352 pages Atria/Emily Bestler BooksMay 7, 2024 publish date
ABOUT THE BOOK
MY THOUGHTS
This has to be one of the cutest fake dating romances I’ve read. From starting to fake date to please Mom to family drama, fake cake making lessons to oh so real kisses I loved this book.
As the fifth and only unmarried daughter left in her Asian Canadian family, and she’s used to her mother matchmaking ways but when her mother starts her matchmaking ways at her sister’s wedding things hit a new low.
When Emily Hung meets Mark Chan her mother’s friends son, her mother is insistent they’ll get married and the fake dating starts, surprisingly he goes along with it. From visiting boba shops to fake cake decorating classes they seem to always run into their friends that they must convince this is the real thing so the pda comes to the forefront. What happens when this fake affection turns into not to miss sweet kisses that are wanted by them both?
Family drama, fun, laughs and cherry pies make this one fake romantic dating story not to miss.
Pub Date 07 May 2024 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Jackie Lau decided she wanted to be a writer when she was in grade two, sometime between writing “The Heart That Got Lost” and “The Land of Shapes.” She later studied engineering and worked as a geophysicist before turning to writing romance novels.
Jackie lives in Toronto with her husband, and despite living in Canada her whole life, she hates winter. When she’s not writing, she enjoys gelato, gourmet donuts, cooking, hiking, and reading on the balcony when it’s raining.
For more information, please visit jackielaubooks.com, where you can sign up for Jackie’s newsletter.
I knew I wanted to read this book from the moment I did the cover reveal for it. The cover is so eye-catching and the book is just wonderful. I’m so glad I had a chance to read it.
ABOUT THE BOOK
The Secret Ingredient
She’s writing her story one recipe at a time…
‘A delicious story that wraps itself around your heart’ Evie Woods, bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop
It’s been three years, two weeks and one day since Kate Shaw’s life changed forever. Three years, two weeks and one day that Kate has been angry – with herself and life.
But today is different. Different because Kate has finally taken the step she’s been avoiding…back into the kitchen. Now, what begins as a (disastrous) attempt to make pancakes becomes a culinary journey that is not only a love letter to someone so important to her, but also an unexpected means of connection to a community she never knew she had…
I love this beautiful cover!
MY THOUGHTS
When you think of food what do you think of? As for myself, I think of love. It doesn't have to be a romantic love, but it could be. Preparing food for someone is an extension of love, showing how much we care about them. We prepare for people that are sick, for celebrations in happy times, funerals in sad times, a romantic date to impress, our family. All extensions of love and caring.
After an unexpected life changing event Kate Shaw is tired of life passing her by. Through food, cooking, and gathering recipes the community comes together. This awakening Kate has that there is life to be lived once again is beautiful. She discovers her neighbors and realizes she has an unexpected connection to them. Her association with these neighbors is as enriching for them as it is to her. Sweet memories are made, and new friendships are formed through a love of food.
The book is gentle and kind and brings an awareness of wanting to move forward, indulge in a little self-care and just to be kind and do what you can to help others. Highly recommended!
Pub Date 18 Jan 2024 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Sue Heath lives in Cheshire, England. When she isn’t working, she can often be found running around agility courses with her spaniel, and in the evenings, she loves to cook and spend time with family and friends.
‘The Secret Ingredient’ is an uplifting story that explores how a sense of community, sharing, friendship, love, and a feeling of belonging can help us make sense of life, find comfort, and heal. How we can find our happiness in ordinary things.
Sue has also written fourteen USA Today bestselling romcoms under the pseudonym Zara Stoneley and has sold over half a million copies of her stories worldwide.
368 pages Bthany House publishers March 12,2024 publish date
ABOUT THE BOOK
One fateful night will change their destinies forever. . . .
Convinced that his stepmother and half brothers have been wrongfully evicted by cattle king Eli Dearing, Asher Ellis uses the cover of an extravagant ball to break into the Three Cedars’ ranch house to search for proof. On the verge of discovery, he flees, but a boy’s cry compels him to make a daring rescue.
