“If I go back to Paris, it would be my third time there as an undercover agent…” Kitty murmured. “I ask myself, how many chances does one person get?”
Paris, 1941. When Kitty is asked to return to Paris as an undercover agent, she knows the mission is her most dangerous yet. But she has been fighting the Nazis for too long to stop now. And her role within the Resistance has already cost her friends, family and now – almost – her own marriage.
Because while she and Edgar are more in love than ever, his role as an undercover Nazi means it is safer if they are no longer married. And while signing the divorce papers is a formality that breaks her heart, Kitty knows that she and Edgar will find a way to be together when the war is finally over…
More determined than ever to undermine the Nazi regime, Kitty has nothing left to lose. From secretly supplying Prisoner of War camps with essential items, to moving refugees across borders to safety, she will stop at nothing to play her part in bringing the war to a close, even if it means risking her own life.
But when Edgar goes missing, Kitty’s world stops. As she begins a desperate search for her beloved husband, she hears from her contacts that he has been killed. But Kitty feels strongly in her heart that, somewhere out there, Edgar is still alive. And she knows she must risk everything to rescue the man she loves, no matter what…
An absolutely gripping, heartbreaking and powerful story about courage, love and bravery in the midst of World War 2. Perfect for fans of The Nightingale, My Name is Eva and All the Light We Cannot See.
An American Wife in Paris is the second book in the incredible The Diplomat’s Wife series. Before starting this book, I do advise you to read An American Wife which is the first book in this series. It will give you the characters backstory and help you to understand their thoughts even better.
Once again, we see Kitty returning to Paris as an undercover agent. She knows it’s her most dangerous mission yet. Married to an Austrian diplomat she is thrown into a very different world than she was used to. Edgar is Nazi spy; it breaks Kitty’s heart to have to sign papers for a divorce for her safety. This is for you if you enjoy spying, thrilling, edge of your seat gripping stories.
One thing we notice is Kitty’s unfailing love for Edgar. It propels her forward and is the driving force and encouragement for doing what she needs to do. Once I started reading it this book was very hard to put down. You must ask yourself can you trust your contacts? Kitty works with the Resistance movement and constantly finds herself in dangerous situations
The research is very evident in the book and it’s such a compelling read. Very well written. The ending was very tense, and I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
Publish date July 20, 2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
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Author Bio
Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger is a Ukrainian-American who transplanted to Austria.
Born in 1969, she grew up in the culture-rich neighborhood of “Nordeast” Minneapolis and started her writing career with short stories, travel narratives, and worked as a journalist and managing magazine editor, before jumping the desk and pursuing her own writing and traveling.
Her books tackle David-vs.-Goliath themes with strong women battling for the Underdogs against a system, be it political, geographical, or industrial. Sometimes all three. “I enjoy discovering the good, the bad, and the ugly in my characters when they come into conflict,” she says. “And all of my stories have been inspired by injustices I’ve discovered along my travels.”
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
How it works:
Each week Jana assigns on Tuesday a topic and then posts a top ten list that fits that topic. You’re more than welcome to join and create your own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well. Feel free to put a unique spin on the topic to make it work for you! Please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own post so that others know where to find more information.
This week’s topic is
Books With One-Word Titles
I am a Weyward, and wild inside.
2019: Under cover of darkness, Kate flees London for ramshackle Weyward Cottage, inherited from a great aunt she barely remembers. With its tumbling ivy and overgrown garden, the cottage is worlds away from the abusive partner who tormented Kate. But she begins to suspect that her great aunt had a secret. One that lurks in the bones of the cottage, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century.
1619: Altha is awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer who was stampeded to death by his herd. As a girl, Altha’s mother taught her their magic, a kind not rooted in spell casting but in a deep knowledge of the natural world. But unusual women have always been deemed dangerous, and as the evidence for witchcraft is set out against Altha, she knows it will take all of her powers to maintain her freedom.
1942: As World War II rages, Violet is trapped in her family’s grand, crumbling estate. Straitjacketed by societal convention, she longs for the robust education her brother receives––and for her mother, long deceased, who was rumored to have gone mad before her death. The only traces Violet has of her are a locket bearing the initial W and the word weyward scratched into the baseboard of her bedroom.
Weaving together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries, Emilia Hart’s Weyward is an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world.
Worlds Collide Along the Shores of the Outer Banks
Immerse yourself in the “what if” questions related to the Lost Colony of Roanoke. What if an English boy and a native girl met in the wilderness? The push-and-pull between two very different worlds begins as one seeks simple friendship and the other struggles to trust. And can it—dare they—allow it to be more?
