Another hit from @authorhbmoore! The Slow March of Light is based off the true story of American soldier Bob Inama and his experiences stationed in West/East Germany during the Cold War. The book alternates characters between his story and German nurse Luisa Voigt. It’s a story of human spirit and resilience. I couldn’t put it down and enjoyed every bit. I’ve already told my family all about it, and recommended it to my husband to read. Historic fiction is always a win for me and this boon is a full five stars. Bonus, @shadowmountainpub is offering a launch special so you might as well buy to and get some goodies too! Swipe to see!

"The Slow March of Light" was an excellent surprise.

Although the cover might remind us of books about WWII, this one is about the Cold War, a period of history I haven't seen as much in historical fictions. Therefore, it was a pleasure to learn more about this epoch through the eyes of two different characters.

On one side, we have Bob, a young American soldier drafted to serve his country and asked to spy in East Germany for the US Army.
On the other, we have Luisa, a young German nurse who end up helping Easter Berliners escape by passing information through the border.

One of the highlight of this book was knowing that it was inspired by a true person, Bob Inama, whose story was very similar to the one recounted in this book. His selflessness, loyalty, and gratefulness were extraordinarily inspiring. Although the way the story was told didn't allow us to become too attached to the characters, as we felt a certain distance from the protagonists, knowing that there was a good deal of truth in the story made it very moving. It is incredible that such heroes didn't gain more acknowledgment at the end of the Cold War - even though it lasted many decades and was delicate. But it also reminds us that any small act, like the one of the prison guard, can make a major difference. The guard's letter is particularly moving...

I also loved the sentence where the title comes from: "The day passed in a long, slow march of light across the cell wall high above his head" - it reflects the book so well! It could also have been called "Come what may, and love it"...

I really appreciated reading "The March of Light" and would therefore highly recommend this book.

*I received an eARC and this is my honest opinion*

Set mainly in Germany during the Cold War in the early 1960s, The Slow March of Light by Heather B. Moore is based on actual happenings in the life of Bob Inama, an American soldier who went undercover in East Germany to gather information for the U.S. Army. Although some of it is fictionalized, it was inspired by real events as related by Mr. Inama to the author. Bob Inama’s courage, faith, and conviction carried him through incarceration and torture in an East German prison.

The harsh conditions existing and atrocities committed in East Germany and East Berlin during this period of time prior to, during, and after the building of the Berlin Wall are hard to read about, even though I grew up during this time. The author did an excellent job of researching the subject matter and giving sources and information to the reader. I’m so glad she was able to tell Bob Inama’s story before he passed away. This is a compelling and heart-wrenching book, and very much worth the time spent reading it. 4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Shadow Mountain through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I love when historical fiction is based on actual events and/or people. This is such a moving story of a man who endured unimaginable things and yet somehow managed to have hope. Bob Inama is a real person who planned to go to law school to become a government lawyer but gets drafted during the Cold War. His plan to go to school when he's discharged is dashed when he's assigned to go undercover in Germany, where after months of undercover work he's betrayed, captured, and sent to a Communist prison in East Germany where he's tortured with daily beatings for 6 months. During his six months in prison he befriends a guard whom he calls "Adolph".

Along with Bob's story is another story portrayed by the fictional character Luisa. Luisa represents the German people who see more and more of their freedoms taken away, while the government takes more control of their lives. Luisa is based on a young woman Bob met when he first arrived in Germany. She's a nurse working at hospital who joins a clandestine organization that helps East Germans escape into West Germany. Luisa has her own harrowing experiences as she helps those escape the brutality and fear that are put upon them by their own government. I can't imagine living through what the German people went through.

