The Wizard of Oz is one of those timeless classics, and I think every young girl has dreamed of being Judy Garland with those magic slippers.  For all those reasons, I was so intrigued by Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts.

In this wonderfully researched novel, we are provided a look into the lives of Frank and Maud Baum, how their lives together formed the classic novel and the inspiration behind some of those memorable characters.  I also particularly enjoyed the sections with interactions set during the movie filming between Mrs. Baum and Judy Garland.  The descriptions of the movie set were so vivid that I could visualize each scene.  

I was not familiar with the backstory of the Baums and found their history very engaging.  It was interesting to learn more about women's suffrage and life in the Dakotas as well.  

This was a four star read for me that I would recommend to historical fiction fans or anyone who grew up on the Wizard of Oz.  I received this book courtesy of Ballantine Books Random House Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

The Secret of Clouds is a powerful novel that I knew was going to have me in tears at points, but the journey was so fulfilling that I could not put the book down.  

Maggie teaches 6th grade English and is preparing for the school year when the principal calls her into the office to ask her to tutor a young boy who is undergoing some health issues.  Maggie initially is resistant to the idea due to a situation from her past that she hasn't quite moved past but she agrees to tutor young Yuri at his home.  As their path together evolves throughout the school year, we are also provided glimpses into Yuri's parents past life in Ukraine and the role Chernobyl played as well. 

The Secret of Clouds is one of those novels that I will be thinking about for some time to come.  It is quite simply a beautifully written book that I didn't want to step away from.  To me, it is a testament of how we all impact each other's lives in ways both large and small.  It's also a tribute to the importance of the relationships between teachers and students.  

This was a very strong four star read for me and I highly recommend it.  I received this book courtesy of Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Castle on the Rise is a richly detailed and engaging story that unfolds over three different time periods with three unique women at the forefront of each timeline.  

Laine has traveled to France to attend her best friend's wedding and is bringing along some additional baggage in terms of her failed marriage that she hasn't yet shared news of with her best friend.  While she is trying to keep up the charade, she finds herself intrigued by and drawn to Cormac, the groom's brother.  The setting of the novel shifts from the wedding in France to Ireland where Cormac and his family have inherited a mysterious castle. Laine and Cormac begin digging deeper into the castle's history and also unearth more about their interest in each other.  

Issy loves to take photographs, whether her parents see the value of it or not, but also finds herself drawn into the uprising for Irish freedom in 1915.  Her brother Rory and his friend Levi are in great danger and Issy soon finds out that Sean, whom her heart cannot forget, is equally in a precarious area of Ireland.  She does the only thing she knows to do, which is venture into the fray with her camera at her side to capture the strife as it happens.

Maeve finds herself lady of the castle with her brother away and her father simply not acting to manage the estate.  She discovers Eoin and believes him a traitor and enemy of her family, however he is gravely injured and she simply cannot refuse him care.  Eion begins to earn her trust and she learns that those she trusted before may not have her best interests in mind.  Maeve also finds herself embroiled in a battle between the English and Irish in 1797.

Each one of these narratives is so well told, with vivid details and interesting characters.  I felt myself enjoying each woman's storyline so much that I could not pick a favorite among them.  This is the second novel I have read by Kristy Cambron and I very much appreciate how well her novels are researched and the true readability of the books.  

While this novel is listed as a sequel to The Lost Castle, I believe each book could be read independently.  I received this book courtesy of Thomas Nelson through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.