Stories of the Black Hand

Title: The Circus Fire: A True Story of an American Tragedy
Author: Laurie Fabiano
Genre: Historical fiction
Sub-genre: Semi-autobiographical
Pages:  410
Published: 2009
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN:  1442152613
Reader's Annotation: The story of a family through the 1900s into the 1980s and the role they played in Lower East Side in NYC's history
Summary: Fabiano brings to light stories form her family in Giovanna, who's family was a target of the early ancestors of the Mafia (known as The Black Hand), and how she survived to pass down her stories to the author.
My Evaluation: What an interesting book... I was not a fan of the switching time periods but it made sense. I also didn't like how many characters I had to remember and how they were related to each other. I also absolutely hated the ending. She just ended it so abruptly! The story was fascinating but some of it needed a but more flushing out...
Rating:  3.4 out of 5

New book!

Title: The Dressmaker
Author: Kate Alcott
Genre: Historical Fiction
Sub-genre: romance, history
Pages:  306
Published: 2012
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
ISBN: 0385535589
Reader's Annotation: Tess's life could be so much more. Meeting one of the world's most famous designers will change it forever. But will that change be for good or for bad?
Summary: Tess is a girl from the country. In order to escape a perverted son of an employer, she travels to the dock where the Titanic is about to set sail. There she meets Lucile Duff-Gordon, a world famous dressmaker. She convinces "Madame" to take her on as a maid in order to showcase her skills in dressmaking. As history shows, the Titanic would hit an iceberg and sink. Amidst the turmoil that was going on that night, Tess, Lucile, and her husband, all escape, long with many other first class passengers. Alcott weaves a tale of what happened that night and the aftermath to come as well as weaving a tale of romance between Tess and fellow first class passenger and Tess and a sailor.
My Evaluation: I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads and I'm now getting around to reading it! It was a good book. Alcott's writing is extremely easy to follow and she makes you want to know what happens to her characters.  It was a fairly quick read once I got into read it and into it. However, there were a couple things I wasn't so fond of. The first was taking so long to bring Jack Bremeton back. It just took too long in my opinion to reveal to the reader that he was alive and by that point I was ready for Tess and rooting for Tess to be with Jim. So I think it would have made a much more compelling story at least in terms of romance if Alcott had brought Jack back earlier and made Tess's decision even harder.
Rating:  4.7 out of 5

Fall of Giants

Title: Fall of Giants
Author: Ken Follett
Genre: Historical Fiction
Sub-genre: romance, history
Pages:  1000
Published: 2011
Publisher: NAL Trade
ISBN: 0451232577
Series: Century Trilogy, #1
Reader's Annotation: Several different stories intertwine with the 20th century's first major war
Summary: Follett weaves a long tale of several stories of different families from different cultures and classes through the tale of World War I. From a lower class coal mine workers to a Lord from Wales, to Russian workers, Follett allows the reader to gain a new prospective on a war that was suppose to end all wars.
My Evaluation: Such a long book! I'm really glad I finished it. Follett, while over writes some details like the exact brand of gun or grenade, weaves a good tale. You grow to love the characters and wonder what happens to them. This and the fact that within each chapter, the story jumps from family to family so sometimes you have rack your brain as to what happened to that character because sometimes Follett takes a long break from them. I did get use to it after a while but it was kind of annoying
Rating:  4.7 out of 5

Love in the Time of War

Title: Bridge of Scarlet Leaves
Author: Kristina McMorris
Genre: Historical Fiction
Sub-genre: women's fiction, romance, adventure
Pages:  437
Published: 2012
Publisher: Kensington Publishing
ISBN: 0758246854
Reader's Annotation: America's entrance into World War II changes the lives of two families forever through the eyes of two cultures seemingly two worlds apart.
Summary: Maddie, a talented violinist, headed for Julliard, falls in love with Lane, a Japanese-America and in that blind love, marries him. Through the book, McMorris, gives the reader a view of families caught in the upheaval in the days and years following Pearl Harbor
My Evaluation: Wow... what a book. Could not put it down! I won this book via Sarah Jio's site and I waited to read it. Ms. McMorris weaves a tale of three young people at America's entrance to WWII giving accurate and rich details that makes you fall in love with the characters. I ended up cheering for them when they succedded and crying when they had problems. There was only one downside to the book (see after next line). However baring this one downside, the book is excellent and couldn't wait to find and read her other book. She's an amazing writer. It was a little hard to go back and forth between several different view points but once I got use to it after a couple of chapters, it flowed amazingly.!
SPOILER DO NOT READ ANY FARTHER
I was extremely unhappy with Ms. McMorris having Lane die! I couldn't believe after all that both he and Maddie went through to be together, she killed him! Granted he died a hero but still!

