Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

A Sometimes Paradise: Reflections on Life in a Wyoming Ranch Family is a work of non-fiction in the memoir, autobiographical writing, and coming-of-age genres. It is suitable for the general adult reading audience. Penned by author Mark E. Miller, this charming work encapsulates the poignant journey of a Wyoming ranch upbringing, illustrating the rugged beauty and harsh challenges that shaped the author's youth and adulthood. Through gripping tales of survival amidst deadly ice storms and relentless droughts, Mark unveils the invaluable lessons learned amidst the unforgiving landscape. His narrative delves into the adventures, misadventures, and his profound bond with both the land and its animals, showing the strength of Wyoming ranch life. This memoir transcends just simple recollection, offering a compelling testament to the enduring spirit of the American West and the profound ties of family and friendship.

Author Mark E. Miller puts his whole heart into crafting this soul-stirring expedition through the rugged plains of Wyoming. I was swept away immediately by the eloquent prose that vividly brought to life the beauty and brutality of ranch existence. The author's narrative control and confidence weave a tapestry of personal growth and resilience that flows in a novel-like storytelling fashion that’s highly engrossing to read. As I journeyed through his anecdotes of perilous ice storms and relentless droughts, I found myself enthralled by the author’s unwavering commitment to his family, his land, and his heritage. Miller writes with detail and clarity, but also a great sense of empathy for those around him and that makes him such a warm figure to get to know. Through his words, I felt the palpable connection to the wild landscape and its inhabitants, and I emerged from the book with a newfound appreciation for the free spirit of the American West. Overall, I would certainly recommend A Sometimes Paradise to fans of evocative and vivid memoirs everywhere.

Reviewed by Doreen Chombu for Readers' Favorite

The Politzer Saga is a memoir that beautifully captures the diverse achievements and struggles of Linda Ambrus Broenniman's family over the years. The book not only preserves her family's history but also honors the resilience and tenacity that have been passed down through generations. It offers poignant insight into their lives and pays tribute to their legacies. Despite being raised Catholic by her parents, who had survived and escaped World War I, the author always knew that she had Jewish Hungarian heritage. After discovering a box that survived a fire that consumed her parents' home, she found well-kept family documents dating back to the eighteenth century. Her relatives were authors, businessmen, art collectors, lawyers, and miners. They faced religious persecution and antisemitism, and some died from tuberculosis. They survived revolutions and both World Wars. From a wandering violinist to a brave woman who refused to renounce her Jewish heritage and a famous doctor who revolutionized otology, Linda retraces their footsteps and talks about their remarkable lives.

The Politzer Saga is one of the best family history books I have ever read. It is well-detailed, and Linda Ambrus Broenniman's ability to weave together personal stories and historical events creates an engaging and insightful read that pays tribute to her family's legacy while exploring themes of identity, survival, and perseverance. The incorporation of photographs and documents adds an extra layer of depth and authenticity to the storytelling. The author's diligence in uncovering her roots and piecing together her heritage is indeed commendable. It takes a special kind of dedication to delve into one's past and unravel the mysteries of one's origins. It shows not just a curiosity about personal history, but also a deep appreciation for the connections that bind us to our ancestors. I enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it to anyone who loves captivating and emotionally engaging books.

Reviewed by Nino Lobiladze for Readers' Favorite

A Sterling Life by Mark Hester is the biography of John Danz, a keen American entrepreneur born in Czarist Russia in 1877. John's birth name was Israel Danowsky. His Jewish parents, Leib and Jenni Danowsky, with their two sons, Israel and Chaim, left Russia, escaping the pogroms and oppression. They arrived in the United States in 1882 from Hamburg, Germany, through the Port of Swansea, Wales. The family members changed their names and took the surname Danz. They moved to Oregon after tending a farm in Kansas for a while. Young John worked as a newsboy and a messenger. He even helped on the farms and ranches. After working as a clerk and a porter at haberdasheries, John established his own business in Seattle at the beginning of the twentieth century. Step by step, John rose to prominence. A Nickelodeon theater arranged at one of his stores brought unexpected changes to his business empire. Mark Hester took a DNA test and learned that he had Jewish ancestors. He started researching to find the mysterious grandfather he knew nothing about.

