Tag: Historical Fiction

The Berlin Letters + Giveaway

Bestselling author Katherine Reay returns with an unforgettable tale of the Cold War and a CIA code breaker who risks everything to free her father from an East German prison.

From the time she was a young girl, Luisa Voekler has loved solving puzzles and cracking codes. Brilliant and logical, she’s expected to quickly climb the career ladder at the CIA. But while her coworkers have moved on to thrilling Cold War assignments—especially in the exhilarating era of the late 1980s—Luisa’s work remains stuck in the past decoding messages from World War II.

Journalist Haris Voekler grew up a proud East Berliner. But as his eyes open to the realities of postwar East Germany, he realizes that the Soviet promises of a better future are not coming to fruition. After the Berlin Wall goes up, Haris finds himself separated from his young daughter and all alone after his wife dies. There’s only one way to reach his family—by sending coded letters to his father-in-law who lives on the other side of the Iron Curtain.

When Luisa Voekler discovers a secret cache of letters written by the father she has long presumed dead, she learns the truth about her grandfather’s work, her father’s identity, and why she has never progressed in her career. With little more than a rudimentary plan and hope, she journeys to Berlin and risks everything to free her father and get him out of East Berlin alive.

As Luisa and Haris take turns telling their stories, events speed toward one of the twentieth century’s most dramatic moments—the fall of the Berlin Wall and that night’s promise of freedom, truth, and reconciliation for those who lived, for twenty-eight years, behind the bleak shadow of the Iron Curtain’s most iconic symbol.

My Review:

I’ve been mulling over what to say in a review for a few days now, trying to find the words to convey the impact this story had on me. Maybe because of the political times we live in world wide — so many people are living out their own Iron Curtain situations, or can see the threat looming on the horizon. And even in countries where democracy is supposedly safeguarded, the perils of exclusion, book bans, groups of people being treated as ‘other’ etc. is very real. So, to say ‘The Berlin Letters’ got me thinking would be an understatement. This is definitely the kind of read that will sit with me for a long time to come.

Reay has done an exceptional job of merging two timelines into a cohesive whole with the kind of block buster ending worthy of an Oscar. In fact, I could easily imagine this novel in cinematic splendour. The author’s descriptions of setting and character emotions brought everything into sharp focus and made me feel my way through to the spectacular ending.

The espionage/thriller aspects had me gasping out loud and I was so invested in Luisa’s family history mystery I couldn’t stop reading…well listening. (I highly recommend the audio book. The multi-narration delivered by Saskia Maarleveld, Ann Marie Gideon and P.J. Ochlan is stunning. Their portrayal of these characters really added to my emotional investment in the story.)

I read a lot of fiction and love most of what I read but, once in awhile a spectacular novel comes my way and I know it’s spectacular because I am changed for having read it. ‘The Berlin Letters’ is that kind of book. The author challenged some of my preconceived ideas and opened my heart to being more understanding and accepting and I am grateful for that.

My thanks to Harper Muse audiobooks and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of The Berlin Letters.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook copy available to anyone with a US Kindle account (.com) 

Canadians will have a choice of receiving an Amazon.ca gift card towards the purchase of an ebook OR the option of an audible.ca edition.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Berlin Letters , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday March 9 2024.

Appalachian Song + Giveaway

Forever within the memories of my heart.

Always remember, you are perfectly loved.

Bertie Jenkins has spent forty years serving as a midwife for her community in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Out of all the mothers she’s tended, none affects her more than the young teenager who shows up on her doorstep, injured, afraid, and expecting, one warm June day in 1943. As Bertie and her four sisters tenderly nurture Songbird back to health, the bond between the childless midwife and the motherless teen grows strong. But soon Songbird is forced to make a heartbreaking decision that will tear this little family apart.

