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Daughters of a Nation: A Black Suffragette Historical Romance Anthology
The fight for suffrage was long, hard, and carried out on many fronts. In Daughters of A Nation, Kianna Alexander, Alyssa Cole, Lena Hart, and Piper Huguley bring you four novellas full of spirit, hope, and, most LOVE.
IN THE MORNING SUN
by Lena Hart
With the election of 1868 underway, Madeline Asher’s mission is educate and enlist the freedmen of Nebraska to vote. After losing the man she loved to war—and a small piece of herself along the way—Madeline leaves her life in Philadelphia behind, determined to reclaim her life’s purpose by making a difference in others.
With America’s Southern Rebellion at an end, so are the efforts of Union veteran James Blakemore. Tired of the injustices still plaguing the young country, he sets his sights toward his Canadian roots—until fate guides him back to the love he thought he’d lost.
Vowing never to leave her side again, James joins Madeline in her cause to help the freedmen of Dunesville, despite rising threats and violence. But with the enforcement of Nebraska’s anti-miscegenation laws, Madeline is forced to choose between a life with her new husband or the chance to shape a greater nation.
THE WASHERWOMAN'S WAR
by Piper Huguley
Atlanta, GA – Summer 1881. When Maime Harper arrives to substitute teach for the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, she bears witness to the injustice told by some of the older students who are washerwomen. Maime’s upbringing as the daughter of the most famous Black suffragette in America means that she cannot be silent and resolves to help her students find their voice and openly protest their mistreatment.
When the Black Washerwomen go on strike, summer pastor Gabriel Harmon is brought in to mediate a solution but realizes the feisty leader of the opposition is the young teacher from Milford who previously rejected his attempts to pay court to her. When these two forces collide over explosive events during a hot Atlanta summer, only one will be able to win the battle. However, as they clash, Maime and Gabriel learn that there is another war, the war for the heart, that’s well worth the fight.
A RADIANT SOUL
by Kianna Alexander
In 1881, Sarah Webster is returning home to Fayetteville, NC to celebrate her mother's milestone birthday. Having spent the last two years working as a pastry chef in a Cheyenne hotel, she's a very different person than she was when she left. Her efforts towards women's suffrage, unknown to her family back home, are near and dear to her heart.
Carpenter Owen Markham, charged with building the gazebo that will serve as Mrs. Webster's birthday gift, is intrigued by the middle daughter of the Webster household, whom he's never met before. Her father has decreed that he and Sarah are suited, but when he hears her unconventional stance on women's role in society, he's not so sure a love match can be made.
LET US DREAM
by Alyssa Cole
Harlem – 1917. After spending half her life pretending to be something she's not, performance is second nature for cabaret owner Bertha Hines. With the election drawing near and women's voting rights on the ballot, Bertha decides to use her persuasive skills to push the men of New York City in the right direction.
Chef Amir Chowdhury jumped ship in New York to get a taste of the American Dream, only to discover he’s an unwanted ingredient. When ornery Amir reluctantly takes a job at The Cashmere, he thinks he's hit the bottom of the barrel; however, working at the club reignites his dream of being a force for change. His boss, Bertha, ignites something else in him.
IN THE MORNING SUN
by Lena Hart
With the election of 1868 underway, Madeline Asher’s mission is educate and enlist the freedmen of Nebraska to vote. After losing the man she loved to war—and a small piece of herself along the way—Madeline leaves her life in Philadelphia behind, determined to reclaim her life’s purpose by making a difference in others.
With America’s Southern Rebellion at an end, so are the efforts of Union veteran James Blakemore. Tired of the injustices still plaguing the young country, he sets his sights toward his Canadian roots—until fate guides him back to the love he thought he’d lost.
Vowing never to leave her side again, James joins Madeline in her cause to help the freedmen of Dunesville, despite rising threats and violence. But with the enforcement of Nebraska’s anti-miscegenation laws, Madeline is forced to choose between a life with her new husband or the chance to shape a greater nation.
THE WASHERWOMAN'S WAR
by Piper Huguley
Atlanta, GA – Summer 1881. When Maime Harper arrives to substitute teach for the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, she bears witness to the injustice told by some of the older students who are washerwomen. Maime’s upbringing as the daughter of the most famous Black suffragette in America means that she cannot be silent and resolves to help her students find their voice and openly protest their mistreatment.
When the Black Washerwomen go on strike, summer pastor Gabriel Harmon is brought in to mediate a solution but realizes the feisty leader of the opposition is the young teacher from Milford who previously rejected his attempts to pay court to her. When these two forces collide over explosive events during a hot Atlanta summer, only one will be able to win the battle. However, as they clash, Maime and Gabriel learn that there is another war, the war for the heart, that’s well worth the fight.
A RADIANT SOUL
by Kianna Alexander
In 1881, Sarah Webster is returning home to Fayetteville, NC to celebrate her mother's milestone birthday. Having spent the last two years working as a pastry chef in a Cheyenne hotel, she's a very different person than she was when she left. Her efforts towards women's suffrage, unknown to her family back home, are near and dear to her heart.
Carpenter Owen Markham, charged with building the gazebo that will serve as Mrs. Webster's birthday gift, is intrigued by the middle daughter of the Webster household, whom he's never met before. Her father has decreed that he and Sarah are suited, but when he hears her unconventional stance on women's role in society, he's not so sure a love match can be made.
