Reviewing The Good Left Undone

 

If you love historical fiction, like I do, this wonderful story of a grandmother near the end of her life will be one you will enjoy.  She spends time with her family filling them in on the family history and secrets from years gone by.  In this story you will also learn of history from World War II and what life was like in Italy, France, England and Scotland as told through the grandmothers' stories.

Adriana Trigiani has long been one of my favorite authors of historical fiction and she does not disappoint in this novel.

Story Summary

The story tells of the Cabrelli family, a proud artisan Italian family that live in the small village of Viareggio in Italy.  We are hearing the story told in present day by the family matriarch Mathilda to her granddaughter Anine.

The story begins pre-World War II when Domenica is a young girl who loves to help people.  We follow her through her struggles to become a nurse and the problems she encounters when she offers important information to a young mother.  The town does not approve of her giving the information and she must leave the town.  She goes to Marseilles France to work with nuns in a hospital.  World War II breaks out and she must then go to Scotland.

The book tells of strong women who are faced with ethical, love and family decisions. These women make decisions during difficult times that shape their futures and those around them.

Here is a link to the book on Amazon The Good Left Undone

Historical Fiction Books I Have Reviewed

If you enjoy historical fiction, here are a few other books in that genre that I have reviewed.

Spark of Revolution

Girl Called Samson

Enemy Like Me

Diamond Eye

Smoke on Whiteadder

Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

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The Ruins in Which We Bleed ~ A Book Review

If I am given a chance I will always gravitate towards a great historical novel every time!  

Thank you Steve N. Lee for adding me to your pre-publishing review team!  This book is now available to you!  

The Ruins in Which We Bleed was a story that needed to be told!  There are many stories from the era of World War II.  All of them are full of courage, strength and undeniable spirit, especially when all the chaos is seen from the eyes of a 13 year old Helena!

At the beginning of the war, I think many of the Jewish settlements were in total disbelief that the Nazis could be so cruel.  Yet their hatred for the Jews made them capable of so many ways to abuse, torture and kill those they hated.

Dehumanizing the Jewish population and revelling in the power they had over these people made many of the Nazis into absolute monsters. 

 

While I have read many books about the Holocaust and Historical Novels, this one really made me feel what our young Helena was going through. The Nazis were always looking for ways to make their lives even more miserable than they already were.  Food was scarce and watery soup kept many alive even though there was little or no nutrition in that food.  Money could not buy your safety or help meet any of your needs.  Sickness and starvation were a fact of life.

Helena is a fighter and will not give up easily.  She manages in this hell to maintain her spirit and compassion when others would have easily gone insane.  She is determined to get out of this alive and tell the stories of her family and friends to a world that needs to hear it the most.

The Ruins in Which We Bleed is a novel based on true life and I would suggest that you give it a place on your MUST READ list of books.  I highly recommend it as it is a page turner.  Even those who don't necessarily like Historical Novels, this one is sure to make you think again. 

Steve N. Lee has done a wonderful job of bringing to life the trials and heartaches, the unbelievable heroics and tenacity of some of the most vulnerable in the ghettos of Poland and beyond.  It is worthwhile to remind ourselves of the horrors that war will bring down on the human race.  

Now that I know you want this book, you will have to wait until June 12th, to get it!  It is a 5 Star book and deserves to be read by all! When you are finished reading this review remember to order your book so that you can start to read the pages that kept me up all night.  

This book is now available to anyone who wants to know and read more!  

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The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder, A Book Review

I picked up The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder because the title intrigued me, and as an eBay seller fascinated by vintage finds, I was instantly drawn in. It turned out that author C.L. Miller’s novel is enjoyable as a murder mystery story as well as a look into the world of high-end antiques.

THE STORY

Freya, a former antique hunter, is pulled back into the world of antiques after the mysterious death of her friend and mentor, Arthur. With the help of her odd but interesting Aunt Carole, she deciphers clues Arthur left behind—his way of ensuring that, should anything suspicious happen to him, someone would investigate. Their search finds them at an antiques retreat in a grand manor, where the furnishings are actually replicas rather than originals, and the guests seem to have questionable motives.

