Until We Find Home by Cathy Gohlke

ABOUT THE BOOK:

For American Claire Stewart, joining the French Resistance sounded as romantic as the storylines she hopes will one day grace the novels she wants to write. But when she finds herself stranded on English shores, with five French Jewish children she smuggled across the channel before Nazis stormed Paris, reality feels more akin to fear.

With nowhere to go, Claire throws herself on the mercy of an estranged aunt, begging Lady Miranda Langford to take the children into her magnificent estate. Heavily weighted with grief of her own, Miranda reluctantly agrees . . . if Claire will stay to help.

MY THOUGHTS:

I have really enjoyed Cathy's past books. I also love anything set in WWII. So, I jumped at the chance to read the story of Claire and her little French refugees.

Any avid reader knows that not all books written by a favorite author or set in a favorite era 'hit the spot.' Unfortunately, that was the case for me with Until We Find Home. That's not to say there weren't parts I enjoyed. The end accelerated into some excitement with the escaped Nazi soldier and some of the children. It was interesting to learn aspects of the Britain homefront I had not previously known.

But for me, the problem was Claire. I just couldn't relate or connect with her. And, again, any reader knows that if you don't like the main character...well, that makes it pretty difficult to like the book. I tried to like her. I tried by restarting the book three different times!! I got 1/3 of the way through the book, and just did not like her. Even Aunt Miranda didn't endear herself to me.

Ack!

So, the book is definitely worth a try. Just because Claire wasn't easy for me to understand, doesn't mean you won't love her. ;-) Especially if you already enjoy Cathy's books or WWII settings.

Thank you to Cathy and Tyndale through Tyndale Blog Network for sending me a copy to read and review!

Did you find my review helpful? Please rate it on Amazon and Christianbook.



**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Like a River from its Course by Kelli Stuart

ABOUT THE BOOK:

An epic novel exposing the ugliness of war and the beauty of hope.

The city of Kiev was bombed in Hitler's blitzkrieg across the Soviet Union, but the constant siege was only the beginning for her citizens. In this sweeping historical saga, Kelli Stuart takes the reader on a captivating journey into the little-known history of Ukraine's tragedies through the eyes of four compelling characters who experience the same story from different perspectives.

Maria Ivanovna is only fourteen when the bombing begins and not much older when she is forced into work at a German labor camp. She must fight to survive and to make her way back to her beloved Ukraine.

Ivan Kyrilovich is falsely mistaken for a Jew and lined up with 34,000 other men, women, and children who are to be shot at the edge of Babi Yar, the "killing ditch." He survives, but not without devastating consequences.

Luda is sixteen when German soldiers rape her. Now pregnant with the child of the enemy, she is abandoned by her father, alone, and in pain. She must learn to trust family and friends again and find her own strength in order to discover the redemption that awaits.

Frederick Hermann is sure in his knowledge that the Führer's plans for domination

are right and just. He is driven to succeed by a desire to please a demanding father and by his own blind faith in the ideals of Nazism.

Based on true stories gathered from fifteen years of research and interviews with Ukrainian World War II survivors, Like a River from Its Course is a story of love, war, heartache, forgiveness, and redemption.

MY THOUGHTS:

I found this book difficult to read. The four separate characters weren't woven together as much as I was expecting and the spiritual thread was almost non-existent.

(Near the end of the book, Ivan and his wife encounter and embrace a very Catholic-feeling kind of religion - a priest, stained glass windows, and icons of Mary and Jesus).

Luda's story was also very hard to read. I understand that such horrific things happened, but some of the language used by her father just made me uncomfortable.

It just felt like a book of sorrows. Oh, yes, I understand that so much of WWII was sorrowful...but, I do like reading about the hope and joy that some found despite the awfulness going on around them. Or at least some hope and joy that some may have found post-war.

That's what I thought! Click HERE to see what other reviewers are saying!

Thank you to Kelli and Kregel through Litfuse for sending me a copy to read and review!

Did you find my review helpful? Please rate it on Amazon and Christianbook.



**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Secrets She Kept by Cathy Gohlke

ABOUT THE BOOK:
All her life, Hannah Sterling longed for a close relationship with her estranged mother. Following Lieselotte’s death, Hannah determines to unlock the secrets of her mother’s mysterious past and is shocked to discover a grandfather living in Germany.

Thirty years earlier, Lieselotte’s father is quickly ascending the ranks of the Nazi party, and a proper marriage for his daughter could help advance his career. Lieselotte is in love―but her beloved Lukas is far from an ideal match, as he secretly works against the Reich. Yet Lieselotte never imagined how far her father would go to ensure her cooperation.

