The Queen's Coronation: three women's lives change against the backdrop of Queen Elizabeth's coronation

The Queen’s Coronation by Jennifer Ryan is the story of three women’s worlds change with a friendship. It is London, 1953, Buckingham Palace prepares for the new queen’s coronation. Caroline Brimstone is an assistant dresser to the queen and admires the strength the young woman shows against the pressures and rules around her. Caroline’s personal life is in shambles as her husband’s gambling problem has her holding tightly to every penny she earns. Can she follow the example of her new queen and find the strength to take the chance for a better future? Lucy Jones is a junior wardrobe assistant who is young, idealistic and eager to become a famous singer. When she has a chance to so stardom, she is excited until some things come up that has her questioning her idea of a glamorous life. Miranda Miller comes from America to take a temporary job as a secretary in the palace. However, she is actually an undercover journalist writing an in-depth article about the coronation. 

I have loved Ms. Ryan’s previous books so I was so excited to read The Queen’s Coronation. A story about friendship during one of the greatest historical events of the 20th century. Overall, I loved the opening chapter and the introduction of each woman; however, the story didn’t capture my attention. The story is well researched, especially with the details about the queen’s coronation and the planning. I enjoyed the parts about the actual coronation; however, I did not enjoy the story about the women, their lives or their friendship. And some of the events which happened would not have been acceptable and would have resulted in multiple terminations. The story became more about how horribly women were treated in the 1950s. I can see how the overall theme of the story was that Queen Elizabeth’s coronation empowered other women; however, I feel it fell flat. Unfortunately, this story was not up to par with Ms. Ryan’s previous books. I do not recommend The Queen’s Coronation. 

The Queen’s Coronation is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Island Club: three women in the 1950s, the game of tennis and a friend that will change their lives forever

The Island Club by Nicola Harrison is a story of friends among life struggles and secrets. 1956, Balboa Island, off the coast of California, is a place where life was perfect, at least on the surface. The lives of three women begin to fall apart, however,  their friendship and the game of tennis helps them build something stronger. Milly Kinkaid had hoped moving to Balboa would save her troubled marriage. She believed the move would help incentivize her husband to get home from work on time; but now sometimes he barely comes home at all. Sylvia Johnson is the society matriarch, and along with her husband, has become pillars of their community. Her new business venture, The Island Club, is a place where members could swim, play tennis, and dine in style. When she learns that her husband makes a financial decision that threatens everything. Adele Lambert is the standoffish loner on the island and lives in fear that her past would be revealed. 

I was eager to start this book as it was described as “unputdownable” and the cover is absolutely gorgeous. However, I found myself putting this book down often. I could not relate to any of these women, especially Milly. Milly is a mother with young kids. How do you not ask your four, almost five, year old child if they need to go to the bathroom and expect them to go when they need to. One, you are in a new place, did they even know where the bathroom was? Two, so what if a teenager was “watching” the kids, it is still your responsibility to check on your kids! The constant mentions of Elvis was annoying. I got it. It is 1956 and Elvis was the new and hot in music. Overall, the story is well written and I am just not the audience for this story. However, if the story intrigues you, I recommend checking out The Island Club.  

The Island Club is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

A Sound Among the Trees: a story of one house and the three women tied to it's history

A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner is the story of one house lost in time and the line of women who share in its heritage of loss. Susannah Page came to Holly Oak as a young bride. Rumored to be a Union spy during the Civil War and viewed as a traitor to her Virginian roots. Her great-granddaughter, Adelaide, is the current matriarch of Holly Oak, doesn’t believe that the ghost of Susannah haunts the halls of the mansion. When Marielle Bishop marries into the family, it doesn’t take her long to firmly believe that the house brings misfortune to the women who live there. Marielle now must shift through the rumors and superstitions to discover the truth and make peace with her own sacrifices she made for love. 

I love Susan Meissner’s books. She has introduced me to the dual timeline historical novels where someone in the present finds a way to make peace with their past by learning about another event of the past. This is what I expected A Sound Among the Trees to be. I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters especially Adelaide who seemed bitter. It was slow getting to the part of Susannah’s story that it was a let down. I would have liked to see more of Susannah’s point of view and not just letters from the area. This is the first time I have read a Susan Meissner novel and felt disappointed. She is still one of my go-to authors, unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. 

