Rachel Wesson

5 stars, Good Actors

A MOTHER'S PROMISE
by Rachel Wesson

Is there ever anything worse for a loving mother to give her children away? Trudi Beck finds out how terrible it really is, after months of trying to keep her 3 children safe, she secures a seat for them on a Kindertransport train. Trudi convinces her youngest stepson, Tomas, that she will be coming as soon as she can. Her older stepson Heinz doesn't like her at all, but he must take her baby Lisle, and young Tomas on the train.

I am privileged to have been able to read and review #WhensMummyComing before reading #AMothersPromise. The two books run at a dual timeline, A Mother's Promise is more about what happened with Trudi and Heinz who's changed his name to Harry is taken from his foster mother in Devon, England to an internment camp on the Isle of Man, simply because he is German. It doesn't matter that he's a German Jew who has barely escaped Germany with his life. He soon joins the English Pioneer Corps to get away from the camp. All he wants to do is fight the Germans and find the man who killed his father Ari.

Trudi and Harry eventually end up in Resistance-type roles, fighting from different angles to save innocent Jews and to punish the Germans responsible.

There were several times that I was moved by their actions. Trudi had to act in ways that were offensive to her, just to get information or supplies to help the victims. Harry had to act like a German prisoner of war to get information that the English needed in order to prosecute the guilty parties.

All along, Trudi wanted to be able to get back to England to be with her 3 children, although it seemed impossible.

I'd highly recommend this book and series to anyone who is interested in World War II (WW2). I will read both of these books over and over.

Hearts At War Series
#1 WHEN'S MUMMY COMING
#2 A MOTHER'S PROMISE

I am thankful for the opportunity to read and review A Mother's Promise from #NetGalley #StormPublishing I was under no obligation to post a review.

#WW2 #HistoricalFiction #Devon #IsleOfMan #InternmentCamps #RachelWesson #StandAlone #HeartsAtWarSeries #TriggerWarning… (mais)

5 Stars, After a Kindertransport

WHEN'S MUMMY COMING? (HEARTS AT WAR #1)
By Rachel Wesson

The heartbreaking story of a mother's love to save her three children. She manages to get them on a Kindertransport train and sends them from Germany to England.

Trudi Beck struggles daily with her two step-sons and her worry over both of them and her daughter Liesel since she is desperate to get them out of Germany before Hitler's goons take over because Germany isn't safe for Jewish people.

Sally Matthews, a newly married woman in a small town in England, is lost and lonely since her husband has gone off to fight in WWII. She agrees to take the Beck children into her home.

Five-year-old Tomas has a frequent question for Sally, "When's Mummy coming?" He misses Trudi and wants to see her. Sally doesn't have an answer for him. Sally has her own struggles with what she is going to do when Trudi comes to claim her children, and what will happen to Sally's broken heart.

Highly recommend. I will read it over and over again.

"You've heard of the Kindertransport?" "I'm not young, I'm almost five."

I thankfully received #WhensMummyComing from #StormPublishing #NetGalley I was not under any obligation to post a review.

#WWII #Holocaust #Germany #England #USA #Israel #Inspirational #TriggerWarnings #CoverLove #Heartwrenching #Kindertransport #HeartsAtWarSeries #Dachau #NewRelease #RachelWesson @RachelWesson #InspyFic… (mais)

Set in 1941 Ireland, Stolen from Her Mother is a heartbreaking and gripping story that follows Kate, a young lady in love during a time of war. When her beloved airman, Tony, returns to war, she soon finds out she is expecting his child out of wedlock. Shunned from her family and community, she is forcibly sent to a cruel Magdalene laundry home for pregnant women. Seen as fallen, less-than, and unlovable mothers and babies, Kate must navigate the abuse while trying to stay strong for her child. When her child is ultimately sold, she vows never to stop searching. Interwoven with another somber story, Stolen from Her Mother is a fantastic read of perseverance, love, and grace.

One constructive critique I have is I did not feel the supporting characters had sufficient character development. I would have loved to read a bit more of Kate's fellow Maggie's stories and personalities. Regardless, this book is a wonderful read that might bring tears to your eyes and give you a renewed sense of compassion to those who have different paths and lives than we do. Thanks to Rachel Wesson, Bookouture and NetGalley for this advanced copy. Loved it.… (mais)