Books You Can Feel Good About: March 2022

Monday, March 28, 2022

The Puppet Maker's Daughter by Karla M. Jay

Incredible story of a girl and her family in Budapest just before the end of WW2. In only nine months they went from living under restrictive regulations to wholesale mass deportations and the murder of 565,000. The war was almost over, so the Germans wanted to quickly liberate the city of all the Jews, wiping out all generations. This is an important story, and timely with the recent attack on the Ukraine by Russia, and the socialist leaning current government in the US. It shows the steps that lead to such evil and power growth, as well as what happens, the torture and hatred. These are lessons that should never be forgotten. Stories like these personify the horror and persecution that occurred. You can nearly feel every bit of the pain. What's even more incredible is that the Germans themselves are rarely involved in clearing Jews from the villages and steering them into ghettos outside the towns. It’s the local gendarmes who drive the villagers from their homes and allow looting of their properties. The Arrow Cross organizations were really vicious in their treatment of Jews and those who helped them. They were ruthless in hunting them down and executing large groups. Leaves an impression!

I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#ThePuppetMakersDaughter #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

My Reviews

Thursday, March 24, 2022

The Letter from Briarton Park by Sarah E. Ladd

Christian Historical Romance 1811

Cassandra was given a letter at the Headmistress' death bed. It was a lead to the parents and heritage that she never knew. She was raised there at the school and a teacher, but that was all gone now. All alone, she went to see the man who wrote the letter. Murder and mystery throughout, with happenings turning her around the Briarton Park Manor and the village as she unwrapped the layers hiding who she was. Holds your interest, pull at your heartstrings, makes you hold your breath for more than one reason. Entertaining excellent read to get lost in.

I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#TheLetterfromBriartonPark #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

My Reviews

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Lumberjacks and Ladies

No fluff here. All stories are set in the 1800s. Each story is rich and as full as a full-length novel. Each is very unique with a lot of depth for each couple, who are making their way through life with unexpected turns. Very entertaining, never boring. Excellent read! Each and every one holds your interest to the delightful end.

I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#LumberjacksandLadies #NetGalley

My Reviews:

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

The Physician's Dilemma

1819 London. Charlie has been her father's assistant for years, with a photographic memory for every medical journal that she has read. She was an excellent physician, but wasn't able to practice because she was a female. When her father retires, that's the end of her being able to practice with him. When she goes to London to visit her sister she runs into Dr Julian Grey, a former apprentice of her father's, and seeks to work in the orphanage that he oversees. Very interesting story unfolds as they deal with the prejudice of society and with the medical profession at the time where women are concerned. Good people as supporting friends and family deepen the story. Characters you have to love. Hard to put down.

I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#ThePhysiciansDilemma # RegencyHistoricalRomance #KLynSmith #CleanAndWholesomeRomance #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

My reviews:

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Enchanting the Heiress by Kristi Ann Hunter

So nice to get back to these lovely people again! Quite the interesting mix of society and working people and blurring the lines between them. Harriet is a wealthy heiress who loves to involve herself in fixing other people's problems. She doesn't see it as meddling, but her strong personality combined with it influences people's perceptions. She is an important part of this mix of friends though. They live in a small town where horse racing is a big deal with a season of its own for the wealthy. Jonas works with the racehorses. He and his sister were also from a wealthy family, but had lost everything, yet bringing their knowledge of horses with them. Their intertwining lives are very interesting as they all get to settle into their lives and who they are. But Harriet has a secret, and her dilemma with dealing with it is intricate. As she tries to help Jonas uncover his artistic talents, they both become entangled. Their story is a frustrating and lovely one at the same time. Great read!

I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. #EnchantingtheHeiress #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

My reviews

Saturday, March 12, 2022

The Spark of Love by Amanda Cabot

1857

Alexandra had been raised by her Aunt, only seeing her father 2 weeks at a time when he visited. A would be suitor scares her, obviously after her inheritance money. She runs away, deliberately misleading everyone, and goes to where her father is in Texas. Gabe is a detective, hired to find her father, for personal reasons. Excellent story of people in Mesquite Springs Texas who befriend them both. This is the third in the series. It's not necessary to read then others first, but it adds to the feeling of warmth for this town and the people in it. Alexandra was right and is in more danger than she realizes, more than Gabe realizes. Excellent read of strength, tenacity, love and Christian faith.

I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#TheSparkofLove #NetGalley

My reviews

Saturday, March 5, 2022

Heaven and Hell for the Tobacco Girls by Lizzie Lane

Pretty much a slice of time for the girls who started out together as tobacco girls, close to the end of WW2. I hadn't read the previous books, but things were well explained, and it didn't hurt the story. It's nice to read of such close friendships, through everything that happens to them. With multiple characters in the book, there are several lives being lived, several lines to follow. Each has their own complicated story, as the point of view shifts from one to another. Nothing boring for sure. Keeps you wanting to pick it up again to see what's going to happen. Life is interesting in England during this part of the war, especially as so many men were stationed there, hailing from all over. Discrimination and racial inequality of the era is also touched on briefly, mainly coming from American citizens. An emotional roller coaster at times. Excellent read with just a few brief spots that would make someone who wants a clean read feel uncomfortable. A bit frustrating though as it cuts off somewhat abruptly, leaving you hanging until the next book to find out what happens.

I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

@BookandTonic #HeavenandHellfortheTobaccoGirls #NetGalley #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

My reviews