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 Liar's Child by Sheryl Browne

The Liar’s Child by Sheryl Browne

 

Publisher & Release: Bookouture, September 21, 2021

Setting:  Worcester, England

Genre: Psychological Fiction

Length: 359 Pages

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

I’ll do anything to protect my daughter…

When I pick my beloved daughter Poppy up from school one afternoon, my mind races when I see the little girl holding Poppy’s hand. With the same heart-shaped face, long brown hair and dark eyes, the two girls look identical. In fact, they look like sisters.

Is the secret I’ve been holding on to for so long about to be revealed? 

That night, I cuddle Poppy even harder, desperately trying to decide what to do. And then my husband’s phone vibrates. A message. And then another. And another. All from a number I don’t recognise.

Is someone going to tell my husband what I did? Could I be about to lose everything I have worked so hard to protect?

But I’ve spent so long hiding the truth, I never stopped to wonder if I was the only liar in the family… The only thing I’m sure of is that nobody is going to take my child away from me.

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Liars-Child-gripping-nail-biting-psychological-ebook/dp/B09BB9MZFM

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-liars-child-sheryl-browne/1139987775

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-liar-s-child-2

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sheryl_Browne_The_Liar_s_Child?id=LTs6EAAAQBAJ

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Liars-Child-Audiobook/B09FQF1DFB?qid=1631456218&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=05D30CRJ8FBAMKRFR6ZS

 

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58658132-the-liar-s-child

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-liar-s-child-a-totally-gripping-and-nail-biting-psychological-thriller-by-sheryl-browne

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of The Liar’s Child by Sheryl Browne. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this novel prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

The Liar’s Child is a novel with plenty of twists and turns which leads to a climax full of surprises. The plot is enhanced by the complex relationships between the characters makes this an intriguing tale. The pacing pulled me from the start and kept me enthralled to the end. This was a very hard book to put down.

 

Kay Young is the primary protagonist, and her immense love for her sick daughter had me rooting for her right away. She feels a deep abiding love for her husband, but as events play out, her conviction in that love is shaken. I could feel her pain and confusion that what seems to be true goes against all that she thought she knew about her him. Then add in a recurring dream plaguing her, no wonder she’s frightened and confused. It’s the last thing she needs on top of her fears for her child’s life.

 

Matt is the primary male protagonist, and he’s as confused as his wife. Mad with fear for their daughter and the suspicion regarding his brother and what might have happened between Kay and Jason at a wedding they attended years before, it’s no surprise he feels like his life is falling apart.

 

What starts as an unshakeable love for each other, turns into a marriage falling apart. Each are being played by a woman using a different name. Kay knows her as Amanda, a student in her class at the college where she teaches, and Matt, a doctor specializing in neonatal medicine, believes she’s a nurse at the hospital named Rachel. There’s some astonishing gaslighting going on in this tale of woe.

 

Next, Kay meets the little girl who has become her daughter’s best friend. Olivia is a mirror image of Poppy! Knowing this was only possible if the girls shared the same father. This has her questioning her husband’s fidelity. Never in a million years would she have imagined Matt would be unfaithful and possibly abandoned his own child.

 

If you enjoy a story that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat, waiting to find out how all the parts fit together, then you will love The Liar’s Child as much as I did. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read this book. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

Bestselling Author, Sheryl Browne, writes taut, twisty psychological thriller. A member of the Crime Writers’ Association and the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Sheryl has several books published and two short stories in Birmingham City University anthologies where she completed her MA in Creative Writing. Sheryl has also obtained a Certificate of Achievement in Forensic Science and – according to readers – she makes an excellent psychopath. Sheryl’s latest psychological thriller THE LIAR'S CHILD comes to you from fabulous BOOKOUTURE. Her previous works include eight previous psychological thrillers, all with Bookouture, and the DI Matthew Adams Crime Thriller series, along with contemporary fiction novels, The Rest of My Life and Learning to Love published by ChocLit.

Sheryl lives in Worcestershire UK with her husband and her rescue dogs, Brie and Pablo. She expects her family to grow, however. imminent arrivals being other rescue dogs with disabilities who need that extra special bit of love and care.

