Review of The Patriot Bride

Title:  The Patriot Bride

Author: Kimberley Woodhouse

Series: Daughters of the Mayflower book 4

Ch: 24 plus Epilogue

 

Pages: 256

Genre: Christian Historical fiction with a hint of romance

Rating: 3 stars

The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse is book four in The Daughter of the Mayflower is a series that follows one family and its descendants from the Mayflower, and to me it seems like after the first book the books don't really have to be read in order.   In the Patriot Bride Faith Jackson is a young wealthy widow who happens to be friends with George and Martha Washington and a strong Patriot. 

 Matthew Weber is a patriot as well, friends with both Benjamin Franklin and his son William; Matthew is spy.  He's pretending to be a loyalist in order to pass on information to the patriot cause. Faith volunteers to be the person who will pass on the information to and from Matthew.  Once they get to know each Matthew and Faith wonder if  their feelings as well as their lives will have to be given up  for the sake of the country. 

I've always enjoyed historical fiction especially fiction about the American Revolution.  This is second book about spies during the Revolution that  I have read the first being Ring of Secrets by Roseanna M. White the first book The Culper Ring trilogy.  History has proven that spies were indeed use during the American Revelation George Washington even asked to have a spy ring started.  

While The Patriot Bride wasn't my favorite book in the series, what now that is  book The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep  I do plan to continue the series and look forward to the next one book 5  The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear. Book  1 is The Mayflower Bride by Kimberly Woodhouse and book 2 The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y'Barbo. As of right now this series is set to have 8 books.  With The Liberty Bride by Marylu Tyndall of Christian pirate novel frame, The Alamo Bride by Kathleen Y'Barbo and The Golden Bride by Kimberly Woodhouse to finish off the series. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Review of Auschwitz Lullaby

Title: Auschwitz Lullaby

 

Author: Mario Escobar translated by Gretchen Abernathy

Pages: 281

Genre: Historical fiction

Rating: 4 stars

Based on the title alone, you know as you start  to read Auschwitz Lullaby by Mario Escobar translated by Gretchen Abernathy that this book is going to have a slightly predictable ending.   Unlike other WWII and Holocaust novels I've read Auschwitz Lullaby focuses on a lesser known group of people sent to concentration  camps;   Romani none pretty much as gypsies outside of their people.  So to me that was a welcome  change. This novel focuses on one family  but though their eyes you see life in the gypsy camp of Auschwitz.  Helene the mother could have avoided being sent to the camp because she was German not Romani but she chose instead to go with her husband and children, because a mother doesn't leave her children. 

It's through this novel that you see that Doctor Mengele pulled a lot of twins from the gypsy camp and others. If you've studied history you know what horrible things he did, things I won't mention in this review.  Helene and a few other woman under Mengele orders create a kindergarten as well as nursery do in part to the fact that she is a nurse.  The women do their best to give the children a normal life as possible inside the camps. 

Reading Auschwitz Lullaby was bitter sweet.  It was the first and only Holocaust novel that I've read that focuses on Romani and not the Jewish population.  I'm not going to lie Auschwitz Lullaby was not an easy read, and books about the Holocaust should be easy reads they should be reads that challenge you and make you think. As well as teach you so that events like that never happen again.  I recommend that everyone 16 years and older read this book.   To me it is a must read.  Have tissues handy. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Reading this week

Finished

Flash by Ellen Miles

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee (owned)

Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco

The Forest Queen by Betsy Cornwell

Reading

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein

The Pin of No Return by Ellie Alexander

Non-fiction reading

This is the Day: Reclaim your Dream. Ignite your Passion. Live Your purpose by Tim Tebow

Classic

Audio on the Way to Work

Getting ready to read

The Red Door Inn by Liz Johnson

Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureano

Escape Claws by Linda Reilly

Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear

Rose in Three Quarter Time by Rachel McMillan

All Made Up by Kara Isaac

Reviewing

Murder at the Flamingo by Rachel McMillan

Swell Time for a Swing Dance by Cindy Vincent

A Sparkle of Silver by Liz Johnson

Premediated Peppermint by Amanda Flower

Devotional reading

When God Calls the Heart by Brian Bird

Did not Finish

Reviews Posted this week

Review of Shelved Under Murder

Title:  Shelved Under Murder

Author: Victoria Gilbert

Series: Blue Rigde Library Mysteries book 2

Chapters: 28

Pages: 336

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 3 stars

Shelved under Murder is the second book in the Blue Ridge Library mysteries by Victoria Gilbert  Amy Webber has settled in as library director for the Taylorsford Virginia library for the most part.   But when a murder  investigation involves possible forged paintings  and the sheriff's deputy finds out that Amy has a degree in Art history she finds herself drug into another murder investigation as well.  And to think she just wanted to survive the yard sale fundraiser for the library.  

I enjoyed Shelved Under Murder more than I did the first book in the series.  From the second book on in cozy mysteries the story and mystery just seems to flow faster; I think that is do in part to the characters and setting being established in the first book of the series.  I enjoy reading cozy mysteries with librarians as the mystery solver. I guess it's because my day job is that of library assistant.  I loved the fall and early October setting of the book as well as the Blue Ridge Mountain setting. . And I look forward to the next book in the Blue Ridge Library mystery.   Library employees as well as fans will enjoy this cozy mystery. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All  opinions expressed are mine alone.

Autumn TBR

Escaping From Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston

The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear

Rose in Three Quarter Time by Rachel McMillian

All Made up by Kara Isaac

My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand

Review of Death Over Easy

Title:  Death Over Easy

Author: Maddie Day

Series: Country store mystery book 5

 

Chapters: 49

Pages: 304

Genre: cozy mystery

Rating: 4 stars

Death Over Easy is the fifth book in the Country Store mysteries by Maddie Day, Robbie Jordan has finally gotten her bed and breakfast part of her restaurant and country store up and running. Just in time for the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Festival in Beanblossom  to bring in customers. The Bluegrass Festival in this book is based on an actual festival I believe by the same name.  I actually been to it.  

Robbie has sworn off solving murders but yet another one seems to have landed in her lap, and it is sort of personal because her boyfriend Abe happens to be a suspect.   And to top it all off her father and step-mother are visiting from Italy.  Robbie is in a race to find the killer before she or someone she loves becomes the next victim. 

Like with all of the previous Country Store mysteries I enjoyed this one as well.  I love reading about the trouble that Robbie and her friends get into.  Though I believe South Lick is a fictional Southern Indiana small-town. I can picture the town and the surrounding area in my mind as I am reading.  As  I grew up just across the river  from southern Indiana in Kentucky I'm familiar with  the area.  Reading these books are like taken a mini vacation.  Death Over Easy is a quick and enjoyable cozy mystery and I would recommend it to anyone who loves cozy mysteries. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All  opinions expressed are mine alone.

September Wrap Up

I read a total of 36 books and 9039 pages. With an average star rating of 3.2 My TBR pile started the month at 33. I read one owned book and got my owlcrate for the month keeping the total at 33.

I only read four books from my TBR list for September but I did finish all the books I had started in August that I wanted to finish in September.

September to finish

Deputy Daddy by Patricia Johns

Shattered at Sea by Cheryl Hollon

Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J Maas

From Twinkle with Love by Sandhya Menon

September TBR

The Deputy’s Unexpected by Patricia Johns

Escape Claws by Linda Reilly

Goodbye Cruller World by Ginger Bolton

Playing Her Secret Crush by Casey Griffin

Swell Time for a Swing Dance by Cindy Vincent (Review Book)

Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

The Red Door Inn by Liz Johnson

Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills

September read

Unstoppable by Art Coulson

Secret Past by Sharee Stover

Cowboy Bodyguard by Dana Mentink

Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

House of Dreams by Liz Rosenberg

Shattered at Sea by Cheryl Hollon

Playing Her Secret Crush by Casey Griffin

Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J Maas

Deputy Daddy by Patricia Johns

Hero by Jennifer Li Shotz

The Keeper of the Lost Causes by Jussi Alder-Olsen

Death and A Pot of Chowder by Cornelia Kidd

The State of Bourbon by Cameron Ludwick

Loving Grace by April Smith

An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M White

Wild Together by Kelly Lund

Goodbye Cruller World by Ginger Bolton

The Deputy’s Unexpected Family by Patricia Johns

What was the Holocaust by Gail Herman

Dim Sum of All Fears by Vivien Chien

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

Hitting the Books by Jenn McKinlay

Book Girl by Sarah Clarkson

Hero: Hurricane Rescue by Jennifer Li Shotz

The Hero’s Sweetheart by Cheryl Wyatt

Wilderness Pursuit by Michelle Karl

The Bookshop Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson

I’d Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of The Reading Life by Anne Bogel

From Twinkle, with Love by Sandhya Menon

Spirit by Ellen Miles

Go To School, Little Monster by Helen Ketteman

Read and Gone by Allison Brook

If you Ever Want to  Bring an Alligator to School, Don’t! by Elise Parsley

Whiskey in a Teacup: What Growing up in the South taught me about life, love and baking Biscuits by Reese Witherspoon

 Trouble is Brewing by Ellie Alexander

Wonder Woman 5: Heart of the Amazon