Three Queens Review

About the Book

 Abigail Adams, Queen Charlotte, and Marie-Antoinette—three women form an unlikely sisterhood, navigating revolutions, royal pressures, and personal losses as they shape their own legacies.

After the end of the American Revolutionary War, Abigail Adams crosses the Atlantic to reunite with her husband, John, after five long years apart. But she is unprepared for the glittering courts of England and France that are so different from her experience in the newly established United States. Undeterred, Abigail sets her sights on befriending the queens of Europe, believing their support is key to her nation’s future.

In England, Queen Charlotte carries the weight of an empire on her shoulders. Her husband, King George III, battles a private madness, while political tensions rise and her eldest son schemes for power. Charlotte struggles to maintain order and propriety—while clinging to the solace she finds in her correspondence with her friend Marie Antoinette in France.

Revolution has gripped France, and Marie Antoinette must watch as her world crumbles. Vilified by the public and neglected by a king who refuses to see the storm coming, she faces growing unrest with dwindling allies. As tragedy strikes her family, she reaches out to her friends—Charlotte and Abigail—in a last attempt to find a path forward, possibly even escape.

The paths of these three women cross in unexpected ways in public, in private, and through letters. They forge a quiet sisterhood across borders and upheaval, each one facing love and loss, sweetness and strife, revolution and regrets.(Goodreads)

Pre-Order Here

My Thoughts

I had no idea that these three women were tied together in history or even came in contact with one another. This book is fascinating! I LOVED getting a unique perspective of each woman, though Marie and Charlotte were my favorite to read. This is a work of fiction but the historical research that went into this novel is astounding. I had to do further research myself after reading to find out more because I was so intrigued. The author unites these women with a few common themes but one of them is being a mother. They all had children and they all lost children. I truly can't imagine being in their positions and raising children let alone having one pass away. The book was easy to read, even with the different perspectives. The chapters are organized in a way that made it not feel like a history book and I always knew whose perspective I was reading. I recommend if you enjoy historical fiction. 

Four Stars. 

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

Cozy Reads

 Top Ten Tuesday is all about Cozy/Atmospheric Reads!

All of these stories make think "cozy" and I am eager to see what books everyone else comes up with for this one. 

Thanks for stopping by! 

A Carol For Mrs. Dickens Review

About the Book

 Catherine Dickens, wife of Charles Dickens, experiences her own Christmas Eve transformation as she magically travels through her cherished memories to rediscover her lost love of Christmas.

By 1851, all of London has fallen in love with A Christmas Carol, heralding Charles Dickens as “the man who invented Christmas.” But for his wife, Catherine, Christmas is less of a reason for celebration and more of a burden. Between hosting lavish parties, decorating her home, and caring for her eight children—with one more on the way—she feels more like Scrooge than herself this year.

But everything changes after a chance encounter with a kitchen cook, who reminds her that Christmas can be a time of miracles and magic, if she is willing to open her heart.

Armed with a magical sprig of holly, Kate embarks on three transformative journeys into her past, hoping to reconnect with the love she once felt for the holiday—and with herself. But can these memories be enough to reignite her Christmas spirit? Or are such miraculous transformations only meant for the characters in her husband’s beloved tales?

Inspired by real individuals, A Carol for Mrs. Dickens reminds us that the true spirit of the holiday lies in love, faith, and the joy of giving. (Goodreads)

Purchase HERE.

My Thoughts

This is such a cozy and festive read. I wanted to curl up with a blanket and hot cocoa while reading it. Everything in the story is told from Catherine Dickens point of view. She is trying to enjoy the Christmas holiday while grieving the loss of a child and being hopeful for the one to come. It is similar to a Christmas Carol in many ways but the pages of this tale are more dear to my heart. I loved every chapter and this is easily going to be a new annual Christmas read. This short book shows the true meaning and sweetness of the holiday season. It also shows real life difficulties and that sometimes we have to really search and consider our focus to find joy. 

I enjoyed!

Five Stars. 

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review."

Hidden Yellow Stars Review

About the Book

 Based on the true story of two World War II heroines who risked everything to save Jewish children from the Gestapo by hiding them throughout Belgium.

