VIOLENT PEACE by David Poyer

December 23, 2020
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The War with China: Aftermath of Armageddon

Dan Lenson Novels, Book 20

From the publisher:

World War III is over… or is it? Superpowers race to fill the postwar power vacuum in this page-turning thriller, the next in the Dan Lenson series.

In the next installment of David Poyer’s critically-acclaimed series about war with China, mutual exhaustion after a massive nuclear exchange is giving way to a Violent Peace.

While Admiral Dan Lenson motorcycles across a post-Armageddon US in search of his missing daughter, his wife Blair Titus lands in a spookily deserted, riot-torn Beijing to negotiate the reunification of Taiwan with the rest of China, and try to create a democratic government.

But a CIA-sponsored Islamic insurgency in Xianjiang province is hurtling out of control. Andres Korzenowski, a young case officer, must decide whether ex-SEAL Master Chief Teddy Oberg―now the leader of a ruthless jihad―should be extracted, left in place, or terminated.

Meanwhile, Captain Cheryl Staurulakis and USS Savo Island are recalled to sea, to forestall a Russian fleet intent on grabbing a resource-rich Manchuria.

The violent and equivocal termination of the war between China and the Allies has brought not peace, but dangerous realignments in the endless game of great power chess. Will the end of one world war simply be the signal for the beginning of another?

The next book in David Poyer’s series about a war between the United States and China with the drawing in of many other nations making it World War III. Millions have been killed and many others maimed for life. The war concluded on an armistice between the belligerents which left the same problem as had occurred in 1918 ending World War I. The German army later indicated that they had never surrendered and were not obligated by the treaty made by their leaders which opened the door to the next phase – World War II.     

The action begins at a peace conference held by the former belligerents to fix terms and conditions and attempt to make sure that the combat does not begin again. Problems arise immediately when China attempts to fix the conditions for the armistice which could negate what the allies want to occur. In addition, the principal characters face the problems of peace bringing conditions of war-torn nations devastated by the fighting having to reconstruct their countries first.     

Dan Lenson has been promoted to Admiral but instead of immediately assuming his position spends many weeks in attempts to find his daughter who has disappeared in the aftermath of the fighting. His wife Blair is working with the members of the U.S. peace committee sent to Bejing in order to try and set the terms of Taiwan reuniting with China as well as attempting to form a democratic government for the Chinese. Meanwhile, Captain Cheryl Stauralakis onboard the USS Savo Island and in command of a small flotilla is ordered to sail against a Russian fleet attempting to grab a Manchuria rich in natural resources.     

On another front, Teddy Oberg, a US Seal, has made himself the leader of an Islamic group and leading a revolt causes the allies to consider terminating him as a means of controlling the area he presides over.       

Poyer continues to draw his readers in with books featuring continuous action and well-delineated characters taking part in the action. This novel ends with the possibility of new combat against a Russia that has kept itself largely out of the fighting but demands to be allowed to take part in war reparations. The playing out on a world stage is deftly handled and cause and effect made logical. Would the situations evolve in a similar manner if really taking place? Probably, if not exactly. Certainly, it does place the blame for the war on leadership consumed with pursuing their own ends rather than looking for the common good.

12/2020 Paul Lane

VIOLENT PEACE by David Poyer. Oceanview Publishing (December 1, 2020). ISBN: 978-1608094004. 336 pages.

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Best Books of 2020: Caitlin Brisson

December 22, 2020

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Act Like It by Lucy Parker: The first in Parker’s “London Celebrities” series, Act Like It features a delightful, and banter-filled enemies to lovers romance between West End darling Lainie and the notoriously difficult Richard. The entire series is excellent but Lainie and Richard’s sizzling chemistry and emotional depth makes this entry the stand out.

Beach Read by Emily Henry: January is a best-selling romance writer who no longer believes in true love. During a summer getaway she makes a deal with literary author and nemesis Augustus, January will try her hand at literary fiction but Augustus must write something with a happy ending. A charming and thought-provoking contemporary romance.

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall: If I had to name the best romance I read in 2020, Boyfriend Material would probably get the title. The son of a rock star, Luc is reluctantly in the public eye and needs to try to improve his bad-boy image, and pretending to date uptight barrister Oliver seems like the perfect solution. Fake relationships are often-used premises in romance but Hall’s witty dialogue, engaging writing, character development, and the heartwarming relationship between Luc and Oliver mean Boyfriend Material will make you laugh-out-loud and maybe shed a tear or two.

