Skylark by Paula McLain

Bestselling author of The Paris Wife weaves a mesmerizing tale of Paris above and below—where a woman’s quest for artistic freedom in 1664 intertwines with a doctor’s dangerous mission during the German occupation in the 1940s, revealing a story of courage and resistance that transcends time. 

1664: Alouette Voland is the daughter of a master dyer at the famed Gobelin Tapestry Works, who secretly dreams of escaping her circumstances and creating her own masterpiece. When her father is unjustly imprisoned, Alouette's efforts to save him lead to her own confinement in the notorious Salpêtrière asylum, where thousands of women are held captive and cruelly treated. But within its grim walls, she discovers a small group of brave allies, and the possibility of a life bigger than she ever imagined. 

1939: Kristof Larson is a medical student beginning his psychiatric residency in Paris, whose neighbors on the Rue de Gobelins are a Jewish family who have fled Poland. When Nazi forces descend on the city, Kristof becomes their only hope for survival, even as his work as a doctor is jeopardized. 

A spellbinding and transportive look at a side of Paris known to very few—the underground city that is a mirror reflection of the glories above—Paula McLain’s unforgettable new novel chronicles two parallel journeys of defiance and rescue that connect in ways both surprising and deeply moving.

Kindle Edition, 464 pages

First published January 6, 2026

 by Atria Books

3.50/5 stars

Skylark is an atmospheric and ambitious historical novel that feels like a departure from the author’s more familiar work, one that still pays off.

Alternating between Paris of 1664, where women are not allowed to think, decide or even exist independently. And the dawn of World War II, where freedom is again under threat, though in very different ways. The historical setting of 17th-century Paris has fascinating details about the dye guilds, the power structures of the time and the harsh treatment of prisoners and those deemed mentally unwell. Such is similar seeing through the eyes of a medical student in 1939 as he witnesses the atrocities against the Jewish population.

Skylark is all the more an emotional story because its based on real historical events.  Each setting was vivid in descriptions and well researched. The stories were interesting and informative.  This book will appeal to those that like historical fiction that is unique with strong players.

My thanks to Atria Books for a digital arc (via Netgalley) in exchange for a honest review..

The Winemaker's Wife by Kristin Harmel

Champagne, 1940: Inès has just married Michel, the owner of storied champagne house Maison Chauveau, when the Germans invade. As the danger mounts, Michel turns his back on his marriage to begin hiding munitions for the Résistance. Inès fears they’ll be exposed, but for Céline, the French-Jewish wife of Chauveau’s chef de cave, the risk is even greater—rumors abound of Jews being shipped east to an unspeakable fate.

When Céline recklessly follows her heart in one desperate bid for happiness, and Inès makes a dangerous mistake with a Nazi collaborator, they risk the lives of those they love—and the vineyard that ties them together.

New York, 2019: Recently divorced, Liv Kent is at rock bottom when her feisty, eccentric French grandmother shows up unannounced, insisting on a trip to France. But the older woman has an ulterior motive—and a tragic, decades-old story to share. When past and present finally collide, Liv finds herself on a road to salvation that leads right to the caves of the Maison Chauveau.

Paperback, 432 pages

Audiobook, 11 hours, 32 minutes

Published March 17, 2020 

by Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster Audio

3.5/5 stars

Here is a book that has been sitting on my bookshelf probably since close to publication day. I have to be in the mood for a WW2 story, and apparently I was last week.

The Winemaker‘s Wife is a dual timeperiod story. In 1940 Ines, a recent newlywed is married to the owner of a famous champagne house. She is naïve, insecure, and second guesses herself at all times. In New York, 2019 Liv has just finalized her divorce when her grandmother shows up. She flies her back to her home in France. There is a story there that grandma wants to share, but she struggles.

I’m usually drawn to one storyline over the other, with this book I was intrigued with the present day story and how it connected to the past.  I found Ines's story to be intriguing as the German invade. Revolving around the champagne house I found the little tidbits of the operation interesting as well as the caves and how the different houses work together.

I am not new to Kirsten Harmel, her books usually show a side of the war that I am unfamiliar with, her writing style that is comfortable and holds my interest. 

The Winemaker‘s Wife is a story of resilience, betrayal, heartache, and guilt. The ending is not one I saw coming, which just made the present day story all the more compelling.

I’ll continue to slowly read my way through Harmel's books as I've enjoyed some of her other books.

This book was part of my 2025 reading off my shelf challenge and is booked # 25.

The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton

As death stalks a gothic mansion in Miami, the lives of two women intertwine as the past and present collide in New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton’s atmospheric new novel.

With the Great War finally behind them, thousands of civilians and business moguls alike flock to South Florida with their sights set on making a fortune. When wealthy industrialist Robert Barnes and his wife, Anna, build Marbrisa, a glamorous estate on Biscayne Bay, they become the toast of the newly burgeoning society. Anna and Robert appear to have it all, but in a town like Miami, appearances can be deceiving, and one scandal can change everything.

Years later following the tragic death of her parents in Havana, Carmen Acosta journeys to Marbrisa, the grand home of her estranged older sister, Carolina, and her husband, Asher Wyatt. On the surface, the gilded estate looks like paradise, but Carmen quickly learns that nothing at Marbrisa is as it seems. The house has a treacherous legacy, and Carmen’s own life is soon in jeopardy . . . unless she can unravel the secrets buried beneath the mansion’s facade and stop history from repeating itself.

