Much to the dismay of her Greek family, Zanna Krykos makes a living as a lawyer in Tarpon Springs, Florida. When her friend Lucy needs legal advice about the business she inherited upon her father’s passing, she ends up asking Zanna to run the business instead so she can focus on her medical career.Nico Kalos is a Greek diver who has worked on sponging boats in the Aegean Sea since the age of 14, … age of 14, giving him a vast knowledge of the trade. When he hears of an opportunity to lead a group of spongers to the United States, he seizes it. But his excitement is quickly quelled when he arrives only to discover that a young woman with no experience in the business will be in charge of the new crews.
But as Zanna and Nico face even more complications than they could have imagined, they must learn to work together or risk everything they’ve worked so hard for.
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Judith Miller always crafts a wonderful romance. I enjoyed the historical pieces from early Tarpon Springs brought to life in these pages. It is evident she does a large amount of research toward her historical fiction novels.
I enjoyed this story immensely, the characters are vivid and likable, her protagonist is cunning and shrewd, a perfect foil for the hero and heroine.
I’ll be reading more by this talented author. Fans of historical fiction will enjoy reading this novel.
What You Don’t Know Could Hurt You
Judith Miller has once again pleased readers with the delightful story of The Lady of Tarpon Springs. This book had me chuckling out loud at the three Rochester sisters who often graced the pages. Then I was taken to the edge of my seat with apprehension as the Greek divers went deeply under the waters to search for and harvest needed black sponges that would make Dr Penrose’s new business successful.
From the dangers the divers faced every time they went down into the deep waters of the Gulf Coast to the apprehension from the secrets that were kept from Nico the head diver, I was swept in almost from the first Chapter. Judith Miller has done an awesome Job of researching the history of deep water diving for sponges in Tarpon Springs Florida during the early 1900s. I liked that both Dr Lucy Penrose and Miss Zanna Krykos were both professional women in 1905. Readers knew midway into the book who the real villain of the story was and were kept on pens and needles as the other characters faced dangers unknown to them.
Readers who enjoy historical romance will love this book. Fans of Judith Miller should definitely read it. I was fortunate to win a signed copy of this book from a giveaway given by the author. I was not required to do a review but since I truly enjoyed the story I was more than happy to do so. I have given an honest review on how I felt about the book. (less)
First of all, if Judith Miller’s name is on it, I buy or read with confidence, knowing that a well-satisfying book awaits. The artist’s use of pastel sunsets and sunrises in the background of Miller’s recent covers makes them very aesthetically pleasing. Two reasons to read the book before you even open the cover or swipe the first page.
I love Judith Miller’s books because they are well-researched. In this case, The Lady of Tarpon Springs was a fun, mysterious education about the Greek sponge divers off Florida’s coast in the early 1900’s. This was a part of history I’d never heard of.
Then there is the sparking, light sizzle of a clean romance. How fun to view it through the eyes of a Greek family’s expectations.
I enjoyed the inclusion of the somewhat irritating, interfering Rochester sisters. They really add a surprising depth to an already good story.
Miller’s writing style is inviting, making what could be profoundly unknown seem familiar, while also keeping my interest. Never once did I feel a-sea nor wonder when the book would end.
Fun Quotables:
“‘What’s that you’re saying about fifty men?’ Her mother dipped a piece of crusty bread into olive oil. ‘I think one will be enough, Zanna.’”
“ …his bushy black eyebrows wriggled like frightened caterpillars attempting an escape.”
I highly recommend this book. I gratefully received a complimentary copy from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinions, for which I am solely responsible. I was not required to leave a positive review.
Judith Miller is an excellent academic fact finder, and this book really kept my interest.
She researched the history of deep water diving for sponges in Tarpon Springs Florida during the early 1900s, and using that information, she wrote a delightful, suspenseful, insightful story about Zanna, Lucy, and Nicos, 3 people who were involved in the business of sponge diving in 1905, in Florida.
