Queensland, 1994. Claire Montgomery arrives in Starlight Creek, sugarcane country in Queensland, she’s desperately looking for a new location to shootQueensland, 1994. Claire Montgomery arrives in Starlight Creek, sugarcane country in Queensland, she’s desperately looking for a new location to shoot a TV mini-series and she’s found the perfect building. A gorgeous art deco movie cinema, she needs to find the owner and surely it shouldn’t be too hard in a small country town? Hattie Fitzpatrick’s the owner, her great nephew Luke Jackson’s extremely protective of his great aunt and he can’t believe it when she gives Claire permission to use the cinema. Under very strict conditions the film crew can use the cinema, it has to be left in perfect condition and exactly how they found it. Claire's responsibility, she works in a male dominated field, she’s contently under pressure, works long days and doesn’t get a lot of sleep.
Hollywood, 1950. Lena Lee’s a struggling actress, she knows in the cut throat industry time is not on her side, she’s desperate to keep her movie contract and to be cast as a leading lady. She falls madly in love with Reeves Garrity, they have to keep their relationship a secret and he needs to be seen with a popular starlet on his arm. The film industry is ruled by powerful men, women work long days, in skimpy costumes, and are paid less. Should Lena fight for fair pay, it will end her dreams of stardom, or settle down with Reeves and unfortunately she can’t have it all.
The Cinema at Starlight Creek is a story about two strong women, they have a lot in common, both wanted to be successful in their chosen careers, to be treated as equals and fairly. They find the small community of Starlight Creek to be supportive, when time get tough they all help each other and make Claire feel right at home. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Harlequin Australia in exchange for an honest review, I found the story a little slow at times and four stars from me.
Merged review:
Queensland, 1994. Claire Montgomery arrives in Starlight Creek, sugarcane country in Queensland, she’s desperately looking for a new location to shoot a TV mini-series and she’s found the perfect building. A gorgeous art deco movie cinema, she needs to find the owner and surely it shouldn’t be too hard in a small country town? Hattie Fitzpatrick’s the owner, her great nephew Luke Jackson’s extremely protective of his great aunt and he can’t believe it when she gives Claire permission to use the cinema. Under very strict conditions the film crew can use the cinema, it has to be left in perfect condition and exactly how they found it. Claire's responsibility, she works in a male dominated field, she’s contently under pressure, works long days and doesn’t get a lot of sleep.
Hollywood, 1950. Lena Lee’s a struggling actress, she knows in the cut throat industry time is not on her side, she’s desperate to keep her movie contract and to be cast as a leading lady. She falls madly in love with Reeves Garrity, they have to keep their relationship a secret and he needs to be seen with a popular starlet on his arm. The film industry is ruled by powerful men, women work long days, in skimpy costumes, and are paid less. Should Lena fight for fair pay, it will end her dreams of stardom, or settle down with Reeves and unfortunately she can’t have it all.
The Cinema at Starlight Creek is a story about two strong women, they have a lot in common, both wanted to be successful in their chosen careers, to be treated as equals and fairly. They find the small community of Starlight Creek to be supportive, when time get tough they all help each other and make Claire feel right at home. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Harlequin Australia in exchange for an honest review, I found the story a little slow at times and four stars from me....more
2019: Imogen Wren’s a young widow, her husband passed away four years ago, and she’s still working for the same company as a house designer. In her sp2019: Imogen Wren’s a young widow, her husband passed away four years ago, and she’s still working for the same company as a house designer. In her spare time she visits her mother-in-law Denise, her sister Meg and reads. Imogen’s still morning James, all she lost when he died and how long can she continue doing this for? James and Imogen had plans to move to France, she decides she needs a change of pace, she moves to France and buys an abandoned chateau in Brittany.
Imogen discovers the locals don’t want to have anything to do with the chateau, none of the contractors she calls will even consider working for her and the chateau needs major structural repairs. During the Second World War, the chateau was taken over by the German’s, used as accommodation for officers and they think it's cursed. Like most towns in France, the Germans treated the residents terribly, punished anyone who was involved in the resistance and helped them.
1944: Simone Varon lives in the village of Tredion with her mother Marianne and her younger brother Pierre. Her mother runs a grocery shop, food is strictly rationed by the Germans and one officer in particular makes Simone feel very uncomfortable. Pierre’s a sickly child, he has asthma, his health is getting worse and medicine is in short supply. Not much gets past the Germans, they know Pierre’s very ill, they have medicine and can use this to force Simone do what they want. Simone plays the flute, a German officer demands she plays at the chateau, she tries to keep her distance from him and it gives her a chance to pass on information to the resistance.
Not all Germans are the same, Simone meets Max Becker, he’s kind and Simone has to be very careful that no one in the village sees her talking to a German soldier and they hate people who collaborate with the Germans. Simone has no idea, the events she's caught up in during the war, will have devastating consequences, and the descendants of people living in the village will continue to carry a grudge against her family decades later.
