WWII

Interview with Linda Margolin Royal (The Star on the Grave)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Star on the Grave by Linda Margolin Royal is a wonderful novel that explains the reasons why Holocaust survivors refused to talk about those horrific days and why some chose to no longer embrace their Jewish heritage, hoping future generations would never know the hatred and antisemitism that they had experienced. The story begins with Rachel Margol, a twenty-year-old nurse in 1968 Sydney who only learns she is Jewish after she becomes engaged …

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Interview with Sarah Sundin (Mists over the Channel Islands)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Mists over the Channel Islands by Sarah Sundin is another riveting story. All her books seem to educate the readers while presenting a compelling story, relatable heroes in both Ivy and Gerrit and incredibly memorable multifaceted characters. There is danger, suspense, a sweet love story, and family conflicts. The book opens with the German invasion of the Channel Islands. The female lead, Ivy Picot, has her father leaving the family’s medical practice to serve …

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Interview with Ellie Curzon (The Lost Orphans and The Lifeboat Orphans)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Lost Orphans and The Lifeboat Orphans in The Runaway Evacuees series by Ellie Curzon, the pen name for Catherine Curzon and Helen Barrell, are two books that have touching, heart-warming, and heartbreaking moments, with a tinge of humor. The setting of London during the Nazi blitz of WWII shows how Londoners faced fear, survival, loss, and horror, but also were courageous, kind, brave, and strong. Both books are historical fiction based on the …

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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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