The Porcelain Maker: one daughter's search into the secrets of the past

The Porcelain Maker by Sarah Freethy is a story of love, betrayal and art inspired by the actual porcelain factory in Dachau. From the horrors of World War II to America, two lovers are caught at the crossroads of history and a daughter’s search for the truth. In 1929, Germany, Max, a skilled Jewish architect, and Bettina, an avant-garde German painter, met and the sparks were immediate. Their whirlwind romance takes them to the dazzling lights of Berlin but they are met with the darkness as Nazism becomes the rising threat to all they love and hold dear. When Max is arrested and sent to the Dachau concentration camp, Bettina is determined to rescue him and escape Germany. In 1993, Clara, Bettina’s daughter, is on a journey to discover the identity of her father, a second her mother took to her grave. As she traces her mother’s past, Clara is left with questions as to why her mother fought so hard to keep her past hidden. 

While I have a bit of World War II fatigue with the ever growing number of books which feature World War II, I was intrigued by a story I haven’t heard before. I was hooked in by the opening chapter as Clara is tracing down porcelain figures linked to her mother. I loved the electric and flirtatious meeting between Max and Bettina. However, the book fell fast. I was confused by the back and forth in time and places. Who’s who and how they all fit into the story of the concentration camp and the porcelain factory. Sadly, even the emotional moments that should have been more powerful and poignant fell flat. I didn’t care for Bettina or even Clara as she is on this journey. Max was a decent character. Overall, I appreciate the author’s desire to bring the story of Dachau to light, but The Porcelain Maker was uninteresting and too drawn out. However, if you enjoy World War II stories, you may enjoy The Porcelain Maker. 

The Porcelain Maker is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

The Haven: a gothic suspense thriller

The Haven is the second book in the Outer Banks series by Nicola Marsh. The Haven has been a refuge for many; however, for Rylee it has been a sheltered life. While she loves her father, John, and her grandmother, Leah, she wonders about life outside of her home. When an opportunity to work at the Arcania, a wellness retreat near her home, Rylee is excited but Leah isn’t thrilled. Rylee is also on a journey to search for the mother who left suddenly when she was a newborn with long buried family secrets ready to be uncovered. What Leah is hiding is that decades earlier, she arrived at The Haven and got a job at the nearby Arcania. However, horrors she witnessed there sent her running. As Rylee’s fascination with finding her mother and the Arcania grows, Leah believes Rylee is now in harm’s way. How far will Leah go to protect her family? 

OMG! What a story! As I began the book, I was curious how the Haven could be related to the Arcania, the story we see in The Retreat (2023). Although you do not need to read The Retreat first to enjoy The Haven, I would highly recommend it. As Rylee begins to subvert her grandmother’s control and truly begins her search for answers, the gates open and the story begins a twisted tale of suspense, thrills, and turns of events you won’t see coming! I love how Rylee finds her courage and stands up for herself as she demands answers. And the ending! Are there plans for a third book? Oh, I hope so! With the haunting setting and unexplained happenings, this story will draw you in until the final page. I highly recommend The Haven as well as the first book, The Retreat. If you enjoy gothic suspense thrillers, you cannot miss the Outer Banks series! 

The Haven will be available on October 31, 2023 in paperback and eBook

How to be Lost: a family's recovery from the past

How to be Lost by Amanda Eyre Ward is the story of one woman’s journey to find her missing sister and repair her fractured family. The story follows Caroline as she tries to distance herself from her family as the disappearance of her baby sister, Ellie, still haunts the family gatherings after so many years. At Christmas, her mother approaches her with a request. Head to Montana and see if a woman in the photograph is Ellie and bring her home. Caroline refuses but its only after the sudden loss of her mother does Caroline decide to go. While she’s in Montana, she meets a people who are all running from something. Will she be able to find Ellie? If the woman in the picture is Ellie, can Caroline convince her to come home?

How to be Lost is a wonderful story about family past hurts and how it can still affect the present. I felt the story was very real and the pain and attitudes displayed by each character was heartfelt and realistic. The story also interjects letters from a woman named Agnes. While Caroline is on her journey, the reader is also wondering who is Agnes and how does she fit into the story? I highly recommend How to be Lost.

How to be Lost

Is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble

Figuring it out with Grace: a story of the search for true love

Figuring it Out with Grace by JD Tynan is the long search for true love. The story features Grace Gibbs, a psychology professor who is searching for her soul mate and goes through a series of men. Until one day she has had enough and searches for the one who got away.

Grace is 35 and single again. The story flashbacks and forth as the reader is introduced to Jared Moore, Grace’s childhood best friend and the one who got away. Grace takes the reader through growing up with her parents’ divorce, her mom’s revolving door romances and sexual awareness of Jared Moore. As she reminisces, she realizes what is wrong in her life and moves forward to change. Will she be able to find Jared? Will he forgive her? Will she ever find happiness with a family of her own?

I enjoyed Figuring it out with Grace. In many ways, I could related with Grace with her family history and trying to overcome the family cycles which has plagued her life. I enjoyed seeing her happy and laughed with her as all her dreams come true. I loved the building tension between Grace and Jared as they both fight against what they need to do and what they want to do. I really enjoyed Jared’s character. I also enjoyed Grace’s discovery that everything looks perfect from the outside but once you get a glimpse inside, you can see that everything is far from perfect. Figuring it out with Grace is a great story about one woman’s journey to find her soul mate.

Figuring it out with Grace

Is available at Amazon

On the Kindle for $2.99

And in paperback for $17.95