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Honeyville
A hooker. A mistress. A murder. This town was built on sin.
The town of Trinidad, Colorado was a tough place to be a woman in 1913. But it was the best place in the West to find one, if you had the cash.
Honeyville, they used to call it.
A murder throws Inez and Dora together – two women from opposite sides of town, in a town built for men. Against all odds, the well born girl and the high class hooker are drawn together in friendship…
But this is a town that is rotten to the core, and beyond the rustling of silk skirts, the dancing and laughter, deadly unrest is building…
Welcome to Honeyville – a town living by its own rules, where nothing is quite as it seems
A STORY INSPIRED BY A LOST CHAPTER IN AMERICAN HISTORY
The town of Trinidad, Colorado was a tough place to be a woman in 1913. But it was the best place in the West to find one, if you had the cash.
Honeyville, they used to call it.
A murder throws Inez and Dora together – two women from opposite sides of town, in a town built for men. Against all odds, the well born girl and the high class hooker are drawn together in friendship…
But this is a town that is rotten to the core, and beyond the rustling of silk skirts, the dancing and laughter, deadly unrest is building…
Welcome to Honeyville – a town living by its own rules, where nothing is quite as it seems
A STORY INSPIRED BY A LOST CHAPTER IN AMERICAN HISTORY
464 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 20, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 20, 2016
Wow. This was fantastic. Definately a I-must-turn-the-page kind of book. Great characters, story, and even educational. This is historical fiction, but not too heavy going despite the heavy subject, thanks to the girl friendship and chicklit side taste. Set mostly in 1913 in Colorado, USA; this tale is set in Trinidad, which had the luck to be the only place in the state where prostitution was legal. So there were a lot of knocking shops. And inevitably one of the main characters is a high class hooker. BUT historically this book is actually about the miners, the mine's owners and the union men and the near year long strike that went on, seeing murders on both side and eventually crumbling to what feels like war, with a dreadful massacre at one of the mining towns. Socialism v. capitalism. Who is going to win?!
I did love the three main characters, and in fairness they all had their irritating traits. But it made them so much more fully rounded and real. They weren't perfect. There is Dora, our aging hooker who seems to have given up on trying at times; and Inez, an unmarried lady, who strike up an unlikely friendship. Inez is talkative, frustratingly naive and bored I guess, which is why she gets so tangled up in union business and the strike - that and because she falls in love with a union man. She can come across as distracted and just paying lip service to things at times - because she has money and doesn't live in the hardships the miners do; because at times she only seems to pay things attention when it suits. And sometimes she is quite sweet about it, such as when she orders all kinds of parapanalia from a spy catalogue. You've got to wonder if she's ever got her feet on the ground. But perhaps there is something more to this behaviour... I don't want to give the game away and spoil the book for new readers. And finally there is Inez's brother, Xavier, who comes into the plot about half way through. There is something quite real and warm about this book and I'm rather sad I've come to the end now.
I won this copy on a goodreads giveaway, and I am very glad I did.
I did love the three main characters, and in fairness they all had their irritating traits. But it made them so much more fully rounded and real. They weren't perfect. There is Dora, our aging hooker who seems to have given up on trying at times; and Inez, an unmarried lady, who strike up an unlikely friendship. Inez is talkative, frustratingly naive and bored I guess, which is why she gets so tangled up in union business and the strike - that and because she falls in love with a union man. She can come across as distracted and just paying lip service to things at times - because she has money and doesn't live in the hardships the miners do; because at times she only seems to pay things attention when it suits. And sometimes she is quite sweet about it, such as when she orders all kinds of parapanalia from a spy catalogue. You've got to wonder if she's ever got her feet on the ground. But perhaps there is something more to this behaviour... I don't want to give the game away and spoil the book for new readers. And finally there is Inez's brother, Xavier, who comes into the plot about half way through. There is something quite real and warm about this book and I'm rather sad I've come to the end now.
I won this copy on a goodreads giveaway, and I am very glad I did.
