Lady Flyer ~ Review

Lady Flyer

By Heather B. Moore

I love historically-based fiction that follows the life of a real person. In this case, we are introduced to Nancy Harkness, who is drawn to planes and flight. She is born into a world on the edge of change, and her parents give her the freedom to follow her dream of becoming a pilot.

The book opens with Nancy observing Charles Lindbergh's triumphant Atlantic crossing in 1927. This event sparked a flame that would eventually lead her to take to the air. But Nancy's dream of flight didn't end with her achievements. No, her dreams included other women embracing the opportunities that flight offered. 

World War II created a need for pilots, which Nancy sees being filled by women. But breaking into this male-dominated world is not an easy task. Though the women were skilled and well-trained, they did not get the respect their skills deserved. 

This book is not only Nancy's story but that of the WASPs (Women's Airforce Service Pilots).

This is the history of a fight for respect.

This is not a short read—approximately 400 pages—but it is well worth the time spent. I think it would make an excellent book club choice or a high school book report. For those who commute, this book is available as an audiobook, and Nancy Peterson's reading is excellent. The book is 14 hours and 11 minutes, so perfect for a long road trip.

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

About the Book:

Based on a true story and set against the backdrop of WWII, a young woman’s love of flying becomes an epic fight for identity and equality.

In the quiet town of Houghton, Michigan, sixteen-year-old Nancy Harkness discovers a passion that ignites her heart in ways she never expected. The arrival of barnstormer pilots brings more than just the thrill of their daring stunts; it brings the promise of adventure. Nancy vows she will be a pilot someday.

Years later, as the dark clouds of World War II gather on the horizon, Nancy’s dreams take a new and daring turn. With unwavering determination, she envisions a squadron of female pilots. Yet, her path is far from clear. The male-dominated world of aviation pushes back, determined to keep women out of the skies.

But Nancy isn’t alone in her quest for equality. Jackie Cochran, a formidable aviatrix and Nancy’s rival, has her own dreams and ambitions for women in aviation. As they both navigate the turbulent skies of a nation at war, their destinies intertwine in a story of rivalry, respect, and competition.

Until Our Time Comes ~ Review

Until Our Time Comes
A Novel of World War II Poland
By Nicole M. Miller

Adia Kensington is living a life she loves; she's the trainer of the priceless Arabians raised at the Janów Podlaski stables in Poland. But unrest lies in wait on the horizon as war with Germany moves ever closer every day. Adia will do whatever it takes to keep her beloved horses safe, even face the German army. 

Bret Conway never thought he'd be affected by anyone the way his first meeting with Adia did. But when life and the threat of war get in the way of something more. Yet over the next several years, they keep coming together in unexpected ways and the horses Adia cares for are at the center of everything.

Until Our Time Comes is set in Poland and takes place between 1939 and 1946. Europe is caught in a war, and anyone and anything standing in the path of the war machines making their way across the continent will be crushed. Adia and Bret have duties and commitments that stand in the way of their finding love, although the possibility exists. The title so aptly fits their lives as they both look to a tomorrow without war, one where dreaming about the future seems as if it is a possibility rather than a hopeless dream. 

This was a good read. Unlike most WW2 fiction, it has horses as the focal point, with the wider story branching out from it. It is highly recommended for readers of historical fiction. This is a book of determination and dedication.

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:


American horse trainer Adia Kensington is living her dream of working at the famous Janów Podlaski stables in Poland, where they breed the best Arabian horses in the world. But her plans to bring the priceless stallion Lubor to the US are derailed when the German army storms into her adopted country in 1939. Little does she know this is just the beginning of six long years of occupation that will threaten her beloved horses at every turn.

Major Bret Conway is at Janów Podlaski under the guise of a news reporter, but his true mission is intelligence gathering for the British. That and keeping Adia safe, which is harder and harder to do as she insists they must evacuate 250 horses to save them from being stolen, sold, or eaten by the invading forces. What follows will test their physical, mental, and emotional strength, as well as their faith in God, humankind, and each other.

Drawn from true events of World War II, this epic story of escape, capture, resistance, and love from debut novelist Nicole M. Miller will thunder into your heart like a herd of beautiful horses across a raging river.

