Fireflies in Winter by Eleanor Shearer ~ A Book Review

 Thank you to NetGalley/ Berkeley Publishing for/ BookBrowse for the privilege of reading and Advance Reader Copy of Fireflies in Winter in exchange for an honest review.

Protagonist Cora along with Silas, Leah and young Benjamin were transported by the British from Jamaica to Nova Scotia following the 2nd Maroon war. Maroons were escaped African slaves who fled to the interior mountains of Jamaica, fought colonization, and developed their own culture. The Maroons lived in Nova Scotia between 1796 and 1800 before sailing to Sierra Leone.

Cora is an orphan living with her friend Leah and widower Silas, who has an eye on Cora. The book actually begins with a woman on trial in a Halifax courtroom. The narrative moves back and forth from the courtroom to the Maroons living in the village of Preston.
I liked the writing style of Eleanor Shearer. Additionally, I’d been u familiar with the deportations of Maroons from Jamaica to Nova Scotia, which intrigued me and caused me to dig deeper into the history. I can’t imagine a greater cultural shift than being transported from the Caribbean Beaty of Jamaica to the wintry starkness of Nova Scotia. 
Ultimately, I thought Cora was the least interesting character in the book. I could not empathize with Cora. Agnes remained an enigma. Other characters including Thursday, Leah, and Benjamin found my heart.

Protagonist Cora along with Silas, Leah and young Benjamin were transported by the British from Jamaica to Nova Scotia following the 2nd Maroon war. Maroons were escaped African slaves who fled to the interior mountains of Jamaica, fought colonization, and developed their own culture. The Maroons lived in Nova Scotia between 1796 and 1800 before sailing to Sierra Leone.

Cora is an orphan living with her friend Leah and widower Silas, who has an eye on Cora. The book actually begins with a woman on trial in a Halifax courtroom. The narrative moves back and forth from the courtroom to the Maroons living in the village of Preston.
I liked the writing style of Eleanor Shearer. Additionally, I’d been u familiar with the deportations of Maroons from Jamaica to Nova Scotia, which intrigued me and caused me to dig deeper into the history. I can’t imagine a greater cultural shift than being transported from the Caribbean Beaty of Jamaica to the wintry starkness of Nova Scotia. 
Ultimately, I thought Cora was the least interesting character in the book. I could not empathize with Cora. Agnes remained an enigma. Other characters including Thursday, Leah, and Benjamin found my heart.

This book will be published February 10, 2026

I Saw Melania with Girlfriends ~ We Enjoyed It

I hadn’t planned to see the film Melania at a cinema. I am neither a huge fan nor one with antipathy towards FLOTUS. However,  the degree of denigration and contempt directed towards Melania Trump over the years I’ve found misogynistic, unbalanced, and completely out of proportion to that of any First Lady in my lifetime- including Nancy Reagan. 

Since COVID, we’ve been to a cinema on average once annually. We had planned to drive to NYC on Friday to spend the weekend visiting the JP Morgan Library, the Tenement Museum, and to attend a party in Brooklyn on Saturday evening. The bone chilling projected temperatures caused us to scuttle our plans. 

Thursday, I reached out to a friend who has been experiencing some personal challenge to check in.  She invited me to join her and others for dinner and a screening of Melania Friday evening. Why not? As my husband said, I needed to be ‘aired out’. I accepted the invite and am happy I did so. 

The near unanimous snarky reviews by critics who regularly deride the former and current POTUS and FLOTUS encouraged rather than discouraged me to watch the film in a theater. Our group went to a cinema in Leesburg, Virginia that was quite full. 

This documentary focuses on the twenty days leading up to the Inauguration of President Trump and afforded ‘we the people’ a look behind the curtain at the details involved in preparing for the transition between presidential administrations. 

 Critics focused almost exclusively on Melania’s shoe collection and the designing of her inaugural wardrobe. But, it was much more of an insight into the eye for details in preparing for a donation dinner at the Building Museum, how she would present herself to the world on Inauguration Day, the warmth she projected to those working with her, the security concerns regarding the safety of her husband and family, and her commitment to children’s issues which she shares with Brigitte Macron and Queen Rania of Jordan.

It is evident that Melania Trump guards her privacy. From the time of Martha Washington, the spouse of the American president has been thrust into living in a fishbowl. No First Lady during my lifetime has been subjected to the criticism, cruelty, contempt, misrepresentation and outright hatred as has Melania Trump. Her clothes, her image, her reticence, her sphinx like attitude are her armor. 

After seeing this film, I am more impressed by Melania’s determination to thrive among the nest of vipers that make assumptions and cast aspersions based upon Trump Derangement Syndrome.

I, for one, hope Melania Trump gets the last laugh. 

Why Are There No Protests On University Campuses About The Crackdowns on the People Of Iran

It certainly is curious why university campuses are silent regarding the atrocities committed by the Revolutionary Guards, secret police and mullahs against the citizens of Iran that have been existing under this repressive regime for 47 years. 