August 7, 2016
For a more detailed review, please check out my review below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
December 2, 2014
When a blood stained letter is delivered more than a decade after it was written, the long buried secret of a violent past comes hurtling back to journalist, Max Eastman, and reminds him of his involvement with two very different women during the miner's strike in Colorado during the Ludlow massacre of 1914.
On the surface, Inez Dubois and Dora Whitworth should never have met, but when they witness a violent murder, an unlikely friendship is established between Inez, a respectable librarian, and Dora who works as a whore at the Plum Street Parlour house, in the town colloquially named Snatchville, in Trinidad, Colorado. Almost by default, the two women are drawn into a violent time when seemingly ruthless men incited violence and sedition amongst a working class who had little or no hope of restitution.
What then follows is a story about the political and emotional ramifications of a town at war with itself and of the ruthless ambition of unscrupulous men who with violence and intimidation used fear as the ultimate control. Overall, the story held my attention. I enjoyed getting to know both Inez and Dora, they are both feisty heroines and deserving of centre stage in a novel which never shies away from the violence of the times and which ultimately focuses on the power of friendship and the overwhelming sadness of betrayal.
I enjoyed this look at a period in American history of which I knew nothing. I thought the author did a commendable job of allowing the story to evolve slowly and the fine attention to historical detail really made the story come alive.
On the surface, Inez Dubois and Dora Whitworth should never have met, but when they witness a violent murder, an unlikely friendship is established between Inez, a respectable librarian, and Dora who works as a whore at the Plum Street Parlour house, in the town colloquially named Snatchville, in Trinidad, Colorado. Almost by default, the two women are drawn into a violent time when seemingly ruthless men incited violence and sedition amongst a working class who had little or no hope of restitution.
What then follows is a story about the political and emotional ramifications of a town at war with itself and of the ruthless ambition of unscrupulous men who with violence and intimidation used fear as the ultimate control. Overall, the story held my attention. I enjoyed getting to know both Inez and Dora, they are both feisty heroines and deserving of centre stage in a novel which never shies away from the violence of the times and which ultimately focuses on the power of friendship and the overwhelming sadness of betrayal.
I enjoyed this look at a period in American history of which I knew nothing. I thought the author did a commendable job of allowing the story to evolve slowly and the fine attention to historical detail really made the story come alive.
March 13, 2016
I received this book for free via Goodreads First Reads.
I actually received this book over a year ago but it was unfortunate to slip down my 'to read' piles.
I had honestly not heard of the town of Trinidad, Colorado before I read this book. The Ludlow Massacre meant nothing to me. I have done further research on both during the time it took me to read this book.
The actual story of the book is mostly about two women who should not have been friends according to society at the time. It is set in a backdrop of what could be described as a local civil war between mineowners and unionists. It is hard not to compare the struggle then to the current US political picture. I think the author might have stumbled upon a parallel in history before it occured.
The writing is clear and easy to read. I did notice one or two errors but I think my copy could have been a proof copy so I chose to ignore them. There are a lot of interesting characters to propel the story forward. The overriding impression I got was one of suffering but in completely different ways. It was an eye-opener to times I probably would not have survived long in. My research did bring up one slight historical error but it did not affect my enjoyment of the story.
I think this book should be read by students of both history and politics. They could learn from it as I have. It is a less daunting read than it looks which will help some readers. It is a book I am glad to have (finally) read and a solid 4 star rating from me.
I actually received this book over a year ago but it was unfortunate to slip down my 'to read' piles.
I had honestly not heard of the town of Trinidad, Colorado before I read this book. The Ludlow Massacre meant nothing to me. I have done further research on both during the time it took me to read this book.
The actual story of the book is mostly about two women who should not have been friends according to society at the time. It is set in a backdrop of what could be described as a local civil war between mineowners and unionists. It is hard not to compare the struggle then to the current US political picture. I think the author might have stumbled upon a parallel in history before it occured.
The writing is clear and easy to read. I did notice one or two errors but I think my copy could have been a proof copy so I chose to ignore them. There are a lot of interesting characters to propel the story forward. The overriding impression I got was one of suffering but in completely different ways. It was an eye-opener to times I probably would not have survived long in. My research did bring up one slight historical error but it did not affect my enjoyment of the story.
