Are you one of those people who watch a show like the Crown, and spend half the time googling to check how factually correct it is? I am.  I have learnt so much about history by indulging in my passion for TV dramas and good historical novels. I recently read The Lost Mother, by Catherine Hokin and learnt even more.  I was honestly really torn as to whether I stayed snuggled up in bed reading or if I gave up, and grabbed my phone to check the factual history that underpins this wonderful story. It is hard enough to do this review without spoilers, suffice to say I loved it, I really did.  Excellent writing skills and a strong plot, complemented by intrinsically complex characters, this book has it all. Anna and her friend are budding actresses in 1930’s Germany. If you ever wanted an explanation of what a frenemy is – this is it.  It is a complex relationship that defines both their lives, across two continents and thirty years. The rise of Nazi Germany, and the effect this has, in Austria and Germany and also in America is a strong theme of the book, and is definitely based on history.  This is the backdrop to the story of two woman.  Anna Tiegel and Peggy Bailey.

On her deathbed, Peggy's adoptive mother reveals a photo of two women, one of which is Peggy's birth mother. Peggy sets off to discover the truth after identifying one of the women as celebrated actress Louise Baker.
The Lost Mother is set over two timelines. We have Peggy's journey for the truth in the 1950s after her discovery of the photo of her birth mother. We also have the story of her mother Anna in the 1930s as she flees from the attention of Goebbels, hides her Jewish heritage and is regarded as a Nazi traitor by the Americans.
Peggy is a wonderfully tenacious character as she ploughs on with her search for her birth mother. Anna is a much gentler character and endures much suffering. Her inner strength and bravery are obvious but more subtly depicted. Her loyalty to her friends, family and the Germany she loves lead her to unhappiness.
I was not aware of the discrimination against Germans in America and wonder how different the story would have been if Anna had focussed on her Jewish heritage and claimed refugee status. This angle is unique among other historical books I have read (and I have read quite a few!) I liked the way that the author didn't shy away from the more unpleasant elements of the American treatment of Germans nor the plot to create a Nazi satelite on American soil.
The Lost Mother is a powerful story of love against the odds and the ending ties up the narrative starnds and offers hope for the characters' futures.

An interesting novel which moves between 1950s New York and Berlin, Germany pre and post WW2. 
Peggy discovers that she is adopted as the death of her adoptive mother approaches. A photograph depicting what she believes to be her birth mother alongside another young woman is her only key to discovering her past.  The story moves between two main characters and covers events taking hold of Germany under the regime of the Nazis and moves to New York which was fascinating to read how Hitler's followers tried and ultimately failed to rally the German immigrant groups in the US.  
The story has many characters which at times make it slightly challenging to recall where they all fit in but setting this aside the story is a good historical read.

A beautiful and enticing story full of strong female character that is equal parts heart wrenching and heartwarming.

Catherine Hokin is back with a heart-wrenching historical tale of secrets, sacrifice and salvation: The Lost Mother.

The city of Berlin had once been full of bright lights, glittering parties and streets reverberating with laughter and cheerfulness, but there is now tension and fear in the air as the Nazi party’s grip on the German capital tightens and their influence grows malevolently with each passing day. Houses stand deserted and Berlin’s citizens cower in abject terror determined not to arouse suspicion or incur the wrath of this most despotic of rulers. Staying out of sight from the Nazi party had always been the plan, however, when Anna Tiegel’s beautiful best friend catches Goebbels’ eye, she swoops in to rescue her friend and ends up in danger herself. As Anna’s life becomes more and more unbearable, she finds herself with no other choice but to flee to America where she hopes to build a new life for herself with her boyfriend Eddy. Pregnant and desperate for an escape, Anna begins to make plans to make this terrifying journey – only when Eddy doesn’t show up on the agreed date, she realises that she is all on her own. Determined to protect the life growing inside her, Anna will to whatever it takes to keep her baby safe, but does a better future beckon? Or will Anna end up regretting her journey to America?

Twenty years later in Rhode Island, Peggy Bailey stares in shock at the photograph of two laughing women her beloved adoptive mother handed to her before she died. The picture was inside her baby blanket when she was brought home and Peggy realises that she recognises one of the women in the picture. She had seen her once before. But what is her connection to Peggy? As she embarks on a voyage of discovery to piece together the fragments of her past, will Peggy uncover the truth about her heritage? Is she ready for the shocking secrets she is about to uncover? Or will she end up wishing that she had left the past dead and buried?

