When the Skies Rained Freedom

by

Annette Oppenlander

Suspense-filled historical drama featuring life during the Berlin airlifts.

When the Skies Rained Freedom is a thrilling work of historical fiction by award-winning author Annette Oppenlander and one of the most absorbing stories I've ever read. I was hooked from the very beginning. While many recent books have featured Germany in WWII, Oppenlander sets her highly immersive tale in Berlin immediately after Germany's surrender, highlighting the danger, depravity, and the Allies' efforts to keep the remaining parts of the city out of Stalin's hands. 

The main character, Lotte Berger, is only 19 or 20 years old when the fighting ceases, and the continued survival of her and her mother lands squarely on her shoulders after her mother is attacked in the Soviet-occupied section of Berlin. She's a strong young woman, having just come through the continual bombing of her hometown by Allied planes. Still, the aftermath of partitioning Berlin into sectors controlled by the victorious countries brought new terrors and hardships. Only through the kindness of strangers like Meg and Tilly can she and her mother eke out a minimal existence. Lieutenant Mitch Cameron is also tender-hearted and kind, quietly offering assistance with no strings attached, unlike some of his fellow pilots. Both Lotte and Mitch are conflicted characters. Are they still enemies, or what? They want to pursue their attraction while their previous relationships are on hold because of the war. 

The author does an amazing job placing the reader in the story with genuine characters and clearly depicted events and locations. The characters feel like real people, speaking authentic dialogue fitting the circumstances. Descriptions of bombed-out Berlin are so vivid I could almost feel the gritty desolation and the bitter winter cold, with not enough wood or coal. The introduction tells the reader that much of what follows is based on eyewitness accounts. Yet the wealth of detail suggests the author did extensive research. 

The Berlin airlifts were always relegated to a mere footnote in my American history classes, so the story's focus on this monumental mission was informative and awe-inspiring. Reading about this time period and what these people endured was riveting and horrifying. I thank the author for shedding light on these events. 

With its genuine personalities, authentic dialogue and experiences, I recommend WHEN THE SKIES RAINED FREEDOM to readers of historical fiction, especially those interested in post-WWII Germany and the advent of the Cold War. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.

The Magdalene Deception

Magdalene Chronicles, #1

by

Gary McAvoy

Secrets, old and even older, threaten the very foundation of the Church.

The Magdalene Deception is the first book of author Gary McAvoy’s exciting and suspense-filled series, The Magdalene Chronicles, and features a young, connected American priest-scholar assigned to the Vatican Museum, specifically its secret archives, and a young and also connected female journalist working to make a name for herself at Le Monde. Jesuit priest Father Michael Dominic has been at the Vatican for only a few weeks when he stumbles across hidden documents secreted at the bottom of a box disguised as a large book. While one of the documents is a cryptic handwritten set of quatrain verses by Nostradamus himself, the other is a letter from a parish priest in Rennes-le-Chateau, France, notorious in the early 20^th century for his extravagant spending and unknown source of funds, that appears to be dunning the Vatican for unnamed Church services and sounding suspiciously like a blackmail demand. 

Michael meets journalist Hana Sinclair, the granddaughter of a Swiss baron and banking mogul who has been an advisor to several popes, through her cousin, a recent acquaintance in the Swiss Guard. She is researching for a controversial series of articles about the involvement of the French government, the Vatican, and the Vatican Bank in taking and keeping the assets of Jews stolen during World War II. Together, as they try to unravel the truth behind the mysterious documents, they uncover an ancient secret that would irreparably harm the very foundation of the Catholic Church, and someone else is determined to stop them. 

Michael is the son of a single, unwed mother, a devout Catholic who served as the housekeeper to a now-powerful cardinal when he was a parish priest in New York City. The priest took an interest in the boy, becoming a father figure to him, and later, as his circumstances improved, assisted him in attaining a good education. Michael, although following in his benefactor’s footsteps on his career path, has done so for the love of scholarship rather than a true spiritual vocation, but he hopes that one day that will change and he will feel the deep religious connection that his colleagues do. As for Hana, she is determined to succeed as a journalist on her own merits rather than on the prestige and privilege of her birth and family connections, but there are backdoor machinations at work that may circumvent her best intentions. 

