Old Grandmother's Tree is a series of historical fiction short stories written by Joseph Bolton. These stories are based on family stories and mixed with Canadian and French folktales - and the illustrations are incredible!

I loved learning about Joseph's family and the stories he heard as a young child about a many times great grandmother who belonged to a native tribe and her marriage to a French soldier - and how this story reaches through the years to the present day. Along the way, we meet many family members, trickster animals, and Quebec as it was in the 17th century and is today.

The trickster animals were favorites, especially since I've always loved the African and Native American fairy tales with such tricksters. I enjoy hearing how different cultures explain what can be unexplainable.

I understand that there will be more - and I can't wait to get my hands on the second volume!

Purchase a copy of Old Grandmother's Tree:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4433Qz9​
Kindle: https://amzn.to/4qHRRki

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Shades Between Reality and Dream is a romance by Kendra Saldana. However, it isn't just any romance. Instead, we are thrust into the social divides of racism and classism and what happens when men and women refuse to stay within the confines of these borders.

This is a wonderful multigenerational story that explores racism and classism from the 1950s to present day - and gives the reader a glimpse into lives that may be quite unlike their own. We start with a wealthy white man who has a child with a black servant. Is it love? We move to his child - who although half black, can pass as a white man. Will he? Should he? Does he? And then there is the socialite who marries beneath her station. Does her new husband want help of his newly acquired family? Do they give it willingly? Can the two find a way to bridge the divide? And then it comes full circle as these two families collide.

Throughout the book, the reader faces prejudice on all sides and must start looking at their own life and feelings to determine where they fit in the puzzle. I suspect that is exactly what Kendra was hoping to achieve. It is a beautiful love story - with all the ups and downs. But more importantly, it is a social commentary. Don't miss this one!

Author Note: There is quite a bit of sexual content in this book. Skipping over these scenes does not substantially change the book.

Purchase a copy of Shades Between Reality and the Dream:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4nPIbS1​
Kindle: https://amzn.to/4hU67CL
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Beautiful and Terrible Things is a contemporary fiction by SM Stevens. We start by meeting Charley, a 29-year-old who believes she is cursed to lose everyone she loves. To combat this, she lives a very rigid and lonely life - until she meets Xander. He invites her to meet his band of diverse race, gender, and sexually oriented friends Terrance, Sunny, Jessica, and Buwan.

Charley is a social misfit, but from the beginning, I was cheering her on. Her rigid schedule and self-harm made me want to wrap my arms around her and help her see it was going to be okay - when I wasn't stamping my feet because she was being ridiculous! Of course, I felt the same way about each of the friends. At times, they seemed to have their heads on straight - at others? Not so much. And isn't that just like me, you, and everyone we know?

SM doesn't hold back. She brings in social components of our time including race and sexual orientation, but also mental health issues and green initiatives. With characters all along each of these spectrums, we are given the opportunity to see these topics from all sides - from those who live them to those who wonder if they really exist. We also get a glimpse into what we might do when we see something that isn't to our liking - and learn that there isn't just one way that is the right way.

This is a wonderful story about friends and what that can look like despite different life experiences. I really enjoyed this book.

Purchase a copy of Beautiful and Terrible Things:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4oDp2UW​
Kindle: https://amzn.to/4ovRRSW

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.