Lady Flyer | October Book Club

LADY FLYER

October is a slowing month. It lounges between the frantic back-to-school pace of September and the bring-on-the-holidays race of November. October is for taking the time to rest, reflect, and ready oneself for winter. For that reason, it’s a very good time to pick up a book!

“Lady Flyer” by Heather B. Moore, is the the book I recommend. It’s got some heft to it, so pull on your cozy sweater, grab a cup of tea, and curl up in your favorite book nook, you’ll be here a while.

Based on a true story and set against the backdrop of WWII, a young woman’s love of flying becomes an epic fight for identity and equality.

“In the quiet town of Houghton, Michigan, sixteen-year-old Nancy Harkness discovers a passion that ignites her heart in ways she never expected. The arrival of barnstormer pilots brings more than just the thrill of their daring stunts; it brings the promise of adventure. Nancy vows she will be a pilot someday.

Years later, as the dark clouds of World War II gather on the horizon, Nancy’s dreams take a new and daring turn. With unwavering determination, she envisions a squadron of female pilots. Yet, her path is far from clear. The male-dominated world of aviation pushes back, determined to keep women out of the skies.

But Nancy isn’t alone in her quest for equality. Jackie Cochran, a formidable aviatrix and Nancy’s rival, has her own dreams and ambitions for women in aviation. As they both navigate the turbulent skies of a nation at war, their destinies intertwine in a story of rivalry, respect, and competition.”

Author, Heather B. Moore is a USA Today best-selling and award-winning author of more than seventy publications, including The Paper Daughers of Chinatown and Under The Java Moon. She’s lived on both east and west coasts of the United States, as well as Hawaii, and attended school abroad, including the Cairo American College in Egypt and the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel. She loves to learn about anything in history and is passionate about historical research. That is evident in “Lady Flyer”.

Order your copy of LADY FLYER

The Light That Shines Forever | November Book Club

November brings shorter, darker days. We “fall back” an hour placing sunset, especially for those in Northern states, just after the last school bell rings, and before the time clock strikes 5. We rise in the dark, commute in the dark, and might feel like we’re living much of our lives underground like moles… searching for the light.

My November Book Club pick then, is perfect, “The Light That Shines Forever”, written and illustrated by David T. Warner.

It’s the inspiring, true story of Sir Nicholas Winton, who ingeniously rescued hundreds of children before Hitler’s invasion of Czechoslovakia.

“The shadow of war was spreading across Europe. Hitler’s armies had marched into the borderlands of Czechoslovakia, forcing Jewish families, among others, to flee their homes and seek refuge in any location that would accept them.

When Nicholas Winton, the son of Jewish-German immigrants, traveled from London to Czechoslovakia to help the refugee families huddled in tents in sprawling encampments, an ingenious plan began to formulate in his head. By special waiver, children could leave the country without their parents, as long as host families abroad took them in. As word of his plan spread, parents lined the hallways and staircases of Winton’s hotel, begging for help. If Nicholas could get their children out of the country safely, the families would find a way to join them. Three weeks later, when Winton returned to London, he carried with him the names and photographs of hundreds of children—even babies—entrusted to him by their parents.

With the assistance of his mother and a growing circle of helpers, Winton began recruiting host families, raising funds, and securing visas. For nine months, he arranged for children to travel by train and ferry to England. Then war was declared, and the Czech border closed.

Fifty years later, Nicholas’s wife, Grete, discovered a long-forgotten scrapbook in their attic containing the names and documentation of 669 children. It was the only record of her husband’s remarkable rescue efforts. What followed was a series of equally remarkable events that allowed this heroic story to be told and for millions to learn the fate of these rescued children, all on live television.”

The Light That Shines Forever is a beautifully illustrated picture book, with primary source documents and photographs, that brings to life a remarkable wartime rescue.

The forward is written by one of my favorite British actors, Sir David Suchet (Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot 13 seasons). In it, he states, “So often, relious beliefs, cultural backgrounds, historical traditions, and so forth, are excuses to divide ourselves from one another. But, like light itself, God’s love shines on all people, everywhere. And when we share that light by serving others—including with those who are different from us—the light of goodness has an infinite reach and influence.” This book’s lesson and message invite readers to ask the questions:

What light will we bring to others?
What stories will fill the scrapbooks of our lives?

It’s a marvelous book that will help to shine some light into the dark corners during this dimmed season. Pick up several copies to share, but make sure you keep one for yourself!