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren: The authors of many outstanding rom-coms, it seems hard to believe this is Christina Lauren’s first holiday-themed novel, but it did not disappoint. After asking the universe to show her what will make her happy, Maelyn ends up caught in a Groundhog Day like time loop and keeps reliving her family’s annual Christmas trip to stay with friends at a cabin. Mae has to figure out how to set things right and maybe find true love along the way.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab: When Addie LaRue makes a deal with the Devil, she gains immortality but is destined to never be remembered by anyone she meets. Addie slips through life like a ghost until she meets Henry, the first person to remember her name in almost 300 years. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a haunting, suspenseful, and romantic novel.

The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner: In the aftermath of World War II, a diverse group of Jane Austen lovers, from a farmer to a Hollywood star, come together to save Austen’s historic cottage in the village of Chawton, England. This cozy novel is perfect for lovers of Austen and historical fiction. I also highly recommend the audiobook narrated by the talented Richard Armitage. 

Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn: Read on the final day of 2019 Love Lettering just missed being included on my list last year. Do not miss this beautifully written slow burn romance which is also a love letter to the city of New York and the art of calligraphy.

Modern Comfort Food by Ina Garten: I have been a fan of Garten’s for a long time and read all her cookbooks. Her collection of comfort food recipes is perfect reading for the end of the year. As always, her recipes look delicious and approachable and I was ready for Garten to come over to my house and make me the grilled cheese and tomato soup pictured on the cover.

Not Like Movies by Kerry Winfrey: Waiting for Tom Hanks was one of my favorite books of 2019 and this follow up featuring what happens to optimistic Chloe and gruff coffee house owner Nick after their relationship is turned into a movie was even better. It has all the charm and rom-com fun of the first book but even more depth and better-developed characters.

The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler: During the height of the COVID-19 lockdown, The Tourist Attraction gave me much needed laughs and a free trip to Alaska. When Zoe takes a bucket list trip to the quaint town of Moose Springs, Alaska she encounters a chainsaw-wielding mad man, a moose, and numerous other misadventures, but she also finds romance with grumpy diner owner Graham. Morgenthaler also returns to Moose Springs in the excellent holiday-themed follow up, Mistletoe and Mr. Right.

 

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A TAIL FOR TWO by Mara Wells

December 21, 2020
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Fur Haven Dog Park, Book 2

From the publisher:

All paws on deck!

Carrie Burns has a successful business, a young son, Oliver, and an energetic Jack Russell terrier. She doesn’t have time in her busy schedule for her ex-husband and his talk of working together again. But when she runs into Lance in the dog park, their lives are turned upside down.

Lance Donovan wants to promote his fledgling construction company by helping his brother Caleb with a big condo conversion. Lance even knows the perfect interior designer to make this project a success―his ex-wife, Carrie. But after a fateful meeting at the dog park, Lance finds himself not only petsitting both his brother’s dog and the beloved Jack Russell terrier he had to leave behind in the divorce but babysitting a young son he never knew he had while his ex-wife tries to get back into dating. How did life get this crazy?

Lance is determined to win back the love he thought he’d lost―but he’s going to need a lot of help from his furry friends.

Fur Haven Dog Park Series:
Cold Nose, Warm Heart (Book 1)
Tail for Two (Book 2)

I actually read the first book in this series (yay, me) and I liked it enough to read the next and here we are. This one is a little bit better, probably because I was already familiar with the background story and some of the characters. It’s a cute read with an underlying sweetness that just dragged me in. There are dogs and sexy men and a good “will she or won’t she take him back” kind of romance. And Miami is always good for me. Oh, and cranky grandparents, too, a South Florida stereotype that became one for a reason!

All I can say is if you want a sweet, fun read for over the holidays, you can’t go wrong here. Enjoy!

12/2020 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

A TAIL FOR TWO by Mara Wells. Sourcebooks Casablanca (September 29, 2020). ISBN 978-1492698616. 384 pages.

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Best Books of 2020: Paul Lane

December 20, 2020

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1) Miraflores by Keith Yokum:  A novel of Panama and the canal built to allow ships to cross between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans without traveling all the way to the tip of South America.  A new member of the recently forming CIA is sent to Panama tasked with finding bad guys looking to sabotage the “Big Ditch”.  Filled with facts only a person that has lived in the canal zone would know.  An enticing read to draw in readers.
 
 
2) Rock of Freedom by Noel Gershon:  Fact-based account of the settling by the Pilgrims of the Massachusetts area of the new world.  Written by an author with a huge number of historical novels to his credit.  Now deceased with an apparent attempt to reselect his books and publish some. Try one – you’ll get hooked.
 
 
3) Germania by Harald Gilbers:  The height of Nazi control over Germany with the systemic hatred of Jews and other chosen groups guided by Hitler in order to provide focus centers for the population that he was guiding into wars of conquest.  The police are stymied by a serial killer loose in Berlin and due to whom they think it is being forced to rehire a Jewish detective to find the murderer.  Filled with the forced hatreds pushed by a leader desperate to control his subjects.  A very unique book.
 
 
4) The Palace by Christopher Reich:  One well-done action novel written by a master of the genre.  A book moving all over the world and featuring a man that picks and chooses problems brought to him, fixing them with no charge. You like action – get some coffee and plunge into a lot of it set up by a master of doing so.
 
 
5) Violent Peace by David Poyer:  The next novel by the author about a war between China and the United States. There is a peace conference going on although no one trusts the Chinese to play fair.  The stage moving from Russia through radical Islam and to the next probable enemy.  Military sequences described by an expert.  Very likely aim in real life is the desired annexing of Taiwan by China and this is very well played out in Poyer’s book.
 
6) Assassin’s Strike by Ward Larson:  Any series of favorite books have just got to include the exploits of an assassin.  And we have Larson’s David Slayton who at first worked for the Israeli Mossad. Migrating to the United States Slayton is asked to do the CIA a favor once in a while and agrees.  In this novel, two women acting as translators at a conference between Russia and Iran overhear something they shouldn’t.  One is killed and the other gets help from Slayton.  I do so love action adventures and this book will satisfy anyone’s desire for the same.
 
7) Muzzled by David Rosenfelt: Of course, Andy Carpenter and his entourage must make an appearance in this list and so they do in this novel.  Andy inherited enough money to live without working and of course, that’s the way he does at the start of most books. But the normal mitigating circumstances intervene and Andy takes a case aided quite well by his wife Laurie (his investigator) the very vociferous Marcus who requires translation services, Willy his partner in a dog rescue business, and other sundry characters including a few dogs and an office manager that has developed allergies to working. Formats of Rosenfelt’s books always include sarcastic comments, very astute and penetrating observations, and a happy resolution for all (especially the dogs.)
 
8) Home before Dark by Riley Sager:  A novel that asks the question Is this a ghost story or not?  It asks the question but doesn’t answer it.  How can that be??? Seems that a young girl was murdered in a house that the principal character lived in years ago and the murder was never solved.  Is the young lady hanging around hoping that her killer is discovered? Maggy Holt and her partner are in the business of restoring old houses and have picked the one that the girl was murdered in.  What Maggy does not remember is that she lived in that house when younger and during the period of the murder. Ingredients of a great ghost story or something else??? Read it and get in line.
 
9) The Haunting of H.G. Wells by Robert Maselo: An author that has earned a place in writing well-done novels that feature a bit of the macabre to spice up the story.  In this book, the very famous H.G. Wells investigates ghost sightings on the battlefields of World War one Belgium, meets a young lady that becomes his lifelong mistress with the underlying okay of his wife.  Where do you get those type of women?  His wife also cares for a downed German airman not turning him in for many years.  The girl keeps soldiering on, doesn’t she? Finally, his mistress helps Wells to bust a man interested in launching a chemical attack on England.  Wells not only writes them but also lived them.
 
10) Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia:  Set in the country of Mexico when a rather spoiled rich young lady is sent by her father to check out the complaints of a newly married member of the family.  That girl has taken up residency in her new husband’s mansion. Noemi, the young lady sent to investigate, goes through a growing up period, meets her husband, and helps her cousin in solving her problems with the new marriage. An interesting study of a class of well to do people in the country of Mexico.
 