As Imogen restores the fire damaged chateau, she’s determined to uncover the truth of what happened in Tredion during the war, she has no idea a vital clue has been left behind in a section of the chateau, and it will prove that Simone Varon wasn’t a collaborator. All That We Have Lost is a brilliant dual timeline historical fiction story, the characters of Imogen and Simone are both strong and brave women and I admired their resilience and courage. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, it's well written, hard to put down and five stars from me. I highly recommend reading both, All That We Have Lost and Suzanne Fortin's previous book The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger.
Merged review:
2019: Imogen Wren’s a young widow, her husband passed away four years ago, and she’s still working for the same company as a house designer. In her spare time she visits her mother-in-law Denise, her sister Meg and reads. Imogen’s still morning James, all she lost when he died and how long can she continue doing this for? James and Imogen had plans to move to France, she decides she needs a change of pace, she moves to France and buys an abandoned chateau in Brittany.
Imogen discovers the locals don’t want to have anything to do with the chateau, none of the contractors she calls will even consider working for her and the chateau needs major structural repairs. During the Second World War, the chateau was taken over by the German’s, used as accommodation for officers and they think it's cursed. Like most towns in France, the Germans treated the residents terribly, punished anyone who was involved in the resistance and helped them.
1944: Simone Varon lives in the village of Tredion with her mother Marianne and her younger brother Pierre. Her mother runs a grocery shop, food is strictly rationed by the Germans and one officer in particular makes Simone feel very uncomfortable. Pierre’s a sickly child, he has asthma, his health is getting worse and medicine is in short supply. Not much gets past the Germans, they know Pierre’s very ill, they have medicine and can use this to force Simone do what they want. Simone plays the flute, a German officer demands she plays at the chateau, she tries to keep her distance from him and it gives her a chance to pass on information to the resistance.
Not all Germans are the same, Simone meets Max Becker, he’s kind and Simone has to be very careful that no one in the village sees her talking to a German soldier and they hate people who collaborate with the Germans. Simone has no idea, the events she's caught up in during the war, will have devastating consequences, and the descendants of people living in the village will continue to carry a grudge against her family decades later.
As Imogen restores the fire damaged chateau, she’s determined to uncover the truth of what happened in Tredion during the war, she has no idea a vital clue has been left behind in a section of the chateau, and it will prove that Simone Varon wasn’t a collaborator. All That We Have Lost is a brilliant dual timeline historical fiction story, the characters of Imogen and Simone are both strong and brave women and I admired their resilience and courage. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, it's well written, hard to put down and five stars from me. I highly recommend reading both, All That We Have Lost and Suzanne Fortin's previous book The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger....more
Sisters Connie and Evie live at Cedar Hall a house on the grounds of the orphanage run by her their father Ezra Burroughs at Weirfield in England. In Sisters Connie and Evie live at Cedar Hall a house on the grounds of the orphanage run by her their father Ezra Burroughs at Weirfield in England. In 1934, the orphanage is home to a hundred abandoned children and babies. Connie and Evie help look after the children, their father provides a safe place for the orphans to live and he's a respected member of the community. Newborn babies are found on the doorstep, they stay in the nursery and when they leave and Connie assumes they had been legally adopted. Ezra Burroughs is a complicated man, he’s extremely religious, he can be very nice, and he has a secretive and dangerous side. He converted the upstairs of the old coach house into a room for himself, and sometimes Connie thought she heard crying coming from the building?
Sarah Jennings is devastated when she’s questioned by the police about her husband Alex, they run a successful restaurant together and she has no idea her husband's involved in illegal activities. She leaves London, to say with her father William at his cottage at Weirfield and she needs time to decide what’s she’s going to do. She notices Cedar Hall is up for sale, the old house has always fascinated her and her father William was abandoned at the orphanage as a baby and he’s trying to find out about his birth family. Her father isn’t well, so Sarah decides to try and solve the mystery herself and she visits Connie Burroughs in her nursing home.
Connie promised her father, she would keep his papers private, she questions if she has done the right thing, she did notice some sinister things happening at the orphanage and maybe it’s time for her to expose her father’s past and free herself from the burden she’s been carrying for all these years. The Dual timeline narrative goes between the 1930’s in England and India and present time England and it’s fascinating to read. A story about secrets, family, duty, mystery, adoption, and illegal activities being hidden and covered up in the past and the present.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, it’s well written, hard to put down, and I highly recommend The Orphan House by Ann Bennett and five stars from me.
Merged review:
Sisters Connie and Evie live at Cedar Hall a house on the grounds of the orphanage run by her their father Ezra Burroughs at Weirfield in England. In 1934, the orphanage is home to a hundred abandoned children and babies. Connie and Evie help look after the children, their father provides a safe place for the orphans to live and he's a respected member of the community. Newborn babies are found on the doorstep, they stay in the nursery and when they leave and Connie assumes they had been legally adopted. Ezra Burroughs is a complicated man, he’s extremely religious, he can be very nice, and he has a secretive and dangerous side. He converted the upstairs of the old coach house into a room for himself, and sometimes Connie thought she heard crying coming from the building?
Sarah Jennings is devastated when she’s questioned by the police about her husband Alex, they run a successful restaurant together and she has no idea her husband's involved in illegal activities. She leaves London, to say with her father William at his cottage at Weirfield and she needs time to decide what’s she’s going to do. She notices Cedar Hall is up for sale, the old house has always fascinated her and her father William was abandoned at the orphanage as a baby and he’s trying to find out about his birth family. Her father isn’t well, so Sarah decides to try and solve the mystery herself and she visits Connie Burroughs in her nursing home.
Connie promised her father, she would keep his papers private, she questions if she has done the right thing, she did notice some sinister things happening at the orphanage and maybe it’s time for her to expose her father’s past and free herself from the burden she’s been carrying for all these years. The Dual timeline narrative goes between the 1930’s in England and India and present time England and it’s fascinating to read. A story about secrets, family, duty, mystery, adoption, and illegal activities being hidden and covered up in the past and the present.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, it’s well written, hard to put down, and I highly recommend The Orphan House by Ann Bennett and five stars from me....more
Aida El Masri returns home to Luxor in Egypt in 1946, after spending eight years in England and where she trained to be a nurse at the Royal London HoAida El Masri returns home to Luxor in Egypt in 1946, after spending eight years in England and where she trained to be a nurse at the Royal London Hospital during the Second World War. Her beloved father Ayoub an archaeologist, was framed for stealing a precious statue, he passed away after he was found guilty of the crime and Aida left for England.
Aida has always known her was father innocent, but she couldn’t do anything at the time and she believes her father’s best friend Kamel Pharaony is the real thief. Aida was best friends with his daughter Camelia and had a crush on his handsome son Phares. Phares is now a respected doctor and general surgeon, he owns his own hospital, and he wants to marry Aida, combine the two family’s estates and fortunes.
Aida isn’t ready to get married, even though she finds Phares extremely attractive and how can she marry the son of the man that caused her father’s down fall and death. Aida enjoys being in Egypt again, unlike England it hasn’t been damaged by the war, the food is delicious, and she buys herself beautiful new designer clothes and visits all the places she loved as teenager. She meets a Price, his name is Shams Sakr Eldin, he’s very attentive, and he makes Aida feel uncomfortable. Egypt is a dangerous place, Aida isn’t sure who she can trust and she desperately wants to prove her father’s innocence.
Song Of The Nile is a story about a daughter wanting justice for her father, you’re also taken on a journey down the Nile, into the desert, to the Polo and experience how affluent Egyptian’s lived at the time. While I enjoyed the story, I found it too much of a steamy romance for me and I can only give is three stars. Thanks to Hannah Fielding and NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
Merged review:
Aida El Masri returns home to Luxor in Egypt in 1946, after spending eight years in England and where she trained to be a nurse at the Royal London Hospital during the Second World War. Her beloved father Ayoub an archaeologist, was framed for stealing a precious statue, he passed away after he was found guilty of the crime and Aida left for England.
Aida has always known her was father innocent, but she couldn’t do anything at the time and she believes her father’s best friend Kamel Pharaony is the real thief. Aida was best friends with his daughter Camelia and had a crush on his handsome son Phares. Phares is now a respected doctor and general surgeon, he owns his own hospital, and he wants to marry Aida, combine the two family’s estates and fortunes.
Aida isn’t ready to get married, even though she finds Phares extremely attractive and how can she marry the son of the man that caused her father’s down fall and death. Aida enjoys being in Egypt again, unlike England it hasn’t been damaged by the war, the food is delicious, and she buys herself beautiful new designer clothes and visits all the places she loved as teenager. She meets a Price, his name is Shams Sakr Eldin, he’s very attentive, and he makes Aida feel uncomfortable. Egypt is a dangerous place, Aida isn’t sure who she can trust and she desperately wants to prove her father’s innocence.
Song Of The Nile is a story about a daughter wanting justice for her father, you’re also taken on a journey down the Nile, into the desert, to the Polo and experience how affluent Egyptian’s lived at the time. While I enjoyed the story, I found it too much of a steamy romance for me and I can only give is three stars. Thanks to Hannah Fielding and NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review. ...more
Jack Briggs has been a scout for the army, made the trip to Oregon in three months with his pack mule and he’s decided it’s where he wants to live andJack Briggs has been a scout for the army, made the trip to Oregon in three months with his pack mule and he’s decided it’s where he wants to live and this will be his final trip west. Going by wagon train is much slower, it will take six months, and they need to cross the mountains before it starts snowing.
Penelope Findley’s married to Oliver and like many people traveling the Oregon Trail they’re not prepared for the hardship, danger and have overloaded their wagon. Disaster strikes when they cross a river, one of the oxen slips, the wagon and Oliver are taken by the fast moving current.
Penelope’s suddenly a widow, she lost most of her belongings and the Long family take her in. The Longs have six children, two hired hands and Penelope tries not to be a burden. They managed to save a box of her supplies, she sells the three remaining oxen and gives the money to the Long’s. Jack notices that Penelope's losing weight, she’s struggling with walking to Oregon and he asks her to marry him. As a married man he’s entitled to twice the amount of land, he makes it sound like it will be a marriage of convenience and the couple develop feelings for each other.
Penelope has kept her past from Jack, she’s worried that if he knew her history, he wouldn’t have married her and now it’s too late to tell him. When her husband's cousin arrives at her new home, he threatens her, and will Penelope lose Jack and the future they have planned together? Penelope learns that you can't escape the past, the importance of telling the truth and Jack discovers the peace found in forgiveness.
I received a copy of A Fair Trade from NetGalley and The Wild Rose Press in exchange for an honest review, a dramatic historical romance written by Laylah Abrams, and three stars from me.
Adele travels to Paris to find work, she’s an orphan and was raised by nuns in a convent at St. Nazaire, and by chance she becomes Coco Chanel’s privaAdele travels to Paris to find work, she’s an orphan and was raised by nuns in a convent at St. Nazaire, and by chance she becomes Coco Chanel’s private secretary. Due to the threat of another war, Coco closes her fashion house, she sacks all of her seamstresses and Adele’s very lucky to keep her job. Coco moves into The Ritz, Adele’s given a small room and is in charge of her employers; correspondence, meetings, her belongings and packs Madame’s suitcases when she travels. Adele finds living at The Ritz rather intimidating, especially when high ranking German officers move in, Coco begins socializing with them and dating a much younger man.
Adele feels guilty, so many French people are going hungry, and she has a safe place to stay and plenty of food. Adele decides to donate blood, on the way to the hospital she witnesses a Jewish woman being arrested and she’s shocked. Dr Theo Dixon is working for the American Red Cross, he draws Adele’s blood, and he’s an inspiration to Adele. They become friends, Theo's involved in the resistance and Adele decides she can no longer watch from the sidelines.
The Dressmaker’s Secret has a dual timeline is goes between Adele’s story in wartime Paris and her granddaughter Chloe moving to Paris in the present time and she’s having her version of a gap year.
Chloe’s marriage has ended after five years, she decides to rent a little apartment in Paris, and help out her friend who owns a vintage clothes shop. Chloe’s interested in Coco Chanel, her grandmother worked for her during the 1940’s and Adele attends an auction of antique items from The Ritz. Here she meets Etienne, he’s an art dealer and interested in war history. He and Chloe start talking, she had no idea that Coco was friendly with the Nazi’s, and information was recently released confirmed she was a sympathizer, and she visited Berlin several times during the war. Chloe’s grandmother hasn’t spoken about the war years, with help from Etienne she starts looking at old archives, she’s very concerned about what she will find and could her sweet grandmother have been a collaborator?
I received a copy of The Dressmaker’s Secret from NetGalley and Avon Books in exchange for an honest review, the story is full of mystery, intrigue, wartime secrets and romance. For Chloe’s character it’s about moving forward from her divorce, feeling free and discovering how brave her beloved grandmother was during the war. Lorna Cook decided to write her book based on what Coco Chanel really did during the war, she combines the truth about the famous collaborator and with a narrative about two strong and courageous women and five stars from me.
Captain Jim Curtis was captured by the German army the day he landed in the Ardennes forest, and in March 1945, he’s in a prisoner of war camp near HaCaptain Jim Curtis was captured by the German army the day he landed in the Ardennes forest, and in March 1945, he’s in a prisoner of war camp near Hammelburg, in Bavaria. Coming from different directions, the Russian and American armies are advancing into German held territory, and will they arrive in time to liberate the desperate POW’s?
Fifty miles away a task force has been quickly formed for a special mission, Captain Abe Baum is in charge, and the battle hardened veteran always follows orders. Supported by ten Sherman tanks and five light tanks, he sets off with three hundred poorly armed soldiers, and it doesn’t take long for things to start going wrong.
After seeing action in Russia and being in the German army for six years, and Hauptmann Richard Koehl is putting his entire and depleted force in danger. He wants to avenge the death of his sister Gerta, he’s disobeying orders by continuing to pursue to the American task force and he desperately wants to find them!
Task Force Baum is based on a true story, and real reason for the mission being kept secret for twenty years, was because Commander George S. Patton wanted his son-in-law Colonel John Waters rescued from the prisoner of war and it was hushed up.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review, it’s a fast paced story, full of military action, brutal battles, and tactical movements. I’m looking forward to reading James D. Shipman’s next book, Beyond the Wire, and I gave Task Force Baum four stars.
Tom Harris lives with his father Paul, he’s only sixteen and he has the weight of the world on his young shoulders. His mum passed away when he was eiTom Harris lives with his father Paul, he’s only sixteen and he has the weight of the world on his young shoulders. His mum passed away when he was eight, his dad works nights, and Tom's left home alone. He has a crush on Farah Shah at school, he blushes every time he sees her, and loses the ability to speak. He hasn’t a clue about girls, he starts borrowing romance novels from the local library, and to get some ideas on how to be less awkward around girls. Here he meets Maggie Mann, she’s seventy two, a widow and Tom comes to her rescue.