Spunky and independent Samantha Dearing balks when she learns the ball her father is hosting is nothing more than a matrimonial ambush. Taking a break from unwanted suitors, Samantha spots a thief fleeing her home. When the stranger ends up saving her brother’s life, she hides the only clue to his identity left behind–his boot–and resolves to find him herself.
When Samantha encounters the older brother of a student she tutors, all thoughts of the bootless mystery man vanish. Asher values family above wealth, a rare trait that opens her heart. Afraid she will discover his past misconduct, Asher tries to keep his distance, but when a series of suspicious accidents befall her, he vows to protect her, even though saving her life could mean losing her love.
MY THOUGHTS
If the Boot Fits is Karen Witemeyer’s retelling of the Cinderella story. If you enjoy fairytale retellings, strong protective cowboy western hero’s and a strong stand on her own two feet heroine protective of her little brother then I suggest this book.
When I first met Samantha Dearing’s character, I didn’t like her. She is portrayed as bratty, whiny and giving her father a hard time at what she thinks is a ball thrown to marry her off to a rich man to further her father’s business investments.
Samantha hasn’t been too in tune with her father in the past years and thinks her father sees her as a nuisance and just wants her out of the way since he has the son he’s always wanted. Talking to her father at the ball and after we see Sam or Samantha as she prefers now has had a misunderstanding about her father’s feelings all along.
When a man escapes out of the window of her home and her father sees it, he’s labeled a thief, but he saves her Non swimming brother from drowning at a pond at their home. When the man escapes after saving the young brother the only clue he leaves behind is a cowboy boot leaving Samantha determined to find him herself.
Samantha spends a lot of time with her father and as they work on straightening out their relationship, he clears up some misconceptions she’s had. I enjoyed the great quality time they had together and seeing a strong relationship reappear.
There is mystery, forgiveness, compassion a bit of danger and a beautiful faith-based thread running through the story. There was a great sense of humor woven amongst the pages along with sweet romance and a fine plot that eagerly kept me reading. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Pub Date 12 Mar 2024 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT 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.
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288 pages Kensington publisher June 25,2024 publish date
ABOUT THE BOOK
In a heartwarming new series from New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray, four siblings take a genuine leap of faith when they move to their grandparents’ farm in rural Ohio and decide to become Amish.
Exploring the relationship between Amish and English cultures through the lens of a single family, the Amish Again series is perfect for fans of Beverly Lewis, Suzanne Woods Fisher, and Charlotte Hubbard – and anyone who enjoys uplifting stories about faith, family, love, and the simple life.
SIMULTANEOUS HARDCOVER AND TRADE PAPERBACK RELEASE!
Siblings Martin, Kelsey, Beth, and Jonny are as different as can be, but they have one thing in common. They’re all longing to reinvent their lives. Raised by their divorced lapsed-Amish father and English mother, they only knew real stability and a sense of family when visiting their Old Order grandparents, Josiah and Sylvia Schrock, in peaceful small-town Millersburg, Ohio. Now the four want to try living with them and joining their faith—much to the Schrocks’ surprise . . .
Martin, the eldest, is reeling from a bad breakup, so he’s especially determined to make a fresh start. When he meets his grandparents’ neighbor, Patti Coblentz, he’s immediately drawn to her outgoing, helpful nature—but is so overwhelmed that he appears blunt and rude. Is there any way he can drop his defenses enough to admit she’s captured his heart?
Always self-conscious about the birthmark on her temple, Patti is resigned to never marrying and busying herself with the responsibilities of the large home and property she has inherited. Besides, Martin’s ill-mannered behavior and disconcerting directness make him the last man she’d ever want to wed—no matter how handsome he is.
Yet given time and patience—and adhering to their grandparents’ unexpectedly challenging rules—the whole family might just find what they’re looking for, even Martin and Patti.
Shelley Shepard Gray has so many series out, she just keeps turning them out. This is a good thing though. I haven’t read a book of hers I didn’t like or couldn’t relate to. She’s one of my favorite go to Amish writing authors. I’m not sure how many books will be in this series, but this is the start of the newest series publishing June 2024.
4 siblings are looking for their anchor in life. They have been raised by a former Amish father and Englisher mother. They have a close bond and the older have always looked out for the younger. These siblings haven’t had the best of upbringings and feel peace of mind when they visit their Old-Order grandparents in Ohio.
