Tag: family secrets

Categories
Uncategorized

Blog Blitz : The Sunshine Sisters: Blossom By Rosie Green

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Sunshine Sisters: Blossom

Blossom Sunshine’s life is anything but boring right now. She’s determined to finally solve the mystery of who her biological father is – despite Mum Ada putting a spanner in the works. What is Ada trying to hide? Meanwhile, best friend Billy is doing his best to impress new girl Jenna. This means cutting back on all the delicious cakes and carbs that he loves, but Jenna’s worth it. Isn’t she? And then there’s Blossom’s own love life, which has been a catalogue of disasters up till now – but that was before she met Trevor.  He’s not her usual type but she thinks maybe that’s a good thing? Could this be real love at long last? One thing’s for certain – the path to Blossom achieving her heart’s desire looks like it will be far from smooth!

MY THOUGHTS

The author’s books always get to me, so emotional I feel as though the characters could be folks I know. I’ve read so many of the author’s books over the years and I’m always up for a read of one of her books as they’ve become favorites.

I’ve read all of the books in the Sunshine Sisters series. The series focuses on three sisters: Skye, Aurora and Blossom. This is Blossom’s story. We are introduced to each of the sisters in each book, so we are familiar with their characteristics. Sisterly bonds are not always strong, but who has a great relationship with their sister of family in general all the time. In their strongest time of need though the sisters are there for each other. I enjoyed seeing the sister- sister relationships and the mother-daughter relationships.

Blossom is hurting and trying to find out who her biological father is. She has questions and she wants answers. Her mother is not being open about this and it’s causing a big family riff. As she delves deeper into her investigation, she finds out some family secrets that were kept from her and she feels as though her whole life has been uprooted.

When a romance that she thought was solid goes south Blossom turns to a friend that could possibly become more for support. Drama, hope, family relationships being mended and a lot more.

For a short novella this one packs a punch and I recommend the whole series to you.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rosie’s series of Little Duck Pond Café novellas is centred around life in a country village cafe. Skye’s story is the second in a trilogy called THE SUNSHINE SISTERS. Watch out for Blossom’s dramatic and emotional story, which completes the trilogy and is out in early June 2024!

Follow Rosie on Twitter – https://twitter.com/Rosie_Green88

Thank you for stopping in today.

Categories
Uncategorized

Photographs from the Cove: A totally stunning, sweeping and uplifting page-turner (Sand Dollar Cove 2) 

369 pages Bookouture publisher February 15,2024 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Mary Turner’s hopes of a happy life in beautiful Sand Dollar Cove come crashing down when her boyfriend leaves her. After her mother walked out when she was just a child, Aiden’s betrayal destroys the last shred of belief in love that Mary’s been clinging on to.

When the cove’s newest resident Steven Clarke hires her to renovate the town’s historic movie theater, Mary is scared of failing. But she dreams of bringing the fading theater back to its 1960s glamor. Plus, the more she works with the elusive Steven, the more she comes to like him and his striking good looks—against her better judgement…

As Mary’s confidence grows, her heart starts to reopen to the possibility of love. But then, hidden in the cinema’s storage room, Mary discovers a mysterious photo album containing pictures of a little girl who looks just like her. She can’t believe her eyes. How is Mary connected to this album and the cinema? And will the answers help to heal her broken heart?

Mary is willing to risk everything to learn the truth. But when she uncovers a secret that casts a shadow on her family, on Steven, and on Sand Dollar Cove, will the past haunt her forever? Or will she choose to believe in love and finally claim her happy ending?

MY THOUGHTS

This is the second book in the Sand Dollar Cove series. I do suggest you read these in order as this book starts immediately after the first one ends. I love the description of Sand Dollar Cove.

Having never been to Washington State where this takes place, I’m now ready to visit. Though it may rain a lot in the Pacific Northwest I’m ready to visit the beaches and take walks.


The book is absolutely packed full of so much going on.
Sisters Mary and Hannah and their grandmother live with their friend Bridget and her son in her boarding house. It’s a great situation for all of them.


Hannah’s boyfriend is not at all what she thought he was and she’s much better off without him. If only she wouldn’t still have to see him so often.
Mary is an interior decorator and is thrilled to be hired by the cove’s newest resident Steven Clarke to renovate the cinema and bring it back to its former glory days. It’s a huge job and the pressure is on, she’s afraid of failing. What does it mean when she finds an old album in a storage area of the old cinema and a girl looks like her?