LET US DREAM
by Alyssa Cole
Harlem – 1917. After spending half her life pretending to be something she's not, performance is second nature for cabaret owner Bertha Hines. With the election drawing near and women's voting rights on the ballot, Bertha decides to use her persuasive skills to push the men of New York City in the right direction.
Chef Amir Chowdhury jumped ship in New York to get a taste of the American Dream, only to discover he’s an unwanted ingredient. When ornery Amir reluctantly takes a job at The Cashmere, he thinks he's hit the bottom of the barrel; however, working at the club reignites his dream of being a force for change. His boss, Bertha, ignites something else in him.
393 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2016
21 people are currently reading
1224 people want to read
About the author
Kianna Alexander
108 books557 followersI've always loved the written word. For as long as I can remember, I read as much as I could, as often as I could. Cereal boxes, newspapers, product packaging. Ebony, Essence, and Jet Magazine. Billboards. I loved it all. I read the entire Fear Street series, as well as the Sweet Valley Books, from Twins and Friends through Sweet Valley High. Each week I'd bring 15 or 20 books home from the library, and read them all before the due date.
Now, my mother owned a pristine, barely touched collection of Harlequin romance novels, and I was not to touch them under any circumstances. Well, as a teenager, you know what that meant. I read some of them, and got my first introduction to romance.
When I was sixteen, I picked up my stepmother's copy of Night Song, by Beverly Jenkins. The cover showed an obviously historical image of a black couple, against a beautiful backdrop, locked in a passionate embrace. With my love of history, I had to crack this book. What I read inside literally blew my mind. I was exposed to a wonderful, touching love story involving people who looked like me! What a thrill. To this day Night Song remains my favorite book, and I credit it with planting the seed of desire to write romance. I didn't get serious until many years later, but that's where it all began.
Now, my mother owned a pristine, barely touched collection of Harlequin romance novels, and I was not to touch them under any circumstances. Well, as a teenager, you know what that meant. I read some of them, and got my first introduction to romance.
When I was sixteen, I picked up my stepmother's copy of Night Song, by Beverly Jenkins. The cover showed an obviously historical image of a black couple, against a beautiful backdrop, locked in a passionate embrace. With my love of history, I had to crack this book. What I read inside literally blew my mind. I was exposed to a wonderful, touching love story involving people who looked like me! What a thrill. To this day Night Song remains my favorite book, and I credit it with planting the seed of desire to write romance. I didn't get serious until many years later, but that's where it all began.
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November 14, 2016ETA: I wrote this in the depths of politics-related misery, which hasn't lifted, but in my gloom I seem to have failed to express one of the more important points, ie that this is a really good romance read. If you enjoy historical romance, get to it.
***
Historical romance, and I wish it read like a historical curiosity.
These are stories about voter suppression. About men who don't want woman to vote, and white people who don't want POC to vote, and men's brutality to women, and America's shameful, grotesque history of racism and violence towards POC and WOC in particular.
It's a romance anthology. It's about finding the courage to fight on in dark times, and finding someone who'll fight with you, and not giving up hope, and rejoicing in who you are instead of letting a bigoted society make you ashamed, and in that it's as timely as anything I've read. It tells us that love and decency and common humanity will triumph, and writing on the day Donald Trump has been elected president, that's a message I need to hear and believe in.
This is America's past, and maybe America's present, but if there's one thing this book tells us, it's that this doesn't have to be America's future. People can do better. We have to.
I don't have the spoons to write much more today but just to note that all of it is a strong, hard-hitting collection, and if Alyssa Cole is the standout, that's because she is unquestionably one of the best writers in the entire field of romance at the moment.
***
Historical romance, and I wish it read like a historical curiosity.
These are stories about voter suppression. About men who don't want woman to vote, and white people who don't want POC to vote, and men's brutality to women, and America's shameful, grotesque history of racism and violence towards POC and WOC in particular.
It's a romance anthology. It's about finding the courage to fight on in dark times, and finding someone who'll fight with you, and not giving up hope, and rejoicing in who you are instead of letting a bigoted society make you ashamed, and in that it's as timely as anything I've read. It tells us that love and decency and common humanity will triumph, and writing on the day Donald Trump has been elected president, that's a message I need to hear and believe in.
This is America's past, and maybe America's present, but if there's one thing this book tells us, it's that this doesn't have to be America's future. People can do better. We have to.
I don't have the spoons to write much more today but just to note that all of it is a strong, hard-hitting collection, and if Alyssa Cole is the standout, that's because she is unquestionably one of the best writers in the entire field of romance at the moment.
June 10, 2017
I enjoyed all the stories in this anthology because they gave me a perspective on the difficulties WOC endured in their fight for the vote, providing a sobering insight into that struggle. But my favorites were the Kianna Alexander story with its baker heroine and carpenter hero, which dramatized the impact the Garfield assassination had on POC, and the Alyssa Cole story with its nuanced characters, its fascinating look at race and immigration, and its delicious hero and wonderful heroine. Every woman should read this book!
June 28, 2017
Daughters of a Nation is part history lesson, part romance novel. By far my favorite of the four short stories was the last one Let Us Dream by Alyssa Cole. It tells the story of a black brothel owner and suffrage who while fighting for women's right to vote falls for a Bengali man who is in this country illegally. I liked that it talked about a problem most black women have with the feminist movement. The fact that Susan B. Anthony and white suffragist were racist and not only did they not want black women to vote they fought against giving the right to vote to black men. A hundred years later white feminist are still rather segregated.
