Tag: historical fiction

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The London House by Katherine Reay Book Review

Such an eye-catching cover and this is my first read by this author. It was every bit as good as I expected it to be.

My Review

The London House is all about uncovering secrets.
There are so many layers to uncover over time, bit by bit. Piece by piece.
Letters,documents,diaries and more official bits are found and poured through to solve a family mystery that has caused hurt,family separation and confusion for generations.
The rich character development makes for a fascinating story linking past with the present and a family that finds healing and understanding.
My first read by this author but won’t be my last.

Pub Date 02 Nov 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

GoodReads Synopsis

Uncovering a dark family secret sends one woman through the history of Britain’s World War II spy network and glamorous 1930s Paris to save her family’s reputation.

Caroline Payne thinks it’s just another day of work until she receives a call from Mat Hammond, an old college friend and historian. But pleasantries are cut short. Mat has uncovered a scandalous secret kept buried for decades: In World War II, Caroline’s British great-aunt betrayed family and country to marry her German lover.

Determined to find answers and save her family’s reputation, Caroline flies to her family’s ancestral home in London. She and Mat discover diaries and letters that reveal her grandmother and great-aunt were known as the “Waite sisters.” Popular and witty, they came of age during the interwar years, a time of peace and luxury filled with dances, jazz clubs, and romance. The buoyant tone of the correspondence soon yields to sadder revelations as the sisters grow apart, and one leaves home for the glittering fashion scene of Paris, despite rumblings of a coming world war.

Each letter brings more questions. Was Caroline’s great-aunt actually a traitor and Nazi collaborator, or is there a more complex truth buried in the past? Together, Caroline and Mat uncover stories of spies and secrets, love and heartbreak, and the events of one fateful evening in 1941 that changed everything.

In this rich historical novel from award-winning author Katherine Reay, a young woman is tasked with writing the next chapter of her family’s story. But Caroline must choose whether to embrace a love of her own and proceed with caution if her family’s decades-old wounds are to heal without tearing them even further apart.

Praise for The London House:

“Carefully researched, emotionally hewn, and written with a sure hand, The London House is a tantalizing tale of deeply held secrets, heartbreak, redemption, and the enduring way that family can both hurt and heal us. I enjoyed it thoroughly.” —Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Forest of Vanishing Stars and The Book of Lost Names

“An expertly researched and marvelously paced treatise on the many variants of courage and loyalty . . . Arresting historical fiction destined to thrill fans of Erica Roebuck and Pam Jenoff.” —Rachel McMillan author of The London Restoration and The Mozart Code


A stand-alone split-time novel
Partially epistolary: the historical storyline is told through letters and journals
Book length: approximately 102,000 words
Includes discussion questions for book clubs.

About The Author

Katherine Reay is a national bestselling and award-winning author of several novels and one work of nonfiction.

For her fiction, Katherine writes love letters to books, and her novels are saturated with what she calls the “world of books.” They are character driven stories that examine the past as a way to find one’s best way forward. In the words of The Bronte Plot’s Lucy Alling, Katherine writes of “that time when you don’t know where you’ll be, but you can’t stay as you are.”

Katherine holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University, and after several moves across the globe, lives outside Chicago.

Please visit Katherine on social media, on FB at Katherinereaybooks, Instagram @katherinereay, or visit her website at http://www.katherinereay.com

Thank you for stopping by . Have a wonderful day.

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Can’t Wait Wednesday

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released. It’s based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This is a book I’ve heard about several months ago. The author writes such heartfelt books.

This week I am looking forward to……………..

Pub Date 01 Jul 2022 by Barbour Publishers Christian, Historical Fiction,Romance

Description

Can their hearts overcome the darkness of the mountains?

To escape a forced marriage, Cora Taylor travels from England to the Blue Ridge Mountains in search of her brother, who is working as a teacher in a mission school. She hopes to find a place where her nursing skills and independent ideas will be accepted and appreciated, but nothing prepares her for the wild mixture of isolation, community, brokenness, and hope within these mountains…or in the person of Jeb McAdams.

