Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Blog Tour Review: The Prisoner's Wife by Maggie Brooks


Title: The Prisoner's Wife
Author: Maggie Brookes
Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Historical
Published By: Berkley Books (May 26, 2020)
Source: ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review


Book Description:
Inspired by the true story of a daring deception that plunges a courageous young woman deep into the horrors of a Nazi POW camp to be with the man she loves.

In the dead of night, a Czech farm girl and a British soldier travel through the countryside. Izabela and prisoner of war Bill have secretly married and are on the run, with Izzy dressed as a man. The young husband and wife evade capture for as long as possible--until they are cornered by Nazi soldiers with tracking dogs.

Izzy's disguise works. The couple are assumed to be escaped British soldiers and transported to a POW camp. However, their ordeal has just begun, as they face appalling living conditions and the constant fear of Izzy's exposure. But in the midst of danger and deprivation comes hope, for the young couple are befriended by a small group of fellow prisoners. These men become their new family, willing to jeopardize their lives to save Izzy from being discovered and shot.

The Prisoner's Wife tells of an incredible risk, and of how our deepest bonds are tested in desperate times. Bill and Izzy's story is one of love and survival against the darkest odds. 





About the Author:



Maggie Brookes is a British ex-journalist and BBC television producer turned poet and novelist.
The Prisoner’s Wife is based on an extraordinary true story of love and courage, told to her by an ex-WW2 prisoner of war. Maggie visited the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany as part of her research for the book, learning largely forgotten aspects of the war.
The Prisoner’s Wife is due to be published by imprints of Penguin Random House in the UK and in the US in May 2020. Publication in other countries, including Holland, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic will follow.
As well as being a writer, Maggie is an advisory fellow for the Royal Literary Fund and also an Associate Professor at Middlesex University, London, England, where she has taught creative writing since 1990. She lives in London and Whitstable, Kent and is married, with two grown-up daughters.
She has published five poetry collections in the UK under her married name of Maggie Butt. Poetry website: www.maggiebutt.co.uk





Every once in awhile you stumble upon a book that is rich in history, so much so that sometimes, it will take your very breath away. Sometimes it steals that breath because of how beautiful it is and sometimes because of how very sad and horrifying and raw and true it is. In the case of The Prisoner's Wife, it was for all of these reasons. 

This book horrified me. It made me cringe, it made me suffer right along with it's heartbreakingly real characters that were so real and lovable and full of life. It made me rejoice in their simple joys and happiness when they could find it and most of all, it had me rooting for them all along the way hoping like crazy that they would all be rescued, redeemed and all get their happily ever afters. 

I loved this. I hated this. I didn't want it to end.

So beautifully written, so beautifully told and so eye opening about horrors that I already knew existed and happened, but needed reminding of again. A terrible part of our history, of the worlds history, that I hope we never forget and more importantly, never, ever, let happen again. 



Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Review: The Necromancer's Library by J.L. Bryan

Title: The Necromancer's Library
Author: J.L. Bryan
Series: Book Twelve in the Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper Series
Genre: Paranormal/Ghost
Published: April 30, 2020
Source: ARC Provided by the Author (in exchange for an honest review)
My Rating: 4.5 Stars!



Book Description:
The antebellum mansion sits isolated in the overgrown countryside like a forgotten temple. Within it lie the dark, twisting paths of a private library possessing secrets from across the ages. The collection of ancient and medieval occult manuscripts tell of conjuring spirits and raising the dead, of making contact with supernatural realms and beings usually forbidden to living mortals.

The house's recently deceased owner was a reclusive former professor who transformed his home into a great library, but his desire for hidden knowledge and arcane power may have led him into madness, even death.


Disturbing specters now haunt the new occupants of the house, who turn to paranormal investigator Ellie Jordan for help. Ellie must unravel the mysteries of the occult library before she can banish its ghosts and make the house safe again for the living.





This series has been so much fun from the very beginning and truly does seem to get even better with each new adventure. I adore a good ghost story and Bryan always delivers with one that will not only have chills running up and down my spine the whole time, eagerly turning the pages, but also one that makes me leave the lights on because, you know, ghosts! Who doesn't love a good ghost story after all?

 The kind that makes you shudder and question those bumps in the night. The kind that have you looking over your shoulder as you are reading to make sure no one is creeping in the shadows watching you. The kind that completely can take your breath away and still leave you wanting more.

I love this series and this latest, set in a library of all places, truly was a treat. So much fun. So spooky, so chilling and I devoured every single page. 

Another amazing edition to the series and I am so glad it is still going strong and I can't wait for the next one. 




*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*