RRR presents... The Secret Pianist by Andie Newton - REVIEW!

It's all in how you look at something.

Whether it be from the outside in or the inside out, with full disclosure or a million and one secrets, the truth of a matter is influenced by so many things and experiences, it's hard to guess with accuracy just what you're getting into without asking the questions begging to be asked. Such is the case of our sisters three in today's featured title via Rachel's Random Resources....

The Secret Pianist 

by

 Andie Newton

One More Chapter | HarperCollins 360

About the book...

Sisters. Traitors. Spies.

When a British RAF Whitley plane comes under fire over the French coast and is forced to drop their cargo, a spy messenger pigeon finds its way into unlikely hands…

The occupation has taken much from the Cotillard sisters, and as the Germans increase their forces in the seaside town of Boulogne-sur-Mer, Gabriella, Martine and Simone can’t escape the feeling that the walls are closing in.

Yet, just as they should be trying to stay under the radar, Martine’s discovery of a British messenger pigeon leads them down a new and dangerous path. Gaby would do anything to protect her sisters but when the pianist is forced to teach the step-daughter of a German Commandant, and the town accuses the Cotillards of becoming ‘Bad French’ and in allegiance with the enemy, she realizes they have to take the opportunity to fight back that has been handed to them.

Now, as the sisters’ secrets wing their way to an unknown contact in London, Gaby, Martine and Simone have to wonder – have they opened a lifeline, or sealed their fate?

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Readers can’t get enough of USA Today bestselling author Andie Newton:

‘A brilliant tale of resistance, sisterhood and dangerous secrets. Andie Newton is a master storyteller!’ Sara Ackerman, USA Today bestselling author of The Codebreaker's Secret

‘If you believe every WW2 story has already been told, think again. This one is special.’ Paulette Kennedy, bestselling author of The Witch of Tin Mountain

Amazon US

Amazon CA

Amazon UK

One More Chapter: TwitterX | Instagram

HarperCollinsUK: Twitter | Instagram

HarperCollins360 US: TwitterX | Instagram

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I had read one of the author's previous works, A Child for the Reich, and was deeply moved my the tale told. This time was no different as the author worked her magic yet again on a time that was harsh, a time that was cruel, a time that we look back on as a lesson learned and never to be repeated, and yet behold within this same time a modicum of hope and resilience worth fighting for. 

This is the story about that fight. This is a story about family and what you'd do to protect them. This is a story about the evilness of mankind, yet also their ability to carry on in the darkest of nights. This is a story about putting it all on the line in the hopes of a better tomorrow, no matter how distant that new day may seem. Watching the sisters take their chances, waging their own little war against the danger that surrounds was captivating for all the right reasons, and inspiring for anyone hesitant to take a step towards what they fear in an effort to silence it. 

A great pick for Historical Fiction fans, and a must read for your reading lists this year!

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About the author...

Andie Newton is the USA Today bestselling author of A Child for the Reich, The Girls from the Beach, The Girl from Vichy, and The Girl I Left Behind. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her family. When she’s not writing gritty war stories about women, you can usually find her trail-running in the desert and stopping to pet every Yellow Lab or Golden Retriever that crosses her path. Andie is actively involved with the reading and writing community on social media. You can follow her on X (Twitter) @andienewton and Instagram, or check out her author page on Facebook.

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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you and to the publisher for the ecopy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so snag your copy at your favorite online retailer. 

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

The Orphan's Letters by Glynis Peters - REVIEW!

This one goes out to all my Historical Fiction readers, looking for somethin new to add to their summer reading list.  It's a heartfelt story spanning a time of war, and yet there are moments of hope, moments of happiness, and moments of love to be cherished along the way.  Curious?  Let's dive between the pages of today's book of choice...

The Orphan's Letters

by

Glynis Peters

9780008492410

One More Chapter | Harper 360

About the book...

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but does nothing to heal the pain of spending every minute waiting to hear the worst…

As the Second World War rages on, nurse Kitty Pattison’s life takes a nomadic turn as her work with the Red Cross sees her traversing the country, moving from post to post.

With her best friends Jo and Trixie also scattered across the UK, and her soldier sweetheart Michael off on the continent undertaking medical missions he can’t discuss, the war takes its toll and long days are followed by sleepless nights interrupted only by nightmares of what she’s seen on the wards.

Now, Kitty’s hopes rise and fall with the arrival of the post – the only thing that keeps her connected to her aunt and uncle, her dear friends, and her Michael – and every moment spent with those she loves is held dear, because each one could be the last…

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This book has a myriad of genres slung at it, but while it has some romantic elements, I wouldn't call it a Romance in the usual sense, more a romance of life.

