Tag: historical fiction

Book Review: The Paris Secret by Natasha Lester

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction Romance
Length: 496 pages
Author: Natasha Lester
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: September 15th, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Orphan comes an unforgettable historical novel about a secret collection of Dior gowns that ties back to the first female pilots of WWII and a heartbreaking story of love and sacrifice.

England, 1939: The Penrose sisters couldn’t be more different. Skye is a daring and brash pilot, and Liberty the one to defy her at every turn. Even if women aren’t allowed in the Royal Air Force, Skye is determined to help the war effort. She’s thrilled when it reunites her with her childhood soulmate, Nicholas. She’s less thrilled to learn Nicholas is now engaged to an enigmatic Frenchwoman named Margaux Jourdan.

Paris, 1947: Designer Christian Dior unveils his glamorous first collection to a world weary of war and grief. He names his debut fragrance Miss Dior in tribute to his beloved sister Catherine, who forged a friendship with Skye and Margaux through her work with the French Resistance.

Present Day: Fashion conservator Kat Jourdan discovers a priceless collection of Dior gowns in her grandmother’s vacant cottage. As she delves into the mystery of their origin, Kat begins to doubt everything she thought she knew about her beloved grandmother.

MY HEART. MY HEART. MY HEART.

I only pick up historical fiction books when I’m in the right *mood* for them. And hallelujah that I was in the mood for this book because IT WAS AN AMAZING STUNNING WORK OF ART.

Ohhhh how this tore at every aspect of my heart and soul. I loved the initial chapters of seeing these characters in their youth to growing up and fighting a war versus the worst kind of evil. The strength of these women has no limit and I was in tears plenty reading these encounters that happened for too many.

The push and pull and absolutely full of angsty romance was here too. Skye and Nicholas OWN ME. And when I say that ending made me sob? IT REALLY DID. It was worth it. Lester constructs an intense story with the push and pull of a life at war. I also loved Margaux. She was a clear unsung hero in this book. I liked that she started off on the fringes and then showed her true and honest side that had me all in my feels too.

There’s a lot of emotions at play as the raw reality of WW2 is described. I appreciated learning even more about this time period and the attention given to research. Looking up more information about Catherine Dior was amazing. I love that all of the fashion aspects were wrapped into this too. It was interesting to learn how Dior began creating his outfits and the role his sister played in that too.

Overall audience note:

  • Historical Fiction Romance
  • Language: some light
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: multiple aspects of WW2 concentration camps, loss of loved ones

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ARC Book Review: The Call of the Sea by Sian Ann Bessey

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Historical Fiction
Length: 252 pages
Author: Sian Ann Bessey
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Release Date: November 1st, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A Viking Historical Romance

On the eve of her betrothal to a nobleman she’s never met, Rhiannon seeks comfort on the shores of the sea she loves so well. But instead of offering peace to her uneasy heart, the ocean heralds doom with the arrival of dreaded Viking ships. A vicious raid leads to the death of her beloved father and leaves Rhiannon’s life in tatters. Heartbroken, she travels to Ynys Môn, where she takes up residence at the royal court of Owain Gwynedd.

Leif loves voyaging on the open water. As the son of a Viking chief, he’s accustomed to his people’s practice of plundering and looting. But when one of his companions ruthlessly kills an old man in front of the man’s beautiful daughter, Leif is haunted by the memory. Desperate to find forgiveness for the atrocity he allowed to occur, he’s offered a chance at redemption through the kindly teachings of an Irish priest and the unexpected arrival of a royal fugitive. Suddenly thrust into the midst of the Cymry’s political turmoil, Leif is reunited with the dead man’s daughter―Rhiannon. Forced to work side by side to uncover the truth behind the turmoil, they come to discover that love can grow from even the most tragic of beginnings. But with such incompatible backgrounds, surely a future together can never be theirs.

Thank you to the publisher and author for an ARC.

SAIL AWAY.

This was a well written story with beautiful imagery and a deep dive into history.

And I will say it’s definitely more historical fiction than anything else. There is a romantic sub plot, but it’s a super sub plot. I enjoyed the murder mystery aspects and finding the truth. Learning about different aspects of the nations at the time and finding God when down on your knees.

The “whodunnit” will keep you guessing and the save the damsel in distress scenes are some of my favorite. I liked the forbidden aspects of the romance and the discussions they worked through involving grief and forgiveness. The lane is never straight but the hills and valleys remind you of what you’re ultimately striving for.

I do wish there was more romance. It had it on the cover so my expectations were set in that direction and I was a bit mystified they didn’t interact as much as I hoped for. I did like the friendships Rhiannon had with her cousin and I just liked Rhiannon in general. She was a great FMC. Full of strength and a desire for more.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fiction
  • Language: none
  • Romance: Kisses
  • Violence: mild
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, loss of a parent, small battle scenes

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Book Review: The Flight Girls by Noelle Salazar

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: Historical fiction romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Noelle Salazar
Publisher: Mira Books
Release Date: July 2nd, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A stunning story about the Women Airforce Service Pilots whose courage during World War II turned ordinary women into extraordinary heroes

1941. Audrey Coltrane has always wanted to fly. It’s why she implored her father to teach her at the little airfield back home in Texas. It’s why she signed up to train military pilots in Hawaii when the war in Europe began. And it’s why she insists she is not interested in any dream-derailing romantic involvements, even with the disarming Lieutenant James Hart, who fast becomes a friend as treasured as the women she flies with. Then one fateful day, she gets caught in the air over Pearl Harbor just as the bombs begin to fall, and suddenly, nowhere feels safe.

