This book was a fun, easy read. It had a little bit of everything strong characters, a little bit of suspense, and three sisters who added a little humor to lighten the moment when needed.

I read this book in a day. It was so well written and flowed from.chapter to chapter so easily that it was hard to put down.

I really enjoy books by this author and once again she didn't disappoint. This book is definitely one for the keeper shelf

The Lady of Tarpon Springs by Judith Miller
Hannah's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

This book was my first story by Judith Miller. I'd avoided her work for a long time under a nebulous idea that her books might be underwhelming or saccharine. However, I grabbed a copy on impulse after my friend kept telling me how much she was loving the book.

I was wowed by a colorful story of Florida life and Greek culture that is sure to stick with me for a good long while. Zanna Krykos could easily be the stereotypical modern heroine: a historical woman discontented at home, hesitant to marry, following a mostly-male career, and very sure of her own opinion and perceptions. But Miller takes all that and goes beyond stereotype by plopping her right in over her head: her dear friend Lucy inherits a fledgling sponging business and needs some help. Zanna to the rescue! She is a lawyer and most importantly she speaks Greek. Lucy's new employees are arriving from Greece (which was apparently the sponging center of the universe) to try to start up a company to harvest the numerous sponges in the Bay. Lucy doesn't speak a word of Greek, the workers don't speak a word of English, and Zanna's her only hope.

Single master diver Nico Kalos is leading his men to a new land to ply their trade and send money back home to loved ones. He can hardly believe it when he finds the promises made to him about the job are false and the man who promised them newly dead. Two women who haven't the slightest clue about the job or the essential safety requirements are the leaders now, and Nico's stuck: there's no money for fare to return to Greece. The last thing he'll do is let these headstrong women endanger his men or refuse to live up to the promises that drew his group away from the families and homes they loved. He can't speak enough English to communicate with his new boss, Lucy, but he can sure speak to fiery and pretty Zanna. Sparks fly fast between these two.

Wow, I learned so much about sponging and diving! I was fascinated by all that went into it and amazed by the dangers that the divers faced. This part of the book was really well done and interesting.

What held it back from a five-bookmark rating for me was just a couple of things. Zanna is a lawyer, but we aren't told much about her job or what made her want to go into it. Not much about how she learned it or anything about her other clients. She has some kind of office but I kept waiting to really see her helping people there. Also, we get lots about Greek culture but very little about historical Tarpon Springs itself. I'd have like a more detailed city setting and a bit more about the job/calling that drove Zanna.

In terms of a content advisory, there isn't much to say. There are a few kisses, a death, and an attempted drowning. I'll definitely be seeking out more by Miller now!

"The Lady of Tarpon Springs by Judith Miller is a fiction book. This book takes place in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Zanna Krykos is from a Greek family and a lawyer. She is friends with Lucy who is a medical doctor. Lucy asks her advice about the sponging business she inherited from her father. After getting the advice Lucy asked Zanna to run the business. It is really not an easy business to run. There are lots of challenges. Nico Kalos has worked in the sponging business for many years. He worked in the Aegean Sea and had a lot of knowledge about the business. He led a group of spongers for the company to the United States. Zanna has a father with strong ideas related to the Greek culture. He wants Zanna to marry a Greek. He does not like her being a lawyer. How will Zanna handle the challenges with the Greek culture, her father's desires and manage the business? This book was given to me by the publisher to read and review and the opinions are mine and not given to me by the publisher.

The Lady of Tarpon Springs
by Judith Miller
Bethany House
Bethany House Publishers
Christian
Pub Date 31 Jul 2018
I am reviewing a copy of The Lady of Tarpoon Springs:
Zanna Krykos makes a living as a lawyer in Tarpon Springs Florida in the early twentieth century something her Greek family doesn't approve of. Her friend Lucy comes to her for legal advice after she inherits her father's business upon his passing but instead of only seeking out legal advice she asks Zanna to run her business so she can focus on her Medical Career!
Nico Kalos is a diver from Greece who worked on Sponging Boats in the Aegean Sea from the age of fourteen so when he hears of the opportunity to be able to lead a group of Spongers to the United States he takes advantage of the opportunity, but when he learns that a young woman with no experience is in charge his excitement is quelled.
As Zanna and Nico face more challenges they must learn to work together or loose everything they worked so hard for. Will they be able to put their differences aside?
I give The Lady Of Tarpon Springs five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!

