Title: The Day He Never Came Home

Author: Andrew DeYoung

Publication Date: July 9, 2024

Genre: Mystery Thriller

My Rating: 3 out of 5

The Day He Never Came Home by Andrew DeYoung starts out with John taking his wife Regan on date to a house by the lake. When he and Regan were dating, they used to go to open houses in rich neighborhoods, knowing they could never afford this type of lifestyle. When they show up at the lake house, Regan is aggravated, thinking not this again. John proceeds to tell her that he has purchased this lake house for her. It will be in her name and everything! Regan is shocked to say the least. Where did her husband get the money for such an extravagant gift? John assures her that they can afford it because he's doing so good at work. Speaking of work, John tells Regan that he has to go into work for a little while that night. On the inside, Regan is furious. She is once again struck with the children (Philip and Etta) by herself. She doesn't say anything cross because after all, her husband has just given her the lake house of her dreams. 

When Regan wakes up the next morning, John is nowhere to be found. She messages him and gets no response. Regan figures that he's just busy at work and will respond when he has time. She goes on about her day taking care of the children. All is typical until there is a knock at the door. It's the FBI looking for John. He is wanted for fraud. Regan and the children end up going to her parent's house while the FBI do their search. Regan's mother isn't the least bit surprised by this developing FBI interest in John. 

Where is John?

Is John really who he says he is?

Does Regan know more than she lets on?

Lies

Betrayal

Deceit

Murder 

Fraud

If you like any of the above in your books, definitely give The Day He Never Came Home by Andrew DeYoung a read. This was a middle of the road book for me. I feel there was unnecessary language within the pages of this one.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Day He Never Came Home by Andrew DeYoung.  

Title: The Nurse Behind the Gates

Author: Shari J. Ryan

Publication Date: May 20, 2024

Genre: Historical Fiction

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Quote: "A rare honeybee."

The Nurse Behind the Gates by Shari J. Ryan is told from two points of view - Emilie and Danner. It also travels back and forth from now and years leading up to now.

We begin in 1942 Germany with Emilie and her husband Otto. They have been married three weeks when Otto tells Emilie that they will be quickly moving out of their current town. Emilie does not like surprises, and she is not happy about this change one bit. She has lots of questions. 

As we travel backwards in time, we get to meet Danner, Felix and Gerty. These three, along with Emilie and Otto are all best friends and live in the same neighborhood growing up. That is until the Jews begin to be asked to leave.

Quote: "No matter where we go or what challenges come, we'll always have each other."

Danner and Emilie know they love each other and want nothing more than to spend forever together. However, with Danner being a Jew, he knows this cannot possibly happen. He makes Emilie promise that she will marry Otto and he assures her that Otto will give her the life she deserves. A life that he cannot give her. 

Emilie and Otto begin working in Dachau, a concentration camp the Nazi's built to intern political protestors...or so they thought. The reality, it was a camp for medical research and Jews were used as the subjects. Imagine Emilie's shock when she walks in and finds Danner slumped over in the corner. Danner is in fact, a research subject, based on the choices he was given. 

Quote: "If you had a secret - one that could destroy your life if shared, what would you do to protect it?"

The Nurse Behind the Gates is an emotional read. I found myself so invested in the characters and I could not stop reading. I just had to know what was going to happen. Shari J. Ryan did a fantastic job with the pace, as well as giving me all the feels. Such a powerful story from beginning until the very end.

What would you do to keep someone you love safe?

Would you make deals with the enemy, if it meant keeping someone you love alive?

The Nurse Behind the Gates is a story about two boys and one girl. But it's also about so much more!

Love

War

Friendship

Trust

Hope

Choices

Family

I would definitely recommend this book is you like books that make you feel.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Nurse Behind the Gates.