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

In Swearing Allegiance, the first entry in The Carmody Saga by Jana Petken, the Carmody family is forced to face the devastating consequences of the First World War. Dublin has fallen apart and the British can’t keep the Germans at bay. Once an affluent family, the Carmodys now experience hardship and poverty. Readers are about to discover an interesting and entertaining family drama, set against the backdrop of war, a family story that explores secrets, politics, love, and what is left to keep a family together when everything else crumbles. It’s a story of love, patriotism, war, and loyalty.

Jana Petken is a gifted writer and this gift can be seen through the expertly developed characters, the gripping plot, and the complex conflict. Danny, Patrick, and Jenny are very compelling characters, each sculpted with a complex nature and a haunting problem to face. These characters are thrust into a family drama that makes relevant references to history. The plot is well-paced and conflict is developed at different levels, making the story even more gripping. From the very first page of the story, I felt irresistibly pulled in by the author’s powerful and vivid descriptions, a generous encounter with one of the key characters in the story. The conflict — or at least part of it — is introduced immediately. This is a beautifully written story that explores elements of the First World War and how different people coped with its effects. Swearing Allegiance is a family story that will resonate in the hearts of many readers, a story that will remind readers of the drama taking place in many families; it is entertaining, it is warm, it is hard to put down.

Reviewed by Teresa Syms for Readers' Favorite

A truly incredible historical novel set in the beauty of Ireland’s dark and tumultuous past. In Tread Softly on My Dreams, Gretta Curran Browne successfully captures the raw emotion and powerful will of Robert Emmet, Anne Devlin and Sarah Curran as they fight for a free Ireland, justice and love. Robert Emmet is a quiet, intelligent young man who is a suspected traitor to the crown. He flees to France and begins setting his plans in motion. Five years later, Robert returns to his beloved homeland, and in Butterfield Lane his rebellion unfolds. Anne Devlin becomes his maid, confidant and trusted messenger. During this time, Robert falls in love with Sarah Curran, who is battling her own demons created by her parents. However, Robert stays true to the cause for a free Ireland while faced with deception, the Castle, and his dwindling wealth.

From the very beginning of Tread Softly on My Dreams by Gretta Curran Browne, I was captivated by the rugged beauty of Ireland’s mountains and its soft lush valleys. The author’s detailed description of each setting enhanced the vision for the story, while each new character increased the intrigue. Every path created provided clarity of the situation, both personal and political, and showed great determined strength of the human spirit to stand firm in the beliefs of a free Ireland, even at the expense of their own lives. I found myself cheering on the hero and heroines of the story, applauding their successes as well as shedding tears at the injustices, brutality, and suffering of the people who simply wanted their freedom. The reader’s heart will swell with the love Robert has for Sarah, and the dedication and unspoken love Anne has for Robert. A fantastic read from beginning to end.

Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite

Emilia is a very moving and powerful book that will touch your emotions by hurting your heart, and making you angry. Emilia is a very strong-willed young woman whom we meet at the beginning days of the occupation of Poland. We meet Emilia’s family and read in horror as they are forced to leave their home and board the train that will take them to the concentration camp. Emmi is forced to witness killings, beatings, and people starving to death. She survives because she is young and pretty and the Nazi captors take notice of her. She suffers their sexual attacks to stay alive and to get her family extra food. She is often beaten, forced to give her body, but because of it she receives the easier and preferred jobs, keeping her safe throughout the war. When the Russians and Americans finally arrive to liberate all of the concentration camp prisoners, Emmi moves on to living as a free woman. She takes with her all of her shame, pain and memories and has to learn how to survive in the new world of freedom.

Emilia was a hard book to read because of all the sadness, but it was also uplifting to watch Emmi do what she had to do and come out of it at the end of the tunnel. I cried, I hurt for the inhumanities that took place, I cheered when something good happened. Ellie Midwood has written a story that needed to be told. Her writing is beyond excellent and I found myself immersed in the book. This is a book that must be read to understand what really happened in the concentration camps and the anguish that was endured. I highly recommend this book to all history buffs and anyone who enjoys a good book.

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.

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 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.