Showing posts with label Historical Fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Historical Fiction. Show all posts

3.06.2024

Hidden Yellow Star ~ Review

Hidden Yellow Star
By Rebecca Connolly

What would you do if those around you were facing persecution merely because of their heritage? This is the question that Andrée Geulen faced when the students in her classroom of Jewish heritage were forced to wear a yellow star - a yellow Star of David marking them as lesser beings in the eyes of Nazis. 

When her Jewish heritage causes her to lose her job, Ida Sterno joins the Committee for the Defense of Jews in Belgium. This resistance movement is helping to hide Jewish children from the very people who seek to destroy them. This connection and concern brings Ida and Andrée together in their fight. 

The very nature of their efforts if discovered is sure to be a death sentence, even if it is while in a camp. And asking people, children to deny who they are was a danger that threatened all involved. And the threat of betrayal was all too real.

This is a story of bravery and risk. A story of love and sacrifice. A story of standing up for what is right. This story will touch your heart as mothers give up their children, in hopes of a life away from the very real danger they daily faced. The efforts of those who do all that they can out of love. Hidden Yellow Stars will move you. 

The characters heartbreak, their despair, their feelings of injustice, their righteous anger, and their fear resonated with me as I worked my way through the book. The historical aspects come alive. One phrase really struck me: He who saves one life saves all of humanity. These people saved many lives, knowing what they risked doing so. One has to wonder what one would do in a similar situation. I highly recommend this book for anyone who reads WW2 Fiction.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:
Based on the true story of two World War II heroines who risked everything
to save Jewish children from the Gestapo by hiding them throughout Belgium.

Belgium, 1942

Young schoolteacher Andrée Geulen secretly defies the Nazis in Belgium, who are forcing Jews to wear a yellow Star of David. Andrée is not Jewish, but she feels a maternal connection to her students, who are living in constant fear, and decides to take action. No child should have to suffer under such persecution. But what can one woman do against an entire army?

Ida Sterno is a Jewish woman who works with the Committee for the Defense of Jews in Belgium, a clandestine resistance group tasked with hiding children from the Gestapo. She wants to recruit Andrée because her Aryan appearance can provide crucial security measures for their efforts. Andrée agrees to join and begins work immediately by adopting a code name: Claude Fournier.

Together, Andrée and Ida, and their undercover operatives, work around the clock to move Jewish children from their families and smuggle them to safety through the secret channels established by the resistance. As each child is hidden, Andrée commits to memory their true name and history. Someday, she vows, she will help reunite as many of these families as she can.

But with the Gestapo closing in and the traitorous Fat Jacques who has turned from ally to enemy and is threatening to identify and expose any Jew he meets, Andrée and Ida must work even harder against increasingly impossible odds to save as many children as possible and keep them safely hidden—even if it might cost them their own lives.

About the Author:

Rebecca Connolly is the author of more than two dozen novels. She calls herself a Midwest girl, having lived in Ohio and Indiana. She's always been a bookworm, and her grandma would send her books almost every month so she would never run out. Book Fairs were her carnival, and libraries are her happy place. She received a master's degree from West Virginia University.

While doing research for this book, she discovered information about her own family history, including the fates of several unknown family members who perished in the concentration camps of World War II.






3.05.2024

Finding Jane Fairfax ~ Review

Cover art for Finding Jane Fairfax by Robbin J. Peterson shows woman standing on an overlooking cliff.
Finding Jane Fairfax
By Robbin J. Peterson

You know Jane Fairfax from Jane Austen's Emma. You know that Emma wasn't her biggest fan or even her bestie. But what was her story before she left the Campbells, before Miss Campbell became Mrs. Dixon. And how did she and Frank Churchill meet and form a secret attachment? Well, Finding Jane Fairfax will give a glimpse into the lives of two young people who were an important part of Highbury Society even when they didn't call it home.

This was an interesting read. Jane never felt she deserved the life she was living with the Campbells. The Campbells were a loving family who treated Jane as if she were part of their family. The problem was that Society didn't accept her or her situation. She knew that her only hope for the future lay in taking a position as a governess.

Frank felt unwanted and cast off by his father, as his Aunt and Uncle Churchill raised him. And by raising, he was under his aunt's disapproval almost constantly. His friends were too lowly; standing up for the defenseless was beneath him. In short, his aunt was raising him to be a kowtowed snob. And as for his future wife, his aunt would choose her and mold her into a replica of herself.  I didn't like Frank's Aunt Churchill in Emma but in Finding Jane Fairfax she is so much worse, making Lady Catherine de Bourgh seem positively docile. 