This is a well researched book. The details of how the Greek immigrants worked by diving for sea sponges was well done. It is an interesting 'job' that I knew very little about, and this book brought this occupation and the struggles that many Greeks had to deal with.

Did I love this book? Not really, though I did enjoy this sweet romance and was glad that I read it.

When I first heard about The Lady of Tarpon Springs by Judith Miller, I was really interested in reading it for several reasons and once I started reading the book, those reasons kept me fascinated. The first and main reason was that it involves Greek characters. My husband has a lot of Greek in him; in fact, his great grandpa came to the United States from Greece!  I loved reading about the food that they eat and about the men who came from Greece to make a new home here in Florida. I couldn't help picturing my husband and his family.
I was fascinated not just with the Greek details but also with the subject of sponges and diving for the sponges. It was a subject that I didn't even know existed but now, I want to find out even more! I think what I love most about reading is that I can go places and do things that I would never even think about doing in real life. Diving is probably one of those things I will never do since I have this habit of holding my breath under water. I can't even go on the Finding Nemo submarines at Disneyland because the one time I did, I held my breath the whole ride and almost passed out! But, when I'm reading a book, I can go diving for sponges in the Gulf. And if I was going to learn more about sponges diving, The Lady of Tarpon Springs was the perfect opportunity to do so.
So, if you are interested now in sponge diving,  Greek culture, or just because it sounds like a fun book to read, I would recommend you go read The Lady of Tarpon Springs because it truly was a delightful book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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.

The Lady of Tarpon Springs is a well written book and you can tell Judith Miller did her research well on the sponge diving in the early 1900's. It was interesting to read about the different types of sponges that were harvested and the extreme danger connected to the diving. Also she wove a tale of mystery and suspense along with romance in this interesting read, We also learned a little of the Greek culture of the immigrant Greeks in America. Also there was some very humorous characters, as in her three sister friends. All in all a delightful read........I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

This is such a unique story. Judith Miller’s research about the sponging industry in Tarpon Springs and the Greek culture combined to make an intriguing storyline. I loved the characters of Nico and Zanna. They made a great couple with their humor and romance. There’s a little bit of suspense that kept me turning pages to see what happened next. Overall, it’s a fun, interesting read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received from NetGalley an electronic copy of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

A lady lawyer, Greek divers, and an expressive author voice combine to create quite an entertaining and enrapturing tale of maneuvering through life’s trials while striving toward one’s dreams with hope for a brighter future than one’s past.

I love that this book featured Greeks without the mention of false gods. That is such a difficult thing to find!

Besides a few minor inconsistencies, the thing that held this book back from being a complete five-star read for me was that the lawyer and leading lady, Zanna Krykos, often “went to her office,” but there were no details of what she did there or whether she had more than only the one client (Lucy) and assisting in managing Lucy’s sponging business… until 79% of the book! This was way too late to mention other clients (whom we were never introduced to) and how she had supposedly stayed busy with them over the weeks and months that took place in the previous 79% of the story. I wanted much more detail about Zanna’s clients and work to see the intelligence she had as a lawyer and why I should root for her to keep her job rather than cave to her parents’ wishes. I felt like we got way more of Lucy’s clients and work than Zanna’s, and Lucy was merely the best-friend side character.

The rich history of the Tarpon Springs sponging business and Greek divers were spot-on and intriguing. I’d never thought of that sort of business before, and I found it quite fascinating. It definitely added much depth to this story, and I’m so glad Ms. Miller shared so many details about how it all worked. That added an incredible amount of credibility, and it well showed off her research skills.

Another thing I loved about this book was the cover. I had to view it online, as this was an ARC copy with no cover (Kindle copy from NetGalley), but the colors are rich, and the individual pieces come together to reveal many aspects of the story. It’s so fun when that happens. This cover definitely captured the essence of the story, and that made the read all the more enjoyable.

This book will find a spot on my keeper shelf (when I have space for one, that is). I highly recommend it!

What an interesting story! I was very caught up in the different characters lives. Lots of quirky people and the mystery of what was actually going on... l really liked the story!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review."

