In Love and War is a short story about Mack McInnis and Inga Kaufener. They meet in the summer of 1933, both are teenagers in high school and they falIn Love and War is a short story about Mack McInnis and Inga Kaufener. They meet in the summer of 1933, both are teenagers in high school and they fall in love. The Kaufener family moved to America from Germany, with the threat of another war looming and the young couple are worried. The Kaufener’s are sent back to Germany, they have lived in America for seven years and are now classed as enemy aliens.
Mack and Inga are both devastated, Mack hides in a remote cabin for six months and Inga is forced to make a difficult decision in Germany. Mack like all other young American men joins the armed forces, being an experienced pilot he’s sent England and he’s soon dropping bomb over Germany. He knows Inga lives in Wiemar, he hates what he’s doing and he has no choice. Inga’s young brothers and her aging father are all called up to fight for Germany.
Mack and Inga endure the terrible war years, both suffer the loss of loved ones, the stress of being apart, hoping one day they will see each other again and get married like they had planned as teenagers. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, a quick and short read and three stars from me....more
The Millers are not your average family, they haven’t seen each other in years and they have an unusual relationship. When Helen Auerbach suddenly pasThe Millers are not your average family, they haven’t seen each other in years and they have an unusual relationship. When Helen Auerbach suddenly passes away her daughter and grandchildren attend her funeral and Shiva. Siblings, Ashley, Beck and Jake stay at Helen’s house on Edgehill Road with their mother Deborah. Helen has always been a very private person, they don’t know a lot about her past and it’s a shock when her will is read. She leaves her house to Deborah, money to her grandchildren and a broach to Beck?
Beck assumes the broach is a piece of costume jewellery and she stunned to find out the yellow gemstone in the middle is the Florentine Diamond, a 137 carat yellow diamond that went missing from the Austrian Empire in 1918. How did one of the world most famous missing diamonds end up in America and in her grandmother's possession?
As they look into Helen’s past, they realize they how little they knew about her, she lived frugally and Deborah can’t find any information about her birth. They discover that Helen came to America as a teenager in 1939, one of 50 Jewish children and sponsored by a Philadelphia lawyer. The three Miller children travel to Vienna to find out what they can about Helen’s family, her mother Flora, father Leib and brother Martin. What they uncover is tragic, they understand more about their Jewish heritage and why Helen didn’t talk about her family.
The Imperfects is a story about the Miller family changing it’s dysfunctional relationship, to have a happy future together and they needed to move forward. All while trying to solve the complicated mystery of the Florentine Diamond, how Helen came to have it made into a broach, who's the rightful owner and the value. If you like stories with hidden family secrets and a century old mysterious treasure, a present time setting and I suggest reading The Imperfects. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley and three and a half stars from me. ...more
Ifor Griffiths is only nine years old, when the telegram’s arrive notifying his mother that her son and then her beloved husband have been killed in aIfor Griffiths is only nine years old, when the telegram’s arrive notifying his mother that her son and then her beloved husband have been killed in action during WW I. His heartbroken mother made him promise he would never wear a uniform, go to war and Ifor has no idea that he wouldn’t be able to keep his promise.
Ifor's a grammar school boy, he plans to continue studying and he's forced to leave school to support his mother. He’s employed as a gardener at Nanagalan a Welsh estate, he and the owner’s daughter Ella are both fifteen. The teenagers have fun together, Ella’s mother Lillah notices their budding friendship and they quickly depart for Scotland.