Sparks fly between Mushaniq, free-spirited daughter of Manteo, and Georgie Howe, whose father was brutally murdered by undiscovered native warriors before they’d been on Roanoac Island a full week. As Georgie struggles to make sense of his life and to accept that not all they call “savage” are guilty of his father’s death, Mushaniq grapples with her own questions about who Manteo has become. As tentative friendship becomes more, forged in the fire of calamity and attack upon their community, both must decide whether the One True God is indeed who He claims to be and whether He is worthy of their trust.
Author Shannon McNear portrays history with vivid authenticity.
Visit the charming community of Fox Crossing, Maine in this witty, feel-good story about small town life, the power of belief, the importance of community, and one very special fox whose appearance heralds second chances, luck – or best of all, love. Animal lovers, fans of Hallmark happy endings, and those who enjoy smart, uplifting, heartwarming stories with a twist will be delighted by the latest tale from internationally bestselling author Melinda Metz.
The town of Fox Crossing, Maine, has something special—a legendary fox with a knack for bringing fortune, love, and happiness to anyone lucky enough to see it…
Isobel Gamble is a young seamstress carrying generations of secrets when she sets sail from Scotland in the early 1800s with her husband, Edward. An apothecary who has fallen under the spell of opium, his pile of debts have forced them to flee Glasgow for a fresh start in the New World. But only days after they’ve arrived in Salem, Edward abruptly joins a departing ship as a medic––leaving Isobel penniless and alone in a strange country, forced to make her way by any means possible.
When she meets a young Nathaniel Hawthorne, the two are instantly drawn to each other: he is a man haunted by his ancestors, who sent innocent women to the gallows––while she is an unusually gifted needleworker, troubled by her own strange talents. As the weeks pass and Edward’s safe return grows increasingly unlikely, Nathaniel and Isobel grow closer and closer. Together, they are a muse and a dark storyteller; the enchanter and the enchanted. But which is which?
In this sensuous and hypnotizing tale, a young immigrant woman grapples with our country’s complicated past, and learns that America’s ideas of freedom and liberty often fall short of their promise. Interwoven with Isobel and Nathaniel’s story is a vivid interrogation of who gets to be a “real” American in the first half of the 19th century, a depiction of the early days of the Underground Railroad in New England, and atmospheric interstitials that capture the long history of “unusual” women being accused of witchcraft. Meticulously researched yet evocatively imagined, Laurie Lico Albanese’s Hester is a timeless tale of art, ambition, and desire that examines the roots of female creative power and the men who try to shut it down.
Based on a true story, a spellbinding historical novel about the world’s first female investigative journalist, Nellie Bly.
In 1887, young Nellie Bly sets out for New York and a career in journalism, determined to make her way as a serious reporter, whatever that may take.
But life in the city is tougher than she imagined. Down to her last dime and desperate to prove her worth, she comes up with a dangerous plan: to fake insanity and have herself committed to the asylum on Blackwell’s Island. There, she will work undercover to expose the asylum’s wretched conditions.
But when the asylum door swings shut behind her, she finds herself in a place of horrors, governed by a cruelty she could never have imagined. Cold, isolated and starving, her days of terror reawaken the traumatic events of her childhood. She entered the asylum of her own free will – but will she ever get out?
An extraordinary portrait of a woman ahead of her time, Madwoman is the story of a quest for the truth that changed the world.
Award-winning author Lori Benton delivers a rich historical novel of faith, hope, and second chances.
December 1795 A year has passed since Ian Cameron reluctantly sent his uncle’s former slave Seona and their son, Gabriel, north to his kin in Boston. Determined to fully release them, Ian strives to make a life at Mountain Laurel, his inherited plantation, along with Judith, the wife he’s vowed to love and cherish. But when tragedy leaves him alone with his daughter, Mandy, and his three remaining slaves, he decides to return north. An act of kindness on the journey provides Ian the chance to obtain land near the frontier settlement of Shiloh, New York. Perhaps even the hope for a new life with those he still holds dear.
In Boston, Seona has taken her first tentative steps as a free woman, while trying to banish Ian from her heart. The Cameron family thinks she and Gabriel should remain under their protection. Seona’s mother, Lily, thinks it’s time they strike out on their own. Then Ian arrives, offering a second chance Seona hadn’t dared imagine. But the wide-open frontier of Shiloh feels as boundless and terrifying as her newfound freedom—a place of new friends and new enemies, where deep bonds are renewed but old hurts stand ready to rear their heads. It will take every ounce of faith and courage Ian and Seona can muster to fight for their family and their future . . . together.
