Bethany Swafford's Blog, page 3

Maiden Voyages: Magnificent Ocean Liners and the Women Who Traveled and Worked On Them

Cover via Goodread

Edition: ARC, 2021

Synopsis:

Synopsis: During the early twentieth century, transatlantic travel was the province of the great ocean liners. It was an extraordinary undertaking made by many women, whose lives were changed forever by their journeys between the Old World and the New. Some traveled for leisure, some for work; others to reinvent themselves or find new opportunities. They were celebrities, migrants and millionaires, refugees, aristocrats and crew members whose stories have mostly remained untold–until now.

Maiden Voyages is a fascinating portrait of these women as they crossed the Atlantic. The ocean liner was a microcosm of contemporary society, divided by class: from the luxury of the upper deck, playground for the rich and famous, to the cramped conditions of steerage or third class travel. In first class you’ll meet A-listers like Marlene Dietrich, Wallis Simpson, and Josephine Baker; the second class carried a new generation of professional and independent women, like pioneering interior designer Sibyl Colefax. Down in steerage, you’ll follow the journey of Maria Riffelmacher as she escapes poverty in Europe. Bustling between decks is a crew of female workers, including Violet “The Unsinkable Stewardess” Jessop, who survived the Titanic disaster.

Entertaining and informative, Maiden Voyages captures the golden age of ocean liners through the stories of the women whose transatlantic journeys changed the shape of society on both sides of the globe.

As travel across the Atlantic becomes more common, the comfort of women travelers must be arranged. Thus, a new avenue of employment arises for intrepid women willing to take it on. From celebrities to stewardesses, including The Unsinkable Stewardess who survives multiple sinkings, this book sheds light on a unique part of human history.

I’ve never been overly interested in the history of ocean travel, but the subject of this book caught my attention immediately. It was fascinating to read examples of the different lives of women who crossed the ocean. There were stewardesses, who began as maids and worked their way up. Celebrities who made multiple crossings for their careers and had favorite ships. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the luxury ships with their staircases and such for dramatic entrances.

At times, the narrative feels like it goes off on tangents explaining certain details but will bring it back to the main point. There are a few phrases the author seems to especially like, such as when referring to those who have “a portable typewriter and an outgoing personality.”

Overall, it was an interesting read. Those who are interested in ocean travel or simply have an interest in an avenue of women’s work that allowed them more freedom will enjoy this book.

I was invited to download a free copy from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.

Friends and Foes (The Jonquil Brothers #1)

Cover via Goodreads

Friends and Foes

by Sarah M. Eden

Edition: audiobook, 2021

Synopsis: After five years of tracking and capturing spies on English soil, Philip Jonquil, Earl of Lampton, is in pursuit of his last quarry. But at a traveler’s inn, he encounters an unexpected and far more maddening foe: Sorrel Kendrick, a young lady who is strikingly pretty, shockingly outspoken, and entirely unimpressed with him. Indeed, Sorrel cannot believe the nerve of this gentleman, who rudely accuses her of theft and insults her feminine dignity. Doubly annoyed when they both end up at a party hosted by mutual friends, Philip and Sorrel privately declare war on one another. But Philip’s tactics, which range from flirting to indifference, soon backfire as he finds himself reluctantly enjoying Sorrel’s company; and, much to her dismay, Sorrel finds Philip’s odd manner to be increasingly endearing. In the midst of this waning war and growing attraction, Philip catches wind of the French spy he’s been tracking, and Sorrel inadvertently stumbles upon a crucial piece of the puzzle, making her indispensable to the mission. But can two proud hearts negotiate a ceasefire when cooperation matters most?

Determined to help end the war so his brother can return home safely, Philip Jonquil has spent five years tracking down spies. He has created the persona of a fop, obsessed with ridiculous fashion, to keep his work from being discovered. In pursuit of his last quarry, Philip encounters an outspoken young lady. As he encounters her more, he falls for her, but the French spy is close at hand…

Having read this series out of order, I was eager to read the love story between the ridiculous Earl of Lampton and his lady. His persona as a fop was a delight and I was reminded of a favorite classic tale, the Scarlet Pimpernel. The earl’s ‘war’ with Sorrel Kendrick was fun and I very much enjoyed their sparring.

Sorrel and Philip were a good match. It was easy to see how good they were for each other. At times, I completely forgot about the quest to find the French spy.

This is one where I listened to the audiobook version. The narrator made each character come alive, and it was a delight to listen.

