Sunday Skim

Weeks of 2/7/2021:

Finished:

Currently Reading:

Looking Forward To:

Julie's Review: The Girl from the Channel Islands

Author: Jenny LeCoat
Series: None
Publication Date:  February 2, 2021
Publisher: Graydon House
Pages: 328
Obtained: publisher via Netgalley
Genre:  Historical Fiction
Rating: 4/5
Bottom Line: A part of WWII history that I had no clue about and another fierce female
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Summary: Summer 1940: Hedy Bercu fled Vienna two years ago. Now she watches the skies over Jersey for German planes, convinced that an invasion is imminent. When it finally comes, there is no counterattack from Allied forces—the Channel Islands are simply not worth defending. Most islanders and occupying forces settle into an uneasy coexistence, but for Hedy, the situation is perilously different. For Hedy is Jewish—a fact that could mean deportation, or worse. With no means of escape, Hedy hides in plain sight, working as a translator for the Germans while silently working against them. She forges a tentative friendship with a sympathetic German officer who is likewise trapped by circumstance. But as the war intensifies, Hedy knows she is in greater danger each day. Soon, her survival will depend not just on her own courage but on the community she has come to cherish and a man who should be her enemy. Vividly recreating little-known events, this is an unforgettable tale of resilience and bravery, and of the extraordinary power found in quiet acts of heroism and love. ~amazon.com

Review: Yea I'm a broken record but I really do like it when a novel can teach me about a part of history and that's exactly what The Girl From the Channel Islands does for me. I had no clue that the Nazi's occupied the British Channel Islands during World War II and that they thought it would give them an advantage. Hedy escaped to the Island from Austria to be rid of the Nazis, only to have them show up again. She's still an outsider and relies on only a couple people on the island. As the Nazi's take hold of the island, she has to find a way to take care of herself and have no cause to standout. 

So she does the only thing she can, takes a job as a translator working for the Germans. Of course some people in the office know that she's Jewish because she had to register in order to get her ration cards. It's there that she meets Kurt, who is a German Officer but he seems a bit different.  Attraction on both sides can't be denied but Hedy is always scared of the worst thing that could happen, which is understandable. As Kurt and Hedy deepen their relationship, the truth comes out about her heritage before she can tell him. Try as they might to stay apart, they can't.

Hedy is also trying to do her part against the Germans by secretly working against them but as things get worse, she starts to worry about her life and what she's doing. What is amazing is that she hid from the Nazi's even as they were hunting her down for a long time. She had friends who were willing to risk their own safety and lives to keep her alive. It is the bravery of those people like Hedy and her friends that we need to remember and honor. 

I definitely recommend this novel to those who enjoy learning a bit of history through a fictional story.

Sunday Skim

Weeks of 1/17, 1/24 and 1/31:

Finished:

Currently Reading:

Looking Forward To:

I had no clue that time got away from me and I hadn't done a Sunday Skim in a bit. I'll blame it on the fact that I've been reading a lot and my home computer is so big I hate using it! February is looking like another great month of releases and I've read a few already. So far I feel like 2021 books have exceeded 2020 books. Does anyone else feel the same? It also seems like Historical Fiction is huge this year but maybe that's because I'm always drawn to that genre. 

Julie's Review: Much Ado About You

Author: Samantha Young
Series: None
Publication Date:  February 2, 2021
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 380
Obtained: publisher via Netgalley
Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Rating: 4/5
Bottom Line: Fun, romance set in an idyllic setting
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Summary: At thirty-three-years old Evangeline Starling’s life in Chicago is missing that special something. And when she’s passed over for promotion at work, Evie realizes she needs to make a change. Some time away to regain perspective might be just the thing. In a burst of impulsivity, she plans a holiday in a quaint English village. The holiday package comes with a temporary position at Much Ado About Books, the bookstore located beneath her rental apartment. There’s no better dream vacation for the bookish Evie, a life-long Shakespeare lover. Not only is Evie swept up in running the delightful store as soon as she arrives, she’s drawn into the lives, loves and drama of the friendly villagers. Including Roane Robson, the charismatic and sexy farmer who tempts Evie every day with his friendly flirtations. Evie is determined to keep him at bay because a holiday romance can only end in heartbreak, right? But Evie can’t deny their connection and longs to trust in her handsome farmer that their whirlwind romance could turn in to the forever kind of love. ~amazon.com

