REVIEW - THE FORGOTTEN HOME CHILD

4.5 stars


I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from Simon & Schuster through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Genevieve Graham, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.


This storyline was FASCINATING!! I had NEVER heard anything about the British Home Children and the transfer of "destitute and orphan" children from Great Britain to the Commonwealth countries occurred for almost 100 years. I think, initially, it was a generous and altruistic idea that outgrew the administration of the program. Two warrs, The Depression, and other historical events caused many of these children to be left alone as indentured servants/slaves. As always, every time that I read a book, I learn new things and this historical fiction was NO exception!!


The novel follows the journey of five children who became a family on the streets of London and how they fared through the British Home Children placement in Canada. I know that this was NOT a true story, but historical fiction, but as a mother, it broke my heart to read of the horrible abusive treatment that these children endured.


This story is very similar in a lot of ways to Before We Were Yours.


HIGHLY recommend!! Most especially if you like historical fiction!!


Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

01/20/20 - MY NEXT BOOK TO READ IS ...

The Forgotten Home Child by Genevieve Graham.

This is the FIRST book that I am going to read by this author. The premise of the book is Britain trying to rid the streets of destitute and unwanted and is inspired by true events (like my previous review)!! This is another ARC from NetGalley so I am very excited to read this novel!

If you want to know more about The Forgotten Home Child, go to Goodreads to learn more!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - THE FIRST EMMA

5.0 stars!!

I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Camille Di Maio, Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

First off, I must confess that I am a HUGE fan of this author, Camille Di Maio! I have read 4/5 of her books and have thoroughly enjoyed every single one. This book is her first historical fiction based on true events. I loved it!!

As always, Camille Di Maio writes with heart, beauty, and purpose. This book had the coolest addition - abstracts of newspaper articles based on this "shocking" story in the 1910s. It was written in flashbacks to the 1910s AND the 1940s. The novel wove the two storylines seamlessly and it was easy to follow.

It is VERY evident that Camille Di Maio researches heavily for all of her books, but this one seemed to be more difficult as there wasn't a lot of information of one of the protagonists available due to the period. I love how she turned the limited information that she had available to a fully-flushed out novel.

The subject matter was very sad and so heartbreaking, yet it made me realize that WE have control of our destiny. Life isn't always smooth, but we need those peaks and valleys to appreciate what we have!!

HIGHLY recommend, but most especially to historical fiction lovers!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

P.S. I am WAY behind on reading books since Christmas! Hopefully, I will make time for other amazing books like this!!

DECEMBER 2019 WRAP-UP

All three of these amazing books were ARCs! It is such an honor to read an ARC before the book is published.

Unfortunately, I returned one book to the library as it just wasn't doing it for me. I was 15% in and it just wasn't working. I am so sad when that happens!!

Due to the holidays, I wasn't able to read my goal of five books a month - it was a little ambitious for me! However, this year, I have a goal of reading a book a week which seems VERY reasonable!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

01/03/20 - MY NEXT BOOK TO READ IS ...

The First Emma by Camille Di Maio.

This is the FIRST book written by this talented author that is inspired by true events!! I have loved all of the books that I have read by Camille Di Maio and am so honored to read this ARC by NetGalley!

If you want to know more about The First Emma, go to Goodreads to learn more!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - THE WICKED REDHEAD

This is the second book in a series - the first book didn't do it for me! I thought that since I like the author so much that this second book would be better. Unfortunately, I was wrong. I read about 15% of this book and abandoned it as I just didn't like the characters or the storyline.

12/24/19 - MY NEXT BOOK TO REVIEW IS ...

The Wicked Redhead by Beatriz Williams.

This is the second book in The Wicked City series. The time period is Prohibition and a break from my ongoing time WWII time period! This author writes beautiful historical novels and I am excited to read this book! It was checked out as a Kindle book from the Los Angeles Public Library Please support your local library and READ!

If you want to know more about The Wicked  Readhead, go to Goodreads to learn more!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - CHILDREN OF THE STARS

4.5 stars

I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Mario Escobar, Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This book was beautifully written and translated from Spanish. I honestly could not believe how smoothly it was written and translated so well that I would have thought that it was written in English.

I have read many WWII books and this was another good one! The story was intense and kept me reading to find out what would happen next after all of the twists and turns. The one big takeaway from this story was that most people are good and we must fight back against evil. Very timely today with the issues in the USA currently with immigration, Dreamers, and White Nationalism. NEVER AGAIN!

I had no idea about how many Jewish families and individuals escaped to Spain and then South America specifically Argentina. This definitely would be a lot harder to do today with our technology. This is WHY I read - I learn something new from EVERY single book that I read!

The only picky issue that I have with this writer is that he gets a little long-winded at times. That is being REALLY picky as even the long-winded passages are beautifully written.

HIGHLY recommend.

12/20/19 - MY NEXT BOOK TO READ IS ...

Children of the Stars by Mario Escobar.

This is another ARC by NetGalley and back to my ongoing time period - WWII again. This time period just moves and interests me SO much!!

If you want to know more about Children of the Stars, go to Goodreads to learn more!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - THE QUEENS FORTUNE: A NOVEL OF DESIREE, NAPOLEON, AND THE DYNASTY THAT OUTLASTED THE EMPIRE

5.0 stars

I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from Ballantine Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Allison Pataki, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Okay, I must admit that I am a REAL LOVER of historical fiction - it is my favorite genre of books. I also must admit that I knew NOTHING about Desiree Clary. But, I love the books that I have read by Allison Pataki and this was NO exception!! However, I tried my best to read this book slowly, but I just couldn't do it!!

Desiree Clary was a fascinating character who lived during horrific times but managed to survive intact. Her life was amazing, interesting, and mind-boggling at times!!

This book goes from Marseilles to Paris to Stockholm seamlessly. I learned so much and now my interest is piqued and I want to know about Desiree Clary!

Allison Pataki has a lush, real, and beautiful style of writing. It is as if you are there IN the room as the story is unfolding. This is her BEST book yet!! I cannot wait to read more!

HIGHLY recommend, but most especially if you are a historical fiction lover!!

NOVEMBER 2019 WRAP-UP

So excited that my FOURTH monthly wrap-up for my blog, Books by Dorothea, is happening today!!

It has been a VERY busy month with Thanksgiving totally sneaking up on me AND Penny keeping me so busy that I cannot read! UGH!!

Anyway, I read three books again this month:

I also returned this book to the library without reading it as I knew that I didn't have the time! It makes me so sad when that happens.

I have enjoyed the three books this month (the first two were ARCs). Hopefully, I can get MORE books read this month of December with Christmas, Senior finals, and Penny getting spayed. HA! Wish me LUCK!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