The Last Lifeboat: A Novel by Hazel Gaynor

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

Inspired by a remarkable true story, a young teacher evacuates children to safety across perilous waters, in a moving and triumphant new novel from New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor.
 
1940, Kent : Alice King is not brave or daring—she’s happiest finding adventure through the safe pages of books. But times of war demand courage, and as the threat of German invasion looms, a plane crash near her home awakens a strength in Alice she’d long forgotten. Determined to do her part, she finds a role perfectly suited to her experience as a schoolteacher—to help evacuate Britain’s children overseas.
 
1940, London : Lily Nichols once dreamed of using her mathematical talents for more than tabulating the cost of groceries, but life, and love, charted her a different course. With two lively children and a loving husband, Lily’s humble home is her world, until war tears everything asunder. With her husband gone and bombs raining down, Lily is faced with an impossible keep her son and daughter close, knowing she may not be able to protect them, or enroll them in a risky evacuation scheme, where safety awaits so very far away.
 
When a Nazi U-boat torpedoes the S. S. Carlisle carrying a ship of children to Canada, a single lifeboat is left adrift in the storm-tossed Atlantic. Alice and Lily, strangers to each other—one on land, the other at sea—will quickly become one another’s very best hope as their lives are fatefully entwined.

my thoughts:

Love, love, love! The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor is the epitome of historical fiction at its very, very best! I mean it, this book has it all in spades. The writing is superb, the characters are unforgettable, and the story is compelling. The book is unputdownable. I found myself reading late into the night, because I had to read it all at once - it was just so damn good. 

So, what is this awesome story about? It's about courage, history, and hope. Based on true events, this is the harrowing story of Operation Pied Piper during WWII - when children were shipped to Canada, New Zealand, etc. in a bid for their safety during the war. Gaynor writes the story from two perspectives: a mother named Lily, who struggles to decide whether she should have her children evacuated, especially as the bombs are raining down in London; and, Alice, a schoolteacher who decides to help evacuate British children overseas. Alice boards the SS Carlisle, along with Lily's children, Georgie and Arthur - the plan is to help get the children to Canada.  The ship has a convoy of protection, sailing alongside. Except, the convoy ends when they reach a certain point out at sea, thereby leaving the ship venerable to attack. And, it gets torpedoed. The ship sinks.  A lifeboat is left afloat and Alice is on it, along with some children, and crew from the ship. In London, the parents are finding out that the ship has sunk and they are reeling in fear and grief, eager to find out what happened to their children - Lily is one of these parents. And, that is all I will write about this amazing and beautiful story. You must check it out!!

I would happily recommend The Last Lifeboat to anyone and everyone - you are going to fall in LOVE with this story!! Make sure to get your hands on a copy of this book ASAP!! 

 

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Paris Agent: A Novel Of World War II by Kelly Rimmer

 

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

For fans of fast-paced historical thrillers like Our Woman in Moscow and The Rose Code, Rimmer’s brilliant new novel follows three female SOE operatives as their lives intersect in occupied France, and the double agent who controls their fate.

Twenty-five years after the end of the war, an aging Marcel Augustin is reflecting on his life during those perilous, exhilarating years as a British SOE operative in occupied France—in particular the agent who saved his life during a mission gone wrong, whose real name he never knew, nor whether she survived the war. Piqued by her father’s memories, Marcel’s daughter Charlotte begins a search for answers that resurrects the unrest and uncertainty from that period of his life. What follows is the story of Eloise, Josie and Virginia, three otherwise ordinary, average women whose lives intersect in 1943 when they’re called up by the SOE for deployment in France. Taking enormous risks to support the allied troops with very little information or resources, the three women have no idea they’re at the mercy of a double agent within their ranks who's causing chaos within the French circuits, whose efforts will affect the outcome of their lives.

As Charlotte’s search for answers continues, new suspicions are raised about the identity of the double agent, with unsettling clues pointing to her father, and more mysteries are unearthed from the last days of the war about the eventual fates of Eloise, Josie and Virginia.

my thoughts:

Wow. What an amazing story. I absolutely LOVED Kelly Rimmer's latest novel, The Paris Agent: A Novel of World War II. It was historical fiction at its very best -  gripping, well written, and unputdownable. Talk about the perfect book to settle down with on a long weekend. 

Noah aka Marcel is reminiscing about his time as a British SOE operative in WWII, specifically the time an agent saved his life. He never knew her name or whether she survived the war.  So, his daughter, Charlotte, decides to search for answers. Through her research we find the stories of three women: Eloise, Josie, and Virginia, all deployed for France during the war in service to the SOE. We also find out about a double agent who put everyone's lives in danger. The more information Charlotte uncovers, the more she starts to wonder about her own father's role in the war. And, the more we find out about what happened to Eloise, Josie, and Virginia. 

