Tag Archive | Sarah Hardy

The War Orphan’s Courage by Jenna Ness

Mar13

The Heart Of Everything

The War Orphan’s Courage by Jenna Ness is a fabulous conclusion to the Orphans Of St Agnes trilogy. Although you could read this as a stand-alone, I recommend reading the books in numerical order as the books follow on in time. This is the story of three orphans during World War II in Paris – Jossette, Lucie and Margot.

In this book, we are approaching the end of the war and all the orphans have found their way back to Paris. They all want to fight with the resistance in order to disrupt the Nazi war machine, and one particularly nasty and cruel officer.

All the female characters are loyal and gutsy. Each one thinks of self-sacrifice for the good of the group. Together they are stronger.

The men of the resistance fight for justice. They support the women in attempting to bring down the evil Nazi officer.

Within war, love still blossoms. We see those who try to fight their feelings. In a previous book, we saw forbidden love – we hear what happened next in this book. The fruits of love bring hope for the next generation.

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The Girl With The List by Shari J Ryan

Mar6

A Promise To Time

The Girl With The List by Shari J Ryan is a powerful historical novel that I read in just one sitting. It is a story of love in the darkest of times.

The tale starts in Poland during World War II, quickly progressing to Auschwitz as we follow the two lead characters, Rosalie, a gentile; Stefan a Jew. Within their small village, no distinctions are made between people – until the Nazis move in, spreading fear and hatred as they commit evil acts against the innocent.

A traumatic event in Rosalie’s childhood, saw he becoming a competent midwife by the age of sixteen. Her services find her ending up in the household of an officer serving in Auschwitz. It is just a small step to her becoming an enforced list maker in the camp.

It is here, against all the odds that Rosalie and Stefan find each other. They both cling to love and have hope to survive. “You know you can’t escape. We must survive.” Their wars are similar but different. Both face traumatic times.

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The Secret Sewing Society by Siobhan Curham

Jan26

Needles Of Freedom

The Secret Sewing Society by Siobhan Curham is a powerful dual timeline novel set in Lviv, Ukraine.

The action is set during World War II and 2022. Both periods see Ukraine being invaded by the Russians (and also the Nazis in World War II). Fresh in the memories of the people is the Holodomor of the 1920’s when the Soviets caused a man-made famine in Ukraine. People had a strong spirit and the secret sewing society was born. “We stitch what they try to silence.” Messages of hope are sewn into clothes.

The two time periods are linked by strong females in the same family tree. In 2022 the leading lady travels from the UK to Ukraine after her mother leaves her a property that she did not know about. Whilst in Lviv the Russians invade. The leading lady decides to stay as the building slowly gives up its’ secrets.

The leading ladies in both time periods are gutsy as they stay to face their oppressors. Their stories are similar but different.

Not all Soviets are cruel. Love blossoms where it will, even when it is forbidden.

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The Girl Who Told The Truth by Catherine Hokin

Jan13

Powerful & Engrossing

The Girl Who Told The Truth by Catherine Hokin is a powerful historical novel that consumed me from the start.

The action is set in 1930’s-1940’s mainly in London but also in Berlin. We follow one young British woman who desires the truth about fascism to be known. She also wants the perpetrators of an evil regime to be brought to justice.

In contrast there is a young German woman who makes it her mission to make sure fascism doesn’t end with the death of Hitler. She wants to garner support, especially in Britain. She is cunning and evil – but will goodness triumph?

The reader sees the evil Oswald Moseley and his Blackshirts as they try to take over London’s East End but “we won’t be told what to do by men who peddle hatred, not on these streets.” The plucky East End fights back as good triumphs over evil in their hearts.

With World War II comes the opening up of lives for women as they step into roles traditionally occupied by men. “Annie wasn’t the only woman who’d found a sense of freedom and purpose waiting inside the war’s ministries.”

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