When Tides Turn by Sarah Sundin

Reviewed by Martha Artyomenko

About the book:

Tess Beaumont is tired of being thought of as just a pretty face. Eager to do her part for the war effort, she joins the Navy’s newly established WAVES program for women. Perhaps there she can convince people that there is more to her than meets the eye.

Lt. Dan Avery has been using his skills in the fight against German U-boats and hoping to make admiral. The last thing he wants to see on his radar is a girl like Tess. Convinced that romance will interfere with his goals, Dan is determined to stay the course, no matter how intriguing a distraction Tess is.

But love, like war, is unpredictable. When Dan is shipped out at the peak of the Battle of the Atlantic, he finds himself torn between his lifelong career goals and his desire to help the beguiling Tess root out a possible spy on shore. Could this fun-loving glamour girl really be the one?

 

My Review:

From the name change to hating her looks, Tess seemed like she had something to prove. Dan Avery has his own insecurities, yet for both of them they try to cover it up well.

This is one thing that I love about Sarah Sundin’s books. Her characters are strong, smart, often beautiful/handsome and the like, but they are flawed. They are like normal people, but we get to see what they fear the most. Then top it off with a good spy ring, this book has it all.

I really enjoyed learning more about the WAVES and what the USA did on this end against the German U Boats. I always think there is nothing new to learn about WW2 history and then I am surprised! If you like WW2 history, pick this one up!

 

A Name Unknown by Roseanna White

Reviewed by Martha Artyomenko

 

Description

Edwardian Romance and History Gains a Twist of Suspense

Rosemary Gresham has no family beyond the band of former urchins that helped her survive as a girl in the mean streets of London. Grown now, they concentrate on stealing high-value items and have learned how to blend into upper-class society. But when Rosemary must determine whether a certain wealthy gentleman is loyal to Britain or to Germany, she is in for the challenge of a lifetime. How does one steal a family’s history, their very name?

Peter Holstein, given his family’s German blood, writes his popular series of adventure novels under a pen name. With European politics boiling and his own neighbors suspicious of him, Peter debates whether it might be best to change his name for good. When Rosemary shows up at his door pretending to be a historian and offering to help him trace his family history, his question might be answered.

But as the two work together and Rosemary sees his gracious reaction to his neighbors’ scornful attacks, she wonders if her assignment is going down the wrong path. Is it too late to help him prove that he’s more than his name?

My Review: 

I was not sure what to expect from this book and I found it started off a bit slow for me. But it did not stay that way for long. I found myself absorbed in the story of a thief attempting to basically infiltrate a life and lifestyle she did not know anything about.

Each twist and turn of the story, especially with a hero that stutters made this absolutely unique for me. I loved all the tidbits of history throughout, but the hero and heroine who had no focus on romance whatsoever, but you almost felt like it was a natural part of the story, but not the focus.

I would highly recommend this book, especially if you are stocking up on fall reads at the moment. Check this one out and put it on the “Must read” pile.

You can find this book for purchase from Amazon and other book sellers. “A Name Unknown” 

(This book was provided by NetGalley and Bethany House. The opinions are my own)

The Two of Us by Victoria Bylin

Reviewed by Martha Artyomenko

About the book:

Heartwarming and Touching New Contemporary Romance from Victoria Bylin

After two broken engagements, nurse practitioner Mia Robinson is done with dating. From now on, she only trusts herself and God, and she’s focused on her eighteen-year-old sister, Lucy, and caring for patients. Just as she applies to work for an international aid organization, a phone call from Lucy, who’s pregnant and running off to marry her twenty-one-year-old boyfriend, throws a wrench into all of Mia’s plans.

Jake Tanner may have recovered from the physical injuries he sustained on the job as a police officer, but his heart has yet to heal from losing his former partner in the tragedy. He’s poured himself into starting a camp for the sons of fallen officers and mentoring Sam, the adult son of his deceased partner, who’s asked him to be his best man at his wedding.

Mia is expecting a mess when she arrives to sort out the situation with Lucy, but she wasn’t expecting Jake. And Jake, who can’t help envying Sam and Lucy, doubts he’ll ever experience their happiness for himself. But maybe Jake’s courage and Mia’s caring spirit are just what they need to bring them a lifetime of healing and a forever kind of love. . . .

My Review:

PTSD, broken engagements, teen pregnancy, wounded warriors and hurt people, hurting other people seemed to be the theme of this novel. It was done very well.

The only complaint I would have was the childbirth scene needed a bit more research. But other than that, this was an amazing contemporary novel that handled the issues very well. I found the twists with the F-NP to really fun to see a different career path as well as the detective with hearing loss as the hero.

This book was given to me for review by Netgalley and the opinions contained herein are my own.

This can be preordered on Amazon right now! “The Two of Us”

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With you Always by Jody Hedlund

 

Reviewed by Martha Artyomenko

About the book:

One of the many immigrants struggling to survive in 1850s New York, Elise Neumann knows she must take action to care for her younger sisters. She finds a glimmer of hope when the New York Children’s Aid Society starts sending skilled workers to burgeoning towns out west. But the promise of the society’s orphan trains is not all that it seems.

Born into elite New York society, Thornton Quincy possesses everything except the ability to step out from his brother’s shadow. When their ailing father puts forth a unique challenge to determine who will inherit his railroad-building empire, Thornton finally sees his chance. The conditions to win? Be the first to build a sustainable community along the Illinois Central Railroad and find a suitable wife.

Thrown together against all odds, Elise and Thornton couldn’t be from more different worlds. The spark that ignites between them is undeniable, but how can they let it grow when that means forfeiting everything they’ve been working toward?

 

My Review: 

This was not exactly what I expected from an Orphan train read as it was not your typical story. Or maybe it was, and I have read ones that are not like this before.

One thing that made me very sad, was seeing how the country has not changed in their actions in treating immigrants, the poor and orphans.  This tale brings to life the hardships that were facing the young people of this time and their desperation. Women were seen as a cheap commodity rather than what they were really valued for. The other sad reality in this book, was parents that manipulate their children with money. So, with those factors being a part of this historical novel, you get a happy ending, which many people in that time did not get,  but after much pain and suffering which was reality.

I really liked this book overall. I could see that some people might not like certain pieces of it, but it was real life and it was not pretty. But for that reason, likely recommend for high school age and adult.

If you want a good historical book to read, pick this one up.

This book was given to me by Bethany House for review. The opinions contained herein are my own.

To purchase, it is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.  “With you Always”

 

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