Showing posts with label Heroines of WWII. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Rachel Scott McDaniel: The Scarlet Spy

By Kelly Bridgewater

About the Book

Book: The Starlet Spy

Authors: Rachel Scott McDaniel

Genre: Historical Christian Fiction

Release Date: August, 2023

Hollywood Star Turns Spy

In 1943, movie producer Henrik Zoltan approaches Amelie Blake under the guise of offering the Hollywood star a leading part in his upcoming film, but he has a more meaningful role in mind. Amelie’s homeland of Sweden declared neutrality in the war, but Stockholm has become the “Casablanca of the North.” When top-secret atomic research goes missing in Sweden, the Allied forces scramble to recover the files before they fall into Nazi hands.

The United States Office of Strategic Services (OSS) needs someone who’s subtle enough to spy on the Swedish elite without triggering suspicion. Who better than the “all beauty, no brains” Scandinavian starlet? Fluent in three languages and possessing a brilliant memory, Amelie loathes being labeled witless but uses the misconception as her disguise. She’s tasked with searching for the crucial files, but Finn Ristaffason keeps getting in her way. Is the charming shipping magnate after the missing research? Or does he have other reasons for showing up at her every turn?

With the Gestapo on her heels, Amelie must rely on her smarts in addition to her acting skills to survive a world of deadly spies and counterspies.

My Thoughts:

The Starlet Spy by Rachel Scott McDaniel views World War II spy operative working in Sweden who happens to be a Hollywood starlet. The story opens with a view of Amelie Blake working on her latest movie. Then readers are taken for a ride as they will view who she actually is and then have her return home to Sweden to try to capture a traitor to the American people. There is plenty of action and hunting for clues throughout the story. Even moments where Amelie has to use her acting skills in order to infiltrate the enemy lines. A nice scene with a pool table. As for the characters, Amelie and Finn, Amelie was definitely more relatable and defined. Readers will empathize with her plight to come up from the ashes to make a name for herself. Whereas, on the other hand, Finn comes from a lot of money, and he does not really change for the better or worse throughout the story. Romance blossoms between the two, but personally, I did not buy it. It seemed to be there as a plot device. Not any swooning or real sparks flying. Overall, The Starlet Spy by Rachel Scott McDaniel promised what would be a glorious novel with a Hollywood Starlet during World War II. It was a nicely handled intriguing novel.

I received a complimentary copy of The Starlet Spy by Rachel Scott McDaniel from Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase The Starlet Spy

About the Author

Rachel Scott McDaniel is an award-winning author of historical romance. Winner of the ACFW Genesis Award and the RWA Touched By Love award, Rachel infuses faith and heart into each story. Rachel can be found online at www.RachelScottMcDaniel.com and on all social media platforms. Her work is represented by Julie Gwinn of the Seymour Agency. Rachel resides in Ohio with her husband and two children.

More from Rachel

Setting The Starlet Spy in Sweden

Hej! If you’ve ever been to Ikea, then you know that’s the Swedish greeting for Hello! Prior to writing The Starlet Spy, my knowledge of the Swedish culture was limited. It seemed I wasn’t alone. Early last year, I held a poll on my social media asking if anyone had ever read a book set in Sweden. A sweeping majority said no.

Since all of my previous books are set in the United States, this is my first novel with an international setting. So I immersed myself into research. I read books about the country, watched videos, followed Swedish Instagrammers to learn more about the language. And let me tell you, I totally fell in love with this Scandinavian world. It is now on my bucket list to visit because it’s just that gorgeous. I wrote The Starlet Spy with a romantic adventure vibe. I wanted to take the reader on a tour of this amazing country, from the classically beautiful Stockholm, to the quaint fishermen city of Malmo, to the ancient streets of Sigtuna—one of Sweden’s oldest villages—to the brilliant Northern Lights in the Lapland region.

Not only did I want to paint the scene of these various places, but I also wanted to introduce the Swedish culture. Tucked within the pages of The Starlet Spy, the reader will find traces of Scandinavian folklore and legends, which was super fun to explore. But to be honest, my favorite inclusion of Swedish culture was incorporating a traditional dance—the Hambo! It’s such an interesting and unique dance, and I may have been trying to coax my husband into trying it with me for an Instagram Reel, but so far, no such luck! Though I have no problem getting him to enjoy Fika with me. Fika, my friends, is a coffee break, or simply coffee. Just as the British favor their tea, the Swedes are adamant about their fika. So I can most definitely relate.

