Florrie C

Well written and meticulously researched, The Nazi Conspiracy offers a fascinating look into a heretofore little examined story of a plot to kill Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill. As an avid reader of both thrillers and history, I feel that the authors do a masterful job of combining suspense with historical fact without confusing the two. Highly recommended to anyone who is already a fan of World War II history and wants to explore a different perspective or those who want to expand their knowledge of iconic events and leaders of the 20th century.

Kudos to Marie Benedict for once again plucking a little-known but fascinating woman from relative historical obscurity and giving her a platform. Belle's struggles in renouncing her own race for another and the challenges she faces not just as a woman in a man's domain but a minority in a majority world is compelling and particularly timely in the current environment. Clearly, Ms. Benedict and her co-author Victoria Christopher Murray have an agenda beyond Belle's life story, as they explain to the reader in their Author's Notes. While at times, that agenda appears a bit contrived, we can never be reminded too many times of racial injustice and its terrible human costs. The Personal Librarian is a worthy read.

The lives of three generations of Miltons spanning most of the 20th century on the Eastern Seaboard sometimes appalls, always intrigues, and never bores. Grappling with personal tragedies and triumphs set within the context of a cosmic shift in American societal attitudes, some of the Miltons do their best to embrace change, while others cling to a way of life embodied by their family island retreat that remains a constant though the decades.

The author, Sarah Blake, is a stunning writer and an extraordinary storyteller. Highly recommended for individual fans of family sagas and book clubs.

The Code Girls is a fascinating true story of the unsung code-breaking heroines whose expert use of word weaponry helped the US win World War II. How young women from all over the country were recruited by the Army and Navy for the top-secret task of breaking and translating German and Japanese encrypted military messages is expertly woven by the author into personal stories of the women’s war loves and lives. The book is well researched and a must-read for those interested in U.S. World War II history.