Rating:  5 out of 5

Travels to China

Title: The Emperor's Tomb
Author: Steve Berry
Genre: Suspense
Sub-genre: Thriller, historical fiction, mystery
Pages:  436
Published: 2010
Publisher: Ballantine Books
ISBN: 0345505492
Series Order:  #6 (First book in the series can be found here)
Reader's Annotation: How will Cotton get out of China?
Summary: Cotton Malone is once again dragged into an international problem in order to help save China and his love, Cassiopeia Vitt. As he travels first to Belgium, then to China, he has to figure out who is on what side. Will he do it in time?
My Evaluation: I adore Berry's books, however, this one was not my favorite. While the mystery was good and I as a reader was never quiet sure who was playing who and who was working for whom, I had a hard time getting into the historical stuff. I think it is because it's Eastern history and that's not a favorite of mine. Not to mention not being able to pronounce names made it doubly challenging.
Rating:  3.8 out of 5
Readalikes:

Altar of Bones by Philip Carter

Napoleon's Pyramids (Ethan Gage, #1) by William Dietrich

The Expected One (Magdalene Line Trilogy, #1) by Kathleen McGowan

The Crystal Skull by Manda Scott

The Solomon Effect by C.S. Graham

The Amber Room by Steve Berry

The Romanov Prophecy by Steve Berry

The Hidden Oasis by Paul Sussman

Black Order (Sigma Force #3) by James Rollins

Where fact meets fiction

Title: My Name is Mary Sutter
Author: Robin Oliveira
Genre: Historical Fiction
Sub-genre: East Coast, Civil War, Medicine
Pages:  364
Published: 2010
Publisher: Viking Adult
ISBN: 0670021679
Reader's Annotation: Will Mary get what she wants and change the course of a nation's history?
Summary: Mary Sutter, a 20-something women from Albany, New York and practicing midwife, wants more for her life in then small town life. After the let down of a love and the rejection of the medical college, Mary leaves home for Washington DC and to help in the emerging Civil War. Mary's tale of triumph and loss is interwoven with that of rich historical detail of the beginnings of America's bloodiest war
My Evaluation: The story of this remarkable woman and the men and women around her who risked their lives to save the nation's soldiers are the true un-sung heroes of the Civil War. Oliveira's novel is richly researched and a tale is truly woven. However, I felt that there was something lacking... I tried to connect with Mary in her triumphs and losses but something kept me from fully doing that. I can't place my finger on what it was but it was there. Overall, though, it was a good novel and great for those who love Civil War history.
Rating:  3.5 out of 5

Conspiracy theories

Title: The Poet Prince
Author: Kathleen McGowan
Genre: Historical Fiction
Sub-genre: Mystery
Series number: Is book 3 in the Magdalene Line Series
Pages:  408
Published: 2010
Publisher: Touchstone
ISBN:  0743299981
Reader's Annotation: Where will Maureen's work take her now?
Summary: Maureen's work has led her through France and Tuscany, Now, she must continue her research into the Spear of Destiny and Beringer's own family line. Twists and turns will come along the way as, Maureen, Beringer, Tammy, Roland, and Peter intertwine their pasts.
My Evaluation: While I thoroughly enjoy McGowan's writing style (I have written about the first book here), I didn't like this book as much. The first 1/3 of the book seemed to be a rehashing of the first two which, if you're reading this one you didn't need. I also felt like McGowan was rushing this one a bit. While the other two I listened to as audiobooks, this didn't matter so much but not having chapters annoyed me quiet a bit
Rating:  3.5 out of 5

A Family Secret

Title: Sarah's Key
 Author: Tatiana de Rosnay
Genre: Historical
Sub-genre: Historical Fiction
Pages:  294
Published: 2007
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
ISBN: 9780312370848
Reader's Annotation: A family's secret could change Julia's life forever
Summary: In researching for an upcoming article, Julia Jarmond is looking into the Vel' d'Hiv round-up that happened in Paris in July of 1942. Her story of her research and discovery of a family secret intertwines with that of Sarah, a 10 year old Jewish girl in the summer of 1942
My Evaluation: (SPOILERS AHEAD) I adore this book so much. This is now the second time I've read it and it still makes me cry! I'm very attached this book because of my background in genocidal studies/history and the fact that it intrigues me that de Rosnay draws you in with both stories. The first time I read it, I kind of hated the switching back and forth of the chapters but the second time it didn't phase me. I know why de Rosnay did it and it works so well for this book.  The optimist in me, kind of wishes (still after the second reading) that Julia would have found Sarah alive in the end, but I get why de Rosnay played it out the way she did.
Rating: 5 out of  5
Read-a-likes: Here are a couple read-a-likes for this book that I adored:
The Kommandant's Girl by Pam Jenoff
 Push Not the River by James Conroyd Martin
Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian