
It was interesting learning about early easter medicine
Lisa See is a master at writing female relationships

December 3, 2023

My Favorite Read of October 2023

A little late this month, but I’m excited to share this one.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A riveting new novel about an indomitable young woman in Virginia during Prohibition.

Most folk thought Sallie Kincaid was a nobody who’d amount to nothing. Sallie had other plans.

Sallie Kincaid is the daughter of the biggest man in a small town, the charismatic Duke Kincaid. Born at the turn of the 20th century into a life of comfort and privilege, Sallie remembers little about her mother who died in a violent argument with the Duke. By the time she is just eight years old, the Duke has remarried and had a son, Eddie. While Sallie is her father’s daughter, sharp-witted and resourceful, Eddie is his mother’s son, timid and cerebral. When Sallie tries to teach young Eddie to be more like their father, her daredevil coaching leads to an accident, and Sallie is cast out.

Nine years later, she returns, determined to reclaim her place in the family. That’s a lot more complicated than Sallie expected, and she enters a world of conflict and lawlessness. Sallie confronts the secrets and scandals that hide in the shadows of the Big House, navigates the factions in the family and town, and finally comes into her own as a bold, sometimes reckless bootlegger.

You will fall in love with Sallie Kincaid, a feisty and fearless, terrified and damaged young woman who refuses to be corralled.

Reasons I loved this book:

Walls is always good at writing strong female portraits, through fiction and memoir. Sallie is a woman before her time who survives in a man’s world.
I read a lot of books set in WWI or WWII, but haven’t read as much in the years between. It was an interesting time because the world is at a precipice of change. Women are still very oppressed, but are starting to gain power.
The characters are complex and the reader’s perception changes as Sallie matures and evolves as a character.

November 6, 2023

Throw Back Thursday: 9/20/23

Welcome to my weekly post where I look back at some of my four and five star reads before I started Nicole’s Nook.

This week’s book: The Luxe by Anna Godberson

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date: November 20, 2007

Date Read: February 28, 2010

Goodreads Synopsis:

Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn. Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions. White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups. This is Manhattan, 1899. Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan’s social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City’s elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone–from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud–threatens Elizabeth’s and Diana’s golden future. With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city’s gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan’s most celebrated daughter disappear… In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.

My Thoughts:

The Luxe series is filled with drama, romance, glamour, and scandal set at the turn of the 20th century. I was immediately drawn into the story. I love the contrast between all the characters’ beautiful facades that hide their secrets. If I were to pick up this book for the first time now, I would assume that it was inspired by Downton Abbey, but it was written before the show. This is a YA novel, but I would recommend it to any Downton Abbey lover.

September 21, 2023

Throwback Thursday Book Review: 9/10/23

Welcome to my weekly post where I look back at some of my four and five star reads before I started Nicole’s Nook.

This week’s book: Mr. Knightley’s Diary by Amanda Grange

Publisher: Berkely

Publication Date: August 31, 2006

Goodreads Synopsis:

Relive Jane Austen’s Emma – from Mr. Knightley’s point of view.

Between managing his estate and visiting his brother in London, Mr. Knightley is both exasperated and amused by his irresistibly beautiful, outrageously mischievous neighbor, Emma Woodhouse, whose misguided attempts at matchmaking are wreaking havoc in the village of Highbury.

But when a handsome newcomer arrives and catches Emma’s attention, Mr. Knightley is shocked by his reaction. Amusement gives way to another emotion entirely-for his unreasonable dislike of the handsome newcomer seems suspiciously like jealousy.

My Thoughts:

Usually I give my date read but this one is so far back, that I hadn’t started tracking my reading on goodreads yet. As the title implies, this one retells the story of Emma from Mr. Knightley’s perspective. I enjoy this entire series by Amanda Grange. But, this is my favorite. I just love how it’s so obvious to the reader that Mr. Knightly is in love with Emma (and not because of the original story), yet he is oblivious to his own feelings. I enjoyed seeing that side of Mr. Knightley.

September 14, 2023

Throwback Thursday Book Review 6/8/23: In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume

Welcome to my weekly post where I look back at some of my four and five star reads before I started Nicole’s Nook.

Today’s book: In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume

Publisher: Knopf

Publication Date: June 2, 2015

Date Read: August 21, 2015

Favorite Quote: “Anything could go wrong any day of the week. What’s the point of worrying in advance?”
― Judy Blume, In the Unlikely Event

Goodreads Synopsis

In 1987, Miri Ammerman returns to her hometown of Elizabeth, New Jersey, to attend a commemoration of the worst year of her life.

Thirty-five years earlier, when Miri was fifteen, and in love for the first time, a succession of airplanes fell from the sky, leaving a community reeling. Against this backdrop of actual events that Blume experienced in the early 1950s, when airline travel was new and exciting and everyone dreamed of going somewhere, Judy Blume imagines and weaves together a haunting story of three generations of families, friends, and strangers, whose lives are profoundly changed by these disasters. She paints a vivid portrait of a particular time and place — Nat King Cole singing “Unforgettable,” Elizabeth Taylor haircuts, young (and not-so-young) love, explosive friendships, A-bomb hysteria, rumors of Communist threat. And a young journalist who makes his name reporting tragedy. Through it all, one generation reminds another that life goes on.

