Author: Amanda Cabot

Series: Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing #1

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: March 21, 2023

Amanda Cabot takes her readers on a journey as she transports them to the Texas Hill Country in the late 1800’s on a wonderfully delightful novel.

When her husband is killed in a bar fight, Emily Leland has no sorrow. Her husband was abusive and with no husband she heads home to Sweetwater Crossing, Texas. Going home is not as easy as she expects; her father has mysteriously passed away and she has no home to return to. After a fight with her sister, she is left alone and with no money. With a broken heart and the mystery of her father’s death, Emily turns to the aid of Craig Ferguson, the schoolmaster that is widowed and the only one willing to help her.

Amanda Cabot always finds a way to thrill me with her writing. She has a way of writing historical romance where I feel pulled into a different time and place seeing myself right alongside these characters and the struggles they face. I’m from Texas so seeing a story set in the hill country close to me was fun and very engaging. Emily is a strong female protagonist even with all she has had to suffer through, and I found myself rooting for her to find love and succeed. All great stories have that one moment that feels different from the rest and this story had that with a few chapters left. I recommend this book to fans of Cabot’s writing and those that love historical romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Author: Stephanie Landsem

Publisher: Tyndale House

Release Date: March 7, 2023

Landsem connects the darkness of the rise of the Nazi party on home turf in the USA.

During the summer of 1933, Germany has just named the new chancellor, Adolf Hitler.  The Great Depression has been affecting people across the globe and the United States has felt its effects.  In the film industry in California, people are losing their jobs, but there is also growing tension between Germany and the film industry due to several of the studio owners being Jews.  Liesl Weiss loses her job as a secretary and finds herself begging an unknown stranger, Leon Lewis, for a job.  She discovers that he is a Jewish lawyer who has been watching the change of tides as Germany’s new Nazi party has come into power.  He asks Liesl to take a job as a spy with the Friends of New Germany group and report to him what she discovers using her new code name, Edelweiss.  As she places herself and her family in danger, the information is too dangerous to ignore, and she knows that she must stand for what is right.

This is my first book by Landsem and as someone who loves this era of fiction, it will definitely not be my last.  She quickly pulled in my attention with the Liesl’s story and that of some of her counterpart spies with what was happening in the Los Angeles area during the 1930s.  I’ve always heard that not much emphasis was put on the war until after Pearl Harbor, but discovering this was based on a true story with sleeper Nazi Germany cells throughout the United States was really unnerving.  The character development was great and I would love to see more come out of this story in the future!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Author: Sarah Sundin

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: February 7, 2023

Sundin does it yet again with a fantastic story that brings little known parts of World War II history to light!

As the Germans march into Denmark, not a single shot is fired in opposition.  But those that have opposing views of the Germans know they must get out before it’s too late.  Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt uses his rowing skills to row his friend Svend to neutral Sweden before the Germans can arrest him.  Henrik is propositioned with an opportunity to work against the Germans, but to do so will require him to give up his life of nobility and his identity.

Dr. Else Jensen was ecstatic when she received the opportunity to work alongside Niels Bohr at is institute.  But when the German occupation begins, she hears rumors of the atrocities committed against Jewish people and those who oppose their views.  She hears stories of a legend known as the Havmand, or merman, who swims the sound between Denmark and Sweden to cause disruption and chaos to the Germans.  Can Else be as brave as the Havmand and do her part to thwart those causing suffering?

As I’ve come to expect, Sarah Sundin delivers yet another fantastic story set within World War II.  This time she has chosen the setting of Copenhagen, Denmark and shines light on its occupation by the Germans.  I love how she manages to find the local stories and legends during wartime and bring those to life for her readers.  I love the story between Henrik and Else and how they had to overcome personal obstacles to become the people they needed to be.  There is an underlying tone of forgiveness throughout this book, especially for Henrik and when he had to overcome to forgive those of his past. 

For the first time (at least that I’ve noticed), there are some common characters from other books that make an appearance.  You’ll have to hunt to find them, but I hope that there might be more there in the future!  Great story!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions expressed within are my own.