Source: Grand Central Publishing

#BookReview Strangers in Time by David Baldacci @davidbaldacci @GrandCentralPub #DavidBaldacci #StrangersInTime #GCPInsider

#BookReview Strangers in Time by David Baldacci @davidbaldacci @GrandCentralPub #DavidBaldacci #StrangersInTime #GCPInsider Title: Strangers in Time

Author: David Baldacci

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on Apr. 15, 2025

Genres: Historical Fiction

Pages: 448

Format: Hardcover

Source: Grand Central Publishing

Book Rating: 9/10

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Calamity of Souls comes David Baldacci’s newest novel, set in London in 1944, about a bereaved bookshop owner and two teenagers scarred by the Second World War, and the healing and hope they find in one another. 

Fourteen-year-old Charlie Matters is up to no good, but for a very good reason. Without parents, peerage, or merit, he steals what he needs, living day-to-day until he’s old enough to enlist to fight the Germans. After barely surviving the Blitz, Charlie knows there’s no telling when a falling bomb might end his life. 

Fifteen-year-old Molly Wakefield has just returned to a nearly unrecognizable London. One of millions of children to have been evacuated to the countryside Molly has been away from her home for nearly five years. Her return, however, is not the homecoming she’d hoped for as she’s confronted by a devastating reality: neither of her parents are there. 

Without guardians and stability, Charlie and Molly find an unexpected ally and protector in Ignatius Oliver, and solace at his bookshop, The Book Keep. Mourning the recent loss of his wife, Ignatius forms a kinship with both children, and in each other they rediscover the spirit of family each has lost. 

But Charlie’s escapades in the city have not gone unnoticed, and someone’s been following Molly since she returned to London. And Ignatius is harboring his own secrets, which could have terrible consequences for all of them. 

As bombs continue to bear down on the city, Charlie, Molly, and Ignatius learn that while the perils of war rage on, their coming together and trusting one another may be the only way for them to survive. 


Review:

Moving, captivating, and beautifully written!

Strangers in Time is an emotionally-charged, absorbing tale that sweeps you away to London during WWII and into the lives of three main characters, Charlie Matters, Molly Wakefield, and Ignatius Oliver, as their worlds intertwine and collide due to the savagery of war causing unlikely friendships to be forged, loyalties to be questioned, extreme losses to be endured, heartache to be inevitable, and the meaning of home to be irrevocably changed forever.

The prose is vivid and expressive. The characters are scarred, vulnerable, and strong. And the plot is a compelling, poignant tale about life, loss, friendship, heartbreak, guilt, grief, courage, hope, war, regret, survival, and love.

Overall, Strangers in Time is the perfect blend of historical facts, evocative fiction, and palpable emotion. It’s a bittersweet, affecting, tender tale that, ultimately, reminds us that to love and be loved is truly one of humanity’s most fundamental needs.

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or one of the following links.

             

 

 

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About David Baldacci

David Baldacci is a global #1 bestselling author, and one of the world’s favorite storytellers. His books are published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with over 130 million worldwide sales. His works have been adapted for both feature film and television. David Baldacci is also the cofounder, along with his wife, of the Wish You Well Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting literacy efforts across America. Still a resident of his native Virginia, he invites you to visit him at DavidBaldacci.com and his foundation at WishYouWellFoundation.org.

Photograph by Allen Jones.

#BookReview The Only Light in London by Lily Graham @lilygrahambooks @GrandCentralPub #LilyGraham #TheOnlyLightInLondon #GCPInsider

#BookReview The Only Light in London by Lily Graham @lilygrahambooks @GrandCentralPub #LilyGraham #TheOnlyLightInLondon #GCPInsider Title: The Only Light in London

Author: Lily Graham

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on Mar. 11, 2025

Genres: Historical Fiction

Pages: 272

Format: Paperback

Source: Grand Central Publishing

Book Rating: 8.5/10

She took him in when no one else would. She didn’t expect to fall in love…

London, 1939. When Finley offers her spare room to refugee Sebastien, she sees relief in his haunted eyes. Forced to flee the hatred in Germany, Sebastien has been desperately lonely in his adopted country. Finley lost her father in the last war and feels a stab of empathy for the pain of this thin stranger, separated from his loved ones, far away from home.