The Light That Shines Forever

The movie, starring Sir Anthony Hopkins is coming out next month!
WATCH THE TRAILER

The Opera Sisters | September Book Club

For much of history we didn’t hear a lot about heroic women. Thankfully that’s changing. Women have always been compelled to take tremendous risks for those they love and causes they are passionate about, and their stories are finally being told.

Like my book club pick for September, “The Opera Sisters” by Marianne Monson. Out September 6th!

It’s about the Cook sisters, British citizens who devote a large portion of their limited resources to the enjoyment of opera, often traveling throughout Europe to take in performances. Not the swashbuckling heroes we’re used to hearing of, but in 1930’s Europe the relationships they’ve built, and their established travel habits put them in a position to be of tremendous service - if they dare.

“Based on the true story of the Cook sisters, who smuggled valuables out of 1930s Nazi Germany to finance a daring, secret operation to help Jews find hope for a new life in England.

British sisters Ida and Louise Cook enjoy their quiet, unassuming lives in south London. Ida writes romance novels, and Louise works as a secretary. In the evenings, the sisters indulge in their shared love for opera, saving their money to buy records and attend performances throughout England and Europe, becoming well-known by both performers and fellow opera lovers.

But when Hitler seizes power in 1933, he begins targeting and persecuting German Jews, passing laws that restrict their rights and their lives. The sisters continue their trips to the German opera houses, but soon, Jewish members of the opera community covertly approach the sisters, worried that they will be stripped of their wealth and forced to leave their homes and the country. Danger looms on the horizon, threatening to spill across all of Europe’s borders.

Ida and Louise vow to help, but how can two ordinary working-class women with limited means make a difference?

Together with their beloved opera community, the sisters devise a plan to personally escort Jewish refugees from Germany to England. The success of the plan hinges on Ida and Louise’s ability to smuggle contraband jewelry and furs beneath the watchful eyes of the SS soldiers guarding various checkpoints. But how many trips can they make before someone blows a whistle? Or before the final curtain falls on Germany’s borders?

The Opera Sisters is a riveting and inspiring novel of two unlikely heroines whose courage and compassion gave hope to many Jews desperate to escape Nazi persecution.”

Yes, this is another historical novel, and by now you know how drawn I am to these stories! Imagine you’re dressed in cocktail gowns, furs, and some sparkly baubles, and immerse yourself in another time and place, where danger lurks behind every chord and the world is one big masquerade!

Get your copy of “The Opera Sisters”

The Last Checkmate | November Book Club

The Last Checkmate

Fan of The Queen’s Gambit? Then you won’t want to miss my November Book Club selection, “The Last Checkmate,” by Gabriella Saab!

I loved the Netflix series, even though I know little about the game. Just as I thoroughly enjoyed this month’s pick, another spellbinding piece of historical fiction set during WWII.

A young Polish resistance worker, Maria Florkowska, is a political prisoner at Auschwitz who plays chess in exchange for her life.

After being captured by the Gestapo in Nazi-occupied Poland, Maria and her family are sentenced to death…but when a cruel concentration camp deputy realizes her ability to play chess, she is spared. He intends to use Maria as an opponent to entertain the camp guards, with the intention of eliminating her when he tires of exploiting her chess skills.

She endures her 4-year imprisonment by strategizing not only her chess moves, but also by making her captor a playing piece in her larger game of survival, healing, and revenge. As the war nears its end, she challenges her nemesis to one final game, certain to end in life or death, in failure or justice.

“When Ebner returned to stand across from me, he held a whip in one hand and a club in the other. He placed both on the table. One reminded me of my last Gestapo interrogation, the other of my flogging, but I wasn’t afraid of either, because I remembered this this stage of his interrogations. He wasn’t going to torture me, because I was already cooperating. He just wanted to terrorize me.

We’d reached the most critical moment of our game. We’d made our opening moves and had established control of the board, strategizing and planning. Now we attacked.”

Gabriella Saab reveals herself to be a brilliant writer in her debut novel. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be up late into the night, too riveted to put down “The Last Checkmate”, until Maria has made her final move.

Get your copy HERE
(and order more to give as gifts to lovers of suspenseful historical fiction!)

The Stolen Lady | October Book Club

For no particular reason, I’ve been drawn to stories that take place during the World War II era. I’ve always loved historical fiction, and there are quite a number of really good books available right now that are set during this period.

