Sandra Dallas’ latest historical fiction novel is well researched and gripping with a great sense of time and place. Taking place in Denver during the flu pandemic of 1918, she tells the story of two young women, sisters, who are trying to adopt an orphaned girl. This book evolved into a much darker story than I had expected and certainly darker than other books that I’ve read by Dallas, but the storytelling was excellent and I enjoyed it a lot!

Takes place during the Flu epidemic in 1918. With the Spanish flu sickening and killing thousands, schools are turned into hospitals, public places like churches are closed and funeral homes cannot safely operate. Sounds eerily familiar.
Two sisters do their best to eke out a modest living during these trying times, their men overseas in WWI. They open the basement of their house to be rented out to bring in a little cash.
When their tenant dies from the flu, the sisters are thrust into caring for the woman’s small daughter, Dorothy.  Soon after, Lutie comes home from work and discovers a dead man on their kitchen floor and Helen standing above the body, an ice pick in hand. She has no doubt Helen killed the man — Dorothy’s father — in self-defense, but she knows that will be hard to prove. They decide to leave the body in the street, hoping to disguise it as a victim of the flu.

It’s a complex story, so much horror and death happening between the flu, the war, and a murder. But it is also a compelling story that pulls you in and holds on tight.

Extremely well written and highly recommended.

Thanks to @netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Sandra Dallas for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion

This book touches on a variety of topics including sexual assault, the Spanish flu, death from illness and war, and the conclusion of World War I. Would strongly advise that those who are triggered by sexual assault be mindful when reading this book. The story shines a light on all of the topics addressed from viewpoints that we might not have previously considered. Additionally, the book speaks on the plight of so many children who became orphans in a myriad of ways during one generation. Great read, appropriate for high school students.

Another beautifully told piece of historical fiction by Sandra Dallas! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Little Souls by Sandra Dallas takes place in Denver, Colorado during the 1918 flu pandemic. Sisters Helen and Lutie are trying to start over after their parent’s untimely deaths. Instead of escaping tragedy, it seems to follow them.

As the story unfolds, a tragic tale of sisterhood, death, and secrets is told. It is a dark time for both sisters, and in spite of each having found a partner to marry, neither of them seem to get a break. The beautifully written narrative pulled me in, despite the heavy topics covered. I could relate to Lutie’s character, a devoted sister who works hard and supports her sibling. Helen’s tragic past casts her in a negative light, which made it more challenging to connect with her. Once her tale is told, her apprehensions and fierce protectiveness of Lutie is understandable.

The supporting characters are varied, bringing colour to Lutie and Helen’s bleak story.

It’s a sad tale, with an ending that ties everything into a happily-ever-after scenario. The ending felt a bit too upbeat for the subject matters (pandemic, child abuse, rape, kidnapping, trafficking), but it was a relief that some characters received a happy ending.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

This one started out good and it kept its tempo. I truly enjoyed it, the descriptions and storyline of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, how it was handled by the people living in it and the precautions they took to avoid infection was very educational, especially comparing to what we all have been going through.
The timeframe was described well, you could picture the setting and the living conditions. I found the story very believable, and it was all done tastefully. Just an all-around good read. I will be reading more by Sandra Dallas.
Received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my unbiased review – This one comes in with 5 stars.

Such a timely release of a book. The author draws you in from the first page. I loved each and every character like they were my ancestors.
Lover of romance, historical fiction and sadness don't miss out on this one.

I have to say I was nervous to read this book cause I have never read a Historical Fiction before. But this is set in 1918's Colordao during World War 1. It was also around the time when the Spanish Flu was going on. 2 Sisters move to Denver to basically start over and thats where I am going to leave you cause I am finding myself wanting to write it all and spoil it for everyone lol. But I recommend this book to everyone who loves historical fiction. I do plan on re-reading this again cause I highly enjoyed it.