Ifor continues to work as a gardener at Nanagalan, until he’s called up for duty in 1940, after the retreat from Dunkirk and he finds himself on a sinking boat the Lancastria. Ifor’s trying to stay afloat in the cold sea, he looks back at his relationship with Ella, and he desperately want's to make it back to Norwithy. The Line Between Us is a story about young love, at the time it wasn't possible and years later Ifor still longs for his lost love, a quick read and three stars from me....more
Morane is really close to her grandmother Rozenn Caradec, as a child she loved visiting her house Vue Claire on the south coast of Cornwall and she thMorane is really close to her grandmother Rozenn Caradec, as a child she loved visiting her house Vue Claire on the south coast of Cornwall and she thought she knew her grandmother well? At ninety six Rozenn passes away and she leaves her entire estate to Morane’s sister Gwen and Morie inherits only a silver compass that no one in the family ever has seen before. Morie has recently had a terrible time, now add this and did she do something to upset her grandmother?
When the sisters go through their grandmothers things, Morie finds some old photographs and a couple of pages of a letter. Morie assumes her grandmother must have left some clues behind, she knows Rozenn grew up in Paris, her father was a doctor, whenever they tried asking her about her life during WW II and she would change the subject. Morie decides to visit St Martin in Brittany France, nothing can prepare her for what she uncovers about her grandmother's past, the Guillou family and what happened to them during the Second World War.
You Let Me Go has a dual timeline it goes between present time and 1941. It’s a story about WW II, family, secrets, regret, suffering, lies, disloyalty and betrayal. It’s also about Morane discovering the truth about her beloved grandmother, coming to terms with what has happened in her own life, finally moving on and new beginnings. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and four stars from me. ...more
Paris, 1943. Sandrine Paquet’s husband Christian is missing in action, she’s hopeful he’s still alive and she has a six year old son Henri. Captain Von Hiller notices her; she’s requisitioned by him to catalog priceless art stolen by the Nazi’s and it’s being shipped to Germany. Sandrine is considered a collaborator, of course she can’t tell anyone the truth and she actually passes on information to the resistance. When she’s asked by Captain Von Hiller to unbox a beautiful blush colored Chanel gown, she’s shocked to find a piece of stock card sewn into a seam and it has a message written on it.
Petrograd, 1917. Princess Svetlana Dalsky has a small bag packed, she’s worried about the dangerous Bolsheviks attacking and she’s prepared to leave qPetrograd, 1917. Princess Svetlana Dalsky has a small bag packed, she’s worried about the dangerous Bolsheviks attacking and she’s prepared to leave quickly. One night she hears the sound of an angry mop approaching, she wakes her sister Marina and her mother Ana. They leave just in time, eventually they arrive in Paris, it’s during WW I, the city is full of refugees, soldiers, wounded and accommodation is scarce.
Ana, Svetlana and Marina are forced to take refuge in the basement of a church, Ana isn’t coping with her change in life style and their only funds are jewels sewn into their corsets. The Bolsheviks want to get rid of every Russian aristocrat, even ones hiding in Paris and Svetlana doesn’t feel safe. She witnesses a shooting, Leonid Sheremetev survives and his father owns the notorious White Bear Club. A meeting place for Russians, Ana Dalsky is easily drawn into the drinking and gambling at the club.
Wynn MacCallan is a gifted surgeon, he’s in Paris due to the war, and he treats Svetlana for a minor injury, and he’s concerned about the Dalsky women’s situation. Svetlana is beautiful, not very friendly and Wynn finds her intriguing. Wynn treated Leonid when he was wounded, he also visits the White Bear Club, where Svetlana’s dancing and it’s not a safe place for her to be. When he discovers how dire Svetlana’s predicament is, he marries her and pays off her mother’s debts. He sends his new bride, Ana and Marina to stay his Scottish estate and surely they will be safe from the Bolsheviks there? The one person who Svetlana thought she could always trust, a friend, finds them in Scotland and has he changed sides?
