Fiction

The book I finished: The Last Green Valley by Michael Sullivan
From the author of the #1 bestseller Beneath a Scarlet Sky comes a new historical novel inspired by one family’s incredible story of daring, survival, and triumph.

In late March 1944, as Stalin’s forces push into Ukraine, young Emil and Adeline Martel must make a terrible decision: Do they wait for the Soviet bear’s intrusion and risk being sent to Siberia? Or do they reluctantly follow the wolves—murderous Nazi officers who have pledged to protect “pure-blood” Germans?

The Martels are one of many families of German heritage whose ancestors have farmed in Ukraine for more than a century. But after already living under Stalin’s horrifying regime, Emil and Adeline decide they must run in retreat from their land with the wolves they despise to escape the Soviets and go in search of freedom.

Caught between two warring forces and overcoming horrific trials to pursue their hope of immigrating to the West, the Martels’ story is a brutal, complex, and ultimately triumphant tale that illuminates the extraordinary power of love, faith, and one family’s incredible will to survive and see their dreams realized.

I have read Beneath A Scarlet Sky and it was really good I picked this second one up either free on 99 cents for its subject, not realizing it was also by Mark Sullivan. You can really feel the affection and respect he has for his subjects in both books. Highly recommend

I just started The Mountain Mother Cipher by N S Wikarski (Second of 8 in The Arcana Archaeology Series.

about the series: THE ARKANA SERIES
The forgotten past refuses to stay buried in an artifact hunt spanning continents, centuries, and lost civilizations. The prize is a cache of myth-busting relics that could rewrite history or end it completely. When a secret society squares off against a ruthless fundamentalist cult, only one faction can win. More importantly, only one will survive.

This book: Volume 2 - The Mountain Mother Cipher
In THE MOUNTAIN MOTHER CIPHER, the race is on between Arkana agents and Nephilim operatives as they rush off to Turkey in search of clues leading to legendary artifacts. Among ancient megaliths on the top of Mount Ida, the foes square off in a literal cliffhanger of a confrontation.

At the worst possible moment, the Arkana crew discovers that the Nephilim aren't their only competitors for lost treasure. Unforeseen obstacles and unknown enemies thwart their efforts to complete their mission and escape unharmed. This crisis teaches the newest member of the Arkana team where her real loyalties lie, but not all of the crew might make it home alive.

This is pure escapist fun in one of my favorite genres: archaeolgical thrillers. Shades of Dan Brown, with artifacts and special powers and all sorts of good stuff. The first book is the Granite Key. Do read in order. I am really glad I had already read the first one.