I was excited to see this title because I love Tarpon Springs, Florida: the history, the close community feel, the absolutely amazing food, and the culture. Judith Miller captured it all in The Lady of Tarpon Springs. About a quarter of the way into the story I turned to the Author's Note in the back in order to get an idea of which characters were fictional and which weren't. It turns out they are all fictional, but the story gives the flavor of the time and place quite well, giving a down-sized version of the arrival of Greek sponge divers, an industry that continues to play an important role in the small town as it also sustains tourism in the area.

Attorney Zanna Krykos and physician Lucy Penrose are taking on new roles for women in the early 1900's, not only in their chosen professions, but also in the ownership and management of a sponge company that fell into their hands with the death of Lucy's father. While Lucy owned the company,it was Greek-speaking Zanna who managed day-to-day operations along with Nico Kalos, the leader of the fifty Greek sponge divers. Lucy's father had left them ill-prepared, but Zanna proved herself up to the task. Once the daunting challenge of housing and feeding such a large group was met, other challenges continued to arise. While relying on Nico to help meet them, Zanna realized she was losing her heart to the seafaring man, something that would not set well with her own father.

I have some other books by Judith Miller loaded on my Kindle. After reading The Lady of Tarpon Springs I am anxious to read those as well. I thank Net Galley and Bethany House for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

I liked it, but I didn’t love it. So much research done, and sponge diving in 1905 Florida is fascinating, but I felt the love story and character development took a back seat as a result. It just didn’t excite me, though it was a pleasant read.

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

Zanna Krykos has defied gender stereotypes quite enough, according to her traditional Greek father.  Her budding career as a lawyer is already a point of conflict between them.  When her friend Lucy inherits not only a fleet of highly specialized Greek boats but also the responsibility for the crew - Greek immigrants who have recently arrived for the sole purpose of working on these vessels, Zanna offers to help Lucy turn this uncertain investment into a solid business.  Lucy, who has few alternatives, agrees, placing Zanna in charge of the boats and the crew.   

Nico Kalos is the leader of a crew of Greek sponge divers who have emigrated to Tarpon Springs, Florida.  Lucy's father purchased their fleet and their passage to America, dreaming they might together discover great wealth in sponge beds deep beneath the Gulf waters.  Unfortunately, the investor died before their arrival, and the crew shares the traditional Greek opinions upheld by Zanna's father.  They are quite reluctant to work for their deceased patron's daughter and her eager friend.  Since they have no other option, Nico must walk the line between appeasing his men and teaching Zanna about the sponging business.  

As a Florida resident and history lover, I enjoyed reading about the history of Greek immigration to the United States.  While I live on the opposite coast, I have visited the area near Tarpon Springs, and the town in which I now live was also initially heavily populated by Greek immigrants. I found the author's insight into period sponge diving quite fascinating, as well.  I had no idea that the sponges we often take for granted today were so highly prized and varied greatly in value.  The author gives readers a glimpse into this unique industry and the Greek immigrants who revolutionized it in America. 

While I enjoyed the context of the book and its connection to local history, I was less impressed with the story.  I love historical fiction.  I enjoy contemporary novels, as well.  The rising action and the heroine of this tale, however, seemed to function more as an ungainly period remix of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."  The dialogue between characters often felt unnatural (especially considering the historical context), and the plot dragged a bit through the middle, in large part because the secondary characters were generally unremarkable or unlikeable.  Toward the end, however, the action picked up a bit and a fairly foreseeable plot twist finally garnered some sympathy toward a particularly annoying character.  

"The Lady of Tarpon Springs" didn't captivate or enchant me.  It didn't keep me up late turning pages.  It informed me and it engaged my interest enough to keep me reading, but I won't re-read it.  I probably wouldn't recommend it to a friend, unless that friend was heading to the Tampa area and looking for a historical fiction beach read with local flavor.  I may, however, recommend it to my library here in Florida, due to the local interest factor.  If I could add a half star, I would give it three and a half stars.  I liked it.  I just didn't like it a lot.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley.  All opinions contained in this review are my own.

THE LADY OF TARPON SPRINGS by JUDITH MILLER is a romance novel that takes place in 1905 during the time of diving for sponges at Tarpon Springs, Florida.
When Doctor Lucy Penrose hears from her friend and lawyer Zanna Krykos that the contract her deceased father signed to buy three diving boats and employ Greek divers to run a sponging business, could not be cancelled, and that Lucy would have to honour the contract if he should die, she is devastated. Zanna, who lives with her very boisterous Greek family, is naturally fluent in Greek and agrees to run the business for her friend.
The two young ladies are both determined to succeed in their careers, in fact Zanna became a lawyer without her father's knowledge or permission. He feels a woman's job is to get married and have babies, and keeps threatening to send her to Greece with her grandmother to find a Greek husband!
Fifty Greek spongers arrive, headed by Nico Kalos, and Zanna has her work cut out getting the Greek men to listen to her. She and Nico have to learn to work together in order to succeed.
When things start going wrong, we wonder how long it will take before Zanna and Nico find out what or who is sabotaging their business. There is quite a lot of suspense and there are some very colourful characters. I enjoyed the novel for the lovely story and good Christian message.
I was given a free copy of the book by Bethany House Publishers from NetGalley. The opinions in this review are completely my own

I enjoyed the spunk and determination of main character Zanna Krykos who has gone against the wishes of her father; and followed the dream of becoming a lawyer in Tarpon Springs, Florida in 1905. She’s about to follow her heart again which surprises even her. This time she feels like a fish swimming up stream as she not only has to convince her father, a very traditional Greek family man; to believe in her but her best friend Lucy, medical doctor to get on board with it as well. Not to mention the women in her society who think she should abandon her dreams; get married and have children.

If losing her father wasn’t hard enough, she receives a telegram with overwhelming news, 50 Greek men are heading her way expecting to work in the sponging business her father owns. Zanna has helped her friend legally now she has an idea to help her with the sponging business. Zanna hopes her father and Lucy will agree to her idea.

This was an interesting time period. I liked learning about the traditions of Greek families, and the sponging business in Tarpon Springs, Florida in 1905. I enjoyed Zanna’s spirit, her family, Nico Kalos, the Greek diver who helps Zanna navigate the sponging business and how he goes about uncovering the mystery aboard one of the three ships that killed a crew member.

In author notes to readers Judith describes how the story came about and how Tarpon Springs is located on the Anclote River where they have walking tours, historical museums, sponge shops and boat rides. I wish I would have known about this when I lived in Florida. This was a fun, informative, engaging historical novel with a splash of romance I recommend for a entertaining summer read and one to share with your book club. There is so much to learn.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. 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”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com