Cover Image: Kopp Sisters On The March

Kopp Sisters On The March

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I love the author and this series, which was very well written. As always, interesting and thoughtful but super entertaining!

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The Kopp Sisters on the March is the fifth book in the Kopp Sisters series. Let me start by prefacing that I was super excited to read this book as I really loved the previous four. Amy Stewart has a way of making the past come alive and absorbing the reader in the story. Kopp Sisters on the March takes place in 1917 as the sisters leave New Jersey to join camp Chevy Chase as America prepares for World War I. I love how these books have it all, humor, mystery and a great story.

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Episode 5 in the Kopp sisters' fascinating life as told by author Amy Stewart. The previous books have been closely related to real events as lived by these three fascinating women. Apparently they were very quiet in 1917 so in this book Stewart has imagined how they may have spent part of that year according to what was taking place in America at that time.

Poor Constance has lost her job after the appointment of a new Sheriff and has gone into retreat at the farm. Norma decides that all three of the them should go to a National Service School, a type of training camp for women to develop skills which could aid the war effort. Norma takes her pigeons, Fleurette makes plans to provide an entertainment for the camp, and Constance quickly finds herself in charge of the whole thing and happily able to use her skills in maintaining discipline and good organisation.

By the end it seems the three of them are all about to go off in different but hopefully fulfilling directions. I am already looking forward to the next book!

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A very different book from the preceding ones in the series; here Stewart breaks from her usual story rhythms as a result of Constance's drastic change in status at the end of Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit. I for one welcome the change and enjoyed exploring the new environment and community of the National Service School, which doesn't allow for Constance to miss a beat with regard to the duties she regularly carried out as deputy sheriff. I was confused at first as to why Stewart devotes so much of the book to new secondary character Beulah's story, but the historical notes at the end give an understandable explanation and it was surprising to discover how much of the Kopp sisters' story is fictional this time around. Readers are left with an inkling of where Constance is headed next, and I anxiously await the next installment to read all about it.

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I really liked this, and I’m curious what others will think since a good chunk of this book is devoted to Beulah Binford rather than the Kopp sisters. I actually found her chapters to be the most interesting and was curious to learn more about her past. Stewart did a fantastic job of structuring the story in a way that made me eager to know how Beulah became a bit of a swindler, and what she was going to do to get out of it.

The Kopp sisters take up residence in Camp Chevy Chase, a training camp for women who want to serve in the war. There they get to learn about making beds, rolling bandages, and various other tasks that aren’t as fun as practicing with firearms out in the forest where they suspect they won’t be found. Not a lot happens at the camp, but Constance gets an opportunity to show her strengths keeping everyone in order, and Norma is still trying to convince everyone pigeons will give the US a tactical advantage. If Fleurette is your favorite character, she takes a bit of a backseat here, but becomes a friend to Beulah and organizes a show with her old pals, Freeman Bernstein and May Ward. What she doesn’t realize is that Beulah has crossed paths with Bernstein before, and things come to a head when their paths cross once again.

While this wasn’t the action-packed novel I was hoping for, I understand that Stewart had no clue what the Kopp sisters were up to at this time, and I love that she used so many primary sources to construct an adventure that certainly seems plausible.

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Amy Stewart is one of those writers that does not come along very often. Everything she writes is a treasure to readers. I love the Kopp books and can not wait to see what happens next. But most of all, as long as Amy Stewart writes it, I WILL read it.

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the 5th book in the Kopp sisters series. I have enjoyed each of these books and this one was equally wonderful. While the subject matter and story is different from the previous 3 books, this is definitely an interesting topic and the historical aspect is important. Well written and very enjoyable book.

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This was another solid entry in the Kopp sisters series. Constance is as, well, constant as ever. Her sisters are the same. Not much development or evolution in these characters (until the last chapter or two, where Constance learns to accept her lot and move forward). I enjoyed Beulah Binford's story (even more so when I read the historical note and learned she was a real person) and the conclusion to her story. Personally though, I find the backdrop for this series a little frustrating. I understand that these are stories written about women who are fighting to (slowly) change the norm, but man, all that sexism sure gets old fast (it also doesn't make for riveting storytelling). My conclusion after having read three Kopp sisters books: Amy Stewart is a gifted writer. Stories about the Kopp sisters feel rather slow and slightly boring. Conclusion: I should try reading other books by this author that don't have to do with the Kopp sisters.

My thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC via netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

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historical-figures, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-fiction, WW1

If you've read any of Ms Stewart's books, you already know that solid research comes first and the fiction wraps around it so readers will remember. The Kopp sisters, and especially Constance, have been the subjects of four earlier books and this is based on a period in time when their real lives take a backseat. The other notable characters are also very real and are documented at the end of the book. Her style of writing is as engaging as the characters and I devoured it in one afternoon.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt via NetGalley. Thank you so much!

