Whistling Women by Kelly Romo Book Review

Title: Whistling Women

Author: Kelly Romo

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Release Date: November 17, 2015

Genre: Historical Fiction

A buried secret keeps two sisters apart.

Life went terribly wrong for Addie Bates in San Diego, and she’s been running from those memories ever since. For fifteen years, the Sleepy Valley Nudist Colony has provided a safe haven for Addie to hide from the crime she committed. But when the residents pack up to go on exhibit at the 1935 world’s fair in San Diego, Addie returns and must face the thrilling yet terrifying prospect of reuniting with her estranged sister, Wavey.

Addie isn’t the only one interested in a reunion. When her niece, Rumor, discovers she has an aunt, Rumor is determined to bring her family together. But it’s not so easy when the women are forced to confront family secrets, past and present.

Set against the backdrop of the 1935 world’s fair, Whistling Women explores the complex relationships between sisters, the sacrifices required to protect family, and the lasting consequences of a single impulsive act.

The setting of this book really appealed to me. Not knowing much about the time period, it felt extremely well executed and the plot flowed nicely.

Addie Bates has been living in the Sleepy Valley Nudist Colony. She feels safe and protected in the colony, life is routine and mundane at times, but it is wonderful compared to what her past harbors - secrets and abuse. When Addie and the girls of the nudist colony are scheduled to be part of the 1935 World's Fair in San Diego, Addie's world starts to take a turn. She left San Diego and her sister, Wavey, behind. Finally ready to try to make peace, Addie tries to mend things with Wavey but her nieces, Rumor and Mary, might be the key to everything working out.

I enjoyed this book and how the characters lives merged.

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Kelly Romo currently lives in Oregon with her three children where she teaches writing, literature, social studies, and digital publication. She loves the outdoors; hiking, kayaking, and camping. Kelly grew up in California running around with all her thrill-seeking cousins and siblings; jumping off cliffs into the Colorado River, exploring caves on the beaches of Mexico, riding dirt bikes, water skiing, and snow skiing. Kelly has a Master of Fine Arts in Writing (fiction) and a Master of Arts in Teaching.

Whistling Women is her debut novel and came out of her love for San Diego and Balboa Park. Even though the characters are all works of fiction, the world’s fair, nudist colony, and famous figures are based on the historical facts of the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition. 

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