Canadian Historical Fiction Review: Letters Across the Sea by Genevieve Graham

Letters Across the Sea by Genevieve Graham

Published: April 27th, 2021

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Genre: Historical Fiction/Canadian Fiction/WWII Fiction

# of pages: 384

My rating: 5 stars

Acquired this book: From the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest consideration

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1933

At eighteen years old, Molly Ryan dreams of becoming a journalist, but instead she spends her days working any job she can to help her family through the Depression crippling her city. The one bright spot in her life is watching baseball with her best friend, Hannah Dreyfus, and sneaking glances at Hannah’s handsome older brother, Max.

But as the summer unfolds, more and more of Hitler’s hateful ideas cross the sea and “Swastika Clubs” and “No Jews Allowed” signs spring up around Toronto, a city already simmering with mass unemployment, protests, and unrest. When tensions between the Irish and Jewish communities erupt in a riot one smouldering day in August, Molly and Max are caught in the middle, with devastating consequences for both their families.

1939

Six years later, the Depression has eased and Molly is a reporter at her local paper. But a new war is on the horizon, putting everyone she cares about most in peril. As letters trickle in from overseas, Molly is forced to confront what happened all those years ago, but is it too late to make things right?

I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: Genevieve Graham is single-handedly bringing little-known aspects of Canadian history to light - and to life - through her thought-provoking, emotional, heartbreaking, beautiful books. After reading five of Graham’s books, I think it’s safe to say I’ve learned more about Canadian history from her than I ever did in school.

 

Letters Across the Sea illuminates yet another aspect of Canadian history I knew nothing about. Starting in Toronto, Ontario in the early 1930s, the Great Depression permeates every aspect of daily life. Jobs are hard to come by, people are working hard for little money, and families are going hungry. Add to that the hatred and antisemitism making their way around the globe, in large part thanks to Hitler and the rise of the Nazis, and tensions are running high across the city. People who were once friends and neighbours now have an ‘us versus them’ mentality, and there’s a rise in white supremacist and anti-Jewish hate groups. All of this culminates in the Christie Pits Riot, which tears apart families and friends, and changes life as Molly Ryan and Max Dreyfus know it. 

 

Told in alternating points of view between Molly and Max, we see things through the eyes of a young Protestant woman and her Jewish neighbour and lifelong friend, who’s also the older brother of her best friend. We see the hatred, fear, pain, and confusion experienced from both perspectives, along with the friendship and longing between the two. Nothing is ever the same for Molly and Max - or their families - after the riot.

 

Time passes and life moves on. The Depression continues, although things slowly improve. When war is declared, Max enlists, along with Molly’s brothers and many of their mutual friends. This leads into another little-known aspect of Canadian history: the Battle of Hong Kong in 1941, and Canadians being held in Japanese POW camps for years under horrendous conditions.

 

Like Graham’s other books, Letters Across the Sea wasn’t an easy read. It was painful - gut wrenching at times - but it was an incredible story about enduring love, bravery, tenacity, and hope. It was difficult reading about the horrible things people are capable of, and that pain was made sharper by the contrasts to today’s racial and religious tensions and injustices. It was a painful reminder that in many ways, things haven’t changed that much in the last 80-90 years. People were gathering for protests and marches back then the way they are now, and it’s easy to believe something like the Christie Pits Riot could happen today. Books like this are a reminder that we need to do better and there’s still a lot of work to do, despite the tireless work of many.

 

Graham’s wonderful, realistic characters and skillfully woven plot ensured Letters Across the Sea was yet another unforgettable read.

Have you read Letters Across the Sea or any of Genevieve Graham's other books? Do you enjoy books about lesser-known aspects of history?

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Regency Romance Review: Her Wicked Marquess by Stacy Reid

Her Wicked Marquess by Stacy Reid

Published: December 29th, 2020

Publisher: Entangled: Amara

Genre: Historical Romance (Regency Romance)

Heat level: 🔥🔥🔥

# of pages: 400

My rating: 4 stars

Acquired this book: From the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest consideration

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Miss Maryann Fitzwilliam is too witty and bookish for her own good. No gentleman of the ton will marry her, so her parents arrange for her to wed a man old enough to be her father. But Maryann is ready to use those wits to turn herself into a sinful wallflower.