I think this book should be read by students of both history and politics. They could learn from it as I have. It is a less daunting read than it looks which will help some readers. It is a book I am glad to have (finally) read and a solid 4 star rating from me.
February 6, 2017
*3.5 stars*
I liked this book, I just didn't love it.
I was intrigued by the juxtaposition of the hooker girl and the upper class girl's friendship. I really liked Dora and how down to earth and relatable she was, even if she was a hooker. I had a weird on-off thing with Inez though, she had some lovely sweet moments, but at other times I wanted to throttle the brat! I liked Xavier's character as well, his and Dora's friendship was great.
There were a few twists and turns I didn't see coming, some were funny, but the one big one was (even though kind of obvious from the beginning - my stupid brain just didn't want to pick up on it) kinda heartbreaking.
I don't know whether it's just me again but I kept getting confused in what the strikers were fighting for and whose side Inez was on. It all got a little bit muddled and I was never really truly engaged with it.
I enjoyed the scenery though and the era, it had beautiful imagery but the overall story was just a bit, well, odd.
I liked this book, I just didn't love it.
I was intrigued by the juxtaposition of the hooker girl and the upper class girl's friendship. I really liked Dora and how down to earth and relatable she was, even if she was a hooker. I had a weird on-off thing with Inez though, she had some lovely sweet moments, but at other times I wanted to throttle the brat! I liked Xavier's character as well, his and Dora's friendship was great.
There were a few twists and turns I didn't see coming, some were funny, but the one big one was (even though kind of obvious from the beginning - my stupid brain just didn't want to pick up on it) kinda heartbreaking.
I don't know whether it's just me again but I kept getting confused in what the strikers were fighting for and whose side Inez was on. It all got a little bit muddled and I was never really truly engaged with it.
I enjoyed the scenery though and the era, it had beautiful imagery but the overall story was just a bit, well, odd.
April 23, 2015
Set in Colorado in the early 20th century, this is the story of the unlikely friendship between respectable Inez and hooker Dora. Their friendship plays out against the backdrop of the unionisation of the mineworkers and incorporates the Ludlow Massacre into the narrative. Great characters and I felt really involved with the story and how it evolved. Inez was slightly annoying at times but so well written that you realise you know women like her. Enjoyed this more than anticipated.
November 28, 2014
I've read her other novels and enjoyed them but this is Daisy Waugh's best. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. Beautiful, moving and a more emotionally mature story than a woman of 100 years could write. Incredible research was seamlessly weaved in and I came away a box of knowledge on a fascinating and tragic piece of American history. I cannot recommend this book enough.
July 24, 2025
I picked up this book at the outside sale rack of the English Bookstore in the Södermalm, Stockholm branch for only 30kr. The goal: after a very long hiatus on reading books for fun (I have been reading academic books for the past 5-6 years), I decided this summer to read at least 3 books for fun.
This book is fantastic in so many ways. Not only it explores a very neglected chapter of American history, it gives protagonism and attention to the lives of women in a very disturbing setting, the Labor Wars in the US in the 1910s. Particularly focusing on the events in a town in southern Colorado.
The fictional characters while not the main actors in the conflict, had their lives completed shaken by it. The contrast between the figures of Dora and Ines, while still distant figures to the cause of the miners, brought an ever-evolving and highly intriguing plot.
Dora, a hooker no longer in her prime, and Ines, a society lady, when introduced to the real world outside of the elites of Trinidad became addicted to “living”. The dynamics between these characters were fascinating, though at times Ines’ dialogues can be a little irritating due to her personality.
Apart from Dora, my absolute favorite character is Xavier, Ines’ older brother. I don’t want to spoil the book here, but he is graceful, and an extremely interesting character.
It was one of those books where I couldn’t tell what would happen next, and what the end was gonna look like, because it was everything but a cliche.
This book is fantastic in so many ways. Not only it explores a very neglected chapter of American history, it gives protagonism and attention to the lives of women in a very disturbing setting, the Labor Wars in the US in the 1910s. Particularly focusing on the events in a town in southern Colorado.
