Showing posts with label War. Show all posts
Showing posts with label War. Show all posts

4.22.2024

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 WomenJesus CallingCountry Woman MagazineMICI MagazineFaithwireDeclare, (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.

 





1.08.2024

The Seamstress of Acadie ~ Review

The Seamstress of Acadie
By Laura Frantz

The Acadians' history is a tragic one that finds them caught in a war between the British and the French. And it is in the midst of this conflict that The Seamstress of Acadie is set. Sylvie Galant works as a seamstress for the French fort, sewing shirts for the French soldiers. But all too soon her skills are no longer used as the British threat to Acadians becomes more with each passing day. 

When her brother warns that soon all they hold will be seized becomes the truth, Sylvie's life is forever altered. But through it all she uses her needle to forge a new life with what little remains of the old.

The Seamstress of Acadie is a tragic story of lives torn apart because of hate and prejudice. The Acadians French ties have them caught in the middle of a conflict between the British and the French. And though they pledge no loyalty to either, claiming neutrality, they are accused treachery and revolution. The British lies soon drive them forcibly from their homes. Families are torn apart and the conditions aboard the ships a cruelty. Loss of life is extreme before events force them into a new existence in Virginia. But this new land views them with distrust, offering hate, fear, and ridicule while they suffer from the losses they cannot easily forgot, not that they want to. 

But there are moments of hope for the future and it is to this promise that Sylvie eventually ties all her hopes and dreams. Laura Frantz creates characters who draw one into their story. One feels Sylvie's pain. One hopes with Major Blackburn that he will succeed in providing a home for the displaced Acadians. Set in Pre-Revolutionary America this a perfect read for those who enjoy Historical Fiction set in the New World. And one fun tidbit for those who've read Laura Frantz's works before if you've read A Heart Adrift you just may see a familiar name or two. If you haven't read the author before this book is a standalone title so you can easily pick it and dive right in and read with no issues.

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 Seamstress of Acadie
 Author: Laura Frantz
 Genre: Historical Fiction, Inspirational Fiction
 Publisher: Revell (January 9, 2024)
 Length: (416) pages
 Format: Hardcover, Trade Paperback, eBook, & Audiobook 
 ISBN: 978-0800740689‎
 Book Tour Dates: January 8 – 22, 2024

About the Book:
As 1754 is drawing to a close, tensions between the French and the British on Canada's Acadian shore are reaching a fever pitch. Seamstress Sylvie Galant and her family--French-speaking Acadians wishing to remain neutral--are caught in the middle, their land positioned between two forts flying rival flags. Amid preparations for the celebration of Noël, the talk is of unrest, coming war, and William Blackburn, the British Army Ranger raising havoc across North America's borderlands.

As summer takes hold in 1755 and British ships appear on the horizon, Sylvie encounters Blackburn, who warns her of the coming invasion. Rather than participate in the forced removal of the Acadians from their land, he resigns his commission. But that cannot save Sylvie or her kin. Relocated on a ramshackle ship to Virginia, Sylvie struggles to pick up the pieces of her life. When her path crosses once more with William's, they must work through the complex tangle of their shared, shattered past to
navigate the present and forge an enduring future.

PRAISE FOR THE SEAMSTRESS OF ACADIE
 “Frantz’s atmospheric writing is easy to sink into, from the grimness of the
disease-riddled voyage to the ethereal Acadian landscape. While William and
Sylvie’s romance is a slow burn, there’s a rewarding payoff to this tale of second
chances born from tragedy. Frantz’s fans won’t be disappointed.”— Publisher’s
Weekly
 “This book is undoubtedly one of the best books I've ever read. I loved the faith
thread, I loved the light in the darkness theme, I loved the characters, I loved the
hope brimming from almost every page. I loved the growth (through every
struggle and triumph), and I loved the history embedded into each detail.”—
Tasha, The Clean Read Book Club
 “Fantastic story! The beautiful writing engages the reader from the beginning...
Laura Frantz's books are exceptional because they evoke an abundance of
emotions beyond the typical novel. I highly recommend this book to all historical
fiction readers.”— Milena Bookish, Goodreads

PURCHASE LINKS

About the Author:
Bestselling, award-winning author Laura Frantz has been writing stories since age seven. She is passionate about all things historical, particularly the 18th century, and her novels often incorporate Scottish themes that reflect her family heritage. She is a direct descendant of George Hume, Wedderburn Castle, Berwickshire, Scotland, who was
exiled to the American colonies for his role in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715, settled in Virginia, and is credited with teaching George Washington surveying in the years 1748-1750. Proud of her heritage, she is also a Daughter of the American Revolution. Though she will always consider Kentucky home, she and her husband live in Washington State.

