Tropical Girl Reads

Those I have Lost – ARC Book Review

Those I have Lost – Book Review

Those I Have Lost : A heart-wrenching and unforgettable World War 2 historical novel by [Sharon Maas]

A secret love affair on a faraway island. Seas crawling with Japanese spies. A terrible war creeping ever closer…

India, 1940 and Rosie is devastated by the sudden death of her beloved mother. The parties, smiles and games disappear, and although Rosie is desperate to stay in her home, her father cannot look after her. All alone in the world, she is sent to Sri Lanka, to live with her mother’s friend Silvia and her three sons.

Time passes and Rosie flourishes in her new home amongst the mango trees and canna lilies. And one day, under the heat of the Sri Lankan sun, she falls in love for the first time. But her happiness is short lived, for the brutal war that has devastated families and torn Europe apart is creeping closer to their island. One by one the men depart Sri Lanka leaving Rosie with just memories and a broken heart she must hide.

As Rosie waits for letters that never come, tortured by stories of torpedoed ships and massacres of innocent families, she realises that she cannot just sit and wait for news. She volunteers to help the army, working in military intelligence to protect her island paradise. But then her work brings shocking news that makes her blood run cold. The man she loved is missing, feared dead. Yet Rosie cannot lose hope – even as more women are left widows, more children left without fathers. But when the much longed-for news comes that the war is ended, and a limping wasted figure returns home, will one final devastating revelation tear Rosie’s world apart?

No. of pages:- 430 pages

Publisher:- Bookouture

Date published:- will be published9th July 2021

Genre:- Historical Fiction

Rating:-

When I saw the blurb of this book and saw “Sri Lanka” and WWII, I was so excited! Number 1 reason being I am a fan of WWII books and the other reason is I am a Sri Lankan! As a Sri Lankan, I was always curious about what Sri Lanka aka Ceylon was like during the war and so I was fascinated when I saw the blurb and decided to give it a try.

Rosie and her family are living in Madras, India in a house called Shanti Nivasam. When Rosie’s mother dies and her father cannot look after her, Rosie moves to Sri Lanka, known during the British rule at the time as Ceylon to live with her mother’s friend, Aunt Sylvie. Aunt Sylvie has three sons–Graham who is studying to be a doctor, Victor who is arrogant and Andrew who is a shy boy. The family owns tea plantations up in Kandy (I think Nuwara Eliya as that’s where most tea plantations are). While living with them, Rosie meets Usha, the beautiful daughter of a servant working in Huxley House and because of Rosie’s familiarity of Tamil language, the two girls become best friends. Then the Second World War starts with the Japanese bombing Pearl Harbor and capturing many of the British colonies–from China to Burma, Malaya and Singapore and is on the verge of attacking Ceylon. Then there’s the blossoming love story between Andrew and Usha and when Andrew goes to fight in the war, Usha confides a secret to Rosie and Rosie must protect the loved ones at all costs.

Let’s start with the plot.–this is a historical fiction and I do like the plot well. A tear jerking instances with emotional and heartbreaking story makes the story more interesting–particularly the fact that Usha becomes pregnant our of wedlock, which is in the eyes of Tamil culture is a bad thing and how Rosie helps with that situation by taking her to Madras, India, shows true friendship and couragement. The story also felt realistic to me as well–reading about familiar places such as Kandy (where my mother is originally from), Colombo (where I currently live) to the down south of Sri Lanka as well as the certain schools such as Girl’s High School (this school still exists even today in Kandy), Galle Face Hotel (which still exists even today in Sri Lanka) and University of Colombo where Graham studies (the university still exists today and is one of the top universities in Sri Lanka) shows how much the author has done tremendous research about Ceylon and I try to imagine what those places where I visited in the present day looked like back then. The fact about Tamils working in plantations is also realistic that even today, still, the Tamils work these tea plantations (though now these tea plantations no longer owned by the British but by local people). As I have mentioned earlier, I was always curious about the history of Ceylon during the WWII and not much was there about the time during the war but I was glad to read the book and experience what life really was like during the war. Characters wise, I do like Rosie and Usha as well as Andrew very well. Towards the end, it gets emotional and sad with tear jerking instances but it was a happy ending. The love story between Andrew and Usha felt emotional and real and the romance blossoming between Graham and Rosie. Only thing is, I know in the end they all move back to India but I wished I know if they moved back to England when both India and Sri Lanka gained independence and if Usha followed them to England but otherside, I enjoyed reading this book! The writing was really good with descriptions of the places in Kandy and Colombo making the reader feel like they are in Ceylon with Rosie–the nature and the birds all sound realistic. Even the food descriptions made the reader feel hungry and yearning for the spicy Sri Lankan meal!