Kindle Edition, 336 pages

Expected publication April 9, 2024

by Berkley

4/5 stars

The House in Biscayne Bay is a dual time-period story which begins in 1918.  The construction of Marbrisa was a gift to Anna, a time of healing after the Great War. Jumping to 1940 there is yet again tragedy. Marbrisa is more than a house, but a mansion set to impress the locals.

I have read a number of books by this author that usually have a Cuba setting while there is history in Cuba the setting is Miami Beach with it tropical landscape and lifestyle of the well-to-do.

This was enjoyable read as one time period connects to the other. I was captivated with the mystery and what connected these two places.  The Gothic feel from both era's was felt with the sinister house and its secrets.  While I anticipated the ending it was an entertaining read.

My thanks to Berkley (via NetGalley) for a digital arc exchange for a honest review

The School for German Brides by Aimie K. Runyan

In this intriguing historical novel, a young woman who is sent to a horrific "bride school" to be molded into the perfect Nazi wife finds her life forever intertwined with a young Jewish woman about to give birth.

Germany, 1939

As the war begins, Hanna Rombauer, a young German woman, is sent to live with her aunt and uncle after her mother's death. Thrown into a life of luxury she never expected, Hanna soon finds herself unwillingly matched with an SS officer. The independence that her mother lovingly fostered in her is considered highly inappropriate as the future wife of an up-and-coming officer and she is sent to a "bride school." There, in a posh villa on the outskirts of town, Hanna is taught how to be a "proper" German wife. The lessons of hatred, prejudice, and misogyny disturb her and she finds herself desperate to escape.

For Mathilde Altman, a German Jewish woman, the war has brought more devastation than she ever thought possible. Torn from her work, her family, and her new husband, she fights to keep her unborn baby safe. But when the unthinkable happens, Tilde realizes she must hide. The risk of discovery grows greater with each passing day, but she has no other options.

When Hanna discovers that Tilde hiding near the school, she knows she must help her however she can. For Tilde, fear wars with desperation. The women must take extraordinary risks to save the lives of mother and baby.

Will they both be able to escape with their lives and if they do, what kind of future can they possibly hope for?

Paperback, 384 pages

Published April 26, 2022 

by William Morrow Paperbacks

3.5/5 stars

Contrary to what the name of this book implies, The School for German Brides takes up very little of the story. Rather, it’s the story of two older teens, one a Jewish girl hiding in plain sight, and the other a German sent to live with Nazi supporting relatives.

Beginning in 1938 and alternating between the 2 points of view, Europe is feeling the birth pains of the horrible changes to come. For both Hanna and Mathilde their hopes and dreams for the future quickly vanish. As each of these young women go through their own sets of trials and heartache it is their friendship with Klara that slowly bind them together. I would have loved to hear Klara‘s point of view as she struggled and had a story to tell just as the others.

The School for German Brides is a coming of age story set during a horrible time in history, it is about family, heritage and the resilience to survive and begin anew. 

Aimie K. Runyan is not a new author to me. I have read many of her books, beginning with her debut series, Daughters of New France, which I highly recommend for those looking for some Canadian historical fiction reading.

This book was part of my 2023 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge

The Royal Windsor Secret by Christine Wells

 Cleo Davenport has heard the the murmured conversations that end abruptly the second she walks into a room. Told she was an orphan, she knows the rumor—that her father is none other than the Prince of Wales, heir to the British throne.

 And at her childhood home at Cairo’s Shepheard’s Hotel, where royals, rulers, and the wealthy live, they even called her “The Princess.” 

But her life is turned upside down when she turns seventeen. Sent to London under the chaperonage of her very proper aunt, she’s told it’s time to learn manners and make her debut. But Cleo’s life can’t be confined to a ballroom. She longs for independence and a career as a jewelry designer for Cartier, but she cannot move forward until she finds out about her past. 

Determined to unlock the truth, Cleo travels from London, back to Cairo, and then Paris, where her investigations take a shocking turn into the world of the Parisian demi-monde , and a high-class courtesan whose scandalous affair with the young Prince of Wales threatened to bring down the British monarchy long before anyone had heard of Wallis Simpson.

Paperback, 352 pages

Published September 12, 2023

 by William Morrow Paperbacks

3/5 stars

This is my second book by Christine Wells. My first one was One Woman’s War which was the story of Ian Fleming during WW1. The Royal Windsor Secret begins in the mid-1930s as a young woman, Cleo begins to investigate her parentage. Abandon as a infant, she hears rumours that the Prince of Wales could be her father.

The Royal Windsor Secret was a slow moving story and it wasn’t until the last half that things seemed to pick up. I wasn’t a huge fan of Cleo's as I found her personality flat and I just didn’t feel any empathy for her. This book had her traveling between Egypt, Paris, England, and even up to Scotland. There were a number of subplots that took away from her original goal.  I found myself more invested in Marguerite's story.

I was given a print copy of the ARC from the publisher and was happy to see the author notes were included.  I enjoyed those and reading the parts of the story that were based on history as well as what inspired the author in the writing of this book.

The Royal Windsor Secret is now available for purchase.

My thanks to William Morrow for this print copy in exchange for a honest review.

The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London comes a heartwarming story about the power of books to bring us together, inspired by the true story of the underground library in WWII Warsaw.

All her life, Zofia has found comfort in two things during times of hardship: books and her best friend, Janina. But no one could have imagined the horrors of the Nazi occupation in Warsaw. As the bombs rain down and Hitler’s forces loot and destroy the city, Zofia finds that now books are also in need of saving.

With the death count rising and persecution intensifying, Zofia jumps to action to save her friend and salvage whatever books she can from the wreckage, hiding them away, and even starting a clandestine book club. She and her dearest friend never surrender their love of reading, even when Janina is forced into the newly formed ghetto.

But the closer Warsaw creeps toward liberation, the more dangerous life becomes for the women and their families – and escape may not be possible for everyone. As the destruction rages around them, Zofia must fight to save her friend and preserve her culture and community using the only weapon they have left - literature.

Paperback, 416 pages

Published August 1, 2023 

by Hanover Square Press

4/5 stars

Madeline Martin has been one of my go to authors ever since reading The Last Bookshop in London. Along with The Librarian Spy, she has placed herself in my auto reads for World War II fiction, based on fact.

The Keeper of Hidden Books takes place in Warsaw, told from the point of view of 18 year old Zofia. Zofia is an avid reader, she works in a library and best friends with a Jewish family.

This was a interesting story coming in at over 400 pages. Having read enough WW2 fiction over the years this was a nice refreshing change and highlighted the importance of books during this war. As the Germans slowly strip away those closest to her, friends and family and watching the travesty unfold in her beautiful country leaves her wanting to fight back.  She does so in a way that I have never read about before. She has her books and together with others, they preserve those that Hitler deems unacceptable. What follow is a story of dedication, heartache, perseverance and strength.

The author notes at the end was something I was looking forward to, mostly to confirm that the librarians in this part of the book was based on fact, and I love that was.

The power of books still endured though such a horrible time in history.

Weyward by Emilia Hart

I am a Weyward, and wild inside.

2019: Under cover of darkness, Kate flees London for ramshackle Weyward Cottage, inherited from a great aunt she barely remembers. With its tumbling ivy and overgrown garden, the cottage is worlds away from the abusive partner who tormented Kate. But she begins to suspect that her great aunt had a secret. One that lurks in the bones of the cottage, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century.

1619: Altha is awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer who was stampeded to death by his herd. As a girl, Altha’s mother taught her their magic, a kind not rooted in spell casting but in a deep knowledge of the natural world. But unusual women have always been deemed dangerous, and as the evidence for witchcraft is set out against Altha, she knows it will take all of her powers to maintain her freedom.

1942: As World War II rages, Violet is trapped in her family's grand, crumbling estate. Straitjacketed by societal convention, she longs for the robust education her brother receives––and for her mother, long deceased, who was rumored to have gone mad before her death. The only traces Violet has of her are a locket bearing the initial W and the word weyward scratched into the baseboard of her bedroom.

Weaving together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries, Emilia Hart's Weyward is an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world.

Hardcover, 329 pages

Published March 7, 2023

 by St. Martin's Press

4/5 stars

I was attracted to this book by its intriguing cover. Once I read it, everything just fit together.

I’m not always a fan of three way timelines. Sorry, could just be my age and attention span that sometimes I find it overwhelming. But here it worked nicely.

There’s a central theme to Weyward, which begins in the year 1619.  A young woman is accused of witchcraft, jumping to 1942 there is a teen being raised by her father. And finally 2019 (thankfully before the pandemic) as Kate flees an abusive marriage to Weyward cottage.

I won’t go into detail of what transpires through these three timelines, but suffice to say that I liked each of these women. Their stories were unique, they were tested in ways that were heartbreaking, sad and pulled each of them out of their comfort zones.

Wayward is a story of family, the past and strength. The timelines connected with a touch of supernatural elements and nature. It was well written and detailed the strength of three young women across five centuries.

This book was my March 2023 book of the month pick and is part of my 2023 reading off my shelf challenge

Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner

A heartrending story about a young mother’s fight to keep her daughter, and the winds of fortune that tear them apart by the New York Times bestselling author of The Nature of Fragile Things and The Last Year of the War.

California, 1938—When she loses her parents in an accident, sixteen-year-old Rosanne is taken in by the owners of the vineyard where she has lived her whole life as the vinedresser’s daughter. She moves into Celine and Truman Calvert’s spacious house with a secret, however—Rosie sees colors when she hears sound. She promised her mother she’d never reveal her little-understood ability to anyone, but the weight of her isolation and grief prove too much for her. Driven by her loneliness she not only breaks the vow to her mother, but in a desperate moment lets down her guard and ends up pregnant. Banished by the Calverts, Rosanne believes she is bound for a home for unwed mothers, and having lost her family she treasures her pregnancy as the chance for a future one. But she soon finds out she is not going to a home of any kind, but to a place far worse than anything she could have imagined.

Austria, 1947—After witnessing firsthand Adolf Hitler’s brutal pursuit of hereditary purity—especially with regard to “different children”—Helen Calvert, Truman's sister, is ready to return to America for good. But when she arrives at her brother’s peaceful vineyard after decades working abroad, she is shocked to learn what really happened nine years earlier to the vinedresser’s daughter, a girl whom Helen had long ago befriended. In her determination to find Rosanne, Helen discovers that while the war had been won in Europe, there are still terrifying battles to be fought at home.

Hardcover, 400 pages

Published April 18, 2023 

by Berkley

4/5 stars

Susan Meissner‘s latest book released this past April. Coming in at 400 pages, it's story about a 16 year old girl named Rosanne.

Beginning in 1938, Rosanne is taken in by the Calvert's after the death of her parents in an automobile accident . What transpires in the following years is sad as she deals with her grief and loneliness. After being banished by the Calvert's, her life takes a turn that was undeserving and heartbreaking.

Jump to 1947 when Helen Calvert returns to America after spending many years in Austria, seeing firsthand Hitler’s relentless pursuit of a purified nation.

This was a slow story at times, but it was also educational in the things that Rosanne went through. Only the Beautiful is a well written and researched story about a terrible part of US history. Susan Missner is one of my go to authors and again she did not disappoint. Even a month after I finished it has stayed with me.

If you are a fan of historical fiction based on fact, and have not tried this I highly recommend her.

My copy was obtained through my local public library.

The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel

From the bestselling author of The Book of Lost Names comes a gripping historical novel about two mothers who must make unthinkable choices in the face of the Nazi occupation.

Paris, 1939: Young mothers Elise and Juliette become fast friends the day they meet in the beautiful Bois de Boulogne. Though there is a shadow of war creeping across Europe, neither woman suspects that their lives are about to irrevocably change.

When Elise becomes a target of the German occupation, she entrusts Juliette with the most precious thing in her life—her young daughter, playmate to Juliette’s own little girl. But nowhere is safe in war, not even a quiet little bookshop like Juliette’s Librairie des Rêves, and, when a bomb falls on their neighborhood, Juliette’s world is destroyed along with it.

More than a year later, with the war finally ending, Elise returns to reunite with her daughter, only to find her friend’s bookstore reduced to rubble—and Juliette nowhere to be found. What happened to her daughter in those last, terrible moments? Juliette has seemingly vanished without a trace, taking all the answers with her. Elise’s desperate search leads her to New York—and to Juliette—one final, fateful time.

Kindle Edition, 380 pages

Published June 6, 2023 

by Gallery Books

4/5 stars

Released just a few days ago The Paris Daughter is Kristin Harmel‘s latest. It is a dual time period story that begins in Paris at the onset of World War II. Then it jumps to 1960 both in Paris and New York. 

It was an accidental meeting for young mothers, Elise and Juliette in 1939 that has them becoming good friends. Years later, Elise through circumstances not her own fault she is separated from her young daughter.  Juliette takes young Mathilde in, while Elise goes into hiding.

The Paris Daughter is a story of friendship, relationships between mother and daughter and loss. It is a well written story that highlights a mothers love, the repercussions of the war that just don’t want to let go even many, many years later, and the grief that goes with it. I enjoyed this book, the author was spot on in her portrayal of what these two women went through, of the trust and betrayals, and how the author stayed true to real historical events which took place not just in Paris but in the US as well. While the ending might have been somewhat predictable.I liked the journey getting there.

I haven't read many Harmel books, but will be checking out her backlist.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster CA, along with NetGalley for a digital arc and exchange for a Honest review.

Independence by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

India, 1947. In a rural village in Bengal live three sisters, daughters of a well-respected doctor.

Priya: intelligent and idealistic, resolved to follow in her father's footsteps and become a doctor, though society frowns on it.

Deepa: the beauty, determined to make a marriage that will bring her family joy and status.

Jamini: devout, sharp-eyed, and a talented quiltmaker, with deeper passions than she reveals.

Theirs is a home of love and safety, a refuge from the violent events taking shape in the nation. Then their father is killed during a riot, and even their neighbors turn against them, bringing the events of their country closer to home.

As Priya determinedly pursues her career goal, Deepa falls deeply in love with a Muslim, causing her to break with her family. And Jamini attempts to hold her family together, even as she secretly longs for her sister's fiancé.

When the partition of India is officially decided, a drastic--and dangerous--change is in the air. India is now for Hindus, Pakistan for Muslims. The sisters find themselves separated from one another, each on different paths. They fear for what will happen to not just themselves, but each other.

Hardcover, 288 pages

Published January 17, 2023 

by William Morrow

5/5 stars

How gorgeous is that cover, there is so much said in that picture without words needed.

“The year is 1947. It is the best of times, it is the worst of times.”

Independence is the story of three sisters.  The year is 1947 when the British basically walked out the front door on India leaving the Hindus and Muslims to fend for themselves.  The result is that Pakistan and Bangladesh were born.  But it was a far cry from an easy transition.

Told from the povs of three sister, each sister with distinct personalities, goals and strengths. But they also have secrets, which I won't get into. If you don't know the history of what happened in 1947 then this is a great book to read.  It is rich in history but also full of heartache. Right now I don't feel this review will adequately express my feelings for this book.

Independence is a very well written historical story surrounded by fact.  It's a story of family, country and the lengths one will go for those they love.  I listened to part of this in audio format, the reader did an awesome job.  

This is my first time reading a Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, she has set the bar high as I hope to read more.   If you are a HF fan or just want a gripping story about 3 women facing challenges and the bonds that connect them, then this is the book for you.

This book was part of my 2023 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge (#34)

The Secret Book of Flora Lea: A Novel by Patti Callahan Henry

From the New York Times bestselling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis comes a “heartrending, captivating tale of family, first love, and fate” (Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author) about a woman who stumbles across a mysterious children’s book that holds secrets about her missing sister and their childhood spent in the English countryside during World War II.

1939: Fourteen-year-old Hazel and five-year-old Flora evacuate their London home for a rural village to escape the horrors of the Second World War. Living with the Aberdeen family in a charming stone cottage, Hazel distracts her younger sister with a fairy tale about a magical land, a secret place they can escape to that is all their Whisperwood.

But the unthinkable happens when Flora suddenly vanishes after playing near the banks of the River Thames. Shattered, Hazel blames herself for her sister’s disappearance, carrying the guilt into adulthood.

Twenty years later, Hazel is back in London, ready to move on from her job at a cozy rare bookstore for a career at Sotheby’s. With a cherished boyfriend and an upcoming Paris getaway, her future seems set. But her tidy life is turned upside down when she unwraps a package containing a picture book called Whisperwood and the River of Stars . Hazel never told a soul about the storybook world she created just for Flora. Could this book hold the secrets to her beloved sister’s disappearance? Could it be a sign that Flora is still alive after all these years? Or is something sinister at play?

Inspired by the history of the Pied Piper Children, this novel is a poignant reminder of the magical power of stories to draw us together—and ultimately bring us home.

Paperback, 368 pages

Expected publication May 2, 2023

by Simon & Schuster CA

4/5 stars

I try to limit my literary intake of WW2 stories but I could not pass up Patti Callahan Henry’s new book. The cover for The Secret Book of Flora Lea is eye catching along with being one of my top highly anticipated books of 2023.

This is a story of  two sisters sent to the country as part of Operation Pied Piper during WW2. What was deemed for safety seemed fine until Flora Lea disappears without a trace. But 20 years later a secret story shared only between Flora Lea and her older sister Hazel has been published by an American author.  How can that be? Could her sister still be alive because no one else knows this story of a place called Whisperwood.

What follows is a story of hope but it also brings wounds from the past. The Secret Book of Flora Lea is a somewhat magical story of that special sibling relationship, of grief and war. It’s mysterious with fairy tale vibes, slow paced in that it wasn’t a book I rushed through but took my time. I felt for Hazel, her guilt was real as she struggled to let go of the past and embrace life.  Her desire to solve this mystery comes with high stakes and it was great to go along on this journey with Hazel.

Again Patti Callahan Henry has written a thought provoking story that I recommend.

My thanks to Simon and Schuster CA for a print arc in exchange for a honest review.  This book releases on May 2nd.

The Dutch Orphan by Ellen Keith

From the author of The Dutch Wife comes a riveting novel set during World War II about a woman who offers shelter to a Jewish baby, and her sister, who must choose between family loyalty and her own safety.

Amsterdam, 1942. When the Nazis invade Amsterdam, singer Johanna Vos watches in horror as the vibrant music scene she loves is all but erased, her Jewish friends forbidden from performing with her onstage. Alongside her friend Jakob, Johanna creates the Artists’ Resistance, an underground network allowing Jews to perform at houses hosted by their allies. When Johanna hears of a Jewish orphan headed for deportation, she does not think twice. She takes the baby in as her own, hiding the truth from even her own sister, Liesbeth.

Meanwhile, Liesbeth finds herself in a dilemma, as she knows of her sister’s staunch support for the Resistance, but her husband supports the Nazis. When a charming member of the Dutch Fascist Party sets his eyes on her, her predicament only deepens. As secrets continue to grow between the sisters, severing their once-unbreakable bond, they are both forced to make choices that will alter their lives forever.

Kindle Edition, 352 pages

Expected publication April 18, 2023

April 18, 2023 by Park Row

4/5 stars

This was one of my highly anticipated books of 2023. As someone who has read many WW2 books I was drawn to this particlar book because of the location, blurb and that cover.

The story follows two sisters who are newly married and dealing with the war in vastly different ways. One sister joins the resistance, while the other is married to a Nazi sympathizer. This story explores how the war affected those living in the Netherlands, a location that is not often explored in WW2 fiction.

The Dutch Orphan is a story of family, endurance and heartache. Since it spans throughout the whole years of  the war there is also reconciliation. It is a well written story that was authentic and showed what the dutch endured and also their strength and determination, loyalty and courage.

Released just yesterday it’s a book I recommend not just for lovers of HF.

My thanks to Park Row Books (via NetGalley) for a digital arc in exchange for honest review.

The Lost English Girl by Julia Kelly

The acclaimed author of The Light Over London weaves an epic saga of love, motherhood, and betrayal from World War II to the 1960s.

Liverpool, 1935: Raised in a strict Catholic family, Viv Byrne knows what’s expected of her: marry a Catholic man from her working-class neighborhood and have his children. However, when she finds herself pregnant after a fling with Joshua Levinson, a Jewish man with dreams of becoming a famous Jazz musician, Viv knows that a swift wedding is the only answer. Her only solace is that marrying Joshua will mean escaping her strict mother’s scrutiny. But when Joshua makes a life-changing choice on their wedding day, Viv is forced once again into the arms of her disapproving family.

Five years later and on the eve of World War II, Viv is faced with the impossible choice to evacuate her young daughter, Maggie, to the countryside estate of the affluent Thompson family. In New York City, Joshua gives up his failing musical career to serve in the Royal Air Force, fight for his country, and try to piece together his feelings about the family, wife, and daughter he left behind at eighteen. However, tragedy strikes when Viv learns that the countryside safe haven she sent her daughter to wasn’t immune from the horrors of war. It is only years later, with Joshua’s help, that Viv learns the secrets of their shared past and what it will take to put a family back together again.

