9.23.2020 SISTERS OF WAR BY Lana Kortchik

 

About Sisters of War

Paperback: 384 pages 

Publisher: HQ Digital 

PUB DATE: September 22, 2020

  *The USA Today bestseller!*

Can their bond survive under the shadow of occupation?

For fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The German Midwife comes this unforgettable tale of love, loss, family, and the power of hope. Kiev, 1941: Watching the Red Army withdraw from Ukraine in the face of Hitler’s relentless advance, sisters Natasha and Lisa Smirnova realise their lives are about to change forever. As the German army occupies their beloved city, the sisters are tested in ways they never thought possible. Lisa’s fiancé Alexei is taken by the invading army, whilst Natasha falls in love with Mark – a Hungarian soldier, enlisted against all his principles on the side of the Nazis. But as Natasha and Lisa fight to protect the friends and family they hold dear, they must face up to the dark horrors of war and the pain of betrayal. Will they be strong enough to overcome the forces which threaten to tear their family apart? Why readers love Sisters of War: ‘Captivating from the first page’ ‘Powerful and heart wrenching’ ‘A touching story, beautifully written’ ‘Well-researched and fascinating’ Originally published as The Story of Us. Social Media Please use the hashtag 

REVIEW:

I love reading historical fiction set during WWII. This time, the story is set in Kiev, Ukraine around three months after Hitler attacked the Soviet Union - September 1941. The occupation that lasted a little over two years caused Kievans nightmarish terror and suffering, hunger and difficulties, prosecution and death. I was completely captivated right from the first page with the rich and detailed descriptions of the daily lives of the people in Kiev - as they live in fear, full of anxiety and unease.

Kortchik's writing was immersive, touching and truly captivating. I was drawn into the story and felt every pain suffered by the sisters and their family. What people have gone through were harrowing as they suffer through Hitler's evil. Though difficult, I found the story hopeful as well, and I really enjoyed this captivating read.

I highly recommend this book for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Nightingale and The Lost Girls of Paris. A wonderful read not to be missed.

 

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Lana Kortchik

Lana Kortchik grew up in two opposite corners of the Soviet Union – the snow-white Siberian town of Tomsk and the golden-domed Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. At the age of sixteen, she moved to Australia with her mother. Lana and her family live on the Central Coast of NSW, where it never snows and is always summer-warm. Lana studied IT at university and, as a student, wrote poetry in Russian that she hid from everyone. For over a decade after graduating, she worked as a computer programmer. When she returned to university to complete her history degree, her favourite lecturer encouraged her to write fiction. She hasn’t looked back, and never goes anywhere without her favourite pen because you never know when the inspiration might strike. Lana’s short stories appeared in many magazines and anthologies, and she was the winner of the Historical Novel Society Autumn 2012 Short Fiction competition. Her first novel, Sisters of War, was acquired by HQ Digital, an imprint of Harper Collins UK, in 2018 and later became the USA Today bestseller. Lana also writes psychological thrillers under the pen name of Lana Newton. Find out more about Lana at her website, and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

2/5/20 The Second Midnight By: Andrew Taylor - One boy's fight for survival in Nazi Europe

About The Second Midnight

• Paperback: 400 pages

• Publisher: HarperCollins; Reprint edition (January 28, 2020)

From the international bestselling author comes a World War Two tale of one boy’s fight for survival in Nazi Europe

A secret mission…

1939. As Europe teeters on the brink of war, Alfred Kendall is tasked with carrying out a minor mission for the British Intelligence Service. Travelling to Prague, he takes his troubled young son, Hugh, as cover.



A terrible choice…

When Hitler invades Czechoslovakia, Alfred is given an ultimatum by the Czech Resistance. They will arrange for him to return to England, but only if he leaves his son Hugh behind as collateral.



A young boy stranded in Nazi terrain…

Hugh is soon taken under the wing of a Nazi colonel – Helmuth Scholl. But even though Scholl treats Hugh well, his son, Heinz, is suspicious of this foreigner. And as the war across the continent intensifies, they are set on a path that will ultimately lead towards destruction…




THOUGHTS/REVIEW:




I really enjoyed this World War II / Historical Fiction read that deals with a father son relationship, espionage, allegiances, and relationships. This book was originally published in 1987 and reissued on Jan 28, 2020, and is a part of a trilogy, but is essentially a standalone.

In ‘The Second Midnight’, it tells the story of a young boy, Hugh Kendall who is in a fractured relationship with his father, Captain Kendall, who works with the British Intelligence. The book is set in the midst of the second World War, 1939 Europe. From London, the Kendall’s travel to Prague on an assignment. However, Hugh was left behind with the Resistance as Hitler invades the city. Learning to fend for himself, Hugh learns to survive on his own and even learns to speak the language, both Czech and German. Hugh saves the life of Nazi Colonel, Scholl who in gratitude takes him in and treats him as part of the family, and live alongside the Scholl children, Magda and Heinz. Though Hugh eventually returns to England, his past will continue to follow and haunt him.

Through Taylor’s writing, we see the events of the war through a boy’s eyes. Hugh’s need to survive taught him how to adapt and blend in. I loved the story line and the complex characters in this multi layered story lines surrounding the war and the Kendall family. I enjoyed the writing and the espionage element of the story. It was an enjoyable read. Taylor is a new author to me and I found his writing to be intelligent and complex. I highly recommend this book for those that enjoy a HF read focusing on the Nazi and WWII time period.





Social Media



Please use the hashtag #thesecondmidnight, and tag @tlcbooktours and @harpercollins360.

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Andrew Taylor

Andrew Taylor is the author of a number of crime novels, including the ground-breaking Roth Trilogy, which was adapted into the acclaimed TV drama Fallen Angel, and the historical crime novels The Ashes of London, The Silent Boy, The Scent of Death and The American Boy, a No.1 Sunday Times bestseller and a 2005 Richard & Judy Book Club Choice.



He has won many awards, including the CWA John Creasey New Blood Dagger, an Edgar Scroll from the Mystery Writers of America, the CWA Ellis Peters Historical Award (the only author to win it three times) and the CWA’s prestigious Diamond Dagger, awarded for sustained excellence in crime writing. He also writes for the Spectator and The Times.



He lives with his wife Caroline in the Forest of Dean.