Everyone today has heard about the horrific 1918 pandemic that preceded the current covid outbreak. In this novel Dallas takes us back to 1918 Colorado. Two sisters are trying to survive the dangerous flu. Helen is a dedicated nurse who sees the pandemic firsthand. Her sister Lutie works in the advertising department for a local store. Both must adapt to the safety procedures when they venture out. The girls rent the space in the basement of their home to a couple who have a child named Dorothy.

The novel opens with Lutie finding her sister with a bloody weapon and Dorothy’s father dead on the floor. Thus begins the mystery of the man's death and Dorothy’s lurid background story. When the child is left without parents, the sisters take in the little girl. And then midway through the novel, the plot catches up to the opening scene, with the father dead on the floor.

Now the suspense heats up as the sisters fear a police investigation, of losing Dorothy and the ever-present health threats from the flu. The story of Dorothy’s family is revealed along with the relationships of the two sisters’ and their respective fiancés. The men in their lives are kind, thoughtful, strong and supportive. They are emblematic of good men who are willing to sacrifice for the wellbeing of others and who are devoted to the women they love.

It is an era where violence and danger permeate everyday life. People are suffering through WWI, hard financial times and a terrible pandemic. All of these factors compound the girls’ own personal struggles. Dallas’ women are fighters who must deal with both the swirling catastrophes surrounding them and their desire to protect those they care about. This story will resonate because of the setting and the issues the book presents.

The suspense begins with the opening scene and builds as the fate of the women and of Dorothy will be determined. The mystery is riveting and one can't help but become invested in the fate of the women who take centerstage in the novel. In her characteristic style, Dallas examines a time in American history that we can unfortunately relate to. It’s another outstanding novel from a great writer.

I am a fan of Sandra Dallas and was very excited to read this book. I was not disappointed as the story drew me in from the beginning. Ms. Dallas has such descriptive words and imagination. This cleverly crafted tale of two sisters during the Spanish Flu epidemic was excellent.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was not an easy read, especially in the midst of a global pandemic, but I couldn’t put it down. Fantastic historical fiction. Thank to the author, publisher and NetGalley.

Solid ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ My first book by Sandra Dallas. Will not be my last!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC! I absolutely loved this book! I became attached to most of the characters. This story left me breathless and wanting more. I may have cried, okay I did cry. Such a sad yet happy story centered around the Spanish Influenza. A story of family, loss, love and finding love. Only downside was the ending I was really hoping to hear more about Lutie, Gil, The Howells and etc.
And the title "Little Souls" will take your breath away. It did mine!
Highly recommend!

Little Souls by Sandra Dallas.

After learning that this novel was set during the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918 I knew I wanted to read it. My great grandmother died of the flu during this time and I’ve always been interested in learning more about how people dealt with this epidemic. I wasn’t disappointed with this story. Using the epidemic and World War I as the backdrops Sandra Dallas has written a riveting historical fiction novel.

Sisters Helen and Lutie live together in Denver, Colorado. Helen works as a nurse and Lutie is an advertising designer. Each sister also has a boyfriend, Helen’s is a doctor and Lutie’s is a divinity student. For extra income they rent out their basement apartment to a family which includes Mr. and Mrs. Streeter and their ten year old daughter Dorothy. There is trouble between Mr. and Mrs. Streeter and after Mrs. Streeter dies of the flu the sisters decide to take in Dorothy and become responsible for her. Things become more complicated when Mr. Streeter is murdered and the police start to investigate his death.

This was a quick read with many twists and turns. This story gave me great insight into the flu epidemic. It also touched on World War I and what it was like for young working women during this time period.

I feel like I should mention that due to the way the author dealt with faith, in the early part of the story, I did have some moments were I wanted to just put this story down and not finish it. But, I’m glad I continued to read it. I ended up really liking this story and would highly recommend it.
This story did touch on many subjects that made it hard to read at times; death, domestic violence, incest, and rape among them.

I gave this story 4 stars.