Both Hannah’s and Lieselotte’s stories unfold as Hannah travels to Germany to meet her grandfather, who is hiding wartimes secrets of his own. Longing for connection, yet shaken by all she uncovers, Hannah must decide if she can atone for her family’s tragic past and how their legacy will shape her future

MY THOUGHTS:
I have really enjoyed Cathy Gohlke's books. Secrets She Kept was very unique, covering two storylines – one modern (albeit set in the 70's), one historical. It was a hard book to put down!

I was really drawn to Lieselotte (beautiful name as well!!) and loved that the Ten Boom sisters were tied in to her experience (I have always loved their story)!

Hannah's chapters will have you leaning forward, trying to figure out the strange mystery surrounding her grandfather and his friends. Her visits to the Jews that her grandfather wronged were both eye-opening and heartbreaking. A perspective that I never really gave thought to before.

Though a satisfactory end, the story itself brings some sadness to know that issues were not resolved while people were living. A good lesson on truth...and regrets.

Thank you to Margaret and Thomas Nelson through Litfuse for sending me a copy to read and review!

Did you find my review helpful? Please rate it on Amazon and Christianbook.



**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Where Treasure Hides by Johnnie Alexander

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Artist Alison Schuyler spends her time working in her family’s renowned art gallery, determined to avoid the curse that has followed the Schuyler clan from the Netherlands to America and back again. She’s certain that true love will only lead to tragedy—that is, until a chance meeting at Waterloo station brings Ian Devlin into her life. Drawn to the bold and compassionate British Army captain, Alison begins to question her fear of love as World War II breaks out, separating the two and drawing each into their own battles. While Ian fights for freedom on the battlefield, Alison works with the Dutch Underground to find a safe haven for Jewish children and priceless pieces of art alike. But safety is a luxury war does not allow. As time, war, and human will struggle to keep them apart, will Alison and Ian have the faith to fight for their love, or is it their fate to be separated forever?

MY THOUGHTS:
It has been a long time since a book has kept me reading late into the night. Where Treasure Hides can account for some of my tiredness today! ;-) I couldn't put it down.

The story had just what I enjoy in a WWII novel – intrigue and fear. Accounts of hiding and escapes. Hearts torn between love and loyalty. Even though the main character is an artist, and the story revolves around much of the stolen/hidden art during Hitler's regime, I didn't feel it was as 'artsy' as some of the past novels that have talked about the Monuments Men. I liked that. The art of WWII is a fascinating subject, but I can get easily bored if the artsy side gets too detailed.

Instead, the story focused more on the characters and their experiences and feelings. It was good. Really good.

The story is very long (almost 400 pages!), and yet it could have been even longer! The author skips whole years with some chapters. I guess the book could have dragged then, but I enjoyed the characters enough that I wondered what went on during the passed over time.

But, oh, the epilogue!! Oh! I can't tell you, of course, without giving it away, but...oh!! I thought and hoped for what was revealed in the epilogue...but not as it truly was in the epilogue! Confused?! Haa! You'll have to read it for yourself! It was a sadly satisfying ending.

I will definitely watch for more from Johnnie Alexander!

Thank you to Johnnie and the Tyndale Blog Network for sending me a copy to read and review!

Did you find my review helpful? Please rate it on Amazon and Christianbook.



**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Safe Haven by Anna Schmidt

Thanks to NetGalley, I was able to read and review book 3 in Anna's Peacemaker series: Safe Haven.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
When journalist Suzanne Randolph hears about FDR’s plan to bring a boatload of displaced WWII refugees to America, she knows it may be her last chance to redeem her flagging career. Suzanne follows the story to Oswego, New York, where she meets Theo Bridgewater, a Quaker dairy farmer from Wisconsin who has come to reunite with his uncle and aunt and cousin. Theo’s fight to spare his relatives the return to Germany becomes Suzanne’s fight as she does everything that the “power of the pen” can muster to help win public sympathy for the cause.

MY THOUGHTS:
I love discovering new things I hadn't known about during WWII! Safe Haven was an interesting read about a (true) camp in Oswego, NY for a small group of invited 'guests' (refugees) near the end of the war. I wasn't sure how Safe Haven was tied into the other two books of Anna's Peacemaker series, as I didn't recognize names on the back cover blurb.

But as I began to read, I recognized several of the characters! Theo's aunt and uncle, who have come to live at the camp, are Franz and Ilse Schneider – Beth's aunt and uncle from book 1 (that means: Beth is Theo's sister)! And, Gisele, the French actress from book 2 who helped Josef, Beth, and Anya escape, is also residing with the other refugees.

