"Code Name Butterfly", by Embassie Susberry

Paris 1941, the Nazi occupation is imminent. When journalist Elodie Mitchell received an unexpected invitation to a Josephine Baker performance... meeting Jo will be a life changing event.....Beneath the glitz and glamour is a network of spies with mission to gather vital intelligence...

This fiction is the unforgettable tale inspired by the life of Josephine Baker who during the darkest days of WW11 has shown the extraordinary strength of the human spirit and of a young woman caught in the web....Both are Black Americans.

This is a complex story about family, racism, courage and love. It captures the flavour of France before and during the occupation. The setting and atmosphere is fantastic and seize perfectly the turbulent swirl of events during that time. The story is extremely slow moving at first but when France is invaded and tension grows among the population then the story has wind in its sails and we are off into one very exciting adventure following the two heroines and their friends, members of the resistance, blowing trains and killing or dodging the enemy and assisting those in need. Eventually escaping to Portugal and finally home...Only to return to France to their love....yes there is a hint of romance amongst the background of war...why not.

The style is fluid, eloquently written, the words have punch and no doubts came from the heart. The handful characters are colourful, well represent and easy to follow. I especially loved how the most celebrated night-club entertainer; the flamboyant Ms. Baker is featured.

Event with its slow tempo, this story captured my attention from start to finish and I can honestly say “Code Name Butterfly’” is a good book to enjoy and spend time with.

My thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for this ARC

"Deadly Tides", by Mary Keliikoa

Misty Pines Mystery book#2

A Psychological suspense

This is a satisfying whodunit mystery and a well-crafted page-tuner. It brings Jax Turner, a small seaside town sheriff, to focus on his community while holding tight to the hope of getting back with his FBI agent ex-wife, Abby Kanekoa.

After looking into the request to make a welfare check on his brother a surf shop owner’s, Jax sets out only to find the man absent, looking further he finds tracks leading to a pool of blood and a severed foot on the beach...The find is not the only one recovered...FBI needed to be called bringing Jax” former wife into the picture.....and a dual investigation is launched.

What is not to like, this story is simply a fantastic read. We follow two interesting threads that eventually mesh together. While Jax does his investigation Abby’s troubles continues with her mother who has Alzheimer’s and needed to be place in a nursing home. Things turned not to be as simply as one thought. The story goes back and forth between the two and sometime crosses path when Abby works with her ex or vice-versa. But as more severed feet are found and more people go missing in the surfing community Jax suspect a serial killer is on the loose and as readers we are at the sea coast, the forest in all kind of weather and of course into an exceptional setting. Ms. Keliikoa’s writing is clear and powerful, she is a master shuffling a multi layered plot with characters that are complex, unique and seem like real people. Jax has a hard time facing his separation and the loss of his child while Abby still has mixed feelings about her ex and keeps her sorrow to herself. The narration is moving and will hit close to home for those who suffered the same experiences. In the words we sense their struggles and their pain we can only hope for a better outcome in the end. It really evokes sympathy... The writing craft is superb, the characters three-dimensional and the setting is a dream...What a combination. Well-said and well-done.

This is another wonderful ARC I received from Level Best Books via Netgalley

"The Secret They Hid", by Roberta Kagan

Margot’s Secret Book #1

The story primarily takes place in Berlin between 1915 and 1933 and it revolves around the captivating love triangle of two brothers, Leo and Alex in their share interest with the beautiful Adelaide. This story is of love, family secrets and the challenges of survival.

Although this fiction is set during the Great War, its aftermath and during the rise of Hitler it primarily tells a story of survival and gives us a perspective of life in Germany for the working classes. Mostly we see how Adelaide survives when both brothers were gone to war leaving her to support three very young children. This story is intense and difficult to put down. Adding a blend of romance and intrigue into the historical context is simply a bonus.

This story reads well and is smooth sailing from the opening chapters till the conclusion. I like that the focus was on the characters rather than on the horrors of war. Every word is written with passion, sorrow, despair and torment in everyday language. The characters are well-crafted: some you love and others you surely will dislike...

“The Secret They Hid “has all what lovers of historical fiction which for: a captivating story well told and well played out.

A million thank you to the publisher The Book Whisperer for this ARC which I received via Netgalley