Rimmer has created an amazing story with a fascinating cast of characters that will have you reading all day and night, just to find out what happened. We get code names, dual timelines, the terror of war, and the compelling stories of the agents sacrificing their lives for the greater good. It is riveting. And the descriptions are vivid and rich with detail, that you can't help but see, smell, and taste everything in the story. The Paris Agent is a dynamic duo of a book - top notch writing and masterful storytelling. You will fall in deep with this story!

I would happily recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Make sure to check it out!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Lipstick Bureau by Michelle Gable

 

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

Inspired by one of the OSS’s few female operatives, Barbara Lauwers, a WWII novel set at OSS’s Morale Office in Rome, which was responsible for creating black propaganda and distributing it behind enemy lines. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Bookseller's Secret.

Inspired by a real-life female spy, a WWII-set novel about a woman challenging convention and boundaries to help win a war, no matter the cost.

“A gripping, fascinating read.” —Kelly Rimmer, New York Times bestselling author of The Warsaw Orphan

1944, Rome. Newlywed Niki Novotná is recruited by a new American spy agency to establish a secret branch in Italy's capital. One of the OSS's few female operatives abroad and multilingual, she's tasked with crafting fake stories and distributing propaganda to lower the morale of enemy soldiers.

Despite limited resources, Niki and a scrappy team of artists, forgers and others—now nicknamed The Lipstick Bureau—find success, forming a bond amid the cobblestoned streets and storied villas of the newly liberated city. But her work is also a way to escape devastating truths about the family she left behind in Czechoslovakia and a future with her controlling American husband.

As the war drags on and the pressure intensifies, Niki begins to question the rules she's been instructed to follow, and a colleague unexpectedly captures her heart. But one step out of line, one mistake, could mean life or death…

my thoughts:

The Lipstick Bureau by Michelle Gable is a terrific story based on real-life spy Barbara Lauwers. Set during WWII, this story introduces us to Niki, a Czech immigrant who worked for the OSS in Rome. Her job was to spread propaganda that would lower the morale of enemy soldiers. Niki worked alongside a small crew in Rome and they became known as The Lipstick Bureau and were quite successful. Of course, she worried about her family, her marriage, and her life - after all wartime is fraught with danger and the unknown. 

Gable has created a fascinating story using a few historical facts and real-life characters to shine light on a smart and determined woman dedicated to do her part in helping to stop the war. I found myself easily transported alongside Niki as she settles in Rome to take on her new role as a spy for the OSS, which eventually became the CIA.  I loved meeting her colleagues, reading about her work, and learning about her life during WWII. Talk about an interesting and engaging story!

I would happily recommend The Lipstick Bureau to fans of Gable's work and to anyone looking for their next great read - you are going to fall in deep with this one. Make sure to check it out!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Secret Society of Salzburg by Renee Ryan

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

From the author of The Widows of Champagne, and inspired by true events, comes a gripping and heartwrenching story of two very different women united to bring light to the darkest days of World War II.
 
London, 1933
 
At first glance, Austrian opera singer Elsa Mayer-Braun has little in common with the young English typist she encounters on tour. Yet she and Hattie Featherstone forge an instant connection—and strike a dangerous alliance. Using their friendship as a cover, they form a secret society with a daring goal: to rescue as many Jews as possible from Nazi persecution.
 
Though the war’s outbreak threatens Elsa and Hattie’s network, their efforts attract the covert attention of the British government, offering more opportunities to thwart the Germans. But Elsa’s growing fame as Hitler’s favorite opera singer, coupled with her secret Jewish ancestry, make her both a weapon and a target—until her future, too, hangs in the balance.
 
From the glamorous stages of Covent Garden and Salzburg to the horrors of Bergen-Belsen,  two ordinary women swept up by the tide of war discover an extraordinary friendship—and the courage to save countless lives.

my thoughts:

Wow! Just, wow.  What an amazing story! The Secret Society of Salzburg by Renee Ryan is an excellent read and the perfect example of what historical fiction should be. Chock full of history and based on real life events, this story has everything: dramatic scenes, unforgettable characters, tense emotions, and the message of what hope and determination can do during horrific times. Talk about a must-read!!

Vera and Hattie are sisters living in London. They are huge fans of famed opera singer, Elsa Mayer-Braun. The two sisters manage to save enough money to see Elsa in concert - talk about exciting! Well, it gets even more exciting when they actually meet the opera singer and wind up befriending her. How cool is that? Except, this unlikely friendship is unfolding during scary and unknown times - the rise of Hilter.  Unfortunately for Elsa, her husband has befriended the Nazis and she is expected to accompany him to dinners with them and become Hitler's favorite singer. All the while she worries about her Jewish ancestry being discovered. As for Vera and Hattie, they are working tirelessly to save Jewish people, by helping to smuggle them to safety, along with their belongings and whatever useful information they can gather. The British government takes notice of the sister's network and offers to help them with their mission, since the two are working against the Nazis. Of course, the work gets even more dangerous as Hitler's power grows. 