The fictional characters while not the main actors in the conflict, had their lives completed shaken by it. The contrast between the figures of Dora and Ines, while still distant figures to the cause of the miners, brought an ever-evolving and highly intriguing plot.
Dora, a hooker no longer in her prime, and Ines, a society lady, when introduced to the real world outside of the elites of Trinidad became addicted to “living”. The dynamics between these characters were fascinating, though at times Ines’ dialogues can be a little irritating due to her personality.
Apart from Dora, my absolute favorite character is Xavier, Ines’ older brother. I don’t want to spoil the book here, but he is graceful, and an extremely interesting character.
It was one of those books where I couldn’t tell what would happen next, and what the end was gonna look like, because it was everything but a cliche.
March 12, 2018
I would definitely recommend this book to readers of 'historical fiction'and thrillers.
Having never heard anything on the town of Trinidad in Colorado, I now feel very confident in knowing its history of miner's strikers, due to the excellent research of Daisy Waugh.
She expertly weaves the characters into believable events, and keeps us wanting to know 'what happened next'.
As usual I listened to this book and found the reading of Gabrielle Glaister quite good, although questioned the accents particularly that of the main characters Inez. Sounded more from Texas or the deep south other than Colorado.
Nevertheless a good read.
Having never heard anything on the town of Trinidad in Colorado, I now feel very confident in knowing its history of miner's strikers, due to the excellent research of Daisy Waugh.
She expertly weaves the characters into believable events, and keeps us wanting to know 'what happened next'.
As usual I listened to this book and found the reading of Gabrielle Glaister quite good, although questioned the accents particularly that of the main characters Inez. Sounded more from Texas or the deep south other than Colorado.
Nevertheless a good read.
August 15, 2018
Easy, quick read, engaging story.
January 11, 2026
3.5 stars
Read
March 11, 2017Didn't finish reading it- felt like it was going nowhere.
November 13, 2015
Novel set in Trinidad, Colorado (the period and setting beautifully evoked)
This is a clever way of dreaming up the plot for a novel. Choose a fairly obscure historical event and switch the spotlight from the men at the centre of the action (it’s almost always men, isn’t it?) to the women on the periphery, at the same time drawing out the parallels between both. Daisy Waugh has chosen to focus on the 1914 miners’ strike in Colorado which culminated in the Ludlow Massacre, when the National Guard and personnel from the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company attacked a tent colony of 1,200 striking coal miners and their families. What seems to have really fuelled Waugh’s ire and prompted the writing of this novel was the discovery of a newspaper article from the time, in which the writer, making a typically snap judgement on events, chooses to denounce the wives of Trinidad’s elite for their attitude to the miners. Waugh could, with some justification, have written directly about the miners and their plight, but she chooses instead to focus on the lives of two women, both connected in different ways to the events.
The narrator is Dora Whitworth, a prostitute from one of the more exclusive brothels in town, who has encountered both union leaders and management in her working role and watches the events unfold from a distance. At the time, Trinidad, Colorado was the only place in the West where prostitution was legal and, as a result, a thriving red-light district has grown up, much to the disgust of the nice ladies of the town. It is from the ranks of this elite that the second main character emerges. Inez has been raised by her wealthy aunt and uncle and spends her days doing voluntary work at the local library and drinking tea with the other affluent ladies. In normal circumstances these two women would never have encountered each other, much less become friends but fate throws them together when they are trapped in a drugstore, while a brutal murder is committed outside. Inez faints (well, she would, wouldn’t she?) and Dora takes command of the situation, dragging her off to a local bar for some bourbon.
From that point on, the story fairly rattles along and it’s not one you’re going to find easy to put down. Dora is very engaging as a narrator and, as the story unfolds, you find yourself desperately hoping that things will work out for her. Inez is harder to sympathise with – there’s a bit too much of the spoilt-little-rich-kid-playing-revolutionary about her for me to like – but where I think this novel really comes into its own is in the way that Waugh cleverly draws the parallel between the miners and the prostitutes. Both groups are cruelly exploited, cheated of their earnings, even treated as less than human, but only one of the two groups normally make the spotlight and I congratulate the author for addressing this oversight.
