THE BEST OF DAUGHTERS: by Dilly Court [ WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH ]

Posting the 4th book review in this March series for  Women's History Month - For this story, we enter the era leading up to,  then WWI itself.   author Dilly Court paints main character, Daisy Lennox,  as a strong willed young woman  unwilling to settle for the status quo. Her interest in the suffragettes is just the first of unusual involvements Daisy pursues. Her sense of justice informs her life decisions and path she chooses. Well drawn and well researched, Dilly Court, reveals unique moments in Women's History.



Published: March 18.13 Pages: 448 Publisher: RandomHouse UK-North America * THE BEST OF DAUGHTERS  by DILLY COURT

Despite her privileged upbringing, Daisy Lennox has always longed 

to make something of her life. 

She is drawn to the suffragette movement, but when her father faces ruin they are forced to move to the country and Daisy's first duty is to her family. 

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Here she becomes engaged to her childhood friend - a union both families have dreamed of.
But, on the eve of their wedding, war is declared, 

and Daisy knows her life will never be the same again.

* My Thoughts?
Likeability of our MC, Daisy Lennox, is established early on in this story. Her attitudes and actions to those less fortunate are skillfully contrasted with the stiffly ruled and regulated uppercrust of her mother's society.  Daisy's adventurous spirit in willingly assisting a young suffragette ends in a misadventure that entwines the two for the rest of the novel.  A saga covering a lengthy time span from 1912 to 1917. 
Daisy's discontent with the status quo leads her to pursue involvement, first with the  suffragette movement - highly criticized for their use of vandalism - followed by introduction to the FANYS.  Organized for women to train as nurses for the unwanted yet inevitable WWI, Daisy finds purpose beyond the expected round of socializing,  partying, and entertaining of a woman of her societal class.
When it is realized her father's business partner has absconded with the profits, the family is reduced to selling their London property, liquidating assets, and relocating to their rural summer home.  Which just happens to neighbour lifelong family friend's property.  An advantageous move for the family finances in general, for Daisy in particular.  And for Daisy's young suffragette friend, who is hired as maid of all work.
For Daisy it's a direct connection with her childhood friend who wants more than friendship. The rest of the story unfolds beautifully for the remainder of the novel. Court has a particular warmth in her writing style - a caring for the characters - that kept me involved through tragedy and triumph.  War descriptions preceding, during, and following, are authentic and emotionally involving.
Particulars of this period of history are well researched.  As is the wealth of information on the FANYS written into the story without any sense of documentary.
It is an excellent story of love's endurance and  redemption.
Important topics of marriage, class distinctions, romantic and familial relationships,
pregnancy, wartime, and personal values, are written with serious consideration. My appreciation to Dilly Court for sharing her creation of Daisy's story with us. * About this author: 

Dilly Court grew up in North-east London and began her career in television, writing scripts for commercials. She is married with two grown-up children and four grandchildren, and now lives in Dorset on the beautiful Jurassic Coast with her husband. She is the author of eighteen novels and also writes under the name of Lily Baxter.

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Dilly says, "Pacy stories, full of nostalgia and great plucky heroines set in turn-of-the-twentieth century London.  I spend a long time researching my novels and fully enter the world when I am writing ... "
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Sunday Times Top Ten bestselling author in the UK, Dilly has sold over a million books to date. 

Find Dilly on twitter: DillyCourt   Online at DillyCourt and at GreatBritishReads Ms Court is one of several British authors whose ebooks were made available in the US, with pb available as well in Canada and AU for the first time in 2013 as part of Random House UK's international marketing.



