Hidden Among The Stars By: Melanie Dobson

Back of the book

The year is 1938, and as Hitler’s troops sweep into Vienna, Austrian Max Dornbach promises to help his Jewish friends hide their most valuable possessions from the Nazis, smuggling them to his family’s summer estate near the picturesque village of Hallstatt. He enlists the help of Annika Knopf, his childhood friend and the caretaker’s daughter, who is eager to help the man she’s loved her entire life. But when Max also brings Luzia Weiss, a young Jewish woman, to hide at the castle, it complicates Annika’s feelings and puts their entire plan—even their very lives—in jeopardy. Especially when the Nazis come to scour the estate and find both Luzia and the treasure gone.

Eighty years later, Callie Randall is mostly content with her quiet life, running a bookstore with her sister and reaching out into the world through her blog. Then she finds a cryptic list in an old edition of Bambi that connects her to Annika’s story . . . and maybe to the long-buried story of a dear friend. As she digs into the past, Callie must risk venturing outside the safe world she’s built for a chance at answers, adventure, and maybe even new love.

My Thoughts

Melanie Dobson has once again written an emotionally gripping novel bridging the gap between WWII and the present.  With smooth writing and an amazing plot Hidden Among The Stars is a heavy novel but well worth reading.  Every time I read a book by Melanie Dobson I am touched by the challenge faced by those in the WWII era and an equal level of awe at what others did to help those who suffered.  Definitely a novel worth reading and one that will give you a view to the past you could never imagine.

A Secret To Die For By: Lisa Harris

Back of the Book

Psychologist Grace Callahan has no idea that she has a secret--one worth killing for. But when she finds out one of her clients has been murdered, she quickly realizes that the computer security specialist wasn't simply suffering from paranoia.

Detective Nate Quinn has just been cleared for active duty after a bombing killed eighteen people, including his partner, and left him dealing with PTSD. His first case back on the job involves the murder of Stephen Shaw, and his only lead turns out to be an old friend, Grace Callahan--and her life is in grave danger. Someone believes Shaw gave his psychologist information before he died. Information they are willing to kill for.

With her signature pulse-pounding suspense, Lisa Harris takes readers deep into the heart of fear in this race against the clock.

My Thoughts

From the first page to the last A Secret To Die For never slows down.  With a few twist and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat, and with each character introduction another piece seems to fall into place.  I liked the plot of the story but must admit some of the details went over my head.  At first details were easy to understand and then all of a sudden ‘expert level’.  And while I wished I understood some parts better, the book was still entertaining, and a great thriller that everyone can enjoy.

An Hour Unspent By: Roseanna M. White

Back of the Book

Once London's top thief, Barclay Pearce has turned his back on his life of crime and now uses his skills for a nation at war. But not until he rescues a clockmaker's daughter from a mugging does he begin to wonder what his future might hold.

Evelina Manning has constantly fought for independence, but she certainly never meant for it to inspire her fiancé to end the engagement and enlist in the army. When the intriguing man who saved her returns to the Manning residence to study clockwork repair with her father, she can't help being interested. But she soon learns that nothing with Barclay Pearce is as simple as it seems.

As 1915 England plunges ever deeper into war, the work of an ingenious clockmaker may give England an unbeatable military edge--and Germany realizes it as well. Evelina's father soon finds his whole family in danger--and it may just take a reformed thief to steal the time they need to escape.

My Thoughts

An Hour Unspent is fantastic and a joy to read.  Barclay has always been the strong quiet background character so I wasn't sure how he would hold up being front and center.  Yet just a few pages into An Hour Unspent changed everything.  Barclay is entertaining, kind and his scenes were just simple and perfect.  Evelina is a little standoff'ish but perfectly written and as the book went on she became fascinating.  Yet the one character that really pulled the book together is her father, his personality and the relationship he built with Barclay made this book perfect.