#Blogtour The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin

It's a pleasure to take part in the Blogtour The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin.

About the Author

Madeline Martin is a New York Times, USA TODAY, and international bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance with books that have been translated into over twenty different languages. Follow @MadelineMMartin on X

About the book

A heartwarming story about a mother and daughter in wartime England and the power of books that bring them together, by the NYT bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London.  

In the tranquil rural town of Nottingham, England, widow Emma Taylor finds herself in desperate need of a job. She and her beloved daughter Olivia have always managed just fine on their own, but with shadows of war on the horizon and the legal restrictions prohibiting widows from most employment opportunities, she’s left with only one option: persuading the manageress at Boots’ Booklover’s Library to take a chance on her with a job.

Then the unthinkable happens: as England prepares to enter the war, Olivia must be evacuated to the countryside. In the wake of being separated from her daughter, Emma seeks solace in the unlikely friendships she forms with her neighbours and coworkers, and a renewed sense of purpose through the recommendations she provides to the library’s quirky regulars – including the (very handsome!) Mr. Fisk. But the job doesn’t come without its difficulties: books are mysteriously misshelved and disappearing, she desperately misses her daughter, and the library forces her to confront the memories of her late father and the bookstore they once owned together before a terrible accident.

As the Blitz intensifies in Nottingham and Emma fights to reunite with her daughter, she must learn to depend on her community and the power of literature more than ever to find hope in the darkest of times.

Review

I have to admit I'd never heard of Boots’ Booklover’s Library before - I always enjoy when historical fiction adds factual information that may not be well known. I actually told someone about this straight after reading the book. Absolutely fascinating, so it ends up being both an interesting fact and the epi-centre of the story.

Also leaning into the Booklover's Library the very patriarchal attitudes and rules towards women. The assumption or linear thinking that only single women without children would be a stable employee, because of course doing your 'duties' as wife and mother take precedent over everything else, especially work and being financially independent. Note the same people making up said rules were quite happy to use women as a workforce at home when the men were at war, then equally quite happy to return to previous arrangements when or if the men came home. 

This story was a story of loss, empowerment, sisterhood and also how the love of books can connect memories, people and relationships. It's also a story that shows a determination to survive, despite doors being closed and opportunities being taken away. In a way it also has an important message about the small moments of support, kindness and positivity towards someone who might need it more than you will ever know - how influential these moments can be. Lovely read.

Buy The Booklovers' Library at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hanover Square Press, pub date 10 Oct. 2024. Buy at Amazon com.

#Blogtour The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin

It's a pleasure to take part in the Blogtour The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin.

About the Author

Madeline Martin is a New York Times and International Bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance novels filled with twists and turns, adventure, steamy romance, empowered heroines and the men who are strong enough to love them. Follow @MadelineMMartin on X (the artist formerly known as Twitter)

About the book

A heart-warming story about the power of books to bring us together, inspired by the true story of the underground library in WWII Warsaw, by the NYT bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London.

It is 1939, and nothing could prepare Marta and Janina for the Nazi occupation of their homes and families in Warsaw. Friends since childhood, the two women couldn’t be more different – Marta is Polish and a stubborn, practical planner; Janina is half-Jewish with fanciful ideas of war and heroism.

But as the bombs rain down on Warsaw and Hitler’s forces surround the city, a series of tragedies spur them to action. Both avid readers, they find ways to join the war efforts using one of the only weapons that still feel safe to them: literature.

While Marta and her father become active in the underground and work to salvage books in danger of being destroyed, Janina aids a secret library in the ghetto, lending and delivering books to orphans.

As the round ups and executions intensify, these books become a life preserver for members of their community. But the closer Warsaw gets to liberation, the more dangerous it becomes for the women and their families – and escape may not be possible for everyone. Through the destruction and death raging around them, Marta and Janina must fight to preserve their culture and community, finding hope in each other in order to survive.

Review

In 1939, Marta and Janina are aware of another possible German encroachment, but matters of education and reading books on the banned books list seem far more important. Overnight their world is changed to one of destruction, fear and intimidation, as Warsaw loses the battle to hold off their enemy and oppressor.

Jews are targeted, opposing voices are silenced, and the underground resistance begins a fraught battle of survival. Small moments and actions become monumental, such as saving books from the hands that seek to destroy them. The same hands who plan to systematically eradicate Poland's leaders and intellectuals, their culture and their literature. To break the country by breaking the spirit of its people.

I think it's important to keep revisiting certain moments in history, especially if there is a possibility of  avoiding the same atrocities again. It's equally important to remember the victims, the losses and both the named and unnamed people who tried to save, help, comfort and oppose. This book does all of that, and also gives a glimpse into the planned and well executed destruction the Nazi regime showered upon its own country and the many countries they invaded.

Kudos to the author for creating a story around the perhaps lesser known historical facts and situation in Warsaw, during the German occupation in WW2. When I say lesser known I mean outside of the more commonly known facts, because they are certainly known the people of Poland. That includes the interesting connection of the Guides and Scouts and their involvement during this period in history.

It's a riveting story of perseverance, of resistance, friendship, loss and tragedy - one based on factual historical events, which makes it even more poignant.

Buy The Keeper of Hidden Books at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎ Hanover Square Press pub date 1 Aug. 2023. Buy at Amazon com.