Tag: historical fiction

ARC Book Review: Codes of Courage (Falcon Point Historicals #1) by A.L. Sowards

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 373 pages
Author: A.L. Sowards
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: October 10th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In a battle of torpedoes, depth charges, and secret codes, nothing is as vulnerable as the human heart.

1940: Austrian refugee Karl Lang has lost everything―his country, his home, and his family. All that is left to him is a burning ambition to see the Nazis defeated. Desperate for work and a way to help the war effort, he finds the one place that will take a refugee like him: a supply steamer traversing a deadly path past enemy U-boats.

Since their first meeting, Millie Stevens has felt an undeniable connection to Karl. As the war rages, she shares his determination to oppose the Nazis and finds work at the British codebreaking center at Bletchley Park. There she uses all her intellect and determination to break German codes and read U-boat transmissions―or risk losing the man she loves.

Rolf Denhart will do anything to defend the Fatherland, including long patrols in a cramped U-boat. But rumors from Germany leave him uneasy, forcing a choice between loyalty to his homeland, the safety of his family, and his peace of conscience.

In the midst of war, three lives are woven together to create an epic tapestry of love and loss, joy and pain, sacrifice and courage.

Thank you to the author and publisher for a gifted ARC.

I AM IN MY FEELS.

I was warned before going in what kind of ending I was heading towards so I feel like I’ll mention that here, it is in the bittersweet vein. My rating was not changed by this, a lot because I knew going into it, which I VERY much appreciate. My four star is centered around that I thought the first half was a bit slower and took me awhile to get fully involved.

Anyways, I loved these characters. I loved the themes. The subtle woven in faith elements that played a role in how the three POV’s lives connected, crossed, and ultimately found common ground. It’s a got a really sweet and tender romance. There’s great introspection and realizations. I loved seeing the characters stumble, learn and make the best decisions in rough situations.

And I loved that this was focused out at sea and on codebreakers. It was a different scene of the war I haven’t read much in the historical fiction genre and it was a well researched take on what was happening on the ocean fronts.

I felt ALL THE THINGS throughout. I love the way A.L. Sowards writes her books. I’m happy that I took the chance on reading this, even in my heart is in utter chaos at present. It was such a good book and I loved seeing everything come full circle.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: closed door between a married couple
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: active WW2, loss of loved ones, shipwrecks, grief depiction

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Book Review: Heirs of Falcon Point (Falcon Point #0) by Traci Hunter Abramson, Sian Ann Bessey, Paige Edwards and A.L. Sowards

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction / Contemporary Mystery
Length: 344 pages
Author: Traci Hunter Abramson, Sian Ann Bessey, Paige Edwards and A.L. Sowards
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: October 11th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In the early days of World War II, the Lang family lost everything. Eighty years later, it’s time to take it back.

The Nazis have taken control of Austria, and wealthy widower Leopold Lang faces a difficult decision: join the ranks of the foreign power that has taken over his homeland or flee with his children to safety. Leopold makes his choice—but too late. His family is ripped apart, never to be reunited. But decades later, fate brings together the descendants of this broken dynasty in the place where it all began—Falcon Point.

Anna, Cole, and Tess have never met, each relying on fractured pieces of information to understand their Austrian heritage. But when unforeseen opportunities draw these Lang cousins to Falcon Point, they soon discover they are not alone in their quest to claim the coveted property and the fabled treasure hidden within. Unfortunately, another claimant, one with a much darker heritage, is determined to eliminate the Lang family once and for all.

VERY SUSPENSEFUL.

I was asked to be apart of a release for a future book in this series and I wanted to catch up with the start of the stories! (Though I heard you don’t HAVE to read this first, I wanted to though).

ANYWAYS. Y’all, I really enjoyed this. All of these authors truly came together and created a cohesive story that flowed well and got my heart rate up a bit. I loved seeing the whole cast of characters come together to get back what was rightfully there’s.

