Paris, 1940: Sisters Justine and Ève Beaufort are close, Justine dreams of being a fashion designer and Ève is waiting to be accepted to study scienceParis, 1940: Sisters Justine and Ève Beaufort are close, Justine dreams of being a fashion designer and Ève is waiting to be accepted to study science at Sorbonne University.
Like all Parisians they were devastated when the Germans invaded France, their mother is busy knitting socks for the young men who fought for France and are now prisoners of war. One day Ève is in the garden when she hears a car door slam, she thinks nothing of it until a German officer arrives and his name is Major Saxe-Mullenheim, he’s seizing art and valuables and young women for himself.
Ève and Justine have no idea that on this day both of their lives will change, after a devastating attack, Justine and Ève find themselves separated from each other and on opposite sides of the war.
While one sister fights to survive, the other joins the resistance, and the story is about the price women pay during a war, not only do they lose their country, freedom and used as pawns, many French women became unwilling mistresses of German officers and were constantly threatened and abused.
Sister at War by Jina Bacarr focuses on two young French women, it highlights the power invaders have over them, thousands of women were sexually assaulted, and the French police didn't do anything.
French citizens considered these women to be traitors, which was really unfair, and as if they had a choice. It's not an easy topic to read about, very confronting and upsetting, Ms. Bacarr gives a voice to the countless women who are abused during a war, and I'm keen to read the next book in the series, Sisters of The Resistance and I hope the two sisters are reunited, understand what each has endured and get revenge.
Four stars from me and a really difficult novel to read and it looks the how women are targeted during war, how helpless and ashamed they feel and it's not their fault....more
Reeve Elliot is happily married to her second husband Luke, she has a teenage daughter Bella and works as a high school teacher. Reeve’s mum passed awReeve Elliot is happily married to her second husband Luke, she has a teenage daughter Bella and works as a high school teacher. Reeve’s mum passed away a year ago from dementia, it’s been tough and especially for her dad Martin.
Jessica Williams is a social worker, she finds placements for children stuck in the system and she was a foster child herself. Out of the blue Jess is contacted by Martin Elliot and he's father, he explains she has a half-sister Reeve and Martin is keen for his daughters to meet.
Jess would love be part of a family, her mum died when she was young and she's lonely. The sisters meet, they both have an open mind and hearts and what could possibly go wrong. Reeve has been having issues with her memory, completely forgets what’s she does and people tell her she’s been doing strange things, she’s worried she has dementia like her mum?
The bond between the sisters deepen, but they have no idea that their new sisterhood will be tested in a way they could never have imagined.
Like the characters, while you are reading the narrative you have to try and sort fact from fiction, it’s full of secrets and lies, tragedy and manipulation, you wonder whose been played and controlled and both Reeve and Jessica wondering who they can trust and are they really sisters after all.
This is the third book I have read by Australian author Louise Guy and it kept my interest the whole way through, full of lot of twist and turns, I highly recommend A Family's Trust if you’re looking for a light on thriller to keep you on the edge of your seat and nothing too scary....more
Olivia and Antonia Montgomery felt their parents focused on their younger sister Mandy who has special needs and she always came first. When their dadOlivia and Antonia Montgomery felt their parents focused on their younger sister Mandy who has special needs and she always came first. When their dad passes away, five weeks later their mum Sara isn’t coping, Toni calls Liv to tell her and she returns to Melbourne.
After they tidy up the house, Liv offers to take Mandy back with her to Sydney and give her mum a break. Barb is Liv's neighbour and she offers for Mandy to stay with her while Liv’s at work and they go on adventures together.
When the sisters were in their teens Liv needed a kidney transplant and Toni was her donor, Liv finds herself in a situation where she can repay Toni and give her a gift she and her husband Jack desperately want.
My Sister’s Baby is another emotional and heart rendering story by Louise Guy it raises awareness to issues and situations people have to deal with. Including parents with adult children with disabilities, many don’t get a break and it's exhausting, should they consider placing into a group housing facility, where they learn to live independently, and it’s not an easy choice to make.
Infertility and the toll it takes on a couple, the stress of raising a young baby, despite desperately wanting one and the challenges new mothers face, and nothing can prepare you for parenthood, it takes a village to raise a child and families can come in different forms.
Five stars from me I highly recommend both My Sister's Baby and Louise Guy’s previous book, A Mother’s Betrayal....more
Janice is a cleaner, she's married to Mike and they have a grown up son Simon. Janice spends her days catching buses, cleaning people’s houses, some oJanice is a cleaner, she's married to Mike and they have a grown up son Simon. Janice spends her days catching buses, cleaning people’s houses, some of her customers are nice to her and others don’t consider she’s a human being and has feelings.
To pass the time while she’s scrubbing a toilet, dusting or doing a task that the home owner despises she notices her clients talk and she puts together their stories. Janice’s head is full of her stories, she has been doing this for as longs as she can remember, some having meaning and others are floating around in her mind.
