WWII

Interview with Nina Willner (The Boys in the Light)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Boys in the Light by Nina Willner reads like a novel. This non-fiction book is a story of love, family, devotion, loyalty, courage, and the ultimate triumph of good over evil. Eddie, the author’s father, enjoyed the life of growing up in a middle-class neighborhood in Germany, until the Nazis came to power where he and his family experienced growing antisemitism. Eventually Eddie and his father, Siegfried, a WWI hero, were sent to …

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Interview with Lily Graham (The Only Light in London)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Only Light in London by Lily Graham is a heart-wrenching story. It delves with loneliness, love, endurance and compassion. The plot has a Jewish journalist, Sebastien, in Germany, needing to escape to London before he is captured. He must leave behind his sister and parents, hoping that they will join him soon. Alone and grieving his family left behind, he joins a local amateur dramatics group. When Sebastien enters the meeting place, he …

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Interview with Suzanne Nelson (The Librarians of Lisbon)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Librarians of Lisbon by Suzanne Nelson is a fast-paced roller coaster ride of deceit, espionage, and danger inspired by real historical figures. The setting of Lisbon plays a significant role because Portugal was a neutral country filled with espionage, romance, and friendship. The main characters are two Boston librarians, Selene Delmont and Beatrice Sullivan, who are trained by the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (precursor to CIA) and assigned to work in Lisbon. …

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Interview with Renee Ryan (The Last Fashion House in Paris)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Last Fashion House in Paris, by Renee Ryan, is a companion novel to both The Widows of Champagne and The Paris Housekeeper. This story is more historical suspense than romance and the relationship in this book between the lovers takes a backseat to the platonic relationship between the women. It is about women community where the characters are mentors, friends, sisters, and mothers. They show strength, tenacity, solidarity and resilience in WWII Nazi …

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Interview with Sarah Sundin (Midnight on the Scottish Shore)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Midnight on the Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin takes readers on a journey to the Scottish shore. This is one of her best, as she intertwines WWII history, spy craft, espionage, military intelligence, family disputes, strong character development, along with an emotionally wounded hero and heroine. The plot has Cilla van der Zee as a member of the Dutch resistance who infiltrates the local Nazi Party to gather intel. Because it is becoming more …

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Interview with Joy Jordan-Lake (Echoes of Us)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Echoes of Us by Joy Jordan-Lake centers around Joannie DuBarry. There are dual timelines between the past of WWII and the present day. The author shows the fear and terror of locals as German submarines lurk off the coast of the little island. Readers will learn about the danger that the war in Europe brought there. Joannie’s disappearance and a mysterious older woman who lives on the Island during the present day makes the …

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Interview with David Lewis (A Jewel in the Crown)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper A Jewel in the Crown by David Lewis is a thriller and mystery all in one book, a spy novel set in England during WWII. In 1940 there is a fear of German infiltrators throughout England. To safeguard the Crown Jewels from the Nazis, Winston Churchill devises a daring gamble to have them shipped overseas. The priceless artifacts will be secretly removed from the Tower of London and driven north to Scotland by two …

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Interview with Rhys Bowen (The Paris Assignment)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Paris Assignment by Rhys Bowen is a story of love and war, bitterness and brutality, bravery, and forgiveness. The setting moves from England to France to Australia. The heroine Madeline Grant is sent to study overseas at the Sorbonne in Paris. There she meets charismatic French journalist Giles Martin. After the Christmas holiday, she defies her stepmother and returns to Paris to live with Giles. After finding out she is pregnant Giles eventually …

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Interview with Sarah Sundin (The Sound of Light)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin shows why her name has become synonymous with captivating and historically accurate World War II books. This novel has ordinary people responding to extraordinary circumstances using their courage, faith, fortitude, and a bit of hope. The story shows how the Nazi occupation was different with Denmark. After the Germans occupy Denmark during WWII, they treat the country as a “model protectorate”. They didn’t enforce the same antisemitic …

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Interview with Brad Meltzer (The Nazi Conspiracy)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Nazi Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch dives into the 1943 Nazi assassination threat against the Big Three world leaders. As the war against Nazi Germany raged abroad, President Franklin Roosevelt had a critical goal: a face-to-face sit-down with his allies Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill. This first-ever meeting of the Big Three in Tehran, Iran, would decide some of the most crucial strategic details of the war. Yet when the Nazis …

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