Author: Dorothy Schwab Grateful Reader DFW

I have loved reading and meeting authors for as long as I can remember! As an elementary teacher I integrated literature into every part of the core curriculum. Since my retirement, reading and flower gardening are my two favorite pastimes. I look forward to sharing my passion for reading by providing reviews of the books I've read. Perhaps you will join me as I explore new authors and genres!

Murder at Donwell Abbey -An Emma Knightley Mystery by Vanessa Kelly

Publication November 25, 2025-Kensington Books-Historical Fiction, Mystery-Thriller=416pp

Book Summary

This latest Regency-era mystery from USA Today bestselling author Vanessa Kelly finds Jane Austen’s clever Emma Knightley (nee Woodhouse) as an amateur sleuth, navigating shocking changes in her family—while meeting her match in a deadly adversary . . .

Emma’s spirits are elevated after she and husband George Knightley host a joyful holiday celebration at the Hartfield estate. But it’s instantly a bitter January when her father makes an unexpected announcement—he and Miss Hetty Bates have decided to marry. Not only must Emma relinquish her role as mistress of the household, but also accept the reality that the excitable Miss Bates will become her stepmother . . .

More unwanted news arrives during an extravagant betrothal ball at Donwell Abbey, the grand Knightley estate where Emma and George will soon permanently reside. Nearly every villager in Highbury revels in the dazzling affair—except Emma’s hardworking lady’s maid, Prudence Parr. To Emma’s horror, Prudence is found dead, sprawled across the stones of the library terrace . . .

The woman’s tragic fall is quickly ruled a terrible accident and whispers circulate around personal troubles leading up to her untimely demise. But Emma’s instincts tell her that something far more sinister is at play. Now, Highbury’s matchmaker-turned-sleuth vows to outwit a cunning criminal before an innocent man loses his freedom—or Donwell Abbey plunges into a darker mystery . . .

Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab

In this sequel to Murder in Highbury the peace and quiet that had settled after the events of the past year has ended for George and Emma Knightley. Emma’s father has announced his engagement to Miss Bates and requested a proper ball to celebrate the coming nuptials.

Vanessa Kelly has populated Murder at Donwell Abbey with a delightful cast of characters. The families of sisters Emma and Isabella, their husbands, brothers George and John Knightley, and the house staff with their many attributes are introduced as the plans for the big event proceed. Donwell Abbey and the ball are the scene for The shocking discovery that sets the cozy mystery into motion. The manners and social mores of 1816 Regency England are a fertile garden for Emma’s brilliant, bold detective inclinations to blossom, once again. Due to the investigative skills of Emma, the plot takes twists and turns down unlikely alleys and pathways. Kelly reveals the newly married relationship of George and Emma with witty banter, humorous exchanges, and even romantic suggestions, which make her discoveries even more satisfying.

Kelly’s Murder at Donwell Abbey leaves readers anxiously anticipating another invitation to tea with Emma and another mystery to solve.

A Carol for Mrs. Dickens By Rebecca Connolly

Publication September 23,2025-Shadow Mountain Publishing-Christian-Women’s Fiction-176pp

Book Summary

Catherine Dickens, wife of Charles Dickens, experiences her own Christmas Eve transformation as she magically travels through her cherished memories to rediscover her lost love of Christmas.
By 1851, all of London has fallen in love with A Christmas Carol, heralding Charles Dickens as “the man who invented Christmas.” But for his wife, Catherine, Christmas is less of a reason for celebration and more of a burden. Between hosting lavish parties decorating her home, and caring for her eight children—with one more on the way—she feels more like Scrooge than herself this year.
But everything changes after a chance encounter with a kitchen cook, who reminds her that Christmas can be a time of miracles and magic, if she is willing to open her heart. Armed with a magical sprig of holly, Kate embarks on three transformative journeys into her past, hoping to reconnect with the love she once felt for the holiday—and with herself.
But can these memories be enough to reignite her Christmas spirit? Or are such miraculous transformations only meant for the characters in her husband’s beloved tales?
Inspired by real individuals, A Carol for Mrs. Dickens reminds us that the true spirit of the holiday lies in love, faith, and the joy of giving.

Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab

What’s at the heart of Christmas? Catherine Dickens has lost the excitement and joy of past Christmases as she strives to continue her role as a seasoned hostess at grand parties orchestrated by Charles, a party enthusiast focused on appearances. The present-day retail stocking of decorations, blinking lights and artificial trees in the middle of summer clouds our minds and hearts, leaving us grumbling and exasperated instead of filling us with anticipation and joy. Catherine’s feelings exactly! She feels decorations are so much work and bother, but do they soothe the soul? Through three magical memory visits to her younger self, readers are wrapped in the powerful perspective of simplicity, kindness and love. Beauty and truth were buried deep in Catherine’s heart, but the Christmas spirit is renewed as she shares its magic with others.

A Carol for Mrs. Dickens, includes a history of Victorian Christmas traditions and a Christmastide Calendar. This is the perfect book to refocus on the heart of Christmas.

A Dark and Deadly Journey- An Evelyne Redfern Mystery by Julia Kelly

Publication September 23, 2025-St. Martin’s Press-Historical Fiction, Mystery & Thrillers-304pp

Book Summary

Evelyne Redfern returns in A Dark and Deadly Journey, the next book in international bestselling author Julia Kelly’s captivating historical mystery series.

After being sidelined for a pesky gunshot wound, typist-turned-field agent Evelyne Redfern is ready for her next assignment with Britain’s secretive Special Investigations Unit. When a British Intelligence informant in Portugal mysteriously disappears just after hinting that he has vital information about German plans that could tip the balance of World War Two, Evelyne and her dashingly irksome partner, David Poole, are sent headed to Lisbon to find him.

Once they land, Evelyne and David aren’t even able to leave the airport, before she discovers one of their fellow aeroplane passengers murdered and uncovers a diary with a clear link between the victim and their missing informant. With their mission in jeopardy before it can truly begin, Evelyne and David fight to keep their cover intact as they descend deeper into the shadows that surround Lisbon’s glittering collection of wealthy expats and dangerous spies. This case will test Evelyne and David’s training, charm, and wit—and their growing attraction for one another.

Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab First Published in Historical Novels Review Magazine, Nov.1, 2025 Issue

     This newest installment in the Evelyn Redfern Mysteries presents fans of historical mystery novels with a fast-paced trek following British Special Investigation Unit agents Evelyn Redfern and partner David Poole to Portugal,1940.  Kelly’s vivid details of politically charged Lisbon, filled with wealthy expats, sparkling jewels and a throng of spies, is the perfect setting for A Dark and Deadly Journey. The disappearance of a British intelligence informant leads Evelyn and David to Princes Petrova’s soirees, the Hotel Metropol, casinos, bars, and jewelry shops as they piece together the giant jigsaw puzzle.

     Julia Kelly easily connects readers by revisiting Evelyn’s famous childhood as the “Paris Orphan” leading to the estrangement of her father, Sir Reginald. He has suddenly contacted her with a surprising request which strangely coincides with her new mission as an SIU agent. Disguised as a wine buyer and his secretary, David and Evelyn work with Phillips, head of the intelligence branch in Lisbon, tracking an informant who supposedly has knowledge that could shift Portugal’s neutrality in the war.  Sir Reginald, Phillips, Princess Petrova; and many more intriguing characters are involved in unexpected plot twists at every turn in the crowded Lisbon streets. Kelly interjects Evelyn’s smartly induced theories to keep readers analyzing the clues as the search for the missing informant progresses.

