The Last Train from Paris by Suzanne Kelman ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

Paris, 1943: Charlotte clutches the children tightly to her as they board the train. "Don't worry," she whispers to them softly. "I will get you to safety, I promise..."

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.  A free book was provided for an honest review.

The Girl Bandits of the Warsaw Ghetto by Elizabeth Hyman ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

A Holocaust historian, archivist, and history blogger adds a new dimension to the story of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising during World War II, shining a long overdue spotlight on five young, Polish Jewish women—champions who helped lead the resistance, sabotage the Nazis, and aid Jews in hiding across occupied Poland and Eastern Europe.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free audiobook was provided for an honest review.

The House for Lost Children by Marty Wingate ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

England, 1940. “Hello Gracie,” Louisa reaches out a trembling hand to the six-year-old little girl. Her dark eyes are wide with fear and Louisa’s heart shatters. She is devoted to the children in her new boarding school. But when the war comes closer than ever, can she keep them safe?

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.  A free book was provided for an honest review.

One of Them by Kitty Zeldis ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

A story of secrets, friendship, and betrayal about two young women at Vassar in the years after World War II, a powerful and moving tale of prejudice and pride that echoes the cultural and social issues of today.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.  A free book was provided for an honest review.

Sisters of Night and Fog by Erika Robuck ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Set across the European theater of WWII, Sisters of Night and Fog tells the story of two women whose clandestine deeds come to a staggering halt when they are brought together at Ravensbrück concentration camp.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

The Girls of the Glimmer Factory by Jennifer Coburn ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Hannah longs for the days when she used to be free, but now, she is a Jewish prisoner at Theresienstadt, a model ghetto where the Nazis plan to make a propaganda film to convince the world that the Jewish people are living well in the camps. But Hannah will do anything to show the world the truth. Along with other young resistance members, they vow to disrupt the filming and derail the increasingly frequent deportations to death camps in the east.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Holocaust Stories in Fiction and Nonfiction

by Susan Roberts

I read a lot of historical fiction and am always interested in WWII-era fiction.  Even though the market is very saturated with books from this time period, authors continue to find heroes who have been forgotten or write about fictional brave people who made a difference in their worlds during this time.  Today I have reviews of three new books that look at this time period from new directions - one is historical fiction closely based on the true story of one man and his goal to help children, one is fiction about a 16 year old girl that was inspired by a true story and the third is a nonfiction book about a family that hid in a small building for 2 years while being helped by their brave neighbors. 

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for honest reviews.

The Call of the Wrens by Jenni L. Walsh ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

The Call of the Wrens introduces the little-known story of the daring women who rode through war-torn Europe carrying secrets on their shoulders.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free audiobook was provided for an honest review.

The Last Secret Agent by Pippa Latour and Jude Dobson ~ Review

by Donna Huber

The world recently celebrated the 80th anniversary of V-E Day - the day Germany surrendered and ended WWII in Europe. 80 years ago, Pippa Latour signed off and made her way to Paris. She served as a radio operator in occupied France for the British Special Operations Executive. The Last Secret Agent is her story.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free audiobook was provided for an honest review.

Propaganda Girls: The Secret War of the Women in the OSS by Lisa Rogak ~ an Audiobook Review

by Donna Huber

What are you reading for Women's History Month? I love learning about women in history but I usually choose biographical fiction as it is more entertaining than nonfiction history. If you feel the same way, then I have a recommendation on a nonfiction history book you need to read.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free audiobook was provided for an honest review.

The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle by Jennifer Ryan ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

After renowned fashion designer Cressida Westcott loses both her home and her design house in the London Blitz, she has nowhere to go but the family manor house she fled decades ago. Praying that her niece and nephew will be more hospitable than her brother had been, she arrives with nothing but the clothes she stands in, at a loss as to how to rebuild her business while staying in a quaint country village.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

4 New World War II Historical Fiction Books

by Susan Roberts

Today I have reviews of four new books that take place during WWII.  The first three are similar in some ways - they feature dual timelines and strong and resilient women and they are all based on real people or real situations. The fourth one is about an ordinary man who decides to make a difference.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

The Rose Arbor by Rhys Bowen ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

An investigation into a girl’s disappearance uncovers a mystery dating back to World War II in a haunting novel of suspense.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Our Narrow Hiding Places by Kristopher Jansma ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

An elderly woman recounts her Dutch family’s survival during the final years of Nazi occupation, shedding new light on old secrets that rippled through subsequent generations. 

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

A Song of Silence by Steve N. Lee ~ a Review

by Susan Roberts

A Gripping Holocaust Novel Inspired by a Heartbreaking True Story 

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

The Wartime Book Club by Kate Thompson ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

From enchanting cliff tops and white sandy bays to the pretty cobbled streets of St Helier, Jersey is known as the land of milk and honey. But for best friends Bea Rose, the local postwoman, and Grace Le Motte, who works in the island's only library, it becomes the frontline to everyday resistance when their beloved island is occupied by German forces in 1940.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

2 World War II Novels

by Susan Roberts

Today I have reviews of two World War II books that are both about the perilous work that two young people did to help end the war.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Two Books about Strong Women During World War II

by Susan Roberts

Women helped the war effort in many diverse ways.  Whether they stayed at home or worked in a factory, they did their part to help.  Today I have two books that show women who had very different roles even though they were both dangerous and needed.  The Foxhole Victory Tour is about a young woman who performed on a USO tour that travelled almost to the front lines.  The Woman with no Name is about an older woman who became part of the resistance in France after being trained in England.   They were both put into dangerous situations and found out that they were much stronger and braver than they had ever believed.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for honest reviews.

2 New Books about Strong Women During WWII

by Susan Roberts

In the genre of historical fiction, 2023 ended strong and 2024 is already showing it will be another great year of historical fiction. If you are a fan of World War II fiction, then make sure these books are on your reading list.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt ~ A Review

by Susan Roberts

On a golden August morning in 1939, sisters Antonina and Helena Dąbrowska send their father off to defend Poland against the looming threat of German invasion. The next day, the first bombs fall on Warsaw, decimating their beloved city and shattering the world of their youth.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.