Will they find the serene happiness they are seeking when they all decide to move to their grandparent’s house and want to embrace their lifestyle and become Amish? Will this give them what they have been missing out on in life? Life never seems to go as we plan though, and curveballs can be expected at the most unexpected times. All their circumstances are different but yet the same in many ways. I enjoyed all the characters but wasn’t sure about the decisions they would make.
I have read this author’s books for many years and always enjoy them. This one ended on a cliff-hanger so I’m sure it’ll take us right into the next in the series.
Pub Date 25 Jun 2024 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shelley Shepard Gray is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author. She’s published over a hundred novels and has over a million books in print. She currently lives in northern Ohio and writes full time.
Shelley lives just an hour from Holmes County, where many of her Amish-themed novels are set. She currently writes contemporary romance and Amish fiction for a variety of publishers. When not spending time with her family or writing, she can usually be found walking her two dachshunds on one of the many trails in the Cleveland area.
She also bakes a lot, loves coconut cream pie, and will hardly ever pull weeds, mow the yard, or drive in the snow.
Shelley also spends a lot of time on line! Please visit her website, http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com to find out her latest news or to sign up for her newsletter. Shelley can also be found on FaceBook, Instagram @shelley.s.gray, or on Twitter @ShelleySGray.
Paris, 1943. I stare at Charlie across the crowded room. Working deep undercover, we’re surrounded by Nazi high command. Slowly, he smiles at me and my breath catches. I have to trust him, or we’re both dead…
As war rages across France, English exile Christine has become the most deadly asset the British Secret Service has in occupied Paris. But when Suzanne, her best friend and the sole agent who knows the details of the top-secret D-Day landings, is betrayed to the Nazis by someone at the heart of their spy network, she is devastated. Going undercover with Charlie – a handsome but elusive American spy with an agenda of his own – is her only chance to catch the traitor in their midst.
Pretending to be not only Nazi collaborators but lovers too, they must save Suzanne from almost certain death and prevent the D-Day landing plans from ending up in the wrong hands. But as Christine and Charlie’s pretend desire turns to true love, her past – and the real reason she had to leave England forever – puts their whole mission in terrible danger.
With the Nazis closing in and Suzanne’s life on the line, Christine is forced into one last, desperate act: heading back into deepest, darkest enemy territory, knowing her disguise could have been exposed. With even her trust in Charlie shaken, will Christine have to choose between her love for him, her best friend’s life, and freedom for France? And who will pay the ultimate sacrifice…?
MY THOUGHTS
I catch my breath every time I read a historical fiction book by Amanda Lees. I love the fact that they are based on actual events and characters. The intense research the author has done has me appreciating her time. I was truly lost in the story vividly imaging the goings on while reading.
Set in wartime Paris, Christine, working as an agent for the British Secret Service knows how to hide in plain sight. She also knows who to associate with and who to avoid. Filled with wartime tension, I always hold my breath reading these types of books because the spies no matter how good they are at times their senses fail them and they are double crossed thinking they can trust someone, and they are on the other side.
I think Christine is my favorite character, she uses her beauty to seduce men to give up their secrets as they are convinced, she is part of the Nazi collaborators. She is strong, brave and doing what she feels is her part by staying one step ahead of the Nazis.
I think I fell a little in love with Charlie, Christine’s love interest. She is not sure if he can be trusted at first, he is an American spy, she is with the British Secret Service they must lay aside doubts and form a trust as they become Nazi collaborators and eventually lovers.
This book is gripping and when I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it. Unputdownable, you’ll feel the tension rising off the pages. Don’t read this at bedtime if you want to get any sleep. This book brought me to tears more than once. Heartbreaking and realistic we see that light shining at the end of the tunnel.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
A totally compelling, page-turning historical novel of love, bravery and sacrifice in the darkest of times. Set in wartime Paris, this is an utterly gripping and tear-jerking read perfect for readers of Kate Quinn, Rhys Bowen and Mandy Robotham.
Amanda Lees is an author, broadcaster and an actress. She has written for, or contributed to, the Evening Standard, The Times, US Cosmopolitan and Company Magazine, as well as numerous online publications. Amanda appears regularly on BBC radio and LBC and was a contracted writer to the hit series Weekending on Radio 4.