Can Mary’s budding romance survive the secrets that are revealed about her family and town? So many secrets and feelings of betrayal, self-discovery, family bonds renewed. Such a beautiful story, I enjoyed it a lot.

Pub Date 15 Feb 2024
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jennifer Bardsley’s delightfully sweet romance books set in the Pacific Northwest have touched the hearts of readers all over the world. She lives in Edmonds, Washington with her family and enjoys walking from her house to the beach every chance she gets.

Like her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferBardsleyAuthor/

Find her on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5755219.Jennifer_Bardsley

Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferbardsleyauthor/

Visit her website: https://jenniferbardsley.com

Thank you once again for stopping in today. Wishing you the best.

Categories
Uncategorized

The Swindler’s Daughter by Stephenia H. McGee A surprise inheritance. A cache of family secrets. A choice that will change her life forever.

352 pages publication date May 2,2023 Revell Publisher

ABOUT THE BOOK

Lillian Doyle has lived her entire high-society life with her widowed mother, believing her father died long ago. But when news arrives that her estranged father only recently passed away–in jail–Lillian is startled to find that the man has left a business and all of his possessions to her, making her a rather unusual heiress.

When she goes to take possession of her father’s house in a backwoods Georgia town, the dilapidated structure is already occupied by another woman who claims it was promised to her son, Jonah. In her attempts to untangle the mess, Lillian will discover not only a family she never knew she had but a family business that is more than meets the eye–and has put a target on her back.

To discover the truth and take hold of the independence she’s always dreamed of, she’ll have to make friends with adversaries and strangers–especially Jonah, the dusty and unrefined cowboy who has secret aspirations of his own.

MY THOUGHTS

I have enjoyed every book I’ve read by this author. I would have to say my favorite character is Lillian. She really comes into her own her growing in maturity, strength and spiritually.


She has a real awakening in the start of the book, her mother was not forthcoming with important information about Lillian’s life and it really throw’s Lillian for a loop. She has some very important decisions to make. Decisions that set her on the track to maturity, forgiveness and wisdom. These decisions were not made without spiritual guidance.


I enjoyed the setting, and the transformation of the house was such a joy to read about.
The mystery running through the story was not too much and it added such an intriguing back drop to the story. Faith filled and encouraging, I enjoyed the story a lot. I think the romance was light and just right for the time period.

Some surprising twists and turns will keep your attention as you’ll want to keep reading and not put this one down.

Published May 1, 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephenia H. McGee is a multi-published author of stories of faith, hope, and healing set in the Deep South. She lives in Mississippi, where she is a mom of two rambunctious boys, writer, dreamer, and husband spoiler. Her novel The Cedar Key was a 2021 Faith, Hope, and Love Readers’ Choice award winner. A member of the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), she loves all things books and history. Stephenia also loves connecting with readers and can often be found having fun with her Faithful Readers Team on Facebook. For more on books and upcoming events and to connect with Stephenia, visit her at http://www.StepheniaMcGee.com.

Have you read any books by this author? I think I’ve read 5 and my favorite so far has been The Secrets of Emberwild.

Thank you for stopping in. Your presence here is a blessing.

Categories
Uncategorized

Murder in a Cape Cottage (A Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery 4) by Maddie Day

322 pages September 27,2022 publish date Kensington publisher

About The Book

From Agatha-awarding winning author Maddie Day comes the latest novel in her Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery series set in a picturesque Cape Cod town, where resourceful bike-shop owner Mackenzie “Mac” Almeida” tackles a cold case with the help of her fellow book club sleuths—a treat for fans of fresh, clever, cozy mysteries and those who love Lorna Barrett’s Booktown series.
 
ʼTis the day after Christmas, following a wicked-busy time of year for Mac’s bike shop. It’s just as well her Cozy Capers Book Group’s new pick is a nerve-soothing coloring book mystery, especially when she has last-minute wedding planning to do. But all pre-wedding jitters fade into the background when Mac and her fiancé, Tim, begin a cottage renovation project and open up a wall to find a skeleton—sitting on a stool, dressed in an old-fashioned bridal gown . . .
 
As Mac delves into the decades-old mystery with the help of librarian Flo and her book group, she discovers a story of star-crossed lovers and feuding families worthy of the bard himself. Yet this tale has a modern-day villain still lurking in Mac’s quaint seaside town, ready to make this a murderous New Year’s Eve . . .
 