At first, Finley and Sebastien are like ships in the night, exchanging bashful goodnights in the corridor. But Finley quickly realises that Sebastien is too terrified to sleep, plagued by thoughts of his smiling little sister being snatched by soldiers. As the London sky darkens with enemy planes, he slowly opens up to her over cups of cocoa in the kitchen.

Every time Sebastien speaks to Finley, she finds herself inching closer to him, and soon love begins to grow. But when he tells her he wants to join the English army, to fight the people who have forced his family to face such horror, she must work hard to crush the devastation in her heart. She knows if she were in his shoes, she would do the same thing, and she must be brave too. She will stay in London, waiting for Sebastien, and helping other refugees like him.

As the bombs rain down, and the London streets empty, she knows she faces grave dangers. But she can’t hide away while the man she loves risks his life. She needs to do anything she can to defeat the enemy they all share. But the last war cost Finley so much. What will this one take?

A completely life-affirming and tear-jerking read about facing the darkness and despair of war together and allowing the light to creep in. Fans of The Nightingale and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society will fall in love with The Only Light in London.


Review:

Heartwarming, immersive, and uplifting!

The Only Light in London is a rich, moving tale set in London during WWII that takes you into the lives of Prudence Finley, a resilient, kindhearted aspiring actress and Jewish journalist Sebastien Raphael as they do whatever they can to entertain, protect, fight, and survive the war.

The prose is eloquent and expressive. The characters are brave, tormented, and determined. And the plot is a touching tale about life, loss, separation, desperation, tragedy, survival, love, community, and the power of friendship.

Overall, The Only Light in London is another well-written, tender, compelling tale by Graham that does a wonderful job of reminding us just how much hope and joy can be reaped from the little things in life and maybe even more importantly having a place to call home.

 

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

      

 

 

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Lily Graham

Lily Graham is the author of the bestselling, The Child of Auschwitz, The Paris Secret, and The Island Villa, among others. Her books have been translated into numerous languages, including French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese and Turkish.

She grew up in South Africa, and was a journalist for a decade before giving it up to write fiction full time. Her first three novels were lighter, women's fiction, but when she wrote The Island Villa, a story about a secret Jewish community living on the tiny island of Formentera during the Spanish Inquisition, she switched to historical fiction and hasn't quite looked back since.

She lives now in the Suffolk coast with her husband and English bulldog, Fudge.

#BookReview A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci @davidbaldacci @GrandCentralPub #DavidBaldacci #ACalamityofSouls #GCPInsider

#BookReview A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci @davidbaldacci @GrandCentralPub #DavidBaldacci #ACalamityofSouls #GCPInsider Title: A Calamity of Souls

Author: David Baldacci

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on Feb. 11, 2025

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 512

Format: Paperback

Source: Grand Central Publishing

Book Rating: 9/10

Set in the tumultuous year of 1968 in southern Virginia, a racially-charged murder case sets a duo of white and Black lawyers against a deeply unfair system as they work to defend their wrongfully-accused Black defendants in this courtroom drama from #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci. 

Jack Lee is a white lawyer from Freeman County, Virginia, who has never done anything to push back against racism, until he decides to represent Jerome Washington, a Black man charged with brutally killing an elderly and wealthy white couple. Doubting his decision, Lee fears that his legal skills may not be enough to prevail in a case where the odds are already stacked against both him and his client. And he quickly finds himself out of his depth when he realizes that what is at stake is far greater than the outcome of a murder trial.

Desiree DuBose is a Black lawyer from Chicago who has devoted her life to furthering the causes of justice and equality for everyone. She comes to Freeman County and enters a fractious and unwieldy partnership with Lee in a legal battle against the best prosecutor in the Commonwealth. Yet DuBose is also aware that powerful outside forces are at work to blunt the victories achieved by the Civil Rights era.  

