Category: historical fiction

Categories
historical fiction

Letters Across the Sea -WWII-Canada

384 pages Simon & Schuster Canada publisher Pub Date Apr 27 2021

ABOUT THE BOOK

Inspired by a little-known chapter of World War II history, a young Protestant girl and her Jewish neighbour are caught up in the terrible wave of hate sweeping the globe on the eve of war in this powerful love story that’s perfect for fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

If you’re reading this letter, that means I’m dead. I had obviously hoped to see you again, to explain in person, but fate had other plans.

1933

At eighteen years old, Molly Ryan dreams of becoming a journalist, but instead she spends her days working any job she can to help her family through the Depression crippling her city. The one bright spot in her life is watching baseball with her best friend, Hannah Dreyfus, and sneaking glances at Hannah’s handsome older brother, Max.

But as the summer unfolds, more and more of Hitler’s hateful ideas cross the sea and “Swastika Clubs” and “No Jews Allowed” signs spring up around Toronto, a city already simmering with mass unemployment, protests, and unrest. When tensions between the Irish and Jewish communities erupt in a riot one smouldering day in August, Molly and Max are caught in the middle, with devastating consequences for both their families.

1939

Six years later, the Depression has eased and Molly is a reporter at her local paper. But a new war is on the horizon, putting everyone she cares about most in peril. As letters trickle in from overseas, Molly is forced to confront what happened all those years ago, but is it too late to make things right?

From the desperate streets of Toronto to the embattled shores of Hong Kong, Letters Across the Sea is a poignant novel about the enduring power of love to cross dangerous divides even in the darkest of times—from the #1 bestselling author of The Forgotten Home Child.

MY THOUGHTS

Letters Across the Sea is an incredible historical fiction book based on actual events in history. We start off in 1933, Told from the point of view of Molly Ryan’s family and mainly Molly herself. Molly’s family is Protestant, but she has many friends and neighbors who are Jewish.

Times are carefree with her brother’s playing baseball and her best friend’s brother Max having caught her eye. This carefree time doesn’t last long and Molly longs to be a journalist but must take any low paying job she can get her hands on as the Depression settle in. Signs warning the Jews not to apply for a job there litter Toronto’s city streets.


Hitler’s hateful ideas have filtered in and unrest has run rampant with disastrous results for both Max and Molly’s family.
The ill-equipped and unprepared Canadian military was sent to Hong Kong without proper training or ammunition. Those who didn’t die were to become prisoners of war.


I have read many WWII books but none that have so completely covered this angle of it. Finely researched the sacrifices these men and women made are heartbreaking, but we see such resilience from them. I learned so much from this book.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Genevieve Graham is the Globe & Mail, Toronto Star, and USA Today bestselling author of several novels, including #1 INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLERS Letters Across the Sea and The Forgotten Home Child—which was #1 across Canada for 11 weeks in 2020, and became the #5 bestselling Canadian fiction novel of 2020.

Genevieve graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Music, worked in advertising, marketing, and fundraising, then became a stay-at-home mom. In 2007, Genevieve decided to try writing a book using everything she’d learned from years of reading, focusing on historical fiction. Upon moving to Nova Scotia, she was suddenly surrounded by Canadian history she knew nothing about. Alarmed by what she’d never learned, she has made it her mission to bring Canadian history to life, writing one book per year. Bluebird, publishing April 2022, will be her 7th novel. She lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Have a wonderful day. Thanks for stopping in.

Categories
historical fiction

Lost in Paris by Elizabeth Thompson

351 pages Gallery Books April 13, 2021 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

When a deed to an apartment in Paris turns up in an old attic trunk, an estranged mother and daughter must reunite to uncover the secret life of a family matriarch—perfect for fans of The Little Paris Bookshop and The Beekeeper’s Daughter.

Hannah Bond has always been a bookworm, which is why she fled Florida—and her unstable, alcoholic mother—for a quiet life leading Jane Austen-themed tours through the British countryside. But on New Year’s Eve, everything comes crashing down when she arrives back at her London flat to find her mother, Marla, waiting for her.

Marla’s brought two things with her: a black eye from her ex-boyfriend and an envelope. Its contents? The deed to an apartment in Paris, an old key, and newspaper clippings about the death of a famous writer named Andres Armand. Hannah, wary of her mother’s motives, reluctantly agrees to accompany her to Paris, where against all odds, they discover great-grandma Ivy’s apartment frozen in 1940 and covered in dust.