REVIEWS

Goodreads reviewers give the book 3 1/2 stars calling it a mixed bag with good marks for the look into the world of antiques but lower marks for writing style. 

Bookshelf Soliloquies calls it a cozy mystery. Like me, writer Phoebe appreciated the glimpse into the world of antiques and, as she put it, the quirky characters. However, she, too had some discomfort with the writing style.

Amazon readers are a bit more generous, granting 4 stars and calling it ‘a very good read.’

Consensus amongst the many reviews that I read seems to be that the writing was a bit distracting, with some finding it a bit hard to get used to. I agree though I will add that I did get used to it and I did find the book more engaging as I went along.

RECOMMENDED

Who will enjoy this book? I recommend it for someone looking for a cozy mystery that is a bit more complex or for someone who is interested in antiques and the antique underworld. I will be reading the second book in the series, The Antique Hunter’s Death on the Red Sea.

Another strong pick? If you are also interested in a similar look into art and the art world, Jeffrey Archer’s False Impression is a riveting must-read. A real page turner. Read my full review of First Impression here.

If you haven't read The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder, find it here on Amazon. If you have read it and you enjoyed The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder, you’ll be pleased to know there’s more to read. The Antique Hunter’s Death on the Red Sea is next in the series, and with luck, both it and any future installments will be stronger and more captivating. 

See you
At the bookstore!
Brenda
Treasures By Brenda

More Reading:

Death Takes a Spin, An Upcycling Mystery  

Irish Village Mystery Series by Carlene O'Connor

Ian Rankin's Knots and Crosses Book Review

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Nobody’s Fool by Harlan Coben

Book Review of a new thriller by Harlan Coben, the #1 New York Times bestselling author and world renowned storyteller. This is Book #2 of the 2 book series with Detective Sami Kierce whom we first met in Fool Me Once. 

Synopsis of Nobody’s Fool

Nobody's Fool

As Nobody’s Fool begins, it has been a year since we met Sami Kierce in Fool Me Once, and Sami’s life circumstances have changed. He has been forced to leave the police department in disgrace and wants nothing more than to put his past behind him.  But, somehow the past just isn’t done with him yet! 

When Sami Kierce was a young college grad, he and some classmates took the summer to backpack in Spain. While there, he met a girl, Anna, and, when his friends moved on to the next stop on their itinerary, Sami stayed. Several days later, he wakes up covered in blood with a knife in his hand and his girlfriend dead. Panicked, he runs. 

Now, twenty-two years later, with Kierce no longer a detective, we find him working as a private investigator. He is now married and has a baby. To make ends meet, he also teaches a class for wannabe sleuths at a night school in New York City. Suddenly one night he spots a familiar face in the back of the room. It is unmistakably Anna. When he begins to approach her, she runs. 

Kierce knows he has no choice but to find this woman and solve the mystery that has haunted his thoughts every moment since that terrible day in Spain.

With the help of his students, Sami begins to investigate, because the facts simply don’t add up. It is difficult for him to face the past, but Kierce needs to finally find the truth, and to prove once and for all that he’s nobody’s fool. 

Summary

This twisty and stunning thriller is book #2 in the two-book series featuring Sami Kierce. 

Netflix has adapted many of Harlan Coben’s novels into TV series. Fool Me Once (reviewed by Sylvestermouse) has already been made into a TV series. It seems safe to say that this novel, Nobody’s Fool, will soon join the series. 

For More Reviews of Harlan Coben Books, Click Here

For More Book Reviews, Click on ReviewThisBooks.com

*Nobody’s Fool Book Review written by Wednesday Elf

Books 1 &  2 of Harlan Coben’s two-book Detective Sami Kierce series 

Fool Me Once

Nobody's Fool

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8 Minutes in the Morning, Book Review

8 Minutes in the Morning is a book about diet and weight training exercise. This isn't the first time that I have worked through this book, however, it is one that I have come back to multiple times.

8 Minutes in the Morning is by Jorge Cruise, who experienced his own health issues as well as watching his family members experience similar types of issues. He became inspired to make a change and he shares what he has learned, along with stories of the benefits that others have experienced using his methods.

The first part of the book talks about food choices, i.e. giving up the sugary stuff and or replacing it with less sugary stuff, and choosing healthy fats instead to help people feel more satiated. He provides food charts in the back part of the book along with recommendations on whether it is a limited food item or one that is unlimited - referring to how much one can have of said item, in a day.

He also provides a simple eating log that you can copy, and fill out for each day to help keep you on track.

Then he gets to the greater core of the book, at least in my opinion. That's the exercise part. There are two weight training exercises recommended, for six out of the seven days in a week. You get a day off. The key with this weight loss program is to build muscle; and in turn, muscle burns more fat. As one tones up, they will automatically burn more fat.

It's not just about the exercise though. The healthy fats are a key ingredient in building muscle, as well as doing the exercises. This approach counts on both parts.

The very first time that I used this book, I lost more pounds than I have since other times that I have done refreshers. I attribute that to my diet needing a lot more correction the first time around. However, although I haven't really loss much weight this time, my clothes are fitting better again.

Having just worked through this book again, which covers a four week period, I note that I am stronger now than at other times. I am able to do all of the exercises as shown, instead of subbing selected ones with some other exercise in it's place. I have also noticed that the heavier duty gardening work has become easier.

I have done dumbbell exercises with videos from time to time, but I didn't stick with that as much. I like that this method is more structured; just two exercise routines for each day, 6 days out of the week. I like that different muscle groups are done on different days, giving the recently exercised muscles time to recover and you work on a different focused muscle area the next day.

I haven't followed along with all of Cruise's recommendations, but have utilized most of them, and am glad that I did.

If you want to try a different way to loose weight and to tone up, I do recommend 8 Minutes in the morning. Some of the routines might take a little longer than 8 minutes, especially if it is your first time doing any of them, but I have found that it became easier and quicker over time. As with any new physical venture, check in with your body and adjust to any limits you may have.

8 Minutes in the Morning book. Check price on Amazon.

Cheryl Paton

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The Boys From Biloxi ~ John Grisham ~ A Book Review

Sometimes we just need to get away from our daily lives and all the "drama" within and find a new place to call home for a while. 

The Boys from Biloxi allowed me to do just that! 

 Everyone who loves a good drama/mystery/whodunit will enjoy this book! The "Boys" in the title are two best friends who of course come from Biloxi.

Biloxi was known for its beaches and resorts and a bustling seafood industry. Their families are immigrants who are drawn to the area by work that is easy to come by! Of course their hope is to give their families a better life. Hard work in a bustling community is the motto for many of the immigrants that will call Biloxi home.

 

 But there is also a dark underside to the area! 

 All their dreams are coming true for the next generation of boys who learn to play baseball and hang out together. The next generation was given all of the opportunities that their parents and grandparents had worked so hard to provide. 

 As Hugh and Keith go through school and their own challenges and disappointments, their lives take a complete different trajectory. 

 Hugh can't wait to make some really easy money working the darker side of Biloxi. He starts by helping his father with the grocery stores, but his ambitions are bigger than that! Surely getting involved with the darker side and learning how it works will be his ultimate goal.

 

 Keith on the other hand decides that all the drinking, gambling and other nefarious activities are ruining Biloxi for those who really love the area. His father becomes a prosecutor determined to clean up the area and his son Keith is right behind him.

 So a long standing friendship becomes a long standing grievance that pits the boys against each other.

 The Boys from Biloxi is a great coming of age novel as well as an eye opener for those making choices in their own lives! 

 John Grisham does not disappoint in this novel! The action is fast paced and you can see how the undercover practices of life can cause many ripples in the fabric of Biloxi's society. 

 If you are looking for a great page turner of a book, I would recommend The Boys of Biloxi for you! Add it to your summer reading list! Or if you have an Amazon Audible Account you can get it for free!  It is an Amazon Best Seller, so you know it's a good story!

