Gem City Gypsy

Title: Gem City Gypsy
Author: Kristin Kuhns Alexandre
Publisher: Sisterhood Publications
ISBN: 978-1940016023
Pages: 155, Paperback/Kindle
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance

Reviewed by: Ella Vincent, Pacific Book Review

Book Review

The novel focuses on Neci Stans in the early 1900’s. Neci survives the sinking of the Lusitania, but tragedy follows her again when Germans kill her employer in Ireland. After the harrowing escape from Ireland, she returns to her hometown of Dayton, Ohio, nicknamed “Gem City.’’ Stans reinvents herself as Neci Star to escape her past and try to hide the heritage of her persecuted Gypsy family. Neci falls in love with a charming rich man, Ford Wilson, and finds work as a horse trainer. However, her past comes back to haunt her when she reunites with her first love, Ezra Crawford. In addition to the complications of a love triangle, Neci has to fight against Crawford’s Klansman father, a lecherous Englishman, her abusive stepfather-and her haunting visions of death.

Neci Star is a captivating protagonist that readers will root for on every page. When she says that “I could be Neci Star, strong, beautiful, confident…’’, readers will instantly believe her. Neci is a character that is resourceful, beautiful, and troubled because of her psychic powers. Her Gypsy heritage is portrayed as mystical, but still relatable. Kuhns Alexandre portrays her as not a stereotypical fortune-teller, but a fully developed character that stays true to her Romani heritage while fighting prejudice against Gypsies.

Kuhns Alexandre combines historical fiction with romance so well, with the Wright Brothers and President Wilson being connected to characters in the novel. Though the novel is a romance set in the past, there is still an element of realism throughout the book. Gem City Gypsy honestly portrays the ugly truth about race relations in America with Neci confronting the Klan at the turn of the century. The novel is educational with historical references, but still manages to be entertaining with saucy dialogue and many spicy love scenes that will entice adult romance readers.

I really loved how this book captured my attention from the start; the characters were interesting and well developed. The story was interesting and paced well. Not to mention, this book has so many twists and turns that will leave readers hanging on to every word. Kuhns Alexandre takes readers back in time, but still manages to make Neci a modern heroine that is not a damsel in distress. Gem City Gypsy is a novel that will thrill readers and make readers want to return to Gem City to follow the brave adventures of Neci Star.