Set in Jazz Age New York City, this stunning work of fiction, for fans of The Paris Wife and Loving Frank, explores the timeless bond between two brilliant, strong-willed artists, Kay Swift and George Gershwin.
One evening in 1924, Katharine “Kay” Swift—the restless but loyal society wife of a wealthy banker and a serious pianist who longs for recognition—attends a concert. The piece: Rhapsody in Blue. The composer: a brilliant, elusive young musical genius named George Gershwin.
Kay is transfixed, helpless to resist the magnetic pull of George’s talent, charm, and swagger. Their ten-year love affair, complicated by her conflicted loyalty to her husband and the twists and turns of her own musical career, ends only with George’s death from a brain tumor at the age of thirty-eight.
George Gershwin left behind not just a body of work unmatched in popular musical history, but a woman who loved him with all her heart, knowing all the while that he belonged not to her, but to the world.
Anna Ellington was born in the Wellington County House of Industry and Refuge, known as the “Poor House” near Fergus, Ontario, Canada. Later she was bound out to a wealthy family in Toronto. In 1904, Anna returns to Fergus as a beautiful young woman in search of her family. She hopes to learn why her mother ended up in the County Poor House. During her visit to the area she encounters several local characters and finds romance, mystery, wealth, intrigue and answers to many questions. Readers will never forget Anna and the folks that enter her life.
Maame (ma-meh) has many meanings in Twi but in my case, it means woman.
It’s fair to say that Maddie’s life in London is far from rewarding. With a mother who spends most of her time in Ghana (yet still somehow manages to be overbearing), Maddie is the primary caretaker for her father, who suffers from advanced stage Parkinson’s. At work, her boss is a nightmare and Maddie is tired of always being the only Black person in every meeting.
When her mum returns from her latest trip to Ghana, Maddie leaps at the chance to get out of the family home and finally start living. A self-acknowledged late bloomer, she’s ready to experience some important “firsts”: She finds a flat share, says yes to after-work drinks, pushes for more recognition in her career, and throws herself into the bewildering world of internet dating. But it’s not long before tragedy strikes, forcing Maddie to face the true nature of her unconventional family, and the perils—and rewards—of putting her heart on the line.
Smart, funny, and deeply affecting, Jessica George’s Maame deals with the themes of our time with humor and poignancy: from familial duty and racism, to female pleasure, the complexity of love, and the life-saving power of friendship. Most important, it explores what it feels like to be torn between two homes and cultures―and it celebrates finally being able to find where you belong.
Answering a woman’s desperate call for help, young Navy widow Helen Devries opens her Whidbey Island home as a refuge to Choi Eunhee. As they bond over common losses and a delicate, potentially devastating secret, their friendship spans the remainder of their lives.
After losing her mother, Cassidy Quinn spent her childhood summers with her gran, Helen, at her farmhouse. Nourished by her grandmother’s love and encouragement, Cassidy discovers a passion that she hopes will bloom into a career. But after Helen passes, Cassidy learns that her home and garden have fallen into serious disrepair. Worse, a looming tax debt threatens her inheritance. Facing the loss of her legacy and in need of allies and ideas, Cassidy reaches out to Nick, her former love, despite the complicated emotions brought by having him back in her life.
Cassidy inherits not only the family home but a task, spoken with her grandmother’s final breaths: ask Grace Kim—Eunhee’s granddaughter—to help sort through the contents of the locked hope chest in the attic. As she and Grace dig into the past, they unearth their grandmothers’ long-held secret and more. Each startling revelation reshapes their understanding of their grandmothers and ultimately inspires the courage to take risks and make changes to own their lives.
Set in both modern-day and midcentury Whidbey Island, Washington, this dual-narrative story of four women—grandmothers and granddaughters—intertwines across generations to explore the secrets we keep, the love we pass down, and the heirlooms we inherit from a well-lived life.
The books I’ve listed are from my NetGalley list. Weyard to Madwoman I have not read. The others I have or at least tried to. I didn’t like all of them and could not finish a few. How about you, have you read any of these? What were your thoughts? Finding one word titles was not as easy as I thought it would be.