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Lethal Prey by John Sandford - Book Review

A Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers Novel

I have been a fan of John Sandford’s books since his first one (Rules of Prey) published in 1989.  Sandford has written 35 books in the ‘Prey’ series, featuring Lucas Davenport as the main character. In 2007, Sandford began the Virgil Flowers series ~ now totaling 12 books. 

Both series are police procedurals in the mystery/thriller genre, with the main characters being in law enforcement. By the time we meet Virgil Flowers (in Book #1 - Dark of the Moon), both Virgil and Lucas work for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Investigations, and Davenport is nominally Virgil’s boss.

By Book 31 in the Prey series, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers have begun handling difficult cases together. Lethal Prey is the 4th novel starring this pair of investigators, providing, as always, a very interesting mystery to solve, plus giving the reader an extremely amusing time with their delightful ongoing ‘cop’ humor. 

Synopsis of Lethal Prey

Lethal Prey (A Prey Novel)

In Lethal Prey, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers have once again joined forces, this time to try and solve a 20 year old cold case crime and track down a ruthless killer who will do whatever it takes to keep the past buried. 

The crime was the murder of Doris Grandfelt, an employee at an accounting firm who was brutally stabbed to death.  Despite her twin sister Lara Grandfelt’s persistent calls to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the killer was never found.

Now Lara, diagnosed with breast cancer and confronted with the possibility of her own death, is determined to find Doris’ killer. She offers a $5 million reward for information leading to the killer’s arrest. To this end, she releases the entire investigative file online onto true crime sites. Dozens of true crime bloggers show up looking for new evidence and leads (toward a share of the reward). The problem is, all discoveries have to be reviewed and followed up by Lucas and Virgil. 

The crime bloggers DO end up providing new clues and leads, which is helpful to the detectives. But they also blast every clue online, allowing the killer, whose identity the reader knows in Chapter One, to keep one step ahead. As the killer eliminates more people to prevent the detectives from discovering the identity of the murderer, Lucas and Virgil find the whole case not only frustrating, but deadly. 

Summary

The ending leaves some things unresolved, thus leaving the reader to decide how things work out both for the killer and with Virgil's future plans. Or, perhaps Sandford is just leaving it open for a future follow-up book). 

This non-standard Sandford ending has caused readers’ reviews to be mixed, with some finding this lack of conclusion disappointing. Others, such as myself, found the story very interesting, and the witty banter between Virgil and Lucas highly entertaining. I am never disappointed with any John Sandford novel and enjoyed Lethal Prey very much. 

Related Reviews:

• For more reviews of books by John Sandford, Click Here
• For more book reviews, click on ReviewThisBooks.com

*Book Review of Lethal Prey is written by Wednesday Elf

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Review of A Reckless Courtship: A Chronicle of Misadventures by Martha Keyes

I must admit, I was rather sad when I finished reading the third book in the series, "A Chronicle of Misadventures".  I thoroughly enjoyed all of the misadventures of the brothers.  I felt a bit lost and wondered what could I possibly read next that would even come close to this series.  Suffice it to say, even though I am always reading a book, they are not all as captivating as this series.

We met the Yorke brothers in the first book, "Reputation at Risk".  An underlying concern for the family in all of the books, is Silas Yorke's situation.  He has been accused of murder and subsequently left England to hide out in France.  His time in France was quite difficult.  He had to find a way to survive in a foreign country without any friends or family, plus he suffered illness. Unfortunately, most of his family believed he must be guilty since an esteemed member of Parliament claims to have witnessed the murder.  It takes time for the family to conclude that Silas was falsely accused.  

We follow Silas's plight through each book.  We can almost feel his desperation to prove his innocence and return to his normal life, home and family.  When he sneaks back to England in the second book and hides in his brother, William's guest house, we come to adore this impetuous and somewhat mischievous character. 

Book 3 is all about Silas and his misadventures incognito in London. 

