Sleeping In The Sun: A Novel by Joanne Howard

(Thank you to She Writes Press for my copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

When two visitors arrive to the boarding house in India where an American boy is coming of age during the British Raj, truths unravel, disrupting his life and challenging the family’s sense of home. A unique historical angle ideal for fans of The Poisonwood Bible and The Inheritance of Loss.

In the last years of the British Raj, an American missionary family stays on in Midnapore, India. Though the Hintons enjoy white privileges, they have never been accepted by British society and instead run a boarding house on the outskirts of town where wayward native Indians come to find relief.

Young Gene Hinton can’t get out from under the thumb of his three older brothers, and the only person he can really relate to is Arthur, his family’s Indian servant. But when Uncle Ellis, a high-ranking British judge, suddenly arrives and announces he’ll be staying indefinitely in their humble house, far from his prestigious post in Himalayan foothills, life as Gene knows it is interrupted. While his brothers are excited at the judge’s arrival, he is skeptical as to why this important man is hiding out with them in the backwaters of Bengal.

Also skeptical is Arthur. Then an Indian woman appears on their doorstep—and, after growing close to her, he learns the sinister truth about the judge. Torn between a family that has provided him shelter, work, and purpose his whole life and the escalating outrage of his countrymen, Arthur must decide where his loyalties lie—and the Hintons must decide if they can still call India home.

Praise for Sleeping in the Sun:

“Sleeping in the Sun is a stunning novel that grabs your emotions and doesn’t let go.” — Ginny Kubitz Moyer, author of A Golden Life

“Set against the backdrop of India in the 1930s, Sleeping in the Sun tells the story of the Hintons, a family of American missionaries sent to bring Christianity to the city of Midnapore. Told from the point of view of Gene, the Hintons’ youngest son, and Arthur, their Indian servant, this sweeping historical novel flawlessly transports readers to another time and place. Political, racial, and interpersonal conflicts ensure you won’t be able to put it down. I know I couldn’t.” — Susen Edwards, author of What a Trip and Lookin’ for Love

“Exquisitely rendered and highly nuanced ... Sumptuously written and detailed, this novel is destined to become a classic. A triumph!” — Ashley E. Sweeney, author of Eliza Waite

my thoughts:

Wow! Sleeping In The Sun by Joanne Howard is an excellent read. I absolutely LOVED it! Talk about a must-read story.

If you are looking for a literary historical fiction novel, then look no further than Sleeping In The Sun. This book has it all - history, family, drama, scandal, secrets, and so much more. It is truly a terrific story that will have you reading non-stop, because you just have to know what is going to happen next. It's a fantastic reading experience. I loved every minute I spent with this book - it was riveting, unputdownable, and unforgettable. Loved it!

So, what is this amazing story about? Well, it's about the Hinton family living in India. They're missionaries and they are determined to espouse the values of Christianity to the local people. Except, suddenly, Uncle Ellis arrives out of nowhere and suddenly life in the house is thrown for a loop. Hmm...why would a high-ranking official decide to stay in a humble abode in the middle of nowhere? Hmm...someone is keeping a secret. What could it be? Will Gene figure it out; or will his friend, Arthur, the family's Indian servant, figure it out first? And, will this secret create even more chaos in the Hinton household? Whoa! Talk about a riveting read!

Howard's writing is fantastic! Her prose is vivid and emotional. The strength of her storytelling power is exhibited in the ways in which she brings her characters to life and shares their stories so clearly and beautifully with us. She sweeps you away to 1930s India and you are in deep with this family, the country, the culture, all of it - and it is awesome.  Howard is a brilliant writer and Sleeping In The Sun showcases her talent loudly. I can't wait to read more of her work.  And, I would recommend that you grab a copy of this book ASAP - you are going to fall in love with Gene and Arthur, along with Howard's excellent storytelling. Make sure to check it out! 

Thank you to She Writes Press for my copy of this book!

The Book Of Witching: A Novel by C.J. Cooke

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

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

A mother must fight for her daughter’s life in this fierce and haunting tale of witchcraft and revenge from the author of A Haunting in the Arctic.

