WHERE HOPE BEGINS

MY THOUGHTS:

I was so looking forward to the continuation story of The Orchard House Bed and Breakfast Series.  Maggie Acker has always wanted a family of her own.  Her dreams of having her own family come true when she marries Josh and he has twin boys from a previous marriage.  She wants to be the best wife and mother that she could possibly be.  But when one of the twins, Isaac, is diagnosed with diabetes, Maggie does everything she possibly can to help her family handle this life changing illness. The struggles that Josh and Maggie go through and overcome, portray such faith and hope in each other.  Josh and Maggie refuse to give up on each other and instead support and encourage their family.  

Family is so important and such a blessing that is to be treasured and never be taken for granted.  Sometimes the trials and tribulations a family goes through together, brings them closer together and stronger then ever before.  This story has all the feels, it was a wonderful escape and a charming read. I really like the writing style of this author.  She pulls you into her stories and doesn’t let you go.  I look so forward to the continuation of this series, it’s fantastic.

Thank you Heidi Chiavaroli for such a wonderful story. I absolutely love this series.  The well developed characters made me feel like I was part of the family, while the plot kept me completely engrossed in the book.  I loved it, and I highly recommend this series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DESCRIPTION:

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Rating: 5 ou

WHERE HOPE BEGINS
Author:  Heidi Chiavaroli 
Publisher: Hope Creek Publishers 
Publication Date: June 24, 2021 
Pages: 288 
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All Maggie Acker ever wanted was to have a family of her own. Now, with her handsome, hardworking husband, Josh, and two adorable twin boys from his previous marriage, she is determined to be the wife and mother Josh’s ex-wife failed to be.

But when one of the twins has a near-fatal health scare and is later diagnosed with diabetes, Maggie blames herself for not seeing the signs sooner. As the rest of the family slowly learns to live with the diagnosis, Maggie fights to gain control of her son’s health. Coupled with a major career change for Josh, their marriage teeters on the brink of destruction.

When Maggie’s family sends the couple away for a much-needed vacation, a life-rocking argument is followed by terrifying news regarding their son. Will Maggie’s childhood dreams of love and family disappear before she realizes the treasure she’d had right in front of her?

This is Book 2 in The Orchard House Bed and Breakfast Series, a contemporary twist on the well-loved classic, Little Women.

ABOUT HEIDI CHIAVAROLI

Heidi Chiavaroli (pronounced shev-uh-roli…sort of like Chevrolet and ravioli mushed together!) wrote her first story in third grade, titled I’d Cross the Desert for Milk. It wasn’t until years later that she revisited writing, using her two small boys’ nap times to pursue what she thought at the time was a foolish dream. Despite a long road to publication, she hasn’t stopped writing since!

Heidi writes women’s fiction, combining her love of history and literature to write split time stories. Her debut novel, Freedom’s Ring, was a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist, a Romantic Times Top Pick and a Booklist Top Ten Romance Debut. Heidi loves exploring places that whisper of historical secrets, especially with her family. She loves running, hiking, baking, and dates with her high-school sweetheart and husband of seventeen years. Her latest dual timeline novel, The Orchard House, is inspired by the lesser-known events in Louisa May Alcott’s life. Heidi makes her home in Massachusetts with her husband and two sons.

Heidi is represented by the Natasha Kern Literary Agency.

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HOPE BETWEEN THE PAGES

MY THOUGHTS:

Clara Blackwell helps her mother manage a 100 year old family bookshop in Asheville, North Carolina.  The bookshop is struggling to survive and it takes everything she has to keep it going.  But when Clara discovers an old letter tucked away in a book, that has never been opened, she can’t wait to open the seal and read it.  The letter takes her on an adventure of a lifetime.  As Clara follows her heart and unwrap the mystery of the past, she is transported from the estates of the Vaderbilts to Derbyshire, England. As she uncovers the love story of her great-great grandmother and the only name in the letter, Oliver.  The truth of her family’s past is revealed as well as the hope of her future.  

This captivating story of hope, past, present and future made this book unputdownable.  I really enjoyed the plot twist and the detailed description of England made it a wonderful and much needed escape.  I love the writing style of this author, it is both intriguing and entertaining and keeps your attention while rapidly turning the pages.

