As I read this book, I cried at times. I had to take pause and reflect on the atrocities that happened to Jews during WWII. The relationships tested, lost and found. The great emotional and physical loss of country, family, friends. This is a hard subject to write about. And the author did a great job telling this story. I know parts were based off true life events. That grieves me that it really happened. Within the ugly and chaos hope can still be found. Love can still be shown. The subject matter is hard, yet so well presented. Definitely recommend this one. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All views stated here are my own.

The Refrain Within is the third installment from Liz Tolsma’s Music of Hope series. I have read, loved and enjoyed the first two books, The Melody of the Soul and When the Heart Sings, of the series and was not disappointed reading this one. I believe it is probably my favorite of the series. It is so very good. I adored Eva from the start. She is such a brave, courageous and admirable woman. The whole book is full of action and danger. So much so, that it was hard to put it down. It is so very good.

The Refrain Within is getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy clean Historical Fiction, especially those of the World War II era.

I received The Refrain Within from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

"The cost of action was high. The cost of inaction was higher."

I've read quite a few WWII books but this is the first I've read from the viewpoint of Hungary in 1944. Liz Tolsma, as always, paints the setting vividly as resistance swirls around the city of Budapest and engages the reader with her complex plot, beautiful characters, and raw emotions. I loved how music is seamlessly incorporated into the plot and into the characters' lives. Music brings the main characters together initially but love and faith hold them together even as the world around them falls apart. The events are heart-breaking and the atrocities incomprehensible; yet Eva, Patrik, Eva's brother Erno and his wife Zofia must leave their grief, anguish, and anger behind to forge a way out of Hungary. There are plenty of intense moments as they dodge those hunting them and great moments of revelation as faith guides and leads them.

Despite it being a thoroughly heart-stirring and soul-searching book, the ending felt a little rushed and somewhat incomplete. But I am sure anyone who loves historical fiction, specifically WWII fiction, will absolutely adore this book. It's not an easy or light-hearted read, but you'll be glad to have read it.
I received a copy of the book from Kregel Publications via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

It's been a while since I've read any historical fiction about the Second Great War. I chose this book, which Celebrate Lit gave to me for free, and I am so glad that I did! From the first chapter, I was immersed in 1944's Hungary during the German occupation and persecution of the Jews. Liz Tolsma's writing grabbed me almost from the beginning, and I almost felt like I was a bystander in the story. The characters were real, the setting was vivid, and the story was engaging and suspenseful! I won't give away any spoilers, but the ending was both disappointing and yet felt true. I did feel like it ended too soon, too abruptly, and not just because I wanted to read more. The faith element of the book runs throughout and would not be the same without it. The characters have to do deal with the ethical dilemma of lying in order to stay alive.

This next passage is one that I love, not only because it's true, but because it reminds me of a quote that my pastor made years ago (before he became my pastor):

God, when will this all end? Patrik clapped Erno on the shoulder. "Stand firm."

"How can I? My very foundation is shaken."

"God doesn't move." He clung to that. Held with all his might, though his fingers slipped.

Solid 5 stars!

I have read numerous WW2 fiction books. Most of what I read is set in England, France or maybe Germany. This book is set in Budapest. I loved just a different location and bits of the culture that was included in the book. The author did an excellent job including some Hungarian words without making you feel you had to have a dictionary with you as you read the book.

There were times that I loved Eva and times I wanted to dislike her but that is all part of the story. The secrets always seem to catch up with you. Could Eva overcome all the secrets?

This was an excellent book. Now I want to read more in this series.

The Refrain Within, by Liz Tolsma, is book three in the Music of Hope series. This is an awesome story that takes place in Hungary in 1944. Eva and Patrik are planning to marry but when her sister-in-law goes missing, the wedding is put off. The mystery surrounding her sister-in-law’s disappearance brings doubt to Eva. She begins to believe Patrik is involved and is not someone she can trust.

I really enjoyed this story. It showed how life could have been for those in Hungary during WWII. The story is so well written it is easy to try to imagine the tension and terror the people lived through This was such a dark time in our world’s history and this story gives just a tiny glimpse of what it might have been to live in the area at the time. I like how this story points out not just the terror of the bombings and regular air raids but also the uncertainty that people faced with who could they trust.

I received an ebook copy of this story through Celebrate Lit and NetGalley, this is my honest review.