An Ocean of Courage and Fear ~ Review

An Ocean of Courage and Fear

By Jerry Borrowman

This book opens on December 7, 1941, before word of the attack on Pearl Harbor had reached anyone outside of Hawaii. Word of the utter destruction of the US Naval fleet stationed and docked shocked the world. And those who were serving are about to have their world forever altered, going from a state of peace in the Pacific Ocean to a state of war in mere minutes. 

This book mixes fictional characters with the historical events adding more depth and bringing the reader's emotions into play as the fears and uncertainty pull the Pacific nations into the war. We are introduced to Lieutenant Commander Justin Collier, assigned to the USS Salt Lake City, and his wife Heidi, who volunteers as a nurse following Pearl Harbor. But there are so many more people whose lives are changed as the United States and Japan are drawn into war, a war that will cost many much. 

The title An Ocean of Courage and Fear describes the emotions those onboard the naval ships have to deal with daily during the days of World War 2. I appreciated that the author provided a listing of which characters were fictional and which were historical. The book takes us from December 1941 into June 1945. The USS Salt Lake City along with Honolulu is the main setting, and getting a glimpse of life aboard a heavy cruiser during a time of war is interesting, especially as when the book opens war is mere minutes away though no one is aware of it.

This book would be of interest to those who are into World War 2 or Naval history. This would be an excellent selection for a High School book report when the topic is Historical fiction. Events aren't glamorized but are presented in a way so as to engage the reader's interest throughout.

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 survivor accounts, this gripping novel opens days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. It details three years of sea battles that spanned between Hawaii and the shores of Okinawa with the crew of one of the most decorated ships of the Pacific War.

Onboard the heavy cruiser USS Salt Lake City, Lieutenant Commander Justin Collier is out to sea when Japan attacks the United States. Upon his return to Honolulu, the gravity of the war begins to change him, as does every subsequent mission, including a rare beach landing with an Army infantry division. He fears his wounds of war, both physical and mental, will be incurable.

Meanwhile, on the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor, volunteer nurse Heidi Collier feels overwhelmed by the number of casualties. She watched the bombing as she huddled with her two children in front of their home, hoping that her husband aboard the USS Salt Lake City was safe.

Lieutenant Riley Bracken feels the sudden g-force of his catapult-launched observation floatplane with each harrowing mission. Alerting the USS Salt Lake City of enemy ships gives him purpose, which is why no one can know about his recent bouts of vertigo. He can’t risk losing what he loves most.

Fifteen-year-old Al Jowdy lied about his age in order to join the Navy. Whatever he believed Navy life would be was shot out of the water—twice—when his ships were torpedoed. Now aboard the Salt Lake City, he hopes his luck hasn’t run out.

An Ocean of Courage and Fear reveals the harrowing, true, never-before-told events that surrounded the crew of the USS Salt Lake City as they endured all the major action in the Pacific War.

The British Booksellers ~ Review

The British Booksellers

By Kristy Cambron

The British Booksellers is a split-time book that takes the reader between the two world wars, that reshaped the world and England and the lives of Amos Darby and Charlotte Terrington Holt. From his earliest memories of Charlotte, Amos has always cared for her more than a tenant should for the daughter of an earl. They are bound together by their love of books and a secret dream to own and run a bookstore.

But time, war, and social standing have a way of destroying hopes and dreams. Instead, Amos returns from war broken both in body and spirit, and Charlotte is a war widow with a daughter. And they become competing booksellers in Coventry. Time, in this case, doesn't heal all wounds. And the Great War, which was the war to end all wars, was a false hope because war has come again. And it has come to Britain, attacking in the night, bringing destruction in its wake, igniting old nightmares, and drawing in a new generation. 

This was an excellent read. One was drawn to Amos and his hopes and dreams. Dreams he knew better than to have, but the heart doesn't pay heed to the head. I like how we are slowly introduced to both chapters of Amos's life and how his childhood friendship with Charlotte changed over time. I also found the contrast between Charlotte and her daughter, Eden, to be interesting. The different ways they look at situations and handle them add some insight into their characters. Even more interesting is how the people of Coventry view Amos after his return from war. And then we have the mystery of why Jacob Colt has come to Coventry from America during a war. I love it when there is a bit of a mystery involved and this book definitely offers this with the back-and-forth between the two wars. Add in a double dose of romance, and you have the perfect weekend read.