Fast paced and witty, I would recommend this to readers who are looking for a sweet Regency romance with just a dash of adventure.

The Doctor Wore Petticoats

Cover via Goodreads

The Doctor Wore Petticoats

by Chris Enss

Edition: paperback, 2006

Synopsis: “No women need apply.” Western towns looking for a local doctor during the frontier era often concluded their advertisements in just that manner. Yet apply they did. And in small towns all over the West, highly trained women from medical colleges in the East took on the post of local doctor to great acclaim. In this new book, author Chris Enss offers a glimpse into the fascinating lives of ten of these amazing women.

The role of physician was considered that of a man for many, but that didn’t stop women from taking up the title. Because of the suffering they witnessed and the desire to keep others from suffering in the same way, many women bravely faced the censure and derision of teachers, male colleagues, and even their neighbors to care for those in need. These are a few of their stories.

Having read two other books by this author, I was not surprised that this book starts with a familiar name: Bethenia Owens-Adair. She was a teacher and mail-order bride before she went on to become a doctor. I think this author could write an entire biography about this woman, and I would probably read it.

The prevailing theme I saw with most of these doctors was hat they did not compromise. Even when it came to their marriages, they put the needs of their career and patients ahead of everything. Few of them found a balance between work and home, and the amount of dissolved marriages made these stores a little sad for me.

Still, this was a small, enjoyable read. The twelve doctors it shares had interesting experiences from patching up gunfighters to tending members of the Navajo nation.

I would recommend this one to those interested in true stories and the fight women took to be doctors.

The Nobleman’s Governess Bride

Cover via Goodreads

The Nobleman’s Governess Bride

by Deborah Hale

Edition: Kindle, 2017

Synopsis: In the novella “The Viscount Meets His Match” Sebastian Viscount Benedict knows from bitter experience that marrying a woman of lower rank and fortune brings nothing but heartache. He is determined to prevent his beloved brother from making the same mistake by wedding the local squire’s daughter. Rebecca Beaton disagrees. She is certain her former pupil, Hermione, truly loves the viscount’s brother and will make him a devoted wife. She tries to persuade formidable Lord Benedict to give the young couple his blessing.

In spite of their many differences, Sebastian finds himself drawn to forthright, loyal Rebecca. Yet he fears his admiration for the lady could erode his good judgment and resolve. Rebecca fights her growing attraction to Sebastian, which threatens to divide her loyalties…and perhaps break her heart. If only she can help him believe in true love, there may be hope for more than one happy ending!

In the novel The Baron’s Governess Bride, Rupert Lord Steadwell is determined to hire the dowdiest, most unmarriageable woman he can find to care for his motherless daughters. The girls were heartbroken when their last governess eloped and Rupert does not want to risk a repetition. In her drab clothes, frumpy cap and spectacles, Grace Ellerby look like the ideal person for the job.

Rupert has no idea that clever, caring Miss Ellerby is a beauty in disguise. Alarmed by unwanted advances from men in her previous positions, Grace is desperate to hide her dangerously attractive appearance and her growing feelings for her new employer. But when Lord Steadwell appears in danger of making a loveless marriage and saddling his daughters with a dreaded stepmother, Grace must risk everything to prevent it. Will a midnight kiss at a masked ball lead to scandal and ruin or will two wary hearts find their happily ever after at last?

Two tales in one. In The Viscount Meets His Match, Sebastian insists his brother will regret marrying a young lady. The young lady’s governess, Miss Rebecca Beaton, tries to persuade him otherwise. Will two opposing viewpoints find a way to compromise, or will two loves be destroyed? The Baron’s Governess Bride follows Miss Grace Ellerby as she takes on a new position. Experience has taught her that it is best to hide her beauty. Lord Steadwell is determined to hire a plain governess who will not be enticed away from his household by marriage. Will these two let down their gourds enough to find love?

I’ll start with the novella. It had interesting characters but definitely needed more time to develop. As it is, it is far too close to instant-love for me to take seriously. And each time I read “he/she sensed” something, I was annoyed that it wasn’t explained further. What led them to their conclusion? How did they just ‘sense’ something? Definitely not a favorite, but clean.

The major story of this book was a bit more enjoyable. The attraction between Grace and Lord Steadwell was given ample time to develop and grow. This was a true Cinderella retelling, with a masked ball towards the end. The two main characters of the first book make an appearance, and are very much the ‘fairy godmother’ of the story.