I had no idea Russian aristocrats fled to Paris during the uprising, or about the cities nasty Russian underground and how ruthless the Bolsheviks were. I really enjoyed reading about Wynn’s experiences as a surgeon during WW I, his medical career, how his relationship with Svetlana changed and she adapted to living in Scotland. I received a copy of The Ice Swan in exchange for an honest review, a fascinating story and five stars from me. ...more
Mattie McAdams longs to perform her stunts in her families flying circus, standing in her way are her three over protective older brothers, and flyingMattie McAdams longs to perform her stunts in her families flying circus, standing in her way are her three over protective older brothers, and flying ace Leo Ward. Mattie meets Vera Jones, a very modern woman, and she plans to start a female flying circus, and she offers Mattie a job. Vera’s circus is called Flying Flappers, Mattie and Carrie are the two stunt pilots and Vera and Alice preform aerial acrobatics.
Leo Ward was a pilot in the Great War and he flew with his best friend and Mattie’s twin brother Alfred. Leo feels like he owes the McAdams family a lot, he feels guilty, he survived the war and Alfred was killed. So he’s very protective of Mattie, he cares about her a lot and doesn’t want her to get hurt. Mattie and Leo join the circus together, life in Chicago is amazing, she goes to her first ever speakeasy club, starts wearing modern clothes, has her hair cut, gains confidence and it’s all very liberating.
Mattie has an idea that could change the aviation industry, make flying safer, she needs someone to take her seriously and at a time when men didn’t listen to women. The Aviatrix is a story that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat, it’s full of action and a cast of interesting characters. If you like a narrative about strong innovative women taking the lead and this could be the book for you. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, an enjoyable read and three and a half stars from me. ...more
1938, Czechoslovakia. Magda Novak lives peacefully on her family’s farm in Czechoslovakia, until the German army arrives, the Novak’s are ordered to l1938, Czechoslovakia. Magda Novak lives peacefully on her family’s farm in Czechoslovakia, until the German army arrives, the Novak’s are ordered to leave and the farm is given to a German family. Her family’s fractured, scattered in all different directions and what will happen to them all now? Magda’s offered a place to stay with Dr Tauber, his wife Ruth and their daughter Eliska at their beautiful alpine villa.
The Tauber’s are Jewish, they have been given protection and it’s only a matter of time until it ends. Magda enjoys living with the Tauber’s they treat her well, like one of the family, unfortunately the Germans arrest the Tauber’s and she manages to help save their newborn son Samuel. Magda is badly beaten by the Germans; she’s forced to work for the hated German officer Koenig and his nasty wife who now reside in the Tauber’s villa. She determined to help the resistance, she passes on messages, medical supplies and when she’s caught she flees into the mountains.
Magda becomes more involved in the fight to free Czechoslovakia; wearing a disguise, she works as an army nurse and eventually trains to be a freedom fighter with the partisans. Magda was born with a birthmark on one side of her face; add a badly broken nose, she stands out and she ends up with a bounty on her head. Magda loved her country, her family, the Tauber’s, baby Samuel, her boyfriend Karol and she never gave up trying to find them! The Girl From The Mountains is a story about Magda’s incredible bravery, courage, dedication and her personal fight against the Germans during WW II. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, the story at times was too over the top for me and I gave the book three stars. ...more
Molly Collway is ninety four and she's delayed starting a very important task for years, she needs to write a letter and she’s running out of time. UnMolly Collway is ninety four and she's delayed starting a very important task for years, she needs to write a letter and she’s running out of time. Unfortunately Molly takes a tumble on the night she begins penning her letter, she has a stroke, and she’s unable to speak and ends up in hospital on Christmas Eve. Lying in her hospital Molly’s body is frail and broken and her mind is still sharp. A life time of reflection, some of her memories are wonderful others are incredibly sad and you have no idea how her story will end.
Molly’s life hasn’t been ordinary at all, she crammed a lot into ninety four years and she enriched many people’s lives. As a young woman she worked as an interpreter during WW II, fell in love with her best friends brother Johan, joined the resistance in France, worked as a POW liaison officer during and after WW II and her last job was working in the records department of a large English hospital.
