Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor

We learn of Auntie Em's life with her sister Annie in Chicago and her life in Kansas before and after seven-year-old Dorothy came to live with Em and Henry after Annie passed away.

Em and her sister lived in Chicago until Uncle Henry swept her off her feet and took her to Kansas.

Annie stayed in Chicago and married a man Em wasn't fond of - she wasn't even sure her sister loved him.  Her sister had a secret that Em wanted to reveal, and it was something that came between them.

Em loved Kansas and her life on the farm, and when she was called back to Chicago to take her niece Dorothy to live with her, Em wondered how Dorothy would adapt to the rural life.

We go back and forth through both time periods that are filled with love and tenderness, and hope.

We learn of the hardships and the heartaches Auntie Em endured along with taking us through the depression, the stock market crash, and living in the dust bowl​ of the 1930s.

If you loved The Wizard of Oz and didn't know Auntie Em's story, BEFORE DOROTHY is a book you won't want to miss.

There are subtle mentions of the characters and scenes in The Wizard of Oz that will make you smile.

You will love how Toto got his name in this book - I'm guessing that is the real story about his name.

Auntie Em is a wonderful person who had a difficult and at times sad life.

I didn't really like her sister Annie - she was cold and only thought of herself.

BEFORE DOROTHY is another gem by Hazel Gaynor that you won't want to miss.

Hazel Gaynor's marvelous, descriptive writing pulls you right in and warms your heart.  5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book.  All opinions are my own.

Book Blogger Hop - 6/20/2025

Question of the Week:

Have you ever ventured out of your preferred genres? If so, were you surprised you enjoyed the book? (submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Review)

My Answer:

I normally do not, but actually I did last month.

I read two "romancy" books that were a pleasant surprise and change of pace from my murder and historical fiction books.

I may read more as time goes on.

Spotlight of Last Dance Before Dawn #4 by Katharine Schellman

PHOTO SOURCE:

TYPORAMA

*********** 

LAST DANCE BEFORE DAWN

KATHARINE SCHELLMAN

************

ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS TAKEN FROM MACMILLAN'S WEBPAGES.

************

Last Dance before Dawn is the final book in the luscious, mysterious, and queer Nightingale mystery series by Katharine Schellman, set in 1920s New York.

************

JUNE 17

MINOTAUR

************

PRAISE FOR THE NIGHTINGALE MYSTERIES:

"Buoyant... A juicy, jazzy period whodunit that charms." —Kirkus Reviews on The Last Note of Warning

"Clever... Will keep even the best armchair sleuths on their toes. This continues Schellman's winning streak."
—Publishers Weekly on The Last Note of Warning

"The characters and plot come alive in this atmospheric historical mystery." —Library Journal (starred review) on The Last Note of Warning

"Fizzy . . . Vivian is a terrific character, plucky and resourceful, determined to choreograph a different life for herself."—New York Times Book Review on Last Call at the Nightingale

"Excellent . . . Vivian proves to be a most imaginative sleuth. Readers will eagerly await her return."—Publishers Weekly (Starred) on Last Call at the Nightingale

A Library Journal "Best Crime Fiction of 2022"
A Publishers Weekly Mystery/Thriller Summer Reads 2022 Pick
One of Goodreads' 2022 "Spring's Most Anticipated New Mysteries"
One of BookPage's "Four Best June Mysteries"
A Bustle "Most Anticipated Book of June 2022"
A Virginia Living "Notable Spring Book"

PRAISE TAKEN FROM MACMILLAN'S WEBPAGE

************

ABOUT LAST DANCE BEFORE DAWN:

Vivian Kelly has finally created a home and a family at the glamorous speakeasy known as The Nightingale, where no one cares who you are in the daytime. After all, in the underground world of 1920s New York City, everyone has a secret to keep, and they’re on the Nightingale's dance floor to leave those secrets behind. But sometimes it takes more than a dance to escape your past.

When a stranger from Chicago shows up at The Nightingale looking to settle old scores, Vivian and the Nightingale's owner, the mysterious and alluring Honor Huxley, send him packing. They soon discover, though, that the stranger was just a warning. Slowly, the people who have made The Nightingale their home realize that someone is following them. Hunting them. And that someone won’t stop until they unravel a mystery that’s been cold for years: a missing girl, a boy out for revenge, and a truck full of cash that disappeared in a job gone horribly wrong.

Vivian just wants to protect the people she loves, and she's willing to dig into the dirt of the past to make it happen. But some questions are safer left unanswered, and now that Vivian has built a family for herself, she has more to lose than ever before.

TAKEN FROM MACMILLAN'S WEBPAGE

************

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

KATHARINE SCHELLMAN is a former actor and one-time political consultant. 