If all this intrigues you, I welcome you to read The Starlet Spy. It’s set in 1943, which was a pivotal time for Sweden during World War II. If you’ve read my previous stories, you know how much I love to weave as much true history into the chapters. This book has by far the most!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 29

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 29

lakesidelivingsite, August 29

Lily’s Book Reviews, August 30

Where Faith and Books Meet, August 30

Melissa’s Bookshelf, August 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 31

Back Porch Reads, September 1

annette_reads_daily, September 1

Texas Book-aholic, September 2

Cathe Swanson, September 2

Book Looks by Lisa, September 2

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 3

Christina’s Corner, September 3

Connie’s History Classroom, September 4

Kristina Hall, September 4

The Book Club Network, September 5

Pause for Tales, September 5

Happily Managing A Household of Boys, September 5

Cover Lover Book Review, September 6

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 6

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, September 7 (Author Interview)

The Book Nook, September 7

Betti Mace, September 8

Labor Not in Vain, September 8

Just Your Average reviews, September 8

Simple Harvest Reads, September 9 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, September 9

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, September 9

Blogging With Carol, September 10

For Him and My Family, September 10

Holly’s Book Corner, September 11

Lights in a Dark World, September 11

Books I’ve Read, September 11

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon eGift card and a print copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/278bf/the-starlet-spy-celebration-tour-giveaway

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Marilyn Turk: The Escape Game

By Kelly Bridgewater

A Board Game Holds Keys to Prisoners’ Escape

Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.

After the Nazis started the bombing blitz of England, Beryl Clarke puts her college on hold to return to Leeds, care for her mother, and work as a secretary at the Waddington game company. While she endures the war at home, her brother James fights the enemy in the air. When he is shot down, injured, and captured, James meets American POW Kenneth Anderson, and they plan to escape the Nazi prison camp. Beryl knows there is a board game with escape plans being delivered to POWs by the Red Cross. But how will the men discover the game’s secret?

My Thoughts:

The Escape Game by Marilyn Turk is a different, yet interesting take on World War II. For readers familiar with World War II novels, they have read tons of stories on the concentration camps during World War II. I, personally, have not read any stories that have to do with Nazi POW camps. This was interesting and fascinating how well the prisoners were actually treated. The plot does have two point of views that had a past before the war started. Monopoly played a huge part in the escape game, which I did not know. The characters, especially the hero, Kenneth Anderson, was brave and willing to do anything to escape the Nazi prison. Nicely crafted. The heroine, Beryl Clarke, worked at the war effort while trying to bring her mother out of her depression since her father died. The writing style was easy to follow and a nicely handled story with plenty of action and surprising moments that kept me glued to the story. I recommend this story to fans of World War II stories.

I received a complimentary copy of The Escape Game by Marilyn Turk from Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase The Escape Game

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Patty Smith Hill: On My Honor

By Kelly Bridgewater

About the Book

Book: On My Honor

Author:Patty Smith Hall

Genre: Christian / Historical Fiction / Romance / Intrigue

Release date: January, 2023

Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this new series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.

Ginny Mathis had no intention of staying rooted in the Outer Banks—then war broke out. While working as a clerk for Oregon Inlet ferry, naval officers ask her to be watchful for German U-boats reportedly spotted in the area. To help occupy her younger sister, Ginny enlists the Girl Scout troop she leads to help watch for suspicious activity. Soon the girls are sneaking around, hiding a shipwreck survivor. Ginny must take charge, but is this man the enemy, or does he hold secrets that could turn the tide of the Battle of the Atlantic in the allies’ favor?

My Thoughts:

On My Honor by Patty Smith Hill is a unique perspective on a World War II novel. With the story set in America with the affects of the Battle of Atlantic on the coastline, I had not seen a Christian fiction novel that has taken place during this era. I wanted more of the history of the actual event than a side story that featured more of the romance between the heroine and hero. I do enjoy the idea of the Girl Scout and showing how important girls can be for the plot. On the other hand, the romance was totally unbelievable. I had a hard time believing that the heroine and hero actually had feelings for each other. They both really didn't do anything to attract the other person besides steal a kiss from each other once and a while. Overall, On My Honor by Patty Smith Hill had an interesting concept that I could get behind, but the plot and romance did not deliver.

I received a complimentary copy of On My Honor by Patty Smith Hill from Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Purchase On My Honor

About the Author

Multi-published author Patty Smith Hall lives near the North Georgia Mountains with her husband, Danny. When she’s not writing on her back porch, she’s spending time with her family or working in her vegetable garden.

More from Patty

Did you know that the Girl Scouts (or Girl Guides) serviced as spies on HIs Majesty’s Secret Service during World War One? I didn’t either until I picked up a book on female spies at my local Barnes and Noble. There were only two paragraphs about how the girls worked with the MI5 for the duration of the war. It was enough to get my heart pumping!

Being a former Girl Scout myself, I was amazed at what these young girls did to help our country during the war. What activities did the Girl Scouts/Girl Guides do in World War II? Anything asked of them. They organized drives for anything from fat (to make bullets) to paper, stepped into positions left vacant by men serving on the front and worked Victory gardens to provide food for their community. They did so many things, I can’t begin to name them all here. By March 1944, the Girl Scouts had provided over 15 million volunteer hours toward the war effort.

Isn’t that amazing? No wonder I had to write a book about them!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 5

The Write Escape, January 5

lakesidelivingsite, January 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 7

Texas Book-aholic, January 8

Christina’s Corner, January 8

Inklings and notions, January 9

Cover Lover Book Review, January 10

Lily’s Book Reviews, January 10

Betti Mace, January 11

Where Faith and Books Meet, January 11

deb’s Book Review, January 12

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 12

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 13

For Him and My Family, January 13

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, January 14

Mary Hake, January 14

Connie’s History Classroom, January 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 16

Blossoms and Blessings, January 16

Splashes of Joy, January 17

Pause for Tales, January 17

Labor Not in Vain, January 18

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, January 18

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Patty is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon e-gift card and a print copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/23640/on-my-honor-celebration-tour-giveaway

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Naomi Musch: Season of My Enemy

By Kelly Bridgewater

'Get Your Farm in the Fight' - The Realities of WWII Come to a Wisconsin Farm

Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this series celebrates the unsung heroes’ the heroines of WWII.

Only last year, Fannie O'Brien was considered a beauty with a brain, and her future shone bright, despite the war pounding Europe. With her father's sudden death and her brothers overseas, Fannie must now do the work of three men on their 200-acre farm’ until eight German prisoners arrive and, just as Fannie feared, trouble comes too. Someone seems intent on causing 'accidents," and Fannie is certain the culprit is one of the two handsome older Germans’ or possibly both. Can she manage the farm, keep the prisoners in line, and hold her family together through these turbulent times?

My Thoughts:

Seasons of My Enemy by Naomi Musch is a story about the different seasons on a Wisconsin farm during World War II. The story surrounds around Fannie and the O’Brien family. With two sons gone for the harvest season because they are fighting over in Europe, the matriarch of the O’Brien family decides to hire German Prisoners of War. Of course, having them close to the American create conflict and strife through the O’Brien family. The writing was realistic and showed the struggles of the American people. Much different scenario’s than the European front of the World War II front. Most European World War II stories show how little amount of food there was, but in Musch’s story, there was food of plenty on the O’Brien’s family throughout the entire story. While the writing was descriptive, I had a really hard time struggling with the romance and the plot. Fannie has a sparking romance with one of the POW’s, and I have a hard time buying this. Not that it did not happen during World War II, but the way the story was told, it just did not ring true for me. Similarly, the plot did not seem that interesting. There was a conflict in the middle of the story that was obvious, and I knew something like that was going to happen. Most of the story was the same thing over and over again. Working on the field by harvesting a certain vegetable, then moving onto a different vegetable. Conflict with the POW’s. Romance. Worry about the brothers overseas. Overall, Seasons of My Enemy by Naomi Musch was a different story with sharing about the American warfront. The plot needed more of a conflict to entice the readers.

I received a complimentary copy Seasons of My Enemy by Naomi Musch from Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Purchase Season of My Enemy

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Angela Couch: A Rose for the Resistance

By Kelly Bridgewater

About the Book

Book: A Rose for the Resistance

Author: Angela K. Couch

Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Christian

Release date: April, 2022

A French Woman and German Soldier Create a Truce. Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this new series celebrates the unsung heroes;the heroines of WWII. With her father in a German POW camp and her home in Ste Mere Eglise, France, under Nazi occupation, Rosalie Barrieau will do anything to keep her younger brother safe. . .even from his desire to join the French resistance. Until she falls into the debt of a German solder; one who delivers a wounded British pilot to her door. Though not sure what to make of her German ally, Rosalie is thrust deep into the heart of the local underground. As tensions build toward the allied invasion of Normandy, she must decide how much she is willing to risk for freedom.

My Thoughts:

The Rose for the Resistance by Angela Crouch dives into the world of the French Resistance during World War II. The background and the research to bring this story to life is well-crafted and shows in the world of the story. I felt like I was walking the streets of France while the Nazi’s were standing ground and imitating the French people. On the other hand, the romance between Franz and the heroine seemed a little off for me. Not that Europeans did not fall in love with Nazi’s soldiers during World War II. It was more of having the heroine believe what he said right away and not doubting it. Even so far as she told him secrets of the French Resistance and kept him in the loop. Many Nazi soldiers were more worried about keeping themselves alive that I was not surprised he did not betray her a number of times to make himself look better. He was a forced soldier, for a logical reason, but I still did not buy that he would have helped her as much as he did. Whereas, the plot does feature French Resistance that has been shown in a number of other stories like The Paris Dressmaker by Kristy Cambron, so I believed the actions she made the characters go through. It was an interesting story and a delight to spend time with.

I received a complimentary copy of The Rose for the Resistance by Angela Crouch from Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Purchase The Rose for the Resistance

About the Author

To keep from freezing in the great white north, Angela K Couch cuddles under quilts with her laptop. Winning short story contests, being a semi-finalist in ACFW’s Genesis Contest, and a finalist in the 2016 International Digital Awards also helped warm her up. As a passionate believer in Christ, her faith permeates the stories she tells. Her martial arts training, experience with horses, and appreciation for good romance sneak in as well. When not writing, she stays fit (and toasty warm) by chasing after four munchkins.