Inside the apartment, Hannah and Marla discover mysterious clues about Ivy’s life—including a diary detailing evenings of drinking and dancing with Hemingway, the Fitzgeralds, and other iconic expats. Outside, they retrace her steps through the city in an attempt to understand why she went to such great lengths to hide her Paris identity from future generations.

A heartwarming and charming saga set in the City of Lights, Lost in Paris is an unforgettable celebration of family and the love between a mother and a daughter.

MY THOUGHTS

Lost in Paris is one of those books that languished on my to read shelf for four years. I’m so glad I finally got a chance to read it.
This is historical fiction with a time split and it finally makes itself know with a connection between each time period for a nice wrap-up.


In modern times Hannah Bond is estranged from her mother. Does her mother even deserve the title of mother, pregnant as a teen she wasn’t ready for motherhood and Hannah’s grandmother raises her giving her what her mother can’t, a warm home, parental guidance and more.

Her mother shows back up unexpectedly with some news after not seeing Hannah for years when her grandmother passes away. By this time Hannah has moved out and is in an apartment of her own. Her mother brings shocking news, the both of them have inherited a Paris apartment they knew nothing about from the family matriarch.


This long-deserted apartment and trying to sort it with a mother not in the best mental shape who can barely take care of herself after always being dependent on others is not what Hannah needs now or any time in her future.


As a diary from the 1920’s is discovered and clues given to a long-forgotten time period we see family matters coming together. I really enjoyed this time period of the story; it seems like such a marvelous and exciting time.


A reassessment of family and how an absence and rediscovery can lead to astonishing and heartwarming results.
I enjoyed the descriptions of Paris past and present and the characters, some pretty quirky add to the authentic flavor of the story. I’m glad I got a chance to read this finally.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Elizabeth Thompson is a lifelong Francophile with a degree in journalism. She loves food, books, and art. Lost in Paris is her first novel for Simon and Schuster‘s Gallery Books. She currently resides in Tennessee with her husband and their Pembroke Welsh corgi, Luna.

Have a great weekend. Thanks for stopping in.

Categories
historical fiction

His Perfect Bride (Bride Ships: New Voyages Book 3)

284 pages February 18, 2025 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sage Rhodes is eager to escape Manchester, England, and leave behind the pain of a broken engagement. When she’s offered the job as a lady’s maid to Augusta Lennox, who is traveling to Vancouver Island to visit her brother, Sage happily accepts the position.

Not so long ago, brilliant engineer Jackson Lennox faced a terrible tragedy during the building of a suspension bridge in the Fraser River Valley and becomes a recluse in his fine home in Victoria. When his sister and her beautiful lady’s maid arrive on his doorstep, he’s reluctant to welcome the visitors.

Organized and efficient, Sage starts to bring order not only to Jackson’s home but also to his life. Even though at first they clash, the attraction between the beauty and the beast is undeniable. Still, they do their best to ignore it. But when Augusta goes missing and they’re thrust into a dangerous adventure together, circumstances require them to pretend they’re married.

Will the charade—and their forced proximity—change their hearts…or ruin them both forever?

Forced proximity

Broken past engagement

Beauty and the beast

Different social classes

Reclusive hero

Opposites attract

Fake relationship/marriage

MY THOUGHTS

Having read the other two books in the Bride Ships: New Voyages series I was so excited to read another book in this series. I love that it continues on with characters and situations we’ve met in past books and also introduces us to new characters as well.


The characters are genuine and realistic and it’s well plotted as you could picture these things actually happening.
The descriptions make it easy to visualize the going Ons as they happen.
This is another lovely and exciting book taking place in the Pacific Northwest as we take another trip there.


I enjoyed setting sail once again and personally I couldn’t imagine myself being onboard for such a long trip but sometimes things become of the utmost importance that you don’t think you could possibly have done.
The love story was sweet and moved at a realistic pace. I enjoyed how protective her was of her and how she put such a priority on finding her sister.


A true Beauty and the Beast story as she discovers the true beauty behind the gruff outer appearance. A real winner and I can’t wait to read the next book in the story as it’ll continue this exciting series.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over fifty books and is the winner of numerous awards. She writes sweet, clean historical romances with plenty of sizzle (but without the spice).

Enjoy your day and thank you for stopping in.