The characters were well-developed, as was the setting. I appreciated how aspects of Jane's letters to Highbury were worked into the story. Overall, this was a well-written and engaging book. And as anyone who is familiar with Emma knows how Frank and Jane's story ends, but this book ends before either of them returns to Highbury.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

 

Jane Fairfax knows she is truly fortunate. Most orphans face lives of hardship, whereas she was adopted by doting surrogate parents who elevated her place in Society and loved her as their own. Yet even they cannot shield her from the grim realities of life without a suitable marriage. In moments of despair, Jane comforts herself with a well-worn memory: that of a young man whose kind words when they were children once soothed her heartbreak. But now that boy has grown into a dashing gentleman―and their lives could not be more distant.

 

Frank Churchill is a prisoner of his station. His inheritance is held in the balance by his demanding aunt, and the weight of her expectations is suffocating him. But when a chance encounter brings the lovely Miss Fairfax back into his life, he discovers what it is to truly live. As the pair secretly become acquainted amid the confines of Society’s strict rules, their friendship blossoms into love. But in a world ruled by unyielding traditions, endeavoring to build a life together would mean inviting a scandal that would shake the very foundation of the ton.

 

AUTHOR BIO

Robbin J Peterson author headshot

Robbin J. Peterson is the author of Going Home, Conviction, and 13 Days of Girls Camp. She earned her degree in English literature from Utah State University and her associate of arts degree from Snow College. She has six kids, plays the viola, and works as an elementary school librarian.

 









3.04.2024

The Berlin Letters ~ Review

Cover art for The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay featuring a woman dressed in dark neutral colors who leaning against a yellow European automobile.
The Berlin Letters
By Katherine Reay

Luisa Voekler is good at what she does - breaking codes that have been encrypted. While the rest of the code breakers in her secret CIA division have moved on to the Cold War, her work is during WW2 and will stay there for the foreseeable future, if not longer. But when a colleague reaches out for help, Luisa notices something from her own past. Something that could change everything she thought she knew about herself.  Worse, she begins to question what she knew about the grandparents who raised her.   

This book is told in an alternating fashion from Luisa's viewpoint and that of her father, Haris Voekler, a man she has long believed dead. We are given a glimpse into the nightmare that divided friends, families, and neighbors overnight when the Eastern sector was cut off from the Western. Overnight, lives were destroyed while the rest of the world did nothing. A handful of people wasn't worth risking another war over.

The Berlin Letters offers an interesting look at a world that many, myself included, know little about. This is an interesting bit of history that is often overlooked or just given a brief mention.  Enter into a world of spies, codes, and a war fought not with weapons but with policy, propaganda, and words. This book spans nearly 30 years (1961 - 1989), is set in Berlin and Washington, D.C., and covers nearly as many emotions as years.   

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

                                                                                                                                                                       About the Book:


Bestselling author Katherine Reay returns with an unforgettable tale of the Cold War and a CIA code-breaker who risks everything to free her father from an East German prison.

From the time she was a young girl, Luisa Voekler has loved solving puzzles and cracking codes. Brilliant and logical, she’s expected to quickly climb the career ladder at the CIA. But while her coworkers have moved on to thrilling Cold War assignments—especially in the exhilarating era of the late 1980s—Luisa’s work remains stuck in the past, decoding messages from World War II.

Journalist Haris Voekler grew up a proud East Berliner. But as his eyes open to the realities of postwar East Germany, he realizes that the Soviet promises of a better future are not coming to fruition. After the Berlin Wall goes up, Haris finds himself separated from his young daughter and all alone after his wife dies. There’s only one way to reach his family—by sending coded letters to his father-in-law, who lives on the other side of the Iron Curtain.

When Luisa Voekler discovers a secret cache of letters written by the father she has long presumed dead, she learns the truth about her grandfather’s work, her father’s identity, and why she has never progressed in her career. With little more than a rudimentary plan and hope, she journeys to Berlin and risks everything to free her father and get him out of East Berlin alive.