Thirty years later, the day after his father’s funeral, Walker Wylie is stunned to learn he was adopted as an infant. The famous country singer enlists the help of adoption advocate Reese Chandler in the hopes of learning why he was abandoned by his birth parents. With the only clue he has in hand, Walker and Reese head deep into the Appalachian Mountains to track down Bertie Jenkins, the midwife who holds the secrets to Walker’s past.

For fans of historical and Southern fiction comes a poignant story of love and sacrifice set in the heart of Appalachia, from award-winning author Michelle Shocklee.

My Review:

“Livin’ life ain’t about seein’ and doin’. It’s about lovin’ and takin’ care of those who’ve been put in your path.” (p. 180)

Words to live by right there — and this book is full of like-minded wisdom so it’s the kind of read that requires savouring. Time to bask in bookish wonder and sit a spell with these characters. Especially Bertie and her sisters.

I was particularly drawn to the relationship that developed between Bertie and Songbird. Found family at it’s finest. But even as I devoured all that goodness, an ominous sense of foreboding hung over me. Because I didn’t know the whole story yet, but I knew it had to be heartbreaking since we meet Walker thirty years later in search of his past and then, well, whoooaaaa, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough despite the desire to linger over all the sweet moments.

Appalachian Song is a dual timeline story set in two historical eras and the author did an amazing job of intertwining both stories. Rich with history and emotion and inspiration. The kind of faith that gives a sensitive reader goosebumps and provides teary-eyed moments. Over and over again. Just…indescribably wonderful!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Appalachian Song, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday March 9 2024.

Counted With the Stars + Giveaway

RANDOM RETRO RE-READ

Sold into slavery by her father and forsaken by the man she was supposed to marry, young Egyptian Kiya must serve a mistress who takes pleasure in her humiliation. When terrifying plagues strike Egypt, Kiya is in the middle of it all.

Choosing to flee with the Hebrews, Kiya finds herself reliant on a strange God and drawn to a man who despises her people. With everything she’s ever known swept away and now facing the trials of the desert, will she turn back toward Egypt or surrender her life and her future to Yahweh?

My Review:

published in 2015

I am not a huge fan of biblical fiction so I pick and choose which titles I read with care. I am so grateful that this one caught my eye and I took a risk by reading out of my comfort zone. Counted With the Stars is a stunning debut novel. The story delivers what the beautiful cover promises and, oh my goodness, such a meaningful title tie-in! Love that kind of attention to detail.

Cossette brings this time period to life. Rich details and the author’s vivid imagination make for a memorable read. I love that the story is told through the eyes of an Egyptian slave. Kiya is such an interesting character. Raised in opulent wealth, she has a lot of adjusting to do as she struggles within the bonds of slavery. She feels like her gods have forsaken her so when she befriends a Hebrew slave she becomes intrigued by the notion of worshiping only one God. In fact she’s incredulous. Especially when Egypt is suddenly inundated with plagues reported to be delivered by the hand of this omnipotent God.

Despite her circumstances, Kiya doesn’t shuck her spoiled persona easily. She is a product of her upbringing — a distinctly caste conscious one. It takes untold hardships and wandering through the wilderness for Kiya’s transformation to be complete. And, oh mercy, what a moving conversion story. Goosebump-inciting. A powerful surrendering to Yahweh that left me breathless.

Side Note: My second read of this book — this time I listened to the Audible edition (available on Audible Plus right now) and Sarah Mollo-Christiensen’s narration is exquisite! She brought such vibrancy to the story. I was spellbound.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Counted With the Stars , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday March 2 2024.

All My Secrets + Giveaway

Bestselling author Lynn Austin returns with a luminous work of historical fiction set amid the opulence of Gilded Age New York, where three generations of women in one family must reckon with the choices they have made and their hopes for the future.

New York, 1898. The only thing more shocking than Arthur Stanhope III’s unexpected death is the revelation that his will bestows his company―and most of the vast fortune that goes with it―to the nearest male heir, leaving his mother, wife, and daughter nearly impoverished. His widow, Sylvia, quickly realizes she must set aside her grief to ensure their daughter, Adelaide, is launched into society as soon as the appropriate mourning period passes. If Sylvia can find a wealthy husband for Addy before anyone realizes they’re practically destitute, there will be little disruption to the lifestyle they’re accustomed to.

