RRR presents... THE LOST DAUGHTERS OF THE UKRAINE by Erin Litteken - REVIEW!

Historical Fiction is a genre that I've really come to love. The chance to experience times and events through someone else's eyes can be astounding, and while I know I could read more true life recollections, I prefer the advantage of the novel format. I appreciate the history shared, but with a bit of artistic license to bring a bit of light to the darkness. Let's take a closer look at today's ebook of choice and Rachel's Random Resources tour guest for a prime example...

The Lost Daughters of Ukraine

by

Erin Litteken 

Boldwood Books 

About the book...

A story of the strength of the human spirit, the personal cost of conflict and how love can be found even in the darkest times.

Summer 1941. War rages in Europe. The Germans march towards Ukraine. Halya, Liliya and Vika are no strangers to sorrow. They lost family during the Holodomor, loved ones in Stalin's purges, and war looms once more on the horizon.

Vika lives in fear for her children. She and her sister survived the terror famine by leaving their whole family behind. Now, years later, many believe the Germans will free them from the Soviets, but she’s not so sure. Should they stay in Volhynia or flee the approaching Eastern front?

Liliya has lost too much in her 17 years. As those around her join the resistance, Liliya wonders how she can fight for her friends, family, and country. When the choice is made for her, can she find the will to survive and protect those still with her?

Twelve-year-old Halya is struggling to discover who she is. But as the war escalates, can her mother Katya’s tactics keep her safe from the Nazi soldiers rounding up slave laborers? How can a child survive the horrors of war on her own?

These daughters of Ukraine will face devastation and loss as they fight to survive and protect the ones they love.

A gripping page-turner of love, loss and resilience for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

AMAZON

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I read the first novel penned by this particular author and was absolutely floored. It was a time period I was familiar with, but from a countrymen I was not, and events I had only heard mention of in passing. Being brought into those harrowing times but then, and in this new work, takes your breath away. 

The atrocities endured are astounding. To lose one's country to one enemy, only to have it taken by another, making your homeland the continual battlefield for so much time is beyond belief, and yet a historical truth. Reading about things that sound so BEYOND and yet were realities is mind blowing. The things people endured, were exposed to, and survived... make your heart simply ache... but not everything shared was so grim. There were moments of stillness where they could just be. There were times when the darkness was so complete, and yet hope still endured. There were pockets of love that were uncovered unexpectedly, but cherished that much more for their rarity.

It's a heartbreaking, yet beautiful story about the strength of a people to survive, endure, and blossom, beyond the expectations of their captors to create a life worth living in a world not ruled by hatred, but hope. A great pick for Historical Fiction fans that you won't want to miss!

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About the author...

Erin Litteken is a debut novelist with a degree in history and a passion for research. At a young age, she was enthralled by stories of her family’s harrowing experiences in Ukraine before, during and after World War II. Her first historical fiction title, drawing on those experiences, will be published by Boldwood in June 2022. She lives in Illinois, USA with her husband and children.

TWITTER  |  INSTAGRAM  |  BOOK BUB

NEWSLETTER

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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you and to Boldwood Books for the ecopy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. Be sure to check out the rest of tour for more bookish fun!

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

RRR presents... The Memory Keeper of Kyiv by Erin Litteken - REVIEW!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

It's another two-fer day which means I do a bit more blogging at once, and you reap all the rewards...well, not completely true because my reward happened when I read the book and also in the chance to share it with all of you, but let's not split hairs. The second title in the spotlight today is in a class of its own, and while I want to explain further the momentous novel you're about to encounter, I think the proper introductions should speak first. Ladies and gents, prepare yourselves for a story you won't soon forget....

The Memory Keeper of Kyiv

by

Erin Litteken

Boldwood Books

About the book...

In the 1930s, Stalin’s activists marched through the Soviet Union, espousing the greatness of collective farming. It was the first step in creating a man-made famine that, in Ukraine, stole almost 4 million lives. Inspired by the history the world forgot, and the Russian government denies, Erin Litteken reimagines their story.

In 1929, Katya is 16 years old, surrounded by family and in love with the boy next door. When Stalin’s activists arrive in her village, it’s just a few, a little pressure to join the collective. But soon neighbors disappear, those who speak out are never seen again and every new day is uncertain.

Resistance has a price, and as desperate hunger grips the countryside, survival seems more a dream than a possibility. But, even in the darkest times, love beckons.

Seventy years later, a young widow discovers her grandmother’s journal, one that will reveal the long-buried secrets of her family’s haunted past.

This is a story of the resilience of the human spirit, the love that sees us through our darkest hours and the true horror of what happened during the Holodomor.

May we never forget, lest history repeat itself.

A share of proceeds will be donated to DEC's Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

AMAZON

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It's a Historical Fiction novel that could have been ripped from the headlines, yet centers on horrific events that transpired in the 1930s. Here's the thing though, it's not just about those hardships, those terrors, those things that they had to make it through to try to get to a better day...it's about the people. Their toughness of spirit, their courageous hearts, their willingness to take on the living you-know-where that their villages turned into, all because of the greed of a power, nay a person, that couldn't leave well enough alone. It's about a family that was use to celebrating each day with loved ones, and neighbors, who now had to second guess who they could trust. It's about the beauty that can be found in the midst of great darkness, and the forgiveness given without having ever dared asked the question. It's a story that will move you in both past and present timelines because you have a heart. I was captured fully by Katya's youthful exuberance in the face of evil, but equally so by little Birdie trying to find her voice once again. I was torn apart by the seemingly endless losses suffered by this family, let alone their people as a whole, but once again equally so by the heartache Cassie, Anne, and Bobby were trying to rise above.