Lee and DuBose could not be more dissimilar. On their own, neither one can stop the prosecution’s deliberate march towards a guilty verdict and the electric chair. But together, the pair fight for what once seemed impossible: a chance for a fair trial and true justice.

Over a decade in the writing, A Calamity of Souls breathes richly imagined and detailed life into a bygone era, taking the reader through a world that will seem both foreign and familiar.


Review:

Impactful, atmospheric, and hauntingly realistic!

A Calamity of Souls is a fast-paced, sinister tale that takes you into the life of small-town white attorney Jack Lee as he suddenly finds himself partnering with the well-known, indomitable Black lawyer Desiree DuBose on the case of his life when he agrees to defend Jerome Washington, a local Black man who, after being found near the bodies of an influential white couple, is automatically presumed guilty.

The prose is gritty and descriptive. The characters are vulnerable, raw, and impulsive. And the plot is an immersive, absorbing tale of life, loss, poverty, familial drama, friendship, courage, morality, loyalty, community, self-preservation, bigotry, racial injustice, violence, and murder.

Overall, A Calamity of Souls is a sincere, ominous, pensive tale by Baldacci that not only highlights the ugliness and weakness of group mentality and the ease with which it allows one to behave with ignorance, intolerance, and even participate in the most unforgivable of crimes, but also reminds us that kindness and compassion is the base of humanity that should ultimately always transcend skin colour and socioeconomic status.

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or one of the following links.

             

 

 

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About David Baldacci

David Baldacci is a global #1 bestselling author, and one of the world’s favorite storytellers. His books are published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with over 130 million worldwide sales. His works have been adapted for both feature film and television. David Baldacci is also the cofounder, along with his wife, of the Wish You Well Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting literacy efforts across America. Still a resident of his native Virginia, he invites you to visit him at DavidBaldacci.com and his foundation at WishYouWellFoundation.org.

Photograph by Allen Jones.

#BookReview To Die For by David Baldacci @davidbaldacci @GrandCentralPub #DavidBaldacci #The620ManSeries #ToDieFor #GCPInsider

#BookReview To Die For by David Baldacci @davidbaldacci @GrandCentralPub #DavidBaldacci #The620ManSeries #ToDieFor #GCPInsider Title: To Die For

Author: David Baldacci

Series: The 6:20 Man #3

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on Nov. 12, 2024

Genres: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 432

Format: Hardcover

Source: Grand Central Publishing

Book Rating: 9/10

From #1 New York Times bestselling author, David Baldacci, the 6:20 Man returns, this time sent to the Pacific Northwest to aid the FBI in a case that gets more complicated with the more questions Devine asks—and he’s about to come face-to-face with his nemesis, the girl on the train.

Travis Devine has become a pro at adapting to any situation to accomplish the mission set in front of him. Whether it’s a high-powered corporate setting or small-town community, Devine will become the man for the job. His time as an Army Ranger and on the financial battlefields of Wall Street gave him the skills he needed, and he’s put them to good use. But this time it’s not his skills that send him to Seattle to aid the FBI in escorting orphaned, twelve-year-old Betsy Odom to a meeting with her uncle, who’s under investigation for RICO charges. Instead, he’s hoping to lie low and keep off the radar of an enemy that he evaded on a train in Switzerland and who has been after him ever since—the girl on the train.

But as Devine gets to know Betsy, questions begin to arise around the death of her parents. Betsy is adamant that they had never used drugs, but the police in the small rural town where they died insist the Odoms died of an overdose. Devine starts digging for answers, and what he finds points to a conspiracy bigger than he could’ve ever imagined. The question is, how do Betsy, her uncle, and various government agencies all fit into it.

It might finally be time for Devine and the girl on the train to come face-to-face, and when that happens, Devine is going to find himself unsure of who are his allies and who are his enemies. And in some cases, they might well be both.


Review:

Action-packed, menacing, and intricate!

