Review: Island Queen

Island Queen by Vanessa Riley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dolly or Dorothy Kirwan Thomas was enslaved living in Montserrat. She was able to purchase her freedom for herself, her mother and sister after many years. Following that huge milestone, Dolly used her smarts and opened her own businesses, amassing a huge amount of wealth. Equally fascinating is Dolly's personal life - the men and her children. Her distinct beauty and wit captured the eyes of many men--some she welcomed and some she didn't. But this all made for a fascinating tale.
First and foremost, I commend Vanessa Riley on her research. Her dedication and diligence in this project is evident. Vanessa Riley brought Dolly to life and as I read, I was fascinated at everything this woman had to endure, while admiring her grit and strength.
Second, I love that there were women of color who made a name for themselves and triumphed despite the harsh realities of the time. Vanessa tackled each subject matter, not shying away from the ugly but definitely bringing the good.
It was a lengthy read and there was a lot covered about Dolly's life but it was told with such skill, that it kept my interest. I had never heard of Dolly before but I admired her grit. Dolly wasn't a perfect heroine but I did always understand--even if I didn't agree--with some of the things she did.
Finally, what an amazing amazing cover. Island Queen's cover art is simply gorgeous. But, please open the pages, you'll enjoy. I loved the Author's Note which highlighted the research and other fascinating information.
Thank you #Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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