#historicalBritishfiction – Rosepoint Publishing

Yesterday’s Paper: The Knocknashee Story by Jean Grainger #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog

#1 Best Seller in Historical British & Irish Literature

Rosepoint Rating: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

As storm clouds of war gather over Europe, Grace Fitzgerald in Ireland and Richard Lewis in the United States find their lives irrevocably altered by the looming conflict.

Ireland’s neutrality offers little shelter from the war’s far-reaching impact, and across the Atlantic, Richard witnesses a nation divided on intervention. Meanwhile, in sleepy Knocknashee, a twelve-year-old mystery surrounding a stolen child resurfaces, shattering long-held beliefs.

Fate seems determined to keep Grace and Richard apart, thwarting their plans to meet, and the vast Atlantic is not the only thing separating them. From the gentle green hills of Ireland, to the busy newspaper rooms of New York, from a London bracing for war to a Paris on the brink of invasion, “Yesterday’s Paper” continues the sweeping saga of Grace and Richard as they navigate love, loss, and the turbulent tides of history.

In this gripping tale of resilience and romance, the personal and the political collide, weaving an unforgettable tapestry of lives caught in the crosswinds of a world at war.

My Review:

Totally caught up in the story of Grace Fitzgerald, school teacher and now headmistress of Knocknashee, Cork County, Ireland, and Richard Lewis of Savannah, Georgia, USA, I couldn’t wait for installment two of the series and this doesn’t disappoint.

From Lilac Ink we learned Richard is the privileged son of a wealthy Savannah family, expected to follow in his father’s footsteps and instead would prefer becoming a journalist. His best friend Jacob Nunez is an aspiring photographer and together they have been scheming on a way to get to Europe to write stories and submit pictures for the home papers regarding Hitler’s growing intrusion into “neutral” countries.

Richard had become a pen pal of Grace, when in a fit of despair with her despicable sister Agnes, wrote her frustrations about the situation and enclosed it into a bottle which, thrust into the ocean, found its way to Georgia where Richard found it. He finds a way to bend the story to his political purposes and gains an editor who sends both he and Jacob to Europe.

Grace had hoped she and Richard could meet in America when she accompanied Declan to New York, but they were two ships that passed in the night.

The author always manages to weave complex stories into her plots with multiple layers of interest and well-developed characters. Declan’s possible connection to family in America, meeting pen pal Richard, and the advance of Hitler and the entry to WWII are part of a focus brought forward from book one. A lot of research into the position of both countries, the growing fear of the people of Europe, and the stark differences in the lives of the people in both countries as well as the tension-filled atmosphere of France keep the reader flipping pages.

Will Grace and Richard ever meet up? Will Richard and Jacob make it home safely in the massive exodus of the Jewish community? What will happen to that piece of baggage left with them on the train in their escape from Paris?

After the death of Agnes and her indoctrination of Grace, can Grace ever come to peace with her appearance, put the onus of her gimpy polio leg behind her, and accept the advances of her newly recognized male suitors?

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

Book Details:

Genre: Friendship Fiction, Historical British & Irish Literature, Historical Irish Fiction
ISBN:1915790778
ASIN: B0D27P1Y46
Print Length: 296 pages
Publication Date: November 10, 2024 Just released!
Source: Author

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK

The Author: Jean Grainger is a USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction, acclaimed for her authentic portrayal of Irish life and history. Born in Cork, she draws from her experience as a history lecturer, teacher, and tour guide to craft engaging narratives. Grainger’s works span multiple series and standalone novels, covering significant periods in Irish history, including World War I, the 1916 Easter Rising, World War II, and the mid-20th century. Her stories often intertwine historical events with personal journeys, exploring themes of family, friendship, and human resilience. Grainger’s writing style, characterized by its warmth and authenticity, has earned her comparisons to renowned Irish authors like Maeve Binchy. Her dedication to research and character development has resulted in a loyal readership who feel deeply connected to her stories and characters.

Mission Churchill by Alex Abella – #BookReview – #BiographicalFiction

Book Blurb:

In 1933 Cuba, a deadly game of cat and mouse unfolds. An IRA sharpshooter, driven by vengeance and a relentless mission, has Winston Churchill in his crosshairs. But just as the assassin is about to strike, Churchill’s tenacious bodyguard, Walter Thompson, intervenes, forcing the killer into the shadows.

Years later, amid the fiery rain of the German Blitz on London, Thompson locks eyes with a ghost from Havana—the very same assassin. But now, the stakes are higher. As Thompson dives deeper into the city’s underworld, he uncovers a chilling conspiracy within the British government, threatening to topple Churchill and hand victory to Hitler.

Racing against time amidst the backdrop of a city in chaos, Thompson must decipher the twisted web of treachery to save his nation and the man he’s sworn to protect. But at what cost?

Dive into a high-octane thriller where history hangs in the balance, alliances are tested, and one man stands against the darkness.

His Review:

This book explores the lack of popularity of Sir Winston Churchill. It was inspired by another book by Warren Alder and James C. Humes titled “Target Churchill.” The poor treatment of the Irish by the British in the 18^th and 19^th centuries has left a hate for the aristocratic British by the people of Ireland. The Prime Minister was the target of disaffected Irishmen looking for revenge for the starvation of Irish citizens during the famine years. Even food sent from Irish settlers in the United States was subject to excessive tariffs and duties as well as outright seizing!

The story begins with an accidental meeting between an Irishman tasked with killing the man in a jewelry store in Havana, Cuba! At that time Churchill was a member of Parliament and had a number of detractors who could not understand why he did not simply sue for peace and let the Nazi’s have their way with continental Europe. Their desire for peace caused resentment because they felt that Britain could have avoided the bombing and destruction of many large cities including London, Liverpool, and Manchester.

The assassin, Marcus Riley, cannot believe his luck! Running into that hated man in a jewelry shop in Havana! His attempts are thwarted by a member of Scotland Yard named Thompson. Everywhere that Winston went, he was shadowed by Mr. Thompson. Rather than a quick slitting of Winston’s throat, Riley would use a new weapon specifically designed by the Germans to kill the Prime Minister at a very great distance!

Alex Abella has devised a very intriguing and intricate plot around the killing of the perceived enemy of Ireland. The orders come from Germany as do a very sophisticated new weapon. The scope on the weapon has the ability to make objects at 500 yards seem to be across the street. Another feature of the weapon is the scope’s ability of low light viewing of a subject as easily as daylight! From a distance of nearly half a mile, how can he miss?

The end result is an example of hate and revenge at their best! Churchill’s life hangs in the balance as does the fate of the free world. This book will captivate you as a reader and raise additional questions about that time in history. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Historical British Fiction, Biographical Fiction, Historical British & Irish Literature
Publisher: Adler Entertainment Trusts LLC
ASIN: B0CL956SK2
Print Length: 276 pages
Publication Date: January 31, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley
Title Link(s): Mission Churchill [Amazon]

The Author: [Alex Abella] Papá was a poet. I am not.

But I am a writer–journalist, novelist, playwright, screenwriter, newswriter–I’ve tried practically everything that can be done with words upon a page, screen, or any medium, in all genres except poetry. So far.

The first time I ever wrote anything for publication–or so I thought–I was eight years old. Like most boys who want to be writers, I wrote an adventure story, about knights in armor, if I recall correctly. I thought someone somewhere would publish it but, alas, I had no agent so…

But seriously…the next time I pursued my writing obsession was in my late teens when I was determined to break into The New Yorker. I sent them a host of stories–none of which, mercifully, were published, nor have they survived.

Finally, success! I began writing film reviews for my school newspaper, The Columbia Spectator, and after graduation, became a magazine writer for a small publication in New York.

Moving to California, I joined The San Francisco Chronicle, but was fired the day after I wrote practically the entire front page. You need more ground strokes, said my editor. So I went to play for the electronic bullpen, becoming a reporter/newswriter/producer at KTVU-TV in the San Francisco Bay Area. While there I won an Emmy (group) for newswriting, was nominated for another Emmy for reporting, worked as a foreign correspondent in Central America, wrote a cookbook on bananas, drank too much, partied too much and was thoroughly miserable. I realized if I stayed a journalist I’d either burn out or commit suicide by age 50. So I quit the daily grind.

Since I speak fluent Spanish (I was born in Cuba, remember?) I became a court interpreter in Los Angeles. Based on that experience I wrote the thriller “The Killing of the Saints,” which, to my surprise, became a New York Times Notable Book. I wrote the movie adaptation of my novel for Paramount, then wrote something totally different, “The Great American,” a historical novel based on the true story of William Morgan, an Ohio-born, blond, blue-eyed American who became one of the leaders of the Cuban Revolution of 1959.

I wrote two follow-ups to Saints, “Dead of Night,” and ‘Final Acts,” then, shaken up by the tragedy of 9/11, I returned to journalism. My research on terrorism led me to co-write “Shadow Enemies: Hitler’s Secret Terrorist Plot against the United States,” about the band of saboteurs that Germany sent by U-boat to the U.S. in 1941. Finally, out of concern with the expansionist policies of the Bush Administration, and wanting to explore how the U.S. had become Rome, I wrote “Soldiers of Reason: The Rand Corporation and the Rise of the American Empire,” a study of the world’s most influential think tank, and how its scientists and theoreticians laid the foundation for the modern world we live in.

Over the past few years I’ve written three more novels, two of which I’ll soon be selling as ebooks, “More Than A Woman,” and “Tainted Love.”

Oh, and since I do have a life, in between books and jobs and obsessions I married a lovely woman, Armeen, whom I met at KTVU. I have three kids–ages 21, 16 and 9–and for now I am splitting my time between the lovely beachtown of Del Mar, California and the new Athens of the Western World, Los Angeles.

