The Secret Book of Flora Lee

 

Imagine that your love of books results in a career in a bookshop, especially with rare books.  You come across a book that describes a fairy tale you made up and told your younger sister as a child set in an imaginary place.  With her father fighting in the war, Hazel uses this fairy tale to soothe her sister.

In London, when Hitler struck, many families sent their children to live in the English countryside.  Hazel and her little sister, Flora Lee, go to live with a woman and her teenage son in an idyllic village along the river Thames.  Young Flora, around 5 years old, falls into the river and is lost, presumed dead.  Hazel has a crush on the teenage son, Harry, and blames herself for losing her sister.

Years later she comes across the book based on her fairy tale.  Will it solve the mystery of the disappearance of Flora Lee?  

This book is a delightful story of love, loss and redemption.  Patti Callahan Henry does a wonderful job with the characters in this book.  It was a pleasure to read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A Lady's Guide to Scandal

 

I loved Sophie Irwin's first book, A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting and could not wait to read this one!  Eliza made the match of the season marrying an earl 20 years older than her.  But, ten years later she is left widowed.  She is wealth, titled and a bit unconventional.  She begins to live a life beyond convention and dare I say what some would consider scandal!  There is manipulation in the shadows as her husband's will says she can only keep her inheritance if she avoids scandal.  Can she do it?  An interesting male character appears on the scene and tests her resolve.  

This tale was as wonderful as Ms. Irwin's first book!  I was so happy to read and review it.  The story takes us back to a time when it was so difficult to live as a single woman in England.  How can they resolve and not be banished by society?  Don't miss this book, especially if you enjoyed the first one.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Wedding Planner

 

Faith was wedding planner extraordinaire.  She was much in demand, but selective about her clients.  She personally had 2 engagements that did not end in marriage.  It was important to her that the clients were a good fit for her.  Her twin sister, Hope, leads a charmed life in Connecticut.  Her assistant, Violet, has to plan a wedding of her own.  Faith and Hope's mother is around when she and her boyfriend are not in Europe.  

Faith takes on a couple of clients who test her emotional stability.  One of her clients experiences domestic violence and Faith gets very involved.

Can Faith find love of her own?  Does she plan her own wedding?

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Golden Doves

 

Josie and Arlette are working in the French Resistance as female spies.  They are on a very risky mission to track down a Nazi doctor who committed heinous crimes during World War II.  They provided so much vital information that they became known as The Golden Doves.  When they are captured, they are sent to Ravensbruck, a concentration camp.  Josie's mother is also there and a victim of this infamous doctor.  Arlette's son is with her; then taken from her for an adoption.  Their quest takes them across Europe to eventually French Guiana. Will Arlette ever reunite with her son?

It was great to learn about places Jews escaped to and re-established their lives trying to escape Nazi control.  I cannot image such a life of turmoil and oppression.  Martha Kelly tells a wonderful story based on fact.  It is joyous at times, sad and thrilling.  I highly recommend this book to historical fiction lovers who enjoy stories based on facts.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.