I enjoy reading historical fiction books, especially when they take place during WWII. The characters are well developed, and the author does a good job of pulling you into the lives of Luc and Lisette. I enjoyed the aspect of spending time in France and the espionage and work of the resistance. An interesting love story but the end kind of fizzled out for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own. For more review

This was definitely a failure for me and my attempt to read more historical fiction books that introduce me to a unique aspect of history. One big turn off for me was the amount of crude language. I can handle some when it is imported to the story or the characters, but this was over the top unnecessary. I felt like I was plotting through mud to get through the pages. There are too many wonderful books out there to enjoy for me to spend hours, forcing myself to pick up the bo

I have come to love historical fiction books that take place in England. And spending time post WWII was a new frame of reference for me. Ginevra (Gin) Bishop and Sidney Braithwaite wore a wonderful combination for teammates. The mystery and intrigued pulled me into the story. And Gin and Sidney’s very different approaches to espionage kept me entertained. Lots of clues are sprinkled throughout the pages which held my attention and had me anxious to see what danger lurked aro

This was a sweet, though sometimes overly sweet, story. There were some strong emotional moments and the typical mean girl vibe that tends to be prevalent in the South. The dialogue was probably one reason why I did not enjoy the book that much ... syrupy sweet and not much depth. I felt like the characters were rather shallow. I know there are plenty of readers who will love getting to know Tina and the rest of the gang in Benson. Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for my a

This book was one that had me emotionally invested in the story and the characters. It tugged at my heartstrings and I enjoyed getting to know Tula. You will have the opportunity to learn about Tula as well as go back in time to 1941-42 during WWII. Experiencing life on the final voyage of the Oceanus as it traveled during the war and individuals who were aboard was entertaining. This book will expose you to mystery and intrigue, emotional trauma, fear, deep sea diving experi

When I open up a Janet Evanovich book, I know I will be in for a thriller ride. A little bit of danger, a touch of snarky humor, and a splash of romance will have you flipping the pages as fast as possible to see what adventure you will experience with Gabriela. Factor in time spent with her ex, Rafer, and his buddy, Harley, and you will be traveling the world, attempting to outsmart the bad guys, and recovering long lost treasures. Just a fun series in which to spend your ti

I loved this third book in the Royal Street series by author Karen White. This one will have you sitting on the edge of your seat and wondering what creepy and mysterious incident will happen next. The characters will pull you into the story and the eerie and haunting moments will hold you captive. The description of the settings is so real, I could feel the hairs stand up on my arms. There are sad and emotional moments that touch your heart. The past and present are expertly

What a wonderful story of faith, family, community, and love. The characters were richly developed and I fell in love with each of them for different reasons. Lauren’s personality and deep sense of commitment reeled me in. Watching Joel grow and become attached to the restaurant and the people who were part of the diner family was heartwarming. The power of prayer and the willingness of them to turn to prayer at every situation ... good and bad ... asking for help or guidance

I love reading historical fiction books and really enjoyed learning about the Harvey Girls. The characters are well developed and I loved getting to know Billie and Charlotte. I had never heard of the waitresses who served at America’s first hospitality chain along the Santa Fe railroad. The adventures you get to experience as the girls are trained to the people they meet along the way to the various locations they work ... you will be drawn into the story and learn to much a

I am loving books by Judy Leigh. What a delight to spend time in the pages of a story of "women of a certain age" when that is exactly where I am! The characters are delightful and the relationships that develop our heartwarming. I wish I had the same Moxie that Max has. She readily grasp the latest life has given her and shows that you are never too old to embrace change and discover, a second chance at new friends, love, and enjoy. I want to be one of Max's friends and expe

I had no idea what I expected when I opened this book and began to read. I initially did not realize it was a young adult book. And, though I'm not the target audience, I love the story! The characters pulled me into their lives. Some of the relationships were gracious and caring, while others were vicious and based on evil. There is a thread of the supernatural, but Faith was a major aspect in the lives of several characters. As Cole transitions from life in the city to a sm

This third book in the Sanctuary series packs a punch. Once again you are treated to an intense, action-packed, emotional adventure through the pages with Paradise, Blake, Jenny (Blake’s mother), and Isaac and Levi (Blake’s young brothers). But Paradise’s half brother, Drew, is along for the ride and plays a significant part in navigating the dangerous incidents that will pull you into the story. Edge-of-your seat moments will have you holding your breath to see who will surv

Wow! The Tupelo Grove series has really packed a punch. I read the third book before the first two so it spoiled some of the shocking twists and turns that happen throughout the pages. This is an emotional read ... from loss, revenge, anger to hope, healing, and forgiveness. You will be in for a wild ride as you work alongside Savannah and Hez as they begin to rekindle their relationship and attempt to solve the mystery of the snuggling of artifacts. You will be sitting on th

I love picking up a Vicki Delaney book and getting lost in the pages. And the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series is one of my favorites. I have grown to love the characters who call the Cape Cod town of West London, Massachusetts home. Gemma once again is pulled into a murder mystery. Between the murder, Gemma’s best friend, Jayne’s, birthday celebration and upcoming wedding, Detective Ryan Asburton, and various attendees’ exes showing up, you are in for a nonstop celebration fu

This second book in the Sanctuary series will grab you from the first page. It really helped that I had read the first book in the series, Ambush. You will have a better introduction to the primary characters ... Paradise, Blake, Jenna (Blake’s mother), and Isaac and Levi (Blake’s young brothers). The voices of the two young brothers in the audiobook were perfect! I could picture them and their energetic personalities. Lots of twists and turns that will have you cringing whil

When I first started listening to this book, I just wanted to roll my eyes. But as I got further into the book, I began to love the characters ... their past issues, their idiosyncrasies, their journeys. Watching Claire develop and mature was entertaining. She was such a nice person and it was heartwarming to see people support her and encourage her to achieve her wildest dreams. Miles was an amazing man. He had so many positive qualities. This is a delightful story of second

I enjoy reading historical fiction books. This one was a different focus than I typically read. But I really enjoyed it. The characters were well developed and it was interesting getting to know Phoebe Van Bergen and her part in establishing a women’s hospital in Boston. Though from a prominent and very wealth family, she is not arrogant or entitled. She cares for any woman who needs care. But she is also not immune to difficulties ... from family pressures to domestic abuse.

I love reading historical fiction books and especially those that take place during WWII. I am not sure what I expected when I first opened the book and began to get lost in the pages. But it is about so much more than “the soldier’s daughter.” You will journey from Scotland to Australia to England to France and discover a story of love, courage, devotion, and determination. The characters are brought to life and you will be invested in their lives and the people who help the

I loved the time I spent in the pages of Everything’s Coming Up Rosie. The book is full of delightful ... and a few less than delightful ... characters. As I lost myself in the story, it made me wonder how often we make our lives look better, more glamorous, richer, full of love than it really is. For those of us who struggle with self-esteem issues, this book will hit close to home. Experiencing Rosie’s struggle to be who she wants to be and how she feels inept compared to h

What an emotional read. This one deals with a huge amount of loss. Your heart will break as Kara experiences a multitude of heartache. But journeying with her as she handles life and the many changes and challenges she faces will have your heart aching for her. People she needs and the relationships she develops are supportive, and provide a good glimpse into how your life can be positively influence by love and care. Being the first book in the series, this introduces you to