When the scandal sheet reports a sighting of Nicolas St. Ives, the Marquess of Rothbury, climbing out the chamber windows of a house party, Maryann does the unthinkable. She anonymously claims that the bedchamber belonged to none other than Miss Fitzwilliam, tarnishing her own reputation—and chances of the dastardly union her family secured for her. Now she just needs to convince the marquess to keep his silence.

Turns out Nicolas allows for the scandal to perpetuate for his own reasons… But when Maryann’s parents hold fast to their arranged marriage plan, it’ll take a scandal of epic proportions for these two to get out of this together.

For the last few years, I’ve added countless historical romances to my TBR, mostly thanks to recommendations from fellow bookstagrammers, but despite that - and making a goal to branch out with my reading - I’ve mostly stuck with contemporary romance. I finally decided 2021 was the year to change that, and I chose Her Wicked Marquess to be my first foray into regency romance.

Nicolas St Ives, the Marquess of Rothbury, perpetuates his reputation as a rake because it serves his purpose: infiltrating the inner circle of a group of ‘gentlemen’ who brutally assaulted his first love. Retribution has been the only thing on Nicolas’s mind for the past decade, and he’s close to his final targets when Maryann Fitzwilliam inserts herself into his life and distracts him from his mission. Maryann - a wallflower who isn’t afraid to speak her mind, despite what others think - has a mission of her own: seeking public ruination to avoid marrying the odious man her parents have chosen for her.

This book was so entertaining. I loved how strong-minded, strong-willed, and feisty Maryann was. She refused to be one of those women who was seen and not heard, and she didn’t want to be tied down with a man she didn’t love. I loved the banter and chemistry between her and Nicolas, and watching their relationship grow was so much fun. Also, as a newbie to the genre, I wasn’t expecting such scorching hot sexytimes! Whew! That was an unexpected and welcome surprise. The revenge storyline was...interesting?...but it sometimes felt like there was too much focus on it. The overall feel of this book was lighthearted, romantic, and sexy, and the parts dealing with Nicolas’s need for revenge and the reasons behind it were so dark. The author did a good job of weaving it all together, but the romance was definitely my favourite part of the book.

Her Wicked Marquess was a fantastic introduction to regency romance. I need to go back and read My Darling Duke, and I’ll look forward to more books in the Sinful Wallflowers series.

Have you read Her Wicked Marquess? Do you have any recommendations for a regency romance newbie like me? 

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The Forgotten Home Child by Genevieve Graham: A Heartbreaking Look at a Little-Known Aspect of Canadian History

The Forgotten Home Child by Genevieve Graham
Published: March 3rd, 2020
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Canada
Genre: Historical fiction
# of pages: 350
My rating: 5 stars
Acquired this book from the publisher in exchange for honest consideration
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Buy now: Amazon Canada || Amazon US || Indigo 

2018

At ninety-seven years old, Winnifred Ellis knows she doesn’t have much time left, and it is almost a relief to realize that once she is gone, the truth about her shameful past will die with her. But when her great-grandson Jamie, the spitting image of her dear late husband, asks about his family tree, Winnifred can’t lie any longer, even if it means breaking a promise she made so long ago...

1936

Fifteen-year-old Winny has never known a real home. After running away from an abusive stepfather, she falls in with Mary, Jack, and their ragtag group of friends roaming the streets of Liverpool. When the children are caught stealing food, Winny and Mary are left in Dr. Barnardo’s Barkingside Home for Girls, a local home for orphans and forgotten children found in the city’s slums. At Barkingside, Winny learns she will soon join other boys and girls in a faraway place called Canada, where families and better lives await them.