Waugh, in this novel, also brings the settings to life in such a vivid way that you can almost smell the disinfectant which pervades the air in the brothel. She clearly knows her stuff and has done her research. She tells us, in Acknowledgements that much of the town of 1914 Trinidad is still standing, just boarded up and ignored, as if America just wanted to turn its back on the shameful past and forget about it. Now, if anything would tempt the visitor to go and have a look, surely that is it …
This review first appeared on our blog; where we chat to the author about the book, writing and reading Tarot: http://www.tripfiction.com/honeyville...
This is a clever way of dreaming up the plot for a novel. Choose a fairly obscure historical event and switch the spotlight from the men at the centre of the action (it’s almost always men, isn’t it?) to the women on the periphery, at the same time drawing out the parallels between both. Daisy Waugh has chosen to focus on the 1914 miners’ strike in Colorado which culminated in the Ludlow Massacre, when the National Guard and personnel from the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company attacked a tent colony of 1,200 striking coal miners and their families. What seems to have really fuelled Waugh’s ire and prompted the writing of this novel was the discovery of a newspaper article from the time, in which the writer, making a typically snap judgement on events, chooses to denounce the wives of Trinidad’s elite for their attitude to the miners. Waugh could, with some justification, have written directly about the miners and their plight, but she chooses instead to focus on the lives of two women, both connected in different ways to the events.
The narrator is Dora Whitworth, a prostitute from one of the more exclusive brothels in town, who has encountered both union leaders and management in her working role and watches the events unfold from a distance. At the time, Trinidad, Colorado was the only place in the West where prostitution was legal and, as a result, a thriving red-light district has grown up, much to the disgust of the nice ladies of the town. It is from the ranks of this elite that the second main character emerges. Inez has been raised by her wealthy aunt and uncle and spends her days doing voluntary work at the local library and drinking tea with the other affluent ladies. In normal circumstances these two women would never have encountered each other, much less become friends but fate throws them together when they are trapped in a drugstore, while a brutal murder is committed outside. Inez faints (well, she would, wouldn’t she?) and Dora takes command of the situation, dragging her off to a local bar for some bourbon.
From that point on, the story fairly rattles along and it’s not one you’re going to find easy to put down. Dora is very engaging as a narrator and, as the story unfolds, you find yourself desperately hoping that things will work out for her. Inez is harder to sympathise with – there’s a bit too much of the spoilt-little-rich-kid-playing-revolutionary about her for me to like – but where I think this novel really comes into its own is in the way that Waugh cleverly draws the parallel between the miners and the prostitutes. Both groups are cruelly exploited, cheated of their earnings, even treated as less than human, but only one of the two groups normally make the spotlight and I congratulate the author for addressing this oversight.
Waugh, in this novel, also brings the settings to life in such a vivid way that you can almost smell the disinfectant which pervades the air in the brothel. She clearly knows her stuff and has done her research. She tells us, in Acknowledgements that much of the town of 1914 Trinidad is still standing, just boarded up and ignored, as if America just wanted to turn its back on the shameful past and forget about it. Now, if anything would tempt the visitor to go and have a look, surely that is it …
This review first appeared on our blog; where we chat to the author about the book, writing and reading Tarot: http://www.tripfiction.com/honeyville...
March 7, 2023
there was something warm about this book that i was fond of - maybe the characters or the beautiful imagery. the plot was not as daunting as what typical historical fiction books should be, and the language used was easy to read.
the story was set mostly in 1913 in trinidad, when two women who should not have been friends according to society at the time, witnessed a violent murder. they were then drawn into a violent time when seemingly ruthless men incited violence and sedition amongst mineworkers who had little or no hope of unionisation. almost a year of strike by the miners led to nothing but murders on both side and eventually crumbling to what felt like war and ludlow massacre.
i have grown to like all three main characters: dora the hooker, inez the librarian, and xavier, inez's brother, although they were imperfect. while dora had given up trying, inez believed she had the power to change the lives of the suffering mineworkers after visiting the mining towns. at one point i was annoyed by inez because she was frustratingly naive and easy to manipulate that it did not seem weird at all if she was tangled up in union business and the strike. and xavier! i love him! i guess maybe it's because i wanted the best for dora after having kicked out from the parlour house...
