Read With Sharon

Welcome to my Book Club

I launched my book club in January 2020 to spotlight the work of other authors and develop an audience for my own writing. Over the past three years, we have hosted numerous authors to include Diane Chamberlain, Susan Meissner, Mariah Fredricks, Kristina McMorris, Amy Harmon, Mark Sullivan, Sarah Ferguson – Duchess of York, Stephanie Dray and others. 

We only read current release historical fiction and I PRE-READ them all. I know your time is precious; I want you to spend it reading books that will delight you and that you will be happy to recommend them to others. 

I would love to have you join my club!

February 2024

The Only One Left

While I have read Riley Sager’s thrillers before, I hadn’t considered his work as historical, but his latest book The Only One Left is a perfect blend of both genres.

Set in Maine in 1983, it’s the story of Kit who takes a job caring for Lenora (Edgar Allen Poe, anyone?), a woman who in 1929 was accused of killing her family Lizzie Borden style. With some many subplots and mysteries within the story, Sager does a great job diverting our attention, distracting us as he brings so many seemingly unrelated threads into one colossal conclusion. While I guessed a few of reveals, I was shocked by the conclusion. It’s a fast read, and one I am sure you will enjoy!

This month, we will meet on Thursday, February 29 at 7:00 pm EST via zoom. I look forward to seeing you then..

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

January 2024

Go as a River

For many of us, the town where we grew up is encoded in our conscience and provides us a sense of home and belonging. As adults, we often visit those places of our childhood and the memories we made there. Many of us never leave our hometowns or return there to live, raise our families or retire. But imagine if the place where you grew up was gone forever, flooded and resting at the bottom of a lake? Would you grieve the loss? I know that I would.

Loss and resilience are the themes of Shelley Read’s Go As A River, and is my pick for this month. Inspired by true events surrounding the destruction of the town of Iola in the1960s, it is a story of love in the face of hardship and of finding courage and a sense of home where it is least expected.

This month, we will be joined by Shelley Read to discuss this incredible story. Please note the change in date. We will meet in Thursday,February 1 at 7:00 pm EST via zoom. I look forward to seeing you then..

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

December 2023

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women

In a conversation with Carol Fitzgerald at the Book Reporter, she mentioned that Lisa See’s Lady Tan’s Circle of Women was her favorite read of 2023. (And trust me, Carol is hard to impress!) So with that in mind, I downloaded the book on my Kindle and dove straight in. What a fabulous recommendation and incredible story!

Set in 15th-century China, it’s the story of Tan Yunxian whose life is forever changed after her mother dies and she is sent to live with her grandparents. Though uncharacteristic of the time, Yunxian’s grandmother is a doctor and trains her granddaughter in the art of Chinese Medicine.

Yunxian also meets the daughter of a midwife, Meiling, with whom she forms a deep friendship. But the day for Yunxian to marry inevitably comes, ripping her away from everything she knows and loves.

Based on a real-life events of a 15th century Chinese physician, it’s a story of courage, perseverance and the powerful bonds of friendship.

This month, we are truly blessed to be joined by Lisa See. She doesn’t do many book club discussions (especially three days after Christmas!) so please mark your calendars on on Thursday, December 28 at 7:00 pm EDT on zoom.

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

November 2023

Loot

When I was stuck in bed for weeks after the surgery for my broken leg, a friend gave me a copy of Loot to help pass the time. Tania James is a local author so of course I was interested. And what a wonderful read.
Set in India, France and England at the turn of the eighteenth century, it’s the story of seventeen year-old Abbas, who makes toys and dreams of leaving his mark on the world. He is taken from his home and makes a life-sized automaton for the ruler of Mysore. The “toy” consists of a man wearing a red coat pinned on the ground under a giant cat. Turn a crank and the man groaned and wave done arm over his mouth while the animal growled.

Abbas’s contraption becomes the prize of the Sultan, and also one of the many treasures seized from the palace during the height of colonialism. Abbas’s quest to recover the automation is an inspirational story…one that emphasizes perseverance and determination in facing obstacles and setbacks that are seemingly impossible to overcome.

This month, our zoom meeting will be held on Thursday, November 30 at 7:00 pm EDT on zoom.

Until then, hope you enjoy reading Loot.

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

October 2023

Homecoming

My October book pick is Homecoming by Kate Morton. And what a book! I was about 100 pages in when I thought I had the story figured out. How right, and, oh, how wrong I was! Masterfully crafted, Kate Morton takes us on a ride we won’t soon forget!

Set in Australia from the late 1950s to present, Homecoming is the story of a young journalist unexpectedly thrown in to her family’s past and her quest to uncover the horrible truth behind their secret. If there is only one of my book club picks you read this year, Homecoming is that book.

Homecoming is a dense read and at nearly 600 pages, you’ll want to start early. That’s one reason why I am moving our discussion out a week from our usual time.

This month, our zoom meeting will be held on Thursday, November 2 at 7:00 pm EDT on zoom.

Until then, hope you enjoy reading Homecoming

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

September 2023

Only the Beautiful

My September book pick is Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner. Y’all loved her writing in The Nature of Fragile Things and I just know you will enjoy this one. Susan’s style is so captivating and pulls at your heartstrings from the first page. Only the Beautiful delves into the realities of eugenic sand the heart-wrenching impact on the lives of two women it affected.

Set in the 1930’s and through WWII, Only the Beautiful is the story of a young mother’s fight to keep her daughter, and the terrible injustice that tears them apart. Be forewarned, this book will evoke your every emotion. So have a box of Kleenex ready for an incredible ride!

Author Susan Meissner will be joining us this month for our book club discussion. We will meet on Thursday, September 28 at 7:00 pm EDT on zoom.

Until then, hope you enjoy reading Only the Beautiful

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

August 2023

Hotel Laguna

Author Nicola Harrison leads us through the female-staffed factories of World War II to the sun-splashed beaches of southern California, plunging into one woman’s daring journey to demand more for herself. With rich period detail and skillful consideration of a post war society in flux, Nicola spins a tale of love, identity, and the hidden secrets of the art world.
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book. I found Hotel Laguna to be an easy, breezy beach read. Having spent time at Laguna Beach over the past three decades, I found Nicola’s descriptions spot on of both the place and the vibe of this SoCal community.
I loved the protagonist Hazel Francis and her boss, the eccentric artist Hanson Ratcliffe. A mystery, a romance and a story of courage. It’s a quick read…I finished the book in an afternoon by my pool. My only criticism was that I found the opening chapters a bit stagnant and the ending a little too predictable. But that’s what beach reads are all about! Romance and predictability! Author Amy Harmon will be joining us this month for our book club discussion. We will meet on Thursday, August 24 at 7:00 pm EDT on zoom. Until then, hope you enjoy reading Hotel Laguna. I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

July 2023

A Girl Called Samson

I love Amy Harmon’s writing! By allowing the circumstances of historical events to guide the story, she isn’t locked into a specific genre. She has this fabulous way of blending suspense and romance in her novels that I find thoroughly entertaining.

Amy’s newest release, A Girl Called Samson, delves into the true-life story of Deborah Sampson, an American hero who disguised herself as a man to fight in the Revolutionary War. With its patriotic themes, I thought it would be a perfect fit for my July pick. Although Amy takes the usual liberties in the fictional writing of real events, her book is filled with meticulous historical detail of the Revolution and colonial life. Although the story starts a tad slow, you’ll soon find yourself unable to put the book down and deeply immersed in Deborah’s story.

Author Amy Harmon will be joining us this month for our book club discussion. We will meet on Thursday, July 20 at 7:00 pm EDT on zoom.

Until then, hope you enjoy reading A Girl Called Samson.

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

June 2023

The Ways We Hide

Kristina McMorris joined our discussion last fall with a book that she co-authored with three other authors. During that call, I learned that she had released a new book, The Ways We Hide. It took me a while to get to it, but I am so glad I finally did! Based on true events, it’s a story you won’t want to miss.
As a child, Fenna is caught up in a Christmas Eve disaster (based on the Italian Hall Disaster of 1913.) Traumatized by this horrific event, she turns to magic and the art of illusion to help her process. The first half of the book is dedicated to telling this part of Fenna’s story. When her work as an escape artist attracts the attention of British intelligence, Fenna is called to help the war efforts This second part of the story is like a sequel to the first.
The Ways We Hide is a bit longer than most books we read which is why our meeting is late in the month, giving you plenty of time to enjoy this amazing “true” story.
Our meeting will include a discussion with the author, Kristina McMorris on Thursday, June 29 at 7:00 pm EDT. I look forward to seeing you then.

Until then, I hope you find The Ways We Hide as entertaining as I did.

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

May 2023

Lessons in Chemistry

When I read the reviews on Lessons in Chemistry, I became curious as to what all the hype was about. Then I heard there was a movie being made on the book. So I picked up a copy. And once I started reading, I was unable to put it down. What a fun read! Mind you this is a serious story with serious themes and scenes, but at times I found myself laughing aloud at Protagonist Elizabeth Zott’s dry sense of humor, and at the antics of her daughter and her dog.

Lessons in Chemistry is a lesson in the unfairness of life, and also schools us in the lessons taught by karma. But for me, the story of Elizabeth Zott reminds us how much the world has changed in fifty years and yet how much it remains the same.

This month, we will be meeting on Thursday, May 25, at 7:00 pm EDT.

Until then, I hope you find Lessons In Chemistry  as entertaining as I did.

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

April 2023

Demon Copperhead

Growing up impoverished on the edge of Appalachia, I had a keen interest in Barbara Kingsolver’s latest release, Demon Copperhead. Although not historical fiction, with the parallels to Charles Dicken’s famous work David Copperfield, I felt the connection to the classic, which was written in 1849 was justification enough to select it as my pick this month.

Set in Lee County Virginia, this tumultuous coming-of-age story of Demon Copperhead home and belonging, and values and purpose. We struggle along with Demon on his search for identity in his journey toward self-actualization, autonomy and freedom.

This month, we will be meeting on Thursday, April 27, at 7:00 pm EST.

Until then, I hope you find Demon Copperhead as entertaining as I did.

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

March 2023

Horse

Going to the steeple chases and point-topoint races was an activity my four sons loved doing growing up. We made it into a whole day. We would dress up, pack our cars full of food, and anxiously await seeing the beautiful horses run through the green fields of the Great Meadow. We’d have a spot right on the
rail to be as close to them as we could get. I loved seeing the wonderment on the boys faces as the thoroughbreds raced by..

When I saw Horse by Geraldine Brooks, I knew it was something I would enjoy. It combines three of my great loves; animals, art, and history. Brooks is able to tell different stories in different time periods, and weave them together beautifully. This is a book that I know you are going to love!

This month, we will be meeting on Thursday, March 30 at 7:00 pm EST.

Until then, I hope you find Mercury Pictures Presents as entertaining as I did.

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

February 2023

Mercury Pictures Presents

One of our book club regulars sent me a note highly recommending this book for one of our monthly selections. Quite the critic herself, I thought “If Janet loves it, my guess is I will, too.” So I downloaded it on my Kindle and found myself swept away.

Not only is Mercury Pictures Presents a fabulous story, it’s Anthony Marra’s intriguing style of writing and his unlikely descriptions that makes the novel so entertaining and thought provoking. New York Times reviewer Matthew Specter provides this example from the book: A rusted-out rowboat decaying on a bank is presented as “a visual index of local fungi and a nursery for deciduous saplings.” Both clever and artful, Marra’s writing aptly reflects the characters of the story.

This month, Anthony Marra will join our book club meeting to discuss his inspiration behind the story. To accommodate his schedule, we will be meeting on Thursday, February 16 at 7:00 pm EST.

Until then, I hope you find Mercury Pictures Presents as entertaining as I did.

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

January 2023

The Lindbergh Nanny

Meet Betty Gow, a young Scottish immigrant who was hired as a nurse to care for the only child of Charles and Anne Lindbergh. Betty was settling into her new life on the Lindbergh’s 390-acre New Jersey estate when the unthinkable happens and the baby is abducted from his crib. Betty becomes a suspect in the kidnapping and launches her own “whodunnit” investigation to clear her name.

In The Lindbergh Nanny, Mariah Fredericks has crafted a rich historical fiction that is so well researched and true to actual facts that, in my opinion, this book could very well be classified as non-fiction. If you love a good mystery based on a true crime event, you’re going to love this book.

This month, author Mariah Fredericks will join our book club meeting to discuss her inspiration behind the story. To accommodate her schedule, we will be meeting on Thursday, January 19 at 7:00 pm EST.

Until then, I hope you find The Lindbergh Nanny as enjoyable as I did.

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

December 2022

The Secret Life of Sunflowers

The Secret Life of Sunflowers was highly recommended by two of our book club members. It’s unusual for me to get two requests for a book from an author I had not heard of before, so naturally I was curious. When I researched the reader reviews, I was thrilled to see such positive feedback. And when I researched the author, I became even more intrigued.

Marta Molner is the pen name for USA Today and New York Times bestselling romance/fantasy author Dana Marton. And this month we are honored to have her join us to discuss her unveiling of Vincent Van Gogh’s sole heir and the story that brought the brilliance of his work to the attention of
the world.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am confident you will as well! This month we will be meeting at our normal time on Thursday, December 29 at 7:00 pm EST. Please mark your calendar to join us and author Marta Molnar aka Dana Marton in our discussion. Until then, I hope you find The Secret Life of Sunflowers as enthralling as I did.

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

November 2022

The Nurse’s Secret

Last year, we read Susan Meissner’s The Nature of Fragile Things and not only fell in love with the book but also her writing style. When I saw that she had co-written another novel with two other best-selling authors, I was more than intrigued.

When We Had Wings is another selection featuring nurses as the protagonist(s). In the current book I am writing, my protagonist was a nurse during the Civil War which might explain my current obsession with early nursing practices and the medical field. I find my writing has enormous impact on my reading these days. This novel will be the first book that we’ve read with multiple authors. I can’t wait to hear your impressions!

We have been fortunate to have had so many authors join us at our monthly book club meetings. To date, I have not yet snagged one of the authors to join us in our monthly discussion. But I’m working it!

Because of Thanksgiving, this month we will be meeting on Thursday, December 1 at 7pm EST. Please mark your calendar to join us. Until then, I hope you find When We Had Wings as enthralling as I did.

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

October 2022

The Nurse’s Secret

“After spending the past few weeks knee-deep in research and non-fiction reading, I was in the mood for a fastpaced, page turner this month. And my-oh-my, did I ever find one! The Nurse’s Secret is one of those books that you simply cannot put down. And Amanda Skenandore knows how to write! Using her medical experience to ground her writing, she has masterfully integrated the components of murder mystery, suspense, and romance into a spellbinding historical fiction novel. In case you couldn’t tell, I loved it!”

We have been fortunate to have had so many authors join us at our monthly book club meetings. And to my delight, the author of this month’s pick, too, zoom in. So mark your calendar to hear Amanda Skenandore discuss her inspiration behind her writing of the story.

We will be meeting on Thursday, October 27 at 7pm EDT. Please mark your calendar to join us for a most enlightening discussion. Until then, I hope you find The Nurse’s Secret as fascinating as I did.