Overall, this was an enjoyable weekend read. Readers looking for a clean Regency romance with Christian overtones will enjoy this one.

Art in the Blood

Cover via Goodreads

Art in the Blood

by Bonnie Macbird

Edition: Kindle, 2015

Synopsis: London. A snowy December, 1888.

Sherlock Holmes, 34, is languishing and back on cocaine after a disastrous Ripper investigation. Watson can neither comfort nor rouse his friend – until a strangely encoded letter arrives from Paris. Mademoiselle La Victoire, a beautiful French cabaret star writes that her illegitimate son by an English Lord has disappeared, and she has been attacked in the streets of Montmartre.

Racing to Paris with Watson at his side, Holmes discovers the missing child is only the tip of the iceberg of a much larger problem. The most valuable statue since the Winged Victory has been violently stolen in Marseilles, and several children from a silk mill in Lancashire have been found murdered. The clues in all three cases point to a single, untouchable man.

Will Holmes recover in time to find the missing boy and stop a rising tide of murders? To do so he must stay one step ahead of a dangerous French rival and the threatening interference of his own brother, Mycroft.

This latest adventure, in the style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, sends the iconic duo from London to Paris and the icy wilds of Lancashire in a case which tests Watson’s friendship and the fragility and gifts of Sherlock Holmes’ own artistic nature to the limits.

Shortly after his marriage, Dr. John Watson is summoned back to 221B Baker Street where his friend is in a black state. While there, an encoded letter arrives and takes both men to Paris on a case to find a cabaret star’s missing son. But the missing child is just the tip of an iceberg of a larger, more sinister conspiracy, one that will test Holmes and Watson.

The author does an excellent job of capturing the spirit of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s writing. Holmes did come across as a bit more…manic that I think was hinted at in the original stories, but other than that the author captures the detective and Dr. Watson fairly well. I especially liked the friendship they had.

It was the author’s portrayal of Mycroft Holmes that rubbed me the wrong way. I did not like how maliciously manipulative he was in this story. Perhaps the author took inspiration from the BBC’s portrayal of the character in Sherlock, but this made one of my favorite characters unlikeable.

The mystery itself was alright. I guessed the solution when a certain character was introduced. The plot also takes a dark turn towards the end, and those who are sensitive to child abuse might want to avoid this one.

Readers who don’t mind darker tones to their mystery and are looking for a Sherlock Holmes pastiche might enjoy this one.

An Author’s Random Musing: Summer News

Summer has begun and it is hot out. Like very hot and humid. I’ve been hiding inside for the last two weeks.

I always look forward to summer, but I don’t work well in the heat. I joke that I need to find wherever the temperature remains constant with no fluctuations around 75 degrees, and I would be set.

Writing wise, I have been moving at a slow pace. The Regency Cinderella re-telling I began to NaNoWriMo last year is close to being finished, but isn’t quite there yet. It is at 90K words, so it is hands down the longest thing I have ever written.

I’m pleased to share the cover for my next book, which releases on June 28th. Clarendon Estate is book three in my Sinclair Society Series. It sets up book four, but I haven’t started to write that one yet.

It seems I have too many ideas and not enough time to write them all!

I’m also excited about my third audiobook. It is for my first novella, Eugenia (also part of the Sinclair Society). This one I did NOT narrate myself, so it was interesting to guide the project without it having my voice.

I hope you all are enduring the heat of summer. Any exciting plans?

A Duke to Elude (Sherton Sisters #1)

Cover Via Goodreads

A Duke to Elude

by Wendy May Andrews

Edition: Kindle, 2020

Synopsis: She’s waiting for true love.
He’s tasked with uncovering the truth.
When nefarious schemes threaten her reputation, he finds his heart on the line with it.

Lady Rosabel, eldest daughter of the Earl of Sherton, has no interest in being a Duchess, despite countless proposals from eligible nobility. Secretly, she is waiting for a love match—preferably with someone who carries no title. Bel’s third Season is predictably disappointing until the mysterious Duke of Wexford arrives and has her questioning her plans to refuse any suitor with his status.

James Allingham, the 6th Duke of Wexford, seems to have inherited the role as advisor to the ailing King along with the dukedom. Investigating Lord Prescott’s schemes is tricky enough without the interference of Lady Rosabel. She is beautiful and intelligent, but Wexford has no time for courting.

