Mario Escobar: The Teacher of Warsaw

 By Kelly Bridgewater

The start of the Second World War changed everything in Poland irrevocably—except for one man’s capacity to love.

September 1, 1939. Sixty-year-old Janusz Korczak and the students and teachers at his Dom Sierot Jewish orphanage are outside enjoying a beautiful day in Warsaw. Hours later, their lives are altered forever when the Nazis invade. Suddenly treated as an outcast in his own city, Janusz—a respected leader known for his heroism and teaching—is determined to do whatever it takes to protect the children from the horrors to come.

When over four hundred thousand Jewish people are rounded up and forced to live in the 1.3-square-mile walled compound of the Warsaw ghetto, Janusz and his friends take drastic measures to shield the children from disease and starvation. With dignity and courage, the teachers and students of Dom Sierot create their own tiny army of love and bravely prepare to march toward the future—whatever it may hold.

Unforgettable, devastating, and inspired by a real-life hero of the Holocaust, The Teacher of Warsaw  reminds the world that one single person can incite meaning, hope, and love.

 

 

My Thoughts:

The Teacher of Warsaw by Mario Escobar is a horrific portrayal of life inside the Warsaw Ghetto. Lots of horrible descriptions of the reality of this place. Lots of hurt, hunger, and dismay, but the Teacher overshines all this darkness and always puts the love of the children above his own. He keeps telling his other helpers to leave and escape. Help the children escape. He went to the prison a number of times for standing up for the little man. He sought out food for the children on a daily basis. The plot is completely different than most World War II novels that I have read because I knew about the ghetto's, but I honestly, cannot recall any other story that takes place inside these places. A dark and humbling time in European's history. If readers are a fan of World War II, then this is a great novel to pick up. I learned so more about World War II. I saw the good sprinkled in with the bad and saw the shining light of the heart of man.

I received a complimentary copy of The Teacher of Warsaw by Mario Escobar from Harper Muse Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Memorial Day 2022

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Have a good Memorial Weekend

fbfreestatus.blogspot.com

I pray that you do not have to work. Enjoy time with family and eat some good food!

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

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Liz Tolsma: A Promised Engraved

By Kelly Bridgewater

Can Promises Made in Times of Struggle Endure 200 Years?

Visit historic American landmarks through the Doors to the Past series. History and today collide in stories full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance.

Young, spirited Josie Wilkins life is about to take a turn when faced with political turmoil and forbidden love in San Antonio of 1836. John Gilbert has won her heart, despite being a Protestant preacher who is forbidden to practice his faith in Texas. Will either of them survive an epic battle for liberty to create a legacy of love?

Nearly 200 years later, Kayleigh Hernandez takes breaks from her demanding job as a refugee coordinator working with Mexican migrants to attend flea markets where she has found a uniquely engraved ring. Enlisting the help of appraiser Brandon Shuman, they piece together a love story long forgotten. But will dangers linked to Kayleigh’s work end her own hopes for leaving a legacy built on hope, faith, and love?

 

My Thoughts:

A Promise Engraved by Liz Tolsma invites readers into the story of the Battle of Alamo. With plenty of battle scenes and the rush through the Texan landscape, Tolsma invites her readers into a different world than the current Texan landscape. Josie Wilkins, the heroine from the past, is a brave woman who has a horrible past that she is trying to forget, yet cling onto certain aspects too. The present heroine, Kayleigh, also wants to know some truth about her biological parents. As both women seek to figure out the truth, they learn more about themselves and their past. Tolsma shows how understanding one’s legacy and ancestors is important to everyone. Similarly, the plot of the story was okay. As a reader, I had a hard time personally wanting to stay with the story. At times, it was boring and not a lot of movement on the page. I wanted, personally,  a bigger mystery to dive into. Overall, A Promise Engraved does fit well into the Doors into the Past series, and I believe readers will enjoy the novel as part of the complete series.

I received a complimentary copy of A Promise Engraved by Liz Tolsma  from Barbour  Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating:  3.5 out of 5 stars

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Most Anticipated Suspense for Summer 2021

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Last week, I shared with my most excited novels for Historical Romance that I am most excited to read. 

This week, I am sharing the suspense novels that I can not wait to get my hands on. 

(All covers come from Goodreads!)

Code of Courage by Janice Cantore

Dark Angel by Andrews and Wilson

Sunburst by Susan May Warren

Fatal Code by Natalie Walters

The Deadly Shallows by Dani Pettrey

Free Fall by Nancy Mehl

Crossfire by Lynette Eason

Critical Alliance by Elizabeth Goddard

Deception by Patricia Bradley

Elysium Tide by James R. Hannibal

What about you? What would you add?

Becky Wade: Turn To Me

 By Kelly Bridgewater

His promise will cost him far more than he imagined.

Guilt has defined Luke Dempsey's life, but it was self-destructiveness that landed him in prison. When his friend and fellow inmate lay dying shortly before Luke's release, the older man revealed he left a string of clues for his daughter, Finley, that will lead her to the treasure he's hidden. Worried that she won't be the only one pursuing the treasure, he gains Luke's promise to protect her until the end of her search.

Spunky and idealistic, Finley Sutherland is the owner of an animal rescue center and a defender of lost causes. She accepts Luke's help on the treasure hunt while secretly planning to help him in return--by coaxing him to embrace the forgiveness he's long denied himself.

As they draw closer to the final clue, their reasons for resisting each other begin to crumble, and Luke realizes his promise will push him to the limit in more ways than one. He'll do his best to shield Finley from unseen threats, but who's going to shield him from losing his heart?

My Thoughts:

Fans of contemporary romance, rejoice. Fan favorite Becky Wade has crafted another contemporary romance novel for fans of the genre and Wade’s stories. The story has a hint of a mystery with the treasure hunt that Finley has to go on. A little bit of a risky adventure. But since this is a contemporary romance, the whole story centers around the romance between Finley and Luke. From their first encounter, Finley and Luke start having feelings for each other. They spend the rest of the story trapped together trying to solve the treasure hunt pieces and working together at the animal rescue place, so they are in constant contact, so of course, their attraction to each other becomes center stage. As for Finley, the heroine, she did seem a little flaky and pushy. What kind of person would demand her employees take home a brand-new puppy, even though they persisted that he did not want to take one? After a horrible week with the dog, he still had feelings for her. I found this hard to believe. I would not like someone that forced a snake or something on me. Puppies are hard to handle just like a new baby. While I found the plot a little too unbelievable, I believe that fans of contemporary romance might completely disagree with me and enjoy the hint of the romance with the “mystery” element. Overall, Turn to Me by Becky Wade does fit nicely into the contemporary romance genre, but it was not to my liking. Not my type of book.

I received a complimentary copy Turn to Me by Becky Wade from  Bethany House Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating:  3 out of 5 stars

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Most Anticipated Historical Romance Summer 2021

 By Kelly Bridgewater

It is that time of year again!

I love showing off all the covers of the stories that I look forward to in the next three months. 

Here are the Historical Romance that I am looking for to reading:

(All covers come from Goodreads!)

A Hundred Crickets Singing by Cathy Gohlke

Long Way Home by Lynn Austin

Written on the Wind by Elizabeth Camden

The Italian Ballerina by Kristy Cambron

A Feeling of Home by Susan Anne Mason

In Honor's Defense by Karen Witemeyer

A Promise Engraved by Liz Tolsma

Laura's Shadow by Allison Pittman

Heirlooms by Sandra Byrd

What about you? Any books to add?