As you read Molly’s story the years go by, she grows old and her secret is always on her mind. The story revolves around Molly finding peace with her past, accepting that she made the right decision as a young woman and at a very difficult time for her. Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of An Ordinary Life, I enjoyed the story, maybe it could have been a little shorter and three stars from me. ...more
Isaac Schüller a Jewish watchmaker ventures out on a cold January night in 1945 to visit his vacant shop and he’s caught on his way home. Suddenly he�Isaac Schüller a Jewish watchmaker ventures out on a cold January night in 1945 to visit his vacant shop and he’s caught on his way home. Suddenly he’s on a packed train, on his way to Dachau, after a nightmare of a trip and he arrives at infamous camp. On arrival everyone has to hand over their belongings, Isaac has none because he was picked up off the street and the guard doesn’t believe him, he searches him and finds his pouch containing his watch repair tools.
Isaac assumes he’s going to be in trouble and the next day he’s taken to the nearby house of the commander of the camp Herr Becher, who lives with his pampered selfish wife Liesl and young son Friedrich. Becher actually needs Isaac to fix a grandfather clock, plus watches and jewelry stolen from Jewish people and a train set of Friedrich’s that no one else could fix. He’s deposited with his precious tools into an old freezing abandoned garden shed and his first test is to fix the grandfather clock. While he’s useful Isaac has a chance of surviving Dachau, but he’s still at risk from freezing to death, starving and getting sick.
Anna Reznick works as a maid and laundress for the Becher's, she knows her survival also rests in their hands and they make her extremely nervous. Two very selfish, self-indulgent, greedy horrible people, who eat, drink and live in luxury not far from the infamous camp. She and Isaac meet at the commander’s house; they become friends, and each night they're marched back to camp by Herr Schmidt. Both Isaac and Anna received flack from other camp inmates because they had better jobs and as if they had any choice. They become really close; when Isaac discovers papers and letters hidden in the shed? He shares them with Anna, putting them both in danger and reading the letters gives them hope during the darkest times.
The Watchmaker Of Dachau is a story about finding kindness, loyalty, friendship and love in one of the most awful and cruel places. Some of characters in the story are wonderful, especially Isaac, Anna, and Nina, Greta and young Friedrich and I enjoyed reading about the relationships formed between them. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, thanks to NetGalley for my copy and four stars from me. ...more
New Year's Eve's 1999, after not seeing each other for over fifty years, five friends meet in Ireland and reflect on their time serving in the Women’sNew Year's Eve's 1999, after not seeing each other for over fifty years, five friends meet in Ireland and reflect on their time serving in the Women’s Auxiliary Service in Burma during WW II.
Burma, 1945. Not willing to spend the war years rolling bandages, Bea, Plum, Bubbles, Joy and Lucy join the Women’s Auxiliary Service in Burma and are assigned to the British Fourteenth army and who are constantly on the move and fighting the Japanese. The Wasbies operate mobile canteens, selling necessities to all ranks, boosting morale and working in very primitive and dangerous conditions.
Oxford, 1976. A middle aged woman visits the Ashmolean museum and steals five rare Japanese artifacts called netsuke and including the precious fox-girl. Made of ivory, the ancient toggles used to attach items to men’s obi’s or the wide sash that wrapped around their kimonos. Despite the offer of a large reward, the small and distinct treasures have never been found.
London and Galway, 1999. Aussie Olivia Goddard is working as an intern for art dealer Elaine, to gain experience and she’s hopeful it may lead to a permanent position. Given very little notice Olivia is sent to Wiltshire to meet with Beatrix Pelham, a long term client who wants to sell her deceased husband's Japanese art collection and use the money to fix her crumbling house. Olivia unexpectedly stays with Mrs. Pelham over Christmas holidays; she’s been invited to a New Year’s Eve party in Ireland and she asks Olivia to take her. Olivia has no idea she will be caught up in the drama of fifty year old war time secrets and complicated friendships.
The Last Reunion has a dual timeline it seamlessly flows between the jungles of Burma during WW II and England/Ireland in the late 1990’s. Inspired by the true stories of the brave members of the Women’s Auxiliary Service in Burma and they were the only women involved in the front-line action during the war. The Wasbies endured the same hardships as the soldiers, tough terrain, tropical weather, leeches, mud and Japanese armies harassment.
