The Forbidden Dreams of Betsy Elliott by Carolyn R. Parsons

The winter of 1933 is particularly harsh but twenty-something year old Betsy Elliott is a force to be reckoned with! Living in Elliott's Cove with her much older and previously widowed husband John, Betsy is feisty, hard working and determined to survive the merciless environment of outport life during the Commission of Government years in Newfoundland. It is a godsend when Newfoundland born-Harvard educated Edmund Hoffe Taylor returned home for the winter to finish writing about the political situation of the day. Stumbling into their lives at a time when extra help is needed and much appreciated,  Betsy initially cringed at having another mouth to feed and a boarder to contend with. Little did she know that this young, spiffy chap with his fancy way of speaking could do more than just the needed grunt work around the house but aroused within Betsy a longing and innate desire to experience a different life, perhaps one beyond Elliott's Cove. Her long gone father, afterall, had always told her to set her sights on something even bigger than she could imagine. Now was the time when the forbidden dreams of Betsy Elliott could be realized but not before a series of life altering events rock the Elliott household and the entire community.

The Forbidden Dreams of Betsy Elliott is a piece of historical fiction that is entertaining, intriguing, and 100% Newfoundland born and bred! From the beginning of the novel to the very last page, there is no doubt that author Carolyn R. Parsons draws from her own life experience as a daughter of a fishing family in the small community of Change Islands, Newfoundland. In her debut novel, Parsons creates a strong but likeable protagonist in the character Betsy Elliott. As readers, we sympathize with her plight, admire her determination and grit and in the end wish nothing but the best for this young mother of two. Likewise the supporting characters are dynamic and serve a very specific purpose in the development of the plot, which is both well paced and meticulously planned. As a reader, I found myself really enjoying the Newfoundland dialect that Parsons used for the dialogue of the characters. It was interesting, natural and not overdone to the point where you were left wondering what the characters were trying to say. The use of such prose also creates a timestamp for the reader, contributing to the creation of a believable place and time in history that Parsons has clearly researched and is familiar with. 

"Are you not afraid of going to hell, Betsy?"

"Hell? Hell is winter when you're stuck with an old lady and man took to his bed because it's too much trouble to get up. When spring comes and the cellar is low and the only thing to do is to take to the ice yourself to get a seal to eat, or perhaps a couple ducks. When you shuts the parlour down because the wood is low and nearly freezes all March month to make do. When you take your babies on a sled into the woods to cut enough to get through, and some man looks at you like you're a meal of seal yourself, and only the infant inside your coat stops him from havin' a go. When you piles up the sled and has to stop to give the baby milk because you had nobody to leave him with and you're worried your other baby will freeze before you gets home. Hell is when you goes into service at ten or when your mother puts your sisters on a steamer for the orphanage because your father died of the fever. I don't concern myself with hell. I figures I'm in it ...."

The Forbidden Dreams of Betsy Elliott is romantic, thrilling, and at times quite amusing! Simply put it is a must read book with a character who transcends time. Betsy embodies the fierce love found in all women who call themselves mothers and wives, not just the stoic, resilient, duty-bound women of the Great Depression. It reminds us of the importance to dream big and to follow our heart, even if it means having to make tough choices. Keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel to this novel! The Forbidden Dreams of Betsy Elliott is a Flanker Press publication.

Being Mary Ro by Ida Linehan Young

The winter of 1891 was a particularly difficult one for 14 year old Mary Rourke. After a diphtheria outbreak sweeps through John's Pond, Newfoundland Mary finds herself orphaned and alone. Accepting that she would be destined to a life of spinsterhood after her childhood sweetheart marries another woman,  she set about living a simple, yet hard life, in her outport community. Trying to maintain the two story saltbox house left to her by her parents while working in the lobster cannery during the spring fishery was not much of a life for a young woman. With a heavy heart, keen intellect and a dream of being somebody more than just a lonely outport lady, Mary quickly finds herself in the throws of yet another tragedy.....a tragedy that would bring an injured stranger in need of first aid, a rediscovered passion, and the opportunity of pursuing a new life in Boston.  Mary is faced with a series of tough decisions as she attempts to navigate the love she feels for her home but the desire to break the bonds of isolation and step out into an unknown and frightening new world. She begins to discover that she is no longer a victim of circumstance haunted by her past but is capable of great things and of loving again. This coming of age story will leave you transfixed and rooting for the woman who just wants to be, Mary Ro. 

Being Mary Ro is the first historical fiction novel for Newfoundland author Ida Linehan Young. Inspired by stories told by her father and based loosely on real events, the story of the people of John's Pond and surrounding communities is captivating on so many levels. As I first read this book I found myself transported back in time to the place and circumstances that the author so eloquently describes. With wonderfully descriptive language and well researched historical content, the reader is made to feel part of the community. For example, in describing the community of John's Pond, Linehan Young writes; 

"Barns and stables in several shades of cracked red paint on grey weathered boards scattered throughout the meadows beyond the mostly dull, white-coloured houses. The fishing stages lay half empty of bounty on the seashore, waiting to be filled with stacks of dried cod. Smaller skiffs and punts had been hauled up, their owners on the wharf getting ready to sign on with the schooners."

Ida Linehan Young also does a superb job in developing the characters of this novel. Young Mary Rourke, initially portrayed as a victim whom we feel great sorrow for, demonstrates resilience and strength throughout the entire novel. At first fractured by the vision she has of herself,  the reader is afforded an opportunity to be a part of her journey of self discovery and transformation. At the end of the novel, we cannot help but feel like proud parents and are relieved that Mary has found her place. She is relatable and is a reminder that we can all overcome the adversities of life. 

"Mary's heart skipped a beat as she realized that she did what she did because she was who she was, and that revelation briefly exposed for examination all the inadequate, undermining self-reflection of the last number of months - maybe even years. She wasn't a heroine, she didn't want accolades, she was Mary Ro - plain and simple - and there was nothing wrong with that."

Being Mary Ro is the full meal deal! It will whisk you away to the Victorian era of the late 19th century but also contains drama and crime. And of course, no great story would be complete without a healthy dose of true love and romance. Being Mary Ro is a Flanker Press publication. 

Other titles by Ida Linehan Young can be found here.