THE CUBAN DAUGHTER

MY THOUGHTS:

Claudia, while living in London, finds out that her grandmother was born at Hope’s House which is a home for unmarried mothers.  One day she finds an old faded family crest she needs to know what it has to do with her grandmother.  Everything she knows about her family is completely turned upside down.  When she discovers that the crest belongs to the Diaz family in Cuba.  Immediately she flies from London to Havana, not allowing anyone to stop her.  She must find out the truth about her family at any cost.  Her first night in Havana she meets chef Mateo. Together they embark on a mission to discover the truth about the Diaz family.  Mateo tells Claudia that his grandfather once worked for the Diaz family but he too wants to uncover the truth.  When Claudia and Mateo arrive at the Diaz home they find it completely empty…abandoned.  What family secrets reside there and how will they ever arrive at the truth. 

I truly enjoyed this unputdownable story that was a time slip novel.  I loved the amazing detailed description of the surrounding area of Havana.  I enjoyed the characters and found myself to be cheering on Claudia and Mateo hoping they would find the truth they were searching for.  What a wonderfully written story, of courage, mystery, love, laughter and the joys of discovering family roots.  This was the second installment in The Lost Daughters Series, with both books so wonderfully written it has made this series amazing.  This book can be read as a standalone or as part of the series.  I really enjoy this author's writing style, she captivates the reader and keeps you completely engaged in the happenings of the story.  Thank you Soraya Lane for a phenomenal story that I will recommend over and over again.  I loved it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

DESCRIPTION:

THE CUBAN DAUGHTER
Author:  Soraya Lane
Publisher: Bookouture 
Publication Date: March 23, 2023 
Pages: 303 
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Cuba, 1950: As Esmeralda moved past Christopher, her breath stilled as he caught her finger in his. It was only a split-second, their fingers intertwined in a hold so brief that no one could have possibly noticed, but it told her everything she needed to know. He didn’t just come to see Cuba. He travelled all this way to see me.

London, present day. When Claudia discovers that her grandmother was born at Hope’s House, a home for unmarried mothers, everything she thought she knew about her family is shattered in an instant. Looking down at a faded family crest, she is determined to discover how it can possibly relate to her grandmother.

Soon Claudia learns that the crest belongs to the Diaz family, once one of the wealthiest dynasties in Cuba. Impulsively Claudia books a ticket to Havana, feeling sure in her heart that she will be able to uncover her family’s true story.

Arriving in the bustling and vibrant city she meets a young man named Mateo, a chef who loves nothing more than to cook his family’s recipes. As they get to know each other over dinner, Mateo says that his grandfather worked for the Diaz family and he too wants to uncover what happened.

But when they arrive at the Diaz family home, they find it completely abandoned as if preserved in time from the 1950s. It’s not long before they uncover a heartbreaking story about Claudia’s family and of a young woman who was forced to leave behind everything she’d ever known in search of true love.

As Claudia becomes closer to Mateo, will her family’s story of bravery and sacrifice inspire her to follow her own heart to Cuba? Or will the tragic love story force her home?

ABOUT SORAYA LANE

Soraya Lane graduated with a law degree before realising that law wasn't the career for her and that her future was in writing. She is the author of historical and contemporary women's fiction, including the #1 Kindle bestselling novels The Last Correspondent and The Secrets We Left Behind. 

Soraya lives on a small farm in her native New Zealand with her husband, their two young sons and a collection of four legged friends. When she's not writing, she loves to be outside playing make-believe with her children or snuggled up inside reading.

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THE LOST MOTHER OF IRELAND

MY THOUGHTS:

Laura is in much need of a new beginning and when she inherits a small cottage from a friend, she knows her life is about to change.  This could be the new beginning she needs.  Laura was a nurse and a caregiver to Josephine after Josephine had a stroke.  They became close friends and when Josephine passed away, she left Laura a small cottage in the beautiful village of Sandy Cove.  Laura has never visited Sandy Cove, located on the west coast of Ireland.  While Laura is walking on the beautiful white sand beach, she meets Gino, a handsome local, and they immediately develop a friendship.  It was as if they had known each other all of their lives.  Laura is adapting to life in the village, and is fitting in perfectly.  Soon, Jennifer’s son disputes his mother’s will, Laura is afraid she will lose everything, not just the cozy cottage but also, her new found love…Gino.

This is the sixth installment of the amazing Starlight Cottages series.  I always look forward to the escape of traveling to the beautiful white sand beaches of Sandy Cove.  I still love the villagers as they feel like close friends and family.  This is a wonderful story of new friendships, a bit of intriguing mystery, and romance.  I loved everything about this story and, even though it is a series this book can be read as a standalone.  If you are in need of a wonderful escape to a land far away, this is the book for you.  I highly recommend it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

DESCRIPTION:

THE LOST MOTHER OF IRELAND
Author: Susanne O’Leary 
Publisher: Bookouture 
Publication Date: March 20, 2023 
Pages: 290
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A completely gripping and unforgettable story of long-lost family secrets and forbidden romance that will whisk you away to the beautiful village of Sandy Cove on the west coast of Ireland.

When Laura inherits a small cottage from a friend who was like a mother to her, she wonders whether this could be the new beginning she’s been searching for. Although she’s never been to the village of Sandy Cove on the west coast of Ireland, her friend described it as on the edge of the sparkling blue sea, with sandy white beaches. Could this be the fresh start she needs to ease her heartache?

During her first walk on the beach, Laura meets Gino, a handsome local who instantly charms her with his sparkling eyes and gorgeous smile. Laura finds herself attracted to him as he tells her about his life and his love for Sandy Cove. And, as they spend more time together, the pair begin to grow closer.

But just as Laura begins to settle into village life, her friend’s son disputes his mother’s will. But what he doesn’t know is that Laura hasn’t just inherited the cottage from her, she’s also been given a very valuable heirloom – one that tells the story of a forbidden love, a long-forgotten family secret and a bond between a mother and daughter that could not be broken…

Just as Laura begins to solve the mystery behind the painting, everything she thought she knew about Gino changes in a heartbeat when she discovers that he might have already given his heart away to someone else. Is their love story over before it ever truly began?

And when Laura uncovers the truth behind her inheritance, she is left wondering whether the family secret should have remained forgotten. When the dust settles from her discovery, will she be able to rebuild her life in Sandy Cove with the one man she truly loves?

ABOUT SUSANNE O’LEARY

Susanne O’Leary is the bestselling author of more than twenty novels, mainly in the romantic fiction genre. She has also written three crime novels and two in the historical fiction genre. She has been the wife of a diplomat (still is), a fitness teacher and a translator. She now writes full-time from either of two locations, a ramshackle house in County Tipperary, Ireland or a little cottage overlooking the Atlantic in Dingle, County Kerry. When she is not scaling the mountains of said counties, or keeping fit in the local gym, she keeps writing, producing a book every six months.

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DEATH ON DECK

MY THOUGHTS:

Lady Eleanor Swift is ready for the birthday celebrations to begin.  She is all packed and ready to set sail on her first ever cruise with her boyfriend, Detective Hugh Seldon.  From the very beginning things don’t go as planned.  Once again Hugh cancels at the last minute.  But that doesn’t stop Lady Eleanor, she goes on the cruise anyway, without Hugh.  Once at sea and headed for New York, Lady Eleanor and her dependable and devoted bulldog, Gladstone begin to relax and take in the warm sunshine.  But soon Lady Eleanor witnesses a man being shot and falling overboard.  Gladstone and Lady Eleanor leap into action and begin investigating the scene.  Lady Eleanor recognizes the weapon laying on the deck, it belongs to the one and only Detective Hugh Seldon.  How can it be that Hugh is on the cruise even though he canceled?  Just when things can’t seem to get any worse for Lady Eleanor, another passenger is found dead in his first-class cabin.  Lady Eleanor must clear Detective Seldon's name and fast, before another passenger becomes a victim.

Oh my goodness I don’t even know where to begin saying how amazing this cozy mystery was.  Wow, what a phenomenal addition to this fantastic series.  I love Gladstone the bulldog, and who wouldn’t want him as a trusty sidekick?  This fabulous cozy mystery read is exactly what I needed.  It made me laugh out loud as I felt the warm sun on my face, while listening to the waves lap against the side of the cruise ship.   This brilliantly written and captivating, whodunnit is one that is so good I may have to go back and read it again.  This is a wonderful addition to the famous Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Series but can be read as a standalone.  However, my suggestion is to read the whole series, you won’t be disappointed and I highly recommend it.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

DESCRIPTION:

DEATH ON DECK

Author:  Verity Bright 
Publisher: Bookouture 
Publication Date: March 13, 2023 
Pages: 334 
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When Lady Swift embarks upon her first luxury cruise she imagines a gilded ballroom, afternoons on deck taking tea and all the delectable food she can eat. But she can’t seem to escape from murder…

Lady Eleanor Swift is all set to spend her birthday with her beau, dashing Detective Hugh Seldon, until he calls to cancel on her again at the last minute. What’s a girl to do? Pack up her staff and her faithful old bulldog, Gladstone, and head off on a cruise to New York, that’s what!

On the stunningly opulent ocean liner Celestiana, Eleanor tries to forget her worries and make the most of her trip. That is, until she sees a man being shot and falling overboard. On closer inspection of the scene, Eleanor literally stumbles over the likely murder weapon. And the nick in the barrel is unmistakeable: this gun belongs to Detective Seldon…

With some discreet digging, Clifford discovers Detective Seldon is aboard the ship on an undercover mission. Eleanor doesn’t want to make waves but she’s sure that something fishy is going on and he’s being framed. To get Seldon off the hook, Eleanor casts her net wide and searches for the real murderer among a sea of suspects including European nobility, Italian opera stars and American nouveau riche. But does the victim’s expensive gold ring point to a lavish lifestyle or is it a red herring?

When another passenger is found dead in his first-class cabin, a poisoned whisky glass clutched in his hand, Eleanor realises they are really in hot water. Will the killer be Eleanor’s catch of the day, or will she spend her birthday at the bottom of the sea?

ABOUT VERITY BRIGHT

Verity Bright is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing partnership that has spanned a quarter of a century. Starting out writing high-end travel articles and books, they published everything from self-improvement to humour, before embarking on their first historical mystery. They are the authors of the fabulous Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series, set in the 1920s.

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LETTERS TO A STRANGER

MY THOUGHTS:

Letters to a Stranger was a wonderful story about Ruby Summers, who had lived an amazing life.  She is now ninety-six years old and lives in a retirement home.  Meanwhile, Cassie and Noah, mother and son, are living life at the start of the pandemic in March of 2020.  The storyline’s dual timelines are 1940 and 2020.  During the eighty year time span of this story, so much happens through handwritten letters, texts, emails and diary entries.  I found Ruby’s story about her past to be completely intriguing, and it ties up all the loose ends of how all the lives are intertwined.  I was flying through the pages at a rapid pace as I couldn’t wait to find out the end of the story.

I am a huge fan of time slip novels and Letters to a Stranger did not disappoint. Author Sarah Mitchell does a fantastic job of keeping the different timelines separated so that they don't become confusing.   I enjoyed this story very much and I found the characters to be both relatable and likable.   This multi-generational story was heartfelt and very engrossing with all the letters, texts and emails. I loved it from beginning to end.  This brilliantly written and captivating, time slip novel is one that I highly recommend.

DESCRIPTION:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out

LETTERS TO A STRANGER
Author:  Sarah Mitchell
Publisher:  Bookouture 
Publication Date: MARCH 9, 2023 
Pages: 453 
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England, 1940. Dearest Ruby, you must have heard the news by now. The very worst has happened. Our countries are at war. What can I do? How can I stop this nightmare from happening? One day soon we’ll be together again. I swear. I love you. E. x

Present day. Ruby Summers has lived an extraordinary life. Now, at ninety-six years old and living in a quiet countryside retirement home, Ruby may be an elderly lady, but her memory remains perfect.

She remembers the summer in rural Norfolk eighty years ago when she fell in love with Edmondo, and the stolen moments spent in the orchard dreaming of their future. But tears fill her green eyes when she also remembers the September morning they embraced as they listened to war being declared on the wireless. As her village turned against Edmondo and his Italian family, Ruby knew she would be forced to make an impossible choice – one that would lead to a betrayal her heart never recovered from, and an earth-shattering secret she has never shared…

But when lonely Ruby decides to take part in a letter-writing scheme for the elderly, and single mother Cassie replies, she realises this could be her chance. Her last chance. By revisiting her past, can she finally share the secret that has haunted her for all these years? And will her unexpected connection with Cassie unearth truths even Ruby never knew were hidden – or will it tear both their lives apart? 

ABOUT SARAH MITCHELL

Sarah grew up in Norfolk and studied law at Cambridge University which led to a career as a barrister, working mainly in the field of human rights. After nearly twenty years she was tempted off-track by a creative writing course at the Open University and fell in love with making up stories instead of constructing arguments. Three years later she completed, with distinction, an MA in Creative Writing – Prose Fiction at the UEA.

Now she lives in Norfolk again, this time with her husband and three almost-grown-up children, where she combines writing with some legal work – and thanking her enormous number of lucky stars.

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THE CHILDREN LEFT BEHIND

MY THOUGHTS:

England, 1951 it has been six years since the end of the war and people are still trying to put their lives back together as best they can.  So much heartache and loss.  Clara Newton has loved each and every child that has been placed in the Shilling Grange Children’s Home throughout the years.  Many children have aged out and moved on trying to find their place in the world.  Gladys still misses her two brothers Trevor and Frank.  Florrie continues to work through the trauma in her life and Peg still doesn't speak.  Clara never gave up on any of the children.  Clara put her whole life and happiness on hold to care for the children she loves so much.  She turned down Ivor’s proposal because had she gotten married, she wouldn’t be allowed to work, and she wasn’t willing to walk away from the children that still need her care.  The children’s home is under constant attacks of vandalism and Clara wants to know who is behind it and why.  One day on an outing with the children, an event changed their lives forever. 

I have really enjoyed this series.  Author Lizzie Page has such an amazing talent for absorbing the reader into the story and establishing a personal relationship with the characters.  I felt  personally invested in the lives of Clara, Ivor and the children.  I was anxiously waiting for each installment in this series to be released because I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next.  This was a story of courage, survival, love, family, and friendship.  This was the fourth installment in what is a phenomenal series.  This unputdownable and rapid page-turner is one that I will recommend over and over again.  I loved everything about this story.   

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

DESCRIPTION:

THE CHILDREN LEFT BEHIND
Author:  Lizzie Page
Publisher: Bookouture 
Publication Date: March 3, 2022 
Pages: 394 
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England, 1951. In the aftermath of World War Two, Clara’s orphanage is all these children have left. Can she keep them safe and help them to heal? A heart-warming and emotional story of love and loss.

Clara Newton has dedicated her life to taking care of orphans who have nobody in the world but her. From affectionate Gladys, who desperately misses her older brothers, to traumatised Florrie who longs for her father and refuses to eat, Clara loves each of the children like they are her own.

But even though she has opened her heart to so many little ones, when brown-eyed war hero Ivor asks her to marry him, Clara is afraid to take a chance on love. Would married life prevent her from dedicating herself completely to her orphans?

Clara is soon distracted from the troubles of her heart when her beloved orphanage comes under attack. Someone throws stones through the window, and a threatening message is chalked near the door. Why would anyone want to frighten innocent children? And as the attacks get worse, can Clara keep the orphans safe?

Desperate to protect the little ones in her care, Clara takes the children on a day out. Away from the orphanage, Clara hopes that she and the children will be able to put their worries behind them. But when a terrible accident happens, will they all make it out alive? And will it be too late for Clara to tell Ivor how she really feels?

ABOUT LIZZIE PAGE

Lizzie Page is the pseudonym of Sam Lierens, a mum of three, who has lived and worked in Paris, Tokyo and London and loves combining her love of history with fiction.
She loves reading ALL the books, and always loved reading the adventures of women in the past so it seemed natural to her to write historical fiction.

She lives with her family and dog by the sea in South East England.She enjoys traveling and she’s had lots of different jobs from waitressing and teaching to admin and bingo-calling – but being a writer is her absolute favourite.

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THE POLISH GIRL

MY THOUGHTS:

Wanda Odwaga begs the German soldier to not kill her father, but it was too late.  He’s gone and she will never forget that horrible experience in her life.  Wanda witnessed the murder of her father and she decides she must do something to make sure it doesn’t happen again.  Wanda joins the Polish resistance and she comes face to face with the Nazi that murdered her father.  She will never forget that fateful day and she wants revenge for her father’s death.  Her work for the resistance is important but her mission is personal…to take the life of the man that took her father’s life.  Meanwhile, Finn leaves America to impersonate his twin brother Stephen.  Stephen has killed many Jewish people at the command of the Nazi’s. Finn’s mission, by the order of the British government, is to bring down Hitler and his army.  

I enjoyed this story very much.  The Polish Girl was a very emotional read and I found myself reaching for the Kleenex box a few times.  This story was both a heart-breaking and inspiring read, that had me on the edge of my seat wondering what will happen next.   Author Gosia Nealon is a new author for me.  I really enjoyed her writing style, and she definitely pulled me into the pages at the very beginning.  I will absolutely, and with a doubt read more of her books.  This is the first installment in what I am sure will be a wonderful series and I highly recommend it.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

DESCRIPTION:

THE POLISH GIRL 
Author: Gosia Nealon 
Publisher:  Bookouture
Publication Date: February 24, 2023
Pages: 276 
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Poland, 1944. “Please, officer, I beg you—”, I cry. But my father has already fallen. “Don’t leave me, Tata,” I whisper, rushing to desperately cradle him close. As the kind, loving man who raised me takes his last breath, I weep into my hands and promise to fight to end this terrible war, no matter the cost…

Although it won’t bring her beloved father back, twenty-three-year-old Wanda vows to honour his memory and all he stood for. Throwing herself into the Polish resistance, she risks her life on the dangerous mission of transporting ammunition for the underground network’s uprising against the Nazis.

Slipping through the night-time shadows of an empty park to meet an informant—one who could provide crucial supplies in the battle for what’s right—the sight of the man waiting turns Wanda’s blood to ice. Even in the dim light, she instantly recognises him as the soldier who killed her father.

The soldier claims he is a double agent, working for the resistance. Questioning everything, Wanda’s heart races as she is forced to make a split-second decision. Believe the man who she thought was the enemy? Or endanger the lives of her network—and their secret plans to fight the Germans?

Can Wanda trust the man she hates most in the world? Did her father die in vain? Or if she fights her every instinct, will she truly change the tide of the war?

ABOUT GOSIA NEALON

While Gosia Nealon is a proud New Yorker, she was born and raised in Poland. Her journey to the Big Apple revealed a wealth of cultural differences, but also the values that connect us all. Like the fierce desire to protect family, find love, and ultimately, discover who we are and why we’re here. 

Gosia’s award-winning short stories have always delved into life’s biggest questions, but it was the drama, sacrifice, and tragedy of WWII that led her to pen her debut novel, which won a gold medal in the 2022 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY).  Growing up in Poland, Gosia heard many firsthand accounts of the war, told from a perspective rarely captured in mainstream literature. She was compelled to breathe life into two young people falling in love in the midst of the most terrifying conflict of our time. When Gosia isn’t tapping away at her laptop, she’s often walking the streets of New York. With her husband and two young sons in tow, they search for the most succulent pierogi, transporting them back to the cobbled streets of her childhood.

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THE STOLEN TWINS

MY THOUGHTS:

World War II is ranging on and so many lives have been changed and lost.  Arina and Nora are twin sisters that, have never in their life, spent a day apart from each other.  They ride the train with their mother and arrive at the horrible place of Auschwitz.  They are quickly separated and their future is completely uncertain.  When the war comes to an end, Arina and Nora age out of each of their group homes.  They must overcome everything that has happened to them and do everything possible to reunite with each other.  But first they must find each other and that will be the most difficult task of all.

I loved The Stolen Twins written by Shari J. Ryan.  I am a huge fan of Historical Fiction and this author never disappoints.  This heart-breaking and inspiring tale will have you flying through the pages.  I didn’t want to stop reading once I began this fabulous story.  I felt emotional heartache for Arina and Nora the horrible things they endured.  This story is filled with the phenomenal courage, resilience and survival of even the youngest of children.  This moving story is a tough book to read with an emotional storyline and I highly recommend it. 

Rating: 5 out of 5.

DESCRIPTION:

THE STOLEN TWINS 
Author: Shari J. Ryan 
Publisher:  Bookouture
Publication Date: February 14, 2023
Pages: 315 
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Auschwitz, 1944: “You can’t leave me,” I whisper, my hand trembling as I reach for her cheek. “You can’t. We’re in this life together, always, just you and me.” This utterly heartbreaking yet beautifully hopeful World War Two page-turner tells the story of identical twin sisters in Auschwitz. Born minutes apart, Arina and Nora have never left each other’s side—until now…

The cattle car is dark, except for the light filtering through the boarded windows. There are too many of us to count, crushed up against each other. The air is stuffy, carrying the scent of our terror—none of us know what awaits us when this train stops. I cling onto Mama’s hand and Nora, my twin sister, clutches Papa’s.

After what feels like forever, the train stops. We spill out of the carriage, the sun blinding us after being imprisoned in darkness for so long. There are people everywhere, soldiers separating children from their parents, husbands from wives.

We’re in some sort of queue, and a man in a dark-green SS uniform walks by, glancing at everyone he passes. “Twins, twins,” he shouts. My heart falls into the pit of my stomach.

“Right here,” says Mama, hesitation in her voice. “My daughters are twins.” My eyes widen, and Nora trembles. Papa tries to tell Mama to be quiet, but it’s too late.

The Nazi catches sight of us. “Twins,” he says again, pausing to inspect Nora and me. “Yes, you are, aren’t you? You two are going to come along with me.”

ABOUT SHARI J. RYAN

Shari J. Ryan is a USA Today Bestselling Historical Fiction writer. Her desire to write stories revolving Jewish livelihood during World War II stems from being a descendant of two Holocaust survivors. After the passing of Shari’s grandmother, she pursued an active interest in learning more about the inherited stories she yearned to understand better.

Shortly after earning a bachelors degree from Johnson & Wales University, Shari began her career as a graphic artist and freelance writer. She then found her passion for writing books in 2012. In 2016, Shari began writing her first Historical Fiction novel, Last Words, a story about a lifelong journey through the eyes of a Holocaust survivor. With two character related books to follow, Shari quickly found a new passion to share untold World War II stories within a fictional setting. 

Shari is a lifelong New England girl who lives to make people laugh. She is happily married with two wonderful sons and a spunky Australian Shepard, who fits right in with the family. 

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