Radio Girls by Sarah-Jane Stratford

Title: Radio Girls
Author: Sarah-Jane Stratford
Genre: Fiction

Synopsis: Maisie Musgrave, a poor, young, an American raised Canadian living in London, gets hired as a secretary for the BBC in the mid-1920s. She loves the fast paced environment filled with famous speakers and finds she has a talent for working in radio.  As she moves up the ranks she becomes closer with the director of talks, Hilda Matheson. In an effort to uncover and broadcast the truth, Hilda and Maisie come to discover a dangerous conspiracy.

My Thoughts

Radio Girls is a really fun read. I read a lot of historical fiction and this is a topic I hadn't read much about. It was super interesting to see the dynamics of women in the workplace in the mid-1920s; especially those who were in positions higher than a secretary. 
The best part of this story was that it wasn't just about working at the BBC, it also has aspects of a love story, and a touch of mystery. It also discussed social issues of the time including homosexuality and the beginnings of the Nazi party.
 I just happened to be randomly reading this at the same time a coworker had picked it up. It had some excellent twists and he was a bit ahead of me so there was always a "just wait" tone as we discussed what was happening in the story.

If you have read this novel I would love to hear what you think in the comments below!

To buy this book from amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.
To see more from Sarah-Jane Stratford, visit her website linked above.

An Unseemly Wife by E.B. Moore

Title: An Unseemly Wife
Author: E.B. Moore
Genre: Fiction

Synopsis: Ruth Holtz's familiar Amish life is left behind as her husband breaks the rules of their Order to travel West to Idaho to claim land for their family with their four children, and one on the way. Everything she has ever known changes as her family can no longer truly be 'separate' from the English as they join a wagon train. 

My Thoughts

The first 90% of this book was great. The Holtz family and the wagon train West is filled with wonderfully well-developed characters and the novel has a great storyline. This story had me rooting for Ruth and Aaron as they traveled West against the wishes of their Plain community. 

Seeing her husband and children through Ruth's eyes gives an interesting perspective on Amish family life. The reader also has a view of her inner conflict: Staying a part of the Fold vs Adhering to her husband's wishes. The development of Ruth's character as she is taken from her familiar home and introduced to the English way of life is really beautiful. I like the way Moore uses transitions from what is occurring on the trail to a flashback of the Holtz family on their farm.

At about page 300 I felt like there was no way that the story could be wrapped up in the remaining 36 pages. I hate to say it, but I was right. The ending of the novel felt like the author ran out of paper and had to finish the story. Main characters from the wagon train were no longer a part of the story. Then boom, boom, boom, three major events take place in the span of 36 pages that should have been another 100-150 pages to fit with how the rest of the book had been written.
After such a great beginning and middle I was just so disappointed with the end of An Unseemly Wife that it ruined it the novel for me.

 If you have read this novel and can justify the ending to me, I would love to hear your opinion in the comments below. I would love someone else's point of view on this one!

                  To buy this book from amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.

To see more from E.B. Moore, visit her website linked above.