Little Souls, takes place in Colorado where a a tale of sisterhood during the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 unfolds. With ww1 raging overseas, schools were converted into hospitals most everything else was closed, including churches and funeral homes.

The two sisters find themselves in a precarious situation caring for a young girl after the death of her mother, more deaths, tragedies and secrets unfold. They all find their way as the sisters navigate their way through the many challenges they face, they are determined and headstrong.

The characters are well developed, multi layered, and likeable, Their qualities are complex, yet compelling, and you want them to get out of the situations they find themselves in,

Sandra Dallas did a lovely time transporting us back to a time parallel to the current pandemic of today. It was interesting to see the differences and similarities to the handling of todays pandemic.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book for review.

A really interesting historical fiction! Not sure that I was ready for a pandemic-related story, but the pandemic and war didn't play a huge part in the storyline, although it did impact the main character through certain events. The inclusion of a mystery/sketchy character (Mr Streeter) was interesting, and I felt like that really drove the story forward.

Luti, as a main character, frustrated me. She had a passive role, and I felt that Helen, as a main character, was more interesting and had more of a voice. Luti saw things happening and reacted, as opposed to Helen, who made things happen.

The second half of the story was definitely more interesting and engaging than the first, where a lot still had to be set up. Little clues were dropped about where the story was going, but it took me a while to feel invested in the ultimate story.

One thing that kind of bothered me was that there were some really detailed descriptions that didn't feel necessary. And the ending with Luti and Gill ending up together felt weird, although I could see how that was necessary. Lots of trauma happening to women in this book but not a lot of healing.

Overall 3.75/5 stars.

The story of the Spanish Flu epidemic is hauntingly relevant as we cope with another year of our modern-day pandemic. Sandra Dallas uses that story as the backdrop to her tale of two sisters in Denver in 1918. Opportunities for women, briefly opened by the absence of men away at warfare, are tenuous, but Lutie and Helen are getting by renting out their basement to a family. But the family’s troubles become their own when the mother dies and the abusive, drunk father disappears, leaving a little girl to be cared for. Helen and Lutie are wonderful characters, and the story is rich in period details.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Right away the storytelling begins, and I was all-in. I love a good story. The subject matter is dark; Dallas lightly brushes on incest, death, murder, war, and child prostitution. She uses WW I and the Spanish Flu as her historical backdrop.

The story begins to lose steam halfway through. The writing is well done. The simplicity of the story in conjunction with the topics mentioned above became a little aggravating at the (60-70% marker). This 10% was rough. The sweetness of the book and what takes this to the next level is the ending. Dallas was able to swing the pendulum from meh to wow.

Kudos to Sandra Dallas for writing a beautiful book without profanity. The "damn" was noticed and appreciated.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for accepting my request to read and review Little Souls.

#NetGalley
#LittleSouls
#SandraDallas
#StMartinsPress
#HistoricalFiction
#SpanishFlu

Thank you to St. Martins Press and Net Galley for the advanced readers copy of this book!

This book has wonderfully written characters, I was able to picture them perfectly in my minds eye! I found the chapters very palatable and it kept me turning the pages.

The themes throughout the book were rather dreary and depressing, however. Some readers may find them triggering (rape, pandemic).

I am a big fan of historical fiction and will definitely pick up another Sandra Dallas novel with lighter content in the future!

Little Souls by Sandra Dallas. Pub Date: April 26th, 2022. Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟. I always appreciate a fresh historical fiction novel and this one fit the bill. Set during the deadly flu pandemic, this is the story of sisters who are forced to grow up, navigate unknown times, take in an orphaned child and somehow survive one of the deadliest medical situations in history. I loved the setting, the relationships and the demonstrations of hardships these characters faced during this time period. It was an easy, but important historical fiction read. Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #bookstagram #bibliophile #igreads #bookworm #stmartinspress #littlesouls

This was a very timely story about the 1918 Spanish Influenza. It took place in Dallas, and followed the story of Helen and Lutie( Lucretia) as the pandemic began to ravage America. The story is filled with emotion, mystery, sisterhood, strong women and secrets. I loved the writing and the parallels to how everything changed when Covid hit in 2020. I loved the character of Lutie and everything she tried to do for her family. The bond between her and her sister was also well written. Seeing the parallels between the two pandemics was very interesting.
The characters were lovable and relatable, I found myself rooting for the sisters who went through so much during this time. I haven’t read too much historical fiction on the 1918 pandemic so I learned a lot. I would like to read more by Sandra Dallas. She wrote strong characters and a moving story.
Thank you to St.Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the e-galley in exchange for the honest review.

