Tag: WWI

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Book Review – The Ice Swan by J’nell Ciesielski

After fleeing the murderous Bolsheviks, Her Serenity Princess Svetlana Dmitrievich Dalsky arrives in Paris with the sole responsibility of her mother and sister sitting on her shoulders. Survival quickly becomes the sole focus of her days. A chance encounter with Scottish nobleman turned doctor Wynn MacCallan finds her with a champion and suitor she does not want.  But when further threats and tragedy impact both their lives, Wynn and Svetlana must learn to trust each other in order to move forward towards an unpredictable future. Continue reading “Book Review – The Ice Swan by J’nell Ciesielski”

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Book Review – Lovely War by Julie Berry

SUMMARY

Lovely War is three romances in one. It is WWI in England  and it is love at first sight for James and Hazel. But after a brief few days together, James is unexpectedly called to the front, leaving both of them to wonder if what they felt was love.

Then there is the more complicated relationship that develops between Colette, the sole survivor of her family and Aubrey, a talented jazz musician. These two meet in the midst of a France at war, but tragedy and racial tensions tear them apart.

Of subtler romantic origins is the narration of these two love stories. The Greek gods have gathered for a trial. Hephaestus has caught his wife Aphrodite together with Ares. When Aphrodite begs to plead her case she calls on Hades and Apollo as witnesses. As they give their testimony, the value of Aphrodite’s work as the goddess of love begins to emerge. But what does all that have to do with Aphrodite’s guilt or innocence and what will her husband decide? This is the third tale, one of a marriage on shaky foundations. Continue reading “Book Review – Lovely War by Julie Berry”

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Book Review -At the Edge of Summer

SUMMARY

When Clare Ross’ father dies, her mother’s close friend whisks her away from Scotland to her family home in France. The lonely, grieving Clare finds a kindred spirit in Luc Crépet, the son of the household. She also finds understanding and encouragement of her artistic skills in this slightly bohemian family. Clare and Luc spend a golden summer together, before her grandfather unexpectedly comes to claim her.

Although they are separated, first by distance and then by war, Luc and Clare nurture their bond through letters. Eventually, this connection is severed and they lose track of each other. Until one day after the war, a familiar face walks into the prosthesis studio where Clare works. Though Clare has finally found her place, Luc has lost his. But Clare refuses to give up on the boy she once knew and is determined to rescue him as he once rescued her. Can a man scarred physically and emotionally by war and betrayal recapture the love and contentment of that one summer so long ago? Continue reading “Book Review -At the Edge of Summer”

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Book Review – High as the Heavens

SUMMARY

In High as the Heavens Evelyn March has endured her fair share of tragedy. She’s lost much of her family, including her husband during WWI.  Eve is also a survivor with terrible secrets that cripple her with guilt as she goes about her job as a British nurse working with the Red Cross in the enemy occupied territory of Brussels. But Eve is not all that she seems. At night she carries out high risk missions for the Belgian underground resistance to assist the Allies in defeating the German occupiers.

British pilot Simon Forrester is on his way to meet with a contact of the resistance when his plane crashes and he is injured. Eve is stunned to recognize a familiar face from home and makes it her mission to care for and protect this link to her past at great risk to herself. But Eve is also determined to protect her own secrets as Simon begins to dig into memories which have left her shattered. At the same time Eve and Simon must work together to expose a deadly double agent within their ranks while both of them also continue in their own private side missions.

Continue reading “Book Review – High as the Heavens”