Review: The Girl from Munich

Title: The Girl from Munich

Author: Tania Blanchard

Publisher: 1 September  2017 by Simon & Schuster Australia

Pages: 352 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: historical fiction, romance

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

Germany, 1943. The choices she makes will change her life forever.

Growing up in Hitler’s Germany, Charlotte von Klein has big dreams for the future. Her mind is full of plans for a sumptuous wedding to her childhood sweetheart Heinrich while working for the Luftwaffe, proudly giving her all for the Fatherland.

But in 1943, the tide of the war is turning against Germany, and Lotte’s life of privilege and comfort begins to collapsing around her. As Hitler’s Reich abandons Germany and the country falls to the Allied forces, Lotte is forced to flee from the unfolding chaos to the country with the darkly attractive Erich Drescher, her Luftwaffe superior.

Amid the danger, pain and heartbreak of a country turning on itself, Lotte must forge a new life for herself. But as the country struggles to find its future, shadows of the past come rushing back and Lotte finds herself questioning everything she has fought for - love, duty and freedom.

My Thoughts

‘It was as if a tiny crack in the very ordered, planned world of mine had appeared, allowing me to look at life around me, at the life I might want to take for myself.’

I thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Girl from Munich’ by Aussie author Tania Blanchard set in the final years of World War II. It was refreshing to read a book from the perspective of a young German girl during this period and I found it to be excellent historical fiction, especially considering it is her debut. Inspired by tales from her German grandmother, it most definitely rings true and I am thrilled to see that she intends to continue the story with a new novel set in the 1950s.

‘The war had opened doors to exciting possibilities never available to a girl like me before but my mother made sure I walked the rigid path of tradition.’

I confess to being completely swept up in this tale of duty, love, survival and new beginnings. However, it is learning about German civilians during the war, that I found the most compelling. You cannot help but feel for these people who were also victims to Nazi brainwashing - ordinary people who truly believed that the Fuhrer was doing the very best for their country. This tale provides real insights into how many Germans felt during the war and at their shame in the end when the terrible atrocities were brought to their attention. It is a most compelling narrative.

‘All the reports over the wireless, at the cinema and in the local newspapers stated emphatically that Germany was winning the war. Slowly to be sure, but winning all the same, and I had no reason to doubt those reports.’

This is a coming of age story for Charlotte and the writing has you invested in many of the characters with whom you will make an emotional connections.  You will be inspired by Lotte’s strength, courage and fortitude throughout; appreciative of Erich’s dedication and compassion; understand Lotte’s ‘Vati’ (father) love, unsure of Heinrich motives - just to name a few. It may for some at times, be a little too wrapped up in the romance, but it ticked all the right boxes for me at this time.

If you enjoy a good wartime story, especially one with a most unique perspective, then I highly recommend ‘The Girl from Munich’. It is easy to read with a good mix of fiction and nonfiction that will have you swept away as the tide turns against Germany and the impact it had upon its people.

'How could he have let these things happen? How could Germany have stooped so low? After all I had seen and heard, I had to accept that Hitler wasn’t the perfect man I had believed him to be. Germany was no better off. It was destroyed, its citizens left destitute, scarred and bereft.'

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release

Review: Map of the Heart

Title: Map of the Heart

Author: Susan Wiggs

Publisher: 10 August 2017 by Harper Collins

Pages: 368 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: women’s fiction, contemporary & historical romance

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

An accomplished photographer, a widow, and a mother, Camille Palmer is content with the blessings she’s enjoyed. When her aging father asks her to go with him to his native France, she has no idea that she’s embarking on an adventure that will shake her complacency and utterly transform her. Returning to the place of his youth sparks unexpected memories—recollections that will lead Camille, her father, and her daughter, Julie, who has accompanied them, back to the dark, terrifying days of the Second World War, where they will uncover their family’s surprising history.

While Provence offers answers about her family’s past, it also holds the key to Camille’s future. Along the way, Camille meets a handsome American historian who stirs a passion deep within her she thought she’d never experience again.

My Thoughts

‘The moments of life are ephemeral and unpredictable. We must capture the best ones and keep them safe in our hearts.’

I was eager to read a Susan Wiggs book and was pleasantly surprised by this dual time narrative with characters that a range of readers should identify with. With idyllic French Provencal settings and a plot to keep the reader engaged to the end, it proved a wonderful read. The insight into photography is a real bonus and I appreciated the section opening quotes:

‘Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.’

