I really loved Not Without my Sister by Marion Kummerow. So, when I saw that Kummerow had a new book release, A Light in the Window, I knew I had to read it as I really enjoy her writing style and how easily Kummerow can draw you into her stories.

It is 1941 in Berlin and an air raid has just dropped a bomb on the home of Herr and Frau Huber, killing them and their spoilt daughter, Annegrete. Margarete Rosembuam, their Jewish maid is the only survivor. Taking on the identity of Annegrete allows Margarete more freedom in Berlin more so than what she would ever have if she told the SS her true identity. But, her lie comes with a price when Wilhelm Huber, Annegrete’s older brother, becomes aware of her charade and decides to use the ruse to his own advantage.

There are so many things I want to say about the characters in this story, but I am really not sure where to even begin! I have always said that I love stories and characters that can garner a reaction out of me whether it is awe, hate, love, horror, etc. This story certainly did that and I found myself at times wanting to bang my head on my table because Wilhelm was really trying my patience! I absolutely hated him, but yet didn’t. He may not have been sadistic and cruel, but he was still a Nazi and held a lot of the views that Nazi’s held about anyone Jewish. I know this is a hot topic kind of trope of a romance with a Nazi and someone who is Jewish, but both Margarete and Wilhelm really made this story come to life and I think portrayed a love/hate type of relationship with sprinkles of reality.

I wouldn’t say that the ending particularly leaves you on a cliffhanger, but it does make you want to find out what happens next. I am glad to have noticed there will be a sequel to this book!

If you love WWII stories that are a little bit different than the norm, then you will most definitely want to read A Light in the Window.

I really loved this book. My heart was in my mouth for a good portion of the novel, the suspense and emotions you get from reading this novel is really good. I hope this is made into a film or tv show one day, it’s got a good timeline that would fit very well on the screen.

Fantastic twists, lies, love, bravery, and action all rolled into this one! You end up on the edge of your seat most of the way through begging Margarete not to be found out! I mean who would dream of taking on a dead girl’s identity? It takes some guts to be that brave, but survival is the prize and anyway goes!

It’s full of tension and unease throughout. The characters are strong, powerful in their own way and everyone seems to have an agenda for their own gain.

I’m a huge fan of historical WWII fiction and this one is right there at the top! I would love to read a sequel to this one Marion!

A Light in the Window by Marion Kummerow is an historical WWII fiction set in Germany and France.

Margarete Rosenbaum is a young Jewish woman who works as a housemaid for a high ranking Nazi officer and his family. A bombing raid results in the death of the officer, his wife and daughter, presenting Margarete with an opportunity of survival by assuming the identify of younger Annegret Huber. Escaping Germany, Margarete lands in Paris where her new found freedom becomes short lived as she faces the challenges of living under the identity of someone else (much less someone she loathes to be) as her life built of lies begins to crumble when her past begins to catch up with her present.

This is a story of courage, strength and survival. Margarete’s constant fear of being found out was palpable and the challenges of the moral dilemma she faced was heart wrenching.

It’s refreshing to learn something new from a topic that is set in a much written about time period, but I did and found it fascinating to learn more about the role the University Library in Leipzig played in the inventorying of band books as well as their reporting of persons who requested these books.

Heart wrenching and compelling story about survival that I couldn’t put down.

Thank you Marion Kimmerow, Bookouture and NetGalley for a chance to read this ARC that will publish 20JUL21. It’s one that will stay with me for a while.

I just finished reading A Light in the Window by Marion Kummerow. I was first attracted to this book by the cover, and I am a fan of World War II historical fiction. The beginning of the book starts out with a bombing raid on Berlin in 1941. Margarete, a Jewish maid for the Huber family, finds herself beneath the rubble of the Huber household. She discovers the Huber daughter, Annegret is dead along with Annegret’s parents. Annegret is two years younger than Margarete. Margarete who was not treated horribly by this family makes a spur-of-the moment decision to grab Annegret’s identification and leave her yellow star in the rubble before climbing out of the destroyed house. Can she pull off an escape and take on the identity of Annegret?

Margarete, now Annegret, takes a train to Leipzig to stay with her Aunt Heidi. Margarete’s Jewish uncle has been sent to a camp. Margarete obtains a job in the central library in Leipzig as Annegret. I thought the library was one of the most interesting parts of the book. The need to report to the SS weekly with a list of people asking for books that might be on a banned list. Now can Annegret avoid running into to the two surviving brothers, Wilhelm who is stationed in Paris, and Reiner who is stationed in Berlin.