According to Publishers Weekly, "Frantz has done her historical homework." With her signature attention to historical detail and emotional depth, she is represented by Janet Kobobel Grant, Literary Agent & Founder, Books & Such Literary Agency of Santa Rosa, California. Foreign language editions include French, Dutch, Spanish, Slovakian, German & Polish.




11.19.2023

Of Sea and Smoke ~ Review

Of Sea and Smoke
The Fireborn Epic #2
By Gillian Bronte Adams

This is a fantastic read it follows within hours of the conclusion of book one Of Fire and Ash. And trust me when I say you have to read the series in order! There are so many stories and characters that have come together in this book that if you haven't read the first one, you will be utterly lost, much like Ceridwen finds herself in this book.

This story is from the viewpoints of several characters, all of whom seem destined to play a vital role in the war that has crossed the sea and engulfed more than one nation in the violent quest for power. Ceridwen is The Fireborn and the obvious heir to the throne but for the shame and debt she owes for her brother's death. Then there is Rafi who has been running for so long he doesn't have a place he truly can call home. At least not since the murder of his brother. And then there are his secrets and the lies he lives to hide them. But the one character who seems most shrouded is Jakim. Jakim who is far from his home. Born free, enslaved, freed, and enslaved yet again. He desires nothing more than to return home, yet he feels he has been called to this foreign land at this time for a reason.

From where Of Fire and Ash concluded one felt one had an idea where the story would go to next. Well, it did but then everything went all topsy-turvey and everything got shuffled around. If this hadn't happened so early in the book one would be in despair as to how the book would conclude. Well, it did happen early on, and greater depths were found in our main characters as they struggled to get back what was lost.

This book doesn't lack for anything. All of the characters have depth even those who may only be in it for one or two scenes. The settings are as vast as those seen between hemispheres and continents. There can be richness or starkness and each fits perfectly into place - a tribute to the author's years of work and research that had to go into this book.

I highly recommend this book either as a book in hand or an audio edition (I have both on preorder).

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




About the Book:
He rides a seablood, 
a steed of salt and spray, 
born to challenge the tides.

Six years ago, the wrong brother survived, and nothing will ever convince Rafi Tetrani otherwise. But he is done running from his past, and from the truth. As civil war threatens Ceridwen’s tenuous rule in Soldonia, Rafi vows to fight the usurper sitting on the imperial throne of Nadaar, even if it means shouldering his brother’s responsibilities as the empire’s lost heir.

The stolen shipload of magical warhorses offers just the edge he needs. But the steeds have been demanded in ransom by the emperor’s ruthless assassin, and if Rafi hopes to raise a band of riders, he must first outwit his brother’s murderer.

Yet when his best efforts end in disaster, and an audacious raid sparks an empire-wide manhunt, even forging an unexpected alliance might not be enough to help Rafi turn the tides, let alone outrace the wave of destruction intent on sweeping them all away.

Seas boil and jungles burn in this tempestuous second installment of The Fireborn Epic as the outcast queen, captive missionary, and royal rebel strive to unearth the mysterious power that hungers for their world.

9.19.2023

Shadowcast ~ Review

Shadowcast JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Shadowcast by Crystal D. Grant, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Shadowcast

Shadowcast
The Gateway Trilogy
By Crystal D. Grant

First off, I have to admit this cover just drew me to this book. I know one isn't supposed to judge a book by its cover, but one can certainly let it convince you to at least give the book a second or third look. And anything that reminds me of space or a geode is an automatic attention grabber. So I said, "Yes, to the book."

Mason Gray has allowed the senseless murder of his brother to darken his heart to the point he desires nothing more than to get the Shadowstone so that he might more thoroughly put down those who stole his brother's life. Any and all who align themselves with the Stewart Knights are his enemy. 

When Mason is injured, he manages to deceive Serial Gayle into helping him. Thinking she is helping aid an injured Stewart, she is more than shocked and hurt to learn the truth. Worse, when the truth of her aid comes out, her very life and her freedom are in jeopardy. Until Prince Eric shows compassion on one who was guilty only of compassion and caring.