Sylvia’s mother-in-law, Junietta, believes their life could use a little disruption. She has watched Sylvia play her role as a society wife, as Junietta once did, despite what it cost them both. Junietta vows to give her granddaughter the power to choose a path beyond what society expects.

But for Addy to have that chance, both mother and grandmother must first confront painful truths about their own choices. Only in bringing their secrets to light can they hope to reshape their family inheritance into a legacy more fulfilling than they ever dared dream.

My Review:

I’m gobsmacked and teary-eyed and quite reluctant to leave Gilded Age New York and the characters I’ve grown to love . ‘All My Secrets’ is the kind of rich, absorbing story that leaves a reader feeling bereft once she reaches the end. I’m still experiencing the aftershocks of joy and heartache and hope and I just want to sit with it all in quiet contemplation for awhile.

There’s no doubt that Lynn Austin is a masterful storyteller. The combination of descriptive writing, deeply layered plot and characters who take on a life of their own is so alluring! The historical details are illuminating as we follow three generations of Stanhope women at a pivotal time in American history.

The story is told from three points of view as Junietta, Sylvia and Adelaide are forced to come to terms with the sudden change in their circumstances. While most of the story takes place in ‘present day’ (1898) we are given flashbacks into the early lives of Junietta and Sylvia, so this is kind of a dual timeline as well. And oh my, those back stories!!!! The lessons learned (and not!) Powerful and moving and Christ centred. Loved the faith elements shared in this book.

Then there’s Addy, a young woman who has spent her entire life doing what is expected of her. Now she’s torn between duty to her mother and the disruptive ideas of her grandmother. Riveting stuff. The kind of all-consuming read that leaves you with a book hangover by the end!

I enjoyed listening to Sarah Zimmerman’s excellent narration. She’s a familiar voice in my audiobook library and I love the feeling of being invited back into a favourite storyteller’s circle once again.

My thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of All My Secrets.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of All My Secrets , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 10 2024.

The Paris Housekeeper + Giveaway

From the author of The Secret Society of Salzburg comes a powerful and moving story of bravery and resilience in World War II Paris and one woman who must face impossible choices to survive …

Paris, 1940

German tanks rumble through the streets of Paris, forcing frightened citizens to flee. But not everyone has the luxury to leave. Camille Lacroix, a chambermaid at the world-famous Hôtel Ritz, must stay to support her family back home in Brittany. Desperate to earn money, Camille also acts as a lady’s maid for longtime guest Vivian Miller, a glamorous American widow—and a Nazi sympathizer.

Despite her distrust of the woman, Camille turns to Vivian when her friend and fellow hotel maid Rachel Berman needs help getting out of Paris. It’s then that Camille discovers that Vivian is not what she seems… The American has been using her wealth and connections to secretly obtain travel papers for Jewish refugees.

While they’re hiding Rachel in an underground bunker under a Nazi’s nose, a daring escape plan is hatched. But as the net grows tighter, and the Germans more ruthless, Camille’s courage will be tested to the extreme…

My Review:

I think the core strength of this story can be found in this message:

“If you think one person can’t make a difference in the fight against tyranny, I’m here to tell you you’re wrong. This woman is a testament to what happens when a single brave soul does the right thing.” (p 360)

And, mercy, but isn’t that what we need to hear – and remember – in the chaotic upheaval of this 21st century world?! And Ryan conveys it so well in this quiet-ish story featuring three women in war-torn Paris. The choices they make. The consequences that follow and the fragile thread of hope that pulls them together. All told in well executed prose that made everything feel so real.

“Frustration propelled her out into the morning air that still held the stench of petrol, German haughtiness, and French despair.” (p 58)

I was appalled and enthralled and committed right through to the exquisite epilogue.