The book is constantly exploring the moral dilemma of is a person all bad or all good. This is shown through the two brothers. I felt at times the book was very repetitive. And unfortunately, I felt more time was needed for the ending which was not satisfying for me. However in the author notes, I found that there will be a sequel. I want to mention the author notes once more. Make sure you read them. Lots of research was done and I enjoyed learning about the author’s grandfather. My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

A Light in the Window is a historical fiction set in Germany and France centered on Margarete and Wilhelm lives. Margarete takes an opportunity to save herself from her brutal life of maid by forging her identity during a bomb strike. This novel is the story of how things start unraveling in the midst of SS, Gestapo and Resistance.
A tale of survival and fear this novel has a very interesting and different concept. The novel though interesting, the characters were difficult to connect to. The characters seem to have only one dimension and are focused on their own material comfort. At the end they do redeem themselves but too late in the game. A nice read if you are looking for a different story that took place during the World War era.

Today I’m part of the Bookouture Blog Tour for Marion Kummerow’s latest novel: A Light in the Window. I recently read Marion’s earlier novel, Not Without My Sister, which is also historical fiction.
This story was fast-paced and at times suspenseful, but I will admit that I liked Marion’s other novel better (not sure exactly why, but I just did. I think I like “sister stories”). I found the info in the afterword really interesting about Ms. Kummerow’s research, etc. This story had suspense, romance, and adventure, all set in Paris in WWII.

thank you for my copy and making me part of the tour!

Full review at Beth's Book-Nook Blog

I really enjoyed reading Marion Kummerow's previous book, Not Without My Sister, so when I saw that she had written another story set during WWII, I quickly signed on. Margarete Rosenbaum is a Jewish woman working as a maid for a high ranking Nazi officer's family. When the Huber's home is bombed ruing a raid, both Hubers are killed along with their twenty year old daughter Annegret. Being only two years older, and looking somewhat like Annegret, Margarete makes a quick decision to use Annegret's identity card to gain her freedom. That spur of a moment decision sets her on a road that she never expected to follow.

This story follows Margarete from Berlin to Leipzig to Paris and the French Countryside. She is living as a Aryan German, but in her heart she is still a Jew. What will she do to survive? I loved Margarete's character. She is a strong woman wit courage, conviction and compassion. She has a moral dilemma which many people faced in war, "is saving many worth killing one?" The other characters were well developed and it was easy to dislike the ones we were meant to dislike. This book was emotional, as well as gripping. Some of the chances Margarete took had me sure she was going to be caught. Reading about how brainwashed the German officers and some civilians were difficult to believe, but I know it happened.

This story does not concentrate on the camps and horrors that happened there, but they are mentioned, and there is an undercurrent of fear of being sent East. The way the German officers treated woman was terrible, but again, it was realistic. The ending was not what I was hoping for, but it was realistic. The story has a satisfactory end to it, but it is set up for a sequel, which I will impatiently wait for. Once again, I learned some things about the restrictions of Jewish persons before they started the transports. I also did not know about the national library in Leipzig and the Gestapo headquarters there. I recommend you read the author's notes at the end to find out her inspiration for the book as well as the historical events that may have been changed for the flow of the story

Heart-wrenching, emotional and poignant, Marion Kummerow’s A Light in the Window is a mesmerizing wartime novel that will have readers reaching for the tissues on many an occasion.

Jewish housemaid Margarete Rosenbaum works for a high-ranking Nazi officer in Berlin. When his house is bombed, Margarete is the only survivor and when she is mistaken for the officer’s daughter, she sees this as her last chance at freedom. Her new identity unshackles her from the fear of persecution as a Jew, however, her bid for a fresh start is thwarted when she is tracked down by her employer’s son Wilhelm Huber. Margarete thinks that the game is up, but Wilhelm surprises her by playing along with her charade and by insisting that she comes with him to Paris and continues to pretend to be his sister.

Margarete’s back is against the wall and she has no other choice but to acquiesce to Wilhelm’s plan even though she is secretly terrified that at any minute, she will be found out. Why is Wilhelm protecting her? Why didn’t he turn her in? And what does he want from her? In fear for her life and terrified about what each day will bring, the future gets more and more uncertain with each passing day – especially when the Nazis begin rounding up the Jews in Paris and the Resistance steps up its efforts…

With the stakes higher than ever, will Margarete ever find the freedom and happiness which she desperately seeks? Or will she end up losing everything she has always wanted and paying the ultimate price for wanting to become the mistress of her own destiny?

Marion Kummerow’s A Light in the Window is a spellbinding historical novel about courage, sacrifice and love that is so beautifully written and evocative that readers will find themselves completely gripped by this nuanced, immersive and immensely enjoyable tale. A heart-wrenching tale that deftly evokes the pain, frustration and dangers of wartime readers won’t forget in a hurry, Marion Kummerow’s A Light in the Window is a superb historical novel from a master storyteller.

I wanted to like this book so much and the first half i enjoyed but it lost me towards the middle part. this one came up short for me.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Marion Kummerow for early access to this midsummer release

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture & Marion herself for approved this e-ARC in exchange for honest review.

4.25 stars

⚠️tw : sexual harassment & racism

At first, I don't really hope much but I have a faith on this book as previously I used to read 'Not Without My Sister' and rated 4 stars. Honestly, it attracted me at the first chapter. Why? Oh well ***swaping something yada yada*** can't tell others too much. But highly interesting as this is the first time I encounter this kind of plot. Like the survival part was just brilliant but dangerous. As the survival part was challenging, it made me wanna know more and more curious on what will happened next. Btw, Reiner in this book is a bad guy while in anime Attack on Titan, Reiner is more to morally grey character so I was torn 😂😂😂.

I also learned new things and facts that where Jews shouldn't shake hands with Aryan, Aryan women should not wear makeup but must serve her husband fully and burning books that deemed dangerous (against Hitler's leadership of course or Jewish books). Facts snippet also contribute to the attraction.


And then I was like, MC : Margarete will keep living her life dangerously but safe. However, her luck strike despite she was almost get sentenced. She's a Jew during Hitler reign. It was a fast paced story. I really like how the MC just jumped into a problem to another problem real quick. And I like Margarete, she's smart and be cunning in the future. Her character development made me love Margarete. It's not just Margarete that made me stay till the end and made me so curious. I already thought about the forbidden love. God, I LOVE THE FORBIDDEN LOVE PART THE MOST. However, it does not serve the justice if saving only one but let others suffers just because of having love interest. It can a sensitive issue but again hope in the sequel, Margarete deserve a better man. She was in a tight spot & in a moral dilemma of love, life and death. Luckily, she has the moral dilemma.

The ending has forced me to scream in frustration as it abruptly ended and will be continued in sequel. I was like WHAT WILL HAPPENED TO THEIR LOVE PLSSS.

Overall, it was an interesting WW2 story.

****reviewed in Goodreads separately due to technical error****

I couldn’t put this book down. Even in the early hours of the morning. Poor Margarete, was used by the Huber family as what we would call a modern day slave. In a split second, her future was changed forever when the Hubers were killed in the bombing of their house. Margarete, a Jewess came up with quite a complicated plan to avoid being caught and the atrocities which were being carried out by the nazis on Jews if she was caught. She was a very quick thinking individual who has to think quick to survive.

We followed her to Leipzig where she escaped to her aunt’s and got a job but she was still in extreme danger if her plan gets discovered,. Wilhelm Huber does discover her but he is the nicer of the two brothers. I anticipated that feelings would grow between them but felt so upset for her at the end.

I think there is a follow on to this story and just hope that things will eventually work out for Margarete. There are quite a complicated lot of twists to the story but it had me riveted until I reached the end.

Thank you net galley .

Right from the explosive opening page of Marion Kummerow’s new book, A Light in the Window, the story of Margarete unfolds at a breakneck pace with innumerable twists and turns that leads to an incredible story full of sacrifice and danger. Margarete works for the Huber family in Berlin and as she is a Jew is treated with nothing but contempt and disdain. She is viewed as a dirty Jew, nothing but subhuman filth and responsible for the all the problems and hardship that Germany has had to contend with. As the bombs fall on the city, the house where she works is destroyed. She wakes in the rubble and finds herself the only survivor. Herr and Frau Huber are dead along with their daughter Annegret.

A sheer stroke of luck leads to Margarete’s survival but what price will she pay when she makes a brash, spur of the moment decision? She swaps her papers with those of Annegret’s and assumes her identity. She has gone from a Jew to being the daughter of an influential Nazi. The question throughout the book is whether she made the right decision? Should she have just fled instead of taking on a role fraught with danger especially considering the two Huber brothers, both of whom have important roles in Hitler’s government, will surely discover what has happened?

Admittedly, I did become confused at points as Margarete was switching between her own name and that of Annegret. The list of the tangled web of lies she created grew so long that when she was interacting with the brothers and trying to keep her story straight I think she was even beginning to confuse and doubt herself. But it's definitely worth sticking with as I found this to be almost like a mystery/thriller packed full of tension, suspicion and unease and with one false move the whole game could be up. I was visualising this on the big screen as I was reading and think it would make a great film.