Categories
historical fiction

Tempest at Annabel’s Lighthouse: (A Dual Timeline Gothic Mystery and Suspense Novel Set in a Small Town)

368 pages Bethany House Publishers April 01,2025 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

In 1874, a battered woman awakens atop a forgotten gravesite by Lake Superior. Identified only by the locket around her neck inscribed with the name Rebecca, she seeks refuge with an elderly lighthouse keeper named Edgar. But as Rebecca struggles to remember who she is, she finds herself haunted by the lingering memories of Annabel, a mysterious woman who perished in the unforgiving waves of Lake Superior years earlier. With the spirit of Annabel seemingly reawakened, and an unknown adversary on the hunt to silence Rebecca once and for all, there is more at stake than just reclaiming her own memories. Rebecca must reclaim Annabel’s as well.

In the present day, author and researcher Shea Radclyffe escapes to the lighthouse outside a historic mining town in Michigan, seeking clarity about her failing marriage. Instantly drawn to the lighthouse’s landlord, Shea contends with the vengeful legend of Annabel’s ghost and a superstitious community that has buried the secrets surrounding a decade-old murder. As the secrets harbored around Annabel’s lighthouse unravel, Shea must navigate a fight of torn loyalty, self-discovery, and the haunting forces of love and a vengeance that should have drowned a century before.

MY THOUGHTS

Tempest at Annabel’s Lighthouse is another book by Jaime Jo Wright. This one doesn’t have the degree of creepiness some of the other books have but it’s just as good. This one has a slower build up than her previous books.


The locals keep the ghostly legend alive of the haunted lighthouse.
Taking place in two time periods this time slip takes place on the southern shores of Lake Superior.

The setting of the wild storms and crashing waves against the shores sets the book up for the perfect haunting story. Lighthouses are fascinating with many things both good and bad connected with them, ships coming in and rescues.


There are many secrets in both time periods and some unexpected family drama. When the story got going there were some very unexpected twists and turns that kept me reading late into the night, as it always is with the author’s books.

I love a lighthouse story, and this one kept my attention. I excitedly look forward to whatever the author will have out next.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.

MEET THE AUTHOR

aime Jo Wright, multi award-winning author–including the Christy and Daphne du Maurier awards–is a coffee-fueled and cat-fancier extraordinaire. She has entwined her life with the legendary Captain Hook, residing serenely in Wisconsin’s rural woodlands. Her literary vocation involves penning chilling Gothic tales, a baffling change from that of Austenites, with a strong preference to the master of dark, Edgar Allan Poe. Two mischievous urchins adorn their family, who keep their mother on her toes – providing an exhilarating amount chaos.

Visit her at: http://www.jaimewrightbooks.com and listen to her podcast MadLit Musings on your favorite podcast player or at http://www.madlitmusings.com

I hope you’re having a nice day. Thank you for stopping in.

Categories
historical fiction

Whispers of Fortune: (A Western Christian Historical Romance Book Series with Adventure and Treasure Hunting) (Golden State Treasure) 

304 pages Bethany House Publishers F4b 4,2025 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK



In a land of gold and grit, can two hearts uncover the true treasure?

In 1875 California, Brody MacKenzie arrives at the Two Harts Ranch on a mission to find his runaway brothers, worried they may have fallen into harm. Instead, he discovers them thriving at the ranch’s school and orphanage under the care of Ellie Hart, a woman with a heart as resilient as the land she calls home. His options limited, Brody reluctantly takes on the role of ranch doctor, and he forms an unexpected bond with Ellie, who’s kept a steady eye on Brody’s two rapscallion brothers. When the boys show him a mysterious journal that has been guiding their travels and may hold the key to a lost treasure, Brody and Ellie are captivated by the possibility of a thrilling adventure.

With winter approaching and his brothers threatening to bolt again, Brody and Ellie race against time to decipher cryptic clues and unearth the hidden fortune. But along the way, old adversaries resurface, threatening their newfound affection and the safety of those at the ranch.

Whispers of Fortune is a kisses-only western historical romance with plenty of witty banter, action-packed adventure, and a heartwarming happily-ever-after. It’s the first book in the Golden State Treasure series and can be read as a standalone.

MY THOUGHTS

Such an exciting start to the newest series by Mary Connealy, the Golden State Treasure series. This takes place in 1875 in California on the Two Harts Ranch.


I see this has a great mix of characters with a variety of personalities. They mix together to form an interesting and exciting book.
A nice blend of faith, brotherly love, a bit of a mystery and romance kept my attention.