To make everything she’s lost count for something, Audrey joins the Women Airforce Service Pilots program. The bonds she forms with her fellow pilots reignite a spark of hope in the face war, and–when James goes missing in action–give Audrey the strength to cross the front lines and fight not only for her country, but for the love she holds so dear.

Shining a light on a little-known piece of history, The Flight Girls is a sweeping portrayal of women’s fearlessness, love, and the power of friendship to make us soar.

ABSOLUTELY A NEW FAVORITE.

Read in a day alert. If you’re a historical fiction fan, add to your TBR ASAP. Oh my gosh I’m in a puddle over here, little bird. *cue tears*

I loved the story of Audrey and her cohorts turned closest friends. What a hard life so many of them chose to walk to support the fight in WW2. Not being recognized until long overdue for everything they gave in the fight against Germany. I haven’t learned much about this facet of history and appreciated getting a nuanced story.

THE ROMANCE. Definitely the forefront of this book and it was everrryyything. EVERYTHING. I was begging the author to give me a happy ending. Waiting for this book to make me sob (which tears frequently hit my eyes throughout). Nothing short of miraculous how those final pages went down. Perfect ending. My heart is still feeling all of the emotions Audrey and James love story elicitied.

Seriously, if you’re at least a romance fan. Read this one. It was a stunning book and I can’t believe myself for letting it sit on my shelf for so long.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical fiction romance
  • Language: some
  • Romance: closed door
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: war themes (specifically Pearl Harbor), multiple deadly plane crashes, a loved one MIA, PTSD, depictions of grief and depression

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: August 2022

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I finally had a great reading month again! Only one 2 star read and I am hoping to ride this high through the fall.

Favorites this month:

  • The River of Silver
  • Well Traveled
  • A Tale of Stars and Shadow (full series)
  • Miss Newbury’s List
  • A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting
  • The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy
  • Kiss and Tell
  • Eloise and the Grump Next Door
  • Violet Made of Thorns
  • Royally Rearranged (reread)
  • Red Rising (reread)
  • Begin Again
  • Complete
  • Hidden Waters
  • The Paris Secret

Least favorite:

  • The Even Odder Couple
  • Echoes of TIme
  • In the Weeds
  • Love on the Brain
  • Back to You
  • The Reigning and the Rule (Surviving Trace #2) by Calia Read
  • [ARC] Defend the Dawn (Defy the Night #2) by Brigid Kemmerer
  • All Tricked Out (Wayfair Witches #13) by A.A. Albright
  • The River of Silver (The Daevabad Trilogy #4) by S.A. Chakraborty
  • The Even Odder Couple (Apple Valley Love Stories #4) by Julie Christianson
  • [ARC] Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin
  • [ARC] Well Traveled (Well Met #4) by Jen DeLuca
  • Scales of Ash & Smoke (Ash & Smoke #1) by Emily L. Schneider
  • A Tale of Stars and Shadow (A Tale of Stars and Shadow #1) by Lisa Cassidy
  • [ARC] Miss Newbury’s List by Megan Walker
  • Echoes of Time (Surviving Time #3) by Calia Read
  • Luna and the Lie by Mariana Zapata
  • Faking it (Wayfair Witches #14) by A.A. Albright
  • A Prince of Song and Shade (A Tale of Stars and Shadow #2) by Lisa Cassidy
  • Brought to Light by Allie Lewis
  • A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin
  • [ARC] The Do-Over by Lynn Painter
  • [Reread] Red Rising (Red Rising #1) by Pierce Brown
  • Testing Times (Wayfair Witches #15) by A.A. Albright
  • [ARC] The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
  • Upgrade by Blake Crouch
  • Kiss and Tell (Creekville Kisses #3) by Melanie Jacobson
  • [ARC] Eloise and the Grump Next Door (Oakley Island Romcoms #1) by Emma St. Clair and Jenny Proctor
  • Violet Made of Thorns (Violet Made of Thorns #1) by Gina Chen
  • [ARC] In the Weeds (Lovelight #2) by B.K. Borison
  • [Reread] Royally Rearranged (Sweet Royal Romcom #1) by Emma St. Clair
  • [ARC] Begin Again by Emma Lord
  • [ARC] Ledge (The Glacian Trilogy #1) by Stacey McEwan
  • A King of Masks and Magic (A Tale of Stars and Shadow #3) by Lisa Cassidy
  • A Duet of Sword and Song (A Tale of Stars and Shadow #4) by Lisa Cassidy
  • A Duel with the Vampire Lord (Married to Magic #3) by Elise Kova
  • The Hookup Plan (The Boyfriend Project #3) by Farrah Rochon
  • [ARC] To Capture His Heart (Matchmakers #2) by Nancy Campbell Allen
  • Complete (The Sweet RomComs #3) by Kortney Keisel
  • [ARC] The Liar’s Crown (Dominion #1) by Abigail Owen
  • Unhappening Ever After (Wayfair Witches #16) by A.A. Albright
  • Promised by Leah Garriot
  • Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
  • A Confirmed Rake (The Donovans #2) by Martha Keyes
  • Back to You (San Diego Marines #1) by Jess Mastorakos
  • Hidden Waters (Tattered & Torn #3) by Catherine Cowles
  • The Paris Secret by Natasha Lester

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