Overall, this is an emotional, tear-jerking and heartbreaking book, that will make the reader tearful and will take you to Ceylon and India during the British rule and war. Will keep you up all night reading this book! Kudos to author for writing a book based on my country! Worth five stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Sharon Maas was born into a prominent political family in Georgetown, Guyana, in 1951. She was educated in England, Guyana, and, later, Germany. After leaving school, she worked as a trainee reporter with the Guyana Graphic in Georgetown and later wrote feature articles for the Sunday Chronicle as a staff journalist.

Her first novel, Of Marriageable Age, is set in Guyana and India and was published by HarperCollins in 1999. In 2014 she moved to Bookouture, and now has ten novels under her belt. Her books span continents, cultures, and eras. From the sugar plantations of colonial British Guiana in South America, to the French battlefields of World War Two, to the present-day brothels of Mumbai and the rice-fields and villages of South India, Sharon never runs out of stories for the armchair traveller.

Arsenic and Adobo – Book Review

Book Review – Arsenic and Adobo by Mia. P. Manansala

Arsenic and Adobo (A Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery Book 1) by [Mia P. Manansala]

The first book in a new culinary cozy series full of sharp humor and delectable dishes—one that might just be killer….

When Lila Macapagal moves back home to recover from a horrible breakup, her life seems to be following all the typical rom-com tropes. She’s tasked with saving her Tita Rosie’s failing restaurant, and she has to deal with a group of matchmaking aunties who shower her with love and judgment. But when a notoriously nasty food critic (who happens to be her ex-boyfriend) drops dead moments after a confrontation with Lila, her life quickly swerves from a Nora Ephron romp to an Agatha Christie case.

With the cops treating her like she’s the one and only suspect, and the shady landlord looking to finally kick the Macapagal family out and resell the storefront, Lila’s left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation. Armed with the nosy auntie network, her barista best bud, and her trusted Dachshund, Longanisa, Lila takes on this tasty, twisted case and soon finds her own neck on the chopping block…

No. of pages:- 330 pages

Publisher:- Berkley Publisher

Date Published:- May 4th 2021

Genre:- Asian American Literature/ Cozy Culinary Mystery

Rating:-

Again, the book cover made me get attracted to this book and so I pre-ordered this book on Amazon and finally got the book!! This is also the first time I am reading a book written by a Filipino American so it was actually a great change from the books I have been reading.

Lila is working in her aunt’s Filipino restaurant in Shady Falls and is determined to save the restaurant which is on the verge of closing. But when the food critic aka her ex boyfriend Damian dies in the restaurant and the police find that he was murdered with an arsenic poison, things start changing. And the worst thing is she becomes the number one suspect in the murder case after the police finds bags of drugs and arsenic poison in her locker of the restaurant.

Determined to save her name and the restaurant, along with her long time best friend Adeena sets to find the real murderer–her aunt gives her a list of suspects, all restaurants that are given bad reviews by Damian and becomes the Nancy Drew as she tries to find who the real culprit is.

Let’s talk about the plot first–the plot was interesting. I have read some cozy culinary mystery books before and so this book fits perfectly with that genre. The writing was good and engaging with some humorous tints in it. What I like about this book is the diversity which I rarely finds in the books–though the main character is a Filipino, many of the characters are of different ethnic backgrounds from White, Black, Hispanic, Asian to Indians which makes it more thrilling to read. The characters are all mainly likable particularly the main character Lila and her best friend Adeena, not to mention, Lila’s dog, Nisa.