Belgium, 1942

Young schoolteacher Andrée Geulen secretly defies the Nazis in Belgium, who are forcing Jews to wear a yellow Star of David. Andrée is not Jewish, but she feels a maternal connection to her students, who are living in constant fear, and decides to take action. No child should have to suffer under such persecution. But what can one woman do against an entire army?

Ida Sterno is a Jewish woman who works with the Committee for the Defense of Jews in Belgium, a clandestine resistance group tasked with hiding children from the Gestapo. She wants to recruit Andrée because her Aryan appearance can provide crucial security measures for their efforts. Andrée agrees to join and begins work immediately by adopting a code name: Claude Fournier.

Together, Andrée and Ida, and their undercover operatives, work around the clock to move Jewish children from their families and smuggle them to safety through the secret channels established by the resistance. As each child is hidden, Andrée commits to memory their true name and history. Someday, she vows, she will help reunite as many of these families as she can.

But with the Gestapo closing in and the traitorous Fat Jacques who has turned from ally to enemy and is threatening to identify and expose any Jew he meets, Andrée and Ida must work even harder against increasingly impossible odds to save as many children as possible and keep them safely hidden—even if it might cost them their own lives. (Goodreads)

BUY HERE

My Thoughts

This story holds so much it is difficult to put my thoughts into a review. The ladies in this book are remarkable and it still astounds me how resilient people can be and more evident when you can peek into the past. The research that went into this book is well done and while this is a heavy time in history and a difficult story to read it is necessary. I thought the different perspectives from each woman was well written. I didn't get lost in the back and forth and I thought it added a lot to the plot. The start of each chapter has some type of Nazi quote that shows how awful and evil their thought process was. That really brought the reality of this time to the forefront because this wasn't made up, it was reality. This book really shines a light on how hard it was for families to be split a part, specifically mothers and their children. I can't even imagine and yet so many did in order to protect their child. The ending wrapped it up as best as could be expected and for World War II history 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." 

Under the Cover of Mercy-Based on a True Story

 

 

About the Book

 Can one nurse on a mission of mercy and rebellion turn the tide of WWI?

November 1914

The Great War has come to Brussels, the Germans have occupied the city, and Edith Cavell, Head Nurse at Berkendael Medical Institute, faces an impossible situation. As matron of a designated Red Cross hospital, Edith has sworn an oath to help any who are wounded, under whatever flag they are found. But Governor von Lüttwitz, the ranking German officer, has additional orders for her. She and her nurses must also stand guard over the wounded Allied prisoners of war and prevent them from escaping.

Edith feels that God called her to be a healer, not a jailer. How can she heal these broken boys, only to allow them to be returned to the hands of their oppressors to be beaten again?

So when members of the Belgian resistance, desperate for help, bring two wounded British soldiers to her hospital in secret, she makes a decision that will change everything: she will heal the soldiers, and then attempt to smuggle them out of the hospital to freedom.

With her loyal friend and fellow nurse, Elizabeth, by her side, Edith establishes her hospital as a safe house for the resistance, laboring tirelessly to save as many soldiers as she can. Working under the watchful eyes of the German army, Edith faces challenging odds and charges of treason—which carries the death penalty if she is caught—as she fights alongside the resistance to bring—and keep—hope to her small corner of a war-torn world.

Based on a true story, Under the Cover of Mercy is the remarkable account of one woman who defied an entire nation in order to heal those who needed her help the most. (Goodreads)

 

Releases April 11th! 

Pre-Order HERE!

 

My Thoughts

This book really starts off right in the thick of things for a nurse during the Great War. My goodness but these souls were brave! The life of Edith Cavell is one that I really didn't know anything about so I was pretty clueless on what would happen as the story played out. What she went through is astonishing and needs to be better known. My favorite part was how she encouraged those around her and she did the hard things. She was in charge but she worked right alongside the other gals and made the tough choices. She saved many lives and it was most interesting reading about the Belgian resistance. This story is well written and wonderful historical fiction. I am thankful that Rebecca Connolly took the time to shed a light on Edith so that we can remember the brave women who went before us. 

Four 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."