The German Wife.

 

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 CONTAINS SPOILERS

Berlin, 1930 —When a wave of change sweeps a radical political party to power, Sofie von Meyer Rhodes’s academic husband benefits from the ambitions of its newly elected chancellor. Although Sofie and Jürgen do not share the social views growing popular in Hitler’s Germany, Jürgen’s position with its burgeoning rocket program changes their diminishing fortunes for the better. But as Sofie watches helplessly, her beloved Berlin begins to transform, forcing her to consider what they must sacrifice morally for their young family’s security, and what the price for their neutrality will be. 

Twenty years later, Jürgen is one of the many German scientists offered pardons for their part in the war, and taken to America to work for its fledgling space program. For Sofie, this is the chance to exorcise the ghosts that have followed her across the ocean, and make a fresh start in her adopted country. But her neighbors aren’t as welcoming or as understanding as she had hoped. When scandalous rumors about the Rhodes family’s affiliation with Hitler’s regime spreads, idle gossip turns to bitter rage, and the act of violence that results will tear apart Sofie’s community and her family before the truth is finally revealed.

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 It's books like The German Wife that made me fall in love with historical fiction. Kelly Rimmer has been on my to-read list for a while, how I haven’t read her books earlier? When I finished The German Wife I couldn’t wait to check out the rest of her books. This story was one of the most emotional historical fiction books that I have read in a while. I always loved historical fiction that told stories in dual storylines, and that featured more than one character. The German Wife tells a story of a German wife, Sofie, and an American wife, Lizzie. The two of them are such different people, and that’s what made this book unique. Lizzie changed so much since the Dust Bowl, and in the present time, Lizzie was not the Lizzie I remember during the 1930s. I wondered if Lizzie wished that she gave Sofie more of a chance, and not judged her because she was German. My heart broke for Sofie, and her children, and how she was treated just because she was German, even if she had nothing to do with what happened. 

I was afraid that Henry was up to something, but I had no idea how far he was willing to go. There was so much tension in this story, to the point where I knew that I should put the book down, but I couldn’t. There was one part of me that wanted to see how the story would end, but there was another part of me, that wasn’t sure that I wanted to know how it would end. From the book, the last few chapters were the most intense ones and had you on the edge of your seat until you turned the last page. When I turned the last page, the story was still with me, I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I ended up telling my mom, and some of my friends because it has so much impact on me. 

It was…haunting, magnificent. 

Having two timelines, told from two different character worked great for this book. I knew a little about the Dust Bowl, but I learned even more once I read this book. I wondered how Sofie and Lizzie would come together in the present time story. I did not like how Lizzie treated her, I didn’t like the new Lizzie. What I loved about Lizzie is how she protected her brother. The lengths you would go, to protect your family, your loved ones. I loved the story between Sofie and Jürgen the most, the way they tried to protect each other, and sometimes make the decisions that they didn’t want. I cried, laughed, and got angry along with them. I felt like I was there. I would highly recommend this to any historical fiction fans.

Lessons In Chemistry

 

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Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with—of all things—her mind. True chemistry results. 

But like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth’s unusual approach to cooking (“combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride”) proves revolutionary. But as her following grows, not everyone is happy. Because as it turns out, Elizabeth Zott isn’t just teaching women to cook. She’s daring them to change the status quo. 

 
Laugh-out-loud funny, shrewdly observant, and studded with a dazzling cast of supporting characters, Lessons in Chemistry is as original and vibrant as its protagonist. 

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 I have been hearing about this book for few months now, even though it has been out longer than that. I couldn’t help myself; I was curious about the book that so many are talking about. I would have read it sooner, expect my library had long wait list on the book. Once I started to read Lessons In Chemistry I could see why so many were talking about this book, and the reason that it won an award. I love science and anything related to any form of science, and that was one of the things that hooked me into this book. I have read another book that dealt with a women scientist, but this one had its own unique twist when it comes to women and science. 

Cooking and Science, a mix that you don’t often think about. I had a feeling that when Elizabeth got offered to do a cooking show on television, was not going to be what she imagined it would be. However, that didn’t stop her, she found a way to make the show her own. I couldn’t help but wonder how long she would end up on the show, because cooking isn’t what she wanted to do, she was a scientist. All through the book, I wondered if she would end up going back to it, I hoped that she would. I did love her cooking segments and always wonder what she was going to explain next. You couldn’t help but love Elizabeth, there was something about her personality that you wanted to get to know her. She was one of the strongest women, despite with everything she went through, she kept on going. 

Of course, you can’t help but love her dog, six-thirty. Isn’t that an unique name? It’s no wonder that people got confused when they asked the dog’s name and she told them, they assumed she was telling them the time. Six Thirty is one of the smartest dogs that I read about, I loved how he knew so much, and how much Elizabeth was able to teach him. I know that he understood much more than what others assumed that he did. I loved that the book had a humor in the mix, made it even more interesting to read, I couldn’t get enough. I can see why this book was popular, and would highly recommend it. An extraordinary ride!

