Reviewed by Kimberlee J Benart for Readers' Favorite

If you enjoy a good Jane Austen fan fiction, A Short Period of Exquisite Felicity by A. D'Orazio is just the book for you. In this alternate version of the romance between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, the engagement between the two passionate protagonists of Pride and Prejudice lasted only a week and two days. Without explanation, Elizabeth called it off, breaking Darcy’s heart in the process. As the story opens, more than a year has passed since they saw each other and they’re about to meet again. Darcy is visiting Netherfield with the Bingleys and their new baby, and Elizabeth is joining them after a long absence from Meryton. Darcy is determined not to let Elizabeth know the depth of the feelings he still holds for her, but how long can he keep up a pretense when faced with her presence?

I really enjoyed reading A Short Period of Exquisite Felicity and not just because I’m a die-hard Jane Austen fan. Even if you’ve never heard of Austen, you’ll find yourself entranced by this story. Here are two people who have come to feel such deep passion for each other, only to have their expectations of future marital bliss ripped away. D'Orazio does a credible job of carrying the tone of the original, while altering the plot. She does an even better job at conveying the thoughts, feelings, and complexity of the characters through a narrative style that is smooth, precise, descriptive, and emotionally evocative. An entertaining read for anyone who appreciates a good love story.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

I hesitated before picking up this book, not having read anything from this author, but then I was surprised, seduced by the writing, and found myself immersed in a post-war narrative that melds art, daily life just after the Second World War, the history of the American Monuments Men, and an interesting romance. What is Forgiven by C.F. Yetmen is a fascinating story and the second book in the Anna Klein Trilogy that follows Anna Klein, a German woman working as a translator for Captain Henry Cooper of the Monuments Men. She faces numerous problems in life, including her displaced family, a boy she shelters who is wanted by the authorities, and her marriage. Then there is a crime involving two important pieces of art work she is supposed to keep watch on. While the Monuments Men face imminent closure, she knows she must locate the criminal before things turn against her and her boss. This is a beautiful story handled by deft hands.

You are greeted with exquisite prose from the first sentences of this gripping historical novel. The author has a gift for evoking powerful images and a peculiarity of phrase that hints at the author’s refined sense of humor and evocative language. C.F. Yetmen plunges the reader into post WWII Germany, allowing them vivid images of what life was like in Germany after the war. Anna is a very compelling character, an art archivist and translator, and a woman torn between different worries and worlds. There is an anxiety that eats into her as she navigates the different challenges of her life, and the reader becomes very aware of it, an element of character that enriches the story and lends it a great sense of realism. The characters in this narrative are well sculpted, with convincing backgrounds and cultural identities. What is Forgiven is one of the best post-war novels I have read, deft and balanced, captivating in an irresistible kind of way.

Reviewed by Alyssa Elmore for Readers' Favorite

A well-to-do Berlin family experiences the devastating effects of WWII in the thrilling historical novel, The German Half-Bloods (The Half-Blood Series Book 1) by Jana Petken. It is September 1939 in Germany. Hitler has risen to power, and the Third Reich is spreading terror throughout Europe. Three young men, Max, Paul, and Wilmot Vogel, must decide their loyalty to one of two of their home countries; England, their mother's homeland, or Germany, their father's homeland. Max, an academic, chooses England as his home, leaving his mother and twin brother, Paul, in Nazi Berlin. Paul, a handsome young doctor, loves his homeland of Germany and refuses to leave its people in the hands of the terror-loving Nazis. Wilmot, the youngest, joins the SS to please his Nazi-loving father, only to discover their horrific acts against humanity. As the war progresses, trust is lost, loyalties are divided, and love is tested, leaving the young men to choose between dedication to country or honoring their integrity. Not all is as it appears on the surface; can one trust their own family?

The German Half-Bloods (The Half-Blood Series Book 1) by Jana Petken is an intense, nail-biting ride through WWII Germany. The unique perspectives of the characters in Germany, as well as those in England, were refreshing and charismatic. I am well-versed in the history of the time period, and I must say that very few historical novels of the period are satisfactorily accurate enough for me to enjoy, this book being a rare exception. I was deeply impressed with the characters' viewpoints and the extent of the plot. The author spun such an intricately woven web of intrigue that I didn't want to stop reading. I was transported back in time and enjoyed every minute of it! I loved this novel! It is beautifully written, and deeply moving. Although there are some historically accurate details that may disturb a younger audience, I feel that this novel is an essential historical read.