Being a cleaner is like being invisible, she has heard some downright fascinating and odd things and she never repeats what she's heard. Some of her clients treat her like a friend, Fiona a widow and her son Adam, Geordie the famous opera singer all do and others she creates funny nicknames for. Like Mrs. “YeahYeahYeah” who treats Janice like dirt, the reason she continues to clean her home is because she takes her adorable fox terrier for a walk and they both enjoy getting away from the woman.
Janice starts cleaning for Mrs. B, she's Mrs. YeahYeahYeah’s ninety two year old mother-in-law, she doesn’t want anyone poking their nose in her house in Cambridge and she knows her son is up to know good. Mrs. B is an educated women, she and her late husband were involved in the war and it’s was all very hush hush. Mrs. B wasn’t born yesterday, she might be old and frail but her mind is as sharp as a tack and she's smart. Mrs. B discovers Janice is a keeper of other people stories, she knows Janice has her own important story to tell, she is hiding her true self behind her duster and apron and she's built a wall around her heart and hides her feelings.
I received a copy of The Keeper of Stories from Edelweiss and Blackstone Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The author Sally Page’s debut novel, a delight to read and the characters were so different, unique and fascinating. My favorites were Janice, Fiona, Adam, Decius the vegan dog, Mrs. B, Stan, Euan the bus driver and Fred. A charming story about life, it makes you think, especially about how some people are treated by others, don't let people take you for granted and treat you badly.
I haven’t laughed so much in ages, this book is full of humour, whit and great lines. Mrs. B is an absolute hoot, a legend, utters the odd bad word, she’s flipping marvelous and so is Janice. Five stars from me and I can't wait to read the authors new novel, The Book of Beginnings....more
Madeleine Grant is studying French literature at Sorbonne University, the lonely young English woman meets a charming Frenchman Giles Martin and he swMadeleine Grant is studying French literature at Sorbonne University, the lonely young English woman meets a charming Frenchman Giles Martin and he sweeps her off her feet. The couple marry, they have a son Olivier and when Germany invades Poland and Giles is concerned.
Giles has two reasons why he should be worried, he’s part Jewish and he’s also a communist, he wants to join the resistance and he thinks Madeleine and Oliver should go to England. Madeleine and Olivier reluctantly leave, she and Giles promise they will see each other again and once the war is over.
Madeleine gets a job teaching French at a secondary school, she has to make a difficult choice about Olivier, she discovers during a war nowhere is safe and mix ups can happen.
Madeleine is approached by the Baker Street Irregulars, as she can speak fluent French, she’s recently lived in France and they want to send women into the country and they can mix in with the population and won’t stand out as much as a man. Madeleine passes her training, she’s given a code name and flown to France. Once she lands Madeleine works as a courier and she passes on messages.
Madeleine discovers that being an SOE is dangerous, they warn everyone in training what the Germans are capable of and unfortunately Madeleine discovers this first hand. Madeleine won’t leave any stone unturned to find out what happened to her loved ones, she travels from London to Paris, and back again and even crosses the ocean to Australia.
I received a copy of The Paris Assignment from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for my honest review. Rhys Bowen has written a fast faced paced story about one women's quest for justice, the main character Madeleine never gives up, she’s brave and resilient. I did find the parts of the narrative set in France and during the war a little predictable and over the top. However, Ms. Bowen has done considerable research about what happened in Australia, I'm glad she draws attention to this subject her latest novel and three and a half stars from me. Due to be released on the 8th of August 2023 and please read and make up your own mind about The Paris Assignment....more
Beatrice moves to Italy to work as an English tutor, with the threat of war clouds looming she isn't worried until she finds herself stranded in the cBeatrice moves to Italy to work as an English tutor, with the threat of war clouds looming she isn't worried until she finds herself stranded in the country and declared an enemy alien. Beatrice is very lucky to meet Francesca, she takes her home to Villa delle Colombe and to meet her husband Edoardo. He knows the peace in the valley won’t last, he and his workers build a maze made out of cypress and it’s his backup plan. Francesca takes in children, who have lost their homes due to the war, soon the children are rosy-cheeked and healthy. When the Allies sign an armistice with Italy, their peaceful valley in Tuscany becomes ruled by the Germans and the fighting gets closer.
The story has a dual timeline and it’s told from the two main characters Beatrice and Tess’s points of view, from 1940 to 2015, seventy five years apart and it's easy to follow.
Tess arrives at Villa delle Colombe for a holiday, Beatrice is an old school friend of her mothers and is delighted to have her stay. Tess is a young widow, she’s struggling with the death of her husband and Tuscany is the perfect place to find some solace. Beatrice is notified the new owner of the villa has been found and Tess helps her get it ready and make him feel welcome. Marco is a young man from Rome, he's walking around taking photos and notes and they have a horrible feeling he’s going to sell it to a developer.