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JINGLE ALL THE WAY by Debbie Macomber

December 19, 2020
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From the publisher:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Love can transform even the best-laid plans in this heartfelt Christmas novel from the queen of Christmas stories, Debbie Macomber.

Trapped in the middle of five siblings, Everly Lancaster always had big dreams. Now a top real-estate executive, Everly finds her work is her life, leaving no space for anything (or anyone) else. Sensing her stress, Everly’s boss insists she take December off. At first, a month away seems crazy—how will the company survive without her? But Everly’s mother convinces her otherwise. She deserves a vacation—plus, when she returns, she’ll have no excuse to skip family Christmas like she did last year.

But after her vengeful assistant books a guided cruise in the Amazon instead of the luxury beach vacation she expected, Everly is horrified to realize that she’s about to spend the next two weeks trapped—with no Wi-Fi!—in the rain forest. Not even Asher Adams, the ship’s charming naturalist, can convince Everly that the trip will be unforgettable. Slowly but surely, she realizes he is right: the sights are spectacular. And with each passing day, Everly’s relationship with Asher deepens, forcing her to take a long, hard look at her priorities.

Everly and Asher begin to see magic in the possibility of a life together. But as the cruise nears its end, and Everly’s family Christmas approaches, both must decide if love is worth the risk. A merry surprise may be in store in Debbie Macomber’s newest holiday delight.

I have not always loved Macomber’s Christmas romances, so it was with a bit of trepidation that I started reading this one. In fact, I waited for a while and read a bunch of other Christmas books before finally getting to this one. I am happy to report that I loved it!

The characters were complex and likeable, and the setting on an adventure cruise through the Amazon made for an interesting backdrop. As usual, the secondary characters were very one dimensional and only used to advance the plot, but it didn’t bother me here as my focus was entirely on Everly and Asher.

Macomber has a way of stretching believability almost to the breaking point, but she manages to pull it back in enough to make it work. It is a short book and a fast read with enough drama, and some laughs, to move the story along nicely. And no sex, of course.

This book exemplifies why Macomber is the “Queen of Christmas stories”. Looking forward to the Hallmark movie (no, I don’t know anything but they have made films of many of her Christmas books, and this would be a good one with the Amazon as a backdrop.) Anyway, I recommend!

12/2020 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

JINGLE ALL THE WAY by Debbie Macomber. Ballantine Books (October 13, 2020). ISBN 978-1984818751. 272 pages.

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THE CHRISTMAS BACKUP PLAN by Lori Wilde

December 17, 2020
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Twilight, Texas Book 12

From the publisher:

A regimented ex-Army man drives an irresistible wedding planner  from Cupid to Twilight in the next Twilight, Texas, novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde.

You are cordially invited to a Twilight, Texas, Christmas Wedding! The town is decorated, the cookies are made, and the stage is set . . . for love.

Wedding planner Aria Alzate has one goal: to give her best friend a perfect day. But after a bump on the head, she’s under doctor’s orders not to travel on her own. So she’s stuck on the road to Twilight with upright, uptight Remington Lockhart in the driver’s seat. True, Remy is one long, tall, Texas male, but the ex-military man never saw a rule he didn’t like—making this one long road trip . . .

Remy has left the military, but the military lifestyle has not left him. The uncertainty this ex-paratrooper encountered during his tour of duty has convinced him that plans—combined with backup plans—will keep life under control. Aria is undeniably tempting, but her fly-by-the-seat of her pants attitude is never going to work.

Then a sudden snowstorm strikes, and these opposites come together in a night of unexpected passion. And suddenly the magic of a Twilight, Texas, Christmas takes hold, proving that sometimes the best plan is to have no plan at all.

Lori Wilde is one of the authors I really trust – I know her books are all good and all going to help me escape reality for a bit. This one is no exception. 

The Twilight, Texas series is a terrific series and I really enjoyed every book, which is saying a lot, considering this is the twelfth book in the series! Her characters always come to life on the page and I can’t help rooting for them. Even this time, with Remy, a veteran with a stick up his butt. He is a real rules kind of guy, and he can’t understand someone like Aria at all. She just does things without a plan sometimes or makes the best of things when something goes wrong. If only she would have a backup plan for her backup plan, he wouldn’t have to worry about her so much.