the story was set mostly in 1913 in trinidad, when two women who should not have been friends according to society at the time, witnessed a violent murder. they were then drawn into a violent time when seemingly ruthless men incited violence and sedition amongst mineworkers who had little or no hope of unionisation. almost a year of strike by the miners led to nothing but murders on both side and eventually crumbling to what felt like war and ludlow massacre.
i have grown to like all three main characters: dora the hooker, inez the librarian, and xavier, inez's brother, although they were imperfect. while dora had given up trying, inez believed she had the power to change the lives of the suffering mineworkers after visiting the mining towns. at one point i was annoyed by inez because she was frustratingly naive and easy to manipulate that it did not seem weird at all if she was tangled up in union business and the strike. and xavier! i love him! i guess maybe it's because i wanted the best for dora after having kicked out from the parlour house...
May 9, 2015
From my review blog:
https://themoustachioedreader.wordpre...
What a read! What an absolute sheer delight.
I was gripped by this tale right from the initial words, which, to me, are reminiscent of the first line of “Rebecca”. The first chapter introduces us to Dora and Max as they meet for the first time after 20 years, the author drops in some very intriguing and thought provoking clues that whets the appetite for the adventure ahead.
The story begins with a chance encounter between Dora and Inez, a high-class hooker and a lady born to high class, as they witness a violent murder in Trinidad, Colorado in 1913. Thus begins a great friendship set amidst the turmoil that the murder wreaks upon their frontier town.
Daisy Waugh is a novelist new to me and, following this delightful book, I shall be certain to read her again. She writes with such an easy style and grace and creates characters who endear themselves immensely to the (at least, this) reader. The warmness felt between Dora and Inez and the tension created by their very different roles in society and the events that transpire are vividly brought to life and sparks the readers imagination to learn more about the historical background events. Waugh makes Dora and Inez such wonderful characters that you truly root for them. With its larger cast of villains and heroes, the town of Trinidad was brought to life for me.
If I haven’t nailed my colours firmly to the mast already, here is my opinion of “Honeyville”…READ IT TODAY!
The-Mustachioed-Reader
My Rating: 4.5* out of 5.0*
https://themoustachioedreader.wordpre...
What a read! What an absolute sheer delight.
I was gripped by this tale right from the initial words, which, to me, are reminiscent of the first line of “Rebecca”. The first chapter introduces us to Dora and Max as they meet for the first time after 20 years, the author drops in some very intriguing and thought provoking clues that whets the appetite for the adventure ahead.
The story begins with a chance encounter between Dora and Inez, a high-class hooker and a lady born to high class, as they witness a violent murder in Trinidad, Colorado in 1913. Thus begins a great friendship set amidst the turmoil that the murder wreaks upon their frontier town.
Daisy Waugh is a novelist new to me and, following this delightful book, I shall be certain to read her again. She writes with such an easy style and grace and creates characters who endear themselves immensely to the (at least, this) reader. The warmness felt between Dora and Inez and the tension created by their very different roles in society and the events that transpire are vividly brought to life and sparks the readers imagination to learn more about the historical background events. Waugh makes Dora and Inez such wonderful characters that you truly root for them. With its larger cast of villains and heroes, the town of Trinidad was brought to life for me.
If I haven’t nailed my colours firmly to the mast already, here is my opinion of “Honeyville”…READ IT TODAY!
The-Mustachioed-Reader
My Rating: 4.5* out of 5.0*
September 2, 2014
This novel says it is based on a real-life event in Trinidad, Colorado where women and children were brutally massacred but I must say that the event itself is in no way integral to the story and is almost mentioned in passing. I wish I had known that myself as it is the reason I picked the book and I didn't really feel it was a true representation of the novel itself.
In any case, the story is about two women involved in the miner's dispute between the unions and the company in America in 1913. One of the women, Inez, is from the rich side of town and the other, Dora, is a prostitute and the two strike up a close friendship after witnessing the murder of one of the union men in the street, leading to Inez becoming embroiled in the political machinations of the situation and culminating in a terrible tragedy.
