👶👶👶👶: The Serpent Bearer, by Jane Rosenthal

When Booksparks reached out asking if I'd be interested in a WWII historical fiction spy thriller, I was all in!!!

The Serpent Bearer has all the elements that interest me. With a dual timeline, WWII history, and endearing characters, I was captivated from the first page.

Ms. Rosenthal managed to strike a delicate balance between the realities of war and the more glamorous aspects of espionage. With a current-day Solly Meisner falling deeper into dementia, the story unfolds as Solly slips into the past and slowly reveals secrets he intended to keep buried.

I appreciated the weaving in of so many diverse characters in various parts of the world. It was truly a unique adventure.

Read 3/14/25

👶👶👶: A Place to Hide, by Ronald H. Balson

Comin' atcha on this World Smile Day with gratitude for all of my blessings. Each time I read a novel about WWII, it hits me how privileged we are here in the USA to be so far across the pond and to have avoided so much horror in both World Wars.

This particular story enlightened me on the plight of the Netherlands in WWII. Despite their neutrality that kept them from the atrocities of the First World War, unfortunately, that didn't stop Hitler from incurring his wrath this time around.

This particular story follows Teddy Hartigan as he is assigned as US Consulate in Amsterdam in a quickly declining situation. Teddy, along with help from those closest to him, manages to save the lives of many children.

I found this book informative, and I always appreciate the effort that goes into writing historical fiction. The multiple timelines added an interesting element, albeit using a common method, a journalist as an audience surrogate. I would say this book is written in a very straightforward manner, perhaps lacking the depth I crave in these stories. It would be a good novel for young adults, in my opinion, offering crucial history lessons along the way.

Many thanks to partner, St. Martin's Press for this gifted review copy.

Read 10/3/24

👶👶👶👶: The Porcelain Maker, by Sarah Freethy

WOWIE KAPOWIE! WHAT A DEBUT👏👏👏!!! It makes me so happy when a new author knocks their debut out of the park, and Sarah Freethy has done just that! This dual timeline novel, set against the backdrop of WWII Germany, leads readers through the life and love of German artist Bettina Vogel and Jewish architect Max Erlich. We are taken from a bright, cheerful time in their young carefree existence, through a progressively deteriorating situation as the Nazi movement takes hold in Germany. Sarah Freethy captures the terror, hope, and courage that enveloped so many during this time.

I had never even heard of Allach porcelain, which was produced at a plant near Dachau concentration camp using the imprisoned Jews as the primary source of labor. It never ceases to amaze me how little I know about this time period, despite reading SO MANY WWII books.

So, kudos to Ms. Freethy for sharing this little known history in such an engrossing manner; I was glued to the book from start to finish! This novel had excellent character development, a solid plot, and a compelling dual timeline. Congrats on writing such a brilliant debut!

Many thanks to partners, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for sharing this #gifted review copy!

Read 11/7

👶👶👶👶: The Golden Doves, by Martha Hall Kelly

After having read Ms. Kelly's 𝐿𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑐 𝐺𝑖𝑟𝑙𝑠, I was so thrilled when partner, @BookSparks , offered #TheGoldenDoves as part of the #SPRC2023 #LostInABookDream challenge!

Martha Hall Kelly just doesn't disappoint. The sheer breadth of her research is always stunning. She brings an intelligence to her work that is just is so impressive.

This historical fiction once again brings us into the atrocities of Ravensbrück during WWII, centered on the dual perspective of Josie and Arlette, two incredible women who were arrested for working with the French Resistance. This story takes us through both their experience during their imprisonment and their quest for justice thereafter.

This author always writes with empathy and determination as she takes her readers on a painful, yet redemptive journey. For fans of historical fiction and suspense, I highly recommend this new release!

Read 4/18/23

👶👶👶: The Lost Children, by

This was certainly a sweet read!

Molly and Jacob experience a harrowing journey in the midst of WWII, losing their only family along the way. Their story is one of hope, loyalty, and bravery, with an undercurrent of determination through it all.

This endearing story read like a YA novel and would appeal to audiences young and old. Although somewhat predictable, it was very well written and progressed steadily.

Overall, it was a charming story wrapped up with a nice little bow, which always makes me smile😊!

Many thanks to partner, Read Forever Publishing & Hachette Publishing for this gifted review copy.

Read 5/25/23

👶👶👶👶: The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre, by Natasha Lester

🎉🎉🎉𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗬 𝗣𝗨𝗕 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗔 𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥!!!🎉🎉🎉

𝑷𝑼𝑩 𝑫𝑨𝒀: 𝑻𝑶𝑫𝑨𝒀, 1/10/23

Many thanks to partners, Read Forever Pub and Natasha Lester for this fabulous gifted copy!

The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre was yet another pièce de résistance by Natasha Lester. The triple-timeline novel was all at once a thriller, a historical fiction romance, and a mystery... and what a ride💯!!!

Once again, the author had my full attention in the multiple timelines. I was equally invested in each of the stories, which is no easy feat for most authors, but Ms. Lester seems to have perfected the art! The story of Alix as an orphan in her youth, later attending finishing school, served as a plausible foundation for her later work in espionage, which certainly served her well in her future clandestine mission.