Clem gets a call that is every mother’s worst nightmare. Her nineteen-year-old daughter Erin is unconscious in the hospital after a hiking trip with her friends on the remote Orkney Islands that met a horrifying end, leaving her boyfriend dead and her best friend missing. When Erin wakes, she doesn’t recognize her mother. And she doesn’t answer to her name, but insists she is someone named Nyx.

Clem travels the site of her daughter’s accident, determined to find out what happened to her. The answer may lie in a dark secret in the history of the Orkneys: a woman wrongly accused of witchcraft and murder four centuries ago. Clem begins to wonder if Erin’s strange behavior is a symptom of a broken mind, or the effects of an ancient curse?

my thoughts:

Wow! Wow! Wow! What a freaking fantastic story! I loved C. J. Cooke's latest novel, The Book of Witching. We get past histories affecting the present day in HUGE and horrifying ways, witches, Scotland, family drama, and so much deliciousness, that you won't be able to put this book down for anything! I absolutely LOVED The Book of Witching to bits! 

Erin was on a hiking trip and now she's in hospital with burns and doesn't know her own mother. Her boyfriend is dead and her best friend is missing. Oh, and her name is not Erin, it's Nyx. Say what?! Yep, talk about a trip gone wrong. Clem, Erin's mom, is beside herself. She's horrified at her daughter's condition and what transpired on the hiking trip, except, what really happened? That is the mystery, because now the cops are wondering if Erin killed her boyfriend and hurt her best friend. And if so, why? Looks like Clem will have to figure out the truth if she wants to save her daughter, and fast. Yikes! 

Cooke has created a terrific tale chock full of mystery and intrigue that will have you reading late into the night. You won't want to miss out! Make sure to grab a copy of The Book Of Witching ASAP!

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

A Wolff in the Family: A Novel by Francine Falk-Allen

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

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

Based on a true story, A Wolff in the Family is a riveting saga of prejudice, passion, and revenge, perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds. What mysterious scandals led a father to abandon the youngest of his children—and for the elder siblings to keep their shame a secret for eighty years? 

Frank and Naomi Wolff were happily married in 1908. She was a Kansas farmgirl; he was a railroad engineer. She was excited to embark upon her role as wife and mother with a hardworking man, and in their early years together they made a life in thriving Ogden, Utah. Despite Frank’s almost-constant absence for his job riding the rails, which left pretty Naomi to raise their children virtually alone, their romantic relationship begat fourteen offspring in eighteen years. Like other lower-middle-class women, Naomi’s life was consumed with caring for her brood, who became helpers as soon as they could fold a diaper—and who, by and by, were required to attend the school of hard knocks as much as public schools. Affection and struggle endured within the family, crowded into a humble house. Despite the respite of occasional family train trips across the plains, the marriage ultimately faced exceptional challenges, just before the Depression era began. 

What scandals led Frank Wolff to abandon his younger children at an orphanage far from home? And why did his elder children keep this a secret for eighty years?

Based on true family history, A Wolff in the Family is a gripping saga permeated with misogyny, prejudice, and passion . . . for fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds.

my thoughts:

Wow! A Wolff in the Family by Francine Falk-Allen is an excellent read! Historical fiction with a bit of a memoir twist, this family saga is one for the ages. I mean it. This story has it all - secrets, drama, loss, love, injustice, and so much more. And it is riveting - you won't be able to put this book down for anything - it's just too damn good. I mean it. Once you start, you must finish and I mean, like you have to turn off your phone and just let yourself get caught up in the story. No interruptions, just reading, reading, reading...until you turn that very last page. It'll be worth it. 

I don't really want to share much about the story, because it is definitely one you must read for yourself. You'll want to experience it all as you delve further into this family's history. It's definitely an emotional and relatable story at times, so get ready to feel all the feels.  A Wolff in the Family is one book you won't forget.

I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read - you won't want to miss out on this one! Make sure to grab a copy ASAP! 

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

The Trial Of Anna Thalberg: A Novel by Eduardo Sangarcia, translated by Elizabeth Bryer

(Thank you to Restless Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

Anna Thalberg is a peasant woman shunned for her red hair and provocative beauty. When she is dragged from her home and accused of witchcraft, her neighbors do not intervene. Only Klaus, Anna’s husband, and Father Friedrich, a priest experiencing a crisis of faith, set out to the city of Würzburg to prove her innocence. There, Anna faces isolation and torture inside the prison tower, while the populace grows anxious over strange happenings within the city walls. Can Klaus and Friedrich convince the church to release Anna, or will she burn at the stake?

Set in the Holy Roman Empire during the Protestant Reformation, The Trial of Anna Thalberg is a story of religious persecution, superstition, and human suffering. While exploring the medieval fear of witches and demons, it delves into enduring human concerns: the historical oppression of women, the inhumanity of institutions, and the question of God’s existence. Frantic in pace and experimental in form, this novel is an unforgettable debut from Mexican author Eduardo Sangarcía.

my thoughts:

The Trial Of Anna Thalberg by Eduardo Sangarcia is historical fiction at its finest. I loved reading all about the ways in which morality, superstition, and religion played vital roles in this story. They helped to show the suffering Anna endured as she dealt with false accusations based on jealousy - all because she was a beautiful redhead!?! How crazy?! Talk about 'he said - she said' at it's worst!

Sangarcia has written a riveting tale about witches, society, and faith. I found myself easily engaged with the story and eager to keep reading. I wanted to find out about these people involved in Anna's fate, along with the history of it all. This was one story that I would not put down for anything - it was just too good to resist. 

I would definitely recommend The Trial Of Anna Thalberg to everyone looking for their next great read - you won't want to miss out on this gem. Make sure to check it out!

Thank you to Restless Books for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Wildcat Behind Glass by Alki Wei

(Thank you to Restless Books for providing with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

For Melia and her sister Myrto, summer means a break from Grandfather’s history lessons and weeks of running free at the seaside with their ragtag group of friends. Best of all, cousin Nikos will visit and tell his fabulous stories about the taxidermied wildcat, which opens its blue glass eye when it wants to do good deeds and its black one when it makes trouble. The black eye must be open lately because all the adults have been acting strangely, arguing about politics and fearful of the police. Soon even the children are divided—who can Melia trust? And can the wildcat help keep her family safe?

Set in Greece during the 1930s, when the nation was torn apart by fascism, The Wildcat Behind Glass is an unforgettable tale of family, humanity, and what it means to be free. From its 1963 release to the dozens of international editions and honors that followed including a Mildred L. Batchelder Award, the novel has enchanted generations of young readers. Now, a fresh English translation—the first in over 50 years—breathes new life into the timeless story.

my thoughts:

A marvelous and unforgettable story that I can't wait to read again and again. The Wildcat Behind Glass by Alki Wei is a wonderful children's book that I would wholeheartedly recommend to everyone. It's a definite must-read!

I loved the story, the characters, the setting, and the writing - it was all superb! I found myself easily engaged right from the start and would not put the book down for anything. I enjoyed every second I spent with Melia, Myrto, Nikos, and the wildcat with a blue glass eye. Their summer adventures made for fun and wondrous storytelling.  And, that is all I will share about the book, because you must experience it for yourself. It's such a special treat to read - you will LOVE it!!

Make sure to get your hands on a copy ASAP - you won't regret it! And, make sure to tell your friends about this story, too - they are going to fall in deep, too. 

Thank you to Restless Books for providing me with a copy of this book!

Serabelle: Where the Wealthy Come to Play by Tavi Taylor Black

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

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

An island sheltered from modern progress. Strict lines between servants and masters. Will crossing them leave her fatally exposed?

Bar Harbor, Maine. 1913. Mabel Rae is smart, reckless, and naïve. So when the ambitious seventeen-year-old joins the staff at a rocky cliffside cottage, she willingly lets the boisterous estate owner's improper advances sweep her off her feet. And the slender young woman dismisses the vulnerability of her position when she discovers she's pregnant with his unacknowledged child.

Brought harshly down to earth after she's caught up in the machinations of a family feud, Mabel decides it's time to take matters into her own hands. But with no money and few rights, she fears a forced marriage to the brutish gardener is her only socially acceptable option.

Is her future forever stunted, or can she become a beacon of change?