Margarete travels to Liepzig and stays with an Aunt but still her cover must not be blown. Thanks to her new identity she gets work in a university library but everything she is tasked with doing goes against with how she has been brought up. She is used to being abused and mistreated and shamed in the streets but now as the ‘daughter’ of an important German she is afforded a different viewpoint even though when she returns home each night she is worried about being found out. Especially as suspicion grows when she fails to turn up for the funeral of her ‘parents’. Margarete struggles with the implications of her life changing decision and she grapples with the consequences throughout the book. Her own safety and freedom comes at an enormous price. She has to walk, talk and act like the very person she hated most in the world. As she is drawn deeper into the lion’s den in order to confront the devil, will she be able to stay strong and tell her tale?

I found there to be a lot of repetition initially as to how Margarete felt about the decision she had made. Literally the same thing was said over and over with just a few words changed. I felt it had been said once it didn’t need to be repeated again and again and it was like it was being used as a filler in of sorts. But once this stopped I found the flow of the story to be excellent and I existed in a constant state of fear for Margarete. She became a pawn in a disgusting game and even though she knows she is slightly better off in her new found situation rather than facing harassment, brutality and abuse in a camp still her conscience constantly plays at her as to whether she made the right decision? She was a strong, brave and admirable character but when her feelings begin to change you lose some respect for her but at the same time I did see where she was coming from considering how well pivotal male character had been written. Even I began to feel the way she did.

Wilhelm, the younger of the Huber brothers, was a complex character and my opinion of him swayed back and forth. He had a desk job in Paris and enjoyed a kind of playboy lifestyle. He abhors Jews and will do his bit to rid Germany and the world of them although he doesn’t play as an active role as his older brother Reiner who was the worst of people. Such malice and awful opinions Wilhelm could show but then at other times he demonstrated a more compassionate, caring, understanding and human side so much so that I was horrified to find myself almost warming to him. He is distraught to discover that the inheritance he had hoped for will not materialise until he marries and produces a male heir.

Wilhelm has his goal of getting his inheritance at the forefront of his mind and as news of Annegret begins to emerge he delves that little bit deeper and discovers the truth behind what Margarete has done. To be honest I found this aspect of the story became implausible and quite far fetched at times. What German officer would do what Wilhelm did given their stance on Jews and the war in general? Would his plan really work? To mention specific details as to what unfolds would give away the main points of the story and this is where things did become a bit confusing but it didn’t always sit right with me that Wilhelm would be so accommodating. He was also placing himself in the firing line given the consequences if what was going on had been discovered. It didn’t bare thinking about if Reiner figured out what was going on but I suppose Wilhelm had his own clear long term goal in mind and was determined to achieve it but I guess he didn’t take into account his human emotions taking over at times.

A Light in the Window is a very quick read and it’s really edge of your seat stuff from beginning to end. I found the ending to be quite rushed. I was nearing the 90% mark of the story and I still felt there was so much more left to be explored. But upon finishing the story I discovered that there will be a sequel which makes sense. In the end notes by the author she explains how this book was inspired by a short story that she wrote and she wished to explore how Margarete’s story continued once the dust had cleared from the rubble. I did feel this read very much like a short story as the pages seemed to fly by and before I knew it I had reached the end. I still wonder would it have been better off continuing on where it left off rather than waiting for another book but on reflection I truly was left hanging and it has made me very eager to see how Margarete’s story is further developed. I enjoyed this book. It was different from the usual World War Two historical fiction books that I have recently read. It keeps the reader on their toes constantly guessing as to what would happen as the situation Margarete found herself in seemed to grow worse with each turn of the page. She played a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a moral dilemma at its very core. Is one person’s life worth more than another one’s? Read this intriguing book and decide upon the answer for yourself.

It’s 1941 and World War II is raging on and Margarete Rosenbaum is working as a housemaid for a senior Nazi officer. When the house she is working in gets bombed, she is the only survivor. Margarete is mistaken for the officer’s daughter, and she sees it as her opportunity to finally be free. But, when her former employer’s son, Willhem Huber tracks her down he keeps her identity a secret. He wants her to move to Paris with him as his sister. He will go to great lengths to protect her. Wow, this story was so unbelievably amazing, that I almost don’t know what to say. I was so amazed by the endurance, risks and courage people will do to change a life. To protect the one you love and make it through one of the most difficult times in history, is so well written in this story, it will have you flying through the pages unable to stop until the very end. This unforgettable must read, is one that will definitely stick with you long after you finish reading it. This book absolutely needs to be on the top of your to be read pile.

Thank you Marion Kummerow for another emotional and wonderfully written story. The characters were relatable and I highly recommend this book, it was absolutely amazing.

