Book Review with Featured Author: The Mozart Code by Rachel McMillan

The Mozart Code by Rachel McMillan

 

 

Publisher & Release: Thomas Nelson, March 15, 2022

Setting:  1946-1947, Vienna, Austria

Genre: Historical Fiction

Length: 367 Pages

Rating: 3.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

No matter how you might try to hide in a war to escape your past, it is always close at hand.

Lady Sophia Huntington Villiers is no stranger to intrigue, as her work with Alan Turing’s Bombe Machines at Bletchley Park during the war attests. Now, as part of Simon Barre’s covert team in post-war Vienna, she uses her inimitable charm and code name Starling to infiltrate the world of relics: uncovering vital information that could tilt the stakes of the mounting Cold War. When several influential men charge her with finding the death mask of Mozart, Sophie wonders if there is more than the composer’s legacy at stake and finds herself drawn to potential answers in Prague.

Simon Barrington, the illegitimate heir of one of Sussex’s oldest estates, used the previous war to hide his insecurities about his past. Now, he uses his high breeding to gain access to all four allied quarters of the ruined city in an attempt to slow the fall of the Iron Curtain. He has been in love with Sophie Villiers since the moment he met her, and a marriage of convenience to save Simon’s estate has always kept her close. Until now, when Sophie’s mysterious client in Prague forces him to wonder if her allegiance to him—and their cause—is in question. Torn between his loyalty to his cause and his heart, Simon seeks answers about Sophie only to learn that everything he thought he knew about his involvement in both wars is based on a lie.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Mozart-Code-Rachel-McMillan-ebook/dp/B08BYZ8VNJ

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-mozart-code-rachel-mcmillan/1137257379

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-mozart-code-1

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Rachel_McMillan_The_Mozart_Code?id=tdTtDwAAQBAJ

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Mozart-Code-Audiobook/0785253416?qid=1647308391&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=E2FQTATM34FY6M4VFK8R

 

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54350812-the-mozart-code

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-mozart-code-by-rachel-mcmillan

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of The Mozart Code by Rachel McMillan. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this book by publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

The Mozart Code is a well-researched novel set in the aftermath of WWII. As the British and American fight Russia’s determination to spread communism across eastern Europe. Austria is teetering on the edge and must be saved. The characters are intriguing, and the plot is complicated. 

 

Unfortunately, the tale is so enmeshed in historical details in the first half of the book and told without enough emotion, I almost gave up on it. I’m glad I continued reading. The second half of the book is much better. The pacing picked up and drew me into the story, and I became vested in the characters.

 

Sophie Huntington Villiers is a complex character. Her parents only see her as a pawn in their game, wanting her to marry someone who would raise their social standing. Her grandmother made her vow to never give her heart. That caused her to deny her love for Simon.

 

Simon Barrington is our hero and spymaster of this tale. He’s loved Sophie for years and when they marry, he means every word he pledges, but he realizes he must not let Sophie know. I enjoyed his emotional struggle.

 

The romance between Sophie and Simon is strong, and I wanted them to find their happy ending. However, this novel is not supposed to be a romance, but historical fiction with plenty of espionage and suspense. For me that fell short until the last quarter of the book. I’m a true lover of history and have become entranced with WWII novels, so I’m surprised I didn’t become drawn into that aspect of the book. 

 

If you enjoy well-researched historical fiction set in the aftermath of WWII as the allies race to stop Russia from increasing their stranglehold on Europe, then The Mozart Code may be the book for you. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

Rachel McMillan is the author of The Herringford and Watts mysteries, The Van Buren and DeLuca mysteries, The Three Quarter Time series, The London Restoration and The Mozart Code. Her non-fiction works including Dream Plan Go: A Travel Guide for Independent Adventure and A Very Merry Holiday Movie Guide. Rachel lives in Toronto, Canada and is always reading.

 

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachkmc1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rachkmc

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rachel-mcmillan

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14165949.Rachel_McMillan

 

Book Review with Featured Author: Divine Vintage by Sandra L. Young

Divine Vintage by Sandra L. Young

 

 

