This Blog features Professional Book Reviews by Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer of Midwest Book Reviews of Linda Lee Keenan’s novels. “The Journal” and “With Love From Poland” are novels set against the backdrop of World War II. Midwest’s review of “The Journal” begins: “The Journal is described by the author as “A Novel of World War II from Berlin Then to Manhattan Now.” It’s a story that emphasizes the survival of love against all odds—even war—and tells of Julia Hamilton, a modern-day interior designer in Manhattan whose great-uncle joined the underground forces in Germany to save people from the Nazis. World War II’s events seem distant from Julia’s life despite her family’s connections to the opposition, but Uncle Per wants Julia to understand these experiences, and a journal is the perfect place to capture them for posterity.”

Here is an excerpt from Midwest Book Reviews’ review of “With Love From Poland”: “Weaving historical facts with cultural insights about the Polish people and add romance into a young adult saga that moves far beyond politics to show how personal relationships become affected and impacted by political and social change and it’s evident that With Love from Poland offers a special brand of educational opportunity not usually afforded to young adult readers.

It’s especially recommended for readers of other literature of the times, such as The Diary of Anne Frank, who would receive deeper inspections of Nazi impacts on daily lives through the fictional eyes of protagonists who face many difficult choices.”

You will also find within this blog reviews of books that Linda Lee Keenan has read such as “Lilac Girls” by Martha Hall. This is the riveting true story of Polish women imprisoned in concentration camps in World War II.

Future Blogs will review books read by Linda Lee such as Georgia Hunter’s book, “We Were the Lucky Ones”, a true story of a Jewish family torn apart when the Nazis occupied Poland during World War II.