Unspoken by Jann Alexander is a gut-wrenching historical fiction detailing one young girl's experience during the Dust Bowl in the Texas panhandle. If you are looking for a simple read with no drama, then this is not for you. However, if you want the hard, gritty truth about life during the dustbowl of the 1930s, then run right out and grab your copy.

We see one dozen years of Ruby's life starting at the tender age of 11. She has lost her baby sister and grandmother to dust pneumonia, also known as the brown plague, and almost succumbs herself. That's when her father sends her away to live with a cousin in Waco, and Ruby's entire life unwinds. We also see snippets of her mother's life - a woman confined to a mental institution. And Jann did a remarkable job showing how both those lives intertwined!

I was horrified by conditions at the state welfare home for children as well as the insane asylum. It makes me wonder how anyone could survive either place - and how a child like Ruby Lee figured out not only have to survive but eventually thrive. Although a difficult book to read because of the raw honesty, it was well worth the effort. A definite 5 stars.

Purchase your copy of Unspoken:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4n2u7p7​
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3FZrhR6

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

​Welcome to Online for Authors, a space where we delve into the stories and minds behind some of the most compelling books and authors of today. I’m Teri, your host, and in this edition, we had the pleasure of having a conversation with Margaret Philbrick, an eminent author whose latest work, "House of Honor," takes us on an exciting journey through one of history's most intriguing unsolved art heists.

Pain, Pumpernickel, & Profound Forgiveness is a beautiful memoir written by Rosanne D'Ausilio. Through the use of short essays, Rosanne helps us understand her relationship with her father - and her mother - the good and the not-so-good.

As I read, I often felt that Rosanne learned the lessons of the book - love doesn't always look like we think it will, we can change how we see things, compassion is possible even when hurting, and you can be at peace with your past - as she wrote down her memories. Her surprise at what she found was evident!

Rosanne's tales are full of what she calls Divine Interventions - times where logic doesn't adequately explain the outcomes and miracles abound. And through these Divine Interventions, Rosanne learns so much about her father, herself, and their often-troubled relationship.

As someone who has struggled with familial relationships, I enjoyed watching the author discover that there is more than one way to see the past - and how you think about the past is entirely up to you! This is a quick, easy read that will leave you thinking deeply.

Purchase a copy of Pain, Pumpernickel, & Profound Forgiveness:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4kT39ia​
Kindle: https://amzn.to/4kzhZdJ

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.