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

September 2022

Booth

“I did not want to write a book about John Wilkes. This is a man who craved attention and has gotten too much of it; I didn’t think he deserved mine.” Karen Joy Fowler

This month’s pick is technically about John Wilkes Booth, but it really isn’t. It’s about his family and the tragic tale of their lives.

Booth’s father is a famous actor, and an unstable alcoholic. His mother is paralyzed by grief. A number of his brothers also become actors. And his sisters view their future and the world with trepidation. In Booth, we follow the family through their folly and failures and see the world in the mid 19th century through their eyes..

Be forewarned: this is a long book and does drag a bit. But I found the tragic story of this dysfunctional family worth it.

Please note that this month, we are back to our normal meeting schedule.

We will be meeting on Thursday, September 22 at 7pm EDT. Please mark your calendar to join us for a most enlightening discussion. Until then, I hope you find Booth as fascinating as I did.

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

August 2022

The Next Ship Home

From the first page, this story tugs at your heart strings. I knew after the first chapter that I would select it for one of our book club reads.

Having spent a great deal of my career working in Federal immigration, I found this depiction of Ellis Island and the country’s immigration process one hundred years ago both fascinating and horrifying. And with my German roots, I could really relate to Alma’s character and her internal conflict between knowing what she was expected to do and doing the right thing. The strong character of Alma and Francesca is empowering and relevant in so many ways to our world today.

Please note that this month, we are making a change to our normal meeting date. The author Heather Webb will join our book club meeting on Wednesday, August 31 at 7pm EDT.

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting. Until then, I hope you enjoy The Unknown Beloved. I can’t wait to hear what you think!

July 2022

The Unknown Beloved

For the past several weeks, I have been knee-deep in final edits of my upcoming release while, at the same time, in the midst of writing my third novel. Both are “historical suspense/ mystery/thriller” stories, a genre quite different than my first book. So when I learned that Amy Harmon had a new release in this “historical suspense” genre, I felt compelled to check it out. And she did not disappoint!

Typically, historical fiction does not grab you from the first page; it’s a slow build as the author introduces us to the time, place and characters. Not true with this story…there’s murder and mystery from the first chapter!

I found this book hard to put down. And I fell in love with both Dani and Michael, the heroes of our journey to the 1930s and the streets of Cleveland. And I guarantee you will love them, too! This month, author Amy Harmon will join our discussion on Thursday July 28 at 7pm EDT.

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting. Until then, I hope you enjoy The Unknown Beloved. I can’t wait to hear what you think!

June 2022

The Christie Affair

As a teen, I fell in love with Agatha Christie’s stories of eccentric and egotistical detective Hercule Poirot and the many murder mysteries he and elderly spinster Miss Marple encountered. Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, Crooked House, The ABC Murders…the list is seemingly endless!

I was largely unaware of the circumstances surrounding the real-life mystery of Agatha Christie’s eleven day disappearance in 1926 until Marie Benedict’s fictional novel last year. Upon reading the reviews of Nina de Gramont’s latest novel on the subject, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to select her book for this month’s read.

In this telling, the unlikely protagonist is Nan O’Dea, the mistress of Archie Christie and the catalyst for Agatha’s and Archie’s divorce that sends Agatha over the edge. It’s a brilliant tale of revenge and murder that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting. Join us on Thursday, June 23 at 7 PM Eastern via Zoom!

October 2021

The Cape Doctor

Having traveled to both Cork, Ireland, and Cape Town, South Africa, I was immediately taken in by the lush descriptions of the scenes and settings of The Cape Doctor. Add the fact that Margaret/Jonathan, the protagonist of the story, was born the same year (1795) as the protagonist in my debut novel Masque of Honor, and my interest was further piqued. But when you open the book and start reading, it’s the storytelling that pulls you in…

Inspired by the real-life story of Dr. James Miranda Barry, The Cape Doctor follows the life of Margaret, a poor Irish girl who becomes Dr. Jonathan Perry, one of the most renowned physicians of the early 19th century. Dr. Perry achieves remarkable medical accomplishments including performing the first successful Caesarian surgery in Africa. But when he falls in love with the Cape Governor and is accused of having a homosexual relationship, the lie that he is living nearly costs him everything.

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

Upcoming Selections

November 2021

Harlem Shuffle

I’m not one to repeat authors for my book club picks, but Colson Whitehead is an exception. We read The Nickel Boys in March of 2020 and it ended up being a favorite for the year. And as one Goodreads reviewer wrote: “If Colson Whitehead writes it, then I will read it.”
A two-time Pulitzer Prizes winner for fiction, Whitehead switches gears to give us a crime thriller during the civil rights era of Harlem.

From the surface, this is a lighter novel but once we get into the story of Ray Carney, son of a career criminal who is succeeding on his own, we see the powerful tale of a man’s love for his family and the neighborhood where he lives. And no matter how much trouble he finds, we can’t help but root for Ray every step of the way.