As well as her new World War Two romantic thriller series, she has published two bestselling satirical fiction novels, a YA thriller trilogy and a number of non-fiction titles including The Dictionary of Crime.
284 pages 07 Feb 2023 publish date Blackstone Publishing
ABOUT THE BOOK
There’s a lot going on in Joy Howard’s life. She’s got an ex-husband who starts acting like he doesn’t want to be an ex anymore, a sixteen-year-old daughter in need of a guiding hand and a lot of rides to dance practice, more orders for paintings than she has time to paint, and a roster of tutoring clients who sometimes need far more than she can give.
What she doesn’t have is time for a new relationship.
Samuel “Bo” Beauman is a lot of things. He’s a counselor for transitioning ex-cons, a good friend to many, a construction worker, a brother and son, and even a part-time model for a high-end sportswear catalog. He’s also a man searching for redemption.
One thing he isn’t is a man in need of a girlfriend.
But none of that seems to matter when Bo hears Joy’s kind voice in a crowded coffee shop. He instantly knows she’s someone he wants to know better. The two of them hit it off—much to the dismay of practically everyone they know—but Bo doesn’t care what other people think. He feels at peace whenever he’s with Joy, and he won’t let her go without a fight.
When Joy starts getting mysterious texts and phone calls from unknown numbers, she tries to ignore it. But instead of going away, the messages escalate and Joy realizes she can’t handle it alone. But she is juggling a jealous ex-husband, a handful of students with little to lose, and a brand-new boyfriend who spent several years behind bars. Who can she trust?
MY THOUGHTS
Sycamore Circle is the second book in the Rumors in Ross County series. Shelley Shepard Gary is an author who is talented in writing multiple genres.
I enjoyed reading Bo and Joy’s story. They both do community service. She’s helping people better themselves as she’s serving as a literacy teacher. Bo is a counselor for transitioning ex-cons. He’s big, brawny has tattoos and is an ex-con she’s soft, sweet and kind to everyone.
You wouldn’t think there would be that connection there but there is. Both are learning to trust again and recovering from things in their past. Joy has an ex-husband, a daughter and a secret she’s been keeping from Bo.
Someone is stalking her and sending harassing messages to her. The story moves at a steady pace and escalates as we approach the end. This is not one of the author’s Amish books but there are Amish characters and the culture added to the book which I enjoyed.
A light faith message, we see no one can do it all but through him all things are possible. Positive and uplifting. I look forward to many more books by this author.
Pub Date 07 Feb 2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shelley Shepard Gray is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author. She’s published over a hundred novels and has over a million books in print. She currently lives in northern Ohio and writes full time.
Shelley lives just an hour from Holmes County, where many of her Amish-themed novels are set. She currently writes contemporary romance and Amish fiction for a variety of publishers. When not spending time with her family or writing, she can usually be found walking her two dachshunds on one of the many trails in the Cleveland area.
She also bakes a lot, loves coconut cream pie, and will hardly ever pull weeds, mow the yard, or drive in the snow.
Shelley also spends a lot of time on line! Please visit her website, http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com to find out her latest news or to sign up for her newsletter. Shelley can also be found on FaceBook, Instagram @shelley.s.gray, or on Twitter @ShelleySGray.
Do you have a favorite genre this author writes? Mine are her Amish books.
I hold my breath as we push the door open. I’m not ready. But I know it’s time. And I know there will be a before and after this moment, the moment we finally discover the secret our mother had kept hidden for all our lives…
I haven’t spoken to my mother or sisters in years, but everything changes when I lose my husband. And I know it’s finally time to tell them why I’ve pushed them away. But as I approach my childhood home, my heart drops at the sight of police tape across the porch, and it shatters when I’m told my mother’s body has been recovered from the lake behind the house. I’m too late.
