Once A Midwife (Hope River #3) by Patricia Harman – 5 strong points

What a great book.  So very interesting.  It’s about Patience Hester a midwife who has a practice during the beginning of World War II.  Her husband is a conscientious objector but won’t register for the draft as one.  He served during World War I and he absolutely doesn’t want to kill anyone.  He puts his family in a very uncomfortable position as he an be jailed for this.  Bitsy, Patience’s old friend comes back to Hope River and she helps a lot with the midwife business and supports her friend.  Bitsy happens to be African American.  She brings a young man with her who she treats as her son.  She does get a job in the factory that makes things for the war, falls in love with the boss who happens to be white and that’s another problem because they wish to marry.  That in many states is illegal.  The story was very interesting from the beginning to the end.  I found the book enthralling and a fast read.  I loved the book.  I have never read the other books in this series and that didn’t keep me from enjoying this book.  I do hope at some point to read the others.  Great book!

I receive the book from Good Reads and the publisher as promotional material for which I’m publishing this review which is my own opinion.

Description as Found On Good Reads:

Welcome back to Hope River in New York Times bestselling author Patricia Harman’s newest novel as midwife Patience Hester, along with her family and friends, face the challenges of the home front during World War II.

The women of Hope River trust midwife Patience Hester, whose skill in delivering babies is known for miles around. But though the Great Depression is behind them, troubles are not, for Europe is at war…and it can only be a matter of time before the U.S. enters the fray.

And while some are eager to join the fight, Patience’s husband, Daniel, is not. Daniel is a patriot—but he saw too much bloodshed during the First World War, and has vowed never to take up arms again.

His stance leaves Patience and their four children vulnerable—to the neighbors who might judge them, and to the government, who imprison Daniel for his beliefs.

Patience must support their family and fight for her husband’s release despite her own misgivings. And with need greater than ever, she must also keep her practice running during this tumultuous time…relying on generous friends, like Bitsy, who has returned to Hope River, stalwart neighbors, and her own indomitable strength to see them all through

The Tattooist of Auschwitz – Heather Morris – 5 Stars!!

I’ve never read anything by this author.  I will in the future.  This book was one that grabbed me from the first page.  I couldn’t put it down, I carried it around from room to room and finished it quickly.  I loved the story, it wasn’t a pleasant story of course because of the subject matter, but Heather Morris did her best with the historical background.  She drew me in and kept me captive till the last page.  If you have read stories about Auschwitz, or not, this story stands out from the rest.  As soon as I saw the cover of the book, I knew I wanted to read it.  I’m so glad that I did.  It was a captivating, moving story. I recommend it highly!

I bought this book from Costco, and thought it needed a great review so that others will pick it up and read it also.

The description of the book as found online:

The #1 International Bestseller & New York Times Bestseller

This beautiful, illuminating tale of hope and courage is based on interviews that were conducted with Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov—an unforgettable love story in the midst of atrocity.

“The Tattooist of Auschwitz is an extraordinary document, a story about the extremes of human behavior existing side by side: calculated brutality alongside impulsive and selfless acts of love. I find it hard to imagine anyone who would not be drawn in, confronted and moved. I would recommend it unreservedly to anyone, whether they’d read a hundred Holocaust stories or none.”—Graeme Simsion, internationally-bestselling author of The Rosie Project

In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover that he speaks several languages, he is put to work as a Tätowierer (the German word for tattooist), tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisoners.

Imprisoned for over two and a half years, Lale witnesses horrific atrocities and barbarism—but also incredible acts of bravery and compassion. Risking his own life, he uses his privileged position to exchange jewels and money from murdered Jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners alive.

One day in July 1942, Lale, prisoner 32407, comforts a trembling young woman waiting in line to have the number 34902 tattooed onto her arm. Her name is Gita, and in that first encounter, Lale vows to somehow survive the camp and marry her.

A vivid, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful re-creation of Lale Sokolov's experiences as the man who tattooed the arms of thousands of prisoners with what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is also a testament to the endurance of love and humanity under the darkest possible conditions.

Year One: Chapter 1: Chronicles of The One, Book 1- by Nora Roberts – 5 Stars

This is NOT Nora Roberts usual romance.  There is romance in the book but it is not the main story, it is a thing that happens in the middle of people fighting for their lives.  This was so exciting to read…heart pumping….people dying left and right but some people living and they know not why.  They band together to fight those that are evil people who lived who like to take and destroy lives and living.  There are fairies and shape shifters and people who can just look at a candle and light it….and then bigger things.  I never thought I would like to read a book that had these types of people in them….but I was hooked.  I’m now reading book 2….no spoilers from me but it seems to be just as great.  You won’t want to put this one down and it will stay with you after the last pages.  Buy this book!  I did and it was so unexpectedly great!

I thought I would leave a review as this book was so great it needed to get the word out.  Buy it you won’t be disappointed!

Review as found online:

A stunning new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author—an epic of hope and horror, chaos and magic, and a journey that will unite a desperate group of people to fight the battle of their lives…

It began on New Year’s Eve.

The sickness came on suddenly, and spread quickly. The fear spread even faster. Within weeks, everything people counted on began to fail them. The electrical grid sputtered; law and government collapsed—and more than half of the world’s population was decimated.

Where there had been order, there was now chaos. And as the power of science and technology receded, magic rose up in its place. Some of it is good, like the witchcraft worked by Lana Bingham, practicing in the loft apartment she shares with her lover, Max. Some of it is unimaginably evil, and it can lurk anywhere, around a corner, in fetid tunnels beneath the river—or in the ones you know and love the most.

As word spreads that neither the immune nor the gifted are safe from the authorities who patrol the ravaged streets, and with nothing left to count on but each other, Lana and Max make their way out of a wrecked New York City. At the same time, other travelers are heading west too, into a new frontier. Chuck, a tech genius trying to hack his way through a world gone offline. Arlys, a journalist who has lost her audience but uses pen and paper to record the truth. Fred, her young colleague, possessed of burgeoning abilities and an optimism that seems out of place in this bleak landscape. And Rachel and Jonah, a resourceful doctor and a paramedic who fend off despair with their determination to keep a young mother and three infants in their care alive.

In a world of survivors where every stranger encountered could be either a savage or a savior, none of them knows exactly where they are heading, or why. But a purpose awaits them that will shape their lives and the lives of all those who remain.

The end has come. The beginning comes next.

A Season of Grace (Under Northern Skies#3) by Lauraine Snelling - 4 Stars

I love Lauraine Snellings books, at least those I’ve read so far, I know there were quite a few.  This book is a historical romance based in 1910 Minnesota.  There is also a bit of mystery as Nilda Carlson was accosted by Dreng Nygaard back in Norway, that that affects her interaction between possible suitors, she is always cautious when it comes to men.  She has a couple of suitors, but then as she is settled in a home with her younger brother having traveled from Norway, and slowly adjusting, she sees Dreng Nygaard again. He’s come from Norway and she’s afraid of him.  The author assumes you’ve read the previous two books, she doesn’t go into this book building on the past stories. She just digs in.  The book is very sweet when it comes to romance, filled with prayer and the bible, and the things that Nilda counts on to keep her safe and happy.  The book holds your interest and is easily read in a day or so, and you’ll be able to read also, about felling trees, making butter, building a home, weaving rugs, etc.  All the things they would have done in 1910 Minnesota.  I gave the book 4 stars.

I received this book through NetGalley.com and the publishers as a promotional piece.  I’m providing a review of the book of my volition.

#NetGalley.com #ASeasonOfGrace #LauraineSnelling

Description as found on NetGalley.com

In 1910 Minnesota, Nilda Carlson's dreams are coming true. Though her first few months in America were difficult, her life now resembles the images that filled her daydreams in Norway. She and her younger brother Ivar live in their own house, just a short distance from her older brother and his family. Together they work the farm and fell trees for lumber. They plan to grow a dairy herd, weave rugs out of their own wool, and make skis to sell. Everything is going right.

The only thing missing from Nilda's life is love. But though she has two suitors--a quiet schoolteacher and a handsome lumberjack--Nilda feels hesitant. A terrifying experience in Norway has made her cautious where men are concerned. When she thinks she sees the man in question, all her fears come flooding back. Is it possible the danger has followed her across the Atlantic? If Dreng Nygaard is truly in Minnesota, all of her dreams for the future could come crashing down around her.

One Tough Cowboy by Lora Leigh; Veronica Chadwick - 3 Stars

One reviewer said that Lora’s Books can scorch the ink of the pages….so right.  If explicit sex scenes are not your bag, then this author is not for you.  Samantha when young used to follow Hunter around and some times bother his girl friends as he was older.  She leaves town and when her Aunt dies, under suspicious circumstances she comes back.  Hunter loses a loved one also under circumstances he isn’t falling for.  The plot gets really good with so much more going on intrigue, sex trafficking, guns blazing and a showdown…. but they are all interrupted by Hunter and Samantha having sex scenes.  Some times they interrupt the story line that I’m interested in and it goes to far for me.  I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I thought it would.  I found myself skimming through the sex scenes to get back to the rest of the story.  That is not how I usually read a book.  I wish there were more of the mystery they were trying to solve.  Not so much nakedness and some of it seemed unbelievable to me.  I gave this three stars…..a quick read but not really my cup of tea in totality.

I received this book through NetGalley.com and the publisher in the hopes that I would provide an honest review which I’ve done.  #OneToughCowboy #LoraLeigh #VeronicaChadwick

Description as found on NetGalley.com –

First in a brand-new series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick about one man’s pursuit of justice—and unbridled desire. 