The world is on the edge, and those who have fallen to the power of the Darkness's seductive allure - promises of vengeance, fear, and worse. While those who fight for the Light feel the power weakening as despair, fear, anger, and like feelings threaten to overtake them.

Who will triumph? The battle for the hearts, minds, and souls has begun. And a single choice could change everything. 

Excellent reading. Perfect for fans of LOTR and Narnia. I highly recommend this for those 14 and up; younger readers who read at a higher level will also enjoy this. 

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: Shadowcast
Series:
The Gateway Trilogy
Author:
Crystal D. Grant
Publisher:
Quill and Flame Publishing
Release Date: September 20, 2023
Genre:
Fantasy Romance (Clean)

He has known nothing but darkness for years. Now it’s time to let it consume him. 

After witnessing the brutal death of his brother at the hands of the Steward Knights, Mason Grey turns to vengeance. Using his Gifts to read and control the minds of others, he climbs the ranks of the Dark Army, determined to earn the coveted Shadowstone-a powerful tool against the light-wielding Stewards. But when he is wounded in battle, he finds himself recovering in the home of a chatty peasant girl...without the use of his Gifts. Even worse, the girl mistakes him for one of the Stewards he despises. 

Seria Gayle longs to be seen as more than the town washerwoman. When she finds an injured Steward in the woods, she welcomes the chance to use her healing skills and hopes it will earn her some respect. But as she nurses the sullen stranger back to health, she discovers he is nothing like the knights she has long admired. 

When Mason's true identity is revealed, Seria is devastated and humiliated. But she is offered a chance at redemption by the very prince that Mason hates. Now Mason struggles between two choices: accept the Shadowstone to avenge his brother or pursue this newfound light in the form of a peasant girl. With time running out and war looming, will Mason and Seria defy their own convictions for a chance at love or stand against one another like they've sworn to do?

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


Crystal D. Grant

About the Author

Crystal D. Grant is a daydreamer who adores freshly-baked cookies and anything with fur or feathers. During the day, she strives to instill a love of books and learning within her young students. As a hearing-impaired, home-school graduate, she found her voice in writing and has had multiple short stories and poems published. When she’s not reading or writing stories that sweep her away to another time and place, she watches classic movies and TV shows that do the same. Or she works on jigsaw puzzles. Crystal currently resides in smalltown Missouri, where she is always looking for space for another scented candle.

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

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a signed copy of Shadowcast, book swag, and exclusive color art from the book!

Shadowcast JustRead Tours giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 18, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 25, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN 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

9.06.2023

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.

8.05.2023

In This Moment ~ Review

In This Moment
Timeless #2
By Gabrielle Meyer

Maggie has inherited her parent's time-crossing gift, but she has inherited both of their abilities, so she lives in three separate time periods. In 1861, she is the daughter of a US Senator and friends with the Lincolns as the nation teeters on the edge of war. In 1941, she lives with her time-crossing parents and is a Navy nurse. At this time, the world is caught up in a war that the US has thus far stayed out of, But Maggie knows all too soon they will join the conflict. And in her third life, she lives in 2001, a medical student well on her way to becoming a surgeon. And a world she has no foreknowledge of.

Yet her time is short; she has mere months left to live in two of her lives. But when you are only 20 years old, how can you choose which lives to give up? Which family do you say goodbye to?

As Maggie struggles to make a decision, she must weigh all her options. She has determined to not fall in love in any timeline so as to not allow romance to make her decision for her. But her heart has other plans, and in each, she meets someone who could sway her decision.

I love this series and I can say with all honesty I would not want to be Maggie and faced with such a decision. How does one decide who to leave behind forever? And how can you be sure you made the right choice in a life where you won't get a second chance, a do-over? And to be that, you have to bury any knowledge you retain of the future forever. That would be so hard, especially if your knowledge could save lives, but at the cost of your own life in that timeline.

This reads best after reading the first book in the series - When the Day Comes. And in my opinion, would make a really good pair of movies if done like the books.

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:
Maggie inherited a gift from her time-crossing parents that allows her to live three separate lives in 1861, 1941, and 2001. Each night she goes to sleep in one time period and wakes up in another. Until that is, she turns twenty-one, when she will have to forfeit two of those lives--and everyone she knows in them--forever.

In 1861, Maggie is the daughter of an influential senator at the outbreak of the Civil War, navigating a capital full of Southern spies and wounded soldiers. In 1941, she is a Navy nurse, grappling with her knowledge of the future when she's asked to join a hospital ship being sent to Pearl Harbor. And in 2001, she's a brilliant young medical student, fulfilling her dream of becoming a surgeon, yet unable to use her modern skills in her other paths.

