From Amazon: "Barely out of school and doing her bit for the British war effort, Marian Sutro has one quality that makes her stand out—she is a native French speaker. It is this that attracts the attention of the SOE, the Special Operations Executive, which trains agents to operate in occupied Europe. Drawn into this strange, secret world at the age of nineteen, she finds herself undergoing commando training, attending a “school for spies,” and ultimately, one autumn night, parachuting into France from an RAF bomber to join the WORDSMITH resistance network.
But there’s more to Marian’s mission than meets the eye of her SOE controllers; her mission has been hijacked by another secret organization that wants her to go to Paris and persuade a friend—a research physicist—to join the Allied war effort. The outcome could affect the whole course of the war.
A fascinating blend of fact and fiction, Trapeze is both an old-fashioned adventure story and a modern exploration of a young woman’s growth into adulthood. There is violence, and there is love. There is death and betrayal, deception and revelation. But above all there is Marian Sutro, an ordinary young woman who, like her real-life counterparts in the SOE, did the most extraordinary things at a time when the ordinary was not enough."
Yo! Adrienne says: I love a strong female lead. I especially love when the ending totally takes me by surprise and makes me gasp out loud. This was the perfect blend of what happened and what ~maybe~ could have happened during the war. Imagine being tapped by your government / resistance / someone who knows who you are to be trained as a spy. Oh my. I don't think I have the nerves; I'd be one big hive - ha! That's why I enjoyed this book so much. A page turner and a woman of steel (at least on the outside).
From Amazon: "Paris, France: 1860s. Hundreds of houses are being razed, whole neighborhoods reduced to ashes. By order of Emperor Napoleon III, Baron Haussmann has set into motion a series of large-scale renovations that will permanently alter the face of old Paris, molding it into a "modern city." The reforms will erase generations of history―and in the midst of the tumult, one woman will take a stand.
Rose Bazelet is determined to fight against the destruction of her family home until the very end. As others flee, she stakes her claim in the basement of the old house on rue Childebert, ignoring the sounds of change that come closer and closer each day. Attempting to overcome the loneliness of her daily life, she begins to write letters to Armand, her beloved late husband. And as she delves into the ritual of remembering, Rose is forced to come to terms with a secret that has been buried deep in her heart for thirty years."
Yo! Adrienne says: I have to admit, I struggled to get into this book at first (I actually listened to the audio version). I am not familiar with France and the narrator did a wonderful job (I think) of pronouncing all the French names/addresses/landmarks but that was the problem - I had no clue what was who or what or where! Once I committed to finishing this book and stopped trying to map it out in my head I began to enjoy the story more. The author does a great job of unfolding the story so that you really do not fully understand Roze's choices/reasoning until the the very end. This did leave me a bit sad at the end so maybe not a beach read. I was more heartbroken for what could have been ... as Roze was. Read it - you will understand.
From Amazon: "Kidnapped from Africa as a child, Aminata Diallo is enslaved in South Carolina but escapes during the chaos of the Revolutionary War. In Manhattan she becomes a scribe for the British, recording the names of blacks who have served the King and earned their freedom in Nova Scotia. But the hardship and prejudice of the new colony prompt her to follow her heart back to Africa, then on to London, where she bears witness to the injustices of slavery and its toll on her life and a whole people. It is a story that no listener, and no reader, will ever forget. Reading group guide included."
Yo! Adrienne says: Goodness. I listened to this book and man was it amazing. The narrator did an excellent job of changing her voice just enough to distinguish the characters. I found myself often pausing the audio and hitting my friend Google to research part of the storyline. There is no debate how heinous slavery was (and human trafficing in todays world) was/is. No words. Pick up this book or download the audio. If you are luck like me, my library had it. It is beautifully written and will have you taking note of those you meet in passing ... you will definitely try to remember their name. Everyone wants someone to know your name.
Yo! Adrienne says: So many verses underlined in my Bible ... here are two of my favorites:
Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners? And when Jesus heard it he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." 2: ...16,17
A reminder to me to not judge. We are all in need of God's grace.
And Jesus said to him, "'If you can!'. All things are possible for one who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe, help my unbelief". 9:23,24
Too often I doubt. This verse reminds me that it's ok to ask God to help me with that doubt ... and He will!
I hope these verses have inspired/uplifted you. I am guilty of not spending enough time in God's word when I am not involved in a Bible study (summers). Writing this post is a reminder to me to get back in the habit.
For those that don't know me personally, I feel I need to update. Many of you have read my blog for ages (when I actually blogged vs just posting TTPT). Sadly, we have experienced great loss this winter. My amazing Aunt lost her 4 year battle with breast cancer in December. I also had the difficult task putting down my 18 year old companion at the end of March.
Gallagher made many appearances here on the blog. He was loyal, loud, and oh so sweet. The joke in our house was that G came before Rocky (because literally he did - I got G in August and met Rocky in November.). Bless Rocky for understanding my love for the "first" guy in my life.
A week later Rocky's dad passes (semi-suddenly) from pancreatic cancer. As you can imagine, we all have been dealing with quite a bit of grief. My boys especially.
Fast forward to last week ...
meet Pearl and Leopould. Our new companions.
It was one of those "everything fell into place". I was not planning on kitties anytime soon. We were all still nursing our wounds. And then I get a text ... my friend has kittens. You see how the story ends. It's a happy one.
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