Telling the harrowing story of England’s many evacuated children, bestselling author Julia Kelly’s The Lost English Girl explores how one simple choice can change the course of a life, and what we are willing to forgive to find a way back to the ones we love and thought lost.

Kindle Edition, 320 pages

First published March 7, 2023

March 7, 2023 by Gallery Books

4/5 stars

This story begins in 1935 as Viv prepares to get married.  She was raised in a strict Catholic household and has defied her parents' belief by marrying outside of their circle to avoid bringing shame upon the family.  Fast forward 5 years and Viv is a single mom raising her almost 5-year-old daughter Maggie.

Set in Liverpool, a city that is not immune to the war and Operation Pied Piper.  Viv goes against her better judgement and evacuates her daughter to the countryside to live with a well-to-do family.

As the title suggest, The Lost English Girl is a story of separation caused not only by the war but also poor decision making.  Told from Viv's point of view, the emotional impact of her separation from her child, parents and dealing with Maggie's foster mother is explored.  Viv second-guesses her decision all the time, especially as the bombs fall with destructive force. 

 The other perspective is from Joshau, Maggie's father.  Although that was interesting I found myself more connected to Viv's storyline.

The Lost English Girl is a story of family dynamics, religion, and standing up for oneself. This lighter historical fiction read was predictable at times but still entertaining.

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

In the snowbound city of Kiev, wry and bookish history student Mila Pavlichenko organizes her life around her library job and her young son—but Hitler’s invasion of Russia sends her on a different path. Given a rifle and sent to join the fight, Mila must forge herself from studious girl to deadly sniper—a lethal hunter of Nazis known as Lady Death. When news of her three hundredth kill makes her a national heroine, Mila finds herself torn from the bloody battlefields of the eastern front and sent to America on a goodwill tour.

Still reeling from war wounds and devastated by loss, Mila finds herself isolated and lonely in the glittering world of Washington, DC—until an unexpected friendship with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and an even more unexpected connection with a silent fellow sniper offer the possibility of happiness. But when an old enemy from Mila’s past joins forces with a deadly new foe lurking in the shadows, Lady Death finds herself battling her own demons and enemy bullets in the deadliest duel of her life.

Paperback, 448 pages

Published March 29, 2022

 by William Morrow

Audiobook, 12 hours, 51 minutes

Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld

4.5/5 stars

How wonderful to dive into a Kate Quinn book again.  Having read her Ancient Rome books and continued with WW2, she is one of the few authors where I've managed to stay current with.  This was released  year ago, so better late then never I say.

Mila is a young mother, student and librarian. When war breaks out she begins her journey to become a renowned sniper (Lady Death).  What follows is a captivating story through WW2.  Alternating between the Russian countryside and a tour of the US (19432).

I did a combo read/listen.  Listening was great to get the proper pronunciation of names of places.  The narrator's accent added to the atmosphere.  This story is well written and research.  Alternating between Mila and a US pov added the suspense/mystery to keep the story going.

Again with a good HF novel the author notes are part of my read.  to see the author's motivation, research and read whats fact vs fiction is a nice finishing touch.

Hats off Kate Quinn for another entertaining and educational read.  Can't wait to see whats next.

This book was part of my 2023 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge (the audiobook was through CloudLibrary).

The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer

The New York Times bestselling author of The Warsaw Orphan returns with a gripping novel inspired by the true story of Operation Paperclip: a controversial secret US intelligence program that employed former Nazis after WWII.

Berlin, 1930—When a wave of change sweeps a radical political party to power, Sofie von Meyer Rhodes’s academic husband benefits from the ambitions of its newly elected chancellor. Although Sofie and Jürgen do not share the social views growing popular in Hitler’s Germany, Jürgen’s position with its burgeoning rocket program changes their diminishing fortunes for the better. But as Sofie watches helplessly, her beloved Berlin begins to transform, forcing her to consider what they must sacrifice morally for their young family’s security, and what the price for their neutrality will be.

Twenty years later, Jürgen is one of the many German scientists offered pardons for their part in the war, and taken to America to work for its fledgling space program. For Sofie, this is the chance to exorcise the ghosts that have followed her across the ocean, and make a fresh start in her adopted country. But her neighbors aren’t as welcoming or as understanding as she had hoped. When scandalous rumors about the Rhodes family’s affiliation with Hitler’s regime spreads, idle gossip turns to bitter rage, and the act of violence that results will tear apart Sofie’s community and her family before the truth is finally revealed.

Paperback, 464 pages

Published June 28th 2022 

by Graydon House

5/5 stars

I am definitely late when it comes to reading The German Wife, which came out last summer. Kelly Rimmer has been on my radar set since reading, Truths I Never Told You, which I loved.

Beginning in 1950, Sofie is reunited with her husband, Jurgen in Huntsville, Alabama.  She is met with prejudices because of her German background, and if the rumours are to believed they are a family that supported Hitler. Alternating between her point of view and that of Lizzie brings about an explosive story with many layers.

This is a world war two story with a pov from within the SS that was gripping, heartfelt and definitely a unique setting. The early years for Lizzie are through the depression, the dust bowl, and eventually she is left to her own devices with a brother created an ambitious young woman.

