The Watchmaker's Daughter by Dianne Haley

 

Switzerland 1942

I've always thought of Switzerland as being neutral. Just that. Anyone who went there was safe. Not very true at this time. Germany was threatening to invade, people were trying to escape from bordering countries and Switzerland didn't want to anger the Germans or be responsible for taking care of the refugees. There were Swiss police, the Swiss Army and Allies. Everyone was walking their own tightrope.  Valerie's father was a watchmaker, needing to continue his business to support him and his daughter and make as many sales as possible. They had to be nice to everyone.
Valerie felt the need to help Jews and the Resistance. Philippe is in the Swiss Army, excels in leadership but is not in charge, assigned to special work with maps of their defense system. It's a dangerous time for all of them, especially when things aren't right and suspicions run high, people are being killed. And things are going on all around them both that they don't know about, friends and foes become mixed up. Tense, intense reading, constantly pulling at your heart strings. Hard to put down.

I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

 

Precious. Expertly woven story based on what some talented people did during the war, to save lives. Eva escaped Paris with her mother to a small town in the safe zone. She was artistic and forged papers for them, that worked. Then she met some people who pointed out her mistakes. Although she was supposed to go to Switzerland, when she saw the condition of where Jews were being held in Paris, she knew she had to do something to help. She was welcomed into a ring of the resistance, and they shared their talents to do forgeries. In the process she became close to and eventually fell in love with a man she worked with, who ended up moving into other positions. A fascinating story that kept me up extra hours reading. I had family that left Germany before the war started. I can picture several of these talented people doing this kind of work, which makes it all more real to me. It shows what people can do when they bring their talent, intelligence and determination to fight back against injustice. This is a keeper. Definitely a stand out read. 20 stars.

I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

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The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel

 

One of those unforgettable stories of survival during WW2 and one that deeply resonated with me. It's about Jews who escaped ghettos into the forests of Poland. Vast forests that sustained those who had knowledge of what to do. This is full of detailed descriptions valuable for any survivalist. I have been long fascinated by skills to live off the land, this doesn't disappoint.
Yona was kidnapped as a toddler and taken into the deep forests of Germany and Poland, taught all she needed to live, as well as languages, geography and other information as any student in a city school would get. Deeply engaging, full of knowledge and life philosophy.
She later learned how to live and interact with others after her kidnapper died and she encountered people who were fleeing from the ghettos into the forest. She helped them to hide and survive, they expanded her knowledge of people. A story of triumph and love. 10 star rating needed here.
Something to be aware of, a brief explicit sexual scene and one or two minor scenes I was able to easily skip over. Not a surprise I appreciated, yet not anything major or prolonged throughout the book. 

I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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Hidden Among the Stars by Melanie Dobson

 

"Only God knows the entire score of our lives , but we all have our assigned parts, measures to sing solo or with a choir."

Modern time - Callie and her sister have a bookstore, and she reads stories to children. She hides painful things in her life and needs someone she can trust in her life. She blogs about second hand books they bring into the store, and is given one that belonged to an Austrian girl just before Hitler took their country over. It's interesting to go back in time (1938) and learn more about her and those in her life at that time. The story weaves back and forth through both times, and is so well written it leaves you on the edge of your seat wondering how it will turn out for those in both time frames. Who would ever dream that someone like Hitler could ever come along. Sure, we all have people who don't like us for one reason or another, but never on the scale that was. Who would dream up the torture and mistreatment at that time and the evil that some could commit on others. Thankfully very few, but we all deal with situations in our own way. This is a very good story in a beautiful setting. I don't like to see books come to and end, but I needed to get to the end to know what happened.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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The Orphan's Wish by Melanie Dickerson

A new telling of the story of Aladdin. In the streets of Palestine he is orphaned, saved by a priest from living the life of a thief, and is taken to Germany. He is a stand out - different with his dark skin, hair and eyes - and is forever ashamed by his background. He's constantly trying to prove himself worthy to others.

Aladdin is befriended by one of the Dukes daughters and they become close friends. He is very bright and courageous even when so young. He soon realizes that he must make something of himself if he ever wants a chance to wed Lady Kirstyn, and decides to leave town and try. On his journey out of town he rescues a wealthy merchant who takes him in.

I became quickly wrapped up and enamored with the characters, and looked forward to reading about this new opportunity for Aladdin. It doesn't disappoint. There's danger, success and depth of love as well as much introspection, as both Aladdin and Kirstyn try to find their way through everything. They both come to realize that God has a plan for them and that they are perfect in His sight and wonderfully made.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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The Songbird And The Spy by J'Nell Ciesielski

"Claire was to make herself useful on their farm. Or else."

Softly at first, then shock. An American girl in France, studying music, as Germany invades. On a train with a blue eyed man. Which characters as she goes along will be of significance? Where does safety lie? Multi layered identities in a time of war and unprecedented evil. Luckily there ARE good people in the world who will help you, but then there are some who will turn on you too.

Claire is shifted out of her comfort zone and forced to run, and she's a bit sloppy about it. But she lands at a bar with a piano while she tries to find her way out of the country. Michael has more layers to his life and personality than most anyone you'll meet. Ideal for a British SIS agent posing as a German Captain in charge of deciphering communications behind enemy lines.

This expertly told story brings you to the harsh reality of Nazi occupied France, folding you in right from the first few pages. If you've ever seen a movie or learned about that time and place, you'll be like me, tense, waiting for the net to drop any time. Innocent people were forced to do things they never would dream of, were killed, tortured, made slaves. Everything taken, sometimes people too. Very well told, enthralling, a mystery to the end.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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When The Heart Sings by Liz Tolsma

Stunningly poignant detail.
When Germany annexed Poland they placed little value in the Polish people. They forced them to be slaves working in their war factories and lived in their homes. But God wove threads through the painful circumstances, bringing small miracles to his faithful. They also find out that in their differences they are yet the same in many ways. Nadia is made to work as a servant to a German couple. As bad as that is, in some ways it's a blessing. She learns that, like her, the wife previously lost her baby. 
Nadia has a beautiful voice that brings comfort and helps her to communicate with her husband who is imprisoned in a labor camp along the route she walks.  The story is told with incredible detail. It will have you holding your breath and pull your heart strings. Three million Polish Jews perished. Three million Polish Christians did also. Pray that it's never forgotten!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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One lucky winner will win both The Melody of the Soul and When the Heart Sings.  Enter the GIVEAWAY here!

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