This book has a lot of very positive reviews. So let me preface mine by suggesting you read it to see if it appeals to you. This was just a horrible read for me. It was a lot of smut and explicit sexual encounters that I was not expecting. I could care less about the characters and that kept me from being invested in the story. I have enjoyed previous books by the author, so I will definitely consider reading future books. Unfortunately, this one was not the one for me. Thank

I was not the target audience for this book. Books in the magical realism and fantasy genres are not appealing to me. However, it was interesting to read about Jewish matchmaking. This seemed more like a storyline written for a Hallmark movie. And that is something else I do not enjoy. The story did not pull me into the book and I just did not care about the characters. It was just a “blah” read and one I will forget about now that I have finished the book. Thank you to NetGa

I enjoy reading historical fiction books and especially if they take place during WWII. The author obviously did a great amount of research. Reading about Operation Pied Piper and how children were sent to the countryside of England as well as Canada and other countries, was heart wrenching. I cannot begin to imagine the anguish of mothers having to decide whether to take a chance their children will survive the war if they stay in London ... or send them away to be cared for

I enjoy reading historical fiction books. This was a different focus than my typical read because it was set during the Civil War. The picture the author paints of Joetta McBride is interesting. What an amazing woman and I grew to admire her determined to remain neutral in the war between the states amidst the war that begins in her own back yard. Donna Everhart does a great job at creating characters for whom you care about and situations that will touch you emotionally. Tha

While like most people, I know a lot about Orville and Wilbur Wright, I was not familiar with the story of their sister, Katharine. I was looking forward to learning more about her personally as well as what part she may have played in the brothers’ efforts to fly. I was disappointed in the book because the characters were rather flat and I ended up not being drawn into their story. This ended up being more of a technical paper than a novel. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourceb

I enjoy reading historical fiction books. This was more of a women’s fiction book with a historical fiction aspect. I have read another book about the 1917 Halifax Explosion in Nova Scotia, so I had more details about that incident. This was an okay read. I just was not drawn into the story or made to care about the lives of the characters. Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own. For more reviews, please v

Historical fiction books are one of my favorite genres to read. And when they are set during WWII, I am always a huge fan. And I typically enjoy books from various time periods. However, the way this book covered the different times did not flow as smoothly and coherently as it could have. I did enjoy getting to know the characters ... Emilie, Danner, Otto, Felix, and Gertie. This is an emotional read and experiencing Emilie’s ability to deal with the difficult situations in

I love historical fiction books and especially if they are set during the WWII time period. This also appealed to me because it has a dual timeline ... 1942 and 1994. The horrors that Irena experienced during the Nazi invasion of Poland is heartbreaking. The mental, physical, and emotional abuse that is exposed throughout the pages will touch you deeply. A story of love, loss, sacrifice, and relationships. A great twist at the end is different than any other WWII historical b

This historical fiction book was different than my typical read. While it took me a while to get into the story, the last third of the book made it a satisfying read. I was unfamiliar with byssus and the weavers. (Byssus is the fine amber filament that anchors mollusks to the ocean floor.) Learning the tradition of harvesting the sea silk was so interesting. The author has done an amazing amount of research and sharing the story of Sardinia’s water women allowed you to discov

To begin with, I fell in love with AJ Winthrop. What an amazing man he was. There are a lot of characters and storylines woven throughout the pages. The tapestry that is created through the author’s words is unforgettable. There were so many quotes that touched me and had me grabbing a pen and paper to jot them down. When an author does that, I am completely invested in the story. One of my favorites was: “Love is two broken people fitted together to hold each other up, to po

I love reading historical fiction books and especially if they are set during the WWII time period. Because I have read so many books in this genre, it is hard to find one that covers an aspect I am not familiar with. This book covered Lenny’s life as a spy for the SOE. But what really caught my attention was the title and the synopsis which hinted at coded messages being shared through the knitting of clothing. While this is introduced, I was disappointed that there was very

This was a wonderful opportunity to spend time in the pages of a book about love, loss, longing, forgiveness, and mystery. I loved getting lost in the world of Bronwyn, Clara, and Wynnie. In fact, eight-year-old Wynnie stole my heart! As the fog covers the streets of London, so does the mystery of Bronwyn’s (Clara's mother) disappearance more than 20 years ago cover the lives of Clara and Wynnie. There is wonder, mystery, make-believe, family connections, and the blossoming o

What an amazing Jeannette Rankin was. I had never heard of her before picking up this book and getting to learn about her life. The author has done a phenomenal amount of research into the time period in which Jeannette lived, the political climate, the male-dominated world, and the strength of so many women who fought for women's right to vote and pave the way for their many future achievements. A very interesting and enlightening read. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’

This was the first book I have read the Marius Quin series by Benedict Brown. I do believe I would have enjoyed it more if I had more background into the primary characters, Marius Quin and Lady Bella Montague. However, I still liked spending time trying to solve the murder mysteries and getting to know Marius and Bella more. The relationship between the two of them is entertaining, and I loved that while they have such different personalities, their relationship is built on

I really enjoy historical fiction and especially when it revolves around books. This book took a while to have me invested in the story. I enjoyed reading about the three sisters, Olivia, Daphne, and Celia. Observing them running a bookstore in the early 1900s ... a time when men would have been in that role. Each sister has a focus and it was interesting to explore their lives and the secrets they kept from each other. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks for

This is definitely an emotional read that will have you angry at how society treated women in the early 20th century. Their treatment at the institutions was horrendous and eye-opening. The fact that the book is based on real events is appalling. A very difficult and uncomfortable read, but also important that we learn about this type of unacceptable treatment of women in the hopes that history does not repeat itself. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for my advance

I enjoy reading historical fiction books and especially when they take place during the WWII time period. The dual timeline aspect of this story was an added plus. There are some deep subjects covered throughout the pages ... mental illness, persecution of the Jews, mistreatment of residents of an insane asylum. The author does a wonderful job of creating two separate timelines but merges them together that is so subtle I had to spend time thinking about the connection. Thank

I love historical fiction books and especially those that are about books. The magical aspect of this particular story flowed well with the historical fiction focus. The characters are well developed and the mystery pulled me in and kept my interest. There is a touch of romance and I really wanted to discover where the relationship between Lillian and Harry would go. This book will take you on a journey into another time and place with mystery and intrigue. Thank you to NetGa

I have really enjoyed the books in the Emma Langley series by Emily Organ. I love spending time with Emma Langley and Penny Blakely. They each have their own lives but work well together to solve mysteries. Such strong, independent, and intelligent women. And as was true during the Victorian time period, they were not valued as major contributors to society. There were lots of clues and possible suspects that kept me invested in the story and wondering who was guilty of murde

I love historical fiction books and especially those that deal with books and libraries. So many magical things can happen in the pages of a wonderful book. So this one caught my attention and I looked forward to time spent with Lily. The history of the American Library in Paris was interesting and I enjoyed getting to know the many characters featured in the book. The shelves of books and the comfort of friendship makes this a story worth exploring. Thank you to NetGalley an