But what makes this book more delicious is the descriptions of the food that makes the reader feel hungry! At the beginning of the book is the Filipino names of food and the descriptions of each of the food so that makes the reader like me (who is also a foodie) to feel hungry. Not only that, with the American background in the story, I also learned a little bit about the Filipino culture, and of course tits and bits of Tagalog as well! Though the beginning was a bit boring, towards the middle and up to the end, the story got interesting and engaging with the mystery and food mingling together!

Overall I give this book as four stars! A good thriller, unputdownable with delicious Filipino meal that will not disappoint you in any way. Can’t wait for the second book of the series!

Mia P. Manansala (she/her) is a writer and book coach from Chicago who loves books, baking, and bad-ass women. She uses humor (and murder) to explore aspects of the Filipino diaspora, queerness, and her millennial love for pop culture.

A lover of all things geeky, Mia spends her days procrastibaking, playing JRPGs and dating sims, reading cozy mysteries, and cuddling her dogs Gumiho, Max Power, and Bayley Banks (bonus points if you get all the references).

Her debut novel, ARSENIC AND ADOBO, comes out May 4, 2021 with Berkley/Penguin Random House and is the first in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series.

Find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @MPMtheWriter

Happy Pride Month!

Happy Pride Month to all my LGBTQ friends!!!

BOOKS FOR THE PRIDE MONTH

First of all, initially, I wasn’t a fan of LGBTQ books but soon the cute romances and great writing made me like that genre more! So as June is the Pride Month, I thought I will dedicate some books.

Favorite LGBTQ Books

Amazon.com: You Should See Me in a Crown (9781338503296): Johnson, Leah: Books

This book is the book that literally drew me to the LGBTQ series. Really enjoyed reading Leah Johnson’s debut book.

I did a book review on this book and the story line was good.

Books To Be Read

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

This book had been in my TBR list and I am planning to read this book soon.

Amazon.com: Boyfriend Material (0760789291135): Hall, Alexis: Books

I really like the cover and I have put this book in my TBR list.

Books cannot wait to read

Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun: A Novel

Summer in the Scottish Highlands – ARC Book Review

Book Review – Summer in the Scottish Highlands

Summer in the Scottish Highlands: An utterly perfect feel-good romantic comedy by [Donna Ashcroft]

No. of pages:- 273 pages

Date published:- will be published on 4th June 2021

Publisher :- Bookouture

Genre:- Romantic Comedy

Rating:-

Escape to the gorgeous little village of Lockton in the Scottish Highlands, where you’ll discover sunshine, secrets and an unforgettable romance. It’s the perfect place to be this summer…

Thirty-year-old Paige Dougall’s life is a mess. Only a year ago she was smashing all of her life goals: handsome husband, high-flying job, cute kid. But in just under twelve months everything has gone wrong. Nursing a broken heart, single mother Paige returns to her childhood home in a picture-perfect Scottish village to try and get her life together.

Paige is too wrapped up in her worries to embrace the beautiful rolling hills and lavender-scented air of the highlands. That is until Johnny Becker, the infuriatingly cheerful chef, with his twinkling eyes and dimpled smile, steps onto the scene and provides Paige with some much-needed distraction…

Johnny challenges Paige to step outside her comfort zone and focus on the things that really matter. From food tasting, to puppy training, to mountain climbing, in every moment she spends with Johnny, Paige finds herself remembering how to live again… will she be able to love again too?

Across long sunshine-filled days, Paige and Johnny grow closer and she’s tempted to open her heart to him. But is happy-go-lucky Johnny hiding secrets of his own?

And can Paige learn to let go of her past and find happiness in the highlands?

A gorgeous, moving summer romance novel about finding joy in the small things and discovering what really matters in life. Perfect for fans of Nicola May, Sarah Morgan and Cathy Bramley.

Let’s talk about the cover–the front book cover is so pretty!!! I was instantly got attracted to the front cover that I didn’t hesitate when I requested this book!