Keep a box of tissues handy when reading Catherine Hokin’s The Lost Mother because this book will make you cry buckets. A beautifully written and highly evocative tale of triumph and despair, love and war, courage and uncertainty, The Lost Mother is an emotional novel readers will not forget in a hurry written with flair, assurance and sensitivity.

An absorbing read that will tug at the heartstrings, Catherine Hokin’s The Lost Mother is a riveting historical tale from a very gifted storyteller.

This book made me feel several different feelings in a short time. I felt sadness, anger and hope. Anna and Peggy’s story was so heartbreaking and sad. I cried reading about what Anna had to do in New York with Frank and the camp. Peggy’s journey to find her mother was a inspiring Read and made me really dislike Louise. Sadly the end dissapointed me alot. But all in all great read

This is not my usual genre and I will admit it took me a bit of time to really get into this story. The early chapters are definitely a bit on the slow side but also the character development as a result was fairly rich and detailed, especially of Anna and Marika. Related, over all despite enjoying this book and it doing an excellent job of reminding me of how fear can take up root in a person and effect everything they do, I do think it was overly long and their bit that could have been edited down to get to the conclusion a bit quicker. However, solid writing, strong story, good characters and oddly timely considering current events and the rise of fascism in the west.

As a lover of historical fiction I was very excited to start this book. The prologue to this book starts in New York in 1935 where we are introduced to Anna, a woman who is filled with pain and longing for the baby she so desperately wants back in her arms. She appears to be full of fear and apprehension, which intrigued me and had me pondering what had caused her so much distress. 

We then jump forward to Rhode Island in 1957 where we meet Peggy. Her adoptive mother has just passed away, and she finds herself in one of the most difficult points in her life as she is left with many unanswered questions and unspoken words. Peggy had been her mothers carer for the last few months of her life, so when her mother passes away, Peggy finds herself feeling lost, alone and full of an unbearable pain.

On her deathbed, Peggy's mother left her a photograph of her biological mother. The picture shows two young women in a hoppegarten in Germany. Peggy is filled with fear that Germany will have a deep claim on her, and she is filled with uncertainty as to what this could possibly mean. Peggy finds herself torn, unsure of what to do for the best. When she becomes aware of the fact that one of the women in the photograph is actress Louise Baker, Peggy quickly comes to the decision to track her down. She begins a journey across America, heading for Los Angeles, hoping that she will get the answers she so desperately needs from this city.

This story was truly fascinating and captivated me from the start. The story had so much detail and was so incredibly informative, and I must say I learnt a lot about the American Bundt and the support that Nazism had throughout the 1930's. The authors writing style was wonderful, and really brought the story to life in my mind. I could picture the setting, and the intensity of the situations the characters found themselves in throughout this story. 
Heart breaking and full of emotion, a book I am certain others will enjoy.

This book was the epitome of the heartbreaks and suffering people had during the worst time of humankind...
I am obsessed with World War stories as it lets you see a glimpse of the true nature of human, how some can be strong, remain good and go through so much suffering and other go through such length to hurt other.
Author Hokin has created an amazing world-building to a world we can now only imagine the agony of the characters, their separation from their loved ones...

Peggy...one of our main Protagonist had just lost her mother when a secret reveals itself which turn her whole life into a lie....the unknown identity of her true mother. She embarks on an adventure in search of her but the blows of shocks keep coming till the end.
Although this was a personal story between Anna, Marika, Eddy, and Peggy in a dual time sense....it was full of history unknown to me till now.
I learned about the German immigrants and the discriminations they faced and kinda blamed them too. How there were inside the war in the germans too for the resistance of the Nazis.

I shed tears upon tears for Peggy and Anna, they had a touch of reality and it was hard to make me understand that they were just fiction...DONT CRY!...

I would definitely recommend this book to readers who like me are interested in the World war 2 friction trope...

When Peggy's adoptive mom dies she's left without any family. Her mother waits until her last days to tell her what little she knows about the day they picked her up from the hospital.. A photo with two young girls was tucked inside Peggy's baby blanket and her mother held onto it all this time. Peggy can't stop looking at the photo because one of the girls looks familiar to her. Once she realizes she has a lead she travels to America to hopefully find her mother or someone who may know her mother.
Anna is an actress on the big screen but her real passion is the theater. She loves performing but doesn’t like the pressure of the parties and social life that comes with it. When the minister takes notices of Anna and her beauty she knows she cannot get away from him easily, or he’ll make her pay. Plans to star in a big film in America is her escape and her boyfriend and best friend have worked out all the details to escape. The Germans are making their presence known more and more so Anna must leave behind everything and leave. When she discovers that her boyfriend and best friend have left without her call she feels betrayed but also frightened. The minister is after her and little by little starts stripping her Of everything she loves. Her family, her job, and her freedom.

