7 Must-Read Books with Strong Females

I love finding stories about every day women who are strong, fearless and fierce. From woman who live through a brutal regime, to those who make it through the American frontier, they all share one things: their strength.

Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng

 In August 1966 a group of Red Guards ransacked the home of Nien Cheng. Her background made her an obvious target for the fanatics of the Cultural Revolution: educated in London, the widow of an official of Chiang Kai-Shek's regime, and an employee of Shell Oil, Nien Cheng enjoyed comforts that few of her compatriots could afford. When she refused to confess that any of this made her an enemy of the state, she was placed in solitary confinement, where she would remain for more than six years. 

Opening line:
"The past is forever with me and I remember it all."



 Deborah: Prophetess of God by H.B. Moore

Deborah, a young Israelite woman, lives a quiet and isolated life with her father and brothers. As a shepherdess in the hills near her home, she knows well the perils of her work. But when faced with incredible danger, she witnesses a series of remarkable events that preserve her life. The hand of the Lord is apparent, and it is clear that hers will be no ordinary life.    
  
Opening line:
"Laughter echoed against the hillside where Deborah crouched as she watched the two dozen Canaanite soldiers set up camp."


 And They Called it Camelot by Stephanie Marie Thornton

 Few of us can claim to be the authors of our fate. Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy knows no other choice. With the eyes of the world watching, Jackie uses her effortless charm and keen intelligence to carve a place for herself among the men of history and weave a fairy tale for the American people, embodying a senator’s wife, a devoted mother, a First Lady—a queen in her own right.

 Opening line:

"The pink pillbox hat and Chanel-inspired bouclè suit awaited her on the bed." 




Longing For Home by Sarah M. Eden

 Twenty-six-year-old Katie Macauley has placed all her hope in Hope Springs, a small town in the 1870 Wyoming Territory. But if she wants to return home to Ireland to make amends with her estranged family, she'll need to convince the influential Joseph Archer to hold true to his word and keep her on his payroll as his housekeeper despite her Irish roots.

Opening line:
"Eighteen years had passed since Katie Macauley had killed her sister." 



 These is my Words by Nancy E. Turner

  A moving, exciting, and heartfelt American saga inspired by the author's own family memoirs, these words belong to Sarah Prine, a woman of spirit and fire who forges a full and remarkable existence in a harsh, unfamiliar frontier. Scrupulously recording her steps down the path Providence has set her upon--from child to determined young adult to loving mother--she shares the turbulent events, both joyous and tragic, that molded her and recalls the enduring love with cavalry officer Captain Jack Elliot that gave her strength and purpose.

Opening line:
"A storm is rolling in and that always makes me sad and a little wistful so I get it in my head to set to paper all these things that have got us this far on our way through this heathen land."


Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montegomery

 As soon as Anne Shirley arrives at the snug white farmhouse called Green Gables, she is sure she wants to stay forever . . . but will the Cuthberts send her back to to the orphanage? Anne knows she's not what they expected—a skinny girl with fiery red hair and a temper to match. IAnne is not like anyone else, the Cuthberts agree; she is special—a girl with an enormous imagination. This orphan girl dreams of the day when she can call herself Anne of Green Gables.




 Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II by Robert Matzen

 Twenty-five years after her passing, Audrey Hepburn remains the most beloved of all Hollywood stars, known as much for her role as UNICEF ambassador as for films like Roman Holiday and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Several biographies have chronicled her stardom, but none has covered her intense experiences through five years of Nazi occupation in the Netherlands. According to her son, Luca Dotti, “The war made my mother who she was.” 

 Opening line:
"Baroness Ella van Heemstra stood in the office of Adolph Hitler and offered her hand to the most famous man in the world, the man whose name was on simply everyone's lips."

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DEBORAH; PROPHETESS OF GOD by H.B. Moore

After years of mistreatment, the Israelites prepare to defend themselves against the oppressive Canaanites. Readying for war not only takes secret military training but also an Israelite leader who is willing to both stand against generations of oppression and follow God.

Deborah, a young Israelite woman, lives a quiet and isolated life with her father and brothers. As a shepherdess in the hills near her home, she knows well the perils of her work. But when faced with incredible danger, she witnesses a series of remarkable events that preserve her life. The hand of the Lord is apparent, and it is clear that hers will be no ordinary life.                

Years later, Deborah is a faithful wife and mother when she learns that the Third Judge of Israel has died--and she has been called to take his place. It is a tumultuous time in history, and soon, Deborah--prophetess, judge, and military leader--faces a seemingly insurmountable task: alongside the commander of the Israelite army, Deborah must lead ten thousand soldiers in their final campaign against their Canaanite oppressors with only her faith in God to guide her.

More Biblical Novels by H.B. Moore:

Esther the Queen

Ruth

Eve: In the Beginning

Anna the Prophetess

The Moses Chronicles

 

 Opening line:
"Laughter echoed against the hillside where Deborah crouched as she watched the two dozen Canaanite soldiers set up camp."

Another fantastic Biblical story told by H.B. Moore. She knows how to weave setting, language and characters into a believable story.

Deborah is a woman from the Bible who scared off Canaanite soldiers, killed a lioness with a bow and arrow and later, became a judge in Israel and led them to victory over the Canaanites. She's basically a She-Ra in Bible times.

What I love about H.B. Moore's Women in the Bible stories, is that I want to know more about these women. I go back to the scriptures and I learn and come away wondering how I could've forgotten such an amazing story.

Keep writing these stories! The world needs more amazing women to write about more women.

Thanks to netgalley for the early read.

 

ANNA the PROPHETESS by H.B. Moore

Anna the Prophetess is the dramatic chronicle of the only woman to be called a prophetess in the Gospels. When Anna’s great-niece Julia is exiled to Jerusalem as punishment for her refusal to marry a man old enough to be her father, Anna shares the story of her early days of courtship with her husband. Although Julia’s parents admonished her to observe firsthand how lonely Anna’s life is, Julia instead discovers that her great-aunt’s life is far from lonely. Instead, Anna’s story is one of love, peace, and incredible faith.

As Anna shares her unwavering testimony of the coming Messiah with her great-niece, these two faithful women are changed forever as they seek the Lord’s will in their lives and joyfully witness the long-awaited sign of Christ’s birth.

Other Biblical Novels by H.B. Moore:
Esther the Queen
The Moses Chronicles
Ruth
Eve: In the Beginning
Anna the Prophetess


 Opening line:
"Dry wind tugged at Anna's embroidered robe as she moved to the side of the road to allow a cart to pass."

I loved the opening of this story and the story of Anna and Julia. Scriptural and historical detail are woven throughout the story without taking away from the storytelling. Moore's ability to tell a good, sweet, intriguing story kept me reading long after I should have been in bed.

The story of Anna, Elizabeth, John, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus come to life through this ability to write a story that flows and envelopes. I got teary-eyed as I read of Simeon and Anna's reactions. What a wonderful event to see the babe!

I hope Moore keeps writing Biblical stories, especially ones about the women in the Bible. She has a grasp of the culture, history and people from those eras and knows how to use them to build her stories on their backgrounds.

BREAKING JESS by H.B. Moore

What do a crooked detective, an upstanding psychiatrist, and a teenager who can’t remember killing her parents all have in common? Nine years of lies.

He hid her away from society so she couldn’t turn him in. But, in the end, he couldn’t hide her forever.

 Opening line:
"The moment a patient walks through my office door, I an usually assess him right away."

You might already know H.B. Moore is an amazing writer. I've probably read ALL of her romances and anthologies. I already love her writing. BUT THEN SHE GOES AND WRITES THIS BOOK! I couldn't put it down!
Told between two points of view (Jess and Logan), this story is full of suspense and twists and a hint of romance. I loved it!

About 5 swear words, kissing, sexual tense.

The Killing Curse by H.B. Moore

Omar Zagouri should have known that the hunt for an ordinary art thief in London would end up being far from ordinary. Abducted and carted across several countries until he’s locked up in the middle of Jordan’s desert, Omar becomes the target of an underground crime organization that dates back to the Crusaders era. As Omar works to uncover the deadly secrets that connect centuries of deceit, he finds himself trying to prevent an honor killing from turning into another tragedy, while exposing the ancient crime organization for generations of lethal corruption.

More Omar Zagouri Thrillers:
Finding Sheba
Lost King
Slave Queen
First Heist (novella)
Beneath (short story)

   

Opening line:

"Taheer Sayid picked up his cell phone and selected his most trustworthy contact."

HB Moore kills it again! Another great addition to this series! I love how there are two stories in each book: one set in the present and one in the past; and they both have awesome romances!

5 STARS!

SLAVE QUEEN by H.B. Moore

Slave Queen by H.B. Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Special Agent Omar Zagouri’s latest case is his most dangerous—and his most personal yet. The discovery of secret sixteenth-century letters unveils a plot between the sultan Suleyman and his chief wife, Roxelane, to change the course of the Ottoman Empire. A descendent of Roxelane, Zagouri learns he has an enemy whose revenge has been centuries in the making.

Targeted by an antiquities collector who’s also descended from a chief rival for the ancient throne, Zagouri soon uncovers a modern-day conspiracy that threatens the lives of his family and the security of a nation.

To expose the plot, Zagouri must team up with Naim, the son of his nemesis, who heads an international black-market operation that may have ties to the killings. From ancient Constantinople to the present-day Middle East, Zagouri is on a collision course with history. Time is running out to solve a royal mystery and stop a ruthless killer—one who has Zagouri’s name on his hit list.

Opening line:

"Baris Uzuner turned the bolt in the lock for the second time, double-checking that the front door was secure."

I forgot how much I LOVE the Omar Zagouri series! SLAVE QUEEN is another great addition to the series.
I love love love the romance. I love how the chapters are from different views of characters as well as points in the story. I wanted to know how each story ended so I had to keep reading! I even went so far as to read the Sultan and Roxelane chapters by. them. selves. I did. I cheated.
While I didn't care about the history, it didn't detract from the story and I learned a bit about the era and countries. Moore knows how to write historical stories where the history is the canvas for the story.
Each character is unique and as well written as the story itself. Moore paces the story well. Sometimes I was smiling or giggling and the next I'm gripping my kindle, white-knuckled and wondering what's going to happen to the characters I've grown to care about. There were twists and surprises and mystery that kept me reading too.
Well done!


Thanks to netgalley for the early read in exchange for my honest review!





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