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:

Inspired by real accounts of the Forgotten Blitz bombings, 

The British Booksellers highlights the courage of those 

whose lives were forever changed by war—and the stories 

that bind us in the fight for what matters most.

 

A tenant farmer’s son had no business daring to dream of a future with an earl’s daughter, but that couldn’t keep Amos Darby from his secret friendship with Charlotte Terrington…until the reality of the Great War sobered youthful dreams. Now, decades later, he bears the brutal scars of battles fought in the trenches and their futures that were stolen away. His return home doesn’t come with tender reunions, but with the hollow fulfillment of opening a bookshop on his own and retreating as a recluse within its walls.

 

When the future Earl of Harcourt chose Charlotte to be his wife, she knew she was destined for a loveless match. Though her heart had chosen another long ago, she pledges her future even as her husband goes to war. Twenty-five years later, Charlotte remains a war widow who divides her days between her late husband’s declining estate and operating a quaint Coventry bookshop—Eden Books, lovingly named after her grown daughter. And Amos is nothing more than the rival bookseller across the lane.

As war with Hitler looms, Eden is determined to preserve her father’s legacy. So when an American solicitor arrives threatening a lawsuit that could destroy everything they’ve worked so hard to preserve, mother and daughter prepare to fight back. But with devastation wrought by the Luftwaffe’s local blitz terrorizing the skies, battling bookshops—and lost loves, Amos and Charlotte—must put aside their differences and fight together to help Coventry survive.

 

From deep in the trenches of the Great War to the storied English countryside and the devastating Coventry Blitz of World War II, The British Booksellers explores the unbreakable bonds that unite us through love, loss, and the enduring solace that can be found between the pages of a book.

 

AUTHOR BIO

 

Kristy Cambron is an award-winning author of historical fiction, including her bestselling debut The Butterfly and the Violin, and an author of nonfiction, including the Verse Mapping Series Bibles and Bible studies. Kristy's work has been named to Publishers Weekly Religion & Spirituality TOP 10, Library Journal Reviews’ Best Books, RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards, received 2015 & 2017 INSPY Award nominations, and has been featured at CBN, Lifeway Women, Jesus Calling, Country Woman Magazine, MICI Magazine, Faithwire, Declare, (in)Courage, and Bible Gateway. 

She holds a degree in Art History/Research Writing and lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons, where she can probably be bribed with a peppermint mocha latte and a good read. You can connect with her at: kristycambron.com and versemapping.com.

 

The British Booksellers ~ Available Now

 Kristy Cambron's The British Booksellers is Now Available

Inspired by real accounts of the Forgotten Blitz bombings, The British Booksellers highlights the courage of those whose lives were forever changed by war—and the stories that bind us in the fight for what matters most.

 

A tenant farmer’s son had no business daring to dream of a future with an earl’s daughter, but that couldn’t keep Amos Darby from his secret friendship with Charlotte Terrington…until the reality of the Great War sobered youthful dreams. Now decades later, he bears the brutal scars of battles fought in the trenches and their futures that were stolen away. His return home doesn’t come with tender reunions, but with the hollow fulfillment of opening a bookshop on his own and retreating as a recluse within its walls.

 

When the future Earl of Harcourt chose Charlotte to be his wife, she knew she was destined for a loveless match. Though her heart had chosen another long ago, she pledges her future even as her husband goes to war. Twenty-five years later, Charlotte remains a war widow who divides her days between her late husband’s declining estate and operating a quaint Coventry bookshop—Eden Books, lovingly named after her grown daughter. And Amos is nothing more than the rival bookseller across the lane.

As war with Hitler looms, Eden is determined to preserve her father’s legacy. So when an American solicitor arrives threatening a lawsuit that could destroy everything they’ve worked so hard to preserve, mother and daughter prepare to fight back. But with devastation wrought by the Luftwaffe’s local blitz terrorizing the skies, battling bookshops—and lost loves, Amos and Charlotte—must put aside their differences and fight together to help Coventry survive.