It’s hard to even start imagining the kind of trauma, fear and absolute torture people went through during the WW2 in Germany and subsequently other countries.

This story alternated between pre-war / WW2 days of the 1930s and the post war, 1950s. It’s the story of two young women – one from each of these times – bound together.

Peggy, in the 1950s, has recently lost her adoptive mother. The only mother Peggy knew, on her dying bed, pressed a photograph of two young women into Peggy’s hand and whispered that this was found tucked into the blanket she was wrapped in as a baby.

Anna, having faced terrible times, heartache and loss of her father in Nazi Germany, is forced to give up her baby and when she finally lands in the US is constantly looking out for her daughter.

Now Peggy, a journalist by profession, feels compelled to find out which of the young women in the photograph is her mother. And so begins the search for her mother.

How love and the desire to belong to each other wins over fear and betrayal is the essence of this lovely story.

Another winner from this author!

The Lost Mother is the new book from historical fiction author Catherine Hokin. It’s a dual timeline story of sorts, I say this because a lot of the books I read with dual timelines are set in the present day and then perhaps back during the war years. Here the story takes place in the late 1950’s and then goes back to the pre war years and in turn the war itself. In New York in 1935, in the brief prologue, we are introduced to Anna. She is filled with longing and pain and she would give anything to have her baby back in her arms. She is wretched and afraid and instantly the reader wonders what has happened to her for her to be in this state of separation and feeling this way? Fast forward to Rhode Island in 1957 and we meet Peggy. She is at a time in her life when so many questions remain unanswered and so many words left unsaid. Her mother has just passed away and as she had been her carer in those last few months now Peggy feels lost, adrift, isolated and full of pain. She is rudderless with no idea what to do but there is a puzzle she could try solving if only she was brave enough to do it.

On her deathbed her mother left her a photo of her real mother. It showed two young women in a hoppegarten in Germany. Peggy is afraid that Germany has a very deep claim on her and she is not sure if she is willing and able to assert this claim given the consequences that revelation might bring. Peggy goes back and forth an awful lot as to what she should do. Whereas I thought, really she has nothing to lose she should just go for it. When she realises that one of the women in the picture is actress Louise Baker, who is still alive and working in Hollywood, Peggy’s mind is made for her. She sets off on a road trip across America until she reaches Los Angeles. Is this the city where all her questions will be answered? A change in her life’s direction and a confrontation may await. Can she cope with what she discovers and at the same time can she boost her career as a journalist and make it big in a new city? Or is the story she is pursuing just too personal to be splashed across the pages of a newspaper?

To be honest I didn’t really care for Peggy, all that much. Initially she came across as weak, insecure and indecisive and I just couldn’t gel with her at all. I was glad when she reached Hollywood because then we started to be brought back to the past and this aspect of the story I found to be much more interesting and gripping. Yes, we needed Peggy in the later years carrying out her search/quest in order to tie the two strands of the story together and to complete the bigger picture but I found myself rushing through chapters from her perspective when they appeared in order to get back to Anna’s story which really grew in intensity the further it progressed. Peggy has the task of finding Louise Baker and getting answers but when someone is cold and aloof, they mightn’t be willing to give all the answers in order to protect their own skin. It’s only towards the end I felt that Peggy grew a real backbone and started using her investigative journalistic skills to the max. She was pushing forward in seeking the truth and wouldn’t let sleeping dogs lie. After all the answers she seeks although they may be detrimental to others she needs to find them to satisfy her own personal issues and to resolve her past. Yes there was some love interest for her along the way but if that had been omitted it wouldn’t have bothered me in the slightest as it really isn’t a major focus of the overall plot.

Anna was the stand out character for me. She grew up in Berlin and along with her friend Marika in 1939, after attending drama school was about to audition for UFA, Germany’s biggest and oldest film company. A job here meant an illustrious career awaited. Marika was very different to anyone that Anna had ever met before. She was a whirlwind in that she was charming and ambitious but at the same she was nobody’s fool and she was spoiled, selfish, and ruthlessly competitive. I didn’t like Marika one bit, I always thought she believed herself too good for a friendship with Anna and that she would walk all over her to get what she wanted for more gain and fame. Anna has a relationship with Eddy, a trainee director, but even Marika doesn’t see fit that this should last and happiness be found. With the rise of Hitler and his propaganda, laws and cruelty the girls were stuck between a rock and a hard place especially as Joseph Goebbels the minister for propaganda for the Nationalist Socialist Party really sets his teeth into the pair.

