This is one of the best WWII books I’ve read and devoured it in 2 days. It’s a unique story, inspired from true life events of survival against horrible odds.
Continue reading “The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel”
This was a pretty good YA Fantasy book. There is also a mix of Historical Fiction and Mystery/Thriller in the book, so it’s a bit hard to categorize. There is plenty of action, elements of mythology and magic, with a touch of romance thrown in. It’s quite a mish mash.
Continue reading “Curse of the Specter Queen (Samantha Knox #1) by Jenny Elder Moke”
This is a really good contemporary fiction that follows one fictional famous family that lives in Malibu in August 1983. The book focuses on the children of legendary singer Mick Riva, who have earned fame in their own right. Through flashbacks that explain the love story, and heartbreak, of their parent’s relationship, the readers get a glimpse into the chaotic, secretive life of Nina, Jay, Hud and Kit.
Continue reading “Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid”
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
I really enjoy this author’s work and this book series, but this is my least favorite book in the series so far. I didn’t find the mystery as compelling as in past books, and there seemed to be a lot of filler and repetitiveness to the story.
Continue reading “Death with a Double Edge (Daniel Pitt #4) by Anne Perry”
4.5 stars
Wow. What a fantastic first book in a new, exciting epic fantasy series. It’s got everything you want in an epic fantasy; Norse mythology, gods, monsters, dragons, swords, battles, mercenaries, stupid and/or evil rulers, skilled fighters, cowards, plucky former slaves out for vengeance, quests, and much more. The book ends on a great cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see what the author will bring us next.
Continue reading “The Shadow of the Gods (The Bloodsworn Saga, #1) by John Gwynne”
This was an interesting historical fiction that follows four young people as they grow up during the 1960’s. Troy is an orphan that is taken in by Mick and Tara’s family. Daisy is the girl that Mick loves. As the foursome deal with growing up, the author weaves the turbulent times of the 60’s throughout their story. Often the characters bring up what is happening in the country at the time, from the presidential debates, Kennedy’s assassination, landing on the moon and the Vietnam war. Sometimes these “history lessons” made sense in the story, but more often than not, they felt forced and stilted.
Continue reading “America by Mike Bond”
This is a very good historical fiction book about one of Churchill’s female SOE agents who works to sabotage the German military in Nazi-occupied France.
Continue reading “Churchill’s Secret Messenger: A WWII Novel of Spies & the French Resistance”
This is a very good historical fiction set in Paris during WWII and is based on a true story. Odile is a young French girl who dreams of working at the American Library in Paris. She obtains her dream job, forming deep friendships with the other workers. She also starts to date a handsome police officer introduced to her by her father. When war breaks out and the Nazis occupy Paris, she and her fellow librarians are determined to keep the library open. They send valuable books out of town to safety, and they smuggle books to Jewish patrons that are forbidden from going to the library.
Continue reading “The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles”
This is a rousing historical fiction set in northern England in AD793. On June 8, AD793 Vikings pillage the monastery on Lindisfarne, and the Viking Age has begun. While Vikings kill and rape monks and villagers as they try to run from danger, a young monk named Hunlaf runs toward danger. Despite never swinging a sword before, he takes up a weapon and kills his first man. And so begins Hunlaf’s journey from monk to warrior, and his quest for vengeance.
Continue reading “A Time for Swords by Matthew Harffy”