Wexford needs to uncover everything about Prescott’s plans to destabilize the colonies. When Lady Rosabel is implicated in the schemes, James fights his suspicions of—and his attraction to—the beautiful young woman as he presses on to find the truth.

Lady Rosabel, the oldest daughter of the Earl of Sherton, is having a third disappointing season. She has turned down countless proposals, waiting for a love match with an untitled gentleman. The attention of the Duke of Wexford is an unexpected complication, ruffling the cool, collected facade she has built up. Will she trust her heart to a titled man, or will she turn away and seek a mere mister?

This was an enjoyable read. I found Lady Rosabel a sympathetic character, realizing that her coolness has made her oblivious to how others feel and then disliking how that realization made her feel. She makes an effort to speak to new debutantes of the season, going about it awkwardly. This catches the attention of the Duke of Wexford, who has known the young lady for several years, but is interested by her change of attitude. He is determined to break through the facade she has built up, remembering the openness she had once had.

At about the halfway point, there is a moment when Lady Rosabel sees him speaking to a Lord Prescott. She immediately assumes that any man who would speak to Prescott must be unworthy. Wexford sees her watching and assumes she must know something of the man’s nefarious schemes. This, in my opinion, was an unexpected plot point I didn’t enjoy. It didn’t seem to fit with the rest of the story.

Overall, I enjoyed this start to the series. The characters were fun, and the plot was fast moving.

Readers looking for a Regency romance about titled ladies and gentlemen will enjoy this one.

Violet & Daisy: The Story of Vaudeville’s Famous Conjoined Twins

Cover via Goodreads

Violet & Daisy

by Sarah Miller

Edition: ARC

Synopsis: Violet and Daisy. They were as sweet and pretty as their names would suggest, the pair of them as alike as two flower buds on a single stem. They were also joined, back-to-back, at the base of their spine.

Freaks, monsters — that’s what conjoined twins were called in 1908. And so their mother abandoned Violet and Daisy to the care of her midwife, who immediately put the babies on exhibition in the back room of her pub, embarking on a course of blatant exploitation that would range from the Brighton seashore to Australian amusement parks, American sideshows, and eventually to the most phenomenal success in vaudeville’s history.

But Violet and Daisy were more than just an exhibit, of course. They were two distinct individuals with remarkably harmonious personalities: Violet thoughtful yet candid, Daisy impulsive and easygoing. Above all, they were sisters.

In a story packed to the brim with questions about individuality, identity, and exploitation, Sarah Miller delivers an engrossing, compassionate portrait of two sisters whose bonds were so sacred that nothing — not even death — would compel Violet and Daisy to break them.

In 1908, an unmarried woman gives birth to conjoined twin girls. The ashamed mother wanted nothing to do with the “freaks” that she was certain were the punishment for her sin. Midwife Mary Hilton legally adopts the twins and promptly displays them to the public. Thus begins the life of exhibition for Violet and Daisy Hilton until they cannot take the abuse any longer.

Before I picked up this ARC, I’d never heard of the Hilton sisters. Or so I thought. As it happens, I did see a very old film from 1932, Freaks, and the Hilton sisters were in that film. So while I have seen them before, I can safely say I knew nothing about their life.

I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Violet and Daisy as I read this one. The author does an excellent job of presenting the facts that could be proven and sharing the “ballyhoo” or tall tales that were spread about the twins. The book follows Violet and Daisy from their birth, through every exhibition they were part of, and then to their death. It was especially interesting to see how they displayed their unique personality and how they had some privacy from each other, even when they were by each other’s side 24/7.

The one thing that is very clear is how they were captives of those who were supposed to be caring for them. Once they had their freedom, they didn’t know how to manage their affairs and that lead them into more trouble. As the vaudeville circuit and the stage life that was the only life they knew, they took up burlesque dancing to support themselves until they finally took positions at a grocery store. The last half of the book I found very sad to read.

Although at times it was a little disconcerting to read a story only to have the author immediately show that it was another tall tale, it wasn’t overly distracting. I found it interesting to see how much Mary Hilton and then the twins themselves would twist the truth to make the most of a situation.

I thought this was an interesting read and would recommend it for readers who would enjoy a look at two of vaudeville’s stars. I received a free copy through NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.

Hearts West: True Stories of Mail Order Brides

Cover Via Goodreads

Hearst West

by Chris Enss

Edition: paperback, 2005

Synopsis: Complete with actual advertisements from both women seeking husbands and males seeking brides, New York Times bestselling book Hearts West includes twelve stories of courageous mail order brides and their exploits. Some were fortunate enough to marry good men and live happily ever after; still others found themselves in desperate situations that robbed them of their youth and sometimes their lives.

