A
war torn landscape and a romance that has every single odd stacked against it.
To think such a romance could come about in the midst of air raids, explosions,
threats against your life and running away from the army that wants to imprison
you, is near to impossible to believe. But it happens in this book and I think
it probably happened many times in that real life time. Because nothing makes
you think more about the days you have left then when you can see the end of
time dangling before you.
I
could not imagine living in Germany during WWII. I cannot imagine the courage
it must have taken to wake up every day and the trust to fall asleep at night. The
danger of the times is never far from the reader’s thoughts and far from a
small threat to the characters.
I
did think there was something lacking within the story to keep my full
attention. I think more than anything I wanted to see something deeper from the
characters. To truly explore who they were and I think the war overshadowed
that. I wanted to know them, more than I wanted a description of the events or
setting.
But
all in all, the book gives a good glimpse into the times, what that must have
been like, and the struggles that were all too real.
This
review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers through Thomas Nelson BookLook
for my copy to review.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
More about the novel...
Gisela must hold on to hope and love despite all odds in the midst of a war-torn country.
Gisela Cramer is an American living in eastern Germany with her cousin Ella Reinhardt. When the Red Army invades, they must leave their home to escape to safety in Berlin.
However, Ella is a nurse and refuses to leave, sending her young daughters with Gisela. During their journey, Gisela meets Mitch Edwards, an escaped British POW. She pretends she is his wife in order to preserve his safety among other Germans, especially one wounded German soldier, Kurt, who has suspicions about Mitch's identity. Kurt also has feelings for Gisela and tries to uncover the truth about her "marriage."
Their journey to Gisela's mother in Berlin is riddled with tragedy and hardship, but they strive to keep Ella's daughters safe so they can reunite with their mother. During the journey Gisela and Mitch begin to develop feelings for one another beyond friendship. They reach Berlin, but their struggles are far from over. Gisela and Mitch must learn to live for the day and find hope in the darkest of circumstances.
In this moving, historically accurate portrayal of WWII Germany, the characters learn that, even with destruction all around them, some things last forever.
I've read this book! :) I''m so drawn to WWII stories as of late and really enjoyed it. And doesn't it have an interesting cover?
ReplyDeleteI am on a whole, drawn to them as well. Have you read Cara Putman yet? She is a great WWII writer and her latest Shadowed by Grace is a good one.
DeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one who had a hard time connecting with the characters or the romance! I found myself skimming a lot toward the middle and end. It was otherwise well written and made me feel for all who endured WWII, however.
ReplyDeleteI felt bad for saying I couldn't get through it, because the tension from the war, should have in theory, been enough. But it really wasn't. It did definitely, like you said, make you feel for the people you endured those horrific trials.
DeleteI may have to read this book. I love WWII stories. I guess it is because I actually have a true WWII love story in my family. My great great aunt was a German war bride.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a family story, Carissa! Have you read any of Cara Putman's WWII novels?
DeleteNot yet but they are on my to be read list.
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