LAW AND ORDER. 
For as long as Samantha can remember, Hunter—a man as strong as steel, with a heart of gold—has been her hero. It came as no surprise to Samantha when she found out that the ranch-hardened cowboy who always protected her from bullies went on to become the town’s sheriff. What does surprise her is how incredibly hot he still is. And how much she still wants him…


PRIDE AND PASSION

And, lo and behold, Hunter still has feelings for Samantha. The long-smoldering heat of their innocent flirtation has grown into a full-raging fire. But when tragedy strikes, and their small-town community is shattered, Hunter vows to do everything he can to keep his childhood sweetheart safe. But can Samantha trust that Hunter has her best interests at heart…and that, after all these years, his love is true?

“Leigh’s books can scorch the ink off the page.”—RT Book Reviews (less)

The Christmas Heirloom: Four Holiday Novellas by different authors - 5 Stars!

The Christmas Heirloom: Four Holiday Novellas of Love Through the Generations

Four Christmas novellas by four different authors, all connected as the stories are all about a broach that brings the wearers true love.  The stories are all in different era’s yet still connected by the broach that has been passed from Mother to Daughter for almost two hundred years.  I loved all of the stories, each so different yet connected.  The stories were rich in content and well written characters, the stories linked together and so heartwarming!  Each a holiday story with a feel-good ending!!  I give this book 5 stars.  I truly enjoyed the stories.

I received this book through NetGalley.com for promotional purposes.  I’ve decided to write this review of my own volition as I loved the book…..#NetGalley #TheChristmasHeirloom #KristiAnnHunter #KarenWitemeyer #SarahLoudinThomas #BeckyWade

Description as found on NetGalley.com:

Perfect for the Christmas season, four beloved authors bring their bestselling, award-winning talents to a multigenerational collection of romantic holiday novellas. In stories ranging from 1820s Regency England to present-day Washington state, readers will be treated to Christmas tales of an heirloom brooch passed from mother to daughter for almost two hundred years. Will the family legend claiming the brooch brings love to its recipient hold true for these women separated by the years but bonded together by the ties of family?

in Kristi Ann Hunter's "Legacy of Love," Sarah Gooding never suspected returning a brooch to an elderly woman would lead to a job . . . and introduce her to the woman's grandson. While he may be far above her station, she can't help but notice that his desire to make this Christmas special for his grandmother matches her own.

in Karen Witemeyer's "Gift of the Heart," widow Ruth Albright uses the family brooch as collateral for a loan from the local banker. But the more she comes to know the man behind the stern businessman, the more she hopes for a second chance at love as the holidays draw near.

in Sarah Loudin Thomas's "A Shot at Love," Fleeta Brady's rough-and-tumble childhood means she prefers hunting to more feminine activities. She never expected her mother's brooch might be how a fellow hunter turns her attention from competition to romance one December.

in Becky Wade's "Because of You," Maddie Winslow has spent years in love with a man whose heart was already spoken for. When a church Christmas project brings them together and she stumbles upon an old family brooch, might it finally be her turn for love? (less)

A Silken Thread by Kim Vogel Sawyer - 4 Stars!

I love this author!  She always writes such great stories that pull at the heart strings that are so full of rich historical background.  Once again, she has done her a great job with this book.  The background history being that of the International Cotton Exposition and the silk trade, how the silk is gotten and how it is put on a loom, she has a girl who knows how to work a loom with cotton on it, and so she is able to secure the job in the Women’s section of the Exposition of setting up the silk on a similar loom and working it all day while two other women tell visitors the story of the background to silk. The book is full of action, romance, betrayal and history.  I won’t tell you the story here as the description tells you the setting of the story and the characters.  This book was well paced, I wanted to keep reading, it’s plot is so well done and the people’s stories that were the forefront of the book were so well thought out and interesting.  I rated this book a 4.  If I could it would have been 4.5.

I received this book free from NetGalley.com for promotional means, and my review as shown above was absolutely voluntary. #NetGalley #ASilkenThread

Description as found on NetGalley:

For readers who love a heartwarming romance and a rich historical setting comes a tale of a young woman with a heavy burden, the International Cotton Exposition, and the pursuit of true love.


Eighteen-year-old Laurel Millard, youngest of seven children, is expected to stay home and "take care of Mama" by her older siblings, but Laurel has dreams of starting her own family. Operating a silk loom at the Atlanta Exposition will give her the chance to capture the heart of a man wealthy enough to take care of Laurel and any children she might bear, as well as her mother. Brendan Rochester's parents have given him an ultimatum: settle down with a wife or lose his family inheritance. At the Exposition, Brendan meets Laurel. Marrying her would satisfy his parents’ command, she would look lovely on his arm for social events, and in her besotted state, he believes she would overlook him continuing pursuing rowdy adventures with his unmarried buddies. Brendan decides to woo Laurel. Willie Sharp is not well-off and must take on an extra job at the Atlanta Exposition as a security guard. When mischief-makers cause trouble in the Women's Building, Willie is put in charge of keeping the building secure. He enjoys visiting with Laurel, who seems like the little sister he never had, but his feelings for Laurel change to something much deeper. Can Willie convince Laurel that he can give her better life--even with so little to offer?