Searching for Gertrude by D.E. Haggerty

3 stars

Searching For Gertrude is a romance set during World War Two.

Rudolf has loved the daughter of his Jewish neighbour for as long as he can remember, but one morning he wakes to discover her family are leaving, because of the dangers present in the country during that time. Gertrude’s father has lost his job at his German university, and he’s taking his family to Istanbul.

Devastated by the loss of his love, Rudolf vows to follow. But first he must finish his studies, and it is eight years before he can travel to Istanbul. When he arrives, his search for Gertrude is made harder as she hasn’t written to him for six years, and he doesn’t have her address.

Rosalyn, a young teacher from New York, is determined to help Jews escape from Europe. She begins by taking a job as…

Today’s team review is from Liz, she blogs here https://lizannelloyd.wordpress.com/

Liz has been reading A Village Affair by Julie Houston

In A Village Affair we are first introduced to Cassie as a woman who, “has it all,” a handsome husband, two teenage children, good friends, a beautiful house and an exciting new job. But the plot is about to become far more interesting; husband Mark has betrayed her, and she finds herself challenged, both in her career and her personal life.  What makes this story such a pleasure to read is that both Cassandra Moonbeam, as her mother called her, and the author, have a great sense of humour.

We travel back in time to Cassie’s conception in 1976, discovering how different she is from her hippie mother. Paula, we meet grandfather, Norman, defending his beautiful meadow from developers and we enter the enchanting primary school with its diverse…

From Courtesan to Convenient Wife by Marguerite Kaye

4 stars

From Courtesan To Convenient Wife is a regency style romance set in Paris. It is book #2 of the Matches Made In Scandal series.

The book opens in 1818; a woman known as The Procurer has been asked to find someone who would be willing to play the role of a wife for a short period of time. Lady Sophia Acton has had a fall from grace and is heading towards poverty when The Procurer calls with a fortunate job offer.

In Paris, French wine merchant Jean-Luc Bauduin needs an instant wife. A mysterious woman recently claimed that she had a legal contract of proposed marriage between herself and Jean-Luc; a document he knows nothing about. He hopes that Sophia’s presence will head off an unwanted situation.

The storyline has interesting links to the post-French Revolution era which involved the…

Carbon Replacements by Reily Garrett

4 stars

Carbon Replacements is book #4 of the McAllister justice action adventure series. All the books are set in and around Portland, Oregon.

Remie is a medical examiner and has recently moved back to her home state. The book opens with a brutal attack on her and two students. When police officer Billy McAllister and his partner are called to the remote crime scene, it’s Billy who rescues Remie and agrees to guard her in hospital.

After Remie regains consciousness, she’s horrified when she recognises specific lumbar puncture wounds on her body. They indicate that very unusual blood and tissue samples were taken from her, probably by the attacker. This shocking piece of evidence has Billy and his brothers worried; only a few months ago they’d been caught up in unlawful human genetic experiments. Could Billy’s nightmare experience be coming back? To this end…

Finding Felix: The feel-good romantic comedy of the year! by Jo Platt

4 stars

Finding Felix is a romantic comedy. It opens with two best friends meeting up before they leave home for university. Dot and Felix have been friends since they were seven.

Roll forward eighteen years. Dot’s Grandmother is seriously ill; hoping to make Nanny Flo happy, Dot says that Felix is her current boyfriend. Thankfully Nanny Flo recovers, but Dot is stuck in an awkward lie which escalates when she’s expected to bring Felix to her sister’s wedding.

Rather than tell the truth, Dot vows to find Felix and persuade him to be an accomplice to her lie until the wedding is over. But Felix has dramatically changed in the last eighteen years, and after she’s found him, Dot finds that Felix is distant and cold. What happened to her childhood friend, and can she ever get…