The Girl from Berlin by Kate Hewitt Historical fiction

A story and history combined in a powerful tale. its 1936 and Liesel watches

her parents closely. Her father is a successful businessman but recently

he has been a little different, being heard by her to say things she questions.

Such as why they should respect Hitler and Liesel should join the Hitler

youth and how they act amongst others such as at the opening of the 1936

Berlin Olympic games. Liesel knows that her lessons in “ race science” are

not true. Who could think that Jews have horns under their hair and are

one step above rats ?(OMG). From the beginning we get to see what life

was like and how the young were indoctrinated. Post war and a Captain

in the American army is sent to analyse literally tons of questionnaires

to see if anyone is still harbouring loyalty to the Nazi's.  He discovers yet

more paperwork, but this time it is papers the Nazi's wanted burning.

His task is not only to find those hiding but a search for chemists, he

knows not why. I was gripped by this. Of how the war shaped and

changed people and how some stayed strong whilst being dragged

along with little choice but for survival. A powerful tale indeed and

perhaps one some of the younger generation should read to

find what really happened. One to remember, one to ponder on.

An inspirational story with a message. 

 For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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Book Description:

1936, Nazi-ruled Berlin. A heartbreaking and stunningly powerful novel of friendship, courage and betrayal, about two girls whose lives collide in war-torn Berlin, and whose friendship is the only thing that might get them out alive.

They sat together on the roof, watching Berlin burn, as traces of smoke and cloud floated through the air. “I just want to be free,” Rosa said quietly, “Even if only for a few minutes. It might be the last chance I have.”

From her beautiful new home in Berlin, a young woman named Liesel Scholz barely notices the changes to the city around her. Her life is one of privilege and safety thanks to her father’s job working for the new government.

But a chance encounter with Rosa, the daughter of their Jewish housekeeper, confirms Liesel’s fears that something isn’t right. That the Nazi government’s brutal rules are cruel and dangerous, and that others aren’t as safe as she is. When Rosa begs Liesel to help—pressing her grandfather’s gold pocket watch into Liesel’s hand—Liesel recklessly agrees.

She will help hide Rosa and her loved ones—in the dusty, unused rooms at the top of their house—even if it means putting everyone she loves in danger. Even if it means risking her own life.

Frankfurt, 1946: An idealistic American captain, Sam Houghton, arrives in Germany to interrogate prominent Nazis on trial and to help rebuild a battered country. When he hires an enigmatic, damaged interpreter named Anna, he doesn’t expect sparks to fly between them. Perhaps there is a chance of love for both of them. But then the question of what happened to Anna in the war raises its head.

Because Anna has secrets—ones that link her to Berlin, the Nazi party, and the story of one gold pocket watch and two young women who became friends, even when they were told it was impossible…

A compelling and haunting story about courage, love and betrayal set in war-torn Berlin. Fans of The Alice Network, All the Light We Cannot See and The Nightingale will be not be able to put this down.

Author Bio:

Kate Hewitt is the author of many romance and women’s fiction novels. A former New Yorker and now an American ex-pat, she lives in a small town on the Welsh border with her husband, five children, and their overly affectionate Golden Retriever. Whatever the genre, she enjoys telling stories that tackle real issues and touch people’s lives.

https://www.kate-hewitt.com/

https://www.facebook.com/KateHewittAuthor/

https://twitter.com/author_kate

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3s880jM

Apple: https://apple.co/34yRQqH

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3oUc1XG

Google: https://bit.ly/38h7p7r

 