To say this book is amazing doesn't do it justice. Everyone should read it, as it's extraordinarily inspiring. The author spent many hours talking with Bob Inama recording his experiences. Sadly, he died before the book was released but he did get to read a draft of it and gave his approval of the book. I've read Heather B. Moore's books for years, she's one of my favorite authors, and somehow she continues to amaze me with her writing, no matter the genre. I also listened to the audiobook and the narrators are fantastic at capturing the emotions and feelings of the characters and the situations they find themselves in.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher Shadow Mountain via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

I’m not always a fan of true stories that are fictionalized, but this one had so many elements I was drawn to, and I trust Heather B. Moore’s writing and creative abilities. I am a nurse and I lived in Berlin both before and after the Wall came down. The rich historical details transported me back to the streets of the city and the characters became real to me. Hope and resilience are the common themes. I enjoyed the pace of this book and kept my thoughts on the storyline long after I finished. Highly recommended. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.

Bob was on his own in a foreign country with spies, secret police, and informants everywhere. Nobody could be trusted. His apartment might even be bugged while he was away. And yet, “Come what may, and love it” was his personal motto. This story takes place in Germany in 1961 during the Cold War and the beginning of the Berlin Wall. It is one that will stick with you long after you finish reading.

Bob Inama is a soldier in the US Army. Because he is fluent in German, he is given a special undercover assignment to research military locations in East Berlin and send the coordinates to the US army disguised as letters to a girlfriend. He is betrayed, captured, and imprisoned, but amazingly he never lost hope despite living in filth, with extreme hunger, and almost daily beatings for several months. He is an example of a true hero with amazing resilience. I think it is incredible Bob was always kind and grateful, even toward his prison guards, which had a lasting impact on at least one of them.

Luisa is a nurse in Germany, her father is a policeman, and they both worry about her grandma living in East Germany. Luisa’s dad sets out her mom’s shoes each morning, even though she has passed away. I loved Luisa’s character based on a real acquaintance of Bob’s in Frankfurt.

Heather B. Moore writes well researched historical fiction that puts the reader into the character’s shoes. While writing the story, she talked frequently with 85-year-old Bob Inama and his wife, keeping the story accurate to his experiences as much as possible. Surprisingly, Bob never told his parents, grandparents, or sister about his undercover mission or prison experiences and only told his wife the basics. I highly recommend this book; you won’t want to miss it. Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC to use for my review.

This morning I finished reading The Slow March of Light by Heather B. Moore and it was life changing. I cannot stop thinking about it. Bob’s story has stayed with me long after I read the last page. I honestly wasn’t sure if I would be able to become engrossed in a story set during the Cold War and the Berlin Wall time period. I should have never doubted it because Heather B. Moore can take the most difficult topics or time periods and make you feel as if you are there. I highly recommend this to any reader. You will not want to put it down. Find a cozy chair and snuggle up, you won’t be going anywhere for a while. This story is phenomenal. I received a copy of this book for free; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a novel that was very hard to put down. I learned a great deal about the Cold War and I am always appreciative of the research that an author does. This story blended well with historical facts and was very well written. The stories of Bob and Luisa will stay with me for a very long time. .
Many thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Slow March of Light

Author: Heather B. Moore

Book Series:Standalone

Rating: 4/5

Recommended For...: historical fiction, biography, Berlin wall

Publication Date: September 7, 2021

Genre: Historical Fiction

Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, romance, slight language)

Explanation of CWs: Romance is a slow burn. There is a war going on, so there’s violence and gore.

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Pages: 368

Synopsis: In the summer of 1961, a wall of barbed wire goes up quickly in the dead of night, officially dividing Berlin. Aware of the many whose families have been divided, Luisa joins a secret spy network, risking her life to help East Germans escape across the Berlin Wall and into the West.

Bob Inama, a soldier in the US Army, is stationed in West Germany. He’s glad to be fluent in German, especially after meeting Luisa Voigt at a church social. As they spend time together, they form a close connection. But when Bob receives classified orders to leave for undercover work immediately, he doesn’t get the chance to say goodbye.

With a fake identity, Bob’s special assignment is to be a spy embedded in East Germany, identifying possible targets for the US military. But Soviet and East German spies, the secret police, and Stasi informants are everywhere, and the danger of being caught and sent to a brutal East German prison lurks on every corner.

Review: For the most part I thought the book was well done. It had some good character development and world building. I liked the plot for the most part and it was really interesting to read about this time period that I hadn’t read previously.