When not writing about mystery, history, and other improbable things, she can be found in her garden or finding new ways to skip steps while baking. 

She currently lives and writes in the mountains of Virginia in the company of her family and the many houseplants she keeps accidentally murdering. 

Her books include Last Call at the Nightingale and The Last Drop of Hemlock.

AUTHOR BIO AND PHOTO TAKEN FROM MACMILLAN'S WEBPAGE

************

FOLLOW THE AUTHOR:

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Website

Hazel Says No by Jessica Berger Gross

One little word.  NO!!

Who would think that two-letter word could cause such an upheaval.  

It certainly did in this small town, but it was a powerful exclamation.

Hazel and her family moved from New York City to beautiful Maine in hopes that they would have a more affordable life.

 

On the first day of school, Hazel is summoned to the principal’s office where he propositions her.  He tells her chooses a girl each year to have sex with, and he has chosen her.   She screams no and runs out.

He denies it all and said she is the one that suggested an illicit affair

What a disaster for the entire family.

We follow Hazel and her family as they go through this horrible event that unfortunately does happen in real life.

I did not like Hazel’s mother because she figured that keeping things hidden would take care of everything.

And her poor father was so upset about everything that he messed up his first day of teaching at the college and is already having to watch his step.

Her brother Wolf had to turn down the lead in the play because of pressure from one of his fellow students.  Loved Wolf!!

It was a mess all the way around and so sad.

HAZEL SAYS NO was emotional but also a lesson about what's right and what's wrong.  

What will win out?  What won out for Hazel?  4/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book.  All opinions are my own.

Spotlight of Tell Me Something Good by Court Stevens

PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA
***********    

TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD

COURT STEVENS

*********** 

ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF ASHLEY OF UPLIT READS AND AMAZON'S WEBPAGE.

 *********** 

This is a story of the rich and the very poor.

This is a story of an illegal auction with dire consequences. 

This is a story of murders past and present.

This is a story of intertwined relationships and the silent ripples they leave behind, where love becomes a guiding force, revealing the lengths one will go to protect those they cherish.

*********** 

June 3

Harper Muse

 *********** 

PRAISE FOR TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD:

"This is a writer that understands people down to the bones. Her characters are fallible and hopeful, flawed and loving, and so real they have stayed with me." --Joshilyn Jackson, New York Times bestselling author

"A knockout." --Booklist Starred Review

'Court Stevens deftly weaves together all the strands of this novel into a complex, heart-wrenching whole. This is a writer that understands people down to the bones. Her characters are fallible and hopeful, flawed and loving, and so real they have stayed with me. TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD wraps wise meditations about love and justice around a propulsive tale of suspense; I can't wait to share this one with my book club.' -- Joshilyn Jackson, New York Times bestselling author

'Court Stevens' impressive resume includes eight YA novels, and she makes her adult debut with this intense tale . . . The book's atmospheric setting instantly draws readers' attention and doesn't let go. Stevens' short sentences, crisp prose, and deft, omniscient narration add to the story's propulsion. A knockout.' -- Booklist Starred Review

'I sat down to read a few pages and got up hours later having finished the whole thing, feeling like I'd just binged the most thrilling new drama on TV. Wow!' -- Mary Laura Philpott, author of BOMB SHELTER: LOVE, TIME, AND OTHER EXPLOSIVES

'In her adult debut, TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD, Court Stevens delivers an unputdownable tale of murder, lies, and the extraordinary lengths we go to for the people we love. A haunting masterpiece.' -- Rea Frey, #1 bestselling author of DON'T FORGET ME

'TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD by Court Stevens is a gripping mystery centered around family secrets, inherited trauma, and a convoluted web of crime. The implications of the central conflict are far-reaching and deadly, ratcheting up the stakes to rousing levels. Yet, despite its sweeping scope, Stevens still manages to make the narrative feel focused and personal. For anyone in pursuit of a fast-paced thriller that'll have you compulsively flipping the pages, this is one to look out for.' -- Bookstr

'TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD is better than good. It's fantastic! Court Stevens has crafted a beautifully written tale full of heart and rich characters who live on long after the last page. If you like a just-one-more-page mystery that will keep you up late into the night, this one's for you. I absolutely loved it!' -- Lisa Patton, bestselling author of WHISTLIN' DIXIE IN A NOR'EASTER and RUSH

**PRAISE TAKEN FROM THE BOOK'S AMAZON PAGE**

ABOUT TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD:

Over twenty years ago, a young hunting guide in rural Kentucky was driving his boat in the early morning mist when his peaceful cruise was cut short by a scene so disturbing, he packed up and moved away. 

Nine women died early that morning, but it was linked to a similar crime in Texas, so the locals quickly wrote it off as having nothing to do with them.