A Sound Among the Trees is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

When the Apricots Bloom: three women faced with impossible choices in order to survive

When the Apricots Bloom by Gina Wilkinson is a story of three women faced with impossible choices to survive. It’s 2002 in Baghdad when Huda gets a visit from the mukhabarat, the secret police. They “ask” that she befriend the wife of the Australian deputy ambassador. As a secretary at the Australian embassy, it would be easy to do; however, Huda has no desire to become an informant but fears for her son’s safety if she refuses. Ally Wilson, the deputy ambassador, has secrets of her own as she has a reason to be in Baghdad other than being a dependent spouse. Little does she know that her secret puts her in grave danger. Meanwhile, Huda’s estranged childhood friend, Rania, led a privileged life as the daughter of a sheikh but now she battles to keep a roof over her daughter’s head as well as ensure their safety. Soon, the lives of the three women will intersect, their secrets come forward and they must decide what they will sacrifice to protect their families.  

With the gorgeous cover and a poetic title, I looked forward to this story. Set in the final days of Saddam’s regime, When the Apricots Bloom is a story of trust, friendship, and motherhood. Drawing from her experience as a foreign correspondent, author Gina Wilkinson strives to take readers on a haunting story of Iraq and the choices many families faced under the deadly regime. While it is described as suspenseful, and I could see where it should have been, I didn’t feel the suspense. I cared for these women and wanted to see them survive but I had an issue with Ally’s naivety that she could simply walk around Baghdad asking questions as she did. Overall, the story was good but I didn’t close the book with any satisfaction. While it is hard to recommend this book, I may have been the wrong reader for When the Apricots Bloom. If you are intrigued by the premise, I encourage you to check out When the Apricots Bloom. Hopefully your experience will be different from mine. 

When the Apricots Bloom is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Sisters: the realizations that life always leads in unexpected ways

Sisters is the first book in the Sun Valley series by Kellie Coates Gilbert. It is the story of three women, their choices and their realization that life doesn’t always lead where they expect. Karyn Macadam is struggling to start over after the tragic death of her husband in a skiing accident. She looks for a new beginning, but can she let go of the past? Leigh Ann Blackburn is the perfect wife but hides a struggle. Her husband has become distant and she believes the worst case scenario. She jumps into a plan to save her marriage. Joie Abbott is the youngest sister who always seems to find a way to mess up her life. She desperately hides a secret from her family until a betrayal forces her to come clean. One thing these women learn is that life is better with your sisters. 

Set in the picturesque setting of Sun Valley, Idaho, Karyn, Leigh Ann and Joie have known heartbreak. From losing their mother at a young age to their own relationship, these sisters have stuck together. Despite their differences, they can count on each other. I enjoyed reading a story set in Sun Valley. I'm familiar with the famous ski resort town; however, I don’t think I’ve ever read a story set there. Overall, I enjoyed each of the women’s storylines. However, I was interested in Joie’s secret and the pain she was trying to hide in her bravado and the bottom of the bottle. I cheered when she finally stood up and said enough! I loved their spunk, determination and their loyalty to each other despite their differences. I enjoyed Sisters and look forward to the rest of the series. I recommend Sisters. 

Sisters is available in paperback and eBook

On A Cold Dark Sea: the story of three women and their fateful decisions

On a Cold Dark Sea by Elizabeth Blackwell is a story of the impossible choices we made when faced with tragedy. On April 15, 1912, three women were among survivors in Lifeboat 21 and watched in horror as the unsinkable Titanic sank into the icy depths of the Atlantic ocean. Con artist Charlotte Digby lied her way through London and onto the Titanic. The disaster provided the chance at a new life and she is determined to keep her past a secret. Esme Harper is a newlywed, returning to America from her honeymoon. On the night of the sinking, she makes a sudden choice that would change her life forever. Anna Halversson, a Swedish farm girl, is tormented by the screams that rang out from the water. Did one of them call her name? After the tragedy, the three women went their separate ways, never speaking about the events of that night. Twenty years later, a sudden death brings them back together, forcing them to face the choices they made that night, the inconceivable loss and the secrets they kept all those years.  

I have been fascinated by the Titanic sinking since high school. On a Cold Dark Sea is a different story featuring the famous tragedy. It didn’t rehash why the sinking happened but told what happened from three different perspectives, from the different classes aboard the ship. It is a story of three very different women from very different backgrounds brought together by a series of events. I enjoyed the story as there was no clear hero/heroine or villain. Each of the three women had reasons to carry a guilty conscience. Did their actions that night cause the death of someone they knew on the ship? The characters were written as real people with real decisions and real consequences. The secrets that publicly would have ruined them as well as ate away at their souls. One character laments that her decision for one man over another was “her greatest love and her greatest disappointment.” Even after 109 years since the tragedy, the events on the Titanic and the aftermath still captures our attention. I highly, highly recommend On a Cold, Dark Sea. 

 

On a Cold Dark Sea is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook.