Something Borrowed by Rachel Scott McDaniel, Allison Pittman and Susie Finkbeiner novella collection review

 

With this novella collection centered around a Special wedding dress Rachel Scott McDaniel has done it again. With A Heart in Disguise Clara Westlake is a seamstress in the Camouflage Corps. I thought I knew my WWI history but this is the first I had heard about the Camouflage Corps and the important job they had during WWI. That's what I love so much about Rachel's books after the Faith content and love story is that I l always something new from history.  I also loved that the dress that played a part in this story would find its way through time and to more wars for two more stories. 

 

 A Letter to Eli by Allison Pittman was set during WWII. And a possibly second chance for Betty and Eli. I did enjoy this one but it wasn't my favorite of the three. And that's on me not Allison's writing. I think I'm kind of getting burnt out on WWII romances. But if that's not the case for you then you'll also love Betty and Eli's story. 

 

And finally we have A Daffodil in the Dress by Susie Finkbeiner set during the Vietnam, this one was my favorite of the three stories in this collection. Though it's a second chance at love and not always my favorite I enjoyed it. Kate and Ike's story is just so sweet despite the tragedy of the Vietnam War. And Little Eloise is just a doll.  This story was only my second Susie Finkebeiner story but it weren't be my last. And it was also only my second Vietnam War book because there's not that much out there. Because it's one war that war and horrific and to close to recent memory.  But the author tackled that was grace. And overall I would give this collection 4.5 stars 

 

While each of these novella's are separate stories they are sewn together with a dress, faith and love.  And that makes three stories worth reading. 

 

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

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn Review

 Title:  The Rose Code

 Author:  Kate Quinn

Ch: 85 plus prologue and epilogue

Pg:  624

Genre:  Historical fiction

Rating: 4.5 stars

Publisher: William Morrow

 

The Rose Code is my first book by Kate Quinn and I have to say it won't be my last. What drew me to The Rose Code was the fact that it was historical fiction focusing on three fictional women who it turns out were based on real women who worked at Bletchley Park. Helping to break code during WWII. A part of history in fiction  I've been fascinated with sense I read The London Restoration and I want   more.  An though The Rose Code is fiction it’s easy to imagine what  the real life people who inspired the novel went through.  In the novel Olsa Kendall, Mab Churt and Beth Finch not only have to keep secret about what they do at Bletchley park  from their families and boyfriends. They also have to keep secret what they work on in their huts from the others who work at Bletchley Park. I

 

I loved how the novel slipped between the war years and what was going on at BP to the days leading up to the royal wedding, though princess Elizabeth wedding was mentioned it didn't take away from the story of Olsa, Mab and Beth it actually added to it. Though out the course of the novel the three women grew and change despite the past that shaped them. Mab from her simple upbringing, Beth from an overbearing parent and Osla's status as a debutante, each wants to do what they can for the war to prove not only to themselves but to those around them.    Women did pretty much everything it seems for the war effort and until recently what they did at BP was a national secret.  I hope readers discover The Rose Code and the amazing fictional women in its pages inspired by even more amazing real life women who helped Britain win the war.  

The Enigma Game by Elizabeth Wein review

 Title:  The Enigma Game

Author:  Elizabeth Wein

Series: Code Name Verity book 2

Genre:  Historical fiction, YA Historical Fiction

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for young readers

     The Enigma Game by Elizabeth Wein is the second book in the Code Name Verity series though it’s the newest in publication order. The events of this book take place before Code Name Verity but after The Pearl Thief. So if you’re like me and read the books as they came out you’ve read them Code Name Verity, Rose Under Fire, The Pearl Thief.  Which doesn’t take away from individual stories two much as they all are technically stand alones you’re just slightly spoiled for some events.  I don’t regret the way I read them as I fell in love with the history in each book.  So if you’re new to the new to the series and having read them yet start in order.

The Enigma Game while a standalone will make a little more sense if you read it after The Pearl Thief and your save yourself spoilers for the last two books. Though this book focuses on three teenagers Louisa, Jamie and Ellen they aren’t typical teenagers by modern day standards. They grew up quickly in the mist of WWII. But that adds to the story and keeps if from reading like a YA novel which makes it a good book for adults as well.

The Land Beneath Us review

Title:  The Land Beneath Us

Author: Sarah Sundin

Series: Sunrise at Normandy book 3

Chapters: 50 Plus Epilogue

Pages:371

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction with a hint of romance/ WWWII fiction

Rating: 5 Stars

Publisher: Revell

I’m not going to lie it was the tag of “When an Army Ranger and a librarian are bound together by a marriage of convenience, neither suspects it might lead to love.” I’m a sucker for marriage of convenience stories and heroines that are Librarians and I love a military hero.

The Land Beneath Us was my favorite book in the Sunrise at Normandy series. Since the first book, I couldn’t wait to read Clay's story and I loved Leah a petit young woman who dreams of being a librarian who was easy to relate to. I have to say that Clay and Leah are a good match and brings out the good in each other. Clay being in the “pit” ended up being a God thing and God used for good.

This series was the first WWII fiction that I’ve read as an adult and I enjoyed the whole series but The Land Beneath Us was my favorite. I loved how this series focused on the brother aspect and the Land air and sea forces who made D-day possible. A 2 great uncle while not a ranger was part of the Land invasion at Normandy and I loved that this book brought to light the scarifies those brave man-made that day.

I plan on picking up the rest of Sarah’s backlist of books as well as any future books she’s now my go-to author for WWII fiction. As the daughter of a Marine and the granddaughter of a sailor whose real-life heroes are our military it’s no wonder that those are my favorite fictional heroes.

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 

The Sea Above Us review

 

Title:  The Sky Above Us

Author: Sarah Sundin

Series: Sunrise at Normandy

Chapters: 50

Pages: 356

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction/ WWII

Rating: 4 Stars

Publisher:  Revell

The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin is the second book in the Sunrise at Normandy. This one focuses on the Sky with the army air corps with Lt. Alder Paxton he’s a flyboy. And Violet Lindstrom a Red Cross volunteer.

I have to say Adler messed up big time but God’s Grace is bigger than our mistakes all we have to do is repent and ask forgiveness and turn away. To me he is the most changed by the end of the novel. But Violet has to learn and change to.

Before reading this book I’m ashamed to admit I didn’t know anything about the army air Corp in Involvement in D-Day my high school world history and US history was lacking to say the least. So I’m glad I finally learned a bit about it with this book.

I am looking forward to finishing the series with The Land Beneath Us Clays story. And again I have to stress that these books need to be read in order otherwise you miss things and I love that in order to get the whole story you’ve got to read each brothers story in order.

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 My Dearest Dietrich

Title:  My Dearest Dietrich

Author: Amanda Barratt

 

Chapters: 37 plus epilogue

Pages: 356

Genre: Christian Historical fiction

Rating: 5 stars

My Dearest Dietrich is set in Germany during WWII so it is my no means a light hearted romance.  And one that doesn't have a happy ending. But I guess you can say that about a lot of books set during WWII. But this is an historical fiction novel about Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the woman who loved him Maria Von Wedemeyer. 

I knew who Dietrich was I've even read a few of his books.  But I didn't know anything about Maria till I read this one.  Now I want to read the book of their letters.  

Reading this book though sad at times reminded me that were indeed Germans that stood up to Hitler and the Nazis even when it cost them everything. 

Even though this is an emotional read have tissues handy. I would recommend that everyone read this.  It's truly worth it and I normally don't read fiction books about war. I tend to stick to non-fiction accounts. 

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.

WWII Personal Post

Since I was a kid I’ve enjoyed learning about WWII, but unlike most people my focus wasn’t really on the Western theater of the war. It was the Pacific theater that kept my attention.  As the daughter of a Marine  and granddaughter of a Sailor growing up hearing the history of the US Navy and the Marine Corp it lead me to study the parts of WWII that the Navy and the Marines played the biggest role in.

Everyone pictures Iwo Jima as the picture of the flag raising but not everyone understands that the battle the Marines faced to get to that point was horrific.

I think the one thing that really got me into Pacific WWII history was visiting the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial park in Mobile Alabama. The battleship is set up like it would have been during WWII and you can tour the majority of the ship. The sailors worked daily on the ship while the Marines were pretty much squeezed in like Sardines as the were transported from their bases to the Islands of the South Pacific.

About the Book

December 31, 1941. Young Houston socialite Tracy Truworth, Apprentice P.I., can’t imagine a better way to send off the old year and ring in the new than by dancing through the night with her fella, Pete Stalwart. But a swell evening soon takes a terrible turn when a fellow dancer with moves like Fred Astaire ends up dead on the dance floor. And before the hands on the clock can point to midnight, a finger is pointed at Pete, accusing him of murdering the young man.

Then after Pete is hauled away in handcuffs, the night goes from bad to worse . . . and Tracy’s sweet grandmother is accused of stealing an ancient artifact from the museum. Now Tracy must team up with her boss and mentor, Sammy Falcone, in order to find the stolen statuette, unmask the real murderer, and restore the reputations of those she loves the most.

Yet as America becomes embroiled in another world war, the risks and sacrifices intensify—even on the homefront. And Tracy soon finds her own home invaded by a near parade of questionable characters, while unsavory suspects lurk in the shadows, and a ruthless reporter makes her life miserable. With time ticking against her, Tracy must be willing to swing past the setbacks and hop through the hazards if she hopes to solve a mystery that involves a lot of dancing . . . and a lot more danger.

Paperback edition | Kindle edition | Goodreads page

Author Bio

CINDY VINCENT, M.A. Ed., was born in Calgary, Alberta, and has lived all around the US and Canada. She is the creator of the Mysteries by Vincent murder mystery party games and the Daisy Diamond Detective Series games for girls. She is also the award-winning author of the Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Caper novels and the Daisy Diamond Detective series. She lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and an assortment of fantastic felines.

Website | Amazon | Goodreads

Giveaway!

Time to get “in the mood” with a fun 1940s-themed giveaway! Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter for a chance to win a pewter ornament from The National WWII Museum, a Glenn Miller CD, and paperback copies of the first two books in the Tracy Truworth series: Bad Day for a Bombshell and Swell Time for a Swing Dance. Due to shipping costs and varying international laws, this giveaway is open to US residents (age 18 or older) only. Good luck!

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Review of Prisoner of Night and Fog

Title: Prisoner of Night and Fog

Author: Anne Blankman

Series: there will be a sequel

Chapters: 44

Pages: 401

Genre: Teen Historical fiction

Rating: 4.5 stars

     Prisoner of Night and fog is teen historical fiction novel set before the second world in Germany. Gretchen Muller is basically the adoptive niece of Hitler. Gretchen basically only has two friends Hitler’s actual niece and Eva Braun.  Till she meets Daniel Cohen a Jewish reporter who tells her that there is more to her father’s death than what she was lead to believe.

     I have always loved teen historical fiction or historical fiction in general.  But I especially love WWII fiction, especially those with love stories.  I guess it is because I got to hear a real life WWII love story growing up, and every sense then I’ve been hooked. Prisoner of night and Fog was more than just a love story. It used fiction to bring to life a very tragic time in the world’s history.  In way that was right for teen readers as well as being truthful.

     There are some scenes in the novel that are not for readers younger than the teen years, but adults can read this book and enjoy it.  I know I did.