Broadway Butterfly: The real life unsolved murder of Dot King. Who killed her and why?

Broadway Butterfly by Sara DiVello is a true crime fictional account of a 1920s unsolved murder. New York during the Roaring Twenties was in full swing where power, politics, and secrets often bury the truth. On morning in 1923, scandalous flapper Dot King is found dead in her Midtown apartment. A bottle of chloroform is discovered near her body as well as thousands of dollars in jewels and high end items are missing. The news of her death makes headlines as it swirls stories of secret lovers, illegal activities and blackmail. Sprinkle in the upper crust of New York society, political connections as Julia Harpmann, a Daily News crime reporter, is hot on the case while navigating a male-dominated industry. John D. Coughlin, the righteous NYPD detective, who struggles against politics and corruption that sought to bury the truth. Ella Bradford, the victim’s Harlem maid and closest confidant who holds her deepest, darkest secrets. Will the murderer be found or will the powers that be bury it along with the victim? 

I never heard about Dot King and her horrifying death until I came across Broadway Butterfly. While described as a thriller, Broadway Butterfly is more a true crime historical fiction as the author did great research on the case and the individuals involved in investigating the crime as well as those trying to hide the truth. Ms. DiVello brings to life the real individuals who were involved with the case and the affect the case had on their lives. It is a good story about all levels of New York society of the 1920s. From the millionaires to showgirls, to the politicians and gangsters. The murder of Dot King remains unsolved to this day. Broadway Butterfly circulates the theory of the crime at the time as well as the theories that have developed since. Overall, I was interested in the story and while I knew the crime is officially unsolved, I still hoped for some type of resolution for Miss King. If you enjoy true crime stories with a historical fiction vibe, I recommend Broadway Butterfly. 

Broadway Butterfly is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Princess and the Player: a steamy strangers to lovers romance

Princess and the Player by Ilsa Madden-Mills is the second book in the Strangers in Love series. A masquerade ball at an exclusive club where anonymity is a must. Tuck Avery, an aging wide receiver in the NFL, celebrates his 35th birthday with his friends at Decadence, the premier club in New York. Even though he doesn’t want to be there, one particular princess catches his eye. Francesca is there to forget. Forget that that night was supposed to be her wedding day. Forget that her fiancé cheated on her. She just wants to forget. With no names, no faces, they have one amazing night together, with the promise that’s all they will have. But fate has other ideas. Francesca learns that her prince is the wealthy football player that lives in the penthouse of her building. If the tabloids are to be believed, she wants nothing to do with him. Unfortunately, she has one problem: she learns she is pregnant. As their paths keep crossing and their attraction to each is obvious, can the princess and the player have a happily ever after? 

Where do I start? Princess and the Player is a steamy strangers to lovers romance. As I closed the final chapter of this story, I was unsure how I felt. I enjoyed the story but I found myself extremely frustrated at the stubborn bullheadedness of Tuck and Francesca. At one point, Francesca gets upset that Tuck had her investigated DESPITE knowing his past. Any one in his position and wealth would investigate people they are trying to get close to. It sucks; however, I understand it is in order to protect himself, not just financially but psychologically as well. Tuck is a tortured person with a trauma filled past. And yet, I felt as if Francesca was constantly trying to claim her past was far more tragic. While both pasts were traumatic, this isn’t a competition. Plus there are some timeline issues that I’m sure were for dramatic effect but it didn’t work for me. That being said, I truly did enjoy this story and I look forward to reading more in this series. If you enjoy a steamy romance, you will enjoy Princess and the Player. 

