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Blog Tour for The Berlin Wife’s Resistance by Marion Kummerow 

Book Description:

The soldier looks her dead in the eye, his weapon raised. “You must leave now,” he warns. But this is her last chance to save her husband, and she won’t be silenced…

1943. Fleeing Germany had been Edith Falkenstein and her Jewish husband Julius’s last hope, selling their remaining precious possessions to make the gruelling journey. But to their horror, they are turned away at the Swiss border. Devastated, they return to the tiny Berlin apartment they share with other Jewish families, with its peeling wallpaper and bare kitchen cupboards. It is a world away from the heady glamour of their lives before.

Edith’s worst fears come true when Julius is brutally arrested and imprisoned alongside thousands of other Jewish men, destined for the camps. When she hears the news, Edith feels her heart crack wide open with unbearable grief.

But then she hears of women gathering outside the prison in their hundreds—wives and mothers from every walk of life whose relatives have also been taken. They are united by a single, desperate wish. She links arms with the woman next to her and takes up the chant.

Standing among these brave women offers Edith a flicker of hope. But can they really save their loved ones? And as Edith faces the lines of German soldiers with cold savagery in their eyes, will she pay the ultimate price for this small act of courage?

An absolutely unputdownable, heartbreaking and hopeful story of love and courage. Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, My Name is Eva and The Nightingale will be swept away by this book based on incredible true events.

MY THOUGHTS

I have read plenty of WWII books and after a while many of them have starting sounding like the others I’ve read. That is not the case with this author’s books, her books captivate me and keep my attention the whole way through.

Very well researched, the author’s books are automatic reads for me, and I love that I am always learning something new from them. Having read the first two books in the series I was pleased to see this book picks up right where the last one ended. The story is one of survival and the brave women play a big part in this.


Despite the danger they put themselves in the women have had enough and stand up for their families after the rounding up and “cleansing of the Jews.” Such resilience in the face of darkness. We meet new characters, see failures but despite these, the human spirit is strong.


I am so impressed with the way the author portrays each character, so realistically, the struggles and hardships are real. Despite all this I felt the strong family love the characters have for each other. I am very much looking forward to the fourth book in the series.

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

VISIT OTHER BLOGS ON THE TOUR

Author Bio:

Marion Kummerow was born and raised in Germany, before she set out to “discover the world” and lived in various countries. In 1999 she returned to Germany and settled down in Munich where she’s now living with her family.

Inspired by the true story about her grandparents, who belonged to the German resistance and fought against the Nazi regime, she started writing historical fiction, set during World War II. Her books are filled with raw emotions, fierce loyalty and resilience. She loves to put her characters through the mangle, making them reach deep within to find the strength to face moral dilemma, take difficult decisions or fight for what is right. And she never forgets to include humor and undying love in her books, because ultimately love is what makes the world go round.

https://kummerow.info/
https://www.facebook.com/AutorinKummerow/
https://www.instagram.com/marionkummerow/
https://twitter.com/MarionKummerow

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Marion Kummerow here: https://www.bookouture.com/marion-kummerow

Buy Link:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0CFM4TMKCsocial

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you’ll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

Have a great day. Thank you for stopping in.

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BOOKS FROM THE BACKLOG

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Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks. Hosted at Carole’s Random Life.

This week I am featuring:

All Dogs Are Good

Poems & Memories

by Courtney Peppernell

Pub Date 09 Nov 2021

ABOUT THE BOOK

Written for anyone who has known the touch of a cold nose on their hand, the bark of a best friend, or the joy of a walk accompanied by a wagging tail, All Dogs Are Good pays tribute to the special bond we share with our canine companions.

Filled with heartfelt poems and prose on the love, dedication, and laughter our dogs bring, as well as the unique lessons they teach us along the way, bestselling author Courtney Peppernell’s vignettes of life with our dogs are a touching reminder of the gifts they give us during their journey on earth.