But worry he does, because somehow he is falling in love with this unorganized woman. And while she laughs at his rules, she, too, is falling in love. But rules are rules and Remy knows she is not the one for him. Until he finally figures out that she is. All set against a Christmas wedding backdrop, this was a very fast, really good read. Another winner for Wilde.

12/2020 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THE CHRISTMAS BACKUP PLAN by Lori Wilde. Avon (October 27, 2020). ISBN 978-0062953148. 368 pages.

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BLIND VIGIL by Matt Coyle

December 16, 2020
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Rick Cahill Series, Book 7

From the publisher:

Anthony, Shamus, and Lefty Award-winning Author!

A friend arrested for murder. A vicious killer lurking in the shadows. A world of darkness.

Blinded by a gunshot wound to the face while working as a private investigator nine months ago, Rick Cahill is now sure of only one thing: he has to start a new life and leave his old one behind.

He’s still trying to figure out what that life is when his onetime partner, Moira MacFarlane, asks for his help on a case she’s taken for Rick’s former best friend. The case is simple and Moira only needs Rick for one interview, but Rick is wary of waking sleeping demons.

Ultimately, he goes against his gut and takes the case which quickly turns deadly. Rick’s old compulsion of finding the truth no matter the cost—the same compulsion that cost him his eyesight and almost his life—battles against his desire to escape his past.

The stakes are raised when Rick’s friend is implicated in murder and needs his help. Can he help the friend he no longer trusts while questioning his own lessened capabilities? His life depends on the answer as a shadowy killer lurks in the darkness.

Rick Cahill is a private detective and the principal character in Matt Coyle’s novels about him. The books can each stand alone, although Rick has been developed throughout the series. He began as a member of the La Jolla, California police department when his eventful life began with the murder of his wife. Rick was a suspect in the murder but was not arrested due to lack of evidence. He was forced to leave the police force and subjected to the feeling by many of his fellow officers that he did kill the woman and is getting away with murder. Over time Cahill has worked on different cases as a private detective, solved them, and become a fine example of the classic hard-boiled detective.     

In the novel prior to “Blind Vigil,” Rick finds his wife’s killer but is wounded in a fight with him and suffers from blindness. This condition has, of course, forced him to retire from his work and he is kept home accompanied by his dog and the occasional visits of his new love Leah. She has a growing business in a different area of the state and has to attend it and unable to move in with Rick on a permanent basis.   

Moira MacFarlane, who was Rick’s partner at one time, approaches him asking for help. She has been hired by Rick’s good friend and former boss at a restaurant and asked to investigate the man’s girlfriend with an eye to determine if she is cheating on him. Moira explains that it would be advantageous to have Rick take part since he is good friends with the man and it would be easier to help with the situation by adding a bit of the personal to the equation. The investigation develops into a murder case and Rick must take part in the investigation even though he is blind. In the same way that Matt Coyle has made Rick come alive in all the prior novels featuring him, he successfully does the same with him as someone that cannot see. This is very well done and does represent some painstaking questioning and research into the world of the blind in order to logically work on what is a complicated case.

12/2020 Paul Lane

BLIND VIGIL by Matt Coyle. Oceanview Publishing (December 1, 2020). ISBN: 978-1608094004. 336 pages.

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THE BOOKISH LIFE OF NINA HILL by Abbi Waxman

December 15, 2020
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From the publisher:

The author of Other People’s Houses and The Garden of Small Beginnings delivers a quirky and charming novel chronicling the life of confirmed introvert Nina Hill as she does her best to fly under everyone’s radar.
 
Meet Nina Hill: A young woman supremely confident in her own…shell.
 
The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, a world-class planner and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book.
 
When the father Nina never knew existed suddenly dies, leaving behind innumerable sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, Nina is horrified. They all live close by! They’re all—or mostly all—excited to meet her! She’ll have to Speak. To. Strangers. It’s a disaster! And as if that wasn’t enough, Tom, her trivia nemesis, has turned out to be cute, funny, and deeply interested in getting to know her. Doesn’t he realize what a terrible idea that is?
 