Students and paid protesters marched, held sit ins, and tormented Jewish students and the state of Israel over the war in Gaza triggered by the brutal attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023 at the behest and funding by the theocracy in Tehran. 

Confused violent protesters in illegal ‘sanctuary’ cities oppose the apprehension, arrest and deportation of violent criminal illegal aliens. None are crying or holding candlelight vigils for the victims of these criminals. 

Posters in The Washington Post, New York Times and Wall Street Journal make disingenuous comments about the people of Iran, claiming there is no reason for the USA to be involved in the political upheaval there.

These uninformed ideologues apparently do not understand US law, the geopolitical issues, historical record, and the fact they are patsies of foreign interests and funding by organizations that profit from civil unrest.

Fact: illegal immigration is against the law, warrants deportation of illegal aliens, and impeding federal law enforcement engaged in legal activity is a federal crime;

Fact: declaring a municipality a sanctuary is against federal law: 

Fact: states and cities cannot supersede federal law;

Fact: every president with the exception of Biden deported more people than DJT without all of the drama;

Fact: Gazans placed Hamas in power. The got the government they deserved;

Fact: Israel has a right to defend itself against the tyranny of the Iranian regime and its proxies;

Fact: Iranians are not Arabs;

Fact: the people of Iran are freedom loving people. The mullahs lied to them and have repressed them for 47 years.

Fact: the only potential reasons for supporting Gaza over Iran is antisemitism; 

Fact: the only reason for Americans to support criminal illegal aliens over their victims is the result of propaganda by leftists with TDS;

Fact: Members of Congress are responsible for inertia, failing to enact much needed immigration reforms, blustering for media, putting reelection dollars and special interests above the American people.

Fact: people with full time jobs and students with a full curriculum with the intent to actually graduate in 4 years do not have time to participate in protests of questionable ideology.

Stop the hate. Quit believing the propaganda. Do a little research to discover what actual Nazis did to Jews, what actual totalitarian regimes do to suppress dissent, and how people living under socialism actually live.

Take off the rose colored glasses and see reality. 

Minnesota Is Ground Zero For Fraud & Disorder

 

I have zero tolerance for the bologna that is and has been happening in Minnesota. The concept of sanctuary cities is antithetical to the concept of the rule of law. Anyone that advocates for sanctuary cities supports illegal alien criminals over US citizens or green card holders. They support the safety of perpetrators over victims.

Seriously, how can these protestors support their positions? Yes, the death of Renee Goode was a tragedy. It is not up to me to make a legal conclusion. Ms. Goode made some seriously unwise decisions in her advocacy. Was the ICE officer appropriate in his response? I cannot state. However, the temperature of these raids and protests has been readily apparent for months. “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.”

The leadership of Minnesota and  Minneapolis is antithetical to the rule of law. The rhetoric from the political class is nonsensical. I do not believe the efforts to remove illegal aliens is based on race or color. Instead, it is based on immigration status. I want to believe in the Constitution and the rule of law, the deportation of those who skipped  the line, and the disregard for fairness.

I believe legal immigration is critical to the growth of our country. But, illegal aliens should not be given amnesty. I’ve lived internationally for years. I’ve seen the lines of hopefuls waiting to get an interview with consulate officials to come here legally. Those that follow the rules deserve precedence. 

When I lived in foreign countries, I followed the rules. There was no choice. Otherwise, immediate deportation. I understood that. I also had to carry a residency card on me everywhere. 

Today, when I went to a medical appointment, I had to show a photo ID. This is not onerous. Following immigration law is not unreasonable. 

Come here legally or leave. I will never understand the rhetoric of the leftist officials. 

Or, let the sanctuary states exist without any federal dollars. Declare independence. Withdraw from the USA. Decide to declare yourself an independent country and support every service based upon state tax dollars. Agree to eschew your claims that you deserve federal  assistance for anything.

You either agree to be part of the Union or withdraw. 

I support ICE. I have antipathy towards anyone who uses Soros backed money and tactics to resist government laws. 

Do these idiots truly want to create an environment that creates the potential for civil war? 

Sorry, but if a state supports fraud, an expanded welfare state, the exploitation of the American taxpayer, the increase of taxpayer funded benefits for people who can work and the continued allowing that SNAP recipients  can use taxpayer money to buy sodas, candy, junk food, ultra processed foods, or get cash back to buy cigarettes and alcohol is abhorrent. 

Let them buy beans, rice, pasta, eggs, milk, tomato sauce, ground beef,   Vegetables, fruit, rolled oats. Cheese, and chicken. No lobster, leg of lamb, shrimp, crab, steak, ultra processed packaged meals, etc. If you are living off the taxpayers- basics only. Otherwise, get a job and pay your own way. We do!