However, I did feel like the book was more of a documentary/biography than a historical fiction. There was a lot of history, which I appreciate, but it was just not enough “not real fiction” with my history, which made me wonder why not just go ahead and do a full biography at that point.

Verdict: It was good, just a little strangely written.

Moore does a fantastic job portraying the struggles that were happening in Berlin during the Cold War. This story is pulls you in and immerses you in the experiences of the Germans in Post World War II. It tugs on your heart the struggles the people faced but also the extraordinary men and women who stepped up to help each other. Bob Inama was an inspiration!

I received an ARC through Netgalley and all opinions are my own.

It’s been awhile since I’ve had a work of fiction touch me as deeply like The Slow March of Light did. An emotional story that is based on the true story of Bob Inama, a US Army soldier that served in Germany in the early 1960’s as the Cold War rages and the Berlin Wall is erected, who finds himself in a place that is the stuff of nightmares: a prisoner in East Germany, where Soviets rule with fear and an iron fist.

I have read many historical fiction novels that include Germans and/or Germany and they always give me a cold sense of dread, knowing the dark history that swirls around this region. I felt that foreboding quite a bit in The Slow March of Light, anticipating when the proverbial ball would drop, but with Luisa’s story, though fictional, it gave flesh to all of the Germans that were against the inhumane actions of their country, and for that I am thankful. It is a remarkable reminder that even in the darkness there is light and was the perfect balance to Bob’s harrowing tale.

The author’s notes are incredibly thorough, leaving no question as to what parts of the story came straight from Bob himself and what she took creative liberties on, which surprisingly wasn’t as much as I had expected. Heather truly wanted Bob’s story to shine, which it does like a shimmering diamond, and even much of the fictitious parts of the story still held quite a bit of truth, paralleling the actual account nicely, with Heather explaining the motivation behind it all.

The amount of research that went into this novel is obvious and astounding, and I commend Heather for her heart and dedication, and for another incredible true story that has echoed in my mind since I finished the final page and I know will be forever etched in my heart. I was so inspired by Bob’s positivity, thankfulness, and his endurance to never give up hope that I have found myself being more focused and thankful for the many blessings in my life, even in the hard times I am currently enduring. If Bob Inama can go through what he went through and come out with a grateful heart, why can’t I?

“Bob could have never predicted the journey that was in store for him, but looking back, he saw the Lord’s hand in every detail. Every frustrating, painful, bewildering, and joyful detail.”

Just a fantastic story! I love WW2 so much that it's nice to go to the Cold War for this one.... That's one I don't think I have ever read.

I love that this is based on Bob's true story. Make sure you read the author's note at the beginning and the chapter notes at the end. They give a lot of insight to what was real in the story.

It's beautiful that during a hard time in prison, Bob was able to become friends with a guard called "Adolf" (real name unknown). His fictional friendship with Luisa (but she being based on a real aquanintance of his) helped get him through some very hard times too.

How do you take the Cold War and turn it into something heartwarming and life changing? Heather Moore did such a great job turning such a heavy subject into an enjoyable and inspiring read. Bob Inama somehow feels like a friend you've known your whole life. While reading his story you can feel a tangible hope, even in the roughest of moments. If this book isn't on your list of books to read, it should be.

I've been reading books by this author for a very long time and I never cease to be amazed at how versatile she is. Moore did a phenomenal job in capturing the historical moments along with the personal stories of an incredible man, merging reality and fiction into a completely captivating story. I thought Moore was brilliant before, and this story completely cements that idea.

The times surrounding WWII have a soft spot in my heart, but I haven't read many stories that bring to life the events leading up to the Cold War. I was horrified and fascinated, yet I also felt the hope and determination of the characters.

What really hit home to me is that we all have stories and experiences to share. We can all learn from each other, especially in the face of very hard and trying times. Bob's character is a refreshing light in a sometimes dark world and there is much to be learned from him. This book is just beautiful and touching and I'm so glad that it was put together and written before Bob's passing, just a month before its release. Consider me truly touched.

Content: mild+ war-type violence (arrests, prison, beatings, etc)

*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*

It’s so inspiring to learn about people you’ve never heard of before, making huge sacrifices for our country that most people won’t know about. I love the use of a fictional character to teach us more about the time period- it becomes less about events and more about the lives of the people at the time. This one is so well done!

Just wow. I grew up during the Cold War. After reading this book I have a new appreciation for what those in the heart of it all experienced. Bob Inama's story is incredible. His strength and humility are breathtaking. So much loss, yet in the end, he said he would do it all again if needed. The introduction and chapter notes fully illustrate the history that is depicted in this incredible story. "Come what may and love it" illustrates such great faith. Bob is a true hero in every sense of the word. I learned so much from him and his story.

Heather B. Moore's historical novel is based on the life of Bob Inama, an American soldier sent into East Germany undercover to spy on military installations during the Cold War period of the 1960s. Through interviews with Bob, she has described his actual experiences in the US army and undercover in East Germany. Intertwined with Bob's story is that of Luisa, a fictional character based on a real woman he met in Germany. Blending fact and fiction together, their stories form a dramatic account of life in West and East Berlin during the Cold War, especially with the building of the Berlin Wall and its effect on those living on either side of it.

Bob was drafted into the army in 1959, just short of completing his college degree in pre-Law and Economics. After basic training and then weapons training at a base near Frankfurt,
he was sent undercover to west Berlin where he would travel into East Germany and take photos of suspected military areas. He knew it would be dangerous, especially if he was caught by the Stasi while in East Germany. In Frankfurt, Bob had met a young nurse called Luisa at a church social and was sorry to leave without being able to say goodbye. What he didn’t know was that Luisa was also about to move to west Berlin when her father received a job promotion. Although reluctant to move, Luisa was pleased that she would be able to visit her grandmother in east Berlin and try to convince her to move in with them.

The author’s detailed research paints a vivid picture of this unique period of history, both before and after the building of the Berlin wall in 1961, when life quickly became harder for those in the east. Underground groups in the west formed quickly to help those in the east trying to escape, but struggled to stay one step ahead of the Stasi or their informants. Those spies and underground agents who were caught knew they would be subjected to brutal torture in East German prisons. Bob’s real life story is a heart wrenching one, but one of courage and resilience and is well paired with Luisa’s fictional tale of courage and care for those caught behind the wall. An exceptional read for all fans of historical fiction.

Well researched, beautifully written account of a fascinating time in history. Thought provoking and definitely ecommended..

I haven’t read many accounts of Cold War Germany, and this was a great book to get introduced to that subject matter. I cannot imagine waking up and half your family/city/country etc. is unreachable on the other side of a wall.
Bob is an American soldier stationed in West Germany, given an assignment to go to the other side as a spy. Leaving behind his new love, he is constantly in danger. Very interesting story on the workings of a Cold War communist country.

4.5 stars

This was a wonderful story about a period of history that I’m sad to admit I don’t know much about. But Luisa’s and Bob’s experiences opened up my eyes and my heart to the pain and suffering endured by both the military and civilians during the Cold War in Germany.

Luisa is a newly graduated nurse with a penchant for helping others. When an East German patient asks Luisa to deliver a note to a family member, she has no idea that she will soon be joining a secret network that illegally helps East Germans escape into West Germany. She risks her life to get them safely across the Berlin Wall, but at what cost to her and her family?

During that time, she meets an American soldier named Bob who is stationed in West Germany. Bob is fluent in German and quickly develops a friendship with Luisa. It’s not long before he receives orders for a secret mission in East Germany where he must identify possible targets for the US military. It’s a dangerous assignment, and if his true identity is revealed, the entire mission will be compromised or worse…he could be held captive and killed.

This story was the perfect mix of heart-wrenching and heart-warming. I thought Luisa and Bob were equally fantastic characters, and I enjoyed getting to know them, despite the circumstances and time period under which they met. This story definitely threw my emotions through a loop, but it also filled me with hope. Despite everything these characters went through, they never gave up. They continued to fight and look for the good even in the darkest of time.

Highly recommending this book!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4203345256