Returning from the devastation of World War 1 emotionally damaged, Jeb McAdams struggles against the rampant mountain alcoholism to soothe his nightmares. It’s easy to hide within the mountains, or it was, before Cora Taylor arrived. Now, she seems to show up at every turn, bringing her modern ideas, curiosity, and beautiful eyes with her.

Bound by their shared war history, the pair develop an unlikely friendship, which unexpectedly hints to something more. But when Cora’s desire to help the women of the mountains crosses an unspoken line, will Jeb be able to protect this feisty flatlander from the wrath of the mountain men or will he end up losing much more than his heart? 

Do you have a favorite book y this author? Let me know in the comments. Thanks for stopping by.

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When The Meadow Blooms By Ann H. Gabhart Book Review

My Review

This book is absolutely incredible!
I’ve always loved this author’s books and this one is my new favorite.
Her storytelling is fabulous, her imagination more than impressive. It would be interesting talking with her and finding out what inspires her stories.
A sanitarium would be a depressing place to be ,wondering if you would ever be able to leave, so would an orphanage. But this is where Rose and her two daughters are in the mid-nineteen twenties when Rose is struck with tuberculous and she has no one to care for her children. She promises she’ll be out quickly so they can be together again.
Her daughters are young, the older protecting the younger. The time slowly passes, the mother is sad and lonely despairing of never seeing her daughters again. The girls starting to forget what mother looks like but never forgetting her love for them.
Able to finally get out it seems as though it’s a dream to be able to stay at her brother-in laws farm, Meadowland with her daughters.
The girls help their mother and the youngest has a special affinity with nature and animals.
Her brother in-law is a sad man grieving his past, not wanting to talk about it and keeping his heart shut tightly to any possibility of love.
The girls at his farm start to make a big change in his heart as he’s able to let love in again. I enjoyed seeing a spiritual growth in him. It’s amazing what a crow and the man’s visitors can do to start his healing process for his heart. We don’t have to keep everything bottled up inside, healing is available if we just embrace it.
So full of emotions, you will love this book and want to read it more than once. I know this book will stay with me for a long time.

Pub May 3,22.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Grab A Copy Here

GoodReads Synopsis

Widow Rose Meadows eagerly accepts her brother-in-law’s offer for her and her two daughters to live on his farm after her treatments in a sanatorium finds them needing a home. But is this scarred and reclusive man ready for all the changes these women will bring to his life? 

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.

The author has many wonderful books published. Have you read any by her?

Thank you for stopping by, enjoy your week.

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To Tame A Cowboy (Colorado Cowboys #3)by Jody Hedlund-Book Review

My Review

The author writes in many genres and excels at all of them.
I have read all of the books in this series, all wonderful but this one is my favorite.
Brody is a broken man from his time spent in the Civil War and what he blames himself for being unable to do.
Spending time with his little niece relaxes him and makes him feel whole again.
Though he may not show it outwardly he has a tender heart , especially when it comes to the wild horses in the area who are being killed by local ranchers when their cattle don’t have enough of the lush grass for grazing.
Despite no formal training Savannah Marshall has vet smarts after working with a trained veterinarian for many years.
Wanting to please her father she agrees to marry a man of his choosing but decides against it at the last minute and runs away.
Not having a destination in mind she gets to town and sees a horse being terribly mistreated and rushes to treat it. Two tender hearts meet then, Brody with his love of animals and Savannah with her doctoring knowledge and her love of animals.
Savannah is on the run and her family wants her back but will love be able to run wild and free like the horses when she is found or will her heart be caged?
We also get a glimpse of Brody’s sister in this story, she will not be held back. She is free spirited and I love her personality.
I’ll bet there will be a book telling her story soon and I can’t wait to read it.
I loved this book!

Pub Date 03 May 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Grab A Copy Here

GoodReads Synopsis

Brody McQuaid is a broken man, and he knows it. While his body survived the war, his soul did not. Besides loving his little niece, his only other sense of purpose comes from saving the wild horses that roam South Park. Ranchers in the area have taken to killing the horses, which are competing with their cattle to feed on the open grass.