Pushing all our differences aside, my sisters and I desperately search her house for answers. But something isn’t right. Her clothes are missing, and everything is covered in a thick layer of dust. Our mother hasn’t lived here for months. What has she been keeping from us? Just as we’re about to give up hope, we learn we’ve inherited a cottage we never knew existed. As we slowly push open the faded green front door, we are hit with the familiar scent of her perfume. This is where our mother had been all this time. But nothing can prepare us for when we finally unearth the reason why…
Now, I’m forced to decide if my mother’s secret will give me the strength to reveal my own to my sisters and heal our rift, or if it has the power to drive us apart forever. Fans of Liane Moriarty, Laura Dave and Diane Chamberlain will adore this completely gripping page-turner about how the people closest to us can have the most shocking of secrets.
MY THOUGHTS
Three sisters, a dysfunctional family. The sisters haven’t all been together in years. The estrangement has ended with their mother’s death. The women don’t even know each other anymore or what to anticipate from each other, they used to be so close once upon a time and have flashbacks of those memories.
As they start to unravel the secrets of her mother’s life will it bring them closer or drive them further apart? As they start spending more quality time together, they realize the bond of sisterhood is strong and just what they need.
Each sister has her strength and weakness, and it becomes apparent as their secrets are revealed. Family secrets, forgiveness and strength in sisterly bonds awaits you. Fast paced plot and well-developed characters.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Anna E. Collins is a Seattle area author who writes stories about the lives and loves of women—their hopes, dreams, journeys, and relationships—with the goal of making readers both laugh and cry. She grew up in Sweden as a voracious reader with a vivid imagination but didn’t start writing fiction until after she had kids. By that point, she had worked as a high school teacher for several years, married an American, undertaken two international moves, and needed a new outlet.
Her first (gargantuan and unpublishable) venture into fiction sparked a passion for creating people and worlds that illustrate and illuminate aspects of the human experience that connect us. A couple more books and a master’s degree in educational psychology later, Anna decided to make writing more than a hobby, and she has never looked back. Whether writing women’s fiction or romantic comedies, Anna aspires to create characters that jump off the page and relationships that are as imperfect as the ones we find in everyday life.
302 pages Berkley publisher August 22, 2023publish date
ABOUT THE BOOK
Romance blossoms in the Colorado foothills in this sweet romance by New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray
Former Army captain Greg Tebo loves his new life in Woodland Park. In the two years since he joined the WPFD, he’s gained a reputation as a fearless firefighter, and after being stationed all around the country and overseas, he can’t wait to settle down with a wife and kids.
When a call comes in about a possible heart attack at the scene of a fire at the Garden Center, Greg assumes they’re going to be helping an elderly customer—not the beautiful, feisty proprietor in her late twenties. Kristen Werner has been determined to pretend everything is fine. She refuses to leave the company she’s carefully nurtured and move home to her loving but meddling family in Houston. Since her devastating diagnosis caused her fiancé to dump her, she’s given up on love and thrown herself into cultivating her blooming business instead—even if the hard work further weakens her heart.
Greg is drawn to Kristen’s vibrant, independent spirit and hopes romance will flower. But she’s had enough trouble with her heart to last a lifetime, and can’t trust Greg not to break it—especially if he finds out she can never give him the houseful of children he longs for….
MY THOUGHTS
No matter what genre Shelley Shepard Gray writes in she does it well. This is the second book in the Woodland Park Firefighters series taking place in the scenic foothills of Colorado.
Former Army captain Greg Tebo has retired and settled into life in Woodland Park, Colorado as a firefighter. Though not dating right now he’s very interested in having a wife and children someday.
Just another day in the office when a call comes in from a garden shop about someone having a possible heart attack, figuring he’d get the elderly person to the hospital quickly, he’s very surprised to see young Kristen Werner. She’s in her twenties and doesn’t want to be a burden to her family and move back home after her medical diagnosis.
Owning and running a garden shop has been a dream of hers and this is where she feels comfortable after being dumped by her fiancée hours before her wedding because he wasn’t able to deal with the knowledge, she had a medical condition. If he couldn’t deal with it, she’s better off without the jerk.
Finding himself drawn to Kristen he feels she would be a great match for him. She’s going the friend’s route though, not trusting him or any man to start a relationship. As love seems to be blooming will she let love into her heart and trust into her soul? Can this relationship possibly progress when they are hiding pretty big secrets from each other that if found out they believe the other won’t want to be with them?