One year ago, Paige Dougall had a perfect life–a steady job, a handsome husband with a daughter named Grace and living in London. But that all came crashing down and Paige moves to Lockton with her daughter Grace for the summer, nursing her broken heart. While in Lockton, she meets Johnny, a handsome chef who owns an inn and who also used to own a restaurant back in New York. Both then meet each other to reopen a library and soon both Paige and Johnny become closer to each other.

Let’s start with descriptions – I have never been to Scotland but the vivid descriptions of mountains in the Scottish countryside make the reader feel like they are actually living in Lockton. Through the author’s writing I imagined myself in the beautiful picturesque village in Scotland

Plot and the characters–though I do like how the library became a backdrop and background of the story that actually brought Johnny and Paige closer–what I like is how the romance slowly developed between the two characters. Both Paige and Johnny seemed to have a past and they both eventually became friends which soon developed into a romance. Oh, I also like Grace and of course Johnny’s dog Mack! Nearly all the characters in the book are likable!

Verdict:- Overall this is a cozy, romantic story that will take you to the beautiful scenic village in the heart of Scotland. There were some parts in the story that was a bit boring but nonetheless, I enjoyed reading this book–worth four stars!

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Donna Ashcroft was born in London, England and grew up in Buckinghamshire. She went to university in Lancashire and, among other things, worked as a copywriter, buyer, waitress, secretary and marketing manager.

Donna wrote novels for over ten years before being published. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and was a joint recipient of the Katie Fforde Bursary in 2017. She has had six books published with Bookouture – her new book Summer in the Scottish Highlands is published in June 2021.

Donna loves a happy ending and is never happier than when she’s escaping into a romance novel or movie. When she’s not reading or writing she’ll probably be found hoovering … or negotiating with her teenagers about who is doing the washing up.

You can find Donna on Twitter @Donnashc or visit her at http://www.donna-writes.co.uk

The Burning Girls – ARC Book Review

Book Review – The Burning Girls by Rita Herron

The Burning Girls: A completely gripping crime thriller packed with heart-pounding twists (Detective Ellie Reeves Book 3) by [Rita Herron]

Genre:- Thriller

Publisher:- Bookouture

Date published:- will be published 10th June 2021

No. of pages:- 445 pages

Rating:-

The girl was beautiful, even in death. Her skin was translucent beneath the sliver of moonlight peeking through the bare branches of the surrounding pines, and her chestnut hair had tumbled around her pale shoulders. Around her, smoke twisted in the air, curling into the inky sky.

The remote town of Crooked Creek has barely recovered from its most recent tragedy when wildfires tear through the mountains. Detective Ellie Reeves is grappling with her own heartbreak––she has just discovered she was adopted and that her childhood was a lie.

Under the scorching summer sun, Ellie is called to a river where a body has been found. She spots a lone woman’s shoe caught in a nearby tangle of vines, and a pearl necklace scattered by the water’s edge. The remains are surrounded by a circle of stones, which Ellie is certain means something. Was the victim––whoever she was––caught in the fire or is something more sinister at play?

The Fourth of July usually means festivals and fireworks, but when another body turns up the town is left in tatters. A young girl with dark hair lies dead, surrounded by stones, smoke drifting in the air. Thanks to an engraved silver necklace, Ellie identifies the body as eighteen-year-old Katie Lee Curtis, and the diary she finds hidden under the teenager’s mattress could get her close to the killer.

With two victims in less than twenty-four hours, it’s clear Ellie’s up against a serial killer, and she vows that no more innocent girls will be sacrificed. For her, every day is a battle to come to terms with her past, but when this case becomes personal, will she win?

A totally gripping and utterly addictive page-turner that will have you racing through and reeling at the twists. Perfect for fans of Melinda Leigh, Lisa Regan and Kendra Elliot, it’s best read with the lights on!

Detective Ellie Reeves is back!!

This is the third book of the Detective Ellie Reeves series and seems to be taking place immediately after the end of the second book. It started with Ellie, who is on the quest of finding her biological mother wants to contact the social worker, Gillian who had handled her adoption, only to find that Gillian had gone missing and had left the office in a hurry, carrying the adoption files with her…including her own file. Meanwhile, a deranged killer is murdering women and then burning them in the forest, arranging the stones in a peculiar fashion. Ellie then sets out to find this mysterious killer and then enlists the help of FBI agent Derrick to solve the case.