Thank you Pepper Basham for such a wonderful and amazing read.  This entertaining and exciting story, definitely pulls at your heartstrings. This compelling story of love and secrets is amazing.  The flow of the story reads as if it is a poem, a love letter. It is an absolute must read and I highly recommend this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DESCRIPTION:

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

HOPE BETWEEN THE PAGES
Author: Pepper Basham
Publisher: Barbour Books 
Publication Date: April 1, 2021 
Pages: 267 
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Uncover the Story Behind a One-Hundred-Year-Old Love Letter. Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series of historical stories of romance and adventure.

Clara Blackwell helps her mother manage a struggling one-hundred-year old family bookshop in Asheville, North Carolina, but the discovery of a forgotten letter opens a mystery of a long-lost romance and undiscovered inheritance which could save its future. Forced to step outside of her predictable world, Clara embarks on an adventure with only the name Oliver as a hint of the man’s identity in her great-great-grandmother’s letter. From the nearby grand estate of the Vanderbilts, to a hamlet in Derbyshire, England, Clara seeks to uncover truth about family and love that may lead to her own unexpected romance.

ABOUT PEPPER BASHAM

I wrote my first story when I was a nine year- old, freckled-faced tomboy in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains (my earlier writings wouldn’t have been considered “books”, more like short stories). Coming from a long line of oral storytellers, weaving a good yarn seemed a typical part of my life. It wasn’t until I finished college, had two children, and a full-time job before I began to study the ‘craft’ of writing (you know when I had plenty of time).

My music-director turned pastor husband took his first senior pastor position eight years ago, moved the 6 of us to Tennessee, where we added our fifth and final kid to the Basham crew. And now hubby is a music minister in Asheville, NC. Yep, we love the Blue Ridge Mountains.
So…now I’m an older, freckled-faced mommy enjoying life, learning to write, and laughing often. My mom says that I must have a small bit of insanity because I don’t realize how stressed I ought to be.

I’m also a speech-language pathologist who spends her time hanging out with kids who have social communication and language difficulties! It’s a challenge and a blessing – and constantly teaches me about the importance of thinking outside the box!

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A LESSON IN MURDER

MY THOUGHTS:

When Lady Elenor Swift is invited back to her old boarding school by her favorite teacher Mrs. Wadsworth, to give a speech, she never expected to be back on the case.  Lady Elenor is wandering the hallways reminiscing of her time spent at the school.  She wanders into the library and discovers a dead body.  But, wait is that, no, it couldn’t be….Mrs. Wadsworth? Chief Inspector Hugh Seldon is called to the school, but the incident is kept quiet as to not upset the other students.  Murder was not immediately determined. But after little investigation, it is soon determined that murder was the cause of death. So, Lady Eleanor is Mrs. Wadsworth’s temporary replacement in the classroom, but also decides to investigate on her own to find out what happened to her friend. She feels like she owes it to her friend, Mrs. Wadsworth, to find out who murdered her and why. 

The 1920’s setting and Elenor’s investigative instinct is so much fun to read.  I really enjoyed the plot twist and not knowing who the culprit was until the very end.  I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery series.  I love the writing style of this author.  

Thank you Verity Bright for such a wonderful addition to this series.  This entertaining and exciting story, makes this book unputdownable.  It is definitely a must read and I highly recommend this series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DESCRIPTION:

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

A LESSON IN MURDER
Author:  Verity Bright
Publisher: Bookouture 
Publication Date: September 14, 2021 
Pages: 266 
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When Lady Swift is invited to her old school, she walks through familiar classrooms, finds her favourite books in the library… and surely that’s not a body? Time for a lesson in murder!

Autumn, 1921. Lady Eleanor Swift is invited to her old school, St Mary’s, as a guest speaker. Her favourite teacher, Mrs Wadsworth, has asked that Eleanor talk about her intrepid travels around the globe – travelling the Silk Road by bicycle, crossing the Himalayas and even befriending the Maharaja of India. But in the circumstances, perhaps it would have been a good idea to talk about her career as a daring detective…

Because no sooner has Eleanor brushed up on her times tables then she is greeted by terrible news: Mrs Wadsworth has been murdered. Eleanor is utterly devastated but she owes it to her dearest teacher to find out who killed her and why. So, alongside Gladstone the bulldog, it’s best paw forward to track down a villain.

