Fallen Grace

Bubbles Jones could not imagine handing over her baby. These last few months, sequestered in the jail they call a home for unmarried girls -  Bubbles refuses to give up or give in to her Southern Baptist minister father who does not practice what he preaches. She finds a way to escape with a little help from a friend. These girls, one white and one black, are frowned upon by a hypocritical society who has hidden them away in a shameful attempt to put their babies up for adoption. In 1950’s segregated Virginia the entire community has turned it’s back on girls in “trouble.” Forcing them to believe they have no options except to let the adults in charge take advantage of their naivete and put them to work. The girls don’t have many options but they are strong and determined to build a life they can be proud of. This short story from Amazon Original Blaze series is FREE for Prime Members and easy to download. Similar to this author’s last two novels The Yellow Wife and The House of Eve, it is expertly crafted and filled with characters you will be thinking of long after the final page. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Love Intervention

Laila has no time for a social life. The last decade of her life has been dedicated to her job at a London hospital as a clinical scientist. Her two best girlfriends are ready to intervene. They know Laila needs a break from work and caring for her mother, in addition to sunshine and sex! Sneakily digging into the past the girls force Laila to admit she has not had an actual relationship or even a crush since her graduate school days at NYU. After doing some of their own love research they decide to arrange a three week vacation bringing Austin, Edoardo and Mateo back into Laila’s life. Categorizing these handsome hunks as second chance romance, friends to lovers and the one that got away, she begrudgingly sets off on this life changing adventure. From magnificent wine vineyards in California to the nature trails of Puerto Rico and Costa Rican beaches Laila wakes up from her work coma and begins to realize she can write the script for her own future. Through one steamy mishap after another Laila must come to terms with painful memories that have been holding her back for a decade. What better Valentines read than to learn it’s never too late for love! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Good Dirt

At ten years old, Ebby Freeman’s life was shattered when she witnessed the brutal murder of her brother—a tragedy her family has never fully healed from, even after years of therapy. Now approaching thirty, Ebby faces another devastating blow: being left at the altar by Henry, the man she thought would help her start anew. The weight of her pain, privilege, and family’s expectations sends her spiraling, and she flees the comfort of her parents’ New England home for the charm and solace of a picturesque French village. In this journey across oceans and centuries, Ebby begins to chronicle the remarkable story of her family’s rise from slavery to prominence in Massachusetts. From the backbreaking toil of plantation life to daring escapes on whaling ships, her ancestors—artists, inventors, and carpenters—built a legacy of resilience and excellence. Through a vibrant cast of characters, both past and present, Ebby’s story becomes a powerful tale of survival, heartbreak, and triumph. In her third stunning novel, Charmaine Wilkerson weaves together threads of Black history, familial bonds, and the complexities of contemporary relationships into an unforgettable saga of freedom and forgiveness. A thoughtful, captivating read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

The Endeavour of Elsie Mackay

When Elsie Mackay was a flashy actress, her family wanted nothing to with her. But since Elsie left that life behind, she rejoined her aristocrat father and brothers at one of the largest British shipping companies in the world. Dedicated to making rather bland ships into luxurious transatlantic liners, Elsie quickly became a successful interior designer. This dynamic woman didn’t stop there. She acquired her pilot’s license, unheard of for a woman at that time, and sat on a multitude of prestigious boards. In Post WW1 a woman could either have a career or have a family. One or the other, never both. Elsie rekindled her friendship with Stella Campbell, whom she had met during the war. Instead of sitting in on Paris Peace Conference, Stella found herself pregnant with baby number 3, resenting her husband and yearning to feel seen as a person with purpose. Her sister Corran chose books over people, an authoress that also lectured at university to women who may not be able to receive an actual degree. These three women, determined to find their place in the world support one another at a time when feminists were just beginning to seek birth control and working rights. In 1928, Elsie secretly purchases a Stinson Detroit airplane, partners with a well known ace pilot and was resolved to make history by becoming the first woman to complete a transatlantic flight. Based on a true story, this novel is a fast paced, fascinating peek of a brave, adventurous woman making history. ⭐⭐⭐⭐