I was quite literally brought to tears several times, and whether it was due to the inescapable sorrows that abounded in the past, or the remarkable revelations unfolding in the present, I couldn't honestly say because the story held me by the heartstrings from start to finish. It's one of those works that makes you sit up and take note. Though a fiction novel, it shares a time in history that isn't as well known worldwide...or at least it wasn't by me, but you can bet I'll be learning more about it, and in truth, I hope the world does too. History repeats itself when we haven't learned enough from it the first time to move forward, make amends, and try a new way. A time like this should have never existed in the first place...and yet here we are, watching updates on the current situation around the world, and I can't help but pray it ends before it gets any worse.

A breathtaking work of Historical Fiction that will echo in your heart long after the last page has turned....

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About the author...

Erin Litteken is a debut novelist with a degree in history and a passion for research. At a young age, she was enthralled by stories of her family’s harrowing experiences in Ukraine before, during and after World War II. Her first historical fiction title, drawing on those experiences, will be published by Boldwood in June 2022. She lives in Illinois, USA with her husband and children.

TWITTER  |  INSTAGRAM  |  BOOK BUB

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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you and to Boldwood Books for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. Be sure to check out the rest of tour for more bookish fun!

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

Silver Dagger Book Tours presents... SEEDS OF LOVE: A Romance Charity Anthology to benefit Ukraine - SPOTLIGHT + GIVEAWAY!

 

Seeds of Love

A Romance Charity Anthology to benefit Ukraine

You can help us make a difference.

SEEDS OF LOVE is a romance anthology to benefit Ukraine. This collection of short romance stories is not available anywhere else. 100% of the royalties will be donated to United Help Ukraine, a charitable organization dedicated to helping the Ukrainian people affected by Russia’s invasion. They are a grassroots, entirely volunteer-based organization that provides aid to wounded Ukrainian warriors, assistance to their families, and support to internally displaced people.

This anthology features 45 authors. The stories include various sub-genres of contemporary romance, paranormal romance, dark romance, and romantic comedy.

SEEDS OF LOVE is only available for a limited time! Stand with the people of Ukraine and get your copy today!

Participating authors:
Amber Garr, Amy Thorn, Barb Shuler, Brooke Summers, Cassidy London, Cyndi Faria, D.M. Davis, Dakota Willink, DD Lorenzo, Denise Wells, E.H. Lyon, Emery LeeAnn, Erica Himy, Fei Marie Perez, Gabbi Black, Gabbi Grey, Hannah Blake, Heather G Harris, Jenna Lynn, JS Mercier, KA Graham, Kaje Harper, Kelly Kelsey, Lane Bellemore, LC Taylor, Liz Durano, LJ Evans, Lux Miller, Mel Walker, Miranda Grant, M Guida, Pandora Snow, Persephone Autumn, Raisa Greywood, Ramsey Savage, Shelly Hixson, Sophia Henry, Stella Moore, Syd Ryan, Tara Conrad, Tiffany Carby, Vi Summers, Vivian Murdoch, Willow Fox, Yolanda Olson

Add to Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$10 Amazon

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Upcoming Release: Under This Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell

Hello again, and welcome to another installment of Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers! For those of you that follow my blog, quick update on my little dog...she's doing well! Vet's couldn't find what caused the seizure, but no more have occurred and she's back to her frisky self! =0) Anywho...I took a bit of the down time this weekend to read an ARC (advance reader copy) book that I received courtesy of B&N First Look Book Club (thanks, B&N!). Having finished same said book, it's time to post a review! Today's book choice is....

Under This Unbroken Sky

by

Shandi Mitchell

This is the story of Maria and Teodor Mykolayenko's journey to Canada as Ukrainian immigrants trying to start a new life away from the terrors of their home country. Upon their arrival, the beauty and magic of the land sweep them away...promising both riches and land for those willing to seek them. Setting up a homestead on an acquired piece of land, promise and hope were their constant companions....that is until the price to keep their living standards reasonable becomes too high and their dreams are ripped from under their feet. Told to vacant the land and all that it holds, the family would eventually starve, ceasing to see another sunrise. Teodor had no intention of sentencing his family to a slow death and so steals a load of the precious grain to aid in rebuilding their shattered dreams. Alas, theft is punishable in any society and he is sent off to prison for 2 years to pay for his crimes. Upon his return from this dark abyss, his family is waiting, hoping and praying for his safety as well as their own. Little do they know how much their prayers are needed.....

I found the story both beautiful and tragic all at the same time. You can honestly see that the characters love each other, but the ways in which it is expressed become twisted under the influence of others and material things. The land connects them all as it is their means of survival. Without it, they perish; with it, they squabble amongst themselves as they all try to claim more than their fair share. The story is believable; the characters created from both the heart's joy and utmost despair. The ending, sad enough to bring tears to your eyes.

With the praise and glory must come critical analysis as well....sorry but my blog IS about what I thought of the book, not just a cover story on the next big thing! The writing style itself is what irked me the most. This review is about a book. The book has not been released. It will be released this year. (Don't worry, I'm not having spasms nor is my blog being hacked...this is to prove a point.) The sentences are very short and choppy (like the last set). Also there is a little too much used in the way of describing things. For example, almost one page is dedicated to a gentleman picking up a spoon to sip soup. Far be it from me to tell anyone how to write, but I'm afraid not everyone has the attention span to last through a few sections within these pages.

Now, don't turn your back on this title entirely as just because it was not my own personal favorite cup of tea, does not mean it has no merit! I will definitely admit that when I started the book I was hard pressed to keep reading (look back at my critical analysis if you are wondering why), however, by the story's end I was glad that I stuck with it as the twists and turns hidden between the pages drew you in to the final conclusion. The release date (at the time of this post) is early September 2009. If you like stories of survival, or even novels historical in nature, look for this book's arrival in a store near you!

Feel free to leave your comments and feedback!

Until next time....happy reading!