Secrets on the Fens - Joy Ellis- Crime

DI Nikki Galena, Ds Joseph Easter and the team have a double murder on their

hands. A young couple looking like Romeo and Juliet have been found in the

woods carefully arranged, one even having a rose in their hand. No-one knows

who they are and there is nothing to identify them. Was it a suicide pact or a

murder? Things aren’t quite adding up. A nearby estate has been ruled for

many years by a gangland family and although they are mainly out of the

area these days their legacy lives on. Meanwhile Nikki's mother and her

friend are still on the trail of an artist who disappeared many years ago after

travelling to the lake district. The two women have a knack for finding

things- including trouble and the latest one does not disappoint. I so love

these books, they are a wonderful comfortable read. Characters that you

easily take to and a plot or two to keep the grey matter active whilst

reading a cleverly crafted plot that even makes you smile in places. The

“ je ne sais quoi” of losing yourself, that something special, only from a

brilliant author that can put you there in the world of fiction in the fens.

A brilliant read that kept me  within the pages to the very end.

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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BLURB: FROM TWO-MILLION SELLING AUTHOR JOY ELLIS COMES ONE OF THE MOST EAGERLY AWAITED MYSTERIES THIS YEAR. One moonlit night, the bodies of two young people are discovered lying entwined on a blanket in the woods. The young man is clutching a red rose. It appears to be a lovers’ suicide pact . . . Until Detective Nikki Galena and DS Joseph Easter look more closely. Romeo and Juliet, as they decide to call them, were murdered somewhere else and brought to the woods. But why? Then another young couple are found dead, again beautifully posed as lovers. And Nikki knows they have a twisted serial killer on their hands. Who are the next victims? EVERYONE HAS SECRETS. BUT SOME PEOPLE WILL KILL TO KEEP THEM. What readers are saying about JOY ELLIS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Just wonderful to read.” Carole “Holds the reader’s attention from the first word to the last.” Nicki R. “Compulsive reading, I loved it.” Viv ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Riveting tale from start to finish.” Lynne “Absolutely engrossing.” Olga “Brilliant book which kept me gripped from page 1.” Barbara THE DETECTIVE DI Nikki Galena: A police detective with nothing left to lose, she’s seen a girl die in her arms and her own family destroyed. She’s tough on criminals but fiercely loyal to her team. THE SETTING The Lincolnshire Fens: great open skies brood over marshes, farmland, and nature reserves. It is not easy terrain for the Fenland Constabulary to police, due to the distances between some of the remote fen villages, the dangerous and often misty lanes, and the poor telephone coverage. There are still villages where the oldest residents have never set foot outside their own farmland and a visit to the nearest town is a major event. But it has a strange airy beauty to it, and above it all are the biggest skies you’ve ever seen. DISCOVER YOUR NEXT FAVOURITE MYSTERY SERIES NOW ALSO BY JOY ELLIS THE NIKKI GALENA SERIES Book 1: CRIME ON THE FENS Book 2: SHADOW OVER THE FENS Book 3: HUNTED ON THE FENS Book 4: KILLER ON THE FENS Book 5: STALKER ON THE FENS Book 6: CAPTIVE ON THE FENS Book 7: BURIED ON THE FENS Book 8: THIEVES ON THE FENS Book 9: FIRE ON THE FENS Book 10: DARKNESS ON THE FENS Book 11: HIDDEN ON THE FENS Book 12: SECRETS ON THE FENS

JOY ELLIS UK #1 BEST SELLER WITH THEIR LOST DAUGHTERS, DARKNESS ON THE FENS, THE FOURTH FRIEND, BEWARE THE PAST, FIRE ON THE FENS, AND THE GUILTY ONES OVER 2 MILLION BOOKS SOLD! "I was born in Kent but spent most of my working life in London and Surrey. I was an apprentice florist to Constance Spry Ltd, a prestigious Mayfair shop that throughout the sixties and seventies teemed with both royalty and ‘real’ celebrities. What an eye-opener for a working-class kid from the Garden of England! I swore then, probably whilst I was scrubbing the floor or making the tea, that I would have a shop of my own one day. It took until the early eighties, but I did it. Sadly the recession wiped us out, and I embarked on a series of weird and wonderful jobs; the last one being a bookshop manager. Surrounded by books all day, getting to order whatever you liked, and being paid for it! Oh bliss! And now I live in a village in the Lincolnshire Fens with my partner, Jacqueline, a highly decorated retired police officer, and our four barking mad Springer spaniels. If I do get any spare time, which is rare these days, my one relaxation is painting, especially using soft pastels. We have been here for twenty years now and although I’ll never be a true ‘Yeller Belly’, a native born to this county, I have adopted it as my own. I love the mists, the big skies and the endless waterways. All my books are set here on the Fens, and why not? The location is perfect for murder!” BOOKS BY JOY ELLIS DI NIKKI GALENA SERIES: CRIME ON THE FENS SHADOW OVER THE FENS HUNTED ON THE FENS KILLER ON THE FENS STALKER ON THE FENS CAPTIVE ON THE FENS BURIED ON THE FENS THIEVES ON THE FENS FIRE ON THE FENS DARKNESS ON THE FENS HIDDEN ON THE FENS NIKKI GALENA BOX SET, BOOKS 1-3 NIKKI GALENA BOX SET, BOOKS 4-6 NIKKI GALENA BOX SET, BOOKS 7-9 JACKMAN & EVANS SERIES: THE MURDERER’S SON THEIR LOST DAUGHTERS FOURTH FRIEND THE GUILTY ONES THE STOLEN BOYS THE PATIENT MAN MATT BALLARD SERIES: BEWARE THE PAST FIVE BLOODY HEARTS STANDALONE NOVELS: GUIDE STAR FIND JOY ON AUTHOR WEBSITE FACEBOOK GOODREADS

 

The Girl in the Missing Poster- Barbara Copperthwaite-psychological thriller

One to keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Stellas twin sister Leila

went missing twenty five years ago. Stella is now a dog behaviourist and is putting

up posters as it's close to the anniversary as nothing has ever been found about

Leila. On encountering a man badly treating his dog she bumps into a man asking

if she requires help with the abusive owner. Shortly afterwards she gets a phone

call asking if she would like to do a documentary to cover Leilas disappearance

and the man turns out to be the interviewer Euan. The documentary goes ahead

and Stella starts getting emails and mysterious phone calls who know things that

were never revealed. Will she ever find out what really happened that night?

I really enjoyed this- I took to Stella early on. She has a tenacity and a well

rounded character and being a behaviourist gives her insights into such

things as body language etc.  I loved this- a very clever and well thought

out premise and a story well told. I suspected whom the perpetrator might

be around 75% of the way through but then kept getting curveballs-

something I enjoy to keep the grey matter alive. A brilliant read , one to

keep you on your toes- highly recommended. 

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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The Girl in the Missing Poster

 

Author: Barbara Copperthwaite

 

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/37bi1UJ

Apple: https://apple.co/39ycwCv

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3mdTSDi

Google: http://ow.ly/Vgnn50CxPSB       

 

 

Description:

 

24 June, 1994 – Nineteen-year-old Leila Hawkins runs from her father’s birthday party into the stormy night wearing her sister Stella’s long red coat. Some say she was crying, others swear they saw her get into a passing car. Nobody ever saw her again.

 

Present – This time every year, on the anniversary of that fateful night, Stella decorates the small seaside town she grew up in with pictures of her beautiful missing sister. But after twenty-five years, is it even worth hoping someone will come forward? Perhaps the upcoming documentary will spark people’s memories by reuniting all the guests who were there the night Leila went missing.

 

As old friends gather and long-buried secrets begin to surface, the last thing Stella ever expects is a direct response from someone claiming they took Leila. They want private details of Stella’s life in return for answers. But as the true events of the night of the party play out once again, who is lying? And who is next?

 

From the bestselling author of The Perfect Friend, this absolutely gripping psychological thriller will keep you up all night and leave you sleeping with the light on. If you loved Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train and The Wife Between Us this book is for you!

 

Author Bio:

Barbara is the Amazon and USA Today bestselling author of psychological thrillers INVISIBLE, FLOWERS FOR THE DEAD, THE DARKEST LIES, and HER LAST SECRET.

More importantly, she loves cakes, wildlife photography and, last but definitely not least, her two dogs, Scamp and Buddy (who force her to throw tennis balls for them for hours).

Having spent over twenty years as a national newspaper and magazine journalist, Barbara has interviewed the real victims of crime - and also those who have carried those crimes out. She is fascinated by creating realistic, complex characters, and taking them apart before the readers' eyes in order to discover just how much it takes to push a person over a line.

When not writing feverishly, she is often found hiding behind a camera, taking wildlife photographs. 

 

Author Social Media Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorBarbaraCopperthwaite

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BCopperthwait

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_barbara_copperthwaite/

Website: www.barbaracopperthwaite.com

 

 

Murder on the Island- Daisy White -Crime  

Chloe has arrived back in Bermuda where she spent her formative years.

Her grandmother Dre has recently passed away and left her her estate.

This comprises a house and stables with 6 horses amongst other animals.

On taking a ride out to get her bearings Chloe stumbles upon a body.

When the police arrive she discovers that she was at primary school

with the now chief inspector. The stables are on the verge of financial

collapse and Chloe is determined to try and make a go of it. When a

horse disappears just as she gets a contract things don’t quite add

up and she begins making her own investigations here and there.

Who is targeting her and why and who has killed the artist?

I really enjoyed this- its a cozy crime filled with wonderful descriptions

of soft sandy beaches and lots of animals running around- what's not

to like? Chloe comes across very well and there is a depth of character

whilst nothing too complicated. Think Death in Paradise but with an

animal loving lead rather than one who is allergic to everything

around him! A very entertaining read to take you to a picture

paradise- perfect for these cold winter evenings. Loved it. 

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

 

The Chain- Joy Richards- contemporary fiction.

Moving house- the nightmare that is. Several people from couples upsizing to

an older couple downsizing and ones that have been left on their own are all

moving house. We learn of their backgrounds, their tragedies in some cases,

their aspirations in others. Stories where life changes on a dime-sometimes

for the better, sometimes for the unplanned but that doesn't make it any

worse,and maybe even better. Of how someone else’s decision can have a

massive impact not only on the chain but on what is strung around that

decision. An interesting read.

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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Blurb: What does it take to make a house a home?When four sets of strangers

all decide to move, their lives become linked and changed forever.Paul is a

young man who is struggling to piece his life back together.

Married couple Florence and John are having problems.The empty-nesters

Claire and Michael are adapting to their new life.Sarah and Alex are a city

power couple who are hoping to relocate.

As each of them navigate the troublesome path of buying and selling houses,

relationships come under strain.Does moving to a new house mean a fresh

new start? and is home really where the heart is?

 

The Crew- Andrew Barrett- Crime

I love Eddie! He’s that CSI who says it as it is. A spade is a shovel and a whole

lot more! Diplomatic he ‘aint and never will be but you know exactly where

you stand with Eddie and its not in the spotlight. Eddie is on his last of seven

lates when he is given someone to accompany him. Shannon works in HR

and has come out for some experience as she would like to join CSI in the

future. Eddie is well pleased- not! That's his “office” she is sitting on in the

van and he can't operate his bodily functions quite the same when there

is someone with him. Their main call out is to a robbery . Nelson is a

builder turned burgler when he found a. the pay wasn't what he wanted

and b. he could be ars**d with the work. He works with a gang who go

up and down the country finding places where access and escape is

good and CCTV is low to none. He used to have a girlfriend who worked

in admin in the police- her name was Shannon. I won’t say any more

as this os a novella. Brilliant and well crafted as ever and a smile with

Eddie’s larger than life character and personality- even in a tight

spot or two. Brilliant, loved it. 

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog