Synopsis:

In 1942, Europe remains in the relentless grip of war. Just beyond the tents of the Russian refugee camp she calls home, a young woman speaks her wedding vows. It’s a decision that will alter her destiny, and it’s a lie that will remain buried until the next century.

Since she was nine years old, Alina Dziak knew she would marry her best friend, Tomasz. Now fifteen and engaged, Alina is unconcerned by reports of Nazi soldiers at the Polish border, believing her neighbors that they pose no real threat, and dreams instead of the day Tomasz returns from college in Warsaw so they can be married. But little by little, injustice by brutal injustice, the Nazi occupation takes hold, and Alina’s tiny rural village, its families, are divided by fear and hate. Then, as the fabric of their lives is slowly picked apart, Tomasz disappears. Where Alina used to measure time between visits from her beloved, now she measures the spaces between hope and despair, waiting for word from Tomasz and avoiding the attentions of the soldiers who patrol her parents’ farm. But for now, even deafening silence is preferable to grief.

Slipping between Nazi-occupied Poland and the frenetic pace of modern life, Kelly Rimmer creates an emotional and finely wrought narrative that weaves together two women’s stories into a tapestry of perseverance, loyalty, love and honor. The Things We Cannot Say is an unshakable reminder of the devastation when truth is silenced…and how it can take a lifetime to find our voice before we learn to trust it.

Booktimistic Star Rating: 

Review:

Life has a way of reminding you that you are at the mercy of chance, and that even well-thought-out plans can turn to chaos in an instant.

The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer is easily going to be one of my favorite books of this year, possibly one I’ll keep recommending to people for a very long time. Historical fiction, particularly those centered around and impacted by the atrocities of war are often times desperately tragic and distressing. But it’s the little acts of bravery and kindness during these despairing times that keep our faith in humanity alive. Likewise, this story is heartbreaking yet uplifting, a complete tear jerker that’ll effortlessly rip out its reader’s heart, but despite all its woefulness the hope and heart in here would also leave its reader entirely fulfilled.

Narrated in first person by two women, the story alternates between present day United States and early 1940s Poland. Alina Dziak is fifteen years old and engaged to her best friend Tomasz. Madly in love with her finace, she is counting days until he gets back from college and they can get married. Her young mind pays no heed to reports of Nazi soldiers at the Polish border, until the occupation becomes a reality and everything Alina has known changes for the worse. Her brothers get sent to camp, the Nazis now control the family farm and produce, they get a meagre ration in the name of food and freedom is lost. To make things worst, there’s no news of Tomasz. Through Alina’s narrative we get a close look on the horrors and hardships of war – the hunger, the fear the uncertainty, the anger and desperation.

Jumping over to present day, we see Alice, a young mother struggling to find balance between managing two very different children, an extremely gifted daughter and a son on the Autistic spectrum. Her husband Wade is entirely devoted to office work with barely any time to spare for his family, leaving Alice to juggle everything all by herself. When her grandmother suffers a stroke and is admitted to hospital, she unexpectedly requests Alice to make a trip to her former home in Poland. Alice finds herself conflicted and on crossroads due to this sudden demand. While she absolutely cannot let her Babscia down, she also realizes her family won’t be able to function for a single day in her absence. Through Alice’s narrative we get a glimpse into complexities within a family, intricacies of marriage, and the tiny troubles and triumphs of parenting.

Kelly Rimmer has a unique way with words. Her writing is simple, almost conversational but she somehow manages to transport her readers to another time and place, making them experience every emotion her characters are going through. I was really impressed with how different yet genuine the two narratives of Alina and Alice were. They were both strong and courageous women yet distinct in their own way. Not once did it feel like the different narratives were overlapping. The mystery of how the two stories connected was smoothly and fluidly unveiled. I had an inkling on how things might wrap up, and despite having guessed a couple of things, not for a single moment did I feel like the story was getting dragged. It all wrapped up perfectly.