As usual, this was such a roller coaster ride! From the beginning of the chapter to the end of the book, I was literally hooked into the story, with all the drama, crimes and the quest of finding the killer, what with you have know idea who the hell is killing all these girls or women.

Let’s start with the plot–the plot was intriguing, engaging and really unique that I was hooked from the beginning. Though the book was about 400 pages long, I didn’t even feel that long as this was such a fast paced thriller with twists and turns you didn’t expect while reading! In fact I stayed up all night, finishing this book, and the story is so engaging that the author did a good job gripping the reader into the story! I must say, quiet an interesting plot and an unputownable thriller!!!

In all the three books I have read, it seems Ellie Reeves doesn’t seem to have a rest as she faces one series of murders to another, followed by a couple of dramas on the way with her friends and loved ones being hurt in the process. Ellie is actually one of my favorite characters in the book and shows what a brave and courageous girl she really is!

Overall, a fast paced thriller that will take you on a roller coaster ride filled with twists and turns that you didn’t expect! Guaranteed you will stay up all night to finish this book!!! An unputdownable thriller–worth five stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Rita Herron fell in love with books at the ripe age of eight when she read her first Trixie Belden mystery. But she didn’t think real people grew up to be writers, so she became a teacher instead. Now she writes so she doesn’t have to get a real job.

With over ninety books to her credit, she’s penned romantic suspense, romantic comedy, and YA novels, but she especially likes writing dark romantic suspense and crime fiction set in small southern towns.

For more on. Rita and her titles, visit her at http://www.ritaherron.com. You can also find her on Facebook/ritaherron.com and Twitter @ritaherron.

Now You Know – ARC Book Review

Now You Know: A psychological thriller with a nerve shredding climax by [Nora Valters]

Genre:- Psychological Fiction

Publisher:- Inkubator Books

Date Published:- 6th June 2021

No. of pages:- format 2106 Kb

Rating:-

Everything I suffer, you will too…

Lauren has worked hard to create her dream life: a perfect fiancé, a great job, and a safe, cosy home.
But then, out of the blue, it all goes horribly wrong and Lauren finds her job is on the line, her fiancé is accusing her of cheating and someone is writing terrible things on her car.
At first, Lauren thinks this is a horrible run of bad luck. But as her life spins out of control in a series of escalating disasters, it begins to dawn on her that these aren’t random events.
She’s under attack. And she’s certain that whoever is doing this won’t stop until they’ve completely destroyed her life.
But she’s wrong – they won’t stop until she’s dead.

Lauren seems to be having a perfect life–with a perfect job, a fiancé she loves so much and everything about her life seems perfect. But then suddenly, her perfect life crashes when someone is out to destroy her. From ruining her presentation on her big day to her computer being hacked and someone writing obscene things in her car, someone is clearly determined to ruin Lauren’s life. Then Lauren loses her fiance, her job and she is determined to find out who is out to destroy her.

Let’s start with the plot–the plot of the story is intriguing. Lauren whose life is perfect seems to have angered someone who is set to take revenge. As a reader, I am curious what Lauren would have done–was it to do with work or something to do with past? Either way, it was engaging and intriguing.

The thriller is fast paced and quick to read that you could actually finish the book really quick. I do like a fast paced thriller so that’s a plus for me. However, I didn’t find much twists and turns that you would normally find in a thriller. The story seems direct, and to me, the suspects are few that you could easily pick out who is the one who is plotting revenge against Lauren. The writing was OK and at times, there were some parts that I found meh.

The characters are OK to me. I could easily understand Lauren’s frustration and her determination to find out who is ruining her nearly perfect life.

Over all, this was a good thriller–fast paced, quick to read and finish. Worth four stars!

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for granting me an ARC of this books. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

If you think this book is appealing and interesting to you, you can pre-order your copies now on Amazon as this will be published on 6th June 2021!

Nora Valters grew up in the New Forest in the south of England and has lived in London, Manchester, Bournemouth, Oxford and Dubai.

She studied English Literature and Language at Oxford Brookes University before embarking on a career in marketing and copywriting.

Her debut psychological thriller Her Biggest Fan was published in 2020. She’s currently writing her next novel, which will be out soon.

Nora loves to travel and has journeyed around the world. She enjoys exploring new places, painting, hiking, and is an avid reader. She’s also a bit obsessed with dogs…

Subscribe to be notified by email when Nora’s next novel is released, for giveaways, price promotions, book recommendations as well as exclusive extra content at http://www.noravalters.com/subscribe

Books I am Currently Reading

Here are the books I am currently reading. The list does not involve ARC books however

Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P Manansala

Currently I am reading this book and so far it’s good!

2. The Last Thing He Told Me – Laura Dave

The Last Thing He Told Me: The No. 1 New York Times Bestseller and Reese's Book Club Pick by [Laura Dave]

3. The Last Time I Lied – Riley Sager

Last Time I Lied: The New York Times bestseller perfect for fans of A. J. Finn’s The Woman in the Window by [Riley Sager]

4. Spring House – Mary Ellen Taylor

5. The Girl Before – J.P. Delaney

The Girl Before: The gripping global bestseller by [JP Delaney]

The Beach House – ARC Book Review

The Beach House: A totally gripping, utterly romantic and emotional page-turner by [Jenny Hale]

An absolutely gorgeous and heartwarming read about finding love where you least expect it, new beginnings, and how family is always with you, no matter where you are. Fans of Susan Mallery, Pamela Kelley, and Mary Alice Monroe will adore this romantic page-turner.

When her gram passes away, Melanie Simpson feels utterly lost. But her grandmother’s will gives her a purpose: an inheritance to buy a crumbling house in Rosemary Bay. They used to visit the village every summer, sit by the sparkling water on a beach the color of pearl, and daydream about turning the place on the corner into a bed and breakfast.

On her first night in her new hometown, Melanie meets local contractor and landowner Josh Claiborne, whose eyes match the dazzling sea. Melanie plans to restore the beach house to its original glory, and Josh is the perfect person to help renovate the wrap-around porch weathered by the coastal breeze and the peeling white paint faded by the sun.

But hiding in a closet is a yellowing stack of letters that could change everything. The looping handwriting reveals the mystery of the rickety house—a buried history that touches everyone in Rosemary Bay. Will its secrets bring Melanie and Josh together or tear them apart?

No. of pages:- 322 pages

Published:- will be published on 8th June 2021

Publisher:- Bookouture

Genre:- Romance/Historical

First of all–the book cover is so pretty that it got attracted to me in the first place! Second of all, this is a cute summer and cozy reading!

Melanie inherits a house in Rosemary Bay, as a part of her grandmother’s inheritance and to fulfill her wish of opening a bed and breakfast. But the house is in utter disrepair and is about to crumble to pieces. She enlists the help of a contractor, Josh who seemed to be reluctant to help Melanie, as this house belonged once to a man named Alfred Ellis. While going through storm and then repairing the old house, Melanie comes across a stack of letters written by Alfred to his lover. Curiously, she starts reading those letters, transporting her back to those times along with the budding romance between Josh and Melanie.

I really do enjoy reading this book! The writing was good and engaging, and the author did a good job engaging the reader into the story. The characters in the book were likable, except for Janie, Josh’s ex wife who seemed to be manipulative. Melanie was a very likable character and despite Josh’s stubborn and sometimes arrogant attitude with determination to leave behind the small town and move to New York, Josh’s character was likable as well. Though the story was predictable, nonetheless, it’s a story of love, friendship spanning back from 1961 with Alfred’s love story and to the present with Melanie and Josh. I really like the ending as well, the small twist that let the cat out of the bag and a secret is revealed but it was truly an enjoyable book.