As Luisa and Haris take turns telling their stories, events speed toward one of the twentieth century’s most dramatic moments—the fall of the Berlin Wall and that night’s promise of freedom, truth, and reconciliation for those who lived for twenty-eight years, behind the bleak shadow of the Iron Curtain’s most iconic symbol.

About the Author:
Reay Katherine headshot
Katherine Reay is a national bestselling and award-winning author who has enjoyed a lifelong affair with books. She publishes both fiction and nonfiction, holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University, and currently lives outside Chicago, Illinois, with her husband and three children. 

You can meet her at katherinereay.com.

or on SOCIAL MEDIA 
X: @Katherine_Reay     Instagram: @katherinereay 

3.02.2024

The Fallen Woman's Daughter ~ Review

The Fallen Woman's Daughter
By Michelle Cox

This is a story of mistakes, secrets, regrets, and missed opportunities. This is a story of family, of mothers and daughters, of what binds us together and what tears us apart.

Told from the viewpoints of Gertie and her daughter Nora, we are given a unique look into one family's life. A life defined by a single decision and the decisions that followed after.

At seventeen years of age, Gertie Gufftason wanted to see more of the world, wanted more than what her small mining town could offer. She allows her head to be turned by a carnie who expertly manipulates her until she realizes far too late the mistake she has made. But Gertie is proud and refuses to leave the man she married or to seek help. 

When Lorenzo loses his life, Gertie has to support her young family, her two daughters Nora and Patsy. This struggle keeps her often away from home as she struggles to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. Once again Gertie is tricked by a man who isn't who he claimed to be and this time it costs her her daughters.

The Park Ridge School for Girls is awful in Nora's initial opinion, and poor Patsy can never do the right thing in the eyes of the woman "in charge" of their cabin. As the years go on, Nora determines to raise herself above the woman she believes her mother to be. Patsy never gives up hope of what the world can and should be. 

This is a story that has moments that will break your heart, especially when one thinks of what could have been. But as Nora once reflected if all this turmoil hadn't come into her (and their) lives what they eventually had would not have been. But the relationship Nora desired and longed for with her mother was lost in the disappointments. Until she discovers the truth behind her mother's past - the secret that helped set everything in motion.

Gertie's naivete at times just astounded me. But then I remind myself that her upbringing was so different from today's. The news was probably very limited in the town she grew up in - it was local doings or major world events, like unrest in Europe. But that assumes she listened to it on the radio or someone who read it in a newspaper shared it with her. This was a time when instant anything wasn't part of the day-to-day norm.

Now this book most definitely drifts into the adult category with some of the subject matter and some language. This isn't to say that it wasn't a good read or that you should avoid it, but rather, it is something to be aware of when picking this book up. Compared to some popular works, it is considered extremely tame.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:
When eight-year-old Nora arrives at the Park Ridge School for Girls in 1932, she is sure there’s been some mistake. She can’t imagine why she and her little sister, Patsy, were torn from their mother only to be subjected to the cruel whims of the house matron, Mrs. Morris. When their mother fails to rescue them week after week—and Mrs. Morris drops hints that their mother may be a “fallen woman”—Nora begins to doubt they will ever see her again. 

Nine years prior, at seventeen, Gertie Gufftason runs off with Lorenzo, the barker for the traveling carnival passing through her small coal-mining town in Southern Iowa. Thinking she is embarking on a fantastic adventure, Gertie is bitterly disappointed by the life that follows and is thrown into despair when the State removes their two daughters. Gertie eventually tracks down her girls at the Park Ridge, but, expecting a warm welcome, she is shocked by Nora’s cool reception. Nora reluctantly returns home with Gertie and Patsy, determined to live a more perfect life than her mother. 

It is only when she discovers a secret Gertie has kept hidden all these years that Nora begins to fully understand—and forgive—her mother’s tragic choices . . .

"A compelling, poignant story of mothers, sisters, and daughters"— Kate Quinn, New York Times best-selling author"An addictive read!"—Kirkus Reviews

2.28.2024

A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure ~ Review

A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure
by Angela Bell

Miss Clara Marie Stanton is determined to save her family from her villainous ex-fiancé, who is equally determined to see them ruined and thrown into an insane asylum. And Clara is sure that Arthur, her Grandfather Drosselmeyer's new apprentice, is a spy hired to help her family into ruin.

Her family sees things differently, and when her Grand decides to use his flying machine to visit Europe, Clara is left scrambling to follow the clues he's leaving for her. Can she save those she loves? Or will her attempts fall short, leaving her behind a cold hard wall of her own making?