Nina considers her options.
1. Completely change her name and appearance. (Too drastic, plus she likes her hair.)
2. Flee to a deserted island. (Hard pass, see: coffee).
3. Hide in a corner of her apartment and rock back and forth. (Already doing it.)
 
It’s time for Nina to come out of her comfortable shell, but she isn’t convinced real life could ever live up to fiction. It’s going to take a brand-new family, a persistent suitor, and the combined effects of ice cream and trivia to make her turn her own fresh page.

Another book that slipped through the Kindle cracks! I really need to get my Kindle more organized. I haven’t read Waxman in a while and I’m not sure why as I’ve always enjoyed her books. This one was a really fun read if you like quirky characters and a charming love story, and I love that combination.

Nina Hill is someone I could be friends with; she loves books, her cat, and trivia. One of my fondest memories of working for the Palm Beach County Library was winning the trivia contest. It was really close, but James Patterson got us the trophy (and I’m sure he has no idea and couldn’t care less!) 

Anyway, Nina is on a trivia team that meets at local pubs and they are doing really well until a new team shows up and starts kicking their butts. The captain of their team, Tom knows sports, about which Nina and her team know very little. Tom is also cute and seems interested in Nina, but she is not an experienced woman of the world and probably she is wrong. She also works in a bookstore that is not doing that well. There’s an old saying, if you want to make a little money in a bookstore, start out with a lot of money. There is an idiosyncratic crew working there, and the owner does her best to dodge the landlord. Needless to say, Nina fits right in.

Then there’s the whole new family thing. Nina grew up in a single-parent household, with a mother who never really mentioned her father. Nina and her mom were very close, and Nina was devastated when she lost her mom. So she was really shocked to find out who her father was, especially as she only finds out when his lawyer contacts her to come to the reading of his will. Nina never really had any family, and now there is a rather large family all wanting to meet her. Seems her father has been married several times and had children with a  few of the wives. A couple of them treat her like she is a conman out to steal their inheritances, but more of them are happy to meet her and want her to be a part of their crazy, modern family.

Abby doesn’t deal with chaos very well or change, for that matter. But she manages to muddle through and without giving too much away, let’s just say there is a most satisfactory ending all the way around. I’m moving Waxman up to my ‘must read’ list.

11/2020 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THE BOOKISH LIFE OF NINA HILL by Abbi Waxman. Berkley; Illustrated edition (July 9, 2019). ISBN 978-0451491879. 352 pages.

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V2 by Robert Harris

December 14, 2020
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From the publisher:

The first rocket will take five minutes to hit London.
You have six minutes to stop the second.

From the best-selling author of Fatherland and Munich comes a WWII thriller about a German rocket engineer, a former actress turned British spy, and the Nazi rocket program.

Rudi Graf is an engineer who always dreamed of sending rockets to the moon. But instead, he finds himself working alongside Wernher von Braun, launching V2 rockets at London for the Nazis from a bleak seaside town in occupied Holland. As the SS increases its scrutiny on the project, Graf, an engineer more than a sol – dier, has to muster all of his willpower to toe the party line. And when rumors of a defector circulate through the German ranks, Graf be – comes a prime suspect. 

Meanwhile, Kay Caton-Walsh, a young English intelligence officer, is living through the turmoil of war. After she and her lover, an RAF officer, are caught in a V2 attack, she volunteers to ship out for newly liberated Bel – gium. Armed with little more than a slide rule and a few equations, Kay and her colleagues hope to locate and destroy the launch sites. But at this stage in the war it’s hard to know who, if anyone, she can trust.

As the death toll soars, these twin stories play out against the background of the German missile campaign during the Second World War. And what the reader comes to understand is that Kay’s and Graf’s destinies are on a collision course

Robert Harris’ latest novel touches on a subject grounded in World War 2 that, while familiar to most people has not generally been touched upon.  This is the development of the V2 rocket by Germany which was utilized to bomb both London and Antwerp.  While regular bombing runs by planes killed many more people and did considerably more damage to cities it was the silent approach of the V2 and its sudden attack that probably was more frightening.       

Germany was losing the war and had lost a great deal of their airpower in combat when Hitler began looking for a weapon that would turn the tide in his favor.  The V2 seemed to offer a possible answer and investment in the process came from both the German nation as well as independently from the army. First attempts at using the V2 were from Peenemunde but then moved to a point closer to both Antwerp and London in occupied Holland.     