The author gives readers a Vatican City full of intense watchfulness, suspenseful intrigue, and power plays by church leaders at the highest level. It feels like someone is constantly watching and listening, just looking for something they can exploit for their own advantage. As the story progresses, interesting and relevant bits of church history and dirty laundry are presented throughout. 

After introducing the main characters and their backstories, the plot quickly takes off. Some secrets must remain secret, and deadly measures are employed to ensure they do. If you are a history buff as well as a reader of mystery, suspense, or thrillers, THE MAGDALENE DECEPTION is for you. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

Soldiers of Christ

The Northern Crusader Chronicles, #2

by

Jon Byrne

The riveting story of imprisoned knight-brother Richard Fitz Simon continues as Prince Nevsky seeks peace between his country and the Baltic crusaders.

Soldiers of Christ is the second suspense-filled novel in author Jon Byrne’s riveting historical fiction series, The Northern Crusader Chronicles, about a betrayed and dispossessed English lord, Richard Fitz Simon, and his adventures as a knight-brother with the Livonian Brothers of the Sword, fighting in the Baltic Crusades. Severely wounded and captured in a disastrously failed battle against the Russian Prince Alexander Nevsky, he is allowed to pen his memoirs as a memento to be sent to his son, a child begotten during his youth in Lübeck. As his extraordinary tale is revealed, it captures the interest and imagination of the young prince, who eventually draws the recovering Richard into his negotiations for peace between his county and the crusaders from the Latin Church. 

The story unfolds in dual timelines: during Richard’s current situation as a prisoner in the summer of 1242 and his earlier life while a sergeant-brother in the Order of the Swordbrothers in Riga, Livonia, from 1205 through 1209. The author’s depictions of medieval life are fascinating, creating vivid, immersive impressions of brutally harsh times. The living conditions, for not only the brothers but the entire populace, are stark, with food, shelter, and safety always at the minimum. The daily routine of life in the Order is rigid, relieved only by the chance to wage war. Well-choreographed battle scenes put readers smack in the middle of the chaos, brutality, death, and destruction. 

The imprisoned Richard, looking back and dictating his words to the disgruntled Irish scribe, Fergus, is an old man at 53, while he is only 16 and a survivor of his first battle against the pagans when his narrative picks up. While nominally viewed as a boy by the Order, he is still expected to work, fight, and potentially die like the older men. Richard is relentlessly persecuted by his master, Rudolf, and Wolfgang, a fellow sergeant-brother, throughout his service, and he plans and retaliates whenever possible, with the help of sympathetic companions. He is often in trouble with the Order’s command as a result of his temper and his reactions to the constant provocations. Although they are a religious order of fighting knights, the Swordbrothers are often accurately described as no better than a band of brigands. Their mission to convert the pagan populations of faraway lands as part of the Northern Crusades in the Baltics is questionable, especially when viewed through a modern lens. There is a lot of death and destruction wreaked in the name of Christ. 

To aid in readers’ enjoyment, the author has provided a comprehensive list of characters appearing or mentioned in the book, many of whom are actual historical figures. Chapters are grouped into parts and anchored in time and place by the associated dates and settings of the ensuing events. While this is the second book in the series, the author provides a very good recap of the story to date, so new readers will still enjoy and understand this compelling page-turner. However, the previous novel, Sword Brethren, was a 5-star read for me, and also a riveting tale of family, betrayal, and resilience, and not to be missed by readers who enjoy compelling sagas of action-filled historical fiction. 