In this gripping third instalment in the 6:20 Man series, To Die For, Baldacci has written an adrenaline-pumping thriller that now sees Ex-Army Ranger Travis Devine heading to Seattle to investigate the strange deaths of a husband and wife that has not only caught the attention of multiple government agencies but seems to have familial ties with a large racketeering organization.

The writing is descriptive and tight. The characters are astute, tenacious, and crafty. And the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat with its intense, exhilarating chapters that submerge you, page after page, into a world full of danger, deception, secrets, lies, corruption, power, violence, manipulation, malevolence, and murder.

Overall, To Die For is another cleverly woven, sinister, highly entertaining thrill ride by Baldacci with a good sense of urgency, great characterization, and a brisk pace that’s an absolutely fabulous addition to the 6:20 Man series that shouldn’t be missed.

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or one of the following links.

             

 

 

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About David Baldacci

David Baldacci is a global #1 bestselling author, and one of the world’s favorite storytellers. His books are published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with over 130 million worldwide sales. His works have been adapted for both feature film and television. David Baldacci is also the cofounder, along with his wife, of the Wish You Well Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting literacy efforts across America. Still a resident of his native Virginia, he invites you to visit him at DavidBaldacci.com and his foundation at WishYouWellFoundation.org.

Photograph by Allen Jones.

#BookReview The Paris Maid by Ella Carey @GrandCentralPub #TheParisMaid #EllaCarey #GCPInsider

#BookReview The Paris Maid by Ella Carey @GrandCentralPub #TheParisMaid #EllaCarey #GCPInsider Title: The Paris Maid

Author: Ella Carey

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on Oct. 8, 2024

Genres: Historical Fiction

Pages: 288

Format: Paperback

Source: Grand Central Publishing

Book Rating: 8.5/10

In this heart-shattering WWII novel set during the Nazi occupation of Paris, a brave young woman pays a terrible price to save those she holds most dear. 

Louise Basset works as a housemaid at The Ritz Hotel, home to the most powerful Nazis in France. As she changes silk sheets and scrubs sumptuous marble bathtubs, she listens and watches, reporting all she can to the Resistance. The only secret she never tells is her own.

Everything changes for Louise when a young Allied pilot, hunted by the Nazis, is smuggled into the hotel. As he and Louise share a small carafe of red wine hidden amongst her cleaning bottles, she feels her heart begin to open. But what might happen if Louise finally confides in someone?

Years later, her granddaughter Nicole looks up at the ornate façade of the infamous Paris hotel. She is reeling from her recent discovery: a black and white photograph of her grandmother as a young woman, head shaved, branded a traitor. Devastated by her new legacy just as she’s about to start a family of her own, Nicole begins to search for answers.

When a French historian reveals that Louise once went by a different name, Nicole realizes there is more to her grandmother’s story. Was the woman who taught Nicole so much about family and loyalty a resistance fighter, or will her granddaughter have to live with the knowledge that she is descended from a traitor? And will Nicole be able to finally move forward with her life if she can uncover the truth?


Review:

Captivating, immersive, and sincere!

The Paris Maid is a sentimental, engaging tale predominately set in France during the early 1940s, as well as present day, that takes you into the lives of two main characters. Louise, a hardworking maid who, through courage and determination, uses her job at the Nazi-occupied Ritz Hotel to help the resistance as much as she possibly can; and Nicole, a young woman who, after seeing a photo from the war of her late grandmother labelled as a traitor and sporting a shaved head, decides to embark on a journey to Paris to unravel the secrets from the past and discover the true history of this woman who meant so much.

The prose is eloquent and rich. The characters are tenacious, resilient, and determined. And the plot is a touching tale about life, loss, family, secrets, separation, desperation, regret, grief, love, tragedy, survival, friendship, and the horrors of war.

Overall, The Paris Maid is a lush, intriguing, absorbing tale by Carey that does a lovely job of blending historical events with palpable emotion and thought-provoking fiction.

 

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

     

 

 

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Ella Carey

Ella Carey is a writer and Francophile who claims Paris as her second home. Her previous books are Paris Time Capsule and The House by the Lake, and her work has been published in the Review of Australian Fiction. She lives in Australia with her two children and two Italian greyhounds.

Photo by Alexandra Grimshaw.

#BookReview Identity Unknown by Patricia Cornwell @1pcornwell @GrandCentralPub #PatriciaCornwell #IdentityUnknown #KayScarpetta #GCPInsider

#BookReview Identity Unknown by Patricia Cornwell @1pcornwell @GrandCentralPub #PatriciaCornwell #IdentityUnknown #KayScarpetta #GCPInsider Title: Identity Unknown

Author: Patricia Cornwell

Series: Kay Scarpetta #28

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on Oct. 8, 2024

Genres: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 400

Format: Hardcover

Source: Grand Central Publishing

Book Rating: 8/10

Autopsies can reveal the secrets of the dead.
 
And this victim is sending Scarpetta a message…
 
Summoned to an abandoned theme park to retrieve a body, Dr. Kay Scarpetta is devastated to learn that the victim is a man she once had an intense love affair with.

The murder scene is bizarre, with a crop circle of petals around the body, and Giordano’s skin is strangely red. Scarpetta’s niece Lucy believes he was dropped from an unidentified flying craft. Scarpetta knows an autopsy can reveal the dead’s secrets, but she is shocked to find her friend seems to have deliberately left her a clue.    

As the investigators are torn between suspicions of otherworldly forces, and of Giordano himself, Scarpetta detects an explanation closer to home that, in her mind, is far more evil…


Review:

Sinuous, sharp, and sinister!

Identity Unknown is a menacing, disturbing tale that sees the past collide with the present when Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta finds herself investigating the unusual murder of her former lover, the esteemed astrophysicist Sal Giordano, when his body is found dumped strangely at a deserted amusement park.

The writing is crisp and clever. The characters are meticulous, diligent, and driven. And the plot is an ominous, compelling tale full of twists, turns, red herrings, secrets, deduction, mayhem, violence, and murder.

Overall, Identity Unknown is a tight, tense, gripping tale that is unbelievably the twenty-eighth book in the Kay Scarpetta series. I have yet to read a novel by Cornwell that isn’t pacey, suspenseful, and satisfying, and this one was no exception.

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or one of the following links.

             

 

 

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Patricia Cornwell

In 1990, Patricia Cornwell sold her first novel, Postmortem, while working at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia. An auspicious debut, it went on to win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony, and Macavity Awards, as well as the French Prix du Roman d’Aventures—the first book ever to claim all these distinctions in a single year. Growing into an international phenomenon, the Scarpetta series won Cornwell the Sherlock Award for best detective created by an American author, the Gold Dagger Award, the RBA Thriller Award, and the Medal of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters for her contributions to literary and artistic development. Today, Cornwell’s novels and iconic characters are known around the world. Beyond the Scarpetta series, Cornwell has written the definitive nonfiction account of Jack the Ripper’s identity, cookbooks, a children’s book, a biography of Ruth Graham, and three other fictional series based on the characters Win Garano, Andy Brazil, and Captain Callie Chase. In recent years, Cornwell has been researching space-age technologies at NASA facilities, the U.S. Space Force, and Secret Service. She’s visited Scotland Yard and Interpol, always keeping up with what’s current. Cornwell was born in Miami. She grew up in Montreat, North Carolina, and now lives and works in Boston.

Photo Credit: Patrick Ecclesine

#BookReview The Scandal by Nicola Marsh @GrandCentralPub #TheScandal #NicolaMarsh #GCPInsider

#BookReview The Scandal by Nicola Marsh @GrandCentralPub #TheScandal #NicolaMarsh #GCPInsider Title: The Scandal

Author: Nicola Marsh

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on Oct. 6, 2020

Genres: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 323

Format: Paperback

Source: Grand Central Publishing

Book Rating: 8.5/10

Ever since her twin girls left home, Marisa has felt there’s something missing from her life. Her sprawling mansion is no longer filled with laughter and chaos, and she’s desperate to feel needed . . . and to be distracted from the secret she’s been hiding from her husband for all these years.

