"The Warsaw Sisters, " by Amanda Barratt

 "The Warsaw Sisters, " by Amanda Barratt

A richly rendered portrait of courage, sacrifice, and resilience

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.

When Antonina's beloved Marek is forced behind ghetto walls, along with the rest of Warsaw's Jewish population, Antonina knows she cannot stand by and soon becomes a key figure in a daring network of women risking their lives to shelter Jewish children. Meanwhile, Helena finds herself drawn into the ranks of Poland's secret army, joining the fight to free her homeland from occupation.

But the secrets both are forced to keep threaten to tear them apart--and the cost of resistance may prove greater than either ever imagined.

This book is a must read, it's a book of fiction based on true events that actually happened.  The cruelty and destruction that happened in Warsaw in World War 2 must never be forgotten.  How brave and courageous the people of Warsaw were.  It's all highlighted in this book.

One thing that stood out for me were how resilient they were.  How patriotic they were.  Also how sad a life they had that they couldn't even trust members of their own family with secrets of what they were doing to try and defeat the enemy; as the less others knew the better.

The detail in this book is brilliant.  You must read the authors/historical notes at the back of the book, they are very interesting.  It is a well researched book, that's for sure.

Stars out of 5 : 4.5  I did find the book a bit slow to start with, I wasn't sucked into it right away.  Though after the first few chapters the book drew you in and I couldn't put it down as I had to know what happened next.  Well worth reading.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell , a division of Baker Publishing Group".

"When The Smoke Clears," by Lynette Eason

 "When The Smoke Clears," by Lynette Eason

After a brush with death due to equipment failure, smokejumper Alexia Allen is ordered to take time off while the incident is under investigation. She makes a last-minute decision to recuperate at her mother's home and attend her high school reunion. Yet trouble seems to be following her, and within hours of arriving home she is confronted with murder, arson--and a handsome detective.

But the conflicts ahead are nothing compared to the ghosts of her past. As she struggles to accept and forgive her family's past, she must also decide if the secret she's been guarding for the last ten years must finally come to light.

This book is the first book in the "Deadly Reunion," series.  Now it looks like the author has republished this series, as they first came out between 2012 -2015.  I didn't read them back then, but I am going to have to read the rest of the series now; because you will not get the answers to all your questions in this first book.  The story must continue on right through the series.

I will say I was a bit bummed out, when I got to the end of the book and still had no idea who was "pulling the strings," with all the problems.  I will say I figured out who one of the "bad people" were early on.  The way the story develops it really sucks you in and you have to keep on turning the page to see what happens next.

I kept thinking to myself though I am so glad I wasn't Alexia, as she had a busy few days when she arrived back home from Washington!!  I would have gone into hiding, if I had, had that many attempts on my life...LOL

Stars out of 5 : 5 This story kept me glued to the book, as I did have to know what's going to happen next.  Lynette writes with such detail and passion, you know you're in for a great read.  Now I will have to go and borrow the next two books from the library to see who/what is behind all this mayhem!!

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell , a division of Baker Publishing Group".

"Into the Fire," by Irene Hannon

 "Into the Fire," by Irene Hannon

As a former smokejumper, arson investigator Bri Tucker knows her way around fires. But after a mysterious blaze takes the life of a former colleague, Bri inherits a curious puzzle from him that raises questions about several fiery deaths. Someone, however, doesn't want her picking up where he left off in search of answers.

When she teams up with ATF Special Agent Marc Davis to solve the puzzle, the case heats up--as does the attraction between them. Sparks fly as the danger escalates, but will they manage to track down the person behind the mysterious deaths before their budding romance--and maybe even their lives--go up in flames?

In this pulse-pounding new series from the bestselling and award-winning queen of romantic suspense, you'll be swept up in a whirlwind of danger, mystery, and romance. Get ready to burn through the pages as Bri and Marc race to solve the puzzle and uncover the truth.

As far as I'm concerned Irene Hannon can do no wrong when she writes books and this is a must read from her.  You have murder, mystery, romance and a page turning book in your hand when you read this one.

This book is the first book in the "Undaunted Courage," series and what a way to start the series.  You are swept along as the story develops.  Not sure who is the murderer.  The plot twists and turns and just when you think you have it all figured out, then something else happens.

When you do finally discover who it is; you will go, oh I didn't see that coming.  Add in the growing attraction between Bri and Marc and it all adds up to a super read.

Stars out of 5 : 5 It had a bit of everything for everybody.  It's well worth the read and I am looking forward to the next book in the series which will feature Bri's brother Jack as the main character.  You get a "taste" of who he is in this book, so he won't be a stranger to you.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell , a division of Baker Publishing Group".

"On Moonberry Lake," by Holly Varni

"On Moonberry Lake," by Holly Varni

Cora Matthews's life is a mess. A broken engagement and the unexpected death of her mother have left her wondering if things will ever return to normal. Whatever "normal" is.

It certainly isn't what she finds at Moonberry Lake. After she receives her family's dilapidated lakefront lodge as an inheritance--with a surprising condition attached--Cora finds her life overrun by a parade of eccentric neighbors who all have something to say and something to teach her.

As Cora works to put her life back together, she must decide if she is willing to let go of the past, open her heart to love, and embrace the craziest version of family and home she could ever have imagined.

Oh my, this book was such a good book, I was so sad when I finished it.  It was a delight, the characters were so relatable.  You were drawn into the small town charm.  I loved the local newspaper entries; which by the way are a thing of the past in our area........our local newspapers have all closed.

Living in a small town can be a curse and a blessing, and this book showed you why.  If you have lived in a small town you could probably relate.....I know I could.

I couldn't pick out a favourite character as they all had such likeable traits that you fell in love with each one, time after time.  As an added bonus, there are even recipes for things mentioned in the book!

This book is the first in a series of books centred around Moonberry Lake and I for one can't wait for the next one to be published.

Stars out of 5 : 5 I would give it 100 if I could, I enjoyed it that much.  This book shows you despite different personalities, we all need someone and even the most different people can gel together to make a family.  Such an enjoyable book, well worth picking up and reading.

P.S. If the author reads this review, I do hope you do a book all about Widgy!!

 "Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell , a division of Baker Publishing Group".

"Room, " by Emma Donoghue

 "Room," by Emma Donoghue

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the world. It’s where he was born. It’s where he and Ma eat and sleep and play and learn. There are endless wonders that let loose Jack’s imagination: the snake under Bed that he constructs out of eggshells; the imaginary world projected through the TV; the coziness of Wardrobe, where Ma tucks him in safely at night, in case Old Nick comes.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it’s the prison where she’s been held since she was nineteen—for seven long years. Through her fierce love for her son, she has created a life for him in that eleven-by-eleven-foot space. But Jack’s curiosity is building alongside Ma’s own desperation, and she knows that Room cannot contain either indefinitely.

Told in the inventive, funny and poignant voice of Jack, Room is a celebration of resilience—and a powerful story of a mother and son whose love lets them survive the impossible.

I am an honoury member of a book club in the UK.  As I am in Canada, I don't go to the meetings, but I do read the books.  So this is the first book I have read from this book club.

It's an odd book for a few reasons.  It's told from a 5 year old's point of view.  A 5 year old whose life so far has been limited to an elven foot by eleven foot square room.  I found the first part of the book, "Presents" quite confusing, but the more you get into the book, the more you get drawn into the story.

Without giving away what exactly happens, I found I could understand Jack's confusion with life, despite him being very intelligent.  We have a grandson of the same age.  The mental strain it put on the child and the mother being stuck in that room was so well thought out and written; for each one of them separately.  

When a child has only one person in his life and is reliant on that person, the bond that is forged is rock solid and you see that play out in this book.  I found it also very interesting on how the mother made things out of every day objects to keep Jack entertained and despite the fact they had a tv, he was only allowed to watch it for a limited time per day.

I will say I found the latter part of the book more interesting than the beginning.  I am guessing the book was inspired by similar situations that has happened around the world?

Stars out of 5 : 4  This would not be a book I would have picked out to read myself.  I am glad I read it.  It made you think.  There was a movie made in 2015 with the same name, Room.  I would like to see that, to see how different it was to the book.

"The Trail," by Ethan Gallogly

 "The Trail," by Ethan Gallogly

Set authentically in the High Sierra, The Trail is a moving story of how nature helps us find what’s missing in our lives.

The Trail is fused with humor, philosophy, and trail lore. Woven in is a back story detailing the origins of the John Muir Trail: a 211-mile trail spanning the rooftop of the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the continental United States.

The tale begins with Gil, who in the wake of his father’s death and recently fired from his job, agrees to accompany his father’s old hiking partner Syd on a month-long trek on the John Muir Trail. There’s just one problem: Gil hates camping and is woefully unprepared for the rigors of the journey. Moreover, he soon learns Syd may not survive the hike.

Former Sierra Club leader Ethan Gallogly takes you on a wild tour across the Range of Light, describing its glorious scenery in vivid detail while introducing you to a diverse cast of characters drawn from his own personal experiences as a hiker.

It’s a beautifully crafted book, with 43 maps and sketches by acclaimed mountain illustrator Jeremy Ashcroft, showing the topography of each section in clear three-dimensional renderings and peppered with drawings of the trail’s iconic scenery, like the Muir Hut, the Rock Monster, and Evolution Lake.

Whether you’re a hiker, armchair explorer, or someone trying to find what’s really meaningful in life—this book is for you.

If I could have my life over again, I would love to hike the numerous trails around the world.  However, as I love my home comforts, I prefer to be a "armchair explorer."  As I know nothing about the Sierra's this seemed a perfect opportunity to do a bit of that armchair exploring.

This book is beautifully illustrated and Ethan goes into great detail about each part of the trail, day by day.  You can almost imagine yourself walking along with them. The funny thing about this book, is I actually thought it was a true story; that Syd was an actual person.  It is in fact a mish-mash of people and events that have been spun into a story.  It worked perfectly well and was a really good read.

Stars out of 5 : 4  I did find myself skimming over some of Syd's historical stories and I have no idea about Asian philosophy, but overall it was a truly enjoyable read.

I purchased this book.