This was a delightful read; it had little threads throughout that brought to mind The Nutcracker. And I loved the Steampunk feel that was a subtle underlying, yet important, pivotal driving force behind Clara's search. Clara's search takes her from Victorian London to various locations throughout Europe. Dreams, crushed hopes, broken hearts, and unexpected adventures. This is a story of family and love.                              

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Miss Clara Marie Stanton's family may be eccentric, but they certainly aren't insane.

London, England, 1860
When Clara's ex-fiancé begins to spread rumors that her family suffers from hereditary insanity, it's all she can do to protect them from his desperate schemes, society's prejudice, and a lifetime in an asylum. Then Clara's Grandfather Drosselmeyer brings on an apprentice with a mechanical leg, and all pretense of normalcy takes wing.

Theodore Kingsley, a shame-chased vagabond haunted by the war, wants a fresh start far from Kingsley Court and the disappointed father who declared him dead. Upon returning to England, Theodore meets clockmaker Drosselmeyer, who hires him as an apprentice, much to Clara's dismay. When Drosselmeyer spontaneously disappears in his secret flying owl machine, he leaves behind a note for Clara, beseeching her to make her dreams of adventure a reality by joining him on a merry scavenger hunt across Europe. Together, Clara and Theodore set off to follow Drosselmeyer's trail of clues, but they will have to stay one step ahead of a villain who wants the flying machine for himself--at any cost.

"Utterly charming! What an original and adorable story. Angela Bell's debut is a book I can, without hesitation, highly recommend."--JEN TURANO, USA Today bestselling author

"Bell's voice will draw you immediately into her world, and her characters will hold you there. A must-read!"--ROSEANNA M. WHITE, Christy Award-winning author




2.22.2024

Cover Reveal for The Imposters ~ An Honorable Deception

Have you enjoyed Roseanna M. White's The Imposters Series?

Are you ready for the first peek at the cover for An Honorable Deception

Blurred teaser image for An Honorable Deception by Roseanna M White


The third book 
|
will be released 
|
in November 2024 
|
and the cover 
|
is 
|
finally
HERE! 


An Honorable Deception cover reveal for Roseanna M. White's third book in The Imposters Series



Head over to Roseanna's blog to learn more about the book and 
find out how you can get an early peek at the cover for 
Christmas at Sugarplum Manor as well!

2.20.2024

Relying on the Enemy ~ Review

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for 
Relying on the Enemy by Danielle Grandinetti, 

Relying on the Enemy
Relying on the Enemy
Harbored in Crow's Nest #4
By Danielle Grandinetti

Marian Ward needs a job, but times are tough, and jobs are scarce. And a widow with two young children and an ill mother-in-law just isn't in a position to seek employment farther away when she can't afford to buy gas for an auto much less keep her home warm and food on the table.  But when she overheard a portion of a conversation, she finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time and now very much in danger.

Gilbert Cox has come to make amends for the sins of his father. And at the top of his list is the Ward family. But when he steps in to protect Marian, he finds himself in a bind. His employer demands he marry Marian - make an honest woman of her, or else lose his job on the spot and any future employment anywhere! Talk about a big mess. All of which could be blamed on his father's greed and cruelty. Well, things being what they were, Marian and Gilbert were all too quickly married and trying to piece all this sudden and unexpected change in situation into some semblance of order. 

But a marriage of convenience doesn't end the danger. Rather, it seems to intensify. How a small portion of an overheard conversation could cause so many problems is perplexing. But to keep his new family safe, Gil will have to figure it out. And Marian isn't about to hide away, not with danger threatening her daughters.

This was an excellent read set in 1931 Wisconsin. And it is well worth your time. I have to admit I love reading books that have a local flavor. This is a perfect blend of history, romance, and mystery.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.




About the Book

Title: Relying on the Enemy
Series: Harbored in Crow's Nest #4
Author:
Danielle Grandinetti
Publisher:
Hearth Spot Press
Release Date:
February 20, 2024
Genre:
Historical Romance, with suspense

She’s protecting her children. 
He’s redeeming his past.  
But there’s nothing convenient about saving their patchwork family.  

Wisconsin, 1931—All widowed mother Marian Ward wants is to provide for her girls. However, she faces the dead of winter with no income and dwindling resources. Then she overhears a nefarious conversation, putting her life and that of her children in immediate danger. 