Ryan has written a terrific story involving real-life people that is just so inspiring - these women are true heroes! Their courage and bravery is exemplary. You can't help but wonder at how strong in determination and hope these women must have had to believe that they could do these dangerous and life-threatening missions time and time again. Talk about true faith. 

I would happily recommend The Secret Society of Salzburg to anyone and everyone - you are going to LOVE this book! Make sure to check it out!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

Angels of the Resistance: A Novel by Noelle Salazar

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

The second WWII novel by Noelle Salazar, bestselling author of the THE FLIGHT GIRLS, follows two teenage sisters in the Netherlands who are recruited as part of the Dutch Resistance effort against the Nazis. Inspired by true events, this moving story about ordinary young women who become extraordinary heroes will appeal to fans of Pam Jenoff and Kate Quinn.

Netherlands, 1940. In the small town of Haarlem, fourteen-year-old Lien lives a simple life with her mother and sister in a farmhouse on the outskirts of the city. Elsewhere in Europe bombs are falling, but the pall on their house is more from the recent loss of their baby sister as a result of an accident Lien believes she could have prevented than from the oncoming war. Until the Nazis invade the Netherlands and their lives are overturned once more.

Recruited by their late father’s friend, Lien’s older sister Elif reluctantly joins the Dutch resistance movement. Spurred by the injustice of the Nazis’ treatment of Dutch citizens as well as a terrifying bombing of their small town, and forever seeking atonement for her baby sister’s death, Lien begs to join as well. The sisters’ youthful, innocent looks and ability to disappear into a crowd make them the perfect resistance soldiers. Together with a handful of like-minded youth, including the gallant Charlie with whom Lien forms an instant connection, the sisters are trained and begin to carry out missions, from distributing and collecting information to moving Jewish families from hiding places to luring and killing influential Nazis. The toll of the war and their work is evident in their collective psyches, and Lien starts to make mistakes that could cost her and her newfound friends their lives. Until one very personal mission shows her that the atonement she desperately seeks for her sister’s death cannot be found at the end of the barrel of a pistol, but must be found from within her heart.

my thoughts:

Wow. Just, wow. What a fantastic story! Engrossing, heartbreaking, and captivating. I was hooked right from the start and could not stop reading this book until I found out what would happen next. I fell in deep with Lien and Elif, two sisters working against the Nazis during WWII.  Recruited as teenagers, the two young women underwent training for the Dutch Resistance. Their youthful appearance helped them immensely, as no one would see them as a threat.  Able to go unnoticed, they carried weapons, messages, and aided in moving people from one safe house to the next. The two sisters worked hard and were determined to do their part. Talk about a riveting and emotional read!

Angels of the Resistance is a must-read novel for fans of Noelle Salazar and for anyone looking for their next great historical fiction read - you are going to LOVE this book to bits! The writing is stellar and the storytelling is captivating. What a wonderful book! I would definitely recommend this book - make sure to check it out!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

That Summer in Berlin: A Novel by Lecia Cornwall

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

In the summer of 1936, while the Nazis make secret plans for World War II, a courageous and daring young woman struggles to expose the lies behind the dazzling spectacle of the Berlin Olympics. 

German power is rising again, threatening a war that will be even worse than the last one. The English aristocracy turns to an age-old institution to stave off war and strengthen political bonds—marriage. Debutantes flock to Germany, including Viviane Alden. On holiday with her sister during the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Viviane’s true purpose is more clandestine. While many in England want to appease Hitler, others seek to prove Germany is rearming. But they need evidence, photographs to tell the tale, and Viviane is a genius with her trusty Leica. And who would suspect a pretty, young tourist taking holiday snaps of being a spy?

Viviane expects to find hatred and injustice, but during the Olympics, with the world watching, Germany is on its best behavior, graciously welcoming tourists to a festival of peace and goodwill. But first impressions can be deceiving, and it’s up to Viviane and the journalist she’s paired with—a daring man with a guarded heart—to reveal the truth.

But others have their own reasons for befriending Viviane, and her adventure takes a darker turn. Suddenly Viviane finds herself caught in a web of far more deadly games—and closer than she ever imagined to the brink of war.

my thoughts:

Wow! That Summer in Berlin by Lecia Cornwall is historical fiction at its very best! What an excellent story! I devoured it in one sitting and did not want it to end. I fell in deep with this book. It was just so dam good. Riveting, thrilling, and intriguing describe this book perfectly. So do the words superb and unforgettable. Yeah, this book has it all - top notch writing that makes for a compelling read; characters you can't let go, because their stories are unputdownable; and storytelling that is gripping, thoughtful, and exciting. Oh, what a book!