With Thanksgiving upon us, we’re pushing this month’s meeting up a week. Join us on
Thursday, November 18 at 7 PM Eastern via Zoom

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

December 2021

Matrix

This is a whole different writing style than what we’re used to for my book club picks, but my husband Scott recommended this book and it’s been getting great reviews, so I wanted to give it a try.

Following a medieval abbess, Matrix takes place over several decades. It’s loosely inspired by late 12th-century poet Marie de France who is also our protagonist. Marie is stubborn, proud, and smart and does not fit into the current society where there is no place for smart women. After she is expelled from the French royal court and banished to England to be the new prioress of an ailing abbey, we follow her story as she publicly challenges political laws and social structures. It’s an empowering novel with great ambition about a woman’s drive to achieve greatness.

Join us on Wednesday, December 22 at 7 PM Eastern via Zoom. (Don’t worry, I’ll send you a reminder email the day before)!

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

January 2022

The Women of Chateau Lafayette

Stephanie Dray is the author of My Dear Hamilton – a great historical fiction that tells the story of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton. I loved this read and knew her next novel would be just as good. My initial literary coach who helped me release Masque of Honor is Stephanie’s current agent. When we realized this small coincidence, Stephanie and I connected and she agreed to join us for this month’s discussion!

Based on the true story of an extraordinary castle in the heart of France, The Women of Chateau Lafayette follows three women in three historical time periods. Each of them has a connection to the Chavaniac castle where Gilbert du Motier, better known as the Marquis de Lafayette, lived. We see their stories weave together as we follow their lives through war, drama, and “the spirit of Lafayette.”

Stephanie Dray has created a seamless and compelling tale that will captivate any historical fiction fan.

Join us on Thursday, January 27 at 7 PM Eastern via Zoom with Stephanie Dray herself (Don’t worry, I’ll send you a reminder email the day before)! Come with questions for the author as we enjoy getting to hear the ins and outs of this novel.

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

February 2022

The Last House on the Street

Diane Chamberlain is one of my favorite authors and also a friend of mine. I was able to read The Last House on the Street before it was released and I know you’ll love it as much as I did.

Set in a dual timeline, this novel tells an emotional story that takes us through a list of surprises, twists, and turns. The past crimes of a small North Carolina community become known as two women, separated by a generation, and brought together by tragedy and a decades-old mystery. The dual timelines blend together seamlessly and the story will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

This month, Diane will be joining our discussion so come prepared with questions for her! Join us on Thursday, February 24 at 7 PM Eastern via Zoom (Don’t worry, I’ll send you a reminder email the day before)!

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

March 2022

The Lincoln Highway

I began this book shortly after its October release while Scott and I were on our trip to Germany. It was the perfect novel to read while traveling as I followed our protagonist EmmetWatson take a road trip with two of his convict friends from NYC to San Francisco.

Told from multiple points of view, this is a multi-layered story that will captivate you with its brilliant characters and storyline. It’s a story of love, friendship, and the spirit of adventure that will captivate any historical fiction fan!

Join us on Thursday, March 31 at 7 PM Eastern via Zoom.

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

Previous Selections

September 2021

Hour of the Witch

With cooler weather settling in, Chris Bohjalian brings us Hour of the Witch to kick start Autumn.

It’s 1662 and newlywed Mary Deerfield finds herself married to a mean, abusive husband.
When she brings charges against him in a petition for divorce, it is she who becomes the
one accused. Not only was she unfaithful to her husband but could she also be a witch?
The rumors and accusations are flying in this Puritan community as Mary fights to escape
both her marriage and the gallows in this twisted colonial tale.

I read this book over the summer and fell in love with Mary Deerfield, her fearlessness and her courage. Readers be warned…there is a point in the middle of the book where the story drags a tad. DON’T STOP READING! The ending, with its twists and turns, is worth every ounce of the investment of your time. This is a great story and a great book – trust me!

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

August 2021

The Last Green Valley

The reviews for Mark Sullivan’s latest novel are fantastic. Having just started it, I can tell that it will be a favorite. Some of my loyal #ReadWithSharon members recommended the book after it was released in May so I knew I couldn’t pass it up.

This is a WWII historical fiction that is very hard-hitting but not an overly heavy read. While there is nothing political about the book, I found it to be a nice reminder of how precious our freedom truly is.

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

July 2021

When the Stars Go Dark

While it’s not our usual historical fiction pick, When the Stars Go Dark takes place in the early 1990s and continuously flashes back to our protagonist Anna’s childhood. It weaves together actual cases of missing persons, trauma theory, and a hint of the metaphysical to tell a story of fate, necessary redemption, and what it takes, when the worst happens, to reclaim our lives–and our faith in one another.

You don’t want to miss this!

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting.

June 2021

The Nature of Fragile Things

“It is the nature of the earth to shift. It is the nature of fragile things to break. It is the nature of fire to burn.”

This compelling story will instantly draw you in – I started it on a Saturday and was finished by Sunday afternoon! It’s a story of life’s choices, the resilience of women, the beauty of friendship, and women empowerment. 

The novel is riveting, and I can’t wait to discuss it with you!

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting

May 2021

West with Giraffes By Lynda Rutledge

“Part adventure, part historical saga, and part coming-of-age love story, West with Giraffes explores what it means to be changed by the grace of animals, the kindness of strangers, the passing of time, and a story told before it’s too late.”