 

Synopsis of A Reckless Courtship

 A Reckless Courtship: A Regency Romance (A Chronicle of Misadventures Book 3)Check PriceSilas Yorke is determined to find someone who will help him prove his innocence.  His accuser, Lord Drayton, would rather see him hanged or stay excelled in France, than to see him free.  

Silas has been told that Sir Walter Bence has fallen out with Lord Drayton over a failed joint business venture.  Silas assumed a false name and returned to London with his youngest brother, Frederick, who plans to introduce him to Bence in the hopes that they can join together against Drayton.  

As luck would have it, there is a masquerade in Vauxhall Gardens.  The brothers believe Silas can go into the crowd and not be recognized by anyone, especially since he will be wearing a domino (a long hooded cloak with a mask).  It would be the perfect opportunity for Frederick to innocently chance upon Sir Bence and introduce him to Silas.  Plus, they have two friends that will also be attending the party, so Silas should be able to blend in without a problem.  One of the friends is even meeting his aunt, cousin and her friend there.  The group should give Silas plenty of cover.  

When the group gets separated momentarily, Silas is late for the introductions to the women, but that matters not.  He is there for only one reason.  However, when one of the young women gets her costume caught in a bush and inadvertently left behind, Silas steps forward to help her.  She is rightfully leery of any stranger and insists she can manage for herself.  She does manage to get untangled and Silas simply says, "when I see Fairchild, I shall inform him his cousin is safe" which informs her that she really would have been safe to accept his aid, but he has already disappeared.  Now, Arabella realizes she must find her group which had moved on ahead.  When she is approached by two inebriated men, she is quite frightened and runs, headlong into Silas's arms.  She smacks his arm and states "what sort of gentleman leaves his wife in a maze such as this?"  Silas willingly plays along, the men apologize and take off in the opposite direction.

 

________________

And, that is how A Reckless Courtship begins, but their odd meeting is not the only thing reckless about Silas continuing to pursue Arabella!     

  

 

Reputation at Risk: a Regency Romance (A Chronicle of Misadventures Book 1)

Secrets of a Duke: A Regency Romance (A Chronicle of Misadventures Book 2)

A Reckless Courtship: A Regency Romance (A Chronicle of Misadventures Book 3)

Review of A Reckless Courtship: A Chronicle of Misadventures, Book 3 by Martha Keyes by:

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Book Review- Peaches and Peril

 

                                                 Peaches and Peril by Karen C Whalen

I just finished another delightful book by Karen Whalen.  This one is part of her Dinner Club series of mysteries.  It features Jane Marsh and a cast of interesting characters. This book had me guessing who the murderer was till almost the end of the book.  It was a great page-turner.

Book Synopsis

This book begins when Jane Marsh and some of her fellow dinner club members went for a weekend to enjoy the Peach Festival in a small Colorado town and look to finalize preparations for Jane's upcoming wedding.  In the beginning we find the characters at a Murder Mystery game  at the B&B where they are staying.  Each of the attendees is in costume for their character in the "Murder Mystery Game" and they all have notes about their characters.  Jane messes up early on by mistakenly revealing that she is the killer.  This pretty much brings the mystery to a halt and the participants end up calling it an early evening.  Now the real mystery will begin when Jane comes across a dead body in the B&B.

The police are called and everyone that has attended or worked at the B&B, including the members of the Diner Club, become suspects.  The book continues with Jane trying to figure out the killer.  There is much at stake including the reputation of the B&B and the small town election for mayor.  This is a small town where everyone knows everyone, and everyone seems to have an opinion.  

If you are looking for a cozy mystery with lots of characters and possible suspects this is the book for you.  I didn't guess the killer till almost the end and it was fun to follow Jane's logic on who might be the culprit.

Here is a link to the book on Amazon.

Peaches and Peril

More Book Reviews by Karen Whalen   

      Karen has written three different series of cozy mysteries.  The are: A Tow Truck Murder Mystery, A Dinner Club Murder Mystery and A Sea Oaks Beach Murder Mystery.  I have written reviews on several of the books.  Here are links to my reviews.