Princess and the Player is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Charmingly Yours: a sweet and sexy romance

Charmingly Yours by Liz Talley is the first book in the Morning Glory series. Life in the tiny town of Morning Glory, Mississippi, is all Rosemary Reynolds knows. When her childhood friend, Lacy, dies, she leaves letters to her friends, Rosemary, Eden and Jess that will send them each on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Despite her mother’s protests, Rosemary heads to New York City to stay at her cousin’s trendy Soho loft. On her first day in town, a wrong turn leads her to Little Italy and into the arms of the handsome and outgoing Sal Genovese. Sal’s life is being mapped out around him, despite his misgivings and protests. His mother wants him to marry a family friend and his father wants him to manage the new family deli. When Rosemary arrives in his life, she is a breath of fresh air and he’s eager to show her a good time. They agreed to a two-week fling but soon they realized that saying goodbye was going to be harder than they thought. 

Charmingly Yours is my first book by Liz Talley. Being highly recommended by other readers, I look forward to a great story. From the beginning, I related to Rosemary as she never truly ventured far from home despite her dreams of traveling and seeing the world. Going from a tiny town to the Big Apple was a culture shock but she’s determined to jump into the dive end and live as Lacy urged her to do. Staying in New York and a fling with Sal finally helps Rosemary find her voice, puts her foot down and demands that she be allowed to live life on her terms and not according to her overprotective mother’s fears. The story is sweet, flirty and sexy. I laughed, sighed and cried as Rosemary and Sal’s romance is as sweet as southern sweet tea. I ended the book with a huge smile on my face and a sigh from my lips, eager to read the rest of the series. I highly recommend Charmingly Yours. 

Charmingly Yours is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

Astrid Sees All: a story about the gritty 1980s New York underground

Astrid Sees All by Natalie Standiford is a story of a young woman’s search for purpose, for meaning and an identity in New York City It’s New Year’s Eve 1983, Phoebe Hayes returns to the city after her father’s funeral, despite her mother’s protests. Phoebe wants to chase the glamorous life that only New York City can provide as well as confront the older man who wronged her. With her best friend, Carmen Dietz, she finds her niche as Astrid the Star Girl, the fortune teller in an East Village nightclub. Her friends and neighbors are the artists, It Girls and lost souls trying to party their pain away in the underworld of the East Village. Everything seems to go her way until a mix of sex and drugs leads Phoebe to betray Carmen, who wants nothing to do with Phoebe and disappears. Phoebe is left to descend into the darkness surrounding her. Can Phoebe find Carmen and make it right? Will she be able to stop the seemingly downward spiral she’s on?

Astrid Sees All is described as “a love letter to the gritty 1980s New New York City” and the story is gritty. It is brutally honest in its description of the lives of those who filled the underworld. I read with interest as I wonder where the underworld life would lead Phoebe. When I finished, I was in a daze. I wasn’t sure how I felt. There is no real hero or heroine. It certainly wasn’t a happy, feel-good book with a satisfying ending. It was an realistic look at life in New York City and an honest ending as a young woman must come to terms with her actions and must decide where to go from there. It was a book that held my interest. I was able to finish it in one day. The book was filled with an eccentric cast of characters. Some you hate, some you sympathize with and some will shock you. Overall, it is a book worth reading. I recommend Astrid Sees All. 

Astrid Sees All will be available April 6, 2021 in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook. 

Happy Tartan Day! A celebration for those with Scottish heritage

I’ve always had a deep affection for Scotland, its people, its history and culture. Today is Tartan Day which is celebrated in various countries by those who are of Scottish descent. The tartan is easily identifiable of Scottish heritage and culture. The day started as a celebration of Scottish heritage in 1982 and eventually April 6 was chosen to be the official date as it coincides with the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath. Many of us would recognize a tartan or the Scottish dress known as a kilt. However, many do not know the meaning behind the patterns or even the colors. The origins of the day were to commemorate an important anniversary.

A tartan is a pattern consisting of crisscrossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colors. In the United States, the pattern is often referred to as plaid which in Scottish Gaelic means blanket. Traditionally, the tartans are made of wool; however, modern tartans can be made with different materials. Even though the tartan we are familiar with today did not appear in Scotland before the 16 century, the colors and patterns came to represent the families or clans of Scotland. The tartans are a source of great pride in the Scotland and are seen as a part of their heritage. The popular tartans today are the Royal Stewart tartan which is the official tartan of Queen Elizabeth II and the Black Watch Tartan. There are different tartans that are worn for certain occasions such as dress or hunting.