Over all this anthology was a powerful eye opening look at the forgotten history of the black suffragette movement. I now want to learn more about the washerwomen's movement and the beginning of the organized labor movement. I also plan to learn more about President James A. Garfield. Before reading this book the only thing I knew about President Garfield was that he was one of two assassinated Presidents that know one seems to care about. I had no idea that he expressed an interest in giving black men the right to vote. I would recommend this book to people who like their history with a side of romance.
Book Riot Read Harder Challenge: Read a book wherein all POV characters are POC.
Over all this anthology was a powerful eye opening look at the forgotten history of the black suffragette movement. I now want to learn more about the washerwomen's movement and the beginning of the organized labor movement. I also plan to learn more about President James A. Garfield. Before reading this book the only thing I knew about President Garfield was that he was one of two assassinated Presidents that know one seems to care about. I had no idea that he expressed an interest in giving black men the right to vote. I would recommend this book to people who like their history with a side of romance.
Book Riot Read Harder Challenge: Read a book wherein all POV characters are POC.
July 9, 2018
Short stories are the worst. Unless you don't really like one, and then you know you're going to get through it quickly... A couple of these could have used an editor. Alyssa Cole's was the best.
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February 15, 2022More detailed review available at The Smut Report.
Heat Factor: 1 story kisses only, 2 stories low heat, 1 story moderate heat
Character Chemistry: Ranges from “You guys still have some stuff to work out” to “Soulmates, obviously.”
Plot: Thematically cohesive. Plus, I learned some history, which is always a bonus!
Overall: Uneven, particularly in tone
I have yet to find an anthology that isn’t uneven in some way, and Daughters of a Nation is no exception. In this case, since the stories are organized around the themes of race, gender, and suffrage, the unevenness stems primarily from differences in tone and in how each novella worked as a romance. I will say that regardless of how successful the stories were as romances, the historical element of each was quite strong.
Despite its unevenness, I would say that this anthology is worth a read, especially if you’re interested in exploring diverse historical romances. While the stories are not always successful as stand-alone romances, when read it tandem they are pretty thought-provoking.
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Heat Factor: 1 story kisses only, 2 stories low heat, 1 story moderate heat
Character Chemistry: Ranges from “You guys still have some stuff to work out” to “Soulmates, obviously.”
Plot: Thematically cohesive. Plus, I learned some history, which is always a bonus!
Overall: Uneven, particularly in tone
I have yet to find an anthology that isn’t uneven in some way, and Daughters of a Nation is no exception. In this case, since the stories are organized around the themes of race, gender, and suffrage, the unevenness stems primarily from differences in tone and in how each novella worked as a romance. I will say that regardless of how successful the stories were as romances, the historical element of each was quite strong.
Despite its unevenness, I would say that this anthology is worth a read, especially if you’re interested in exploring diverse historical romances. While the stories are not always successful as stand-alone romances, when read it tandem they are pretty thought-provoking.
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March 27, 2017
Ugh, no. The only reason I'm even giving this 2 stars is that I loved the concept so much. Black leading ladies in historicals? Yes please! Black women's suffrage? GIMME!!
Alas, the romance bit takes a disappointingly disproportionate priority over the "black suffragette" portion of all four stories, and I got tired of the idea that snagging a marriageable dude is more important than civil rights very very quickly. Plus it wasn't even good romance. Purple prose, telling-not-showing, flat/cardboard/forgettable characters, saccharine predictable schmoop, the most dusty and tired of tropes, poor research, unreasonable suspension-of-disbelief requirements, anachronistic dialogue and character traits all over the place (way too many of these characters just thought and spoke like modern-day people) ... I couldn't even pick out a favourite of the four, they were all that lacklustre. Add to that some outstandingly poor copy-editing (the number of typos and grammatical errors in this volume is distracting), and we're done. Yay to the idea, nay to the execution.
Alas, the romance bit takes a disappointingly disproportionate priority over the "black suffragette" portion of all four stories, and I got tired of the idea that snagging a marriageable dude is more important than civil rights very very quickly. Plus it wasn't even good romance. Purple prose, telling-not-showing, flat/cardboard/forgettable characters, saccharine predictable schmoop, the most dusty and tired of tropes, poor research, unreasonable suspension-of-disbelief requirements, anachronistic dialogue and character traits all over the place (way too many of these characters just thought and spoke like modern-day people) ... I couldn't even pick out a favourite of the four, they were all that lacklustre. Add to that some outstandingly poor copy-editing (the number of typos and grammatical errors in this volume is distracting), and we're done. Yay to the idea, nay to the execution.
April 15, 2017
IN THE MORNING SUN by Lena Hart
This is a lovely reunion romance set in post civil war.
THE WASHERWOMAN'S WAR by Piper Huguley
The history of the washerwomen's strike is a wonderful backdrop for this compelling romance.
A RADIANT SOUL by Kianna Alexander
A great exploration of women's rights as the hero falls in love with a great heroine.
LET US DREAM by Alyssa Cole
My favorite of the collection. A fight for suffrage at the cross roads of race, class and gender. This is a compelling inter faith as well as inter racial romance with a tough intelligent heroine and hero who is worthy of her.
Buy this collection!
This is a lovely reunion romance set in post civil war.