• Book Review- Washed Up on Sea Oaks Beach
•  Book Review of Everything Bundt the Truth
• Booty in the Backseat- Book Review
• Reviewing Murder at Sea Oaks Beach
• Book Review-Stiletto to the Pedal
• Book Review - Friends Come to Call
• Book Review - Toes on the Dash                   

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This is Why We Lied ~ Book Review

A Will Trent Thriller by Karen Slaughter

Karin Slaughter’s latest Will Trent thriller is filled with twists, turns, shocks and surprises. The story includes one very toxic family who run a lodge in the gorgeous northern Georgia mountains, 8 suspicious guests, and one killer. But since everyone appears to be guilty of something, who killed Mercy McAlpine?

Synopsis of This is Why We Lied

This Is Why We Lied: A Will Trent Thriller―A Gripping Murder Mystery Set in an Off-the-Grid Lodge Where Everyone is a Suspect (Will Trent, 12)

Will Trent works as an investigator for the GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigation). Throughout the series, he first met, then began dating, Sara Linton, an ER doctor in Atlanta. Sara eventually takes the position of Medical Examiner for the GBI. 

Now in Book #12, we find that Will & Sara have married. They choose the McAlpine Lodge in the Georgia mountains as the ideal getaway to celebrate their honeymoon. 

This family-owned off-the-grid mountaintop property appears to be the perfect place  to unplug and reconnect. Until…. A bone-chilling scream disturbs the night.

Who killed Mercy McAlpine?

Will finds the manager of the Lodge, Mercy McAlpine, dead. A  vicious storm is raging and the one access road to the property becomes washed out.  Therefore, it becomes obvious that the murderer has to be someone on the mountain.

As Will and Sara begin to investigate both the very strange McAlpine family, as well as the other guests, they realize that everyone is lying.  They are lying about their past and to their family and to themselves. Normal rules do not seem to apply at McAlpine Lodge.

Trapped on the mountain at the resort, Will and Sara are going to have to watch their step while they untangle a decades-old web of secrets and discover what happened to Mercy. The killer could strike again at any time, so the couple’s romantic honeymoon trip now becomes a race against the clock as they realize they have to return to their regular police duties to solve a murder! 

Summary

In addition to 12 books in the Will Trent series of police procedurals, with continuing characters Will Trent and Sara Linton, along with Will’s partner Faith Mitchell and their no-nonsense boss Amanda, Will Trent is now a television series. The TV series is in its third season and can be viewed Tuesday nights on ABC or streamed on HULU.  

• Will Trent Book Series
• Will Trent TV - Season 1
• Will Trent TV trailer

For more Book Reviews check out ReviewThisBooks.com 

*This is Why We Lied Book Review written by Wednesday Elf

 

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Review of Secrets of a Duke: A Chronicle of Misadventures by Martha Keyes

Last week, I published my review of the first book in the Chronicle of Misadventures series by Martha Keyes.  This week, I will be reviewing the second book in the series, "Secrets of a Duke" which is based on a true story.  

I must admit, if the author had not shared that the book is based on a true story, I would have thought the plot far-fetched. Knowing that it actually happened, makes me like the character, William Yorke, even more. 

We meet William Yorke in the first book.  He is the oldest brother of 4 and has already inherited his father's estate and holdings.  The novels are set in England during the 1800's where the first born son inherits everything instead of dividing property and assets between siblings.  That way, the family name maintains the wealth, a higher status in society and the original estate is not subdivided or transferred outside of the patriarch's ancestral bloodline.  If a man only has daughters, his property is entailed to the closest male heir, which could easily be a distant relative he may not even know personally.  Ideally, a Duke would raise his son to follow in his footsteps, teach him how to run the estate, prepare his son to succeed him in parliament, and choose an equally trained wife.

An entailment to a distant male relative is the basis of the plot of this book.  The Duke of Rockwood knew the Yorke family, but was not fond of them.  Therefore, the two families did not interact with each other, which left William unprepared to be the Duke's successor.