A Sterling Life offers us a historically significant life account of an enterprising person who was always ready for new challenges. Mark Hester meticulously researched the facts of John Danz's life. The author also gives us an accurate historical setting, starting with John's childhood in Czarist Russia. I learned what the Pale of Settlement meant regarding the oppressed Jewish population of the Russian Empire, among other interesting and often shocking historical facts. Mark explains why John's family chose Seattle to settle in the US and how this city was connected to the gold mining in Canada and Alaska. I was absorbed while reading about John's fight against the unions and their strikes, which took around thirteen years. Mark created a puzzling and sometimes controversial portrait of a man who never feared changes or innovations but could be strict with his children. At the same time, the author shares his personal story of exploring his Jewish heritage. I liked the touching scene on a Parisian street, where Mark met a rabbi. I highly recommend A Sterling Life to fans of historical non-fiction, biographies, and drama.

Reviewed by Rolanda Lyles for Readers' Favorite

In Junkyard Girl: A Memoir of Ancestry, Family Secrets, and Second Chances by Carlyn Montes De Oca, we find that the author grew up surrounded by a family that loved her and tried to protect her. Her parents were immigrants from Mexico who had nothing, although they fought to give their kids a better life. The family had become hoarders, filling their home with things they had collected in case someone needed them. Her mother, Mary Montes De Oca, was the defender of the family and ruled with an iron fist. As Carlyn grew older, she noticed that there were big differences between her and the rest of her family. Even her interests and talents were not like theirs. Slowly, her older siblings left their junkyard home to go to school and find jobs, but the tension between her and her mother grew. She wanted freedom, but mami held on even more tightly. It seemed as if anything she enjoyed was taken away, and she slowly began to resent and hate. Carlyn looked forward to the day she could be free of her suffocating mami and their junkyard prison, but when she discovered the reason behind her mother's overbearing actions, could their relationship be repaired?

Carlyn Montes De Oca's memoir Junkyard Girl chronicles her coming of age and discovering her lineage. Carlyn's story is about the love and protection of her family. They all come together as shields that keep her sheltered in a cocoon of secrets. The story also shows how strong a mother's love can be. Mary is a strong and proud woman, but eventually, pride leads to their relationship hitting an impasse. Carlyn's story is moving and told from the heart. No family is perfect, and all families have secrets, but one thing that I think Carlyn realized at the end is that they all loved her and only did what they thought was right. Bonds of love are more substantial than any blood ties. Join Carlyn as she relates her story of discovering her family's history and who she is in Junkyard Girl.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Fortitude: Preserving 400 Years of an American Family's Faith, Patriotism, Grit and Determination by Dale R. Spaulding is a sprawling work that takes a deep dive into the history of the Spaulding family. Spaulding takes readers back to the ancient and medieval origins of the Spaulding name, the 'u' being added at later date, to the 17th century, sailing from England to the United States before it was the United States. The Spaulding family survived the upheaval of basically every event in American history, including the Revolution, with proof that is as comprehensive as a witnessed signature by John and Abigail Adams. Spaulding includes documents, landmarks, and photographs of the progression of the Spaulding family to where they stand today, with the author having served the country as a decorated Navy veteran.

Biographies and memoirs can be extremely tricky to review because it is rare that a book and its subject, however important it might be to the writer, are likely to be as enthusiastically embraced by a wide audience. Fortitude sets fire to this trend with a stunning, just remarkable encyclopedia of history. Dale R. Spaulding is writing more than just Spaulding history. This is a far-reaching account of American history and a name that can be argued legitimately as one of America's first and foremost families. The legacy is surreal, particularly as I am an American who moved to England a decade ago and am deeply involved in the American ex-pat community. I was in Plymouth standing on the Mayflower steps on the 400th anniversary of her sailing, to the minute. I am admittedly a history buff and so this is right up my alley. However, my daughter who has very little interest in American history was fascinated by the photographs and exhaustive detail. This is well and truly a book that will tickle the fancy of anyone with an interest in genealogy, history, and the making of America. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