 

From deep in the trenches of the Great War to the storied English countryside and the devastating Coventry Blitz of World War II, The British Booksellers explores the unbreakable bonds that unite us through love, loss, and the enduring solace that can be found between the pages of a book.

 

AUTHOR BIO

 

Kristy Cambron is an award-winning author of historical fiction, including her bestselling debut The Butterfly and the Violin, and an author of nonfiction, including the Verse Mapping Series Bibles and Bible studies. Kristy's work has been named to Publishers Weekly Religion & Spirituality TOP 10, Library Journal Reviews’ Best Books, RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards, received 2015 and 2017 INSPY Award nominations, and has been featured at CBN, Lifeway Women, Jesus Calling, Country Woman Magazine, MICI Magazine, Faithwire, Declare, (in)Courage, and Bible Gateway. She holds a degree in Art History/Research Writing and lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons, where she can probably be bribed with a peppermint mocha latte and a good read. 

You can connect with her at: kristycambron.com and versemapping.com.

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.

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

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | PUBLISHER | BOOKSHOP | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS

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.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | 
BOOKBUB | GOODREADS

Trust the Stars ~ Review

Trust the Stars

By Tricia Goyer

This is one of those books that just draws you into it. I love books that are both contemporary and historical fiction, which Trust the Stars is. The two stories are drawn together by a diary Princess Alessandra Appiani kept detailing the dangers she faced and the sacrifices she made during WW2 to help save those in need.

The contemporary portion focuses on Olivia Garza, a young woman, scarred by the decisions her mother made. But Olivia is on a journey of discovery. She wants, needs to understand her mother and is sharing this journey with the world via a podcast. 

Enter a stranger who manages to touch Olivia's life. But said stranger is actually a royal from a little known European country who needs to avoid a wedding. A wedding for the woman he thought he'd marry. In the one day that they Louis and Olivia connect. All is going great until Olivia finds out who Louis is and she cuts out of her excursion to Kenya less than pleased with Louis. After all how can someone used to the life and privileges of a royal possibly understand her normal day-to-day life of working with troubled teens in Little Rock's inner city?

This is where the diary comes in and I really enjoyed Alessandra's portion of the story. Her strength even in the face of losing everything she held dear - her husband, her children, and even her life. Her story provides inspiration to not only the reader, but Olivia. Sometimes we need to step out of our comfort zone to do the right thing.

Highly recommended read to either end 2023 or to begin 2024.

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

About the Book:

Olivia Garza, a woman committed to making a difference in the world, thrives in her unconventional, service-oriented life. By day, she helps troubled teens in inner-city Little Rock. By night, she creates a viral docu-series in an attempt to better understand her mother’s desperate decisions by retracing her steps with a camera. So far, Olivia has always been the anonymous narrator, but she’s promised to reveal herself in the last stop on her Kenya.

Prince Louis, heir to the throne of the small European kingdom of Alloria, is in Kenya to run away from a broken heart—and the media circus that comes with it. When he meets Olivia, he recognizes her voice right away from the docu-series that has stirred his heart. Though they share a magical day on safari, any dreams of happily ever after come crashing down with the flash of the paparazzi cameras when Olivia realizes that he represents everything she most despises in the world.

In World War II, Rome, another royal, however, has her own life-changing choices to make. Princess Alessandra Appiani could have chosen quiet safety within the walls of the Vatican, but instead, she risks her life—and her family—to save the Jewish children so in need of someone to show them the love of God.

When Olivia is hired to help create a documentary about Alessandra, learning about the sacrifice of a royal who goes from palace to prison forces her to face the hard questions of, "Should she continue on the path she’s carved for herself or trust God to give her the future she never thought she wanted?"

The Warsaw Sisters ~ Review

The Warsaw Sisters

A Novel of WWII Poland

By Amanda Barratt

This book opens as war has come to Poland's borders with Antonina and Helena Dąbrowska sending off their father to serve as a soldier against the German threat of invasion. But mere hours later hour war has come to Warsaw, soon they face two enemies as German and Russian forces surround the nation. In a day their childhood has passed into adulthood with its new trials and challenges.

