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In the Shadow of Blackbirds

Cat Winters

Why we're reading this: 7/8 - A History of Ghosts: The True Story of Seances, Mediums, Ghosts, and Ghostbusters
[close] 7/8 - A History of Ghosts: The True Story of Seances, Mediums, Ghosts, and Ghostbusters

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Jun 14, 2017 Colleen Scidmore rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: drama, suspenseful, currently-on-my-computer, currently-on-google-drive, books-read-in-2017, dark, mystery, young-adult, historical-fiction, ghost-stories

I have to start off saying that I am not fan of Historical Fiction at all. It is so very boring to me. I really dread reading historical fiction at times. I picked this out because of course it fit my book clubs challenge.
I have to say this book has made me a fan of Cat Winters...I absolutely loved it and it was historical fiction! It gives me hopes there are other HF books out there to discover.
I definitely think the paranormal elements helped, but it also dealt a lot with WWI times and the d I have to start off saying that I am not fan of Historical Fiction at all. It is so very boring to me. I really dread reading historical fiction at times. I picked this out because of course it fit my book clubs challenge.
I have to say this book has made me a fan of Cat Winters...I absolutely loved it and it was historical fiction! It gives me hopes there are other HF books out there to discover.
I definitely think the paranormal elements helped, but it also dealt a lot with WWI times and the deadly Spanish Flu. And it was written so well I was totally engrossed.

Mary Shelley is sent to live with her Aunt Eva in San Diego after her father has been taken to jail for being anti patriotic and a German sympathizer, which he is not. She is hoping she will get to see her childhood sweetheart Stephen who had moved out that way several years prior. He had joined the Army the last time she had seen him and was hoping for his safe return. But shortly after agreeing to sit for his brother Julius' Spiritual Photograph at her Aunts request she finds out he was killed at war. But Stephens distressed spirit visits Mary Shelley and through bits and pieces she is not so sure that he was killed at war after all.

Thing That I Liked:

1) This was such a touching love story between Mary and Stephen, it was really very emotional and nearly had me in tears at their circumstance.
2) I love Mary Shelley. She is not your average 16 year old girls girl. She is unusual and seems very sure of herself and has a lot of spunk and strength in her.
3) I had an idea what happened with Stephen but was shocked to find out the extent of his death. I love it when an author can surprise me that thoroughly!
4) This was a wonderful mystery, putting together all the pieces was really interesting.
5) It was informative. I didn't realize Spiritual Photography was a real thing, and I didn't know much about the Spanish Flu before this book.

Things I Didn't Like:

1) Aunt Eva's character was very weak. She was not a very strong female character and she got on my nerves.
2) I detest Julius. He is such a worm. This is actually a positive thing for the author, she wrote such a good character to dislike.

I really liked this book so much. I don't think there were any slow parts for me. Ms. Winters did an amazing job of telling a story in the ending times of WWI that wove romance and mystery into an amazing and captivating story. I am now a big fan of Cat Winters and am ready to read more of her novels. I'm still in awe at how much I enjoyed a Historical Fiction book! ...more

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