The German Wife was my first read of 2023 and I love that it was a five star read. It was well written, the characters and the storyline were authentic, it was hard to put down and it was evident that the author did a lot of research, especially when you look at the line of history that was involved. I was unfamiliar with what took place within the rocket program, both in Germany and the US and I love learning history and being entertained with some awesome characters.

The German Wife is the story of friendship, family, heartache, and sacrifice. I don’t feel this review does justice to how much I enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next.

This book is part of my own personal library and book 1 in my 2023 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge

One Woman's War by Christine Wells

World War II London: When Victoire "Paddy" Bennett first walks into the Admiralty's Room 39, home to the Intelligence Division, all the bright and lively young woman expects is a secretarial position to the charismatic Commander Ian Fleming. But soon her job is so much more, and when Fleming proposes a daring plot to deceive the Germans about Allied invasion plans he requests the newlywed Paddy's help. She jumps at the chance to work as an agent in the field, even after the operation begins to affect her marriage. But could doing her duty for King and country come at too great a cost?

Socialite Friedl Stöttinger is a beautiful Austrian double agent determined to survive in wartime England, which means working for MI-5, investigating fifth column activity among the British elite at parties and nightclubs. But Friedl has a secret--some years before, she agreed to work for German Intelligence and spy on the British. When her intelligence work becomes fraught with danger, she must choose whether to remain loyal to the British and risk torture and execution by the Nazis, or betray thousands of men to their deaths.

Soon, the lives of these two extraordinarily brave women will collide, as each travels down a road of deception and danger leading to one of the greatest battles of World War II. 

Paperback, 354 pages

Published October 4th 2022

 by William Morrow/HarperCollins US

4/5 stars

Christine Wells is a new author for me. I’ve seen her around and know that she is big on historical fiction. This one grab my attention when I saw Miss Moneypenny written on the cover.

One Woman’s War follows the lives of two women through the second world war. One is Paddy, who ends up working with Commander Fleming, Ian Fleming (catch that?). The next is Friedl, an Austrian socialite, who is also the bearer of many secrets.

This was a very interesting strategic story about events of which I have only recently come to know about. It was an operation that saved thousands of  lives and one I won’t say more about because it is not written up in the blurb. But it is a very intriguing and strategic part in the fight against Hitler.

One Woman’s War is a story about two women, independent, determined, and also working for the greater good. It is well written and well researched and one I will recommend to those that enjoy a good historical fiction story, based on fact, and familiar characters.

Big thanks to HarperCollins Canada for a print arc of this book along with my apologies for being behind in my review.

The Blackout Book Club by Amy Lynn Green

An impulsive promise to her brother before he goes off to the European Front puts Avis Montgomery in the unlikely position of head librarian in small-town Maine. Though she has never been much of a reader, when wartime needs threaten to close the library, she invents a book club to keep its doors open. The women she convinces to attend the first meeting couldn't be more different--a wealthy spinster determined to aid the war effort, an exhausted mother looking for a fresh start, and a determined young war worker.

At first, the struggles of the home front are all the club members have in common, but over time, the books they choose become more than an escape from the hardships of life and the fear of the U-boat battles that rage just past their shores. As the women face personal challenges and band together in the face of danger, they find they share more in common with each other than they think. But when their growing friendships are tested by secrets of the past and present, they must decide whether depending on each other is worth the cost.

Paperback, 400 pages

Published November 15th 2022

by Bethany House Publishers

4/5 stars

One of my last reads of 2022,  new to me author Amy Lynn Green writes about a small town during WW2.

This story begins with Avis as her brother goes off to fight in the war. He asks her to be head librarian in his absence, which is iconic as she isn't a reader.  Then she goes that extra step and creates a book club. What a follows is a group of characters from different walks of life coming together. 

There are a number of different povs here, each one with a story, secrets and personal conflicts.  The narrative switched smoothly, making them all likeable and endearing. The historical part played out nicely, educational in terms of what happened along the coast of US during the war.  

The Blackout Book Club is a story of friendship, books and self discovery.  It was well written with some mystery, intrigue and bookish.  The book club notes were a nice touch and yes it did cause me to purchase a couple and increased my tbr pile.

Definitely a book that will appeal to those that like bookish themed stories, historical fiction involving women and their roles during this time.

My thanks to Graf-Martin Communication for a print copy in exchange for a honest review.

The Librarian Spy: A Novel of World War II by Madeline Martin

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London comes a moving new novel inspired by the true history of America’s library spies of World War II.

Ava thought her job as a librarian at the Library of Congress would mean a quiet, routine existence. But an unexpected offer from the US military has brought her to Lisbon with a new mission: posing as a librarian while working undercover as a spy gathering intelligence.

Meanwhile, in occupied France, Elaine has begun an apprenticeship at a printing press run by members of the Resistance. It’s a job usually reserved for men, but in the war, those rules have been forgotten. Yet she knows that the Nazis are searching for the press and its printer in order to silence them.

As the battle in Europe rages, Ava and Elaine find themselves connecting through coded messages and discovering hope in the face of war.

Kindle Edition, 336 pages

Published July 26, 2022

by Hanover Square Press

3.5/5 stars

This was one of my anticipated reads of 2022, I really enjoyed the authors previous book The Last Bookshop in London not just for its bookish theme but reading another part of history I was unfamiliar with. The Librarian Spy follows suit in that it takes place in Portugal, which was neutral territory during the war.