But Antonia and Helena are not about to let their country fall without a fight. But both decide to take action in their own way. Unfortunately the paths they both choose require them to keep secrets from one another, and these secrets threaten the bond between them.

This is the first book I have read by the author, Amanda Barratt and I have to recommend it. The writing style is engaging. This is a book of sacrifice and loss set between 1939-1945. This is an emotionally moving read as Antonia and Helena make their way in a world in turmoil. But doing the right thing isn't easy, especially when faced with certain death if their efforts are discovered. 

While this was a good and well-researched book, I couldn't find myself connecting personally with any of the characters. But the story still offered moments that spoke to me. The book opened slowly as the setting and characters took form, but once it got into the main portion of the story it had an easier flow and I was able to get more fully into the story. For those who enjoy WW2 fiction I highly recommend this book.

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:

In WWII Poland, two sisters fight against the darkness engulfing their homeland, one by entering a daring network of women sheltering Jewish children and the other by joining the ranks of Poland's secret army. As Warsaw buckles under German oppression, they must rely on the courage that calls the ordinary to resist.

On a golden August morning in 1939, sisters Antonina and Helena Dąbrowska send their father off to defend Poland against the looming threat of German invasion. The next day, the first bombs fall on Warsaw, decimating their beloved city and shattering the world of their youth.

When Antonina's beloved Marek is forced behind ghetto walls along with the rest of Warsaw's Jewish population, Antonina turns her worry into action and becomes a key figure in a daring network of women risking their lives to shelter Jewish children. Helena finds herself drawn into the ranks of Poland's secret army, joining the fight to free her homeland from occupation. But the secrets both are forced to keep threaten to tear the sisters apart--and the cost of resistance proves greater than either ever imagined.

Shining a light on the oft-forgotten history of Poland during WWII and inspired by true stories of ordinary individuals who fought to preserve freedom and humanity in the darkest of times, The Warsaw Sisters is a richly rendered portrait of courage, sacrifice, and the resilience of our deepest ties.

Under the Java Moon ~ Review

Under the Java Moon

By Heather B. Moore

Under the Java Moon is a brilliantly written piece of historical fiction. There are moments of beauty found amongst the horrors of war and this book spotlights this by focusing on the struggles of one family's will to survive. 

War seemed a thing unlikely to touch their daily lives. It was far away in Europe until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Then, it became a concern. Then, the people of the Dutch East Indies began to prepare. But air raid drills and bomb shelters were no match to the forces determined to control the Pacific.

And when the Allie Forces suffered a severe loss, they knew they were next. Europeans were rounded up and put in camps. Families were torn apart. The Javanese were required to work with the Japanese or face a similar fate to those who had just days ago been in power. And so we are pulled into the story of the Vischer family. We see the war through the eyes of six-year-old Rita and her parents, Mary and George. Each sees the war differently, but each suffers under its cruelty while holding onto the hope of one more day and maybe seeing those torn away returned. But war exacts a cost no matter how long it lasts, and Under the Java Moon shares Rita Vischer's story and the price she paid. 

I would recommend this to those readers who inhale everything and anything dealing with WW2. There are not an overabundance of books dealing with this particular aspect of the war, and though it deals with difficult aspects and scenes, it is all handled and presented in a considerate and respectful manner. And the author's introduction and the afterword by Rita are a must-read. 

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 a true story, this gripping WWII novel captures the resilience, hope, and courage of a Dutch family who is separated during the war when the Japanese occupy the Dutch East Indies.

Java Island, 1941

Six-year-old Rita Vischer cowers in her family’s dug-out bomb shelter, listening to the sirens and waiting for a bomb to fall. Her charmed life on Java—living with other Dutch families—had always been peaceful, but when Holland declares war on Japan and the Japanese army invades Indonesia, Rita’s family is forced to relocate to a POW camp, and Rita must help care for her little brother, Georgie.

Mary Vischer is three months pregnant when she enters the Tjident women’s camp with thousands of other women and children. Her husband, George, is somewhere on the Java Sea with the Dutch Navy, so she must care alone for her young children, Rita and Georgie, and her frail mother. The brutal conditions of the overcrowded camp make starvation, malaria, and dysentery a grim reality. Mary must do everything she can to keep her family alive.

