Birgit's Consequences

 

In his historically-based novel, Birgit's Consequences novelist  GM Gaudio explores what happened to the children of Hitler's Lebensborn experiment, in an attempt to create a master race of superior beings.

Hitler died and the Second World War ended, but what of the children of his experiment? What of the women who were used and abused for the evil programme? What happened to them?

The story begins for the reader in the Calabrian Mountains in the 1970s. We meet with Andreas Kuhlemann who is battling to find a place in the world, a place which he could call home.

He was born in occupied Norway to a Norwegian receptionist and a German army officer. At the war's end he was taken to Germany, to the home town of his father.

Eventually he was adopted by an Italian man who worked on the railways. As a result Andreas was always moving, never feeling at home, always feeling lost.

However, unknown to Andreas he had a counterpart in Lorenzo Benedetta, a man who has spent four tiring, weary decades trying to seek out some form of redemption. He has suffered many setbacks, but is determined to attain his aim, to reach his conclusion. 

But what happens when his dreadful crime is discovered and he is brought before a court of law to answer for what he did?

As a result the stories of both men are brought to a conclusion. 

But the conclusion is one that reveals a death and that one of them was a monster. But which one?

It is a stunning debut novel which shows that the wickedness evil men perpetrate lives on for many decades.

It is published by Matador at £10.00. 

For the Love of Roman

This is a debut novel from Philip Pavlovic.

In For the Love of Roman readers are introduced to Roman. Roman is a young man who has a heavy weight pressing him down. He has been unable to find love and he feels that the only way out of his loveless life is to end it.

But is there a female counterpart to him? A young female who is also searching for love? 

His longings for love take him on a train journey through Europe. In fact at a particular railway station he acts as a catalyst which, mystically, brings two different dimensions of reality together.

The reader is dropped directly into this parallel dimension in a war-ravaged Yugoslavia where young men by their thousands are imprisoned in trains and being taken toward certain death.

One of these men is Drago who is desperate to live, who has two daughters who are fighting to let the world learn of what is happening to their fathers and the other men who are in the same dreadful situation.

But what linked Roman to this situation? Was he also doomed to die? Or could he be brought back from the brink? If so, how? By whom?

This is a very powerful first novel and it deftly tells the stories of two different worlds. It is a story that is both horrific, yet also filled with love and hope.

I hope to see more novels from Philip in the future.

It is published by The Book guild at £8.99. 

Fractured Dreams and Second Chances

This novel, Fractured Dreams and Second Chances, by Stephen Anthony Brotherton is semi-autobiographical.

It is a story of a first love, told through the eyes of two characters, Freddie and Jo-Jo.

Their love would, of course, last for ever. 

However, incidents within their childhoods had caused fractures and, eventually, all too soon, in fact, events both old and new caused their love to founder.

But what if there could be a second chance for Freddie and Jo-Jo? A second chance to get back together in later life to rekindle their love affair after three decades apart?

It's a well-told tale that explores the impacts of childhood traumas and how these can change the person you become as an adult.

It's published by the Book Guild at £9.99

Without Let or Hindrance

Without Let or Hindrance is a novel from author Geoffrey Charin. 

It's the summer of 1938 and the metaphorical clouds are gathering over Europe.

Veronica and Billy, her fascist boyfriend, attend a pro-German event that was hosted by the 5th Duke of Wellington.

It's a glamourous, glittering event and Veronica meets Sir Oswald Mosley and Diana Mitford. Veronica is invited to take a trip to Berlin, the capital of Germany.

As Europe stumbles toward war, many otherwise good people shake their heads, bewildered, apparently unable to do anything to stop the flow of evil that threatens not only continent of Europe but the entire world.

As Jews are more and more becoming victims of Nazi pogroms such as the evil of Kristallnacht, the British government is trapped between trying to apparently appease Herr Hitler and trying to deal with the question of Jewish refugees.

For Veronica, doing nothing is not an option she can feel comfortable with, so she decides to take action.

Veronica finds herself within the very heart of Nazi Germany. But what of Billy, the member of the British Union of Fascists? And what of Mosley and the Mitford sisters?

Victoria puts her life in danger to save Jewish refugees. But who can she trust? 

This novel is a tightly composed and well-written historical thriller that is based on factual occurrences. 

It is published by The Book Guild at £9.99.

