Tag: #UnlockingthePastReadingChallenge

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The Cryptographer’s Dilemma by Johnnie Alexander

In Crystal Caudill’s Unlocking the Past Reading Challenge, the December read was a book from your favorite time period. For me, it’s always been the World War II era. I chose The Cryptographer’s Dilemma by Johnnie Alexander.

Filled with  adventure and suspense, The Cryptographer’s Dilemma follows FBI cryptographer Eloise Mitchell and FBI agent Phillip Clayton on their investigation of a series of seemingly innocent  letters about dolls.  It takes them on a cross-country journey to find out what’s really going on.

Why I Liked This Book

While I love reading the heroics of the soldiers during this time, this book brought about a different form of heroics. The weapons used here were the minds of those working the case and their understandings of how everything worked together. While Eloise and Phillip were out on the journey, they enlisted help along the way, making it somewhat of a joint effort.

It also did an excellent job of tying up loose ends, not only for the story but for the characters’ backstories as well. I enjoyed seeing the growth of the characters, both major and minor, as the story progressed.

Favorite Character

Elosie Mitchell: I really liked Eloise, not only for her role as heroine but also for the change in her character. She is able to adapt quickly to her role in the mission and works through her feelings throughout the book.

Would I Read This Book Again?

Probably. I really liked the storyline and the characters. Everything lined up well and gave me satisfaction in the end.

Who Would Like This Book?

Those who enjoy reading books around the World War II era, the FBI, and those who like suspense.

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Donna’s Detour by Jo Huddleston

November’s read for Crystal Caudill’s Unlocking the Past Reading Challenge was to be set anytime after World War II. In keeping with the past, I chose to read about an era I hadn’t seen in historical fiction before, the 1950s.

The setting is great as it emphasizes what’s normally equated with the 50’s era. The local diner with the waitresses going between customers at the counter and sitting in booths and jukeboxes on the tables. Visualizing the waitresses’ uniforms and the way they handled their customers reminded me of Grease when the gang was hanging out at the diner. However, this one was more for people passing through than a hang-out for the locals.

What I Liked About the Book

It was a fun and easy read taking me to a time when women were on the verge of setting out on their own. It showed the strength of the main character, Donna, and the commitment to following her heart no matter how long it took.

My Favorite Characters

Donna Turner: Donna was so strong in her commitment to herself and her desire to branch out on her own. When she needed help, though she didn’t want to ask for it, she appreciated those who offered and wasn’t afraid to accept.

Tommy Crowley: I don’t want to go into too much detail here because it might spoil the story, but Tommy was a real gentleman to Donna and brought a happiness to her life that was missing.

Would I Read This Book Again?

Probably, if I needed something quick to read with a  happy ending.

Who Should Read This Book?

Those who like quick reads with happy endings. Those who want to experience the diner of the 50’s and want a fun read.

Jo Huddleston has written several books. Please visit her website at johuddleston.com to see other books she has to offer.

 

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A Promise Forged by Cara Putman

For my October read in Crystal Caudill’s Unlocking the Past Reading Challenge, I chose Cara Putman’s A Promise Forged.

Set in the summer of 1943, A Promise Forged brings to light the glimmer of hope placed within the American people at home during World War II, being able to watch America’s favorite pastime in a different way. This timeframe has always been a favorite of mine during history studies, but I’d never read about this aspect.

While reading this book, it brought to mind a favorite movie of mine during my high school days, A League of their Own. Mrs. Putman’s story pulled me into the heart of the field as she brought her characters to life.

What I Liked About the Book

Mrs. Putman brings World War II to life from a different perspective. It was fun to see the view of this timeframe from the players perspective as well as of someone who wanted to serve but couldn’t.

My Favorite Characters

Kat Miller: Katherine “Kat” Miller is the heroine of this story. The youngest on the team, she gets a lot of unwanted attention when all she really wants to do is play the game. Kat is a sweet young woman and her love for others shines forth throughout the story.

Jack Raymond: Jack’s a newspaper reporter assigned to cover the women’s ball games. Despite his resistance to it, he follows the team and brings a man’s view into it. It was fun to see the game from both points of view.