My Rating System:
* not worth finishing; ** ok, but...would not recommend; *** liked it, would recommend;**** really liked it, would highly recommend; ***** loved it, have/would read again.

Full Disclaimer: I was provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley and Publisher St. Martin's Press, received in Kindle format, in exchange for an honest review. #LittleSouls #NetGalley

Expected publication: April 26th 2022 by St. Martin's Press.

Sandra Dallas fans will love this book, even though the quilt plays a small part. Helen, a nurse, and Lutie, her younger sister live in Denver during World War I and the Spanish Flu. Those of us tired of Covid can relate to living with a pandemic, but we are luckier than they were because there was no treatment and the Spanish Flu mostly attacked younger people. Helen had plans to marry a doctor, and Lutie was engaged to a seminary student. The flu, the war, and the family who rented the basement apartment disrupted all their plans. The sense of hopelessness and despair facing people's lives was very well portrayed, but they found a way to carry on and at the end there is some hope. Very well done--I would recommend to both adults and teens as a reminder that it is indeed possible to survive difficult times.

I received an ARC of Little Souls by Sandra Dallas. It captivated me from the beginning. It has a little bit of everything. Two sisters move from a small town in Iowa to Denver. There is a World War going on and the Spanish Flu is hitting Denver hard. From there we have love, domestic violence, murder, illness, kidnapping and more.

I was excited to read this novel since it was set during the Spanish Flu epidemic in Denver in 1919. The story follows sisters, Helen and Lutie, who leave their home in Iowa to start fresh in Denver following the deaths of their parents. Helen gets a job as a nurse and Lutie works in fashion advertising. The women rent out part of their new home to a troubled couple with a young child, Dorothy. Both women find themselves engaged to good men as the war appears to be coming to an end. But Lutie's fiancee, Peter, heads off to war and the influenza is all over Denver as Helen and her fiancee, Gil, work in the clinics and hospitals. When Dorothy's father disappears and her mother dies of the influenza, Helen and Lutie decide to adopt Dorothy... but things get a little complicated when Dorothy's father is found murdered and the detectives come snooping around.

I liked this story well enough but I felt it had too much going on in it. There was SO much loss in this novel and near the end, the storyline seemed to be tied up too neatly. I had a hard time believing Peter's family would play such a huge role in helping Lutie and Dorothy when they barely even knew them. There are also instances of abuse and kidnapping as well as the loss of those who went to war and those who died of influenza. It was a quick read, though, and a little insight into how people lived through the Spanish Flu era versus how we are coping during the Covid-19 era.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Sandra Dallas for an advance readers copy of this novel. It will be published in April 2022. This review can also be found on IG at @maria.needs.to.read

I was intrigued to read this one because it depicts a time when the Spanish flu was running rampant in the western US.. As we are currently dealing with Covid 19 I wanted to see what life was like during this time period compared to today.
Although I would say there are some triggers throughout the book it was definitely a good read and displayed how life really played out during WWI. I throughly enjoyed reading about the life of a Lute and Helen, The author did a wonderful job of bringing the two sisters to life and weaving their story together with many other unforgettable characters.

Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy.

Very well written and absorbing. This tld the tale of 2 sisters and it was just beautifully written. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review.

I loved this historical fiction taking place during the Spanish Flu in Denver. The parallels between how the flu was handled then compared to now were really interesting. I loved the sisters and their love to each other. The writing was fantastic and can't wait to see what Sandra has for us next.

I fell in love with Dallas's storytelling when I read "Prayers for Sale". She writes characters that stick with you for a long time after reading. "Little Souls" delivers those well developed characters. A historical novel that takes places in Denver, Colorado during the Spanish influenza outbreak during WWI. Some of the scenes were eerily reminiscent to what we have been facing. The sisters that this story follows were loyal to a fault, which is how I would picture myself being if I had a sister. There are definitely some potential triggers within the pages that are accurate of the era of that which it is written.