Tag: World War II

Books

‘Claiming My Place’ is a Sobering and Courageous Account of What it Takes to Survive Intolerant Mankind [REVIEW]

Barbara and Sabina in Munich
Barbara (center) and Sabina with other survivors at the Jewish Relief Center at the Deutsches Museum, Munich, fall 1945. (Photo courtesy Farrar Straus Giroux)

Diamond Review BannerA young woman with a bright future ahead of her finds herself trapped at the epicenter of the Holocaust. Using her wits as her only weapon, she is compelled to make a choice that will become her most closely guarded secret, one that will change the very trajectory of her life. Who is Barbara Reichmann? Find out in the unforgettable true story, Claiming My Place. Continue reading “‘Claiming My Place’ is a Sobering and Courageous Account of What it Takes to Survive Intolerant Mankind [REVIEW]”

Unknown's avatarJathan Fink4 Comments
Books

Some Friendships Are Stronger Than War, Just Ask ‘Bess and Frima’ [REVIEW]

Bess and Frima
Theirs is a friendship that would endure politics, marriage, and even war. (Photo courtesy Julie Metz)

Two girls on the cusp of womanhood. Two lives irrevocably intertwined. In the face of World War II, each must make decisions that will shape their destinies and alter the course of their lives forever. But which dreams will they pursue and will fate ultimately tear them apart? Find out in Alice Rosenthal’s new historical novel, Bess and Frima, a coming-of-age story about friendship, family, and daring to be different. Continue reading “Some Friendships Are Stronger Than War, Just Ask ‘Bess and Frima’ [REVIEW]”

Unknown's avatarJathan Fink2 Comments
Books, Videos

Love Sees Past Race in Sarah Creviston Lee’s ‘The War Between Us’ [EXCERPT]

Sarah Creviston Lee's THE WAR BETWEEN US blog tour bannerIt never fails to surprise me. No matter how many novels I read set against the backdrop of World War II, no two stories are ever identical. Because so many nations were involved in the conflict, the war tore everyone apart. But even in the midst of great turmoil and grief, stories of survival and courage and undeniable love continue to emerge. That’s why I love Sarah Creviston Lee’s book, The War Between Us. In it, she captures the dramatic, captivating and bittersweet romance between two people who should never have fallen in love. All these years after WWII, it is a story that is simultaneously touching, heartfelt, and relevant to today’s turbulent social climate. I think you’ll see what I mean when you read the excerpt below. Enjoy! —Jathan Continue reading “Love Sees Past Race in Sarah Creviston Lee’s ‘The War Between Us’ [EXCERPT]”

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Books

‘The Lost Vintage’ Takes Readers On A Sensory Journey to the Past [REVIEW]

French vineyard
A trip to France teaches a young sommelier about much more than wine in Ann Mah’s The Lost Vintage. (Photo by Mark Fusco, Flickr)

Young love, delicious wine, family history, and the French countryside. It’s all here in Ann Mah’s sumptuous new novel, The Lost Vintage. Behind this book’s gorgeous cover you’ll meet a woman who journeys from San Francisco to France with the goal of building upon her knowledge of fine wine. What she learns instead are lessons even more powerful and life changing, ones which will enhance much more than her educated palate.
Continue reading “‘The Lost Vintage’ Takes Readers On A Sensory Journey to the Past [REVIEW]”

Unknown's avatarJathan Fink1 Comment
Books, Videos

Ken Follett’s Classic ‘The Key to Rebecca’ Remains One of the Best Espionage Books Ever Written [REVIEW]

WWII Egypt
In the midst of World War II, a Nazi spy plots the downfall of the British in Egypt in Ken Follett’s classic thriller, The Key to Rebecca. (Photo by Tom Beazley/courtesy aussiejeff, Flickr)

Although we primarily feature new fiction on our site, every now and again we like to revisit a classic. Pulling an oldie but a goodie off the shelf and dusting it off to re-read it is akin to having brunch with an old friend to reminisce about cherished memories. And sometimes we simply feel like digging into a favorite author’s past works, ones me may have missed the first time around. That is what happened with Ken Follett’s classic, The Key to Rebecca.  Continue reading “Ken Follett’s Classic ‘The Key to Rebecca’ Remains One of the Best Espionage Books Ever Written [REVIEW]”

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