I’ve enjoyed every book I’ve read by the author. There’s a bit of western ruggedness with a bit of hardship that you have to keep reading to see if things will improve.

I loved the concept of the treasure hunt which occupied a good bit of the book. I loved the reunion of the brothers, and the teen brothers are rascals for sure, but I can see them settling down in future books.

This book is the perfect set up for the upcoming books in the series and I can’t wait to read them.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.

MEET THE AUTHOR

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

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

Find Mary online at:

Her website: maryconnealy.com

Her blog for aspiring writers: Seekerville

Her blog for lovers of western romance: Petticoats & Pistols

Sign up for her newsletter at maryconnealy.com/newsletter

Mary is on Facebook at facebook.com/maryconnealy

And Twitter at twitter.com/maryconnealy

Give an extra smile to someone today. Thank you for stopping in.

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Categories
historical fiction

The Garden by Nick Newman

313 pages G.P. Putnam’s Sons publisher Pub Date Feb 18 2025 

ABOUT THE BOOK

A darkly beautiful, eerie, hypnotic novel about two elderly sisters living alone at the edge of the world.

In a place and time unknown, two elderly sisters live in a walled garden, secluded from the outside world. Evelyn and Lily have only ever known each other. What was before the garden, they have forgotten; what lies beyond it, they do not know. Each day is spent in languid service to their home: tending the bees, planting the crops, and dutifully following the instructions of the almanac written by their mother.

When a nameless boy is found hiding in the boarded house at the center of their isolated grounds, their once-solitary lives are irrevocably disrupted. Who is he? Where did he come from? And most importantly, what does he want?

As suspicions gather and allegiances falter, Evelyn and Lily are forced to confront the dark truths about themselves, the garden, and the world as they’ve known it.

MY THOUGHTS

I enjoy trying new authors. The book wasn’t anything like I expected it to be. I guess I was expecting something along the lines of The Secret Garden but not even close.


I expected two charming elderly sisters living together as neither had married and they’ve never ventured outside of their garden walls. Instead, the sisters fight constantly. Taking place mostly in modern times, of what year it is we have no idea.

We also have a lot of flip flopping back and forth from this modern time to whenever the mother was alive. The mother put a lot of restrictions on the sisters, they couldn’t do many things and even in their elderly age she still has control over them with their thoughts.

The sisters spend their days taking care of bee hives, farming, cleaning and raising chickens. These are elderly women who have no help and no contact with the outside world.

No mention of anything modern like tv’s or phones. All of the sudden a ragged boy shows up and totally disrupts their world, one sister likes him the other doesn’t.


Part of the huge house is boarded up from the time the mother was living, and it still is. The mother had a huge influence on them and still does.
The whole book has a strange and unsettling vibe to it. I have many questions that were not answered in the book and I’m sure there won’t be a sequel to answer them.

I was given a complimentary copy of the book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Nick Newman is the author of THE GARDEN.

He has also published four critically acclaimed children’s novels under the name Nicholas Bowling.

Thank you for stopping in today.

Categories
historical fiction Romance

Of Gold and Shadows: (A Victorian Historical Romance with Mystery and Intrigue Set in Oxford, England) (Time’s Lost Treasures) 

368 pages Bethany House Publishers September 24, 2024

ABOUT THE BOOK

The shadows hold secrets darker than they ever imagined. . . .

In 1888 Victorian England, Ami Dalton navigates a clandestine dual life. By day, she strives to establish herself as a respected Egyptologist, overcoming the gender biases that permeate academia. But with a heart for saving black-market artifacts from falling into the wrong hands, she is most often disguised as her alter ego, the Shadow Broker.

After eight years in India, Oxford’s most eligible bachelor, Edmund Price, has come out of the shadows to run for Parliament and is in search of an Egyptologist to value a newly acquired collection. Expecting a renowned Oxford professor, Edmund instead finds himself entangled with Ami, the professor’s determined daughter. As they delve into the treasures, their connection deepens, but trouble emerges when a golden griffin–rumored to bear the curse of Amentuk–surfaces, and they’re left to wonder if the curse really is at play, or if something more nefarious is hiding among the shadows. . . .

MY THOUGHTS

There are author’s whose books you will read if they’re around but don’t go out of your way to find them. This is not one of those authors for me. I must read all of the author’s books, couldn’t dare to miss one. They are filled with intrigue and action and keep me on my toes wondering how things will end up as the story progresses.
Danger is around every other corner and had me holding my breath as I was reading.