While Maggie has sworn off romance until she makes her final choice, an intriguing man tugs at her heart in each era. The mysterious British gentleman. The prickly, demanding doctor. The charming young congressman. She's drawn to each man in different ways, only complicating the impossible decision she must make, which looms ever closer.

With so much on the line, how can Maggie choose just one life to keep and the rest to lose?

6.05.2023

Along a Breton Shore ~ Review

Along a Breton Shore
By Arlem Hawks


Armelle Bernard decides she has had enough and will harass the priest who turned in her father for sheltering a family of refugees fleeing the revolutionaries. The punishment for his act of mercy was death. Ignoring the warnings of those closest to her, Armelle puts her life in danger with her act of defiance. In a moment, she's faced with the same punishment as her father.

Maxence Étienne wants to be the best soldier for the République that he can. Believing that bringing liberty to France by throwing off the rule of the monarchy is what is needed, he left everything behind. What Maxence didn't expect was being ordered to execute a young woman for harassing the local priest. Faced with a moral decision, Maxence does what he feels is right and is charged with being a traitor.

To survive, Armelle and Maxence must flee the République army. But any who aid them are endangering themselves.  Armelle's assertive, mischievous, and positive nature is opposite to Maxence's solemn, quiet, and rather grumpy one. Could two such different personalities support one another long enough to get to safety?

Set in the midst of the French Revolution, Along a Breton Shore brings the uncertainty and fear to life for the reader to experience. Everything of the past was being thrown out in favor of the new. Reminders of the way things were before are outlawed, even the months of the calendar have been renamed. Liberty comes with a steep price, and those who have opposing views or even questions take their lives and that of their family into danger. 

I have read books about the French Revolution before, and I will admit I've often gotten bogged down in the battles and violence. This book didn't do that to me. I found this book to be engaging and entertaining while providing adequate information about the political landscape to set the stage but not take over it. I was drawn to both Armelle and Maxence, who seem so opposite to one another and yet, in some ways, not so much. One can't help but read this book from cover to cover, not wanting to put it down. I feel this is one of the best books I've read in which this time and place are a major force in the story, almost another character with its influence on the lives of those there. I would highly recommend this book by Arlem Hawks.

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.

I was appreciative of the character list at the beginning of the book, along with a definition/glossary of pronunciations and common French terms. 

Synopsis:

A soldier and a young woman, on opposite sides of the revolution, must run for their lives across a war-torn France in this gripping novel of friendship, love, and survival.

France, 1794

Maxence Étienne, a soldier for the République, believes fiercely in the revolution that is bringing liberty to France. But even though the monarchy has fallen and Maxence is part of a great cause, he is still searching for a place to belong.

Armelle Bernard is a young woman from Breton whose father was sentenced to death for hiding counterrevolutionaries. She decides to confront the priest who betrayed her father, and as the conflict escalates, she herself is ordered to be executed—an order to be carried out by Maxence.

Maxence has seen his share of violence and bloodshed, but he also carries a tragic secret and can’t bring himself to carry out his assignment. In allowing Armelle to escape, he is forced to combat a fellow soldier, who dies in the struggle.

Though Armelle and Maxence are strangers and on opposite sides of the revolution, they find themselves united as fugitives of the new republic. Now they must find a way to trust each other as they search for a path to peace, and to freedom.

Hardcover
ISBN: 9781639931071
Retail Price: $26.99
Page Count: 368


About the Author:


ARLEM HAWKS
began making up stories before she could write. Living all over the western United States and traveling around the world gave her a love of cultures and people and the stories they have to tell. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications, with an emphasis in print journalism, and he lives in Utah with her husband and four children.

Other Books by Arlem Hawks:

Georgana’s Secret
Beyond the Lavender Fields

4.10.2023

Under the Cover of Mercy ~ Review

Under the Cover of Mercy
By Rebecca Connolly

Under the Cover of Mercy is one of those hidden gems. It is a book that, while interesting to look at, is so much more than its cover appears. Much like its main character Edith Cavell, there is a depth that is the heart of the story. Or, as Edith's second-in-command observes, Edith's Christianity defined her every action. It wasn't a trait of her character but the center of her existence.

Edith Cavell wasn't about to let anyone dictate who she could treat. Nor was she going to be a guard over those the Germans have deemed to be "enemies" to prevent their escape. As a nurse and as the Head Nurse of the Berkendael Medical Institute, she had a duty not only to the wounded but to her own conscience. How could she heal these men only to subject them to further abuses at the hand of the Germans who had taken control of her beloved Brussels? 

With her faith and convictions to guide her, Edith put her life on the line to help those who were injured recover and escape the Germans who would have been captured or succumbed to their injuries. This action placed both her and her hospital in danger, but she couldn't say no when God lay a mission both her very path.

This book is based on the true-life story of Edith Cavell, who dedicated her life to the cause that she felt God had called her to. One has to wonder, after reading Under the Cover of Mercy, just how strong one's own convictions would be in the face of such opposition and risk. Could I do as Edith knowing what discovery would cost if I failed?

This is an excellent book and one I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone who is looking for historical or biographical fiction. The setting of war-torn Brussels would appeal to those who want to learn more about WWI. And anyone who likes to learn about little-known and unsung heroes will appreciate this new offering from Rebecca Connolly.

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:

Can one nurse on a mission of mercy and rebellion turn the tide of WWI?

November 1914

The Great War has come to Brussels, and Edith Cavell, Head Nurse at Berkendael Medical Institute, faces an impossible situation. She has sworn an oath to help any who are wounded, under whatever flag they are found. But Governor von Lüttwitz, the ranking German officer, has ordered her and her nurses to also stand guard over the wounded Allied prisoners of war and prevent them from escaping.

Edith feels that God called her to be a healer, not a jailer. How can she heal these broken boys, only to see them returned to the hands of their oppressors to be beaten again?

So when members of the Belgian resistance, desperate for help, bring two wounded British soldiers to her hospital in secret, she decides she will heal the soldiers, and then help smuggle them out of the hospital to freedom.

With her loyal friend and fellow nurse, Lizzie, by her side, Edith establishes her hospital as a safe house for the resistance, laboring tirelessly to save as many soldiers as she can. Working under the watchful eyes of the German army, Edith faces challenging odds as she fights to bring hope to her small corner of a war-torn world.

Based on a true story, Under the Cover of Mercy is the remarkable account of one woman who defied an entire nation in order to heal those who needed her help the most.

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.

Bookfairs were her carnival, and libraries are her happy place. She received a master’s degree from West Virginia University.

Learn more about Rebecca and her books at rebeccaconnolly.com

Other Books by Rebecca Connolly:

A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice

Advance Praise:

“Remarkable tale based on the real-life of Edith Cavell, head nurse at Berkendael Medical Institute in Brussels in 1914. The war is raging, and British Edith, along with her nurses, tend to patients on both sides of the divide, even the German ones. The one thing she won't do, though, is detain soldiers for the Germans. She is strict in her decision that she and her nurses will care for patients but will not work as prison guards. Members of the Belgian Resistance come to Edith to ask her aid in hiding beaten-down soldiers until they can be treated and then helped to escape. Edith feels compelled to help these men. Soon [the Germans] arrest her, put her on trial, and order the death penalty. Edith draws on her faith and belief in God as her fate is drawn out. Christian and historical fiction readers alike will devour this fast-paced novel of faith and bravery.”

—Booklist

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3.27.2023

Recruit of Talionis ~ Review

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Recruit of Talionis by C.J. Milacci, 
hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Recruit of Talionis

 Recruit of Talionis
 Talionis Series #1
 By C.J. Milacci

 The Recruit of Talionis is an intriguing read. Set sometime in the future,  the world as we know it has been drastically altered by something known as the Demise, and it is in this environment that we are introduced to Bria Averton. Bria is seventeen years old when her life is altered when she is stolen away from her home to an unknown city known as Talionis. 

 What is Talionis? And why she was brought there along with hundreds of other teens is foremost on her mind. All too soon, Bria learns that she is to forget her past and willingly serve Talionis and its ruler, Commander Demetrius Ark, without question. Following rules has always been a thing with Bria, and she isn't about to willingly and blindly serve her captors as they try to turn her into the perfect soldier. But her captors know things about her that they shouldn't, and they are more than happy to use any means possible to force her compliance.

But those who rule and control Talionis don't know Bria and her determination to escape and warn her family of this unknown threat to them. 

This is a harsh world. Punishment for failure or disobedience is severe, and kindness is vulnerability to be leveraged. Welcome to Talionis! This is definitely a dystopian read at its best. Survival is paramount, and betrayal is to be rewarded.

This is an action-packed read that is sure to engage. I will admit I found this to be a book I didn't want to put down. The characters are well-developed, and there are a few I really dislike (I mean, I really, really dislike them). There are a couple characters I can't get a good read on - are they evil? Are they sympathetic to the plight of the recruits? And then there is our small group of recruits determined to resist and not lose themselves to Talionis. Truly an excellent read that is a must-read, in my opinion. I love how it ended so that one knows more is to come. 

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.

Support the Kickstarter campaign to bring book two, Fugitive of Talionis, to print.

About the Book

Title: Recruit of Talionis
Series
: Talionis Series #1
Author
: C.J. Milacci
Publisher
: Fayette Press
Release Date
: November 3, 2022
Genre
: Young Adult Sci-Fi Dystopian

"Forget where you came from. Forget the life you knew. You are now recruits of Talionis!"

A teen with a dark past. A secret military force that kidnaps new soldiers. Can she survive as a Recruit of Talionis? 

America has fallen. Seventeen-year-old Bria Averton grew up in a small town of survivors near the ruins of Portland, Maine. It’s all she’s ever known — until she’s kidnapped along with hundreds of other teens and brought to the city of Talionis. A city no one knew existed. 

The soldiers tell them the intense trainings are for the good of the survivors, and Bria resists being forced into a new life as a recruited soldier. But she soon finds the dangers in the city are greater than she imagined. 

Escape is impossible, and Bria fears drowning in the evil of the city… and the guilt from her own past. But can she find hope, even here?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | BookBub


About the Author

C.J. Milacci

CJ Milacci has found creating to be therapeutic in the chaos of life. Writing is her favorite way to create, and she seeks to take her readers on a grand adventure that begins with a single word. As a referee, she is always relearning the hard lesson that it’s impossible to make everyone happy, and she’s discovered that stories can be found anywhere, even on a lacrosse field. She is passionate about crafting stories of good overcoming evil, finding hope in the midst of seemingly hopeless circumstances, and true acceptance. Always willing to get real about hard issues, C.J. also enjoys the cheesiest of puns. She loves deep conversations, yo-yos, rollerblading, and finding reasons to throw a dance party. She chats about writing, her faith, and the hope found in Jesus, bubble tea, and other fun adventures online (@cjmilacci) and at cjmilacci.com.

Connect with CJ by visiting cjmilacci.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive a print copy of Recruit of Talionis with swag and a $15 Amazon gift card!

Recruit of Talionis JustRead Giveaway
The full tour schedule is linked below. 
The giveaway begins at midnight on March 27, 2023, and 
will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 3, 2023. 
The winner will be notified within 2 weeks of the close of the giveaway 
and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of the prize. 
US only. 
Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

The giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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Recruit of Talionis JustRead Blog Tour

2.24.2023

The Sound of Light ~ Review

The Sound of Light
By Sarah Sundin

What is courage, and what is cowardice? The line that divides them is what is at the heart of this book by Sarah Sundin. Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt and Dr. Else Jensen are both faced with this question as the Nazi's occupation of Denmark continues. What is more effective silent resistance or open opposition? Denmark has adopted a policy of offering "the cold shoulder" to the Nazis, but it has not made them leave. Rather, it appears as if they are allies instead. 

As both Henrik and Else work through what they feel they should do, they are faced with what the consequences will be if they do decide to take a more active, less silent role. Because every action has a reaction, and some are more difficult to live with.

The majority of this book takes place in 1943 Copenhagen, which is a new setting for me in regard to this historical period. So it was interesting to see how the Danish people viewed the situation they found themselves in. Do you take a public stand that could cost you everything? Or do you offer silent disapproval, so that little disruption to your life takes place? It is an interesting concept to contemplate. How do you measure success or failure?

Sarah Sundin's books have never disappointed, and this book is no exception. I like how she offers lesser-known glimpses into this historical period. The characters are well-written and ones with whom I could connect and sympathize with as they made the choices they did. I don't know that I would have been able to be as "quiet" as Else was as she was continually put down by her "boss," but I did appreciate how she took it as an opportunity to both grow and make a difference. I would recommend this book as there is so much depth to it. It would make an excellent book club selection, 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.


About the Book:
When the Germans march into Denmark, Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt exchanges his nobility for anonymity, assuming a new identity so he can secretly row messages for the Danish Resistance across the waters to Sweden.