But Winny’s hopes are dashed when she is separated from her friends and sent to live with a family that has no use for another daughter. Instead, they have paid for an indentured servant to work on their farm. Faced with this harsh new reality, Winny clings to the belief that she will someday find her friends again.

Inspired by true events, The Forgotten Home Child is a moving and heartbreaking novel about place, belonging, and family—the one we make for ourselves and its enduring power to draw us home.

There are two things I know I can always count on with a Genevieve Graham book: I’ll learn about an aspect of Canadian history that I previously knew little to nothing about, and I’ll have my heart broken several times before having it stitched back together. In the past, I’ve learned about the Halifax Explosion, the Acadian Expulsion (which I knew a bit - but not much - about since it’s part of my family’s history), the Yukon Gold Rush, and the beginnings of the RCMP. In The Forgotten Home Child, I learned about the 100,000+ children who were taken from the streets, orphanages, and workhouses of England and sent to Canada with the promise of a better life, but who were mostly sold into indentured servitude and treated horrifically.

The Forgotten Home Child alternates between the past and present, following 97-year-old Winny in the present, and her and Jack in the past, starting in 1936 as they’re leaving London. They met on the streets as children and lived for a time with Jack’s sister Mary and a pair of brothers, Edward and Cecil. They stole money and food to survive until they were caught and sent to separate orphanages and then group homes. Winny and Mary were best friends, sisters of the heart, and the only constant in each other’s lives, and they were lucky to be kept together until they were sent to Canada.

As the story unfolds, we see Winny and Jack living in Canada, both on farms, both in rough conditions. Winny slept in a sheep barn, toiled away day and night, and was abused by her mistress. Jack was lucky enough to remain with Edward and Cecil, but his luck ended there; their master was a cruel, volatile, violent man who would beat the boys basically just for existing. We follow Winny and Jack through their years of being indentured and beyond until they’re finally reunited as adults.

I couldn’t put this book down. It’s been a long time since I was so engrossed in a story and let the world fall away completely. It was a powerful, poignant, and heartbreaking story, made even more so by the fact it was based on true events. I think the initial idea of sending children to Canada might have been a good one; when I think of London in the late 1800s and early 1900s, I often think of dirty, gritty streets; countless people who were homeless, in workhouses, and/or working the streets; and orphaned children. So many people couldn’t afford to keep their children so they sent them into the streets or into orphanages, and those children were seen as a blight on already-overcrowded cities. Sending them abroad was supposed to give them a better life - homes, families, opportunities, a chance at a promising future - but with little to no checks and balances in place, the children were left to their fates, which were often worse than anything that would have happened to them back in England.

The Forgotten Home Child is my new favourite of Genevieve Graham’s books. A story about survival, identity, overcoming obstacles and trauma, and the family you create, The Forgotten Home Child will stick with me for a long time. It was heartbreaking, but it was hopeful too. It’ll be a book I recommend often, especially to fellow Canadians, and I hope to see the tragic history of the British Home Children talked about more widely.

Have you read The Forgotten Home Child? Were you aware of the British Home Children? What's an aspect of history you'd like to see written about more?

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My Year in Reading + My 2019 Favourite Books

2019 was overall a good year for reading, but a bit of a strange one too. I had more DNFs than ever before, and I'd go through stretches where every book I read was just meh. My Goodreads goal for the year was 80 and I hit that a month or so ago. I realized today I would have read more if not for two things: I ended up in the hospital in the spring for a week and a half, and although I did some reading, I was exhausted all the time and found it hard to concentrate and also to hold a book with an IV in my hand. I honestly can't remember if I read much during my recovery because the brain fog and exhaustion were no joke and much of that time is a blur. Then I spent six weeks with my best friend and didn't get much reading done because we were so busy doing other things. No regrets there!

Now, on to my favourite books of the year! I was going to do a Top Ten post, but I couldn't narrow it down to ten, so I'm breaking down my favourites by genre and in no particular order.