I was disappointed at the end to find out that Norma was not actually into the National Pigeon Service, but if you care to read a novel about the British Pigeon Service I heartily recommend The Long Flight Home by Alan Hlad.

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The fifth book in the Kopp sisters series opens in 1916 in an army training camp for women. The National Service School will “train us in nursing, or mending, or how to cook for a battalion.” All three of the Kopp sisters (Constance, Norma, and Fleurette) are in attendance along with 200 other women who have varied interests in anything war related.

One of the women who is attending camp has a history she would rather not reveal and she hopes to remain incognito. Meet Roxie Collins.
Roxie has recently lost the job where she was little more than a ‘companion’ to her boss. Her termination notice was in the form of a box foiled stamped with PINKMAN HOSIERY that “held the contents of her desk drawer: her comb, her lip-stick, her extra handkerchiefs, and a subway token, along with the silk sheers that Mr Pinkman bestowed upon every girl he fired.”

This is a really methodical and detailed story that describes the days as the women run drills, take classes, and live in tents so they will be reminded of the hardships of our soldiers in the trenches. Constance Kopp gets called to take on a more responsible role and begins to recover from the events of the previous book. As usual Amy Stewart imbues her characters with such personality and the historical setting and details are a huge part of the story. Stewart’s author notes at the end always make for fascinating reading and serve as a launching off point should the reader choose to delve deeper.
Thank you to @houghton_mifflin and @NetGalley for this #advancereaderscopy.

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This is #5 in the Kopp Sisters series. Still one of my all-time favorite series. It is amazing what Amy Stewart can do with her dry and dusty historical research (not really!) by dropping the three Kopp sisters in the middle of it. She has made the three women so vivid and alive that it makes the whole world around them equally fascinating.
In this episode, Constance is no longer a sheriff's deputy (which still rankles) and at loose ends, so with the country preparing for war, the Kopp sisters decide to attend a National Service School for women to receive military like training to prepare them for war efforts. An emergency renders the director unfit and Constance is drafted to run the school, and Constance does things a little, um, differently....
But this is only half the story. The other half follows the true tale of Beulah Binford, a young woman who's life goes sorely awry at an early age, leading to major scandal and national notoriety - thanks to Freeman Bernstein who with May Ward once again makes an appearance. Her story from her point of view does make up a great deal of the book as she also comes to the school in an effort to go to France to achieve some kind of anonymity and a new start. And Constance always, always has a soft spot for helping bad girls get a second chance at starting over.
Wonderful as always and highly recommended.
My copy is an eARC from NetGalley.

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I've loved each book in this series, but I think this one might be my favorite. There isn't a central mystery, though there is a mysterious woman, but Constance trying to get back on her feet and figure out what women are allowed to do in the war effort is a thoroughly entertaining read. I tore through this book, and really learned a lot from the historical notes at the end. Now I want to read about war pigeons!

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"Kopp Sisters on the March" is the fifth installment of the series. Amy Stewart, once again, successfully weaves historical elements to her fictional plot. This particular installment is less action-packed but heartwarming. The core characters are more developed as the series continues. Constance, in particular, has grown so much and there are hints she wants to take on a dangerous and exciting role in the next book. I simply can't wait for installment #6 to come out in 2020!

I would not consider "The Kopp Sisiters on the March" a mystery novel because there isn't any cases to solve. The main plot is about Constance and her sisters joining the National Training School. The only mystery is the subplot which unfolds the salacious past of the real-life Beulah Binford who is the tent-mate of the Kopp sisters at the camp. When the U.S. prepared to enter the WWI, females across different demographics joined the training schools hoping to contribute their responsibilities for their country. To me, this book is more a historical fiction rather than a mystery/thriller.

What I like about the book:
1- The Kopp sisters themselves, always. Constance, in particular, a multi-dimensional characters which readers could easily fall in love with.

2- To learn about how the female war training camps worked and people's skepticism of the usefulness of female civilians to the war.

3- The heartwarming endings - Beulah's second chance; Constance's decisions of teaching the girls more than what she has been asked to do; the braveness of the young girls who eventually take their training seriously

What I didn't like:
1- The pace is slower than the previous books but it can be justified because of the plot construction. Things pick up again the last 1/3 of the book.

Overall, the Kopp Sisters is a wonderful and well-researched series that would appeal to readers who love historical fiction. 4.5 stars.

