"The Sunflower House", by Adriana Allegri

A Historical Fiction and Romance novel

1939 in a sleepy German village life will change for ever.

This meticulously researched novel uncovers the notorious Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany. This is a tale of Allina Straus, a Mischling, who was forced into service as a nurse at a state run baby factory called Hochland Home. There she discovers the horrors of the eugenics program. The sole purpose of these homes was to perpetuate the Aryan population by giving birth to thousands of babies who later would be adopted. Allina must keep her Jewish identity a secret in order to survive and not only save herself but the children in her care.

Through the eyes of Allina this tale is one of determination to resist and survive and is more than the SS Lebensborn program it also is one involving a mother-daughter narrative and family secrets hidden in a box embossed with a swastika. Curiosity and questions arise and a heartbreaking story is told. It opens in the present day when Katrine finds the box of letters belonging to her mother. Allina agrees to tell her everything...

“The Sunflower House” is also a love story. When Allina met Karl, a high-ranking SS with his own secrets they marry and join force to save as many children as they can.

I was pulled in from the very start. Not only this story is a fascinating one it is very active, well-said and well researched. It is also easy to empathize with the main characters; they are so realistic I even forgot they weren’t real. Although this novel is a fiction historical truths are woven in, sadly too real.

I enjoyed reading “The Sunflower House”. The story is very compelling and emotional.

Many thanks to St-Martin’s press and Netgalley for this ARC

"An Insignificant Case", by Phillip Margolin

From a Master of courtroom thriller we have another great legal drama hard to put down. Since discovering this author in 2011 and have been huge fan and his stories have never disappointed me. This latest is a standalone drama.

A little too long intro:

We are introduced to a new attorney, a third rate one who graduated from a third rate law school that couldn’t get a position at any major law firm so he opened his own law firm. Charles Webb takes on cases from dubious friends from his past and court appointed cases. Guido Sabatini, a talented artist and a nut job was his latest appointee to defend. Guido had sold one of his paintings to a restaurant owner and has liberated it along with a flash drive from the safe...At the time the restaurant owner and her partner were under investigation for sex trafficking of minors....With bargaining power knowing that the content of the flash drive threatens very powerful figures, Guido played all his cards but toying with criminals that wanted at any cost to retrieve the flash drive ...even going as far as murder may not be a good strategy.

It didn’t take long for the insignificant Charles to be plunged into more than a simple case defending Guido but into a sensational double murder....

My very long thoughts:

I simply love this story there is so much going on and so many twists and turns to face that I didn’t want to put the book down. I was so captivated by the coming and going and the many characters that crossed the pages many of them had important roles in both Charles and the defendant’s life that I didn’t want to miss a beat. This story definitely captured my attention from the start. Everything was so unpredictable even with some surprising reveals and outcomes. It was hard to predict anything....The characters were exceptional and I enjoyed how they played their parts in this drama. I admit at first I thought Mr. Margolin was rehashing the famous saga of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell but no to my relief a totally deferent spin and much more exciting.

This is an excellent read I give high score.

My thanks to St-Martin Press and Netgalley for this ARC I am pleased to share my thoughts

"Beyond Reasonable Doubt", by Robert Dugoni

Keera Duggan : A legal thriller book #2

Even if this is the second book in the series I assure you if you pick this one you will not have any trouble getting into it, it stands well by its own.

Keera next case is defending disgraced CEO Jenna Bernstein, a master manipulator accused of murdering her former partner. Jenna is a childhood friend and knows her very well: what Jenna does or goes, trouble is not far behind. Five years earlier Keera’s father had successfully defended Jenna when her company scientist was found dead after he threatened to go public with allegations of corporate fraud..... déjà vu....all over again. Enjoy.

Mr. Dugoni knows how to pen a very complex and exciting plot for our entertainment and how to draw exceptional characters to play roles that will keep us glued by every movement they do. Jenna is really an unlikable character she will never tell the truth when a lie will do. She is a master manipulator that will play you like a fiddle and you will never know it that you been had. On the other hand Keera is smart, witty and tackles her case very strategically like a chess player would do. In legal sagas we need a strong and charming man, Detective Rossi plays the investigating role to a tee and along the way budding romance is in the books. Of course the courtroom shenanigan is top notch...

The story weaves through the mystery smoothly and gives us twists and clues to tease us till the conclusion. What a gripping and captivating story. I simply love Mr. Dugoni style and the stories he gives us...One of my favourite authors...

I received this ARC from the publisher Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley.

"Forgotten Remains", by Melinda Woodhall

A Bailey Flynn FBI Mystery Book #4

While investigating a brutal stabbing FBI Special Agent Bailey Flynn discovers that this crime is linked to the murder of an unidentified woman with connection to a notorious crime cartel. After a search of the crime scene the remains of a local woman who vanished decades ago is also found.....who is this madman and what propels him to kill....

Melinda Woodhall’s books are so addictive I cannot resist getting them. Melinda stories never disappoint and this latest proves once again that she is at the top of the game. She knows how to weave an intense, disturbing and scary story to keep us captivated till the very end. Of course at the forefront is a well plan murder investigation: the hunt for a mad man that was so obsessed by a woman rejection that he killed her or was his action simple revenge...or a cartel payback. What did she do?..... Of course it is for the reader to discover.

Ms. Woodhall keeps focus on her protagonist as she works her case. The action is steady and the pacing is smooth not at all bog down with too unnecessary details. The narrative and dialogue are energetic, keeping a good tempo all though. I also appreciate how the author never forgets to add a few surprises along the way, some twists to derail us and a few new characters to get to know.

Although this latest is part of a series it can be read by its own

I zipped through this book in no time it was that enjoyable.

I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntary

"Over the Edge", by Irene Hannon

Undaunted Courage Book #2

Lindsey Barned is the main character in this story and Detective Jack Tucker is a strong secondary player both made this story and exciting read.

The story in a few words:

Lindsey has much going for her and is trying to stay one step ahead of the trauma experienced years ago till the day she thought she was losing her mind and find herself in the middle of another crisis. Not only she is the sole witness in a high-profile murder case but her sanity is in question....Then come into play Detective Jack Tucker to save the day.....

My thoughts:

Ms. Hannon never fails to give us a captivating story that will be hard to put down and will pin us down and on the edge of our seat till we reach the conclusion. This latest adds a tad of psychological aspect by playing with her protagonist’s mind: is Lindsey losing her mind or not? Is she seeing things that were never there?

The very handsome Detective Tucker tries to make sense of the information Lindsey is provided but wants not only to believe her but put an end to the mystery. Doing so, Tucker faces a multitude of twists and counter twists to derail him and us as reader questioning is we may have figured out the right whodunit....Three quarters in I had an idea who it may be...hey I was half right. Of course the two of them working closely together the inevitable happened and both had twinkles in their eyes... awe.....

This story is well-written: clean with a tiny bit of romance, a small amount of faith and lots and lots of suspense.

I received this book from the publisher Revell via Netgalley for my thoughts: this is the way I see it