Favourite Contemporary Romances and RomComs:
☆Happy New You by Brenda St John Brown & 10 other romance authors
☆Hold Me Today by Maria Luis
☆The Little Vintage Carousel by the Sea by Jaimie Admans
☆My Life in Shambles by Karina Halle
☆Irresistible by Melanie Harlow
☆Roomies by Christina Lauren
☆Our Stop by Laura Jane Williams
☆Meet Cute by Helena Hunting
☆Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren
☆Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
☆The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
☆Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
☆The Forbidden Man by Karina Halle

Favourite Historical Fiction:
☆City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
☆At the Mountain's Edge by Genevieve Graham

Favourite Young Adult (a mix of genres, as you can see):
☆The Upside of Falling Down by Rebekah Crane
☆The Summer of Jordi Perez by Amy Spalding
☆Now a Major Motion Picture by Cori McCarthy
☆The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett
☆An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
☆Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco
☆Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw

Favourite Christmas Romances:
☆Snowflakes at the Little Christmas Tree Farm by Jaimie Admans
☆One Week Til Christmas by Belinda Missen
☆Faking Under the Mistletoe by Ashley Shepherd

To see a complete list of the books I read in 2019, visit my Goodreads challenge page. Please note I do count DNFs because I always give them a fair shot, and I also count my own books, which I have to read multiple times before publishing so it only seems fair that I get to count them toward my overall goal!

As you can see, adult contemporary romance was my most-read genre of the year. I did manage to mix in a bit of historical fiction and paranormal, and I rekindled my love of YA, which made me really happy. I discovered a ton of new authors, found a few new favourites, and returned to some favourite tried-and-true authors. I'm excited to see what the next year of reading holds! Speaking of which...

My 2020 Reading Goals:
☆I'll be participating in KimberlyFaye Reads' 2020 Tackle My TBR Challenge, as well as attempting to do Romanceopoly.
☆Goodreads goal: 85 books.
☆Read more diversely - more books by marginalized voices, and definitely more LGBTQ books.
☆Diversify a bit in my genres. I adore contemporary romance and romcoms, but I'd like to read more historical fiction and some mystery. I've decided 2020 is my year to finally read Agatha Christie, and I bought Murder on the Orient Express and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd during pre-Christmas sales.
☆Read more books by indie authors. When I went through my list of books I read in 2019 I was pleasantly surprised by the number of fellow indies I read, but I want to read even more next year.
☆Read more backlist books and books I already own.

What were some of your favourite books of 2019? Do we have any in common? Did you meet your reading goals for this year? Will you set any reading goals for 2020?

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*Please note I'm an Amazon affiliate, and some of the links in this review are affiliate links. All income made through affiliate sales goes directly back into maintaining Ramblings of a Daydreamer. Thank you for your support!  

9 of my Favourite Books From the First Half of 2019

2019 has been a strange reading year for me so far. I've had more DNFs in the last six months than I think I've had in the last few years put together. I don't know what's happening - whether I'm becoming a pickier reader or just not choosing the right books. When I sat down and went over the books I read in the first half of 2019, I was pleased to see there were a lot of excellent books among the DNFs and meh books. So here are 9 of my favourite books from the first half of 2019.

☆☆☆☆☆

  