Savannah Marshall is a veterinarian on her family’s Colorado ranch. She longs to keep her father happy following the tragic death of her older brother, including marrying a man of his choosing. But days before her wedding, she gets cold feet and disappears to South Park. As she learns more about the destruction of the horses, she joins Brody in an attempt to save the wild creatures. But when Savannah’s family and the resentments of the area cattlemen catch up with them both, Brody and Savannah will have to tame their fears if they’ve any hope to let love run free. 

About The Author

Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over forty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards. She writes clean, sweet romances with plenty of sizzle. Find out more at jodyhedlund.com.

KNIGHTS OF BRETHREN SERIES:

Enamored

Entwined

Ensnared (Coming June, 2022)

Enriched (Coming July, 2022)

Enflamed (TBD)

Entrusted (TBD)

FAIREST MAIDENS SERIES:

Beholden

Beguiled

Besotted

LOST PRINCESSES SERIES:

Always: Prequel Novella

Evermore

Foremost

Hereafter

NOBLE KNIGHTS SERIES:

The Vow: Prequel Novella

An Uncertain Choice

A Daring Sacrifice

For Love & Honor

A Loyal Heart

A Worthy Rebel

WATERS OF TIME SERIES:

Come Back to Me

Never Leave Me

COLORADO COWBOYS SERIES:

A Cowboy for Keeps

The Heart of a Cowboy

To Tame a Cowboy (Coming May, 2022)

Falling for the Cowgirl (Coming October, 2022)

Book 5 (Coming February, 2023)

BRIDE SHIP SERIES:

A Reluctant Bride

The Runaway Bride

A Bride of Convenience

Almost a Bride

ORPHAN TRAIN SERIES:

An Awakened Heart: A Novella

With You Always

Together Forever

Searching for You

BEACONS OF HOPE SERIES:

Out of the Storm: A Novella

Love Unexpected

Hearts Made Whole

Undaunted Hope

Forever Safe

Never Forget

HEARTS OF FAITH COLLECTION:

The Preacher’s Bride

The Doctor’s Lady

Rebellious Heart

MICHIGAN BRIDES COLLECTION:

Unending Devotion

A Noble Groom

Captured by Love

BIO FICTION:

Luther and Katharina

Newton & Polly

Have a fabulous day. Thanks for stopping by.

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The Watchmaker’s Daughter BY Dianne Haley- Blog Tour

Today I am excited to bring you my stop for The Watchmaker’s Daughter Blog Tour. A completely gripping and heart-wrenching novel about love and bravery in a time of terrible danger. Fans of The Alice Network, The Nightingale and We Were the Lucky Ones will be swept away by The Watchmaker’s Daughter.

My Review

Debut author Dianne Haley has written a superb book.
There have been many WWII books written and they are good but one that has a different topic covered such as this one really catches your attention.
What keeps your attention is the page after page reading of danger,heart wrenching heartbreak the characters face though not of their own causing. Such injustice done to children just trying to escape to a better life.
You get very invested in the character’s lives,holding your breath as you read the risks they are taking through espionage and secret communications.
France has fallen to the Nazi’s and Switzerland’s people know they could be next but a long time jeweler needs the business with the Germans to survive. As his daughter does bike deliveries for him she, unknown to her father ,smuggles messages for the French Resistance, hidden among his watch deliveries. 
It is a huge risk she is taking but she does it while thinking of Philippe, her childhood sweetheart who is a soldier based in secret military fortresses in the mountains.
When unexpected danger strikes will she stay safe, will her father?
Highly recommended!

Pub Date 25 Apr 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Grab Your Copy Here

Good Reads Synopsis

I have to help them,’ Valérie says, her eyes filling with tears at the thought of the frightened children shivering in the rain and hiding from the Nazis. ‘I know you do,’ Philippe replies as he pulls her tight, ‘And I love you so much for that. But will you promise to be careful? Remember how precious your life is too?’