During the summer months, I always try to pick a light beach read. I came across West with Giraffes which released just a week before Masque of Honor. Bookstagrammers were giving it great reviews and many were drawn to the captivating, adventurous story just as I was.

The novel is riveting, and I can’t wait to discuss it with you!

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting!

April 2021

Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson

During a recent interview with Carol Fitzgerald from Bookreporter.com, I learned about Yellow Wife and found the story very intriguing. Bookstagrammers were giving great reviews and when I read the first few chapters, I was hooked on this deep dive into history.

In Yellow Wife, author Sadeqa Johnson writes the harrowing story of an enslaved woman forced to barter love and freedom while living in the most infamous slave jail in Virginia.

Born on a plantation in Charles City, Virginia, Pheby Delores Brown has lived a relatively sheltered life.

Shielded by her mother’s position as the estate’s medicine woman and cherished by the Master’s sister, she is set apart from the others on the plantation, belonging to neither world.

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting!

March 2021

The Four Winds By Kristin Hannah

“My land tells its story if you listen. The story of our family.”

Kristin Hannah’s latest novel is a gripping portrait of the Great Depression and the tenacity, courage, and self-reliance of the Greatest Generation – and the characters in The Four Winds show how hope, idealism, and commitment to one another can carry us through the darkest of times.

The protagonist, Elsa Martinelli, must choose between staying with those she loves and the dying land that is home, or head west with nothing but a will to survive and a hope for a better life for her children.

It is a tale of heartbreak, tenacity, love, and courage.

“Be brave.” The words of her grandfather give her the strength to persevere during the most devastating crisis the country had ever endured.

And in the end, teaches her children the greatest lesson in life: to love and to be courageous.

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting!

February 2021

THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE By V.E. Schwab

“A Life No One Will Remember.
A Story You Will Never Forget.”

Her name may be doomed to be forgotten in this work of fiction – but you will definitely not forget the story of our February Book Club pick: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab.

This instant best-seller is a page-turner that takes you along with the adventures of a young woman who has made a deal with the devil to live forever, but never remembered.

I could not put this book down – I had to know how Addie wiggled her way out of the mess she and Henry were in, if she ever finds a way to outsmart Luc, and how it all ends! It made me wonder: have I made deals in my lifetime that I might yet have to pay penance for?

Addie’s invisible life plays out across continents, centuries, historical events and art. I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I did!

I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting!

January 2021

The Night Watchman By Louise Erdrich

Happy New Year!

The holidays may be over (goodbye, 2020!) but I hope you can join me by taking some time to sit back, enjoy your favorite beverage, and read what so many reviewers have declared the “Best Book of 2020” – The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich.

Erdrich based the story on the extraordinary life of her grandfather, who worked as a night watchman and activist against Native dispossession. She weaves a tale that illuminates
the loves and lives of memorable characters who are “forced to grapple with the worst and best impulses of human nature.”

From the publisher: “…this powerful novel explores themes of love and death with lightness and gravity and unfolds with the elegant prose, sly humor, and depth of feeling of a master craftsman.”

I fell in love with these dynamic characters and settings while gaining insight into Native
American culture and history – I hope you do as well. I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting!

December 2020

THE BOOK OF LONGINGS BY SUE MONK KIDD

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year …” – and what a year it has been! But December is a time for traditions, making new memories, and celebrating the season with decorations, festive food and spreading joy and cheer.

I love to cozy up in a comfortable spot and read a good book during the holidays. And this year, I’m enjoying The Book of Longings, by Sue Monk Kidd.

It’s the story of Ana – a rebellious, intelligent and courageous woman living in the 1st century – who becomes the wife of Jesus. Sue Monk Kidd imagines the life they would live together as a young married couple in a time when the poor and infirmed were oppressed and women were silenced.

Ana’s voice refuses to be quelled – her passionate words of longing and the stories she shares on the shards of clay pottery and papyrus reverberate through the centuries.

We will have a ZOOM discussion of the book at the end of the month and I would Love for you to join us. I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting!

November 2020

HAMNET BY MAGGIE O’FARRELL

This month has me feeling so many thoughts of gratitude as I find myself reflecting on what is really important to me – being with the ones we love (even if it’s in a virtual way) and appreciating all that we have.

My love for Shakespeare and the richness of storytelling in this month’s book club choice are why I’ve chosen the winner of the 2020 Women’s Prize for Fiction, Hamnet, by Maggie O’Farrell.

You don’t have to be a huge fan of William Shakespeare (like I am!) to relate to his personal story. Hamnet (an interchangeable styling of Hamlet) is the reimagined tale of Shakespeare’s young son, who died in 1596, at the age of 11. The now famous play, Hamlet, was written around four years later. The book provides a portrait of marriage and life in medieval times – which feels achingly familiar even today.

We will have a ZOOM discussion of the book at the end of the month and I would Love for you to join us. I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting!