230 pages July 11, 2023 publication date Northern Lights Press Publisher Grab A Copy here
About The Book
After years away, Astrid Nilsson has returned home to Colorado, hoping to become Fairplay’s second doctor . . . and to find healing for her reoccurring consumption. Spirited and independent, Astrid doesn’t want her illness to be a burden to those she loves, so she has resisted getting serious about any man.
As the current doctor of Fairplay, Logan Steele is seeking to hire a male physician to take over his clinic after he goes back East. When Astrid, his childhood sweetheart, insists that she’s the one for the job, he offers her a bargain she can’t refuse: pretend to court him to appease his mother and he’ll give her the doctor position on a trial basis.
Astrid accepts the arrangement even though she’s reluctant to be in a sham relationship with a man who’d once broken her heart. She tries to keep herself from falling for Logan again but soon finds herself getting much more than she bargained for. With the clock ticking for both of them, can they commit to real love before it’s too late?
My Thoughts
I just love when there are characters that cross over from one series to another. Astrid Nillson was in a Cowboy for Keeps as a child. Younger sister to Greta Nilsson. Astrid is grown now but when she was a child, she was brought west by her sister hoping to help her heal from consumption. Astrid is now a certified medical doctor, not a usual occupation for a woman in 1877.
Returning home to Fairplay, Colorado she can only think about one thing. She must become a doctor in the practice in town advertising for one. She doesn’t know who the practicing doctor is there, but she’s still determined to join the practice. When she finds the doctor is her old love interest, she almost leaves on the double, but she won’t him give the satisfaction of doing so.
I really enjoyed the dynamics between Logan Steele and Astrid. Logan comes home because of his mother’s health. She is down to her last few weeks and he’s trying to make her as comfortable as possible. She won’t be happy until he’s settled and is courting someone.
When he makes a proposition to Astrid, I wasn’t sure if she would agree or not. The book was full of such humor and witty banner between the two. I also really enjoyed the mother’s character. She really does want the best for her son.
We see the narrowmindedness of some of the town’s folks towards a woman doctor. When time is of the essence can she prove her worth and have acceptance?
I just loved this book. it has all that I would expect in a book from this author, a fast-paced keep you reading plot, exciting and diverse characters, strong women thinking outside the box, a clean romance and she has the ability to make me say, “woohoo, I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!”
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
About The Author
Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over forty books and is the winner of numerous awards. She writes sweet historical romances with plenty of sizzle. Find out more at jodyhedlund.com.
337 pages publish date May 16,2023 Bethany House publisher
About The Book
They must uncover the truth before it’s buried forever.
After witnessing a wrongful conviction as a young girl, Rebecca Whitman–the first female court reporter in Montana–is now determined to defend the innocent. During a murder trial, something doesn’t sit well with her about the case, but no one except the handsome new Carnegie librarian will listen to her.
Librarian Mark Andrews’s father sent him to college hoping he would take over the business side of the family ranch, but Mark would rather wrangle books than cows. When a patron seeks help with research in hopes of proving a man’s innocence, Mark is immediately drawn to her and her cause.
In a race against time, will Rebecca and Mark find the evidence they need–and open their hearts to love–before it’s too late?
My Thoughts
The Heart’s Choice is the first book in the Jewels of Kalispell. I was drawn to this book for many reasons, first off it had a very eye-catching cover. The shades are just lovely. Secondly the author is one of my absolute favorites of historical fiction and my absolute favorite go to authors. I’ve been reading Tracie Peterson books for 30 years. And thirdly, Carneige libraries. I was so excited when I saw this book has the setting of a Carneige library. I grew up going to the Carneige library in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Oakland Branch. Imagine towering ceilings and the old-time architecture of a building built in the 1800’s. This library is magnificent. I never knew there was a Carneige library in Montana, so I was most excited to read about it and the author has researched it so well and it’s written with such accuracy. When she was a young girl Rebecca Whitman witnesses a brutal murder, mustering up the courage she goes to the police and tells what she had seen. Since she is a child, she was not believed, and the wrong man was convicted of murder. As an adult she becomes the first female court reporter as a way to defend the innocent. An upcoming murder trail will have no one listening except the librarian of the newly opened Carnegie library in Montana. Librarian Mark Andrews grew up in a farming household and his father has the highest hopes of his son taking over for him upon his retirement. This fascination with books and research and opening an exciting new library is surely a passing fancy for Mark his father believes. When it doesn’t turn out this way it leaves Mark feeling as though his father is disappointed in him and not accepting of him. Surely Mark can help Rebecca out with some important research in proving a man is innocent and if he succeeds will his father finally be proud of him? A wonderful slow burn romance that started out as friendship while trying to prove a man’s innocence. A fascinating book I’ll be looking forward to more books in the series.
