Two Wars And A Wedding.

 

✰✰✰✰✰

 

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review* 
 

September 1896: As an aspiring archaeologist, Smith College graduate Betsy Hayes travels to Athens, desperate to break into a very male-dominated field and find work at some of the world’s most famous excavation sites. In the midst of the heat and dust of Greece she finds an unlikely ally in philanthropist Charles, Baron de Robecourt, one of the few men who takes her academic passion seriously. But when a simmering conflict between Greece and Turkey erupts into open warfare, Betsy’s archaeological sites become battlefields and she falls into the grim and heroic task of nursing the wounded. As the world around her is irrevocably changed, Betsy finds her heart pulled in multiple directions. 

June 1898: As the Spanish-American war begins, an older and wiser Betsy Hayes is searching for her former best friend Ava, who she last saw in Greece during the Greco-Turkish War. She believes that Ava might be with the Red Cross headed to Cuba, so Betsy herself joins the Red Cross and follows Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders straight to the heart of the fighting. As she enters the war zone, dark memories of her last war resurface and her need to protect old and new friends intensifies. 

With an unforgettable cast of characters set against two often overlooked but dramatic periods of history, Lauren Willig spins a compelling and heartwarming story about friendship, falling in love at the most inopportune moments, and fighting for what is right. 

 

❀ ❀   

Marvelous. 

Books like these made me wish I wasn't taking five classes, so I had more time to read. When I got to read, I couldn't get enough of this story, and I was eager to see what would happen with Betsy, Ava, and Kit next. Betsy was one of my favorite characters in the book; she was the character you felt most connected with. Betsy's character developed most of the book's characters. As I read Two Wars And A Wedding , I watched Betsy grow so much, and it was as if I was reading about a different person from the beginning of the book and as she progressed in her nursing career. I love reading books dealing with war and nursing, so this was the perfect combination. I was thinking about reading the book when I wasn't reading it. 

Every time I had a chance to read the book, it made me wish I had more time to read it. I would have read the book within a few days if I weren't in school. Two Wars And A Wedding is one of those books where it's hard to describe my emotions because there are so many. Two Wars And A Wedding is one of those books where you will have to force yourself to put the book down. Although, despite being in school, there were a few times that I stayed up later just so I could read more, I was eager to find out how it would end for Betsy if she finally found her happiness. From the start, you could see the connection and attraction between Holt and Betsy, and you couldn't help but root for them from the start. The description in this book had me feeling

Marvelous. 

Books like these made me wish I wasn't taking five classes, so I had more time to read. When I got to read, I couldn't get enough of this story, and I was eager to see what would happen with Betsy, Ava, and Kit next. Betsy was one of my favorite characters in the book; she was the character you felt most connected with. Betsy's character developed most of the book's characters. As I read Two Wars And A Wedding , I watched Betsy grow so much, and it was as if I was reading about a different person from the beginning of the book and as she progressed in her nursing career. I love reading books dealing with war and nursing, so this was the perfect combination. I was thinking about reading the book when I wasn't reading it. 

Every time I had a chance to read the book, it made me wish I had more time to read it. I would have read the book within a few days if I weren't in school. Two Wars And A Wedding is one of those books where it's hard to describe my emotions because there are so many. Two Wars And A Wedding is one of those books where you will have to force yourself to put the book down. Although, despite being in school, there were a few times that I stayed up later just so I could read more, I was eager to find out how it would end for Betsy if she finally found her happiness. From the start, you could see the connection and attraction between Holt and Betsy, and you couldn't help but root for them from the start. The description in this book had me feeling as if I was transported to the time, as if I was beside Betsy, taking care of the wounded. I can't even begin to imagine being a nurse during that time, and I don't think I could handle all that death. 

I loved the letters, and the notes at the beginning of each chapter, making it feel more personal. I loved the author's historical notes at the book's end, and I wondered which parts of the book were historical facts. I have read books by Lauren Willig that she wrote with Karen White & Beatriz Williams and loved them both, but this was the first solo book that I have read by her. This won't be the last book that I will read by her. I'm so grateful that I got a chance to read an early copy. I'm eager to see what the author has for us next.

as if I was transported to the time, as if I was beside Betsy, taking care of the wounded. I can't even begin to imagine being a nurse during that time, and I don't think I could handle all that death. 