I have to say, I've really been enjoying the whole "women leading the charge with danger and intrigue" theme lately. Also, the recent trend toward hybrid genres has really produced some entertaining novels!

So, hold on to your hats book-loving friends - you're in for a wild ride with Alix St. Pierre, one of the more glamorous, intelligent, and intriguing heroines I've had the pleasure of reading about!

Read: 1/10/23

👶👶👶👶👶: The Ways We Hide, by Kristina McMorris

💯Wowie Kapowie, this book! Y'all know I don't easily dole out 5 stars, but this one certainly earned every single one!

👏Now I've been a fan of Kristina McMorris since her release of Sold On a Monday, but this novel was on a whole new level. I experienced all the feels with this gem. During my crying bout, I must admit I was a bit angry with one of the author's choices toward the end, but as I reflected, I realized it was simply the reality of WWII. Kudos to her for making the book realistic and compelling.

The storyline was incredibly unique for this genre and the fact that it is based on true accounts made it that much more powerful. I never knew that escape artists were used by British Intelligence to create escape tools for the military. Absolutely fascinating...

Fenna immediately became family, and her narration was exquisite. I felt her trepidation, anxiety, and hope throughout the novel. All of the supporting characters were essential to the story and not a word was wasted.

I always love Ms. McMorris' author's notes. It's intriguing to hear how photos inspire her to uncover these little-known stories. And the fact that she can come up with such a brilliant backstory just speaks to her incredible talent.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for sharing this amazing novel!

Read 12/10/22

👶👶👶👶: The Librarian Spy, by Madeline Martin

First and foremost, I was thrilled that some of this story takes place in Portugal! I truly had no idea, and it was such a wonderful surprise. So few books take place in my parents' home country, so it was really a joy to read all of the cultural references. Well done, Madeline Martin!!!

Secondly, the story is about a librarian spy! Literally, what could be more cool than that?! Girl power reigns supreme in this book. It was refreshing to see the historical references to the many ways that women helped during the war.

Was there suspension of disbelief required for some parts? Well sure, but the story was captivating and I found myself happy to be taken along for the ride.

Read 11/30/22

👶👶👶👶: Angels of the Resistance: A WWII Novel, by Noelle Salazar

Many thanks to partners TLC Book Tours, Mira Books, and HTP for this gifted ARC.

Surprisingly, this is the second book I've read this week about WWII in the Netherlands, and prior to these two, I had never known anything about the level of involvement of this country. I'll be honest about my ignorance: I truly thought the Netherlands had no part in WWII at all since they declared neutrality, but I am shocked at the extent of what occurred. This novel is certainly worth your time to glean information about a country that is rarely spoken about with regard to the second world war, and the level of resistance that took place. As with any good historical fiction novel, it propelled me to research even further and I was impressed that Noelle Salazar really did her homework. I'm shocked that this is only her second novel!

I absolutely loved the heart in this story. The sisters' bond and commitment to one another was beautiful - what a tribute to the Oversteegen sisters. The characters were well fleshed out and the inclusion of the ten Booms was just so awesome.

Bravo Ms. Salazar! Your work is impressive!

Read 12/10/22

👶👶👶👶: The Paris Secret, by Natasha Lester

So this is the second book by the same name I've read in the past couple of months. The first one, as mentioned in my previous post, was an audiobook I had assumed was this one, but had indeed been written 2 years earlier🙈. The covers both had the Eiffel Tower, so I didn't even think to verify the author. Thankfully, it was also a well-written novel, so I didn't end up wasting my time.

Now onto the novel at hand... Natasha Lester is certainly a talented author! I am a fan of dual timelines, but very particular when it comes to the use of this literary technique. Quite often, one time period ends up being more engaging than the other, but surprisingly, @natashalesterauthor nailed it and I was equally invested in each moment in time. It was thoroughly entertaining to attempt to solve the puzzle of Kat Jourdan's grandmother's secret. And though I'm not a huge fan of romance, the love story was convincing, beautiful, and kept me longing for a connection! And how I adored Skye and her tenacious spirit; it was exciting learning about women's fight to fly during WWII through her journey.

Now, I'm really looking forward to Ms. Lester's newest novel to be released in January, 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝑳𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒍𝒊𝒙 𝑺𝒕. 𝑷𝒊𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒆!

Read 10/13/22

👶👶👶👶: When We Had Wings, by Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris, and Susan Meissner

🎉When three notable authors come together to write a WWII historical fiction novel, it's certainly not something I can ignore! Having read 2 books each by @kristina.mcmorris and @susanmeissnerauthor that I absolutely reveled in, I knew I was in for a treat with this one. To boot, @ariel.lawhon has been on my TBR shelf forever, so wow did I luck out🤗!

🙈I am incredibly embarrassed that I knew so little about The Phillipines' plight during WWII. Little did I understand that there was an ongoing battle between the US and Japan for control of these very strategically placed islands.

❤️So not only was I educated on this disquieting history, but what a story! The loyalty and devotion these women exhibited to each other and to their calling was so inspiring - their bravery, astounding. I was glued to the page as Eleanor, Penny, and Lita navigated their horrific and unexpected realities as part of the group of the first female WWII POWs. 

👏This novel was as eye-opening as it was gripping and I, for one, can't wait until these gals join together for another compelling novel!

🙏🏼Many thanks to @tlcbooktours for including me on this fabulous book tour!

Read 9/5/22

👶👶👶👶: Daughters of the Occupation: A Novel of WWII, by Shelly Sanders

Wow🙈... this was such an important book, but so intense and graphic. Sadly, this was the reality for so many Jews during this hate-filled war, and it's incredibly hard to imagine that human beings are capable of such vile behavior toward one another.

Shelly Sanders did an amazing job sharing the Latvian history and how the country was simultaneously taken over by Russians and then Germans. It became so complex for residents, never knowing who to trust.

With adept storytelling, Ms. Sanders crafted a dual-timeline novel that was completely enthralling. The historical story of poor sweet Miriam's journey was absolutely heartbreaking. So many parents had to make so many devastating choices during WW2, that it pains me to even read about them. However, I'm absolutely convinced that when we know better, we do better. And the best way to know better is to read and learn in order improve the world for future generations by not repeating our mistakes.

Many thanks to @harperbooks and @harpercollins for gifting me with this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

Read: 8/9/22

👶👶👶👶: The Codebreaker's Secret, by Sara Ackerman

How I love a WWII Historical Fiction story with a fresh perspective! First off, 🎶who run the world? Girls🎶! This was definitely proof positive that women are very capable individuals, indeed! I really enjoy reading about the female codebreakers of WWII! Girl power!

Y'all, I read this novel in one day, and you know that just doesn't happen in my world! It had me absolutely hooked from the beginning. The characters were so well developed and the dual timeline was captivating! The romance was tasteful and believable, even heartbreaking💔. The historical aspects were, of course, my favorite part, and I love that the author had a familial connection to the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel's grand opening!

This one is definitely worth your while, so grab it while it's hot!

Many thanks to @htpbooks and @_mira_books_ for gifting me with this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

Read 8/2/22

👶👶👶👶: Woman on Fire, by Lisa Barr

I was so surprised and incredibly excited to receive this gorgeous book from @harperperennial in the mail! Being that WWII Historical Fiction is my favorite genre, I jumped at the chance to read and review this one!

Full of intrigue and noteworthy historical facts, this novel held my interest from page one. Jules Roth is an intelligent, quick study who takes her work very seriously, while Margaux de Laurent is a conniving, self-destructive fiend willing to take anyone down that gets in her way. Add a sexy male artist to the mix, and you've got one thrilling, provocative story!

Written in a dual timeline, readers are given the history of the stolen artwork from WWII in small increments, and then led on a thrilling journey from multiple points of view in the modern-day quest to find the painting. With a cast of intriguing characters, Woman on Fire is a thrill ride from beginning to end!

Many thanks to @harpercollins for gifting me with this novel in exchange for an honest review!

Read 6/27/22

👶👶👶👶: The London House, by Katherine Reay

What an intriguing novel! I just love a historical fiction mystery that keeps me guessing. Throw in concealed family history and a dual timeline, and I'm all in!

At its core, this is a story of familial bonds that are tested through generations, and a testament to the family members that are willing to go to great lengths to uncover the truth. It is a story of personal growth and the importance of honest communication through the years.

The handwritten letters and journal entries from the past were compelling and really kept me captivated from beginning to end. And it was such a joy to read about the twin sisters' love for one another and their commitment to each other against all odds. The author has a way of making readers root for all of the characters despite their flaws, which is a testament to her skillful character development.

Many thanks to TLC Book Tours and Harper Muse Books for including me on this book tour! What a fun addition to my book shelf!

Read 11/15/21

👶👶👶: Yours Cheerfully, by A.J. Pearce

🎉🎉🄷🄰🄿🄿🅈 🄱🄾🄾🄺 🄱🄸🅁🅃🄷🄳🄰🅈!🎉🎉

𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔 𝑪𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒚, 𝒃𝒚 𝑨.𝑱. 𝑷𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒆 is out TODAY!

🌷This was a fun, lighthearted story set during WWII (at least as fun and lighthearted as a war story can be🤷‍♀️). I read it while on vacation and appreciated the levity of the writing, despite the introduction of some heavy topics. AJ Pearce brings to light the difficulties female workers faced during the war, but does it in a resilient manner that makes readers really want to know the outcome for the women involved. These women tried so hard to assist with the war effort, but sometimes too much was required of them, and the reality of their situation with children in tow was often times overlooked. 

I loved the idea of a column in the Woman's Friend magazine to offer advice to women who write in during wartime. I've always been a sucker for "Dear Abby", so this sweet story was right up my alley! The story also really resonated with me as a mom. This novel really is "Yours Cheerfully"!

Many thanks to Scribner Books and NetGalley for gifting me with this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

Read 8/9/21



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