I do wish there had been a little more depth to the relationships. There were three small plot romances that I loved, but wanted to see a little more of them. I did like all of the characters and how each had a unique background that I think will show up in future books.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Suspense
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, gun violence, knife violence, loss of life, attempted murder

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Book Review: A Girl Called Samson by Amy Harmon

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction + Romance
Length: 405 pages
Author: Amy Harmon
Publisher: Lake Union
Release Date: April 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From New York Times bestselling author Amy Harmon comes the saga of a young woman who dares to chart her own destiny in life and love during the American Revolutionary War.

In 1760, Deborah Samson is born to Puritan parents in Plympton, Massachusetts. When her father abandons the family and her mother is unable to support them, Deborah is bound out as an indentured servant. From that moment on, she yearns for a life of liberation and adventure.

Twenty years later, as the American colonies begin to buckle in their battle for independence, Deborah, impassioned by the cause, disguises herself as a soldier and enlists in the Continental Army. Her impressive height and lanky build make her transformation a convincing one, and it isn’t long before she finds herself confronting the horrors of war head-on.

But as Deborah fights for her country’s freedom, she must contend with the secret of who she is—and, ultimately, a surprising love she can’t deny.

LOVED WITH EVERY FIBER OF MY BEING.

I honestly don’t even know how to write this review because this book consumed my soul and I loved it so much. It made me feel proud to be a woman and want to shout to hear these untold stories more. I LOVED Deborah Samson. Her courage and bravery. Choosing a hard path, but the path that gave her hope and freedom. I loved the way she carried herself and her resilient, hard working nature that bled into those around her. Deborah is the type of female leads in books that make me love reading.

The romance was completely different than I expected, IN THE BEST WAYS. I loved the age gap, forbidden romance and all the intense and passionate feelings between Deborah and [redacted because I don’t want to spoil]. They had amazing chemistry and I was GLUED to my page anytime they were in the same scene because the magnetic pull between them yanked me along too. I am a puddle after the way everything worked out and wrapped up in the end.

This book was incredible. I expected no less from Amy Harmon (one of my top five authors ever). I love the beautiful way she crafts a story and brings all of these historical aspects to life. I am in awe every time I come to the closing pages. This book needs to be read by all.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fiction + Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: vague fade to black; closed-door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: war themes (Revolutionary specifically), indentured servitude, loss of life, loss of loved ones, brief mentions of abuse and parental abandonment

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ARC Book Review: Along a Breton Shore by Arlem Hawks

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Arlem Hawks
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Release Date: June 6th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A soldier and a young woman, on opposite sides of the revolution, must run for their lives across a war-torn France in this gripping novel of friendship, love, and survival.

France, 1794

Maxence Étienne, a soldier for the République, believes fiercely in the revolution that is bringing liberty to France. But even though the monarchy has fallen and Maxence is part of a great cause, he is still searching for a place to belong.

Armelle Bernard is a young woman from Breton whose father was sentenced to death for hiding counterrevolutionaries. She decides to confront the priest who betrayed her father, and as the conflict escalates, she herself is ordered to be executed—an order to be carried out by Maxence.

Maxence has seen his share of violence and bloodshed, but he also carries a tragic secret and can’t bring himself to carry out his assignment. In allowing Armelle to escape, he is forced to combat a fellow soldier, who dies in the struggle.

Though Armelle and Maxence are strangers and on opposite sides of the revolution, they find themselves united as fugitives of the new republic. Now they must find a way to trust each other as they search for a path to peace, and to freedom.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain for an ARC.

LOVED.

There is something incredibly soothing about Arlem Hawks writing style. It is slow paced in all the best ways. I kept continually wanting to pick this up to know what happens next + taking my time with it to savor all of the goodness.

I adored this grumpy x sunshine duo of Maxence and Armelle. I can’t even begin to pick a favorite moment because I feel attached to them all. From the disasterous meeting to being chased by soldiers and learning new things about each other (and themselves), it’s all there. All of the beautiful character growth and hard things that make this book sing.

The setting is unique. Being apart of the French Revolution I learned a lot!! Especially with the notes at the end to further explain details and facts from this time period.

Alongside the main characters (and it’s dual POV y’all!!) the side characters were great too. I loved the roles the others played and was very anxious to get to the happy ending. Another fantastic historical romance read by an auto-read author.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: battle themes, near executions (and mentions of executions), near death experiences, gun violence, surgery, loss of loved ones, imprisonment

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