Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen by Sarah Bird

Here is what it is about...

Here’s the first thing you need to know about Miss Cathy Williams: I am the daughter of a daughter of a queen and my mama never let me forget it.

Though born into bondage on a “miserable tobacco farm” in Little Dixie, Missouri, Cathy Williams was never allowed to consider herself a slave. According to her mother, she was a captive, bound by her noble warrior blood to escape the enemy. Her means of deliverance is Union general Phillip Henry “Smash ‘em Up” Sheridan, the outcast of West Point who takes the rawboned, prideful young woman into service. At war’s end, having tasted freedom, Cathy refuses to return to servitude and makes the monumental decision to disguise herself as a man and join the Army’s legendary Buffalo Soldiers.

Alone now in the ultimate man’s world, Cathy must fight not only for her survival and freedom, but she vows to never give up on finding her mother, her little sister, and the love of the only man strong and noble enough to win her heart. Inspired by the stunning, true story of Private Williams, this American heroine.

Here is what I thought...

     This is an amazing story of a woman's courage, determination and fortitude and I was very much looking forward to reading this story that I knew nothing about.  

     I enjoyed Cathy's story and her sense of humor and, most importantly, her strength.  Cathy is unbelievably brave and smart and definitely a part of history that everyone should learn about-especially young women.

     What I didn’t like about this book was the fictionalized romance thrown in between her and a Union soldier, which is a major part of the novel.  I wish that we could have a story about this brave young woman without reducing it to something she did because of a man but simply because she was amazing.  3/5 stars