(Amazon will not let me post a review at the moment. As soon as it is allowed, I will post a review.)

I read this book because I was captivated by The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer. They take place at the same time and under very similar circumstances.

What if a German officer fell in love with a Jewish woman during the occupation of the Channel Islands? How could they manage to see each other with spies tracking their movements?

The strategies, the privations, the intrigue makes for a gripping tale that will have you wishing you could step in and do something to help them.

Reading the author's notes at the end gives you information about at least one person's name being placed on the Boulevard of the Righteous at the Yad Vashem museum in Jerusalem. That means that some or most of this story is based on actual events. Pondering that while reading about having no fat left on your body, wearing a threadbare coat and sleeping in an unheated attic during winter makes me shiver in sympathy.

If you enjoy reading about people's lives during World War II or even about love during difficult times, check out this book.

Based on a true story, this novel tells the story of Hedy, an immigrant Jew who is stranded on the Channel Islands during the German Occupation in WWII. Originally she is able to find work and relative security working as a translator for the Germans. She also find love with a German officer posted to the island. But as the war continues, islanders are conscripted into the German army. Hedy's best friend Anton, an Austrian immigrant is drafted and sent to fight, leaving his new wife Dorothea and Hedy behind to comfort each other. When Hedy becomes suspected of stealing petrol coupons and dealing on the black market she is forced to fake her suicide and hide in Dorothea's house. A tale of survival, hope, and friendship during war, set in a less-familiar location.

Historical fiction set during World War II on the Channel Island. A Jewish woman meets a German officer during the Occupation. Maybe because I have read so many stories similar to this, I didn't really care for it. Too predictable. Would probably not recommend unless someone wants to read about that time period.

i really felt for Hedy and enjoyed getting to know her, the other characters were great and I really enjoyed the story. I'm glad the author was able to bring this story to light.

I chose to read this book simply based on the setting. I knew the Germans had occupied the Channel Islands during WWII and have enjoyed other books set in that place during that era. All through the book, however, I felt that some depth was missing. It seemed to be pretty predictable and almost simple. Until, that is, the final third of the book. At that point, I could not put it down. This is not the best book about this era (I think that award would go to Guernsey Potato Peel Pie Society), but it is an interesting story with the appropriate amount of romance, villainy, and suspense.

One note & comment that changed my opinion about this book. I was ready to give this a "shrug" and mark it as a so-so novel worthy of a Hallmark movie treatment. THEN I read the afterword from the author. This is a story based on (not just inspired by) true events -- the main characters really lived and the pivotal events really happened and there are newspaper articles reproduced at the end of the book. Yes, it is fictionalized, but not exaggerated or embellished in any way. Only the moments that could not be documented are made-up, conversations, intimate moments, personal reactions, etc. For me, this made all the difference. Not only was this set during real events, but the actual story was a real story. I would have preferred to know that from the beginning, perhaps the story would have had more impact on me.

I stopped half way through this book. I found the storyline very shallow compared to other fiction and non-fiction books I've read about WWII.

This historical fiction novel with a touch of romance and suspense follows Hedy, an Austrian-born Jew, through her experiences living in the Nazi occupied Channel Islands during World War II. The premise of the story is solid,. Not many books are written about the topic of the German Occupation of the Channel Island so the subject was interesting. The details were well researched.

I wanted to get lost within the pages, but I found the characters to be a bit flat and I longed for more character development. The pace of the story could have flowed more smoothly, but I enjoyed reading about the historic details. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed The Guernesy Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society..

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Hedy, an Austrian Jew living in the Channel Islands, is terrified when the German's invade and take over her island. Forced to register as a Jew, Hedy is constantly facing imprisonment, deportation, and starvation. Desperate for a way to make money, Hedy takes a position in the German base as a translator. There, she meets Kurt, a handsome, and sympathetic German officer.

This book was well written and nicely paced. The characters were multi-dimensional and well developed. The romance between Kurt and Hedy was fairly predictable, and a bit boring, however I'm not really a romance book reader. Despite this criticism, I did enjoy the book. Overall, 4 out of 5 stars.