Despite the age difference Tom and Maggie become friends and he starts helping her around her farm. Maggie has twenty acres, she runs sheep, keeps chickens and grows her own vegetables. Maggie takes Tom under her wing, he appreciates her home cooked meals and she senses Tom isn’t happy at home and she leaves it up to him to tell her what’s going on.
Tom discovers the joy of reading, he gains confidence, he starts to apply himself to his studies, he wants to pass high school and go to university. When they threaten to close the library, Maggie, Tom, Farah, Christine and the members of Maggie’s book group start a petition and come up with ideas to save the library. An emotional story about an unlikely friendship, Maggie gives Tom the love and attention he desperately needs and she has a new lease on life. Tom learns valuable life skills from Maggie, and also people do make mistakes and you can’t hold their past against them.
I recived a copy of The Library from NetGalley and Aria & Aries in exchange for an honest review, Bella Osborne's book is beautifully written, it made me cry in a good way, my heart feels full of hope, and five big stars from me.
In 1888, William Henry James has worked his way up the ranks, in both the Australian and New Zealand police forces. He lives in Greymouth, in New ZealIn 1888, William Henry James has worked his way up the ranks, in both the Australian and New Zealand police forces. He lives in Greymouth, in New Zealand, with his wife Elizabeth, he’s shocked when he’s forced to retire due to funding cuts and he looks back at his thirty seven year police career.
In 1866, the Burgess gang killed five innocent men on the Maungatapu track and soon after another body was discovered. George Dobson was from one of New Zealand’s most affluent families, he was a nice young man, his future was bright and he worked as a surveyor. He’d been missing for six weeks, when detective James found his body in a shallow grave, the case still haunts him and all these years later.
A Cold Wind Down the Grey is based on a true story and the author Wendy M. Wilson is distantly related to George Dobson by marriage. William Henry James did his best to keep crime in the area under control, it was impossible in the gold fields, and unfortunately for poor George Dobson he was a tragic victim. You’re given an idea of what it was like in New Zealand at the time, it was a wild place to live and even ex Australian convicts had moved there. The personal toll being in the police force took on the James’s marriage, they moved around a lot, lived in very remote and unsanitary places, the couple lost five young children and the infant mortality rate at the time was shocking.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley/Kindle Unlimited in exchange for an honest review, an interesting read and about an infamous criminal case in New Zealand in the 1860’s, and three and a half stars from me. ...more
Jonathon Hawthorne notices an altercation in the street, a young woman is being assaulted by the Bromsgrove Constabulary and he steps in to help. CharJonathon Hawthorne notices an altercation in the street, a young woman is being assaulted by the Bromsgrove Constabulary and he steps in to help. Charlotte Bausand is an apprentice nailer, she works for Mr. Higgs and he accuses her of theft. Charlotte has had a hard life, her parents and younger sister were sent to the workhouse and she was forced to work. Ten years later, she’s tired of the way Mr. Higgs has been treating her, since his wife passed away he’s been making unwanted advances towards her and she didn’t steal anything from him.
Jonathon rescues a severely beaten Charlotte, she’s taken to Worcester Goal, and unfortunately his father is the town magistrate. He’s furious with his youngest son, he does everything in his power to stop Jonathon from seeing Charlotte, when he continues to defy him and he's forced to take drastic action. England in the 18th century is clearly divided into social classes, they don’t associate with each other and certainly don't fall in love!
In Darkest Days May Blossom by Leila Snow, Jonathon falls madly in love with Charlotte, despite his father’s interference, his brother manages to save her from the hangman’s noose and she flees. The couple spend months trying to find each other, Jonathon gets rather despondent and Charlotte has to change her name to stay one step ahead of the law and try to find work when she doesn’t have a reference. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, a story about forbidden love and not set in the most romantic of places, a quick read and three stars from me. ...more
Seren Edwards marries the village cobbler, Morgan James and he’s tall, charming and handsome. Seren wants to have children, Morgan accuses her of beinSeren Edwards marries the village cobbler, Morgan James and he’s tall, charming and handsome. Seren wants to have children, Morgan accuses her of being barren and despite only being married for a few months. A desperate Seren visits Anewn Llewellyn, a herbalist and some of the locals accuse her of being a witch. Due to Morgan’s excessive drinking, he stops opening his shop, she tells Seren it’s only going to get worse, and she should leave him.
A new minister has taken over the parish, Elwyn Evans is kind and caring man and Seren regrets marrying Morgan. When the situation for Seren escalates, Mr. Watkins the owner of The House of Blazes, a notorious place of ill repute and he finds her a safe place to stay. Living in a boarding house with Jim and Marged, she hears of a terrible Cholera outbreak in Lewis square where her aunt lives and it spreads further throughout Abercanaid, Seren’s worried about her mother Mabel and sister Gwen.
The Cobbler’s Wife by Lynette Rees is set in 1866, it’s a historical saga, and it portrays life at the time, in a small Welsh village and a coal mining town. Many women suffered terrible abuse by their husbands, they had no rights, lived in poverty, with poor sanitation and infectious diseases spread very quickly due to overcrowding. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, Seren is a resilient character and a strong woman, I look forward to reading The Workhouse Waif and three stars from me. ...more
1942, has been another year of challenges, for Polly, Gloria, Helen, Rosie and their loved ones. All the workers at Thompson’s Shipyard in Sunderland,1942, has been another year of challenges, for Polly, Gloria, Helen, Rosie and their loved ones. All the workers at Thompson’s Shipyard in Sunderland, are busy trying to get SS Brutus finished on time and the last couple of months before Christmas are frantic.
Polly Elliot is engaged to Petty Officer Tommy Watts, he’s seriously injured in Gibraltar, and being treated on a Red Cross ship, when it's torpedoed, he almost drowns and he's lucky to survive. Tommy’s slowly recovering from surgery in Ryhope hospital, Dr. Parker is sure he will be fit enough to be discharged and Polly’s dreaming of a winter wonderland wedding.
Helen Crawford’s the manager at the shipyard, she’s had a terrible year and only Dr. Parker and her mother know about her tragic loss. She has her sights on breaking the yards production record and getting Brutus off the slips. Helen wants Polly to marry Tommy, has no time for romance herself and she's oblivious to the fact that John Parker admires her from afar.
Rosie Miller lives a double life, she works as welder at the shipyard and she’s part owner in a business. When her younger sister Charlotte Thornton runs away from her Harrogate boarding school, she arrives on Rosie’s doorstep unannounced, she needs Charlie to return to school and before she discovers how Rosie's managed to pay for her expensive education.
I really enjoyed reading Christmas with the Shipyard Girls by Nancy Revell, it’s the seventh book in the popular series, full of familiar characters, secrets, drama, two weddings are planned and only one couple manages to walk down the aisle. Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, I look forward to reading the eighth book in the series and four stars from me. ...more
The German’s army is advancing across the Soviet Union in 1942, and the German citizens living there are scared, and those who haven’t been sent to a The German’s army is advancing across the Soviet Union in 1942, and the German citizens living there are scared, and those who haven’t been sent to a work for the labour army are worried their name will be next on the list.
Anna and her daughter Yvonne Scholz have managed to stay together, first Anna's husband Wilhelm was sent to a camp and then her son Erich was summoned to join the labour army. The women haven’t had an easy time, forced to leave Komi, Anna the ex-school teacher, cuts wood in a forest, clears debris with Yvo from a factory, and after three years they haven’t heard from Erich. When the war ends, they travel to Chelyabinsk desperate to find him, they register for work and rent a room.
Both Harri and Yvonne were excellent students before the war, Anna could sew, and this is the reason they managed to survive the Russian work camps. On the Wings of Hope by Ella Zeiss is a story about courage, hardship, determination, friendship, family, fate, never giving up, and a treasured photograph.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, I have read the previous book in the series In the Shadow of the Storm, it made it easier for me to follow the English translation, and I remember the familiar characters, the secret link between the families and four stars from me.
Isobel Moore comes from one of Boston’s finest families, yet she finds herself almost thirty and unmarried. The man she loved, married another and sheIsobel Moore comes from one of Boston’s finest families, yet she finds herself almost thirty and unmarried. The man she loved, married another and she's left heartbroken. Isobel keeps busy by teaching at Boston’s Poor First School, for immigrant children, and her sister-in-law Margaret Moore started the school. She desperately wants to find love, have children, a home of her own and she’s stuck living with her parents.
Isobel’s willing to take a risk, she discovers single missionaries are looking for wives, in India and Burma, and she puts her name down on the list. Her parents are horrified, when a godly man in Burma sends a letter looking for a wife, Isobel seizes her chance and packs her trunks. Her brother Henry has sailed to China aboard his ship the Charlotte Rose, his wife Margaret will be on her own for a year, her niece Maggie MacDougall is visiting from Canada and she’s willing to help teach at the school in Boston.
After a four month long journey, Isobel arrives in Burma, she’s nervous and it’s so humid. Her path to find true love doesn’t go as planned, and she decides to stay in Moulmein Burma for a few months. Isobel’s introduced to recent widower, Mr. Jack Braeburn, and young Maggie meets Seamus Flanagan a young Irish immigrant in Boston.
This Fragile Heart by Kate Hewitt, is a story about Isobel and Maggie both finding love, it's not easy, and they have to leave home and fight for their independence. I really liked the characters of Isobel and Maggie, despite the age difference, they both stood up for what they wanted and at a time when women didn’t have the freedom they now have. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, it's the last book in the Far Horizons series, my favorite out of the three, and four stars from me. ...more
Maddie Gresham receives a message asking her to report to Trent Park in Middlesex, a grand country house that was once owned by Sir Philip Sassoon andMaddie Gresham receives a message asking her to report to Trent Park in Middlesex, a grand country house that was once owned by Sir Philip Sassoon and it’s now being used by the British army. Maddie’s a psychologist, she works with Dr Tobias Baskin, she spends her time, trying to read her mentors terrible handwriting and typing up his notes. In 1944, England’s desperate to end the war, and very concerned by reports the German’s are working on a secret weapon and British intelligence is busy trying to stop them.
Maddie’s interviewed by Colonel McKie, her new job is all very hush hush and she has to sign the official secrets act. Captured high ranking German officers are staying at Trent Park, and in a building bugged with listening devices, Maddie’s to give a profile on each officer, look for any weaknesses, if needed meet them and she finds this daunting.
Maddie stayed in Germany as an exchange student in 1936, she was forced to leave the country and her past experience with the Nazi’s was terrifying. Her German penfriend Greta’s mother Mrs Weitzler is Jewish, and she worried about their safety and hasn’t heard from them in years. At Trent Park they have what they call “stool pigeons� cleared German speaking prisoners, who serve as batman for the German officers and they gather and interpret information for the British. Maddie’s shocked to discover Max Weitzler, Greta’s older brother is serving as one, she fell in love with him eight years ago while staying at his parent’s house and it needs to remain a secret.
As Hitler’s doodlebugs start landing in London, the pressure's on the people working at Trent Park escalates and Maddie’s worried they have a traitor in the ranks. Maddie’s highly suspicious, she’s being followed, and she doesn’t believe Dr Baskin died of natural causes, some things simply don't add up and she has no idea who she can trust?
I received a copy of The Light We Left Behind from NetGalley and HQ Digital in exchange for an honest review, I find it fascinating how everyday people signed the secret services act, suddenly they were involved in espionage, they went extraordinary lengths to help England win the war, defeat Germany and Maddie’s character is one of these brave and selfless individuals. I really enjoyed Tessa Harris's previous book Beneath a Starless Sky and her latest wartime mystery is absolutely brilliant, and five stars from me.
Steven Katz has just started high school in 1941, he meets three teenage boys Suki, Ollie and Nick and they become best friends. Steven’s father owns Steven Katz has just started high school in 1941, he meets three teenage boys Suki, Ollie and Nick and they become best friends. Steven’s father owns a large farm, he feels the odd one out in his family and his older brother Terrence is his mother’s favorite. The boys go on a camping trip, when they return the Japanese have bombed Pearl Harbour and his parents are unhappy his friendship choices. American enters the war, and the Yamanto family are sent to an internment camp in California called Manzanar and older Ollie joins up.
Steven returns to school, nothing is said about all the empty desks and everyone acts like nothing has changed in town. This makes Steven mad, his friend Nick’s accused of a crime he didn’t commit, Steven’s the only person who can help him and he hides him in his parent’s root cellar. Nick and Steven are teenagers, and are very confused by their feelings towards each other. Nick leaves, Steven waits to hear from his friend and his relationship with his parents continues to deteriorate.
Steven leaves the farm when he turns eighteen, he sets off to find Nick and he does. Steven discovers that life doesn’t always go as planned, he takes a big risk leaving home, he has to find his own place in the world, and work out his true feelings. The one thing that never changes is the bond between the friends, they continue to keep in touch over the years and as the decades go by.
Boy Underground is a story about friendship, social injustice, growing up during a war, young men going off to fight, making the ultimate sacrifice, and it’s a coming of age story. Catherine Ryan Hyde has a way of making you connect emotionally with the characters in her books, and she has done this once again. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, it's very moving and five stars from me.
On the fifth of July 1948, a baby girl called Aneira is born just after midnight at the Autman Valley Village Hospital in South Wales, and she’s the fOn the fifth of July 1948, a baby girl called Aneira is born just after midnight at the Autman Valley Village Hospital in South Wales, and she’s the first baby to be delivered via the new National Health Service. Her mother, Edna May has had her previous six children at home, delivered by the local midwife and she and her husband Willie find it difficult to comprehend the new free system.
Hold on Edna is written by Aneira ‘Nye� Thomas, the baby who made history, seventy years later in 2018, and she’s interviewed by the media to celebrate the NHS’s special birthday. Her biography is about the generations of her Welsh family, you follow their stories and daily struggles. From the workhouse, some own small farm holdings and her male relatives worked deep underground in the dangerous coal mines.
Over the years, women died in childbirth, from child-bed fever, and the mortality rate of infants was high. People didn’t have a decent quality of life, they put up with aliments because they were poor and they couldn’t afford to see a doctor. Welsh miners didn’t live long lives, they suffered from miners lung and its official name is Pneumoconiosis. They didn’t receive palliative care, dying at home and with no pain relief.
I received a copy of Hold on Edna from NetGalley and Mirror Books in exchange for an honest review, it was interesting reading about Nye’s family, how she was the first baby delivered by the National Health Service and it's a lasting testimony to her relatives. I live in Australia so I have very little knowledge about the NHS, I can certainly see how it changed healthcare in the United Kingdom, and it provided a much needed free service to everyone and three and a half stars from me.