I think the novel is well written and easy to read. I really warmed to the characters of Dora, Inez and Xavier and I think I would have enjoyed it much more if I wasn't anticipating the "event" to be much more than it was. Sold strictly as a novel, this is a story of friendship and pulling together in hard times; sold as based on historical fact, it is much less clear cut.
In any rate, I have given it 3 stars as I enjoyed the characters but I would have given it more had the back story been stronger.
In any case, the story is about two women involved in the miner's dispute between the unions and the company in America in 1913. One of the women, Inez, is from the rich side of town and the other, Dora, is a prostitute and the two strike up a close friendship after witnessing the murder of one of the union men in the street, leading to Inez becoming embroiled in the political machinations of the situation and culminating in a terrible tragedy.
I think the novel is well written and easy to read. I really warmed to the characters of Dora, Inez and Xavier and I think I would have enjoyed it much more if I wasn't anticipating the "event" to be much more than it was. Sold strictly as a novel, this is a story of friendship and pulling together in hard times; sold as based on historical fact, it is much less clear cut.
In any rate, I have given it 3 stars as I enjoyed the characters but I would have given it more had the back story been stronger.
October 21, 2014
An imaginative and engaging story surrounding the 1913 Ludlow Massacre in Trinidad, Colorado. At the heart of the tale is a prostitute, Dora Whitworth, through whose eyes 'Honeyville' is told. After a murder is committed, she befriends the wealthy Inez and her brother, Xavier, and finds herself embroiled in the ins and outs of the town's unions and miners' strikes.
I found 'Honeyville' a fascinating and interesting read which kept me turning the pages. It's wonderfully written with some great characters who are well drawn and realistic. I particularly liked Dora and was always rooting for her. It's cleverly plotted and although there are some serious and shocking themes, there are also some lighter moments.
A gripping, absorbing and compelling insight into an awful episode in Trinidad's history, I would recommend this book to readers who like stories combining fact with fiction but also like a hint of romance. This is the first novel I have read by Daisy Waugh and it won't be my last!
Many thanks to Lovereading.co.uk for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book which will be published in November.
I found 'Honeyville' a fascinating and interesting read which kept me turning the pages. It's wonderfully written with some great characters who are well drawn and realistic. I particularly liked Dora and was always rooting for her. It's cleverly plotted and although there are some serious and shocking themes, there are also some lighter moments.
A gripping, absorbing and compelling insight into an awful episode in Trinidad's history, I would recommend this book to readers who like stories combining fact with fiction but also like a hint of romance. This is the first novel I have read by Daisy Waugh and it won't be my last!
Many thanks to Lovereading.co.uk for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book which will be published in November.
September 10, 2014
A hooker. A mistress. A murder. This town was built on sin.
This is a time when the corrupt ruled.
This is a place that is rotten to the core.
This is the story of two women, only one of whom lives to tell the tale.
The story is about two women involved in the miner's dispute between the unions and the company in America in 1913. One of the women, Inez, is from the rich side of town and the other, Dora, is a prostitute and the two strike up a close friendship after witnessing the murder of one of the union men in the street.
The book was easy to read and flowed along but it could have been a little bit stronger in its story line in as much as I wish that there had been more of a mention of the awful massacre and a little bit more of the history of it.
Still I enjoyed it and engaged with the characters and would recommend it for a light read.
This is a time when the corrupt ruled.
This is a place that is rotten to the core.
This is the story of two women, only one of whom lives to tell the tale.
The story is about two women involved in the miner's dispute between the unions and the company in America in 1913. One of the women, Inez, is from the rich side of town and the other, Dora, is a prostitute and the two strike up a close friendship after witnessing the murder of one of the union men in the street.
The book was easy to read and flowed along but it could have been a little bit stronger in its story line in as much as I wish that there had been more of a mention of the awful massacre and a little bit more of the history of it.
Still I enjoyed it and engaged with the characters and would recommend it for a light read.
Want to Read
January 21, 2015I received this book in the Goodreads First Read giveaway
Review to come....
Review to come....
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