* *Appreciation to RandomHouse UK-North America for providing an ecopy for reading and reviews without compensation or obligation. *

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THE HEADMISTRESS OF ROSEMERE [WHISPERS ON THE MOORS Book 2] by Sarah E Ladd 1.3.14

Posting this review for the first day of
Women's History Month - both for the female author, Sarah E Ladd, who has
masterfully crafted this  novel, [Not because she's that old!] and for the creation of a story with a woman ahead of her times as headmistress of an all girls' school in Regency England.
I appreciate the historical detail and accuracy resulting from Ms Ladd's research of the era. Welcome to this fascinating world of . . . * The HEADMISTRESS OF ROSEMERE
{Whispers on the Moors series book 2} by SARAH E LADD
Patience Creighton has devoted her life to running her father's boarding school. But when the enigmatic master of the estate appears at her door, battered and unconscious, the young headmistress suddenly finds her livelihood-
-and her heart -in the hands of one dangerously handsome gentleman.
At twenty-five, Patience Creighton is already a spinster. The busy headmistress of Rosemere always expected a dashing man to sweep her off her feet and take her away . . . but that man never came. 
And since her father's death, keeping the school running and her mother happy has been plenty to keep her occupied.  *
William Sterling dallied his way into financial trouble and mortal danger. When he is assaulted by his creditors' henchmen on the road home from a tavern, he guides his horse to the doorstep of his tenant, the Rosemere School for Young Ladies.
After being tended to by Patience, the wounded William rides off into the dawn--but makes a point to learn more about the lovely headmistress.  *
As he spends more time at Rosemere, something delicate begins to develop between William and Patience. But that will not deter William's creditors. With little money to repay his debts, and less for the upkeep of his estate, it becomes clear that sacrificing Rosemere may be the only way to preserve his legacy. But it may also cost him his happiness. * Published: Dec 31.2013 Length:  318 pages kindle , 312 pages pb and available as audio
Publisher: Thomas Nelson * My Thoughts? Masterful storytelling from this freshly pressed author, Sarah  E. Ladd.  Book 2 in her Whispers on the Moors series, readers are treated to unusual twists and plot surprises from the book's opening to closing.
Characters of depth and personality that drew me in to know them better - their why's and what ifs of life - past, present, and eventually - future.  
Patience's familial contemplations and interactions provide readers understanding and, yes, patience in her qualms and misgivings in dealing with affairs of the household, girls' school, her mother's depression, her brother's abdication.  A lot on the shoulders of a young woman alone.
Seeing William Sterling's present, hearing of his past, the progress is a welcome and satisfying transformation.  Definitely a hero to any Regency reader!  
Well disguised turns in plotting sustain suspense with emotional impact to keep me up past my bedtime!
Thank you, Sarah, for another exceptional novel of more than historical romance!
{Look for Lady of Willowgrave Hall book #3 in October 2014 ... } *
More about this amazing author: Sarah E. Ladd has more than ten years of marketing experience. She is a graduate of Ball State University and holds degrees in public relations and marketing.
“The Heiress of Winterwood” was the recipient of the 2011 Genesis Award for historical romance.
Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing husband,
sweet daughter, and spunky Golden Retriever.
Find Sarah online at SarahLadd on twitter SarahLaddAuthor

Sarah says, "I would love to connect with you on Facebook and talk about all things Regency! Be sure to like my page for updates: Sarah on Facebook * *Appreciation to litfuse and thomas nelson for an ecopy to read and review without compensation or obligation. *

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MURDER ON THE FLYING SCOTSMAN: DAISY DALRYMPLE Mystery #4 by Carola Dunn [Audiobook Review]

WOMEN IN HISTORY MONTH at Faith Hope & Cherrytea  Daisy Dalrymple, embracing the working world of journalism, whilst born to privilege in pre-war England, is another addition to this series
of unique women from history.
Not to mention her foray into detecting mystery wherever she may be!
Welcoming Carola Dunn, Daisy's creator...


MURDER ON THE FLYING SCOTSMAN [AUDIOBOOK] by CAROLA DUNN author and MIA CHIAROMONTE narrator

It is the spring of 1923 and the Honorable Daisy Dalrymple is on her way to a stately home in Scotland to research her next article for Town and Country. On board the Flying Scotsman, the famous London-to-Edinburgh train, Daisy meets an old schoolfellow, Anne Bretton. Anne, along with all of her relatives, is en route to visit the deathbed of the family scion and notorious miser, Alistair McGowan. As it currently stands, Alistair’s will leaves the entire family fortune to his brother Albert, and the rest of the family is rushing to his side, each hoping to convince him to change his will in their favor.