      With each new installment Kelly adds a touch of romance as Evelyn and David’s growing attraction is coyly revealed in details of private moments and memories of their previous assignments as SIU agents.  Be forewarned of an unexpected, jaw-dropping ending. Suspenseful. Highly recommended. Awaiting the next adventure in the Evelyn Redfern Mysteries with great anticipation.   

Christy Award -Historical Fiction 2025: Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes

Publication June 18, 2024-Bethany House-Christian-Historical Fiction-416pp

Book Summary

A lost treasure. A riddled quest. The healing power of friendship.

Legends are tucked into every fold of the Colorado mountains surrounding the quaint town of Mercy Peak, where residents are the stuff of tall tales, the peaks are taller still, and a lost treasure has etched mystery into the very terrain.

In 1948, when outsider Mercy Windsor arrives after a scandal shatters her gilded world as Hollywood’s beloved leading lady, she is determined to forge a new life in obscurity in this time-forgotten Colorado haven. She purchases Wildwood, an abandoned estate with a haunting history, and begins to restore it to its former glory.

But as she does, her every move tugs at the threads of the mountain’s lore, unearthing what became of her long-lost pen pal Rusty Bright, and the whereabouts of the infamous Galloping Goose Railcar No. 8, which vanished years ago–along with the mailbag it carried, whose contents could change the course of countless lives. Not to mention the fabled treasure that–if found–could right so many wrongs.

Among the towering mountains that stand as silent witnesses, the ghosts of the past entangle with the courage of the present to find a place where healing, friendship, and hope can abide amid a world forever changed.

Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab First Reviewed for Historical Novel Society-August 1, 2024

Mountain lore, a mystery, and mending of hearts are like the veins of gold in Colorado’s San Juan Mountain Range in Amanda Dyke’s dual timeline. A Blood Moon Pact between four ten-year-olds, heartfelt, girlish letters between pen-pals Rusty Bright and Marybeth Spatts in 1928, and the 1948 arrival of a fallen movie star in Mercy Peak, Colorado, sets the narrative in motion.

Like the “Galloping Geese,” hybrid train/automobiles used to climb the mountains, the pace of the novel transports readers slowly and deliberately to reach the peaks, then builds speed toward the station with a satisfying, uplifting arrival.  Dykes’ narrative, somewhat epistolary through the pen pal letters, is also layered with newspaper articles, movie scripts, and interviews which reveal personal emotions and feelings, lending a realistic, captivating element. A riveting treasure hunt with ingenious clues and patterns along with the search for the Galloping Goose #8 leads readers to a fascinating discovery.  The train’s mysterious disappearance and its missing mail bag adds suspense and personal connections to Mercy Peak’s citizens, some waiting years for life altering news. Throughout the narrative Dykes connects Mercy Peak’s residents of the present to the past through the possibilities of the mail bag’s contents. Also known for her love of symbolism, the mountains are cast as a character, representing life and the treasure they hold.

Themes of friendship, finding purpose, and hope are painted onto the canvas, Born of Gilded Mountains. The landscape, with glorious descriptions of mountain peaks and verdant valleys, is enhanced by the lure of the poignant tales and visions of those residing in the charming village of Mercy Peaks; filled with forgiveness, grace, courage and adventure. A soul-stirring, rewarding journey.  

Read more about Amanda’s books here on her website: https://amandadykes.com/mybooks/

