The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri is a stunning tale set in WWII, Germany. At the heart of the novel is Allina Strauss, a young woman living an idyllic life in a small German village. Her world shatters when she discovers her Jewish heritage. Forced into a notorious Lebensborn home designed to breed children for the Reich, Allina struggles between survival and helping others trapped in the system. Karl von Strassberg, an SS officer with hidden loyalties, becomes her unlikely ally. Their sacrificial and unforgettable romance is a small bright spot in a dark reality, proving love can endure hopeless times. The story unfolds through multiple timelines, including 2006, when […]
Read more...Tag Archives: world war II historical fiction
Sisters in the Shadows: A Review of Daughters of War
Daughters of War was an emotional and gripping experience. Historical detail saturates the story, vividly portraying the dangers and harsh realities of wartime France. I asked, “Would I be as brave as these three sisters in the face of such adversity?” My honest answer? Probably not. Set in the small village of Dordogne in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, this novel introduces us to three sisters—Hélène, Élise, and Florence—who each grapple with the weight of war in unique ways. Hélène, the eldest, shoulders the heavy burden of keeping her family safe, often at great personal cost. Élise, headstrong and rebellious, risks everything by aiding the Resistance, while Florence, the […]
Read more...A Journey to Restore Identity
The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar is a deeply moving historical novel based on true events. It follows Valérie Portheret, a law student in 1992 France, as she stumbles upon a list of 108 Jewish children who were hidden under false names to escape the Nazi regime during WWII. Valérie’s discovery propels her on a 25-year quest to uncover their real identities and reunite them with their lost heritage. Escobar weaves together two timelines, capturing the heartbreaking choices Jewish parents faced in 1942 and Valérie’s relentless pursuit to bring their stories to light. The novel dives into the acts of bravery and sacrifice made by ordinary people—clergy, civilians, and members […]
Read more...A Poignant Tale of Friendship and Survival in the Pacific Theater
The Long March Home is a moving World War II novel that follows the harrowing journey of three childhood friends—Jimmy, Hank, and Billy—who enlist in the U.S. Army just before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The story tracks their struggles in the Pacific Theater, where they endure the brutal realities of war, including the infamous Bataan Death March, testing the strength of their friendship and their will to survive. The narrative alternates between their carefree childhood in Mobile, Alabama, and their traumatic experiences as soldiers. As members of the Thirty-First Infantry in Manila, the friends are captured and forced into a grueling 60-mile march up the Bataan Peninsula, followed by […]
Read more...A Daunting, Yet Rewarding WWII Epic
I’ve had an advance reader copy of For Malice and Mercy for a couple of years but procrastinated because of its length (575 pages). I finally read it and am glad I did. The novel tells the story of Karl and Marta Meyer, who immigrated to America from Germany for the freedom to practice their Mormon religion. But when America enters WWII, the FBI arrests the Meyers as spies. After stripping them of their citizenship, rights, and livelihood, the US government sends them to a German/Japanese internment camp, and then eventually deports them to war-torn Germany. Their son Hank joins the US Army Air Corps, and after being shot down, […]
Read more...Russian Women’s Family Saga
This debut novel spans three generations of Russian women, from the 1917 revolution to the final days of the Soviet Union, with an enduring love story at its core. It starts with a young girl living happily in Moscow with her sister, father, and eccentric mother, who collects porcelain dolls and tells fairy tales. One summer night changes everything, leaving only the girl and her mother. A decade later, Rosie, studying at Oxford with an English name and a loving fiancé, seeks to understand and bury her past. When her mother dies, Rosie returns to Russia with her mother’s folklore and a single key. She uncovers a devastating family history […]
Read more...Unmasking a Nazi Conspiracy in 1930s Hollywood
“If not us, who? If not now, when? It must be us, and it must be now. I would fight this war. I would not be silent!”― Stephanie Landsem, Code Name Edelweiss. Code Name Edelweiss is a fabulous historical thriller that reveals a chilling but little-known chapter of American history. Set in the summer of 1933, it follows Liesl Weiss, a single mother in Los Angeles, struggling to support her family during the Great Depression. Enter Leon Lewis, a Jewish lawyer deeply alarmed by the rise of Adolf Hitler and the increase in anti-Semitism in America. Convinced that Nazi agents are plotting to seize control of Hollywood, the world’s greatest propaganda machine, […]
Read more...Love and Betrayal in the Vineyards of Champagne
Champagne, 1940: Inès has just married Michel, the owner of the renowned champagne house Maison Chauveau, when the Germans invade France. As danger mounts, Michel becomes involved with the Resistance. Inès fears exposure, while Céline, the half-Jewish wife of the chief winemaker, faces an even greater threat as rumors of Jewish deportations spread. Desperation leads Céline to a reckless choice for happiness, and Inès makes a dangerous mistake with a Nazi collaborator, risking the lives and legacy of those she loves. New York, 2019: Liv Kent is grappling with a recent divorce. When her eccentric French grandmother arrives and insists on a sudden trip to Paris for reasons unknown, Liv […]
Read more...Family Bonds and WWII Secrets
When conflict photographer Jackson Swann passes away, his three estranged daughters find themselves brought together at his vineyard for the reading of his will. JoAnne Ross’s novel, The Inheritance, explores the lives of Tess, a renowned writer and actress; Charlotte, a Southern socialite, trapped in an unhappy marriage; and Natalie, Jackson’s French daughter from a long-term affair, who grew up amidst the vineyard’s rich history. The sisters come together reluctantly and find themselves captivated by the enchanting legacy of their grandmother—a former WWII Resistance fighter in France—and her love for a wounded American soldier who influenced the fate of their family. For readers intrigued by wine culture and WWII history, […]
Read more...The Tuscan Child
I mostly read advance reader copies of recent novels, but sometimes I like to pick up something a little older. The Tuscan Child was a Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Historical Fiction in 2018, so I thought it was worth a try. Rhys Bowen’s novel weaves together the lives of two characters: Hugo Langley, a British bomber pilot in 1944, and his daughter, Joanna Langley, in 1973. During World War II, Hugo’s plane is shot down over German-occupied Tuscany. Badly injured, Hugo is found and hidden in a ruined monastery by a local woman named Sofia Bartoli. As they work together to ensure Hugo’s safety, a deep connection forms […]
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