Coffee with her best friends might be the only thing holding Marisa together. But Claire and Elly have their own secrets. Like why Claire hasn’t been to work in weeks, or why Elly won’t tell anyone who’s buying her flowers.

When Jodi, a pregnant young girl, turns up at Marisa’s doorstep, Marisa is quick to come to her aid. She sees herself in Jodi and she knows how devoting yourself to looking after others can take up all your time in the most marvellous way.

But Jodi’s arrival quickly pushes everyone’s lies to the surface. The father of her unborn child is someone the women know very well, and Marisa starts to wonder if her obsession with helping Jodi might come at a devastating price . . .


Review:

Tight, relentless, and tempestuous!

The Scandal is a suspenseful, edgy thriller that takes us to the affluent Sunnyside Drive, where deception is rampant, drama is high, marriages are in trouble, and lives are messily intertwined.

The prose is brisk and sharp. The characters are self-absorbed, deceptive, and intrusive. And the plot is a juicy tale filled with secrets, deception, scandal, infidelity, suspicions, revelations, mayhem, fractured relationships, inappropriate behaviours, abuse, jealousy, violence, and murder.

Overall, The Scandal is a dark, twisty, compelling page-turner by Marsh that delves into the intricate and dynamic bonds that can exist between tight-knit groups of friends and has just the right amount of pace, mood, atmosphere, and surprises to keep you guessing until the very last page.

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

      

 

 

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Nicola Marsh

USA Today bestselling & multi-award winning author Nicola Marsh writes feel-good fiction . . . with a twist! She has published seventy books and sold over eight million copies worldwide. A physiotherapist for thirteen years, she now adores writing full time, raising her two dashing young heroes, sharing fine food with family and friends, barracking loudly for her beloved North Melbourne Kangaroos footy team, and her favorite, curling up with a good book!

Photo by Jemm Photography.

#BookReview The Paris Network by Siobhan Curham @GrandCentralPub #TheParisNetwork #SiobhanCurham #GCPInsider

#BookReview The Paris Network by Siobhan Curham @GrandCentralPub #TheParisNetwork #SiobhanCurham #GCPInsider Title: The Paris Network

Author: Siobhan Curham

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on Mar. 26, 2024

Genres: Historical Fiction

Pages: 416

Format: Paperback

Source: Grand Central Publishing

Book Rating: 9/10

Inspired by true events, an epic and emotional novel about one woman’s strength to survive in the most difficult circumstances and the power of love in the face of darkness–perfect for fans of Natasha Lester, Catherine Hokin, and Lily Graham.

Paris, 1940: He pressed the tattered book into her hands. ‘You must go to the café and ask at the counter for Pierre Duras. Tell him that I sent you. Tell him you’re there to save the people of France.’

Sliding the coded message in between the crisp pages of the hardback novel, bookstore owner Laurence slips out into the cold night to meet her resistance contact, pulling her woollen beret down further over her face. The silence of the night is suddenly shattered by an Allied plane rushing overhead, its tail aflame, heading down towards the forest. Her every nerve stands on end. She must try to rescue the pilot.

But straying from her mission isn’t part of the plan, and if she is discovered it won’t only be her life at risk…

America, years later: when Jeanne uncovers a dusty old box in her father’s garage, her world as she knows it is turned upside down. She has inherited a bookstore in a tiny French village just outside of Paris from a mysterious woman named Laurence.

Travelling to France to search for answers about the woman her father has kept a secret for years, Jeanne finds the store tucked away in a corner of the cobbled main square. Boarded up, it is in complete disrepair. Inside, she finds a tiny silver pendant hidden beneath the blackened, scorched floorboards.

As Jeanne pieces together Laurence’s incredible story, she discovers a woman whose bravery knew no bounds. But will the truth about who Laurence really is shatter Jeanne’s heart, or change her future?


Review:

Absorbing, rich, and expressive!

