August wasn’t my favorite reading month. While I enjoyed the books I read I didn’t devour any of them as has been the case with some of the books I read during the summer. None the less I did find two that I thoroughly enjoyed!
I’m calling August the month of the Netgalley book. Since three out of the four books I read in August were books I got from Netgalley. If you’re a reader and have never heard of Netgalley, I suggest you get on that train ASAP. It’s a website where you can request, yet to be released books in exchange for writing a review on them either on the website itself or on your blog.
Sadly you won’t get every book that you request. But I have gotten the majority of the books I’ve requested so I’m still a happy camper. Anyway, definitely worth checking out if you love to read!
And now on to the goods!
Venice, 1945. The war may be waning, but the city known as La Serenissima is still occupied and the people of Italy fear the power of the Third Reich. One night, under a canopy of stars, a fisherman named Cenzo comes across a young woman’s body floating in the lagoon and soon discovers that she is still alive and in trouble.
Born to a wealthy Jewish family, Giulia is on the run from the SS. Cenzo chooses to protect Giulia rather than hand her over to the Nazis. This act of kindness leads them into the world of Partisans, random executions, the arts of forgery and high explosives, Mussolini’s broken promises, the black market and gold, and, everywhere, the enigmatic maze of the Venice Lagoon.
The Girl from Venice is a thriller, a mystery, and a retelling of Italian history that will take your breath away. Most of all it is a love story.
Over half a century later, the Barbizon’s gone condo and most of its long-ago guests are forgotten. But rumors of Darby’s involvement in a deadly skirmish with a hotel maid back in 1952 haunt the halls of the building as surely as the melancholy music that floats from the elderly woman’s rent-controlled apartment. It’s a combination too intoxicating for journalist Rose Lewin, Darby’s upstairs neighbor, to resist—not to mention the perfect distraction from her own imploding personal life. Yet as Rose’s obsession deepens, the ethics of her investigation become increasingly murky, and neither woman will remain unchanged when the shocking truth is finally revealed.
Goodreads Synopsis: Saxon barbarians threaten to destroy medieval Wales. Lady Branwen becomes Wales’ last hope to unite their divided kingdoms when her father betroths her to a powerful Welsh warlord, the Hammer King. But the fledgling alliance is fraught with enemies from within and without as Branwen becomes the target of assassination attempts and courtly intrigue. A young woman in a world of fierce warriors, she seeks to assert her own authority and preserve Wales against the barbarians. But when she falls for a young hedge knight named Artagan, her world threatens to tear itself apart.
Caught between her duty to her people and her love of a man she cannot have, Branwen must choose whether to preserve her royal marriage or to follow her heart. Somehow she must save her people and remain true to herself, before Saxon invaders and a mysterious traitor try to destroy her.
Each one born of a different homeland; each one hunted, and haunted, by tragedy, lies…and war.
As thousands of desperate refugees flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom.
Yet not all promises can be kept.
Inspired by the single greatest tragedy in maritime history, bestselling and award-winning author Ruta Sepetys (Between Shades of Gray) lifts the veil on a shockingly little-known casualty of World War II. An illuminating and life-affirming tale of heart and hope.
Even though I loved the book as a whole, I will say I was a tad disappointed with then end. I felt like is had and abrupt ending and I wanted more. Much much more. Still 100% worth the read though. I give it 5 stars!
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That’s a wrap for August friends. The Dollhouse and Salt to the Sea are definitely worth your time. The other two you can take or leave.
Have a great Tuesday! Linking up for:
i'll definitely check out girl from venice…i've been reading WWII books like crazy lately. in fact, I just read The One Man which totally blew me away…check it out – it's SO GOOD. as in on par with The Nightingale!
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Salt to the Sea is on my list.
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I've been wanting to read Salt to the Sea forever! I have both the Girl from Venice and The Dollhouse on my NetGalley list, so I'm glad to hear you liked them!
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The Dollhouse is currently sitting on my nightstand, so I'm glad to hear you overall enjoyed the book. Salt to Sea is also on my TBR. It sounds like it will hit me in the gut, but that's okay!
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Salt to the Sea sounds good!!
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I definitely need to read more WWII books, it's been a while and I have a TON on my TBR including Salt to the Sea. Bummer about Between Two Fires, it sounds promising. XO – AlexandraSimply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
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I requested Salt to the Sea from my library yesterday and am anxiously awaiting for it to arrive! Heard so many good things about it!
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WWII novels are amazing, so probs to you for having so many choices. I'm adding all of these to my good reads!!
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Ruta Sepetys has written 3 books. I've read (and loved) them all. One of the main characters in Salt to the Sea has a connection to the main character in Between Shades of Grey, so if you haven't read that one, I highly recommend it.
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Definitely have Salt to the Sea on my list of books to read 🙂 Glad you had some success with Netgalley books – they can be hit or miss for me sometimes!
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I'm not a huge fan of historical books, but Salt to the Sea sounds really really good! I signed up for Netgalley earlier in the year and never did anything with it. Until now when you reminded me, requesting some books now since I want to read more the rest of the year :)!
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i feel you on netgalley. i still get sad when they reject me like what did i do! lol.i don't think i have ever read a WWII book to do with italy… lots of germany, france and england, but not italy i don't think. will add it to my list.the dollhouse sounds interesting.. that's the problem with multiple time periods in one book, i always prefer one and hate when it switches loli've heard amazing things about salt to the sea. it's on the never ending list!
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As a WW2 fiction lover, Salt to the Sea definitly got added to my TBR this month after seeing several people's reviews.
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I just can't quit WWII fiction either, although after Lilac Girls, I might really need a break. That sucks that you didn't like The Girl From Venice that much! I requested it from Netgalley because I liked the fact that it was set someplace that I've visited (officially visited now!), so that sucks that it doesn't talk about the city that much. I'm going to look into The Dollhouse! It sounds really good!
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