I loved the letters, and the notes at the beginning of each chapter, making it feel more personal. I loved the author's historical notes at the book's end, and I wondered which parts of the book were historical facts. I have read books by Lauren Willig that she wrote with Karen White & Beatriz Williams and loved them both, but this was the first solo book that I have read by her. This won't be the last book that I will read by her. I'm so grateful that I got a chance to read an early copy. I'm eager to see what the author has for us next.

Dead Man's Hand (Unorthodox Chronicles, #1)

 

 ✰✰✰✰

 

 

 

On the streets of Boston, the world is divided into the ordinary Usuals, and the paranormal Unorthodox. And in the Department of Unorthodox Affairs, the Auditors are the magical elite, government-sanctioned witches with spells at their command and all the power and prestige that comes with it. Grimshaw Griswald Grimsby is...not one of those witches. 

After flunking out of the Auditor training program and being dismissed as "not Department material," Grimsby tried to resign himself to life as a mediocre witch. But he can't help hoping he'll somehow, someway, get another chance to prove his skill. That opportunity comes with a price when his former mentor, aka the most dangerous witch alive, is murdered down the street from where he works, and Grimsby is the Auditors' number one suspect. 

Proving his innocence will require more than a little legwork, and after forming a strange alliance with the retired legend known as the Huntsman and a mysterious being from Elsewhere, Grimsby is abruptly thrown into a life of adventure, whether he wants it or not. Now all he has to do is find the real killer, avoid the Auditors on his trail, and most importantly, stay alive. 

 

   ❀ ❀ 

Exhilarating. 

When I came across this book at the library, I wasn't sure what to expect. I have been a fan of his father, Jim Butcher, for years and own all the Dresden Files books. So I was excited when I came across his son's book, Dead Man's Hand while I was at my college's library. The cover caught my attention first, and then I noticed the name. Wizards and magic, mixed with mystery, are one of my favorite books to read, and based on the book's synopsis, I was curious. I couldn't pull away from this story once I picked it up. I loved the story, the characters, and the adventures that those characters had on the way; it kept your attention and had you wonder what would happen next with them. At first, I wasn't sure what to think about Grimsby; I couldn't decide if I liked him; maybe it was how he acted. I also had difficulty believing he could kill anyone, but others had different ideas. As the story progressed, my feelings for Grimsby changed, and I was rooting for Grimsby to figure out who murdered his mentor. I wanted to discover who and why she named Grimsby a suspect. 

Mayflower and Grimsby , there is something about the two of them. It gave me a feeling that they would work together or be friends. Initially, I feared he would kill him eventually, but then he didn't. I have a feeling that Mayflower had trouble believing that Grimsby could kill the moment he met him, and that's why he never got around to killing him. Suppose he believed it from the start. When the two started working together, I was sure they would kill each other before figuring out who the real murderer was. Mayflower and Grimsby made a great team, and the two of them went a long way since the beginning of the book. I'm curious about what adventures are awaiting them next. There was so much happening on every page and chapter that I was having difficulty putting the book down. Once I reached the last page, I thought about the book for a long time after turning the last page. 

I felt that Dead Man's Hand had a slow start, and it took me a few pages to get into the book.However, once I did, almost nothing could stop me from reading the book except homework. This story and the characters make me wish the next book was out, so I know what happens next. I recommend this to any fantasy and mystery fans.

The Paris Notebook.

 

✰✰✰✰

 

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review* 

 

When Katja Heinz secures a job as a typist at Doctor Viktor’s clinic, she doesn’t expect to be copying top secret medical records from a notebook. 

At the end of the first world war, Doctor Viktor treated soldiers for psychological disorders. One of the patients was none other than Adolf Hitler. . . 

The notes in his possession declare Hitler unfit for office – a secret that could destroy the Führer’s reputation, and change the course of the war if exposed. . . 

With the notebook hidden in her hat box, Katja and Doctor Viktor travel to Paris. Seeking refuge in the Shakespeare and Company bookshop, they hope to find a publisher brave enough to print the controversial script. 