Kitty is a stalwart woman.  Resourceful, kind hearted, able to think on her feet, and the last to turn away a weary soul...she's sent camp to camp to station throughout the bloody war.  Grant it, she's not the only one, but her journey is the one we're most involved in, therefore I can't help but feel the most for her.  She lost out on the chance to have a family.  She lost out on the chance to enjoy a traditional marriage or courtship.  She lost out on the chance to simply have a night out with the girls without a care in the world.  She lost out on the chance to grow up in a world where her biggest worry was who to go with, or what to wear.  Now, before you get completely maudlin, she never truly felt sorry for herself, and that, my dear readers, is what brings us through the tough times as well.  She gained skills and experience she might never have.  She learned just how far she was willing to go for those she loved.  She explored the capacity of her heart to forgive, as well as learn from past mistakes.  She shared the good times as they came, and pushed through the bad times that kept coming.  She was a remarkable woman, and the lives she touched, as well as those that touched hers in turn, left their mark for better or worse.

A great pick for Historical Fiction fans as well as Women's Fiction fans.  I must warn you though, it's not all sunshine and roses, and despite a good end, I can't say it didn't rip my heart out a few times along the way...so yeah, tissues should be in reach!

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About the author...

Glynis Peters is a British author. She lives by the sea in Essex with her husband of forty-plus years. They have three adult children, and Glynis is a retired NHS nurse.

When not writing she enjoys fishing with her husband, cross-stitch, and playing with her granddaughters who live nearby. Her son lives with his family in Vancouver, Canada, and Glynis loves nothing more than visiting them.

Her first WWII historical novel is the USA Today and Globe & Mail bestseller, The Secret Orphan.

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Special thanks to Sophia at Harper 360 for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is newly available, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or at a virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Family is thicker than blood... THE GERMAN MESSENGER by M.J. Hollows - REVIEW!

Family is thicker than blood...

I chose that title for this post because it fits the book we're about to explore PERFECTLY.  It's a new Historical Fiction title coming to you from Harper 360, and it takes you back to the treacherous times of WWII. It was a time without certainty, where the unknown was a constant, but for those that could and would fight back, their truth, their certainty was that they wouldn't take things lying down.  Ladies and gents, allow me to present today's book of choice...

The German Messenger

by

M.J. Hollows

9780008530419

HQ Digital

About the book...

Liverpool, 1940. “Where’s George?” Ruth didn’t realise that she had grabbed hold of the other woman’s arms. “Where’s my son?”

Journalist Ruth Holt is struggling in the terror of the Blitz when her young son is suddenly snatched away in broad daylight. Soon after, the kidnappers’ demands arrive. They are working with the Nazis, and she has no choice but to co-operate, or the authorities will learn that she is harbouring secrets of her own.

Ruth’s job gives her access to critical information, and if she does not share it with Britain’s enemies, her child will face the consequences. Desperate, she falsifies information, lying to everyone: her employers, her family and her lover. But as the demands increase, the knife edge she walks on grows increasingly thin. If she falls, she will never save her son.

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Ruth was a formidable woman.  She had a lot on her plate...a husband off at war, a son shipped off to safety, an unfulfilling job at the local press, and late nights as a volunteer with the air raid wardens.  You might say keeping busy was just as much her doing her part, as it was to fill the empty hours.  While she has her time down to a fine art, her world gets turned upside down and inside out as all those carefully crafted walls come tumbling down in the most spectacular, and heartbreaking ways.  We have renewed worries over her son, the loss of family connections, and the struggle to keep her secrets intact...but we also have HOPE.  We also have love in unexpected places.  We also have the discovery of hidden depths of strength, and determination...things we take for granted in everyday life, but can mean the difference between living that life, and allowing it to be taken from us.  Ruth wasn't that woman.  She wouldn't take things lying down, no matter how dreary the outcome might look.  She fought, and she strived for more.  She took the weight of the world on her shoulders, and refused to let it go, even when it looked like she should.  She also found a kindred spirit in Anthony.

Anthony was a formidable man.  He had a lot on his plate...a son a distance away, a wife lost many years ago, a heart that wasn't healed emotionally or physically, days as a school teacher to the dwindling youth, and late nights as a volunteer air warden.  He was doing his part because the airmen wouldn't take him for health reasons, but he never felt it was quite enough.  The thing is...he ends up on the front line at home, fighting side by side to save others from the air raids, and while the walls are quite literally tumbling down around him, he still forges friendships, and unexpected connections, including one with our lady, Ruth.  The feelings that go with it are unexpected, but not entirely unwelcome, especially in times like these, however there's a time and place for everything, and these two will get their time, even if it's in the shadow of heartbreak.

