Author: Louise Kennedy

I can’t resist a book set in Ireland and written by an Irish writer. And if the author is a woman and the story takes place during the Troubles, even better.

From the prologue you can assume there won’t be a happy ending. Cushla is a teacher who occasionally works in her family’s pub. When Michael stops in at the pub one night there is an instant attraction. Although it isn’t specifically mentioned one is Protestant and one is Catholic. When Michael is murdered is Cushla’s affair with him the cause and is her favourite student the link between Michael and the murderer?

Goodreads Rating: * * * *

Author: Kathleen Grissom

Lavinia is an indentured servant at a large tobacco plantation in Virginia. Here she becomes a helper to the slave Belle who runs the kitchen house. Lavinia soon becomes a favourite among all of Belle’s family and is instrumental in the care of the mistress of the plantation. 

The story is told mainly through the voice of Lavinia but Belle’s story gives her take on the ups and downs of plantation life. What runs through the book are the differences between the life Lavinia has (even though indentured) and the life of the slaves.

The author was born and raised in Annaheim, SK.

Goodreads Rating: * * *