I recommend SOLDIERS OF CHRIST to readers of historical fiction, especially those interested in the relatively ignored Northern Crusades. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

Candy, Cigarettes, and Murder

Chocolate Martini Sisters Mystery, #1

by

Joyce Proell and Brenda Whiteside

A planned sisters’ spa weekend at an upscale hotel results in murder instead.

Candy, Cigarettes, and Murder is the debut novel in authors Joyce Proell’s and Brenda Whiteside’s new Chocolate Martini Sisters Mystery cozy mystery series. I was hooked from the start. The engaging sisters, mature women of ‘a certain age,’ are the titular sleuths with an affinity for the chocolate martinis served up by a particular bartender at the Dulce Hotel’s Azul Restaurant and Bar, and they are a delightful pair of opposites. When a planned sisters’ spa weekend turns deadly, two sisters work together to find a killer! 

I liked the sisters’ tradition of spending a spa-filled, chocolate martini-drenched weekend together at the local Dulce Hotel, catching up and celebrating each other’s birthdays. Emma, a recent widow, is more conservative, reserved, and introverted, while Nicole is a twice-divorced extrovert with a more colorful and outgoing temperament. The sisters are quite relatable. It is not a completely stress-free weekend for the pair. Em is finding it hard to relax; this is her first birthday without her spouse, and since her loss, she worries more about something happening to her son, Liam, who is on a hiking trip with friends. Nic has her own issues to deal with as well. Her ex-husband and the father of her only child is staying at the same hotel with his latest young girlfriend. The normally tranquil hotel is overrun with artists participating in the local arts festival the same weekend, with a juried competition in the lobby. Not to mention, the sisters keep discovering murder victims to add to the chaos. 

The murders are simply done, yet stymie both the police and the sisters. The women, as frequent visitors and long-time guests at the hotel, boldly question anyone and everyone for information. There are numerous suspects, and the sisters build plausible scenarios and possible motives for each one before doggedly pursuing their hypotheses and crossing them off their list while the police conduct their official investigation. And although the two detectives are likable guys, I rooted for Em and Nic to solve the case first. 

With its fun opening premise, likable and engaging characters, attractive hotel setting, and puzzling murder mystery, I recommend CANDY, CIGARETTES, AND MURDER to cozy mystery readers who enjoy a more mature, relatable set of sleuths and a small-town Arizona setting. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

Howling with Huskies

by

Linda Chamberlain, PhD, MPH

Wonderful illustrations with an important, well-crafted, and delightfully delivered message.

After completing their morning chores on the homestead, Galena and Kimmo hear Tutku, the lead dog of the family's sled team, start to howl. Confused when they couldn't see what there was to howl about, they asked the wise husky why. He explained that it made him feel good, whether happy, sad, or many other emotions. When the children tried it, they found out he was right! They did feel better. That led them to seek out the other dogs for more remedies for handling big emotions. 

Howling with Huskies by author, scientist, and Alaskan Linda Chamberlain simply and directly passes along ways that children (and adults, too!) can more easily manage stress and other feelings. The book is wonderfully illustrated with charming pictures and fabulous colors. The Northern Lights are gorgeous. 

The children are depicted participating in chores and play, and there's even a discreet mention of the daily work that goes into caring for their dogs. Aside from the book's big message, this may segue into an easy discussion about the responsibilities of pet ownership with children who have been asking their parents to bring a new one into the family. New terms are introduced, specific to dog sledding, that will interest children and adults alike. The author uses the names of dogs she has personally known for her canine characters, and there is a fun mix of proper names, both common and those more familiar to residents in the far north. 

However, the book's purpose is to offer coping strategies, and advice from dogs may make a child more likely to try them than suggestions from a parent, teacher, doctor, or other adults. My boys would have loved this book when they were kids, especially since our family dog was a Siberian Husky named Ivan. 

From its fun and alliterative title to its wonderful illustrations and important, well-crafted, and delivered message, I recommend HOWLING WITH HUSKIES to families for reading aloud and sharing with young elementary school-age readers. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.