The Edelweiss Sisters (Hewitt)-BoT-Historical Fiction-Available Now

I’ve made no secret of my love for historical fiction, and I’m always excited to find a new author. However, there are a few who I am predisposed to love, and Kate Hewitt is one of them.

Don’t believe me? Look at this review for Into the Darkest Day.

Her characters are always fully formed, and their actions are natural and organic. I feel like I have been set down in the middle of their lives, rather than watching from afar (if that makes sense). This story continues that tradition.

After a brief prologue set in 1945, the rest of the story is set in Austria, late 1930s, and told in alternating points of view of three sisters, Johanna, Birgit, and Lotte. In the face of political and national events, each of the sisters chooses a different path.

I liked how the author made each sister unique, with her own set of worries and concerns. The chapters follow pretty much the same order of the sisters, but the time periods do jump forward by a few months most of the time.

If you know anything about history, you can see the storm brewing from the beginning. What makes this book much more interesting is that the reader knows what is coming, but the characters don’t.

The author does a great job of keeping them within the confines of their personal knowledge at the time. This lends authenticity to the story while also giving the reader insight into how everything was able to go so wrong so quickly.

I’m not going to go into details about the sisters or the family, because that makes up the brunt of the story, and I would hate to ruin anyone’s experience.

However, I will tell you a few things that I noticed about this novel.

I’m a huge fan of musicals. I grew up with the classics, and I have many a cast album memorized. Two of my favorites are “Fiddler on the Roof” and “The Sound of Music.”

I couldn’t help but think of the latter one, due to the setting and time period. I even predicted a moment in the early pages. So, kudos to the author for that dose of realism. What I enjoyed however is that the author kept that realism throughout.

No spoilers. Let’s just say that if you’re familiar with “The Sound of Music,” you’ll recognize quite a bit. Some of it is mentioned clearly, but other parts are more subtle.

(Side note: when I was around 11, my parents and I visited Germany and Austria. We took a “Sound of Music” tour that highlighted real and fictional places related to the Von Trapp story. Those came to mind as I read this book).

Also, I was reminded of “Fiddler on the Roof,” in that each of the daughters blazes her own path while their parents don’t always agree with their choices. It certainly was reminiscent of the three oldest daughters in Fiddler, and how each of them grows up with a different perspective and desire.

I would have liked this book anyway because it is well-written with memorable characters and a thoroughly researched and meticulously outlined story. But continuously finding bits that I could relate to the musicals gave me an added bonus. This is an excellent book and shouldn’t be missed.

Twitter: author_kate
Facebook: KateHewittAuthor

Author Bio:
Kate Hewitt is the author of many romance and women’s fiction novels. A former New Yorker and now an American ex-pat, she lives in a small town on the Welsh border with her husband, five children, and their overly affectionate Golden Retriever. Whatever the genre, she enjoys telling stories that tackle real issues and touch people’s lives.

The Warsaw Orphan (Rimmer)-Blog Tour-Historical Fiction-Available Now

As I have mentioned in prior reviews, this genre is not always for the faint of heart. Most of the novels I have read focus on WWII in some aspect. That’s obviously because it is a gold mine of stories, experiences, and there is no end to the characters that can be fashioned from real life people.

Of those novels, many are also set in the concentration camps, or capture the Nazi regime in some other fashion. Although the brutality and depravity of the party is well-known, it is still often difficult to fathom the depths of hatred and callousness exhibited by human beings.

That is what makes books like this hard to read at times. It’s not because the story or writing is bad, but more that the relentless reminder of the horrors perpetrated on innocent people is often stomach churning.

That is what I found to be the case with this book.

Buy Links can be found beneath Author Info

Set in the Polish ghettos, the story largely belongs to Emilia and Roman, two people on either side of the walls erected by the Nazis, but with the common goal of saving children from being shipped to the “work camps” (yes, we know what those really are).

There are a lot of people to keep track of in the story, which made for slow reading at times. I don’t know if I wasn’t concentrating enough, but I found myself forgetting who people were and needing to go back in the story to clarify.

The author obviously felt a passion for the subject matter, because it was incredibly detailed and seemingly impeccably researched. I think it was that level of detail that gave it the authenticity that made it difficult at times (if that makes sense).

Another thing that many of these books often have in common, though, are the dual messages of hope in the face of terror and how the bravery of an ordinary person can make an enormous impact on people.

Both of those are on full display in this story.

I know I have been general in this review, but it would be impossible to recount the plot points and good and bad details of everything. I will just repeat that it is very-well written, with lots of gut-wrenching detail, and more than a glimpse at the extraordinary people who fought a tide of hatred.

Not light beach reading, to be sure. But it shouldn’t be missed.  

Facebook: @Kellymrimmer
Twitter: @KelRimmerWrites
Instagram: @kelrimmerwrites

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kelly Rimmer is the worldwide, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Before I Let You Go, The Things We Cannot Say, and Truths I Never Told You. She lives in rural Australia with her husband, two children and fantastically naughty dogs, Sully and Basil. Her novels have been translated into more than twenty languages. Please visit her at https://www.kellyrimmer.com/

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The Secretary (Hokin)-BoT-Historical Fiction-Available Now

This was a unique book in that it was almost a double historical novel.

Most historical fiction has a contemporary storyline and the historical one and they dovetail or feed into each other.

This one not only has a staggering WWII plot (more on that in a minute) but it also has a “contemporary” line that takes place in the 70s and 80s, so that’s more historical as well.

It’s all cleverly woven together, and the author makes some stunning connections that I have never seen before.

Let’s unpack some of that. As always, I will try my hardest to not give away major points, as it is important to discover on one’s own. I truly believe that to be the case for this novel.

The WWII story follows Magda as she is the secretary for a business owner in late 1930s Germany. It doesn’t take a historian to know what happens in that time, nor is it difficult to figure out Magda’s trajectory as the company becomes vital to the German “war effort.”

What made this time period stand out was the focus of the narrative. Many novels have been set in and around the concentration camps and the Jewish “experience” of the times.

But I don’t recollect ever reading one that details the progression and lead-up to one of the worst times for humanity every recorded.

No, that’s not hyperbole. The author is stark in both the descriptions of what happened and the German attitude towards it all. Truly eye-opening.

The more modern line takes place in East Berlin/Eastern Germany in the late 1970s and 1980s. Magda is now a grandmother (not a spoiler) and her granddaughter, Nina, is learning what life is like under the oppressive thumb of the Stasi.

She knows her grandmother is important, because the Stasi keep tabs and there are veiled references. But the author cleverly keeps Nina in the dark for a long time. The reader is only partially in on the connections, and as the timelines collide, many truths are revealed.

As I have mentioned in the past, I’m a history lover and studied WWII extensively. I’ve never made the connection of the similarities between the Nazis and the Stasi. It was amazing to read and see how Germany (especially Berlin) ended up quite literally out of the frying pan and into the fire.

It was also interesting to see how Magda and Nina paralleled each other, even as Magda tried to keep secrets (as did Nina) and Nina didn’t fully understand Magda’s reasons.

I know it all sounds a bit convoluted, but it’s crystal clear in the book. It’s a masterful look at two very dark times.

It also serves as a clarion call to those who are paying attention to current events.

We can’t let it happen again.  

Facebook: cathokin
Twitter: @cathokin

Author Bio:

Catherine Hokin is the author of two World War Two inspired novels set in Berlin, her favourite city. Following a History degree at Manchester University she worked in teaching, marketing and politics, while waiting for a chance to do what she really wanted which was to write full time. Her short stories have been published by iScot, Writers Forum and Myslexia magazines and she was the winner of the 2019 Fiction 500 Short Story Competition. She is a lover of strong female leads and a quest.

Catherine now lives in Glasgow with her American husband. She has two grown-up children – one of whom lives, very conveniently, in Berlin – and a life long addiction to very loud music.

The Woman with the Blue Star (Jenoff)-Blog Tour-Historical Fiction-Available Now

I’ve made no secret about how much I love learning new things from historical fiction novels. This one certainly fits the bill.

The blurb gives part of the background, so it’s no secret to say that Jewish families hiding the sewers of Krakow, Poland during WWII is a truly unique setting.

It actually felt like “it should have been obvious” – the sewers of Paris were hiding places for several different revolts and revolutions, so people escaping an oppressive regime would naturally head there.

I found the character mix to be interesting as well. Sadie and her family were very different from the other Jewish family who hid with them and they had a lot to learn from each other.

Ella’s life on “the outside” should have been lovely (by comparison) but she had her own troubles dealing with her evil stepmother…who also happened to entertain Nazis.

I suppose each of the girls had their own troubles – although Sadie’s could have meant the end of her life.

The story skims along, switching periodically between Ella and Sadie. There isn’t much to say about it really, except that the author does a good job of illustrating their similarities and differences, which explain why the two girls strike up an unusual friendship.

Buy Links can be found underneath author information

Honestly, there’s depth in terms of the weight of the responsibility of the families, and the sheer terror that led them to a horrible place. But there’s not a lot of thinking to do to reach the conclusion that when faced with the unimaginable, people will do what they can to survive.

I will say that an expected twist was not surprising to me – I guessed it early on. I also thought that the wrap up of characters seemed rushed. There were people who played pivotal rules, but once their parts were finished, they weren’t mentioned again until a quick recap at the end.

I would have liked a little bit more depth to that, only because they had been so important earlier.

But no matter – it was an informative and engaging read and I would recommend it.

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Twitter: PamJenoff 
Instagram: pamjenoff/ 

About the Author:

Pam Jenoff is the author of several books of historical fiction, including the NYT bestseller The Orphan’s Tale. She holds a degree in international affairs from George Washington University and a degree in history from Cambridge, and she received her JD from UPenn. Her novels are inspired by her experiences working at the Pentagon and as a diplomat for the State Department handling Holocaust issues in Poland. She lives with her husband and 3 children near Philadelphia, where she teaches law.

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The Berlin Zookeeper (Stuart)-Books On Tour-Historical Fiction-Available Now

I learned something interesting about myself while reading this book.

I found that I am much more disturbed by animals being harmed than people. Not quite sure what that says about me.

I would like to think it is because animals put their trust in humans to take care of them and are often put in positions where this is the only path to survival. This is especially true of animals in a zoo.

That responsibility multiplies infinitely when the zoo is in the middle of a war zone.

I found the subject matter and the setting of this book to be fascinating. The author either had some personal connection or did extensive research because everything zoo-related seemed authentic and plausible.

As with other historical fiction novels, there are dual storylines: one historical, one contemporary. I thought this worked in the book because there was not only a connection between the two, but some of the characters spanned both.

I’m not going to give away who, but the revelations were well-done and caught me by surprise.

It was difficult to get through the first few chapters, largely due to the aforementioned feeling about animals being harmed. Those were tough passages, and I wanted to cry right along with the characters.

However, I’m glad I pushed through because I was completely taken by the story of the “Zoofamilie.” Those chapters were especially informative and page-turning.

There are a lot of novels that are set during the Blitz in London, but this is one of the first in my memory where the action takes place in Berlin during the retaliation strikes. It was interesting to read from the German point of view.

Kudos also to the author for addressing how Russia was viewed toward the end of the war and for being brutal in the accurate descriptions of the mentality.

The only thing that felt a little flat for me was Bethan’s relationship with Callum. I get why it was in place, but it was pretty obvious which way it was going to go. I almost wish it wasn’t there at all.

I do think that Bethan’s “mystery” had a great build up, but it almost seemed anti-climactic when it was resolved. After the entire novel, the mystery was solved within a couple of pages. That was a little bit of a let-down.

But those are minor complaints, because everything worked out in the end. I would highly recommend this novel for the unique point of view and setting and for the reminder that humanity can be judged by how we treat others – including animals.

