Enjoy!
Rendezvous in Berlin – A WWII Novel: Flying With Swallows
Vol 2 by Cat Gardiner
Historical Fiction
Publisher: Unionport Hill Books
Published: 4.2.24
Pages: 604
Rating: 5 stars
Format: eARC
Source: Author
Sellers: Amazon
ADD TO: GoodReads
GoodReads Synopsis:
Volume Two in the Flying with the
Swallows duology.
March 1943: New York City Socialite Evie Somerset’s
liberating adventure in Lisbon opens the door to the dangerous world of wartime
espionage as a swallow—an agent—within Great Britain’s Secret Intelligence
Service.
Without Carl Wilson’s supportive presence, Evie is thrust
into the rigors of training in England armed with nothing but determination to
prove herself to her superiors and fellow recruits. But, when a letter arrives
from home, Evie is faced with unexpected demons. She must bury them, and the
accompanying emotions, to focus on her mission as Salzburger aristocrat Eva von
Lamberg visiting Berlin, the heart of the Nazi war machine.
Her perilous infiltration into German High Command’s
social circle is aided not only by a resistance network of wealthy, high ranking
officials but also her new skills at deception. Convincing her mark, a General
within the Wehrmacht, of her affection is tantamount to gaining access to the
information she seeks.
The mission brings Evie face to face with evil, humanity,
and painful crossroads. Will she be able to separate her heart, which belongs
to Carl, from the acts she must commit as a means to her success? Will she and
Carl make it back to each other? Or is the end result of their respective
missions a fait accompli with no future for either of them—just a legacy left
behind after the Official Secrets Act ends?
Sophia Rose's Review:
A woman defies her family expectation
and past circumstances to forge a whole new life- a life full of danger,
intrigue, patriotic duty, sacrifice, and the love of a lifetime. Rendezvous
in Berlin carries forward Cat Gardiner’s intrepid, sultry World War II era
historical full of passion and suspense for a woman who has come into her own.
The second half of a duology, Rendezvous in Berlin, picks up a short
time after the events of The Lisbon
Affair. Evie Somerset is in England
for training to work as an espionage operative behind enemy lines from Occupied
France straight to Berlin where she will seduce a Nazi general and steal his
secrets all while managing to keep her heart intact for her beloved fellow
American spy, Jack McGrath who is in the heart of danger still on a mission in
Portugal.
Spy training is gritty and tough and
the American ‘princess’ isn’t cut any slack during training. The time comes to be dropped into France and
‘trust no one’ with only a traitor’s death in store if she gets caught. Evie must set aside who she really is and
become Ava to succeed. She is surrounded
by those who are there to aid her on her mission, those who are her enemies and
targets, and, oh yes, those within the enemy camp with agendas of their own who
may expose her if it advances their own interest. She is surrounded by peril.
My heart was in my throat as Evie set
about proving herself and then taking on her mission. Several times she slips up as this is her
first mission and it’s a whopper. Jack
is terrified for her, too, especially when he learns of double agents who have
left Evie hanging in the wind on her own surrounded by the darkest evil the
world could produce. My reaction was
visceral thanks to Cat Gardiner not pulling any punches when she described the
insider’s view of the Nazi regime and Evie’s terrified navigation through her
mission. Fair warning, her seduction is
successful and she is faced with a personal crisis as she must go all in, yes
sexually, to fulfill her duty. The
sacrifice that many government operatives must make. And, knowing this and what she was doing,
Jack’s love was full and strong with no double standards between them.
There was never a moment when I wasn’t
utterly captivated by the story and would have read it through in one sitting
if I could have. Between the attention
to historical background and details right down to the dialogue and actions,
the characters who were alive in my imagination, and the gripping plot, Rendezvous in Berlin held onto me beyond
the last page and for days now after. I
know I just read an all-time favorite and not just of this year.
And, so, yes, historical fiction and
romancers, you can’t miss the Flying With Swallows duology. Get it on your table stack as soon as you
can.
Author Bio:
Cat Gardiner loves romance and happy endings, history, and
comedy. A member of the esteemed National League of American Pen Women, she
enjoys writing across the spectrum of the romance genre from Contemporary to
Chick-Lit Romantic Comedy, 20th Century Historical Fiction, and Pride and
Prejudice-inspired.
Apart from her husband, her greatest passion is writing Historical Fiction,
WWII-era. Her debut novel in this genre, A Moment Forever, was a 2017 Next
Generation Indie Book Award Romance Finalist. Her newest WWII release is up for
presale and will be available on April 2, 2024.
NOW ON PREORDER, AVAILABLE APRIL 2, 2024
** FLYING WITH THE SWALLOWS duology **
The Lisbon Affair, Volume One
Rendezvous in Berlin, Volume Two
WW2 Historical Fiction, Romance, Saga
*An Unforgettable Journey*
Add to your "Want to Read" shelf!
Between writing and WWII home front re-enacting, Cat takes her readers on a
swell 1940s journey at The 1940s Experience blog and gallery at
cgardiner1940s.com
Connect with Cat here:
cgardiner1940s.com
facebook.com/cat.t.gardiner
Sophia’s Bio:
Sophia
is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing,
piano-playing, and gardening. Road trips and campouts, museums and monuments,
restaurants and theaters are her jam. Encouraged and supported by an incredible
man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes
Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and
Chocolate.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that
Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing. Sophia is a
prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many
wonderful books, authors, and narrators. Few genres are outside her reading
tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and
romance. Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sophia.rose.7587
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiarose1816
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13418187.Sophia_Rose
I haven't read this author yet but this sounds so good.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, I was in high angst the whole time she was spying right there in the middle of the worst Nazis. It was really good, Mary!
DeleteGlad this was so good for you Sophia.
ReplyDeleteIt sure was, Kimberly. :)
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