I really enjoy this author’s books and have read quite a few of them including Amish, contemporary and suspense. I’m not sure if this series will continue but would enjoy if it does. You can’t have trust without truthfulness in any relationship.
Pub Date 22 Aug 2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
THE AUTHOR
Shelley Shepard Gray is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author. She’s published over a hundred novels and has over a million books in print. She currently lives in northern Ohio and writes full time.
Shelley lives just an hour from Holmes County, where many of her Amish-themed novels are set. She currently writes contemporary romance and Amish fiction for a variety of publishers. When not spending time with her family or writing, she can usually be found walking her two dachshunds on one of the many trails in the Cleveland area.
She also bakes a lot, loves coconut cream pie, and will hardly ever pull weeds, mow the yard, or drive in the snow.
Shelley also spends a lot of time on line! Please visit her website, http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com to find out her latest news or to sign up for her newsletter. Shelley can also be found on FaceBook, Instagram @shelley.s.gray, or on Twitter @ShelleySGray.
282 pages March 23, 2022 publication date Bookouture publisher
ABOUT THE BOOK
1943, Germany: Two years ago, fate gave a beautiful young Jewish woman named Margarete Rosenbaum the chance to survive the Nazis, by pretending to be one of them, hiding in plain sight. Now she must make a terrifying decision…
Margarete lives as Annegret Huber would have, in a beautiful rural mansion by a forest in northern Germany. She is the heiress to the entire Huber fortune—one which she has devastatingly discovered includes a factory and Nazi prison camp. Margarete has done everything she can to help improve conditions there, and to reduce suffering for the prisoners who remind her so much of her own lost family and friends.
However, as the war rages on and the Nazi party becomes more brutal in its treatment of Jews, she realizes she must do more. She has to help the prisoners escape to real safety, because they will never be safe in Hitler’s Germany.
She’s heard of a route to freedom through Sweden. Although that means secretly reaching out to the resistance. With the risk of betrayal at every turn, her enquiries lead her to a man named Stefan, who she instantly feels a powerful connection to. But she fears he will never trust her… unless she reveals the secret that keeps her safe.
At the same time, a Nazi officer begins to show romantic interest in her, making it harder to keep her identity a secret. His loyalty to the party is beyond question, so if he finds her out, not only will her plan be at risk, but also her life and those of everyone she cares for.
But can she let that fear stop her from saving others? Because she knows she herself could so easily be one of the faces on the other side of the fence. And that, in the darkest times, sometimes the only person who can rise up is the girl in the shadows…
The powerful third novel in Marion Kummerow’s bestselling Margarete’s Journey series is an unforgettable and devastating story, perfect for fans of The Nightingale, The Lilac Girls, and All the Light We Cannot See.
MY THOUGHTS
In this, the third book in the Margarete’s Journey series once again Margarete aka Annegret , a former Jewish maid stole the identification papers of the dead daughter of an important SS leader after the family’s death. This was her way of survival assuming the identity of this woman.
As this woman she has inherited a mansion and factory employing Jews. These are her people, and she is trying to do everything in her power to get working conditions better for them, but people are starting to become suspicious, and rumors are flying when she hasn’t been entertaining with parties for the Nazi’s like her mother used to do.
When an upper ranking Nazi official falls in love with her and wants to marry her, she is sickened but when he becomes suspicious of who she is it becomes even worse. Will she be able to carry on, hiding in plain sight while helping her own or is there a traitor amongst them?
Full of hold your breath moments, I have to know how this ends and will start the last book in this series now. Recommended series and fast reads.
Pub Date 23 Mar 2022 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
262 pages October 13, 2022 publication date Bookouture publisher
ABOUT THE BOOK
944, Germany: The war is still raging, as a young woman named Margarete hides from the Nazis in plain sight. With each day that passes, she takes more risks. But will one of those risks ultimately take her to the most evil place on earth?
After a bombing led to her identity being mistaken, Margarete Rosenbaum has been living disguised as one of the Nazis themselves, for almost the entire war.
But secretly—aided by Stefan, a resistance fighter she’s becoming impossibly drawn to—she is trying to liberate the Jewish workers sent to work on the land she’s inherited, and to sabotage the work of the factory she’s meant to be in charge of.