In a classic upstairs-downstairs tale, award-winning author Tavi Taylor Black spins an intricate web of idealism's battle against harsh reality. Set at a time when suffrage was at its height, temperance was gaining momentum, and war loomed in Europe, this spellbinding novel shines a light on inequities we still face today.

Serabelle is a darkly humorous work of historical fiction. If you like intricate relationships, lyrical prose, and stories that tackle serious issues, then you'll love Tavi Taylor Black's vivid portrait of the Gilded Age.

my thoughts:

Love, love, loved this excellent story by Tavi Taylor Black! Serabelle: Where the Wealthy Come to Play is historical fiction at its very best! 

Set in the early 1900s in Maine, this is the story of Mabel Rae, a young woman working at the luxe Serabelle, a large estate owned by the Ainsworth-Hunt family. Unfortunately, she catches the eye of the owner and winds up pregnant. Soon, she is caught up in a family drama that leaves her learning one hard truth after another. Fortunately, she does have a friend who manages to help her out, except the option isn't a guaranteed happily ever after. So, the question is, will Mabel Rae ever find happiness? Whoa!

I really enjoyed this story and reading about Maine - such a beautiful setting. Plus, it's always fun to find out about different time periods, like the early 1900s - makes for a fascinating history lesson. And, the characters were definitely interesting to get to know. All in all, this was such a treat to read! I would happily recommend it to everyone. Definitely check it out!

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

The Cemetery Of Untold Stories: A Novel by Julia Alvarez

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

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

Literary icon Julia Alvarez returns with an inventive and emotional novel about storytelling itself that will be an instant classic.
 
Alma Cruz, the celebrated writer at the heart of The Cemetery of Untold Stories , doesn’t want to end up like her friend, a novelist who fought so long and hard to finish a book that it threatened her sanity. So when Alma inherits a small plot of land in the Dominican Republic, her homeland, she has the beautiful idea of turning it into a place to bury her untold stories—literally. She creates a graveyard for the manuscript drafts and revisions, and the characters whose lives she tried and failed to bring to life and who still haunt her.
 
Alma wants her characters to rest in peace. But they have other ideas, and the cemetery becomes a mysterious sanctuary for their true narratives. Filomena, a local woman hired as the groundskeeper, becomes a sympathetic listener as Alma’s characters unspool their secret tales. Among them: Bienvenida, the abandoned second wife of dictator Rafael Trujillo, consigned to oblivion by history, and Manuel Cruz, a doctor who fought in the Dominican underground and escaped to the United States.
 
The characters defy their author: they talk back to her and talk to one another behind her back, rewriting and revising themselves. The Cemetery of Untold Stories asks: Whose stories get to be told, and whose buried? Finally, Alma finds the meaning she and her characters yearn for in the everlasting vitality of stories.
 
Readers of Isabel Allende’s Violeta and Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead will devour Alvarez’s extraordinary new novel about beauty and authenticity that reminds us the stories of our lives are never truly finished, even at the end.

my thoughts:

Love, love, loved this story! The Cemetery Of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez is a delight to read. A book about books sprinkled with magical realism always makes for a rich and imaginative story. And, this one was the perfect mix of history, magic, and inventive storytelling. Such a treat!

Alma is a writer who decides to create a cemetery for her untold stories. Except, the characters in her stories want their stories to be told. And, that is all I will share about this terrific book. Believe me, you are going to want to read it for yourself to experience the magic of Alvarez' storytelling prowess. You are going to love getting to know Alma and her characters. Plus, you'll enjoy Alvarez' writing - lyrical and emotional. The Cemetery Of Untold Stories is a must-read! Make sure to check it out! 

Thank you to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Lost Book of Bonn: A Novel by Brianna Labuskes

(Thank you to William Morrow Paperbacks for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

Brianna Labuskes’ debut historical novel, The Librarian of Burned Books, was released to great success last year—translated into over a dozen languages and published globally. Her newest novel, THE LOST BOOK OF BONN (William Morrow Trade Paperback; on-sale: March 19), continues her literary-themed historical fiction hot streak. Leveraging her decade of experience as a journalist, Brianna’s meticulous research and riveting wordsmithing makes THE LOST BOOK OF BONN an immersive step back in time while still resonating with current events like book banning, protests and uprisings, cultural restitution, and more.

Germany, 1946: Emmy Clarke is a librarian not a soldier. But that doesn’t stop the Library of Congress from sending her overseas to Germany to help the Monuments Men retrieve and catalog precious literature that was plundered by the Nazis. The Offenbach Archival Depot and its work may get less attention than returning art to its rightful owners, but for Emmy, who sees the personalized messages on the inside of the books and the notes in margins of pages, it feels just as important.

On Emmy’s first day at work, she finds a poetry collection by Rainer Maria Rilke, and on the title page is a handwritten dedication: “To Annelise, my brave Edelweiss Pirate.” Emmy is instantly intrigued by the story behind the dedication and becomes determined to figure out what happened.

The hunt for the rightful owner of the book leads Emmy to two sisters, a horrific betrayal, and an extraordinary protest against the Nazis that was held in Berlin at the height of the war. Nearly a decade earlier, hundreds of brave women gathered in the streets after their Jewish husbands were detained by the Gestapo. Through freezing rain and RAF bombings, the women faced down certain death and did what so few others dared to do under the Third Reich. They said no.

Emmy grapples with her own ghosts as she begins to wonder if she’s just chasing two more. What she finds instead is a powerful story of love, forgiveness, and courage that brings light to even the darkest of postwar days.

THE LOST BOOK OF BONN is an intricate depiction of the importance of books during wartime as well as an evocative example of the power of women-led social & political change(fitting as publication coincides with Women’s History Month).The novel encapsulates the resilience and strength of women in the face of great adversity and highlights history’s forgotten heroines along with their overlooked contributions—ripples of which are still felt today! Masterfully crafted, THE LOST BOOK OF BONN is the very best of what historical fiction aims to be.

my thoughts:

Wow! What a magnificent book! The Lost Book of Bonn by Brianna Labuskes is historical fiction at its very best. The writing is excellent. The characters are unforgettable. Their story is unputdownable. This is one book you won't want to miss out on - it's a must-read for everyone! Make sure to get your hands on a copy ASAP!

So, what is this awesome book about? History. WWII to be exact. We get the before, during, and after via three women: two sisters (Annelise and Christina) and the librarian (Emmy) who seeks out their story. Emmy's in Germany helping the Monuments Men return books to their rightful owners when she comes across a poetry collection with an inscription that catches her attention. She soon finds herself on a mission to find out what happened to the owner of the book. And, so we learn about each sister and what happened when they both chose to follow very different paths - Hitler Youth Group and Edelweiss Pirates (a rebellious group) - in a brutal and devastating war. Along the way, Emmy finds herself reflecting on her own choices. And, that is all I will share about this amazing story. You just have to read it for yourself to experience it. This book is riveting and thought-provoking. Definitely makes you want to read more about WWII and women's roles during that time period. Such a great book!

I would happily recommend The Lost Book of Bonn to fans of Labuskes and to anyone looking for their next great read - you are going to fall in deep with this one!

Thank you to William Morrow Paperbacks for providing me with a copy of this book!

Mrs. Lowe-Porter: A Novel by Jo Salas

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

 

about book:

A fascinating reimagining of the overlooked, complicated life of Thomas Mann's translator, Helen Lowe-Porter.

The literary giant Thomas Mann balked at a female translator, but he might well owe his standing in the Western canon to a little-known American woman, Helen Lowe-Porter. Based closely on historical source material, Jo Salas's novel Mrs. Lowe-Porter sympathetically reveals a brilliant woman's struggle to be appreciated as a translator and find her voice in a male-dominated culture. Married to the charming classicist Elias Lowe, whom she met and fell in love with while in Munich, the story weaves one woman's journey as her husband Elias's career soars and her translation work earns Mann the Nobel Prize. The novel celebrates Helen Lowe-Porter as she learns to risk stepping out from the long shadow of the dominating men of her life to become a person of letters in her own right.

my thoughts:

Love, love, loved Mrs. Lowe-Porter by Jo Salas! The writing was top notch - compelling, insightful, and unputdownable. The story was intriguing and unforgettable. I couldn't help but get caught up in Helen's story - she was smart, talented, capable, and determined in a world built on overlooking women. She was Thomas Mann's first English translator. She gave so much to her work and her family. And yet, she wanted so much for herself - to be a writer in her own right. This book is her story. 