It's 1936. The Olympics are being held in Berlin, Germany. The Nazis are planning WWII. Spies are infiltrating countries, events, and political parties. Oh, and England is sending debutantes to the Olympics to help smooth over political relations. So, Viviane and her sister head to Berlin. She's brought her Leica to snap photos of their trip. Of course, her main mission is to capture photographs showing Germany's true allegiances with regards to the war. Its dangerous work and Viviane is determined to succeed. The only thing is that everyone is suspect and Viviane's guise as a tourist may not be as safe as she had believed. Yikes! Drama, danger, and so much more make Viviane's trip to Berlin quite an adventure. 

Make sure to get your hands on a copy of That Summer in Berlin ASAP - you are going to LOVE this book!! 

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Winter Orphans: A Novel by Kristin Beck

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

In a remote corner of France, Jewish refugee Ella Rosenthal has finally found a safe haven. It has been three years since she and her little sister, Hanni, left their parents to flee Nazi Germany, and they have been pursued and adrift in the chaos of war ever since. Now, they shelter among one hundred other young refugees in a derelict castle overseen by the Swiss Red Cross.

Swiss volunteers Rösli Näf and Anne-Marie Piguet uphold a common mission: to protect children in peril. Rösli, a stubborn and resourceful nurse, directs the colony of Château de la Hille and has created a thriving community against all odds. Anne-Marie, raised by Swiss foresters, becomes both caretaker and friend to the children, and she vows to do whatever is necessary to keep them safe.

 

However, when Germany invades southern France, safeguarding Jewish refugees becomes impossible. Château de la Hille faces unrelenting danger, and Rösli and Anne-Marie realize that the only way to protect the eldest of their charges is to smuggle them out of France. Relying on Rösli's fierce will and Anne-Marie's knowledge of secret mountain paths, they plot escape routes through vast Nazi-occupied territory to the distant border. Amid staggering risk, Ella and Hanni embark on a journey that, if successful, could change the course of their lives and grant them a future.

my thoughts:

Wow. What a powerful and emotional story. The Winter Orphans by Kristin Beck is the epitome of historical fiction - it is an excellent read!

In order to survive the Nazis, Ella and Hanni have fled from their home and their family. They have found refuge in France, specifically a safe haven called, the Chateau de la Hille. It's a decomposing castle that houses a hundred refugee Jewish children like them. The Swiss Red Cross oversees this safe haven, while Rosli and Anne-Marie are the two volunteers who manage it all. Their mission is to protect these children. And let me just say, they have their work cut out for them. Germany has invaded France and that means that they want these children - the oldest first. The Chateau de la Hille is in danger. What will happen to Ella and Hanni? Will Rosli and Anne-Marie be able to save these children's lives? How will they survive insurmountable obstacles that seem to show up every which way? 

Beck has written a heartbreaking and suspenseful story that will have you on the edge of your seat. I know that I found myself feeling tense and anxious as I read this story. My heart was aching all the way through. I was captivated right from the start. Beck's writing is mesmerizing, and her storytelling is engaging and so powerful. The Winter Orphans is truly a must-read! Not only will you want to read more of Beck's works, but you will want to read more about the amazing women she wrote about in her story - they were real-life people who sacrificed everything to save innocent children. The Winter Orphans is a wonderful story about real-life heroes. 

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Girl from Guernica: A Novel by Karen Robards

 

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

New York Times bestselling author Karen Robards returns with a riveting story of intrigue, deception and bravery in the face of war, inspired by Picasso’s great masterpiece Guernica:

On an April day in 1937, the sky opens and fire rains down upon the small Spanish town of Guernica. Seventeen-year-old Sibi and her family are caught up in the horror. Griff, an American military attaché, pulls Sibi from the wreckage, and it’s only the first time he saves her life in a span of hours. When Germany claims no involvement in the attack, insisting the Spanish Republic was responsible, Griff guides Sibi to lie to Nazi officials. If she or her sisters reveal that they saw planes bearing swastikas, the gestapo will silence them—by any means necessary.  

As war begins to rage across Europe, Sibi joins the underground resistance, secretly exchanging information with Griff. But as the scope of Germany’s ambitions becomes clear, maintaining the facade of a Nazi sympathizer becomes ever more difficult. And as Sibi is drawn deeper into a web of secrets, she must find a way to outwit an enemy that threatens to decimate her family once and for all.  

Masterfully rendered and vividly capturing one of the most notorious episodes in history, The Girl from Guernica is an unforgettable testament to the bonds of family and the courage of women in wartime.

my thoughts:

Historical fiction at its very best! The Girl from Guernica by Karen Robards is a must-read for anyone and everyone looking for their next great read - trust me, you are going to LOVE this book to bits!