She knows that every day she is risking her life. But she also knows what she has to do. Because it could be her on the other side of the barbed wire fence. And for every person she saves from the Nazis, it’s worth it.
Until she is discovered. And to protect the people she had been helping, she knows she must accept her fate. Even when they send her to the very place, she’s hoped to save her prisoners from: Auschwitz… Where no one comes out alive. As the war moves towards its brutal end, will she survive to see Stefan again?
MY THOUGHTS
Daughter of the Dawn is the final book in the Margarete’s Journey series. Margarete has come a long way from her humble beginnings as a Jewish maid who took over the identity of Annegret Huber, the rich German daughter of an important SS man after their death. Having inherited a mansion, factory and riding stables she’s been hiding in plain sight for years but is her luck about to run out?
She is betrayed by an important Nazi man who had a love interest in her, but he then finds out she is Jewish and not the German woman she betrays herself to be. We spend a lot of time with Margarete’s uncle as well as there is a lot of brutal behavior towards many of the characters including him.
It’s heartbreaking thinking of how these people were treated. Margarete and her boyfriend Stefan, a resistance fighter go on the run but become separated believing they will never see each other again.
It was wonderful reading this four-part series and I’m glad I have. I learned a lot and the author has done a lot of research on this. Full of heartache but we see light at the of the tunnel with strong and courageous characters. I will be reading more by this author in the future.
Pub Date 13 Oct 2022 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
THE AUTHOR
Marion Kummerow writes historical fiction that explores the dark side of human history. A USA Today Bestselling author, she has received rave reviews from readers and critics for her novels about the German resistance during World War II. Her books feature characters who face moral dilemmas, make difficult decisions, and fight for what is right. She also infuses her stories with humor and undying love, because she believes that love is what makes the world go round.
Born and raised in Germany, Marion has lived in various countries before returning to Munich with her family. After writing several non-fiction books, she felt drawn to the past and the subject of resistance to the Nazi regime. It took her years of courage and hard work to turn the true story of her grandparents Ingeborg and Hansheinrich Kummerow into a trilogy: “Love and Resistance in the Second World War”. UNRELENTING is the first book in this series.
Bringing history to life through her books is Marion’s passion. She visits museums, travels to memorials and the locations in her books, reads original source material, and consults experts to meticulously research the historical facts and details in her novels.
Her stories are authentic and immersive, transporting readers to another time and place. She writes with the conviction that we must never forget the past, so it won’t repeat itself.
When she’s not writing or researching, Marion likes to travel, do yoga, and spend time with her family. She also enjoys reading books by other historical fiction authors.
If you want to get a taste of her writing, you can download a free short story about a downed British airman here: https://kummerow.info/
341 pages Aria publisher October 12, 2023 publish date
ABOUT THE BOOK
Newlyweds Ivy and Adam Taylor have put their heart and soul into building their own businesses, but when circumstances conspire against them, it all comes crashing down. Could a Christmas miracle be just around the corner when best friend Jess suggests Ivy open the bakery she has always dreamed of at her Cornish Farmhouse.
Ivy is not so sure she has the heart to start over and winter is hardly the best time to launch a new business near the seaside… but it’s not long before the couple realise that although they are starting from scratch in a new place, they are far from alone.
There is nothing the community at Renweneth Farm does better than Christmas, and as the nights draw in and the snow falls, nothing is impossible…
MY THOUGHTS
Book 2 of The Escape to Cornwall series. When I’m ready for a great relaxation read with snow and wind blowing outside, I turn to books like this. Set in Cornwall this one was hard to put down.
I enjoyed reading Adam and Ivy’s story. He is so sweet and supportive of her and all her endeavors going forward. Making the hard decision to relocate because of personal and business decisions we follow along with the couple as they experience ups and downs. Hard work pays off though in the end. Warm, feel-good read with holiday festivity.
Pub Date 12 Oct 2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
THE AUTHOR
Linn B. Halton is a #1 bestselling author of contemporary romantic fiction. In 2013 she won the UK Festival of Romance: Innovation in Romantic Fiction Award. Originally from Bristol, she now lives in the Welsh Valleys with her husband and Bengal cat, Ziggy.
