This is the second book I have read by this author, and it did not disappoint! I like the fact that they have made me think. Fenna, the main character is traumatized by the memory of an incident in her childhood. After the death of her father, she moves in with the family of her best friend, Arie. She has always been fascinated by Houdini and learns how to do some of his magic tricks. After an incident that forces her to leave their home, she gains a partner and sets up their magic act. As things begin to go downhill with her partner, she is approached by a British military officer who recruits her to London to use her expertise to create gadgets to help soldiers in the field. She then volunteers for a dangerous secret mission in Nazi territory. Because of her Dutch background, she is confident that she will be successful. Things do not work out as expected on her arrival and she is forced to confront her past while fighting to stay alive. This book is difficult to put down as I found the story fascinating. After finishing in, I was interested to check into things that happened in the book in order to see if some things that interested me were inspired by fact. I highly recommend this book!

Also reviewed on B&N under 1IrishEyes430 and Kobo under IrishEyes430

I have to admit when I first started reading Ways We Hide, I wasn’t sure I was going to finish it. The beginning was a bit hard to understand for me and I wasn’t sure about it. But, I’m so glad I finished reading this book! Fenna Vos is the daughter of Dutch immigrants. Finding herself orphaned after a terrible tragedy and illness, Fenna is on her own in the world. Drawing on her obsession of Harry Houdini, Fenna begins to make a name for herself performing “magic” tricks and escapes. This eventually leads her to London to create items for soldiers to carry during World War II to help them escape and find their way back to safety. If you like historical fiction, this is a must read. Fabulously written with rescues, romance, and narrow escapes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

The first few chapters had me questioning if this book would be a good fit for me, but as soon as the backstory started I was hooked. I had my heart broken a bit, but I really did enjoy it and would recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction with a pop of romance. I know a few people who avoid WWII era books due to the heaviness of the Holocaust and while Hitler was frequently mentioned, his atrocities were not mentioned in great detail. The story has heavy inspirational girl power notes and I loved it. I know the book is fiction, but we know that female accomplishments during war were (and are) largely ignored.

I have another book by the author on my Kindle and I will now prioritize reading it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing the advanced readers' copy for my honest review!

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced reader's copy.
This book is such a wonderful walk thru another story of WWII. This time a magician's tale and adventure.
Well written and easy to read. I highly recommend this tale.

The Ways We Hide is a gripping historical fiction that begins with Fenna Vos apparently assisting master magician Charles at their show in Brooklyn. But appearances can be deceiving as Fenna, or Fen, is the expert who has crafted this show and taught Charles all he knows. The future holds so much for them, and the world as it’s now 1942 and the beginning of the United States’ entry into the War. There are changes on the way for this pair.

Before moving forward, the author returns to Fenna’s childhood in copper country, in Michigan, and important events that formed who she would be. These include a terrible Christmas Eve disaster that scarred her for life, a childhood friend that grew to be much more, her early love of magic that helped her deal with tragedy.

And beyond the magic shows, back to 1942, not in her wildest dreams would she have expected to be approached by a representative of British military intelligence. This man has seen her shows, recognized her skills and presents her with an offer to assist the war effort in England designing devices to help allied soldiers evade capture or escape prison.

There are many more layers to this novel, especially interpersonal ones which I prefer to leave to readers to uncover. And there is action aplenty once Fenna reaches England but I am not going to spoil any of that. This is a great novel that keeps you reading to find out what is coming next.

Perhaps my only concern was that at times I felt it seemed a bit much happening, but the afterword reveals the true history behind the details. Still a lot to have happened to one person though such things so occur in some peoples’ lives.

Recommended. This a well written historical novel that covers aspects of history not well known and does it in exciting ways.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Wow! This book was a real tear jerker for me!!! I really enjoyed this book - it was a first read for me by this author. I will be reading more of her work!

It took me a bit to warm up to this book but once we went back to 1928, I started to change my mind! I do feel like the book seems to be slow going in a few places but overall, I loved it, even if it left me just as heartbroken as Fenna!

