Only the Brave by Danielle Steel is a powerful, historical novel about a courageous woman in World War II Germany. The story follows, Sophia Alexander, our heroine and eldest daughter, who at a young age, was faced with her mother’s illness, watching over her younger sister, and a war looming. Sophia learns to become a surgical nurse, helping her father, who runs a hospital, where he is the lead surgeon. Though they are not Jewish, both of them secretly try to help runaways. When her mother dies, Sophia steps in and helps her pregnant sister, Theresa and her husband escape to Switzerland.

Sophia works as a nurse with the convent nuns, the Sisters of Mercy, and becomes increasingly involved in the resistance, attending meetings of dissidents and finding ways to help others escape. Her father was asked twice by Hitler’s people to euthanize Jews in camps, and after his last denial, they arrested him and was taken to Dachau, a concentration camp for criminals. At the convent, Sophia finds an American officer disabled, and treats him back to health; with both of them beginning to have feelings for each other. She is still determined to do her final vows and remain a nun; the officer leaves after he is recovered. Sophia will receive a contact from him, notifying her that her father died.

Due to her family’s guilty association with the father and her missing sister, the Nazi’s arrest her, and she is taken to Ravensbrück. While in the concentration camp, she helps perform surgical procedures, and befriends a Nazi officer, who shares food with her, as well as the camp friends. Sophia, and her 4 friends, plan a successful escape from the concentration camp, fleeing to a convent.

Only the Brave is an emotional story filled with heartache, courage, bravery, hope and tragedy. I also really like some of the secondary supporting characters. As the war comes close to an end, Sophia will have to choose to be a nun or choose love. The story captures the devastating effect of war, and Sophia rising to the challenge of risking everything, to save others. Once again, Only the Brave is very well written by Danielle Steel; in a fantastic historical novel.

I love historical fiction and that is one thing Danielle Steel does amazingly well.
Sophia has always wanted to help people in need, her father is a highly respected doctor who works alot, she has a sister who only wants to marry a rich man and go to glamorous parties. Sophia's mother is sick and after visiting her in the hospital each day she will stop on her way home and visit the nuns that live close to her home.

With the war raging she decides to become a nurse but also a nun. She secretly does her part to help in the war against Hitler, her father does also but she does not know that. Eventually she gets sent to a concentration camp and has nothing but her faith to keep her going, she makes some really great friends but also goes on a incredible journey of faith and self discovery.

This story was so detailed and the descriptions so vivid. Loved her relationship with the nuns, her group in the camp and everything else that happened on her journey, she finally took that leap of faith that took her on a new path. This book was great story in so many aspects and had a wonderful ending with a sweet surprise.

This story takes place in Berlin, Germany during WWII. This was a disastrous time for so many families, Jews, non Jews, partial Jews and many others who may have practices that the Germans soldiers did not agree with. These people lost everything, homes, possession and many even their lives. Groups were being formed at this time as well protesting this war. Some people were willing to risk their own lives to save others, especially the children who became orphans and get them to safety.

Sophia is the older sister to Theresa and the daughter of fine parents. As her mother’s illness takes toll she is finishing her studies and decides to become a nurse to help people like her mother. Her father is a prominent doctor in the community his patients, all sorts of patrons from lawyers, doctors and soldiers. Sophia has begun assisting him at his private hospital.
When the war has progressed, Sophia also finds herself helping a group move children to safety. When she also gets news about her sister who needs her help as well. While her father refuses to follow requests of the government soldiers, the consequences that follow him.
Sophia, decides her best way to help other people is becoming a nun. While that is a good decision for her she finds her self out and about and unfortunately at the wrong time of day and is questioned by the soldiers. They believe she is a traitor and take her to work in a hard labor camp. Her will to survive. Escape and rebuild a life is a story not to be missed. I highly recommend enjoying this book.

Only the Brave is another triumph from Danielle Steel. I have not read many of her books, but the ones that I have, have been lovely and beautifully written. She has a way of writing female characters who are strong as heck, yet easily relatable. I liked the WWII backdrop and the way that Sophia and Ted's relationship blossomed.

This is a Historical Fiction that takes place during WWII in Germany. It has been a little bit since I picked up a Historical Fiction because I just have not been in the mood to read them, but I am so glad I picked this book up. There is so much going on in this book, and it touched my heart so much. I really fell in love with all the characters in this book. The only thing I did not love about this book was the ending only because I did not want it to end. I wanted more. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

Only The Brave is another wonderful Danielle Steel novel. This historical story follows Sophia and her family’s journey through the war. She faces new adventures and loss in an uncertain time of her life.
The details in the book make you feel part of the hardships and heartache that the characters are involved in. . As always , Danielle Steel does an amazing job.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy for my opinion.

I really enjoyed Sophia's story, especially how she would not sacrifice her ethos under a circumstance, though she was tested several times. This book is all that you have come to love from Danielle Steel. There were several supporting characters that I would have loved to hear more about and how their journey had turned out aside from one or two lines. Otherwise, this was a solid read.

A heart wrenching story of a young girl who despite all the horrors thrown at her, strives to live a life helping others. Beautifully written, I was drawn into Sophia’s story and had to know what happened to her.

