The Fire by Night by Teresa Messineo

A powerful and evocative debut novel about two American military nurses during World War II that illuminates the unsung heroism of women who risked their lives in the fight—a riveting saga of friendship, valor, sacrifice, and survival combining the grit and selflessness of Band of Brothers with the emotional resonance of The Nightingale.

In war-torn France, Jo McMahon, an Italian-Irish girl from the tenements of Brooklyn, tends to six seriously wounded soldiers in a makeshift medical unit. Enemy bombs have destroyed her hospital convoy, and now Jo singlehandedly struggles to keep her patients and herself alive in a cramped and freezing tent close to German troops. There is a growing tenderness between her and one of her patients, a Scottish officer, but Jo’s heart is seared by the pain of all she has lost and seen. Nearing her breaking point, she fights to hold on to joyful memories of the past, to the times she shared with her best friend, Kay, whom she met in nursing school.

Half a world away in the Pacific, Kay is trapped in a squalid Japanese POW camp in Manila, one of thousands of Allied men, women, and children whose fates rest in the hands of a sadistic enemy. Far from the familiar safety of the small Pennsylvania coal town of her childhood, Kay clings to memories of her happy days posted in Hawaii, and the handsome flyer who swept her off her feet in the weeks before Pearl Harbor. Surrounded by cruelty and death, Kay battles to maintain her sanity and save lives as best she can . . . and live to see her beloved friend Jo once more.

When the conflict at last comes to an end, Jo and Kay discover that to achieve their own peace, they must find their place—and the hope of love—in a world that’s forever changed. With rich, superbly researched detail, Teresa Messineo’s thrilling novel brings to life the pain and uncertainty of war and the sustaining power of love and friendship, and illuminates the lives of the women who risked everything to save others during a horrifying time.

AMAZON

MY THOUGHTS:

4/5 STARS

As far as historicals go, this one was top notch. It had an educational story line with deep rooted emotion and a strong focus on faith/hope. It was about two military nurses and their lives during a tragic time. Each one was faced with their own battle, but in the end, it was courage and perseverance that guided them both to safety. 

To say this was a heavy read is an understatement. At times I became overwhelmed by the slow pace and vivid details, but I learned to appreciate the writing style and ended up really enjoying it. I appreciated the emotion that seeped from the pages and was intrigued by the behind the scenes look at the medical side of war. Not to mention, I found the lusty bits very important as well. If I had to pick, I'd definitely say Jo was my favorite. While both stories were empowering, I found Jo's to be a tad bit more emotional/real-feeling. I felt for Kay having to leave her loved one behind, but once that part passed, I had a hard time fully connecting to her. It didn't break the book for me, but it did push me to skim her parts a bit. 

All in all, it was a really strong, well written historical fiction. It may not be for everyone, but I recommend it to all readers looking to immerse themselves in an important piece of history. 

Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse

Amsterdam, 1943. Hanneke spends her days finding and delivering sought-after black market goods to paying customers, nights hiding the true nature of her work from her concerned parents, and every waking moment mourning her boyfriend, who was killed on the Dutch front lines when the German army invaded. Her illegal work keeps her family afloat, and Hanneke also likes to think of it as a small act of rebellion against the Nazis.

On a routine delivery, a client asks Hanneke for help. Expecting to hear that Mrs. Janssen wants meat or kerosene, Hanneke is shocked by the older woman’s frantic plea to find a person: a Jewish teenager Mrs. Janssen had been hiding, who has vanished without a trace from a secret room. Hanneke initially wants nothing to do with such a dangerous task but is ultimately drawn into a web of mysteries and stunning revelations—where the only way out is through.

Beautifully written, intricately plotted, and meticulously researched, Girl in the Blue Coat is an extraordinary, unforgettable story of bravery, grief, and love in impossible times. 

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/29Dg9u9

MY THOUGHTS:

4/5 STARS

This was a whole new take on WW2. I expected gruesome work camps and feared deportations, but what I didn't expect was the acts of resistance. This book captured a behind the scenes bravery that I've never read about before. It pulled me into a thrilling plot full of danger, lies, and secrets.

Hanneke works in the black market where she recycles rations cards and buys items for those willing to pay. It's usually items like meat, lipstick, magazines, etc. So when a customer asks her to find a girl, her automatic reaction is to flee. She runs home and sits and ponders the pros and cons. She knows she shouldn't say yes, but deep down she wants to mend emotional wounds and save a life since she blames herself for taking one. 

She finds herself wrapped up in a twisted mystery that throws her on the doorstep of the resistance. It's a dangerous time and in honor to get answers she has to break rules and live on the edge. Each move could end with death, but she has her mind set on finding the girl and she doesn't stop until she does.

Let me start by saying I really enjoyed this book a lot. I love historical YA and I think this one was a perfect addition to the genre. However, there were a few things that held me back from loving it. First I found the plot twist to be very predictable. I knew what happened before it was revealed and I believe others would guess it as well. Second, I felt like many things were just grazed upon. I wanted to dive deeper into the theatre and see more of the intense darkness. Lastly, I wanted closure in other areas. I felt like the mystery got closure, but everything else was left open ended. Elsbeth? Ollie and Willem? I guess I need to keep in mind that there was no possible way to explore each character in depth. I still wanted to though.... and that is a great thing!

Overall, I definitely recommend it to all historical fans that appreciate new takes on a brutal time. Just keep in mind that it's not a love story. It's a story of healing and moving on. A story of sacrifice and hope. A story of bravery during the time of war.

Paper Hearts by Meg Wiviott

A novel in verse, Paper Hearts is the story of survivial, defiance, and friendship. Based on historical events about a group of girls who were slave laborers at the munitions factory in Auschwitz.

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1RNlTtD

MY REVIEW:

5/5 STARS

This was a poignant tale about survival, fear, hope, and friendship. Emotions seeped from the pages and deep rooted sympathy filled my soul. 

It was about two girls that ended up at Auschwitz and found friendship in one another. Vlatka and Fania were pulled from their homes and sent to a work camp filled with ugly hatred and brutal punishment. Both lost family and both craved freedom. Together they protected one another and helped instill hope in their hearts. Vlatka found strength in her purple blouse that cost a whole days ration and Fania found strength in a paper heart filled with encouragement. Both pieces were banned, but both girls would not let go. In the end it was the simple things, friendship, and bravery that carried them home. 

My heart was truly touched by this book. I found the brutality to be inspiring. It really made me feel appreciative and blessed for the most simple of things. I looked at my pen and paper completely differently. It no longer was just a piece of tree and an ink cylinder. It was a sliver of hope and power. A way to tell a historic story that should be shouted from the rooftops. I found the words insightful and important. I wanted to jump into the story and wrap my arms around the girls. I wanted to tell them how brave they were and how inspiring their story was. To know this was based on a true story just makes it that much more enthralling. I highly recommend it to every reader. This is a piece of history we should immerse ourselves in in order to always be reminded of how truly blessed we are...

Kaleidoscope Hearts by Claire Contreras Review

He was my older brother's best friend.
He was never supposed to be mine.
I thought we would get it out of our system and move on.

One of us did.
One of us left.

Now he’s back, looking at me like he wants to devour me. And all those feelings I’d turned into anger are brewing into something else, something that terrifies me.
He broke my heart last time.
This time he'll obliterate it.

This is a standalone.

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1ABqPxG

MY THOUGHTS
5/5 Stars

This book was a beautiful story about getting a second chance at love... Estelle lost her fiancé and was suffering from a broken heart. As she picks up the pieces an old flame comes back into her life and shakes things up. The temptation is there, but the mindset to let herself love is again, not quite... Not to mention he is off limits because he is her brother's best friend. They know what they should do, but their hearts are telling them something different. It's a push and pull relationship, but eventually her heart pieces itself together... Just like the Kaleidoscope Hearts.

What made this story great is the concept behind it. Estelle created something so beautiful out of broken/unwanted things. It was symbolic to her life and I'm sure many can relate. It showed us that everything doesn't have to be perfect to be right. Damaged things can turn into complete pieces and broken hearts can be put back together.

I loved the characters and how well the story unfolded. It wasn't easy... It was complicated, raw, and meant to be felt just like true love is. There is a gentle side to the characters, a brave side, and a vulnerable side.

There were a few slow parts and I may have cringed when the Author put a fedora on Oliver, but overall I loved it. It was inspirational, romantic, forbidden, and was filled with hope and love.

Highly Recommend!

Envisioning Hope by Tracy Lee Review

Hope Saxton had it all. Her own business with her best friend, Libby, her
Until one night her world was tragically turned upside down, in the blink of an eye, everything was taken away from her along with something else; her sight. Not having anything to live for, Hope has turned her back on her family and friends and given up on life.
Hopeless.
Therapist Oliver Sheldon has been ordered to help rehabilitate a blind Hope so that she is able to reconnect with the real world. This is going to be a challenge as Hope Saxton has no desire to do anything but wither away and die. Not willing to give in, she fights him tooth and nail to not give up living in the memories of her former life.
Oliver becomes determined to heal Hope with everything that is within him and along the way, he finds not only does he care about this woman’s future but that he wants to become a part of it.
Can Hope open her eyes to something more than darkness and envision the hope she has been desperately wanting to reconnect with or will she be destined to wither away unhappy and hopeless?

wonderful husband, Charlie was everything she could’ve dreamed of and her sweet baby son, Sawyer was the light of her life. There was nothing more that she could’ve asked for.

 

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/10Fw6pS

 

My Thoughts:

5/5 Stars

 

Are you looking for a short read with tons of emotion??
This book is for you!

 

I feel as though I am going through the mourning process. My heart has been ripped out and I've been left to start over. My sight was torn from me and everything I knew and loved is gone. My one true love and son were no longer alive and people filter through the room one at a time to tell me how to live again.

 

When Sheldon comes in he doesn't take my shit. He gives me ultimatums and eventually pulls me out of the haze I am tangled in. Love was lost, but now I believe I can love again.

 

Yes, that was me writing as the main female lead, but with every page I read the more consumed in the story I became. My heart strings were pulled and I emotionally felt tied to Hope.

 

This story is one that will remain with me for a long time. It is a story of hope and how even when you are trapped in the darkest of days, there is always a way out. The emotions and feelings you receive while reading are life changing!

 

I highly recommend!

Nowhere but Here by Renee Carlino Review

A jaded Chicago reporter in her twenties unexpectedly finds love in Napa Valley when she’s assigned to spend a week with a famously reclusive genius in this rich and deeply satisfying contemporary romance by the USA TODAY bestselling author of Sweet Thing.

Kate Corbin has lost her spark. A year ago, she had a handsome boyfriend and a budding career as a reporter at a popular Chicago newspaper. But after the woman who raised her passed away, leaving her lost and alone, she fell into a rut—and never got out. Now she’s stuck writing fluff pieces about lipstick and wine, and feeling trapped in a relationship that’s going nowhere.

Trusting that the hungry, ace reporter is buried somewhere deep inside, Kate’s boss and mentor gives her the opportunity to jump-start her career. The assignment: spend a week interviewing R. J. Lawson, a famously reclusive tech genius who disappeared years ago but recently reemerged as the owner of a well-respected Napa Valley winery.

Kate jumps at the chance, but the trip begins in disaster, both personally and professionally. After alienating R.J., her only saving grace is Jamie, a charming vineyard hand who shows her the beauty of wine country—and stirs her aching heart. It doesn’t take long for Kate and Jamie to fall hard, and for Kate to rethink her life in the city. But the week ends with a heartbreaking journey back to Chicago that sends Kate reeling, wondering what went wrong in those four perfect days.

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1kUsuFA

 

My Thoughts:

5/5 Stars

 

I loved this book so much!

The story sucked me in from page one and the romance consumed my heart.

 

Kate is a journalist, lacking enthusiasm about her stories. Her life is blah. She has an uninterested boyfriend and the excitement of her day lies on the L Train with a crazy guy (Or so everyone says). When she is given a story on R.J. Lawson, a mysterious business man, her life is turned upside down. She heads to a Napa winery with hopes of finding inspiration for her story. What she doesn't expect to find is love...

 

When she arrived at the Winery and ran into Jamie, Swoon, I was so hopeful that it would turn into something beautiful. He was just everything a book boyfriend should be... charming, sweet, sexy, caring, and great with his hands. Diabetes is near and dear to my heart so that aspect was special too! It was cute to see Kate hide snacks in her bag. I also loved how Jamie wrote Kate itineraries. The way he wanted her in comfy clothes just added to the perfectness of their connection.

 

The Author did a wonderful job making you feel as though you were living in the characters shoes. There were tons of emotions to be felt... hurt, hope, love, and anger. I wasn't expecting the twists in the story and that aspect made it even better!

 

The ending was perfect and the wedding was unforgettable!

I highly recommend this book