Harris utilizes two people; one German the other British to focus on telling the story.  Willi Graf, by education, is a rocket engineer and is stationed at the launch site for Germany.  He freely states that his interests do not really lie with the use of the V2 as a weapon but as a step in the direction of space travel.  He does do his job in helping the rocket achieve its place as a weapon of war.  Kay Connolly is British and although once an actress is now an intelligence officer.  She is recruited for a position with a group to be stationed in Belgium that will attempt to develop systems to destroy the V2launch system.      

The novel goes back and forth between the two individuals recreating the duel between those firing the V2 and those that are working to try and stop them.  Harris brings both protagonists to life for the reader.  We learn about their personal interests and of course, their interests in making the work they are involved in helpful in advancing the war effort. Werner von Braun a key individual in the American rocket program after the war has his place as the officer in charge and the guiding light for the German effort. Descriptions of the technical side of building a successful rocket are there and written in language that is understandable by the reader allowing him or her to more fully enjoy the novel. Certainly, a five-star book and one continuing Harris’ position as an author at the top of his game.

12/2020 Paul Lane

V2 by Robert Harris. Knopf (November 17, 2020). ISBN: 978-0525656715. 320 pages.

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1 Comment | Book Reviews, Crime Fiction, Fiction | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

ROCK OF FREEDOM by Noel Gerson

December 10, 2020
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From the publisher:

An enthralling tale of the men and women who left Europe four hundred years ago to found the Plymouth Colony. Perfect for readers of Allan W. Eckert, Paul C.R. Monk and fans of the television series Jamestown.

They have escaped persecution, now they must survive in the New World…

9th November, 1620, aboard the Mayflower.

William Bradford and over one hundred other men and women stand on the deck of the ship that for the last ten weeks has sailed across the breadth of the Atlantic.

On the horizon they can see land … it is America.

They have come to this untamed place with few supplies, inadequate tools, and little experience in wilderness living, but what they do have is an unbreakable desire to build a new life for themselves and their families and faith that whatever may happen is part of God’s divine plan.

But how will they survive their first few months in this strange world as a brutal winter begins to envelop them?

And will the harmony of the Pilgrims, embodied by their newly signed Mayflower Compact, survive as relationships fracture and the stresses and strains of hunger, disease and death begin to take their toll?

Rock of Freedom: The Story of the Plymouth Colony is a thoroughly-researched fictionalized account of the Mayflower voyage and the settling of the Pilgrims in New England. It is a dramatic work of historical fiction that brings the lives of the men and women who made this journey to life.

Noel Gerson was a very prolific author of 325 books, mainly stand-alone novels of history.  He also utilized several pen names to write under and has to his credit best sellers as well as two screenplays.  Most readers will have seen “55 Days at Peking’ either in the theater or on one of its myriad presentations on T.V.

Gerson passed away in 1988 leaving a legacy that will certainly stand for many years.  “Rock of Freedom” is a reprint and is an excellent example of the literature that he presented. It is a fact-based story of the Pilgrims that left Europe in the sixteen hundreds seeking religious freedom in the New World. His bibliography cites various source publications that provide facts about events in the founding of the colony of Plymouth in what was New England. As in most other well-done novels including literary license interpreting a historical situation the interpretation makes it more readable and not at all dry while offering facts about the period and events.     

The author tells the story of the reasoning behind the group known as the Pilgrims leaving their homes which were located in both England and with another group living in Holland and travel 3000 miles to settle in a raw new land. They spent two months at sea in the Mayflower cramped and seasick and sailing through several hurricanes before coming to what was Cape Cod. The group learned to survive in primitive conditions with the possibility of attacks by tribes of native Americans always hanging over their heads.       

The writing and style are well done as I remember them being when I first came across Gerson thanks to a recommendation by one of my teachers who devoured his books. I certainly recommend that the reader try this novel and then seek out more when they are reprinted as I trust they will be.

12/2020 Paul Lane

ROCK OF FREEDOM by Noel Gerson. Sapere Books (October 5, 2020). ISBN: 978-1800550933. 184 pages.

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Comments Off on ROCK OF FREEDOM by Noel Gerson | Book Reviews, Fiction, Sci-Fi/Fantasy | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

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