George Vischer survives the bombing of his minesweeper but feels little hope floating on a small dinghy in the Java Sea. Reaching the northern tip of the Thousand Island would be a miracle. Focusing on the love of his life, Mary, and his two children, he battles against the sea and merciless sun. He’ll do whatever it takes to close the divide between him and his family, even if it means risking being captured by the Japanese.

Under the Java Moon highlights a little-known part of WWII history and the impact of war on Indonesia, its people, and the more than 100,000 Dutch men, women, and children who were funneled into prison camps and faced with the ultimate fight for survival.

The Blackout Book Club ~ Review

The Blackout Book Club

By Amy Lynn Green

Avis Montgomery has never been a recreational reader, her reading has always leaned toward the educational - magazines that help her be the perfect housewife. But she is now the head librarian of Derby, Maine, taking her brother Anthony's position when he signed up to serve in Europe. And in an effort to save the library, she impulsively announces a new book club - the Blackout Book Club. 

Soon the Blackout Book Club grows into something more than Avis ever expected - friendship. And as the daily struggles and hardships of life and a world in turmoil continue, this could be the very lifeline they all need.

The story is told through the perspectives of the various founding members of the book club. I especially loved the "minutes" taken during the meetings. It added more depth to the characters who were relating how the meeting went through their perspective. I also found it intriguing how several of the characters seemed to be hiding something, but we are kept in the dark just what is being hidden. But other characters we learn what they are hiding almost from the beginning. Now I need to read some of the books that the Blackout Book Club read - some of them sounded interesting.

I think this would be an excellent book club selection given the title and the various books mentioned.

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

I did purchase this book in audio format and the narration by Leah Horowitz is excellent. She presents the story well and the various characters are for the most part easily identifiable. The story moves along well, I played it back 1.35 times as I listen along with my reading.

About the Book:

An impulsive promise to her brother before he goes off to the European Front puts Avis Montgomery in the unlikely position of head librarian in small-town Maine. Though she has never been much of a reader, when wartime needs threaten to close the library, she invents a book club to keep its doors open. The women she convinces to attend the first meeting couldn't be more different--a wealthy spinster determined to aid the war effort, an exhausted mother looking for a fresh start, and a determined young war worker.

At first, the struggles of the home front are all the club members have in common, but over time, the books they choose become more than an escape from the hardships of life and the fear of the U-boat battles that rage just past their shores. As the women face personal challenges and band together in the face of danger, they find they share more in common with each other than they think. But when their growing friendships are tested by secrets of the past and present, they must decide whether depending on each other is worth the cost.

Yesterday's Tide ~ Review

Yesterday's Tide

By Roseanna M. White

Yesterday's Tide  is a delightful split-time book, which is one of my favorite types of Historical Fiction. The two settings are on Ocracoke Island, part of North Carolina's Outer Banks. As the story opens, we are introduced to two sets of characters whose lives are affected by war. 

In 1914, rumors of unrest had not yet drawn the world into conflict, but there's an underlying tension. Remington Culbreth is spending the summer on the island, hoping to put off a decision he doesn't want to make. He never expected to be drawn to Louisa Adair, a woman who is the opposite of everything his parents expect him to marry. Is this a summer romance or something more? But when war breaks out Remington must make a decision that could destroy his hopes for a future he longs to make his own.

In 1942, Ocracoke Island found itself on the front lines due to its coastal position. German U-boats have begun patrolling the sea lanes, threatening ships making use of the lanes. Evie Farrow has felt the pain these attacks have caused. When she finds Sterling Bertrand near her family's inn she knows that he was a victim of one of these attacks. But can she trust that he is an ally? Or could he be a threat to her family and friends? Is he truly tracking a threat on their shores? Can the two work together to stop a threat they never knew had made its way to Ocracoke, or will the secrets they hold keep them at arm's length?

I love how Roseanna M. White managed to thread characters from her other books into this one. The history and prejudices she managed to weave seamlessly into the story added a depth that made the story all the more meaningful. I can honestly say I can't pick a favorite character. I loved getting to know Evie and Louisa and their ties to both Ocracoke and their family.  

If you've never read any of Roseanna M. White's books before, this is a great book to start with, as it is a standalone title.  The writing is excellent, and the story is one that you'll want to reread. I highly recommend this book to readers of Historical Fiction, WWI, and WW2.  If you are part of a book club and are in need of a suggestion, this should move into your list.

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:

In 1942, Evie Farrow is used to life on Ocracoke Island, where every day is the same--until the German U-boats haunting their waters begin to wreak havoc. And when special agent Sterling Bertrand is washed ashore at Evie's inn, her life is turned upside down. While Sterling's injuries keep him inn-bound for weeks, making him even more anxious about the man he's tracking, he becomes increasingly intrigued by Evie, who seems to be hiding secrets of her own.

Decades earlier, in 1914, Englishman Remington Culbreth arrives at the Ocracoke Inn for the summer, but he doesn't count on falling in love with Louisa Adair, the innkeeper's daughter. When war breaks out in Europe, and their relationship is put in jeopardy, will their love survive?

As Evie and Sterling work to track down an elusive German agent, they unravel mysteries that go back a generation. The ripples from the Great War are still rocking their lives, and it seems yesterday's tides may sweep them all into danger again today.

Bestselling and award-winning author Roseanna M. White whisks you away to two periods fraught with peril in this sweeping and romantic dual-time tale.

A Rose for the Resistance ~ Takeover Tour with Review, Spotlight and Giveaway

Welcome to the Takeover Tour for 

A Rose for the Resistance by Angela K. Couch, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

A Rose for the Resistance 

Heroines of WWII #5

By Angela K. Couch 

Rosalie Barrieau has tried to avoid the threat of Nazi forces taking France but ignoring a threat does not neutralize it. She is determined to keep her brother safe amid the loss she has undergone, but her brother is equally determined to join the resistance.

But how can you stay safe when all around you there are those in need? How can you stand by and do nothing when others suffer in the face of war and occupation? These are the questions and thoughts that motivate Rosalie, her brother Marcel, and Franz Kafka to do what has to be done.

A Rose for the Resistance takes place mainly in France from June, 1940 to July, 1946, and looks at the actions of Rosalie, Marcel and Franz during this time. Do you give in to fear, blindly follow orders, or listen to your heart and do all you can to help end the war, to aid those who have been declared your enemy?

This was an intriguing and engaging read. Fans of WWII fiction will enjoy this book. I have not read Angela K. Couch's work before but I look forward to reading more of her work in the future. The characters were engaging and complex, the scenes detailed but not excessively so. Would make for an interesting book club selection.

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

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: A Rose for the Resistance 

Series: Heroines of WWII 

Author: Angela K. Couch 

Publisher: Barbour Fiction 

Release Date: April 1, 2022 

Genre: Christian, Historical Romance 

A French Woman and German Soldier Create a Truce 

With her father in a German POW camp and her home in Ste Mere Eglise, France, under Nazi occupation, Rosalie Barrieau will do anything to keep her younger brother safe. . .even from his desire to join the French resistance. Until she falls into the debt of a German solder—one who delivers a wounded British pilot to her door. Though not sure what to make of her German ally, Rosalie is thrust deep into the heart of the local underground. As tensions build toward the allied invasion of Normandy, she must decide how much she is willing to risk for freedom. 

Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this new series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII. 

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Christianbook | BookBub

MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

---

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

To keep from freezing in the great white north, Angela K. Couch cuddles under quilts with her laptop. Winning short story contests, being a semi-finalist in ACFW’s Genesis Contest, and a finalist in the 2016 International Digital Awards also helped warm her up. As a passionate believer in Christ, her faith permeates the stories she tells. Her martial arts training, experience with horses, and appreciation for good romance sneak in as well. When not writing, she stays fit (and toasty warm) by chasing after five munchkins.

CONNECT WITH ANGELA: Website | Facebook | Twitter

---

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a print copy of A Rose for the Resistance and a $15 Amazon egift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 20, 2022 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on April 27, 2022. 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 the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

---

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

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.