Of note: while published by Love Inspired Trade, I would not categorize this book as Christian Fiction though it definitely includes inspiring and encouraging themes and it is a clean read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Paris Housekeeper , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 3 2024.

Of Love and Treason + Giveaway

Valentine defies the emperor and becomes a hero . . . and the most wanted man in the empire. Compelled by his faith, he has nothing to lose, until a chance encounter with the daughter of a Roman jailor changes everything.

Rome, AD 270. In the wake of the emperor’s marriage ban, rumors swirl that there is one man brave enough to perform wedding ceremonies in secret. A public notarius and leader of an underground church, Valentine believes the emperor’s edict unjust and risks his own life for the sake of his convictions. But as his fame grows, so do fears for his safety.

Iris, the daughter of a Roman jailor, believes regaining her sight will ease the mounting troubles at home. Her last hope rests in searching out Valentine and his church, but the danger of associating with people labeled a threat to the empire is great. Still, as Iris’s new friends lead her to faith in God, Iris is drawn to Valentine and they both begin to hope for a future together beyond the treacherous empire.

But when a past debt and a staggering betrayal collide, Valentine, Iris, and everyone they love must fight for their lives . . . and wrestle with trusting a God who can restore sight yet does not always keep His followers from peril.

My Review:

This book is so far out of my comfort zone that I’m surprised it lured me in anyway. Not only caught my attention, but kept it right to last heart-breaking, hope-soaring word. (Sniffle.) Of course, I knew going in there wouldn’t be the kind of fictional happily ever after that I craved but still…

So much to say about this unique novel…and yet I’m too bereft to find the words. That’s Jamie Ogle’s fault — her exquisite writing wrapped me in the best of bookish hugs for all that it also induced tears and sorrow. (More sniffles and a heaving sigh.)

Memorable characters for all their flaws but also for the light of Christ that shines through them. There are some very raw, hard to read scenes. Brutal even. But so many goose-bumping, Jesus-praising moments as well which helps to balance things out. Still, it’s the kind of read that brings on an emotional stupor of epic bibliophile proportions by the time you reach the end. And I’m still reeling.

So, not an easy read. A most difficult one, actually. But I’m richer for having read this story and met these characters and experienced what it was like to live as a Christian under the brutal rule of the Roman Emperor. Thought-provoking and emotionally stirring (though I’m diving into a rom/com asap to lighten my mood!)

My thanks to the publisher, Dreamscape Media and Net Galley for providing me with an audio copy of this book. Lillian Kelly’s narration is stunning! She has a soothing, easy-to-listen to voice which helped carry me through the hardest scenes. Her emotional, attention grabbing performance held me spellbound.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook copy available to anyone with a US Kindle account (.com) 

Canadians will have a choice of receiving an Amazon.ca gift card towards the purchase of the book OR the option of an audible.ca edition.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Of Love and Treason , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday January 27 2024.

Daisies Are Forever

Gisela must hold on to hope and love despite all odds in the midst of a war-torn country.

Gisela Cramer is an American living in eastern Germany with her cousin Ella Reinhardt. When the Red Army invades, they must leave their home to escape to safety in Berlin.

However, Ella is a nurse and refuses to leave, sending her young daughters with Gisela. During their journey, Gisela meets Mitch Edwards, an escaped British POW. She pretends she is his wife in order to preserve his safety among other Germans, especially one wounded German soldier, Kurt, who has suspicions about Mitch’s identity. Kurt also has feelings for Gisela and tries to uncover the truth about her “marriage.”

Their journey to Gisela’s mother in Berlin is riddled with tragedy and hardship, but they strive to keep Ella’s daughters safe so they can reunite with their mother. During the journey Gisela and Mitch begin to develop feelings for one another beyond friendship. They reach Berlin, but their struggles are far from over. Gisela and Mitch must learn to live for the day and find hope in the darkest of circumstances.

In this moving, historically accurate portrayal of WWII Germany, the characters learn that, even with destruction all around them, some things last forever.

My Review:

I’ve read a lot of World War II novels and I’m always amazed at how authors find unique settings and perspectives for their stories. I knew absolutely nothing about this area of Germany (Prussia at the time) and the Russian invasion. Supposed allies fighting to free the world from Hitler’s tyranny, their brutality matched the Nazis and Tolsma captures the desperation and despair of the innocent civilians caught in their path. But she also conveys the people’s resiliency and courage and it all made for a riveting read.

We see that first hand in Gisela’s story which is full of danger and treachery in the midst of the most atrocious circumstances. Yet she doesn’t make the journey alone as an unlikely band of refugees gather together to make their impossible trek to freedom. That includes British POW Mitch and hiding his true identity makes their situation that much more dire.

Phew! But this was a gripping, hard to read at times, uncomfortable but ultimately triumphant story of love and loss in the midst of one of the most turbulent times in history.

I listened to the audio book, narrated by Carol Jacobanis who did a fantastic job with accents and phrasing and helped bring this story to life.

The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater + Giveaway

Barlowe Theater stole the life of Greta Mercy’s brother during its construction. Now in 1915, the completed theater appears every bit as deadly. When Greta’s younger brother goes missing after breaking into the building, Greta engages the assistance of a local police officer to help her uncover the already ghostly secrets of the theater. But when help comes from an unlikely source, Greta decides that to save her family she must put the threat of the phantoms to rest.

Decades later, Kit Boyd’s best friend vanishes during a ghost walk at the Barlowe Theater, and old stories of mysterious disappearances and ghoulish happenings are revived. When television ghost-hunting host and skeptic Evan Fisher engages Kit in the quest to identify the truth behind the theater’s history, Kit reluctantly agrees to work with him in hopes of also finding out what happened to her friend. As the theater’s curse begins to unravel Kit’s own life, she sets out not only to save the historical building and her friend, but to end the pattern of evil that has marked their hometown for a century.

In this atmospheric dual-time tale, two women–separated by a century yet bound by the ghosts of the past–pursue light in the face of darkness.

My Review:

Epic Jaime Jo Wright! A bit of woo woo mystery with lots of eerie ambiance that you know has a sensible explanation but you just can’t figure it out. I was hooked from the opening line: “Sometimes death comes quietly.” Uh, yeah, I needed to read on!

Dual timelines — both with their own mystery — and I was invested in both equally. There’s also very light romance for both Greta and Kit…emphasis on the light though, but I liked the way it brings hope to the reader without shadowing the already murky waters of the mysteries.

And, oh, those mysteries! Blended to perfection by the end but made for a rabid read until then. I couldn’t put this book down though my poor eyes were screaming, “Rest! Rest! We need rest!” Huh, as if! And I was gobsmacked more than a few times — in both timelines.

Love the way the author wove in some humour amidst all the angst — especially in the current timeline. Kit is my kind of heroine. Impatient. Prickly. Stubborn.:

“Even now she could see Mom’s cautionary look that told Kit to breathe deep and let God be God.

“Maybe God wanted to work through her to slap Evan Fischer silly?” (p 55)

Bwahaha! Haven’t we all been there a time or two? But, whoa, this was also such an emotional read! I felt for both heroines and the complicated emotions churning within and around them. And the way they faced adversity with grit and courage and loyalty to those they loved. Made for such an intense read.

To sum up in one word: Unputdownable!

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday December 16, 2023.

The Warsaw Sisters + Giveaway

On a golden August morning in 1939, sisters Antonina and Helena Dąbrowska send their father off to defend Poland against the looming threat of German invasion. The next day, the first bombs fall on Warsaw, decimating their beloved city and shattering the world of their youth.

When Antonina’s beloved Marek is forced behind ghetto walls along with the rest of Warsaw’s Jewish population, Antonina turns her worry into action and becomes a key figure in a daring network of women risking their lives to shelter Jewish children. Helena finds herself drawn into the ranks of Poland’s secret army, joining the fight to free her homeland from occupation. But the secrets both are forced to keep threaten to tear the sisters apart–and the cost of resistance proves greater than either ever imagined.

Shining a light on the oft-forgotten history of Poland during WWII and inspired by true stories of ordinary individuals who fought to preserve freedom and humanity in the darkest of times, The Warsaw Sisters is a richly rendered portrait of courage, sacrifice, and the resilience of our deepest ties.

My Review:

Phew! This book left me gutted and bruised, experiencing an emotional aftershock that still lingers. Barratt is an incredibly gifted writer — both in the mechanics of the art and in her ability to make her reader’s feel. And think. Honestly, you can’t come away from this book without thoughts and opinions and a heart hurting for these characters – especially when you are reminded that they represent millions of real people throughout this earth’s messy history.

I think what really upped the emotional angst for me is that I read ‘The Warsaw Sisters ‘in a world that is very nearly at the brink of what Hitler started back in the 1930s. The categorizing groups of people as evil, the heavy-handed use of propaganda, the racial slurs, intolerance of those classified as ‘other’…and so many other things that make up global politics these days. Barratt shows how all of that swayed ‘decent’ people and contributed to the persecution of the Jews, the Warsaw Ghetto, the death camps. And it breaks my heart, because I really don’t see that we have learned very much from the past.

So, is this a heavy book? Yes. Did it emotionally wreck me? Yes (and I’d be worried if it didn’t.) But does it also offer a thread of hope — slim though it may be, but strong nevertheless? Yes! But it’s also left me with the conviction that heroines like Antonia and Helena aren’t just part of our distant past; they are alive and fighting the good fight all around the world. And that has left me humbled.

I haven’t said anything about the plot — it reads as you might expect a WWII novel to — hardship and suffering buoyed up by brief flashes of joy. And that all important flicker of hope that keeps the characters moving forward during impossible times.

A stunning page-turner.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Warsaw Sisters , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday December 16, 2023.

The Wish Book Christmas + Giveaway

A holiday story that reminds us that sometimes the most meaningful gifts are the ones we least expect and don’t deserve.

Best friends Audrey Barrett and Eve Dawson are looking forward to celebrating Christmas in postwar America, thrilled at the prospect of starting new traditions with their five-year-old sons. But when the 1951 Sears Christmas Wish Book arrives and the boys start obsessing over every toy in it, Audrey and Eve realize they must first teach them the true significance of the holiday. They begin by helping Bobby and Harry plan gifts of encouragement and service for those in their community, starting by walking an elderly neighbor’s yellow Lab–since a dog topped the boys’ wish list for Santa. In the charming tale that follows, Audrey and Eve are surprised to find their own hearts healing from the tragedies of war and opening to the possibility of forgiveness and new love.

My Review:

published in 2021

Wow…just…wow! What a holiday treasure for any discerning reader who enjoys collecting Christmas books because this one definitely belongs on the keeper shelf! It’s nostalgic and charming and puts me in mind of classic holiday films from the 40s and 50s. Left me with the same happy afterglow as well.

The Wish Book Christmas is a sequel to ‘If I Were You’ but can easily be read as a standalone. I haven’t read the first book and had no problems diving in here for a Christmas in Connecticut with Eve and Audrey.

Love the way the author brought this time period to life and the way she deftly wove a powerful inspirational thread throughout the story. Honestly, the way it all culminated into an epic ‘aha’ moment for both our heroines was brilliant and thrilling and, well, inspiring!

I listened to the audible edition (it’s available on Audible Plus right now) narrated by Sarah Zimmerman. I always enjoy her performances and she definitely excelled with her interpretation of these characters and their special Christmas story.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com (US) Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Wish Book Christmas, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 18, 2023

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