Publisher & Release: Wild Rose Press, February 21, 2022

Setting:  1913 & present Day

Genre: Historical Fiction

Length: 260 Pages

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Tess Burton is always up for an adventure. She's risked her inheritance to open Divine Vintage, a clothing boutique. While modeling an elegant gown from an Edwardian era trousseau, her mind is opened to a century-old murder. Visions—seen through the eyes of the murdered bride—dispute local lore that claims the bridegroom committed the crime.
Trey Dunmore doesn't share Tess' enthusiasm for mind-blowing visions, yet the appeal to clear his family's tainted legacy compels him to join her in exploring the past. Aided by the dead woman's clothing and diary, Tess and Trey discover that pursuing love in 1913 was just as thorny as modern day. As the list of murder suspects grows, the couple fears past emotions are influencing, and may ultimately derail, their own blossoming intimacy.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Divine-Vintage-Sandra-L-Young-ebook/dp/B09NGP2W9R

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/divine-vintage-sandra-l-young/1140776337

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/divine-vintage-1

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sandra_L_Young_Divine_Vintage?id=RNxeEAAAQBAJ

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60019967-divine-vintage

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/divine-vintage-by-sandra-l-young

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of Divine Vintage by Sandra L. Young. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this novel prior to publication. Nothing has influenced my rating or opinion of this book. 

 

Divine Vintage is a well written novel involving characters from the past and present. The heroine has recently opened a vintage clothing shop. Esther DeLeon and her cousin’s son come into the shop because she is hosting an anniversary tea and style show at Carver House, her home, to benefit the local homeless shelter. That starts off this enjoyable story.

 

Ms. Young brings the Edwardian era to life through vivid descriptions of the clothing and style of that time. She weaves a fantastical tale by using a woman’s clothing and her diary to smoothly transition from the present to the past. The pacing is decent, but it does pick up a great deal in the second half of the novel. I’m not a huge fan of paranormal novels, but I enjoyed this one.

 

Tess Burton is the heroine of this story, and I liked her character. She’s the typical 21^st century heroine who is independent, intelligent, and driven to succeed, but she also has a softer side that comes through as she explores the romantic possibilities that come her way.

 

Trey Dunmore is the hero, and he exhibits great characteristics from the start as he squires around Esther and does her bidding by modeling for the style show. While he’s attracted to Tess, he behaves as a perfect gentleman which is in tune with the past, making his character fit into the story extremely well.

 

While this is definitely a romance centered around Tess and Trey, it has more substance than one typically finds in contemporary romance because of the paranormal aspect and the mystery the pair go about solving to remove the blemish on Trey’s ancestors. I enjoyed them as a couple and wanted them to find their happy ending.

 

If you enjoy contemporary romance with a twist of paranormal involving events from the past, then you will love Divine Vintage as much as I did. I believe this is Ms. Young’s debut novel, and she’s written a lovely romance with delightful character and an intriguing plot. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

Sandra L. Young’s love of vintage fashion inspired her to write her debut novel, Divine Vintage. She’s gathered an impressive collection spanning the late 1800s to 1980s, wearing pieces onstage through years of performing in community theater. She also sports it out on the town for special occasions. To round out her love of the arts, Sandra sings with a trio, a praise band, and at karaoke nights. She draws from these experiences in her writing, as well as her work focus in communications and nonprofit management.

 

Social Media:

Website: https://sandrayoungauthor.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandra.gleim.50/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slyoungauthor/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sandra-l-young

Book review with Featured Author: The Magnolia Palace by Fiona davis

The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis

 

 

Publisher & Release: Dutton, January 25, 2022

Setting:  New York City, 1919 & 1966

Genre: Historical Fiction

Length: 349 Pages

Rating:  5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Eight months since losing her mother in the Spanish flu outbreak of 1919, twenty-one-year-old Lillian Carter's life has completely fallen apart. For the past six years, under the moniker Angelica, Lillian was one of the most sought-after artists' models in New York City, with statues based on her figure gracing landmarks from the Plaza Hotel to the Brooklyn Bridge. But with her mother gone, a grieving Lillian is rudderless and desperate—the work has dried up and a looming scandal has left her entirely without a safe haven. So when she stumbles upon an employment opportunity at the Frick mansion—a building that, ironically, bears her own visage—Lillian jumps at the chance. But the longer she works as a private secretary to the imperious and demanding Helen Frick, the daughter and heiress of industrialist and art patron Henry Clay Frick, the more deeply her life gets intertwined with that of the family—pulling her into a tangled web of romantic trysts, stolen jewels, and family drama that runs so deep, the stakes just may be life or death.

