Fascinating, compelling yet heart wrenching tale of two wives - one German, as the title suggests, the other American. Australian Rimmer has clearly done her homework yet again as she brings alive in masterful manner the family of a German rocket scientist in the Nazi era, and that of a woman who endures very different hardships as a farmer’s daughter on the drought-ridden American plains, and then brings together the two families in post-war Huntsville, Alabama. In so doing, the author expertly presents conflicts of many stripes and colors and their emotional toll. Thought provoking in every chapter, the themes explored are all too relevant in the present day. Four and one-half stars. Many thanks to NetGalley and Graydon House for the complimentary ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

I can't imagine the lift of Sofie or Jurgen. First they are forced to live a life they don't agree with and just when they feel they have escaped, a new type of terror emerges. I hate that for them. I can't help but think about what a rough time it was socially in Alabama in the 50's and how charged the environment was.

Kelly did a great job of bringing the reader into the world of the Rhodes family during both time periods. My heart broke at being forced into a life of violence. I wish I could put into adequate words how this book made me feel.

The German Wife is a book that will make you think, smile , cringe and ultimately capture your heart.

The book is told from several time frames that included Germany in the 1930s , Alabama in the Great Depression and Texas in the 1950's .

Sofie and Jurgen are struggling in Germany during the War as they know even if Jurgen is only following orders either way he will be considered a War Criminal.

They have a family to protect to they play "the game" to survive.

It's hard to understand for us but I maintain that the will to survive is unbelievably strong and they both above all wanted to protect their children

Lizzie has lost her home in the Dust Storms of the Depression and moves on to Texas for a fresh start.

You get to know the characters well before Sofie moves to Texas to join Jurgen . The US has re-written their history in order to get their expertise in rockets. Its Operation Paperclip.

Not only Lizzie but others in the town of Huntsville resent the German families.

You go on the journey with both of them and their families and I was torn at times.

How can either side really understand the other after such a devastating War.

The pages flew by in a beautifully written book that will capture your heart , make you cry and she tears of relief.

Kelly Rimmer is a born story teller that draws you in from the first to the last page.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harelquin Trade Publishing , Graydon House for a read that will keep me thinking for days to come.

The German Wife is an odd name for a novel that is equally about a German wife and an American wife. Kelly Rimmer’s novel follows the two very different lives of Sofie, who is married to a German rocket scientist during World War II, and Lizzie, who lived in the Texas panhandle during the dust bowl of the 1930s and eventually marries an American rocket scientist. The two women unpleasantly collide in Huntsville, Alabama in the 1950s when their husbands work together for NASA.

Sofie’s story centers on how her genius husband, Jurgen, is physically and financially forced to work for the Nazi party and eventually join the SS. As much as they despise the Nazis, they know they must toe the line to protect their children and save their own lives. This is especially painful since Sofie’s best friend, Mayim, is Jewish. After the war, Jurgen is kidnapped by the United States under Operation Paperclip. He is initially held prisoner at Fort Bliss, then allowed his freedom and the right to bring his family to America.

Lizzie’s story focuses on her love for her brother, Henry, who suffers from depression and eventually PTSD after serving in Germany during the War. Lizzie and Henry hate that the German scientists who were members of the Nazi party are allowed to work freely in the United States. While Sofie is trying to rebuild a life in America, Lizzie is determined to make it difficult for her. Lizzie’s mentally unstable brother adds even more tension to the situation since he believes Jurgen is out to get him.

The constant back and forth of timelines seemed disjointed at times. I didn’t like Lizzie’s character, especially her relationship with her husband. Sofie was a much more interesting and thought-provoking character. Both women are survivors who will do whatever is necessary to protect the ones they love, including turning a blind eye.

3-5 stars, rounded down. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. This novel will be published on June 28, 2022.

The German Wife is a historical fiction that takes on a different experience during WWII and the aftermath. It is loosely based on the Operation Paperclip program which I had never heard of and was astonished to learn about. This program brought many highly successful German scientists to America. This story takes on the account of the family of one and their survival during and before the war and how they attempt to rebuild their lives in America, where there are not welcomed and harassed for their involvement with the Nazis. We often read stories from those in the resistance, but taking on a story such as this one is interesting. In the last few years, it feels as if this genre has exploded.

In the German Wife, in addition to Sophie and Jurgen, we also meet Lizzie, the American wife of a U.S. Army officer who works with the German Scientist. Lizzie's brother is also a vet suffering from combat fatigue. Lizzie has her own complicated history and the book tells her story of growing up in the Texas Panhandle during the dirty thirties and her own fight for survival during the dust bowl.

All the life stories converge into an exciting story. I really enjoyed the backstories of all the characters, especially Lizzie, although I disliked her in the "current" chapters. I think this book touched on some of the real and unfortunate aspects of life and I enjoyed that.

LOVED it!!! Such a beautifully written story. I loved the Rhodes family. Jurgen and Sofie were wonderful parents who wanted the best for their children. They were living in scary times when they couldn't tell the truth to their children incase they reported them for being disloyal to the Reich. The children were so easily brainwashed with Hitler's ideas. It was sad to see how Georg and Laura treated Mayim, a woman whom they loved for years. I'm not sure what the neighbors in Alabama expected the Rhodes to do during the War. All the Americans assume every German is a Nazi. Every time Jurgen and Sofie resisted, something bad happened to them. Loved Aunt Adele. She was such a feisty old lady. I understand that Lizzie loved her brother, but she enabled his delusions. She should have tried to get him more help. Why didn't Calvin and Lizzie tell the police that Jurgen was never in their kitchen? I couldn't believe she was going to try and hide all of the evidence. Henry needed help, more than Lizzie could give him. I really liked Lizzie while she was growing up in Texas and during her struggles before she met Calvin. I wished she would have given Sofie a chance at the picnic. I understand that it was hard for people to trust the Germans with WWII still in the back of their minds. The Germans were their enemies and now they are working side by side with them. I loved this book and felt like I was part of the story. I felt for all the characters and was sad to see it end. I wanted to keep reading about Jurgen, Sofie and their children (hoping that Laura reconciled with her family) and see what was next for Lizzie.

Definitely recommend the book. I loved the characters, story and writing style. I felt like I got to know the Rhodes family. I didn't know much about Operation Paperclip, so this story was very interesting. I can't say enough good things about the book, except just read it!!! Look forward to reading more books by the author.

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

We tell ourselves that we're only protecting our family, but family can be damaged by our decision to protect it.

A novel like this always begs the question what would you do? I think reading novels like about World War II always brings new insight. Some do not know this history at all or the significance of it. Like the propaganda of the media and ruling parties. When the media is for one party, then you know you are in trouble. However, I appreciated this one for several reasons. It was between 2 women. Both women had different strengths. Sofie von Meyer Rhodes married to a brilliant man who as been asked to work for the SS. His dream was to build a rocket to the moon but under Hitler his dream has become a nightmare. Her best friend is Jewish. Whom they had tried to protect but had to let her go to avoid any suspicion. They are trying to protect their family but not cross the line of their core values. Lizzie the 2nd woman was from an American farming town. Her family struggled every year to bring in the crops. Along with her brother, Henry, they came into rough times that ended them in El Paso. Lizzie was a loyal and fierce because she had to be. In El Paso she met her husband who also is a brilliant scientist. Twenty years later the two women meet and emotions get in the way of humanity. They are pitted against each other because of preconceived ideals.

Both women's narration is done in two time periods. Before the war so you were able to know the women before the war changed them, during the war so you could sense how they survived and after the war in how they reconciled their past. I absolutely loved how each of these women drew strength, where they drew it from and how they moved forward. Highly recommend.


A special thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

This is the first time I’ve ever read a historical fiction book quite like this. I have to admit that the WWII era has been the subject of soooo many books that I sometimes will turn away from this type of book. But before you decide to skip this one, know this….this is a book that will challenge your mind and make you truly think about the war from different perspectives. I truly enjoyed it! A huge thanks to the publisher for an early copy of the book. All opinions are my very own!

As a fan of Kelly Rimmer, this was everything I'd hoped for! Thanks to @netgalley and @harlequinbooks for the early copy! 
*
Synopsis: Berlin, 1930: When Nazis rise to power, Sofie and her husband Jurgen have to make impossible choices to survive. Twenty years later in Alabama, Jurgen has been pardoned and brought to the US to assist with its rocket program, and Sofie is hoping for a new start. But things don't go well as her neighbors learn more details about her past. 
*
This was really so good. It's told in alternating timelines, between 1930 Berlin and 1950 Alabama, but there's also an additional perspective, that of Lizzie Miller. Lizzie grows up in the Dust Bowl, and ends up in Hunstville with her husband and brother, suffering from "combat fatigue" from serving in WWII. Lizzie's background was just as fascinating as Sofie's, and made for two wonderfully complex characters. (And it's not said explicitly but hinted that Lizzie is asexual, which was a great diverse perspective!)
*
They each face impossible moral dilemmas, having to accept horrible circumstances to protect those they love the most. This would be a wonderful book club book for sure! 
*
I was also really impressed with all the side characters--the crotchety great Aunt Adele, Sofie's oldest son Georg essentially being brainwashed, the gossipy neighbor Avril with her backhanded compliments--although not necessarily *good* characters, they were real. 
*
This was a wonderful story about WWII and the years following, presenting a new angle and wonderful characters. Definitely recommend!

Author Kelly Rimmer has explored a slice of history that I had never heard about before - the covert affair known as Operation Paperclip featuring the revolutionary V2 rocket program.

Meticulously researched and carefully plotted, Rimmer explores three different timelines (America in the 1930s, America in the 1950s, and Germany in the 1930s) through two different and equally strong women, Sofie Rhodes and Lizzie Miller.

Rimmer introduces readers to each family in the 1950s and then backtracks to give readers a glimpse into their past from the 1930s forward, before sewing the timelines together. What I loved about this seamless transition was that I was able to see how Sofie and Lizzie’s families were influenced and shaped by their past. The character development is stellar and beautifully unveiled by implementing flashbacks. Rimmer’s book showcases her talent as a historical fiction author; it’s like a smorgasbord of exquisitely prepared literary goodness. It truly is magnificent.

Although all three storylines are well-executed and stuffed with detail, I identified more with the experiences of Sofie von Meyer Rhodes and her husband Jurgen. Like them, I emigrated to a new country and faced the cultural differences and the agonizing struggle to assimilate. I understood the fierce animosity they experienced.

How refreshing to have a woman’s point of view; not only from Sofie’s experiences as a mother during the Nazi succession and single-handedly raising the family but also in emigrating to a new country and desperately trying to fit in. Knowing that she was there with a secret and under no fault of her own, made her experience so emotionally rich for readers. I felt her angst at reuniting the family and ensuring that everyone felt happy at a fresh start in a new country. It would have been easier for Rimmer to write from Jurgen’s point of view, a scientist (Wernher von Braun) in the fledgling space program, but I’m so glad she didn’t. The result is a much deeper and more memorable experience for readers.

This magnificent, heartbreaking and thought-provoking book highlights legendary women who show us that there’s no limit to how far a mother’s love can go and how deep it can be. It’s written by an author who consistently delivers powerful stories showcasing little known slices of our history. It needs to be at the top of every historical fiction reader's list.

I was gifted this advance copy by Kelly Rimmer, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I have an apology to make. Like dating really, but out of the millions of books and readers out there, this one happened to not be a match for me. I’m sorry but you’re not my type (sorry, I couldn’t resist). I like my historical fiction books to be more heavy on history and less on fiction.

This tale of people on opposite sides of World War II felt to me like the author is an apologist for the losers. It starts with the sorrow of a American family suffering the combined double whammy of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl drought that left so many US families penniless and migrant in the 1930s and the real-life secret intelligence program of Operation Paperclip, the US effort to bring German scientists over after the war to work on what became the space program. It flashes back to Germany and the lives of this perfect, upper middle-class family where the husband is a rocket scientist and the wife’s best friend is Jewish. It’s a bi-period, bi-country telling of the two main families and how after the war their lives intersect in Huntsville, Alabama, the home of the nascent US space program.

Note on characters: The defense of the V-2 rocket scientist grates on me. Even Wernher von Braun who distinguished himself in real life in NASA and who really designed the V-2 rockets in WWII and clearly who was more than a passing influence on the Jürgen character, said, and I quote: “I have very deep and sincere regret for the victims of the V-2 rockets, but there were victims on both sides ... A war is a war, and when my country is at war, my duty is to help win that war." Jürgen must be von Braun’s superior twin.

Also the Jewish woman is named “Mayim” - a modern Hebrew name. Named In Germany in the first two decades of the 20th century, if she were a Jewish girl born to an upper income, assimilated family in Germany she would more likely have a German name like her peers – Ilse or Leni or something. And of the people who helped Jews in Germany and received recognition for it, at Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Authority, out of some 17,000 only 330 were German. But that’s a topic for another day, and another book. I’m not convinced of the depth of the friendship with Sofie takes.
I also took umbrage on the use of modern language, especially espressions which didn’t come into use until decades later and other anachronisms, but I’m thinking perhaps that was done on purpose as a shorthand for readers younger than me.
The book is the kind people call “unputdownable”. It is written in a cinematic way that has one moving the pages to see what happens. As a storyteller the author is very skillful, as a story, it moves along at a quick pace and is very interesting. As a historical fiction, I think it relies too heavily on fiction for my taste. But read it and make up your own mind.

Thank you NetGalley and Graydon House for the ARC of this book. I’m sorry it didn’t work out. I hope we can still be friends.

There is just something about WWII historical fiction that always interests me... And especially if it shows signs of offering an at least somewhat original angle. I think this was probably the main reason I knew that wanted to read The German Wife as soon as I first read the blurb. The promise of a post-war angle featuring former members of the Nazi party as well as a scientist focus had me instantly intrigued, and I'm happy to announce that this story definitely delivered for me.

I was already expecting a dual timeline story after reading the blurb, but what I didn't realize was that we were also going to have a second set of timelines following a completely different character. That's right: not only do we follow Sofie in the past and present, but we also have a second POV featuring Lizzie. Through her eyes, we see what it was like during the Great Depression in rural Texas and we also learn more about how Lizzie ended up in Huntsville Alabama in 1950. While initially I felt like Lizzie's POV distracted from Sofie's situation and the escalating Nazi situation in Germany in the years before WWII, you soon realize why her POV is important in the present (1950) timeline. It might seem a lot to juggle initially, but overall it's worth it and the addition of the second POV gave the story more dept.

It truly shows how well researched this story is, with many details about Nazi Germany and how it was like for a 'normal' German family to have to deal with the constant changes and restrictions. Especially with the main character Sofie having a Jewish best friend on one hand, but also increasingly Nazi-focused other friends as well as the obligation to follow the new rules or face grave consequences for their family. The author did an excellent job of showing how some people really didn't seem to have a choice in joining the party at all, and it made it easier to connect to and feel empathy for Sofie in the present.

There is also the whole Operation Paperclip situation and the scientist angle of course, which was what personally made the story stand out for me. The fact that the US took German scientists and put them to work in the American space program after the war is fascinating, and I liked the focus on how the locals react to the presence of those Germans in their small town. On top of this, the story also focuses on the Great Depression and how difficult life was in 1930s (rural) Texas through Lizzie's POV. Both Lizzie and her brother have had a tough life, and it was interesting to see how they ended up in Huntsville after everything they have been through.

There are a lot of different themes involves apart from the obvious Nazi party, war crimes, Great Depression and science; there is also a focus on for example mental health, suicide, family, ptsd and racism. It might seem like a lot and initially I had my doubts about the second POV, but in the end I liked how the different POVs and timelines complemented each other and the past timelines were essential in understanding both Sofie and Lizzie in the present. I did like Sofie better than Lizzie, but both are very strong women who know what it's like to struggle and fight for their families.

In short, The German Wife turned out to be a very well researched and simply fascinating piece of WWII historical fiction I can recommend to anyone who enjoys the genre and doesn't mind more complex plots and a dual POV AND timeline structure.

Another 5 star read by one of my favorite authors. I went into this story blind, and it was not at all what I expected it to be. Rimmer will make you think when reading this book and you will be captivated by the storyline from the very first chapter. She dives into the choices that people make in impossible situations, what one will do to keep their family together, and has you contemplate whether you can just "erase" parts of the past without repercussions.

This story alternates between the perspectives of two women before and after the war. First we have Sofie who is the wife of a German rocket scientist. She arrives in Alabama to a community who is hostile towards her presence and her husband's involvement with Nazi Germany. Then we have Lizzie, a farmer's daughter who grew up in the American depression and like many others, was struggling to get by. She marries a wealthy, older American scientist who helps her "lost" brother enlist in the American army. After the war, Lizzie remains shocked that her husband is willing to work with these German scientists and her brother being a vet feels the same. Lizzie and Sofie's paths cross, and despite having two completely different lives, we learn that the parallels of their journeys are quite similar.

All historical fiction fans should read this book and learn from it. If WWII books are not your primary interest, this is a great book to start with as many chapters take place in the US and it's not as heavily focused on the fighting itself. It's touching, intense and emotional and dives into the hardships and prejudices in life before the war. Also, I found it really interested that Rimmer brings up the segregated south and how that compares to the Holocaust.

Many thanks to HTP for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: 6/28/22

4.5 🌟
I was very much looking forward to this book as it is the author of The Things We Cannot Say, one of my all time favorite historical fiction books. I was not disappointed!

Read if: You love WW2 historical fiction and books that poke at your morals (think Picoult)

Last Summer I learned of Operation Paperclip while listening to a podcast on it with my husband. I found it deeply disturbing that America would protect former Nazi's and wipe away their dark past to use their intelligence to further our space and science programs just a few short years after WW2. WHAT THE!?! So, the subject matter of this book was fascinating to me.

I loved the parallels of the journeys of two very similar women that were strong and fighting for their families and on two very different sides of a terrible war. Of course we all think we would have taken a stand, spoken up against Nazi politics. I truly hoped I would have. But, this book showed the complexities that were very real for many people.

Immaculately researched, harrowing and thought provoking! I loved it but not quite as much as The Things We Cannot Say.

Thank you to Kelly Rimmer and Graydon House for the opportunity to read an advanced copy for an honest review!

A wonderful story of a German couple that end up working for the natzis during the war even though they do not believe in the philosophy. After the war they relocated to America but they are not well accepted in the new neighborhood after the background I’d exposed.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy

Such a great read! I've read all sorts of WW2 books but never one about the Nazi program or about Germans who were pardoned for their crimes in exchange for working for the United States. I wish that the author included more about Lizzie's story. I felt like the beginning of her story about her life on the farm was so detailed but then it dwindles short quick chapters mostly about her brother Henry. Sofie's story on the other hand was heartbreaking and I felt every loss right along side her. Overall, The German Wife was an incredibly heartbreaking novel about impossible decisions and their consequences.

Kelly Rimmer’s, The German Wife, is the story of two women’s struggle through heartbreak and turmoil both before, during, and after WWII. Sofie is married to a brilliant German rocket engineer who is forced to work for the Nazi government and join its rank. Lizzie grew up on a farm during the dust bowl and has to struggle to find a new life and identity. Both the women suffer extreme loss but never stop fighting to keep their values and defend their families.

I absolutely loved this book. I liked that Rimmer went in a different direction than most of the WWII historical fiction. The reader gets to see the mindset of what happened in Germany and the incremental control imposed on the German people by the Nazi government. I highly recommend this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House for allowing me to read an advanced copy and give an honest review.

Kelly Rimmer is back with another moving and thought-provoking piece of war-time fiction. I'm not a big historical fiction reader these days but I would honestly read her grocery list, so I picked up The German Wife as soon as I got my hands on it. As always, Rimmer does not disappoint - I learned about a topic that was new to me and was immediately drawn to the characters. Another 5 star hit from a favorite author!

REVIEW - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 🌟

In my opinion, good books entertain. They take me away - let me experience a great story. But great books? They make me think. Change my world view. They force me to put myself in the place of another and ask myself - what would I do? This book does just that.

Synopsis from the publisher: Berlin, Germany, 1930—When the Nazis rise to power, Sofie von Meyer Rhodes and her academic husband benefit from the military ambitions of Germany’s newly elected chancellor when Jürgen is offered a high-level position in their burgeoning rocket program. Although they fiercely oppose Hitler’s radical views, and joining his ranks is unthinkable, it soon becomes clear that if Jürgen does not accept the job, their income will be taken away. Then their children. And then their lives.

Huntsville, Alabama, 1950—Twenty years later, Jürgen is one of many German scientists pardoned and granted a position in America’s space program. For Sofie, this is a chance to leave the horrors of her past behind. But when rumors about the Rhodes family’s affiliation with the Nazi party spread among her new American neighbors, idle gossip turns to bitter rage, and the act of violence that results tears apart a family and leaves the community wondering—is it an act of vengeance or justice?

In this story, a fictionalized version of Operation Paperclip, I wanted to hate and deplore the actions of Sofie and Jurgen. But nothing is ever easy. I wanted to say there is no justice in living their lives in the US post WWII as if they were innocent of participating in attrocities. But again, nothing is ever easy. This is the kind of book that you will want to discuss with friends, other bookish people, book clubs, etc. I strongly recommend the author's notes at the end. They summarize the ethical dilemmas of the novel well.

This book is recommended for readers who enjoy historical fiction. If you liked the Nightingale, the Forest of Vanishing Stars, the Rose Code and other historical fiction set in WWII you will enjoy this book. I hope you love it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Kelly Rimmer and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an eARC copy of The German Wife.

I’ve read several other Kelly Rimmer books and enjoyed them. I found The German Wife to start off incredibly slow and hard to get into. The story eventually starts to pick up at about 40%. For those who love historical fiction and don’t mind a slow start it’s a great book!

I liked the strong personalities of the women and how they would do anything for their families.

I’m not sure if it was just because I tried to read it on my kindle but the formatting was very off. There were odd spaces between the first letter of a word and the rest as well as random page numbers in the middle of the pages with the authors name. I also tried it on my kobo and had other weird formatting.