Aiming to make amends to the Wards, Gilbert steps in when the threat to Marian escalates. It costs him dearly. Either lose his career or marry her, and be tied to his past until death do them part. 

He leaves the decision to Marian, who will do anything to protect her girls, even marry the son of the man who ruined her family. How will their fledgling trust prove strong enough to fulfill their vows as winter tightens its grip and desperation stalks at the door? 

Welcome to Crow’s Nest, 
where danger and romance meet at the water’s edge.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

More Books in This Series

Confessions to a Stranger   

 


About the Author

Danielle Grandinetti

Danielle Grandinetti is an inspirational romance author fueled by tea and books, and the occasional nature walk. A 2023 Finalist in the FHLCW Reader’s Choice Award, she has also won the UNW Distinguished Faith in Writing Award and the CROW National Excellence in Story Telling Award. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline with her husband and their two young sons.

Connect with Danielle by visiting daniellegrandinetti.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.


Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will win signed paperback copies of 
Refuge for the Archaeologist and Relying on the Enemy
a Crow's Nest Canvas Tote 
and a Crow's Nest paperback notebook!

Relying on the Enemy JustRead Tours giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below.
 The giveaway begins at midnight February 19, 2024,
 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 26, 2024. 
Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway 
and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. 
US only. 
Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

Relying on the Enemy JustRead Blog + Review Tour

2.19.2024

Chasing the Horizon ~ Review

Chasing the Horizon
A Western Light #1
By Mary Connealy

Chasing the Horizon is the first book in Mary Connealy's new series A Western Light. Beth and Ginny are escaping. It's the only way to live their lives free. But to do so they need to leave behind their identities and leave no hints behind of where they are going. As women of wealth, they must become common. And take a wagon train West rather than the train. And knowing the man they're trying to escape from they'll need to avoid any and all towns, and people. Which is a little problematic because wagon trains mean people, but fewer people than trains.

This story is told mostly through Beth's perspective, but we get periodic glimpses of Thaddeus's efforts to find his wayward and rebellious wife and daughter. And the extremes he goes to are awful. He is a character that has no redeeming qualities. While Beth, on the other hand, finds someone who is the total opposite of her father in Jake Holt, the wagon-train scout. But can she trust him with the secret she is keeping? 

I haven't read all of Mary Connealy's books, but of the ones I have read, this is, in my opinion, the best. This is a historical fiction that uses, as its primary focus, the very obvious lack of rights that women had. This truth is driven home by Elizabeth Rutledge's act of helping her mother, Eugenia, escape from an asylum. An asylum her father, Thaddeus Rutledge, committed her to for having opposing viewpoints from him, and even more disturbing, she refused to turn over the money in her trust fund. I know it is shocking behavior and a clear sign that she is not to be trusted (cue eye roll). 

This is an excellent read and one not to be missed if you are into Historical Western Fiction. This book is one that you won't want to put down. You'll be rooting for Beth and Ginny to succeed in their escape attempt. And hoping that someone, somewhere will thwart Thaddeus.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

                                                        

QUICK FACTS
 Title: Chasing the Horizon
 Series: A Western Light (Book 1)
 Author: Mary Connealy
 Genre: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Western & Frontier Romance
 Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (February 13, 2024)
 Length: (304) pages
 Format: Hardcover, Trade Paperback, eBook, & Audiobook 
 ISBN: ‎ 978-0764242656
 Tour Dates: February 12 – 26, 2024

About the Book:
Her only chance at freedom waits across the horizon

Upon uncovering her tyrannical father's malevolent plot to commit her to an asylum, Beth Rutledge fabricates a plan of her own. She will rescue her mother, who had already been sent to the asylum, and escape together on a wagon train heading west. Posing as sisters, Beth and her mother travel with the pioneers in hopes of making it to Idaho before the others start asking too many questions.

Wagon-train scout Jake Holt senses that the mysterious women in his caravan are running from something. When rumors begin to spread of Pinkerton agents searching relentlessly for wanted criminals who match the description of those on his wagon train, including Beth, she begins to open up to him, and he learns something more sinister is at hand. Can they risk trusting each other with their lives--and their hearts--when danger threatens their every step?