Celebrating dogs everywhere, All Dogs Are Good is a collection dog lovers will hold in their hearts forever.

Why I added this to my reading pile

I love dogs and enjoy reading about them. I believe this is a nonfiction book will be a great addition to my books read this year.

Have you read this book or would you read it ?

Thanks for stopping in. Enjoy your day.

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From the Dark We Rise: An utterly gripping WW2 historical novel about a devastating secret (Margarete’s Journey Book 2)

252 pages Bookouture Book November 27,2021 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

1942, Germany: A Nazi fortune. A Jewish girl hiding in plain sight. An impossible choice…

When the Nazis destroyed all that Margarete Rosenbaum knew, taking everything and everyone she treasured, she prayed only to survive. Until chance allowed her to disguise herself as Annegret Huber, the daughter of a prominent Nazi.

As Annegret, Margarete had a moment of safety, but now the legacy of her false identity means she must make a devastating decision, and risk everything to save the lives of others.

Because the true Annegret and her family are dead, and the fortune is all hers – all Margarete’s. There is a grand house with crystal chandeliers, and a factory with fences built high and topped with cruel curls of barbed wire. Inside, the workers shiver, their faces gaunt from hunger. Margarete struggles to hide her gasp when—amongst the faces of the prisoners—she sees one that is achingly familiar.

Suddenly, she has hundreds of lives in her hands, including one who means more to her than anyone else left in the world. There’s no question that she must act. From that moment, Margarete is more than just a girl in hiding. She’s a girl who can save others. But in her new position of power, surrounded by the Nazi elite, every move she makes is being watched. Every mistake she makes could lead to disaster.

As the war tears through the country she loves, and turns the world dark, Margarete knows she can’t ignore her chance to stand up against evil. Even if it means risking her own life to save the innocents in her protection…

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MY THOUGHTS

This is my second book read in this series in as many days. I’ll just warn you ahead of time, if you start this series, you may as well just buy all four books in it now. There’s no way you’re going to be to read just one, or two…….. Each book will leave you fully engaged in the author’s writing and needing to get right to the next book in the series. Each book starts at exactly where it left off in the previous book so an in order read is a must.


In this one, former Jewish maid Margarete has really moved up in the world. After the death of her former employers, an important senior Nazi officer, his wife and daughter she assumes the identity of the dead daughter. Upon taking her papers she must now assume her identity and her self-confidence rises as she goes on the run.

Found by one of the son’s she is forced to live with him, and this SS man falls in love with a Jew. She is devastated by the death of him and his brother in a bombing as he died protecting her.

As the “daughter” of a rich Nazi officer she is the only one left in the family and is shocked to see she has inherited a huge fortune, including a house and factory.
Fooling the staff at the house is easy as they haven’t “seen her” in ten years.

When an escaped prisoner in Nazi Germany turns up, she knows she must help. Through her actions the woman realizes Margarete is also a Jew. Can she trust a few of the staff to keep her secret?

Seemingly with Gestapo and SS everywhere it is getting harder and harder to pretend to be a strong German woman. The tension rolling off the pages kept me glued to them. The working conditions of the war prisoners was hard to read. These people were basically worked to death, very little food, filthy, beaten, no breaks.

My heart breaks for the injustices. How can people treat others like this and live with themselves? Even though it’s her people being treated so poorly Margarete can’t risk doing too much so as not to give her identity away.

I read this in one day, I was riveted and simply couldn’t put it down.

Pub Date 17 Nov 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

“Auschwitz”, “Auschwitz-Birkenau”, and “Birkenau” redirect here. For the town, see Oświęcim. For other uses, see Auschwitz (disambiguation) and Birkenau (disambiguation). Auschwitz concentration camp was a network of concentration and extermination camps built and operated by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland during World War II. It consisted of Auschwitz I (the original concentration camp), Auschwitz II–Birkenau (a combined concentration/extermination camp), Auschwitz III–Monowitz (a labor camp to staff an IG Farben factory), and 45 satellite camps.