Publication date May 16,2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Authors
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.
Kimberley Woodhouse is the best-selling and award-winning author of more than two dozen books. She is a wife, mother, author, and musician with a quick wit and positive outlook despite difficult circumstances. A popular speaker, she’s shared at more than 2,000 venues across the country. Kimberley and her family’s story have garnered national media attention for many years including ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Montel Williams Show, Discovery Health channel’s Mystery ER, The Hour of Power, The Harvest Show, and over 1,000 other TV appearances and radio interviews. She lives and writes in the Poconos with her husband of thirty years. kimberleywoodhouse.com
351 pages Bethay House Publishers June 6,2023 publication date
About The Book
Once upon a time in Texas . . .
Beauty has been nothing but a curse to Penelope Snow. When she becomes a personal maid for a famous actress whose troupe is leaving Chicago to tour the West, she hides her figure beneath shapeless dresses and keeps her head down. But she still manages to attract the wrong attention, leaving her prospects in tatters–and her jealous mistress plotting her demise.
After his brother lost his life over a woman, Texas Ranger Titus Kingsley has learned to expect the worst from women and is rarely disappointed. So when a young lady found in suspicious circumstances takes up residence with the seven old drovers living at his grandfather’s ranch, Titus is determined to keep a close eye on her.
With a promotion hanging in the balance, Titus is assigned to investigate a robbery case tied to Penelope’s acting troupe. The evidence points to her guilt, but Titus’s heart divines a different truth–one that might just get Penelope killed. –This text refers to the library edition.
My Thoughts
I absolutely loved this book. It was a fun and charming read that I found hard to put down. Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer is a Texas Snow White fairytale retelling. I loved the author’s take on the seven dwarfs with the seven old cowhands who are so protective of Penelope. The book is wholesome and with Christian lessons, but none are overdone. Though it is a fairytale retelling that we are all familiar with the author puts a unique spin on it. There is a mystery, an intense storyline, a slow burn romance and intrigue. I loved the slow burn romance that develops with Penelope and Titus. As the characters in a fairytale retelling the characters play their part perfectly. The author injects her usual humor into the book that had me laughing out loud several times as I imagined the scenarios playing out that I was reading about. I am looking forward to more Texas historical romances from the author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Baker Publishers through Interviews and Reviews. All opinions expressed are my own.
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.
345 pages Revell publisher May 09, 2023 publish date
About The Book
If all the world’s a stage, Jacci will play her part.
She only hopes her story does not turn out to be a tragedy.
In 1881, Jacci Reed is only five years old when a man attempts to kidnap her from the steamboat her mother, Irena, works on. Badly wounded during the confrontation, Irena takes Jacci aboard the Kingston Floating Palace, a showboat tied up beside them. There, Jacci’s actor grandfather tends to her mother and Jacci gets a first taste of the life she will come to lead.
Fifteen years later, Jacci is an actress aboard the Kingston Floating Palace, and largely contented with her adopted family of actors, singers, and dancers. Especially Gabe, who has always supported her, and the gruff grandfather she has come to know and love. Jacci’s mother has been gone for years, but the memory of the altercation that ultimately took her life–and the cryptic things Jacci has overheard about her past–is always there, lurking in the back of her mind.
When someone on the showboat tries to kill Jacci, it’s clear her questions demand answers. But secrets have a way of staying in the shadows, and the answers she craves will not come easily. Gabe only hopes they come in time for him and Jacci to have a future together.
I enjoy books taking place on the river and this one takes place on a showboat described as a floating palace. The book has such wonderful descriptions and sounds so opulent inside.
The thing I enjoy about this author’s books is she writes different historical topics than many authors do which makes for quite an interesting read. Spending her life since she was five years old on showboats this is all that Jacci Reed knows. When she was very young her mother kept her from the shows but now that she’s older she is an actress on the stage of the showboat. Sadly, her mother passes away when she was very young, and she continues to live on the showboat on the Ohio River with her grandfather and his theater troupe.
I enjoyed the historical aspect of the story and equally I enjoyed the mystery of who was putting Jacci’s life in danger and why. The book kept me entertained and I read it in less than 24 hours I found it very hard to put down.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Baker Books through Interviews & Reviews. All opinions expressed are my own.