Would I Read This Book Again

Yes. This was a fun read and kept me engaged throughout the story. This is the first in a series titled Buckeye Promises. While I haven’t read the other books in the series, they are ones that I would be interested in reading as well.

If you’re a fan of World War II fiction and would like to read views from the American homefront, I recommend reading this book.

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Sorrento Girl by Dawn Klinge

My September read for the Unlocking the Past Reading Challenge was Sorrento Girl  by Dawn Klinge.

Courtesy of Dawn Klinge

Sorrento Girl takes us to Seattle, Washington, in the 1930s with a young woman named Ann Brooks. Ann is one of several young ladies who live in the Sorrento hotel while attending Seattle College. In the midst of the depression, many female teachers are losing their jobs if they’re married in order for the schools to save money. Ann longs to be a teacher, but when she finds herself attracted to Paul Lewis, she wonders how she’ll be able to make it work. Will she be able to pursue a teaching career.

What I Liked About It
I’m not very familiar with Seattle, but the history Mrs. Klinge brings through in her writing is really interesting. Ann has a good relationship with her friends, and they’re supportive of one another.

My Favorite Characters
Ann Brooks: Ann is someone who cares about people. Her care and concern for others are contagious and seem to rub off on those she’s around.

Rose Francis: Known to Ann as Aunt Rose, she was the motherly figure in Ann’s life. Rose encouraged Ann despite some setbacks in her own life and continued to be that gentle nudge to keep Ann going in the direction her heart led.

Would I Read This Book Again?
Probably. There are a lot of interesting aspects of the area and timeframe nestled within the pages of this book. It was a fun read and a fairly quick one. If you enjoy the Depression era, I would recommend you read this book.

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Tabitha by Vikki Kestell

For my August read in Crystal Caudill’s Unlocking the Past Reading Challenge, I chose to read the book Tabitha by Vikki Kestell.

Tabitha is a mix of memories of the character combined with her current situations just before and during World War I. She tells her story to allow readers to understand how she came into her situation and also to be a beacon of hope for other women within the story.

What I liked about the book
I have seen some books that give the back story to you in a way that makes you want to set the book aside. However, this one, incorporates another character named Rose into it early on as a means of someone to converse with. By Rose being there, it allows enough breaks to see just how Tabitha’s storytelling is affecting someone else. It really helps to understand Tabitha’s history and how so much rides upon it.

Favorite Characters
Tabitha Hale: Though reluctant at first to share her story, she pours it out in a way that will help so many to understand that with God’s help, you can rise from even the darkest pit. Her determination to reach her goal despite setbacks was nice to see.

Mason Carpenter: Though I didn’t mention him above, Mason is a great addition to the story. He doesn’t see Tabitha as she sees herself. He sees her for who she is when he knows her. His giving heart allows the reader to love him.

Would I read this book again?
Yes, this is another I have read before. It shows so much healing on Tabitha’s part, and the beauty of new beginnings. If you enjoy the World War I era and would like a glimpse into nursing during that time, I recommend you read this book.

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A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden

My July read for Crystal Caudill’s Unlocking the Past Challenge was A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden.

In A Dangerous Legacy, Lucy Drake is a telegraph operator for the Associated Press in New York. She and her brother, Nick, have been involved in a family dispute their entire lives, and they have had enough. It’s not until Lucy befriends a supervisor of the Reuters’ office, Sir Colin Beckwith, that they begin to make some progress.

However, when Colin befriends the opposite side of the dispute in exchange for a significant amount of money, Lucy doubts where his true loyalties lie. Will they be able to mend their differences and stop the family dispute once and for all?

What I liked most
Mrs. Camden blends history with mystery to keep her novels running. She kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the book. The characters were well written. There were twists and turns throughout which made it that much more fun to read.

My Favorite Characters
Lucy Drake: I liked her strong sense of self-confidence. There were times when it wavered, which showed her vulnerable side. She wasn’t afraid to stand up for what she believed and fought hard for what she viewed as important.

Colin Beckwith: He’s really a likable fellow from the beginning, even though Lucy doesn’t want to see him as such. He cares about what’s going on with her and allows her to see more than others have about him  in order to gain her trust.

