This is the first book I have read in the Billie Walker series. And while it was an okay read, I do not think I will read any more books in the series. You will experience the book through multiple timelines which did not seem to flow well for me. I enjoyed the historical fiction focus of life in the aftermath of WWII in Europe. With a slow start that had me struggling to get invested in the story, I finally made it to the end. And I was happy to finally close the book and no

I enjoy reading books in the historical fiction genre. And while this was a different focus than my typical read, it had a lot of positive aspects. I love the focus of a strong female character who demonstrated intelligence and strength. Set in a period of time when women were not recognized for these positive characteristics, this was a breath of fresh air.Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.   Fo

First of all, I was not the intended audience for this book. While I have enjoyed other books by the author, Evie Woods, I do not find those in the magical realism genre appealing. As a musician myself, I did appreciate the focus on musicians. Being exposed to how violins are made as well as played was informative and a positive aspect to this book. At times, I felt like the story dragged on and I had a difficult time staying focused. There are many individuals, though, who w

I enjoy reading historical fiction books. However, this was a different focus from most of my reads. Unfortunately, this one just seemed to take too long to tell the story. I struggled to stay focused. It had promise but I did not feel like it delivered. The Roaring Twenties, murder mystery, and PTSD aspects could have developed into a relatable and inspiring story. Plus the random use of the “F-bomb” was totally unnecessary. Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my a

I love reading books from the historical fiction genre ... and especially when they are set during the WWII time period. The synopsis of this book intrigued me and I anticipated learning more about the enigma machines and codebreaking. While you will be exposed to a lot of information about the codebreaking efforts throughout WWII and how the Polish teams led the way in that accomplishment, the book just seemed to drag on. The romance between Beata and Harry took up too much

This was a very different book than my typical read. The medical history aspect was informational and learning about female surgeon, Dr. Nora Gibson, and her strong and determined personality as she struggled in a world dominated by men was enlightening. The author (who is actually the writing team of Jaime Fixson and Regina Sirois) has obviously done a great amount of research. But it is presented in a way that showcases the lives of the characters with depth and care. A sto

I am a huge fan of historical fiction books and especially if they are set during the WWII timeframe. This particular story is different than those I typically read because it takes place in Portugal. Getting to know Avery and Camille and journey with them through this difficult period of time was engaging. This was a story of love, loss, friendship, survival, and espionage. It will pull you in and keep you invested in the story until the final reveal. And what a great shocki

I am a huge fan of historical fiction books. This one was a different focus than my typical read. I have never explored Egyptian history much other than what I have read in the Bible and about King Tut. While I enjoyed learning about two strong women and their role during their lifetimes, this book did not appeal to me. I did not enjoy the writing style or one the female characters, Lady Evelyn Herbert. I appreciate the amount of research that the author did. But the storylin

I enjoy reading historical fiction books and one that deals with books appeal to me. However, this book was so difficult to get into. The different characters and time periods were confusing. I did enjoy reading about the WPA (Works Progress Administration). A disorganized attempt to share multiple viewpoints and storylines. It just did not work for me. Though I have enjoyed previous books by the author, so I will read future books by her. Thank you to NetGalley and William M

I love reading historical fiction books. This one was a different focus than my typical read. Though it does occur during the WWII time period, it does not focus on the horrors of the war. An amazing cast of characters. I was not familiar with the Hollywood Victory Caravan or the efforts actors engaged in to support the war effort and encourage patriotism. The primary character, Jackie, is not a pleasant individual. However, she does have her positive qualities and joins forc

I love the historical fiction books written by Kristin Harmel. She always manages to pull me into the story. The focus on the time during WWII is always a perk for me. As you spend time with Colette, you will be amazed at her tenacity, her bravery, her intelligence, and her willingness to the people supporting Hitler’s agenda and using it for good purposes. This is a nonstop journey of adventure and intrigue. I loved the two twists at the end. They made my heart soar with hop

I have read several books by the author, Dave Barry. And with each one, I went in expecting his humorous and snarky attitude. The title of this book caught my attention and I looked forward to learning more about his life and how it shaped him into the individual and comedic writer he is today. It was not my favorite book, but it did provide some background into his life. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my

I love historical fiction books and the mystery aspect of this one was a positive spin that I really enjoyed. Metting Freddie Archer, a columnist of Gotham Magazine was enlightening. Freddie’s character was based on one of the first female columnists at The New Yorker. Life as an independent and strong female in the 20s was difficult. But Freddie was up for the challenge. Experiencing this time period and the speakeasies, bootlegging, fashion designers, and glamorous lifestyl

I had looked forward to reading this first book in The Women of Cannon Book series. But I could not get invested in the story. I also did not connect with or care for Mary or her husband, John. While based on a true story, spreading it out into a trilogy is not appealing. I did enjoy learning about the first women postal carriers in Oregon. Thank you to NetGalley and Revell for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own. For more reviews, please visit my bl

I had actually read the second book in the Emma Langley Victorian series first. But I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to go back and read the first book. Plus this gave me the opportunity to get to know Emma and her new friend, Penny Green, as well as learn how Emma began solving crimes. Emma is such a relatable character ... young and naive, but intelligent. It was enjoyable watching her mature throughout the pages. The mystery is multifold and has you wondering if Emma’s f

I enjoy reading historical fiction books. So I had looked forward to reading this book. However, I really did not enjoy it ... the characters or the storyline. I felt like the way the book progressed, the ending was predictable and that I pretty much expected it to end that way from the very beginning. One aspect I thoroughly enjoyed was the setting. Australia is on my bucket list of places to which I want to travel. I also learned a lot about the funeral industry. It is not

I looked forward to reading The Filling Station by Vanessa Miller. However, it took all I had to trudge through the pages to get to the end. This is definitely a difficult read as you experience the racial tension and prejudices that were so prevalent at that period of time. The Tulsa Race Massacre was a horrendous incident. But while a story I struggled to get through, watching Margaret and Evelyn wrestled to cope with the trauma of the massacre was emotionally challenging.

This is the first book I have read in the Lady Petra Inquires series. However, I enjoyed it enough that I plan to go back and read the first two books in the series. The characters are well developed and I did not feel that I was at a disadvantage with jumping into the series at the third book. The murder mystery was handled well and bits of historical detail added to the pleasure of reading this book. Between the snarky dialogue and the behind-the-scenes romance between Lady

I love reading historical fiction books and especially those that take place during WWII. While I have read many books that are set in Auschwitz, I have not read many that cover the women’s camp at Ravensbrück. But what I have read describes the horrible experiences of the women who suffered in that concentration camp. I have also not had the opportunity to read about seamstresses and their responsibilities at both locations. This is an emotional story of loss, family, friend

I have enjoyed every moment I have spent with Emmy Lake and am sad that our time together has come to and end. We are still ensconced in WWII and bombs are still being dropped on London. The Women’s Friend magazine continues to play a role in helping readers deal with the difficulties the war has brought into their lives as well as everyday concerns and questions. The characters feel like friends and I have come to care about their lives and their struggles. Emmy provides a