DOROTHEA LANGE, AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER

I am a big fan of dual narratives and this one was well done, although (and not surprisingly) I found one story to be stronger than the other. The modern day story of Camille and the mystery surrounding her husband’s death, was at times a little too drawn out and repetitive.  Whilst on the one hand you empathised, Camille would then act in an immature and annoying way. The story of her  grandmother, Lisette, and her tale of life and love in small town France during WWII was far more engaging. A French resistance heroine and downed American paratrooper was a classic tale. Overall, however, it is a good mix of the historical and contemporary stories.

At it’s heart it is a traditional wartime love story that unfolds into present day and the granddaughters second chance at love, whilst unfolding the mystery surrounding her father’s family. I like that there is more to it than just pure romance and the family mystery is noteworthy. You get a real feel for the lead characters and the journey of self discovery they are on - the trauma and anguish and how they deal with it. There are also a range of secondary characters that add real depth to the story - Henri, Hank, Julie - are well written and bring their own story to life and it all blends together very well.

The loss of one star rating had to do with Camille and Finn’s relationship - the way they met (his anger was so understandable and I could not comprehend his complete turnaround) and how they  initially interacted, I found cringe worthy and, at times, the banter was silly - it just took credibility away from what is otherwise, a really good story. The stereotypical widow single mother, meeting handsome professor, initially resistant but flirting and circumstances working it’s magic in trying to bring that happy ending.

However, do not let this distract you from what is essentially a very engaging and satisfying story. There are enough unique aspects to this tale to rate it higher than your average women’s fiction story. More than just a romance, this is a story of family, love, loss, healing and the courage to take the second chance.

‘She used to take pictures, wandering for hours on her travels, a favorite camera thumping against her sternum. She used to disappear into the act of capturing an image, exposing its secrets, freezing a moment.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release

Interview with Jodi Perry of 'Nineteen Letters'

‘Nineteen Letters’ Q&A with Jodi Perry

Before I was an author I was . . . a full-time mother. I’ve always been a passionate reader and writing my own stories was something I aspired to do. When my son started school, I had a lot of spare time so I thought I’d give it a try.

The best part of writing Nineteen Letters was . . . I loved every part of this journey. It was not only the easiest book I’ve written but in my opinion it’s the best.

Nineteen Letters was inspired by . . . a story I saw on the television one morning. It was about a woman who had a car accident a week after her wedding. She hit her head on the steering wheel and had no memory of her wedding, so her husband recreated their special day. I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth a few minutes later when the idea for Nineteen Letters came to me. I wrote the blurb in less than two minutes.

When I’m not writing I . . . spend time with my family and friends or travel the world for book signings and to meet my readers. I love the opportunities my writing career has given me.

The book that changed my life was . . . It wasn’t a book that I read, but rather a book I wrote. It rocketed straight to number one on release day – and it is what landed me my publishing contract with Hachette Australia. That story was translated into other languages and will always hold a special place in my heart.

Review: Nineteen Letters

Title: Nineteen Letters

Author: Jodi Perry

Publisher: 29 August  2017 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 384 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: contemporary romance

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

Nineteen. There’s something about that number; it not only brought us together, bonding us forever, it also played a hand in tearing us apart.

The nineteenth of January 1996. I’ll never forget it. It was the day we met. I was seven and she was six. It was the day she moved in next door, and the day I developed my first crush on a girl.

Exactly nineteen years later, all my dreams came true when she became my wife. She was the love of my life. My soul mate. My everything. The reason I looked forward to waking up every morning.

Then tragedy struck. Nineteen days after we married, she was in an accident that would change our lives forever. When she woke from her coma, she had no memory of me, of us, of the love we shared.

I was crushed. She was my air, and without her I couldn’t breathe.

The sparkle that once glistened her eyes when she looked at me was gone. To her, now, I was a stranger. I had not only lost my wife, I had lost my best friend.

But I refused to let this tragedy be the end of us. That’s when I started to write her letters, stories of our life. Of when we met. About the happier times, and everything we had experienced together.

What we had was far too beautiful to be forgotten.

My Thoughts

“I thought that nineteen was the number that symbolised everything we were. Every important milestone we’d experienced together. The number that not only brought us together, but bonded us forever. “

It’s all about the significance of the number ‘19’ for Braxton and Jemma in this love story. However, what happens when everything they had is gone? After a tragic car accident, can Braxton rekindle all that he has lost due to Jemma’s amnesia?