PRAISE FOR CHASING THE HORIZON

 "Mary Connealy’s Inspirational Western Romances have long been on my radar to try, but the new Western Lights series opener, Chasing the Horizon, was my first opportunity. Imagine my chagrin when I started reading and didn’t want to stop. Oh yes, dear friends, I’d waited too long to discover a gem of a writer."—Sophia Rose, The Reading Frenzy

 5 STARS "What an incredible book! It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire
time I read it.” — Camille Dayton, Fostering Literacy

 5 STARS “Loved this story! I was intrigued right from the beginning.”— Melissa Goss, Christian Books and Coffee

Purchase Links

About the Author:
Mary Connealy writes romantic comedies with cowboys. She is independently publishing a contemporary romantic suspense series called Garrison’s Law, book one is Loving the Texas Lawman. Her new historical series, High Sierra Sweethearts begins with The Accidental Guardian. She is also the author of these series: Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Wild at Heart, Cimarron Legacy, Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages, and Sophie's Daughters, and has many other books.

She is a two-time Carol Award winner and has been a finalist for the Rita and Christy Awards. She’s a lifelong Nebraskan and lives with her very own romantic cowboy hero. She’s got four grown daughters and four spectacular grandchildren. 

Connect with her online at:




2.17.2024

While the City Sleeps ~ Review

While the City Sleeps
The Women of Midtown #1
By Elizabeth Camden

Katherine Schneider is a woman dentist working the late-night shift in New York City. When a patient begins rambling while under the effects of nitrous oxide, she thinks little of it. But when something the patient said is linked to the mafia, Katherine finds herself caught up in unexpected danger. 

Lieutenant Jonathan Birch is determined to keep the mafia where it belongs - out of his beat. For the last couple of years, he's escorted Katherine home when her shift ends and, on occasion, offering her baked goods that can't be found in any bakery. This friendship causes Katherine to seek him out when she fears her late-night patient may have been involved in something sinister.   

While the City Sleeps is the first book in the Women of Midtown series. This book is set during the Gilded Age, 1913 New York City. I like the idea behind the title of this book - While the City Sleeps describes the people who work during the night, the people who keep the city running through their work during the night. People that most aren't even aware exist. 

This book is a Historical Romance, but there is also a mystery that runs through it. There is more than one mystery. The one is the threat to the city. The other involves Lieutenant Birch; who is he?  Jonathan is very protective of his past, offering little when questioned. And yet, we get glimpses of his thoughts and concerns about his secrets and deception. 

This book is attention-grabbing with the way the story unfolds. The author makes it come alive with a seamless blend of setting, characters, and historical facts. I, for one, didn't know that the American Dental Association was well-established in 1913. I love it when I can learn facts like this while being entertained. And a mansard roof was mentioned, so guess who did a search for pictures to see examples?  But if all you want is an enjoyable read that includes historical fiction and a touch of romance, you will enjoy this new series debut.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

QUICK FACTS                                                                                                  

 Title: While the City Sleeps
 Series: The Women of Midtown (Book 1)
 Author: Elizabeth Camden
 Genre: Historical Mystery, Historical Romance, Gilded Age Fiction
 Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (February 13, 2024)
 Length: (352) pages
 Format: Hardcover, Trade Paperback, eBook, & Audiobook 
 ISBN: ‎978-0764241710
 Tour Dates: February 12 – 26, 2024

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Amid the hushed city, two hearts must navigate danger and deception, bound by a love that outshines the stars.

Katherine Schneider's life as a dentist in 1913 New York is upended when a patient
reveals details of a deadly plot while under the influence of laughing gas. As she is
plunged into danger, she seeks help from the dashing Lieutenant Jonathan Birch, a
police officer she has long admired from afar.

Jonathan has harbored powerful feelings toward Katherine for years but never acted on
them, knowing his dark history is something she could never abide. Now, with her safety
on the line, he works alongside her through the nights as they unravel the criminal
conspiracy that threatens her . . . even as he keeps his deepest secrets hidden at all
costs.

Join award-winning author Elizabeth Camden for a sweeping and romantic adventure of
dangerous secrets and wounded hearts, fighting to overcome the darkness while the
rest of the city sleeps.