Overall, I give this book five stars! The story was warm, emotional and cozy story that will keep you up all night to finish the book. Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Jenny Hale is a USA Today, Amazon, and international bestselling author of romantic contemporary fiction. Her books have sold worldwide, have been translated into multiple languages, and adapted for television. Her novels Coming Home for Christmas and Movie Guide Epiphany Award winner Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses are Hallmark Channel original movies.

She was included in Oprah Magazine’s “19 Dreamy Summer Romances to Whisk You Away” and Southern Living’s “30 Christmas Novels to Start Reading Now.” Her stories are chock-full of feel-good romance and overflowing with warm settings, great friends, and family. Jenny is at work on her next novel, delighted to be bringing even more heartwarming stories to her readers.

When she isn’t writing, or heading up her romantic fiction imprint Harpeth Road, she can be found running around her hometown of Nashville with her husband, two boys, and their labradoodle, taking pictures—her favorite pastime.

Website: http://www.itsjennyhale.com; Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/jhaleauthor; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennyhaleauthor; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jhaleauthor

My Mother’s Secret – Book Review

My Mother's Secret: A Novel Based on a True Holocaust Story by [J.L. Witterick]

Inspired by a true story, My Mother’s Secret is a captivating and ultimately uplifting tale intertwining the lives of two Jewish families in hiding from the Nazis, a fleeing German soldier, and the mother and daughter who save them all.

Franciszka and her daughter, Helena, are simple, ordinary people…until 1939, when the Nazis invade their homeland. Providing shelter to Jews in Nazi-occupied Poland is a death sentence, but Franciszka and Helena do exactly that. In their tiny home in Sokal, they hide a Jewish family in a loft above their pigsty, a Jewish doctor with his wife and son in a makeshift cellar under the kitchen, and a defecting German soldier in the attic—each party completely unknown to the others. For everyone to survive, Franciszka will have to outsmart her neighbors and the German commander.

Told simply and succinctly from four different perspectives—all under one roof—My Mother’s Secret is a testament to the kindness, courage, and generosity of ordinary people who chose to be extraordinary.

No. of pages:- 209 pages

Published:- September 5th 2013

Publisher:- Berkley

Genre:- Historical Fiction

Any book based on Holocaust appeals me. My Mother’s Secret by J.L. Witterick is one such book, based on the true events. The book talks about two women, Franciszka and her daughter Helena, who led a simple life in a small Polish town called Sokal with Damien, Helena’s older brother, until Germans invade Poland in 1939 and outbreak of WWII. This story talks about how this one woman, through courageous and bravery act saves two Jewish families and a German deserted soldier, all under one roof without raising suspicions from the neighbors.

The story is told from the four perspectives–Helena who gets a job as a clerk in a German company and falls in love with a German man named Casmir who owns the factory. Helena was initially scared at the thought of Jewish families hiding in their home but soon started to help those families. Brodnek is a Jew who was sent to ghetto with his family and after witnessing his brother’s death and his daughter taken away, he escapes from the ghetto and asks help from Franciszka who helps him and his family to hide in the pig shed. Another Jewish family, whose father is a doctor and the mother becomes friends with Franciszka and because of her friendship, the family hides under the cellar. Vilhelm, a German soldier who silently disagrees with the Nazi principles runs away and hides in the attic of the house. Through these perspectives we see how this one woman with brave and courage helps them to survive in the war.

Though I really like the story what with it being a true story, the writing to me was a bit childish. Nevertheless, the story was short, easy to read and also quick to read that you could actually finish this book in one setting. The language used in the book was easy and simply to understand and since all these perspectives are written in first person point of view, you get to know each of these characters’ lives, before, during and after the war.

Truly an emotional story and worth five stars!

J.L. Witterick is the international bestselling author of My Mother’s Secret. It was always her passion to create a story about how anything is possible if we connect with each other through kindness, understanding, and courage. Originally from Taiwan, she has been living in Canada since her family’s arrival in 1968.