Danielle Steel is one of my favorite writers of romance. Usually, her setting is in the current time. This one, set in Germany in the early years of German occupation, through the American and Allied involvement, is in my opinion one of her best. It is the story of a young women, a daughter, sister, and friend to those who are facing more and more oppression as the Nazis gain a foothold in Europe. She sees many atrocities and finds solace in her faith. It is a faith that remains steadfast in all she sees and experiences. As she grows in strength and will, her faith is tested but she continues to help her people and the many around her in need. Romance is the furthest thing on the mind of this young woman who is part of a religious order but has yet to take her final vows. This is the story of love as only Danielle Steel can tell it in one of one of the most atrocious periods in our world's history. Great storytelling. Thanks to #NetGalley#OnlytheBrave#DanielleSteel for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Danielle Steel’s, Only the Brave, is so much more than a romance set against the backdrop of WWII. She deftly depicts the chaos and danger in Germany as the Nazis rose in power as told through the eyes of Sophie, a skilled nurse and devout Catholic who is on the cusp of taking her final vows to become a nun just before she is arrested as an enemy of the state and sent to a concentration camp. Through Sophie, her father, and her sister, we see different experiences of the war and the destruction that the Nazi zealotry waged as they savaged their way through Europe. Through Sophie’s harrowing experience of escape and recovery, she meets an injured American pilot whom she nurses back to health. This chance meeting and the time spent in recuperation change the trajectory of both their lives and portray grace and bravery during a time of madness and murder. The book does end rather abruptly and I would have liked a little more massaging of the circumstances around Sophie’s choice, but overall I thought it was a good, compelling story. Only the Brave provides a snapshot of the horror and atrocities from that time in the world’s history and a prescient reminder not to let history repeat itself.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a great, new historical fiction book! Sophia and Ted were brought together by fate and WW2. "There were no accidents in life. They had been meant for each other. Two heroes of the war were brought together during the war and they would do great things together after the war. I thoroughly enjoyed yet another great Danielle Steel book! Thanks @NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC of this book.

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. i am not usually a Danielle Steel reader but this one sounded like a book I would enjoy. I loved this story about WWII. There are a lot of amazing characters in this story. The storyline and plot where engaging and engrossing. I admired the bravery of Sophia’s father. His standing up for his beliefs and continuing to uphold the Hippocratic Oath against Hitler and his men. But at the same time, it made me extremely sad. I felt that Sophia following his footsteps showed a glimpse of what the travesties that took place during this war could have looked like. I would highly recommend this book for sure.

Sophia lives with her surgeon. father , her mother and her sister in Berlin. When her mother dies, she helps get her sister and her family to Switzerland. As Hitler r becomes more and more evil, she and her father do all they can to save jewish children from the camps and certain death. Full of courage and bravery as only Danielle Steel can tell it.. A must Read!!

Only the Brave is the first book I have ever read by Danielle Steel, and I can confidently say that I picked a good one.  This was a page turner! 

Set during World War II in Germany, Only the Brave follows the incredible and interesting life of Sophia Alexander, a selfless, compassionate young woman with a heart to help others even at the risk of her own life.  It is an historical fiction novel that focuses on Sophia’s story, a story so full of heartbreak and hope, disappointment and perseverance, courage and bravery. There are so many juxtaposing emotions and themes throughout this novel, but they work together to seamlessly weave her story together beautifully.  And just when you think the book is about to become predictable, Danielle Steel throws you for an exciting loop.  That was one of my favorite things about this book – it was anything but boring and predictable.

Historical fiction is my favorite genre of book to read, with WWII themed novels ranking toward the top.  I have certainly read my fair share.  Only the Brave was anything but common in a genre saturated with World War II stories.  It a unique and unpredictable twist on WWII historical fiction with an ending that will make you smile.  Absolutely captivating story!

This is the story of Sophia Alexander, a young girl in Germany during WWII. Sophia and her family life changes greatly as the war progresses and they all encounter great suffering. I've read just about every book that Danielle Steele has written. Some of them I find are good but have too many mundane details which make it boring. This book is not like that. It has a deeper storyline and characters. I was drawn in and read it in one day. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Random House Books for giving me this advanced copy to read. I hope Danielle Steele writes more books like this with more substance to them.

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. Although this was not one of my favorite books by this author, I did enjoy it. The first half moved slow but it did pick up after that. If you like history, you will certainly enjoy this book. I never studied things regarding Germany and the consecration camps except in school so it was interesting to read more about it and the things that were going on. Some of it was definitely hard to read but I'm sure that it was even so much worse than what was told in this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced of Only the Brave. I enjoy Danielle Steels romance books but she shines when she writes historical fiction. This one did not disappoint. Highly recommend if you like books about ww2.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House publishing group for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I am a huge Danielle Steel fan and have loved her books for years. I love it when authors do historical fiction. This one takes us on a journey with Sophia as she navigates her life in WW2 with inspirations to be a nun. It was a heartbreaking and heartwarming story at the same time. We see her do much good in the face of adversity and never lose her spirit of giving.

I will be rewriting this review in a few weeks,

Thank you NetGalley and he publisher for letting me read this book.
I only read Danielle Steel when she writes historical fiction. This was a good heartbreaking story and it did not disappoint.

Only the Brave by Danielle Steel is a heartbreaking story that takes place during World War II. The tolls it takes on one family as they risk their lives to save the lives of others. Theresa is able to escape once it is revealed her husband has Jewish ancestry, while her sister Sophia and their father are captured and taken to concentrations camps. A friendship with a guard and a strong group of women allows Sophia to make her escape and continue her working in saving lives.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.