The Paris Network is a sentimental, engaging tale predominately set in France during 1940, as well as 1993, that takes you into the lives of two main characters. Laurence, a young woman who, through determination and resilience, uses her bookshop to help lift the community spirit and help the resistance as much as she possibly can; and Jeanne, a middle-aged woman who, after learning of her real mother’s identity, decides with the help of her father to embark on a journey to discover the true identity of the woman who stole her father’s heart and to claim the inheritance she only just became aware of.

The prose is eloquent and well-turned. The characters are vulnerable, strong, and courageous. And the plot, including all the subplots, intertwine and unravel seamlessly into a heartfelt, touching tale of life, loss, secrets, surprises, separation, heartbreak, betrayal, desperation, tragedy, survival, danger, friendship, the horrors of war, and enduring love.

Overall, The Paris Network is a moving, sincere, evocative tale by Curham inspired by real-life events that I devoured from start to finish and which I highly recommend for anyone who loves a well written WWII time-slip novel.

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

     

 

 

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Siobhan Curham

Siobhan Curham is a best-selling and award-winning author of 40+ books for adults, young adults and children – fiction and non-fiction. She is also a university drop-out who very nearly gave up on her writing dream because, as a former council estate kid, she didn’t believe she belonged in the middle class world of publishing.

#BookReview The Italian Daughter by Soraya Lane @GrandCentralPub #TheItalianDaughter #TheLostDaughtersSeries #SorayaLane #GCPInsider

#BookReview The Italian Daughter by Soraya Lane @GrandCentralPub #TheItalianDaughter #TheLostDaughtersSeries #SorayaLane #GCPInsider Title: The Italian Daughter

Author: Soraya M. Lane

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on Dec. 5, 2023

Genres: Historical Fiction

Pages: 304

Format: Paperback

Source: Grand Central Publishing

Book Rating: 8.5/10

This utterly enchanting and heartbreaking novel tells the story of lost loves, family secrets and enduring hope—perfect for fans of Rebecca Serle, Sophie Kinsella, and Alys Murray.

Italy, 1946. “Estee, I bought this ring years ago and have kept it safe ever since. You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved.” She reached for Felix’s hand and gently closed it over the box. “No,” she whispered. “I want you to propose only when you’re truly free.”

London, present day: Lily clutches a faded piece of paper in her hands, knowing that her life will never be the same again. Whilst grieving for her late father, she is told that her grandmother was born at Hope’s House, a home for unmarried mothers, the only clues to her past contained on a handwritten Italian recipe and an old theatre program.

Desperate for answers, Lily accepts a job on an Italian vineyard in the heart of picturesque Como – a dream her father once shared. Arriving at the palatial home of the Martinelli family, Lily is captivated by the acres of vines that surround her and instantly feels at home. She is also struck by their charming son Antonio and as they chat long into the night over a candlelit dinner, he offers to help Lily discover her family’s heritage.

As Lily unravels the truth of her own legacy, she begins to fall more in love with Italy and with Antonio. And tracing the recipe back to a bakery in a hilltop village, she soon unearths a tragic love story that changes everything…

But when Lily discovers who her grandmother really was, can she too have the courage to follow her heart and leave her old life behind? Or will her family’s heart-wrenching story force her home?


Review:

Captivating, heartwarming, and absorbing!

The Italian Daughter is predominantly set in Italy during the late 1930s, as well as present day, and is told from two different perspectives. Lily, a young woman who journeys to Italy to honour her father and work at a renowned vineyard while also unravelling the secrets surrounding her grandmother’s parentage and conception, and Estee, a beautiful ballerina whose love for the son of a bakery owner promised to another will ultimately change her destiny and life forever.

The prose is eloquent and expressive. The characters are troubled, determined, and endearing. And the plot is a moving tale about life, love, loss, emotion, betrayal, family, friendship, heartbreak, guilt, grief, hope, and regret.

Overall, The Italian Daughter is a rich, alluring, compelling tale by Lane that highlights the enduring passion, loyalty and power of love and is a wonderful choice for anyone who enjoys a dual timeline story with both a sliver of romance and mystique.

