The Braid by Laetitia Colombani
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved it. Elegantly written and never over the top. Just real stories about real people. The translation is wonderful and the story seems unforced and natural.
The story was ot a revalation but the three women were woven into a lovely story. My book club loved it.

View all my reviews

The Order by Daniel Silva
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a brillant, exciting and relevant book. Just like every Silva book, I come away knowing something I didn't know before and I feel like I've gotten to know the characters even better than before.
I found the action and pacing to be just perfect and during a time when I'm bored by most things, this picked me up and kept my interest. Can't wait for the next one.

View all my reviews

Bombshell by Stuart Woods
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not my favorite of the series. Just seemed like a short story with too much detail and not enough action. I still enjoyed it but I guess I like more plot and less........ I'm not sure what. I knew what I was getting and I had a few hours of fun.

View all my reviews

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved it, not sure why. Maybe it was the writing or the story that I thought was intriguing. Probably the mystery that develops and continues throuogh the whole book. There are so many things you wonder about as you read, without giving spoilers, Plot devices that keep the tension in the young girl’s life and refuse to give her any relief.
I read this for book club but I can see why its so popular. I’m glad I read it.


View all my reviews

Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great book. Starts light ends realistic. I find this period of time interesting and I find the Ritz a perfect historical metaphor for all of France. The French were so easily conquered in WWII probably because they were incredibly damaged by WWI and did not want a repeat. Even so the French people often went to extraordinary lengths to make the German occupation less than attractive.
Today in France the remnants of the occupation are all around and mostly disregarded.

View all my reviews

Under Occupation by Alan Furst
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great book about an interesting time. The occupation of Paris during WWII. Several other books have captured this era but Alan Furst does a great job with the atmosphere of Paris at the time. I felt as if I might have been there. Well done.

View all my reviews

The Book of V. by Anna Solomon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

To be honest I really wanted to like this book. I read it with interest but the stories seemed a bit disjointed and the whole thing sort of fell apart for me. Its a great idea and Ms Solomon is talented. I loved the writing, that's what kept me going. In the end I kept waiting for something to happen. It didn't. Lots of emotion, strange behaviors and complex relationships but for me, nothing.

View all my reviews

Masked Prey by John Sandford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As usual, John Sandford is a pleasant diversion from whatever else I do or read. Well constructed stories that follow a pattern. This one seems remarkably in tune with politics today and all the controversy around gun ownership. But forgetting that it was a romp with great action and in the end... well, I would not want to ruin it.
Well written, real understandable characters and convincing plotline. I love this guy.

View all my reviews

The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Erik Larson is amazing. It is a page turner, hard to put down and in truth, you know how it ends. He builds suspense and mystery over history.
I read a lot of WWII historica fiction and this delightfully filled in some of the blanks. It also brought me back to our visit to London and Paris. Hard to believe that they won.
Read this book, its too good to pass up and it will help you understand what we are living through today, in 2020.

View all my reviews

Hit List by Stuart Woods
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm a Stuart Woods fan so anything I say should be taken with that in mind. This was action packed and full of fun. There was a light and jovial atmosphere which I needed during this time of national panic. Woods always gives me a break from the real world and seems to pull me into this delightful fantasy of Stone Barrington and his friends. I needed the break. Great book.

View all my reviews

Goodnight from London by Jennifer Robson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just loved it. History with a perspective... A perceptive I could not have imagined. The story is complete, sappy yet filled with people who seem more than just the constructions of an author. I got to know them and understand them. Well done. Great history and a good story. Americans have almost no reference points to the blitz and the suffering of the Brits in both wars.

View all my reviews

Moonlight over Paris by Jennifer Robson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this series and this author. I get this great image in my mind from her writing. I also feel that I earn about the time period. Her ability to mix classes and nationalities and create universal characters is incredible. Not too spoil anything but this book will help you understand people during this incredible time in the world's history.

View all my reviews