Includes Recipes!

Cape Cod travel sticker or luggage label

My Thoughts

Bike-shop owner Mackenzie “Mac” Almeida is at it again, amateur sleuthing that is.
She and her fiancée Tim are renovating their cottage just days before their wedding and a skeleton is found behind a wall of a young woman in a wedding dress. This is a cold case as it’s been there for more than eighty years.

Taking place in the Cape Cod area of Massachusetts, I was eager to read this book for several reasons. One being that we traveled to Mass on an anniversary trip last year in July. My first time to Mass and I love to read about places I’ve traveled to.

Would they be able to find anyone to talk to in town that remembered the details of this crime from so long ago. When they do, this person is in danger for daring to talk. I enjoy this author’s cozies the stories flow nicely and they’re not overly complicated.

Throw in a little help from the Mac’s fellow book club sleuths. Secrets are spilled and an old timer remembers the story of the star-crossed lovers whose feuding families didn’t want them together. I’m all in for the setting of this coastal town.

When the case is ready to break, and the clues come tumbling out will it prevent the newest couple from marrying this New Years Eve?
Fast paced with a great plot and setting. I’m in for reading more by this author.

Pub Date 27 Sep 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

Maddie Day is a talented amateur chef and holds a PhD in linguistics from Indiana University. An Agatha Award-winning author, Maddie writes the Country Store, Cozy Capers Book Group, and Cece Barton Mysteries, all from Kensington Publishing.

As Edith Maxwell, she write the Local Foods Mysteries (Kensington Publishing) and the Quaker Midwife Mysteries (Beyond the Page), as well as award-winning short crime fiction.

You can find all Maddie’s/Edith’s identities and work at http://www.edithmaxwell.com. She blogs every week day with the other Wicked Authors at wickedauthors.com and every second and fourth Fridays at mysteryloverskitchen.com. Look for her as Maddie Day/ Edith Maxwell on Facebook and @edithmaxwell and @maddiedayauthor on Twitter and Instagram.

You could make all the difference in someone’s life. Do your best. Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by.

Categories
Uncategorized

Bookouture Blog Tour for The Irish House by Ann O’Loughlin

About The Book

The Irish House: A totally heartbreaking and powerful story about families, secrets and finding your way home

My dearest Marianne, have you ever completely loved one person? What I am about to tell you now, I have told no one…

Beautiful Kilteelagh House in Ireland, with its avenue of trees and its acres of wildflowers, was somewhere Marianne thought she’d never be again. At least, not without her beloved grandmother Collie. But when Collie passes away, she has just one request – for Marianne to leave behind her glamorous life in New York and to raise Collie’s orphaned granddaughters in the wild Irish countryside. Heartbroken and determined to fulfil her grandmother’s dying wish, Marianne has no choice but to say yes…

All Marianne and her cousins have left is each other, and letters from Collie that keep arriving from beyond the grave. They become a lifeline for Marianne, and she soon realises that her grandmother still has a lot to still teach her. And after a chance encounter with gorgeous local handyman Jack, Marianne wonders if Collie believed being back at Kilteelagh House would help her find love, too?

Soon, Marianne can’t help but begin to fall in love with this place that is so full of memories, of secrets, and perhaps even a little bit of Irish magic. But then out of the blue, a letter from Collie arrives that changes everything…

Will Marianne ever be able to decide where her heart truly belongs? Or will she have to run away from the only people who have ever truly understood her?

An absolutely heartbreaking and heart-warming read overflowing with Irish charm that will make you laugh, cry and hold your loved ones close. Perfect for fans of Susanne O’Leary, Cathy Kelly and Kathleen McGurl.

Buy link: https://geni.us/B0BS6ZR7LFsocial

My Thoughts

Oh my heart! I went through so many emotions while reading this book by a new to me author.
Fashion designer, Marianne from New York arrives in Balgaddy, Dublin Ireland after being summoned there for the reading of her grandmother Collie’s will. She feels so guilty as work had kept her busy the past several years while her grandmother’s health deteriorated, and she was unable to travel to Ireland while her grandmother was still alive.
She inherits Kilteelagh House, her grandmother’s pride and joy, her house which means everything to her. The conditions are she must be the guardian to her two young nieces, one 6 the other 15 and she is to live at Kilteelagh House for a year while doing so.
Unsure of herself and her parenting skills at first she gains confidence the longer she is there.
As she falls in love with the house as much as her grandmother has she also falls in love with a local man. Discovering all the house has to offer, like sitting and enjoying all the flowers as the seasons pass. The descriptions are so beautiful I can vividly imagine the house as the author paints such a vivid picture of it, breathtaking. The letters are what got to me. Each month Marianne is given a letter her grandmother has written to her before her death. These letters boost her confidence 10-fold and give her practical advice and also talk about her grandmother’s life all the while offering up secrets, she has never shared with anyone else. She is now the keeper of secrets and it’s a huge responsibility to hold all the while it explains the current family dynamics. The book is heartbreaking but warm and relatable. I completely loved it and must read more by this author.

Pub Date 14 Apr 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Visit Other Books on the tour

The Author

Ann is the Irish author of five novels and has been translated into eleven languages. Her first novel The Ballroom Cafe was also an ebook bestseller and in the top 20 bestselling books of 2015 on Amazon UK. Ann loves to write and often gets up at 5am to get the words down, before starting her other job of writing as a news reporter. A leading journalist in Ireland, Ann has covered all major news events in a long career with Independent Newspapers, Ireland. She is now a senior journalist with the Irish Examiner specialising in legal issues. Ann has also lived in India. Originally from the west of Ireland she now lives on the east coast with her husband and family.

Author social media:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/annolwriter

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

Newsletter: https://www.bookouture.com/ann-oloughlin

Have a most splendid day and thanks for visiting today.

Categories
Uncategorized

Bookouture Blog Tour for My Grandmother’s Inn by Kristin Harper

About The Book

My Grandmother’s Inn: A totally gorgeous and gripping page-turner by Kristin Harper

Periwinkle-blue flowers spill over the picket fence, framing the simple wooden sign that reads Hydrangea House. But Molly’s eyes fill with tears. Her grandmother Beverley used to stand right there in the doorway, ready to welcome guests. Now Beverley is gone, will the inn close forever?

Grieving and newly single Molly Anderson begs the wealthy Frost family, owners of Hydrangea House, to allow her to run the inn for one last summer before they shut it down. She vows to give the final guests a summer to remember by the sea. It’s what Beverly—who worked uncomplainingly for the Frosts her whole life—would have wanted.

But when an elderly woman checks in claiming to know a secret about Beverly’s true connection to the Frost family, everything Molly knows about her beloved grandmother is called into question. The woman says that a message in a bottle hidden somewhere at Hydrangea House, will not only reveal the truth, but could stop the Frosts’ plan in its tracks.

Desperate to do whatever she can to save Hydrangea House, Molly combs the inn from attic to basement, helped by visiting oceanographer Matt. She could never get involved with a guest, but Matt’s kindness as he listens to her worries, and the way his deep brown eyes keep locking with hers are hard to ignore…

But as they fill their summer with searching, rumors and bad reviews about Molly start to spread. By delving into the mystery of the past, has she shattered any chance of the inn’s future? Can Matt be trusted, or is he more closely linked to the Frost family than she thought? And when she finally unlocks the secret about her grandmother, will it bring Molly peace—or tear her apart?

An absolutely gorgeous read about learning to trust, the meaning of home, and the importance of family. Fans of Debbie Macomber, Carolyn Brown and Mary Alice Monroe will be captivated.

Buy link: https://geni.us/B0BRY6CPWRsocial

My Thoughts

Once again, we are back on Dune Island where the ocean view is breathtaking, and the scent of flowers relaxes the mind. For many years innkeeper Beverley’s gentle and kind spirit has welcomed and made guests feel right at home at Hydrangea House, owned by the wealthy Frost family.

Devastated by her grandmother’s death Molly begs the family for one last summer to have that connection with her grandmother and run the inn.
When an elderly woman who is a guest claims to have known Beverly her entire life and the family since her childhood reveals a secret it brings into question everything Molly thinks she knows about her family leading to a DNA test.


The Frost family plans on closing the inn after the current season which leaves Molly devastated.
Can an old bottle with a message in it written many years ago stop this plan if it’s actually found?


As much as she wants to keep her grandmother’s spirit alive through running the inn she’s not really much of an innkeeper and the bad reviews filter in. The characters, I absolutely adored them and was rooting for them.

