Code Name Sapphire by Pam Jenoff – 368 pages ARC from Park Row and Netgalley for an honest review Book Blurb: 1942. Hannah Martel has narrowly escaped Nazi Germany after her fiancé was killed in a pogrom. When her ship bound for America is turned away at port, she...
When We Had Wings by Susan Meissner, Kristina McMorris, Ariel Lawhon – 432 pages ARC from Harper Muse and Netgalley for an honest review Book Blurb: When We Had Wings: The Philippines, 1941. When U.S. Navy nurse Eleanor Lindstrom, U.S. Army nurse Penny Franklin, and...
Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu – 400 pages ARC from Little, Brown and Company and Netgalley for an honest review Book Blurb: Peach Blossom Spring: It is 1938 in China and, as a young wife, Meilin’s future is bright. But with the Japanese army approaching, Meilin...
Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim – 416 pages ARC from Ecco Books for a honest review Book Blurb: Beasts of a Little Land: An epic story of love, war, and redemption set against the backdrop of the Korean independence movement, following the intertwined fates of...
The Last Checkmate by Gabriella Saab – 384 pages Book Blurb: Maria Florkowska is many things: daughter, avid chess player, and, as a member of the Polish underground resistance in Nazi-occupied Warsaw, a young woman brave beyond her years. Captured by the Gestapo, she...
The World Played Chess by Robert Dugoni– 400 pages ARC provided by Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing Book Blurb: In 1979, Vincent Bianco has just graduated high school. His only desire: collect a little beer money and enjoy his final summer before college. So he...
Review:Drive Me Crazy by Carly Robyn blew me away with its humor, heart, and heat. I’m newer to rom-com (Romantic Comedy) and after reading quite a few of them, I totally think that this one shines above.Full disclosure, I know the author quite well. She’s my daughter; but it’s the honest truth when I say I loved the heck out of this book. I was literally laughing out loud at some points and fell hard in love with Blake, the broody Brit, and Ella, the relatable journalist who could be my BFF.The pacing of the story was spot on as I fell into the fast-paced life of an F1 driver, and the toll racing takes on both their minds and bodies. I appreciated the slow burn to the ultimately spicy and steamy romance. It made the wait and tension totally worth the wait! For me, smart conversation and good banter can make or break a book. This one had so much wit and humor that I’d be happy with that alone.The settings in this book take the reader all around Europe which makes for great escapes. Ella, who hails from Chicago before moving to New York, offers many local references which I loved.On top of the heart, humor and heat, there are also some serious issues woven through the book such a loss of a parent, mental illness, and sexual abuse. These issues are presented with sensitivity and care.Bottom line, if you’re looking for a book to make you laugh with a good dollop of spice, pick this one up. Readers are all saying they can’t wait for the second in the series.@carlyrobynauthor 📘Have you ever watched an Formula One race? OR Favorite trope in rom-coms? ... See MoreSee Less