Now, all these years later, when everyone has nearly forgotten about that grisly part of their past, one man's accidental death will bring everything back up to the surface. 

The locals who knew better can no longer claim it had nothing to do with them, and one woman, desperate to do whatever it takes to save her mother's life, will learn that nearly everyone in her life has been lying to her.

In Court Stevens's adult debut, she delves deep into the heart of a community, where some will learn that we don't always live to see the ripples we make, but we must make them all the same.

*********** 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Courtney “Court” Stevens grew up in the knockabout town of Bandana, Kentucky, among rivers, cornfields, churches, and gossip in the small-town South.

She is a former adjunct professor, youth minister, Olympic torchbearer, and bookseller at Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN.

These days she writes coming-of-truth fiction and is the Executive Director of Warren County Public Library in Bowling Green, KY.

She has a pet whale named Herman, a bandsaw named Rex, and several novels with her name on the spine: Last Girl Breathing, We Were Kings, The June Boys, Faking Normal, The Lies About Truth, the e-novella The Blue-Haired Boy, Dress Codes for Small Towns, and Four Three Two One. 

**AUTHOR INFORMATION AND PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE AUTHOR'S AMAZON PAGE**

*********** 

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

*********** 

Spotlight of Shaw Connolly Lives to Tell by Gillian French

PHOTO SOURCE:

TYPORAMA

*********** 

SHAW CONNOLLY LIVES TO TELL

GILLIAN FRENCH

************

ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS TAKEN FROM ST. MARTIN'S WEBPAGE.

************

A page-turning, compelling thriller about a woman who will stop at nothing to uncover the truth behind her sister’s disappearance.

************

June 17

St. Martin's Press

************

PRAISE FOR SHAW CONNOLLY LIVES TO TELL:

“French, an Edgar-nominated YA author, writes Shaw’s character with undeniable depth by way of witty and often humorous dialogue throughout absolute tragedy, showing the extent of human endurance…A swift plot and constant pressure on Shaw create an enthralling mystery thriller that highlights the grip grief can have on a person.” –Booklist

“French lays the foundation so expertly...What lingers most in the memory is a chilling atmosphere equally shivery with cold and despair.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Fast-paced and witty… What sets this book apart is its ability to include humor alongside the heaviness that accompanies grief, crimes, and loss in a way that still feels authentic…Readers familiar with French will love this book, as will those who like true crime, strong female protagonists, and stories where the dog is the hero.”—Library Journal

"Shaw Connolly Lives to Tell got its hooks into me from the very first page. Gillian French is a gifted storyteller who knows how to tease the reader with well-timed twists and disclosures—just as stalker Anders Jensen knows exactly how to keep forensic technician Shaw Connelly off-balance and guessing. And the Maine setting? Perfect in its ice-cold dread." —Paul Doiron

PRAISE TAKEN FROM ST. MARTIN'S WEBPAGE

************

ABOUT SHAW CONNOLLY LIVES TO TELL:

Shaw Connolly is no stranger to trauma. As a fingerprints analyst, she’s one of the first on-site for crimes, including murder scenes and a mysterious string of arsons popping up throughout the rural Maine community her department serves. But the tragedy of her little sister’s disappearance sixteen years ago has always weighed on her the most; Thea is never far from her thoughts or dreams, and Shaw knows that her obsession with finding the truth about Thea is driving her husband away and impacting her two boys. Still, she can't let it go and has even started taking disturbing calls from a man named Anders Jansen who all but claims to have committed the crime.

Anders taunts Shaw with hints and innuendo about what supposedly happened all those years ago. His calls go to the next level as he reveals just how much he knows about Shaw’s personal life, like her stalled career and ruined marriage. As his stalking escalates to threats on her and her family's lives, he begins to show just how dangerous he might be. Shaw is too desperate for answers to hang up now, just when she's getting close to finding proof. The only question left is what she must lose to learn the truth.

A taut, atmospheric thriller from Edgar Award-finalist young adult author Gillian French, Shaw Connolly Lives to Tell introduces a compelling new voice in adult suspense fiction.

TAKEN FROM ST. MARTIN'S WEBPAGE

************

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

GILLIAN FRENCH is an Edgar Award, Bram Stoker Award, and two-time International Thriller Award nominated author of mystery and suspense.

Her previous novels include GRIT, THE LIES THEY TELL, THE MISSING SEASON, and SUGARING OFF, all published for a young adult audience.

She lives in rural Maine with her husband and four sons.

PHOTO AND AUTHOR'S

BIO TAKEN FROM ST. MARTIN'S WEBPAGE

************

FOLLOW THE AUTHOR:

Instagram

Goodreads

Website