October 2020

MEXICAN GOTHIC BY SILVIA MORENO-GARCIA

The nights are getting longer, and autumn has begun here in Virginia. With Halloween just around the corner, I’m looking forward to sweet treats, comfort food, and haunting stories that make us fear bumps in the night!

Ok, maybe not really wanting to hear bumps in the night – but cozying up with a good horror story feels like the perfect way to enjoy some reading this October. That’s why I’ve chosen the highly anticipated book of 2020, Mexican Gothic, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

The story takes place in 1950’s Mexico. Noemí Taboada finds herself out of her element – from frivolous cocktail parties to suffering in the silent, dark and moldering homestead where her beloved cousin has been forced to convalesce from a mysterious illness. The horror of the true situation makes for an intense, page-turning story you won’t want to miss.

We will have a ZOOM discussion of the book at the end of the month and I would Love for you to join us. I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting!

September 2020

THE VANISHING HALF BY BRIT BENNETT

The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after growing up
together in a small, southern black community and running away at
age sixteen, it’s not just the shape of their daily lives that is different
as adults, it’s everything: their families, their communities, their racial
identities.

Many years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same
southern town she once tried to escape. The other secretly passes
for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still,
even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of
the twins remain intertwined.

We will have a ZOOM discussion of the book at the end of the month and I would Love for you to join us. I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting!

August 2020

THE GUEST LIST BY LUCY FOLEY

On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It’s a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed. And then someone turns up dead. Why?

We will have a ZOOM discussion of the book at the end of the month and I would Love for you to join us. I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting!

July 2020

THE LAST TRAIN TO KEY WEST BY CHANEL CLEETON

The Florida Keys were ground zero for the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane, a devastating Category 5 storm — in fact, the strongest recorded hurricane to hit the United States. The novel’s imminent danger, its ticking clock, is the hurricane, but the three main characters and their complicated relationships really deliver the tension. Shy but resilient Helen Berner is nine months pregnant and in an abusive marriage. As both the storm and the baby approach, she has a choice to make about her nine-year marriage. 

We will have a ZOOM discussion of the book at the end of the month and I would Love for you to join us. I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and register for our ZOOM book club meeting!

May 2020

THE QUEEN OF PARIS BY PAMELA BINNINGS EWEN

Legendary fashion designer Coco Chanel is revered for her sophisticated style–the iconic little black dress–and famed for her intoxicating perfume Chanel No. 5. Yet behind the public persona is a complicated woman of intrigue, shadowed by mysterious rumors. The Queen of Paris, the new novel from award-winning author Pamela Binnings Ewen, vividly imagines the hidden life of Chanel during the four years of Nazi occupation in Paris in the midst of WWII–as discovered in recently unearthed wartime files.

We will have a discussion of the book on May 30th at 1:00 pm. I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and submit questions for our discussion!

April 2020

BIG LIES IN A SMALL TOWN BY DIANE CHAMBERLAIN

North Carolina, 2018: Morgan Christopher’s life has been derailed. Taking the fall for a crime she did not commit, she finds herself serving a three-year stint in the North Carolina Women’s Correctional Center. Her dream of a career in art is put on hold—until a mysterious visitor makes her an offer that will see her released immediately. Her assignment: restore an old post office mural in a sleepy southern town. Morgan knows nothing about art restoration, but desperate to leave prison, she accepts. What she finds under the layers of grime is a painting that tells the story of madness, violence, and a conspiracy of small-town secrets.

We will have a discussion of the book on April 25th at 1:00 pm. I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and submit questions for our discussion!

March 2020 
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

As the Civil Rights movement begins to reach the black enclave of Frenchtown in segregated Tallahassee, Elwood Curtis takes the words of Dr. Martin Luther King to heart: He is “as good as anyone.” Abandoned by his parents, but kept on the straight and narrow by his grandmother, Elwood is about to enroll in the local black college. But for a black boy in the Jim Crow South in the early 1960s, one innocent mistake is enough to destroy the future.

We will have a live discussion of the book on March 29th at 1:00 pm. I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and submit questions for our discussion!

February 2020 
The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

The Woman in the Window is a psychological thriller reminiscent of the best of Hitchcockian thrillers. The story is about an agoraphobic woman who believes she witnessed a crime in a neighboring house. It is a powerful story full of twists and turns, reminding you that things are not always as they appear!

We will have a live discussion of the book on February 29th at 1:00 pm. I encourage you to click here to read reviews, buy your own copy, and submit questions for our discussion!

January 2020 
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

I have some very exciting news! January 2020 marks the launch of my new book club! I’ve been thinking about this for a while and have realized that although there are many avenues in which to find good book recommendations, there are very few that are 100% honest.

I have been disappointed when I’ve been recommended a book that is a laborious read, or has a saggy middle or even has a TADAH! ending that isn’t a surprise at all.

That’s why my book club and I will PRE-READ all of our recommendations and will not recommend a book to you if we’re not all certain that it will delight you. I know your time is precious; I want you to spend it reading quality that you will be happy to recommend to others. 

Our first book is The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. We will have a live discussion of the book on January 25th at 1:00 pm. I encourage you to click here to read my review, buy your own copy, and submit questions for our discussion!