Daisy, meanwhile, has her hands full taking care of Detective Inspector Alec Fletcher’s young daughter Belinda, who ran away from home and stowed away aboard the train. She barely has time to take notice of the intricate family feud taking place all around her—that is, until Albert McGowan is found murdered on the train and Daisy is surrounded by an entire family of suspects.  © 1997, 2010 by Carola Dunn  - Downpour.com

The Daisy Dalrymple Mysteries, book 4
Author:  Carola Dunn
Narrator: Mia Chiaromonte
Length:  6.8 hrs • Unabridged Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Published: Dec 15 ℗ 2013

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Author Bio :  Carola Dunn is the author of the Daisy Dalrymple mysteries, the Cornish mysteries, and over thirty Regencies. Born and raised in England, she now lives in Eugene, Oregon.  Ms. Dunn has a son in California who has just made her a grandmother, and a large black dog named Willow who takes her for a walk by the Willamette River each morning.

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Narrator bio:  Mia Chiaromonte is a Southern California native with a BA in theater from the University of California, San Diego. She has worked extensively as an actor, singer, and audiobook narrator, and her voice has been heard across the country on various radio commercials for clients including BMW and Time Warner Cable. She currently lives in southern Oregon .

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My Thoughts?
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Fourth in the Daisy Dalrymple series set in post WWI England.
It's 1923 as the story begins.
We find British heiress, the Honorable Daisy Dalrymple, bound for her next journalistic appointment for a Stately Homes article located in Scotland. Daisy has chosen to fend for herself as a Town & County journalist
rather than depend on her aristocratic family of birth.   * Suffering the loss of both brother and fiancee`in the great war, Daisy's budding romantic interest is a widower,  Alec Fletcher, Detective Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard, whose precocious ten year old daughter, Belinda, is soon discovered aboard The Flying Scotsman, the London - Edinburgh Express, Daisy has booked for her trip north.  Daisy is
dismayed to discover that very daughter is running away from a tiff with her gran
 via that very train and without forethought for either ticket or provision. Believing Daisy would take her to her father, Belinda is unaware they're not travelling anywhere near her anticipated destination. Daisy's acceptance of the inevitable responsibilities for Belinda's care is barely settled when an old school chum appears in the doorway of Daisy's car and the mystery is set to get underway... * A huge cast of relatives to wade through whilst attempting to keep relational order, we're introduced to each of them with their reasons for wanting to dissuade
their curmudgeonly family patriarch, Alistair McGowan,  from leaving his fortune to his brother, Albert. Class distinctions, snobbishness, racial prejudice, and male predominant viewpoints
are de riguer.
Points well taken for the era. * Needless to say, a murder entails and its resolution unfolds with  plentiful action, familial interaction, and enough red herrings to keep  the reader's - or in this case - listener's, attention. Throw in a minute amount of romance and the story's conclusion offers  the hoped for satisfaction of any good read. * Narrator, Mia Chiaromonte, provides excellent personalization for a
formidable cast of characters. Whilst the book provides a family tree for reader's assistance in following, no such resource is available for mp3 listeners.
Ms Chiaromonte is our sole source of differentiation. I have to commend her on well executed portrayals
from ten year old Belinda to the Indian Dr Jagai. * The reader's pace makes for ease of comprehension and ability to follow.
Voice modulation is well practiced and adds to the interpretation of characters'  intended  meaning in dialogue.  No jarring spikes or drops,
Ms Chiaromonte provides a pleasant read indeed.   No need for adjusting volume to avoid missing the story or fight fluctuations. * Blackstone Audio's recording provides solid entertainment value. Technically smooth and without background interference, neither interruptions, I have come to expect their high quality of clarity and sound. Valuable features for any audiobook 'reader'. * I look forward to Ms Dunn's next Daisy Dalrymple Mystery #5,
DAMSEL IN DISTRESS, *

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by Blackstone Audio Inc via Audiobook Jukebox and Downpour.com . My appreciation for an mp3 to 'read' and review without obligation. *

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MONUMENTS MEN #1: SHADOWED BY GRACE by Cara Putman

Posted a week prior to Women's History Month, I am adding this to the series due to Cara Putman's intriguing story of Rachel. A young American woman pursuing her craft as a photographer, Rachel longs to photograph WWII activity overseas. Her desire is granted when her newspaper employer agrees to   relocate her for a frontlines position in Italy. Unusual for a woman of her time, this story is worthy of inclusion in this series... SHADOWED BY GRACE [STORY OF MONUMENTS MEN #1] by Cara Putman "Shadowed by Grace "is a dramatic story inspired by the Monuments Men of World War II by acclaimed author, Cara C. Putman.
Desperate to save her dying mother, Rachel accepts her newspaper's assignment to travel to Italy to capture images dangerously close to the front lines of WWII. Her real motive - to find the father she never knew -- an artist she hopes can offer the comfort and support both she and her mother need to survive.  In her quest, Rachel becomes involved with what will become the Monuments Men effort to save great monuments and works of art from the Third Reich. Soon enough she will find more than she ever imagined--in war, in love, and in God.  
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Pages: 352 pb Publisher: Broadman and Hollman Books
Published: Dec 4.13 and Jan 1.14 * Author, Cara Putman's thoughts :
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Books are born many ways. Shadowed by Grace started when I walked by a display at our local library the summer of 2010. There a new non-fiction book stood cover out.

The photo on the front piqued my interest: a clearly WWII soldier standing with a large painting. The stories I read in that book, Monuments Men, by Robert Edsel, intrigued me and made me want to learn more. Before long, characters and story ideas filled my mind, and I began fleshing out the story that became Shadowed by Grace.

The idea of an elite, tiny group of soldiers who were tasked with saving Western civilization fascinated me. Their task was compounded by the fact that WWII was the first war that involved constant aerial bombardment.

What challenges would they face?

What would they fear? 

Then I started looking for unique roles American women filled on the European front. The idea of a war correspondent who was a photo-journalist seemed the perfect fit. An artist in her own right, she would understand the importance of saving art. Rachel Justice and Scott Lindstrom were born and became the heroine and hero in Shadowed by Grace.

* My thoughts?
Cara Putman's WWII novel explores a variety of plots and subplots,
ever increasing levels of wartime intrigue and human interest. Rachel is conflicted in caring for her ill mother whilst pursuing her desire to find the father she's never known.   In a bid to gain the finances that will help fund the health treatments that could save her mother's life, Rachel gains approval for overseas travel to photograph frontlines of the war.  Though her mother is adamant in dissuading her, Rachel remains single minded in her pursuit to find her unknown father.
The journey to attain her goal is treacherous and self-affirming.  Rachel grows in her art of photography, relationships, and faith  even as she is both captured and captivated by the intrigue of the journey. Historical details of the time and Monuments Men's mission specifics well researched and intriguing, 
I did not want to put this story down.   The horrors of the war scenes encountered were realistic and emotionally engaged me even as the relational interludes offered relief in the story's ebb and flow. Descriptions were colourful.
Pacing kept the story alternately moving and standing as the main characters experienced
wartime realities of siege and retreat.  I found the story filled with enlightening historical detail and rich in relational interactions.
The blossoming romance was drawn with many emotionally lovely touches.
Putman created an intelligent hero of worth and honour with intriguing past connections  to the monuments he was sent to protect.
Suspense regarding these efforts was superbly sustained
and concluding revelations dramatic enough to please even this reader. Definitely a pleasing entry for my first experience with the writing of Ms Putman. A welcome addition to libraries of WWII historical readers . I look forward to more reading opportunities from Cara Putman in the near future. *

About this author

Cara C. Putman lives in Indiana with her husband and four children. She’s an attorney and a teacher at her church as well as lecturer at Purdue. She has loved reading and writing from a young age and now realizes it was all training for writing books. She loves bringing history and romance to life.

An honours graduate of the University of Nebraska and George Mason University School of Law,
Cara left small town Nebraska and headed to Washington, D.C., to launch her career in public policy. 
Find Cara Putman HERE  for all online links  @ cara_putman twitter



* *Appreciation to B&H Books for providing an ecopy for reading and review. *

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