But when the art teacher is also found dead, Eleanor is sure someone is trying to do away with the people who taught her everything. As Eleanor delves into possible motives, she discovers a clue in the most unlikely place: her mother’s old school diary. Does the route to the murderer lie within a secret passageway her mother uncovered? Can Eleanor nail the culprit in time or is the killer coming for her next? 

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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THE GIRL ACROSS THE WIRE FENCE

MY THOUGHTS:

In 1944 Holland, Saskia would carry messages from captives, in Amersfoort Concentration Camp, to their families living outside the camp.  Everyday she passes Nazi guards on the street as she rides her bike from the camp to families with her pockets full of notes, while hoping she doesn’t get caught.  Saskia and her boyfriend Frans know that the need to keep going out weighs the risk.  And one day when Saskia gets caught, her life completely changes.  She is forced to wear a yellow star and is so saddened that she can’t help the prisoners and their families anymore.  Saskia knows that to escape over the wire fence is almost impossible but she has hope and faith, to concur and overcome the darkest time of her life. 

This story was an amazing and wonderful story is an absolute must read.  This rapid page turner will have you flying through story, and the only thing that will slow you down is the need of tissues so make sure you have plenty nearby. 

Thank you Imogen Matthews for such a heartbreaking and emotional story.  The fact that this was a true story had me glued to the pages.  The hope that was portrayed throughout the storyline was amazing and inspirational. This wonderful story is a must read and I highly recommend this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DESCRIPTION:

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Rating: 5 out of 

THE GIRL ACROSS THE WIRE FENCE
Author:  Imogen Matthews 
Publisher: Bookouture 
Publication Date: September 15, 2021 
Pages: 286 
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1944, Amersfoort Concentration Camp, Holland. Based on a true story, the unforgettable tale of two young lovers who risked everything to keep hope alive in the very depths of hell.

The scrap of folded paper weighed heavy in Saskia’s pocket. The Nazi guards were patrolling the streets in ever-increasing numbers and every time she passed one on her bicycle she felt herself tense. The note she held told a story of unbelievable courage. The Nazis wanted the prisoners to give up hope inside the camp but Saskia was smuggling letters to them from their loved ones, giving them a reason to survive.

But with every letter Saskia delivers she is put in even more danger. Though she and her boyfriend Frans are more careful than ever they know their lives are at risk.

And one day when Saskia is caught, she is marched into the camp and forced to wear a yellow star.

Everyone says it’s impossible to escape across the wire fence: there is no one left to ferry messages, and as the war progresses the Nazi guards inside the camp become even more dangerous. Together Saskia and Frans have given strangers something to believe in in the darkest of times. Now that Saskia is alone, will her love for Frans give her the hope she needs to survive?

ABOUT IMOGEN MATTHEWS

Imogen Matthews is an Oxford-based, award-winning author and journalist with an interest in forgotten stories from WW2 Holland. Imogen was born in Rijswijk, Holland, to a Dutch mother and English father who moved the family to England when Imogen was very young. All her life, she listened to her mother’s stories about her life in Holland, in particular the hardships she faced during the Hunger Winter in 1944-5, which has had a profound impact on her writing.

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THE ITALIAN GIRL’S SECRET

MY THOUGHTS:

It’s 1943 and the war rages on through Europe.  Carmela del Bosco lives a quiet life at her grandmother’s remote farmhouse.  Carmela is asked by her brother Danielo to hide a fugitive Sebastiano at her house.  Reluctantly she agrees even though she knows that the Germans will kill anyone that they think is an enemy.  She takes the risk and everyday Carmela tends to Sebastiano’s injuries while keeping him rested, fed, clothed and bathed.  As she and Sebastiano develop friendship and a bond, she knows that they are each other’s hope to make it through the darkest days of their lives.  When Sebastiano escapes Carmela is forced to run away to Naples to live in her estranged father’s home.  

This story was absolutely amazing, beautiful and gave a wonderful example of people helping each other when they need it the most.  I enjoyed the character of Carmela so much.  She was like an old friend that I’ve known for years.  There was such a connection with storyline, the author pulls you into the story at the very first page.

Thank you Natalie Meg Evans for such a heartbreaking and riveting story.  I felt as if I wanted to reach out and walk side by side with the characters.  The hope that the people had during those horrible times was so amazing. I had such compassion for them. This phenomenal story is a must read and I highly recommend this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Rating: 5 out of 5.

DESCRIPTION:

THE ITALIAN GIRL’S SECRET
Author:  Natalie Meg Evans 
Publisher: Bookouture 
Publication Date: September 10, 2021 
Pages: 302 
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Italy, 1943. In the hills outside Naples, the silver moon shines brightly on a whitewashed farmhouse. An urgent knock on the door breaks the silence: and in that moment, one young woman’s act of incredible bravery changes the course of the war.

For Carmela del Bosco, a farm girl in a remote Italian village, sheltering an English spy is the most dangerous thing she could do. If she’s caught by the fascists it would be the end, especially for her beloved grandmother sleeping soundly upstairs. But taking in the pleading brown eyes of the man calling himself Sebastiano slumped at her door, and his terrible injuries inflicted by the Nazi occupiers, Carmela remembers how Nonna always taught her right from wrong. Risking everything, she hides him in a ruined tower on the edge of the farm.

Each day Carmela tends his wounds, and the passion that kindles between them is a light in the darkest time. Sebastiano has information that could end the war, and needs her help to send it. But tracking down fellow members of the resistenza in the mountains means risking her life and bringing danger to everyone she knows.

Carmela knows she must find the courage to do what’s right for her country. But if she leaves the farm, will she ever see her beloved nonna again? And will her sacrifice tear her away from the only man she’s ever loved, forever?

ABOUT NATALIE MEG EVANS

Natalie Meg Evans has been an art student, actor, PR copywriter, book-keeper and bar tender but always wanted to write. A USA Today best-seller and RITA nominee, she is author of four published novels which follow the fortunes of strong-minded women during the 1930s and 40s. Fashion, manners and art are the glass through which her characters’ lives are viewed. Each novel is laced with passion, romance and desire. Mystery is never far away.

An avid absorber of history – for her sixth birthday she got a toy Arthurian castle with plastic knights – Natalie views historical fiction as theatre for the imagination. Her novels delve behind the scenes of a prestige industry: high fashion, millinery, theatre, wine making. Rich arenas for love and conflict. Most at home in the English countryside, Natalie lives in rural Suffolk. She has one son.

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THE WOMAN AT THE GATES

MY THOUGHTS:

Antonia risks her life every day sneaking messages and refugees across the border to safety.  But when she is hiding in the forest behind her house, she witnesses her sister Lena and her nephews being taken at gunpoint by the Nazi’s.  She has to make the impossible decision, does she come out of hiding and go with her family to keep them safe or does she stay hidden and continue to fight.  Antonia comes out of hiding and goes with her sister and nephews.  When they arrive at the labor camp, the conditions are horrible and Lena’s son becomes very ill.  Antonia must devise a plan for escape, to save her sister Lena and her two nephews.  She spent so many years helping others and now, she is their only hope for their escape and survival.  

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, I cried and found myself cheering them on.  I was so enthralled by this gripping and powerful novel, I didn’t want it to end, yet at the same time I could wait to see how it was going to end. 

Thank you Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger for such a riveting and intense story.  I felt as if it was happening right in front of me. The hope, triumphs and tribulations that the people went through, was so descriptive, it made me feel such compassion for them. This phenomenal story is a must read and I highly recommend this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Rating: 

DESCRIPTION:

THE WOMAN AT THE GATES

Author:  Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger 
Publisher: Bookouture 
Publication Date: September 2, 2021 
Pages: 347 
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1944, Germany. Gazing through the barbed wire, Antonia makes a vow: she will not let her family die in this camp. She will find a way for them to escape, even if it costs her her life. The Nazis have taken everything from her, but they can never take away her courage… 

Resistance fighter Antonia risks her life every day, sneaking messages under the Nazis’ noses and smuggling refugees across the border. But when she’s in the forest behind her family’s farm and Nazi soldiers arrive, she faces a terrible choice. As she sees her sister Lena and her young nephews herded towards the trucks, guns pointed at their heads, she must decide: stay hidden, stay free and continue the fight, or step out of the trees and go with her family to protect them—no matter what lies ahead.

As she clutches her nephew’s little hand in hers, her other arm tight around Lena, she knows she has made the right choice. And as the truck rattles towards a brutal labor camp, Antonia’s only thought is of how to stay alive, so she can escape and rejoin her comrades in the resistance.

But conditions in the camp are unbearably harsh, and her older nephew soon falls ill, while Lena starves to give her children what she can. For Antonia, the only thing worse than watching her nephews suffer is seeing Lena realise that her child will die without help. She cannot let that happen.

All four of their lives now hang on the desperate plan she has made, but she will not let herself give up hope. She has spent five years fighting for the freedom of others – can she win it now for herself?

ABOUT CHRYSTYNA LUCYK-BERGER

Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger was born in Minnesota in 1969. A first-generation American of Ukrainian immigrants, she grew up in the culture-rich neighborhood of “Nordeast” Minneapolis. Inspired by her second-grade teacher, her writing career began with short stories, then morphed into travel narratives, and eventually novels. She has worked as a journalist and as a managing editor for a magazine publisher before jumping the editor’s desk and pursuing her dreams of writing and traveling. In 2000, she moved to western Austria and established her own communications training company. She has won several awards for her short stories and novels and now primarily writes historical fiction.

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THE LOST SECRET OF IRELAND

 MY THOUGHTS:

Sandy Cove is a tiny coastal village in Ireland and Ella Caron is trying to recover.  Ella moved from Paris to Sandy Cove for the quiet and tranquility of the village so that she could grieve the loss of her mother.  She needed space to process her loss and never imagined her mother’s best friend Lucille would move in with her to keep her company.  As Ella spends more time with Lucille she finds herself letting her guard down and laughing more.  Lucille wants to live the rest of her life in Sandy Cove, but when her son Rory arrives he has other plans for Lucille’s life.  But when Rory and Ella build a friendship, Ella can’t help but wonder if Rory is right.  

I thoroughly enjoyed this continuation story in the series.  This sequel was ever bit as good as the first book.  I was so engrossed with this story I didn’t want to put it down.  This feel good escape was exactly what I needed.

Thank you Susanne O’Leary for another wonderful story.  I really enjoyed this story, and felt as if I was transported to Ireland.  The plot was captivating, the characters were relatable, and this story kept me entertained.  This fantastic story is a must read and I highly recommend this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

DESCRIPTION:

THE LOST SECRET OF IRELAND
Author:  Susanne O’Leary 
Publisher:  Bookouture 
Publication Date: August 31, 2021 
Pages: 315 
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An enchanting summer romance set on the gorgeous Irish coast, where fresh starts are made, love beckons and secrets are sure to unfold…

In the tiny village of Sandy Cove in Ireland, Ella Caron is trying to recover. When she moved from Paris to a beautiful coastguard cottage on the sea, she wanted peace and quiet and the space to grieve after her mother’s death. She never imagined that her mother’s eccentric best friend Lucille would insist on moving in to keep her company.

With Lucille by her side, Ella finds herself laughing more than she has in years and it soon becomes clear that Lucille has her own reasons for coming to Sandy Cove: she wants Ella to help her move to her own little cottage by the sea. But then Lucille’s son Rory comes to town and her dream is under threat: he wants her in Tipperary, where she can safely grow old in their family home. Ella admires Lucille’s sense of adventure but she can’t help but wonder if Rory is right. Especially when she sees the rickety old cottage Lucille intends to buy and realises that the real reason she wants to escape could turn Rory’s life upside down.

As Ella and Rory get closer, sharing a moment under the stars that feels meant to be, Ella finds herself caught between the man she is falling for and the loyalty she has to Lucille. Ella knows that she must convince Lucille to tell her family the truth, but it may force them to leave her and Sandy Cove for good…

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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