The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories – Arthur Conan Doyle

Snuggle up by the fire, light a candle, grab a blanket and get ready to get spooky. During the 19th century, it became traditional for publishers of newspapers and magazines to print ghost stories during the Christmas season for precisely that reason: snuggling by the fire. This is a collection of those tales.

Let me know what you think! Comment on Facebook. 

No Stopping Us Now – Gail Collins

This is a bit of a departure from my usual historical fiction recommendations, but it’s a really great trip through time with a very entertaining tour guide.

Trace the journey (and adventures) of older women in the United States through the decades, and learn quite a bit along the way. A worthy read on a cold Fall evening.

Let me know what you think! Comment on Facebook. 

Alias Grace – Margaret Atwood

A fascinating tale by the author of A Handmaid’s Tale, this takes place not in the imagined future, but in 1843. Grace Marks has been convicted for her involvement in the vicious murders of her employer and his housekeeper and mistress. Some believe Grace is innocent; others think her evil or insane. Now serving a life sentence, Grace claims to have no memory of the murders. If you’re a fan of mystery, this intriguing novel is a great read, and incidentally, a great Netflix production, though I have to admit that I liked the ending in the book much better than in the series. Incidentally this book relates to the current untitled project I’m working on, when I’m not dissecting Masque of Honor!

Let me know what you think! Comment on Facebook. 

Annelies – David R. Gillham

Want to take a break from 2019 for a bit? This entrancing novel answers the hypothetical question: What if Anne Frank had survived the Holocaust? You won’t be able to put this one down. The layers of the story are as haunting as the real life story of Anne Frank continues to be.

Let me know what you think! Comment on Facebook. 

Porgy – DuBose Heyward

The story of Porgy, Bess, Black Maria, Sportin’ Life, and the other citizens of Catfish Row inspired the George Gershwin musical “Porgy and Bess” and tells the story of Porgy, who disabled and unwanted, lives a life he has learned to endure, until he meets and falls for Bess during one long hot Charleston summer.

Published in 1925, it includes an afterword by James M. Hutchisson, the author’s biographer, who places Porgy in its social and historical context and shows how the novel revolutionized American literature by depicting black characters with empathy and emotional complexity. Interestingly, DuBose Heyward had no literary training, and he wrote Porgy while working as an insurance agent.

The book was later successfully dramatized for the New York stage. The production revolutionized the black theater movement with its casting of black actors.

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The Ax – Donald E. Westlake

What pushes a man so far out of his rational mind that a middle-aged manager at a paper company can morph into a cold-blooded killer? How fine is the line between a functional respected member of society and a community’s worst nightmare? Told in first person, the lack of irony in the protagonist’s voice is what makes this suspense thriller so unnerving and in its feel, a close cousin to Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley

Let me know what you think! Comment on Facebook. 

Unsheltered – Barbara Kingsolver

Willa Knox, a woman in the crossroads of her life as a mother and a professional, shares the dilapidated New Jersey home she inherited with her ailing Greek father-in-law and her two grown children. In an effort to hold on to her sanity and her home, she begins to investigate the home’s history, hoping that the local historical preservation society might take an interest and help with its repairs. This journey leads to the discovery of a kindred spirit from the 1880s, and shows us the parallel lives of two families who struggle to navigate the challenges of a world in the throes of major cultural upheaval.

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream – William Shakespeare

Always a classic I return to, (that stands the scrutiny of reading and rereading over and over again), this comedy by William Shakespeare, portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and Hippolyta. These include the adventures of four young Athenian lovers and a group of six amateur actors, who are controlled and manipulated by the fairies who inhabit the forest in which most of the play is set.

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Cold Mountain – Charles Frazier

Cold Mountain is an epic love story set against the backdrop of the Civil War. It is one man’s odessey as he struggles with the ravages of war and his desire to return home to the woman he loves. After being injured in Petersburg, Virginia and becoming disillusioned with the war, the Confederate soldier Inman decides to walk back to Cold Mountain in the Blue Ridge where he hopes to find his beloved Ada. As the end of the war nears, their lives finally converge, and they must now face the new world together. The story is rich in characters that intertwine with both Inman and Ada as they struggle to survive alone and then together during the Civil War. It is ambitiously written invoking beautiful landscapes and insights into the human soul. While this story is set in the Civil War, it resonates with another epic love story set in a different time – A Farewell to Arms.

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Once again this American classic never disappoints. Huck Finn is perhaps Mark Twain’s most famous (if not most controversial) book as he takes on the social issues of slavery and racism through his brash satirical style. The story is told in the first person by Huck as he attempts to help a former slave escape up the Mississippi river to free states.

The book begins as Huck was taken in by the Widow Douglas who attempted to educate him and teach him manners. When his drunken and abusive father returns to town he kidnaps Huck and takes him to a small shack along the river. Huck manages to escape and eventually run’s into Jim, the Widow’s former slave who has also escaped.

The story is full of colorful descriptions of people and places along the Mississippi river using the vernacular of the time by an uneducated 13 year old boy. As the two navigate through their many adventures, Huck is faced with the moral dilemma of the right and wrong and the prejudice he grew up with. Ultimately this is a book of friendship, acceptance, and hope.

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