Here is where I felt, there was a lot of to-ing and fro-ing without much happening and I think it could have been shortened and the real major part of the story would have gotten going much quicker. For reasons I won’t go into, Anna finds her life torn in two and what was promised for her is no more. An act of betrayal and just pure selfishness and worrying about one’s own personal ego and further career development leaves Anna in danger and from this point on the story ramped up a gear and the momentum did not let up until the very last page. I became deeply invested in Anna’s story. She wanted just to fall apart but she knew she couldn’t given what she had discovered about her personal circumstances. I thought part two really gave us a fascinating insight into what happened to Anna once what she believed to be the worst that could befall her had happened. Little did she know what awaited her and part two was brilliantly written and I felt I was on a real journey with the character. America becomes the predominant setting and to be honest this was a real eye opener as one just presumes that although the Americans did join the war that not much happened on American soil rather the people continued on as best they could. 

But this story shows the Germans and Nazi’s rule extended far and wide. That they got in and immersed themselves in communities and spread fear, their absurd ideas and radicalism everywhere. Anna was brave, forthright and she put her life on the line so many times all with one goal in mind and through her story I was given a glimpse into an aspect of America during the war that I had never heard about before. Anna really was caught, the love for someone that was hers but for a brief moment drove her own through the hardships, dangers and fears she endures and she earned my respect for the dignity she showed in what she went through. You could tell she is restless, angry and has one goal in mind but so many obstacles are thrown in her way. The direction she takes is a surprising one and I felt at times with her it was out of the frying pan and into the fire. She was a remarkable woman that was served such an injustice. As you read, you just hope that this wrong can be put right and some form of happiness be found for all involved. But old wounds do cut very deep.

What is it that for me books by Catherine Hokin that after a very slow start it’s only at the midway point or in this case the 60% mark that within a turn of a page they become gripping. It’s like an entirely different story is unfolding with a sentence or two things suddenly change and I become invested in what is happening. Part two had me even forgetting about Peggy and her search in the 1950’s. The beginning for me was too drawn out until we finally got to the heart of the story and we get to see what happened to Anna. I found there was too much extra information given in the initial chapters and I thought the reason for and the point where Anna and Marika are separated could have been covered in a chapter or two and therefore we would have reached the crux of the story much quicker. Admittedly, this is where I really became gripped and I thought things were much more exciting as we followed Anna’s journey. All that said, Catherine Hokin is a brilliant writer and each of the three books that I have read by her have been fantastic after my initial issues which always resolve themselves. I’d just love to be hooked from page one because when the author really gets going its difficult to leave one of her books down. The Lost Mother is a beautiful and heart breaking read as mentioned on the front cover and definitely a worthy addition to the historical fiction genre.

I’ve read a lot of WWII historical fiction at this point so with each new book I read, I try to pick out something I hadn’t come encountered previously In this case, it was interesting to learn how Germans were treated in America during the war. And, although it makes perfect sense, I wasn’t aware of Nazi party support groups set up in other countries. I really enjoyed delving into that aspect of the war.

However, I was disappointed that it took a large chunk of the book for me to find a more unique story. Although everything previous allowed me to get a good feel for the characters, I felt the chapters set in Berlin went too much into explaining the war. There wasn’t any new perspective and some sections rattled off too much like a school history book for me.

As a character, I loved what Anna brought to the table. I built up such empathy towards her that didn’t falter throughout the course of the book. Through her character, the reader got a sense of the people who tried to stand up against the regime and those that were forced into situations they didn’t agree with. On the flip side to that was Marika, Anna’s best friend, who represented those that made choices against their morals if those choices suited their own selfish purpose at the time. While the book didn’t go extremely deep into these areas, they were a welcome addition.

Peggy serves as another main character in The Lost Mother. I actually enjoyed Peggy’s story the most. While the story of finding a birth mother is not necessarily new, I enjoyed following her search, coupled with her desire to become a journalist. Actually, I was disappointed that Peggy’s story suffers a big pause in the book to focus on Anna. Of course this was necessary to the plot, but it stunted my reading flow to be dragged away from a character I was enjoying.

Overall, I enjoyed The Lost Mother. It has some different elements to other books I’ve read based during WWII, and I was appreciative that the main focus wasn’t a love story.

