I’m sure that by now you know about the launch of our new site where you can find daily postings about books–5 Minutes for Books. If you haven’t already, click on over.

I’m proud to be managing editor, but don’t think that you can get rid of me that easily. I will still be writing the weekly book review column here at 5 Minutes for Mom–most weeks. However, my team of reviewers over at 5 Minutes for Books have been working hard. So hard that I have quite a few book reviews waiting in the wings there, and since I’ve been busy getting the site ready to launch (and preparing to teach VBS at my church next week), I’ve been spending more time at the computer than reading this week. This is a perfect time to showcase one of our new writers.

I reviewed another of Nancy Moser’s historical novels, Just Jane, in a column here last fall, and it’s still stands out as one of the favorite books I’ve read this year.

Meet Carrie:

Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know.

Inventive. Intriguing. Tasteful. Unforgettable. This book was all those things and more.

This was the first book by Nancy Moser that I have had the opportunity to read and, I assure you, it will not be the last. I loved every minute of it.

Washington’s Lady is the third in Moser’s “Women of History” series. It “details” the life of Martha Washington, wife of our country’s first president. We meet her just as she has become the widow of Daniel Custis and follow along in her journey with George and the birth of the United States.

Mrs. Moser does take liberties with Mrs. Washington’s history. However, she admits it in a truly fantastic and humbling way. At the end of the book she clearly sets out what was fact and what was fiction. I think this is very tastefully done. I enjoy history very much and also have a healthy love of fiction. I admit to confusing the two at times, although I try my best to get the facts straight. Mrs. Moser states that when she had letters or quotes to go on regarding Martha’s life, that said information received “first dibs.” She elaborated and guesses at what Martha might have done or said at times, using the information that she found about Martha. It is tasteful and respectful. This is a historical novel and she does not make any pretenses about what may or may not be true. The truth is: there is a lot that we cannot ever know. Some secrets are buried in the past (burned letters and lost property, etc.) that prevent us from having full knowledge.

Mrs. Moser is particularly artful in the way that she weaves the story of Martha’s life together, however. In her epilogue she stresses that the most important thing that this book could represent to be true would be the fact that many brave men (and women) sacrificed their lives so that we could live in a land of liberty. I can honestly say that I feel their sacrifice after having read this book. She painted the sufferings of our brave forefathers in such a manner that you can’t close the book and forget about your own personal history. She makes you acutely aware of the fact that how much you have is the direct result of what they did NOT have in the late 18th century. It’s cleverly done.

If you have yet to infer the obvious in this review, let me state it clearly: I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I am eager to spend more of my time bonding with Nancy Moser and the historical characters she so clearly brings to life. Two thumbs up and more if I had them.

If you’d like to win a copy of Washington’s Lady, leave a comment here. We’ll announce the winner in next week’s column.

I am so glad that I conveyed my true pleasure at Ruby Among Us. Over 200 of you wanted to win Tina Ann Forkner’s first novel. The lucky three are:

#88 Jody
#112 Belinda Shaw
#14 Nikki