I absolutely loved The Last Reunion, I was completely engrossed in the book after reading a couple of pages and I didn’t want it to end. It’s a really unique WW II story; it’s emotional, fascinating and brimming with so many interesting details and facts about a little known military campaign. With a plot full of secrets and mystery and it’s one of the best dual timeline WW II historical fiction books I have read. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, thanks so much to Hachette Australia and Kayte Nunn for mine and five big stars from me. ...more
Emil and Adeline Martel are of German heritage, forced to make the difficult decision to either stay in the Ukraine and it’s about to be invaded by thEmil and Adeline Martel are of German heritage, forced to make the difficult decision to either stay in the Ukraine and it’s about to be invaded by the Russian army or leave and flee West with the Germany army? The Martel’s have lived under Russian rule before, they decide to leave, they have two young sons Walt and Will, and they pack their wagon with, food, water, clothing, bedding and tools. They begin the journey into the unknown, with horses Thor & Oden pulling the wagon, the roads are busy, full of other refugees and retreating German soldiers. Adeline’s mother Lydia and her sister Malia, have a wagon and leave with the Martel’s. On the road, they catch up with Emil’s parents Johann, Karoline and his sister Rese.
The trip is a nightmare, they can hear gun shots, bombs exploding, and both Russian and German planes are flying overhead, and they go through endless German check points and hold ups. They keep traveling for days, the strength and courage that Emil and Adeline show is remarkable, and their determination is truly inspiring. Things get worse, eventually the couple are separated, and both still continue to fight to survive, hope they will be together again and one day live in peace.
The Last Green Valley is based on a true story, Mark Sullivan has written an epic novel, it's a testimony to the love Adeline and Emil had for each other and their children. At such a horrific time, they showed incredible fortitude, persistence, faith, bravery, courage and it’s inspiring. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, it was amazing and five stars from me. ...more
Alice Chang is thirty nine, her marriage to her husband Louis has ended, she has moved in with her recently widowed mother and is single for the firstAlice Chang is thirty nine, her marriage to her husband Louis has ended, she has moved in with her recently widowed mother and is single for the first time in twenty years. Her mother or Ahma as she calls her, has gone from being a traditional obedient Korean housewife, to a hot widow, she’s started a new career selling real estate, joined a gym and bought a whole new wardrobe. Her mother doesn’t seem to be grieving, in fact she quickly went through her husband’s processions, threw most of them out with the rubbish, and has started dating younger men.
Alice is struggling, she’s wondering if she really knew her parents at all, when she looks back they had a rather unusual relationship and she thought it was because of their Korean heritage. She saves some of her father’s belonging from the garbage, in the bottom of a bag she finds an old journal, it’s written in Korean a language she can speak and she didn’t learn to read.
Alice works part time at the Restin Public Library, she asks co-worker Sam Park to translate her father’s journal, her father shares his personal and private thoughts about his wife, daughter, his first love and a secret affair. A shocking story, some of which Sam could never tell Alice, it would break her heart and it changes both of their lives. Like Wind Against Rock is a story about a family, secrets, relationships, loss, grief and life. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, some relationships are rather complicated and four stars from me....more
Sydney, 1901. The six colonies of Australia have united to form the Commonwealth of Australia, a process known as Federation and the whole nation celeSydney, 1901. The six colonies of Australia have united to form the Commonwealth of Australia, a process known as Federation and the whole nation celebrates. While Australian women are happy about Federation, they’re still unable to vote, they have no say in how the country is governed and they want this to change.