Talk about top notch writing - vividly rich details that set the scenes so clearly; historical facts enmeshed within the descriptions of the town, the war, and the people; emotional scenes that will pull at your heartstrings; fully developed characters that you will fall in deep with; and a story that will transport you to another time and place. The Girl from Guernica is a damn good book. 

I found myself caught up with Sibi and Griff right from the start. I wanted to know them, root for them, and find out what would happen to them. Reading about the war, their roles during it all, their fears stemming from it all, and their lives being threatened by it all - oh, my! What a suspenseful and emotional story! I couldn't put it down for anything, and I found myself reading until late in the night. I just had to find out what would happen to Sibi and Griff. How much more would the war take from them? And, I couldn't help but look up Picasso's painting, Guernica - a powerful piece of art that inspired Robards to create this powerful historical story. Talk about creativity making the case against war! I loved this book! 

I would happily recommend The Girl from Guernica - make sure to get your hands on a copy ASAP!!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Inheritance: A Novel by Joann Ross

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

When conflict photographer Jackson Swann dies, he leaves behind a conflict of his own making when his three daughters, each born from a different mother and unknown to each other, discover that they’re now part owners of Maison de Madelaine, the family’s Oregon vineyard—a once famous business struggling to recover from a worldwide economic collapse.

After a successful career as a child TV star, a disastrous time as a teen pop star, and now a successful author, Tess is, for the first time in her life, suffering from a serious case of writer’s block and identity crisis.

Charlotte, brought up to be a proper Southern wife, has given up her own career goals to support her husband while having spent the past year struggling to conceive a child to create a more perfect marriage. On the worst day of her life, she discovers her beloved father has died, she has two sisters she’d never been told about, and her husband has fallen in love with another woman.

Natalie, daughter of Jack’s long-time mistress, has always known about both half-sisters. Still mourning the loss of her mother, the death of her father a year later is a devastating blow. And she can’t help feeling that both her sisters may resent her for being the daughter their father decided to keep.

As the sisters reluctantly gather at the family vineyard, they're enchanted by the legacy they've inherited, and by their grandmother’s rich stories of life in WWII France and the love she found with a wounded American soldier who brought her to Oregon where they started Maison de Madelaine

my thoughts:

Family drama centered on sisters who have just found out about each other via an inheritance their father has bequeathed them - a vineyard. Talk about a must read! How could I not want to read Joann Ross' novel, The Inheritance?! And, let me just say, I'm so glad that I did - the book was amazing! Here's why I loved it so much:

1. I love family dramas - they are always the best stories, because there are always secrets that shock and shake the family up and down. 

2. Sister drama - OMG! Yep, anything to do with sisterhood and I'm in. Especially, since there is always going to be jealousy, petty dramas, and with this book - sisters finding out about each other!? What the what?! 

3. A family vineyard - an inheritance that ties these new-to-each other sisters together - I love it! Talk about learning about your father and your family's history.

4. A grandmother and her stories. Love, love, love!

5.  The writing is superb. It's intoxicating with its rich details, vivid descriptions, and layers of family history. 

6. The sisters. Different as night and day, but sharing pain and grief over their father and their recent discovery of one another. Whoa!

7.  The story...I loved the drama, the sisters, and reading all about their grandmother's WWII experiences. So good!!

The Inheritance is one book I won't soon forget. I loved it to bits! And, I would happily recommend it to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read - you will LOVE this book!!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Bookseller's Secret: A Novel of Nancy Mitford and WWII by Michelle Gable

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

From New York Times bestselling author Michelle Gable comes a dual-narrative set at the famed Heywood Hill Bookshop in London about a struggling American writer on the hunt for a rumored lost manuscript written by the iconic Nancy Mitford—bookseller, spy, author, and aristocrat—during World War II.

In 1942, London, Nancy Mitford is worried about more than air raids and German spies. Still recovering from a devastating loss, the once sparkling Bright Young Thing is estranged from her husband, her allowance has been cut, and she’s given up her writing career. On top of this, her five beautiful but infamous sisters continue making headlines with their controversial politics.

Eager for distraction and desperate for income, Nancy jumps at the chance to manage the Heywood Hill bookshop while the owner is away at war. Between the shop’s brisk business and the literary salons she hosts for her eccentric friends, Nancy’s life seems on the upswing. But when a mysterious French officer insists that she has a story to tell, Nancy must decide if picking up the pen again and revealing all is worth the price she might be forced to pay.

Eighty years later, Heywood Hill is abuzz with the hunt for a lost wartime manuscript written by Nancy Mitford. For one woman desperately in need of a change, the search will reveal not only a new side to Nancy, but an even more surprising link between the past and present…

my thoughts:

Wow! What a book! I just LOVED Michelle Gable's latest novel, The Bookseller's Secret: A Novel of Nancy Mitford and WWII - it was such a treat to read!