Women Of The Post

 

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

1944, New York City. Judy Washington is tired of working from dawn til dusk in the Bronx Slave Market, cleaning white women’s houses and barely making a dime. Her husband is fighting overseas, so it's up to Judy and her mother to make enough money for rent and food. When the chance arises for Judy to join the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) and the ability to bring home a steady paycheck, she jumps at the opportunity. 

Immediately upon arrival, Judy undergoes grueling military drills and inspections led by Second Officer Charity Adams, one of the only Black officers in the WAC. Judy becomes fast friends with the other women in her unit—Stacy, Bernadette and Mary Alyce—who only discovered she was Black after joining the army. Under Charity Adams’s direction, they are transferred to Birmingham, England, as part of the 6888th Central Postal Battalion—the only unit of Black women to serve overseas in WWII. Here, they must sort a backlog of over one million pieces of mail. 

The women work tirelessly, knowing that they're reuniting soldiers to their loved ones through the letters they write. However, their work becomes personal when Mary Alyce discovers a backlogged letter addressed to Judy that will upend her personal life. Told through the alternating perspectives of Judy, Charity and Mary Alyce, Women of the Post is an unforgettable story of perseverance, female friendship, romance and self-discovery. 

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  Motivating. 

I have read multiple books about WWII, and few that featured women serving in the army. However, this was the first book that I came across which focused on black women's experience during the war. It is something that I did think about when I read books about WWII that focused on the women serving, I wondered if their experiences were different. When I came across Women Of The Post and read the synopsis of the book, I knew that I had to read this book. I tend to enjoy WWII books, especially the ones that feature strong women, it takes a lot to join the military, to serve and protect our country. I was hooked on this book within minutes of starting reading, I couldn’t get enough of the story, and I was invested in each of the character’s stories. The descriptions and the emotions of each of the characters, that what made it hard to put the book down. There were few times when I looked up to realize how late it was, because of how invested I was in the story. 

I saw how differently they were treated because they were black. It seemed that nobody took them seriously because of their race, and that included the officer. Why should it matter what race they are? They are doing what everyone else in the military is, protecting our country. I can’t even begin to imagine how it felt for them, but reading the book, I felt like I could feel everything that they were feeling. I loved reading the letters that some of them wrote to their loved ones, it made the story even more personal. While reading Women Of The Post , I found myself rooting for all the girls in the unit, praying for all of them to make it home to their loved ones. I never even thought that during the war someone had to sort all the mail and that there chance that mail wouldn’t make it to their loved ones. 

I read a few inspirational WWII books before, but this one…I can’t even begin to explain how I am feeling right now. Women Of The Post was the first novel that I have read by the author, and now that I have, I’m eager to see what she comes up with next. I would highly recommend this book to historical fiction fans. You will find yourself on the edge of your seat from start to end, a story that will stay with you.

One Of Us Is Back(One Of Us Is Lying, #3)

 

 

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

Ever since Simon died in detention, life hasn't been easy for the Bayview Crew. First the Bayview Four had to prove they weren't killers. Then a new generation had to outwit a vengeful copycat. Now, it's beginning again. 

At first the mysterious billboard seems like a bad joke: Time for a new game, Bayview. But when a member of the crew disappears, it's clear this 'game' just got serious - and no one understands the rules. 

Everyone's a target. And now that someone unexpected has returned to Bayview, things are starting to get deadly. 

Simon was right about secrets - they all come out in the end. 

The thing is, Simon was right about secrets-they all come out, eventually. And Bayview has a lot it's still hiding.

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Mysterious, Thrilling. 

I shouldn’t be surprised by now, considering that I have read most of Karen M.McManus since discovering her a few years ago. One Of Us Is Lying was the first of her books that I have read, and I loved reading about the Bayview Crew. When I came across One Of Us Is Back on Netgalley, I couldn’t help but request an early copy of the book. I was happy when I got approved and received an electronic ARC of the book, I couldn’t wait to get started and came back to Bayview. Like the other books in the series in the book, I couldn’t help but fall in love with this book, although the first book will always remain my favorite out of the three. I loved that One Of Us Is Back included the characters from the first and the second book, how they came together. 

I enjoyed that this book focused mainly on Phoebe, Addy and Nate, with other characters featured. Out of three of them, Phoebe was my favorite one, a more interesting POV to read from, in my opinion anyways. I did feel that this book started slower than the others had, and it took a few chapters to get into the story. However, once the book picked up, I couldn't put the book down, I wanted to see what would happen next, and how it would end. There was so much happening, just when you thought it was a good stopping point, the most unexpected twist had you reading late into the night. 

Now let’s talk about the cover. I love the covers of her books, it has a very mysterious look. Even if you never read any of Karen’s books, just the cover will have you picking up a copy. I’m so glad that I got a chance to read an early edition of this book, and I would highly recommend this book to any mystery/ thriller fans. Be prepared for a thrilling ride!