★★★ 3.5 stars

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Catherine Hokin's latest heartbreaking tale THE LOST MOTHER (previously titled "All Who Wander").

I love Catherine Hokin's historical novels but they are like climbing a mountain. A long slow arduous climb to get to its peak but once you're there, the view is magnificent. And the journey was worth it. I always feel like this about her books...slow to start with but I know I will be rewarded with a wonderful heartwarming story. However, I'm not sure how I felt about THE LOST MOTHER. The climb dipped and bowed from slow to petering out to slow again. Just as I started to really get interested, it dipped once again with a story arc I was disappointed in. But it did have a heartwarming ending which was at least satisfying.

New York, 1935: The story begins with Anna sitting on a bench in Central Park ruminating over the past year that has lead her to this point. The highs, the lows, the love, the losses, the tragedy and the heartache. She sees a mother and her baby in a pram, the little child cooing and giggling gently as the mother says she has suddenly started doing that. It brings up a wealth of memories and heartbreak of her own. Of when she gave birth to her daughter and was forced to give her up back in Germany. But now that is why she is here...to find her baby.

Rhode Island, 1957: Twenty two year old Peggy Bailey looks up the house that has been her home for the past 15 years. Its shuttered windows and the life that has now gone from its walls. After losing her father at aged 15, Peggy went on to complete high school and then go on to get her degree in journalism. But she had no time to think about a job as her mother's cancer diagnosis came shortly before her graduation and though as ill as she was, her mother made it to see her get her degree. Then Peggy became a permanent carer for her beloved mother Joan.

Then before she died, Joan gave Peggy a photograph telling her that it was in the blanket they brought her home in...that her mother must have slipped it in. Her birth mother. And Peggy's world fell apart. Not only had she lost the only mother she has ever known, she now discovers that she has a birth mother out there somewhere...and she sets out to find her. Looking closely at the photograph, Peggy wonders which of the two women in it is her mother. As she continues to stare, she gasps realising that she recognises one of them...having seen her in the most unlikely of places.

And so now, Peggy sits in the car that was her mother's, her suitcases packed, looking up at the house as she ponders where this journey will take her. Embarking on a mission that will take her across the country in search of the truth about her heritage, Peggy prepares herself for the drive that will take her roughly a fortnight to make across the hot dry and arid deserts of Arizona and New Mexico. Is she prepared for what she will find there?

Berlin, Germany, 1934: A beautiful country with homes once filled with laughter as the onset of the Nazi party's grip on the city tightens, two beautiful young women - Anna Tiegel and Marika Baikker - light up the stage and screen. Anna is a theatre actress while Marika's love is for the movies. But the film industry in Germany is tightly controlled by the Party and under the firm hand of Hitler's Reichminister Joesph Goebbels.

All films made must highlight the Party's progaganda and anyone who dares to disagree is ostracised by the industry so Anna has no choice but to co-operate when Goebbels sets his sights on her. And Goebbels is not a man to be crossed. Although Anna is a theatre actress, Goebbels wants her to sign with the UFA which was tightly controlled by the Party and therefore by him. His promises included work for Anna's boyfriend, Eddy Hartmann, who is a film director. Unable to say no or risk ostracism, Anna has no choice but to co-operate.

Marika, who has her sights set firmly on stardom, falls under Goebbels' spell and chastises Anna for refuting him. She is clearly his new favourite, lining her up to be his next mistress, but Anna fears for her best friend and tries talking her out cosying up to him. But Marika will not be swayed. Goebbels is powerful and she wants to be a star...whatever the cost.

Goebbels' grip tightens as he paves the way for an exclusive party in which Anna and Marika have a starring role but Anna feels that something is dreadfully wrong. And so she conjures up a ploy for her and Marika to make their escape but Goebbels sees right through the subterfuge and, as they leave, whispers threats in Anna's ear which are anything but idle.

Anna knows she must escape if she is to survive and plans to sail for America with Eddy. But when Anna arrives at his flat on the day they are due to depart, she finds it empty. And to make matters worse...Anna has discovered she is pregnant. She had come to tell Eddy but she was too late.

Suddenly, with no job and nowhere to go, Anna must find a way to survive. The Party has taken everything from her but they will not take her baby. But will she have a choice?

THE LOST MOTHER is a very different story to the first two historical novels by Catherine Hokin. It's very different from any other WW2 era books and not at all what I expected. For the most part I enjoyed it but then it petered out and I found myself a little disappointed after Anna had successfully fled Germany only to find herself an unwilling double agent forced to infiltrate the German American Bund, the American band of Nazis. But if that wasn't enough, she was then interned as an enemy alien! It was a heartbreaking read as her sole purpose for coming to America was to find her daughter...and then she found herself caught up in something she had no control over.