Liz Tolsma again chose WWII and music to create a framework for a novel. The Refrain Within features clarinetist, Eva Bognar (Bognar Eva in the Hungarian style) a young woman dedicated to the beauty of music, yet surrounded by the ugliness of war. Her beloved Hungary has become occupied by the Germans after a failed attempt by its government to form an alliance with the Allies. I really liked the historical and political context that Tolsma chose. I knew little about Hungary’s role in WWII, and The Refrain Within was a great introduction. Jews from other Eastern European countries found refuge within Hungary’s borders, at least for a little while. It is spring/summer of 1944 when this book takes place. The Nazis begin deporting the Jews from Hungary and the resistance is working hard to prevent it. A good bit of the novel surrounds the efforts of Jewish men and women who worked in secret for their people. The novel is plot-driven with a good bit of suspense, with not a lot of character development. But I did find some of the characters, especially Zofia and Patrik, intriguing in their motivations. Main character Eva seemed very naive to me, lacking in understanding of what was really happening around her. Lies and secrets separate the characters from each other, both physically and emotionally. The novel brings up the question of whether lies are justified if used to protect others. The Refrain Within leaves a few of the story lines unfinished, which was disappointing to me, but in retrospect realistic given the world in which the characters lived.

With its eye toward historical and cultural detail, The Refrain Within explored what was a new aspect of WWII for me, making it a recommended read for those who like the genre.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to NetGalley and Celebrate Lit for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

The Refrain Within by Liz Tolsma is a heart-wrenching Christian historical novel set in Hungary in 1944 at the height of the Nazi occupation. It is the third book in the Music Of Hope series but can be read as a stand-alone.
We witness the bravery of those who do what they have to do to protect their loved ones. Some are driven by guilt at what they failed to do when they were just twelve years old. All are driven by love.
In contrast we see those who sided with the Nazis to make life more comfortable for themselves. Personal gain exists side by side with sacrificial love.
War presents choices. We can choose to do the right thing or not. Whatever we choose to do, we must be prepared to live with the consequences of our choice.
The characters are all realistically drawn. We see the tensions in characters as they as forced to lie to protect those they love. War throws up a different set of moral codes. Characters are motivated by love.
Throughout it all God is with us. It may feel like He is absent at times and as if the music has died but God is faithful. He does not always remove the trials from us but He does walk alongside us, providing a peace in spite of external circumstances.
The Refrain Within was a powerful read of a horrific time in history. As we read about the plight of the Hungarian Jews, may we never forget the innocents who perished.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

The Refrain Within
by Liz Tolsma
Independent Publishers Group
Kregel Publications
Christian | Historical Fiction
Pub Date 29 Sep 2020


It’s 1944, and Hungary is a dark place. The invasion of the Nazi have invaded and turned the country upside down, their evil making its way into every life.





Eva Bognar is a clarinetist, she’s engaged engaged to conductor and composer Patrik Kedves, and she’s happily planning her wedding . She doesn’t think the war is going to directly affect her at first, because she believe everyone around her can be trusted. But after her Jewish best friend, and sister in law Zofia goes missing, a friend blames Patrik that lead Zofia away, and not the Gestapo.





Did Patrik betray everything that Eva, and the family stood for?





After the rest of the families lives are directly threatened, Patrik’s secrets must come to light. The Bognar’s then have to flee to Palestine.





Eva finds herself having to put her life, and the lives of the family she loves, in the hands of Partik, the man who betrayed her.






I give The Refrain Within five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

This intense symphonic masterpiece is one of the best historical fiction novels I have read this year, and it will stay with me long after the last page. The primary focus is on two couples, one married and one engaged, in WWII, 1944 Budapest. They are very well defined. The author invited this reader into their lives from the first page and kept me there until the very end.

Eva is an excellent clarinetist and co-owner of a music shop with best friend and sister-in-law Zofia, a gifted pianist. They give lessons and sell many music-related items. Zofia is a Messianic Jew from Poland and married to Eva’s brother Erno. Eva is engaged to Patrik, a composer and director of the Budapest Youth Philharmonic. Erno follows in the footsteps of his father and grandfather in designing and creating clarinets, the best in Europe. Eva, Zofia, and Patrik see their circumstances and emotions through musical expressions or various musical pieces, either ones they play or for Patrik, those he composes. Eva sees him as her refrain, and he sees her as his muse. The majors and minors, volume and tone, reflects the swells and crashes and dips as they endure living in occupied Hungary.

Zofia and Patrick are keeping secrets from Eva and Erno that can cost them and their parents their lives. The two young couples are forced into hiding, and they fear not only for their lives but the future of their parents. The horrors they learn about how Jewish people and those who help them are treated or tortured is devastating. This novel is not for the faint of heart, but the author is very sensitive with what she shares that regard.

Eva, Patrik, Zofia, and Erno gain a depth to their faith they never thought possible as they pass through the fires of life on the run. Before they leave Budapest, Eva’s father asks her where her hope comes from, and she shares a beautiful recitation of the Lord that she fully believes, stemming from the days of her catechism studies. While the end isn’t entirely what I had hoped, it is overall satisfying and realistic. I highly recommend this novel of faith and endurance in some of the worst imaginable situations to those who appreciate Christian WWII novels set in Europe with engaging characters and an incredible plot.