Compelling and timely Little Souls is the story of what makes family. 1918 and two sisters that lost their parents move west settling in Denver where they end up becoming guardians to a little girl and each find a man to love. But there's a war and a flu pandemic that must be finished before they can be truly happy.
This is the first Sandra Dallas book that I've read and I enjoyed it a lot. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of Little Souls by Sandra Dallas. What an amazing, and timely, story of the Spanish flu outbreak of 1918. This is set in Denver and tells how sisters deal with the influenza and the heartbreak it brings. Helen and Lutie are sisters and need to take in a tenant’s daughter, Dorothy, when the mother dies of the influenza and the father disappears. The fact that the father is a bootlegger provides an interesting angle in the story. The author paints a story that breaks your heart and then fills it back up again with hope for the future. I wish I read this sooner but I couldn’t have read it faster. If you are looking for historical fiction that is not about a war, this is a wonderful book to devour.

I felt like I was living in Denver in 1918 while I was listening to this book on tape! Sandra Dallas did an impeccable job of researching the town and the time period. The parallels between the Spanish Flu and Covid 19 pandemic were very interesting.
Helen and Lutie are sisters who are navigating life in America while there is a war going on in Europe. There weren’t many opportunities for women during this time. Women had jobs, but were expected to quit and raise a family when they got married. Both sisters have steady boyfriends, but of course there are challenges along the way. I liked the character of Lutie, but I can't a grown woman could be so ignorant about so many things.
This book focuses on thinking about others' needs before your own. If you like books about people facing hardships, this book is for you. The narrator’s voice was overall pleasant to listen to.
I want to thank the author, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the audio book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I really enjoyed Little Souls, but I felt like it was five stories in one. The cast of character was rich and well written. I could picture them and got a feel for who they were. There were just so many things happening.
Is this a war story? A pandemic story? A family story? A murder story? The answer is yes to all of those things.
I kept picturing it like a tv show and each few chapter could have been a whole new season. So many things happened to Lutie that it was almost unbelievable. It didn't let you sit with the joys and tragedies for very long. It was an enjoyable story though and I might recommend it for someone interested.

Historical Novels Review, May 2022:

In the winter dusk as Lutie walks home from work, a dying man lies on the ground, another victim of the influenza which has its grip on Denver in 1918. Handkerchiefs cover noses as passersby hurry on their way, knowing that nothing can be done without putting their own lives at risk. The circling death wagons will eventually pick up the body. A shaken Lutie arrives home to find the house in disarray and another dead man on the kitchen floor. Her sister, Helen, is holding a bloody ice pick while little Dorothy stands by.

Lutie and Helen had moved to Denver after the death of their parents to start a new life. They bought a house, renting out their basement to the Streeter family. Mr. Streeter was a violent man toward his wife and daughter, Dorothy. The sisters took in Dorothy when her father disappeared and her mother died of influenza. Mr. Streeter has reappeared and now lies dead on the floor. As women, self-defense isn’t a justification, but with so many bodies left outside, could he be mistaken as victim of influenza? “Little Souls” is an ancient reference to the downtrodden and oppressed. Dallas shows how women and children are treated in early 20th-century society and not given a voice or legal recourse against offences. This is a tender novel of love, loss, and family support, but it cuts deep with injustices committed against “Little Souls.”

Sandra Dallas is a Denver author who has written numerous historical novels, many based in Colorado. In Little Souls, she brings early 20th-century Denver landmarks into the story, places that remain in my memory of the 1960s. Her depictions of the influenza pandemic ring true to us today. She has again given her readers a wonderful story with strong women facing deep wrongs and finding redemption and love.

Between World War I casualties and the Spanish flu, many families were grieving the loss of loved ones in the latest historical novel from Sandra Dallas. It was interesting to learn that the author had actually written this story prior to our current pandemic. After reading so many books set during WWII, I found it a welcome change to read one from the WWI era. The author created characters and a storyline that I won't soon forget. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy to read and review.

Princess Fuzzypants here: As we slowly emerge from the COVID pandemic to COVID endemic, this book is a stark reminder that we have been here before and we will be here again. Such is the way of the world. Set in Denver amid both WWI and The Spanish Flu. Lest you not recall both events decimated the young adults of the world.

Sisters Helen and Lutie have moved there after the death of their mother. Helen is a nurse and Lutie is an artist who does advertising for a posh department store. They have tenants, a family of three. The father is a brute and when he abandons his wife and child, they are all relieved. After the mother dies, the sisters take Dorothy in as she is, as they describe her, a little soul. It is when the father returns that things turn very nasty and the true depth of his deprivation comes to light.

Both the war and the flu take their deadly toll and tragedy upon tragedy ensues. In spite of it all, or perhaps because of it, Lutie is more determined than ever to keep Dorothy safe and out of grasping and evil hands. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot because it is so poignant and moving. I was swept away by the story and the courage and tenacity of the main characters. There were heartbreaking moments but there was also great hope. I was moved deeply.

Five purrs and two paws up.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the free digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Little Souls by Sandra Dallas is a timely story about family, love and loss.

It’s been quite a while since I stayed up through the night to finish a book, but I could not put this one down.