Nearly fifty years later, mod English model Veronica Weber has her own chance to make her career—and with it, earn the money she needs to support her family back home—within the walls of the former Frick residence, now converted into one of New York City's most impressive museums. But when she—along with a charming intern/budding art curator named Joshua—is dismissed from the Vogue shoot taking place at the Frick Collection, she chances upon a series of hidden messages in the museum: messages that will lead her and Joshua on a hunt that could not only solve Veronica's financial woes but could finally reveal the truth behind a decades-old murder in the infamous Frick family.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Magnolia-Palace-Novel-Fiona-Davis-ebook/dp/B093GB94J3

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-magnolia-palace-fiona-davis/1139361231

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-magnolia-palace

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Fiona_Davis_The_Magnolia_Palace?id=XyYrEAAAQBAJ

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57891877-the-magnolia-palace

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-magnolia-palace-by-fiona-davis

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of The Magnolia Palace. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this novel, and nothing has influenced my rating and opinion.

 

The Magnolia Palace is set-in two-time periods, 1919 and 1966 at the Frick Mansion in New York City. It follows several women, and several characters are based on individuals who were park of the Frick family. The pacing is decent, but it speeds up dramatically in the last half of the book. Ms. Davis has clearly done a great deal of research of the time-period and of the Frick family, making the novel an excellent read.

 

In 1919, Lillian Carter, AKA Angelica. She is the primary character, along with Helen Frick. She stubbles into the role of secretary for this woman and Lillian becomes a pawn between Helen and her father, Henry Clay Frick. Lillian’s tale is a sad one and I had empathy for her.

 

In 1966, a young model is at a photo shoot in the Frick mansion and accidentally gets locked in, along with Joshua Lawrence, an intern for the Frick mansion. I enjoyed the scavenger hunt the two undertake and liked both characters. While there is definitely an attraction between these two, the story is centered on the mystery of the scavenger hunt.

 

Ms. Davis handles the transition from one time-period to the other seamlessly without confusing the reader. Her descriptive writing adds a great deal to the overall enjoyment. She also manages to tie up the significant sub-plots. I would have enjoyed finding out more about Lillian’s escape from the Frick mansion and how the organist helped her.

 

If you enjoy historical fiction filled with individuals who lived in the era it covers, along with a fascinating mystery to solve, then you will love The Magnolia Palace as much as I did. I’m so glad I agreed to read this excellent novel. This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Davis and look forward to reading others by her. Happy reading!

 

 

Author Bio:

 

FIONA DAVIS is the New York Times bestselling author of six historical fiction novels set in iconic New York City buildings, including THE MAGNOLIA PALACE, THE ADDRESS, and THE LIONS OF FIFTH AVENUE, which was a Good Morning America book club pick. Her novels have been chosen as “One Book, One Community” reads and her articles have appeared in publications like The Wall Street Journal and the Oprah magazine. She first came to New York as an actress, but fell in love with writing after getting a master's degree at Columbia Journalism School. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages and she's based in New York City.

 

Social Media:

Website: https://www.fionadavisbooks.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FionaDavisAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FionaDavisBooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fionadavisauthor/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/fiona-davis

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14903705.Fiona_Davis

 

Book Review with Featured Author: Warsaw Fury by Michael Reit

Warsaw Fury by Michael Reit

 

Publisher & Release: Independently published, October 8, 2021

Setting:  WWII Poland

Genre: Historical Fiction

Length: 431 Pages

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Warsaw, 1939
We mustn't let darkness win.

Natan Borkowski has it all. In line to take over the successful family business, his future is set.

Julia Horowitz lives in poverty. The daughter of a shoemaker, she dreams of a different life—a different world.

Everything changes when Hitler’s armies invade Poland. Natan’s future is ripped away by the flick of a switch of a Luftwaffe pilot. When the smoke clears, Julia and her family find themselves locked within the walls of the newly-formed Jewish ghetto.

On opposite sides of the wall, Natan and Julia’s lives are not so different anymore. As the Nazis unleash a reign of hunger, terror, and death across the city, they must now decide what’s more terrifying:

To die on their knees, or go down fighting?

Based on true events, Warsaw Fury is a story of love, courage, and resilience in the face of unimaginable evil.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Warsaw-Fury-Polish-Resistance-Events-ebook/dp/B099YG9ZLJ

 

FREE on Kindle Unlimited

 

Add to Goodreads

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58883860-warsaw-fury

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of Warsaw Fury by Michael Reit. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this heart-wrenching novel prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

Warsaw Fury is a riveting novel set in Poland during the WWII. The characters are compelling and the plot enthralling. The pacing pulled me into the story from the first and I stayed enmeshed until the last. 

 

Natan Borkowski is the male protagonist, and he’s a careless seventeen-year-old at the start of the book. He is more concerned with sports than working at his father’s business. As the plot unfolds, Natan faces horrific losses and must grow up fast. His character development is amazing and enriched the story.

 

Julia Horowitz is the female protagonist, and she’s determined to rise above the limits for women to keep them from finding success in what has always been a man’s occupation. Her eyes are opened to what she’ll face if she wants to become an attorney. All that turns to ash when Germany invades Poland, and she and her family are herded into the Jewish ghetto. She too must grow up fast to survive. When her family disappears with no warning, I could feel the devastation that tears through her when she returns home to find them gone. 

 

I enjoyed the growing comradeship between Natan and Julia and loved watching as it turns into an abiding love. They are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for each other if it comes to that. Although there are so many issues to keep them apart, I wanted them to find a way to make it work.

 

The horror of what they go through is visceral and sent chills through me. I became Julia as she leads the children through the sewer. The author shows Natan’s bravery as he fights for his life against the German soldier. I loved his astonishment when he survives the attack and why.

 

If you enjoy historical fiction with complex character, and a plot that will keep you captivated, then you will love Warsaw Fury as much as I did. This is the first book I’ve read by Mr. Reit, and I plan to read his other book soon. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

Michael Reit is an independently-published author. That means he likes to do everything himself, but he doesn't identify as a control freak. An avid fan of history and historical fiction, and intrigued by WWII, Michael spent years researching lesser-known events, locations, and people to produce his debut novel Beyond the Tracks. He's currently working on his next novel on the Polish Home Army, one of the largest resistance networks in Europe during World War II. Born in the Netherlands, he now lives in beautiful Vienna, Austria, with his partner Esther, daughter Bibi, and Hungarian Vizsla Maggie. 

 

Social Media:

Website: http://michaelreit.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelreit

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichaelReit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelreit/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/michael-reit

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20489852.Michael_Reit

 

Book Review with Featured Author: The Secrets of Latimer House by Jules Wake

The Secrets of Latimer House 

by Jules Wake

 

Publisher & Release: One More Chapter, Harper Collins, August 30, 2021

Setting:  WWII 1943, England

Genre: Historical Fiction

Length:  Full Length

Rating: 3.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

In the war against Hitler every secret counts…

 

Society heiress Evelyn Brooke-Edwards is a skilled interrogator – her beauty making her a non-threat in the eyes of the prisoners.

Farm girl Betty Connors may not be able to type as she claimed, but her crack analytical skills soon find her unearthing covert connections.

German ex-pat Judith Stern never expected to find herself listening in to German POW’s whispered conversations, but the Nazis took her father from her so she will do whatever it takes to help the Allies end this war.

Billeted together in the attic of Latimer House – a place where secrets abound – Evelyn, Betty and Judith soon form a bond of friendship that carries them through the war. Because nothing is stronger than women united.

Tucked away in the Buckinghamshire countryside, Latimer House, a grand country estate, stands proudly – a witness to some of greatest secrets of WW2.

Used by the SOE to hold Nazi prisoners of war, this stunning historical novel is inspired by the untold story of the secret listeners of ‘M Room’ who worked day and night to help the Allies win the war. A must-read for fans of Dinah Jefferies, Fiona Valpy, Elaine Everest, Jean Fullerton and Deborah Burrowes.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Secrets-Latimer-House-gripping-historical-ebook/dp/B093D2DCJ7

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-secrets-of-latimer-house-jules-wake/1139348297

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-secrets-of-latimer-house

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Jules_Wake_The_Secrets_of_Latimer_House?id=qAkrEAAAQBAJ

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Secrets-of-Latimer-House-Audiobook/B09DGNX2PW?qid=1630325006&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=GV9V35GFCMG55SX1864Y

 

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58181149-the-secrets-of-latimer-house

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-secrets-of-latimer-house-by-jules-wake

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of The Secrets of Latimer House by Jules Wake. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this novel prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

The Secrets of Latimer House is a well written novel, and the central theme is based in part on a true historical fact regarding the “M Room”, and I enjoyed that. However, the execution of this was a bit superficial. The basis of the story is the friendship between three young women and how the war affected them with a great deal of emphasis on their love life.

 

Whenever multiple characters are primary, the depth of them is less than what is found in most novels, whether they are historical fiction or romance. It becomes a bit convoluted to follow multiple characters. It helped that the three women come from vastly different backgrounds.

 

While I enjoyed the romantic elements involving the three women, there wasn’t as much heart pounding action I’ve come to expect in most of the WWII novels I read, and I’ve read quite a few of them this year.

 

If you enjoy historical fiction set during WWII with engaging characters and an interesting plot, then you will like The Secrets of Latimer House. This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Wake, and from what I can tell, her other works are romances, which explains why this novel leans heavily on that aspect of the story. I love romance, but the book description is a bit misleading since it focuses on the women and their work at Latimer House. Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable read, and I will check out the author’s other books. Several of the book descriptions sound delightful. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

Jules Wake's earliest known declaration that she planned to be a writer came at the age of ten. Along the way she was diverted by the glamorous world of PR and worked on many luxury brands, taking journalists on press trips to awful places like Turin, Milan, Geneva, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam and occasionally losing the odd member of the press in an airport. It gave her the opportunity to eat amazing food, drink free alcohol as well as providing opportunities to hone her writing skills on press releases and to research European cities for her books.

Eventually the voices in her head persuaded her it was time to sit down and write the novel she'd always talked about. Her debut novel in 2014, was quickly followed by the bestselling From Italy With Love, published by One More Chapter, HarperCollins, which reached number 1 in the Amazon Kindle charts. 

 

Social Media:

Website: http://juleswake.co.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jules.wake

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Juleswake

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juleswakeauthor/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/juleswake/_saved/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jules-wake

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7289627.Jules_Wake

 

Book Review with Featured Author: I'll Be Seeing You by Rosie Archer

I’ll be Seeing You by Rosie Archer

 

Publisher & Release: Quercus Publishing, 08.05,2021

Setting: WWII, England 

Genre: Historical Fiction

Length: 352 Pages

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

A World War 2 saga to warm the heart. Three women become friends when working in their local picture house. When life is so tough for everyone, a trip to the pictures is the perfect way to escape, to dream of romance and hope for the good things peace will bring.

It is 1943 on England's war-weary south coast where the conflict seems never-ending. After the heartache of the previous year, Connie Baxter now appears to have everything a girl could want. There is Ace, a man who loves her. She enjoys an enviable lifestyle despite the deprivations of war. She has friends and a job she adores as an usherette at the Criterion cinema. But appearances can be deceptive and Connie is struggling in more ways than one.

Then, to compound Connie's problem, her nemesis, Cousin Marlene, returns home. Secrets come to light, revealing jealousies that could shatter Connie's world once more, and Connie realizes that Ace isn't the man she thought he was. 

In the darkest days of war, the glamour of movies and their stars can lift the bleakest of moods, while friends make the good times better and the bad times bearable.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Ill-Be-Seeing-You-nostalgia-ebook/dp/B08X4B1ZMG

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ill-be-seeing-you-rosie-archer/1138875872

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/i-ll-be-seeing-you-32

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Rosie_Archer_I_ll_Be_Seeing_You?id=jGAfEAAAQBAJ

 

Add to Goodreads:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57176353-i-ll-be-seeing-you?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=l4acs8Z7G3&rank=1

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of I’ll be Seeing You by Rosie Archer. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this novel. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

I’ll be Seeing You is a well written historical novel with engaging characters and an enthralling plot. The pacing pulled me into the story from the beginning and kept me enmeshed until the end. I enjoyed the history of cinema during WWII. I can vaguely remember going to the movies as a very young child, watching the organ rising from below, the cartoons, and news reels playing on the big screen. 

 

Connie Baxter is the main protagonist, and I enjoyed her character a great deal. She has a bit of a whimsical side, especially at the start. She shows a great deal of growth, giving her more depth. She’s a loyal, willing to help her friend, Queenie, deal with grave life decisions. I also loved her relationship with her aunt.

 

Ace, the man in her life is not the hero in this tale. I found him a fascinating character, even though he’s not really a good man. Ace does have a great deal of kindness, so it’s hard to not develop a soft spot for him.

 

What I liked the most about this story was that it shows how ordinary people deal with the horrors of war. It shows how life goes on, even when the world is falling apart. While the moral compass in these characters is not stellar, their flaws make the plot believable.

 

If you enjoy historical fiction with a fantastic array of characters, and a plot that takes you back to a different time than you have lived, then you will enjoy I’ll be Seeing You as much as I did. Rosie Archer adds plenty of tidbits of what it must have been like to live during WWII. Happy reading!

 

 

Author Bio:

 

Rosie Archer was born in Gosport, Hampshire, where she still lives. She has had a variety of jobs including waitress, fruit picker, barmaid, shop assistant and market trader selling second-hand books. Rosie is the author of several Second World War sagas set on the south coast of England, as well as a series of gangster sagas under the name June Hampson. 

 

Social Media:

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rosie-archer

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12334146.Rosie_Archer