I enjoyed seeing a nontraditional role a woman had in this Victorian England taking pace regency style historical fiction book.
Growing up Ami Dalton has been impressed with the work her father does as an Egyptologist, hearing the talk and seeing the artifacts her father works with she became enamored with this type of thing as well. Getting the education to become one as a woman hasn’t been easy and many don’t take her seriously.


When she hears of precious artifacts falling into the wrong hands on the black market, she knows she must do everything in her power to save them and preserve them.


Edmund Price is looking for an Egyptologist to work with him to get a very valuable piece and he expects a renowned Oxford professor, a male to work with him. This is not what he gets.


A golden griffin rumored to bear the curse of Amentuk is found the danger starts. With danger abound can they escape with their lives intact? I loved learning about the Egyptian artifacts and the descriptions of the behind the scenes work of the Egyptologist is fascinating. A spellbinding read that has me anxiously awaiting the next in the series.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

I hear voices. Loud. Incessant. And very real. Which basically gives me two options: choke back massive amounts of Prozac or write fiction. I’ve been writing since I discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. I seek to glorify God in all that I write–except for that graffiti phase I went through as teenager.

Categories
historical fiction

Cloaked in Beauty: (A Christian Western Historical Romance Fairy Tale Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty) (Texas Ever After) 

352 pages Bethany House Publishers December 17, 2024 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Trust no one in the shadows of the piney woods . . .

Letty Hood has spent the last fifteen years of her life hidden away with her grandmother in the backwoods of east Texas to escape the deadly schemes of an uncle who wants her dead. Now, with her twenty-first birthday on the horizon, she is forced to accept the escort of a stranger and return to Houston in secret so she can claim a birthright that will make her one of the wealthiest women in Texas. If she lives long enough to inherit.

Pinkerton agent Philip Carmichael has one duty: get the Radcliffe heiress home alive. Expecting a spoiled girl, Philip is surprised to encounter a woman of rare strength with a kind soul and keen wit. As they journey together, Letty’s resilience wins his admiration, breaking through his hardened cynicism. Yet the threat to her survival grows more menacing with every mile, and Philip fears that keeping Letty out of harm’s way may be just as impossible as keeping her out of his heart.

MY THOUGHTS

Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer is the author’s retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood story. I’ll admit I liked her version much better, with the author’s usual laugh out loud humor added her quirky characters and we can’t forget the wolf (Rusty) is it okay to have a wolf as a favorite character and the fairytale like settings the story is magical. From the mansion to going into hiding and the magical forest to roam in with her wolf I was totally captivated.


I think we all need a Philip Carmichael in our lives, a Pinkerton agent he is tasked with finding Letty after she has been in hiding for many years and escorting her home safely. Though he tries not to show it he is captivated by Letty and will do everything in his power to keep her safe.

As the danger unfolds mile after mile with their perilous journey the only one who can keep them safe is letting God take control of this situation.
Will Phillip be free to admit his feelings for Letty or will his formal training keep them apart?


I loved this retelling and greatly look forward to more books in the series.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Voted #1 Readers’ Favorite Christian Historical Author in 2023 by Family Fiction Magazine, Karen is a multiple award-winning author and a firm believer in the power of happy endings. She is an avid cross-stitcher, tea drinker, and family board game player who makes her home in Abilene, TX with her heroic husband who vanquishes laundry dragons and dirty dish villains whenever she’s on deadline. Learn more about Karen and her books at http://www.karenwitemeyer.com.

Thank you for stopping in. Peaceful dreams.

Categories
historical fiction

The Pianist’s Wife-A heartbreaking story of friendship, loyalty and the true cost of love

341 pages Lake Union Publishing February 4, 2025 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

A heartbreaking story of friendship, loyalty and the true cost of love, from the bestselling author of The Secret Midwife and Wives of War.

Berlin, 1944: Amira and Gisele have been best friends since they were children, and now Gisele is the only person who knows Amira’s secret. A secret that puts her and everyone she loves in unimaginable danger amid the daily horror and violence of Nazi Germany.

With the threat of exposure drawing closer, Gisele’s suggestion that Amira marries her friend Fred, a famous pianist, might just be the lifeline she needs to keep them both safe. Because Fred has secrets too.