Reviewed by Peggy Jo Wipf for Readers' Favorite

Allie Cresswell takes you on a journey through just one of the many lives that inhabited the distinguished house called Tall Chimneys. Built in the 1600s, this Jacobean house represented a time of landlords and proper families that ruled an area. Tall Chimneys: A British Family Saga Spanning 100 Years centers around the seventh and last child, Evelyn. Even at a young age she is left to fend for herself until the gatekeeper and his wife take her under their wing. At the age of six, and with both parents dead, she is sent to live with her oldest sister until she finishes her schooling at the age of seventeen. She arrives back at Tall Chimneys to discover the tenant manager has made himself quite at home, ready to acquire her as his own. Even after his death, Sylvester Ratton is a threat to her well-being. After her great-nephew reads from her journal and visits Tall Chimneys, it is as if the mantle has been passed to the next generation. This house has a way of haunting a person, and refuses to let go.

I found Tall Chimneys: A British Family Saga Spanning 100 Years very descriptive and enchanting. Allie Cresswell makes you feel the thick fog that engulfs the moors; you hear the crows inside the last standing chimney; the cold and despair creeps inside your bones, just as Evelyn experienced it. I felt this novel was honest about a time when single women had few choices, especially women with little training and no practical skills. Allie Cresswell captured the story of love and the profound discovery that a woman can love more than one man. I found this a beautiful story of the strength of a woman who has faced many hardships, some of her own making, and still she found peace, though shackled to a house that will not let her go.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Kira was a beautiful young translator for the Army of the Soviet Union and Werner, a young soldier with the Wehrmacht, who would meet in Poland following the signing of a non-aggression pact between Hitler and Stalin. Allies, the young pair fell madly in love and pledged themselves to each other. With the war, it was clear this was not going to be a love that could be easily fulfilled, but when Hitler broke the non-aggression pact and the German Panzer divisions rolled into Soviet territory, the allies became enemies and Kira and Werner would be forced onto the battlefield to confront each other. In A Motherland’s Daughter, A Fatherland’s Son: A WWII novel, author Ellie Midwood asks the simple question; how could their love possibly survive the tumultuous and often horrific events of a war? Both of them would witness the true horrors and base behaviours of each other’s armies, and would be forever profoundly changed by what they witnessed. Could they keep the spark of true love alive amidst the pain, suffering and sheer brutality that was the Second World War?

This is not the first book of Ellie Midwood’s I have read, but A Motherland’s Daughter, A Fatherland’s Son would definitely have to rank as one of her finest works to date. The characters, especially Kira and Werner, are so wonderfully well developed and so believable that the reader is drawn into the story and wrapped up in their quest to somehow keep the light of love burning, despite the hatred and horror that is part of their everyday lives now. The author has tapped into a deep well of empathy within the reader and I found myself actively rooting for Kira and Werner, even to the point of talking to these characters as I read the story, something I rarely do. This is a real tribute to Midwood’s ability to draw you deeply into her tales.

Many of the scenes contain graphic violence and pain, making them difficult to read. This was not driven by sensationalism, but more a need to grasp the depth of love that would be required to rise above the circumstances and keep the dream alive. Midwood explores the very worst and basest of the human condition, but tempers it beautifully with the finest qualities of humanity; compassion, understanding, tolerance, love and faith. I was deeply moved by this book and this love affair. It is a real triumph and I cannot recommend it highly enough to both lovers of the genre (WWII) and lovers of the indomitable spirit of humanity and love.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

Swearing Off Stars by Danielle M. Wong is a historical romance with great twists. Meet Amelia Cole, a young woman who gets to be amongst the first women to study abroad at Oxford University. This might look like an opportunity of a lifetime for most people, but for Amelia, it is the best thing that ever happened as it offers her the freedom she couldn’t enjoy in Brooklyn, living with her domineering parents. It is in Oxford that she meets and falls in love with a strong willed woman, a would-be actress, a fighter and staunch advocate for gender equality, Scarlett Daniels. But for political reasons, their romance is short-lived. Years roll by and Scarlett becomes a successful actress, but then a mysterious letter sets Amelia on a journey across oceans and continents for a woman she’s loved and lost. Can what was lost be retrieved? It’s for the reader to find out.

Swearing Off Stars is a very beautiful and engaging story with memorable characters and well-developed themes. The setting is well-painted and readers can visualize places and objects, and feel the cultural and political elements of the setting easily. I loved the powerful opening that immediately unveils the psychological state of the protagonist, giving the reader a faint idea of the conflict that is masterfully developed throughout the story. “It’s a dark, starless night and part of me wants to turn around. There’s so much energy inside my head, transitory thoughts and heavy regrets.” The prose is impeccable and the first person narrative voice is arresting, pulling the reader irresistibly into the protagonist’s point of view. Danielle M. Wong has a unique gift for plot and thematic development and she makes readers believe in her characters. The story is intelligently plotted, emotionally intense, and beguiling.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Not Black and White: From the Very Windy City to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue by G.A. Beller is a dramatic historical novel that explores the events leading up to the rise of a street politician who ultimately became the first African-American president, and how two state governors got imprisoned. The reader is suddenly thrown into a world of real politics, with the stabbings-in-the-back, the closed door meetings, the corruption, and the maneuvering that happens in political circles. Readers are introduced to a compelling cast of characters, drawn into the political world where the crooked become millionaires and the innocents are run over.