 

Social Media:

Website: https://sherylbrowne.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SherylBrowne.Author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SherylBrowne

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheryl.browne/

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sheryl-browne

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5456781.Sheryl_Browne

 

Book Review with Featured Author: The Dishonored Viscount by Sophie Barnes

The dishonored Viscount 

by Sophie Barnes

 

Publisher & Release: Independently Published, September 21, 2021

Setting:  Regency England

Genre: Historical Romance

Length: 246 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

He knows he doesn’t deserve her, yet he can’t get her out of his mind…

Stripped of his title because of a crime his father committed, Marcus Berkly has struggled to find a new place for himself in the world. Now, as London’s most skilled eye-surgeon, he dedicates his time to his patients while steering clear of Society. Until a chance encounter with a determined young woman upends his life.

When Lady Louise discovers that Mr. Berkly’s surgical method could save her from permanent blindness, she decides to enlist his help. Against her father’s direct orders, she takes charge of her fate, and falls desperately in love in the process. But can a proper lady and an ill-reputed scoundrel have a future together? Or are the odds against them simply too great?

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Dishonored-Viscount-Diamonds-Rough-ebook/dp/B08SGLVWRH

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dishonored-viscount-sophie-barnes/1138584099

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-dishonored-viscount

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sophie_Barnes_The_Dishonored_Viscount?id=ZegrEAAAQBAJ

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56612193-the-dishonored-viscount

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-dishonored-viscount-diamonds-in-the-rough-8-by-sophie-barnes

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

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

 

The Dishonored Viscount is a well written novel with compelling characters and an absorbing plot. The pacing pulled me in from the first page to the last. The unique aspects of this story kept me reading to find out how it would resolve.

 

Lady Louise is the heroine, and she captured my heart right away. She had such a heavy burden to bear that could have crippled her, but her bravery makes her strong as she faces the possibility of losing her sight forever. 

 

Her difficult relationship with her parents adds to her fears, but her courage and determination to circumvent her father’s control is amazing. As the attraction for the hero grows while she recovers from her surgery, they get to know each other, and  her growing affection for Marcus frightens her, but she is unable to fight it.

 

Marcus Berkly is the hero, and he’s such as amazing character. He has fought to find a place of respect, after living under his father’s scandal. At last, his skill as an eye surgeon has brought him acclaim, and he devotes his time to caring for his patients. I admired his determination, his humility, and his integrity. After the shadow he’s lived under, he’s amazingly resilient.

 

As he gets to know Lady Louise, he realizes his affections are growing into love, and believing he’s too far below her, he fights his attraction by trying to stay away from her. Ms. Barnes shows his frustration and heartache at never being enough, and his unwarranted believe he’s unworthy of Lady Louise is so sad, it brought tears to my eyes. 

 

The romance between Lady Louise and Marcus develops slowly as both characters fight their growing attraction. I could feel their despair, each believing their love unrequited. They are so perfect for each other, and I wanted them to find a way for their love to flourish against the odds stacked against them.

 

If you enjoy historical romance with more substance and depth than others in this genre, then you will love The Dishonored Viscount as much as I did. Ms. Barnes’ novel are always compelling love stories with characters that will touch one’s heart. I’m so glad I had an opportunity to read this intriguing novel. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

Born in Denmark, Sophie has spent her youth traveling with her parents to wonderful places all around the world. She’s lived in five different countries, on three different continents, and speaks Danish, English, French, Spanish and Romanian.

She has studied design in Paris and New York and has a bachelor’s degree from Parson’s School of design, but most impressive of all – she’s been married to the same man three times, in three different countries and in three different dresses.

While living in Africa, Sophie turned to her lifelong passion – writing.

When she’s not busy, dreaming up her next romance novel, Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, swimming, cooking, gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading. She currently lives on the East Coast.

