While the City Sleeps (The Women of Midtown #1) by Elizabeth Camden

While the City Sleeps (The Women of Midtown #1) 

By Elizabeth Camden 

Published by Bethany House 

Publication Date: February 13, 2024 

Description from the publisher: 

Katherine Schneider's workaday life as a dentist in 1913 New York is upended when a patient reveals details of a deadly plot while under the influence of laughing gas. As she is plunged into danger, she seeks help from the dashing Lieutenant Jonathan Birch, a police officer she has long admired from afar. 

Jonathan has harbored powerful feelings toward Katherine for years but never acted on them, knowing his dark history is something she could never abide. Now, with her safety on the line, he works alongside her through the nights as they unravel the criminal conspiracy that threatens her. And throughout it all, Jonathan fears what will happen should Katherine ever learn his deepest secrets. 

Join award-winning author Elizabeth Camden for a sweeping and romantic adventure of dangerous secrets and wounded hearts fighting to overcome the darkness while the rest of the city sleeps. 

My review: 

Although I'm very much a character-driven reader, I think the plot stole the show for me in this book! I was really drawn in by the mystery/supense and trying to figure out who is out to silence Katherine as well as cause destruction around NYC. Following along with the clues and theories and policework just really hooked me, as did so many interesting historical details (like about dentistry in the early 1900s and the all-female Martha Washington hotel). I did also like the characters, although there were also times I found both of them to be a bit irritating--likely because they were so realistic and sometimes did things that drove me up a wall! (I think their actions totally fit with their characters, so that's not a criticism of the writing; it's just a comment about how they weren't these practically perfect people who always did everything right.) I was glad to see things work out for them in the end. 

4 stars. 

 I read a DRC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Number of Love

The Number of Love (Codebreakers #1)
By Roseanna M. White
Publisher: Bethany House
Release date: June 4, 2019

Margot De Wilde loves her work as a codebreaker for England's intelligence network during WWI. Numbers are her life, something she has always been able to depend on, figure out, and follow. But when tragedy strikes, even her beloved numbers can't help her make sense of life.
Drake Elton first meets Margot when he takes his sister Dot to her new job as a secretary for the codebreakers. He's intrigued by Margot, who is different from other women, and he's pleased that she and Dot, who struggles with anxiety, become friends. His work as an agent in Spain keeps him from getting to know her better--but when he is injured and returns to England to recover, he quickly finds that Margot is the girl for him. But how can he get Margot, who cares only for numbers, to realize that following her heart isn't a bad thing?

Loved it. I loved the setting--seeing the British codebreaking going on during WWI was really interesting, and I loved how Margot was right in the middle of it. Margot cracked me up; I loved her no-nonsense, straightforward approach and how she would hold her own whenever she was challenged. I also liked watching her journey to see beyond numbers. Drake was great as well; I liked how sweet he was in trying to court Margot, really thinking about what she would like, and how he supported her and how he would push just enough but not too much. I really, really enjoyed it. 5 stars.

I read a copy of the book via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A Refuge at Highland Hall

A Refuge at Highland Hall
By Carrie Turansky

While in London helping her sister Kate and brother-in-law Jon with their children's home, Penny Ramsey meets Alex Goodwin, a pilot training to fight against the Germans in WWI. Once he returns to his base, he and Penny exchange letters, and it seems that--should Alex make it through the war--they might have a future together. But when the realities of war hit home for Alex, he distances himself from Penny, who can only hope that God will be able to heal him.

While I of course enjoyed the romance angle of the book (as well as the side story with another romance), I think I enjoyed the history and the look at the British efforts against the German Zepplins; Alex's experiences were so fascinating to me.
The third book in a series, I think it could probably be read as a stand-alone, but the first two books in the series are equally enjoyable, so I'd recommend reading them, too.

4 stars

War Horse

War Horse
By Michael Morpurgo
Scholastic, 2007/Scholastic Audio, 2010. 165 pgs/4 hrs. Middle grade fiction

Joey, a horse, narrators the story of his life, from when he was bought at an auction by a farmer and then cared for and trained for by the farmer's son, Albert. With the outbreak of World War I, however, he is sold to a cavalry captain and sent off to war. A devastated Albert vows to find him, but in the meantime, Joey gets an up-close look at the death and destruction waged by the war.

This is a fine piece of historical fiction. It's sad and sweet at the same time, and in the audio version, listeners will be equally drawn in by Joey's story as by John Keating's narration.

4 stars. Clean read.

The Dressmaker

The Dressmaker
By Kate Alcott
Doubleday, 2012. 306 pgs. Adult fiction

Fed up with her status as a servant, Tess leaves her employment and heads for the Titanic, hoping to find a job that will get her across the ocean. As luck would have it, she winds up getting Lady Lucille Duff Gordon to accept her as a servant. Lucille is a fashion designer, and Tess, eager to become a designer herself, is eager to work with her. However, she soon sees Lucille's little fits of temper and isn't quite sure where she stands with the formidable lady. While aboard the ship, she meets both a kind sailor and a dashing American businessman, both of whom appeal to her, although in different ways.
Then, the unthinkable happens and the ship sinks, and Tess finds herself torn between her employer, who is giving her opportunities that she's only ever been able to dream of, and Jim Bonney, the sailor who insists that Lady Duff Gordon and her husband, once safely aboard a lifeboat that could have held fifty people, only allowed their small group of twelve the safety of the boat, refusing to go back for others. As an official investigation is being conducted, Tess finds herself having to examine herself and see where she stands and what price she'll pay to become the woman she wants to be.

I really liked how the book explored the aftermath of the Titanic sinking; I've read a few that dealt with the voyage and sinking, but this was the first one I read that really addressed what happened afterwards. The questions of who is guilty and what should have happened and what people should have done and whether or not they did it are thought-provoking and not easily answered. I think the author made a very good choice in allowing Tess to be the main character, having been a servant but now being introduced into a world of privilege gave her a unique perspective that really helped pull the book off well.

4 stars. Clean read.

The Watch That Ends the Night

The Watch That Ends the Night
By Allan Wolf
Candlewick Press, 2011. 466 pgs. Teen fiction

As the Titanic prepares to make her maiden voyage, the owners, architects, crew, and passengers think they're embarking on a dream. With luxury surrounding them, and even third class passengers having better conditions than they're used to, and a mild spring, the trip is sure to be splendid. Except, little do the passengers know, but an iceberg is heading for them, ready to claim the lives of all it can, and they soon find that their dream trip has become a nightmare.

This verse novel gives voice to a range of characters, from the famous Molly Brown and John Jacob Astor; to the captain and crew members including the postmen and one of the telegraph men; to second and third class passengers, and even the ice itself. Even though readers undoubtedly know how things will turn out, they will be drawn into the story, waiting to see which people survive and which don't, and until the fateful moments arrive, they'll be delighted by the little details that make this voyage seem so real.

4 stars.