PRAISE FOR WHILE THE CITY SLEEPS

 "History, mystery, and romance set against the backdrop of New York City at night--a must-read!"— Gabrielle Meyer, bestselling author of When the Day Comes and In This Moment

 "Elizabeth Camden brings the bustling metropolis to living color like no one else... A novel that will keep readers up late into the night."— Jocelyn Green, Christy Award-winning author of The Metropolitan Affair

 “I loved the historical details that make the story feel authentic.”— Kim Prudhoe, All the Lovely Pages

PURCHASE LINKS: 


AUTHOR BIO

Elizabeth Camden is best known for her historical novels set in Gilded Age America, featuring clever heroines and richly layered storylines. Before she was a writer, she was an academic librarian at some of the largest and smallest libraries in America, but her favorite is the continually growing library in her own home. Her novels have won the RITA and Christy Award, and she lives in Florida with her husband, who graciously tolerates her intimidating stockpile of books.





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1.23.2024

The Foxhole Victory Tour ~ Review

The Foxhole Victory Tour 
By Amy Lynn Green 

The Foxhole Victory Tour's cover is gorgeous and one would suppose from both the covet  and the title that this is a book about entertain the troops. And you would partially correct. The vast majority of the story revolves around a group of entertainers who are doing just this.

But there is so much more to the story. We are first introduced to Maggie McCleod and 
Catherine Duquette who couldn't be more different from one another. Other than the fact that they both performing with an all-girl wartime orchestra. When an opportunity arises both leave what they know behind for a chance to be part of the USO. Maggie's reasoning is because her unbridled tongue has again gotten her into trouble. Catherine to leave the demands of her parents behind and to learn what happened to the man she had been writing to.

But Maggie and Catherine are just a portion of the group they are performing with. Each carries a secret pain that taking part in this tour might alleviate in some small way. Some pains are more obvious than others but each has been shaped by it. 

Though they are there for entertaining the troops, they are in a war zone and in as much danger as those serving in the army. 

I have never read a book before that centered around the USO and the role they played during WW2, or any war. I found it fascinating. One so often hears about them and what they did but never the day-to-day danger they found themselves. Probably the opening of the classic movie White Christmas is the closest I've come to anything touching on the dangers they faced.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in WW2 or the various roles women played during it. This book was eye opening to me as a reader. And it definitely was an experience that allowed both Maggie and Catherine (and the other tour members) a chance to grow, to become better people. I will admit there were a couple characters in the beginning I was unsure of, but learning their story and watching them learn and grow proved first impressions shouldn't be your one and only impression. The was and is an excellent read, worth a reread at a later date, in my opinion.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.




QUICK FACTS
 Title: The Foxhole Victory Tour: A Novel
 Author: Amy Lynn Green
 Genre: Historical Fiction, WWII Fiction, Inspirational Fiction
 Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (January 23, 2024)
 Length: (400) pages
 Format: Trade Paperback, eBook, & Audiobook 
 ISBN: ‎978-0764239571
 Tour Dates: January 22 – February 5, 2024


About the Book: 
Based on true World War II stories of life in the USO variety shows, worlds collide when performers from around the United States come together to tour North Africa. 

Vibrant and scrappy Maggie McCleod tried not to get fired from her wartime orchestra, but her sharp tongue landed her in trouble, so an overseas adventure with the USO's camp show promises a chance at a fresh start. Wealthy and elegant Catherine Duquette signs with the USO to leave behind her restrictive life of privilege and to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of the handsome pilot whose letters
mysteriously stopped arriving.

The two women are joined by an eclectic group of performers--a scheming blues singer, a veteran tap dancer, and a brooding magician--but the harmony among their troupe is short-lived when their tour manager announces he will soon recommend one of them for a coveted job in the Hollywood spotlight. Each of the five members has a reason to want the contract, and they'll do whatever is necessary to claim it. As their troupe travels closer to the dangerous battlefront in Tunisia, personal crises and wartime dangers only intensify, putting not only their careers but also their lives on the line.


PRAISE FOR THE FOXHOLE VICTORY TOUR

 "Green deserves a standing ovation for her rousing story of unlikely friendships, courage over comfort, and the impactful work of USO performers during WWII. The Foxhole Victory Tour transports readers from the concert halls of Minnesota to the coasts of Casablanca to the active war zone of Tunisia. It is plot-driven without sacrificing relational drama, and its ragtag supporting cast of lovable misfits thoughtfully portrays the art and heart of live performance."— Booklist

 5-STARS “I was impressed with how much Green was able to pack into the story and still keep it cohesive and natural. I ended up loving all the characters and their story arc, and I'm looking forward to reading more of Green's work.”— Debra, Goodreads