Jewish, WW2, Germany, historical-figures, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-setting, history-and-culture, triggers, secrets, subterfuge, lies****

A tough read. It highlights the very personal way Jewish women were subjugated and violated, even worse than the ordinary German wife or daughter. The cruelty of the men working for the Reich has usually been a given because they were either brainwashed or were sociopaths to begin with. It does reflect the constant fear of those who were ordered to wear the Star. The publisher's blurb gives a whitewashed overview but can alert the reader to some of the triggers. This is what I would call a horror novel, but it is well written.
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from Bookouture via NetGalley.

Margarete, a Jew and the Hubers' house slave, unexpectedly escapes her life of servitude when a bomb destroys the house and kills the Hubers, giving her a chance to take on the daughter's identity. As Annegret Huber, a German, she starts a new life as a librarian - but her supposed brothers are looking for her, uncertain whether she is alive or dead. When Wilhelm finds her, he decides on an impulse not to betray her, instead taking her with him to Paris. There, the two gradually grow close - though surely love is impossible between a Jew and a member of the hated SS? And Wilhelm finds himself in a position where he must choose between a member of the race he disdains and fears, or his own family...

The premise sounded interesting, and the story kept me reading and mostly held my interest. However, while I didn't really either love or hate it, there were more negatives than positives when I thought back over what I'd read. For a start, I didn't like the (admittedly occasional) swearing and blasphemy, and while the details were kept off the page and it may be a realistic representation of reality, I didn't appreciate the fact that almost every character was clearly completely promiscuous. I also didn't really feel I could connect with any of the characters - they didn't feel real, and frankly, they did feel quite idiotic at times, being far readier to bury their heads in the sand than actually plan to meet or avoid problems. Finally, the ending didn't really feel satisfying to me. All in all, some people may love it this book, but I found it somewhat disappointing. 2.5 stars.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

Beautiful. Poignant. Heart rending. Stunning. Hopeful. Astounding. A wonderful, nuanced, beautiful written story about love and hope in the darkest of times.

Lies, power, money.

Margarete’s snap decision to take the identity of the dead daughter of the family she worked for, is made purely for survival; her only chance to be a German girl, rather than a Jew. As the book unfolded and I fell into the challenges of her new life, it soon becomes apparent that it’s not just her story that is based on an intricate web of lies. Lies are told to escape, to deceive, to assert power over others and to gain financial reward. The longer the lies are lived, the more lies are needed to cover their tracks and to keep others from finding out the truth. Margarete is living a difficult and dangerous life as she and Wilhelm attempt to convince everyone, including his elder brother Reiner, that she is their sister, Annegret, and although she soon realises that a life built on lies is not an easy one, the alternative for her would be much worse.

I loved watching Margarete grow in confidence and become someone strong enough to make decisions for herself. I even developed a soft spot for Wilhelm as he battled with himself over his feelings for Margarete and his loyalty to his family and the Fatherland.

This is a cleverly crafted story that stirs some strong emotions as the different beliefs of the Jews, the Nazis and the Resistance are played out.

This book really drew me in as I wondered how it would end and how long the deception could go on, without being discovered. It didn’t end how I expected it to, but the fact it was left poised for a sequel made me very happy indeed.

This would be a great summer read for those of you who enjoy historical fiction, set in France during the Occupation, but with a different twist.

Another World War II historical fiction, but again another angle that made the book feel unique even within this sub genre that has quote a plethora of work. A bombing of a home changes the life for the Jewish housemaid who survives and takes on the identity of the daughter of the family to escape and hopefully start a new life where she can survive the wrath of the Nazi regime, but she doesn't account for the brothers that want to find their surviving family member.

This was an interesting combo of historical fiction with a little romance on the side. Margarete is hiding in plain sight as she is trying to hide in a place where the identity she was born into is hated by many and she just wants to survive. Without technology and the things we live with now, I wondered while reading this book how often people were able to take on identities and hide to escape what was going on. I would love to read an article or a piece of non fiction that recounts the people who did something similar to Margarete to survive the war.

I have read one other Marion Kummerow historical fiction books and I loved it also, so I hope to read more of her backlist and the books that are to come in the future.

Adobe Digital and NG Shelf
Upclose Fictional Look at WWII Germany
Although this book is fiction, the portrayal of WWII Europe seems absolutely spot on. The degree of anti-semitism was probably accurate and totally nauseating. While Amazon and others do not allow us to use the other n-word when referring to WWII Germany, this portrayal of the belief of the Party and the everyday man is horribly accurate. The entire German culture was buying into the anti-Jew sentiment that they were considered sub-human and the source of all of society's woes. It was a despicably effective way to gain followers and build allegiance. The story is well done, accurate and haunting. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.