THE WASHERWOMAN'S WAR by Piper Huguley
The history of the washerwomen's strike is a wonderful backdrop for this compelling romance.
A RADIANT SOUL by Kianna Alexander
A great exploration of women's rights as the hero falls in love with a great heroine.
LET US DREAM by Alyssa Cole
My favorite of the collection. A fight for suffrage at the cross roads of race, class and gender. This is a compelling inter faith as well as inter racial romance with a tough intelligent heroine and hero who is worthy of her.
Buy this collection!
November 9, 2016
Full review at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
As we near the end of this long national campaign (I’m sorry, non-USAians, someday this ridiculous campaign will end and it might even be November 9th), and the historic choice in front of us, it’s important to remember that while women in the US gained the right to vote in 1919, the movement championed by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton was at the expense of Women of Color. Black women fought their own fights, and this anthology, released a week before our current election, celebrates the stories of Black women who wrote, fought, argued, and marched for their own suffrage, often in spite of the men and white women who didn’t want them to have the right to vote, at least, not before those men and white women had secured their own franchise. Like with all of history, the history of suffrage is messy and complicated and full of messy, complicated people.
This anthology has four stories in it, by Kianna Alexander, Alyssa Cole, Lena Hart, and Piper Huguley. The heroines are teachers, bakers, dancers, and missionaries, and the heroes are ministers, soldiers, carpenters, and cooks. The heroines all are committed to helping their sisters gain the vote in the face of intense opposition, sometimes from their heroes. The years range from just post-Civil War to 1917, from Nebraska to New York to North Carolina. It’s so fun to have different voices tackle history in such different ways.
The thread that tied all of these stories together was the idea of civic education: that people need to be taught how the government works and what that means for them and WHY their vote is important. If there’s anything that we should have learned over the past 18 months, is that there’s a lot that people need to learn about how government is supposed to work and how we can make it function best for the people.
It’s also important to remember all the battles which were fought to gain everyone the right to vote, and it’s important to remember that not all those battle were fought equally. This lovely anthology is an excellent memorial to those Black Suffragettes. These authors also gave us Black women who are doing to work to improve their world, an deserve to be adored and cherished by men who work to make themselves worthy of them.
- Redheadedgirl
As we near the end of this long national campaign (I’m sorry, non-USAians, someday this ridiculous campaign will end and it might even be November 9th), and the historic choice in front of us, it’s important to remember that while women in the US gained the right to vote in 1919, the movement championed by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton was at the expense of Women of Color. Black women fought their own fights, and this anthology, released a week before our current election, celebrates the stories of Black women who wrote, fought, argued, and marched for their own suffrage, often in spite of the men and white women who didn’t want them to have the right to vote, at least, not before those men and white women had secured their own franchise. Like with all of history, the history of suffrage is messy and complicated and full of messy, complicated people.
This anthology has four stories in it, by Kianna Alexander, Alyssa Cole, Lena Hart, and Piper Huguley. The heroines are teachers, bakers, dancers, and missionaries, and the heroes are ministers, soldiers, carpenters, and cooks. The heroines all are committed to helping their sisters gain the vote in the face of intense opposition, sometimes from their heroes. The years range from just post-Civil War to 1917, from Nebraska to New York to North Carolina. It’s so fun to have different voices tackle history in such different ways.
The thread that tied all of these stories together was the idea of civic education: that people need to be taught how the government works and what that means for them and WHY their vote is important. If there’s anything that we should have learned over the past 18 months, is that there’s a lot that people need to learn about how government is supposed to work and how we can make it function best for the people.
It’s also important to remember all the battles which were fought to gain everyone the right to vote, and it’s important to remember that not all those battle were fought equally. This lovely anthology is an excellent memorial to those Black Suffragettes. These authors also gave us Black women who are doing to work to improve their world, an deserve to be adored and cherished by men who work to make themselves worthy of them.
- Redheadedgirl
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February 26, 2017From James and Maddie's reunion (OMG MADDIE WHAT ARE YOU DOING, GIRL?!) to Mamie's oh so serious insistence that she would never be a minister's wife, to Sarah's trousers and that lemon berry cake that had me drooling as soon as I started the story (recipe provided!), aaaall the way to Bertha and Amir's dancing--there are so many enjoyable moments in this anthology.
I'm fascinated with U.S. history, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries, so I was really curious to read more romances in this setting/time period, and I really liked how the characters and plots were informed by current events but the stories were not completely overwhelmed by what was happening in the world.
The romances were sweet, and some a little steamier than I'd expected, and the women were strong, ready to look adversity in the face and forge a better future for themselves and their loved ones.
I'm fascinated with U.S. history, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries, so I was really curious to read more romances in this setting/time period, and I really liked how the characters and plots were informed by current events but the stories were not completely overwhelmed by what was happening in the world.
The romances were sweet, and some a little steamier than I'd expected, and the women were strong, ready to look adversity in the face and forge a better future for themselves and their loved ones.
November 28, 2016
In the Morning Sun (Lena Hart)
James was a war veteran that fought for equality. James was captured in an enemy's camp where unspeakable atrocities occurred daily. He was a carpenter that gave back to his fellow soldiers by way of lodging. The undeniable love he had for Madeline gave him the strength to keep fighting for freedom. Madeline was a fighter and taught women to read. She accompanied missionaries in different locations to help with women suffrage. Madeline had been delivered the news that James had died in battle. Madeline had finally began to move on from her loss of James and decided to visit her sister. Madeline was en route to her sister's house when she became lost and was accosted by two soldiers who ...........
