Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
Thank you to Love Inspired Trade for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
From the author of The Widows of Champagne, and inspired by true events, comes a gripping and heartwrenching story of two very different women united to bring light to the darkest days of World War II.
London, 1933
At first glance, Austrian opera singer Elsa Mayer-Braun has little in common with the young English typist she encounters on tour. Yet she and Hattie Featherstone forge an instant connection—and strike a dangerous alliance. Using their friendship as a cover, they form a secret society with a daring goal: to rescue as many Jews as possible from Nazi persecution.
Though the war’s outbreak threatens Elsa and Hattie’s network, their efforts attract the covert attention of the British government, offering more opportunities to thwart the Germans. But Elsa’s growing fame as Hitler’s favorite opera singer, coupled with her secret Jewish ancestry, make her both a weapon and a target—until her future, too, hangs in the balance.
From the glamorous stages of Covent Garden and Salzburg to the horrors of Bergen-Belsen, two ordinary women swept up by the tide of war discover an extraordinary friendship—and the courage to save countless lives.
Content Warning: holocaust, Nazis, WWII
I haven’t read a historical fiction book in a long while so I thought this would be something good to showcase on my blog. Here’s what I thought:
+ Very interesting story where two women, am Opera singer named Elsa, and am artist named Harriet befriend one another and end up helping people escape Hitler’s regime.
+ The story captured the time period very well, especially in the way they talked back then – I think the dialogue reflected that. I could feel the tension in the characters who live in that time when Hitler was taking over Europe. Harriet can’t not help, whereas her own sister Vera thought if it didn’t concern them they should stay out of trouble. Elsa was totally at risk since she was half Jewish, yet married to a German to disguise it.
+ There is a happy ending for these women after some turmoil and it’s always a strong message to show how people braved death and torture to help others.
~ I think I wanted more from the story, but it’s a quick and entertaining read regardless.
Tropes:
Why you should read it:
heroic story about two women during WWII
you love historical fiction
love how it shed light on the arts (Opera and art) during WWII
Why you might not want to read it:
My Thoughts:
I like that it focused on an opera singer who was hiding that she was half-Jewish and an artist from England. I like that we get to see how people in the art and creative world was affected by Hitler’s regime. I found it to be a quick read and if you like historical fiction set in World War II then you will definitely like this book.
I was scrolling through Kindle Unlimited and Kindle Book Deals and was pleasantly surprised to find these titles on sale!
Kindle Book Deals:
$2.99 Books:
$1.99 Books:
Kindle Unlimited:
I had to get One Dark Window and The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy because I’ve heard so many good things about these books! I also want to read Ariadne and Being Mary Bennet so hopefully I can fit those into my reading schedule before the deal is gone.
I didn’t have a break after coming home from vacation – it’s back to normal as usual except I was dealing with an upper respiratory illness. I don’t know if it was a cold or rsv or what not – I didn’t have much nasal congestion, mostly a cough and finally my voice is 90% back to normal! I do still cough in the early, early morning probably due to the colder air and post nasal drip but most of the day I’m fine.
Another contributor to my cough/sinus/etc…is that Mauna Loa, a volcano, on the Big Island is erupting. I live on Oahu which is about a 30 minutes flight away – you literally go up and down! I haven’t been there in 20 years which is kind of a shame – I have relatives there and my dad often goes but we stopped making casual trips when flights got expensive. Anyway, the smoke from the volcano makes it’s way over to our island and there is vog in the air – it’s like smog, but not brown polluted air – it’s hazy and when there is no wind it lingers over the island, my allergies go into high gear, I get a headache sometimes. It’s been windy since yesterday so I feel much better but I’m not looking forward to the days where there will be no wind.
