Celia from The Sisters of Book Row is my Captivating Character of March. An activist, a risk-taker, and a loyal friend, Celia is the youngest of the three Applebaum sisters who live above the bookshop they own and operate on Book Row in Manhattan in 1915.

Carol’s Captivating Characters of March Link-Up

***This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

On the last Friday of the month, I will write a post about my most captivating character of the month and create a Link Party (see link below my review)! In addition to hearing about the memorable characters that have captivated you, I also want this new project to facilitate new bookish friendships, help you find your book twin, and promote blog engagement. This link party will stay active for 30 days. In exchange for linking your post back to this one, I promise to visit every blog post that links up, leave a comment, and share your post once on #bookx and #booksky.

Captivating Character Link Up Details:

1. You can use fictional or real characters/persons.
2. Link up a review that specifically highlights a captivating character or person, or write a post dedicated to your most captivating character or person of the month.
3. Please include a link back to this (monthly) post.
4. Be kind: visit one other post in the link-up and leave a comment.
5. #CaptivatingCharacters26

No blog? No problem! Share your most captivating character of the month in the comments.

Shouting out my loyal participants, Joanne @ Portobello Book Blog and H.C. @ The Irresponsible Reader and Laura @ Reading Books Again for linking up with me in February. Check out their posts!

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Celia

Name of Captivating Character: Celia
The reason she is captivating: zealous, risk-taking, loyal, compassionate, determined, committed
Book and Author: The Sisters of Book Row by Shelley Noble
Genre/Categories/Setting: Historical Fiction (1915), sisters, activism, books about books, women’s health, Manhattan
Mood: suspenseful
Content Considerations: intimidation

Celia is the youngest of three young adult sisters Their parents have died and left them a bookshop. The sisters live above the bookshop, generally look out for each other, and squabble a bit as sisters do. Olivia, the oldest sister has an office upstairs where she restores old books, while Daphne and Celia, the two younger sisters, share the day-to-day responsibilities of running the bookshop.

Celia has a secret life outside of her bookshop responsibilities. She is enamored with Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood and a feminist and activist who believes in empowering women with health information and birth control. Celia helps arrange for the printing and distribution of forbidden pamphlets and other promotional materials. By engaging in these risky behaviors, she puts the bookshop and her sisters at risk.

Celia’s nemesis is Anthony Comstock who establishes the Suppression of Vice in New York City and enforces the Comstock Laws of 1873. The problem? He bullies and harasses shop owners along Book Shop Row, enforces the law to a outrageous extreme, and is a thug.

Celia is brave, takes risks, runs lucky, and is somewhat naive because of her youth. She outsmarts and avoids Comstock and his enforcers until she doesn’t.

Celia is a secret activist, and she values her sisters and treats them well. She is impulsive and passionate about the cause, but she tries to protect her sisters.

Celia is high-spirited, determined, and committed In the heart of the story, we watch her mature, form a strong bond with her sisters, support her community, endure some difficult times, learn a few valuable lessons, and carve out a future.

Celia is a captivating character and the history of book banning and censorship is relevant today.

Star Rating: 3.5 Stars

A strong premise and compelling plot, and I would have rated it higher with stronger writing.

Meet the Author of The Sisters of Book Row, Shelley Noble

SHELLEY NOBLE is the NEW YORK TIMES Bestselling Author of historical fiction, THE TIFFANY GIRLS, and women’s contemporary fiction, BEACH COLORS, STARGAZEY POINT, BREAKWATER BAY, WHISPER BEACH, PICTURE PERFECT AUTUMN among others.

As SHELLEY FREYDONT she is the author of the CELEBRATION BAY FESTIVAL MYSTERIES,The Gilded Age Newport Mystery series and the Lady Dunbridge, Gilded Age Manhattan mysteries.

A former professional dancer and choreographer, she most recently worked on the films, Mona Lisa Smile and The Game Plan. Shelley lives near the New Jersey shore where she loves to discover new beaches and indulge her passion for lighthouses and vintage carousels.

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I KNOW you’ve encountered some fascinating and interesting characters this month! Share them with us by linking up your review post!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter!
(open for 30 days)

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“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for reading bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
“I read because books are a form of transportation, teaching, and connection. Books take us to places we’ve never been, teach us about our world, and help us understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley

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