This was a fascinating story that took you behind friendly lines to show you just how far the enemy would go to get what they wanted.  They'd exploit anyone.  They'd rob, or steal to call it their own.  They'd mow down entire cities, and end everyone in them, just to plant their flag and proclaim themselves superior.  The thing they didn't count on was the resilience of the people they were trying to expunge.  They too had feelings, family, and lives to protect...and they too would do anything to see them safe once again.  The lengths Ruth will go to in order to protect her son, and protect her secrets were without measure.  The extent of Anthony's love for them both shines through like a candle in the night.  Things are tedious right up to the bitter end, but vindication comes, and while it may not be peaceful, it is most certainly just.

A great read for Historical and Women's Fiction fans, from older teens through adulthood, with a touching reminder that family is truly thicker than blood.

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Special thanks to Sophia at Harper 360 for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title celebrates its US Paperback release this Tuesday, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Learn from the past to save your future... THE GHOST TREE by Barbara Erskine

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're celebrating the latest release from author Barbara Erskine via Harper 360.  It's a work of Historical Fiction that blends a little of the author's actual family tree with a heavy dash of fantastical bits, and a whole lot of ghostly influence.  It's my first time reading this author's work, and while the reviews I read were skewed making it not seem like the ideal choice to get your feet wet with (so to speak), I did find it oddly CURIOUS, fairly HAIR RAISING, and most definitely in possession (purposely chosen words there) of a REMARKABLE ending.  So, if I've peaked your interest, read on, my friend...read on!  Today's title in the spotlight and book of choice is...

The Ghost Tree

by

Barbara Erskine

9780008195847

Harper 360

About the book...
Before you follow the path into your family’s history, beware of the secrets you may find…

The new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author.

Ruth has returned to Edinburgh after many years of exile, left rootless by the end of her marriage, career and now the death of her father. She is now faced with the daunting task of clearing his house.

Hidden away in a barely used top-floor room, she finds he had secretly kept a cupboard full of her mother’s possessions. Sifting through the ancient papers, Ruth discovers the diary and letters written by her ancestor from the eighteenth century, Thomas Erskine.

As the youngest son of a noble family now living in genteel poverty, Thomas always knew he would have to make his own way in the world. Unable to follow his brothers to university, instead he joins the navy, rising through the ranks, travelling the world. When he is finally able to study law, his extraordinary experiences and abilities propel him to the very top and he becomes Lord Chancellor. Yet he has made a powerful enemy on his voyages, who will hound him and his family to the death.

Ruth becomes ever more aware of Thomas as she is gripped by his story, and slowly senses that not only is his presence with her, but so is his enemy’s. Ruth will have to draw upon new friends and old in what becomes a battle for her very survival – and discover an inner power beyond anything she has imagined.

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Once upon a time, there was a woman who had just lost her last living link to her family history, and while disturbing and heartbreaking to say the least, that was just the beginning of her troubles.  You see there are always those looking for the easy way out in this world, and unfortunately for Ruth, one of those ne'er-do-wells might have attached themselves to her dearly departed father.  Okay, so perhaps "dearly" is a stretch as they hadn't been in touch very recently, but departed is for certain, and the lingering Timothy (her father's last acquaintance?  friend?  something other?) is to say the least...unsettling.  Oh, but that's not the end of the unsettling things either...as I did mention her father was her last LIVING link? 

Quick cast of characters assembled...we have Ruth and her friends...Harriett, Finlay, Malcolm, and an assortment of kind souls...then there's Timothy the rodent/scoundrel/potential brother (*snort*), April the rodent's definite sister, and we must not forget our shades of the past, Thomas Erskine and (just maybe) Andrew Farquhar...the GHOSTS!  The story is written both in past and present times, allowing us to visit between the two simultaneously, and letting Thomas truly have a voice in the here and now.  I found it rather interesting how Ruth and Thomas interacted, and how drawn into the "dialogues" with him she would become.  The world around truly ceased to exist for a spell, and while fascinating, it was also dangerous what with Thomas's past still clinging to him like a fatal disease.  The lengths to which that darkness would go to get the revenge he sought were astounding...in the creepiest and messed up sense of the word possible.  Can you imagine holding on to some past hurt to the degree that you are continually dragged through time virtually unable (and unwilling) to be sated?  Yeah, it was that bad...and the atrocities committed in the past were just a sampling of what he was able to do with a willing or unprotected soul in the present.  ~shudders~

In the end, it was definitely a LONG one...though size doesn't truly matter when it comes to a novel -- it's the writing and the story itself that count...but a page-turner nonetheless.  Now, there are a few dry bits, but when put into perspective, they are to build the history; nothing more nothing less.  I mean, one can't truly move forward without knowing where you've been, right?  So yes, I did indeed enjoy most of my time between the pages, straight through to the exhilarating end.  It really reminds us that we in some sense ultimately give people the power they have over us, and that there is real freedom in letting go.  If you like a bit of mystery, a helping of history, and a hearty touch of the paranormal in your reading, this one is most definitely for you!