First off, Gable has written a fictionalized account of Mitford's life during WWII when she managed the Heywood Hill bookshop and it is fascinating. I've never read Mitford, but after this book I am most definitely picking up copies of her books ASAP. Secondly, I just loved the dual timelines, reading about Mitford one minute and then reading about Katie Cabot the next. Katie is present day in this timeline and she is looking for a lot wartime manuscript written by Nancy Mitford! Talk about connections. Thirdly, London! Yep, I will happily read any book set in London and this one was such fun to dive into. Fourth, a book about books - how could I resist!?

Gable has created a delicious story about Nancy Mitford that will captivate you hook line and sinker. I just loved getting to know this Bright Young Thing and her life during WWII at the Heywood Hill bookshop in London - talk about British history! I loved the descriptions of the culture, the people, the books, and Nancy. Would she write again? And, if so, would we ever get the chance to read her work? Enter Katie, a woman who's life is not exactly going to plan. She decides that she must find Nancy Mitford's missing manuscript if she wants to make a name for herself. Katie winds up teaming up with Felix, another book hunter. Soon the two are knee deep in Mitford's world as they search high and low for the manuscript. Talk about a riveting story!

I would happily recommend The Bookseller's Secret to fans of Gable and to anyone looking for their next great read - you won't want to miss out on this one!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Black Swan Of Paris by Karen Robards

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

For fans of The Alice Network and The Lost Girls of Paris comes a thrilling standalone by New York Times bestselling author Karen Robards about a celebrated singer in WWII occupied France who joins the Resistance to save her estranged family from being killed in a German prison.

In Occupied France, the Resistance trembles on the brink of destruction. Its operatives, its secrets, its plans, all will be revealed. One of its leaders, wealthy aristocrat Baron Paul de Rocheford, has been killed in a raid and the surviving members of his cell, including his wife the elegant Baronness Lillian de Rocheford, have been arrested and transported to Germany for interrogation and, inevitably, execution.

Captain Max Ryan, British SOE, is given the job of penetrating the impregnable German prison where the Baroness and the remnants of the cell are being held and tortured. If they can't be rescued he must kill them before they can give up their secrets.

Max is in Paris, currently living under a cover identity as a show business impresario whose star attraction is Genevieve Dumont. Young, beautiful Genevieve is the toast of Europe, an icon of the glittering entertainment world that the Nazis celebrate so that the arts can be seen to be thriving in the occupied territories under their rule.

What no one knows about Genevieve is that she is Lillian and Paul de Rocheford's younger daughter. Her feelings toward her family are bitter since they were estranged twelve years ago. But when she finds out from Max just what his new assignment entails, old, long-buried feelings are rekindled and she knows that no matter what she can't allow her mother to be killed, not by the Nazis and not by Max. She secretly establishes contact with those in the Resistance who can help her. Through them she is able to contact her sister Emmy, and the sisters put aside their estrangement to work together to rescue their mother.

It all hinges on a command performance that Genevieve is to give for a Gestapo General in the Bavarian town where her mother and the others are imprisoned. While Genevieve sings and the show goes on, a daring rescue is underway that involves terrible danger, heartbreaking choices, and the realization that some ties, like the love between a mother and her daughters and between sisters, are forever.

my thoughts:

What a fantastic story!! Karen Robards has created a world filled with espionage, love, family, war, and singing that is just amazing. I absolutely LOVED The Black Swan Of Paris - it was such a thrilling and entertaining read. I was gripped from the start and could/would not put the book down for anything. It was just soooo good!!

Its WWII.  Genevieve is a singer beloved by the Nazis.  This means she can pretty much go about as she pleases and can perform anywhere.  She loathes the Nazis, but needs must during war times prevents her from expressing her true feelings. Instead she hides her real identity from everyone and keeps on singing. Her manager is named Max and he's also keeping secrets.  The two are a formidable pair who keep things strictly business in order to keep on performing and surviving.  Estranged from her family, Genevieve has no idea how they are faring during WWII.  Turns out, her parents are involved with the Resistance and her mother has been taken. She's being tortured for information and once they get what they want from her she will be executed. Genevieve gets in touch with her sister and formulates a plan to help their mother escape from the Nazis. Its dangerous, smart, and must be put into action immediately.  The only catch is, who can Genevieve really trust in these times?

Talk about a thrilling and captivating read! I found myself in deep and unable to stop reading late into the night. I just had to find out what would happen next. Would they succeed with their plan? Would Genevieve's mom survive? Would Genevieve survive? What about Max? So many questions and thoughts throughout this engrossing and exciting story!

I would absolutely recommend The Black Swan Of Paris to fans of Karen Robards and anyone looking for their next great read - you will LOVE this book to bits!!





Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Lost Girls Of Pars by Pam Jenoff

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

From the author of the runaway bestseller The Orphan’s Tale comes a remarkable story of friendship and courage centered around three women and a ring of female secret agents during World War II.

