"The Orphan's Tale" by Pam Jenoff (We Both Recommend This One)

The Orphan's Tale by Pam Jenoff is a gripping historical fiction book about two women protected in Germany by joining a circus during the 1940s when Hitler took over and rounded up Jews for execution.  Noa rescued a little Jewish baby that was among many dead on a railcar and Astrid was a Jew whose German officer husband kicked her out when ordered to do so.  Astrid was from a circus family and the competing circus took her in.  Noa had no circus background, but the circus owner took in her and the baby to protect them and told Astrid to train Noa for the trapeze act.

This book was very good!  I really liked the circus aspect of this book and enjoyed seeing Astrid and Noa's relationship develop.  In this book, it showed how some were able to find happiness amid the terribly things going on.  There is a lot of sadness in this but also light parts too to keep it from being too depressing.  It is one I don't think I'll forget!  I had to wait to write my review to give me some time to recover from the sad ending.  I highly recommend this one!  My favorite character in this was Astrid, who was yours?
(Karen's review, 5 stars)

Gerard's review, 3-1-17, 5++ stars:
In The Orphan’s Tale by Pam Jenoff is set in the early 1940s in Germany when Hitler and the Third Reich ruled., 16-year-old Noa has been thrown out of her parents’ house. Her husband leaves her and her newborn baby is taken from her. Now she is on the run and is not alone. She carries a secret that if found out will mean death for her and her companion. Astrid knows the circus life very well. She is one of the stars of the show, but every day she lives in fear that her secret will come out.

I enjoyed both Noa and Astrid. I found this book very hard to put down as the tension builds throughout. Loved it! It is now my book of the month for February!


Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"The Freedom Broker" by K. J. Howe

In The Freedom Broker, Thea is one of 25 Kidnap and Rescue (K&R) specialists in the world--the only woman and the best!  Her father has been taken and it will take all her skills to rescue him, as more than just her father's life hangs in the balance. 

This is an adult novel to be sure with good action and plenty of twists and turns.  The ending caught me by surprise too!  This is the author's first book so I will be looking for more.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

"Future Threat" by Elizabeth Briggs

Future Threat by Elizabeth Briggs is the follow-up book to Future Shock. It was good to get back with Elena, Adam and Chris. They have to go to the future again in this book. We get some new characters in this one that I enjoyed. It flowed well with action and some good twists in the end. Although this one did not have the surprise factor of going into the future like the first book did, I still think it was pretty good.
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Tuesday Teasers

Karen's:

My departure years earlier had been remarkable, whispered about for miles around.

One did not leave to marry a German officer as I had--especially if one was Jewish.

From page 24 of The Orphan's Tale by Pam Jenoff.

Gerard's:

I shouldn't have let him in, I shouldn't have let him in, is all I can think as the horror of the whole mess now collapsing around me sinks in.  If I hadn't let him in, I wouldn't have had to face it.

From page 167 of Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough.

Something coming, something powerful and fast.  Not only one thing but many, feet pounding the hard earth--animals or people, Ash couldn't tell which.

From page 7 of Bone Jack by Sara Crowe.

When you're late for your train and you have to get home, and you race down the platform with seconds to spare:  how fast can you run?

What if it isn't a train you're running for, but your life?

From page 112 of I See You by Clare Mackinthosh.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker.   Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading.  Happy Reading!

"Behind Her Eyes" by Sarah Pinborough

In Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough, Louise and Adele become friends after an accidental meeting.  They really do not have much in common at all except for one thing--DAVID.  He is Adele's husband and Louise' boss.  I think you can figure out where this is going.

I really enjoyed getting into the heads of these two women.  It is told by both of them.  The writing is really good and I just had to see how all this was going to play out.  The ending is not to be missed.  LOVED IT!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!