WWII historical fiction winner

Walking Away From Midnight (The Midnight Series Book 1) by Tom Kane delivers a gripping debut in The Midnight Series that seamlessly weaves elements of suspense, history, and personal growth. Set against the backdrop of World War II, this novel introduces Jessie Fordham, a formidable female protagonist whose journey is as unpredictable as it is compelling.

 

About the book: Walking Away from Midnight

This story pulls you into an intricate web of family secrets and looming conflict. Jessie, freshly graduated from Cambridge, returns to her family's summer retreat in the French Ardennes with a heavy heart and unresolved familial tensions. As war threatens to engulf Europe, Jessie's world is thrown into turmoil when her father thrusts her into a dangerous mission that will shape her fate.

 

Book review: Walking Away from Midnight

The strength of Walking Away From Midnight lies in its rich character development and evocative setting. Jessie's evolution from a conflicted young woman to a courageous emissary navigating the treacherous landscape of wartime Europe is both poignant and empowering. The author skillfully blends historical accuracy with a narrative that brims with suspense, keeping readers on edge as Jessie navigates a world fraught with danger and deception.

The novel's pacing is expertly managed, with each chapter unveiling new layers of intrigue and emotion. Set against a wartime backdrop, Jessie's journey underscores themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and human resilience. Vivid descriptions effortlessly transport readers from tranquil midnight lakes to chaotic war scenes where life-and-death decisions about trust and survival must be made.

Walking Away From Midnight excels in its ability to keep readers guessing. The storyline remains unpredictable with red herrings and unexpected twists until the very end, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in Jessie's journey.

In my opinion, Walking Away From Midnight is a historical fiction winner, offering readers an unforgettable protagonist in Jessie Fordham and a narrative that is as heart-wrenching as it is exhilarating. I highly recommend this novel to anyone seeking a compelling blend of World War II history, suspense, and the indomitable strength of the human spirit. Jessie's story stays with you long after you turn the final page. I’m delighted to give Walking Away From Midnight 5 out of 5 stars.

 

Historical Family Life Fiction

At the Far End of Nowhere by Christine Davis Merriman centers around a young girl by the name of Lissa Power as she narrates her life from pre-kindergarten to young adulthood. I grew up in the 50s, and this historical fiction carried me along memory lane to a different time when life was simpler but also more challenging. The flow of the storytelling is never stagnant but drifts like a river compelling the reader onto the next page. Sometimes gently with pleasant reminiscing and other times with turbulence. But it is never stagnant. It holds the attention and engages heartfelt emotions as the reader experiences life through the eyes of childhood innocence as Lissa navigates her financially needy home life which is also emotionally deficient but demanding. 

Her mother is a hard-working plain woman who long ago settled for her lot in life. Her older brother Spence is close to his mother and is often unengaged because of the critical need for perfection from his obsessive-compulsive father. Lissa’s relationship with her “Daddy” is at the heart of the story. He is in his 70s when she is born; an inventor and watchmaker. Lissa thinks the world of him. He in turn wants his daughter to be “perfect like his other inventions.” This highlights the crux of the issue between father and daughter as time goes on. He does love her but it is a stifling love. And she does love him unselfishly, but always questions if she is making the right decision.

At age twelve Lissa loses her mother to breast cancer. Household responsibilities like cleaning the house, doing laundry, and making meals fell on her shoulders along with going to school. By this time her Daddy is 84 years old and they live in a rundown farmhouse that belonged to Lissa’s grandparents before they died. Daddy is lonely and still has two young children to provide for and he becomes even more restrictive limiting where Lissa can go and what she can do in his effort to protect her.

 

Book review: At the Far End of Nowhere

The setting for this fictional autobiography traverses three decades with a narrative arc that provides the framework for a cohesive engaging path to follow. It’s a good-old-days story that reveals the good old days weren’t always “happy days.” At the Far End of Nowhere navigates topics including hidden pasts, sexual trauma, losing a parent, living in poverty, loneliness, caring for an aging parent, and death. I enjoyed Merriman’s storytelling and am happy to give At the Far End of Nowhere 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to baby boomers, people who read coming-of-age historical fiction, or who enjoy familylife fiction.

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As BookHookup, I am a longtime book reviewer. I received a free review copy of this book from BookTasters and have not received compensation for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites

 

Historical time travel fiction set in exotic Ancient Egypt

I’m a time travel fan and a historical fiction fan so I looked forward to reading A Time to Seek (The Time Travel Journals of Sahara Aldridge Book 1) by Tracy Higley with a double dose of expectation. For me, this Ancient Egypt time travel romance seemed to get off to a slow start as Higley lays the foundation for this captivating adventure, but it wasn't boring. It just set the scene for the past and present to collide in this captivating tale.

About the book: A Time to Seek 

The story starts in 1922 and is told in the first person by protagonist Sahara Aldridge, an Egyptologist whose parents were also Egyptologists. At the start of A Time to Seek she works in Egypt on a dig, in search of an undiscovered Pharaoh's tomb. Her parents disappeared on a trip to Venice when she was 15 and with no family ties, her life is devoted to her work. Then an attractive young reporter by the name of Jack Moretti shows up on the scene. She’s not the trusting sort, but he wins her over enough to have dinner. The story spirals with secrets uncovered from Jack’s past and her own that I won’t divulge here to spoil the read. The plot is multi-layered and I enjoyed Tracey Higley’s unique rules of time travel that offer a bit of regulation with a twist that makes things more and more intriguing as the story progresses.

Book review: A Time to Seek

A Time to Seek introduces engaging characters including a strong, daring, female protagonist. The world-building stays true to history and offers Ancient Egyptian tidbits that tie into the plot. Once I made it to chapter eight, it turned into a real page-turner filled with mystery, intrigue, and dangerous high-stakes conflicts amid skillfully drawn settings of ancient Egypt. I loved it. 

A Time to Seek is book one in a trilogy and can be read as a stand-alone, but I, for one, look forward to what happens next in the life of this young heroine. I’m happy to give it a strong 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to people who enjoy historical fiction, fiction set in exotic Ancient Egyptian locales, action and adventure, a budding romance, and elements of revenge all couched amid the ability to time travel. 

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I received a free review copy of this book from the author but was not compensated for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.