 

A Victorian Rebel Fighting for Gay Rights Edward Carpenter

A Victorian Rebel Fighting for Gay Rights Edward Carpenter In his biography Brian Anderson examines the life story of Edward Carpenter.

It's likely that you might not have heard of Edward Carpenter who was an early campaigner for gay rights in Britain.

And Brian Anderson has decided to put this situation to rights.

During his research Anderson was able to locate a considerable number of Carpenter's letters (none of which had been previously published) to his friends, his lovers and other fellow socialists.

The book covers the details of his transition from a youth who was generally a normal, conforming  member of Victorian society, to a bold and somewhat outspoken critic of what he saw as the flaws and problems within Victorian society. Especially in the treatment of homosexual males.

As a gay youth his adolescence was more troubled than for some of his contemporaries, combined with his confusion about his sexual identity.

He attended Cambridge University which helped to broaden his horizons and Anderson reflects on his first, timid love affairs.

He soon developed into a radical socialist and became known as an author of polemical pieces. He later developed into a writer on sexual politics, though publishing his works was difficult due to the fallout from the Oscar Wilde scandal.     

He was criticised for what would be considered a misogynistic attitude, but Anderson questions whether or not this was the case. 

It's a very well-researched and well-written book which will be of interest to anyone interested in the history of Victorian society and the history of gay emancipation. 

It's published by Matador at £9.95.

The Cumbria and Lake District

The Cumbria and Lake District A Guide to Places to Visit, History: A Guide to Places to Visit, History and Wildlife from Morecambe Bay to the Solway Firth

On my desk, on the shelf to the left (I'm lefthanded) I have a copy of a book by Kevin Sene titled The Mersey Estuary: A Travel Guide which is one of my favourite guidebooks.

Now I have a companion volume by Kevin Sene, called The Cumbria and Lake District A Guide to Places to Visit, History: A Guide to Places to Visit, History and Wildlife from Morecambe Bay to the Solway Firth.

It's a highly detailed travel guide which takes you from Fleetwood all the way along to the Mull of Galloway.

The coast of Cumbria reaches from Morecambe Bay to the Solway Firth. It takes in, amongst other features and places The Lake District National Park.

The book is very well illustrated with stunningly beautiful full colour photographs, some which are full page.

You will learn of ideal places to view tidal bores from, good places to visit if historical buildings is your bag, nice spots to enjoy looking at wildlife. And if ancient, mysterious sites brings a thrill to your heart, Kevin has plenty of them for you.

Looking for waterside walks? There's a wide selection. Fancy a trip to the seaside for a paddle or even a holiday break? Kevin's got that covered, too.

Museums, especially maritime museums? Lots of them to explore with Kevin's most excellent guidebook.

And if your desire is to check out lighthouses and other maritime features? They are covered, too.

Maybe your desire is some beautiful inland walks? Step right this way!

It's published by Matador at £19.99. 

  

Fire of the Dark Triad

Fire of the Dark Triad is the first part of a series by Asya Semenovich.

It tells the story of a distant and dark dystopian future, where evil humans of the Dark Triads (who were born with a DNA strain that made them incredibly dangerous) have caused untold misery and destruction for hundreds of years. In fact, so wicked were they that they very nearly destroyed the planet Earth.

The rulers of Earth had attempted to bring purity to the human race by dissolving those genes from future generations.

But something is wrong. Because without the creative spark of the DNA of the Dark Triads, civilisation has begun to falter and to stagnate.

An elite group, called the Headhunters, was employed to locate and recruit Dark Trads from its many colonies and bring them back to planet Earth.

But Nick, the most adept and skilled of the Headhunters, who was under the impression that he was only involved in a routine mission soon discovers that things are not always what they appear to be. He becomes enmeshed in a hidden conspiracy which, if it is allowed to continue unchecked, could change the human race forever.

He finds himself fighting powerful groups on two planets in an attempt to head off the catastrophe that is threatened. Whilst also trying to save the life of the woman he loves.

It's a well constructed novel which is both pacey and punchy.

As an interesting aside the novel is featured in a documentary film called Married to Math which you can learn more about here https://marriedtomath.com/reviews/. 

It's published by Dark Triad Books at £15.00 and is available from all good bookshops including Waterstones and Amazon, etc. It's also available in eBook format at £3.53.

I'd like to thank Cameron Publicity & Marketing for working with me to create this review.