Told from two different POVs with one being a French resistant worker in Lyons and the other an American sent to work in Lisbon, Portugal. I enjoyed reading about the historical details that occurred not just in Nazi occupied France but from the perspective of life in Portugal.  It wasn’t just about the lifestyle there but the work that was done for the war effort was something new to me.

The Librarian Spy is a story of heartache, resilience and perseverance. It was well written and the author definitely did her homework with her knowledge of the time shining through. Reading the author notes and knowing the extent of her research made me appreciate that aspect of the story. However, for me it didn’t draw me in like I was hoping it would, there wasn’t a lot to separate this book from other WW2 novels, or maybe I have just read too many and my expectation level is elevated.

All in all I enjoyed my read and look forward to seeing what the author comes up with next.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for a honest review

Until We Meet by Camille Di Maio

Margaret Beck is proud of her work at the Brooklyn Navy Yard sewing stars onto the Stars and Stripes, but she yearns to contribute to the war effort more meaningfully. She's angling for a promotion to the mechanic section, but she doesn't want to wait to make a difference. So with her two best friends, she decides to start a knitting club, where they will knit socks for the boys at the front. Thinking of the young men so far from the comforts of home, Margaret slips a note into her first pair of socks, offering a connection to an unknown soldier that will forever change her life.

For Thomas Powell serving his country was not only his duty but an honor, and he wore his Army uniform with pride. Yet being on the frontlines, witness to unspeakable tragedy and despair, has shaken him. The one shining light is Margaret’s letters—written to his best friend William. When William is killed, Tom doesn’t have the heart to write the warm, generous, and hopeful Margaret and tell her the news. Not about William’s death and not about the way he’s fallen in love with her—across an ocean, amidst the darkness of war, and through the letters she never intended for him.

Instead, he picks up his pen and responds to Margaret’s latest letter, signing it William. As the war intensifies, so does the affection between Tom and Margaret, and Tom knows he owes her the truth. But as he heads out for his most dangerous mission yet, Tom wonders—will he ever get the chance to tell her?

Kindle edition, 384 pages

Expected publishing date, March 1, 2022

by Forever (Grand Central Publishing)

3.5/5 stars

Camille Di Maio is not a new author for me, I enjoyed her book The First Emma for its historical lesson and interesting characters.  Until We Meet is another historical fiction but set during the war.

While the blurb talks about Margaret and Thomas, there is more to this story.  With 3 women working in New York during the war, it's a story of their friendship, uncertainty and of waiting. I loved how the correspondence started and what it yielded even though laced with heartache.

Overseas Thomas and 2 new friends bond over training and action. This part was a little slow for me, it wasn't until the last half of the book where things took off and then it got rather gritty.  

Again I enjoyed the authors writing style, the back and forth played out nicely.  The ending was nice though I will confess that I wasn't totally taken with a few aspects of it.  .

Until We Meet is unique story that I recommend for the historical fiction lovers and those that just like a good book to read.  

My thanks to Forever Books for a digital ARC in exchange for a honest review.

The Riviera House by Natasha Lester

The New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Secret weaves a lush and engrossing novel of World War II inspired by a true story and perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Pam Jenoff.

 
Paris, 1939: The Nazis think Éliane can't understand German. They’re wrong. They think she’s merely cataloging art in a Louvre museum and unaware they’re stealing national treasures for their private collections. They have no idea she’s carefully decoding their notes and smuggling information to the Resistance. But Éliane is playing a dangerous game. Does she dare trust the man she once loved with her secrets, or will he only betray her once again? She has no way to know for certain . . . until a trip to a stunning home on the French Riviera brings a whole new level of peril.

Present Day: Wanting to forget the tragedy that has left her life in shambles, Remy Lang heads to a home she’s mysteriously inherited on the Riviera. While working on her vintage fashion business, she discovers a catalog of the artworks stolen during World War II and is shocked to see a painting that hung on her childhood bedroom wall. Who is her family, really? And does the Riviera house hold more secrets than Remy is ready to face?

Natasha Lester brilliantly explores the impossible choices ordinary people faced every day during extraordinary circumstances, weaving fact with fiction and celebrating women who push the boundaries of their time.

Paperback, 480 pages

PublishedAugust 31, 2021

by Forever

4.5/5 stars

Natasha Lester is a new to me author.  I have her previous book, The Paris Orphan in my vast tbr pile but jumped into this her latest.

Part of the reason I hesitated reading another WW2 book was being offered something new and different.  With the current day story this was more than another WW2 story but rather a journey of grief and healing.  It was authentic, heart felt and just took this book to another level.

I enjoyed the past story, Eliane is a strong character with character and determination.  I was reminded of The Monuments Men but from another perspective.  Not being a big lover of art I was able to feel Eliane's passion and drive to safeguard these precious pieces, though it comes with a steep cost.

The present day was a story that tore at my heart as I felt the heartache of Remy.  Her journey felt authentic as she struggled to carry on with life when her loved ones didn't.

The Riviera House is an emotional read, it's about sacrifice, grief, a mothers love and how far one goes to protect themselves and those they love.

Like I said my first Nastasha Lester book, I'll definitely be back for more.

This book was part of my 2021 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge.