Page~Turners: September 2020

September 20, 2020

THE GIRL FROM VICHY

MY THOUGHTS:

Set in WWII France this novel will have your attention from the turn of the very first page. Adèle flees Vichy France to escape an arranged marriage to a man she doesn’t love. She takes refuge in Lyon France at a convent the Sisters of Notre Dame de la Compassion. Adèle is a strong, courageous and hopeful woman who draws you in with the details of the struggles in her life.

This was a well researched book about the French Resistance and the brave and courageous women who put their lives on the line to help save their country. Adèle’s new found friendships and freedoms are very believable and relatable. She has you cheering her on for the happy ending she needs, wants and deserves. Prepare to be fully submerged into this story, the characters, and the time period. This book completely transports you to 1942 France. This intriguing story is filled with twists and turns, danger, tragedy, and suspense. Just when you think you have the ending figured out, one last punch knocks you back a step or two.

This emotionally gripping novel is a must read. It will keep your heart pounding and your pulse racing as you flip the pages through time. I really like the flow of this author’s writing style. I will definitely read more books written by this author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DESCRIPTION:

THE GIRL FROM VICHY
Author: Andi Newton
Publisher: Aria Fiction
Publication Date: August 13, 2020
Pages: 402
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1942, France. As the war in Europe rages on, Adèle Ambeh dreams of a France that is free from the clutches of the new regime. The date of her marriage to a ruthless man is drawing closer, and she only has one choice – she must run.
With the help of her mother, Adèle flees to Lyon, seeking refuge at the Sisters of Notre Dame de la Compassion. From the outside this is a simple nunnery, but the sisters are secretly aiding the French Resistance, hiding and supplying the fighters with weapons.
While it is not quite the escape Adèle imagined, she is drawn to the nuns and quickly finds herself part of the resistance. But her new role means she must return to Vichy, and those she left behind, no matter the cost.
Each day is filled with a different danger and as she begins to fall for another man, Adèle's entire world could come crashing down around her.
Adèle must fight for her family, her own destiny, as well as her country.

ABOUT ANDIE NEWTON

Andie Newton is the author of The Girl I Left Behind (Aria 2019) and The Girl from Vichy (Aria 2020). She writes female-driven historical fiction set in WWII. She has a Bachelor’s degree in History from Washington State University and a Master in Teaching. She would love to say she spends her free time gardening and cooking, but she’s killed everything she’s ever planted and set off more fire alarms than she cares to admit. Andie does, however, love spending time with her family, trail running, and drinking copious amounts of coffee.

September 06, 2020

SUMMER AT HOPE HAVEN

MY THOUGHTS:

This is the debut novel by this author and let me just say I love her writing style. Kristin Harper knows how to grab you and pull you into this story, so, pack your bags because you’re going to Cape Cod. I was looking forward to escaping into this book and seeing what Hope Haven has to offer.

As Emily arrives in Hope Haven she is there to feel close to her family whom she had just lost. She went back to a place full of happy memories of her childhood, with the family she loved. As she begins to make changes to her family’s house, she is also changing. As she moves through the stages of grief, she meets Lucas who is the pediatric doctor in the town’s hospital. Emily is an art history major as well, and as she paints murals on the walls at the hospital, a relationship begins to develop with Lucus.

As the story continues, you find yourself cheering Emily on. Flipping through the pages, you see her flourish and once agin finding happiness in her life. I loved the details in the back stories of both Lucas and Emily. The characters are so relatable and they make you want to hang out on the porch chatting and drinking iced tea. This is a real page turner that you can’t put down once you begin reading it. Thank you Kristin Harper for such a wonderful story of love, family, friendships and most of all hope. I highly recommend this book as I’m sure it won’t disappoint. It definitely has all the feels.

I really enjoyed this story and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. I am so glad that this is just the start of a series, that means there is so much more to come and I look so forward to reading what’s next. I will definitely read more books written by this author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DESCRIPTION:

SUMMER AT HOPE HAVEN
Author: Kristin Harper
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: August 25, 2020
Pages: 306
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Making her way up the cedar-lined driveway, tears fill her eyes at the sight of the cottage’s faded trim and peeling turquoise shutters. Taking a deep breath, she grasps the heart-shaped iron door handle and steps inside the once-happy childhood home she’s been avoiding. It is time to face up to the past…

When Emily’s fiancé walks out on her while she’s still grieving the loss of her family in a terrible accident, she escapes back to Hope Haven on the remote Dune Island, where her family vacationed every summer. Emily hopes that fixing up the house will also mend her broken heart, but the cottage holds more than just bittersweet childhood memories. Emptying her father’s antique writing desk, Emily finds a letter that reveals a devastating secret about her parents.
With a head full of questions that can never be answered, it seems like returning to the island was the worst decision Emily ever made… until she meets Lucas Socorro, saltwater dripping from his dark curls after a surf session. As they take long walks on the soft sand, and talk late into the firefly-lit night, Emily wonders if Dr Luke—as the kids in the hospital call him—could be the one to help her heal. With Luke holding her hand, delving into her family’s painful past is a little easier.
Painting the gloomy cottage walls the colour of seashells, and revamping her grandmother’s flea-market furniture, Emily starts to feel she might call Dune Island home for good—and that she could build that home right here with Luke. But when Emily’s family secret spreads through a network of local gossips, her fragile heart breaks all over again. Luke is the only one who could have started the rumours. Was she wrong to trust him so easily?
As the sun sets behind the dunes, Emily has a difficult decision to make. Does she pack her bags and leave the island for good? Or take a risk that Hope Haven has everything she’s been looking for?

ABOUT KRISTIN HARPER

I grew up in ' New England and I’ve vacationed on Cape Cod almost every summer of my life, except for one year when I allowed my job to interfere with my vacation plans. (Fortunately, I never made that mistake again.)

After moving around the country and working in all sorts of professions, including roles in education, philanthropy and healthcare, I’m glad to be living in Massachusetts again, writing women’s fiction set in fictitious oceanside locales.

September 01, 2020

SUMMER AT ORCHARD HOUSE

MY THOUGHTS:

This is the first novel in the new series Blue Hills. I was so looking forward to diving into this book. It is an amazing story of love, family, and new beginnings.

Set in Lake Chelan, Washington, this story whisks away to a place you’ve never been but have always wanted to go. As the Alvarez sisters come together to save their family’s vineyard, you can’t help but feeling as if you are working in the vineyard right along side of them. As the stories of the sisters lives unravel, Carmen finds herself romantically interested in Evan Hollister, in spite of the fact that she doesn’t want to admit it.

As you flip through the pages of this book, you can’t help but feeling as if you are part of this family. The vivid description of the characters, the lake, and the vineyard, including the dialogue between them all, makes you feel like you are right there in the mix of it all. This is a real page turner that you can’t put down once you begin reading it. I really enjoyed this story and I look forward to the next book in this series.

This is the first book I’ve read by Ellyn Oaksmith. I like her writing style and her vivid descriptions of people and places. I will definitely read more books written by this author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DESCRIPTION:

SUMMER AT ORCHARD HOUSE
Author: Ellyn Oaksmith
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: July 13, 2020
Pages: 332
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Carmen Alvarez is the reliable one. When her vulnerable father’s livelihood is threatened, she’s the person her sisters call. Abandoning her job in Seattle, Carmen races home to the family vineyard her dad built up from nothing to set things straight. But soon she’s fallen back in love with the dusty sage hills, the turquoise blue lake, the fragrant June orchards… Maybe she’s not just home for the summer?
Standing in the way of Carmen’s happiness is one very attractive obstacle: new neighbor Evan Hollister, who’s after her dad’s land. He’s arrogant, entitled and spoiled—everything Carmen hates—and she is all set to have a bit of fun driving him out of town so things can get back to normal. She isn’t ready for their relationship to get complicated…
But Evan is the least of Carmen’s worries. The business is falling apart and it starts to look like Carmen might lose much more than just her pride: employees have quit, the bank keeps calling and everything her father worked so hard for is slipping away. As she is pushed to breaking point, Carmen will learn that her true family are the people who will see her through the worst of times, and that love can be found in the most unlikely of places.

ABOUT ELLYN OAKSMITH

Ellyn Oaksmith is the USA Today and Kindle bestselling author of addictively fun love stories. She has never run a winery, been attacked by drones or nearly drowned someone but she loves putting her characters in challenging situations. Ellyn also enjoys chatting with readers on social media. Especially when she should be writing. Ellyn began her writing life as a screenwriter in Los Angeles which, outside of writing hours, is exactly as crazy as it seems in the movies. After hightailing it back to her native Seattle, Ellyn began writing comedic romances and never looked back.

Ellyn lives in Seattle with her husband. She’s part of a competitive rowing team. You can often find her on Lake Sammamish rowing in the dark.