For Linn, life is all about family, friends and writing. She is a self-confessed hopeless romantic and an eternal optimist. When Linn is not writing, she spends time in the garden weeding or practising Tai Chi. And she is often found with a paintbrush in her hand indulging her passion for upcycling furniture.
Her novels have been translated into Italian, Czech and Croatian. She also writes as Lucy Coleman.
Linn is represented by Sara Keane from the Keane Kataria Literary Agency.
285 pages St. Martins Press publisher September 26,2023 publish date
ABOUT THE BOOK
When fall rolls around, it’s time for Kerry Tolliver to leave her family’s Christmas tree farm in the mountains of North Carolina for the wilds of New York City to help her gruff older brother & his dog, Queenie, sell the trees at the family stand on a corner in Greenwich Village. Sharing a tiny vintage camper and experiencing Manhattan for the first time, Kerry’s ready to try to carve out a new corner for herself.
In the weeks leading into Christmas, Kerry quickly becomes close with the charming neighbors who live near their stand. When an elderly neighbor goes missing, Kerry will need to combine her country know-how with her newly acquired New York knowledge to protect the new friends she’s come to think of as family,
And complicating everything is Patrick, a single dad raising his adorable, dragon-loving son Austin on this quirky block. Kerry and Patrick’s chemistry is undeniable, but what chance does this holiday romance really have?
Filled with family ties, both rekindled and new, and sparkling with Christmas magic, BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CHRISTMAS delivers everything Mary Kay Andrews fans adore, all tied up in a hilarious, romantic gem of a novel.
MY THOUGHTS
The Tolliver’s are Christmas tree farmers living in North Carolina. Every year they cart their trees to New York and make a nice profit. This year their dad is sick and can’t go, siblings Kerry and Murphy are tasked to do it this year.
Traveling in “Spammy”, an old vintage camper they set up the family stand on a corner in Greenwich Village. While there they meet the neighborhood, quite the eclectic group of people. The neighbors are charming and enjoy the fast-paced Manhattan lifestyle.
I enjoyed meeting single dad, Patrick, and his son, Austin. A slow burn romance starts but will anything come of it in the short time they are at the tree lot?
Heartwarming, MKA does it again, writing a hard to put down book tugging at your heartstrings. Old man Heinz was my favorite character and I enjoyed seeing the character development. He is hiding a secret but it’s wonderful seeing how he opens up to Kerry as he comes to trust her and lets her care for him. A little bit of Christmas magic comes alive in this book.
Pub Date 26 Sep 2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
THE AUTHOR
MARY KAY ANDREWS is the New York Times bestselling author of 27 novels (including Hello, Summer; Sunset Beach; The High Tide Club; The Weekenders; Beach Town; Save the Date; Christmas Bliss; Ladies’ Night; Spring Fever; and Summer Rental, all from St. Martin’s Press, as well as Savannah Breeze; Blue Christmas; Hissy Fit; Little Bitty Lies; and Savannah Blues, all Harper Collins), and one cookbook, The Beach House Cookbook.
A native of St. Petersburg, Florida, she earned a B.A. in journalism from The University of Georgia (go Dawgs!). After a 14-year career working as a reporter at newspapers including The Savannah Morning News, The Marietta Journal, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she spent the final ten years of her career, she left journalism in 1991 to write fiction.
Her first novel, Every Crooked Nanny, was published in 1992 by HarperCollins. She went on to write ten critically acclaimed mysteries, including the Callahan Garrity mystery series, under her real name, Kathy Hogan Trocheck. In 2002, she assumed the pen name Mary Kay Andrews with the publication of Savannah Blues. In 2006, Hissy Fit became her first New York Times bestseller, followed by twelve more New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestsellers. To date, her novels have been published in German, Italian, Polish, Slovenian, Hungarian, Dutch, Czech and Japanese.
She and her family divide their time between Atlanta and Tybee Island, GA, where they cook up new recipes in two restored beach homes, The Breeze Inn and Ebbtide—both named after fictional places in Mary Kay’s novels, and both available to rent through Tybee Vacation Rentals. In between cooking, spoiling her grandkids, and plotting her next novel, Mary Kay is an intrepid treasure hunter whose favorite pastime is junking and fixing up old houses.
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