But Katja is being watched. Nazi spies in Paris have discovered her plan. They will stop at nothing to destroy the notebook and silence those who know of the secret hidden inside. . .

   ❀ ❀ 

  Extraordinary. 

I have read multiple historical fictions during World War II, but The Paris Notebook is unlike any other ones I have read, and that is one of my favorite things about this book. I never even considered how it must be to treat a person who ended up killing so many others, even if he had no way of knowing it back then. I couldn’t get enough of Katja’s story; every page had me wondering what would happen next. When Katja started working for Dr. Viktor, I wondered how long it would take for her to figure out that the medical records that she was copying were Adolf Hitler’s. I wondered what her reaction would be once she discovered the truth. Once the idea came to try and publish the book, I thought that it was a brilliant idea, but at the same time, I wondered if anyone would be brave enough to publish it. 

I felt that the beginning of the book started slow, but it picked up within a few pages, and then I was hooked and couldn’t seem to get enough. I would finish it sooner, but school and all the homework and tests made it hard to have time to read every day. When I wasn’t reading the book, I was thinking about the book and wondering if Katja and Dr. Viktor could accomplish their goal. The two of them went through so much even to have anyone consider publishing it. I do understand why some were hesitant about it; they were afraid. I loved how dedicated, and brave Katja was; despite her challenges, there wasn’t a single time she gave up. Despite what was happening in the world, I think she was one of the most courageous women to keep going. Of all the characters in the book, she was my favorite. 

The Paris Notebook had me going through many different emotions. There were quite a few parts of the book that were hard for me to read, yet I found it hard to put the book down. Every page and chapter were suspenseful, with you on the edge of your seat. I would spend all day reading if I wasn’t so busy with classes. The first thing that caught my attention while I was on Netgalley was the cover; that was what had me click and read the description; the cover itself has a mystery. 

That ending was probably the most surprising in the whole story, even though I didn’t see that one coming. This was the first book I have read by Tessa Harris, and now I am eager to check out the rest of her books. Highly recommend this book.

Hide Here.

 

✰✰✰✰✰

 

*Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review* 
 

Zoe McClary never imagined an evening jog would lead to witnessing a crime. Fearing for her life, she goes on the run and ends up in a remote town in Montana, where she meets a mysterious man in isolation for reasons as equally dangerous as hers. 

Kaiden Hayes escaped a brutal world years ago and has no intention of revealing his whereabouts. But Zoe’s arrival dismantles his once quiet retreat, and for the first time, he finds himself opening his heart to someone.

 
Emotions intensify just as threats close in on them. This time, they’ll fight for more than their survival. 

 

  ❀ ❀

Once more, I am blown away by another Shane Morgan book. If it wasn’t for the number of classes and testing, I had, I would have finished this faster than I had. I have been reading her books for years, and we became close friends through the years. Hide Here is just the type of book that I love reading, romance, and thriller. This book had my attention from the moment that I started reading the book until I turned the last page. Once I reached the last page, I wanted to go back and reread this book. There was so much going on in this story, and as a reader, you couldn’t help but wonder what would happen next, if they would find Zoe, and if Kaiden could protect her if they did. Every page and chapter had me on the edge of my seat, craving more. 

You could tell there was a connection between Kaiden and Zoe from the moment they met, even if Kaiden didn’t want to admit it. I know that if it weren’t there, Kaiden wouldn’t let Zoe stay with him if he did. I loved how he did everything he could to protect her when he found out she was in danger. Kaiden wouldn’t have had trouble if he didn’t feel something for her. The emotions in the book, oh man. I couldn’t begin to imagine what Zoe thought during this time, but after reading the book, I felt as if I could. While reading Hide Here , my emotions were all over the place. I also felt everything Zoe felt for Kaiden and hoped he would come to his senses soon. 

The story wasn’t the only thing I loved about the book, but the cover and the title. Even if you haven’t read any of the author’s books before, the cover and the title will make you curious about the story. I highly recommend this book, especially to anyone who loves romance and thrillers. Be prepared for a thrilling ride. I wanted to thank the author for her dedication in this book; seeing that made my day.