These books provided a great escape during all the happenings in the world. They either kept me sucked in wanting to read more, took me to another world, inspired me, or all of the above!
The Lovely War
by Julie Berry
This is one that will stick with me for a long time. A great historical fiction/love story that goes back in time between WWI and WWII. I loved how this story had a bit of a fantastical element in it. The story is told by the goddess, Aphrodite, who must defend herself after being caught by her husband, Hephaestus, in a tryst with Ares. The story she tells is of four humans who became connected during WWI.
The Forgotten Garden
by Kate Morton
I absolutely loved this book! At 650 pages I read it in just three days. I had such a hard time putting it down! The story starts with a young girl, Nell, who was abandoned on a ship to Australia in 1913. Nell is raised by the dock master and his wife who decide not to tell her until her 21st birthday that they are not her birth parents. The rest of the book includes all things that make a great story and mystery: dark fairy tales, a secret garden, an aristocratic family with many secrets, and a love denied.
Part of Your World
by Liz Braswell
This is the first book of The Twisted Tales series that I’ve read. All of the covers in this series are beautiful! As with all books in this series, there is a twist from the classic Disney tale. The twist in this tale is “what if Ariel never defeated Ursula?” Five years have passed since the end of The Little Mermaid, and Ariel is the voiceless queen of Atlantica while Ursula rules Prince Eric’s kingdom on land. After discovering her father, King Triton, might still be alive Ariel returns to a world she never thought she would see again.
The House in the Cerulean
by Sarah Mackenzie
This is such a happy book and provided a wonderful escape from reality. The book was heartwarming and filled with humor. The author of the book describes the story better than I can: “The House in the Cerulean Sea is a love letter to those who should be allowed to feel small and cared for when the world seems dark. Today, March 17, is a scary time. And it might get a little worse before it gets better. But I promise you it will. This book—this funny little book—is my way of helping you see sunlight through all the dark clouds. I hope you’re ready, because you’re about to go on an adventure you won’t expect.”
Sunrise at Normandy series
by Sarah Sundin
This Christian historical fiction series was very inspiring. All three books are set around the time of the Normandy invasion and focus on three brothers who have been at odds with each other for several years and how their faith brings them back together. I loved the romance in all three books and the female characters were fantastic. This series had a great blend of the details of being a soldier, life as a woman during the war, and the romance between the brothers and their girlfriends.