The author pays great attention to tiny details, be it the Polish conditions during the Nazi occupation or the nuances and challenges of raising children with special needs, be it a gifted or an autistic one. It is apparent that extensive research was put in, to get everything right in both time periods. Also, worthy of mention is the well thought out book’s title, after I finished reading, I realized there couldn’t be a more fitting name for this complicated, immersive and emotional story of love and loyalty, perseverance and survival. I was thoroughly invested in every aspect in both the timelines and kept turning pages. I don’t remember recently having finished an almost 450 page book in less than two days.

Like I mentioned, I’ll keep recommending this beautiful story to everyone. So, buy it or borrow it, just read it and I promise, you won’t be disappointed.

Life has a way of shattering our expectations, of leaving our hopes in pieces without explanation. But when there’s love in a family, the fragments left behind from our shattered dreams can always be pulled together again, even if the end result is a mosaic.

Disclaimer: An ARC was provided by Graydon House and TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The post The Things We Cannot Say – Book Review appeared first on Booktimistic.

Synopsis:

London, 1765
Lady Isabella Gerard, a respectable member of Georgian society, orders her maid to take her new golden gown and destroy it, its shimmering beauty tainted by the actions of her brutal husband the night before. Three months later, Lord Gerard stands at the shoreline of the lake, looking down at a woman wearing the golden gown. As the body slowly rolls over to reveal her face, it’s clear this was not his intended victim.

250 Years Later
When a gown she stole from a historic home as a child is mysteriously returned to Fenella Brightwell, it begins to possess her in exactly the same way that it did as a girl. Soon the fragile new life Fen has created for herself away from her abusive ex-husband is threatened at its foundations by the gown’s power over her until she can’t tell what is real and what is imaginary. As Fen uncovers more about the gown and Isabella’s story, she begins to see the parallels with her own life. When each piece of history is revealed, the gown—and its past—seems to possess her more and more, culminating in a dramatic revelation set to destroy her sanity.

Booktimistic Star Rating: 

Review:

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, and if it involves a dual timeline story where fates of characters are connected by decisions and actions taken centuries apart, it makes for a recipe I absolutely adore. Mix in some fantasy and chances are I’d love it even more. Last year when I read The Phantom Tree by Nicola Cornick it easily became one of my favorites since in addition to gorgeous writing, it included everything I love in historical fiction. So, just imagine my excitement when I realized the author was releasing another novel! I couldn’t wait to get a copy, and almost did a happy dance when my ARC for The Woman in the Lake arrived in the mail.

Set in the dual timelines of present day Swindon and Georgian London, The Woman in the Lake is a story that revolves around three women and an evil gorgeous golden gown. Lady Isabella Gerard has a love-hate relationship with a stunning new gown, an unexpected gift by her unloving, abusive husband. She orders her maid Constance to take away the shimmering beauty until she asks for it again. Constance, who is also a spy for Lord Gerard, is torn between the two conflicting orders of destroying the gown, as per the master’s order or preserving it until further notice, as decreed by the mistress. What will she do? Who can she defy? And what’s so special about this gown other than its obvious beauty?

Fast forward two and a half centuries to present day. Teacher and part time antique seller, Fenella Brightwell has just about managed to settle into her new life after escaping and divorcing her manipulative abusive ex. One day she arrives home to a mysterious package, opening which reveals a gorgeous golden gown that Fenella recalls stealing as a child from a historic home on a school trip. With the gown now in her possession, Fen starts experiencing weird hallucinations and strange urges. Is the gown controlling her or is she just losing her mind? As she struggles to find sanity and tries to unearth the mystery surrounding the bizarre occurrences, Fen comes across Lady Isabella’s story and finds herself entangled in a convoluted puzzle that spans centuries.

The overall plot is well designed and mystery expertly woven around historical facts and events. Manipulations, deceit, revenge – there is plenty of psychological darkness involved, along with a slight gothic element which maintains a constant menacing undertone throughout the story. However, despite it all, I wasn’t as impressed as I wanted to be with The Woman in the Lake. Having read The Phantom Tree before, I knew the author was capable of weaving intricate, elaborate dual stories that just melded into each other. Sadly, that wasn’t the case with this one, the execution of the plot as well as the ending seemed pretty rushed. The pacing was slow, the characters felt flat and lacked complexity,  and speaking of characters, I believe there were too many of them, which only made things more confusing rather than clear.