Review: I love books that take me to somewhere that seems very ideallic and winsom. Much Ado About You does that for me plus it starts off in Chicago. Evie is ready for a change in a bunch of different areas in her life. She isn't impressed with dating apps especially after her most recent interaction and well her professional life was just derailed. So what does she do, anwers an ad to run a bookstore in Northern England. Evie has always loved words and well she does love Shakespeare so this is right up her alley. She needs something to shake up her life and see what are her next moves.

So of course given her state of mind, who is the first person she meets by accident? Gorgeous Roane Robson and his dog Shadow. Having sworn off men, she quickly tells him they can be friends but no more. You can pretty much tell that he's just biding his time until he wins her over. 

The thing is with being in a small town you can't help but making friends and learn to love the small town vibe. She's also enjoying the pace of running a bookstore and slowing down her life. As she contemplates the longevity of her situation, she extends her stay. 

It's not like Much Ado About You is going to leave you hanging with Evie and Roane but Ms. Young did throw me a curveball I did not see coming and it added to the tension of the story. I really liked Evie and was a bit jealous that she could run a bookstore for a bit. Roane was a good guy who liked Evie for who she was. There is also a great case of characters in the book that help push Evie and Roane along. 

I flew through this book on a Sunday afternoon and enjoyed every single moment of it. Definitley recommend if looking for a fun and romantic read.

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Julie's Review: Hadley and Grace

Author: Suzanne Redfearn
Series: None
Publication Date:  February 1, 2021
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Pages: 344
Obtained: Publisher via Netgalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4/5
Bottom Line: Friendships develop in unusual circumstances
Grab, Just get it at the library, or Remove from your TBR list? Grab

 

Summary: Needing to escape her abusive marriage, Hadley flees with her two kids, knowing it might be her only chance. A woman who can’t even kill a spider, Hadley soon finds herself pushed to the limits as she fights to protect her family. Grace, new mother of baby Miles, desperately wants to put her rough past behind her for good, but she finds it impossible when her path crosses with Hadley’s, and her quest for a new start quickly spirals out of control and turns into a terrifying flight for survival. Stronger together than apart, the two find their fates inextricably entwined, and as the danger closes in, each must decide how much she is willing to risk for the other. A powerful story of self-discovery, Hadley and Grace is the heart-racing tale of two women facing insurmountable odds, racing to stay one step ahead of the trouble that is chasing them, and discovering new kinds of love and family along the way.

Review: I'm pretty sure that I was a teen when Thelma and Louise came out; so I'm sure I saw it but I'm betting I didn't understand their struggles. With Hadley and Grace, Ms. Redfern uses that as a blueprint for their crime spree. The only thing these two women have in common is the that they want to escape their current lives and that they are going to steal from Hadley's husband, Frank.

What they didn't know and how could they, that Frank was under-investigation from the FBI and the money they took was dirty! What ensues isn't particularly funny but it can be comical at times. Just how far with both these women take this escape/adventure to protect themselves and their families?

This is most definitely a character driven novel with the plot pushing them along their path. I probably identify with Hadley more because of the phase of life we are in but I appreciated Grace's spunk and the fact that she's running for very different reason's that Hadley. While these 2 women couldn't be more different, they bonded over their love and fierce protectiveness of their kids. What develops is a mutual respect and sisterly bond based on their experiences together. 

I was actually a little surprised by the ending but as I sit here and reflect on it, seems like it was the only way to go.

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