Hope to hear from you soon! Take care.
http://www.alexabella.com/
Alex [Goodreads]

Have a Great Sunday

More Harm Than Good: The Kilteegan Bridge Story-Book 3 by Jean Grainger – #BookReview – #TuesdayBookBlog

Rosepoint Rating: Five Stars

“He always joked that in other cultures, there was a lot of talk and very little action, whereas in Ireland the reverse was true.”

Book Blurb:

Kilteegan Bridge, Ireland 1974

For each member of the O’Sullivan family there are turbulent times ahead.

Eli’s need to do his best for his patients is a cause for a bitter divide in the community. Emmet seems hell bent on going down a path in life his parents dread but they’re unable to stop him. Jack’s life and liberty are in grave peril as his secret faces exposure, while Emily’s troubles are, it seems only just beginning with the return of someone she would much rather had disappeared forever. And Maria must decide, is blood really thicker than water, and should family always come first, no matter the cost?

In More Harm than Good, the Kilteegan Bridge Series continues, as the modernity of the 1970’s challenges Irish traditional ways, and generations clash, sometimes with deadly consequences.

My Review:

Master Irish storyteller Jean Grainger adds Book 3 to the emotional family drama Kilteegan Bridge series. Book 3 has progressed to the mid-70s (from the 50s in Book 1) to a strong climate of changing Irish attitudes. It’s hard to change and change doesn’t come easy.

Eli and Lena have seen their little ones become teens and the teens are exploring and rebelling as teens are wont to do. Some of the rebellion is serious and will spell major upheaval for both Lena and Eli as well as the extended family, all of whom face desperate problems of their own.

What secrets are Jack and Skipper keeping? Emmet and Nellie? Too young to know what they don’t know, too young and naïve to be aware they are being played. Too inexperienced to know what to do or where to turn. But they are family. And family sticks together always and takes care of one their own—in one way or another.

Don’t they?

I love the way the author builds her characters into flesh and blood. The village of Kilteegan so real, atmospheric, the people under the heavy hand of the Catholic Church that governs with an iron fist and manipulates their lives.

I love that daft sense of humor she brings to her tales. The analogies often break the tension just when it’s needed and never fail to bring a smile or chuckle.

“…sometimes you’re as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike.”

The narrative needs an occasional break from the serious turn into themes of religious control, homosexuality, unwed pregnancy, and mental illness. A couple issues are dealt with strongly and sympathetically, possibly revealing a more lenient attitude than the issues provided at the time.

I love it when Jean Grainger releases another novel in one of her series. I read both Book 1 The Trouble with Secrets and Book 2 What Divides Us and loved this addition, although it could be read as a standalone. The author can weave a historical chronicle into an Irish family drama that clutches at the heart and leaves ripples of familiarity. Few have not confronted a similar situation and easily understand the impact.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts and I’m looking forward to Book 4. Recommended!

Book Details:

Genre: Historical Irish Fiction, Historical British Fiction, Historical Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Fiction
ASIN: B0BFXLYXJK
Print Length: 280 pages
Publication Date: November 15, 2022 – Happy Release Day!
Source: Author contact

Title Link(s):

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Author: JEAN GRAINGER is a USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR

SELECTED BY BOOKBUB READERS IN TOP 19 OF HISTORICAL FICTION BOOKS.

WINNER OF THE 2016 AUTHOR’S CIRCLE HISTORICAL NOVEL OF EXCELLENCE

Hello and thanks for taking time out to check out my page. If you’re wondering what you’re getting with my books then think of the late great Maeve Binchy but sometimes with a historical twist. I was born in Cork, Ireland in 1971 and I come from a large family of storytellers, so much so that we had to have ‘The Talking Spoon’, only the person holding the spoon could talk!

I have worked as a history lecturer at University, a teacher of English, History and Drama in secondary school, a playwright, and a tour guide of my beloved Ireland. I am married to the lovely Diarmuid and we have four children. We live in a 200 year old stone cottage in Mid-Cork with my family and the world’s smallest dogs, called Scrappy and Scoobi..

My experiences leading groups, mainly from the United States, led me to write my first novel, ‘The Tour’. My observances of the often funny, sometimes sad but always interesting events on tours fascinated me. People really did confide the most extraordinary things, the safety of strangers I suppose. It’s a fictional story set on a tour bus but many of the characters are based on people I met over the years.

[truncated—please see author’s page for full bio]

Many of the people who have reviewed my books have said that you get to know the characters and really become attached to them, that’s wonderful for me to hear because that’s how I feel about them too. I grew up on Maeve Binchy and Deirdre Purcell and I aspired to being like them. If you buy one of my books I’m very grateful and I really hope you enjoy it. If you do, or even if you don’t, please take the time to post a review. Writing is a source of constant contentment to me and I am so fortunate to have the time and the inclination to do it, but to read a review written by a reader really does make my day.