This book had me hooked, I simply couldn’t put it down. A summer spent searching for a missing bottle has Molly wondering if she can trust inn guest Matt whom she feels a connection with. Family connections, learning to trust and a totally intriguing read that’ll pull you right in. I absolutely loved this book.

Pub Date 31 Mar 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Visit other blogs on the tour

About The Author

Ever since she was a young girl, there were few things Kristin liked more than creative writing and spending time on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, with her family. Eventually (after a succession of jobs that bored her to tears), she found a way to combine those two passions by becoming a women’s fiction author whose stories occur in oceanside settings. While Kristin doesn’t live on the Cape year-round, she escapes to the beach whenever she can.

Author social media

Website: www.kristinharperauthor.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KHarperAuthor

Newsletter sign up: https://www.bookouture.com/kristin-harper

Thank you for visiting today and enjoy your weekend.

Categories
Uncategorized

A fantastic seafaring voyage in Waiting on Love by Tracie Peterson

315 pages Bethany House Publishers October 5, 2021 publication date

About The Book

She’s made big promises. It’ll take everything she’s got to keep them.

Crisscrossing the Great Lakes onboard her father’s freighter ship, the Mary Elise, Elise Wright has grown up cooking and caring for the crew. It is a life she loves. Unlike her estranged sister, Elise has turned down numerous opportunities for a “respectable life” with their wealthy relatives. And now, because of promises she made to her dying mother, she’s bound to the ship and her deeply grieving father more than ever.

Nick Clark is grateful to be hired on as the Mary Elise‘s first mate as he works to overcome his own guilt and others’ censure for a fatal decision he made captaining another ship. He feels protective of the Wrights and their generous natures, especially when a rough new sailor seems intent on causing serious trouble.

As the sailor’s misdeeds grow, tragedy swells up from another corner. Left to pick up the pieces of the commitments they’ve made to themselves and to each other, Nick and Elise will have to rely on their faith to see them through.

My Thoughts

I have not read a seafaring voyage book in quite a while and WAITING ON LOVE is the perfect addition to add to my collection. There is just something about reading a book with a setting on the Great Lakes with a young woman and the captain, her father.
Nick Clark has to leave home after not bowing to his father’s wishes though he does keep abreast of the family’s going ons through letters back and forth to the family’s housekeeper.
After helping Elise Wright when she has an accident on the street Nick is pleased to be hired on as first mate on Elise’s father’s freighter ship, the Mary Elise. This is Elise’s second home; she cooks and cleans for the crew and has been doing so for many years passing up opportunities to become entangled in a romance. The crew respects Elise and her father and wouldn’t dream of trying any funny business with her. When a crew member who is newly hired on tries to put the moves on her and is disrespectful and bad news all around the crew quickly put him in his place.
I loved the descriptions of the work the crew did preparing to sail and being on the open water. The descriptions of the strong storms had me holding my breath hoping the ship would survive the peril.
A slow burn romance, this is Elise and Nick’s story. He treated her so respectfully. We also spend some time on land and see a heartwarming reunion with Nick and a family member.
Nick is fighting his own demons, not able to forgive himself for something that he believes he is responsible for. Will Elise and her strong faith be able to help him with this?
I loved the deep faith the main characters have. There is adventure, romance and mystery.
I am always happy to read a book by this author, her books are so well researched. She always makes her books so fascinating.

Pub Date 05 Oct 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

The Author

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than one hundred books. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana.

Visit Tracie’s web site at: http://www.traciepeterson.com

Do you have a favorite book by this author? As for myself, it’s so hard to choose. She has so many book out on a variety of topics, all fascinating.

Thank you for stopping in today.

Categories
Uncategorized

Boldwood Blog Tour for Where We Belong by Sarah Bennett

About The Book

Where We Belong

On paper, Hope Travers has an idyllic life.

Living in a bustling farmhouse with her mum, aunt and uncles, cousin and too many dogs to count, surrounded by the breath-taking Cotswolds countryside, she knows she is privileged and protected.

But all families have secrets, and the Travers family are no exception. Their farmhouse sits in the grounds of the Juniper Meadows estate, passed down through the generations and now being made to pay its own way with a myriad of businesses and projects. When a construction crew uncover what appear to be historical ruins, the history of the Travers family is put under ever closer scrutiny as a dig gets underway.

Hope may have found a blossoming romance with local archaeologist Cameron Ferguson who is running the dig, but when things start to go wrong around the estate and family secrets begin to be revealed, Hope wonders if she’s made a big mistake in digging up the past.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3jQEYqg

My Thoughts

Where We Belong is the first book in the Juniper Meadows series. It is a contemporary romance. I am always excited to start a new series by an author who I’ve read their books in the past and have loved them. The characters are so relatable and realistic, after reading just this first book in the series I feel as though they could be friends. I found it interesting to see an archeological dig featured in the book, something not often seen. While preparing to break ground on the family home the dig team may have found ruins, so they bring in the archeologist and Cameron Ferguson, University lecturer. I found the story revolving around the testing digs to be wonderfully researched and fascinating. While we see a clear romantic connection between Cam and Hope, our leading couple, there are also side characters that I think will play an important role in the upcoming books. This book is just the foundation to work with there is plenty of material to work with, characters to elaborate on their stories and secrets to be divulged. I loved meeting the black labs they are right there sticking their noses in everything and so affectionate. The more the dig happens the more secrets are revealed in the archeological sense and in the family. I think more of a backstory will come to light as family secrets are unearthed. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series as I already feel a part of the community with its warm and welcoming characters and beautiful setting in the Cotswolds.

Published March 9,2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Visit other blogs on the tour here.

Author Bio

Author Bio –

Sarah Bennett is the bestselling author of several romantic fiction trilogies including those set in Butterfly Cove and Lavender Bay. Born and raised in a military family she is happily married to her own Officer and when not reading or writing enjoys sailing the high seas.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: Sarah Bennett Author | Facebook

Twitter: Sarah Bennett (@Sarahlou_writes) / Twitter

Instagram: Sarah Bennett (@sarahlbennettauthor) • Instagram photos and videos

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

Bookbub profile: Sarah Bennett Books – BookBub

Have a marvelous day. Thank you for stopping in today.

Categories
Uncategorized

Bookouture Blog Tour for The Polish Girl by Gosia Nealon

About The Book

The Polish Girl: An utterly heartbreaking and gripping World War 2 historical novel (The Secret Resistance Series) by Gosia Nealon

Poland, 1944. “Please, officer, I beg you—”, I cry. But my father has already fallen. “Don’t leave me, Tata,” I whisper, rushing to desperately cradle him close. As the kind, loving man who raised me takes his last breath, I weep into my hands and promise to fight to end this terrible war, no matter the cost…

Although it won’t bring her beloved father back, twenty-three-year-old Wanda vows to honour his memory and all he stood for. Throwing herself into the Polish resistance, she risks her life on the dangerous mission of transporting ammunition for the underground network’s uprising against the Nazis.

Slipping through the night-time shadows of an empty park to meet an informant—one who could provide crucial supplies in the battle for what’s right—the sight of the man waiting turns Wanda’s blood to ice. Even in the dim light, she instantly recognises him as the soldier who killed her father.

The soldier claims he is a double agent, working for the resistance. Questioning everything, Wanda’s heart races as she is forced to make a split-second decision. Believe the man who she thought was the enemy? Or endanger the lives of her network—and their secret plans to fight the Germans?

Can Wanda trust the man she hates most in the world? Did her father die in vain? Or if she fights her every instinct, will she truly change the tide of the war?

Fans of The Alice Network, The Nightingale and The Tattooist of Auschwitz will adore this utterly heartbreaking page-turner. You will not forget this unputdownable story of love, loss, and the courage it takes to hold on to hope in darkest times.

Previously published as The Last Sketch.

My Thoughts

This book is excellent. I could not put it down once I started it and read it past my bedtime, finishing it in one day.
Twin brothers, identical twins, raised together by the same parents. Vastly different, one is gentle and compassionate taking after the mother. The other, like the father is a brutal killer, a German soldier.
Wanda Odwaga feels safe in her home with her mother and her father, a retired surgeon. One evening her, Tata, (father) is killed before her eyes there. Looking into the eyes of this killer she vows she will get her revenge. As she then starts to see this murderer everywhere she goes, she is sickened and confused. He whispers to her, “I am not who you think I am.”
An orphaned little boy is adopted into her family, and he is a wonderful addition to the story, he is so smart too.
Poland, 1944, it was such a turbulent time, rationing was in full force, there was a curfew, the Germans had invaded. No one was safe on the streets, especially a woman alone. Some risked their lives to be in the Polish resistance using code words to pass messages.
We see the characters going through such turmoil in this unputdownable book but yet they persevere and show such strength in the darkest of days because they know strength and courage brings the light. Heartwarming will not be soon forgotten.

Pub Date 24 Feb 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

While Gosia Nealon is a proud New Yorker, she was born and raised in Poland. Her journey to the Big Apple revealed a wealth of cultural differences, but also the values that connect us all. Like the fierce desire to protect family, find love, and ultimately, discover who we are and why we’re here. 

Gosia’s award-winning short stories have always delved into life’s biggest questions, but it was the drama, sacrifice, and tragedy of WWII that led her to pen her debut novel, which won a gold medal in the 2022 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY).

Growing up in Poland, Gosia heard many firsthand accounts of the war, told from a perspective rarely captured in mainstream literature. She was compelled to breathe life into two young people falling in love in the midst of the most terrifying conflict of our time.

When Gosia isn’t tapping away at her laptop, she’s often walking the streets of New York. With her husband and two young sons in tow, they search for the most succulent pierogi, transporting them back to the cobbled streets of her childhood.

Author social media

Website: https://www.gosianealon.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GosiaNealon

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

Email sign up: http://www.thread-books.com/sign-up/?source=endmatter&author=gosia-nealon-384

Grab A Copy of the Book Here

Have a most lovely day. You will find beauty in every day.

Categories
Uncategorized

A Lighthouse Christmas by Jenny Hale-Review

About The Book

A heartwarming page-turner about the beauty of being at home with family, second chances, and the magic of Christmas, when anything is possible… A gorgeous festive treat for fans of Debbie Macomber, Pamela Kelley, and Sheila Roberts.

When her beloved grandmother passes away, Mia Broadhurst returns to the snow-covered seaside village of Winsted Cape, where Grandma Ruth ran the lighthouse overlooking the golden beach.

This will be Mia’s first Christmas without her, and she can’t bear to part with the lighthouse that has been in their family for generations. As she steps into it, childhood memories rush back to her. She can almost hear them playing tag on the steps… But her life is back in New York, dedicated to a busy PR firm, and she has no choice but to sell.

With the snow falling, turning the grounds into a winter wonderland, Mia works with real estate agent Will Thacker. As they restore the historical building, she tries not notice how handsome he is. After all, she’s only home for Christmas… And Will’s deep blue eyes, as stormy as the Atlantic Ocean, tells her he has his own heartbreak to contend with.

Warmed by a crackling fire, Mia packs up Grandma Ruth’s belongings with the help of her mother and sister. But waiting for them is a black-and-white photograph with a faded inscription. The mysterious message is the key to a family secret that has been hidden for decades––one that changes everything.

When Mia finds out the truth, will it save the precious lighthouse and show Mia where her heart belongs? Or will it tear her from Winsted Cape––and Will––for ever?

My Review

This is an author that I will always pick up her books when I see them for such an enjoyable read.
Festively taking place during the holiday season, this highly descriptive book will have you envisioning past family holiday get togethers with gently falling snow and the gentle goodness of family celebrations. Taking place in a light house adds to it charm that will have you wanting to pick it up for a relaxing read.
Family generational story full of secrets,family drama,endearing characters that’ll have you rooting for them,hope,family love and holiday vibes.
A holiday book you’ll want to get lost in, this festive read pairs well with holiday tea and cookies.

Pub Date: 14 Oct 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

Jenny Hale is a USA Today, Amazon, and international bestselling author of romantic contemporary fiction. Her books have sold worldwide, have been translated into multiple languages, and adapted for television. Her novels Coming Home for Christmas and Movie Guide Epiphany Award winner Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses are Hallmark Channel original movies.

She was included in Oprah Magazine’s “19 Dreamy Summer Romances to Whisk You Away” and Southern Living’s “30 Christmas Novels to Start Reading Now.” Her stories are chock-full of feel-good romance and overflowing with warm settings, great friends, and family. Jenny is at work on her next novel, delighted to be bringing even more heartwarming stories to her readers.

When she isn’t writing, or heading up her romantic fiction imprint Harpeth Road, she can be found running around her hometown of Nashville with her husband, two boys, and their labradoodle, taking pictures—her favorite pastime.

Website: http://www.itsjennyhale.com; Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/jhaleauthor; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennyhaleauthor; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jhaleauthor

Grab A Copy Here

What’s on your list of Christmas reads this year? Have a wonderful day. Thanks for stopping by.