American physicist Dr. Else Jensen refuses to leave Copenhagen and abandon her research--her life's dream. While printing resistance newspapers, she hears stories of the movement's legendary Havmand--the merman--and wonders if the mysterious and silent shipyard worker living in the same boardinghouse has something to hide.

When the Occupation cracks down on the Danes, these two passionate people will discover if there is more power in speech . . . or in silence. Bestselling author of more than a dozen WWII novels, Sarah Sundin offers pens another story of ordinary people responding to extraordinary circumstances with faith, fortitude, and hope for a brighter future.

9.04.2022

Entrusted ~ Review

Entrusted
Knights of Brethren #6
By Jody Hedlund

The race to save their country from their neighbor is coming to a close as time has run out. The enemy has crossed their border and has advanced deeper into Norvegia. Kristoffer Prestegard is the last Knight of Brethren with any hope of capturing the holy lamp from Swaine's troops. But what he doesn't realize is that there are other forces at work, forces that are bent on toppling King Ansgar and putting Kristoffer on the throne in his stead. 

But Kristoffer's loyalty is to Norvegia and King Ansgar. And he is determined to stop the Dark Warriors, who are aiding King Canute's efforts in taking Norvegia. When he and his squires come face to face with these formidable warriors in the dark of night, Kristoffer never imagined he might come away from the battle with something that could aid him in his quest. Princess Birgitta of Swaine was leading the warriors, holding their blood thirst in check. At least, she was before she became a prisoner.
What follows is a battle of wits and intellect as Kristoffer seeks to prevent his prisoner's escape and Brigitta attempts to lull him into complacency. What neither expected was the spark of attraction to grow between them. Falling in love with the enemy can't happen.

Entrusted is the sixth and final book in the Knights of Brethren series, and it is the definite climax as everything comes together. Will Norvegia withstand the threats, or will she fall as forces within and without conspire against her? As the final book, I can only say, "WOW!" This book was excellent and draws the series to a conclusion that can't be missed. Treachery, betrayal, a kingdom teetering on the brink, and a thoroughly impossible attraction. Yes, Jody Hedlund knows how to weave words so that one enters a world and becomes thoroughly engaged so that when the end comes, one is disappointed that the end has come. 

I do recommend reading all the books in the series as they build upon one another. But the immediate predecessor, Enflamed, is an absolute must, as it too deals with the third quest - the search for the holy lamp and focuses on Kristoffer's family, providing needed background for Entrusted. Now I know this series is over, but I would love a companion series that would touch on some of the other characters and what happens to them. That, in my opinion, is the best endorsement of any book or series when you want more from this world.

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:
During a time when legends were born . . .

ENTRUSTED

The feisty enemy princess, 
the cunning knight holding her captive, 
and the ultimate battle that will determine their fate.

Hoping to minimize the death and destruction of the coming war, Princess Birgitta of Swaine leads the Dark Warriors as part of her brother King Canute’s efforts to take the throne of Norvegia. As she engages in a skirmish with a band of elite Knights of Brethren, she’s kidnapped by Kristoffer Prestegard, a cunning warrior.

While searching for the holy lamp that can help defeat the Dark Warriors, Kristoffer realizes that Swaine has already seized the ancient relic. Since King Canute is fiercely protective of his sister, Kristoffer offers to return Princess Birgitta in exchange for the coveted holy lamp.

While trying to keep his feisty prisoner from escaping, Kristoffer learns that his father and uncle have set in motion a scheme that would give him the kingship of Norvegia. Where will Kristoffer’s loyalties lie, and how will he choose sides without losing everything, including the princess he’s grown to love?

The real story of the Holy Lamp continues . . .

8.27.2022

When the Day Comes ~ Review

When the Day Comes
Timeless #1
By Gabrielle Meyer

Libby is a woman in two worlds, and she must decide which life she will sacrifice. All her life, Libby spends her days in one world and her nights in another because sleep allows her to cross time. And her two worlds couldn't be more different. In 1774, Williamsburg, she is living on the edge of revolution, while in 1914, New York, she is living on the cusp of change. She knows the decision she plans to make - in one life, her family needs her, and her heart belongs to another. But Libby can't make her decision, leaving one of her lives behind until her 21 birthday. 

In 1774, her family works as a public printer. The work is hard and takes much of her day, but she is living through history - seeing and hearing moments that will change not only her life and those around her but also the world. 

