Escape From Amsterdam, Heroines of WW II #7 by Lauralee Bliss

Book description: 

 A University Student Smuggles Children Out of Amsterdam

Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.

Helen Smit believed she was called by God to become a teacher. Little does she know that her care for kids will take a drastic turn for survival when the Germans occupy Amsterdam and Jewish children and parents begin to be deported. Now all she can think of is helping all the kids escape before it’s too late.

Erik Misman’s newfound love for Helen is tested when he joins a plot to help move Jewish children to a safe place in the countryside. If danger can foster a closer bond with Helen a/nd save the lives of the little ones, he will do it all. But a German patrol that stumbles upon the farm where they are hiding with three children and a soldier who takes an unexpected interest in Helen, could well destroy their plans for safety and love.

My review: 

   This book is set during the German occupation of the Netherlands during World War II. It is the first book I have read by this author, and she did a great job of holding my attention.

  The book was entertaining, engaging, and also sobering. Helen and Erik were likable characters, and though they were fictional, their actions and things that happened in the book are things that actually happened and that people did. Fiction is such a great medium for stories like this. There are those who claim the Holocaust never happened, but this book did such a great job of reminding the reader of the harsh reality that it did indeed exist, and though much evil was done, there were real life heroes like the fictional ones in this book that risked everything to save lives of the Jewish people.

  There is a lot of suspenseful moments in the book. One hopes and believes that everything is going to work out, but the author wove the story in such a way that it still had me on the edge of my seat hoping for the best.

  Romance does play a part in the book, but it is not the main focus of the book, and is done well. 

  Though this book is a reminder of some very dark days in our world's history, and of such evil that rules for too long, it was a great read and also a great reminder of the good people at that time who persevered in spite of the forces against them

I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author:

Lauralee Bliss is a published author of over thirty Christian romance novels and novellas in both historical and contemporary with nearly 600,000 sold. In 2018 she received a 25-book published award from ACFW. Her recent releases are Escape from Amsterdam and two books in the Angel Series - Christmas Angels of Virginia and Angel in the Crossroad.

Lauralee enjoys writing books reminiscent of a roller coaster ride for the reader. Her desire is for readers to come away with an entertaining story and a lesson that ministers to the heart. Her new imprint HeartSoul Press exemplifies this.

Lauralee is also an avid hiker, hiking the entire Appalachian Trail twice from Georgia to Maine and from Maine to Georgia, one of only 24 women to accomplish this feat. She has also completed other trails totaling over 10,000 miles including the Florida Trail of which her Florida Trail adventure "Gators, Guts and Glory" is part of the Hiking Adventure Series along with Mountains, Madness and Miracles - 4000 Miles Along the Appalachian Trail.

Check out her website: lauraleebliss.com. 

Escape From Amsterdam is available from Barbour Publishing.

Thanks to Barbour for the review copy.

Check out the other books in the Heroines of WW II Series:

The Secrets of Emberwild by Stephenia H. McGee

Book description:

 A gifted trainer in a time women are not allowed to race, Nora Fenton prefers horses to men. They're easier to handle, they're more reliable, and they never tell her what to do. After her father's passing, Nora is determined to save her struggling horse farm, starting with entering her prize colt into the harness races at the 1905 Mississippi and West Alabama Fair. If she wins, she may have a chance at independence. But when a stranger arrives and starts asking disconcerting questions, she suspects he may have other motives than unseating her in the training job that is rightfully hers.

Silas Cavallero will do whatever it takes to solve the mystery of his father's death--even if it means training an unwieldy colt for Nora, who wants nothing more than to see him gone. But when mysterious accidents threaten their safety and circumstances shrouded in secrets begin unlocking clues to his past, Silas will have to decide if the truth is worth the risk of ruining everything for the feisty woman he's come to admire.

My review:

  This is the first book that I have reviewed by this author, though I have read a few of her other books since requesting this one for review. I have enjoyed each one, including this. I actually thought this book was a contemporary novel until I started reading it, but would have requested it anyway.

  I would not identify as a lover of horses, but like them well enough. The author wrote a great historical romance with some suspense built in all around horses and made it an interesting and exciting read. 

  There were characters to both like and dislike in the book, and fortunately the two main characters fell into the likeable camp. Silas was on a quest to solve the death of his father from 15 years before, something he felt was connected to Emberwild. Nora was a woman determined not to be bound to what was viewed as proper behavior for a young woman of her age. And there were forces set on stopping both of them from succeeding. 

 I enjoyed the book a lot. The slow moving romance between the drifter/hired hand and the lady of the "manor" was interesting enough, but there was also horse training, an overbearing uncle,  bad guys, mysterious accidents, and the 15 year old murder or mysterious death of Silas' father to solve.

 There were a few surprises along the way, but I had my suspicions about a couple of characters that were correct, and about something else I won't say as to avoid spoilers. The book wasn't what I would call predictable, but I am always happy when I can guess correctly on at least a couple of things.....and I did.

 I will say that Silas became the hero of the story that was evident from page one, and Nora got what she wanted in the end after all, no matter how unlikely it looked for a while.