From a thankful heart: I received a copy of this novel from Celebrate Lit through NetGalley and this is my honest review.

I have read several books about World War II but this story digs deeper into the emotional toil it takes on families. The book captured my heart from the beginning. The author features several characters that tug on your heartstrings. The story is emotional and non stop action as freedom is the goal. I had to really search deep to see what I would do if lying to save someone I loved was okay to do. In this story one character faces the ultimate test of faith as his secret may cost him dearly.

In this review I want to express how much the story touched me and helped me understand what people go through when they are singled out because of ignorance . Being in power was all the Germans wanted. They didn’t care how they achieved it or how much pain others felt. It is hard to understand the hatred that a group of people can have for others. The torture is hard to read and I cried as the author took us inside camps.

I enjoyed getting to know the four main characters and how they leaned on each other during times of danger. The author shares a story that touched on music and how calming it can be. The sound of an instrument can soothe the soul while whispering melodies of peace. I played a clarinet in junior high and loved how the music would bring me comfort.

There were times I wasn’t sure if the characters would get to safety. We witness how faith plays a big part in the story. I loved how it was incorporated within the characters. In their darkest moments and there are several, they face the ultimate test of trusting God. Secrets abound in the book and I wondered how they would affect the outcome of the story. We may have the best intentions when we keep a secret, but in the end secrets can hurt others and cause division.

The story delivers a powerful look at World War II where spies, deceit, danger and the unknown run rampant. I couldn’t put the book down because I had to know what would happen to the characters I became invested in. I will warn you that the ending is not without a bit of sadness. I end my review with this, “Would you stand up for what was right, even if it cost you your life?”

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

“Which sin was worse- murder or lying?” So wonders Bognar Éva in The Refrain Within, a Christian WWII novel by Liz Tolsma. Musician Éva sees life’s choices as being very clear and decisive, with no middle ground. As the Germans oppress Hungarians daily, Éva doesn’t understand all the reasons the Gestapo is after her sister-in-law. When her fiancé, Kedves Patrik is not the person Éva thought, whom will Éva be able to trust?
This is a novel so moving and haunting that I sped through it as it made my blood run cold. I had to find out what would happen before the suspense, so palpable, was my undoing. Families being torn apart ripped at my own soul. The reality and historical accuracy is spot on. The warmth of the music was a fitting counterpoint to the cold reality of spies and war. I loved the fact that there were Messianic Jews in the story. Hope, faith, betrayal, forgiveness, and love- truly beautiful love- shone against a dismal backdrop of occupied Hungary. Those who enjoy inspirational WWII fiction will not want to miss The Refrain Within.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. I am voluntarily leaving my thoughts, which represent only my opinions.

Tolsma gives us a touching look at Hungary in 1944, after Germany had invaded the country. We see how people existed during the oppression. People still fell in love and got engaged. Some worked to undermine the Germans with resistance activities. Several of the characters are musicians so a prominent theme in the book is how music is essential to well being.

A major issue in the plot is truth. At one point Patrick says, “Sometimes we have to lie to protect those we love.” (Loc 3722/4819) He had lied to his fiance and her family as to his secret resistance activities. Zofia had kept her activities a secret from her husband. I can see that issue leading to a good discussion on a reading group.

One thing I don't like in novels is suspense as the result of poor choices by characters. In the early part of the novel, the characters knew the danger of Nazi rule yet still did unthinking acts. I read statements like, “How could they have done that? They knew better?” (Loc 786/4819) “Maybe we should have taken more precautions.” (Loc 2108/4819) Near the end of the novel, when Eva realizes she had not checked to see if they had been followed says, “How stupid of us.” (Loc 4269/4819) I really felt the characters acted too naively for the situation they were in.

Readers who like WW II fiction will appreciate this one. It will give you insight into the conditions and life of those in Hungary during that time.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

As with anyone of Jewish descent or anyone who tries to help them risks going to one of the death camps right away. Often without warning, in the middle of the night. Life for Eva was once romantic and as she had dozens of students for her music lessons, she lived nicely and was to plan her wedding to Patrik - a Jewish man - yet she never thought her happiness would be dashed so fast when the Nazi's suddenly invade her country to take control.
Eva finds herself torn; she has Jewish students, some are children. Will she hide them as Nazi's come searching? What side will she stand? How will her choices affect her family and friends?
I cannot imagine how scary life must have been for both Jews and non-jews who did not agree with the Nazi's rules. Both heartbreaking and encouraging to read.