The Merriweather family are about to celebrate Christmas, it’s been an exciting year and their youngest daughter Ivy is about to turn eighteen. The sisters are very close and each has a very different temperament and hair colour. Agatha or Aggie's married to Robert Stepleton, she volunteers at the local catholic orphanage, and she cares for the babies and longs for children of her own. Aggie notices underprivileged teenage girls are badly treated, the orphanage isn’t willing to help them and this makes her mad. Ivy loves art, drawing and wears very colourful outfits. She longs to get married, have children and she’s infatuated with law student Patrick Earle. Frances or Frankie is rather exuberant, high spirited and a great bowler. She’s dedicated to the suffrage movement, she’s not interested in getting married and having babies.
On Ivy’s birthday tragedy strikes, she’s injured and lying on the banks of the Hawkesbury River. It’s an extremely dangerous place for a woman alone to be, smuggler Riley Logan comes across Ivy and he knows local thug Donovan and his unscrupulous friends are lurking nearby. He needs to act quickly, his sister Fiona will help and she lives with her husband George in a modest shack on the banks of the river. Fiona might be poor, but she’s extremely kind and a loving mother to her twin daughters Tricia and Annie. She and Ivy become close and the entire Merriweather family are very grateful for Riley's and Fiona's help.
When the unthinkable happens the three Merriweather sisters are determined to help the plight of Australian women, to end the cycle of poverty, stop domestic violence, for men to be legally accountable for their actions and for women to be able to vote. Sisters of Freedom is a story about Australian woman in the early 1900’s and their resolution to make changes, they marched, chanted, sung, the battle was won and were granted the right to vote. A truly remarkable book, I highly recommend reading it and five big stars from me. ...more
France, 1940. Planes are flying overhead, they can hear gun fire and the sound of running men and they know Germans are getting closer. The British arFrance, 1940. Planes are flying overhead, they can hear gun fire and the sound of running men and they know Germans are getting closer. The British army are retreating, the French army are trying to hold the Germans off as long as possible and they desperately need to get to Dunkirk. The British medial staff at the field hospital in a French chateau draw straws to decide who stays behind with the patients and who goes with the walking wounded to the beach. Nurse Cate Alexander draws a short straw, she stays behind, and when the Germans arrive Cate climbs out of a window with recovering surgical patient Jack.
Le Paradis is fifty miles away from the chateau, a hundred soldiers of the Royal Norfolk Regiment are cut off and stranded in a barn. They decide they have no option but to surrender and following the orders of Commander Wolfgang Schmidt and the British soldiers are gunned down. Lying beneath the pile of their fallen comrades are Peter and Harry, wounded they crawl to a nearby farmhouse, sisters Elsie and Adelaide DuPont rescue them. Jack decided he and Cate should try to walk to Le Paradis and by chance they also end up staying at the farm with the sisters. With three injured British soldiers and a nurse staying with them the DuPont sisters are in danger and it gets worse when Commander Schmidt becomes interested in Adelaide and what will they do?
Three incredibly brave and strong women all took huge risks, they had to trust in each other, and they became friends and one of them made the ultimate sacrifice. The Secrets We Left Behind is based on true facts about the Royal Norfolk Regiment, the British armies retreat from the beaches of Dunkirk and it’s a cracking story. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, Soraya M. Lane never disappoints, brilliant book and five stars from me. ...more
Caroline Grant’s married to Josh, they have a little boy Teddy and she works as an editorial assistant at a women’s magazine. Josh is offered his dreaCaroline Grant’s married to Josh, they have a little boy Teddy and she works as an editorial assistant at a women’s magazine. Josh is offered his dream job in New York, she and Teddy stay behind in England and it doesn’t take long for Josh to meet another women, Caroline’s marriage is in tatters and he wants Teddy to spend the summer in New York.
Caroline's close to her grandmother Winnie and her great-aunt Lettie, she visits them in Surrey and she’s in need of some moral support. Aunt Lettie lost her sight years ago, she’s getting very frail and she passes away. She leaves Caroline her sketchbook, three keys and with her last breath whispers the word Venice. Juliet Browning wants Caroline to scatter her ashes in Venice, the city she first visited as a teenager in the 1920’s and she will discover her great-aunts shocking secrets that have been kept hidden for over sixty years.
In 1938, Juliet Browning is an art teacher, she arrives in Venice with twelve students, for them to experience the cities, art, history, culture and food. A beautiful city built on water, getting around Venice is a challenge, lots of bridges, canals and boats are needed. For Juliet it brings back memories of her trip as a teenager, she visited Venice with her aunt Hortensia and she met the handsome Leonardo Da Rossi. He comes from one of the oldest, wealthiest and most powerful families in Venice.
Juliet returns to Venice in 1939, she’s studying art at the academia and Leonardo is now married. The outbreak of another war is looming, her fellow art students start leaving Venice and Juliet decides to stay. Juliet has friends in Venice, she can help the British government with vital information and eventually she can’t leave due to a change in her circumstances.
Caroline arrives in Venice, with three keys and her beloved great-aunts ashes. Once she solves the mystery of the first key, key by key she unlocks her aunt’s wartime secrets, she discovers the sacrifices Juliet made, and her undercover work for British intelligence.
The Venice Sketchbook is a story about love, loss, courage, friendship, secrets and self-discovery. For Caroline her time in Venice is valuable in so many ways, she comes to terms with the end of her marriage, she can see things from a different perspective, she has great admiration for her great-aunt Juliet and the lasting legacy she left behind. I received a copy of The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review, I was totally engrossed by Juliet’s story, I highly recommend the book and five stars from me. ...more
1943, Brisbane: Ellie O’Sullivan works as an engineer at Qantas Empire Airways, keeping allied planes in the sky and they transport supplies to the tr1943, Brisbane: Ellie O’Sullivan works as an engineer at Qantas Empire Airways, keeping allied planes in the sky and they transport supplies to the troops in New Guinea. Ellie lives in a boarding house run by Mrs. Hanley, she shares a room with Kat Arnold and her childhood friend Louis Dutton visits her when he’s in Brisbane. Ellie’s really smart and is offered a job working for the Central Bureau and in the top secret cipher section. This is all very hush hush, she has to sign the official secrets act, she can never tell anyone about her work and it’s a lifelong contract.
Ellie starts working at Nyrambla house in a converted garage, where she and her fellow garage girls receive intercepted Japanese messages, they decipher the codes and pass them on to the top brass. They work under intense pressure and one small mistake could put hundreds of allied soldiers and Australian civilian lives in danger. It’s extremely difficult for Ellie to constantly lie about her job, she tells everyone she works in an office and it affects her personal relationships.
It’s very interesting reading about what it was like for young woman living and working in Australia during WW II, many left home for the first time and women’s roles changed. They also had to deal with the loss of loved ones, the possibly of the Japanese invading, it was an extremely alarming and stressful time for Australian women and children. Alli Sinclair has written a story that highlights the value of friendship, loyalty, duty and she’s made me aware of an unknown group of courageous and inspiring young Australian women. I received a copy of The Codebreakers in exchange for an honest review, it’s brilliant and five stars from me. ...more
Blaise Hill might be a girl from the poor Sydney suburbs, but she has big dreams, and she wants to be a newspaper journalist. In the late 1950’s, the Blaise Hill might be a girl from the poor Sydney suburbs, but she has big dreams, and she wants to be a newspaper journalist. In the late 1950’s, the women journalists working at The Clarion, write articles for the women’s pages and Blaise wants to be an investigative reporter.
Dressed in her op shop clothes, Blaise is employed as copy boy at The Clarion, she’s the butt of many jokes in the male dominated workforce and is sent off to find mystery objects! Blaise works hard, she earns a cadet ship and then she's transferred to the dreaded fifth floor. At first Blaise isn’t impressed by being moved to the women’s pages, she really underestimates the importance of wearing the right clothes, having a sound knowledge of fashion, and the opportunities it brings.
Blaise is sent to London, to write and send articles back to Australia about Princess Margaret’s wedding to a commoner Antony Armstrong Jones, held on the 6th of May 1960, and it was the first royal wedding to be televised and London hotels were booked out. With her Australian press pass, Blaise attends Buckingham Place and Westminster Abbey, and she can’t believe how lucky she is. But, espionage is rife in England's capital, politicians could be involved, and soviet spies. Blaise is drawn into the sinister side of London, not knowing who she can really trust, it’s a dangerous place and she’s extremely concerned.
Inspired by real events, Alexandra Joel used her newspaper journalist father’s stories and experiences and considered what it would have been like for a woman working in the same field during the 1950’s and early 1960’s? The Royal Correspondent is the amazing result, the story highlights the discrimination women faced in the workforce at the time, they were paid less and had to stop working when they married. The 1960's was a time of major change, fashion, dancing, music and morals. Shout by Johnny O'Keefe is a classic Australian song from the era, I loved how it was included in the narrative and all the residents of Fotheringham Street dancing to it's beat and Blaise is a character that you will never forget.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia in exchange for an honest review, every page was perfect, and five big stars from me.
Elzbieta Rabinek is a teenager, she lives in Warsaw with her adopted parents Truda and Mateusz, they want to protect her from the war, the German armyElzbieta Rabinek is a teenager, she lives in Warsaw with her adopted parents Truda and Mateusz, they want to protect her from the war, the German army and the unrest in the city. They keep Elzbieta close to home, she’s a curious teenager and she starts secretly visiting her neighbors Sara's apartment. Sara’s a nurse and social worker and she works for the Department of Health and Sanitation. Sara visits the Warsaw ghetto, smuggling in much needed medical supplies and tries to help the plight of the starving Jewish children living behind the wall.
Roman Gorka is a Jewish teenager, he lives in the Warsaw ghetto with his mother Maya, stepfather Samuel, little brother Dawidek and his baby sister Eleonora. The Gorka family made the choice to stay in their apartment, the family didn’t want to be separated, and are now stuck behind the high wall. It’s extremely crowded in the ghetto, the conditions are deplorable, to survive you need to be useful and work. His mother had a baby six weeks ago, both his mother and baby sister Eleonora are not doing well and he’s worried about their health. When his mother contacts Sara, she desperately wants to get her baby out of the ghetto, Roman is angry and then he understands why. Roman and Elzbieta meet, develop feelings towards each other and it's dangerous for both of them. Slowly the ghetto starts to be emptied, as the time goes on the situation in the ghetto becomes dire, Roman constantly worries about his family being deported and he dreads returning home to find the apartment empty and the injustice of his situation makes him an extremely volatile young man.
The Warsaw Orphan is a story about two teenagers, growing up, living and trying to survive in a city consumed by war, hardship, suffering and injustice. Kelly Rimmer has written another epic historical novel about the power of human spirit, it makes you feel all kinds of emotions, it’s moving and it takes on a journey. I received a copy of this book from Hachette Australia and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, I couldn’t stop reading it and five big stars from me. ...more
London, 2019. Madison Warner is an American journalist and she travels to London to interview ninety nine year old former model Precious Dubose. She has a large collection of clothes and accessories from the WW II era and Maddie plans to write an article about her wartime experiences. Maddie’s life hasn’t been easy, she moves around a lot and she finds all personal relationships hard. Much to her horror she discovers Colin Eliot is also staying with Precious, years ago they were friends and he’s like family to Precious. As Maddie delves into Precious past, she’s sure the elderly lady is hiding something and does her large vintage clothes collection contain any clues to what really happened during WW II?
The dual timeline seamlessly combines the past and the present and it binds the three women together. The Last Night In London's story is based around themes of friendship, family, love, intrigue, secrets, war, trust and betrayal. It also highlighted to me how important honesty is, being authentic to yourself and family ties. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, I’m keen to read the first two books is the series now: Falling Home and After The Rain and four stars from me. ...more
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