The Washerwomen's War (Piper Huguley)
Gabriel was studying to become a minister. He was also of the mind that women should not vote but become homemakers because he thought they needed guidance and counsel. Gabriel was also an advocate of equality of African American men voices being heard. Mamie was studying to become a teacher. She refused to entertain gentlemen that were destined to become a minister. She was given a chance to become a teacher, with a trial basis of a month, due to one of the lecturer's illness. Her specialty is in mathematics and she is trying to help women understand the value of their services through proper pay. Gabriel and Mamie cross paths again and Gabriel is still smitten. Will Mamie change her stance on ministers or will Gabriel be forever without the love he desires?
A Radiant Soul (Kianna Alexander)
Owen was a builder who was in great demand. He made beautiful pieces with timber. Owen was commissioned to make a gazebo for an upcoming birthday gift. Sarah was a baker who moved away from home to pursue her dream. Sarah was also a part of the women suffrage movement by speaking at various homes. This was a secret she kept from her family. Sarah returned home for her mother's birthday where she met Owen. There was a spark that ignited whenever they were around each other and this was confusing seeing as they have never felt this energy prior to meeting one another. Will they be able to explore their mutual attraction before Sarah returned home?
Let Us Dream (Alyssa Cole)
Amir was an immigrant and chef looking for employment and the American Dream. Amir discovered that he was unwelcomed in the perceived land of the free. The only employment he could find was a dishwasher and he was thoroughly disappointed but had to work. Bertha was the cabaret owner of Cashmere. The cabaret provided food, music, and adult entertainment if desired. She was also teaching her women workers the importance of voting. Cops were always trying to stop colored women from advancing and repeated strong hold tactics that ultimately landed her cabaret being trashed and ransacked. Will Amir and Bertha find common ground to help each other through their current adversity (Amir desire to stay in America and Bertha's desire to save her establishment).
The books have been very enlightening and makes one wonder why we have fallen so far off the track as a people. If we, as a people, learn to work together instead of constantly tearing each other to pieces we would reap bountiful blessings and prosperity.
James was a war veteran that fought for equality. James was captured in an enemy's camp where unspeakable atrocities occurred daily. He was a carpenter that gave back to his fellow soldiers by way of lodging. The undeniable love he had for Madeline gave him the strength to keep fighting for freedom. Madeline was a fighter and taught women to read. She accompanied missionaries in different locations to help with women suffrage. Madeline had been delivered the news that James had died in battle. Madeline had finally began to move on from her loss of James and decided to visit her sister. Madeline was en route to her sister's house when she became lost and was accosted by two soldiers who ...........
The Washerwomen's War (Piper Huguley)
Gabriel was studying to become a minister. He was also of the mind that women should not vote but become homemakers because he thought they needed guidance and counsel. Gabriel was also an advocate of equality of African American men voices being heard. Mamie was studying to become a teacher. She refused to entertain gentlemen that were destined to become a minister. She was given a chance to become a teacher, with a trial basis of a month, due to one of the lecturer's illness. Her specialty is in mathematics and she is trying to help women understand the value of their services through proper pay. Gabriel and Mamie cross paths again and Gabriel is still smitten. Will Mamie change her stance on ministers or will Gabriel be forever without the love he desires?
A Radiant Soul (Kianna Alexander)
Owen was a builder who was in great demand. He made beautiful pieces with timber. Owen was commissioned to make a gazebo for an upcoming birthday gift. Sarah was a baker who moved away from home to pursue her dream. Sarah was also a part of the women suffrage movement by speaking at various homes. This was a secret she kept from her family. Sarah returned home for her mother's birthday where she met Owen. There was a spark that ignited whenever they were around each other and this was confusing seeing as they have never felt this energy prior to meeting one another. Will they be able to explore their mutual attraction before Sarah returned home?
Let Us Dream (Alyssa Cole)
Amir was an immigrant and chef looking for employment and the American Dream. Amir discovered that he was unwelcomed in the perceived land of the free. The only employment he could find was a dishwasher and he was thoroughly disappointed but had to work. Bertha was the cabaret owner of Cashmere. The cabaret provided food, music, and adult entertainment if desired. She was also teaching her women workers the importance of voting. Cops were always trying to stop colored women from advancing and repeated strong hold tactics that ultimately landed her cabaret being trashed and ransacked. Will Amir and Bertha find common ground to help each other through their current adversity (Amir desire to stay in America and Bertha's desire to save her establishment).
The books have been very enlightening and makes one wonder why we have fallen so far off the track as a people. If we, as a people, learn to work together instead of constantly tearing each other to pieces we would reap bountiful blessings and prosperity.
February 16, 2019
In the Morning Sun by Lena Hart begins with Maddie being raped so serious TW for that (it’s not graphic though). She’s still carrying that trauma with her two years later when she moves to Nebraska to teach Black people to read and write. She thinks her fiancé died in the Civil War but, uh, he didn’t! The two of them coming together is sweet, but they have to overcome so much. All things considered I didn't LOVE this one, but I learned a lot.
The Washerwomen's War by Piper Huguley also taught me about a thing I had no idea about, aka the Black Washerwoman's Strike, so that was super cool. I really liked the romance between Mamie and Gabriel. Mamie starts out so against dating a minister, but Gabriel winning her over by playing on her desire to have good food and advocate for her students was A+ romancing.
A Radiant Soul by Kianna Alexander was probably my least favorite story.For one thing it felt incomplete and for another, there was one glaring editing mistake that really bothered me. In addition, I REALLY didn't like Owen. Like... At all. Their romance felt like at the end of a season of The Bachelor where you're like, "Cool, you're in love, but what now?" I think this would have worked better as a novel.
Let Us Dream by Alyssa Cole is such an incredible story about a former sex worker and widow who basically forged her way into owning the club she now runs and I love her. The hero is Indian and he doesn't really have status because our immigration laws then were more overtly racist then than they are now. Anyway, she hires him as a dishwasher at the club but soon he wows everyone with his chef abilities and basically, this one is fantastic! Also, this is available by itself in the Audible romance package.
The Washerwomen's War by Piper Huguley also taught me about a thing I had no idea about, aka the Black Washerwoman's Strike, so that was super cool. I really liked the romance between Mamie and Gabriel. Mamie starts out so against dating a minister, but Gabriel winning her over by playing on her desire to have good food and advocate for her students was A+ romancing.
A Radiant Soul by Kianna Alexander was probably my least favorite story.For one thing it felt incomplete and for another, there was one glaring editing mistake that really bothered me. In addition, I REALLY didn't like Owen. Like... At all. Their romance felt like at the end of a season of The Bachelor where you're like, "Cool, you're in love, but what now?" I think this would have worked better as a novel.
Let Us Dream by Alyssa Cole is such an incredible story about a former sex worker and widow who basically forged her way into owning the club she now runs and I love her. The hero is Indian and he doesn't really have status because our immigration laws then were more overtly racist then than they are now. Anyway, she hires him as a dishwasher at the club but soon he wows everyone with his chef abilities and basically, this one is fantastic! Also, this is available by itself in the Audible romance package.
September 16, 2017
Task: A book with multiple authors - 3/5 stars
August 2, 2020
As usual, anthology gets 3 stars. I liked all but the first story. But I didn’t love any of them. Kianna Alexander was my favorite.
November 21, 2016
A common problem of romance anthologies is that a short story or novella just isn't long enough for a good and believable romance. This is also the case for at least three of the four stories in this anthology. Characters aren't fleshed out and the romance is too rushed so there isn't any emotional depth.
This particular anthology tells the important stories of black suffragettes and in a way that makes the contributions even less believable. There just aren't enough pages to do the complex stories justice. The characters are two dimensional and the message of the stories becomes a preachy.
I think only Let Us Dream by Alyssa Cole gives us a good romance in combination with a good and interesting historical setting. I also liked The Washerwoman's War by Piper Huguley, but it felt a bit rushed towards the end. I will definitely read more from these two authors.
I was less keen on the other two stories, and I especially didn't like Lena Hart's writing.
If I average out my ratings for the individual stories I end up with about 3 stars. I feel a bit bad about it, because I love the concept but I wish the stories had had a chance to develop a bit more.
This particular anthology tells the important stories of black suffragettes and in a way that makes the contributions even less believable. There just aren't enough pages to do the complex stories justice. The characters are two dimensional and the message of the stories becomes a preachy.
I think only Let Us Dream by Alyssa Cole gives us a good romance in combination with a good and interesting historical setting. I also liked The Washerwoman's War by Piper Huguley, but it felt a bit rushed towards the end. I will definitely read more from these two authors.
I was less keen on the other two stories, and I especially didn't like Lena Hart's writing.
If I average out my ratings for the individual stories I end up with about 3 stars. I feel a bit bad about it, because I love the concept but I wish the stories had had a chance to develop a bit more.
December 19, 2017
I really loved this book! Each story has interesting characters with particular problems that nonetheless share a theme across the whole anthology--suffrage for women of colour. The men are so different from each other in terms of personal history and ambitions, but the way they bend to the protagonists really exemplifies the best of a gentle masculinity that I'd love to read more of. There wasn't as much sex as I expected, but the political tensions that lead to personal tensions take on an erotically-charged appeal and made me invested enough to find out how the couples were going to solve their particular dilemmas.
March 10, 2019
I picked this up from the library when I saw two of my favorite authors listed (Piper Huguley and Alyssa Cole). This is four novellas about black suffragettes from post Civil War to the early 20th Century. We are not taught enough about the roles that black women played in history, and in the suffragette movement, even less. A good historical makes me want to learn more about that period of history, and this one does that in spades. Strong women, working to get the vote, and they get their happy ever after, too. What's not to love?
Go find this book. And if you haven't read these four, go find more by these authors. Highly recommended.
Go find this book. And if you haven't read these four, go find more by these authors. Highly recommended.
November 15, 2016
Each of these stories offers not only a strong heroine with a just cause, but, a hero willing to compromise and sacrifice so that she can fight the good fight. These stories offer hidden nuggets of history along with the romance and are quite timely. No matter what the set back we will endure and press for what is right. All that being said though I enjoyed all the stories for me Alyssa Cole's "Let Us Dream" is the strongest of the four stories. It's the one story I could not put down.
Thank you ladies for these stories.
Thank you ladies for these stories.
January 30, 2017
Lena Hart's Historical Romance, "In the Morning Sun", is one of the few stories from this genre that I've read and enjoyed. I'm a huge Lena Hart fan and really loved how she presented Madeline and James' evolution of true love. This story grasps the reader's attention from beginning to end. I haven't had an opportunity to read all the stories in this bundle, so I will revise my review once I finish the entire bundle.
If you enjoy reading historical novels and romances, don't hesitate to One Click the 'Daughters of a Nation' bundle.
If you enjoy reading historical novels and romances, don't hesitate to One Click the 'Daughters of a Nation' bundle.
December 7, 2016
I really wanted to like this collection of four stories of black suffragists not only because the suffrage movement is one of my biggest interests, but also because WaPo felt it gave a new perspective to the movement. I was really disappointed. Each story was more cliched than the last; every heroine was beautiful and attracted to a handsome man; every story had a happy even blissful ending. To top it off, I didn't gain much insight into the historical events upon which at least two of the stories were based.
February 18, 2017
IN THE MORNING SUN
By Lena Hart
Rating: ★★★☆☆
THE WASHERWOMAN'S WAR
by Piper Huguley
Rating: ★★★☆☆
A RADIANT SOUL
by Kianna Alexander
Rating:★★☆☆☆
LET US DREAM
by Alyssa Cole
Rating: ★★★★★
The final grade is perhaps more generous than I usually give anthologies with this mean average in ratings, but I'm giving this one an extra star for the simple fact that these four wonderful authors actually took the initiative to make this a reality. It inspires the hope that more stories and anthologies in the same vein will come. ♥
By Lena Hart
Rating: ★★★☆☆
THE WASHERWOMAN'S WAR
by Piper Huguley
Rating: ★★★☆☆
A RADIANT SOUL
by Kianna Alexander
Rating:★★☆☆☆
LET US DREAM
by Alyssa Cole
Rating: ★★★★★
The final grade is perhaps more generous than I usually give anthologies with this mean average in ratings, but I'm giving this one an extra star for the simple fact that these four wonderful authors actually took the initiative to make this a reality. It inspires the hope that more stories and anthologies in the same vein will come. ♥
November 21, 2017
alyssa cole's let us dream was the best story in this collection by far but i enjoyed all of them. if i was giving individual ratings it'd get a 5 and everything else a 3. great concept for an anthology; i really enjoyed getting to see various ways black women participated in the suffrage movement. i kinda think i could have done with more suffrage politics and less romance in every story except cole's tbh (she had the perfect balance because she is one of the best romance novelists writing today)
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
December 18, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. It is always a learning experience to read about African American history and the impact of Black people on moments in American history that are not considered Black history. This book focused on the Suffragette movement. The stories were romance, but mixed with the events of the fight for women's right to vote. Made for great reading.
Thanks, Ladies, for keeping OUR history alive!!
Thanks, Ladies, for keeping OUR history alive!!
February 6, 2017
I loved, loved, loved Alyssa Cole's story in this collection. Though it is set in 1917, it has so many parallels to political issues that are still so relevant today: education, the purpose of voting, immigration and anti-immigration backlash, race relations, and more. My favorite novella of 2016.
December 17, 2016
Good read interesting stories. I learned more about the suffragette struggle than I knew. I also learned about the Black and Indian connection in Harlem. I really enjoyed the stories.
February 2, 2017
3 for the first 3 stories, 5 for the last one (by Alyssa Day)
See full review at
http://romancenovelsforfeminists.blog...
See full review at
http://romancenovelsforfeminists.blog...
March 23, 2017
Mixed bag of novellas. First three were a solid three stars each; Alyssa Cole's contribution was five stars for me. So a total of 3.5 stars rounded down.
June 1, 2018
Needed more thorough copyediting.
June 15, 2018
I love this book.
Because this book deals with a important subject in history.. Not allowing women to vote effected women of color as well as all women.
Because this book deals with a important subject in history.. Not allowing women to vote effected women of color as well as all women.
May 27, 2019
Alyssa Cole's short story saved this from being rated lower. It's a great premise but with shoddy execution. They all could have really used an editor.
March 18, 2021
"Many people would be glad if none of us in this room existed, and if we never got the right to vote. That would work out real nice for them, wouldn't it? If we never had the chance to take them to task for treating us like shit" (Bertha 291)
I decided to read this because I loved the concept (a Black suffragette romance anthology?! Sign me up) and I'd heard of Piper Hughuley and read quite a few Alyssa Cole romances (plus the thriller) so I was eager to read this. Unfortunately, with the exception of Cole's story, I found these romances lacking. Two of the stories had male love interests who didn't believe in women's right to vote and that issue is never resolved. I can somewhat understand wanting to be realistic and starting the story with skeptical male love interests but I needed them to redeem themselves and that doesn't happen. More frustratingly the Black suffragettes initially are upset over it and then never bring it up again. If that's an effort to be historically accurate than I need a little more fantasy in my romance. I also thought the characters were two dimensional and the stories were somewhat boring. I also wanted more historical detail especially about the washerwoman's strike. That story was particularly confusing as well because the main character had a famous mother,Frances Ellen Harper, but alternatively made references to her that gave off the impression that she was dead. I was very confused to read the author's note and realize she was alive during the time of the story and her somewhat absent maternal presence was far more interesting than her daughter's story (and problematic love interest). I didn't understand the point of including a non fictional Black woman suffragist but then choosing not make the story about them. I was the most frustrated with the first story though, I don't usually read trigger warnings but there's a lot of trauma in the first few chapters and it's never properly worked through (I know therapy wasn't a thing back then but I wanted the couple to open up more to each other or friends). I was also both amused and unamused that it never occured to this interracial couple that their marriage was going to be an issue. Why wouldn't they have known about miscegenation laws?? It was silly and made me side eye both of them.
Fortunately the final story is Alyssa Cole's and it is the bright spot of the anthology. I didn't think she could suck me in with a romance starring a woman named Bertha BUT SHE DID. I loved that Bertha was an unconventional romance heroine (businesswoman and former prositute), took on respectability politics in the Black suffragist movement and engaged in sharp banter with Amir. We know Cole can write banter and sufficiently infuse historical detail without the narrative becoming dry or overly academic and that is once again the case in her story. I was fully immersed in 1917 night club Harlem, Cole's writing is always so rich and picturesque, able to aptly convey a particular sense of time and place. I did appreciate all the historical details in each of the stories, they all left me wanting to read and learn more. This was especially the case for "A Radiant Soul" because I didn't know President Garfield's assassination was so momentous to the burgeoning civil rights movement/post Reconstruction period. I found that story boring overall (and it also had a problematic anti suffrage love interest who CAN JUST TELL SARAH IS A VIRGIN *insert massive eye roll*) but really appreciated the author bringing to the forefront this lesser known historical moment and its impact.
DAUGHTERS OF A NATION was a miss for me, I think stronger character development and more swoon worthy love interests would have made this a lot better. The characters and even the settings likely won't be memorable to me in a few weeks (aside from wanting to know more about real people and events such as Frances Harper and the ATL washerwoman's strike). I think it deserves a lot of praise for talking about an issue and group of women not often taught about in schools (Black suffragettes) but the execution of this memorable idea falls flat. Also this is not a critique but these romances are all very chaste (Cole's story the exception lol), so if you prefer your romance novels on the steamier side be warned. I wouldn't recommend anyone read this anthology but I wouldn't dissuade anyone either unless you're new to romance, in that case I think there are better historical and contemporary romances that feature Black women as love interests.
I decided to read this because I loved the concept (a Black suffragette romance anthology?! Sign me up) and I'd heard of Piper Hughuley and read quite a few Alyssa Cole romances (plus the thriller) so I was eager to read this. Unfortunately, with the exception of Cole's story, I found these romances lacking. Two of the stories had male love interests who didn't believe in women's right to vote and that issue is never resolved. I can somewhat understand wanting to be realistic and starting the story with skeptical male love interests but I needed them to redeem themselves and that doesn't happen. More frustratingly the Black suffragettes initially are upset over it and then never bring it up again. If that's an effort to be historically accurate than I need a little more fantasy in my romance. I also thought the characters were two dimensional and the stories were somewhat boring. I also wanted more historical detail especially about the washerwoman's strike. That story was particularly confusing as well because the main character had a famous mother,Frances Ellen Harper, but alternatively made references to her that gave off the impression that she was dead. I was very confused to read the author's note and realize she was alive during the time of the story and her somewhat absent maternal presence was far more interesting than her daughter's story (and problematic love interest). I didn't understand the point of including a non fictional Black woman suffragist but then choosing not make the story about them. I was the most frustrated with the first story though, I don't usually read trigger warnings but there's a lot of trauma in the first few chapters and it's never properly worked through (I know therapy wasn't a thing back then but I wanted the couple to open up more to each other or friends). I was also both amused and unamused that it never occured to this interracial couple that their marriage was going to be an issue. Why wouldn't they have known about miscegenation laws?? It was silly and made me side eye both of them.
Fortunately the final story is Alyssa Cole's and it is the bright spot of the anthology. I didn't think she could suck me in with a romance starring a woman named Bertha BUT SHE DID. I loved that Bertha was an unconventional romance heroine (businesswoman and former prositute), took on respectability politics in the Black suffragist movement and engaged in sharp banter with Amir. We know Cole can write banter and sufficiently infuse historical detail without the narrative becoming dry or overly academic and that is once again the case in her story. I was fully immersed in 1917 night club Harlem, Cole's writing is always so rich and picturesque, able to aptly convey a particular sense of time and place. I did appreciate all the historical details in each of the stories, they all left me wanting to read and learn more. This was especially the case for "A Radiant Soul" because I didn't know President Garfield's assassination was so momentous to the burgeoning civil rights movement/post Reconstruction period. I found that story boring overall (and it also had a problematic anti suffrage love interest who CAN JUST TELL SARAH IS A VIRGIN *insert massive eye roll*) but really appreciated the author bringing to the forefront this lesser known historical moment and its impact.
DAUGHTERS OF A NATION was a miss for me, I think stronger character development and more swoon worthy love interests would have made this a lot better. The characters and even the settings likely won't be memorable to me in a few weeks (aside from wanting to know more about real people and events such as Frances Harper and the ATL washerwoman's strike). I think it deserves a lot of praise for talking about an issue and group of women not often taught about in schools (Black suffragettes) but the execution of this memorable idea falls flat. Also this is not a critique but these romances are all very chaste (Cole's story the exception lol), so if you prefer your romance novels on the steamier side be warned. I wouldn't recommend anyone read this anthology but I wouldn't dissuade anyone either unless you're new to romance, in that case I think there are better historical and contemporary romances that feature Black women as love interests.
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