1946, Manhattan

One morning while passing through Grand Central Terminal on her way to work, Grace Healey finds an abandoned suitcase tucked beneath a bench. Unable to resist her own curiosity, Grace opens the suitcase, where she discovers a dozen photographs—each of a different woman. In a moment of impulse, Grace takes the photographs and quickly leaves the station.

Grace soon learns that the suitcase belonged to a woman named Eleanor Trigg, leader of a network of female secret agents who were deployed out of London during the war. Twelve of these women were sent to Occupied Europe as couriers and radio operators to aid the resistance, but they never returned home, their fates a mystery. Setting out to learn the truth behind the women in the photographs, Grace finds herself drawn to a young mother turned agent named Marie, whose daring mission overseas reveals a remarkable story of friendship, valor and betrayal.

Vividly rendered and inspired by true events, New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff shines a light on the incredible heroics of the brave women of the war and weaves a mesmerizing tale of courage, sisterhood and the great strength of women to survive in the hardest of circumstances.

my thoughts:

Every time I think I like historical fiction, I read a book that makes me realize how much I LOVE historical fiction. Pam Jenoff's latest tale does just that.  The Lost Girls Of Paris was not only chock full of awesome historical information, but it was an awesome story that shed light on the contributions women made during WWII - something that needs to be written about ALL the time. Women are a force and the lengths they go to to help their country is immeasurable.

Told in dual narratives, this story takes place in 1946 NYC and during WWII in England and France. We get to learn about a network of female spies and their mission to Occupied France - it is absolutely riveting! Grace lives in NY and is on her way to work one morning when she spots an abandoned suitcase. Curiosity aroused, she takes a peek and finds photographs of women.  Determined to figure out this new mystery, she takes the suitcase and starts to work out who it belonged to and who those women in the photographs are.  Grace traces the luggage to Eleanor - a woman who was placed in charge of recruiting, training, and managing female spies. A task she took to heart, knowing full well the risks that these women took in order to ensure a safer world.  Maria is one of the spies that Eleanor recruited.Through these women, we get to find out about a part of history and the role women played in it.  We get to learn about becoming a spy, the dangers that ensued, and the mystery of what happened once you were out in the field.  Grace digs deeper and deeper until she gets answers to the questions that keep popping up as she looks into the photographs. Its fascinating, engaging, and unputdownable. Reading about Eleanor and Maria was simply the best. Their stories were are not to be missed. I absolutely LOVED finding out about them.

The Lost Girls Of Paris was truly a fantastic read. It had history, drama, mystery, and intrigue - I couldn't help but get caught up in it all. In fact, I read this book in one sitting - I just had to! I needed to find out what happened to these women.

I would happily recommend The Lost Girls Of Paris to fans of Jenoff's work and fans of historical fiction - you will LOVE this book to bits!!
Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: The Lost Girls Of Paris

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Dunkirk:The History Behind The Major Motion Picture by Joshua Levine

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

THE EPIC TRUE STORY OF DUNKIRK—NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE, WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY CHRISTOPHER NOLAN, AND STARRING KENNETH BRANAGH, TOM HARDY, AND MARK RYLANCE

The Battle of Dunkirk, in May/June 1940, is remembered as a stunning defeat, yet a major victory as well. The Nazis had beaten back the Allies and pushed them across France to the northern port of Dunkirk. In the ultimate race against time, more than 300,000 Allied soldiers were daringly evacuated across the Channel. This moment of German aggression was used by Winston Churchill as a call to Franklin Roosevelt to enter the war. Now, historian Joshua Levine explores the real lives of those soldiers, bombed and strafed on the beaches for days on end, without food or ammunition; the civilians whose boats were overloaded; the airmen who risked their lives to buy their companions on the ground precious time; and those who did not escape.

my thoughts:

Nonfiction is where its at! Then again, I'm on a bit of a nonfiction kick lately, so I am loving learning about everything (celebrities, history, authors, Paris).  Especially, when the topic I am learning about has been made into a film I am dying to see - starring Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy and Harry Styles (I have to admit I'm curious to see if he can act).  Dunkirk is a must-see film for WWII buffs and anyone interested in learning about history, specifically the Dunkirk Evacuation.  I will admit to having no knowledge regarding Dunkirk until I saw the film's trailers.  Of course, when I did, I just knew that I had to read about it.  Luckily, I was provided with the opportunity to do just that - thank you, TLC Book Tours!!