This was an interesting book! I liked the romance between Zanna and Nico! I liked the supporting cast of characters, too. And I didn't really know anything about sponging before I read this book, so I learned a little bit about that while reading, which was interesting! If you're looking for a good historical Christian novel, try reading this book!

What an interesting novel!

The details about the sponging operation were woven through the story beautifully. The details enhanced the story, never bogged it down, as sometimes happens in historical fiction.

I quickly fell in love with the characters, always a plus in my way of thinking. I find that if I like the characters I will continue to read a book even if the plot isn't all that great. Sometimes I'm left feeling I was let down when I get to the end of those kinds of books. In others, it was worth it to push through until the end and the couple gets their happily ending.

This book was filled with likable characters, a rich setting and a wonderful plot, so I enjoyed every minute of it.

When I saw it was available on NetGalley I was so excited. I knew I would love to review this book. That is one of the perks of writing a book review blog. I receive books to read as long as I give my honest opinion of the books. Since I get to pick and choose which books I request, I get to read books that I am more than likely going to like.

If you are in the market for a historical fiction book, I highly recommend you pick up a copy. I know you won't be disappointed.

The Lady of Tarpon Springs by Judith Miller is set at the turn of the 20th century in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Zanna Krykos is struggling to be respected as a lawyer. When her best friend inherits a diving sponge business, she steps in as manager, but faces opposition to her authority from male employees since she is a woman. Miller does a great job explaining the unfamiliar sponge business as well as the dangers of deep sea diving. The historical aspect was one of her best, but the character lacked personality and were somewhat flat. I liked it but it was not my favorite Judith Miller book.

Although this was a sweet love story I found it to be slow and tedious in places. It had a great amount of intrigue and addressed some issues women would have faced at that time in history. Lucy was the town doctor and Zannah was a lawyer. Nico was a man of integrity and did not take his responsibilities with the 50 men under his supervision lightly. I enjoyed it, but would have liked more content and less dragging out of the story.

The Lady of Tarpon Springs by Judith Miller

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Story Notes

Judith Miller brings a different styled story to her readers that has a very interesting line of work featured but falls flat with the actual story.

I have a hard time choosing Judith Miller books to review when offered to me as I’ve read some that are really wonderful and some that just really miss the mark. This story would fall into the latter category, unfortunately. Ms. Miller begins her story with a young lawyer named Zanna Krykos, daughter of a Greek shipbuilder and friend to Lucy Penrose. Lucy’s father passed away several months back and she has found herself in a dilemma regarding the will her father left. It appears she is now the owner of a Sponging company and the divers/boat captains hired from Greece will arrive any day looking for the work promised them. Lucy is a doctor still trying to establish her practice and has no desire to deal with a business. Reluctantly agreeing to allow Zanna to manage the business until it can turn a profit and be sold, Lucy is happy to wash her hands of everything for now. Zanna is hoping to prove to her family, especially her father, that she is capable of being a lawyer and handling a business. She is well aware of all that must be done when it comes to paperwork and negotiating prices and her ability to speak Greek will be most helpful when the men arrive. But Greek men do not want to work with a woman, no matter what her abilities and Zanna will have to prove herself to Nico Kalos if she is to make everything the success she promised Lucy. Nico has traveled a many thousands of miles for this new opportunity and he is excited to see what quality of sponges are available off the Florida Coast. What he didn’t expect was to encounter the very determined Zanna and her multiple rules for the company. As Nico and Zanna work together, albeit a bit grudgingly at first, they will both see that each has much to bring to the business and more trust will be earned with each problem resolved. Now if they can only figure out what is causing the men to be so secretive and for the sponge loads to be much lower than expected. This story had a lot that could have been crafted into a well developed story. But there was so much unnecessary dialogue at the beginning and so little plot at the end that it was difficult for me to make it through the book. The discussions, explanations and descriptions of how sponges are found, retrieved and sold was very interesting but the plot had so many holes in it and the solution to the “mystery” so obvious that it made the main characters look both smart and stupid at the same time. The portrayal of Greek persons was a little bit off too as I felt there was not enough umph to them. I personally know a few Greek people and they are lovely, passionate people who enjoy good conversation and discussions. I saw very little of this portrayed in the story and that was sad to see. Here is a culture that is rich in history and Ms. Miller only focused on small portions of it. And the whole “go back to Greece to find a husband” is a little ridiculous as I’m sure that there were plenty of Greek men in America who would have answered Mr. Krykos’ desire for his daughter to wed a Greek man. All in all it was a book that I was glad to read for the information but the plot will keep me from purchasing it or recommending it to others. Others might find it more interesting if they are just looking for a book with a clean plot but I don’t believe they will find it an “amazing read”. I will once again be wary to accept a Judith Miller book for review when offered as I keep getting poor reads.

I received this E-Book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from either company for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

Judith Miller's books are an automatic buy for me when she has a new release. Her newest voyage in writing has left quite an impression on me and will stay in my memory for a long time. Let me start out by saying I have never been to Tarpon Springs or even Florida but Tarpon Springs is now where I want to go do some fun historical research. Right from the start of the book I was immersed in the story, the smell of the ocean,the calls of the divers,the clanks of their diving suits,feeling the pull of the rope,the fear and anticipation of that next dive for sponges,the authentic Greek food. This book was absolutely fabulous and it challenged me as well. When a book challenges me historically I love it because it means I want to find out more about what the author is writing about. In this case looked up sponging, which I have never read about before. I also was interested in reading about the trauma divers can cause themselves by rising to the surface to quickly after a deep dive. I have heard of "the bends" before but wasn't quite sure what it was. I felt as though I were there during this whole book experiencing it, perfect descriptions! My favorite character was definitely, Nico Kalos who was in charge of the diving team. Least favorite character was for sure, Adelfo Pappas,what a sneaky slimeball. He's all for himself though he tries to make you feel as though he's on your side. I was impressed with how the author made the male characters sound and think as male characters rather than as a female author would think. I love the forward thinking of the time period as well in that the town's doctor and town's lawyers are both females. Bravo! The three spinsters sisters are a bit annoying but where a hoot, loved having them in the story. I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to see what Judith puts out for us next. Highly recommended!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGally/the author. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.

What a delightful read! Set in Florida with the main female characters having unusual (for the times) occupations as a lawyer and a doctor, this story details the heritage of a Greek family along with divers coming from Greece to Florida. Unusual story line and setting. Somewhat predictable at times, but yet still fresh and enjoyable to read. I always enjoy books by Judith Miller and this one did not disappoint!

Zanna Krykos is the daughter of a Greek boatbuilder in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Her best friend, Lucy's father made a deal with some Greek sponge divers, but he died before the contract could be completed. Zanna has offered to take over the day to day running of the sponging business.

Zanna's father wants Zanna to go to Greece with her grandmother to find a husband. He thinks she should be married and giving him grandchildren, but she thinks she should be establishing her career as a lawyer.

When the sponge fishermen arrive a day early, Zanna goes into overdrive to find a place for them to camp and get set up for the sponge diving. She works closely with Nico who seems to be the head diver--sometimes at logger-heads with him, and sometimes in helpful agreement.

The fly in the ointment is a Mr Pappas who wants the Grecian divers to dive for a sunken ship instead of the sponges, hoping to find a great treasure.

Judith Miller has brought to the pages of her novel some characters who consume the readers' imaginations and keep them enthralled from the beginning to the end. There is some predictability to the plot, but it keeps the plot moving and the characters alive in the readers' minds.

This is a five-star book, two thumbs up, and the finest makeup sponge you've ever used.

My appreciation goes to Bethany House Publishers who allowed me to read this book and review it.

Independent women and Greek sponge divers

Interesting story about sponge harvesting in the early 1900s. A diving crew and boats were brought over from Greece. Aman had invested in them and then died without mentioning it to his daughter - who had inherited the business but didn't want to be involved. She's a female doctor in the small town which is just off the gulf coast in Florida. Her friend is a female lawyer who happens to be Greek so she offers to handle it for her. But neither really knows what they're getting into. However the lives of 51 Greek men depend on this to be a success and diving is dangerous. I found this a little frustrating at first with all of the bantering back and forth between the characters, but quickly became enthralled with the story and found it hard to put down.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher from the Baker Publishing Group, Bethany - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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