Julia Review

 

About the Book

Before she stepped into the spotlight as a master of French cooking, Julia Child navigated the shadows as a WWII intelligence officer.

On the sunny shores of California, Julia McWilliams is poised to embrace a life of comfort and financial security, with a marriage proposal from a wealthy man to consider. But as World War II erupts in the US, her patriotic fervor compels her to abandon her secure future. Trading country clubs for covert codes, Julia joins the Office of Strategic Services, where her sharp mind aids the Allied cause in the shadowy realm of espionage.

Amid strategic missions in Ceylon and China, Julia crosses paths with Paul Child, a fellow OSS officer whose delight in art, culture, and cuisine awakens a new hunger within her. Their chance meetings ignite a spark that blossoms into romance, leading to a proposal that Julia eagerly accepts. Together they embark on a new chapter in postwar Paris.

In the City of Light, Julia grapples with a different kind of challenge: she refuses to be confined by the societal expectations of a married woman. Drawn to the tantalizing world of French gastronomy—a pursuit her peers deem superfluous—she enrolls at the famed Le Cordon Bleu, and with Paul’s unwavering support, Julia immerses herself in her new passion.

Facing skepticism and prejudice in the male-dominated kitchens of Paris, Julia’s resolve never falters. Her relentless pursuit of culinary mastery not only transforms her own life but also introduces a revolutionary change in kitchens throughout America. From intelligence officer to beloved chef, Julia takes readers on an extraordinary journey. (Goodreads)

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My Thoughts

This is such an interesting look into the life of Julia Child. The author does a terrific job at explaining the many details of Julia's life but without being boring. It is fiction and reads as fiction but the research that went into this is astounding. The majority of the book is about her life prior to her cooking and cookbook events. I didn't know how she met her husband, and I really enjoyed reading that fun part of the book. The OSS is fascinating and I was fully immersed in that part of the story because of the history of it all. I also didn't realize that Julia and Paul lived in so many places, and of course how her cookbook came about was all new information to me. I can't imagine the hours she put in to create her recipes-it is mind boggling! Needless to say, this book is well worth the read if you have any interest in Julia Child. She was one of a kind! 

I recommend! 

Five Stars. 

"I received a complementary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

Lady Flyer Review

  

 About the Book

Based on a true story and set against the backdrop of WWII, a young woman’s love of flying becomes an epic fight for identity and equality.

In the quiet town of Houghton, Michigan, sixteen-year-old Nancy Harkness discovers a passion that ignites her heart in ways she never expected. The arrival of barnstormer pilots brings more than just the thrill of their daring stunts; it brings the promise of adventure. Nancy vows she will be a pilot someday.

Years later, as the dark clouds of World War II gather on the horizon, Nancy’s dreams take a new and daring turn. With unwavering determination, she envisions a squadron of female pilots. Yet, her path is far from clear. The male-dominated world of aviation pushes back, determined to keep women out of the skies.

But Nancy isn’t alone in her quest for equality. Jackie Cochran, a formidable aviatrix and Nancy’s rival, has her own dreams and ambitions for women in aviation. As they both navigate the turbulent skies of a nation at war, their destinies intertwine in a story of rivalry, respect, and competition. (Goodreads)

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My Thoughts

 

I was so excited to read this book because I didn't know anything about this history! Nancy Harkness Love led quite a life and this book is so well written that it captivates your attention. This is fiction but reads a lot like a biography. The author takes us from when Nancy was young up until her later years and then adds a TON of historical facts and tips at the end. I didn't know anything about the "lady flyers" or WAFS or WASP. Most books set during WWII are in Europe and not what was happening in the USA during that time. I really loved reading from Nancy's perspective on flying but also cultural events and historical accounts. There are SO many details and clearly is a well researched novel. I also really enjoyed the portrayal of Nancy and her husband. Their meeting and life together made me smile often. 

This is historical fiction at its finest! I highly recommend! 

Five Stars.

"I received this book from Shadow Mountain Publishers for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

Condemn Me Not

 

 

About the Book

“This woman was one of the most impudent, scurrilous, wicked creatures of this world; and she did now throughout her whole trial discover herself to be such a one. Yet when she was asked what she had to say for herself, her chief plea was that she had led a most virtuous and holy life.” —Reverend Cotton Mather, 1692

USA Today Bestselling author Heather B. Moore brings the life of her 10th great-grandmother to center stage. Susannah North Martin, accused of witchcraft in 1692, joins five women in the Salem Jail, all sentenced to death for their crimes. Amidst tragedy, Susannah finds hope and compassion as she remembers a well-loved life, and readers discover that love reaches far beyond the grave as Susannah faces the magistrates in Salem. (Goodreads)

BUY THE BOOK

My Thoughts

Any book or story that is written involving the Salem Witch Trials has me intrigued. I knew this book would be well researched and I was thrilled to finally get to read it! This story is dual time line involving the same character. I love the backstory as it adds so much depth and reality to what led up to being in the Salem jail. The characters are well developed and the historical details are so very interesting. I have no idea how the author was able to weave in a bit of romance but she accomplished it splendidly! It is mind boggling what happened at this point in history and if you have any interest in Salem and what went on you need to read this book. This story is based on a real life account with multiple quotes directly from what was written down in 1692.

I highly recommend!

Five Stars.

" I received this book from the author for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

Books on My Summer 2023 To-Read List

 Oh, I have a mountain of books I want to read. These are some that are at the top of my list!

Leave a comment so I can check out your TTT list!

 

 

Under The Java Moon Review

 

 

About the Book

 Based on a true story, this gripping WWII novel captures the resilience, hope, and courage of a Dutch family who is separated during the war when the Japanese occupy the Dutch East Indies.

Java Island, 1941

Six-year-old Rita Vischer cowers in her family’s dug-out bomb shelter, listening to the sirens and waiting for a bomb to fall. Her charmed life on Java—living with other Dutch families—had always been peaceful, but when Holland declares war on Japan and the Japanese army invades Indonesia, Rita’s family is forced to relocate to a POW camp, and Rita must help care for her little brother, Georgie.

Mary Vischer is three months pregnant when she enters the Tjideng women’s camp with thousands of other women and children. Her husband, George, is somewhere on the Java Sea with the Dutch Navy, so she must care alone for her young children, Rita and Georgie, and her frail mother-in-law. The brutal conditions of the overcrowded camp make starvation, malaria, and dysentery a grim reality. Mary must do everything she can to keep her family alive.

George Vischer survives the bombing of his minesweeper but feels little hope floating on a small dinghy in the Java Sea. Reaching the northern tip of the Thousand Islands would be a miracle. Focusing on of the love of his life, Mary, and his two children, he battles against the sea and merciless sun. He’ll do whatever it takes to close the divide between him and his family, even if it means risking being captured by the Japanese.

Under the Java Moon highlights a little-known part of WWII history and the impact of war on Indonesia, its people, and the more than 100,000 Dutch men, women, and children who were funneled into prison camps and faced with the ultimate fight for survival. (Goodreads)

 

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My Thoughts

This book holds an incredible story. Once I started reading, I really couldn't put this book down. This covers a history that I didn't know happened. The historical research and the fact that it is based on a true story is incredible. Indonesia during World War II is something I never considered and I just can't believe that people survived. What horrors other human beings can do to one another is mind boggling to me. This is not an easy read and I appreciate that Heather B. Moore doesn't skip the tough stuff. It is not terribly graphic per se but there are some scenes that are really hard to read. BUT we need to read this story. This needs to be talked about and taught as part of history. This book is told from three perspectives and it is done flawlessly. I was able to go back and forth between them all without issue. To read of an event from the perspective of people who were really there is incredible. It makes history come alive and it also should make us so thankful for what we have today. This is a fantastic book and one I won't soon forget. 

Five Stars.

" I received this book from Shadow Mountain Publishers for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

The Paper Daughters of Chinatown Review

 

 

About the Book

Based on the true story of two friends who unite to help rescue immigrant women in the most dangerous corners of San Francisco’s Chinatown in the late 1890s.

When Tai Choi leaves her home in the Zhejiang province of China, she believes she’ll be visiting her grandmother. But in truth, despite her mother’s opposition, her father has sold her to pay his gambling debts. Alone and afraid, Tai Choi is put on a ship headed for San Francisco, known among the Chinese as Gold Mountain. When she arrives, she is forced to go by the new name listed on her paper documents: Tien Fu Wu.

Her new life as a servant at a gambling den is hard. She is told to stay hidden, to stay silent, and to perform an endless list of chores, or else she will be punished. Tien Fu thinks her life couldn’t get any worse, until she is sold again to an abusive shopkeeper and tasked to care for a young boy. If she is to survive, Tien Fu must persevere, and learn who to trust.

When Dolly Cameron arrives in San Francisco to teach sewing at a mission home for orphaned Asian girls, she meets Tien Fu, who is willful, defiant, and unwilling to trust anyone. Dolly quickly learns that all the girls at the home were freed from lives of servitude and maltreatment. Dolly immediately joins the group of women dedicated to saving more of these “paper daughters” because some in authority have turned a blind eye to the situation.

Despite many challenges, Dolly and Tien Fu forge a powerful friendship as they mentor and help those in the mission home and work to win the freedom of thousands of immigrant women and girls. (Goodreads)

 RELEASES APRIL 11, 2023!!!

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My Thoughts

This is a story that has stuck with me since reading the last page. This book is fantastic and so incredibly interesting as it shines a bright light on part of history I knew nothing about! I have not read the original as this one was adapted for young readers. This is a GREAT book. I was sucked into the story from the start and all of the characters and the great risk that these women took to save others simply blows me away. I can understand why this story had to be rewritten for a younger audience as there are some pretty terrible things that happen to the young women in this story. But it was written in a way that got the point across without being graphic. I thought the writing was great and the flow of the story and historical time line excellent. I loved this book and I think everyone should read about the history of the Occidental Mission Home/Donaldina Cameron House. It is inspiring! 

Five stars. 

 

" I received this book from Shadow Mountain Publishing for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."