Yep, I received a copy of Joshua Levine's awesome book, Dunkirk: The History Behind the Major Motion Picture and dove right in.  I settled down with a huge cuppa, my copy of the book, and the weekend ahead of me.  And let me just say, I didn't stop reading for anything.  I was mesmerized - absolutely hooked on learning all about Dunkirk: the soldiers, the civilians, the airmen, the small boats, and the battle.  I learned about a part of WWII history that is viewed as a successful failure.  I learned about the Dunkirk Spirit.  And I learned about the courage and bravery exhibited during WWII - a true story of survival.  Definitely eye-opening, engaging, and informative - Dunkirk is a must-read!!  Oh, and did I mention the film aspect of the book.  Levine includes an interview with Christopher Nolan (the director of Dunkirk) and some behind the scenes information of the filming of this historical event.  Definitely an interesting way to connect the history and the film - I really enjoyed it.  In fact,  now I can't wait to watch the film even more so than before:

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: Dunkirk

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

A Brief Stop On The Road From Auschwitz by Göran Rosenberg

Look what's new in paperback today:

(Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

"On the 2nd of August 1947, a young man gets off a train in a small Swedish town to begin his life anew. Having survived the ghetto of Lodz, the death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, and the transports during the final months of Nazi Germany, his final challenge is to survive the survival. In A BRIEF STOP ON THE ROAD FROM AUSCHWITZ (Other Press Paperback Reprint * 2/28/17), Göran Rosenberg returns to his own childhood in order to tell the story of this young man, his father; walking at his side, holding his hand, following him along the road from Auschwitz, trying to foster a lost intimacy. It is also the story of the chasm that soon opens between the world of the child, permeated by the optimism, progress and collective oblivion of post-war Sweden, and the world of the father, darkened by the long shadows of the past. Beautiful, powerful, and deeply moving, this is the story of what came after Auschwitz; a world of silence, suppression, oblivion, guilt and shame. Melancholy, wise and beautiful, A BRIEF STOP ON THE ROAD FROM AUSCHWITZ is a measured examination of the past and a loving portrait of a father.

This compulsive read is a remarkable story with enormous ramifications for events playing out on the global stage today.  The insights gleaned from Göran’s experiences offer a unique perspective on the legacy that will be inherited by millions of refugees in crisis today, as well as the continual abuse inflicted on minority communities around the world.  Göran is primed to discuss an original perspective on the core lessons to be drawn from the horrors of the Holocaust, lessons that cut across religious, geographic, and ethnic lines. This is very simply a new classic of the memoir genre."

Wow! Talk about a powerful and unforgettable story.  A son's retelling of his father's life after Auschwitz - beyond brilliant! This book has garnered tons of acclaim for its truth, its history, and its message on survival.  It is a sobering piece of work that conjures up the past with such clarity and preciseness.  The writing is superb - it explores humanity, pain, memory, and hope with such openness and realism.  I just LOVED this book.  Its been days since I read it and I can't seem to stop thinking about it.  I would definitely recommend it to fans of nonfiction, especially those interested in history.   This is one book you won't want to miss.


Thank you to Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Gods of Heavenly Punishment: A Novel by Jennifer Cody Epstein

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

One summer night in prewar Japan, eleven-year-old Billy Reynolds takes snapshots at his parent’s dinner party. That same evening his father Anton–a prominent American architect–begins a torrid affair with the wife of his master carpenter. A world away in New York, Cameron Richards rides a Ferris Wheel with his sweetheart and dreams about flying a plane. Though seemingly disparate moments, they will all draw together to shape the fate of a young girl caught in the midst of one of WWII’s most horrific events–the 1945 firebombing of Tokyo.

Exquisitely-rendered, The Gods of Heavenly Punishment tells the stories of families on both sides of the Pacific: their loves and infidelities, their dreams and losses–and their shared connection to one of the most devastating acts of war in human history.

my thoughts:

Hmm.  Where to start?  This book isn't exactly an easy one to write about, because so much happens and so many characters are involved.  Its the sort of story where you learn about every one's perspective regarding one HUGE event.  In this case, that MAJOR event was WWII - so, yeah, there is a lot to get through.  We have the before, during, and aftermath of the horrors surrounding war, along with the American and Japanese peoples personal opinions and experiences.  The writing is rich, layered, and emotional - it engages you, grips you, and destroys you.  I mean it, you are spent after reading this book.  How could you not be, when the author takes you on such an emotional roller coaster ride?  I found myself shutting my eyes when I came to certain parts, because I didn't want to imagine the horrific things I was reading about.  And other times, I couldn't help but tear up and sob over the pain that overwhelmed these characters.  

The Gods of Heavenly Punishment by Jennifer Cody Epstein is a wonderfully written book that manages to capture a multitude of voices and portray them all in such a realistic manner.  The politics, peoples, and circumstances that consumed the world at that time are represented in this epic novel.  I would most definitely recommend this book to all fans of historical fiction, specifically those with a predilection for anything having to do with WWII.  You will devour this book in one sitting and be haunted by it days after - that's how I've been ever since reading this fantastic story.  I absolutely loved The Gods of Heavenly Punishment!!

Here's the TLC Book Tour schedule for: The Gods of Heavenly Punishment

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!