Beatrice decides it’s time for her to share her war time experiences, she asks Tess to write it down for her, and she discovers it was safe haven not only for Beatrice, local men hiding from being conscripted, children, members of the resistance and an allied soldier. Maybe this will help Beatrice make peace with the past, Tess as well and Marco to understand the villa was a safe haven for his father as a child.
I received a copy of The Cypress Maze by Fiona Valpy from NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK in exchange for an honest review. Once again Ms. Valpy has written a historical fiction story that makes you feel a connection with the characters and what happens to them. Set in beautiful Tuscany, you can picture in your mind the rose and vegetable gardens, children playing in the maze and Silvana cooking pasta in the kitchen.
I found it interesting reading about how the estate was self significant, growing it's own fruit and vegetables and during the hard war years they gathered herbs, mushrooms and other plants, and when food and medicine was scarce. It’s also a story about grief, something Beatrice has experience with and she’s helps Tess cope with her feelings of loss and the maze's secret is finally revealed. I have been a fan of Ms. Valpy's since I read her first book, The Beekeeper's Promise, she written another interesting dual timeline story you can totally immerse yourself in and five stars from me....more
Emma Dean’s husband died over ten years ago, she thought they had a happy marriage, until she cleans out Harry’s office and discovers he'd been cheatiEmma Dean’s husband died over ten years ago, she thought they had a happy marriage, until she cleans out Harry’s office and discovers he'd been cheating on her. Emma’s upset, she mourned Harry when he died suddenly and now she’s questioning everything about their relationship, she feels betrayed and foolish.
Emma has lived in Wyndham Beach her whole life, she has the support of her best friends Maggie Flynn and Liddy Bryant and her only child Christopher. Emma’s son Christopher is the lead singer in a band, he’s been very successful and he’s dating Maggie’s daughter Natalie.
To take her mind of her unfaithful husband, Emma focuses on her latest project, she’s remodeling cabins for six artists to live and work from. At the end of their three month sabbatical, they will exhibit their art in her center she founded and hopefully make some money.
Emma hasn’t dated since Harry passed away, Owen Harrison's family own a historical house in Wyndham Beach and the busy entrepreneur occasionally visits. Emma’s considering if she and Owen could possibly have a long distance relationship, when a little girl rings her door bell, and she’s sure that Emma’s her long lost grandmother?
Emma's world is turned upside down, she contacts Chris and he has never heard of Winnie’s mother. Emma feels sorry for Winnie, she’s only eight years old, Emma looks after her and while they try to locate her mum. Emma is also worried about one of the artists, her husband is abusive and what will happen if he finds her? After having a heart to heart discussion with Stella, it makes Emma question some of her late husband’s behavior and how he treated her!
I really enjoyed the two previous books in the Wyndham Beach Series; The Invincible Summer and Goodbye Again by Mariah Stewart and now it’s time to read about Emma's life and what will test her faith, strength, and resilience. I really liked the three main characters of Maggie, Liddy and Emma, they have a close friendship, and all three have faced adversity, they take on life’s challenges and hiccups together, Emma is lucky to have two wonderful friends, their unconditional support and the community of Wyndham Beach. Four stars from me, I wish the narrative focused more on Emma's relationship with Owen and less on everyone else....more
Clancy Parker lives in the Australian high country and she grows peony flowers and at Glenwood Station. Clancy is a down to earth country girl, she loClancy Parker lives in the Australian high country and she grows peony flowers and at Glenwood Station. Clancy is a down to earth country girl, she loves living in the Snowy Mountains and the closest town is Bundilla. Clancy and her best friend Brenna are members of the book club, sometimes they don’t get around to reading the novel and they try!
Heath MacBride left Bundilla ten years ago, he’s a successful artist and he’s been given the opportunity to paint the towns water tower. Heath’s parents own Hawk Ridge, it’s been in his mother’s family for generations and he doesn’t have a good relationship with his cattleman father. The city boy is back in town, his father isn’t pleased to see him and everyone else is. Heath is staying at the Coach House, it's at Glenwood Station and he’s a friend of Clancy’s brother Rowan.
Heath is a few years older than Clancy, he did notice his friends little sister was starting to blossom before he left town years ago and now she’s a stunning young woman. Clancy's always had a crush on Heath, she is a country girl and Heath's based in the city and he has no plans of staying in Bundilla any longer than necessary.
Heath plans of getting out of town quickly go out the window, his mum needs his help, and he enjoys spending time with Clancy and his friends, and Bundy the towns wandering kelpie becomes his painting companion. When a family secret is uncovered, it has Heath questioning his future, plans and will he be able to leave Clancy?
I really enjoyed reading Snowy Mountains Daughter by Alissa Callen, it’s the first book in the Bundella Novels Series and I’m very keen to read the next book, Snowy Mountains Cattleman. The story is set in the picturesque Snowy Mountains and with an Aussie country theme. Add in some gossip, utes and dogs, painting a local landmark and a good bakery, the growing attraction between Heath and Clancy, this small town girl loved the narrative and five stars from me....more
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