Facebook: @annastuartauthor
Twitter: @annastuartbooks

Author Bio:
Anna Stuart lives in Derbyshire with her campervan-mad husband, two hungry teenagers and a slightly loopy dog. She was hooked on books from the moment she first opened one in her cot so is thrilled to now have several of her own to her name. Having studied English literature at Cambridge university, she took an enjoyable temporary trip into the ‘real world’ as a factory planner, before returning to her first love and becoming an author. History has also always fascinated her. Living in an old house with a stone fireplace, she often wonders who sat around it before her and is intrigued by how actively the past is woven into the present, something she likes to explore in her novels. Anna loves the way that writing lets her ‘try on’ so many different lives, but her favourite part of the job is undoubtedly hearing from readers.

Beyond This Broken Sky-Books On Tour (Review)-Historical Fiction-Available Now

The author had me at séance.

Seriously, I knew that I was going to love this book from the very opening pages, due to a simple opening chapter. It intrigued me and I had to know more about Ruby. I mean, not every day that you read about a séance at the on-start of the Blitz, right?

As I read further, I found her to be a more complex character than I originally thought. She held on to her life (the way she knew it) even in the face of the Blitz and tried to do what was right. I think she showed the most growth over the course of the story.

It didn’t help that Joseph, her tenant, was a self-righteous ass about her for a good portion of the opening chapters. Sorry to be blunt, but it’s true. I wasn’t sure what to make of him because it seemed like he thought he was better and could be judgmental because of his status and view of the war.

But we also learn early that there is a reason he feels that way, and it’s personal. I thought this made his motivations more interesting and made him a more sympathetic character.

And then there was Kitty. In some ways I thought she was the most interesting character because her physical description seemed to be a reflection of her living situation prior to the war. I’m not saying more than that.

As with other historical fiction books, there is a contemporary storyline as well. Sometimes the two lines have little connection to each other and only serve to get us to the past.

That’s not the case here. I thought the author used an extremely clever method to tie the two timelines together. In fact, it was so subtle that I didn’t even realize how it was being done at first.

In this case, the two timelines are linked even more so than in most books. There’s even some mystery involved. And that is what ultimately made this book a terrific read.

I know that sounds convoluted, but you’ll understand if you read it – and I don’t want to blow the joy you’ll have in figuring it out.

Twitter: @SiobhanCurham
Instagram: siobhancurham

Author Bio:
Siobhan Curham is an award-winning author, ghost writer, editor and writing coach. She has also written for many newspapers, magazines and websites, including The Guardian, Breathe magazine, Cosmopolitan, Writers’ Forum, DatingAdvice.com, and Spirit & Destiny. Siobhan has been a guest on various radio and TV shows, including Woman’s Hour, BBC News, GMTV and BBC Breakfast. And she has spoken at businesses, schools, universities and literary festivals around the world, including the BBC, Hay Festival, Cheltenham Festival, Bath Festival, Ilkley Festival, London Book Fair and Sharjah Reading Festival.

The Last Bookshop in London-Blog Tour (Review)-Historical Fiction-Coming April 6

Done right, historical fiction not only evokes the time period in question, but also makes the reader truly feel the emotions of the events in the book.

This book is highly successful at that.

Descriptive and elegant, yet also haunting and brutal at times, I felt everything Grace was feeling as she found her way in London.

Right from the beginning, with the date stamp of August 1939 London, the reader knows what the background of the story is going to be, even as Grace and her friend Viv don’t. This added a sense of foreboding as the girls’ excitement at finally being in the city was quite apparent.

I liked the opening chapters because they set the scene for what was to come while also giving the reader a good look at just how “normal” everything was.

Until it wasn’t.

It also gave me time to get to know pivotal characters before the Blitz began (no spoiler there – if you’re reading historical fiction, you should know the time period and the history). This was a very good thing, because once the bombs started dropping, there were new things to focus on.

Buy Links can be found beneath the Author Bio

I thought Grace was a strong character and I loved her development over the course of the entire book. Even her name was an excellent choice because she was often the personification of it, even in the worst of times.

I really enjoyed her journey into reading. It was smart of the author for Grace to have that epiphany because it made her actions later in the book that much more poignant and impactful.

While I loved the scenes involving the bookstore, I do have to mention the details of the Blitz. I have read several books that contain scenes from the Blitz, but I don’t remember a time that it was described so thoroughly.

I felt like I could smell the smoke, see the fires, and feel the concussions of the bombs right along with Grace. It was harrowing and emotional. I honestly needed a break after a couple of the scenes and could totally identify with Grace’s exhaustion.

As the author writes, it’s a true testament to Londoners that they survived that onslaught.

But not only did they survive it, they pulled together. Even writing this part of the review right now, I’m tearing up thinking of the last few chapters.

It was that well-done. I’m not doing it justice. But it was just so good. All of it.

This book had a great story, a lead character to root for, charming supporting characters, and accurate depictions of war, both the good and bad sides of it. All of this together made for an excellent read that I highly recommend.

And make sure to have the tissues nearby.


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Twitter: @madelinemmartin
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About the Author:

Madeline Martin is a USA TODAY bestselling author of historical romance novels filled with twists and turns, adventure, steamy romance, empowered heroines and the men who are strong enough to love them. Her website is http://www.madelinemartin.com/ 

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The Lost Girls of Foxfield Hall-Books On Tour (Review)-Historical Fiction/Mystery-Available Now

This book was nothing that I was going to be but everything a good, engaging book should be. I was drawn in and held captive to the very last pages.

I’ve mentioned before how historical fiction seems to often fit into slim categories. For various reasons, this one breaks a new plane for me. I loved being caught by surprise.

If ever there was a time to NOT give away plot points, this is it. So, I’m going to try to be as cagey as the blurb and keep the important points and spoilers out of this.

I liked how the story was told in alternate timelines. It was never jarring because Megan (in the present) was working on an estate where Ellie (in the past) lived. The transitions between the two were often smooth.

I enjoyed the mystery this book centered around. Old estates are a treasure trove of possibilities, and this author uses the setting to great advantage in both timelines.

What really made this book special, however, was the attention to mysticism and folklore. It was informative, intriguing, and unique. That’s a great combination.

Side note: When I was younger, my parents and I went on trips to Ireland, Scotland, and England.  I was fascinated with the folklore and still have several books of Irish faery tales and Scottish myths.

This is what absolutely made the book for me. The references were plentiful and detailed enough that I could go investigate for myself (and I just might). There were sections that were absolutely breathtaking as Megan tried to figure out what happened historically and what was occurring in the present.

I know this is a vague review, but it really is a case of “you need to read it and be surprised on your time” type of thing. That was definitely part of the allure for me at least.

If you are a fan of the mystical and like historical fiction this is definitely one for you.

Author Bio:

Jessica Thorne watched far too much sci-fi and read far too much fantasy at an impressionable age. And it was awesome. She writes fantasy and sci-fi romance with a steampunk edge and just refuses to face reality.

Not Without My Sister-Books On Tour (Review)-Historical Fiction-Available Now

My love for Historical Fiction is pretty clear, and this book can be added to the ones that make a real impact.

What makes this story stand out from other ones that focus on concentration camp life is that it’s largely told via the points of view of two children.

Rachel is 17 when her family farm is taken. and she is forced to run with her two brothers and younger sister Mindel who had just turned four. When they are separated, both girls try to find their way back to each other.  

While Rachel’s harrowing experiences are similar to those in other stories, I believe this is the first time I have ever read about camp life from a young child’s point of view.

The chapters involving Mindel were both informative and disturbing. It is sickening to think that children that young were targeted with beatings and horrific treatment, and it certainly brings the animalistic nature of the Nazis into harsh light.

But I was also interested in their methods of coping. Mindel’s “gang” played versions of cops and robbers (but instead were Nazis and Jews) and took bets on which prisoner was going to die next.

While it certainly is morbid and dark thinking (especially for a four-year-old!), it is indicative of the spirit that must have been necessary to get through the days however possible. I also found the bond between Laszlo and Mindel to be quite touching.

I also appreciated that the author included real people in the camps that Rachel is in. I don’t want to say more than that, but it lent an air of authenticity and reality to the story. In other words, Rachel’s story wasn’t in a vacuum, but could have belonged to anyone in any camp.

The scenes involving the Orphan Camp and Mother Brinkmann were also unique. They were a good reminder of the goodness of some people, and it was a nice break (albeit often short) to read the descriptions of children acting like children (like the scene with the shoes).

Even if you’ve read several historical fiction books centered on the camps and experiences of people at them (like I have) I would definitely recommend this one for its unique perspectives and message of unwavering hope.

Facebook: AutorinKummerow
Twitter: @MarionKummerow

Author Bio:

Marion Kummerow was born and raised in Germany, before she set out to “discover the world” and lived in various countries. In 1999 she returned to Germany and settled down in Munich where she’s now living with her family.

Inspired by the true story about her grandparents, who belonged to the German resistance and fought against the Nazi regime, she started writing historical fiction, set during World War II. Her books are filled with raw emotions, fierce loyalty and resilience. She loves to put her characters through the mangle, making them reach deep within to find the strength to face moral dilemma, take difficult decisions or fight for what is right. And she never forgets to include humor and undying love in her books, because ultimately love is what makes the world go round.

The Girl Who Escaped from Auschwitz-Books on Tour (Review)-Historical Fiction-Available Now

I appreciate when an author has the bravery to tell it like it is and not sanitize events or people for the sake of “propriety” or correctness.

This is one of the most brutally honest historical fiction books I have read in recent memory.

(That’s not to say that others were not factual, because that’s not the case – I’ve read some great ones lately).

But this book is filled with detailed descriptions of the ins and outs of a concentration camp – arguably one of the worst of the worst.

From the attitudes of the Nazis who run the camp to the prisoners who have their own “caste” system within the camp, everything rang horribly realistic.

That constant litany of inhumane treatment and attitudes made Mala and Edek’s story even more compelling.

That being said, there were still glimmers of hope in addition to Mala, Edek, and their compatriots. I don’t want to name names because that could ruin other readers’ perspectives on the characters.

But it served as a reminder that it does nobody any good to paint entire groups of people with a wide brush. Human beings do remain (for the most part) individuals with their personal ideals sometimes hindered in the desire to stay alive.

If that sounds convoluted, it’s only because I was touched by a couple of surprise perspectives within the story.

There were some parts where the dialogue didn’t ring true. Other times the inhabitants of the camp seemed to be very chatty with each other and the guards. Now, I suppose this could have been true in some cases, but it seemed overdone in others.

I appreciated how characters from the author’s other book (The Violinist of Auschwitz) made appearances here – this added to the realism of the story that these people would have crossed paths.

However, be forewarned – the fate of the main character of that book is revealed in this one, so if you have an inclination, be sure to read The Violinist… first.

Most importantly, I think, the author managed to capture how fellow prisoners treated each other, which is not often addressed. The lengths of obfuscation of the Nazis with their propaganda (ie the family camp) were also eye-opening.

This was another solid entry in the WWII historical fiction genre.  

Author Bio:

Ellie Midwood is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning historical fiction author. She owes her interest in the history of the Second World War to her grandfather, Junior Sergeant in the 2nd Guards Tank Army of the First Belorussian Front, who began telling her about his experiences on the frontline when she was a young girl. Growing up, her interest in history only deepened and transformed from reading about the war to writing about it. After obtaining her BA in Linguistics, Ellie decided to make writing her full-time career and began working on her first full-length historical novel, The Girl from Berlin.’ Ellie is continuously enriching her library with new research material and feeds her passion for WWII and Holocaust history by collecting rare memorabilia and documents.

In her free time, Ellie is a health-obsessed yoga enthusiast, neat freak, adventurer, Nazi Germany history expert, polyglot, philosopher, a proud Jew, and a doggie mama. Ellie lives in New York with her fiancé and their Chihuahua named Shark Bait.

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