 “The Foxhole Victory Tour is a wonderful story of historical fiction with great characters, vivid descriptions, and some tough truths that will make readers reflect on their choices and their priorities.”— Jordon Lynch, The Literary Library

 “This story was full of emotion and captivating on every page. The setting of World War II is so real, you feel like you are with them. This is must-read. A story you won't put down and will be sad to say goodbye to after it's over.”— Elizabeth Eckmeyer, Interviews & Reviews


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AUTHOR BIO


Amy Lynn Green is a lifelong lover of books, history, and library cards. She worked in publishing for six years before writing her first historical fiction novel. She and her husband live in Minnesota, where she teaches virtual classes on marketing at writer’s conferences, engages with book clubs, and regularly encourages established and aspiring authors in their publication journeys.










1.20.2024

The Ladies Rewrite the Rules

The Ladies Rewrite the Rules
By Suzanne Allain

Diane Boyle is more than a little surprised when two eligible bachelors call on her home. Widowed and young, she finds to her surprise and displeasure she has been included in an exclusive list. And her fortune and marital status have found her a place among other similarly situated ladies. Worse the list was a directory for younger sons to find a lady of means who could provide the financial foundation of a potential marriage. Oh, no! 

But Diane, who has been enjoying her freedom, is not about give it up for some fortune hunter. And she's determined to let author of this Bachelor's Directory know just how she feels about. And she is going to warn the other ladies on the list that their new found popularity has a nefarious reason. What follows is delightful and enjoyable Regency-era read.

Though set in the same time-period as her previous books Mr. Malcolm's List and Miss Latimore's Letter the voice is unique. I think there are fewer humorous situations in this book than the previous ones but there are still lighthearted moments. This is also a story about discovering yourself. The ladies had allowed the rules and expectations of society and family to shape them into a mold but by making an effort to control their futures and their fortunes they allowed their true, hidden selves to emerge, much like a butterfly.

I loved watching the story unfold. And even the gentleman whom Diane felt to be the villain in the whole directory debacle - Maxwell Dean proves to be more than she expected. The Ladies Rewrite the Rules is a story of friendship, second chances, romance, and self-discovery. Perfect for anyone looking for a clean reading Regency era Romance. Come along on this respectable flaunting of society's expedition in another standalone read from Suzanne Allain. You won't regret the lighthearted feel once you open the book.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.


QUICK FACTS
 Title: The Ladies Rewrite the Rules: A Novel
 Author: Suzanne Allain
 Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance
 Publisher: Berkley Romance (January 9, 2024)
 Length: (272) pages
 Format: Trade Paperback, eBook, & Audiobook 
 ISBN: ‎978-0593549643
 Book Tour Dates: January 8 – 22, 2024

BOOK DESCRIPTION
From the author of Mr. Malcolm's List comes a delightful romantic comedy set in Regency England about a widow who takes high society by storm. Diana Boyle, a wealthy young widow, has no desire to ever marry again. Particularly not to someone who merely wants her for her fortune. 

So, when she discovers that she’s listed in a directory of rich, single women she is furious, and rightly so. She confronts Maxwell Dean, the man who published the Bachelor’s Directory, and is horrified to find he is far more attractive than his actions have led her to expect. However, Diana is unmoved by Max’s explanation that he authored the list to assist younger sons like himself who cannot afford to marry unless it’s to a woman of means. 

She gathers the ladies in the directory together to inform them of its existence, so they may circumvent fortune hunters’ efforts to trick them into marriage. Though outraged, the women decide to embrace their unique position of power and reverse the usual gender roles by making the men dance to their tune. And together…the ladies rewrite
the rules.


About the Author

Suzanne Allain is a screenwriter who lived in New York and Beijing before returning to her hometown of Tallahassee, Florida, where she lives with her husband. 

Suzanne adapted her novel Mr. Malcolm’s List into a screenplay and it was made into a movie starring Freida Pinto, Theo James, Ṣọpẹ Dìrísù, and Zawe Ashton.






PRAISE FOR THE LADIES REWRITE THE RULES
 “Innovative…The novel’s true strength lies in the friendship between the bold heroines”— Publisher’s Weekly

 “A fun, light-hearted Regency romp about changing society from the inside.”— Kirkus Reviews

 “Joyful, warm and witty, this is a delight of a book.”— All About Romance

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