What I Promise You

 

Liz Tolsma is one of my favorite World War II era novelists.  She writes with a depth of understanding that makes it clear to her readers where she is going in the plot lines of her book. In What I Promise You, she writes a triple time-line book that bounces from World War II, post war, and modern times.  

The first timeline starts when Noemi and her husband, Levi, are arrested in southern France and taken to an internment camp. While there Noemi is spirited away to a maternity hospital with two children whose parents have been transferred to another camp. 

At the maternity hospital, Noemi is charged with making new papers for all the mothers and children, including herself. When they get the word that the Germans are coming to clear out the hospital, Noemi and Aime, the owner of the land where the hospital sits, load up the women and children and move them to safe places.  Noemi and Aime are given the charge of taking an infant to safety and caring for him. 

The second timeline takes place in modern times and includes Caitlyn trying to find out what her grandfather's history is.  She knows he was born in the maternity hospital, but not much else.  His memory is slipping and he doesn't remember as much as Caitlyn would like. While studying abroad in Spain, she goes to France several times to research her great-grandmother and her role in the maternity hospital.  Another student who is studying abroad at the same location, Aiden, becomes intrigued by Caitlyn's search. 

The third timeline takes place thirteen years later and includes a mystery character who is truly integral to the narrative. At times clues are dropped as to who this character is, but then something else happens that changes the reader's mind about who the character truly is.  When all is revealed, it is surprising to see this character reenter the story after she was reported to be dead--executed in one of the death camps. 

The way Liz has woven this novel together really makes it an interesting read for fans of World War II fiction.  There is just enough truth in the novel to be historically accurate and to be instructive for the reader.  This is a five star book with two thumbs up and an illuminating trip to France.

Barbour Publishing provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

The Hazelbourne Ladiess Motorcycle and Flying Club

I was invited to read and review this book, and I accepted the invitation on the premise that the book would be funny and engaging to read. I've not read a book by Helen Simonson before and thought this would be a great introduction to her writings.  

The novel takes place post World War I and Spanish Flu pandemic.  Constance is occupied with being an old family friend's companion, but soon the friend won't need her and she will need to find a job that pays her.  Her friend, Poppy, wants to start a motorcycle-taxi business with all female drivers and mechanics. And Poppy wants to learn to fly.  Poppy's brother is a veteran of the war and was a flyer in the war, but he lost his leg on one of his missions. This is a story about Poppy taking Constance under her wing and helping her find her way in an ever-changing world.  

I have to say this wasn't my favorite book that I've read this year.  I felt the plot was rather stilted and forced, and I had a hard time wading through the book.  I'd have to say this is a three-star book.  

Random House Publishing Group provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

 

When the Waters Came

 This is not my first foray into reading books by Candice Sue Patterson, but I was particularly disappointed by this offering.  

The plot doesn't really move until significantly deep into the book, instead it reads more like a factual retelling of the events.  I truly had to fight my way through the book and not give up on it.  Once I got past the retelling of events, and the plot lightened up a bit, I somewhat enjoyed it.  

The book details one of the most heart-breaking disasters in United States history--the Johnstown Flood.  The greed, the power, and the personal desires of those who were in control of the upkeep of the dam on the Conemaugh River was outrageous, at the least, and criminal, at most.  One of the gratifying parts of the book was Clara Barton's contribution to help in the aftermath of the flood. 

When the reader finally gets to it, the heart of the plot is the story of Monty and Annamae, but it is quite a slog to get to that part of the novel.  

There are many characters based on real people within the pages of this novel and that brings a bit of charm to the plot.  I once read a book by Catherine Marshall called, Julie, which is about the same events.  I was hoping for this book to be of the same caliber.  It just fell short to me. 

Still, others will like it and I hope my opinion doesn't stop them from reading it.  There is a lot of actual history in this book which is fascinating to read. Still, I give it three stars. 

Barbour Publishing provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed were solely my own. 

Embers in the London Sky

I have read almost everything that Sarah Sundin has written.  Her newest book is a bit different from her other offerings, but still every bit as intriguing.  

Aleida is planning her escape with her son, Theo, from her abusive husband Sebastiaan.  When Sebastiaan comes home early and tells Aleida to pack, they are leaving the Netherlands, Aleida feels she has lost her opportunity to escape him. On the trip to the coast where they will be picked up by boat and transported to Great Britain, Sebastiaan steals Theo from Aleida and gives him to a couple to take on ahead to London without finding out who they were or where they lived.  While Aleida is trying to find out where Theo was, a German air attack passes over where they were and their strafing bullets hit Sebastiaan and kill him.  

Now Aleida has to make her way to London on her own, but when she checks the back of the car, she finds a suitcase full of gold which will provide her a way to get to London.  Once in London, she begins searching for her son.  As she works for the Ministry of Health, she begins compiling lists of children who have been evacuated from London to the countryside, in hopes that she will find her beloved Theo. Her supervisor is not enamored with her desire to compile the lists of children who have been evacuated and the people who are billeting the children. 

In addition to working for the Ministry of Health, she is also an air raid warden for her neighborhood, making sure blackout conditions are kept and everyone gets to shelters in a timely fashion during air raids. It is in carrying out these duties that she meets Hugh Collingswood.  He supports her search for Theo and even helps her out in her quest, at the same time on a quest of his own to find out who murdered his uncle. 

There is mystery and intrigue worked into this novel, and it's got murder and mayhem as well.  There are characters the reader will love and empathize with, and there are characters the reader will love to hate because of their actions and attitudes. Sarah hones and improves her craft with every book she writes.  This book is no exception to that assumption. It is hard to put down and easy to lose sleep over. 