1942: Gazing out of her shuttered bedroom window towards the snow-covered Alps, Valérie Hallez feels like a traitor to her beautiful country. France has fallen to the Nazis, and everyone knows that Switzerland could be invaded next. But her father Albert is a local watchmaker who relies on German trade. As she helps him entertain German customers, she sees their Nazi insignia sparkling in the firelight. And guilt fills her heart as she listens to her crackling radio which speaks of terrible camps in Germany. So when a friend asks her to hide Jewish refugee children who will be sent back to the Nazis if they are discovered, Valérie knows she must join the fight against evil…

In defiance of her father, Valérie smuggles messages for the French Resistance, hidden among his watch deliveries. And when darkness falls, she runs through narrow cobbled streets to hide children in his old workshop. Her heart is broken by their terrified faces, and it pains her to feel so distant from her father. But she finds comfort in letters from Philippe, her childhood sweetheart who is a soldier based in secret military fortresses in the mountains. And in his brief hours of leave, they snatch precious moments on their favourite bench by Lake Geneva.

Then a hidden document that could alter the course of the war tells her Philippe is in grave danger. And Valérie faces an impossible choice. Will she betray the Resistance to save the man she loves?

A completely gripping and heart-wrenching novel about love and bravery in a time of terrible danger. Fans of The Alice Network, The Nightingale and We Were the Lucky Ones will be swept away by The Watchmaker’s Daughter.

About The Author

Author social media

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dhaley30

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dianne-Haley-Author-105318942048374

Website: www.diannehaley.com

Originally from the north of Scotland, Dianne now lives with her husband in Edinburgh and has two grown-up children. After a thirty-year business career in London and Edinburgh when Dianne wrote between projects, she is now writing full-time.

Dianne and her family have been visiting the area round Lake Geneva since 1992 and love the Alps in all seasons. The inspiration for her series set in WW2 Switzerland came from a drive through Geneva’s old town on a rainy October evening, the cobbled lanes a perfect setting for secrets and hiding places.

Thank you for stopping by the blog today. Have a wonderful day!

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Drawn By The Current(Windy City Saga #3) Review

My Review

Drawn by the Current is another amazing book in the Windy City Saga by Jocelyn Green.
The reason I love this author’s book so much is that though historical fiction they are based on true events. We find a wonderful mixture of fact and fiction effortlessly mixed into this book with plenty of research into details to back up her writing.
Another one taking place in Chicago she reawakens the tragedy of the SS Eastland, a passenger ship used for touring, capsizing on 24 July 1915. Many lives were unfortunately lost. close to 1,ooo. The author’s writing honors these passengers and crew members lives.
I was captivated while reading this page-turner , may we never forget the victims of this tragedy.
This is one of my absolute favorite authors. This story is worth staying up late for.


Pub Date 01 Feb 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own. 

GoodReads Synopsis

A birthday excursion turns deadly when the SS Eastland capsizes with Olive Pierce and her best friend Claire on board. Hundreds perish during the accident, and it’s only when Olive herself barely escapes that she discovers her friend is among the victims.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Olive returns to her work at an insurance agency and is soon caught up in the countless investigations related to the accident. But with so many missing, there are few open-and-shut cases, and she tries to balance her grief with the hard work of finding the truth. Is she just overwhelmed, or is someone trying to impede her investigations? When clues surface that impact those closest to her, how deep will she dig?

Newspaper photographer Erik Magnussen begins helping Olive with her cases, and they develop a fast friendship. Just when Olive begins to unravel the secrets, more setbacks arise. It will take everything she’s got to find the truth and stay ahead of those who want to sabotage her progress.

About The Author

Jocelyn Green is a former journalist who puts her investigative skills to work in writing both nonfiction and historical fiction to inspire faith and courage.

The honors her books have received include the Christy Award in historical fiction, and gold medals from the Military Writers Society of America and the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.

Complex and nuanced characters, rich historical detail and twisting plots make her novels immersive experiences. Her fiction has been praised by Historical Novel Society, Romantic Times, Library Journal, historians specializing in her novels’ time periods, as well as popular and acclaimed authors Laura Frantz, Lori Benton, Jody Hedlund, Sarah Sundin, Joanne Bischof, Julie Lessman, and more.

Jocelyn loves Broadway musicals, the color red, strawberry-rhubarb pie, Mexican food, and well-done documentaries. She lives in Iowa with her husband, two children, and two cats she should have named Catticus Finch and Purrman Meowville.

Visit her at jocelyngreen.com.

Amazon buy link here

Thank you for stopping by. Have a wonderful weekend.