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About The Author
Ann H. Gabhart caught the writing bug at the age of ten and has been writing ever since. An award winning author, she’s published many books for both adults and young adults. Her books cover several genres from historical to small town family stories to cozy mysteries (mysteries published with author name A.H. Gabhart). Her ideas are sparked by events in Kentucky history and by experiences in her own family. Her first Shaker novel, The Outsider, was a finalist for the ECPA Christian Fiction Book of the Year. Love Comes Home won the Selah Book of the Year award, and These Healing Hills was the Faith, Hope & Love Readers’ Choice Women’s Fiction Book of the Year.
Ann lives on a Kentucky farm not far from where she was born. She and her husband have three children and nine grandchildren. Ann enjoys hiking on her farm with her grandkids and her dogs, Frankie and Marley. See more about her books at http://www.annhgabhart.com or join the conversation on her Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/anngabhart.
Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived here on Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading.
The Three Ws are:
What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next?
Currently reading
A surprise inheritance. A cache of family secrets. A choice that will change her life forever.
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.
Recently Finished Reading
Step into the Cornish Beach Café, where you’ll find stunning views of the sea, plenty of cream cakes and a warm welcome from the quirky locals. But will this special place help to heal Jessie’s broken heart this summer?
Thirty-year-old Jessie is heartbroken after being dumped just before reaching the altar. So she escapes to her favourite place in the world, the little Cornish Beach café in Indigo Cove. There she plans to spend her summer indulging in home-made lemonade and freshly made brownies. Except, on her first night, fate has other ideas and Jessie bumps into tall and brooding Ashton, the first guy she ever kissed…
Determined to protect her fragile emotions, Jessie swears not to get distracted by Ashton’s sea-glass eyes or the way being near him makes her heart hammer against her chest. Instead, she spends time with her beloved grandfather George, helping him to prepare for the café’s puzzle championships.
In the small community, she keeps crossing paths with handsome Ashton, who’s now a wealthy and successful businessman. They end up sharing sunny afternoons together, which turn into long evenings walking along the beach. As the temperature soars between them, Jessie’s heart begins to melt as she discovers the generous personality behind Ashton’s reserved exterior.
But when she discovers a secret from Ashton’s past, Jessie is left shaken. How much does she really know about him, and can she take a leap of faith and trust Ashton when he asks her to?
Will Jessie’s summer at the beach café in Indigo Cove be the biggest mistake of her life or will it turn out to be the fresh start she needs?
Jimmy Propfield joined the army for two reasons: to get out of Mobile, Alabama, with his best friends Hank and Billy and to forget his high school sweetheart, Claire.
Life in the Philippines seems like paradise–until the morning of December 8, 1941, when news comes from Manila: Imperial Japan has bombed Pearl Harbor. Within hours, the teenage friends are plunged into war as enemy warplanes attack Luzon, beginning a battle for control of the Pacific Theater that will culminate with a last stand on the Bataan Peninsula and end with the largest surrender of American troops in history.
What follows will become known as one of the worst atrocities in modern warfare: the Bataan Death March. With no hope of rescue, the three friends vow to make it back home together. But the ordeal is only the beginning of their nearly four-year fight to survive. Inspired by true stories, The Long March Home is a gripping coming-of-age tale of friendship, sacrifice, and the power of unrelenting hope.
Reading Next
With dreams of love and a hope for belonging, shy Belle Parish leaves her position as a maid in Charleston to travel to New Mexico with her best friend to become mail-order brides. Colt Lawson’s letters hold great promise and while his devilishly handsome face matches his picture, something does not add up. Discovering his lie only moments before they wed, Belle flees the church and straight into the Castañeda Hotel Harvey House. Giving up the prospect on ever marrying, she dons her nun-like uniform and focuses on her role as a Harvey Girl waitress until a strong Texas Ranger rides into her life.
Colt Lawson didn’t want to send that letter to Belle Parish in the first place, but her first response had all but captured his heart. When he is left standing at the altar alone, he is left with two choices—either release his dream of a love marriage or attempt to win her heart. Wooing her would be a lot easier if that Texas Ranger wasn’t back in town. Who wants a dusty rancher with a past when she could have a shining knight in a Stetson?
Alyssa carefully holds the delicate paper map and looks down at the cottages and winding streets of the village by the shore. She came to Heaven’s Cove for a fresh start. But will the pathways on the map lead her to an old secret?