In 1914, Libby lives a life of wealth and privilege, and to her mother's consternation she takes an active interest in the cause of suffrage rather than pursuing a marriage to English aristocracy. What Libby doesn't know is that the rumors of war are about to change the world yet again.

When the Day Comes is an intriguing story. What life would one choose if you could only live one? Which family would you give up? What would decide for you the path that you would take? I have to admit I don't know if I could make such a choice. In one life, she is known as a time-crosser, but in the other, she is just a daughter. I understand why Libby chose the path that she did, but still, it was heartbreaking for her as she said her goodbyes silently, unable to share all that was on her heart. This is the first book in a new series, and though this book is complete, there was most definitely an opening made for what could come next (or before, depending on the time and the time-crosser). 

Who would you leave behind, dying to the life and family you willingly gave up?

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:
How will she choose, knowing all she must sacrifice?

Libby has been given a powerful gift: to live one life in 1774 Colonial Williamsburg and the other in 1914 Gilded Age New York City. When she falls asleep in one life, she wakes up in the other. While she's the same person at her core in both times, she's leading two vastly different lives.

In Colonial Williamsburg, Libby is a public printer for the House of Burgesses and the Royal Governor, trying to provide for her family and support the Patriot cause. The man she loves, Henry Montgomery, has his own secrets. As the revolution draws near, both their lives--and any hope of love--are put in jeopardy.

Libby's life in 1914 New York is filled with wealth, drawing room conversations, and bachelors. But the only work she cares about--women's suffrage--is discouraged, and her mother is intent on marrying her off to an English marquess. The growing talk of war in Europe only complicates matters.

But Libby knows she's not destined to live two lives forever. On her twenty-first birthday, she must choose one path and forfeit the other--but how can she choose when she has so much to lose in each life?

12.26.2021

Between the Lines ~ Review

The Lines Between Us
By Amy Green

Gordon Hooper thought Dorie Armitage was the one for him. But then the attack on Pearl Harbor happened and Gordon's pacifist leans came out. For Gordon it wasn't a spur of the moment decision to avoid the war but rather a personal decision that he had determined for his life years ago. Unfortunately, for him Dorie disagreed with his reasoning and his influence over her brother Jack, who also became a conscientious objector. 

Objecting to serving wasn't their goal as they became smokejumpers for the US Army under the oversight of the National Forestry Service. For years, Dorie refused to acknowledge her brother's existence and became a willing and able member of the Women's Army Corps. But when she receives word that Jack was injured in a fire and his recovery is in doubt she does the only thing she can - she investigates Jack's accident. Dorie is convinced she can get to the truth behind Jack's accident and bring the guilty party to justice. She just has to get Gordon the go along with her plan and not reveal her true identity or her purpose for being at the camp.

Between the Lines is an examination of following one's conscience and living with the fallout even when one's views aren't popular and come at great cost personally and professionally.  While some consider Gordon, Jack, and those of like-mindedness to be cowards, were they instead an act of heroism.  

This book is set in the 1940s and the various prejudices that were in effect at that time are briefly touched upon.  This is a look at the point-of-view of two very different people and how these viewpoints brought them to serve their country in how they could serve and live with their own convictions.  At this time if you didn't fit the mold of expectations there was a cost. I enjoyed this book with its honest portrayal of the time - it fits with what my grandmother spoke of and even articles and books one can easily come across with a little research. 

I read this book while listening to the audio version of it. Both are excellent and well worth the time spent. If you enjoy audiobooks for your commute, the narration was well presented. The book's pacing was perfect for engaging one's attention throughout. I highly recommend this book - perfect if you need a book club selection or are just a fan of historical fiction, especially with a WWII era setting.

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

About the Book:
Since the attack on Pearl Harbor, Gordon Hooper and his buddy Jack Armitage have done “work of national importance” in the West as conscientious objectors: volunteering as smokejumpers, parachuting into and fighting raging wildfires. But the number of winter blazes they’re called to in early 1945 seems suspiciously high, and when an accident leaves Jack badly injured, Gordon realizes the facts don’t add up. 

A member of the Women’s Army Corps, Dorie Armitage has long been ashamed of her brother’s pacificism, but she's shocked by news of his accident. Determined to find out why he was harmed, she arrives at the national forest under the guise of conducting an army report...and finds herself forced to work with Gordon. He believes it’s wrong to lie; she’s willing to do whatever it takes so justice will be done.

As they search for clues, Gordon and Dorie must wrestle with their convictions about war and peace and decide what to do with the shocking secrets they discover.