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About the author...

An historian by training, Barbara Erskine is the author of six bestselling novels that demonstrate her interest in both history and the supernatural, plus two collections of short stories. Her books have appeared in at least twenty different languages. She lives with her family in an ancient manor house near Colchester, and in a cottage near Hay-on-Wye.

SITE

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Special thanks to Meredith at Harper 360 for the ARC for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title celebrated its US Paperback release just yesterday , so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

PRE BOOK BIRTHDAY BUZZ: The Plus One by Sophia Money-Coutts

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're spreading the BUZZ about a title getting ready to celebrate its BOOK BIRTHDAY NEXT WEEK via Harper360!  It's a Contemporary Romance featuring a cast that'll have you in stitches, and a story as old as time, that combine to bring you a wonderful read perfect for your summer sets!  Ready or not fair readers, here comes today's ebook of choice...

The Plus One

by

Sophia Money-Coutts

9780008328641

Harper360

About the book...

The Plus One [n] informal a person who accompanies an invited person to a wedding or a reminder of being single, alone and absolutely plus none

Polly Spencer is fine. She’s single, turning thirty and only managed to have sex twice last year (both times with a Swedish banker called Fred), but seriously, she’s fine. Even if she’s still stuck at Posh! magazine writing about royal babies and the chances of finding a plus one to her best friend’s summer wedding are looking worryingly slim.

But it’s a New Year, a new leaf and all that. Polly’s determined that over the next 365 days she’ll remember to shave her legs, drink less wine and generally get her s**t together. Her latest piece is on the infamous Jasper, Marquess of Milton, undoubtedly neither a plus one nor ‘the one’. She’s heard the stories, there’s no way she’ll succumb to his charms…

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When getting ready to write the review on this one, I had to turn back to my GoodReads updates to refresh my memory...my own fault as I read it March/April, but didn't get around to typing up the review until "show time".  Cie la vie, water under the bridge...but I also read a few other reviews as I was jogging my memory, and noticed they were quite split.  It happens, and I knew where I fell in the bunch, but I was rather surprised by how many fell on the other side of things...and the WHYs.  Grant it, I can't speak for them, and I respect their opinions, but here are MY opinions on the book at hand...

Polly is a grand character, though she thinks/shares things QUITE literally...and if overthinking was a sport, she should have been signed up for it since birth!  Honestly, I loved the humor, even when it strayed into the "adult" realm of things, and found myself stopping rather often to share a scene or chuckle with those around me.  Now some of it may not be shareable depending on your audience...remember I said she is VERY literal, so there is no dancing around things going on here...but still, I was laughing.  Oh and should I ever need to get into a latex catsuit, I've been sufficiently schooled. (OMG. LOL!)  Anywho...

The majority of the story is filled with Polly's adventures through singledom with the possibly reformed playboy Marquess, Jasper.  We see the ups, the downs, the stolen moments, and trivial banter, all while this romance is blossoming.  I mean, he's fab alright, and turns heads wherever he goes, but sometimes you have to call a spade a spade.  As much as I wanted to believe the fairytale aspect of it, I just couldn't quite put my faith in him.  Even his past connection with her bestie La had me on edge...not that I thought she'd necessarily do something, but one never knows with circumstances, and green-eyed monsters...so when things turn the way they did, I was only half surprised.  Now the ending though, that actually took me places I didn't see coming.  I mean, I enjoyed the "show" and the fallout was handled well, but it felt a bit off.  It didn't seem, even looking back, like it was leading to that particular outcome...so I wasn't displeased, I was just off kilter.

In the end, it was definitely out there, off the wall, and typically British...but I enjoyed it, even with the slight misstep at book's end.  The humor was spot on, the transparency between friends applause worthy, and the characters well worth knowing...well, okay, I would rather kick the one somewhere where the sun doesn't shine, but that's beside the point.  Recommended for ADULT readers of Contemporary Romance who love a good helping of humor pointed at the everyday trials and tribulations of adult life.

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About the author...

Sophia Money-Coutts is a journalist who spent five years studying the British aristocracy while working as Features Director at Tatler. Prior to that she worked as a writer and an editor for The Evening Standard and The Daily Mail in London, and The National in Abu Dhabi.

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Special thanks to Meredith at HarperCollins Publishers for the eARC for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is set to celebrate its BOOK BIRTHDAY May 28th, 2019 (as of this post) via Harper 360, so mark your calendar or pre order your copy today!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!