Lily Harford lives in Finn Bay, she grew up in the small seaside town in Queensland and she’s in her mid-eighties. She has had a full active life, runLily Harford lives in Finn Bay, she grew up in the small seaside town in Queensland and she’s in her mid-eighties. She has had a full active life, running her own accounting business and with the support of her parents, she raised her daughter Pauline. At a time when very few women went to university, had a career and were single mothers.
Lily noticed she’s starting to forget things, at first she puts it down to getting older, it gets worse and she’s diagnosed with Dementia. Pauline’s wants her mother to be safe, she finds a lovely nursing home in Finn Bay, convinces Lily to sell her house and move into room eighteen. Both Lily and Pauline underestimate the impact this will have on their lives, Pauline feels terribly guilty and Lily feels trapped in a body that’s slowly failing her.
Mother and daughter have always been very close, both are high achievers and have similar personalities. Pauline’s struggling with a heavy work load, she’s a school principal, a wife to Sam, mother to Rachel and has two grandchildren. With her beloved mother fading fast, her rock, Pauline is having trouble coping and she knows it's only going to get worse.
The staff at Blue Vista are lovely, one carer in particular is kind, thoughtful and Lily becomes close to her. Donna’s struggled in her personal life, her family put her down, her marriage failed, she likes working in aged care and Lily thinks she would make a wonderful nurse. Lily Harford’s Last Request is about Lily facing her own mortality, she would like to make the choice to end her life and before she gets any worse. She asks both Donna and Pauline to help her, they point out to her that it’s illegal and they can’t do it.
The narrative is about aging, friendship, courage, dignity, and the worry of having older parents and how much you fear losing them. I received a copy of this book kindly from NetGalley and Harlequin Australia, in exchange for on honest review, it’s a very emotional story, Joanna Buckley writes with feeling, sensitivity, tact, and five stars from me.
The land girls working at Pasture Farm are determined to celebrate Christmas in 1944 and despite the hardships they have all faced over the last four The land girls working at Pasture Farm are determined to celebrate Christmas in 1944 and despite the hardships they have all faced over the last four years. Joyce, Connie and Esther have all suffered due to the war, Joyce lost her mum and sister Gwen when a bomb landed on their house in Coventry and she misses them.
The villagers living in Helmstead notice a German plane crash after a dog fight, despite bursting into flames, their concerned two German airmen escaped and everyone in the area are worried. Siegfried Weber and Emory Moyer did survive the crash, are hiding in the woods and sleeping in an abandoned car. The two Germans think Joyce is alone at Pasture Farm, and don’t realize Esther Reeves is also there. They capture the two women, hold them hostage, they make a radio, send out Morse code messages and hope a local traitor might be able to help them? Connie decides to visit Joyce, she has no idea that she will become the Germans third hostage, the women are determined to overcome the airmen and alert the authorities. Connie has her suspicions who’s the spy, she’s right and she wants all three to be arrested.
Christmas on the Home Front by Roland Moore, is the final book in the popular Land Girls Series, it’s nice to catch up with the characters from the previous two books, the preparations for Christmas don’t go quite as planned and the three brave women take down two German pilots and a spy. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, not your typical Christmas story, and four stars from me. ...more
Nancy Wake moved to Sydney as a young child from New Zealand, she was a brilliant student at school and hated having to help at home. Once she was an Nancy Wake moved to Sydney as a young child from New Zealand, she was a brilliant student at school and hated having to help at home. Once she was an adult, Nancy decided to go on a world tour and she worked as a freelance journalist.
France 1930’s, she met steel industrialist Henri Fiocca, and despite the threat of another war, the couple marry on the 30th of November 1939. Henri wanted Nancy to be a lady of leisure, they owned a beautiful house in Marseilles, Nancy wanted to learn to drive and a skill she used during the war.
Nancy worked as an ambulance driver, she took special train journeys from Marseilles to Cannes and back again. This was the start of Nancy living a double life, when Henri was called up to fight and she wanted to do more. Nancy made her way to England, here she was trained and became a Special Operations Executive. Nancy was dropped in to France, she used the name Madame Andree Joubert and her code name was Helene. Nancy soon gained a reputation for being fearless, she remained cool under pressure, was a natural leader, she liked to have fun, had a wicked sense of humor and she was only twenty seven.
Despite the bounty on her head, Nancy managed to invade being captured, and towards the end of the war, she and over seven thousand resistance fighters made life extremely difficult for the Germans. In the Auvergne area of France, they planned their successful raids, blew up railway lines and buildings, attacked convoys, and their job was to keep the Germans busy and as the allies slowly advanced towards Paris.
Nancy Wake’s biography by Russell Braddon was originally written in 1956, with her permission and input. Nancy was an extremely brave, courageous and selfless woman and she received many accolades and medals after the war. Looking back at what she'd achieved, Nancy was proud of feeding hundreds of hungry people during the war, the lifelong friends that she made with her fellow resistance fighters, the lady they called Gert and she did what she felt she had to do!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK in exchange for an honest review, the most inspiring and interesting biography I have the pleasure of reading and five stars from me.
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