The best thing about this story are the letters - you kind of get two stories for the price of one here, as Braxton so lovingly relates all that Jemma has forgotten (inclusive of charms for a memory bracelet, no less). All the significant dates are strategically placed throughout her tale of recovery, but will it be enough to win her back?

“If Jemma won’t listen to my spoken words, she might at least read my written ones. She needs to know what our lives were once like.”

In each of the nineteen letters, Braxton chronologically recounts many of the memorable events in their long history together - from childhood friends through to marriage. Each installment see’s Jemma become more understanding and open to the reasons of why they fell in love and were soul mates. It seamlessly correlates to the present day and never appears to be out of sync or just thrown in for good measure.

This brings us to one profound aspect of this tale - it is a love story, pure and simple. No added drama or outside distractions - just a man trying to win (again) the heart of his soul mate. You will find yourself eagerly anticipating the delivery of a new letter and what the matching charm will be. Braxton is every girl’s dream - from stalwart supporter as childhood friends, to pure devotion and commitment of not let going of all they once shared. One simply has to let go of reality and fall under his spell as Braxton has a way with words that will reach right into every woman’s heart.

Naturally there will be those that cannot swallow such sickly sweet devotion and adoration. This man can do no wrong! However, if  you can see past all that and embrace your inner hopeless romantic, delve into a true romance read as you join ‘Team Braxton’ and each of his nineteen letters, hoping that you will get your happily ever after.

‘Then you started writing the letters.’ Although there are tears brimming in her eyes, there’s a smile on her face as she speaks. ‘You have no idea what those letters have done for me. They’ve given me hope where there was none.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release

Coming Soon!

Review: Secrets Between Friends

Title: Secrets Between Friends

Author: Fiona Palmer

Publisher: 12 September 2017 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 368 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: fiction, contemporary romance

My Rating: 3.5 cups

Synopsis:

Friendship is a million little moments, but can it survive this one? Three friends embark on a luxury cruise to celebrate their ten-year reunion in this heartfelt story of how long-held secrets can catch up with even the best of friends

Life was about living, experiencing and emotions. The good and the bad. You had to laugh to cry. You had to love to hurt. You had to jump to fall or fly.

Best friends Abbie, Jess and Ricki are set to recreate a school trip they took ten years earlier to the historic port town of Albany, the oldest city on the stunning turquoise coastline of Western Australia.

Ricki, a dedicated nurse, harbours a dream she hasn't chased. Is she actually happy or stuck in a rut?

Jess, a school teacher and single mother to little Ollie, had a tough upbringing but found her way through with the help of her closest male friend, Peter. But Peter has bought an engagement ring and is ready to propose to Ricki . . .

Abbie had it all: a career, a loving boyfriend and a future, but a visit to the doctor bears scary news. Her world is tumbling down and she feels adrift at sea.

SECRETS BETWEEN FRIENDS is a poignant novel of romance, family dynamics and friendship. Through her highly relatable, sympathetic characters, beloved Australian storyteller Fiona Palmer writes about issues, experiences and emotions we have all faced while posing the ultimate question: What is really important in this life?

My Thoughts

I was keen to sample Fiona Palmer’s first time dalliance out of her ‘rural romance’ genre. Here is a tale of best friends, Jess, Abbie and Ricki (and Ricki's boyfriend, Peter) who decide to take a three-day cruise down the coast of Western Australia. As the title of the book indicates, there most definitely are some very serious ‘secrets between friends’ that all come to a head during this short cruise. Will their long term friendship be able to withstand the revelations and confrontations that, in the confines of ship life, there will be no escape from?

Once again I reveled in the setting - Australia - and this time, sailing on a familiar cruise line. As the girls and Peter make the most of life onboard the ship and the trip to Albany and back, there was much to enjoy. Being a ‘cruiser’ myself, I found the descriptions realistic and accurate. For those of you in any way interested in cruising, this gives a lovely little insight into life onboard.

‘Gee, they really pack a lot of events into a day aboard the ship don’t they?’

‘... that was life on the ship. You could partake in all the activities, some or none.’

The concept of secrets amongst friends is not a new one, however, I just found their tiffs and selfishness difficult to swallow at times. Sadly, I didn’t really enjoy the characters that much because of it.

‘Problems going on with my friends. Secrets and indiscretions, surprises.’ She shrugged.