Fleeing from a heartbreaking mistake, all former nurse Alyssa wants is to focus on her new job giving tours of Heaven’s Cove to visitors and sharing the myths and legends of this beautiful place. Nobody needs to know the real reason she came to the village…
Over cups of tea with elderly resident Magda she soon makes a friend who is alone in the world too. For decades, Magda has been secretly in love with her best friend Stan. Desperate to return Magda’s kindness, Alyssa is eager to bring these two lost souls together. But meeting Stan’s tall, handsome son Jack scuppers her plans.
Dedicated to caring for Stan, Jack says Alyssa’s focus on legends keeps the village in the past. But when Alyssa finds an old map revealing the true story of a Heaven’s Cove couple who sacrificed everything for love, she’s sure the romantic tale could bring Stan and Magda together… and although digging up old secrets soon ruffles feathers in the village, with Jack and Alyssa growing close, she can’t help but think she might find happiness after all.
But will Alyssa ever be able to open up about her own past? Or will the truth tear them apart?
An absolutely stunning read that will whisk you away to the Devon coast, where the seagulls soar and saltwater sprays the air. Perfect for fans of Debbie Macomber, Mary Alice Monroe and Barbara O’Neal.
And what about your reading plans? Let me know in the comments please.
Have a wonderful Wednesday and thanks for stopping in.
323 pages publish date May 9, 2023 publisher Northern Lights Press
About The Book
When the darkness closes all around, Beauty is still there just waiting to be found.
Dawson Huxham blames himself for his sister’s death . . . until he briefly crosses time and discovers she’s alive in the Middle Ages. Hoping to reconnect with her, he searches for the holy water that will help him visit the past for a longer duration. But he realizes he’s not the only one looking for the miraculous water. Terrorists are threatening him and watching his every move.
As Dawson locates holy water from an unlikely source, he crosses fully into the past where he meets a beautiful noblewoman, Philippa Neville, who is desperately trying to escape her uncle’s plans for an arranged marriage. When danger closes in, Dawson agrees to wed her in an effort to thwart her uncle’s schemes. As forces in both the present and past conspire against the newlyweds, will they find a way to be together before the swiftly moving waters of time separate them forever?
My Thoughts
I am not a reader of time travel book but for Jody Hedlund’s books I am. The Waters in Time books are just incredible, and she has proven her books are equally well written in whatever genre she writes in.
Though this book can be read as a standalone I do suggest you read the books in order. This series has captivated me from the start, and I have loved all in this series. I found it fascinating to be transported back in time to the Medieval times and read the differences yet similarities in the time periods.
I enjoyed reading Dawson’s story and seeing the positive change in his personality. The story has a nice Christian addition without it being too much. The book has a fabulous outcome that I enjoyed and is positive. I’m looking forward to more well researched books in this series.
Published May 9, 2023. I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
About The Author
Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over forty books and is the winner of numerous awards. She writes sweet historical romances with plenty of sizzle. Find out more at jodyhedlund.com.
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397 pages Revell publisher publication date May 2,2023
About the Book
Jimmy Propfield joined the army for two reasons: to get out of Mobile, Alabama, with his best friends Hank and Billy and to forget his high school sweetheart, Claire.
Life in the Philippines seems like paradise–until the morning of December 8, 1941, when news comes from Manila: Imperial Japan has bombed Pearl Harbor. Within hours, the teenage friends are plunged into war as enemy warplanes attack Luzon, beginning a battle for control of the Pacific Theater that will culminate with a last stand on the Bataan Peninsula and end with the largest surrender of American troops in history.
What follows will become known as one of the worst atrocities in modern warfare: the Bataan Death March. With no hope of rescue, the three friends vow to make it back home together. But the ordeal is only the beginning of their nearly four-year fight to survive. Inspired by true stories, The Long March Home is a gripping coming-of-age tale of friendship, sacrifice, and the power of unrelenting hope.
My Thoughts
The Long March Home is raw, gritty and very realistic. The thing I appreciated is it’s based on true events. Very well researched, I learned a lot and I have read many WWII books so that’s saying something.
Childhood friends from Mobile, Alabama have no idea what they will be facing once they enlist. The Philippines where they’re sent is a world away from Mobile and a whole new culture and many different experiences. Vowing to stick together, always the teens enjoy themselves training waiting for the war to come.
I had not heard of the Bataan Death March in the Philippines or how the Japanese immediately invade the country after bombing Pearl Harbor. The teens are not prepared for the realities of war, the death, the daily struggle for survival with little to eat, standing guard not knowing who’s going to be sneaking up on you.
They are all determined to come back home alive to their loved ones who are desperately waiting for mail and any word of how they’re doing. Full of hope and determination The Long March Home is a very powerful read. Highly recommended!
