Bitter Winds: a story of family and sacrifice

Bitter Winds is the third book in The Scavenger’s Daughters series by Kay Bratt. Ever since the night her blind twin sister, Lily, almost burned alive in a fire and they were taken from their mother, Ivy appointed herself protector and guide for her. When Lily is snatched away and locked away in a mental hospital, Ivy will do whatever it takes to get Lily home, safe and sound. What lengths will she go to get her sister home? At the same time, Benfu and Calli’s long-lost daughter, Li Jin, has reunited with her birth parents and embraced her adopted sisters with joy. She opens a shelter for displaced people and pours herself into helping others who desperately need it. But when her friend Sami is consumed by bitterness and doesn't seem to understand that she is a welcome part of the family too, Li Jin must make a difficult choice between her friend and her new family. What choice will she make?

I think Bitter Winds is my favorite book in this series. Filled with drama, suspense, hope and love, the story kept me on the edge of my seat and waiting for what would happen next. I went through all the emotions while reading it. I was angry at certain characters’ behaviors and cried with the characters cried as they suffered and grieved. I was scared with the events in the mental hospital and held my breath in anticipation of what might happen next. And I smiled through my tears at the ending. I loved seeing the growth in the characters especially Li Jin as she works through the events of her past and her new hope for her future. I like the description of holding grudges as “eating bitterness” as grudges eat away at you. I also love to read how the title works itself in the story and that’s true for all the books in this family saga. I highly recommend Bitter Winds.

Bitter Winds is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Other books in the Zheng Family Saga

The Palest Ink (prequel)

The Scavenger’s Daughters (book 1)

Tangled Vines (book 2)

Red Skies (book 4, review coming soon)

Lana's War: a WWII French Resistance story on the Riviera

Lana’s War by Anita Abriel is a story of loss, courage and strength in uncertain times. Paris, 1943, Lana Hartmann is a happy woman. Despite the Nazi occupation of Paris, she is on cloud nine. She is happily married to Frederic and she has learned that they are now expecting a baby. Her happy world ends in a heartbeat. While on her way to tell Frederic her happy news, she witnesses a SS officer shoot and kill Frederic because he dared hide a Jewish child he was teaching. Later that day, it becomes evident that she loses the baby as well. Fast forward three months, Lana is going through the motions of life when she gets the offer that will change her life. A man offers her the chance to stop the man who killed her husband. The French Resistance needs her help on the Riviera. As the daughter of a Russian countess, she has the perfect background to socialize with the community of Russian aristocrats who socialize and sympathize with the German officers who occupy the area. Together with Guy Pascal, she gathers information and finds ways to bring the Jewish people to safety. She doesn’t expect to become attached to a young Jewish girl left on her own. Will she succeed in her mission? Or will her attachments lead to her capture?

Lana’s War is the second book I’ve read by Anita Abriel and she writes a story that pulls you in and keeps you intrigued until the end. I enjoyed reading Lana’s journey as she deals with the sudden loss of her husband and their baby. At the beginning of the story, she is a woman without a care in the world, despite the growing Nazi presence in Paris. As long as she has Frederic, she doesn't care about anything else. She learns quickly that the war will touch you and everything you care about eventually. She’s prepared to do what she can to avenge her husband and their baby. I loved that intrigue and the uncertainty of who Lana could trust and who she shouldn’t. Even as a member of the Resistance, is Guy a man she can trust with her life? The relationship between Guy and Lana was also great as they treated each other with cold indifference before they slowly learned to trust each other. The story was wonderful, filled with suspense and drama. I eagerly devoured the pages as I wanted to see if Lana completes her mission and survives. Unfortunately, I felt the ending was rushed but it doesn’t take away from the story. Overall, I enjoyed Lana’s War and highly recommended it. If you love World War II stories and stories about the French Resistance, you will enjoy Lana’s War. 

Lana’s War is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Tangled Vines: the continued story of the Zheng family

Tangled Vines by Kay Bratt is the second book in The Scavenger’s Daughters series. The story opens with Li Jin and her 10 year old son, Jojo, at the mercy of Erik, an abusive South African man. At first, Erik was charming and swept her off her feet but soon his true nature reared its ugly head and after 30 years of living with cruel foster families, a bleak orphanage and life on the streets, Li Jin feels she has nowhere else to go. Meanwhile in Benfu and Calli are content to watch their six adopted daughters blossom into young women. But when information about the whereabouts of their biological daughter, who was stolen from them so many years ago, comes to them, the frantic search to find their beloved Dahlia begins. Will Li Jin finally find the strength and courage to leave behind the abusive situation? Will Benfu and Calli finally find their beloved daughter? 

Tangled Vines is a beautifully haunting story about the lost girls of China. It is a journey of heartbreak and hope against all odds as one young woman decides to make a fresh start and a family’s race to reunite with their lost daughter and untangle the lies of the past. It is heartbreaking to imagine young women living the life described for Li Jin and the other women introduced in the story. Tangled Vines is darker than The Scavenger’s Daughters; however, the situations Ms Bratt writes about are dark and terrifying. While reading, I wanted to reach through the pages and hug Benfu, to comfort Calli and rescue Li Jin. I don’t want to give away certain plot points but at one point, I cheered and I cried as I closed the final chapter. I recommend reading Tangled Vines after reading the first book. I will be reading the rest of the series and reviewing it soon. 

Tangled Vines is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Today in History: The Battle of New Orleans 1815

 Today in history is the Battle of New Orleans victory of US Major General Andrew Jackson’s army against overwhelming odds of the British army under Major General Sir Thomas Pakenham on January 8, 1815. The battle took place 18 days after the signing of the Treaty of Ghent which formally ended the War of 1812 on December 24, 1814 as news of the treaty had not yet reached the armies in the US. Despite a large British army with advantages in numbers, training and experience, the American forces defeated a poorly executed assault in a little more than two hours. What events led to the battle? What occurred during the battle for the Americans to win overwhelming odds? How was the battle remembered and memorialized? 

Major General Pakenham was ordered to continue the war even if he heard rumors of peace. This order was given under the impression that the US would never ratify a treaty and the war would continue. The British hoped to take New Orleans in order to separate Louisiana from the US. The British would send 11,000-14,450 troops to the area (State of Louisiana). Pirate Jean Lafitte warned the Americans of this plan (Editors, 2019) as 60 British ships anchored in the Gulf of Mexico, east of Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Borgne by December 14, 1814. The much smaller American force, appropriately 3,500-5,000 men (State of Louisiana), set up a fortilla of five gunboats which prevented the British access to the lakes as Jackson hastened to the city and set up defenses by December 1, 1814 (Lohnes, 2021). After a brief attack, British soldiers were able to establish a garrison east of New Orleans. General John Keane decided to camp at the Villere Plantation and wait for reinforcements. Major Gabriel Villere escaped his home and warned Jackson of the British army's positions. Due to this information, the American forces were able to fortify the Rodriguez Canal which came to be known as Line Jackson. 

The American forces were Tennessee and Kentucky frontiersmen, Louisiana militia, New Orleans businessmen, Free Men of Color, Choctaw Indians, pirates, sailors and US Marines (American Battlefield Trust). They were able to create three lines of defenses, firmly entrenching themselves at the canal. The British battle plan was to attack against the 20-gun west bank, then use the guns for their frontal assault. Early morning on the 8th, Pakenham gave the orders for the attack.The main attack began in darkness and heavy fog. When the fog lifted, British neared the American mainline. However, Lt. Colonel Thomas Mullions, the British commander of the 44th (East Essex) Regiment of Foot, forgot the ladders and facines needed to cross the 8 foot deep and 15 foot wide canal and scale the fortifications. The British forces soon fell into confusion and the American forces were able to push back the British forces until they retreated. The Battle Of New Orleans would be over in approximately two hours. The final causality numbers have been up for debate for many years since the numbers. The official numbers state that the Americans suffered approximately 60 casualties while the British suffered over 2,000. 

The Battle of New Orleans had no influence on the outcome of the war as the treaty was signed weeks before and the British turned their attention to Europe as a renewed war with France brewed when Napoleon escaped Elba and was restored to power in February 1815. However, it had historical significance in the years to come. The victory helped elevate national pride which suffered during the war (Editors, 2019). Jackson’s political reputation would be built on the victorious battle and glorified his heroic image. The Battle of New Orleans would also be the last armed engagement between the United States and Great Britain (Editors, 2019). When I was in high school, my US history teacher played Johnny Horton’s 1959 song The Battle of New Orleans as part of his lesson. Written by Jimmy Driftwood, a principal in Arkansas, wrote the song with the hopes to engage the students in history. The song was set to the melody of a well-known American fiddle tune, “The 8th of January,” it told the story of the battle in a light and comical tone. It has been recorded and performed by many artists, the most famous is Johnny Horton’s version which would be a number hit in 1959. 

In conclusion, the Battle of New Orleans had no effect on the outcome of the War of 1812; however, it helped elevate national pride at a time when Americans had suffered losses at the hands of the British. News of the victory in New Orleans and the treaty ended the war would reach the American people around the same time leading to a greater sense of national identity. It would also help build the reputation of Andrew Jackson, leading him to the presidency in 1828. It is also another example of when sheer numbers do not always lead to victory. Poor planning, poor communication and a costly frontal assault led to the defeat of the British Army. 

References

American Battlefield Trust (no date). New Orleans

Chalmette Plantation. American Battlefield Trust. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/war-1812/battles/new-orleans. Retrieved January 7, 2021. 

Editors (July 28, 2019). The Battle of New Orleans. History. A&E Television Networks. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-battle-of-new-orleans. Retrieved January 7, 2021. 

Lohnes, Kate (January 1, 2021). Battle of New Orleans United States-United Kingdom [1815]. Britannica. www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-New-Orleans-United-States-United-Kingdom-1815. Retrieved January 7, 2021. 

State of Louisiana (no date). The Battle of New Orleans. Louisiana State Museum. https://www.crt.state.la.us/louisiana-state-museum/online-exhibits/the-cabildo/the-battle-of-new-orleans/index. Retrieved January 7, 2021. 

The Scavenger's Daughters: a story of family and bonds stronger than blood

The Scavenger’s Daughters is the first book in Kay Bratt’s Tales of the Scavenger’s Daughters series. After surviving torture and imprisonment during China’s Cultural Revolution (read all about it in the series’ prequel, The Palest Ink), Benfu finds love and a life with the compassionate and beautiful Calla Lily. Together they build a life around the most menial jobs, Benfu’s work as a scavenger or trash collector. As he sorts through the trash left behind by others, he regularly discovers abandoned children. With unwavering determination, Benfu and Calli create a family of these children. When a crisis threatens to tear their family apart, Benfu, Calli and their headstrong daughters must find a way to overcome their greatest hardship yet. 

The Scavenger’s Daughters was inspired by a true story and Ms. Bratt weaves a tale of triumph in the face of hardship and the unbreakable bonds of family against all odds. I fell in love with Benfu and Calli in The Palest Ink and looked forward to reading about the family they create together. From the very beginning, it is made clear that Benfu and Calli make it their life’s mission to “care for the castaways that fate brought into their lives.” Each daughter has her own past, strengths and struggles and Benfu and Calli find ways to help each girl focus on their strengths and overcome their struggles. It is a beautiful story and I highly recommend The Scavenger’s Daughters!

The Scavenger’s Daughters is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Jeremiah G Hamilton: a mystery lost in time

Jeremiah G. Hamilton is an enigma, a mystery lost in time. He would break all the rules of the day. Even marrying a white woman, Eliza Jane Morris, said to be the daughter of the Honorable Robert Morris of Philadelphia, and was half his age. He was a Wall Street broker who was noted as the only black millionaire in New York City by James McCune Smith in the 19th century. Known as a shrewd financial agent, he amassed a fortune of approximately $200 million ($250 million in 2018) by the time of his death. Although he was the subject of a lot of newspaper coverage in his lifetime, he is virtually absent from the historical literature. Who was Jeremiah G. Hamilton? Where did he come from? Why is he such a mystery?

Everything about Hamilton is a  mystery. Even the place and date of his birth, a story he would change often. According to the surviving census records, he stated he was born in Haiti or in Virginia in 1806 or 1807. He first came to prominence in 1828 after hiding out in a fishing boat in Port-au-Prince harbor while escaping Haitian authorities. After the Great Fire of New York in 1835, he accrued approximately $5 million by “taking pitiless advantage of several of the fire victims’ misfortunes” (White, 2013). His business practices were controversial even by today’s standards, earning him the nickname, “The Prince of Darkness.” He would buy a substantial amount of land and property in modern day Astoria and Poughkeepsie. Despite his wealth, he would be the victim of racism which was prevalent for the time. During the New York City Draft Riots, white men broke into his house, seeking to lynch him but his wife, Eliza Jane Hamilton, told them he was not at home. They would make off with liquor, cigars and an old suit (Bernstein, 1990). 

Hamilton wasn’t afraid to get personal or physical with his enemies. He left a “hefty footprint on the historical record” (White, 2013) as there are about tens of thousands of words written about him and 500 cases involving him either as a plaintiff or a defendant. There is a well documented physical altercation between Hamilton and a Justice Merrit after a courtroom encounter. The altercation occurred on the street as the judge would strike Hamilton with his cane. “Yet for all of their disdain, newspapermen and financiers conceded time and again that Jeremiah Hamilton was sharp as a razor and a formidable opponent” (White, 2013). He would even tangle with Cornelius “The Commodore” Vanderbilt, the richest and most famous man in New York City at the time. They would tangle over control of the Accessory Transit Company. After Vanderbilt’s death in 1877, one obituary article would mention his entanglements with Hamilton. Although Vanderbilt “did not fear him” because he feared no one, however “without a shadow of doubt” the Commodore respected him (White, 2013).

According to biographer Shane White, no one will erect a statue honoring Jeremiah G. Hamilton as he was no saint. He was more aggressive, ruthless toward his competitors than most. As Wall Street is not for the faint of heart, Hamilton seemed to be made of stone as he conducted business, not caring who he stepped on to achieve his goals. Hamilton accumulated money, not caring about who he upset. Even when his clients suffered losses, he reaped profits. There is so much about the man that remains a mystery despite the historical record. There is no known picture of him. One that is often used is actually a Jeremiah J. Hamilton of Texas. Hamilton left behind very little personal information, no diaries, no letters or memories. He and his wife would have nine children. It seems his family seemed unconcerned or uninterested in preserving his memory. Hamilton was not viewed as a hero nor did he want to be (White, 2013). 

In conclusion, Jeremiah G. Hamilton died on May 19, 1875 at the age of 67/69 and provides a unique perspective on race in the 19th century. Despite his unique rise to wealth and power in New York City at a time when most black men and women still suffered under slavery, Hamilton is a mystery. I wonder if he wanted it that way. I wonder if he instructed his wife and children to destroy his remaining papers and ignore his place in history. It would not be unheard of but it is interesting that a man who had what most black men did not in his lifetime, would simply disappear. If it were not for the court and newspaper record, he would have completely disappeared from all knowledge. 

References

Bernstein, Iver (4 January 1990). The New York City Draft Riots: Their Significance for American Society and Politics in the Age of the Civil War. Oxford University Press. p. 35. Retrieved December 30, 2020. 

White, Shane (July 25, 2013). Gotham’s Only Black Millionaire. New York Times, https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/gothams-only-black-millionaire/. Retrieved December 30, 2020. 

Whispers from Yesterday: a story of healing through the past

Whispers from Yesterday by Robin Lee Hatcher is a story of the stories of the past healing the present. As the story opens, Karen Butler opens her eyes in a hospital after a failed suicide attempt. She had lost everything when her father’s business ventures failed and he killed himself to hide from the fall out. She is urged to go to her estranged grandmother’s ranch in Idaho. There Sophia Taylor runs a youth summer camp for at risk boys. With the help of Dusty Stoddard, she hopes to help these young men from turning down the wrong path. The sudden appearance of Karen lifts Sophia’s hopes that she can redeem herself from her life’s regrets. At Sophia’s urging, Karen begins to read her great-aunt Esther’s diaries. Inside holds the secrets long buried. As Karen begins to learn the truth, can she finally find a purpose and a place to belong? Or will the truth chase her away once again? 

Whispers from Yesterday is a story of the present mixed with the diary entries from the past. It is a story of salvation as Karen, who resists the calling of Jesus, as she sees herself as unworthy and unlovable, finds herself drawn to the one who loved her first. It is a heartbreaking story as well as a story of hope that we are not alone even in our darkest hours. Karen’s questions and resistances to salvation are the same that many of us face as we cannot conceive that Jesus loves them as they are and is ready to help them. I enjoyed each character as they are fully flawed and related. My only complement is that the ending was much too abrupt for me. There were a few plot lines that were left hanging as the story ends. Overall, I enjoyed the story and I recommend Whispers from Yesterday. 

Whispers from Yesterday is available in paperback and eBook