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

     

 

 

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Soraya M. Lane

Soraya M. Lane graduated with a law degree before realizing that law wasn't the career for her and that her future was in writing. She is the author of historical and contemporary women's fiction, and her novel Wives of War was an Amazon Charts bestseller.

Soraya lives on a small farm in her native New Zealand with her husband, their two young sons and a collection of four legged friends. When she's not writing, she loves to be outside playing make-believe with her children or snuggled up inside reading.

Photo courtesy of Author's Amazon Page.

#BookReview The Edge by David Baldacci @davidbaldacci @GrandCentralPub #DavidBaldacci #The620ManSeries #TheEdge #GCPInsider

#BookReview The Edge by David Baldacci @davidbaldacci @GrandCentralPub #DavidBaldacci #The620ManSeries #TheEdge #GCPInsider Title: The Edge

Author: David Baldacci

Series: The 6:20 Man #2

Published by: Grand Central Publishing on Nov. 14, 2023

Genres: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 416

Format: Hardcover

Source: Grand Central Publishing

Book Rating: 9/10

The 6:20 Man is back, dropped by his handlers into a small coastal town in Maine to solve the murder of a CIA agent who knew America’s dirtiest secrets—can Travis Devine uncover the truth before his time runs out?
 
When CIA operative Jenny Sikwell is murdered in rural Maine, government officials have immediate concerns over national security. Her laptop and phone were full of state secrets that, in the wrong hands, endanger the lives of countless operatives. In need of someone who can solve the murder quickly and retrieve the missing information, the U.S. government knows just the chameleon they can call on.
 
Ex-Army Ranger Travis Devine spent his time in the military preparing to take on any scenario, followed by his short-lived business career chasing shadows in the deepest halls of power, so his analytical mind makes him particularly well-suited for complex, high-stakes tasks. Taking down the world’s largest financial conspiracy proved his value, and in comparison, this case looks straightforward. Except small towns hold secrets and Devine finds himself an outsider again.
 
Devine must ingratiate himself with locals who have trusted each other their whole lives, and who distrust outsiders just as much. Dak, Jenny’s brother, who’s working to revitalize the town. Earl, the retired lobsterman who found Jenny’s body. And Alex, Jenny’s sister with a dark past of her own. As Devine gets to know the residents of Potter, Maine, answers seem to appear and then transform into more questions. There’s a long history of secrets and those who will stop at nothing to keep them from being exposed. Leaving Devine with no idea who he can trust… and who wants him dead.


Review:

Dark, meticulous, and menacing!

The Edge is a fast-paced, addictive thriller that sees Ex-Army Ranger Travis Devine heading to Maine to investigate the death of CIA operative Jenny Sikwell, but while it seems at first glance to be a straightforward case of murder, it quickly becomes apparent that something a lot more sinister is underway that has strong ties to the past and a ruthlessly vicious event that occurred more than decade ago.

The writing is edgy and crisp. The characters are secretive, multilayered, and persistent. And the plot is an intense, mysterious tale filled with twists, turns, mayhem, deception, suspicious personalities, lies, secrets, tragic loss, and murder.

David Baldacci has written some amazing characters over the years that I’ve absolutely loved, like Will Robbie and Jessica Reel, and now Travis Devine has easily joined that list. The Edge is a riveting, pacey, action-packed thrill ride that has just the right amount of suspense, well-drawn characterization, and creative storyline to make it a satisfying, highly entertaining addition to The 6:20 Man series that I honestly can’t get enough of.

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or one of the following links.

             

 

 

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About David Baldacci

David Baldacci is a global #1 bestselling author, and one of the world’s favorite storytellers. His books are published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with over 130 million worldwide sales. His works have been adapted for both feature film and television. David Baldacci is also the cofounder, along with his wife, of the Wish You Well Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting literacy efforts across America. Still a resident of his native Virginia, he invites you to visit him at DavidBaldacci.com and his foundation at WishYouWellFoundation.org.

Photograph by Allen Jones.