Pub Date: 02 May 2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Author
Marcus Brotherton is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author or coauthor of more than 25 books that have been called “fascinating,” “brilliantly arranged,” “magical,” and “refreshingly frank.”
Tosca Lee is the New York Times bestselling author of 11 novels, including The Line Between, The Progeny, The Legend of Sheba, and Iscariot.Lee’s work has been praised as “deeply human,” “powerful,” and “mind-bending historical fiction.”
Have a wonderful day and thank you for stopping in today.
Two sisters navigate the thrilling, euphoric early days of California surf culture in this dazzling saga of ambition, sacrifice, and the tangled ties between mothers and daughters from the New York Times bestselling author of The Aviator’s Wife.
Southern California, 1960s: endless sunny days surfing in Malibu, followed by glittering neon nights at Whisky a Go Go. In an era when women are expected to be housewives, Carol Donnelly breaks the mold as a legendary female surfer struggling to compete in a male-dominated sport—and her daughters, Mindy and Ginger, bear the weight of Carol’s unconventional lifestyle.
The Donnelly sisters grow up enduring their mother’s absence—physically, when she’s at the beach, and emotionally, the rare times she’s at home. To escape questions about Carol’s whereabouts—and to chase her elusive affection—they cut school to spend their days in the surf. From her first time on a board, Mindy is a natural, but Ginger, two years younger, feels out of place in the water.
As they grow up and their lives diverge, Mindy and Ginger’s relationship ebbs and flows. Mindy finds herself swept up in celebrity, complete with beachside love affairs, parties at the Playboy Club, and a USO tour in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Ginger, desperate for a community of her own, is tugged into the dangerous counterculture of drugs and cults. But through it all, their sense of duty to each other survives, as the girls are forever connected by the emotional damage they carry from their unorthodox childhood.
A gripping, emotional story set at a time when mothers were expected to be Donna Reed, not Gidget, California Golden is an unforgettable novel about three women living in a society that was shifting as tempestuously as the breaking waves.
When I downloaded this book at the recommendation of the publisher, I wasn’t sure I would enjoy it. It’s historical yes, which I read a lot of, but it takes place later than most of the historicals I read, in the 1960’s. I don’t read many books taking place in the 60’s, it’s before I was born and also from what I’ve read a very tumultuous time.
I could tell you this takes place in California and is one of those surfing novels and that’s true but it’s so much more than that. It’s about sisters, pretty young when this starts, and it follows their path as they grow and mature.
It’s also about the sister’s relationship, one is a giver and carer and the other is a receiver and the one taken care of by multiple people throughout her life. We also see the girl’s relationship with their mother, these girls practically raise themselves while their mother surfs. Not your typical PTA mom.
The girls don’t want to be like their mother who ignores everything in life but surfing but to some degree they both are. One even surfs competitively for a time. It’s the 60’s vibe tumultuous times, surfing and waxing your board, family relationships broken by lies and neglect and unconventional women.
Very emotional as we see the girls finding themselves in life and their evolving relationship with each other and their mother. Well worth the read and recommended!
Pub Date 08 Aug 2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
About The Author
Melanie Benjamin was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. An avid reader all her life–as a child, she was the proud winner, several years running, of the summer reading program at her local library–she still firmly believes that a lifetime of reading is the best education a writer can have.
While attending Indiana University–Purdue University at Indianapolis, Melanie performed in many community theater productions before meeting her husband, moving to the Chicago area and raising two sons. Writing was always beckoning, however, and soon she began writing for local magazines and newspapers before venturing into her first love, fiction.
By combining her passion for history and biography, she has found her niche writing historical fiction, concentrating on the “stories behind the stories.” Her most recent novel, THE GIRLS IN THE PICTURE, tells the fascinating and timely story of the first true female partnership – and enduring friendship – in Hollywood, between the silent film star Mary Pickford and her collaborator (and first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Screenplay), Frances Marion.
Her previous novels, THE SWANS OF FIFTH AVENUE, and THE AVIATOR’S WIFE, were New York Times, USA Today and IndieBound best sellers. Her first novel, ALICE I HAVE BEEN, was a national bestseller; this was followed by the critically acclaimed THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MRS. TOM THUMB. Her next novel will be out in May, 2019.
She and her family still live in the Chicago area; when she’s not writing, she’s gardening, taking long walks, rooting for the Cubs–
And reading, of course.
Have a terrific Tuesday and thanks for stopping by.
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