I enjoy reading historical fiction books and especially those that take place during WWII. As I have said recently, I have read so many books set during that time period that it is hard to find one that presents a unique approach to the war. Imogen Matthews has definitely done that with this book. I have read about tattooists, musicians, and seamstresses who worked in the concentration camps. But the focus on a photographer who was tasked with photographing the inmates as the

I enjoy reading historical fiction books and especially if they are set during WWII. I have read so many in recent years that it is difficult to find a book that covers a different aspect of that time period. This book managed to do that and pulled me into the story and had me invested in the life of Halina. The characters of Gavriel, a fellow prisoner, and Flora, the baby in the Nazi officer’s home, added an extra layer of emotion. What a heart wrenching story of hope, deter

Based on a true story of the Heppenheimer family and their lives during the Nazi occupation during WWII. I continue to be amazed at the atrocities of Hitler’s regime and what the Jewish people endured. You are treated to the background of the four cousins who were separated during the war. The story was slow and I had difficulty staying invested. I wanted to be emotionally invested in the characters’ lives. There are plenty of very positive reviews so I would encourage you to

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 love reading historical fiction books and especially if they are set during the WWII timeframe. My heart breaks when I read about the children who were sent to live in the country and other locations to be safe from the bombings in London during WWII. I have not, however, read about being sent to Wales, so this was a new aspect for me. This particular book focuses more on the five children who end up being housed with sisters Charlotte and Dodie. Getting to know the childre

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 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 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

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

I love reading historical fiction books, and especially if they are set during the WWII time period. When there is a dual timeline, I'm definitely hooked. Once again, I'm in all of the efforts, so many individuals were willing to make to help the people mistreated by Hitler's army of evil. I was not familiar with the Croatian fight for freedom and the devastation that has played the country … families, and the community … for years. The impact on the lives of the children is

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

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 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

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 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 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