My Thoughts

Since it’s been almost eight years since I read this, I went back and looked at the review I’d posted on Goodreads. I will copy that below. But, wanted to add a couple of points. First, I love when an author writes about a historical event that has a big impact on individuals, but is not commonly remembered by the public. I had never heard of these plane crash incidents, and learned a lot. Second, Judy Blume was one of the first authors I fell in love with as a child. This is a another planet from the Fudge books that had me giggling as a young reader. I have such admiration for authors that can write with such a range.

My Goodreads Review:

In the early 1950’s the residents of Elizabeth were terrorized when not one, not two, but three planes crashed in their community. The legendary author, Judy Blume,used these events to inspire her story of multiple generations trying to come to terms with these events, while still going on with the struggles of their everyday lives.
The lives of these characters would be a good story on their own. Miri is a fifteen year old daughter of a single mother experiencing her first love and finally learning the mystery of her father. Meanwhile the people around her have secrets of their own from unhappy marriages to secret loves. When these events are added to the dramatic world events of the plane crashes, the Korean Conflict and McCarthyism, the story becomes great. Blume really shows how a community would be affected when the world thinks of them as “Plane Crash City”. The adults try to protect the youth, but it’s all they can think/talk about; speculating conspiracies ranging from aliens to communists. I highly recommend this book, just don’t read it right before a plane trip.

June 8, 2023

My Favorite Read of May 2023: A Stitch in Time by Kelley Armstrong

“Everyone needs things that serve no greater purpose than to make them happy.”
― Kelley Armstrong, A Stitch in Time

Goodreads Synopsis:

Thorne Manor has always been haunted… and it has always haunted Bronwyn Dale. As a young girl, Bronwyn could pass through a time slip in her great-aunt’s house, where she visited William Thorne, a boy her own age, born two centuries earlier. After a family tragedy, the house was shuttered and Bronwyn was convinced that William existed only in her imagination.

Now, twenty years later Bronwyn inherits Thorne Manor. And when she returns, William is waiting.

William Thorne is no longer the boy she remembers. He’s a difficult and tempestuous man, his own life marred by tragedy and a scandal that had him retreating to self-imposed exile in his beloved moors. He’s also none too pleased with Bronwyn for abandoning him all those years ago.

As their friendship rekindles and sparks into something more, Bronwyn must also deal with ghosts in the present version of the house. Soon she realizes they are linked to William and the secret scandal that drove him back to Thorne Manor. To build a future, Bronwyn must confront the past.

My Thoughts

This book was a taste of all my favorite genres: romance, fantasy, historical fiction and mystery. It has the feel of a classic with a modern twist. I enjoyed the way Armstrong weaves in just enough small details to build suspense throughtout the story so that you’re guessing until the end.

Reasons I liked A Stitch in Time:

Bronwyn loves William, but doesn’t just give up her life for him
The fun way Bronwyn exchanges information about the future with William through food and financial advice
Enigma the kitten is a great “character” who adds a touch of humor

June 1, 2023

Throw Back Thursday Book Review

Welcome to my weekly post where I look back at some of my four and five star reads before I started Nicole’s Nook.

Today’s book: The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott

Publisher: Anchor

Publication Date: February 21, 2012

Date Read: September 10, 2016

Favorite Quote

“You know one of the best things? Women gathering, marching, doing anything together makes a lot of men go crazy. They yell and scream and taunt and shake their fists. You know why? They’re scared. They’re scared we’ll actually gain power and force them to change.”
― Kate Alcott, The Dressmaker

Goodreads Synopsis:

Just in time for the centennial anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic comes a vivid, romantic, and relentlessly compelling historical novel about a spirited young woman who survives the disaster only to find herself embroiled in the media frenzy left in the wake of the tragedy.

Tess, an aspiring seamstress, thinks she’s had an incredibly lucky break when she is hired by famous designer Lady Lucile Duff Gordon to be a personal maid on the Titanic’s doomed voyage. Once on board, Tess catches the eye of two men, one a roughly-hewn but kind sailor and the other an enigmatic Chicago millionaire. But on the fourth night, disaster strikes.

Amidst the chaos and desperate urging of two very different suitors, Tess is one of the last people allowed on a lifeboat. Tess’s sailor also manages to survive unharmed, witness to Lady Duff Gordon’s questionable actions during the tragedy. Others—including the gallant Midwestern tycoon—are not so lucky.

On dry land, rumors about the survivors begin to circulate, and Lady Duff Gordon quickly becomes the subject of media scorn and later, the hearings on the Titanic. Set against a historical tragedy but told from a completely fresh angle, The Dressmaker is an atmospheric delight filled with all the period’s glitz and glamour, all the raw feelings of a national tragedy and all the contradictory emotions of young love.

My Thoughts:

The irony of the unsinkable ship that sunk on it’s maiden voyage has fascinated people for over a century now. I’ve read several books about the doomed ship, but this was the first to focus on the aftermath and the trials that followed. Tess was a relatable character who evolved throughout the story from a naive girl to a confident woman. A must read for any titanic fanatic.

May 4, 2023