As the two strangers promise to look after each other, a profound love develops. But while the war rages on, Amira, Fred and Gisele are soon faced with terrible choices that will test their loyalty—and their courage—to the ultimate limits. How far will they go to keep each other alive?

An unforgettable World War Two novel about those who chose to defy the Nazis from within Germany.

MY THOUGHTS

Based on true history. My heart aches for all affected by the war, any war, past present and future.


Childhood friends Amira and Gisele have enjoyed a lifelong friendship, now they are adults. Amira has a secret that she’s been shieled from and it really hasn’t affected her until her father passes away. After his death she must face the harsh realities who she is and realizes even more why her father kept her hidden away for her safety.


Full of secrets that if found out could be life altering. No one should have to worry about not being accepted for who you are and your secret meaning death if found out.

I love reading the author’s books. Her books are so well researched, and I simply can’t put them down. Engrossed in the book, it kept me company for the while afternoon.

This book honors women and the sacrifices they make. May we never forget the victims of the wars and the ultimate sacrifices they have given.
This author’s writing keeps me coming back every single time. Amazing!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Soraya M. Lane graduated with a law degree before realizing that law wasn’t the career for her and that her future was in writing. She is the author of historical and contemporary women’s fiction, and her novel Wives of War was an Amazon Charts bestseller.

Soraya lives on a small farm in her native New Zealand with her husband, their two young sons and a collection of four legged friends. When she’s not writing, she loves to be outside playing make-believe with her children or snuggled up inside reading.

For more information about Soraya and her books, visit http://www.sorayalane.com or http://www.facebook.com/SorayaLaneAuthor, or follow her on Twitter @Soraya_Lane

Thank you for stopping in.

Categories
historical fiction

The Poppy Sisters: Step into the past with this captivating historical novel, filled with heart-wrenching moments and unforgettable characters

375 pages

ABOUT THE BOOK

Phoebe is a volunteer nurse at a Base Hospital in Étaples, France, treating men who’ve served on hte Western Front. Their courage and resilience inspires her, and though she’s meant to keep her distance, Captain Archie Bailey soon captivates her heart.

Her younger sister Celia is a nurse at a POW camp on the island of Jersey. These men fight for the forces that bombed her brother and parents, but long hours spent healing them shows her they aren’t the monsters she expected.

Despite the miles between them, both Celia and Phoebe come to see the commonality in their experiences – the sense of community and friendship, the unexpected moments of love and laughter, and a bond so strong that even war can’t break it…

MY THOUGHTS

I enjoyed this historical fiction book and found it interesting and informative.

Phoebe, volunteer nurse at a Base Hospital in Étaples, France. Matron does her best to keep the nurses minds occupied with just nursing but there’s no counting on where the heart will lead. Phoebe soon finds herself falling in love with patient Captain Archie Bailey. Planning a life together after the war when he’s well enough he gets sent to the frontline then goes missing in action, presumed dead.

Celia is a nurse at a POW camp on the island of Jersey. She knows the men she is nursing back to health are from the same unit that killed her brother and parents. After getting to know these men she realizes they are just regular men with hopes, dreams and fears just like all of us. Falling in love with one of them shouldn’t have happened, but it has.

Phoebe and Celia are sisters with many similarities, they understand what the other is going through and know the fears they face. Heartbreaking……. there are no real winners in war, it just causes some to die earlier than others. Kept my attention as you can only pray for the best. The author writes such realistic work I could vividly imagine the scenes playing out as I read.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Deborah Carr is a USA TODAY bestselling author of historical fiction. She was born and lives on the island of Jersey, in the Channel Islands where she sets most of her books.

Her first book, Broken Faces was runner-up in the Good Housekeeping Novel Writing Competition in 2012 giving her the confidence to keep going. Her WW1 novel, The Poppy Sisters was an Amazon First Reads Editor’s Pick and The Poppy Field and An Island at War were USA TODAY bestsellers.

The Channel Islands was the only place in the British Isles occupied by German forces during WW2. This dark time in the island’s history is the setting for her latest novel, Neighbours at War. An Island at War and part of The Beekeeper’s War was also set during the Jersey Occupation.

She is the author behind the Mrs Boots trilogy inspired by Jersey woman, Florence Boot, the woman behind the Boots empire.

Deborah lives near the beach and begins each day walking by the sea with her three rescue dogs before sitting down to write.

Thank you for stopping in.