I really, really wanted to like this book, but it felt like everything was just haphazardly put together. So much was left unexplained – the time travel aspect – how did that really work? The gown – was it really evil? If yes, how did that happen, if no, why did it affect anyone who touched it? What fate befell Lord Gerard? For such an intriguing premise, a lot made very little sense. Also, that wisp of romance in the present day was barely convincing. And tell me, how did that certain someone find Fen towards the end (Don’t want to give spoilers, hence the vagueness). I am not saying this was a bad book, it just could have been so much better.

You’ll have to read it for yourself to know how it sits with you. I’d highly recommend the author’s last book The Phantom Tree, but about this one, I am not so sure. Of course, I’ll still be on the lookout for her next work, but am sorry that this one didn’t manage to impress me.

Disclaimer: An ARC was provided by Harlequin Books and TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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Synopsis:

Two centuries after the Salem witch trials, there’s still one witch left in Massachusetts. But she doesn’t even know it.

“Take this as a warning: if you are not able or willing to control yourself, it will not only be you who suffers the consequences but those around you, as well.”

New Oldbury, 1821

In the wake of a scandal, the Montrose family and their three daughters—Catherine, Lydia, and Emeline—flee Boston for their new country home, Willow Hall. The estate seems sleepy and idyllic. But a subtle menace creeps into the atmosphere, remnants of a dark history that call to Lydia, and to the youngest, Emeline.

All three daughters will be irrevocably changed by what follows, but none more than Lydia, who must draw on a power she never knew she possessed if she wants to protect those she loves. For Willow Hall’s secrets will rise, in the end

Booktimistic Star Rating: 

Review:

October is an ideal month to be in mood for spooky, mysterious reads and if you’re in search of an unsettling and creepily spellbinding story to read this month, look no further. The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox is an exquisitely written gothic tale that would leave its readers intrigued and slightly spooked but completely satisfied. The historical aspect, creepy location and hints of the supernatural contribute to its dark undertone making the story quietly ominous.

The year is 1821 and the location New Oldbury, a small town situated just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. The Montrose family with their three daughters have recently moved into the quaint, sprawling estate of Willow Hall. A terrible scandal involving the eldest, Catherine has led to this impromptu and sudden move to the country. The Montrose’ are trying to leave the past behind and start afresh. However, the seemingly quiet and idyllic manor is not as easy to settle in. Ever since the move the lady of the house, Mrs Montrose has not been in her element. The middle daughter Lydia is continually bothered by strange occurrences, inexplicable noises and an overall feeling of unrest. The youngest Emeline has become mysteriously obsessed with a pond and an old willow tree on the grounds. The house holds deep secrets and so does the family residing within. Adding to the mystery is a brooding handsome neighbor with secrets of his own. So many secrets! What are they?

This is a gradually building, slow burning, atmospheric tale with an element of uncertainty since the very beginning. The author keeps the suspense alive with bits and pieces, a rumor around the scandal, a tiny unfathomable episode, a wisp of imagination, a slip of tongue. Outwardly nothing seems amiss, the characters go about their daily lives, but an unexplainable disquiet and distress is felt lingering in the air. And just like that a tragedy happens, sudden and inconceivable. Things start getting darker, the more questions are asked, the more convoluted the mystery gets. Until the very end, I had no clue how things will wrap up, but I was completely contended with the conclusion.

One important thing to consider before going into this book is the your expectation. If you are expecting to read something with a lot of witchy stuff, dark spooky spells and major supernatural aspect, this is not the right book to pick up. Although there is more than a whiff of paranormal in the story, the witch angle is pretty short. But, don’t be disappointed, the story in itself is quite fantastic, it focuses on a lot more than just the supernatural. It is about family, about the bond between sisters and about embracing your true self. A gentle simmering romance is an added bonus.

A character driven, curious and mysterious tale, The Witch of Willow Hall has it all, a scandal, a tragedy, heartbreak and romance, with a tiny bit of witchcraft. If historical gothic fiction is something you enjoy, this is the perfect read to curl up with on a rainy October night. I can’t wait to see what Hester Fox comes up with next.

Disclaimer: An ARC was provided by Graydon House and TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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Synopsis:

“My name is Mary Seymour and I am the daughter of one queen and the niece of another.”

Browsing antiques shops in Wiltshire, Alison Bannister stumbles across a delicate old portrait—supposedly of Anne Boleyn. Except Alison knows better. The subject is Mary Seymour, the daughter of Katherine Parr, who was taken to Wolf Hall in 1557 as an unwanted orphan and presumed dead after going missing as a child. And Alison knows this because she, too, was in Wolf Hall, with Mary, in 1557.

The painting of Mary is more than just a beautiful object for Alison—it holds the key to her past life, the unlocking of the mystery surrounding Mary’s disappearance and how Alison can get back to her own time. But Alison’s quest soon takes a dark and foreboding turn, as a meeting place called the Phantom Tree harbors secrets in its shadows.

Booktimistic Star Rating: 

Review:

Immersive is the word I’d pick to describe my reading experience of The Phantom Tree by Nicola Cornick. The story is an entertaining blend of history, mystery and romance with a slight fantasy element. Narrated in dual timelines of present day and mid-sixteenth century, and set in London and Wiltshire, this complex, multilayered tale is full of drama and deceit with bits and pieces of Tudor history.

One evening in present day Wiltshire, Allison Bannister comes across a dated Tudor portrait in an antique shop, the subject presumably being Anne Boleyn. Allison, however knows for a fact that the woman in the portrait is Mary Seymor. Historically speaking, there is no record of Mary as an adult. Born in 1548 to Thomas Seymour, Baron of Sudeley, and Katherine Parr, widow of Henry VIII of England, Mary Seymor mysteriously vanished from history when she was a child. So, why and how does Allison believe the woman to be someone who technically disappeared in history?

Allison knows this for a fact, because back in 1557, when nine year old Mary came over to live in Wolf Hall following the unfortunate death of her parents, Allison was there, eleven years old, residing in Wolf Hall, and about to share her chamber with Mary. Beautiful, wild and free spirited Allison never got along with plain, quiet and meek Mary, their relationship being prickly at best and downright hostile at worst. A few years later, a fateful turn of events force them both to help each other and Mary promises Alison to help her look for something she’s been desperately searching for.

How does Allison end up in the present day and did she find what she was looking for? What was she looking for? Was Mary able to keep her promise through the centuries? What really happened to Mary and how did she get lost in history? The answer to these innumerable and inexplicable questions is what makes up this extremely engaging story. Of course, there are a few magic elements but they’re beautifully incorporated into the mystery. There is also some romance in both the timelines and just the right amount. The story concludes with a completely unexpected but totally satisfying twist towards the end.

The Phantom Tree is an absorbing dual timeline historical mystery that beautifully combines fact with fiction and tells an unforgettable tale of love, loss and redemption. After reading this, one might just believe magic is real and time travel a possibility, that promises can be kept over centuries and sometimes what we seek isn’t necessarily what we need. All in all a relishing read!

Disclaimer: An ARC was provided by Harlequin Books and TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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Synopsis:

A deeply evocative story of ambition and betrayal, The Paris Wife captures a remarkable period of time and a love affair between two unforgettable people: Ernest Hemingway and his wife Hadley.

Chicago, 1920: Hadley Richardson is a quiet twenty-eight-year-old who has all but given up on love and happiness—until she meets Ernest Hemingway and her life changes forever. Following a whirlwind courtship and wedding, the pair set sail for Paris, where they become the golden couple in a lively and volatile group—the fabled “Lost Generation”—that includes Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald.

Though deeply in love, the Hemingways are ill prepared for the hard-drinking and fast-living life of Jazz Age Paris, which hardly values traditional notions of family and monogamy. Surrounded by beautiful women and competing egos, Ernest struggles to find the voice that will earn him a place in history, pouring all the richness and intensity of his life with Hadley and their circle of friends into the novel that will become The Sun Also Rises. Hadley, meanwhile, strives to hold on to her sense of self as the demands of life with Ernest grow costly and her roles as wife, friend, and muse become more challenging. Despite their extraordinary bond, they eventually find themselves facing the ultimate crisis of their marriage—a deception that will lead to the unraveling of everything they’ve fought so hard for.

