by Jenny Lecoat
Publisher: Graydon House
Pages: 304
Format: eARC
Buy the Book: Amazon
Goodreads: The year is 1940, and the world is torn apart by war. In June of that year, Hitler’s army captures the Channel Islands—the only part of Great Britain occupied by German forces. Abandoned by Mr. Churchill, forgotten by the Allies and cut off from all help, the Islands’ situation is increasingly desperate.
Hedy Bercu is a young Jewish girl who fled Vienna for the island of Jersey two years earlier during the Anschluss, only to find herself trapped by the Nazis once more—this time with no escape. Her only hope is to make herself invaluable to the Germans by working as a translator, hiding in plain sight with the help of her friends and community—and a sympathetic German officer. But as the war intensifies, rations dwindle and neighbors are increasingly suspicious of one another. Hedy’s life is in greater danger every day. It will take a definitive, daring act to save her from certain deportation to the concentration camps.
Kritters Thoughts: Another World War II book, but unlike the other one I read this month, this one had a hopeful vibe throughout. Hedy Bercu is living on the island of Jersey and she thought she had escaped the wrath of the Nazi regime, only to find them taking over everything. The interesting part is she ends up taking a translating job inside the German offices and she can see the beast from inside and maybe even do a little damage.
What the synopsis doesn't tell you and what I loved most about the book was the relationships that Hedy relies on to keep going through this difficult time, both a friendship and a romantic relationship are what keep Hedy going and keep each of them fighting for another day. These were the glittering stars that kept me reading with all the horribleness that they were surrounded by.
I think the big difference between this book and the other one was that in this book the reader isn't taken into a concentration camp and I am aware that they existed and were horrifying, seeing the war from this different perspective was nice and allowed me to see the hope that some people could keep while dealing with extreme circumstances.
After finishing the book and doing research, it was interesting to see the author is not only an actress but was born in Jersey where the book was set and her parents were raised during the German occupation, so this book really came from her heart and I felt it.
Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row
Ebook 2021 Challenge: 1 out of 100
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one copy of this book free of charge from Harlequin. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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