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The Kopp sisters are on to their next adventure, this time at a national service school in Maryland. Constance and Fluerette originally followed Norma on her quest to present her trained carrier pigeons to the Navy, as they are a necessity for the upcoming war. They soon find themselves engaging in the necessary drills and exercises and find areas of interest within the camp where they can prove useful. Fleurette finds herself busy sewing and planning for a surprise visit from a traveling Vaudeville group and Constance finds herself enmeshed in maps and wireless communication. When the camp matron becomes injured and is no longer able to serve as leader, Constance steps up to the plate. An obvious choice as she is used to leading the charge, especially among a large group of women. Hilarity ensues as well as a bit of intrigue when a tent mate may be hiding her true identity and the visiting Vaudeville troop is none other than Freeman Bernstein and his wife Mae Ward.
Once again I am impressed with the authors ability to take a small factual news story from the past and spin it into an engrossing story full of lively characters, adventure, and historical details. This one in particular was a wild ride with the backdrop of the national service school and the impending war. The historical details pertaining to pre-WWI Richmond Virginia were particularly intriguing to a Virginia native such as myself. The younger sisters were featured more prominently in this story, given the direction of the plot, and I enjoyed seeing their characters develop over the course of the story. I look forward to more adventure featuring the Kopp trio and highly recommend this series to history lovers and mystery lovers alike.

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In Kopp Sisters on the March, Constance Kopp, former deputy, is still struggling to find her place in the world after a humiliating and unfair job loss. She has agreed to accompany her sisters Norma and Fleurette to a National Service School in Maryland so Norma can show the army how much they will need her trained carrier pigeons in anticipation of World War I.

The camp isn’t exactly what any of them expected, but they must make the best of it, marching for drill exercises, training with wooden rifles, and learning skills “most suited for women” during a time of war: first aid, cooking, and scientific bedmaking. At least Constance found an interest in map-drawing and wireless communication, and Fleurette set herself to sewing and planning for a visiting vaudeville act to perform at camp.

When the camp matron is injured in a fall, Constance reluctantly agrees to take over, and she soon finds that there are other campers who want to learn and do more to serve their country. Where is the line between keeping order and letting these women reach their potential as she yearns to do?

We also meet Beulah Binford, a young woman who is also trying to redefine herself after a job loss. She is also desperate to hide from a scandal in her past and hopes that nobody sees through her flimsy fake name and backstory. She wasn’t counting on Constance, but Constance’s intuition only makes her more defensive. Her sad story unfolds in stages throughout the book, and finally comes to a head when a familiar face arrives at camp and Beulah must decide whether she can trust her new campmates.

This is the fifth book in Amy Stewart’s Kopp Sisters series, which is based on the real lives of several characters (do not skip over the Historical Notes). Stewart tells this story with humor and warmth, with characters who are as supportive of each other as they are determined to be their best selves.

Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for giving me an advanced copy to review. I cannot wait to share it with my library’s community.

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I love this book series and this book doesn't disappoint. This one is more about being at crossroads and figuring out what the next step to take. Constance has to decide what to do with her life after being fired. New character, who is based on a real person, Beulah Binford has to decide what to do with her life being an infamous person who gets fired and spat on once her real identity is determined. The country itself is right on the cusp of joining World War I. Beulah's life is very fascinating and sad. Wonder what next book will lead to.

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The fifth book in this series is just as witty and charming as the previous book. Look out world the Kopp sisters are headed for World War I.

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I received this from Netgalley.com for a review.

Blurb ... "In the fifth installment of Amy Stewart’s clever and original Kopp Sisters series, the sisters get some military discipline drilled into them—whether they’re ready or not—as the U.S. prepares to enter World War I."

I love this series. In this book, the Kopp sisters go to military camp to learn useful skills to use during the upcoming war, which really wasn't so useful until Constance took charge of the camp. We are introduced to real life notorious character Beulah Binford. I loved how the author quietly weaved in her story in and out with the Kopp sisters.

Good series, looking forward to the next book.
4.25☆

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This is the weakest book in the series so far in terms of continuing to follow the Kopp sisters. The Kopp sisters ended up being secondary characters in a story about Buelah Binford. I'm hoping the next installment again has a focus on Constance and what role she plays during the war. These books continue to be well researched. They are well written and you get a glimpse of what life was like running up to the Great War and how woman were treated in society.

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Hurrah for the return of the Kopp sisters, who in this latest book are off to a women's national service camp on the eve of WWI. Constance soon finds herself in charge of the operation, while her sisters throw themselves into their various passions with gusto. Constance soon finds that she enjoys teaching hand-to-hand combat and firearms safety and skills, and by the end of the book has decided where her future might lie. Along the way, there's the story of a former sex worker who rose to fame as the "other woman" in a murder case, and her fears of being discovered, which of course she is, albeit only by Constance and a few trusted others. As always, the book is well-written and engaging, and historically engaged. Readers don't have to have read the previous books in the series to enjoy this one, although it would help to explain a few things glossed over in this book. I can't wait to read the next one.

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