The book is broken up into three parts. After the prologue, Part One alternates between Anna, as her story just begins, in 1934 and Peggy, as she embarks on a journey of self discovery and for her lost mother, in 1957. Part Two is solely Anna's story from 1934 to 1947 in all its heartbreaking detail. Part Three is Peggy's story as she delves deeper into Louise Baker's past in her search for her mother. It is very cleverly done and the story is both original and unique, filled with emotion, strength, love and heartbreak.

While I didn't enjoy quite as much as her previous two, THE LOST MOTHER is still a good read and a must for historical fiction fans.

I would like to thank #CatherineHokin, #NetGalley, #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheLostMother aka #AllWhoWander in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, what can I say?  This is a heartfelt story of a young woman in the 30's ands especially in WWII, born in Berlin to a Jewish dad and German mother.  I learned so much about not only what happened in Berlin but also to Germans living in America from this book.  Outstanding read.

A beautifully written WWII historical fiction story. It was very emotional, a roller coaster really. A well blended dual timeline, Anna's' story in WW II Germany and Peggy's story in 1950's Hollywood. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy..

The story is divided into Present Day set in 1957 and 1934 during the Nazi rule in Germany. In 1957, Peggy realizes that she was adopted when her adopted mother Joan gives her a picture of two women who happened to be German--and one of them is the famous Hollywood actress, Louise. As she flies all the way from Rhode Island to L.A. to cover about her birth mother did she finds out more about the history of her mother...

I do love historical fiction, mainly based on WWII and Holocaust, and this was actually a different kind of historical novel I read. Really do like the plot line. The writing was gripping and intense, the author did a good job drawing the reader into the story. There were some parts where it was too emotional and heartbreaking particularly Anna Tiegel who went through hardships after she left Berlin to escape from Goebbels's revenge and that she was part Jewish to America, where she still couldn't escape the fact that she was German. It was so heart wrenching and too sad. Overall, this book reminds me of We Were the Lucky Ones--emotional gripping and utterly wrenching story that will make you cry. 

Worth five stars!

Loved it!!! It definitely wasn't the story that I expected when I started reading the book. I enjoyed how the book alternated between the 1930s and 1950s. Loved the characters, story and writing style. Marika would use anyone if she thought it would get her ahead in life. She was definitely jealous of Anna. Anna was a true friend to her and would do anything to keep her safe, but I can't say the same about Marika. Anna should have left Marika deal with Goebbels all on her own. I disliked her even more when the truth came out about how she got out of Germany. Marika got to live a life of luxury, while Anna's life went in the opposite direction. Anna's story was heartbreaking. She endured so much, not only in Germany but also in the United States. All she wanted was to find her daughter. I don't think the FBI agents would have even helped her. She gave them so much information but never got anything in return. I was sad to see the book end because I wanted to read more about Anna and Peggy.

Definitely recommend the book. It was a great historical fiction with a bit of a mystery as Peggy tries to find out the truth about her biological mother. Beautiful and heartbreaking is a perfect description of the book. This was the first book I read by the author and I look forward to reading more. I love the cover of the book. 

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

An interesting story  covering an aspect of American life that is very rarely spoken of, preceeding the Sevond World War. It is the 1950s and Peggy's adoptive mother has died. When going through her things Peggy finds a photograph which sets her onto a journey to find out more about her natural mother. Encompassing Hollywood as well as the film industry of 1930s Berlin, this is a fascinating story. I discovered so much about the American Bundt, supporters of Nazism during the 1930s. The author writes incredibly convincingly and I could picture the intensity and horror of the situations that Peggy's mother found herself in. A great read, particularly if you are interested in this period. I learnt a lot and the story kept me gripped. Thoroughly recommended reading!

Anna Tiegel is excited to be leaving Germany.. She will be leaving with her best friend and her boyfriend. Things have been terrible for anyone who has Jewish blood. Hopefully America, New York will be a better place for them. 
Peggy's mother has died. Before her death she shared with Peggy that she was not her natural mother. Peggy had been adopted. At her mother's death she gave Peggy a black and white photo that had two young women in it. Before she could explain the picture, she died. Peggy is left with a photo and a conundrum of looking for a mysterious mother or not.
I was given this book by the publisher to read and review via Netgalley.
This was a great book, a historical fiction of loss, courage, betrayal and love.