I love how Fenna persevered through all of the obstacles that came her way. She was a strong, brilliant, creative woman - I love how it was presented especially in the WWII time period!

I absolutely loved the relationship between Fenna and Arie...they just completed and understood each other so well. I was rooting for them from the moment Fenna left for England! They always found each other no matter where they were in
life. They were truly soul mates!

This book was well written and I really appreciated the female view and success during a time when women really weren't heard or as successful as Fenna was. She was such an inspiration! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a good historical romance! I am still feeling this book…and that to me is a sign of a great book!

The author's note at the end of the book was brilliant! I love how everything was explained. I am from Michigan and it was very interesting learning about the childhood incident. I will be going back to research more about it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kristina McMorris for sharing the advanced readers' copy for my
honest review!

It’s an incredible WW II story based around true facts, the main character Fenna has to face things that have haunted her since she was a child, to undertake a hazardous, and treacherous journey into Holland. A gripping and extremely well written narrative by Ms. McMorris about, war, loss, espionage, courage, coping with the unexpected challenges, finding the inner strength to overcome the obstacles, and surviving in a war-torn country.
Fenna Vos is raised by her widowed father in Michigan, her mother died in childbirth, he’s a Dutch immigrant, and a copper miner. As the main character Fenna raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan experiences a life changing event of the Italian Hall tragedy where many people including children were trampled to death when someone yelled fire. This impacted her life tremendously bringing her close to Arie. This is an entertaining, well-written, fast paced, historical fiction novel set during WWII, which is based on true events. It is tragic and heart-breaking, and has suspense, perseverance, a heart-warming romance, heroism, and hope. The female protagonist is likable, caring, courageous, intelligent, confident and resilient.
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Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Sourcebook Landmark.

I liked how the author magically whisks readers to the theater, giving them a front row seat and an exclusive view of what’s happening backstage. I was hooked from the start as Fenna Voss, an illusionist watches her assistant do a Houdini trick, Fenna thinks, “Deep within me, a sense of dread buzzes and crackles, an electrical wire threatening to short. I’m trapped by the stage lights, the performance well in motion.”

A recruiter from the war office in London is in the audience the night, Feena and her co-worker have a loud dispute. The intelligence officer finds her and says, “Your unique skills should be utilized for a grander purpose than amusement on a stage.”

This is a heart-wrenching, emotional, and intriguing journey through Fenna’s life as an orphan, a magician, an inventor, and a loyal friend. She wants to do her part in the war effort but, hesitates until she learns she might have a chance at saving a dear childhood friend.

It was fun to learn that Miss Voss’s job was like the character Q in the 007 movies. Her devices were developed to aid prisoners in their escape and/or evasion of the Germans in WWII.

I liked the author’s note to readers that include a plethora of fascinating information about true events, plus a list of – articles, notes and books referenced for you to dig deeper into these events.

I was excited to see the bonus pictures from Feena’s travels, (this character was fictional, but the events the author talked about were real). There are photos of card tricks, monopoly games and Gibraltar Farms mentioned in the story, along with some gadgets used in war.

I found Fenna’s recipes fun. First up is a dish called Boterkock – it’s a childhood dessert of Fenna’s it’s a classic Dutch “butter cake”, Then Hutspot loosely translated as mash pot, winter vegetable dish. Finally, there is a Non-Food recipe, Invisible Ink & Reagent. Used for writing secret messages.

If you like WWII novels with a twist, you’ll love Fenna’s adventure as she is thrust into a world of espionage, danger, and heartache. This story will stay with you long after you close the book. This is a fascinating read and one that would be perfect for your next book club pick.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher/NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

In this historical fiction book, we meet Fenna Vos, an illusionist who utilizes her special skills in knowing things aren't as they always seem to aid in WW2. In the book we learn about her past, including a horrific event at a Christmas celebration which changed her life forever, partly because she met Arie who would become an essential part of her future.

I enjoyed the book, however it just felt like it went on forever and ever. It seemed almost like the first half of the book was so much backstory to get to the present, which I appreciated, but certainly felt like it could be a novel itself. I am probably in the minority here, but the story didn't grab me as much as I had hoped. I do appreciate Fenna as a character, but at times I found it difficult to focus on the story and where it was going because I was caught up in minute details. I almost wish we got to learn more about Fenna in the present with her illusionist routine, that was the most entrancing part of the book for me. I'm not a huge historical fiction fan, though, so if you are, it might be more your speed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing this ARC. The opinions above are all my own.

A touching work of historical fiction. Set in WWII we meet Fenna, an illusionist who helps the British Army and Intelligence to invent escape aids for the military. This read is slow moving at first but then becomes a page turner. This book is a must read who enjoys historical fiction.

I have been a fan of Kristina McMorris ever since I read Sold on a Monday. She has a way of immersing the reader into the lives of the characters she writes about. Ways We Hide was no exception. Although Ways We Hide started out a little slow for me, it wasn’t long before I was completely hooked and absorbed in the story. I felt such compassion and admiration for the two primary characters of Fenn and Arie. It was hard not to like them and root for them. Kristina McMorris not only transported me back in time in her newest historical fiction saga but allowed me to learn new things due to her impeccable research. She placed Fenn and Arie at the Italian Hall Disaster in Eden Springs in 1928. The disaster actually occurred in Calumet, Michigan in 1913. The date and place were altered to fit the story. Finn and Arie were living in Eden Springs with their families and were not only present during this tragedy but they were victims of it as well. The families that settled in Copper County were a mishmash of different nationalities, Dutch and German being the most abundant and common. At that Christmas Eve party, organized for the striking miners and their families, 73 deaths occurred. When someone falsely made a claim of a fire, everyone rushed to the stairs to escape the building. That stampede resulted in tragedy and death. More children than anyone else died that night. As Finn was being crushed under the bodies on top of her, it was Arie’s reassuring gestures and words that saved both of their lives that night. That avoidable tragedy haunted Fenn for her whole life but helped to forge the beautiful friendship between Fenn and Arie. Fenn had also started developing an interest and talent for magic and illusion. She was most influenced by the talent of Harry Houdini.

Things in Michigan’s copper mining district grew harder and harder. When Arie’s father was offered a new and more promising position, Arie and his family moved to Amesboro, Michigan. Arie came to tell Fenn his news. She knew she would miss him. Arie was Fenn’s only and best friend. Shortly after Arie’s departure, the unthinkable happened. Fenn’s father died leaving her an orphan. Her mother had died several years before and Fenn had no other family. She was placed in an orphanage. Fenn was bullied there and wanted to escape in the worst way. She devised an ingenious plan and managed to escape. Fenn made her way by bus to Amesboro and Arie. Arie’s family took Fenn in and they became her family. Fenn continued practicing magic. When Fenn and Arie discovered that they truly had feelings for each other that went beyond the friendship they had built they acted on it. Somehow, without Fenn and Arie realizing it, they had fallen in love with each other. Arie wanted Fenn to marry him but that old tragedy would once again come back to haunt Fenn and influence Fenn’s actions. Fenn would leave Arie and the only family she knew. She would begin her career in illusion in earnest.

During the early 1940’s, Fenn’s career as an illusionist prospered and she gained the recognition that she had always desired. One night in New York, as Fenn was making her way home after a performance, she was presented with an opportunity that she had a hard time passing up. Fenn was recruited by British intelligence to use her unique skills to make gadgets to aid captured soldiers. Fenn needed to make sure that the person who had tried to recruit her was legitimate so she reached out to Arie. He was now employed by the army as an engineer. She had had no contact with Arie since her untimely and sudden departure. Arie was surprised but not too pleased that Fenn had called him. He had not heard from her since she vanished from his life. After Arie told Fenn he knew of her recruiter, Fenn readily accepted the challenge and found herself in London. During that time, Arie came to see her one time and then vanished somewhere in Holland. Arie’s reputation and safety were on the line. Fenn’s feelings for him had never dissipated. She volunteered to go to Holland to try and find Arie, clear his name and bring him home safely. What would Fenn find when she was dropped into Nazi controlled Holland? Would her gadgets and knowledge of illusions help save her and Arie? What secrets was Arie hiding? Would Fenn’s efforts and resourcefulness help her to locate Arie and bring him home safely?

Kristina McMorris was able to weave historical details, real people, actual events and facts with some fiction to create Ways We Hide. It brought with it intrigue, dangers, temptations, cruelties, hope, struggles, family, love, loyalty and ingenuity. I instantly connected with the characters in Ways We Hide. Kristina McMorris once again proved to be a masterful storyteller. In the author’s note, Kristina McMorris, noted that the “grim fallout at Bethnal Green station” in London actually occurred. Many of the gadgets Fenn was given credit for designing were actually developed by Hutton, the man who recruited Fenn. Most of the gadgets mentioned were actually used by the soldiers. I really enjoyed reading Ways We Hide and highly recommended it.

Thank you to Sourcebook Landmark for allowing me to read Ways We Hide by Kristina McMorris through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Publication was September 6, 2022.

I do not usually pick up historical fiction, I am more of a mystery and romance reader, but this story was fantastic. I enjoyed this book from start to finish and as we readers often say, "I stayed up past my bedtime reading!" I had not read Kristina McMorris' previous books, but they are now on my TBR list. Highly recommend.

Historical fiction about a female illusionist recruited by Britain as a spy during WWII. Strong plot and characters. While the story sounded pretty improbable, the author provides extensive details in her author's note about real life events that inspired her. Highly recommended.

I'm in the minority, but this book did not grab my attention. I've been captivated by stories set in WW1/2 and had hoped that Ways We Hide would be no different. One hundred pages into the book and I was disappointed that the story did not grab hold of my attention.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

The first part of this book grabbed from the very first page and held tight. The friendship forged was amazingly detailed and felt like the audience was included.
The atmosphere was a little lacking in description but over all that part was ok.
The relationships forged were well done and thoughtful.
The book was thought provoking and well written.
Coming back in an almost full circle until a bitter twist comes into play.
I did not see that coming and was left saddened and shaken.
A great read

Arie and Fen have been friends since they was children. One night everything changes but will it last? Fen has always been fascinated with finding ways to imitate her hero Houdini. When war breaks out, she is asked to help with the war effort. Is she helping or are secrets being kept? When she hears rumors about Arie, she tries to protect him but does she have all the facts?

If you are looking for fascinating information, adventure, romance and overall great storytelling, “The Ways We Hide” is the book for you. Every time I read one of Kristina’s books, I gain insight into an incredible piece of American History. So many stories/details that were never taught in school, are richly illuminated in her work. I highly recommend checking out her entire catalog of works. You will learn, you will laugh, you will cry and you will walk away with gratitude that McMorris decided to put pen to paper.

Having thoroughly enjoyed Sold on a Monday, I was thrilled to read the latest by Kristina McMorris.

Fenna Vos is a survivor, a woman illusionist/escapologist who is recruited by British Intelligence to use her skills of misdirection and illusion to help Airmen, POWs and others covertly fighting the Nazis in Europe during WWII.

There is no doubt that McMorris is an incredibly talented writer who is able to draw her readers in with her heartbreaking yet heartwarming stories. However, personally I had a hard time following this story. It took me some time to get into the story, and due to its length and slow moving plot, I found myself getting distracted, confused and unfortunately, losing interest more than once.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Right from the beginning I was hooked on this lovely book based on true events. Historical fiction is one of my favorites to read and this one definitely did not disappoint. The characters were all so well developed that you appreciated everything they went through and did. I loved the Harry Houdini references too! Such a lovely book.

The Ways we Hide is a riveting novel about WWII, with the added intrigue of stage magic and escapism. Fenna's work as an illusionist gets her noticed, and she travels to Europe to assist in the war effort. The war becomes more personal for Fenna when she runs into someone important from her past, Arie, and she has to go undercover to assist him. Like all novels set during this time period, there is a lot of pain in these pages, but also a lot of hope. The true events that inspired this story are simply amazing. This novel is perfectly written and deeply engrossing. Historical fiction at its finest.