You will need to have the tissues ready. Tears were streaming down my face when I came to the end of The Refrain Within. It is atrocious what the Jewish people endured during this rabid time in history as their faith stayed strong. Author Liz Tolsma has written characters that are well-developed to the point you feel the desperation they go through. This is Book #3 in the Music of Hope Series and I did not feel like I missed anything by not reading the first two. Of course, I will be adding them to my TBR (to-be-read) pile! Even though the story is emotional and heart-wrenching, it is written with a thread of hope. Perfect for historical fiction fans or a great book to pick up and start reading in this category!
I received a complimentary copy but was not required to leave a positive review.

“Fighting for survival. To see each new dawn. That’s what life had come down to for them.”

Another well-written winner from expertly talented storyteller Liz Tolsma! This poignant, suspenseful historical tale of love and sacrifice amidst the tribulation and devastation of World War II in Hungary kept me engaged from beginning to end. In this book, Ms. Tolsma masterfully combines intrigue, romance, faith, and history into one exciting, inspiring read. Her detailed descriptive language and sensory imagery transport you to the scene, and the historical detail woven into the fictional story evidences extensive research and adds credibility to the narrative. The plot flows at a suitable pace and keeps you guessing with each page turn. The characters are powerful and captivating, and the decisions they must make are heart-wrenching testing the strength of their love and faith. I especially like the recurring use of music throughout the story bringing comfort and healing to the soul during extremely trying times. I appreciate the inclusion of the spiritual truth of God’s love, care, and provision to those who trust and hope in Him. I have added this book to my list of favorites and highly recommend it.

I received a copy of this book in e-book form from the publisher via netgalley but am under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

I have loved every book I've read by this author and this one did not disappoint.
I've read many world war 2 books but this one really captivated me as I read it.
This one takes place in Hungary and I've never read a world war 2 book taking place there so it was fascinating to learn some history through this book.
Such a dark time in history the Jews were treated so unfairly.
A fast paced read that was hard to put down the action and suspense were nonstop as decisions had to be made quickly that would affect the family if the wrong choices were made.
Heart wrenching in spots this is an emotional book that I highly recommend!


Published September 29th 2020 by Gilead Publishing
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Would you lie to your loved ones to keep them safe?
The Refrain Within" is such a wonderful conclusion to the Music of Hope series! I could hardly put it down. A beautiful story in the midst of darkness!
It is 1944 and Eva Bognar is happily engaged to the love of her life, Patrik Kedves. Just days before their wedding, Eva's Jewish friend and sister-in-law, Zofia, goes missing. Word gets back to her that it was none other than her fiance who took Zofia away.
When Eva's family is threatened, she and her brother, Erno, have to flee to the border for safety. Only it is Patrik who will lead them. How can Eva possibly trust the man who supposedly betrayed her and her family?
During this harrowing journey secrets will be revealed and all will be revealed. Can Eva ever trust Patrik again? Will they escape all the dangers that await them?
This book really made me realize just how strong people had to be during the days of WW2. On first thought it's easy to say that it's never right to lie to your loved ones. Reading this book however really made me think. Seeing the tough decisions Patrik and Zofia had to face, the sacrifices they were willing to make was really eye opening. In those dark days of war, things were not always black and white.
You'll be hooked to this amazing story!
I was able to read an advance copy of "The Refrain Within" and was not required to leave a positive review.

I really enjoy this author's reads, and this one did not disappoint. We know about this time period in Europe and the evil that perpetrated against a religion. The atrocities that were committed and you will quickly find yourself holding your breath, as you get involved in this story.
This read takes place near the end of the war 1944, and I kept hoping for the Soviets to get there.
This is a very emotional story and it will play on your heartstrings, it became a fast read, I had to know whom survived. Zofia had to help her people no matter the cost, and the cost was very dear!
I became so engrossed in this family, and would love a sequel!
I received this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to give a positive review.

I never miss an opportunity to read one of Toslma's books!
She will draw you into the story and leaves you thinking about the characters long after this book is done. This is a fabulous series one I very much enjoyed.
I highly recommend this powerful book because she makes you sit on the of your seat to see what happens to this family. My heart ached in some places for the Jewish people. They didn't deserve all of the hatred and evil that was aimed at them.
I learned quite a bit from this beautiful novel. I didn't want it to end.
I loved the heart stopping scenes because I felt like was holding my breath while fleeing with the Bognar family but yet at the same time I was rooting for them too. Does that make sense?
This is like the third book that has made me stay up late to finish it because the voices inside it begged me to finish their story. Trust me it was well worth the loss of sleep.
I give this book 5 stars hands down! The cover is absolutely beautiful.
This is one of those that I will reread in the near future. It's soooooo good!