Would I read it again?
Yes, I would. In fact, this was the second time I’ve read it. The fast pace is so much fun. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the Gilded Age time period.

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Banking on Love by Crystal Caudill

I finished reading Alice’s Journey West: Finding Her Way before the month of May ended. Knowing I only had a few days between time periods to continue Crystal Caudill’s Unlocking the Past Reading Challenge, I decided I would read her novella Banking on Love.

I have been a subscriber of her blog since January which is how I was able to receive her novella. She has offered it as a welcome gift in the past for new subscribers, so if you’re interested in it, please feel free to visit her blog and sign up for her mailing list.

Why I liked the book
This was a short story, so it was easy to read in a short amount of time. I easily finished it in a few twenty to thirty-minute reading segments.

Eunice’s desire to help her brother,  out of trouble quickly led her into trouble of her own. Crystal does an excellent job of showing the strained relationship of the siblings while also showing the desire Irvin has to protect his sister. I was drawn into the story quickly as I was able to not only read it but also felt like I was watching it unfold. 

Favorite Characters

Eunice was definitely a favorite. It was fun to see her no-nonsense personality quickly moved to compliance in order to help her brother. 

Eunice’s future husband, Arnold, was also a favorite of mine. Even though he was on the other side of the situation, they understood each other enough to communicate without words, and he was able to see his mission to completion without causing her harm.

This was such a fun piece to read. If you’d like to read her novella, you may download a copy at https://bookhip.com/RGLTQF after signing up for her newsletter.

One of the most rewarding parts of this journey is contacting authors. So far, those I have reached out to have been very helpful in allowing me to use their book cover photos. Crystal has been a wonderful encouragment. I’m excited to be able to invite you to her title reveal party of her new book and series.

Join Crystal for her Debut Novel’s Title Reveal

“You’re invited to a TITLE REVEAL PARTY!!!!
Crystal Caudill invites you to come party with her on her website and discover the titles of her debut series and novel. Come and stay as long as you like to pick up your free goody bag, play two fun title games, and enter to win a book from Crystal’s book giveaway pile. Don’t want to stay, but just want to know the titles? Come and you’ll find the link to her official titles without the fuss of a game to figure it out. Party runs from July 13th to July 20th (11:59 pm EST). 
www.CrystalCaudill.com/TitleRevealParty” 

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Alice’s Journey West: Finding Her Way

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I am really enjoying Crystal Caudill’s Unlocking the Past Reading Challenge this year. May’s timeframe was the Wildwest (1860s to 1890s).

I chose to read Katherine St. Clair’s book, Alice’s Journey West: Finding Her Way. Although the Wildwest is not my typical choice for a historical fiction timeframe, this one was different.

Plot Overview

Ten years ago, Alice’s parents died during the Civil War and her Georgia home was taken by Union soldiers. She and her siblings were distributed to various family members, except for her oldest sister, Louisa, who married and moved to Kansas with her husband and his family.

Now, Alice and Will were moving West. He to work with Louisa’s family, and she to teach in the territory of New Mexico. Alice has her share of trials from traveling alone to being in places and situations a lady ought not to be, and one man, Jonathan Keene, helps her out of trouble again and again.

Her position as a teacher prohibits her from participating in any type of activity not approved by the mission where she works. Though her acts are pure, the views of her superiors remind her of the cruelty of the aunt and uncle she left behind.

She doesn’t let this stop her. She rises against the persecution and finds her way back to the man she loves.

Why I Liked This Book
As I stated earlier, this isn’t the typical Western. It focuses much more on the path of the heroine than her love for the hero. Finding her way is the evident theme throughout the reading.

I also liked how it showed the error of the predjudices towards the New Mexico territory. Many people believed it was filled with evil. Alice found the good in the people there and was not afraid to set the record straight.

My Favorite Characters

Alice

Alice was a neat character. I liked how Alice stood her ground. She did what she thought was right, even if it meant breaking every rule pressed upon her by her superiors.

Thomas

Though Thomas was a minor character, he played a sweet role in the story. He was an older man and the only one allowed at the mission. Alice looked to him as a father figure, and he took care of her as such.

If you want a sweet story of the Wild West, I would recommend you read Alice’s Journey West: Finding Her Way.

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