A Century+ of Living: The Autobiography of Cora Jones “Boot” McLeod by Dr. Beverly “Eagle” Rogers presents a biographical narrative of McLeod's rural upbringing in Wake County, North Carolina, highlighting her strong family bonds, church, and agricultural life. Her idyllic childhood is shattered by the sudden death of her younger brother, Big Baby. After moving to Durham during the Great Depression, her family grapples with urban life's challenges, including poverty and Papa's death. Despite hardships, McLeod marries Buster, becomes a mother, and attends beauty school, finding joy and purpose in her new roles. The family purchases a house in North Durham and navigates the complexities of their African American identity and societal pressures, particularly during urban renewal projects. They also establish successful businesses such as McLeod's Beauty Nook. McLeod reflects on historical injustices, her family's fortitude, her love for baseball and fishing, her turbulent but resilient marriage to Buster, and a full lifetime of memories.

A Century+ of Living by Dr. Beverly “Eagle” Rogers is a compilation of both the small and large moments that together form both the good and more challenging pieces of centenarian Cora Jones “Boot” McLeod's life. I think that the hundred years that were given to McLeod were particularly special because of the landmarks she witnessed that altered the course of human history, especially with regard to technology. My wife's great-grandmother, who also surpassed the hundred-year milestone, once had her close her eyes and imagine being born when horses and buggies were still commonplace and living to see a man walk on the moon. For me, personally, as a person of color, it is the perseverance in the face of overt and extreme racism that felt most human, and the smaller moments that include happy slices of family life that were the standouts. Readers who do not know or know of McLeod, or her biographer Dr. Rogers, are definitely going to find interesting nuggets within this written time capsule. I am certain that the audience that will adore this legacy the most are the friends and family of McLeod who will treasure this comprehensive family history through the eyes of a matriarch for generations to come.

Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite

Of Providence: A Lifetime Chasing Hope by Kay Carroll is an incredibly inspiring biography that follows a mixed-race man’s relentless battles for land rights and inheritance for his family and others like him. It had been decided that mixed breeds could be added to Choctaw rolls and receive land distribution during the 1890s. However, Alex Powell, a man of Choctaw-African heritage, discovered that mixed Choctaw-African people were excluded from this agreement. In 1901, Alex Powell’s first application to the Indian Commission requesting that his family be added to the rolls was rejected. Undeterred, Powell makes several other appeals, battling many in high places to secure justice for his people. The fight is gruelling and eventually leads to him be investigated by the government, but he does not give up.

This is a powerful work about a courageous man’s struggle for justice and the challenges he encounters along the way. It includes congressional hearings that helped me better understand what Powell was up against and appreciate the brave fight for justice that he embarked on. It has informative historical detail that is barely known and is a must-read for all readers. The work lays bare the prejudice and hatred that families with African ancestry faced in trying to secure land rights for their families. It is an essential tribute to those who stood up for justice against this and other forms of discrimination. Of Providence by Kay Carroll is an extraordinary biography with invaluable historical records that inspire hope and fortitude. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite

Finding the Missing Peace: A Healing Journey to Wholeness by Chris Duffy-Wentzel is a compelling autobiography you can't put down. What happens when an immuno-virologist is faced with a cancer diagnosis? It sets her on a life-or-death search for her birth parents. But something unexpected also happens, and it's a healing journey of the spirit. For almost 30 years, the author searched in vain for a way to unseal her adoption records, but conventional methods didn't work. She desperately needed her family's medical history, and then a dream revealed the key to the mystery. She needed to try a totally new approach. Her profession taught her to obey guidelines and what she could prove in a lab, and so she had to become her own private investigator of sorts in order to uncover the facts of her adoption and save her own life. Suddenly answers began to reveal themselves in a big way. As she followed the breadcrumbs, she discovered much more than just her biological history: she discovered healing for her inner self.