My kids have one more week of school then it is Winter Break, plus my husband is moving to Okinawa next Sunday – I’m just taking it day by day! But he’s stressed about what to bring and what to expect when he gets there, and I’m not super stressed unless I look at the calendar and think of the things I have to do by myself. 🙄 I’m in a half annoyed and half “oh well it is what it is” mood. He won’t be here for Christmas and our daughter’s 6th birthday first week of January and yes…I still have to plan it. 😕 So my calendar stresses me out right now! lol…so I try not to look at it! 😜
It’s been a busy week! So I haven’t done much reading – hoping I can do much more reading this week but we shall see!
Books I Read:
Currently Reading:
Shows/Movies I Watched:
Laguna Beach (Netflix) – talk about nostalgia!!! Just seeing all of the people on the show using Motorola flip phones made me miss that time. I loved my Motorola flip phone lol.
How was your week? Did you get a lot done? Watch anything good? Read any amazing books or books you didn’t finish? What are you reading?…Leave me a comment below!
It’s the last month of a very long year so honestly, I don’t have many books I’m super looking forward to this month. I’m mostly looking forward to finishing arcs and getting stuff ready for 2023 (so crazy to think that!). So this list will be a short one. Here’s what I want to read that’s releasing in December 2022:
These are the only ones I’m really looking forward to and hopefully I can get my hands on them somehow. But if not – they will be pushed to my 2023 TBR list.
What is your most anticipated book release for December?
Categories: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, New Adult, Gothic, Mystery, Paranormal
New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace brings to life a highly romantic, Gothic-infused world of wealth, desire, and betrayal.
Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each more interested in her wealth than her well-being—and each has met an untimely end. Her remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy. Its patriarch mourns his late wife through wild parties, while his son grapples for control of the family’s waning reputation and his daughter suffers from a mysterious illness. But when their mother’s restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realizes that the family she depends on could be in grave danger and enlists the help of a surly stable boy to hunt down the killer.
However, Signa’s best chance of uncovering the murderer is an alliance with Death himself, a fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side. Though he’s made her life a living hell, Death shows Signa that their growing connection may be more powerful—and more irresistible—than she ever dared imagine.
Content Warning: poisoning, illness, death, grief
I have finally read the book everyone is talking about and I feel like the hype is well deserved. Here’s what I thought:
+ This book has a little bit of everything! Romance, mystery and gothic vibes and all of it worked so well together. Usually mysteries can be too slow for me, but I was totally engaged in this story. There are a few twists in this story that was so good – it makes me wonder what book two will bring!
+ Signa is no wilting flower – she’s been basically been passed off from relative to relative all her life. I love that she is optimistic even with Death always near her. I like how she helps her cousin even though she barely knows her. She’s not afraid when most people would be. And I love Death too – I mean, what a gentleman and so unexpected! Who knew he could be such a romantic figure. But I love how he isn’t an evil entity because really what is life without death? They have great chemistry and their love story is sweet and romantic.
+ A mystery always needs a good cast of characters to make us keep guessing and though I had my suspicions who was the villain, I still wasn’t spot on with my assessment. I love the paranormal aspect of the story and how Signa can see spirits. It really had everything I want in a gothic mystery and I actually wish I read this near Halloween!
+ This could have been a standalone book with how questions were answered at the end but I love the twist in the end! Glad we will get a sequel.
Tropes: Death is a character, a girl who cannot die
Spice Level: 🌶🌶
Why you should read it:
it’s a dark fantasy with Death as a character, ghosts, mystery, gothic vibes and romance
the mystery about what is happening at Thorn Grove kept me on my toes
the romance between Death and Signa
Why you might not want to read it:
not into Death falling in love? lol
My Thoughts:
I waited to read this one because I wanted the hype to die down and go in with lower expectations and I’m glad I waited. I fell in love with this story about Signa and Death. The dark tones, mystery, ghosts and gothic vibes were captivating and kept me engaged with the story. The romance between Signa and Death I thought was unexpectedly sweet and romantic. I’m looking forward to reading the sequel!
Aloha friends! We have reached that time of the year, oh yes, the END of the year – and I still can’t believe it. I was tagged by the wonderful Dini @ DiniPandaReads and if you haven’t yet, please check out her awesome blog. Thanks for the tag, Dini – let’s get to it!
Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?
I started Forestborn in the summer but wasn’t in the mood to finish and then didn’t have time to pick it up this fall. The Vanishing Deep was something I started before I went on vacation and hoping I can finish this month!
Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?
I was going to say no, I don’t have a transition book but I just finished this book recently called Ledge and it definitely has all the winter vibes and not in a cozy way. More like cold, icy, winter, violent vibes lol…
Is there a new release that you’re still waiting for?
A Fire Endless is the only December release I’m looking forward to and it releases early in December.
What are three books you want to read before the year ends?
Happy book birthday to these new releases! Check out this list today:
The Renaissance Faire is on the move, and Lulu and Dex are along for the ride, in the next utterly charming rom-com from Jen DeLuca.
A high-powered attorney from a success-oriented family, Louisa “Lulu” Malone lives to work, and everything seems to be going right, until the day she realizes it’s all wrong. Lulu’s cousin Mitch introduced her to the world of Renaissance Faires, and when she spies one at a time just when she needs an escape, she leaps into the welcoming environment of turkey legs, taverns, and tarot readers. The only drawback? Dex MacLean: a guitarist with a killer smile, the Casanova of the Faire… and her traveling companion for the summer.
Dex has never had to work for much in his life, and why should he? Touring with his brothers as The Dueling Kilts is going great, and he always finds a woman at every Faire. But when Lulu proves indifferent to his many plaid charms and a shake-up threatens the fate of the band, Dex must confront something he never has before: his future.
Forced to spend days and nights together on the road, Lulu’s interest in the kilted bad boy grows as he shows her a side of himself no one else has seen. The stresses of her old lifestyle fade away as she learns to trust her intuition and follow her heart instead of her head. But when her time on the road is over, will Lulu go with her gut, or are she and Dex destined for separate paths?
Outsiders are always given a choice: the Forest or the lake. Either way, they’re never heard from again.
Leelo has spent her entire life on Endla, coexisting with the bloodthirsty Forest and respecting the poisonous lake that protects her island from outsiders who seek to destroy it. But as much as Leelo cares for her community, she struggles to accept that her younger brother will be exiled by his next birthday, unless he gains the magic of enchanted song so vital to Endla.
When Leelo sees a young outsider on the verge of drowning in the lake, she knows exactly what she’s supposed to do. But in a moment that will change everything, Leelo betrays her family, her best friend, and Endla by making an unthinkable choice.
Discovery could lead to devastating consequences for both Leelo and the outsider, Jaren, but as they grow closer, Leelo realizes that not all danger comes from beyond the lake—and they can only survive if Leelo is willing to question the very fabric of her society, her people, and herself.
Awakening to find herself trapped in a strange tower, Izaveta knows she must find her way back to the Tóurensi palace and claim the throne. But even with an unexpected ally’s help, she worries she might not be able to get news of her survival to her sister and escape this frozen land.
Back at home, Asya enlists Nikov’s help to prove Izaveta is still alive, even as she finds herself forced to navigate the political world she always sought to avoid to save her queendom, her loved ones, and herself.
But as the sisters work independently to reunite, a dangerous force lies in wait, trying to regain power in order to overthrow the monarchy…
The answers lie within. Boarding school student Talia Morris has no idea her boyfriend, Nathaniel, is a Mystic, let alone second in line to the throne of a secretive, aspirational magical community―one no mortal has ever been allowed to step inside. Until now. Nathanial’s cousin is about to be married in the biggest wedding the magical world has ever seen, and Nathaniel is allowed to bring a date. Talia is the lucky recipient of the golden ticket every Mystic wannabe in the world would kill for―only she doesn’t want it. Talia thinks Mystic worship is lame and stupid and unnecessarily aggrandizes people for being born a certain way. When she finds out Nathaniel is “one of them,” she almost jumps ship. But Nathaniel loves her, and she loves him. So when he begs her to give his family and their community a shot, she reluctantly agrees.
Enter the most fantastical world any mortal has ever seen, and the coolest magical wedding ever. After a few days of bonding with Nathaniel’s family on the island, of seeing how beautiful their magic is and how peaceful their community, Talia’s about to be won over―until the entire wedding party suddenly falls into an unexplainable coma and the community goes on lockdown. Talia, the outsider, is pegged as the culprit and has to do everything in her meager non-power to prove her innocence. As she embarks on a journey to find the truth, Talia soon discovers reality is not all it seems, and her past may put her in more danger than she ever imagined. In this captivating YA fantasy, Talia must solve a multigenerational mystery and break a curse, all the while being torn between making her family proud and regaining the trust of the boy she loves.
East and West. Humans and Spirits. Breccans and Tamerlaines. The Isle of Cadence has always held itself and its residents in a tenuous balance. But now Bane, the spirit of the North Wind, has pushed everyone and everything in his path off-kilter in a bid to claim dominion over all.
In the West, Adaira struggles to adjust to the more brutal, bitter ways of life among the Breccans. Striving to find her place in the clan, she swiftly realizes that it just might be the last role she desires to hold. And while magic blooms effortlessly for the Breccans in the west, the spirits continue to suffer beneath Bane’s harsh power, felt in every gust of wind.
In the East, Jack is adrift without Adaira until he sings to the ember-weak fire spirits, acquiring a dangerous mission he never expected. One that is destined to lead him westward. Likewise, Torin and Sidra are consumed by a new mystery as sickness spreads first amongst the crops, and then to the people of the Tamerlaine clan. While Sidra desperately searches for a cure, Torin dares to strike a bargain with the spirits—a precarious folly anytime, but especially now as the days grow darker.
With the island falling further out of balance, humans and spirits alike will need to join together to face Bane, and Jack’s gift with the harp will be called upon once more. Yet no one can challenge the North Wind without paying a terrible price, and the sacrifice required this time may be more than Jack, Adaira, Torin, and Sidra can bear to pay.
The perfect romcom for dog lovers! Pets of Park Avenue is the story of a self-confessed hot mess who learns that life is more fun when things don’t go according to plan.
What do you do when The One is also the one who broke your heart?
Self-proclaimed hot mess Scout Myers is determined to prove she’s finally got her act together. Raised by grandparents who saw her as her wayward mother’s wayward daughter, Scout’s used to being written off. So when the opportunity for a promotion arises at Paws in the City, the talent agency where she works, Scout is desperate to rise to the occasion. With shared custody of her little sister also on the line, Scout can’t afford a single mistake…like suddenly needing a canine stand-in for an important photoshoot. Luckily (or not) she knows the owner of the perfect pup replacement: the estranged husband she walked out on years ago.
On the surface, it appears Lane Halliday’s life has been blissfully drama free without Scout, but she suspects her handsome-as-ever not-quite-ex-husband doth protest too much. Working together even feels like old times—except for all that lingering, unresolved tension. But Scout’s not sure she’s ready to confront the reasons she left Lane, and when their plans to finalize the divorce become very real, Scout starts to wonder whether second chances might be worth a little hot mess.
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Please check out her website for more TTT topics!
Happy Monday! I’ve always seen this book meme around and wanted to try it so I’m putting it in rotation on my blog starting today.
Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme where you chose a random book from your Goodreads TBR and show it off. This meme is hosted by Budget Tales Book Blog.
The Atlas Paradox is the long-awaited sequel to dark academic sensation The Atlas Six—guaranteed to have even more yearning, backstabbing, betrayal, and chaos.
Six magicians. Two rivalries. One researcher. And a man who can walk through dreams. All must pick a side: do they wish to preserve the world—or destroy it? In this electric sequel to the viral sensation, The Atlas Six, the society of Alexandrians is revealed for what it is: a secret society with raw, world-changing power, headed by a man whose plans to change life as we know it are already under way. But the cost of knowledge is steep, and as the price of power demands each character choose a side, which alliances will hold and which will see their enmity deepen?”
Past Midnight Book Reviews & More 