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/

Or visit her website for a complete list of her published books and interesting background information: https://kummerow.info/recommended-reading-order/

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The War Pianist: gripping WWII historical fiction novel about love, loss and the worst kind of betrayal

375 pages Avon Books UK, Avon publisher February 16, 2023 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Two cities. Two spies. Which woman survives?

Pianist: NOUN. Informal. A person who operates or controls a radio transmitter – often in code.

July, 1940
Blitz-ridden London: Marnie Fern’s life is torn apart when her grandfather is killed in an air raid. But once she discovers that he’d been working undercover as a radio operative – or pianist – for the Dutch resistance, Marnie knows she must complete his mission – no matter the cost…

Nazi-occupied Amsterdam: At the other end of the wireless, fellow pianist Corrie Bakker is caught in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse as she desperately tries to keep her loved ones out of the line of fire – even if it means sacrificing herself…

Bound together by the invisible wires of their radios, the two women lead parallel lives in their home cities, as both are betrayed by those they trust the most. But when the Nazis close in on one of them, only the other can save her…

The next gripping and heartbreaking WWII historical fiction novel from international bestseller, Mandy Robotham.

MY THOUGHTS

The War Pianist is exquisite writing of historical fiction at its finest. Thoroughly researched, the characters come alive under the author’s pen.


Marnie Fern has a close relationship with her grandfather and is devastated when his shop is destroyed during a bombing. The blitz in London is affecting everyone’s lives. Combing through the rubble she discovers a radio set he had unbeknownst to her been working as an undercover radio operator helping the Dutch resistance.


I will admit the title of the book had me fooled. No piano or playing of one in the book was included .
Pianist were referred to as such during WWII as a person of any age operating a radio often in Morse code. Marnie knows she must continue on as a radio operator now, for him.

Another pianist is in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. these women put their lives on the line for the war effort. You can feel the tension rolling in with the twists and turns as the book moves along at a good pace. We see a lot of character development in Marnie compared to the start of the book, her grandfather’s death encourages her to move onward and upward.

An emotionally moving book.

Pub Date 16 Feb 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

THE AUTHOR

USA TODAY BESTSELLER

GLOBE AND MAIL BESTSELLER

AMAZON US, CA AND AU BESTSELLER

I’ve been dreaming of writing of a book since the age of nine, when I read ‘Harriet the Spy’ and carried my notebook around the school playground in attempt to look like a proper writer. I was waylaid, however, by journalism and children, which led me into midwifery, and more years away from my keyboard. I became immersed in the world of words again, having completed an MA in Creative Writing at Oxford Brookes University, and now I’m loving the life of a full-time writer, with tales of birth, death and anything else in between.

‘A Woman of War’ was my first novel, combining an ongoing passion for birth with a fascination for wartime history and the tenacity of the human soul – survival, regardless of culture or creed. It’s reception among readers worldwide proved beyond my wildest dreams; in the Kindle bestseller lists in the UK & Canada, and in paperback bestseller lists too.

My second novel – ‘The Secret Messenger’ – continues a wartime theme, this time in occupied Venice and charts the contribution of the thousands of courageous women to the Allies hard won victory.

Books three, four and five have taken me – and readers, hopefully – to pre- and post-war Berlin, and wartime Norway, places I love to visit, in books, in my head, and in person, Thanks to book lovers worldwide, I’m a happy little scribe, tapping away with my loyal muse dog, Basil, by my side.

In any spare time away from writing, I’m a keen gym-goer, a knitter of what my children call ‘strange things’ (placentas included!), and pride myself on being Jack Savoretti’s number one fan. I love coffee and coffee shops, but if you’ve read my books, you’ll know that already!

I hope you’re enjoying a great day whatever you may be doing. Thanks for stopping in.

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A Light in the Window: A completely gripping WW2 historical novel with a heartbreaking twist (Margarete’s Journey Book 1)

282 pages Bookouture publisher July 20, 2021publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Margarete stumbles out of the bombed-out house, the dust settling around her like snow. Mistaking her for the dead officer’s daughter, a guard rushes over to gently ask her if she is all right and whether there’s anything he can do to help her. She glances down at where the hated yellow star had once been, and with barely a pause, she replies “Yes”.

Berlin, 1941: Margarete Rosenbaum is working as a housemaid for a senior Nazi officer when his house is bombed, leaving her the only survivor. But when she’s mistaken for his daughter in the aftermath of the blast, Margarete knows she can make a bid for freedom…

Issued with temporary papers—and with the freedom of not being seen as Jewish—a few hours are all she needs to escape to relative safety. That is, until her former employer’s son, SS officer Wilhelm Huber, tracks her down.

But strangely he doesn’t reveal her true identity right away. Instead he insists she comes and lives with him in Paris, and seems determined to keep her hidden. His only condition: she must continue to pretend to be his sister. Because whoever would suspect a Nazi girl of secretly being a Jew?

His plan seems impossible, and Margarete is terrified they might be found out, not to mention worried about what Wilhelm might want in return. But as the Nazis start rounding up Jews in Paris and the Résistance steps up its activities, putting everyone who opposes the regime in peril, she realizes staying hidden in plain sight may be her only chance of survival…

Can Margarete trust a Nazi officer with the only things she has left though… her safety, her life, even her heart?

MY THOUGHTS

A Light in the Window is the first book in Margarete’s Journey series.
Such a breathtaking book. I simply couldn’t put this down. A Jewish maid, after the death of a senior Nazi officer, his wife and daughter will now assume the identity of the dead daughter.

Taking the identity papers, she assumes the persona of this woman as she becomes more confident. Not rationalizing how her actions would be seen she goes on the run knowing if the girls’ brothers see her the game will be over. As a Jewish woman she sees this as her only chance at freedom in life.


When her former employer’s son, an SS officer tracks her down he insists she live with him in Paris and stay hidden. Why would an SS officer want a Jewish woman by his side and how could he possibly be convinced he won’t be found out?

What will the repercussions be for them both if he is caught? I could feel the fear Margarete was feeling but in spite of all of this she is a very brave woman. I was holding my breath as I was reading, my heart sped up and I couldn’t put this down. Completely hooked. I must read the rest of the series to see how this continues to play out.

Pub Date 20 Jul 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

ABOUT 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/

Or visit her website for a complete list of her published books and interesting background information: https://kummerow.info/recommended-reading-order/

Enjoy your day. Thanks for stopping in.

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Snowed In for Christmas 

336 pages Forever publisher October 3,2023 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sorority mom Becca Fairfield is used to guys not taking her seriously. She’s too blond, too quirky, or Just. Too. Much. So she’s ditched dating to focus on her job and a house filled with drama and plenty of tea. Now with the holidays and a major blizzard on her doorstep, Becca has everything she needs to survive the next two weeks on her own. Hot cocoa, plenty of books . . . and the memory of a steamy kiss with a certain sexy, grumposaurus next-door neighbor to keep her warm.

Only Becca’s seriously underestimated this Snowpocalypse. So when the power goes out and Harrison Cooper—football coach, master crank, and the guy who acted mega-awkward after said steamy kiss—offers her shelter, it only makes sense to accept. They’ll just be Blizzard Buddies. Hang out, stay safe, and maybe indulge in a little R-rated cuddling. Becca knows that Harrison isn’t the dating kind, and what happens during the storm lasts only as long as the storm. But are they keeping warm . . . or playing with fire?

MY THOUGHTS

This was such a cute story. Grab your hot drink, warm blanket, your favorite pet and prepare to snuggle in until you’re done reading this.
The perfect snowstorm read.


Becca Fairfield is the sorority mom at a girl’s school. She loves her job and all the girls, she really does but it’s Christmas time, her once a year vacation time. She’s looking forward to all the girls being gone for the two weeks to have time to herself for a little wistful dreaming, some hot chocolate and man does she have a backlist of books to catch up on.