The Royal Stewart Tartan

The Black Watch Tartan

In 1982, New York Governor Hugh Carey and New York City Mayor Ed Koch declared July 1, 1982 as Tartan Day. It was a one-time celebration of the 200^th anniversary of the repeal of the Act of Proscription of August 12, 1747, the law forbidding Scots to wear tartans. March 9, 1986, a Tartan Day was proposed to promote Scottish heritage in Canada by the Federation of Scottish Clans in Nova Scotia. This is when April 6^th was chosen as Tartan Day and the first proclamation was made on April 6, 1987 in Nova Scotia. Other Canadian provinces would follow with Quebec proclaiming April 6 as Tartan Day in December 2003. A Tartan Day is celebrated in other countries besides United States and Canada. Australia celebrates Tartan Day in July 1st. Even Argentina which has a large population with Scottish heritage celebrates Tartan Day on April 6th. Regardless when the day is celebrated, Tartan Day is celebrated with parades, Highland dancing and other Scottish themed events.

The Declaration of Arbroath is the declaration of Scottish independence. It was in the form of a letter to Pope John XXII dated April 6, 1320. The declaration intended to confirm Scotland’s status as an independent sovereign state and defending Scotland’s right to use military action when unjustly attacked. The declaration had a two purposes. First, it sought to assert Scotland’s position as an independent kingdom rather than a feudal land controlled by England. Second, it sought to lift the excommunication of Robert the Bruce. The Pope had recognized Edward I of England’s claim to Scotland in 1305 and excommunicated Robert the Bruce for murdering John Comyn in the Greyfriars Church in Dumfries in 1306. It is thought to be written by Bernard of Kilwinning, Chancellor of Scotland and Abbot of Arbroath Abbey. It was signed and sealed by 52 magnates and nobles. It wouldn’t be until March 1, 1328 when the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton renounced all English claims to Scotland and removed the excommunication of Robert the Bruce.

Tartan Day is a celebration of Scottish culture and heritage. Depending on the country, the dates on which it is celebrated are often important dates in Scottish history. For the United States and Canada, April 6 is used to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath. The tartan is a source of pride to the Scottish people. If you are Scottish, Happy Tartan Day! 

North of Here: a story of how lives can become intertwined

North of Here by Laurel Saville is the story of four people and how their lives become intertwined. How a simple decision can lead to tragedy and heartache.

The story opens with Miranda and Dix. Miranda is the surviving child of her wealthy parents until her father’s sudden death and her mother’s failing health leaves her with nowhere to go. Until Dix, a friend of the family, offers her a place to stay. The story shifts to Darius and Sally. Darius is a college dropout who has been wandering around looking for his place in the world. He soon meets Sally, a no-nonsense social worker who works with the families of broken homes and juvenile delinquents. Soon Darius starts bringing girls who are troubled. Then Darius meets Miranda and soon Miranda is seduced by the sanctuary that Darius has built, a cult he calls “The Source.” Soon tragedy strikes which brings Dix to meet Sally and the two must fight together to bring down Darius and his “Source.” Can they stop him before he hurts anyone else?

I read this book with interest not really knowing what the story was about. As I read, the writer was introducing the characters, I had to wonder where it was all leading to and then it happened. The climax the tragedy and its aftermath which kept me glued to the pages as I was eager to learn the outcome. What happens to Darius and his “Source?” What happens to Miranda? As with any good book, I cannot give any details without giving away key plot points. However, I will say that this story had me interested from the first page, what I thought would be a romantic story of two people after a tragedy turned out to be far more interesting and dramatic. I was able to read this book in one afternoon as I could not put it down. I highly recommend North of Here for a new and interesting type of story.

North of Here

is available on Amazon

in hardcover $24.95

and free with KindleUnlimited