Friday, October 22, 2021

Review: Lilac Girls by: Marha Hall Kelly


Title: Lilac Girls
Author: Martha Hall Kelly
Publisher: Ballentine Books
Format: Hardcover ( 487 p.) Personal Purchase

Description:


Inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this debut novel reveals a story of love, redemption, and secrets that were hidden for decades.
 
New York socialite Caroline Ferriday has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon. But Caroline’s world is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939—and then sets its sights on France.
 
An ocean away from Caroline, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she is drawn deeper into her role as courier for the underground resistance movement. In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspecting neighbors, one false move can have dire consequences.
 
For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life. Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power.
 
The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Their stories cross continents—from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland—as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.

My Thoughts:

First off I read Lost Roses before I even heard of Lilac Girls but let me say oh my god you are missing out on a great World War II book this one is told from 3 perspectives one is Caroline Ferriday, the other by Kasia Kuzmerick and the third a German Doctor Herta Oberheuser.

Caroline is doing all she can do to help orphan French children during WWII.  Sending care packages and everything in between when she gets on a mission about rabbits.

Kasia is a young girl who ends up in a bad situation in Poland during the war and winds up at Ravensbruk concentration camp for women.  There nasty experiments are being run on the women depending on how they are.  

Dr. Herta Oberheusaer is treating women at the camp and testing out things on prisoners who the German's claim are guilty and sentenced to death.  

This book was so good along with any book Ms. Kelly writes she really takes the time to offer up a wonderful success to people every time she writes a book.  It's definitely worth the adventure to be able to travel with these amazing women and to hear their story.  I love it so much! 

If you are a WWII buff you will love this story and be pulled into the action and mayhem it offers.

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Review: Dad by: Steven Manchester


Title: Dad
Author: Steven Manchester
Publisher:  Story Plant
Format: e-book ( 336 p.) Personal Purchase

Description:

Three generations of dads, playing traditional roles in each other's lives, arrive simultaneously at significant crossroads. The decisions they make and the actions they take will directly - and eternally - affect each other. After a life of hard work and raising children, Robert is enjoying his well-deserved retirement when he discovers that he has an illness he might not be able to beat. At 19, Jonah is sprinting across the threshold of adulthood when he learns, stunningly, that he's going to become a father. And Oliver - Robert's son and Jonah's dad - has entered middle age and is paying its demanding price. While reconciling the time and effort it has taken him to reach an unfulfilling career and an even less satisfying marriage, he realizes that it's imperative that he keep it all together for the two men who mean everything to him. When different perspectives lead to misunderstandings that remain unspoken - sometimes for years - it takes great strength and even more love to travel beyond the resentment. Dad: A Novel chronicles the sacred legacy of fatherhood. 

My Thoughts:

This book follows Jonah, Oliver and Robert.  They are each at a crossroads in life. In Jonah's case he's trying to figure out life and where that leads when his girlfriend winds up pregnant and how to hand;e all life it throwing his way.  Oliver is having a hard time with his relationship.  He hasn't figured out if he wants to continue the marriage with his wife or leave.  He's also meeting with a psychiatrist to analyze his life.  Robert is at the part where he is retired and trying to figure out what to do with his life.  He does different charity events to help those less unfortunate but when Robert is hit with a health scare that puts him on a very different life path one he hadn't counted on.  Will these men figure out their life journeys or are they doomed to fail?

 Oh my word, Mr. Manchester has figured it out.  He writes with such depth of character you feel like you know these men and their family/.  You find yourself unable to put the book down without seeing how it ends and what lessons they learn from one another.  If you haven't read his books yet you are totally missing out and  you must check them out to see how it goes!