Desperate to strike it rich during the Gold Rush, men sacrificed many creature comforts. Only after they arrived did some of them realize how much they missed female companionship.

One way for men living on the frontier to meet women was through subscriptions to heart-and-hand clubs. The men received newspapers with information, and sometimes photographs, about women, with whom they corresponded. Eventually, a man might convince a woman to join him in the West, and in matrimony. Social status, political connections, money, companionship, or security were often considered more than love in these arrangements.

As men press west across America and begin to settle down, one thing soon becomes clear: there is a distinct lack of women. A man’s only option is to advertise, contact friends or family back east, for a bride to come to him. These are just a few of the stories.

This was a fun and interesting read! Like Frontier Teachers, which I read first, this is a short book with short chapters. Some of the chapters tell of a mail order “romance”, whether it ended happily or not, and other chapters share actually advertisements of men and women from the past.

The last one was my favorite part of the book. Some of the ads made me sad, thinking about how desperate the person writing it must have felt. And others made me laugh. (I totally didn’t contemplate what I would have put in my own advertisement).

It did come as a surprise to see a familiar name here. A teacher featured Frontier teacher was also a mail order bride. her parents answered the ad on her behalf. Sadly, it was not a happy ending and Bethenia Owens-Adair took on a teaching position after her marriage failed.

Overall, this was an entertaining read and provided a lot of detail in a short amount of time. I would recommend this to a reader who wants to know more about the business of mail order brides

Book Owl Word Search!

Welcome Book Owl Word Searchers!

Today, I am going to talk about my Young Adult Historical Fiction book: My Hands Hold My Story.

My Hands Hold My Story Cover

This is a young adult historical fiction novel, which is a bit of a mouthful! Here’s a synopsis if you’ve never seen it before:

A YA historical western full of grit and heart…

In 1874, Ivy Steele’s deafness is more than a handicap. It’s a disease. Surrounded by a family that doesn’t understand her, she’s learned to cope and find solace where she can. Then, the unexpected happens. Her aunt dies, and her uncle sends her away to rejoin her father’s family in Montana.

Left to fend for herself, after the companion hired to escort her abandons her, sixteen-year-old Ivy faces continual hardship and danger. Several men see an unaccompanied Ivy as a flower ripe for the picking, and things only get worse when masked men hold up their stagecoach.

Barely scraping through, Ivy makes it to Montana with her nerves shaken and what little money she has in her boot. Expecting a peaceful, if not affectionate welcome, Ivy finds herself in greater hardship than she’s ever known.

Surrounded by a stepfamily that hates her, and flung into a life where hearing is vital, Ivy finds solace in a handsome cowboy named Remy. But things with her new family are not what they seem. And Ivy is about to find out that the danger she faced on the journey west, has followed her to Montana…

One thing I did when I first released my book into the world was come up with my dream movie cast. This took some thought. My main character, Ivy, is *DEAF*, so of course whoever would take on her role would have to be deaf as well. There are so few deaf actresses that would be the right age as my character that it was a hard search, but a young actress has come to my notice who I think would be perfect:

Millicent Simmonds

Most people will know her from Wonderstruck, 2017 or A Quiet Place 2018. I think she would be perfect to play Ivy Steele.

The rest of the cast were not as important as my main character, so I’m not as attached to who would play them. I was guided more by age and looks, with a few bigger, more famous names.

Alex Saxon Image VIA IMDb

I felt so old searching young actors in the 19-30 range because I didn’t know the majority of them! I think Alex Saxon (it looks like he’s played in the TV show Nancy Drew) most fits my vision of Remy Prater.

Tom Hardy Image via Amazon

I’ve liked Tom Hardy in everything I’ve seen him in, so I would definitely cast him as Ivy’s father, Mr. Steele.

Amy Adams Image via IMDb

Amy Adams always brings fantastic performances to her roles and I think she would play an excellent stepmother to Ivy, Cordelia Steele.

Cody Christian Image via IMDb

Rounding out my list is Cody Christian as Ivy’s older brother, Simon Steele.

So, yeah. These would be my picks if I had total control over a film version of my book. A girl can dream, right?

In case you didn’t notice, my secret word is DEAF. Continue BOWS at the next stop on Selenia Paz’s site: http://www.seleniapaz.com/

Have fun!