The Hiding Place – ARC Book Review

The Hiding Place: An absolutely heart-stopping crime thriller (Detective Morgan Brookes Book 3) by [Helen Phifer]

The little girl peered down the dark alleyway. She knew she wasn’t supposed to take this shortcut and her mother would kill her if she found out, but it was raining and all she wanted was to get home quickly. She stepped forward, not seeing the silent figure following her into the dark passageway…

When nine-year-old Charlotte Standish goes missing from her street in the small town of Rydale Falls, it sparks a media frenzy. Detective Morgan Brookes leads a frantic hunt for the girl, but little Charlie seems to have vanished into thin air.

Chasing up a lead at Charlie’s school, Morgan is chilled to learn that this isn’t the first time a child has gone missing on this street. Another girl disappeared fifteen years ago, and Morgan is the only one who thinks the cases could be related. But in the moment that she takes her eye off Charlie’s case to investigate the link between the two girls, another child, Macy, goes missing.

Then Morgan gets the call she was dreading, Charlie’s lifeless body has been found in a local park, lying in the shadow of a large tree. Morgan has let one girl down, but she refuses to give up on Macy. Determined to find an overlooked clue, she retraces Macy’s last steps. She’s getting close to the truth when her partner, Detective Ben Matthews, is attacked outside Morgan’s home. Is a twisted killer isolating Morgan from her team? And how long does Macy have left to live? Morgan must solve the case before more innocent lives are taken…

A nail-biting, unputdownable crime thriller that will keep you up all night, for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott and Patricia Gibney.

No. of pages:- 289 pages

Date published:- will be published on 1st June 2021

Publisher:- Bookouture

Genre:- Thriller

Detective Morgan Brookes is back in the scene!

Nine-year-old girl named Charlie goes missing in a neighborhood in Ryder Falls. As it involves a child, the police gets involved in the case and then focus on the sex offender who happened to be living in the same neighborhood. Meanwhile, while investigating, Morgan finds out that a girl who attended the same school as Charlie went missing fifteen years ago and couldn’t help notice that there’s some similarity between the two cases. But when Charlie’s body was found a few days later and another girl named Macy goes missing in the same neighborhood, they must find the culprit before Macy is dead…

This is the third book of the Detective Morgan Brooke’s installment. But to me, unlike the first two books, this book wasn’t as good as the first two books. The book was fast paced but not much twists and turns though somehow, the reader is able to be hooked into the book. Not much of suspects in the book so it’s a bit predictable as to who the killer could be. But nonetheless I did enjoy this book though I didn’t find much exciting as her two previous books.

This book worth three stars the fact that still it’s a good thriller! Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Helen Phifer is the #1 Bestselling crime and horror novelist of the Annie Graham, Lucy Harwin and Beth Adams series. Helen lives in a small town in Cumbria. Surrounded by miles of coastline and only a short drive from the beautiful Lake District. She has always loved writing and reading since the days she learnt how to in infant school. She loves reading books that make the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end and make her afraid to go to the toilet, alone in the middle of the night. She is eternally grateful to Stephen King, Dean Koontz, James Herbert and Graham Masterton for scaring her senseless in her teenage years. Unable to find enough of the scary stories she loves to read, she decided to write her own.

Her debut novel The Ghost House was released October 2013 and introduced readers to police officer Annie Graham. It went on to be an Amazon #1 bestseller in Canada. It reached #1 on the Amazon Contemporary Horror Charts in both the UK and the US, pushing her idol Stephen King off his #1 spot many times. She was thrilled when the second book in the series The Secrets of the Shadows managed to push The Ghost House off its #1 spot even if it was a little surreal. This was followed by The Forgotten Cottage, The Lake House, The Girls in the Woods and The Face Behind the Mask.

The Good Sisters is a standalone old, fashioned horror story which Helen admits scared her so much when she was writing it that she couldn’t write once it got dark. Set in an abandoned convent it will definitely give you the chills.

March 2017 saw the publication of Dark House, a gripping psychological thriller which introduced readers to the dangerous world of Detective Inspector Lucy Harwin. This was followed by Dying Breath and Last Light.

The Haunting on West Tenth Street is a supernatural thriller set on the streets of New York and features Homicide Detective Maria Miller.

Her brand new series featuring Forensic Pathologist Beth Adams is published July 16th 2019