Zepha's Place

by AlTonya Washington

Zepha Dodge wore the title of entrepreneur at a time when few women could claim such an accomplishment. For a black woman in the 1930s, that accomplishment was remarkable indeed. Rudine, Colorado wasn’t a place that boasted such occurrences, but Zepha Dodge had built an extraordinary establishment. Still, the Great Depression loomed and its presence was felt regardless of race or social status. Somehow, Zepha’s life remained a quiet one. Her business ran smoothly and without any of the nasty surprises that could so easily find their way to one’s door. That is, until a blinding rainstorm brought with it a most unexpected guest. The woman on the other side of Zepha's door was beaten, shivering, soaked through from the rain…and she was white. On the door of a black establishment in the 1930s, such a combination could mean nothing good.

But things are not always what they seem.

** This Story includes elements that may be distressing. Reader Discretion Is Advised.

Genres: Historical Fiction

259 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 10, 2026

About the author

AlTonya Washington has been an author for 20 years. She’s traditionally, independently and scholarly published, a winner of the Romance Slam Jam EMMA Award, and two-time winner of The Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer's Choice Award.

She's a librarian, film buff and music junkie and enjoys writing in an array of genres: T. Onyx erotica, Ally Fleming interracial romantic suspense, and Temple Carver mainstream romantic suspense. She's best known for her long-running Ramsey/Tesano multicultural romantic suspense series.

Reviews

[Reading_Utopia! · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW✨

Zepha’s Place
by: AlTonya Washington
Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026

Set against the backdrop of the Summer of 1934 during the Great Depression, Zepha’s Place is a historical novel that captivates from the very first page. It follows the remarkable journey of Zepha Dodge, a trailblazing black woman who owns and operates a boarding house, truly ahead of her time. This rich narrative weaves together elements of historical fiction, suspense, and a touch of romance, creating an experience that readers won’t soon forget.

Supporting Zepha are her incredible friends Delia and Tayvia, who stand by her side unflinchingly. One fateful night, as a fierce storm rages outside, their lives are turned upside down when someone knocks on their door, beaten and pleading for help. To their surprise, she’s white, and although fear grips them, they make the courageous choice to take her in. The magic of this story is how these women, despite their differences, discover they share so much more in common than they ever imagined.

Zepha’s Place is truly a mesmerizing read, filled with vibrant characters that leap off the page and resonate long after the final sentence. A blend of heart and suspense, it’s a tale that promises to leave a lasting impression.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Zelpha’s Place. I appreciate the opportunity to share my honest thoughts!

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zepha's place is an independently published book by AlTonya Washington.

This story is set in 1930's at a time when the depression still had its grip on the US and Jim Crow laws, racial violence, and segregation ran strong. Our main character, Zepha Dodge, runs a successful boarding house and restaurant in a place called the "Outskirts" of Rudine, Colorado, the mostly black and very successful community outside of town. One night a woman showed up at the door to her boarding house "beaten, shivering, soaked through from the rain…and she was white. On the door of a black establishment in the 1930s, such a combination could mean nothing good."

This book is a quick read at 259 pages. I found it to be well-written and incredibly thought provoking. The author did an incredible job of immersing the reader into this story. The story dealt with race relations, racial violence, but it also tackled the treatment of women, and the view that even though coverture laws had largely been repealed many still viewed women as a males property, her father and then her husband.

But, one thing the author also brought to this story is light in the darkness, through friendships and romance. And we all need that, even in the darkest times we need that lightness, those connections to help see us through. Otherwise, the darkness wins. So I appreciated those moments in an otherwise tough story.

I enjoy historical fiction because I find history so fascinating, and historical fiction is just such an accessible way to read about history. It is so important, now more than ever that we read about our history to learn from it and to commit to not letting history repeat itself. I read a lot of WWII fiction, so I appreciated this raw, powerful, story from a time in history I haven't read enough about.

I received a gifted e-arc of this book through NetGalley, my opinions are my own.

[Judith Worthington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zepha's Place
AlTonya Washington

4 Stars

To Be Published: February 10, 2026

Set in Rudine, Colorado during the summer of 1934, this heartbreaking and equally heartwarming story follows the lives of three great friends as they navigate life post Depression.

Zepha's Place was a boarding house and breakfast place in the black section of town known as The Outskirts. Running this business that was loved by black and whites alike, she and her friends still faced racial injustices and Klan attacks. Things got bad for everyone one fateful night when two people go missing - both ending up finding refuge in the same unlikely place.

Skeletons in closets from the previous generation become exposed to bring the story to an unexpected ending.

I enjoyed the book so much, I finished in 24 hours.

[Meagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as a free copy from NetGalley. Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the chance to read an early copy and review.

Zepha’s place is a beautifully written novel with characters that are likeable and courageous. I felt invested in the relationships between them all. I do feel it should have a trigger warning, as it does deal with some harsh topics like domestic violence and racism. I highly recommend this book, just go into it knowing ahead of time that some parts are uncomfortable.