This charming book has the wind blowing in and the electricity going out which means no heat when the blizzard of the year kicks in. Frigidly cold temps and the snow piling up means she can’t stay there.

Here’s the fun part, that handsome guy next store comes to the rescue as she’s able to bunk at his place while the storm rages. She’s been dreaming about him for a while, but will things kick up a notch in this forced close proximity novel?

This one had me laughing out loud but how will things be with them when reality sets in and the snow stops falling? Cute, funny, romantic feel-good worthwhile read.

Pub Date 03 Oct 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

THE AUTHOR

Jaqueline Snowe lives in Arizona where the “dry heat” really isn’t that bad. She prefers drinking coffee all hours of the day and snacking on anything that has peanut butter or chocolate. She is the mother to two dogs who don’t realize they aren’t humans and a mom. She is an avid reader and writer of romances and tends to write about athletes. Her husband works for an MLB team (not a player, lol) so she knows more about baseball than any human ever should.

For more information on her upcoming books, please visit her website.

I hope you’re enjoying your day. Thanks for visiting today.

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TOP TEN TUESDAY

TOP TEN TUESDAY

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted at That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is books I meant to get to in 2023. These are all books publishing in 2023 or before. Do you see any books here that you’ve read or can recommend I zip up to the top of my list?

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BOOKS I MEANT TO GET TO LAST YEAR BUT HAVEN’T ……… YET

Hazel Stillman is a woman of rare independence and limited opportunities. Born with a clubbed foot, she was sent away as a child and, knowing her disability means a marriage is unlikely, she devoted herself to scholarship and education.

Few writers evoke the complexities of the heart and the gritty fascination of the American South as vividly as Donna Everhart, whose lyrical new novel, set against the background of the Great Depression, is a powerful story of courage, survival, and friendship…

Lady Sophia Huntington Villiers is no stranger to intrigue, as her work with Alan Turing’s Bombe Machines at Bletchley Park during the war attests. Now, as part of Simon Barre’s covert team in post-war Vienna, she uses her inimitable charm and code name Starling to infiltrate the world of relics: uncovering vital information that could tilt the stakes of the mounting Cold War. When several influential men charge her with finding the death mask of Mozart, Sophie wonders if there is more than the composer’s legacy at stake and finds herself drawn to potential answers in Prague.

The scent of roses is in the air while romance blooms in this gorgeously escapist Scottish-set love story, about finding your way back to the one you’ve never forgotten… Sure to capture the hearts of readers who love Debbie Macomber, Carolyn Brown and Fern Michaels.

In the spirit of Lisa Jewell and Kate Morton, an emotional mystery set in the rugged remote landscape of north Cornwall full of dark secrets and twists, about three unusual sisters forced to confront the past.

In a deeply emotional novel of family, cultural heritage, and forgiveness, estranged sisters wrestle with the choices they’ve made and confront circumstances beyond their control.

Mad Honey is a riveting novel of suspense, an unforgettable love story, and a moving and powerful exploration of the secrets we keep and the risks we take in order to become ourselves.

AN EARTH SHATTERING SECRET. A LIFE-CHANGING LOVE STORY.

A propulsive retelling inspired by the Greek myth of Medea

Calcutta, 1757.

Bengal is on the brink of war. The East India Company, led by the fearsome Sir Peter Chilcott, are advancing and nobody is safe. Meena, the Nawab’s neglected and abused daughter, finds herself falling under the spell of James Chilcott, nephew of Sir Peter, who claims he wants to betray the company . . . for a price.

Victoria Benton Frank, daughter of the beloved late writer Dorothea Benton Frank, spirits us away to summer in the South Carolina Lowcountry with a tale of family bonds that is spicy and heartfelt.

Readers of Eve Chase, Kate Morton, and Anita Frank will devour this bewitchingly atmospheric, melancholy modern ghost story set in the lush hills of England’s Lake District. There, a solitary women’s quiet life spent in her crumbling ancestral manor house with the company of a child’s ghost is dramatically interrupted when her estranged sister returns to share a horrific story of cruelty and desperation from decades earlier…

Mexican Gothic meets Outlander in this spellbinding, atmospheric timeslip debut novel, as a woman struggling with her mental health spends the winter with her cruel in-laws in their eerie, haunting manor that sweeps her back through time and into the arms of her fiancé’s mysterious, alluring 19th century ancestor.

More than 10 but who’s counting, right? Which should I move up on my list? Any you wouldn’t recommend? Thanks for stopping in. Have a wonderful day.

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Blog Tour for Coffee and Cake at Wildflower Lock by Hannah Lynn

ABOUT THE BOOK

Coffee and Cake at Wildflower Lock

Home is where the coffee is…

Daisy May is embarking on a new chapter of her life as a permanent resident at the idyllic Wildflower Lock. Determined to seize this second chance she’s been granted, Daisy is putting her all into making her new business venture a success. As her friendship with Theo grows ever stronger, her happily ever after seems within reach.

However, life isn’t always smooth sailing. When a string of unfortunate mishaps and an unruly stag party leaves Daisy’s finances in dire straits, she starts to question her decision to launch a coffee shop. But just when she’s nearly lost hope, the mysterious and generous Christian enters her life. Astute and eager to assist Daisy, he proposes a solution that could be the answer to all her problems… or will it be the beginning of even more challenges.

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/coffeewildflowersocial

MY THOUGHTS

This is my first read by Hannah Lynn and I also see it’s the second book in the series. Despite being the second book in the series, I enjoyed it a lot and don’t feel like I’ve missed any understanding of the story.

Our main character Daisy lives on a houseboat she has inherited on a canal. She has a startup business, a coffee shop and she’s gung-ho to get started serving customers and learning how to make these specialty drinks that make these coffee shops so popular. She also enjoys art a lot and has sold a few paintings but nothing serious minded, she just dabbles in it and doesn’t expect to make a lot of money doing this.

Without the funds to run the coffee shop she feels her dreams slipping away then she has the perfect opportunity to showcase her art at a fundraiser and she jumps at the chance never expecting to be half as popular as it was. The houseboat dwellers aren’t really friendly, but she meets another houseboat dweller named Theo and they have a friendship and feel very comfortable around each other.

Theo is down to earth and always encouraging of Daisy. When she meets the man who will help her with the fundraiser her head is turned. He’s a flashy dresser, handsome and seems to have an endless supply of cash. He seems to also have Daisy’s best interest. When both men are vying for her attention, she feels confused and not sure who to choose in this dramatic love triangle.

I wasn’t sure who she would choose because she seemed to be enjoying the attention of both men before one gives her an ultimatum. I am so glad she chose who she did because I saw red flags in the one gentleman’s behavior. A fun and energetic book that leaves me wanting to read more by this author. I also enjoyed the setting of the story taking place on a houseboat. A floating coffeeshop, how neat is that!

Pub Date 22 Jan 2024
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

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Author Bio –

Hannah Lynn is the author of over twenty books spanning several genres. As well as signing a new romantic fiction series, Boldwood will be republishing the first of her bestselling Sweet Shop series, inspired by her Cotswolds childhood, The Sweet Shop of Second Chances in April 2023.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HannahLynnAuthor

Twitter https://twitter.com/HMLynnauthor

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hannahlynnwrites/

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/HannahLynnNews

Bookbub profile: Hannah Lynn Books – BookBub

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The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger: absolutely heartbreaking World War 2 historical fiction 

425 pages Aria publisher March 4, 2021 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

The secrets of the past won’t remain hidden forever…

Arthur Pettinger‘s memory isn’t what it used to be. He can’t always remember the names of his grandchildren, where he lives or which way round his slippers go. He does remember Maryse though, a woman he hasn’t seen for decades, but whose face he will never forget.

