REVIEW - CODE NAME HELENE

5.0 stars

I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from Doubleday through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Ariel Lawhon, Doubleday, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

OMG, this novel was INTENSE!! It had VERY graphic scenes of the horrors of WWII. Unfortunately, we need these reminders or we will forget the REAL-LIFE horrors that so many experienced during the Nazi reign of terror. But, I must confess that I loved the protagonist - Nancy Grace Augusta Wake. #Shero

Nancy was a real-life shero who had an amazing life and was responsible for the saving of so many lives. It was inspirational to read about her. Yes, it was fictionalized, but it makes me want to know more about her and her life!! I had NO idea that she existed and that is a real shame - we need to recognize these heroes and sheroes before they are gone forever.

Ariel Lawhon writes beautifully and honestly. I loved this book so much even though reading some of it was very painful and hurt my heart. However, learning about Nancy made it all worth it.

This was NOT a super-fun read, but it was a VERY good and enjoyable read! I HIGHLY recommend it WWII history buffs or folks who just want to learn about this amazing shero, Nancy Grace Augusta Wake AKA Helene!!!

Happy reading,


Dorothea 💜

JANUARY 2020 WRAP-UP

First off, apologies to all! January was a crazy month and it is bleeding over into February as well!! YIKES!

Our 5-month-old rescue puppy was spayed and I had to keep her occupied. That was challenging and it was survival of the fittest - I am lucky that I survived. Fortunately, she gets her stitches out this Tuesday! #ADOPTDONTSHOP

So I only read two books in January which is short of my goal of reading one book per week. Hopefully, I can catch up!! These two books (actually ARCs) were both wonderful and recommended! Please get them from the library, buy them, or read an ARC! Support books, authors, and libraries!! I learned so much from reading both of them!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

01/26/20 - MY NEXT BOOK TO READ IS ...

Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon.

This is the SECOND book that I am reading by this author. This is based on true events about a female British spy!! This is another ARC from NetGalley so I am very excited to read this novel!

If you want to know more about Code Name Helene, go to Goodreads to learn more!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - THE FORGOTTEN HOME CHILD

4.5 stars


I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from Simon & Schuster through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Genevieve Graham, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.


This storyline was FASCINATING!! I had NEVER heard anything about the British Home Children and the transfer of "destitute and orphan" children from Great Britain to the Commonwealth countries occurred for almost 100 years. I think, initially, it was a generous and altruistic idea that outgrew the administration of the program. Two warrs, The Depression, and other historical events caused many of these children to be left alone as indentured servants/slaves. As always, every time that I read a book, I learn new things and this historical fiction was NO exception!!


The novel follows the journey of five children who became a family on the streets of London and how they fared through the British Home Children placement in Canada. I know that this was NOT a true story, but historical fiction, but as a mother, it broke my heart to read of the horrible abusive treatment that these children endured.


This story is very similar in a lot of ways to Before We Were Yours.


HIGHLY recommend!! Most especially if you like historical fiction!!


Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

01/20/20 - MY NEXT BOOK TO READ IS ...

The Forgotten Home Child by Genevieve Graham.

This is the FIRST book that I am going to read by this author. The premise of the book is Britain trying to rid the streets of destitute and unwanted and is inspired by true events (like my previous review)!! This is another ARC from NetGalley so I am very excited to read this novel!

If you want to know more about The Forgotten Home Child, go to Goodreads to learn more!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - THE FIRST EMMA

5.0 stars!!

I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Camille Di Maio, Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

First off, I must confess that I am a HUGE fan of this author, Camille Di Maio! I have read 4/5 of her books and have thoroughly enjoyed every single one. This book is her first historical fiction based on true events. I loved it!!

As always, Camille Di Maio writes with heart, beauty, and purpose. This book had the coolest addition - abstracts of newspaper articles based on this "shocking" story in the 1910s. It was written in flashbacks to the 1910s AND the 1940s. The novel wove the two storylines seamlessly and it was easy to follow.

It is VERY evident that Camille Di Maio researches heavily for all of her books, but this one seemed to be more difficult as there wasn't a lot of information of one of the protagonists available due to the period. I love how she turned the limited information that she had available to a fully-flushed out novel.

The subject matter was very sad and so heartbreaking, yet it made me realize that WE have control of our destiny. Life isn't always smooth, but we need those peaks and valleys to appreciate what we have!!

HIGHLY recommend, but most especially to historical fiction lovers!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

P.S. I am WAY behind on reading books since Christmas! Hopefully, I will make time for other amazing books like this!!

DECEMBER 2019 WRAP-UP

All three of these amazing books were ARCs! It is such an honor to read an ARC before the book is published.

Unfortunately, I returned one book to the library as it just wasn't doing it for me. I was 15% in and it just wasn't working. I am so sad when that happens!!

Due to the holidays, I wasn't able to read my goal of five books a month - it was a little ambitious for me! However, this year, I have a goal of reading a book a week which seems VERY reasonable!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

01/03/20 - MY NEXT BOOK TO READ IS ...

The First Emma by Camille Di Maio.

This is the FIRST book written by this talented author that is inspired by true events!! I have loved all of the books that I have read by Camille Di Maio and am so honored to read this ARC by NetGalley!

If you want to know more about The First Emma, go to Goodreads to learn more!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - THE WICKED REDHEAD

This is the second book in a series - the first book didn't do it for me! I thought that since I like the author so much that this second book would be better. Unfortunately, I was wrong. I read about 15% of this book and abandoned it as I just didn't like the characters or the storyline.

12/24/19 - MY NEXT BOOK TO REVIEW IS ...

The Wicked Redhead by Beatriz Williams.

This is the second book in The Wicked City series. The time period is Prohibition and a break from my ongoing time WWII time period! This author writes beautiful historical novels and I am excited to read this book! It was checked out as a Kindle book from the Los Angeles Public Library Please support your local library and READ!

If you want to know more about The Wicked  Readhead, go to Goodreads to learn more!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - CHILDREN OF THE STARS

4.5 stars

I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Mario Escobar, Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This book was beautifully written and translated from Spanish. I honestly could not believe how smoothly it was written and translated so well that I would have thought that it was written in English.

I have read many WWII books and this was another good one! The story was intense and kept me reading to find out what would happen next after all of the twists and turns. The one big takeaway from this story was that most people are good and we must fight back against evil. Very timely today with the issues in the USA currently with immigration, Dreamers, and White Nationalism. NEVER AGAIN!

I had no idea about how many Jewish families and individuals escaped to Spain and then South America specifically Argentina. This definitely would be a lot harder to do today with our technology. This is WHY I read - I learn something new from EVERY single book that I read!

The only picky issue that I have with this writer is that he gets a little long-winded at times. That is being REALLY picky as even the long-winded passages are beautifully written.

HIGHLY recommend.