Author Chris Duffy-Wentzel has created a fascinating journey of self-discovery and peace, and it's all true. From the first page, you'll be hooked on her journey, and will arrive with her at the answers she's looked for, and perhaps those that you've looked for as well. The take-aways from this book are huge and impactful. Most people go through life not finding peace, but maybe they've looked in the wrong places. This author helps you get in touch with the inner you, and it takes a little peace and quiet to get there. I especially enjoyed getting to know Chris through her searching, the stories of her childhood growing up, and the people she met along the way. She didn't give up, even when it looked hopeless. There are lessons here for us all. Besides determination, her great sense of humor sparkles throughout the pages, as does her honesty and warmth. Few autobiographies are intriguing as Finding the Missing Peace: A Healing Journey to Wholeness by Chris Duffy-Wentzel.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Love’s Legacy: Viscount Chateaubriand and the Irish Girl by Daniel Fallon is a journey back in time through one man’s family tree in an attempt to prove or disprove a long-standing story within the family. It was always rumored in the author’s family of a familial link to the famous 18th-century French poet, author, and statesman, Viscount Francois-René de Chateaubriand. Stories of the Viscount’s brief sojourn in England, when he was penniless and ill, and his subsequent meeting with the author’s ancestor, the then 14-year-old schoolgirl Mary O’Neill, are explored in this tale. Sources throughout history and within the author’s family have always hinted at a relationship between the Viscount and young Mary that may have resulted in the birth of a child, Thomas. The author, Daniel Fallon, was left some fragments of letters when his father died, written to Daniel’s great-great-grandfather, Thomas Fallon. This sets him off on a journey of discovery to unearth the truth of the mystery. Was he indeed descended from the great author himself, Viscount Francois-René de Chateaubriand, called by many the father of modern French romantic literature?

Love’s Legacy is indeed a true-life mystery tour as author Daniel Fallon seeks evidence of a familial link in the often incomplete records of both France and England. Frequently stymied by the lack of records destroyed by war, the author is dogged and determined to finally prove or disprove the old family tale of a link to the Viscount. Although non-fiction, the author’s ability to weave his narrative like a fictional adventure makes this historical journey incredibly readable and exciting. One could feel through the pages both the author’s elation at finding a scrap of evidence and his frustration at barriers and destroyed documentation that invariably stood in his path. I particularly enjoyed the sections where the author actually visited the sites where Viscount Chateaubriand and young Mary resided in London some two hundred-odd years ago, noting that in many cases these sights and landmarks written about by Chateaubriand still existed. There was very much an air of discovery and excitement in every page that kept me totally enthralled in a story that is, in its essence, a family genealogy. For anyone who thinks history is a dry recitation of facts or that a family narrative could not possibly be exciting or interesting, this book firmly belies those premises. I can highly recommend this read.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Broken Promises: The Story of a Jewish Family in Germany by Bonnie Suchman is the story of the Heppenheimer family and their life as they lost everything in the Holocaust. The author researched and compiled all of this information after she learned that her father-in-law kept his life in Germany hidden from his family when he was alive. However, after his death, author Bonnie Suchman looked deep into his family tree and found that the Heppenheimer family came to Germany and became leaders in scrap metal dealerships in the country. Their affluent lives came to an abrupt end when the Nazis rose to power and destroyed their lives just because of differences in religious beliefs. The book recollects what happened to this family and how no one was safe from the wrath of Nazis and their misplaced rage.

I still have a hard time believing why someone’s religion can enrage a group of people to cause so much hurt and pain. The author did a great job of compiling the information and digging deep to gather all the data that goes back generations. Reading about the life of the Heppenheimer family was sad because they had a simple yet successful life before the Holocaust happened. The narrative felt like listening to a beloved professor sharing information on a topic they feel passionate about. I was surprised by how deeply the author researched. From the Heppenheimer family’s migration to Germany after the Thirty Years War and their life there from the 1700s until the Nazi regime, Bonnie Suchman held nothing back. By the time I reached page 37 and saw the pictures of the documents she uncovered, I knew this was going to be an exceptional book. She went into details about all of the ancestors, what happened to them and how drastically things changed after the Nazis came into power. I would highly recommend Broken Promises to anyone who would like to read about a more human perspective, rather than a narrated perspective.