Books, Women Power in 2025

 Here is to the power of women in the new year.  The women who came before us and fought.  To honor them, we must fight, too.

 

The League of Gentlewomen Witches by India Holton

**The League of Gentlewomen Witches** by India Holton is the exhilarating second installment in the captivating Dangerous Damsels series. Just like its predecessor, this sequel is filled with delightful chaos and unpredictable twists that kept me thoroughly entertained. I am absolutely eager for the release of the third book!

The notorious pirates from Wisteria are once again embroiled in their longstanding feud with the witches of London. This time, the stakes are higher than ever, as both factions set their sights on a coveted sacred object that may or may not have immense power.

Unfortunately, both groups want the same sacred object. Do they team up or race each other for the prize? What will society think? How will the witches defeat the pirates? Incantations are cased. Swords clash. Flying bicycles and battle house flights.

Will the pirates and witches join forces to secure the artifact, or will they engage in a fierce race against each other? How will society react to their antics, and what clever schemes will the witches conjure to outsmart their swashbuckling adversaries?

With spells being cast and swords clashing, a whirlwind of magical mayhem. Enchanting flying bicycles and aerial house-on-house battles.

Ultimately, it's a great read filled with fun and pandemonium. If you're looking for a unique and engaging addition to your reading list, I highly recommend you pick up this delightful adventure!

 

4 Funerals and Maybe a Wedding by Rhys Bowen

I have to admit that I really enjoyed Rhys Bowen's book 4 Funerals and Maybe a Wedding. It is set in Britain just before World War I, and at this point, only a few people are concerned about Germany. Several characters die throughout the novel, but it remains unclear who the funerals are for.

As far as murder mysteries go, this one was quite easy to figure out. After finishing the book, I discovered that this is the 22nd installment in the series. Kudos to the author for making this book stand on its own—I didn't feel lost because I had not read the previous 21 books.

However, I'm not sure if I'll read the others. The heroine comes off as overly paranoid and a bit naive for someone who ultimately solves the mystery. I understand that it was the early 1900s and women had limited rights and independence, but still, she did manage to stand on her own and figure things out. I feel that she didn't need to be quite so unsure or ditzy in the beginning.

In the end, everything turns out well, and I did genuinely like the story.

 

Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian

The South in the 1920s, particularly Mississippi, is a landscape steeped in poverty and marred by deep racial divides. A very naïve white girl and a streetwise black girl end up needing each other more than either of them is willing to admit.  Born without any privilege, both girls possess only their fierce desire to survive, the mysterious and untamed swamp surrounding them, and an unwavering determination to forge a better future.

The descriptions of the Trace, living conditions, and the disparity between the races are enthralling.  The depths of human cruelty, inflicted for no apparent reason, are driven solely by prejudice and ignorance. While I’d like to believe that we have evolved, learned from our past mistakes, and made strides toward a more just world, I find myself questioning the extent of that progress.

In the midst of such darkness, these two girls manage to discover a path toward hope and resilience. Their journey is heart-wrenching yet filled with intrigue, evoking a profound sense of optimism. It serves as a compelling history lesson, shedding light on issues that still resonate today.

It is Heartbreaking, intriguing, and hopeful. I did like this book. It is an interesting history lesson, worth reading.  Keep the Kleenex close by.

 

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