Not Black and White: From the Very Windy City to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue does not read like fiction. It is a story that forces the reader to stare the day-to-day reality of American men and women in the face. Readers will love the historical references and how the author reminds them of important people in contemporary history. The writing is clinically polished, flawless, and lyrical. The reader is enticed with the beauty of the prose, which features excellent descriptions and insightful passages. The social and political commentaries are compelling and the reader is left in no doubt that this is a well-researched novel. G.A. Beller has the gift of character and plot, but what will surprise readers is the author’s ability to make the setting come alive in their minds. This is a very engaging and entertaining story with powerful political undertones. It will entertain you and it will make you think about the American reality.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

A Rebel Among Us by J.D.R. Hawkins is a Civil War novel with a powerful setting, great and compelling characters, and a plot that leaves readers no chance to put down the story, even for a moment. After the bloody battle of Gettysburg, the Confederates are badly beaten. Hit by a Union picket, David Summers is carried away on a horse to a Pennsylvania farmhouse where he is received and treated by a teenage girl, Anna Brady, and her three sisters. To his great dismay, David learns that his comrades have deserted, but what is more painful is what is happening to him — he is falling in love very fast with Anna. Anna has an unusual proposition for him and he finds himself in a dilemma: should he return to the army or follow through with her plan?

J.D.R. Hawkins has written a story that is as intriguing as it is gripping and there is just no way for the reader not to fall for the well-developed and interesting characters. The setting is wonderful, the Civil War period with many historical references. The plot is well-imagined and expertly executed and the reader feels as though the action is taking place before their eyes. The reader is hooked from the very beginning of the story. When Maggie calls her sister with urgency, telling her someone is in the barn, the reader becomes very curious to know who it is, what he wants, and… yes, there are many questions. The writing is stellar, laced with beautiful, vivid, and compelling descriptions. I love writers who don’t waste words and Hawkins happens to be one of those. She handles the conflict expertly and the different themes, including love, war, and humanity, are beautifully woven into the fabric of the tale. There is a lot that readers will love about this novel, from the gripping plot to the masterful writing, from the conflict to the satisfying finish; they will find A Rebel Among Us to be highly entertaining. One of the best books I have read this year.

Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

Silent Heroes: A Recon Marine's Vietnam War Experience by Rick Greenberg is historical fiction that will transport readers to the Vietnam era, allowing them to have a clear peek into the realities of war, a story with realistic and compelling characters. What does it feel like to be involved in a bloody war? The story of retired U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Rick Greenberg will unveil the perils of war to readers. Greenberg had just finished high school and had done a stint at the radio communication school in San Diego when he joined the Corps.

Upon his arrival in Vietnam he is assigned to the First Recon Battalion, an elite unit usually composed of volunteers. He has to learn quickly, adapt quickly, and understand the dangers of being at the front lines of war. As the reader gets into this compelling story, they understand that the slightest mistake can have the soldier coming home in a body bag. Read on to discover a story of bravery, of courage, and of a war that was as incomprehensible to the soldiers as were the dangers involved.

Silent Heroes: A Recon Marine's Vietnam War Experience is beautifully written — I didn’t know that soldiers were great storytellers. Rick Greenberg paints a vivid picture of his Vietnam experience, a story that will virtually take the reader’s breath away. There is intense action and the reader is intrigued from the very first page. This is a captivating military story with great potential to entice fans of the genre. Vietnam has inspired many military tales, and this one is another must-read story with a vivid and powerful setting in the Vietnam war.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

Juliana (Volume 1, 1941-1944) by Vanda is an intriguing historical fiction romance set in 1940s New York City, where the gay community thrives in the midst of a repressive atmosphere and raging war in Europe. Alice ‘Al’ Huffman, new high school graduate, goes to New York to start her Broadway dream, leaving behind her humble beginnings in the potato fields of Long Island. Together with her childhood friends, they naively stumble their way into Max’s path, a dodgy character who introduces Al to Juliana, a singer on the brink of stardom. Despite her unsuccessful Broadway dream, Juliana becomes the center of Al’s attention. She introduces Al into a new world that she never thought she would explore.

Even though the story is told through Al’s point of view, the character that really shines for me here is Juliana, and I wish that this story was also told through her perspective. Al’s path to maturity is poignant, charming, quirky and funny, but sometimes slow and confusing. At times I found the chemistry between her and the enigmatic and sophisticated Juliana odd, as these two had little in common besides an artistic bond. That said, this couple is also the epitome of the saying 'opposites attract.'

Juliana is an enjoyable read and a great insight into the life of gay men and women in 1940s New York City, where the social dividing line existed between the 'proper' community and the socially undesirable. I’m eager to find out how the story continues in Volume II.