 

Secrets of a Duke Book Synopsis

 Secrets of a Duke (A Chronicle of Misadventures Book 2)Check Price

At the end of the first book, "Reputation at Risk", we find out that William Yorke has unexpectedly become the Duke of Rockwood. No one could have anticipated that the previous duke and his sons would all die together in a tragic accident. Therefore, William is far from prepared to step into the dukedom and assume the Duke's responsibilities.  William hires a friend from his Oxford days to advise him and serve as his man of business.  Since their time at Oxford, Edmund had become a barrister (lawyer) and worked as the steward to an earl.  As a trusted friend, he was the perfect man to help William navigate the world of the titled nobility.  William did not wish to dishonor his family by making avoidable missteps.  There would be many watching and waiting for the opportunity to criticize his actions.

After attending the funeral and completing additional business, William and Edmund embark on their journey from London to his newly inherited estate.  When they stop at an inn for the night, William is surprised to see a woman serving as the ostler and holding the horses while they step out of the carriage.  He is even more surprised when that same woman knocks on his room door a bit later.  He had not realized he had dropped his signet ring in the entry of the inn.  Thankfully, she found it and returned it to him.  He was amazed by her integrity, but when she spoke, he was even more astonished by her refined manner of speech.  

The next day he observes that same maid being pulled to the market square.  Her cheek was cut, her hands were tied and a horse's halter was around her neck.  William was aghast!  When he asked a passing boy what was happening, he was informed that the men were selling her.  He simply could not stand by and let her be sold like livestock to the highest bidder in the crowd, but that was exactly what was going to happen.  Even though Edmund advised him against it, William determined to be the highest bidder.  He would buy her freedom.

Clara couldn't believe what was happening.  The embarrassment of being sold, plus having the Duke observe the auction, was shameful.  She had no idea how to respond when he actually bought her.  She was panic stricken when she realized he planned to simply leave her there and requested a job on his estate.  

Once again, against Edmund's advice, William decided to help her and hire her as a housemaid.

 

_____________

 

That is only the beginning of how William Yorke, the Duke of Rockwood, and a lowly housemaid became friends, confidants, and allies in working toward another loved ones freedom.

 

 

Review of Secrets of a Duke: A Chronicle of Misadventures by Martha Keyes by:

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De Facto Pathfinder ~ A Book Review

 Retired Army Veteran Cesare Giannetti has written an interesting book dealing with all kinds of reactions to military personnel who find themselves in difficult physical, emotional and mental places after serving for their country. De Facto Pathfinder is a book I know you will enjoy!

Chris Longo (our de facto Pathfinder) is himself a veteran of five years of service in the military.  Now a couple of decades later he finds himself in a dead-end dull state run agency that serves the veteran community.  He feels that he is not making any kind of difference in the lives of the veterans he is serving. Disillusioned,  he decides that he needs a new job and a new start!   He's really not sure of what or where this might lead, but, he has enough saved up to just coast for a little while.

Chris is still struggling after a couple of months when he gets a call from his previous employer with a job offer!  He's not interested in going back to doing what he was doing before as he never had a sense of accomplishment or satisfaction, so what could this new "job" be?

Well let's just say that the Department of Defense has a new program to help veterans that are in dire need of help.  He is offered the lead on a national pilot program that would have him travelling across the country to counsel these lost veterans and hopefully help them find their way back to a fulfilling life.

Each Veteran he meets has a great need for some intervention.  All of them are unique and yet all of them are in trouble making their lives make sense to themselves and their loved ones.

Chris is not a "doctor", "mental heath practitioner" or in any way a qualified psychologist, yet as he starts out on his new mission he finds that it's better for himself and those he's trying to help that he isn't a professional.  

I don't want to give to much of the book away, but must tell you that I found this book to be very interesting for both the people we meet and how Chris manages to find the "sweet spot" in each of them.  All together the stories of each life will keep you turning the pages and in the end I'm sure that you will come to some very interesting conclusions!  

This book is a real eye opener for everyone to read whether you are military or not!  There are life lessons be be learned that can help you too.

Put De Facto Pathfinder on your radar of books to read, I'm sure you won't regret it!

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