It was a time when the world hung by a thread and families nervously crowded around the wireless longing to hear news of victory. And it was a time when villains seemed easy to identify and heroes were plentiful too. A time of good and evil, victory and defeat, hope and despair… suspenseful and full of intrigue. Ok, maybe there IS a particular reason I’ve been drawn to this era - it so easily lends itself to rich and immersive reading material. I can’t seem to get enough!

Like this month’s pick. “The Stolen Lady” , by Laura Morelli, a stunning historical novel about two women, separated by five hundred years, united by their roles in hiding Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.

Anne Guichard is a young archivist working at the Louvre in 1939, the dawn of WWII. Her daily life is thrown into upheaval as the Nazis draw near and a mad scramble to hide the museum’s precious artwork - including the Mona Lisa - begins. Her job in art preservation is now cloaked in fear and danger.

Bellina Sardi is a servant girl in a much earlier time. The year is 1479, and her mistress, Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a wealthy silk merchant, is to have her portrait painted by Master Leonardo da Vinci. This too was a period of extreme unrest, when the Florentines were rising up to overthrow the Medici family and their wealthy beneficiaries. Bellina becomes guardian to a dangerous and valuable secret.

“When art and war collide, Leonardo da Vinci, his beautiful subject Lisa, and the portrait find themselves in the crosshairs of history. “

Fans of historical fiction will love this! Those who appreciate art will love this! Anyone who has visited France, Paris, or the Louvre will love this! WWII buffs will love this! I can’t think of anyone who won’t love this!

Laura Morelli is a masterful storyteller and imbues her characters with optimism and hope despite the dangerous games of cat and mouse they are intricately immersed in. I found myself in a time machine bouncing between centuries and fearfully protective of The Stolen Lady.

Here’s where you can get your copy: The Stolen Lady

Sisters Of The Resistance & Island Queen | July Book Club

I don’t know if it stems from our “year of restrictions” or if there are just too many good new releases, but the last couple of months I’ve found it impossible to limit my book club selection to a single title!

“Sisters Of The Resistance,” by Christine Wells, and “Island Queen,” by Vanessa Riley, are the two I’ve chosen to share with you during the month of July!

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Sisters Of The Resistance

Here’s an incredible story, inspired by real-life people, places, and happenings. “Sisters of the Resistance” by Christine Wells, tells of the bravery of Catherine Dior, sister of the fashion designer, Christian Dior, whose label we all covet to this day, and her heroic movements near the end of WWII in occupied France.

“Paris, 1944: The war is nearly over, but for members of the Resistance in occupied France, it is more dangerous than ever before. Twenty-five-year-old Gabby Foucher loathes the Nazis, though as the concierge of 10 rue Royale, she does her best to avoid conflict—unlike her bolder sister Yvette, who finds trouble at every turn. 

Then they are both recruited into the Resistance by Catherine Dior and swept into a treacherous world of spies, fugitives, and intrigue. While Gabby risks everything for the man she is hiding from the Nazis, Yvette must decide whether to trust an enigmatic diplomat who seems to have guessed her secret. As the threat of betrayal draws ever-closer, one slip could mean the deaths of many, and both sisters must make choices they might regret. “

We hear so little of the remarkable women who helped to defeat Nazi forces during WWII, that I find stories such as these completely engrossing and absolutely jaw dropping.

"As dazzling as a Dior gown! With a gorgeous blend of fashion, heartbreak, heroism, and love this book will transport you to France...” —Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of “The Paris Secret.”

Immerse yourself in Catherine Dior’s Paris spy network by picking up
your own copy of SISTERS of the RESISTANCE.

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Island Queen

From what little I know of the colonial West Indies, a story about a woman of color who rose from slavery to become a wealthy and powerful landowner, would seem rather extraordinary. And that’s exactly what “Island Queen,” by Vanessa Riley is! Extraordinary.

In this stunning historical novel, Riley draws upon the true-life story of Dorothy Kirwan Thomas to weave a fascinating, page-turning adventure.

”Born into slavery on the tiny Caribbean island of Montserrat, Doll bought her freedom—and that of her sister and her mother—from her Irish planter father and built a legacy of wealth and power as an entrepreneur, merchant, hotelier, and planter that extended from the marketplaces and sugar plantations of Dominica and Barbados to a glittering luxury hotel in Demerara on the South American continent.

Island Queen is a sweeping epic of an adventurer and a survivor who answered to no one but herself as she rose to power and autonomy against all odds, defying rigid eighteenth-century morality and the oppression of women as well as people of color. It is an unforgettable portrait of a true larger-than-life woman who made her mark on history.”

I absolutely could NOT put this one down. It is rich in historical details, transporting me to a hot tropical climate in a time without air conditioning or any other modern convenience, and where survival for most was tied to incredible physical labor and discomfort. How anyone survived the circumstances baffles me, and how one woman could rise, and rise, and rise, is astonishingly inspirational!

“Richly detailed, vividly depicted, and sweeping in scope, “Island Queen” is historical fiction at its absolute finest. A stunning must-read!”—Chanel Cleeton, New York Times bestselling author of “The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba.”

Here’s where you can get it: ISLAND QUEEN

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Before you head out to the lake, the beach, or the backyard, grab your sunhat, shades, a tall cool glass of iced tea, and these two great reads!

Enjoy!

The Immortals & In Times of Rain and War | June Book Club

You know how sometimes you’re out to dinner and at the end of a delicious meal, after you’ve eaten so much you think you might simply burst… they roll out that desert cart??? And once presented with all the delicious options, not only can you not indulge, but you can’t even limit your choice to just one of possibilities in front of you?  

Well, that’s what it was like when it came time to pick this month’s book club title…

So let me introduce to you not one, but TWO terrific reads for the month that summer, sunshine, and some long lazy weekends (perfect for lounging, picnicking, and reading) present themselves, “The Immortals” & “In Times of Rain and War.”

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BUY LINK

The first of the two, The Immortals, by Steven T. Collins, is an incredible work of non-fiction that tells the story of the four famous chaplains serving the SS Dorchester, and the previously unsung fifth hero who risked his life when the ship went down in World War II with over 900 men on board.

“In 1943, German U-boats lurked in the icy waters of the North Atlantic, anxious to bring down Allied ships. 

By the time the four chaplains aboard the Dorchester descended into the lower holds, the troops knew something was going on; an announcement had blared over the loudspeakers. It was vague. The ship was entering into troubled waters. Submarines were estimated in the vicinity. They were told to put on their life jackets and clothes just to be safe. Tensions were rising. 

For the first time in print, this gripping narrative features the largely untold story of a fifth hero, Charles Walter David Jr., a young Black petty officer aboard a Coast Guard cutter who risked his life over and over again, even with hypothermia setting in, to try and rescue the men from the torpedoed Dorchester. 

Page-turning and inspiring, The Immortals explores the power of both faith and sacrifice and powerfully narrates the lives of five heroic men who believed in something greater than themselves, giving their all for people of vastly different beliefs and backgrounds.”

More information, the buy link, and a lovely video book trailer
for The Immortals can all be found HERE.

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BUY LINK

The second volume in this Father’s Day pack is a phenomenal work of historical fiction, In Times of Rain and War, by Camron Wright, author of the best-selling novel, The Rent Collector.

“In September of 1940, during the Blitz in London, Audrey Stocking is blending in with other civilians who are trying to survive the nightly bombings, but she has a secret. She’s not British; she’s German. Her fake passport and nearly perfect English allow her to blend in as she works hard to help evacuate British children into the countryside. Audrey longs to reunite with her family in Germany, but her double life, the bombings, and the watchful British Military Intelligence have forced her to stay put. And then there are the paralyzing nightmares . . .

Lieutenant Wesley Bowers, an American soldier training with London’s Bomb Disposal Company 5, meets Audrey when an air raid leaves an unexploded bomb on the floor of her flat. She is attractive, intelligent, and compassionate, and there’s an immediate connection between them. As they get to know each other, Wesley realizes Audrey is the one bright spot amid the war’s unending bleakness and constant threat of death. But will he still feel the same if he discovers the secrets she is hiding? Secrets even Audrey is unaware of?"

In Times of Rain and War is a gripping and heartbreakingly beautiful story about the strength and resilience of the human heart and spirit, reminding us there is always hope in hard times.”

You can find additional information, the buy link, and a great video
book trailer for In Times of Rain and War HERE.

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Memorial Day having been so recently commemorated, my thoughts and emotions have been with all the brave men and women who have served our country so valiantly, some paying the ultimate price for our freedoms.

These two books, both from the World War II era, seem the perfect match to my mood and musings, and perhaps to yours as well. Each are steeped in rich historical narrative and resplendent with tantalizing characters.

Go ahead, immerse yourself in the decadent delight of The Immortals & In Times of Rain and War, I won’t judge you because you couldn’t choose just one!