Last Call at the Savoy by Brisa Carleton

Publication Nov. 4, 2025-Grand Central Publishing-Historical Fiction-304pp

Book Summary

Set amongst the glittering backdrop of London’s iconic Savoy hotel, a young woman is forced to confront her troubled past as she uncovers the story of the hotel’s first female bartender who has been erased from the history books—”an exhilarating, tender read that will leave you smiling” (Fiona Jackson, bestselling author).
      Six years ago, Cinnamon Scott was a young writer on the rise in New York City. But since the sudden loss of her parents, she’s been stuck in place, retreating to a life of endless partying—made possible by the massive fortune she’s inherited. Despite their tragic loss, she and her older sister Rosemary have always had each other to lean on. But now, with Rosie living in London and about to give birth to twins, Cinnamon feels more lost than ever.
     When Rosie is put on bed rest, Cinnamon flies to her sister’s side, where she’s temporarily living at The Savoy. Immediately swept away by the beauty and history of the legendary hotel and its famed American Bar, Cinnamon finds ample opportunity to distract herself. When the late shift bartender tells her the story of Ada Coleman, the woman who crafted the cocktail recipes The Savoy popularized in its famous handbook a century ago, Cinnamon is inspired by the bartender’s vivid stories of Ada’s fearlessness and can’t understand why Ada’s name is nowhere to be found. After meeting a handsome historian researching the hotel and realizing that Ada is likely to be once again overlooked, Cinnamon must decide if she can overcome her demons and stand up for Ada’s story. And, along the way, she might just save her own story too.

Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab

A perfect book cocktail: One book filled with the story of Ada Coleman, first female bartender at the London Savoy Hotel and her cocktail recipes, add two sisters, one pregnant with twins and one stuck in a guilt ridden past, stir in a handsome historian, sprinkle with the rich and famous-Voila!

In this dual timeline Brisa Carleton blends the history of the Savoy and its residents seamlessly with an equal amount of present-day trauma and guilt carried by sisters, Cinnamon and Rosemary. I found both timelines compelling; the Ada Coleman portion was filled with the mystery of what happened to the well-known bartender and the Savoy Cocktail Book; and what would become of the sisters dealing with inheritance, guilt, and twins? I savored the stories of famous people residing or being served at the American Bar in the Savoy -Harry Selfridge, Cesar Ritz, Marconi, Gucci, told to Cinnamon by Joe the late-night bartender.  The addition of historian Christopher Clark adds a writer mentor, possible love interest for Cinnamon, as she becomes a “girl detective.”  

Which is better? Sipping a Manhattan at the American Bar while Joe tells stories-wondering why Ada Coleman has been erased from the cocktail book or delving into the history of the Savoy over afternoon tea with Christopher Clark, wondering what it would be like to be a writer? Read Last Call at the Savoy to enjoy both!

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree-A Festive Guide to Celebrating the Holidays

Publication September 23, 2025-Harper Celebrates-176pp-Cooking, Crafts, Entertainment, Pop Culture

Book Summary

Get the most out of your Yuletide celebrations and let the Christmas spirit ring with this full-color festive handbook to all things holiday! You will rock around your Christmas tree this season with the beloved, nostalgic #1 chart-topping song as your guide to a host of holiday fun, from recipes and crafts to party games, decor ideas, and more!

Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab

Christmas arrives when we first hear Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee! This guide is a delightful collection of ideas to “decorate, dance, bake and celebrate” the holiday season. The lyrics of the famous song form the table of contents! So ingenious and a festive start for getting into the spirit of entertaining family and friends. The book opens with the background of Brenda Lee and Johnny Marks and the history of their music. The collection is filled with recipes, tablescape ideas, and party themes. Whether given as a gift to a Brenda Lee fan or for personal enjoyment, one can always use hosting tips, a holiday couple’s quiz, or a little mistletoe magic! Happy Holidays!

The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan

Publication October 14, 2025-William & Morrow- Mystery, 320pp

Book Summary

A new holiday story set in the Scottish Highlands to warm booklovers’ hearts by Jenny Colgan, New York Times bestselling author of Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop.

Mirren Sutherland stumbled into a career as an antiquarian book hunter after finding a priceless antique book in her great aunt’s attic. Now, as Christmas approaches, she’s been hired by Jamie McPherson, the surprisingly young and handsome laird of a Highland clan whose ancestral holdings include a vast crumbling castle. Family lore suggests that the McPherson family’s collection includes a rare book so valuable that it could save the entire estate—if they only knew where it was. Jamie needs Mirren to help him track down this treasure, which he believes is hidden in his own home.