When Arthur’s granddaughter, Maddy, moves in along with her daughter Esther, it’s her first step towards pulling her life back together. But when Esther makes a video with Arthur, the hunt for the mysterious Maryse goes viral.

There’s only one person who can help Maddy track down this woman – the one that got away, Joe. Their quest takes them to France, and into the heart of the French Resistance.

When the only way to move forwards is to look back, will this family finally be able to?

France Forests Waterfalls Jura Franche Comte Rays Of Light Stream Nature 

MY THOUGHTS

I added this to my list in 2021 and haven’t read it until now because I knew it would be a heartbreaker. Turns out I was correct. Some things in life you can never actually prepare yourself for properly despite having an inkling of what they’re about. This is one of those things.

My grandmother had dementia and passed away in 2004, we were very close. Our main character Arthur who is in his nineties also has this dreaded disease.
This is a time slip novel and we visit the 1940’s during Arthur’s time in the war and also modern times with Arthur now being in his nineties.


Arthur’s granddaughter has taken care of him for six months and the stress of it is too much for her and she is no longer willing to be his caretaker. She calls his other granddaughter who is divorced and has an 11-year-old daughter. The daughter plays a prominent role in the story but more in a bit about this. His new caretaker is compassionate and caring towards the old man.

Still times are rough with his confusion, forgetting what things are called and forgetting how to do basic things. Evenings are the worse as “sundowners” appears, he is confused, wanders the house and is agitated. Arthur has a scrapbook of his wartime memories including lots of photographs. The young girl and her great grandfather bond over the scrapbook and she sees pictures of a beautiful woman who turns out to be his war time love. Unfortunately, he was sent home away from his love. He may have forgotten many things but not her.

This child tries with the help of others to find this woman from many years ago for her grandfather to make him happy. Along the way we get another surprise. Told in alternating viewpoints, we easily see the anguish Arthur experiences as he has to leave his love in France and return to England and the lifelong effect it has had on him.
My heart was broken reading this but by the time I done reading it, it was healed again. Beautiful, and highly recommended.

Publication date 04 Mar 2021.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Suzanne writes historical fiction, predominantly dual timeline and set in France. Her books feature courageous women in extraordinary circumstances with love and family at the heart of all the stories.

Suzanne also writes mystery and suspense as Sue Fortin where she is a USA Today bestseller and Amazon UK #1 and Amazon US #3 bestseller. She has sold over a million copies of her books and been translated into multiple languages.

Is this a book you would read? Thank you for stopping in. I hope your day is blessed with all good things.

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The Sunday Post and Sunday Salon

THE SUNDAY SALON AND SUNDAY POST

The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week plus it’s a great way to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. 

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted at Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up. 

Thank you again for all your kind words, well wishes and prayers. Some days I feel energetic and positive about things and other days are not as easy. Today is two weeks in out of six when I should be healed. I am walking and doing ankle exercises every day and it’s not always easy but do them I must. I am tired of being in bed but if I sit in a chair or on the couch it’s very painful to get up because I need to use both feet to balance myself to get up. As I write this, I am on the couch downstairs, hopefully it’s not too much getting up. The weather is so cold and windy, and we’ve had snow every so often and expect more Wednesday. I’ve been out four times since getting hurt, 3 times to the dr and once to go in a grocery store. It wasn’t too bad as I was pushing the cart, so it supported me. I just haven’t felt up to going out more than that. I hope all is well with you and I enjoy reading all your comments.

READ LAST WEEK

CURRENTLY READING

I’ll continue to do the Daily Prompt for the rest of the month and then decide if I’ll continue it into February. I’m not sure what memes I’ll do on the blog next week. I have 2 blog tours to post next week: one on the 22 and one of the 25th.

I hope you all have a great week. Thanks for stopping in and let me know if you’ve read any of these books.