Set in Denver, Colorado in 1918 during WWI and the Spanish Influenza Pandemic, Little Souls is the story of two sisters, Helen and Lutie. Written from Lutie’s perspective , it tells the story of the bond sisters share and how much they will sacrifice for each other.

I loved this book. It is well written and the characters are real. I cried and openly laughed while reading it and the characters touched my heart. Although it’s historical fiction and takes place 104 years ago, it easily relates to current events.

TW: domestic violence, rape, incest, child abuse

Knowing a book is set in a pandemic while you yourself are trying to recover from covid is leap to begin turning pages. I am glad I picked it up and did. This is my first ever Sandra Dallas book. I do love a good historical fiction laced with details from the past to connect us all. Dallas does this exquisitely.

This novel is a look at how the pandemic affected the lives of the people. It's about sisters and family - not just family by blood but family made up of the people you care about. The two sisters are very well written - their struggle to keep their family afloat and the attitudes toward women in the workplace present a picture of life at that time. Both sisters are brave and resilient and sacrificed for the people in their lives.

Ultimately, this is a story about moving beyond one’s grief, loyalty and dedication, about putting others’ needs ahead of your own. In todays world, if you feel you have just one family member you can count on, this often changes the course of your life. So, while this is a sad and upsetting story, it is also an uplifting one.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sandra Dallas and St.. Martins Press for this ARC. Little Souls gave me a glimpse into the past and an appreciation for not only growth in our medical community with todays pandemic, but the appreciation for those who step up and care..

Little Souls was the first book I have read by Sandra Dallas and I’m now interested in exploring her backlist. This book dealt with some pretty tough topics so read other reviews for trigger warnings if necessary. Though a lot of pretty terrible things happened to the characters throughout the book, it was also a moving story of carrying on when life gets you down, especially when circumstances seem out of one’s control. The characters were lovely (most of them!) and I was genuinely curious about how their lives would turn out. The ending was beautiful and I was left feeling satisfied. 4.5 stars rounded up, highly recommend!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

<i>Little souls?

...It means the poor, the hopeless, the common people nobody ever notices. In truth, it applies to all of us. We are all lost little souls in our own way.</i>

The year is 1918 and, while WWI continues to rage in Europe, a new deadly influenza called the Spanish flu is raginging across the country. Lutie and Helen are sisters living in Denver, Colorado. Lutie draws advertisements for a local upscale clothing store and Helen is a nurse. They own their own home but rent out the basement to a young family. The father is a drunkard and likely very much worse judging from the bruises on Maud, his wife, but the sisters have grown fond of her and even more so, ten-year-old Dorothy. When he disappears and Maud dies of the flu, the sisters are determined to adopt Dorothy,

Little Souls by Sandra Dallas is a compelling historical fiction and Dallas has clearly done extensive research on the period. She not only gives an accurate picture of the flu and its symptoms but its effects on society, many of them similar to today’s reactions to Covid - the efforts to downplay its devastation and the toll it took on doctors and nurses. Dallas also looks at the limited roles that were available to women and the dialogue is peppered with slang from the time.

The story opens with Lutie’s encounter with a soldier dying on the street from the flu surrounded by a crowd who refuse to touch him and this is followed by a murder but that is only a small part of the story. Most of all, it is about family, loyalty, love, overcoming trauma and, in the end, hope.

Little Souls is a well-written well-researched historical fiction that pulled me into the story from the first page and kept me engaged throughout. I recommend it highly with this caveat - it deals with issues some may find triggering including rape, incest, and the physical and sexual abuse of a child.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

Little Souls really touched my soul. I so loved the term “little souls” explanation, from some Roman emperor, - “the poor, the hopeless, the common people nobody even notices.” Based in Denver during the Spanish Flu in 1918, definitely drew parallels to our lives today but I feel so blessed to dealing with Covid instead of that horrendous flu. Lucretia (Lutie) and her sister, Helen have lost their parents to the flu and moved to Denver to start new lives. The horrors of the flu, as well as the war, drastically change their lives. I fell in love with both sisters as they came alive within the pages of this emotional gem. Sandra Dallas includes some very serious topics and brings them to the forefront in the storyline, which made me wish that that was the case in 1918.
The depiction of life in Denver during this time frame was heartbreaking. The strength and resilience of people was amazing…and certainly put worrying about toilet paper in perspective.
Sandra Dallas I admire your ability to write a story that makes people feel and realize how lucky they truly are, and perhaps be more kind to the little souls” they encounter in their own daily lives.
Many many thanks to Sandra Dallas, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read an arc of this just published gem.

I enjoyed this book, but it was definitely slower than I wanted it to be. It took awhile for me to get into it. A story about sisters, their strength and the things that they will do to protect those they love. It takes place during the Spanish Flu Pandemic - and WWI, in Denver, CO. Although I found some of the story to be a little far-fetched and ridiculous, it did not detract from my enjoyment. I liked how strong the main characters were - during a time when women were not considered to be strong.

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy!