thank you to ST Martins press and Net Galley for providing an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. You can easily read the summary of the book plot for yourself as the publisher describes it. I agree with another reviewer that the character development is a bit shallow. However the plot takes place over a short period of time so I'm not so sure how much "development " there actually could be. What I did like was that the book grabbed me in the first chapter and made me want to continue to read. The author gives you a background story as to how the sisters came to Denver but doesn't overdo it -- just enough to answer your questions and then get back to the plot. The author states that she started writing it before our pandemic and then put it down, not thinking there was much interest in this time period. She took it up again during Covid. I'm sure there will be more pandemic stories coming along -- but after going through our own recent pandemic, it makes you appreciate what people went through at the time and how powerless I'm sure they all felt in dealing with it. It was a good read, kept my interest, I thought the writing was well done, and I will recommend this book when it comes out.

Sandra Dallas has a true talent for storytelling and she did not disappoint in Little Souls. This is a story about love and loss, families and how different they can be on many levels, and of horrible things and wonderful things that we as humans do to each other. I enjoyed many of the characters and despised others, as was intended. The time period they lived in and what they had to go through to survive was painted with a detailed brush, which helped me to relate to the characters on a human level. I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy history, and to those who just enjoy a great book! Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

Little Souls by Sandra Dallas is a particularly timely and relevant story. Taking place in the winter of 1918, the Spanish flu is running through the country as WWI drags on. Sisters Lutie and Helen find themselves taking care of Dorothy, their honorary sister, whose mother died of the influenze and whose father has disappeared. Helen is a nurse who has been caring for patients who have become ill with the Spanish flu. Lutie is an artist who designs advertisements for a department store, who falls in love with Peter, a ministry student who joins up to serve his country and ends up questioning his faith.

Little Souls is a story of love, loss, tragedy and coming together as a makeshift family who is there in times of sadness and joy. I had a lump in my throat at times and had to blink back some tears. This is another great book by Sandra Dallas that I look forward to reading again.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Little Souls was a book that I could not put down. I found this book to be very relevant and relatable given our current concerns about the Covid-19 Pandemic. It shows us a time in history during the Spanish Influenza Pandemic that is parallel to what societies concerns are today and how they managed it. Myths abounded as to causes and cures, people died and people survived. This is a great story about power of sisterhood, loyalty, and secrets that direct lives. What will one do to protect those they love the most?

Helen, a nurse and Lutie, a fashion advertiser are two sisters who relocated to Denver from a small town in Iowa for new adventures.who are caring for a little girl, Dorothy, daughter of their renter who died from the flu and the father had left them. One day on her way home from work, Lutie encounters a Spanish Flu victim in the street dying where everyone watches in fear. But the greatest tragedy of that day is when she then arrives home to find her sister standing over a dead man's body, who happens to be Dorothy's missing father, in the kitchen holding an ice pick. They then place the body in the street to pass the murder, although committed in self-defense, as an influenza victim.

Lutie must then deal with protecting her sister, missing Peter her fiance, who is serving in the war, and keeping Dorothy away from her nefarious relatives. Fortunately, she is helped by her wealthy fiance's family, who also are harboring their own secrets and Gil, Helen's doctor boyfriend. We find that we are all Little Souls in need of care. I liked that this book had a strong female protaganist who found what is important to survive what life deals you. Reading this story will help you to realize that strength comes not in solitude but in caring for others. I can't wait to read more from this author.

This story is set in Denver, Colorado in 1918. Spanish Influenza has hit the area hard and many men are still away at war. Helen, a nurse, and her sister Lutie, an artist, are living in a house with tenants in the basement.
After a series of tragic events, they become "sisters" to the little girl living in the basement. The story that follows is both heart-breaking and heart-warming - laughed and cried throughout the story.

I have never read any stories by Sandra Dallas, but based on this one I will definitely be checking out more. Her writing style is very easy to read and the characters seem believable. Their actions, thoughts, and words seem realistic for the time period, which makes the story so much better.

Definitely put this on your 'to read' list, but have a box of tissues ready... you are going to need them.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free advanced copy to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own.

Two sisters, one a nurse, and how the 1928 Flu affected their lives. it. I wasn't thrilled with this book, really predictable. I will not be recommending it,

I've read every book Sandra Dallas has written, love her books.

Little Souls - from a Roman Emperor: the poor, hopeless, the common noone notices
Applies to all in 1 way or another

Travel to Colorado in 1918:
street cars, Prohibition, "war almost over", Liberty Loan Parade, Spanish Influenza Pandemic...
you will feel you are a part of the times
A girl's life is changed drastically many times.
Descriptions of that pandemic ring true today.

I got wrapped into book and hungrily devoured every word!
Love Sandra Dallas!

Set in Denver Colorado during the flu epidemic of 1918, Helen and Lutie are trying to establish themselves after their parent's death. There is death all around them as the flu worsens and soldiers don't come back from war. They also take in a young girl after she loses her parents.
I was a little bored with this book. There was little character development and the plot was somewhat predictable. #NetGalley #SandraDallas #LittleSouls

Not the best historical fiction book I’ve read, but there was something about it that just pulled me in from page one. I started this one and couldn’t put it down until I finished it. I was invested in the characters, their stories, and their lives from the beginning. The story flowed smoothly from beginning to end - fast paced and let my attention.

I will definitely be recommending this book when it comes out next year.

Thank you #netgalley and #stmartinspress for the eARC.

Little Souls by Sandra Dallas is a great historical fiction novel that takes place in western US during the 1918 flu epidemic and WWI and kept me entertained from beginning to end.

This is an intricately woven story of two sisters that have moved out west during a period of political, societal, and epidemiological uncertainty. So many things were changing at this time both here in the States, as well as abroad.

Two sisters, Lutie and Helen, give the reader a snapshot as to what women were up against during this time. Through a narrative that weaves history, drama, suspense, murder, mystery, love, loss, sacrifice, and forgiveness, the author tells a tale of two sisters trying to survive and come out alright upon the other side of the metaphorical mountain of obstacles.

The author shows her talent by creating a wonderfully complex, creative, and genuine cast of characters, especially with the two main female characters. She made them real, raw, honest, flawed, and fascinating. Their mistakes, their triumphs, and the eventual outcomes made this book unique and gripping. I really loved seeing this special and memorable story unfold.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and St. Martin’s Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

Little Souls is set during the Spanish Flu epidemic. The story is a mix of family drama and mystery. I wanted to get lost into the characters and plot, but the dialogue and writing as a whole did not engage me. That said, the book provides details of the Flu Epidemic which are interesting to read as we are still plowing through the Covid Epidemic.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

An incredibly timely novel about the 1918 flu epidemic. The setting is Denver and the author has given it a high degree of authenticity. In fact, her use of language and context made me feel as if it had been written years after that terrible pandemic, rather than a century later. The voice of the novel captures a nuanced view of the period.

The book is focused on 2 sisters, facing the problems that were typical of the period. The idea of working women, romance and abuse converge during this very difficult time.

Though I am not always a fan of historical fiction, I found the language and characters especially genuine. I also loved the sense of closure that was delivered in the epilogue.

Thank you Netgalley for this timely and interesting novel.

Plot: 4.5/5 Characters: 4/5 Writing: 4/5

Little Souls takes place in Denver, 1918. The Influenza has hit the population badly, and the men are still away at war. At 19, Lutie Hite is a carefree artist working in advertising for the local department store; her older, more careworn, sister Helen is a nurse. Through an interesting set of events they become responsible for Dorothy, the ten-year old daughter of their now deceased tenant. From these beginnings follows a fairly wild, often heartbreaking, but ultimately heartwarming ride.

I’m a big Sandra Dallas fan. Dallas writes Western historical fiction about strong women making it through adversity with fortitude, intelligence, and the help of their community. She always brings in the small details of life in that particular time and place to make everything ring true.

Her stories tend to the dramatic, but never go over the top and feel quite realistic for their time. She is even-handed about how people thought and behaved at the time — different characters have different opinions on everything from mask-wearing (ha!) to personal morality, and no opinion is presented as obviously better than the others. Religious feeling and participation was a big part of life in that place and time, and I liked how she treated it. While this in no way dominates the book, there were some beautiful passages about how individual characters felt about God that moved me, despite my not being religious myself.

This is a real page-turner — I’m afraid I annoyed my husband by reading on into the night…

This book was sent to me by Netgalley on Kindle for review. It is a character driven novel about a variety of subjects…the story does not flow easily and is slow at times. However others might really enjoy reading about the little souls…try it…the author makes interesting points throughout the book.