A heartbreaking portrayal of love and torn loyalty, The Paris Wife is all the more poignant because we know that, in the end, Hemingway wrote that he would rather have died than fallen in love with anyone but Hadley.

Booktimistic Star Rating:

Review:

There is a charm to historical fiction that always fills me with awe. One of the few ways to experience an era that once was, is to read about it. And when the prose is as beautiful as this, its almost like experiencing it all.

Maybe happiness was an hourglass already running out, the grains tipping, sifting past each other. Maybe it was a state of mind.

Although a work of fiction, The Paris Wife is deeply inspired by the true life story of Ernest Hemingway and his first wife Hadley Richardson. Narrated from Hadley’s point of view, this is a completely different take on what it was like to live in the dazzling, glittering Jazz age of Paris and be amidst the now popular and then rising artists like Ernst Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald and many more.

The Paris Wife explores both the characters of Hemingway and Hadley along with the relationship they shared at a deeper, much complex level. Its a powerful and provocative tale. It includes the heartbreaking and intimate details on how two people, so utterly in love, sharing an extraordinary bond, and considered nearly indestructible by their friends, gradually drift apart. The writing is so fluid, so masterful, that I could almost feel Hadley’s every emotion, the love and wonder, the ache and loss.

Sometimes I wish we could rub out all of our mistakes and start fresh, from the beginning. And sometimes I think there isn’t anything to us but our mistakes.

I hated, really hated Hemingway for the major part of the book, primarily because of his self-absorbed and egotistical nature, but then at certain times, I couldn’t help admire the drive and passion he had for writing and despite that I also couldn’t help wondering if it was due to this obsessiveness towards his craft that made him lose his true love, friend and muse.

Hadley, on the other hand was a delicate woman with a strong character. In fact, I’d say at times she was too nice, too trusting for her own good and rather naive. Her love for Hemingway was rooted at a much deeper level, that made her see only the positive in him and ignore the rest. I wish she didn’t. At certain points in the story, it felt like she even saw him to be vulnerable and full of self-doubt. Maybe, she was a bit too forgiving and maybe he took too much for granted.

The Paris Wife is a marvelously written, stirring story of love, loss and betrayal that would leave a mark upon the heart. One of those poignant romantic tragedies that is very difficult to forget. I absolutely loved Paula McLain’s writing. Just browse through the quotes of this book and you’ll know what I mean.

But in the end, fighting for a love that was already gone felt like trying to live in the ruins of a lost city.

 

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Synopsis:

Semele Cavnow appraises antiquities for an exclusive Manhattan auction house, deciphering ancient texts—and when she discovers a manuscript written in the time of Cleopatra, she knows it will be the find of her career. Its author tells the story of a priceless tarot deck, now lost to history, but as Semele delves further, she realizes the manuscript is more than it seems. Both a memoir and a prophecy, it appears to be the work of a powerful seer, describing devastating wars and natural disasters in detail thousands of years before they occurred.

The more she reads, the more the manuscript begins to affect Semele’s life. But what happened to the tarot deck? As the mystery of her connection to its story deepens, Semele can’t shake the feeling that she’s being followed. Only one person can help her make sense of it all: her client, Theo Bossard. Yet Theo is arrogant and elusive, concealing secrets of his own, and there’s more to Semele’s desire to speak with him than she would like to admit. Can Semele even trust him?

The auction date is swiftly approaching, and someone wants to interfere—someone who knows the cards exist, and that the Bossard manuscript is tied to her. Semele realizes it’s up to her to stop them: the manuscript holds the key to a two-thousand-year-old secret, a secret someone will do anything to possess.

Booktimistic Star Rating: 

Review:

The Fortune Teller is an enchanting tale of ancient manuscripts and forgotten relics. It spans over thousands of years covering several lifetimes and takes place across multiple countries crossing borders and oceans. Gwendolyn Womack has masterfully woven a compelling tale of mystery and secrets interlaced around major historical events through time and place, ranging from 46 BC Alexandria, Egypt to the present day New York.