 This is the author's first book from a major publisher, and she has delivered them a great novel full of romance, suspense, drama......and of course: horses. 

I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author:

Stephenia H. McGee is the award-winning author of many stories of faith, hope, and healing set in the Deep South, including The Secrets of Emberwild. When she's not reading or sipping sweet tea on the front porch, she's a writer, dreamer, husband spoiler, and busy mom of two rambunctious boys. Learn more at www.stepheniamcgee.com.

   Secrets of Emberwild will be available October 4 from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

  Thanks to Revell for the review copy.

Honor Bound, Love and Honor #1 by Hallee Bridgeman

Book description:

 You can't override the heart

It may seem odd to seek peace by moving to a war-torn African country, but for medical missionary Dr. Cynthia Myers, it provided a way to escape a shallow life of unearned wealth, a philandering fiancé, and a father now square in the public eye as vice president of the United States. At least here she knows her work and life have meaning. But all that is thrown into chaos when she fails to save the life of a local warlord's mortally wounded son.

As part of the Army Special Forces A-Team on a mission to capture and subdue the warlord, Captain Rick Norton is compelled to use deadly force to save Cynthia's life. Enraged at the violence she witnessed and riddled with guilt that men died because of her, Cynthia doesn't want to like anything about Rick and his team--but an unexpected attraction is taking hold.

With two members of his team badly injured and rebels in hot pursuit, Rick will have to draw upon all his strength and cunning to get her out alive . . . because he's beginning to think that, despite their differences, they just may be able to make a life together.

My review:
  I ran across this author a few months ago and downloaded a few free e-books by her, but had not read them yet. Then this book came up for review, her first with a major Christian publisher. I was intrigued, and requested it. It is one of the best first reads by a new-to-me author I have read for a while.

  The two main characters are pure gold. They far from hit it off at first meeting, and are totally opposites. She is a pacifist against killing, and is a doctor who saves lives. He is a soldier who kills to save others. One funny scene: he is going in to see his injured men, and she made him leave his guns outside, and attempted to make him leave his gun also. He replies that he is a weapon, and that anything within his reach can be used as a weapon. "Comes down to it, I could strangle you with my boxers or smother you with my socks. You want me to leave them outside too?"

  I enjoy military fiction, and this author's first (I think) attempt at it was a home run out of the park. I loved the team of guys she created, and found myself chuckling at their nicknames: Swanson was "pot pie", Fisher was "Trout", Sanders was "drum stick". One thing I really like and enjoy in a book is the back and forth between characters, and Bridgeman did an excellent job on that....especially between the two main characters, Rick and Cynthia.

 The drama and suspense were also well done, along with the descriptive writing. I could easily see in my mind the places they were traveling to get out of the danger they found themselves in. I felt pulled into the book, and the action and danger seemed so realistic and well written, that it felt like a true glimpse into what our special forces soldiers face and go through.

  Through the arguing and discussion between Rick and Cynthia about her pacifism and the killing and violence he and his men regularly faced and did, the author addressed the issue of Christian men in the military having to kill. Though fictional, I enjoyed reading about Rick's Christian experience and walk as a special forces soldier, and how he unwound when on leave. And thanks to the author, I have been hungry for a good hamburger because of all  the talk of eating them in the book.

  I loved this book, and it is truly one of the best Christian military type books I have read. If this is an indication of the author's writing talent and abilities, I definitely need to read more of her work.

 The only complaint I have: I felt the ending was a bit rushed, and wished the author had made that part of the story a little more detailed.....maybe included an epilogue. 

 Something unusual about this trilogy: This first novel released this month. The second will release October 4, and the third will release November 1. I am looking forward to reading the other two, and thankfully will not have to wait long.

I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author:

Hallee Bridgeman is the USA Today bestselling author of several action-packed romantic suspense books and series. An Army brat turned Floridian, Hallee and her husband finally settled in central Kentucky, where they have raised their three children. When she's not writing, Hallee pursues her passion for cooking, coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. An accomplished speaker and active member of several writing organizations, Hallee can be found online at www.halleebridgeman.com.

 Check out her website for a few free e-books, the first ones in a few series.

  Honor Bound is available from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Revell for the review copy.

                                                     Book #2 releasing October 4, 2022

                                                Book #3 releasing November 1, 2022

A Gem of Truth, Secrets of the Canyon #2 by Kimberly Woodhouse

 

Book description:

Escaping her shattered past is much more difficult than she imagined.

Julia Schultz has a reputation for being a storyteller, or as others see it, a liar. But with her dark and painful past, stories are all that have kept her company throughout her life. Longing for a fresh start and a second chance to earn real trust, Julia takes a job as a Harvey Girl at the El Tovar Hotel, where she's challenged to be her true self.

Learning the trade of a master jeweler is hard work, but Christopher Miller takes pride in running his family's small shop and earning the respect of the people around him. But when he discovers that he has six weeks to buy his building from his landlord before it is sold, he must find a way to save his grandfather's legacy.

United by the discovery of a legendary treasure, Chris and Julia find hope in each other. But when Julia's past catches up with her, doubt creeps into Chris's heart. Can he really trust her and her stories?

My review:

   To me, this author has become synonymous with quality Christian fiction, and I have enjoyed every book of hers that I have read. My favorite genre' is mystery/suspense, but she is one author who has pulled me into the historical fiction genre'. Many of her books do have some kind of mystery or suspense element to it, as this one did.

  A Gem of Truth, just like the book it follows - A Deep Divide - is set in the early 1900's at the El Tovar Hotel at the Grand Canyon. A hotel that I found out by Googling is still in business. (A fact I found cool).

  Though the setting was the same as the first book, the plot was different. This one involved a legend, a treasure, and bad guys who wanted that treasure.

 It also had two different main characters: Julia, a "Harvey Girl" waitress at the hotel.....and Christopher, a jeweler who lived in Williams, a town around 52 miles from the El Tovar Hotel. (Googled that also!)

  One of the main themes of the book was honesty. To cover up her past, Julia had a bad habit of spinning elaborate stories that supposedly happened to her, but did not. On the other hand, Christopher valued honesty. Woodhouse always has spiritual lessons scattered throughout her books, and this was the most predominant one in The Gem of Truth. Using the medium of fiction, and using the Bible in that fiction,  the author showed how important honesty is.

  I enjoyed visiting the historical hotel again through this book, and learning more about the hotel, Harvey girls, and learning about lapidary. (Had to Google the definition of that one.) There is much one can learn from fiction, and especially historical fiction. I have found this author to be one who obviously does a lot of research before she writes a historical novel/trilogy, and she is one who I have learned some things from. All by reading a novel.

  The book had a lot of mystery and suspense, and a few surprises....which I cannot give away, or they would not be surprises to readers.

  And Julia ends up in a bit of hot water where her past dishonesty causes her some problems, a lesson for all.

 Woodhouse has again penned a great historical novel that not only entertains, but inspires, teaches, and even convicts a bit.

I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author:

Kimberley Woodhouse (www.kimberleywoodhouse.com) is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than 25 fiction and nonfiction books. Kim and her incredible husband of 30-plus years live in the Poconos, where they play golf together, spend time with their kids and grandbaby, and research all the history around them.

 A Gem of Truth will be available September 20 from Bethany House Publishers, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

 Thanks to Bethany House for the review copy.

                                                                        Book #1

Book #3, releases January 2023

Deception, Natchez Trace Park Rangers #4 by Patricia Bradley

Book description:

She refuses to let someone from her past define her future.

But does she really have a choice in the matter?

After being forced to kill an FBI agent gone rogue in self-defense, ISB ranger Madison Thorn is happy to be working in the fraud and cybercrimes division. At least numbers don't lie. So she's less than thrilled when she's drawn into a violent crime investigation in Natchez, Mississippi. She could also do without being forced to work with former-childhood-enemy-turned-infuriatingly-handsome park ranger Clayton Bradshaw.

When a woman who looks just like Madison is attacked on the same night Madison's grandfather is shot, it becomes clear that there is something much bigger going on . . . and that Madison herself is in danger. Madison and Clayton will have to work together--and suppress their growing feelings for one another--if they are to discover the truth before it's too late.

My review:

    This may be the best book in this four book series. I had requested it to review, and for some reason kept putting off reading it. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down and read it in one sitting, other than drink and restroom breaks.

   There is a lot that goes on in this book. It is not a slow moving mystery where the characters have a lot of downtime. The suspense and drama are pretty much non-stop, and had me wanting to read as fast as I could. The book seemed long (386 pages), and I felt I would never get to the end to find out the guilty party or parties....yet the ending seemed to come all too quickly.

  The author had a great handful of suspects, and I am proud to say I was right on a couple of things.....but will give no spoilers. Madison and Clayton made a great team, and Clayton was made all the more likable and relatable with the addictions he had to fight. Perfect characters are annoying and unrealistic.

   Deception is a romantic suspense novel, and there was not a ton of that in the book. It was more of a slow burn, and attraction was put out there a lot, though the characters did not act on it as much as is common in these kind of books.

  Even though I guessed correctly on a couple of things, the book was still full of surprises....such as Dani. Read the book to find out why...... 

  I was quite satisfied with the ending, and have that satisfied feeling after reading a great novel. It was time well spent.

 I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author: 

Patricia Bradley is the author of Standoff, Obsession, and Crosshairs, as well as the Memphis Cold Case novels and Logan Point series. Bradley won an Inspirational Reader's Choice Award in Romantic Suspense, a Daphne du Maurier Award, and a Touched by Love Award; she was a Carol Award finalist; and three of her books were included in anthologies that debuted on the USA Today bestseller list. She is cofounder of Aiming for Healthy Families, Inc., and she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Sisters in Crime. Bradley makes her home in Mississippi. Learn more at www.ptbradley.com.

Deception is available from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Revell for the review copy.

Check out the rest of the Natchez Trace Park Rangers Series:

                                                                              Book #1

                                                     

                                                                         Book #2

Book #3