Renee Ryan: The Last Fashion House in Paris

By Kelly Bridgewater

n the heart of occupied WWII Paris, an elegant fashion house is the unlikely headquarters of a daring resistance network. Behind closed doors, courageous women vie to save loved ones and strangers alike from the Nazis in this powerful story of survival, friendship and second chances.

France, 1942

Once, Paulette Leblanc spent her days flirting, shopping and drawing elegant dresses in her sketch pad. Then German tanks rolled into France, and a reckless romance turned into deep betrayal. Blaming herself for her mother’s arrest by the Gestapo, Paulette is sent away to begin a new life in Paris, working as apprentice to fashion designer Sabine Ballard.

But Maison de Ballard is no ordinary fashion house. While seamstresses create the perfect couture gowns, clandestine deals and secrets take place out of sight. Mademoiselle Ballard is head of a vast network of resistance fighters—including Paulette’s coworker and friend Nicolle Cadieux—who help escort downed military men and Jewish families to safety.

Soon Paulette is recruited as a spy. Working as a seamstress by day, gathering information at glamorous parties by night, Paulette at last has a chance to earn the redemption she craves. But as the SS closes in, and Nicolle goes missing, Paulette must make life-and-death decisions about who to trust, who to love and who to leave behind…

 

My Thoughts:

The Last Fashion House in Paris by Renee Ryan is a World War II story that takes place in Paris, France in a fashion house. The two heroines are brave and daring as they face the challenges of trying to hide from their heritage and their past. Readers will learn about the world of fashion and see the way that the fashion was used to help rescue Jews from Paris as the Nazi's tried to take over. The plot is predictable and mingles in with some plots of other novels that I have read about world war II. The setting will be familiar to readers of World War II novels. Occupation from the Nazi's and trying to escape their wrath. Guilt does haunt the two main characters, but they learn to let their guard down and learn to trust others again. Enough to make better decisions that will affect others lives through their choices. Overall, The Last Fashion House in Paris by Renee Ryan fits nicely into the World War II fiction genre, but the story was predictable.

I received a complimentary copy of The Last Fashion House in Paris by Renee Ryan from Harlequin Trade Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase The Last Fashion House in Paris

Reason Why I Have Chosen To Stop

By Kelly Bridgewater

Last week, I shared why I started blogging ten years ago.

I have written TONS of book reviews to help new authors, accomplished authors, and budding authors.

I have tried giveaways to no avail.

No one ever comments.

Not many people visit my blog.

My name is out there. Authors have approached me with wanting to me review their novels.

On Netgalley, the publishing companies have auto-approved me for novels, which sounds exciting.

BUT  . . .

clipart-library.com

After 10 year of doing this, I have not written any books since my Daddy passed away on Halloween 2015.

I have decided that at on December 27th to celebrate my 10.5^th year anniversary of this blog that I won’t be doing this anymore.

I will still read.

That will never end.

BUT . . .

I need to spend time writing the stories that God has placed on my heart. I have the ideas and scribbles for about a dozen different novels.

I need to spend time focusing on writing or one day, I will be on my deathbed and regret that I have never written a story for publication.

I need to spend more time learning how to dive deeper into my character’s emotions and write these stories that will not go away.

Thank you for supporting me and reading my reviews!

Maybe someday soon, I will have a book or more than one book that someone will review for me.

Maybe even you could review it for me.

Maybe this will come back with more information about an upcoming book release!

Roseanna M. White: Christmas at Sugarplum Manor

By Kelly Bridgewater

The Nutcracker and Edwardian-Era England combine to weave a magical tale of love and friendship at Christmastime.

As the beloved stepdaughter of the Earl of Castleton, Lady Mariah Lyons cherishes her home at Plumford Manor, but her idyllic world will be threatened when the estate passes to Cyril Lightbourne, a childhood friend she hasn't seen or heard from in years. Once, Mariah dreamed their friendship would kindle into something more, but that was before she heard Cyril was courting the cruelhearted Lady Pearl. Now Mariah is willing to welcome him as a friend and pray he will be the heir her stepfather needs, but she'll keep her heart locked safely away from anyone with such poor taste.

Cyril Lightbourne has long avoided returning to Plumford Manor, yet he reluctantly arrives in time for Christmas. When his friendship with Lady Mariah reignites, he finds himself caught between his affection for her and her family's misunderstanding of his attachment to Lady Pearl. Then, more trouble arrives in the form of a Danish lord on a mission to win Mariah's hand by Christmas. Will the magic of the holiday season help lead to the discovery of true love, or will duty to country leave all longing for what could have been?

 

My Thoughts:

Christmas at Sugarplum Manor by Roseanna M. White has a beautiful cover that makes the reader think of all the good feelings toward the holiday season. The plot does have a good manor landlord who takes care of the people in his village. Giving them gifts for Christmas and allowing them to have a good meal. A treasure hunt for the children. Of course, there is snow on the ground for the Christmas season. However, there are two gentlemen fighting for Lady Mariah’s affections, so the story does read a little boring at times. One of them is an old friend, and the other one has darker intentions. While romance is one of the major threads in the story, readers will lean toward one gentleman over the other. This story does have a Lifetime Christmas move feel to it. As for me, the writing was pretty dry because White spent a lot of time in thoughts of the character instead of moving the action along. I don’t mind getting the characters’ thoughts, but I don’t need pages and pages of thoughts while the characters stands around. Overall, Christmas at Sugarplum Manor by Roseanna M. White is not the Christmas story for me. It was kind of dry and boring at times. Yes, it does have its good parts, but I needed more.

I received a complimentary copy of Christmas at Sugarplum Manor by Roseanna M. White from  Bethany House Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating:  2.5 out of 5 stars

Purchase Christmas at Sugarplum Manor

Jobs Don’t Want to Teach Anymore

 By Kelly Bridgewater

I’m not that old.

When I started my first job, they trained us how to bag groceries for an entire day.

When I moved to a cashier, we trained how to be a cashier.

When I worked in the bookstore, we were trained in how to order books, imprint on Bibles, and take special orders.

When I worked at Taco Bell, we were trained on how to make each item on the menu.

At my current position, they gave me a handbook and told me to go to websites to learn all the things I need to know for the state and federal regulations. No one trained me on anything.

Yes, you were observed by the supervisor, but they wanted to make sure that you do your position correctly.

Have you looked at job postings lately?

Must have three degrees, 20 years of experience, and know how to do everything the job requires before they will even think to look at your resume. Let alone go to an interview.

That is ridiculous.

No one wants to teach employees.

Must come in with all the head knowledge.

Degrees are not the answer for that.

I have a BS in English and a MA in Writing.

I can write and communicate effectively, have customer service skills, management background, scheduling background, accounting background, organizational skills at the maximum, have a photographic memory where I can remember exactly what the screen looked like when I saw it or where it was found in the handbook, the ability to prove through facts the answer to a question, and understand how to use the internet or handbooks to figure out the answer if I do not know the answer. I will find the answer somehow. I use my resources effectively.

That does not matter anymore.

If you do not have a degree in Nursing, OIT, Teaching, Business, or Truck driving, you are going to barely make enough to pay your bills.

What happened to our hiring process?

Use the computer to look for key words in the resume.

I copy word for word what is written in the qualifications.

Crickets.

It is depressing, to say the least, that I score as a genius, have two degrees, and make barely above Indiana’s minimum wage. As my husband and a number of other people that I have worked with have said, “No one recognizes you for how smart you are.” Then they wonder why sometimes I’m depressed at work.

Every other employee in my office comes to me for suggestions on how to fix a solution or how to talk to a customer about an issue.

But I’m not good enough to be paid more.

They just use my brain for them to look good.

What about you? Do you have a job that actually trains you? Are you recognized for what you brought to the table and learned at the hands of others in your office?

Karen Witemeyer: Cloaked in Beauty

By Kelly Bridgewater

Trust no one in the shadows of the piney woods . . .

Letty Hood has spent the last fifteen years of her life hidden away with her grandmother in the backwoods of east Texas to escape the deadly schemes of an uncle who wants her dead. Now, with her twenty-first birthday on the horizon, she is forced to accept the escort of a stranger and return to Houston in secret so she can claim a birthright that will make her one of the wealthiest women in Texas. If she lives long enough to inherit.

Pinkerton agent Philip Carmichael has one duty: get the Radcliffe heiress home alive. Expecting a spoiled girl, Philip is surprised to encounter a woman of rare strength with a kind soul and keen wit. As they journey together, Letty's resilience wins his admiration, breaking through his hardened cynicism. Yet the threat to her survival grows more menacing with every mile, and Philip fears that keeping Letty out of harm's way may be just as impossible as keeping her out of his hear

 

My Thoughts:

Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer reminds readers a little bit of “Little Red Riding Hood.” There are obvious similarities, but there are differences too. Witemeyer does a wonderful job at crafting characters that readers will want to stay with as they journey back to Hood’s “home” in Houston, Texas. The plot has plenty of action with moments of secretive journeys and hiding from the main road. The plot moves forward at a nice pace. As for the ending, I wish the climactic moment was a little spread out a little. Felt a little rushed by the time the characters took us to that ending. In other words, there is some romance that occurs between Letty, the heroine, and Philip, the hero. When characters spend that much time together, obviously sparks are going to fly. Overall, Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer is a joy to read with movement and romance to spark any Fairy tale reader’s interest.

I received a complimentary copy of Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer from Bethany House Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating:  4 out of 5 stars

Purchase Cloaked in Beauty

Favorite Books of 2024

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Here are my favorite books of 2024: (All images come from Goodreads.) 

Majority of these books were non-stop action, which I need to make a good story. Meyer and Raybon surprised me with their unique, yet lovable story lines. Shocklee's story tore at my heart, and I have recommended it to a number of people to read. I have put Under the Tulip Tree on my Christmas Wish List. I can't wait to dive into it again. 

One Last Chance by Susan May Warren

One Last Stand by Susan May Warren

Fury by Ronie Kendig and Steffanie Webb

For a Lifetime by Gabrielle Meyer

Truth be Told by Patricia Raybon

Under the Tulip Tree by Michelle Shocklee

Quell the Nightingale by Michelle Israel Harper

Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep

A Hope Unburied By Kimberley Woodhouse

70 North by Kimberley Woodhouse

I would love to know if you read these books, what did you think?

Liz Tolsma: What I Left For You

By Kelly Bridgewater

A Family's Ties Were Broken in Poland of 1939   1939 Helena Kostyszak is an oddity—an educated female ethnic minority lecturing at a university in Krakow at the outbreak of WWII. When the Germans close the university and force Jews into the ghetto, she spirits out a friend's infant daughter and flees to her small village in the southern hills. Helena does everything in her power to protect her family, but it may not be enough. It will take all of her strength and God's intervention for both of them to survive the war and the ethnic cleansing to come.   2023 Recently unengaged social worker McKenna Muir is dealt an awful blow when a two-year-old she's been working with is murdered. It's all too much to take, so her friend suggests she dive into her family's past like she's always wanted. Putting distance between herself and her problems might help her heal, so she and her friend head on Sabbatical to Poland. But what McKenna discovers about her family shocks everyone, including one long-lost family member. 

 

My Thoughts:

What I Left for You by Liz Tolsma brings light to a small culture that has been erased by the Nazi's during World War II. She does a wonderful job at creating a story to show the lengths a mother would go to find her child again. Even put her own health at risk. Tolsma shows the horrors of a concentration camp with truth and grit. She does not shy away from the horrors inflicted on the bodies of these innocent people. The plot is not that much different than a lot of the World War II novels that I have read. Yes, Tolsma based it on true stories, and there are tons of them, but it is hard to be different when the plight was felt by so many of these people. The setting was definitely different with the small, uneducated people being forced to move and forget their heritage. Overall, What I left for You by Liz Tolsma was a World War II novel that tugged at the heart, but ends in a happily-ever-after meeting.

I received a complimentary copy of What I Left for You by Liz Tolsma from Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stared are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase What I Left For You

Most Anticipated Suspense for Spring 2025

 By Kelly Bridgewater

My very last Most Anticipated Suspense novels that will be released for Spring 2025. These books will be released from January through April 2025.

All images come from Goodreads. 

Serial Burn by Lynette Eason

Every Deadly Suspicion by Janice Cantore

Storm Warning by Elizabeth Goddard

Tempest at Annabel's Lighthouse by Jaime Jo Wright

Shattered Sanctuary by Nancy Mehl

Two Second Too Late by Dani Pettrey

I hope this genre keeps growing and growing. I also pray everyday that my historical suspense novel with someday be on someone's most anticipated suspense list. 

Julie Klassen: The Seaside Homecoming

 

By Kelly Bridgewater

Disgraced eldest sister Claire Summers has been living in exile as companion to a stern great-aunt in Scotland. About to become homeless and longing to be reconciled with her estranged family, Claire answers an advertisement from someone looking for a "respectable female partner" in a Sidmouth boarding house. Is it a sign or another reckless mistake? When she meets the handsome, secretive proprietor, she wonders what he's hiding and if he's any more trustworthy than the nobleman who betrayed her years ago. Even as she is drawn to him, she fears he will reject her when he discovers her genteel façade hides a less-than-respectable past.

Meanwhile, the Summers family learn their great-aunt has died and Claire has disappeared without a word. The sisters rally together to find their lost sibling, but will their unexpected reunion heal old wounds and rekindle their bonds . . . or widen the divide?

Return to the picturesque Devonshire coast as the Summers sisters navigate romance, second chances, and the enduring strength of sisterhood in the face of adversity.

 

My Thoughts:

The Seaside Homecoming by Julie Klassen tells Claire's story. Readers are introduced to the real reason that she was not mentioned in a good light. Also, readers will become familiar with new characters that will spark a new interest in the storyline. The family does come back into the story, wanting to rekindle their relationship with Claire. The setting is familiar and homely. The plot reminds me a little bit of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. A continuing story of a family where the family means everything to them. There is a touch of romance and a little bit of mystery to the hero's past, but it moved nicely. Not much action, but a good novel for those who enjoy Regency novels. Right for the genre and sweetly written. I enjoyed this story. There is a hint of an upcoming Christmas novella with this setting and characters due out in September 2025, and I know that I will want to read that story to catch up with this family. Overall, The Seaside Homecoming by Julie Klassen is a delightful read with interesting, yet adorable characters.

I received a complimentary copy of The Seaside Homecoming by Julie Klassen from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase The Seaside Homecoming