Even though the focus is mostly on Theo and Suzanne's story (new characters), I wouldn't read Safe Haven as a standalone. You should really know the history of the other characters – especially the mysterious POW outside the camp walls.

I loved learning about the camp – especially that the US was never planning to let the refugees stay, but had them sign documents promising to return to their home countries when the war was over). I even had to do a little research online on my own! As for the rest of the story, I felt the romance of Theo and Suzanne fell a bit flat and that disappointed me (although their ending was sweet, and I applauded Suzanne's decision). I enjoyed Anya and Peter's story from Simple Faith much more (it -and All God's Children- also had more of the action and intrigue that I prefer in my WWII settings)!

I'm not sure if this is Anna's final book for these characters – but, I hope not! The ending didn't leave me hanging, but I do wonder about Gisele...and Marta...and especially the next chapter for Herr Buch and his wife?

Also, a note to some of my readers: the main characters in each of these books are Quakers. The theology and practice of the Friends are written throughout the books, mainly their belief that 'the Light,' as they call it, resides in everyone...it's just up to each person to acknowledge it; and the practice of their 'worship,' which is sitting in silence, palms upward, waiting for 'the Light.'

In most books, I skim over these references, because I know that, according to the Bible, these beliefs are not correct. However, I've given up the Amish genre because I got tired of reading that 'being good' is the way to heaven. So, if this is something that bothers you, please be aware that although the stories are good and the characters are religious, their beliefs are not biblical.

Thank you to Anna and Barbour Publishing/Shiloh Run Press through NetGalley for sending me a digital copy to read and review!

Did you find my review helpful? Please rate it on Amazon and Christianbook.



**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Daisies are Forever by Liz Tolsma

ABOUT THE BOOK:
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.

MY THOUGHTS:
I'm afraid I didn't like Daisies are Forever as well as Snow on the Tulips. I wasn't able to connect very well with the characters (too many at once to get to know anyone...and I never could figure out exactly why Kurt and Audra continued to hang with the group, even before their ulterior motives were revealed, nor why Mitch seemed to move so effortlessly through Germany without a disguise...and didn't work harder to get back to his unit).

I also felt like some of the story wasn't edited well. For example: Gisela and Mitch enter a house and two blondes hug Gisela's legs (the little girls she is taking care of), but in the next paragraph or so, Mitch asks Audra (who watched the couple come into the house) where the girls are. She replies that they are napping, and Gisela says she will go lie down with them and sleep.

Another: during a confrontation with Mitch and a German soldier, Mitch looks over to see that Kurt is just standing by with his arms crossed. I apologize if I'm being insensitive, but I thought Kurt was missing an arm? Even if just a figure of speech, it didn't make sense.

Strange misses like this caused me to often shake my head or flip back a few pages to see if I'd missed something...or double check to see who was supposed to be speaking.

I was really impressed with Snow on the Tulips, so my reaction to book 2 (which is a complete standalone) surprised me. The writing style seemed totally different and the story more far-fetched (although Liz's note at the end says the inspiration was combined from the actual stories of two different ladies).

Eh, sometimes that happens with a book. Unfortunately, Daises are Forever just wasn't much of a page-turner for me. If you want to read an exciting, couldn't-put-down book of Liz's, pick up Snow on the Tulips.

That's what I thought! Click HERE to see what other reviewers are saying!

Thank you to Liz and Thomas Nelson through Litfuse for sending me a copy to read and review!

Did you find my review helpful? Please rate it on Amazon and Christianbook.



**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Simple Faith by Anna Schmidt

ABOUT THE BOOK:
After losing her beloved husband and daughter and surviving Hitler’s Sobibor death camp, Quaker widow Anja Steinberg dedicates her life to helping others and keeping her son safe. As a member of the resistance, she helps displaced Allied airmen get back to their units in England. The journey is rigorous and filled with danger and there is no time for romance. Then American Peter Trent parachutes into her life. She must face facts—her heart did not die with her late husband and true love could be hers again. But will a romance hurt Peter’s chance of escape from the Nazis—and endanger her life as well?

MY THOUGHTS:
I did have to refresh my memory a bit, as I read book one, All God's Children, quite awhile ago. Although Simple Faith is not a true continuation of Josef and Beth's story from book one (they play a large role, but aren't the main characters any longer), and Simple Faith could be read as a standalone, I would suggest reading All God's Children first. It is helpful in knowing the characters of Josef and Beth, along with Anja and her history.

Trying to get downed fliers back to their units was exciting, and I especially loved the addition of LeClerq, the master of disguises! Peter was a likeable character, and I enjoyed the 'Sound of Music' feel of the nuns and the priest at the funeral (remember when the nuns pull out the missing car parts from under their robes...haha)! I've always enjoyed characters who performed 'innocent' sabotage whenever possible!

Ultimately, I enjoyed the story in this second book of Anna's 'Peacemakers' series!

Thank you to Anna and Barbour Books through NetGalley for sending me a copy to read and review!

Did you find my review helpful? Please rate it on Amazon and Christianbook.



**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

For Such a Time by Kate Breslin

ABOUT THE BOOK:
In 1944, blonde and blue-eyed Jewess Hadassah Benjamin feels abandoned by God when she is saved from a firing squad only to be handed over to a new enemy. Pressed into service by SS-Kommandant Colonel Aric von Schmidt at the transit camp of Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia, she is able to hide behind the false identity of Stella Muller. However, in order to survive and maintain her cover as Aric's secretary, she is forced to stand by as her own people are sent to Auschwitz.

Suspecting her employer is a man of hidden depths and sympathies, Stella cautiously appeals to him on behalf of those in the camp. Aric's compassion gives her hope, and she finds herself battling a growing attraction for this man she knows she should despise as an enemy.

Stella pours herself into her efforts to keep even some of the camp's prisoners safe, but she risks the revelation of her true identity with every attempt. When her bravery brings her to the point of the ultimate sacrifice, she has only her faith to lean upon. Perhaps God has placed her there for such a time as this, but how can she save her people when she is unable to save herself?

MY THOUGHTS:
Wow. This was an exciting page-turner. I loved Kate's inspiration of the biblical story of Esther – a Jewess in an unexpected place with the seemingly impossible chance to save her people.

Without giving too much of the story away, I couldn't wait to read the author's note to see if the fantastic escape she penned ever happened from Theresienstadt, a ghetto established by the German SS during WWII as a transfer station to other camps. Although the biblical Esther is real, and the inhumane treatment depicted in the book is accurate, For Such a Time is definite fiction.

Still, from beginning to end, I found the read unique and exciting, hoping the journey were true...and knowing if it weren't, that there are true cases of escape and revolt of some Jews during that horrific time.

I enjoy WWII fiction, and to me, these stories never get old. So many courageous men and women with tales to be told, whether courageously saving lives...or simply and desperately surviving their own. If you enjoy the same, you'll want to pick up your own copy of For Such a Time!

AND FOR YOU, a peek into the book HERE.

Thank you to Kate and Bethany House Blogger Program for sending me a copy to read and review!

Did you find my review helpful? Please rate it on Amazon and Christianbook.



**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Shadowed by Grace by Cara C. Putman

Welcome to the Litfuse blog tour for Shadowed by Grace by Cara C. Putman!

ABOUT THE BOOK:
She found peace in a time of war.

Desperate to save her dying mother, an American woman accepts her newspaper's assignment to travel to Italy where she takes photographs dangerously close to the front lines during World War II. But Rachel's real motive in this journey is to find the father she never knew, an artist she hopes can offer the comfort and support both she and her mother need to survive at such a desperate time.

In her quest, Rachel becomes involved with what will become the Monuments Men effort to save great monuments and works of art from the Third Reich. Soon enough she will find more than she ever imagined---in war, in love, and in God.

MY THOUGHTS:
I think I've read almost every Christian fiction book that has been set WWII. I really love the intrigue, emotion, and history of that era. However, the story of priceless art that disappeared during Hitler's reign is fairly new to me after reading Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey's book a few years ago, Chasing Mona Lisa (I guess I did see a Hogan's Heroes rerun that involved some stolen art...but, um, although enjoyable, I haven't based much of my WWII history on that sitcom).

Anyway, I was excited to read Shadowed by Grace, which dealt with the 'Monuments Men,' men who were given the task of recovering and protecting Europe's invaluable art.

Yes, there was excitement and intrigue...but, not enough to keep me glued to the pages. I had a hard time liking Rachel from the start – her mom seemed too sick to leave, no matter the good intentions of getting help that seemed absolutely impossible in such a time and place as war-torn Italy! Sure, it's fiction, but still...running off to battlefields in Europe hoping to find a no-name man... Well, it made me question Rachel's sanity.

And the romance wasn't really there for me, either. Yes, long courtships aren't realistic during wartime, but I just didn't feel much of a spark between Rachel and Scott.

And Tyler was just unexpectedly crazy!

Ok, honestly, the story wasn't that bad! If you are enthusiastic for WWII fiction, you'll likely enjoy the tidbits of history and style in Shadowed by Grace. For me, though, it was a 3-star kind of book: a good 'one-time' read, but not one I'd stay up until midnight to finish or keep on my shelf to read again.

That's what I thought! Click HERE to see what other reviewers are saying!

Thank you to Cara and B&H Publishing through Litfuse for sending me a copy to read and review!

Did you find my review helpful? Please rate it on Amazon and Christianbook.



**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

Snow on the Tulips by Liz Tolsma

Welcome to the Litfuse Blog Tour for Snow on the Tulips by Liz Tolsma!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A stranger's life hangs in the balance. But to save him is to risk everything.

The war is drawing to a close, but the Nazis still occupy part of the Netherlands. After the losses she's endured, war widow Cornelia is only a shadow of the woman she once was. She fights now to protect her younger brother, Johan, who lives in hiding.

When Johan brings Gerrit Laninga, a wounded Dutch Resistance member, to Cornelia's doorstep, their lives are forever altered. Although scared of the consequences of harboring a wanted man, Cornelia's faith won't let her turn him out.

As she nurses Gerrit back to health, she is drawn to his fierce passion and ideals, and notices a shift within herself. Gerrit's intensity challenges her, making her want to live fully, despite the fear that constrains her. When the opportunity to join him in the Resistance presents itself, Cornelia must summon every ounce of courage imaginable.

She is as terrified of loving Gerrit as she is of losing him. But as the winter landscape thaws, so too does her heart. Will she get a second chance at true love? She fears their story will end before it even begins.

MY THOUGHTS:
Wow. I could not put Snow on the Tulips down – I read it in just a few hours, finishing the book at 1 in the morning!

I can't ever resist a WWII story, and Liz's was impressive. She successfully portrayed the struggle between doing wrong...or obeying God. Or is some wrong right when it goes against evil? Is lying ever ok when it protects someone from a murderer? With God-fearing husbands and members of the Dutch Resistance, Liz artfully told both sides of the coin.

Snow on the Tulips was also a very emotional story. I had a hard time reading in several spots as my tears blurred the words on the page. I can't imagine going through the same difficulties many of those men and women had to endure. What choice would I make? Would I react passively...or would I get involved?

I most enjoyed that Liz was inspired to write her story from true accounts in her own family's history! I love historical fiction for that very reason!

If you enjoy riveting page-turners, Snow on the Tulips will not disappoint!

That's what I thought! Click HERE to see what other reviewers are saying!

Thank you to Liz and Thomas Nelson through Litfuse for sending me a copy to read and review!

Did you find my review helpful? Please rate it on Amazon and Christianbook.



**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**

All God's Children by Anna Schmidt

Thanks to NetGalley, I was able to read All God's Children by Anna Schmidt.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Does their love stand a chance. . .if they even survive at all?

Beth Bridgewater, a German American, finds herself in a nightmare as World War II erupts—a war in which she takes no side, for she is a Quaker pacifist. Just as she gains opportunity to escape Germany, Beth decides to stay to help the helpless. Meanwhile, Josef Buch, a passionately patriot German, is becoming involved in his own secret ways of resisting the Nazis. . . . Despite their differences, Beth and Josef join together in nonviolent resistance—and in love.

MY THOUGHTS:

I very rarely ignore a WWII book that catches my eye – and I'm glad I didn't pass by All God's Children.

I enjoy reading of the secrecy and intrigue of that time, and especially of those who put their own lives in danger to help those truly in harm's way. I actually liked the uncertainty of Josef's allegiance through much of the book, being a German soldier and having a high-ranking Gestapo father; it kept suspense in the storyline as I didn't think leaflet printing felt all that dangerous (it was, it just didn't feel as suspenseful as other activities that took place during the war). I held out hope through the whole book that maybe his father was in the resistance, too...?

I can't remember when I first heard of Sobibor, but for me, it seems to be a lesser-known camp. I loved that the author chose that camp as Beth and Josef's punishment. If you know it's history, you might guess the couple's outcome...

All God's Children kept me turning the pages late into the night and ended satisfactorily, as WWII books often have threads that don't all tie up, due to the nature of the time. But, how glad I was to read the author's note to see that she has a book 2 and 3 planned to continue some of the unfinished characters' stories...and I have every intention of reading them!

All God's Children releases in September. You can preorder your copy HERE!

Thank you to Anna and Barbour Books through NetGalley for sending me a copy to read and review!

Also reviewed on Amazon (will once released) and Christianbook.



**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**