Semele Cavnow works for a prestigious New York auction house as an antique appraiser. While preparing for an upcoming auction from a client’s personal collection in Switzerland, she discovers a rare and ancient manuscript. Digging further, she realizes that this extraordinary manuscript which is part memoir and part prophecy is unknown to the world. Its author Ionna, is a two thousand year old, powerful seer who has in great detail and precision narrated events in her future that we’ve known and read as our world’s history.

While Semele is trying to unearth the mystery behind this mystic manuscript, someone is keeping an eye on her. Her hotel room gets almost burglarized and there is a man following her everywhere. Things start getting tense when these priceless manuscripts get stolen from her high security company office in New York and she is abruptly taken off the case. What is the secret hidden within this ancient manuscript? Why is someone so desperate to possess them? How does this all connect to Semele’s life? How can a two thousand year old seer acknowledges Semele by name in her writings? Are these mere coincidences or is there a deep hidden mystery beneath it all?

The Fortune Teller is a gripping and an absolutely fascinating tale. I was completely lost in Semele’s and Ionna’s story. The back and forth of the dual point of view works brilliantly for the story. At one end Semele is trying to figure out the mysteries within the mysterious manuscript and on the other end Ionna narrates her story and the future she sees through the years within the manuscript. There is a slight paranormal touch to the story, but I felt it was seamlessly blended with the plot. Alongside there is plenty of classical reference, historical events and also a wisp of romance.

This was unputdownable. I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful story of secrets, mysteries and family ties that span over centuries and would highly recommend it if you enjoy thought provoking mysteries with historical references.

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Synopsis:

When newlywed Ruby Henderson Benoit arrives in Paris in 1939 with her French husband Marcel, she imagines strolling arm in arm along the grand boulevards, awash in the golden afternoon light. But war is looming on the horizon, and as France falls to the Nazis, her marriage begins to splinter, too.

Charlotte Dacher is eleven when the Germans roll into the French capital, their sinister swastika flags snapping in the breeze. After the Jewish restrictions take effect and Jews are ordered to wear the yellow star, Charlotte can’t imagine things getting much worse. But then the mass deportations begin, and her life is ripped forever apart.

Thomas Clarke joins the British Royal Air Force to protect his country, but when his beloved mother dies in a German bombing during the waning days of the Blitz, he wonders if he’s really making a difference. Then he finds himself in Paris, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, and he discovers a new reason to keep fighting—and an unexpected road home.

When fate brings them together, Ruby, Charlotte, and Thomas must summon the courage to defy the Nazis—and to open their own broken hearts—as they fight to survive. Rich with historical drama and emotional depth, this is an unforgettable story that will stay with you long after the final page is turned.

Booktimistic Star Rating: 

Review:

The Room on Rue Amélie by Kristin Harmel is a heartbreaking and inspiring tale of love, loss and survival during the tumultuous times of World War II.

That’s one thing faith is especially good for: giving us strength in times of crisis

I have always found stories based during this era of time to be extremely emotional. I think the one thing they all have in common is how we get to see the best and the worst of humanity simultaneously. Its distressing to just read about the horrors inflicted on humans during that turbulent era, and yet it is also comforting to know that even amidst those dark times, kindness and compassion was not lost.

The Room on Rue Amélie tells the story of Ruby, an American in Paris; Charlotte, an eleven year old Jewish girl and Thomas, a British RAF pilot, and how their lives get interlaced with each other. I believe Kristin Harmel has beautifully captured that bleak age and put into words the fears, hopes and dreams of these three very different characters. It could be majorly classified as a romance, but I believe it is so much more than just that.

Perhaps that was what it was like to love someone deeply; to feel that no matter how many moments together you were granted, there would never be enough

I don’t want to say much about the story, what you read in the blurb is sufficient, just know this, that in the midst of all the gloom and oppression, towards the end, it reprises the goodness of mankind, strength of faith and the enduring power of love. There is danger, drama and a depth of feeling that’ll stay with its readers.

To all historical fiction and romance readers, I’d definitely recommend this.

Discalimer: I was sent a free finished copy of this book by Gallery Books. All opinions are my own.

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