But on the train to the Highlands, Mirren runs into rival book hunter Theo Palliser, and instantly knows that it’s not a chance meeting. She’s all too familiar with Theo’s good looks and smooth talk, and his uncanny ability to appear whenever there’s a treasure that needs locating.

Almost as soon as Mirren and Theo arrive at the castle, a deep snow blankets the Highlands, cutting off the outside world. Stuck inside, the three of them plot their search as the wind whistles outside. Mirren knows that Jamie’s grandfather, the castle’s most recent laird, had been a book collector, a hoarder, and a great lover of treasure hunts. Now they must unpuzzle his clues, discovering the secrets of the house—forming and breaking alliances in a race against time.

A treat for booklovers and treasure hunters alike, The Secret Christmas Library serves up a delicious mystery with a hint of romance, and plenty of holiday spirit!

Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab

A treasure hunt that starts in the British Museum in Bloomsbury, the elegant area of London devoted to libraries, books, and studies. What could be better?  Jenny Colgan incorporates the sheer cliffs of the Scottish Highlands, secret passageways in a crumbling castle, and the search for a valuable book that could save an estate into this gem of novel set in Scotland at Christmas time.  

Jenny Colgan truly lives in a castle in Scotland, so her descriptions vividly depict the views of the spacious grounds and cottages, the biting cold inside and out, and the long, dark corridors leading to the libraries and bedrooms. The main characters are well developed with realistic doubts and fears, expectations and hopes, and family concerns and secrets. All these feelings play into the quandary of how to save the castle that’s been in Jamie McKinnon’s family for over 500 years! Jamie’s grandfather had always been obsessed with books, puzzles, and crosswords, so no one was surprised when his only hint as to the whereabouts of the valuable book came in the form of a poem. Mirren and Theo, antiquarian booksellers, Bonnie, an amazing cook on staff, and the laird himself, Jamie; are snowed in along with Jamie’s sister, Esme, all hoping to sort through the mystery and find the book. The logic and analysis of the poem, following the clues, and the relationships that develop, all add to the suspense. If Mirren was looking for a change in her life, for an adventure? She got one!  

The Secret Christmas Library is a suspenseful, mysterious tale – a stocking stuffer with a bit of spicy romance, soul-searching, and splendid holiday discoveries. Cozy up in front of the fire for that shivery, excited feeling when opening the pages of the perfect Scottish tale.

Sweet & Salty-Cookbook for Young Bakers

Publication September 30, 2025-Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers-Nonfiction-Cooking-280pp.

Book Summary

From the most trusted American baking resource comes a collection of over eighty sweet, salty, and very, very tasty recipes that will have bakers of all ages rolling up their sleeves and breaking out their rolling pins!

Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab

Not everyone grows up learning to bake from scratch like I did-thanks, Mom. Here’s your “teacher!” This is a step-by-step book for parents and kids who want to create in the kitchen! The Table of Contents is well designed and divided into categories for quick reference, and the recipes are leveled as Easy, Medium, or Project-an adult should help on the first attempt. The introductory pages with tips and tools are informative and include plenty of photos, without detaining “anxious to start” bakers. The sidebars are presented with explanations packed with chemistry and math; knowledge of why ingredients work-chemistry; measuring hints-math, which kids learn best in practical ways. Sweet & Salty is PERFECT for a family cookbook collection. Cue the sprinkles!    

The President’s Wife by Anna Stuart

Publication September 23, 2025-Bookouture-Historical Fiction-382pp

Book Summary

December 1941: ‘Pearl Harbor has been bombed.’ My husband, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s, voice shakes as he tells me the devastating news. In this heart-stopping moment, I’m determined to do whatever it takes to protect America, but will it be enough?

Eleanor Roosevelt takes a deep breath. She knew this day was coming but now that it’s here she needs every ounce of courage to face it. She’s stood by Franklin’s side through thirty years of marriage and three terms in the White House but entering the war that’s been raging across the world will be their greatest challenge yet.

Eleanor watches thousands of women as they embrace their husbands for what could be the last time before they go off to war. She knows she needs to put aside the troubles in her own relationship for the sake of the country. But will the latest threat to her marriage finally tear her and Franklin apart? 

The stakes are higher than they’ve ever been. This is a moment that history will never forget, and all eyes are on them. Will Eleanor succeed in her role as the president’s wife and help to save her beloved country as well as her marriage? Or will tragedy strike before the war is won…?

Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab

A well-researched, poignant portrait of the amazing Eleanor Roosevelt; the political and private life from the First Lady’s point of view.

The novel opens as the Roosevelts move into the White House in 1933, fulfilling Franklin’s lifelong dream of becoming the President.  In this dual timeline, Eleanor’s reflections take the reader from meeting Franklin at a party in 1902 to visiting his gravesite in 1948. Stuart covers America’s political climate from before the bombing of Pearl Harbor through the end of World War II. That’s a lot of campaigning, train trips, and elections! Franklin and Eleanor’s political views and news is kept front and center: fireside chats, Eleanor’s daily news column, speaking engagements, and myriad women’s groups. Eleanor’s heart for freedom and justice for all Americans is revealed repeatedly as she makes unbelievable personal sacrifices for the good of Franklin’s career and the country.

Told from Eleanor’s perspective Stuart portrays the couple’s great respect and love for each other with compassion and candor.  Eleanor’s discovery of a bundle of violet scented letters creates a great divide in the Roosevelt marriage. Stuart shows discernment and sympathy for Eleanor’s true heart in her bold demand of two marriage conditions rather than divorce, while highlighting family relationships, the separate residences, and Eleanor’s own friends she called ‘intimates’.

Known as First Lady, but also as a writer, broadcaster, campaigner, and friend. This novel celebrates Eleanor’s cerebral bond with Franklin, her uncanny gift of being a great listener and her lifelong stand against prejudice.

The President’s Wife is a stunning jewel in Anna Stuart’s author crown.

DREAM by Barbara O’Connor

Publication August 26, 2025-Macmillan Children’s Publishing-Middle Grade-256pp

Book Summary

The highly anticipated follow up to Wish, which has spent six years on the New York Times bestseller list and is beloved by over two million readers. Dream follows a small town girl with big aspirations who discovers that anything is possible with your best friends and an adorable pup by your side!
      The sky is the limit.
Idalee Lovett is content with her life in small-town Colby, North Carolina, living in her family’s huge house with rooms for rent. But she has big dreams, just like her mama. While Mama is on tour for the summer with her cover band, Lovey Lovett and the Junkyard Dogs, Idalee decides to hone her craft as a songwriter—since her truest wish is to hear her country songs on the radio one day.
     When the local radio station announces a songwriting contest with the winning song being recorded by an up-and-coming singer, Idalee is determined to win. It would definitely be possible if only she could buy the shiny blue guitar in Asheville’s music shop. Idalee doesn’t have much money, but she knows exactly how to get it—the long-lost treasure her late granddaddy hid somewhere in their house. With the help of her friends Odell, Howard, Charlie, and an adorable little dog named Wishbone, Idalee is going to search in every nook and cranny until she finds it. But little does she know, the biggest treasure of all is only discovered when you believe in yourself with your whole heart.

     In this standalone companion to the #1 New York Times bestseller Wish, nothing is impossible as Idalee learns the power of chasing her dreams one guitar strum at a time.

Grateful Reader Review by Dorothy Schwab

Friends come in all sizes, shapes and ages. Idalee learns lots of lessons as she counts on a new guitar to bolster her creativity. All ages will enjoy DREAM and the story of friendship in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I did a paired reading of this with my granddaughter Leona Claire. Her response at the end of each chapter was always, “Let’s keep reading!”