I'll be honest... This is the first book I've ever read by Stephanie and I wasn't sure what to expect. Let me be the first to say, Code Name Edelweiss will knock your socks off! It is fresh, heart-breaking, and wonderful - all at the same time!

I read a lot of WWII fiction but I've never read one quite like this! It gave me a very different perspective than what I typically read, as it was written entirely from an American viewpoint. Code Name Edelweiss describes some of the challenges Americans were faced with Nazi viewpoints crept in and threatened to take hold in our country.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC of Code Name Edelweiss.

This story about combines both struggles of a mother in the US during the 1930s, and the spies that were in the US trying to stop Hitler's influence in the US (based on real events). I found this story to be absolutely fascinating. I was not aware of how bad the antisemitism was in the US during the 1930s (especially in a place like California), and that it was very similar to what was going on in Germany. This book will be a very interesting read for any historical fiction-buff.

This was an amazing book! Based on a true story about spies that tried to thwart Hitler’s attempts to encroach on Hollywood. Leisl was a wonderful main character - a mother trying to work to provide for her children after being fired from MGM. The evolution of her moving from secretary to true spy was so well done. Excellent narration!

I love reading historical fiction books ... especially if they are during WWII. This was a thrilling read that incorporated a mystery as well as a part of history of which I was not familiar. The characters are so richly developed and the storyline pulls you in and has you h eld captive till the end. You will find yourself flipping through the pages quickly to find out what happens. The fact that faith in God plays a relevant part is a plus. Just a great book and one I highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

"If not me, who? If not now, when?"

Liesel Weiss has just lost her job as a typist at MGM Studios and is in desperate need of a job since her husband disappeared and she has two small children, her mother and brother to support, and it is the middle of the depression. She waltz into lawyer, Leon Lewis' office demanding she be hired for his job posting. Liesel isn't the woman who Leon wanted for the job but she just might be perfect. He reluctantly explains how the Nazi's have slowly began to infuriate Los Angeles with plans to take over the movie studios turning them into a war propaganda weapon. Her position would be to volunteer with the Friends of Germany organization and spy on them reporting vital information to Lewis. She and another operative only known as agent 13, will do what they can to stop the growing hate before lives are lost. Liesel has seen the anti-Semitic hate in her small town, she has even been culpable but is she willing to risk it all to help. If not me, who? If not now, when? She accepts and is now Edelweiss.

This was a very engrossing historical fiction that was surprising based on a true story of an amatuer spy network built to thwart Nazi plans to infiltrate the US and specifically Hollywood. Liesel and Agent 13 are interesting characters with the story being told by both their perspectives. Some of the drama and outcomes need a little suspension of disbelief but the overall story is well constructed and kept me interested. It was a different take and perspective of the heavily written about WW2 historical fiction. I would recommend this to fans of historical fiction and look forward to reading more work from Landsem.

I had the audio version read by Cady Zuckerman and Neil Hellegers. Both were excellent and engaging and would enjoy listening to more of their narrations.

I really enjoyed this book!! I'm starting to get really tired of the WWII content, I find it's getting too similar and repetitive, but this was an interesting take. Comparable to "the Alice Network" (which I apparently am in the minority and absolutely HATED) this book was really informative and focused on an aspect of the war/espionage of something I didn't really know about. I don't pretend to know everything about WWII, or anything the U.S was or was not involved in, but this was quite good.

I enjoyed the narrators, I think they did a really great job at their performance, and they really captured the characters. The only thing that was a downside for me was that it felt a little bit too long. After a while it was just getting repetitive and I was becoming disinterested. The ending was also quite predictable. Overall, 3 stars!

Thank you so much for this ARC!

Code Name Edelweiss by Stephanie Landsem is a novel with a triple storyline. It is a spy story, a story about women and motherhood and even a story about a romance. All three aspects of this novel are a delight to read. Liesel Weiss, whose husband has been missing for two years, finds herself responsible for her two children, her mother, and her brother. When she loses her job and goes looking for another, she encounters Leon Lewis. Lewis is a lawyer looking to combat the rise of antisemitism and the Nazi party in America. In order to take over the movie industry, Nazi sympathizers, plan coordinated attacks on the Jewish community in Los Angeles. Lewis recruits Liesel to help him gather information about the German community, to fight against the Nazi movement in Los Angeles and to help thwart the attacks. Agent 13 is also working to gather information for Lewis while posing as a loyal Nazi within the American Nazi party. Agent 13 struggles with some inner demons from his past. Agent 13 grows fond of Liesel, appreciates her clever work, and respects her effort to protect her children and family. This book is based on a true story. It is an enjoyable read and I will be recommending this book to others.

After a slow start, Code Name Edelweiss takes off with so much action that I couldn't stop reading. I didn't know much about Nazi feelings in America during WWI and WWII, so this was an interesting look at that. I really enjoyed this!

I received an advanced audio copy. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you to @Tyndale House Publishers for the ARC. This book was so good. I enjoyed the suspense, the romance and the history. The main character Liesl is a strong woman and mother. She takes on helping the Jews and keeping the outreach of Hitler's ideas in America from hurting more innocent people. A must read.

BOOK REVIEW: Code Name Edelweiss by Stephanie Landsem ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Audiobook Narration by Cady Zuckerman and Neil Hellegers-- two great narrators with the two main characters. The chapters are from 2 POV. Two narrators just make out so enjoyable.

Book Moods: WWII Era, German and Jewish Americans, spies, fighting the good fight, bravery, strong women, family, friends, love

I loved this book! It was such a good story about a woman spying on German Americans who wanted to push Hilters' ideals here in the US. She put herself and her family in danger, fighting the good fight. The characters were endearing. The story is amazing.

Author Stephanie Landsem has crafted a unique WWII fiction. "Code Name Edelweiss" takes place in the United States pre-war outbreak. This read provides depth and insight from a unique perspective as Liesl Weiss infiltrates the German-American neighborhood "friends." Full of Hollywood, Jews and Nazi-sympathizers, this story follows Liesl as she is laid off from MGM studios and in desperate need for work. Unintentionally landing at the desk of a Jewish lawyer she is tasked with spying on her own German-American community. The money is what has her accepting the position, disbelieving the atrocities the Jewish lawyer seems to believe. But, as we know, things were far worse than the seemed.

Unique and gripping, Landsem has given us the perspective of a German spying on German. Set amongst the back drop of Hollywood, run by Jews, this book had much to offer the WWII Historical Fiction lover.

Code Name Edelweiss is a historical fiction novel set in Hollywood in 1933 amidst the rise of anti-Semitism. The story follows Liesl Weiss, a German-American who finds herself caught between her loyalty to her German heritage and her desire to fight against the oppression of the Jewish people. After losing her job at MGM, Liesl agrees to work with Leon Lewis, a Jewish lawyer intent on thwarting the rise of Nazism in America, and his operative, Agent Thirteen, to spy on her friends and neighbors and infiltrate the Friends of New Germany to uncover their plots.

I found Code Name Edelweiss to be a captivating and well-researched read that shed light on a little-known spy network in Hollywood before the start of WWII. The author, Stephanie Landsem, did an excellent job creating a compelling storyline full of suspense, action, and historical accuracy. I particularly enjoyed the split point of view between Liesl and Agent Thirteen, which added depth to their characters and allowed readers to understand their motivations and thought processes.

Although history records the devastating loss of six million Jews during the Holocaust, it is essential to remember that over 100,000 people risked their lives to save Jews. Liesl and Agent Thirteen's stories are a powerful reminder that we must not wait for change to happen before acting to stand up against injustice and oppression.

“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

While there were some moments where the plot felt slow, overall, I found Code Name Edelweiss to be a fascinating and engaging novel that will appeal to anyone interested in WWII history, espionage, and suspense. However, be aware that the story does touch on some heavy themes related to anti-Semitism and racism. As someone who usually reads WWII novels from a Jewish point of view, I was taken aback by the number of anti-Semitic slurs at the beginning of the book. However, as the story progressed and I got to know Liesl and Agent Thirteen, I realized the importance of these elements in the storyline. They serve as a stark reminder of the hate and discrimination that the Jewish people faced during that time and highlight the bravery of those who worked to resist it.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.*

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

I liked this one! The history aspect was pretty interesting and it had just enough action to keep me hooked without it being too much. It was also a thought provoking read in several ways. The narrators were good as well.

Thank you Net Galley for an audio copy of Code Name Edelweiss by Stephanie Landsem. This is historical fiction that wows. The main character is Liesl, who gets involved with a spy network that fights Naziism that is talking place in California Pre-WW2.

Code Name Edelweiss by Stephanie Landsem is based on the true story of Adolf Hitler's plan to take over Hollywood. Set in 1933 Los Angeles, this story brings pre-WWII to a setting I've not considered before. I've read several novels set in Europe that feature Jewish people facing the discrimination inflicted by Nazis, but it was especially sobering to read about this occurring in the US. Secret societies. Shunned neighbors. Constant suspicion.

When Liesl Weiss loses her job at MGM Studios, her responsibility as breadwinner for four family members in the midst of the Depression leads her to consider an outrageous offer - serve as a spy to infiltrate a German American organization and uncover evidence of its true motives. Leon Lewis is the Jewish lawyer who hires her to help prove his theory that Adolf Hitler wants to use Hollywood as a powerful propaganda machine to advance his hate-filled agenda. And Agent 13 is the mysterious stranger who works undercover to assist Leon and Liesl with their quest for the truth.

This novel was so immersive and intense, I was anxious for the characters who put themselves in jeopardy to achieve a higher purpose. This is the first book I've read by Ms. Landsem and I was impressed with her outstanding writing and compelling characters. I love this beautiful cover that perfectly captures the tone and setting of this story - kudos to the designers at Tyndale House.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for access to the audiobook narrated by Cady Zuckerman and Neil Hellegers.

This historical fiction novel is based on the true story of how Adolf Hitler tried to infiltrate America with anti-semitism, starting with Hollywood. (A great place to start brainwashing the American people for sure).

👗I picked this book based solely on the cover. I really enjoyed this new perspective of WWII, with spies in LA and a bit of romance. I was invested in the characters and the plot, and this one kept me reading "just one more chapter" into the late hours.

I have always loved historical fiction when the plot centers on everyday folks thrust into a circumstance of high stakes intelligence and espionage, and this is a great example of the genre. Most of the stories I’ve read from this period in history deal with the Nazi threat abroad. What was fascinating about this novel which is based on real life, is that it explores a plot by Hitler to infiltrate Hollywood and influence American and international audiences with searing pro Nazi propaganda. I won’t share more to save from any spoilers, but so few were monitoring these actions and working to prevent what could have been a horrific turn in History. I was delighted to have to opportunity to review the audiobook from NetGalley - and highly recommend this title if you’re a fan of historical fiction.

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this audiobook from Dreamscape Media and NetGalley.

I enjoyed the dual POV narration of this story. It was challenging at the beginning because I found the female POV to be robotic sounding, but the longer I listened to more I got used to it.

A lot of the WWII historical fiction I’ve read so far has taken place in Europe. I enjoyed hearing some state side perspective, especially from a time before the US became involved. It was hard to see the hatred on our soil, the distrust of Jews, and how the German Americans thought they were better than others simply because they’re German.

I loved that this was based on a true story. Leon Lewis is determined to keep Hitler and his power out of Hollywood. Liesl Weiss will do anything to provide for her family. She didn’t truly see the suffering of the Jews until she was fired from MGM and started working for Leon Lewis. Even though she was entrenched in The Friends of New Germany, she still wanted to do whatever she could to protect her Jewish neighbors and those at the studios.

“If not me, then who?
If not now, then when?
These words were spoken by “code name” Edelweiss and are true for each one of us.
The Nazis were not only in Germany, they were here in the United States. Words and actions can uplift or damage.
Read how several spies infiltrated the group of Arian Nazis in Los Angeles.
As always, Hollywood drives new ideas. Back then, Nazism and Communism, now the Woke addenda. For those of us fighting for a return to the Constitution and an end to the woke war of our day, the same words ring true.
“If not me, then who?
If not now, then when?”

Dear Code Name Edelweiss,
You transported me to a place and time that was lush and dangerous. I feel like I learned so much from your story as well. A lot of historical fiction is about what actually happens during the great wars, but you showed me a world before World War II truly started. Seeing the events that happened in Hollywood while Hitler was rising to power was so interesting to me. I loved the intriguing world of the spy network that Lisle got pulled into was a lot of fun too. Your story had all the things I was looking for and I really enjoyed you.