January, 2021

"Three Ordinary Girls" by Tim Brady         

This book follows three Dutch resistance fighters - Hannie Schaft, Truus Oversteegen, and Freddie Oversteegen. During the war, these three women stepped up to transport weapons, messages, assassinations, and to collect intelligence.          

Although this book was slow at times, the stories were fascinating. It is amazing how ordinary people can step up in difficult times and make a huge difference. The strength and will of these ladies was very admirable. They are true heroes!

"The Kitchen Front" by Jennifer Ryan         

In the middle of World War II, the BBC radio decides to host a cooking contest. The grand prize is a life changing job on the radio program The Kitchen Front. Four women step up and join the competition. Audrey is a war widow struggling to pay the mortgage and provide for her children. Lady Gwendoline, Audrey's sister, is the lady of the county, but her beautiful life is not as perfect as it looks. Nell is a kitchen maid in Lady Gwendoline's household. Shy and uncertain, she must overcome her humble circumstances to compete. Zelda, a single pregnant woman, is the only professional chef in the contest. Trying to hide her pregnancy, she continue to fight against sexism and stereotypes in her chosen profession.

         This was a quick, fun read. The characters were a bit stereotypical, but the book was fast paced and well written. I enjoyed the recipes, and reading about the home front. Overall, 4 out of 5 stars.

"Those Who Are Saved" by Alexis Landau         

 When Vera and Max, Jew immigrants living in France, are told to report to an internment camp, they must make the difficult decision to leave their young daughter Lucie with her nanny. Shortly after they are interned, they have the opportunity to escape across the mountains and ultimately to America. Haunted with guilt and fear, Vera finds it difficult to make a new life without her daughter.          

This was a well written and engaging story. The characters were extremely believable and relatable. I felt Vera's pain at the separation from her daughter, and found myself reading long into the night to find out what would happen. The book really needed an epilogue, which is my main criticism. Overall, 4 out of 5 stars.

"The Lady in Residence" by Allison Pittman          

Working as a magician and tour guide, Dini has researched the story of Hedda Krause. In 1915, widow Hedda Krause checked into the Menger Hotel with the goal of finding a rich husband. After she starts hearing things and seeing a ghostly apparition, she is robbed and loses all of her jewelry. She immediately claims that the ghost is responsible for the theft. Detective Carmichael investigates the story, and begins to fall for Hedda Back in the present, a great great grandson of Detective Carmichael shows up, bearing pictures, his notebook, and answers.          

Throughout the story, the characters were dynamic and well formed. However, the story itself was a bit lacking. My biggest criticism is that there was not enough of a connection between the big reveal and the actual story. This was a bit of a bummer, and really took away from the story. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.

"The Vines" by Shelley Nolden         

In present day New York, Finn decides to explore North Brother Island, a place of mystery that is connected to his father and brother's medical experiments. On the island he finds Cora, a scarred and tortured woman. In the early 1900's, Cora and her sister are sent to quarantine on North Brother Island. After the death of her sister, one of the doctor's discovers that Cora has a special immunity to the diseases and viruses that are killing the masses.         

This book was very hard to put down. Cora's past was very interesting and compelling. The author did a masterful job of blending the past and present, which made for an extremely compelling read. Overall, highly recommended.

"The Paris Dressmaker" by Kristy Cambron          

This book follow two characters throughout two different timelines. At the beginning of WWII in 1939 Paris, after the closure of her employer, Maison Chanel, Lila must find a way to make a living with her dressmaker skills. When a former friend becomes the mistress of a Nazi officer, Lila is summoned to make her dresses, and the dresses of other Nazi's women. Left alone with her young child, Sandrine must bid farewell to her husband as he goes off to fight.          At the end of WWII, when caught spying at the Hotel Ritz, Lila flees through the woods. Taking shelter in a bread truck, she rediscovers her previous lover, Rene. Sandrine is working for the Nazi sorting art, and secretly working for the resistance. Despite her revulsion and avoidance, an officer has taken an interest in her.

       The back and forth between two different timelines, and two different characters did not really work. Sandrine felt like a secondary character, rather than a main character, which made her chapters slow and plodding. Overall, this book was a bust.

"Vera" by Carol Edgarian          

At 15 years old, Vera is leading a double life. As a young child, her mother Rose, a San Francisco madam, makes a deal with Morie, a widow. In exchange for money, food, gifts, Morie will raise Vera as her own alongside her daughter Pie. 3 times a year Vera meets with her mother. When a great earthquake levels San Francisco, Morie is left dead, and Vera and Pie make their way to Rose's house. Together, they must learn how to survive.          

This book was very slow and plodding. The characters were not very likeable, and I found it hard to get into the story. At the beginning of each chapter, an older Vera put in her thoughts about events, which was very annoying. I don't want to read what an older version of a character thinks, I want to read what happened. Overall, not a book I would reread or recommend.