This book was SO good, in fact, that I’m planning on buying as many of her books as I can to add to my personal home library. I also am hoping to let other Christians know about her books, and that they can rest assured that the book has high moral standards and they’ll enjoy the story to the very end.
Zanna Krykos is a lawyer, and back then, that was almost unheard of. Her traditional Greek family was at first against this career, but eventually accepted it. Her best friend, Lucy Penrose, is a doctor, also very rare back then! Lucy’s dad died unexpectedly, but had made her his designated beneficiary of a sponge diving business he was establishing and developing in order to bring more trade into Tarpon Springs.
The story goes on to describe how the business began, and then grew and grew into a healthy commercial trade in the area.
Within this superb story is the story of several people, including Zanna, Nicos Sevdalis and his experienced Greek sponge divers, the Rochester sisters, Bessie, Eugenia, and Viola, and Adelphos Pappas, who was a businessman, but greedy, manipulative, and a liar, but good at hiding those flaws.
I was fascinated by all the information about Greek divers, and the early sponge business in Tarpon Springs. You’re in for a great treat and one of the most enjoyable history lessons of your life, when you read this book.
I highly recommend this book for another reason, and that is, Mrs. Miller kept the romance to a minimum, presented the romance in accordance with good values and common sense, in good taste, and will be totally acceptable to anyone with sound Christian values.
I feel comfortable in giving this book a 5 star rating in the genre of Christian historical fiction. It is suitable for clean reading, and definitely an absorbing and captivating story of business and life in Florida’s Tarpon Springs in 1905. I bought this book and am convinced it was worth every dollar spent.
Go get a copy, and have some fun reading! Thank you Judith, for writing a wonderful book, using the talents GOD gave you, and making reading fun for us Christians again. Keep writing this way, it’s perfect!
Excellent information of the sponge industry in Tarpon Springs and the coming of the Greeks.
I was totally engrossed in this story and had to read quickly as I found the historical aspect so interesting. Ms. Miller is impeccable in her research and makes learning about sponge diving enjoyable while enjoying a story of Greek immigrants. Tarpon Springs is new to me and now I want to visit. She paints a lovely picture of the foods, clothing, boats on the ocean, the sponging industry, and falling in love. The words flow on the page without bogging down and the characters of Zanna and Lucy come to life in 1905 as independent women taking on the roles primarily held by men. I love their strength and determination. It also contains a character who tries to undermine and cause harm for added suspense. You will laugh at the antics of the spinster sisters. All in all this is a well rounded book that I found very enjoyable and will go on my keeper shelf with the rest of this authors books. Yes, I am a fan girl.
I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
3.5
“I know you young women don’t agree, but society would be better served if you dedicated yourselves to hearth and home rather than taking over jobs better suited for men.”
Not exactly what Zanna Krykos wanted to hear, but being a young woman and being a lawyer in the coastal town of Tarpon Springs, Florida did raise some eyebrows now and then, especially within a traditional Greek family; why, her own father was threatening to send her back to the “homeland” long enough to find a suitable Greek husband. Right now, she had a more pressing problem; her friend Lucy was determined to entrust her with an unexpected business venture. Fifty Greek sponge divers, their equipment and boats were scheduled to arrive in Tarpon Springs and Zanna had reluctantly agreed to assume the position of operations manager until the business became profitable.
As if Zanna’s life couldn’t get more interesting, the diving team’s leader Nick Kalos catches her attention in spite of her insistence that he hadn’t; for “he wasn’t like any other Greek man she’d ever met. Granted, she hadn’t been around many, but still . . . he simply defied her suppositions”. But all that glitters is not gold, as invisible trouble appears on the horizon for the sponge divers; catching Nick and Zanna squarely in the middle and postponing any sweet dreams of the future.
A lovely, light read with fascinating history and quiet doses of spiritual truth.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions stated are entirely my own.