Jocelyn Green: Drawn by the Current

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Lives depend on the truth she uncovers.
She can't give up her search.

A birthday excursion turns deadly when the SS Eastland capsizes with Olive Pierce and her best friend on board. Hundreds perish during the accident, and it's only when Olive herself barely escapes that she discovers her friend is among the victims.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Olive returns to her work at a Chicago insurance agency and is immersed in the countless investigations related to the accident. But with so many missing, there are few open-and-shut cases, and she tries to balance her grief with the hard work of finding the truth.

While someone sabotages her progress, Olive accepts the help of newspaper photographer Erik Magnussen. As they unravel secrets, the truths they discover impact those closest to Olive. How long will the disaster haunt her--and how can she help the others find the peace they deserve?

 

My Thoughts:

Drawn by the Current by Jocelyn Green brings to life the Eastland boat disaster in Chicago. I have never heard of this disaster, but the way that Green crafted the story to life, I felt like I was one of the passengers on the boat when it tipped over. I love the two other elements that surround the heroine, Olive. A mystery at Metlife and her best friend's life was in danger. All of these plot points made for a strong and enticing story that I had a hard time putting down. I finished the novel in one day. Even the romance felt just right for the story. I have a hard time with hero's. Usually they are crafted a little wimpy, but the heroine's fall for them for some odd reason, but Erick, the hero, in this novel, was actually a strong heroine that I actually liked. He complimented Olive, not sidelined her. I felt his strength and his love for her as the story progressed. Overall, Drawn by the Current by Jocelyn Green is an intriguing story that fully captured my attention and allowed my imagination to run wild. I can't wait to own a physical copy and add it to my forever shelves.

I received a complimentary copy of Drawn by the Current by Jocelyn Green from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Jocelyn Green: Shadows of the White City

 By Kelly Bridgewater

 The one thing Sylvie Townsend wants most is what she feared she was destined never to have--a family of her own. But taking in Polish immigrant Rose Dabrowski to raise and love quells those fears--until seventeen-year-old Rose goes missing at the World's Fair, and Sylvie's world unravels.

Brushed off by the authorities, Sylvie turns to her boarder, Kristof Bartok, for help. He is Rose's violin instructor and the concertmaster for the Columbian Exposition Orchestra, and his language skills are vital to helping Sylvie navigate the immigrant communities where their search leads.

From the glittering architecture of the fair to the dark houses of Chicago's poorest neighborhoods, they're taken on a search that points to Rose's long-lost family. Is Sylvie willing to let the girl go? And as Kristof and Sylvie grow closer, can she reconcile her craving for control with her yearning to belong?

 My Thoughts:

Shadows of the White City by Jocelyn Green is an interesting story of the Chicago World’s Fair. The characters are my favorite part. They were realistic and haunting as they worked through their struggles and the hunt to find Rose. I liked that there was hints of romance between Sophie and the guy upstairs, but it did not become the main focus of the story. It was well-written and a little sweet as they slowly fell in love with each other. The plot with the hunt for Rose and working with the musicians for the Chicago World’s fair was nicely handled. I loved seeing parts of this historical elements. One downfall to the novel: I wish there was more parts of showing what the World’s Fair did to the economy and the surrounding people. We were stuck in the little bubble of the fair and Sophie’s home. Was it good because it provided jobs? What about the people hired? There was a little bit of this included with Lottie’s family. I, personally, just wanted more. It is still a delightful novel to spend time with. I believe fans of historical fiction will enjoy this novel.

I received a complimentary copy of Shadows of the White City by Jocelyn Green from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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