 

Social Media:

Website: https://www.sophiebarnes.com/sb/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarnesSophie

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

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

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sophie-barnes

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5400052.Sophie_Barnes

 

Book Review with Featured Author: When a Duke Loves a Governess by Olivia Drake

When a Duke Loves a Governess 

by Olivia Drake

 

 

Publisher & Release: St. Martin’s Press, July 27, 2021

Setting:  Regency England

Genre: Historical Romance

Length: 318 Pages

Heat Level: 1 Flame

Rating:  Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

A stunning new Regency from beloved author Olivia Drake, When a Duke Loves a Governess...!

Tessa James has worked and planned tirelessly to open her own millinery shop. All she needs now is a loan from the lord who sired and abandoned her. The only problem is, she doesn’t even know his name. What’s a woman to do to find him but enter the aristocratic world by becoming a governess?

Guy Whitby, the new Duke of Carlin, has returned to London after years abroad to discover that his young daughter Sophy has become a wild-child known for scaring away every governess who's crossed his doorstep. When Tessa James applies for the job, he hires her in desperation despite his misgivings that she’s too bold and beautiful–and that she might be fibbing about her qualifications.

Their blooming attraction leads them on a completely unexpected path to love that neither wants to deny. But when an old enemy threatens Guy's family, their forbidden romance goes up in flames. Can they still learn to love and trust each other as forces try to tear them apart?

 

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/When-Duke-Loves-Governess-Duchesses-ebook/dp/B08HKXFK8B

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-a-duke-loves-a-governess-olivia-drake/1136846551

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/when-a-duke-loves-a-governess

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Olivia_Drake_When_a_Duke_Loves_a_Governess?id=xHb7DwAAQBAJ

Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?keywords=when+a+duke+loves+a+governess&ref=a_pd_The-Co_t1_header_search

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55528862-when-a-duke-loves-a-governess

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/when-a-duke-loves-a-governess-by-olivia-drake

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of When a Duke Loves a Governess by Olivia Drake. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this delightful Regency romance. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

When a Duke Loves a Governess is a well-written novel with a touch of mystery as the heroine sets out to discover who was her biological father. When her mother died, she gave Tessa a locket with a coat of arms on it. That’s her only clue, along with the last words her mother uttered, she has. The pacing pulled me in from the beginning and kept me engaged until the end. 

 

Tessa James is our endearing heroine. While life has not been easy for her since she lost her mother at the age of six, she’s determined to succeed in her endeavor to open her own hat shop. All she needs a loan from whoever fathered her. It’s the least he could do. I admired Tessa’s independent spirit a great deal, and her kindness with the hero’s troubled four year old daughter.

 

Guy Whitby, the Duke of Carlin is the male lead, and he has all the traits I most admire in a Regency hero. His love for his mischievous daughter touched my heart. When he realizes he’s attracted to Tessa, he fights it, since his honor would not allow him to act on it. Of course, when Tessa takes matters in hand, his will didn’t stand a chance against his powerful attraction.

 

The romance is charming, and Ms. Drake is excellent at building sexual tension, an aspect of historical romance I love. Her love scenes are beautifully written focusing on the emotions instead of the physical action, which is my preference. It was easy for me to believe and accept that Tessa and Guy are a perfect match, and I wanted them to find their happy ending.

 

As I mentioned, there is a touch of mystery in this tale, and it added a great deal to my enjoyment, keeping my attention throughout their love story. There is also some suspense to add to my pleasure as well.

 

If you enjoy historical romance with engaging characters and a plot with more substance than the average Regency novel, then you will love When a Duke Loves a Governess as much as I did. It’s been a while since I read a book by Ms. Drake, but I quickly remembered why I have always enjoyed her novels. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

Shortly after graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in journalism, Olivia Drake sold her first novel two weeks after sending it to a publisher. She now lives in Texas in a cozy cottage with a feisty cat, a loving husband, and two wonderful daughters who still come back whenever they want a home-cooked meal.

Many of you already know Olivia as Barbara Dawson Smith, author of 24 historical romance novels. She is a New York Times bestseller and winner of numerous honors, including the Golden Heart Award and the coveted Rita Award for excellence in the historical romance genre.

Social Media:

Website: https://oliviadrake.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/oliviadrake1

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/olivia-drake

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3052165.Olivia_Drake

 

Book Review with Featured Author: The Mothers of Victory Street by Pam Howes

The Mothers of Victory Street 

by Pam Howes

 

Publisher & Release: Bookouture, July 23, 2021

Setting:  Aftermath of WWII, England

Genre: Historical Fiction

Length: 203 Pages

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

1946, Liverpool. Bella Harrison cannot believe the devastating war that stole the lives of her father and sister is truly over at last. She wonders how they will ever rebuild Victory Street with the city in ruins, and half their neighbours gone. But for now, she and her childhood sweetheart Bobby are happy newlyweds, doting on Bella’s little son, her child with black American pilot, Earl Franklin Junior.

With the other members of Bella’s wartime singing trio, The Bryant Sisters, busy starting families of their own, Bella focuses on recording and writing songs with her husband. Everything seems to be falling into place until they get a surprising letter: Earl is moving to England and wants to see them.

Earl arrives and is delighted to see that his son is well and happy. He joins them as a singer and together, they start recording songs. But one night as Earl leaves the recording studio, a racist gang brutally attacks him and sets the place alight, leaving Bobby trapped inside. Meanwhile, Bella is at home, waiting to tell Bobby a devastating secret…

With peace in Liverpool at last, Bella had hoped for a brighter future. But as she faces her life being ripped apart once again, can she rediscover the strength that carried her through the war?

A totally unputdownable, heart-wrenching historical novel, packed with family secrets, perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Diney Costeloe and Nancy Revell.

 

 

Buy Link:

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Mothers-Victory-Street-absolutely-heartbreaking-ebook/dp/B093HJ9J95

 

FREE on Kindle Unlimited

 

Goodreads & BookBub:

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57975845-the-mothers-of-victory-street?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=6DBRIihvi1&rank=1

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-mothers-of-victory-street-an-absolutely-heartbreaking-historical-family-saga-the-bryant-sisters-book-3-by-pam-howes

 

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thank go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of The Mothers of Victory Street by Pam Howes. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this book prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

 

The Mothers of Victory Street is a well written novel with amazing characters and an emotionally charged plot. The pacing pulled me in from the beginning and kept me riveted until the end. Ms. Howes kept me on the edge of my seat worried about what might happen next.

 

Bella Harrison has married her childhood sweetheart, Bobby, and together, they’re raising her little son, Levi. She is still close to Fran and Edie as the Bryant Sisters move beyond the war now that it’s ended. Fran’s dreams of a happy life with Frankie had not gone as she expected, and she leaves him and files for divorce. Edie and Stevie are happy awaiting the birth of their first child.

 

Bobby’s mum even finds love with Basil. Then divorced Earl Franklin Jr., his daughter and his sister Ruby move to England. This created anxiety for Bella and Bobby, but it goes much better than they had feared, and Earl joins them in their musical endeavors.

 

Just when they believe life is going well, things take a terrible turn. There is such a foreshadowing of what might happen, I held my breath, praying everyone would survive. It takes great talent for an author to keep the tension going without it becoming frustrating!

 

If you enjoy historical fiction with wonderful characters, and a plot that will pull at your heartstrings, then you will love The Mothers of the Victory Street as much as I did. Ms. Howes is fast becoming an auto-buy author for me. Happy reading!

 

 

Author Bio:

 

Pam Howes was born in Cheshire. She is an ex-Interior Designer who began writing seriously in the mid-nineties. The idea for her first novel, set in the sixties, was inspired by her time as a teenager, working in a local record store and hanging around with musicians who frequented the business. 

 

That first novel evolved into a series set in the fictional town of Pickford, based on her hometown of Stockport. Three Steps to Heaven; 'Til I Kissed You; Always On My Mind; Not Fade Away, and That'll Be The Day, follow the lives and loves through the decades of fictional Rock'n'Roll band The Raiders. Pam is a big fan of sixties music and it's this love that compelled her to write the series. 

 

A stand-alone true-life romance, Fast Movin' Train, set in the nineties, was published in early 2012. Pam is mum to three adult daughters, grandma to seven assorted grandchildren, and roadie to one musician partner.

 

Social Media:

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BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/pam-howes

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4097443.Pam_Howes