The Royal Librarian by Daisy Wood

 

This month I’m recommending The Royal Librarian by Daisy Wood.

Two sisters are torn apart by the Nazi’s cleansing of Jews in Vienna.

One becomes the Royal Librarian at Windsor castle. We do not find out what has happened, to the other until her granddaughter starts to investigate other than that she emigrated to America.

So, we have two time-lines here and we do have several points of view.

This works very well in this case.

The fictionalised versions of Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret are also very convincing.

This is well written and for me a page-turner. Daisy Wood entertains and gives you food for thought in her compelling The Roya Librarian.    

 Find your copy here.      

 

Note, this is an affiliate link and a small portion of what you pay, at no extra cost to you, may go to Bridge House Publishing.    

The Lost Diary by Rose Alexander

 

I loved The Lost Diary by Rose Alexander.

Two riveting stories form the past combine with a more recent dilemma.

This story covers three of the grimmest aspects of World War II, aspects not often covered in mass market lit: the Death Marches, German civilian refugees and rapes by Russian soldiers.
The personal story of Katja and Lou is gripping and we are kept guessing right until the very end.

The framework is of Katja at last telling her daughter Jo the true story of what happened to her and of Jo reading Lou’s story in the forgotten diary.

There is surprise after surprise.

Jo too has her problems but realises that they are of little significance compared to what happened to her parents.

Yet Katja’s narration of what happened also helps to solve Jo’s problems.

A fantastic read

Find your copy here 

Note, this is an affiliate link and a small portion of what you pay, at no extra cost to you, may go to Bridge House Publishing.    

A Lancashire Story by Ged Melia.

 

It was difficult to choose this time as I’ve enjoyed all of the books I’ve read this month.

I’ve finally settled on A Lancashire Story by Ged Melia.  Ged is local to where I live and also a fellow member of The Lancashire Authors Association.

Austin Melia is ambitious.

The story tells how he escapes a career path that would have made him work as a miner or a cotton spinner. He becomes a skilled engineer. His family too grow up and become successful. Yet the shadow of war threatens.

Ged Melia has created characters we care about and a pleasing story line in A Lancashire Story.

Find your copy here.        

Note, this is an affiliate link and a small portion of what you pay, at no extra cost to you, may go to Bridge House Publishing.      

The Porcelain Maker of Dachau by Sarah Freethy

 

So, this month I’m recommending: The Porcelain Maker of Dachau  Note, this is an affiliate link and a small portion of what you pay may go to Bridge House publishing.   

Two stories intertwine: that of the romance between Jewish architect Max and ‘degenerate’ artist Bettina and that of her daughter Clara who after her mother’s death seeks to find out more about her father.

We know that Clara and Bettina survive so our question is not what happened but how did they manage that? Why did they come to England?  How did they get there? Who is Erza? How does this avant-garde artist reconcile herself to the Nazi era? How does Max, an architect, become a porcelain maker?

The text isn’t perfect. In the opening chapters I found some odd expression.  I’m not sure if it continued. If it did I stopped noticing. I was soon absorbed in the plot. There is also some odd formatting in some text in italics. I suspect this may be an Amazon rather than a publisher or author problem. 

Sarah Freethy is an author I shall certainly read again. She keeps us guessing about The Porcelain maker of Dachau.       

Dawn Knox’s A Folly in Plotlands

 

A heart-warming story of romance and survival.

Dismissed from a school where she was neve really that happy but that had been home for her for a long time, Samira Stewart cultivates an unlikely relationship with her estranged grandmother. She has to grow up quickly. She takes care of the ailing old lady who doesn’t deserve the attention that is now lavished on her. Then her brother and uncle really start to make life difficult. She falls in love and a childhood illness almost stops her beloved from staying with her.

Expert story-teller Dawn Knox’s A Folly in Plotland is an uplifting read.  Enjoy!