Happy New You by Brenda St John Brown, Cassie-Ann L Miller, Ceri Grenelle, Elizabeth Lynx, Jami Albright, Julia Wolf, Laura Lee, Marika Ray, Mya Martin, Nikky Kaye, Sylvie Stewart Published: January 8th, 2019 by the authors Contemporary romance/romantic comedy This was one of my first reads of 2019, and it was a great way to start a new year! Allison is a bit of a hot mess, but she’s determined to start the year off right, so she creates a list of resolutions with the help of her friend Mateo. This friends-to-lovers romance is hilarious, sexy, and heartwarming. The characters are complex, and the story is about overcoming obstacles, stepping outside your comfort zone, and smashing other people's expectations. The fact it was written by eleven romcom authors (including one of my top favourite romcom authors, Brenda St John Brown) still blows my mind. Hold Me Today by Maria Luis Published: January 17th, 2019 by Alkmini Books Contemporary romance After having the investment money for her salon stolen, Mina turns to her best friend’s older brother, a super hot Greek god of a man named Nick, who Mina has known since childhood. In exchange for helping with the repairs on her salon, Nick needs Mina to pretend to be his girlfriend in order to get the paparazzi off his back after a disastrous stint on a reality dating show. This book has a combination of popular tropes like best friend’s brother, friends to lovers, and fake dating. It’s a slow burn romance and Nick and Mina’s chemistry is HOT. It was fun watching them fall for each other, and I loved Mina's growth throughout the story. The Upside of Falling Down by Rebekah Crane Published: January 30th, 2018 Contemporary young adult Seeing the word ‘Ireland’ in a book’s synopsis is my personal catnip. When Clementine wakes up in a hospital in Ireland with no memory of who she is or why she's there, all she knows is what she’s told: she is the lone survivor of a plane crash. Unable to deal with her complete lack of memories, plus the pressure of knowing the Irish press is out to get her story and that her dad is on his way from America, she makes up a story about who she is and why she’s there, and gets a cute Irish guy to help her leave the hospital. This story has such fantastic main and side characters, and I became completely invested in their stories. Clementine absolutely broke my heart at times, but I enjoyed watching her figure out who she wanted to be since she couldn’t remember who she was before.

  

At the Mountain’s Edge by Genevieve Graham Published: April 2nd, 2019 by Simon & Schuster Canadian historical fiction At the Mountain’s Edge is set in the late 1800s during the Klondike Gold Rush. It alternates points of view between Liza, a girl whose father uproots his family to take them on the search for gold, and Ben, a member of the North-West Mounted Police, tasked with keeping order in the frozen landscapes of the Yukon. I knew next to nothing about the Gold Rush before reading this book, and it was fascinating (and heartbreaking) to learn what people went through for the promise of riches. Graham’s ability to weave real history with fictional characters is incredible. I felt like I was right there with Liza and Ben, slogging through the frozen landscapes of the Yukon, fighting for survival. Liza and Ben truly came alive for me, and I rooted for them, ached for them, cried for them, and cheered for them throughout the story. The Little Vintage Carousel by the Sea by Jaimie Admans Published: April 3rd, 2019 by HQ Digital Contemporary women’s fiction/romantic comedy When the gorgeous man Ness sees from time to time on the morning train drops his phone, Ness experiences a real-life Cinderella moment. She makes it her mission to return the man's phone to him, and in the process write a story that could get her the promotion she’s been wanting. Tracking him down leads her to the picturesque seaside village of Pearlholme, where the mystery man is restoring a vintage carousel. Jaimie Admans’ books never fail to entertain. They’re always funny, but this one had me laughing til I cried. It was also adorable and swoony, and I loved the characters and how different the story felt from the norm. My Life in Shambles by Karina Halle Published: April 10th, 2019 by Karina Halle Contemporary romance Remember how I said any mention of Ireland was my personal catnip? Well that, plus the stunning cover, is what drew me to My Life in Shambles. Valerie makes a New Year’s resolution to say yes to new adventures, which leads her to Ireland with her sisters, and also leads her to talking to the hot, broody guy who catches her eye one night at a bar. What’s supposed to be a one-night stand turns into more when Padraig asks Valerie to accompany him home to Shambles and pretend to be his fiancee to give his dying father some peace of mind. This book dealt with so many real issues, from family troubles to weight-related issues to disabilities. It was beautiful and heartbreaking and inspiring and it made me laugh, cry, and swoon.

  

Irresistible by Melanie Harlow Published: February 25th, 2019 by Melanie Harlow Contemporary romance
Frannie has had a crush on Mack for ages, but she doesn't think he sees her as anything more than a co-worker and occasional babysitter for his three daughters. Mack definitely sees Frannie as more, but after his wife abandoned him and their girls, he's barely keeping it together, and being with Frannie would create a whole new set of problems...except he just can't seem to stay away from her. Irresistible has several fun tropes all in one: sexy single dad, older man, and an aspect of the forbidden because Mack works for Frannie’s parents. I loved Mack and Frannie separately and together; I thought the portrayal of Mack’s single parenthood was honest in its messiness and struggles, and Frannie’s desire for independence and to be seen as an adult by her parents and also by Mack really resonated with me. This book had the perfect balance of humour, sexiness, and feels.
Roomies by Christina Lauren Published: December 5th, 2017 by Gallery Books Contemporary romance/romantic comedy This was my first Christina Lauren book! I see their books all the time on bookstagram (and everywhere else), and I decided it was finally time to give them a shot. Roomies was a good place to start because I loved it. Set in New York City, this is a marriage of convenience story about Holland, who becomes obsessed with a street musician, who ends of being an Irishman living in the States illegally. He also happens to be perfect for Holland’s uncle’s Broadway musical, but he needs to be a legal resident of the US first...hence the marriage of convenience. This book was funny and sexy, and I loved the musical aspect as well as the fantastic side characters.
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert Published: June 4th, 2019 by Riverhead Historical fiction/women’s fiction Set mostly in 1940s New York City, City of Girls follows the (mis)adventures of Vivian, a restless young woman who’s sent to the city to live with her eccentric theatre-owning aunt. Vivian went from a sheltered life to one of independence, unabashed promiscuity, alcohol, excess, and glamour. In many ways, this book was an unapologetic look at sex and sexuality, and despite being set 70+ years ago, there were so many parallels to today and how women - especially women who own their sensuality and sexuality - are often seen. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and I know Vivian will stay with me for a long time.

There you have it - 9 of my favourite books from the first half of 2019! See any favourites? Have any of these on your TBR? What were some of your favourites from the first half of the year?

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Cover Reveal: At the Mountain's Edge by Genevieve Graham

Happy Monday, book lovers! Today I'm excited to be part of the cover reveal for Genevieve Graham's upcoming Canadian historical romance At the Mountain's Edge. I love Genevieve's books, and I especially love that they shine a light on Canadian history.

So, without further ado, check out the beautiful cover, followed by the synopsis and links to pre-order the book! 

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At the Mountain's Edge by Genevieve Graham

Release Date: April 2nd, 2019

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Canada

From bestselling author Genevieve Graham comes a sweeping new historical novel of love, tragedy, and redemption set during the height of the Klondike Gold Rush. In 1897, the discovery of gold in the desolate reaches of the Yukon has the world abuzz with excitement, and thousands of prospectors swarm to the north seeking riches the likes of which have never been seen before. For Liza Peterson and her family, the gold rush is a chance for them to make a fortune by moving their general store business from Vancouver to Dawson City, the only established town in the Yukon. For Constable Ben Turner, a recent recruit of the North-West Mounted Police, upholding the law in a place overrun with guns, liquor, prostitutes, and thieves is an opportunity to escape a dark past and become the man of integrity he has always wanted to be. But the long, difficult journey over icy mountain passes and whitewater rapids is much more treacherous than Liza or Ben imagined, and neither is completely prepared for the forbidding north. As Liza’s family nears the mountain’s peak, a catastrophe strikes with fatal consequences, and not even the NWMP can help. Alone and desperate, Liza finally reaches Dawson City, only to find herself in a different kind of peril. Meanwhile, Ben, wracked with guilt over the accident on the trail, sees the chance to make things right. But just as love begins to grow, new dangers arise, threatening to separate the couple forever. Inspired by history as rich as the Klondike’s gold, At the Mountain’s Edge is an epic tale of romance and adventure about two people who must let go of the past not only to be together, but also to survive.

Pre-order At the Mountain's Edge now!

Amazon Canada || Amazon US || Chapters/Indigo || Barnes & Noble

Isn't it beautiful? The team at Simon & Schuster Canada always do such an incredible job with Genevieve's covers! This is officially the first 2019 release on my wishlist!

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