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and an Oli the Elephant stuffed toy. 

Revell Publishing provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

 

The Irish Matchmaker

The title of this book reminds me of a song I've heard many times--Matchmaker, Matchmaker make me a match, find me a catch, . . .  (Fiddler on the Roof--a movie I've heard a lot about, but never seen.  Oops, My bad.)  

Catriona is the matchmaker in this book taking place during the festival of the town where they live.  Donal is a widowed father whose nine-year-old daughter wants a new mother.  Donal is a farmer barely making ends meet without enough money to do repairs on his equipment or buildings.  

The Osbornes are looking for a match for their son, Andrew, and Andrew is looking for a quick buck, as well as finding a wife to produce his heir.  He lives a profligate lifestyle and doesn't plan to change that once he is married. When Andrew and his father make an offer to Donal for his next six calves, they also offer to lend him money to repair his barns and equipment, but the loans are due in just a few short months.  It seems like the plan is to cheat Donal out of his farm.  

Catriona wants to match herself with Andrew, but she has to go through the available ladies first.  Donal is also one of Catriona's clients to be matched.  Dividing her time between the two men is giving her a taste of what she really wants out of life. 

Jennifer Deibel has written a great story with twists and turns that keep the reader involved in the plot.  The setting on the coast of Ireland is somewhat magical but at the same time rather brutal with the weather that comes in from the ocean. The characters are believable and relatable, which makes the reading all the more enjoyable. 

Four Strong Stars

Revell Publishing provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

 

The Legacy of the Rocking K Ranch

This anthology contains novellas by some familiar authors and some that are not so familiar to me.  The theme of the book is the legacy left by four generations of strong women who carve out their own niches in this world in spite of societal norms.  

Mary Connealy usually writes humorous Western type novels, but her offering here is a bit more serious, and I must say I enjoyed it more than I have her other novels I've read.  Her writing sets the stage for the rest of the book.  

All four generations of women in this anthology are strong and hard-working women who overcome massive hardships of one kind or another.  The men are supportive, intelligent, loving, and hard-working too.  It made reading this collection so worthwhile.  It is hard to put down, even between episodes. Readers will want to jump right into the next story without taking a break between them for things like eating dinner or sweeping the floors.   Four Strong Stars. 

Barbour Publishing provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

 

Love Unscripted

 

This book was a fairly easy read that held my attention all the way through.  Set in coastal North Carolina, it had all the bea<chy vibes with the added bonus of a bookstore nearby.  Book stores always hook me and reel me in. 

Chloe Anderson has written a best-seller that is being adapted into a movie.  The actor playing Ledger, the hero of the book is Liam Hamilton, a Hollywood hunk with a pretty bad reputation.  Chloe doesn't realize she's on speaker phone when she is informed that Liam will play the lead and she does not react well to the news.  From there, life gets interesting, to say the least. 

Denise Hunter has written a pretty standard novel using the romance novel formula--and when it comes down to <boy loses girl>, it is done in a most spectacular fashion where all kinds of secrets are revealed. Betrayal is rife, even though it was a rather bit player in the book who does the betraying. 

There is a very cute side story going on at the same time where Chloe's brother and her best friend, Meghan, become enamored of each other. And it is Meghan who finds out who truly betrayed Chloe. 

The one thing I have against this book is that it is labeled as a Christian book but Christ is not mentioned anywhere in the book.  There is no mention of faith or active Christian lifestyles. It IS a clean romance, where passionate kissing is the steamiest part of the book.  

Four Stars. 

Thomas Nelson Fiction provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

The British Booksellers

I've read several of Kristy Cambron's books and found in them something worth reading.  The ones I have read have a depth to them that is missing in most of what I read for enjoyment.  Sometimes I just choose fluff over substance. While this book has more substance, it does not quite reach the depths of her other books.  There are a few lighter moments in this one than in some of her other books.  That's not a bad thing, it just is the way it is.  

The book begins with the three main players:  Will, Charlotte, and Amos.  There is a parallel plot that is included in the narrative of the book as it plays out for the reader.  The parallel is World War I and World War II.  For the World War II line, one character is missing, while another two major players and several minor players have entered the scene.  The major ones being Jacob and Eden entering in and Will is missing in this plot line.  

Amos has been in love with Charlotte forever, but he gave her up the first time for Will because Will is titled and carries more power than Amos does.  When both Will and Amos enlist during World War I, Will becomes Amos's commanding officer. They are able to put their animosity behind them to fight a common enemy. 

As the plot moves through both World Wars, more of Amos's and Charlotte's history is revealed, including the love they had and still have for each other, in spite of them having bookstores across from each other. When the blitz hits Charlotte's store, Charlotte and Amos have to make some pretty hard decisions for their futures.  

On a side plot, Eden, Charlotte's daughter, is the subject of a lawsuit in the United States.  She has been willed half of an estate that could mean a whole lot to her own estate.  Jacob Cole comes from Detroit to serve her with the lawsuit papers. Jacob stays on instead of going straight back home.  The longer Jacob stays, the more attached he becomes to Eden.  

The writing in this book is tight enough to keep the reader engaged and looking forward to what will happen next.  The plots are easy to follow and still keep up.  The setting is one of my favorite kinds of settings--book stores!  The characters are well-developed, and easily likable in spite of them holding on to secrets.  I give this book four strong stars.  

Thomas Nelson Fiction provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own.