Oh my, what a marvelous read! I truly enjoyed getting to know Helen Lowe-Porter. I feel like Salas has captured Helen's life authentically and realistically. She has written a historical fiction biography of this woman who I never knew I needed to know about and it is seriously the best. I'm so glad I read this book. Thank you, Jo Salas!

Thank you to JackLeg Press and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Swan's Nest: A Novel by Laura McNeal

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

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

A tender and engrossing historical novel about the unlikely love affair between two great 19th-century poets, Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett

On a bleak January day in 1845, a poet who had been confined to her room for four years by recurrent illness received a letter from a writer she secretly idolized but had never seen. “I love your verses with all my heart, dear Miss Barrett,” Robert Browning wrote, “and I love you too.”
 
Elizabeth Barrett was ecstatic. She was famous for her poetry but completely cut off from the kind of international travel that Browning used to fuel his obscure, unsuccessful, innovative poems, one of which was written from a murderer’s point of view. They began an affectionate correspondence, but Elizabeth kept delaying a visit. What would happen when he saw her in person? What was Robert really like? Could she persuade her father and brothers that he was honorable, even though she had never met his family? And what would happen if she gave in to Robert’s wild proposal that they go to Italy to see whether the sun could cure her?
 
McNeal brilliantly tells the story of how Robert and Elizabeth fell in love with each other’s words and shocked her conservative, close-knit family and the literary world. Sensitively and lyrically written, as rich as the lovers' own poetry, The Swan's Nest will sweep up readers in the triumphant story of two people forced to choose between a safe, stable life and the love they felt for each other.

my thoughts:

Wow! The Swan's Nest by Laura McNeal is historical fiction at its very best! The writing is terrific, the story is unputdownable, and the history is unforgettable. I loved reading this book! 

Okay, so what did I enjoy about this lovely novel? Here goes:

1. The book's cover. I just love the image and the way she's looking right at you. It's like you can tell she's hiding a secret or four. I love it!

2. The title. Led me to Elizabeth's poem, The Romance of the Swan's Nest. 

3. Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning's love story. I didn't know the details and was definitely intrigued. Love letters - over 500 of them! A secret romance. A secret wedding! Italy! Oh, my! I loved reading all about it!

4. The Barrett's family fortune from a Jamaican sugar plantation. Slavery, social injustice, racism all were divulged. Along with Elizabeth's brother's relationship with his 'housekeeper'. 

5. Elizabeth's tyrannical father who refuses to let his children marry. 

6. Elizabeth's illness, which kept her in bed and using drugs like morphine. 

7. Robert's proposal, secret visit, and LOVE for Elizabeth.

8. Elizabeth choosing to follow her heart.

9. A marriage that proved love is the answer.

Oh, what a wonderful story! True romance is at the core, but McNeal captures the the history of the 19th century so vividly - you can't help but find yourself time traveling and wandering alongside these famous poets. What a treat! 

I would happily recommend The Swan's Nest by Laura McNeal to anyone and everyone looking for their next historical fiction read - you will fall in deep with this book! Make sure to check it out!

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

New Release: The Women: A Novel by Kristin Hannah

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

 

Check it out! A new book by Kristin Hannah - hurrah! I can't wait to grab a huge cuppa and dive right in. I love historical fiction and this one sounds terrific!

Here's a summary (from Goodreads):

From the celebrated author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds comes Kristin Hannah's The Women—at once an intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided.

Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path. 

As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over- whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets—and becomes one of—the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost. 

But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam. 

The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era.

How amazing does that sound?! A definite must-read, right? And, perfect for those chilly winter nights when you want to snuggle up with a riveting read. I know that I'm excited, especially since Hannah's writing is top notch and her storytelling skills are excellent. New releases always make for a happy bookish day. Make sure to get your hands on a copy of The Women - you won't want to miss out! 

Happy reading!

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!