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The Secret Jewish Sisters by Tikva Rager

Jan13

Internal Struggles

The Secret Jewish Sisters by Tikva Rager is a compelling historical novel. It is the first book in Unforgettable World War II Stories and can be read as a stand-alone. Each book in the series is written by a different author.

The book is fictional but is based on facts as we follow two young German Jewish sisters through the war years and beyond.

Smuggled out of Nazi Germany to Belgium, the two sisters are eventually hidden in a Catholic orphanage. They are physically hiding and they are also hiding who they really are. For the youngest sister, she believes she is Christian as she has no recollection of ever being Jewish. It is more complicated for the older sister as she remembers her Jewishness but makes a personal decision to become a Christian.

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Not Until Christmas Morning by Valerie M Bodden

Jan10

But Even If…

Not Until Christmas Morning by Valerie M Bodden is the most charming contemporary Christian Christmas novel that I absolutely loved. It is the fifth book in the Hope Springs series but can be read as a stand-alone.

This is a novel about love. There is the love of God for us. “The one she always needed… was the love of God, His agape, never-ending love.” No matter where we are in life, whether on the mountain top or in the valley, God loves us with an everlasting, unchanging love.

We witness love between humans as we follow three characters who have loved and been let down. It seems easier to push others away than to let them in and risk heart ache.

Twelve-year-old Jackson has been through many foster homes – everybody hands him back again until he meets foster mum Leah who loves him with an unfailing love. Jackson pushes her away but her love is faithful.

A character has pushed God away after an IED in Afghanistan robbed him of a limb and friends. “Anyone who could still believe in God after the things they’d seen in battle was crazier than him.” Austin pushes God away but God is faithful and waits for the prodigal to return home.

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The Baker’s Secret by Lelita Baldock

Jan2

Finally Home

The Baker’s Secret by Lelita Baldock is a powerful dual timeline novel that I read in just one sitting.

The action takes place in Riga, Latvia during World War II and also in 2018 in Australia as we follow two sisters and their wartime experiences. The chapters alternate between the pair.

Latvia was a turbulent and dangerous place to be during World War II. Having gained independence after World War; during World War II, first the Soviets marched in, and then the Nazis, and then the Soviets returned to oppress the people until 1990. Latvians were trapped within their own country, always being persecuted by whoever had control.

June 14th 1941 is called The Night Of The Disappeared as 15,000 Latvians were torn from their homes – men, women and children – never to be seen again.

We witness the bravery of the people. One sister is active within the resistance, the other reluctantly helps. Both are proud Latvians.

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Upon The Midnight Clear by Scott R Rezer

Dec30

When A Bell Rings

Upon The Midnight Clear by Scott R Rezer is a beautiful Christian Christmas dual timeline novel that I absolutely loved. It is the fourth book in A Festival Of Carols series but can be read as a stand-alone.

The novel is set in 1969 and 2018 in Philadelphia. The two time periods are linked by the two main characters who are older versions of themselves in 2018.

There are the themes of veterans and homelessness. In 1969 America was involved in the Vietnam war. No one wanted it but still young men were drafted. “A victim of a war nobody wanted.”

In 2018 there are veterans from the war in Afghanistan. War leaves no one unchanged. “They might have come home from the war, but they never left it.” Many left their minds on the battlefields and returned suffering from PTSD and survivor’s guilt.

Re-integration into society was impossible and many brave men and women ended up on the streets, hiding away, invisible to many. They banded together. “The vets who understood the sacrifices of war.”

War changed the vets and they did not feel worthy to return home. “Most people on the street long to return home. They’re often not sure how to do it.” They found it safer to hide away.

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