‘We came here to celebrate, but today all we’ve done is yell at each other.’

Each of the girls have personal issues to contend with from the desire to follow a dream, to single motherhood, to health concerns. So there is much to relate to and it was interesting to see how events played out. I appreciated the realism and how confrontational certain aspects were presented and handled. I am sure that many of Fiona Palmer's fans will enjoy taking a trip alongside the three friends and appreciate that life is not always smooth with bonds often being stretched to breaking point.

‘Life can seem great one minute and then a shit-hole mess the next. What do we do, Abbie?’

‘We do the only thing we can do. Live each day as it comes, try to be good people while pursuing happiness.’

It sounded easy. But it wasn’t.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release

Review: The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club

Title: The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club

Author: Sophie Green

Publisher: 8 August  2017 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 384 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: women’s fiction, contemporary, outback Australia

My Rating: 4.5 crowns

Synopsis:

Books bring them together - but friendship will transform all of their lives. Five very different women come together in the Northern Territory of the 1970s by an exceptional new Australian author.

In 1978 the Northern Territory has begun to self-govern. Cyclone Tracy is a recent memory and telephones not yet a fixture on the cattle stations dominating the rugged outback. Life is hard and people are isolated. But they find ways to connect.

Sybil is the matriarch of Fairvale Station, run by her husband, Joe. Their eldest son, Lachlan, was Joe's designated successor but he has left the Territory - for good. It is up to their second son, Ben, to take his brother's place. But that doesn't stop Sybil grieving the absence of her child. With her oldest friend, Rita, now living in Alice Springs and working for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and Ben's English wife, Kate, finding it difficult to adjust to life at Fairvale, Sybil comes up with a way to give them all companionship and purpose: they all love to read, and she forms a book club.

Mother-of-three Sallyanne is invited to join them. Sallyanne dreams of a life far removed from the dusty town of Katherine where she lives with her difficult husband, Mick. Completing the group is Della, who left Texas for Australia looking for adventure and work on the land.

If you loved The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society, The Little Coffee Shop Of Kabul and The Thorn Birds you will devour this story of five different women united by one need: to overcome the vast distances of Australia's Top End with friendship, tears, laughter, books and love.

My Thoughts

‘I’m starting a book club –well, that’s obvious.’ She gestured to the paper. ‘We’re all a bit isolated out here, aren’t we? It’s good to have some other people to talk to.’

The blurb had me with ‘book club’ and ‘Thorn Birds’, however, there is so much more to this little gem of a read. Set in the unique time and place - Northern Territory, Australia 1978 - it provides the reader with a realistic portrayal of life on the land in one of the most remote locations of a vast continent; and, how five women form a friendship that began with a love of books but evolved to so much more that saw them bond through good and bad times.

‘You like to read?’ Sybil said, stopping before they reached the table. Sallyanne nodded vigorously. ‘I love it,’ she said. ‘It’s my escape.

Yes, there are some fabulous reads made mention of here and the women’s discussion of the books (not too detailed) evolves into a wider conversation of events that arise in their own lives. Books from ‘The Thorn Birds’ to ‘We of the Never Never’ to ‘Harp in the South’ bring back memories of some classic Australian literature. Add to that the list of real life dates and events that occurred at various stages throughout the telling of this tale - for example: ‘The compact disc is demonstrated in public for the first time, by Phillips’ - will bring a smile to your face as you recall what age you were at these selected occasions.

Next thing to mention is the ‘Outback’ itself - the Northern Territory. The huge distances, the overpowering sense of isolation, the impact of climate and weather, concerning life on a station (ranch). Sophie Green brings all of this to life, as you can clearly envisage the array of practicalities to living so remotely, whether it concern supplies or medical emergencies.

The five female leads are true and strong, each bringing their own unique story to this tale. This is a story of friendship and learning to trust over some truly difficult and challenging circumstances - accidents, illnesses, wet season inaccessibility, domestic violence, isolation - all credible and realistic situations. It’s through the bond they form that makes life that little bit easier.

‘Books give us the benefit of a lot of people’s experiences,’ she said slowly. ‘They give us more options to choose from –more ways to live –than we could ever find on our own.’

Overall this was a joy to read. You become really invested in the characters, appreciating each of the generational challenges and how together, at a time of no internet and difficult communication, they were able to create true and lasting friendships.  I encourage you to ....

“put the kettle on to boil and to hold the inaugural meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club.”

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release