This is a beautifully written heartwarming story that will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. This book is a wonderful addition to the Heroines of WWII Series. that deals with what women on the home front went through while trying to hold everything together during the war. This is a book you don't want to miss!
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Absolutely beautiful and heartwarming. Like Summer of My German Soldier but actually bearable ;)

Seriously though, in a world filled with so much unnecessary hate it is nice to read a book and remind us that we're all just people. to make assumptions about another person is wrong and causes many more problems.

I loved this book so much and found it very realistic and moving on many levels.

Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for the advanced copy of the book.

Another wonderful addition to the Barbour’s Heroines of WWII series.
I read this beautifully written historical romance in a day, I couldn’t put it down.
I loved the perspective from the women left at home. I’m sure many men and women at home didn’t feel like heroes and heroines in the war effort but some undoubtedly were. The supporting roles they played were of great significance. I loved Fannie and her determination do the jobs given to her. The look into the German POW was very interesting as well. The story was easy to get lost in. I had not read anything by Naomi Musch but would definitely again.
Thanks to Barbour and NetGalley for the opportunity to read for my honest review.

#SeasonOfMyEnemy # NetGalley

I really liked this book. The O' Brien Family, can't do all the work on their farm, with two sons away during WWII, and the father, having passed away, there is much to do around the farm. The O'Brian family, learns about German POW'S you can hire to workthe farm. the oldest, O'Brien daughter Fannie, finds herself, directing, where the men should work. What Fannie doesn't expect, is seeing the enemy as a human being, she fights, having any feelings for them, at all. This book was well written and I loved it.

The latest addition to Barbour Publishing's Heroines of WWII series has an interesting, seldom explored, storyline. Fannie O'Brien has temporarily quit attending the county normal school where she was working on earning her teacher's certificate in order to run the family farm after the death of her father and two of her brother's leaving to serve in the U.S. Military. Her younger brother, Jerry; her sister, Patsy; and their mother help as much as possible, but the farm work has become more than the four of them can handle. The story focuses on the changing relationships between the O'Brien family and the German Prisoners of War whom the army sends to work on their Wisconsin farm. The themes of racism and forgiveness are well developed in this story, themes that can be applied to current events in the United States.

Naomi Musch is a new-to-me author even though this is her sixteenth novel. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future as this one is quite well-written. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Season of My Enemy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

This story was different from most WWII fiction, in that it centered around German POWs that worked in the US during their incarceration. It mostly took place on a local farm, as they helped get crops harvested. As so many of the men were off fighting, it was a huge help to have the manual labor they supplied. Understandably, people hated them on their land, as they were the enemies their boys were fighting. However, as the families got to know them, some were able to appreciate that many of these young men were swept into the war with no choice. They worried about their loved ones back home, and wondered if they even had families and homes to return to. While I thought the first part of the book moved slowly, I am glad I kept reading. Several characters went through changes; some deciding to try not to dwell on wrongs committed but rather to move forward. Thanks Netgalley for the ARC, as I did enjoy the different viewpoints surrounding this era.

With notes of nostalgia and budding romance, Naomi Musch shines a light on a lesser known thread of WWII history.

When I first saw the cover of this book, I was immediately drawn to it. The book inside is just as delightful as its cover, while painting the reality of WWII. Fannie’s grit and determination are endearing and will draw readers to her. The heroine’s nostalgia for the simpler days before the war will tug at your heartstrings. Her struggles with those she has been told are her enemies living on her family’s farm are handled with care and the romance that complicates Fannie’s life is tender and emotional. This book highlights a lesser known piece of WWII history, telling the story of a family and the German prisoners of war that have come to work on their farm. Those that love the era will want to immerse themselves in this sparkling read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

BOOK REVIEW: The Season of My Enemy (Heroines of WW2)
BOOK BY: Naomi Musch

I love reading historical fiction for the simple fact that I learn something new. The Season of My Enemy by Naomi Musch focuses on the German POWs that were shipped to America to be held in PW camps. When the war efforts grew long leaving women at home to farm and keep the army fed, German prisoners were hired out to help farm and keep agriculture going. It’s a fascinating piece of history that I don’t recall ever hearing of before.

The story takes place in Wisconsin on the O’Brien farm. Father is dead, and two brothers are missing in action overseas. Fannie and her youngest brother Jerry work to keep the farm running, but without the rest of the family or their migrant workers, it’s next to impossible to keep up with the demands of farming. Mother hires PWs, the very army their family is fighting against, to keep the farm running.

There is interesting tension and conflict aplenty to keep readers engaged in Fannie’s world as the German soldiers begin work on the farm. There is mistrust on both sides and a language barrier that causes strain between characters. An American guard is the only translator and responsible for keeping the O'Brien's safe. The characters are believable and give readers insight to the humanity of the German military of WW2. Often they are painted with the same brush, but this novel provides a refreshing take on who these men were.

I enjoyed this novel in the Heroines of WW2 series by Barbour, and look forward to reading more books in the series.

Another facet of the unending parade of stories that march forth from the WWII power house of events and spin off is unearthed in this exciting historical work of fiction. The awkward, happenstance of 'Nazi' PW's brought to USA soil and fobbed off on farming families and canning factories was kept low profile, hush-hush. These often hated prisoner 'farmhands' replaced America's husbands, sons, and brothers who were away fighting this same enemy on their foreign turf. Was it even kosher? How about safe? Would these PW's sabotage, steal, harass or worse?

Fannie O'Brien and her remaining family grappled with these questions, having to tolerate such coercion whether they liked it or not. And how were her brothers faring 'over there'? Were they being treated as well? Constant mental turmoil, furrowed up on both fronts. Could anything good ever come out of all this?? Could she ever forgive these enemies that galled her one minute but elicited good will the next? Could she ever trust God like her mother could for all they had to endure?

Speaking of Mrs O'Brien, I really liked the idea that she had with her rocks of thanksgiving. Another thing I liked was the comaraderie Fannie had with her younger brother Jerry who were both forced to 'grow up' in a hurry as they dealt with the farm work and the tricky state of affairs with the PW workforce, trying valiantly to save their crops.

All in all a very good read; there is suspense notched up in increments that constantly kept one wondering "what ever's going to happen next!?" Then there's that interesting, twisting but gentle and sweet turn of events that pulsed through Fannie, for which she was unable to stem the tide. Smiling contentedly, I'd say, "This is a very satisfying read, indeed."

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

May 2022

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the review copy sent by NetGalley and Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Season of My Enemy by Naomi Musch takes us to Wisconsin in 1944. Farms are struggling to produce crops without the men to help them farm the land. We get to see how the O’Brien family manages with aid from German POWs at Camp Barron. I liked that we get to see an unfamiliar perspective on World War II. I thought Season of My Enemy was well-written with realistic characters. I thought Fannie O’Brien was a strong woman. She left teacher’s college to shoulder the farm responsibilities. Her two older brothers enlisted in the war and her father recently passed. That leaves Fannie along with her mother, younger brother Jerry (16), and her youngest sister, Patsy (13) to handle all the farm chores. The crops are needed to feed the soldiers plus the family needs the income. I liked the depictions of the various characters. I could understand how hard it was for the O’Brien’s to allow the German POWs on their farm especially with one brother being a prisoner of war in Germany. These men are their enemy, but they need them to bring in the crops. It had to have been a constant struggle. We also get to see the attitudes of men returning home from war. I liked that we also get to see things through the eyes of the POWs. It could not have been easy on them either. They were forced to fight by an evil man and now they are prisoners. They no longer have to fight, but they are far from home. Many of them are educated and not used to manual labor. I thought the author really captured the emotions and attitudes. I could tell the author did her research for this book. I appreciated the author’s note at the end. Despite the hardships and distressing aspects of war, we see God’s compassion and love. The author did a wonderful job at weaving Christian messages into the story. My favorite character was Patsy. She is a vibrant teenager who is clever and loves to read. I enjoyed her quest for knowledge and books. Discrimination, prejudice, war, faith, family, duty, forgiveness, and romance are a few of the themes in Season of My Enemy. I thought Season of My Enemy was an engaging story with a unique viewpoint. I look forward to reading more books by Naomi Musch. Season of My Enemy is a touching historical tale with a raging war, worker worries, a bitter brother, truck troubles, harvest hurries, alarming accidents, and a thrilling victory.

What an eye opening story. Until a few years ago, I had never heard of the Prisoners of War being in Wisconsin. And even then I only heard about it because I was told my great-grandfather used to go down and call them cowards, traitors to the homeland. I thought it was ironic coming from a german immigrant turned American citizen. I can't thank the author enough for bring the situation to light.

Fannie has been put in a challenging situation. Her two older brothers are off fighting in Europe. Her father has died of a heart attack. The men on the farm are gone, but the crops still need to be taken care of. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, her mother arranges to have PWs (German Prisoners of War) come and work the land. How do you need someone and yet hate them at the same time? How so you converse with the enemy? How do you work along side the enemy?

The story shows the challenges of hiring PWs while your loved ones suffered at the hands of the Nazis. They had to trust that the prisoners would do the job and that the guards would watch over them. They had to trust that the prisoners would not try and destroy the supply chain for America. The PWs were a necessary evil. The PWs were a necessary savior. It was up to the individual how they dealt with it. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

There is one important lesson that I took from the story. Not all Germans were Nazis. The men that worked the farm, for the most part, were just doing their duty for their country just like her brothers. America treated them accordingly.

Outstanding historical fiction! This is the first book I've read by author Naomi Musch and I was blown away. I loved Season of My Enemy. I am very impressed with the author's impeccable research and marvelous writing style. I have gone on to purchase two more stories by her today! Also, I have read all the stories in the Heroines of WWII series and Season of My Enemy is an excellent addition.

Unbeknownst-to-me, during WWII, Wisconsin had German prisoners of war who helped many farming families plant and harvest crops, and they also worked in canneries while America's own men were off fighting in the war. And I had no idea that "Hitler actually did declare some Jewish blood 'null' in order to keep his war machine operational."

In Season of My Enemy, Fannie O'Brien is now helping her mother and younger brother and sister run the farm after her father's recent death, and her two brothers serving overseas. Her mother signs the farm up for help from the prisoners of war, and Fannie and her brother are not at all happy about it. This story thoughtfully examines the natural instinct to "hate" our enemies, yet as they work together, a fragile trust is formed. Are some of them Nazi's with an evil agenda? Are some of them just like them only on the other side of this war?

"Did her brothers eat well? Rest well? Were they warm and safe? Did they enjoy a fresh breath of summery air and wear clean uniforms like Captain Kloninger did? Did the Germans or Japanese respect the Geneva Convention rules, or did Dale suffer? How was it fair that he might if these PWs did not?"

The characters were so authentic, the beautifully written story kept me turning pages, and I loved every minute of it!

I highly recommend Season of My Enemy by author Naomi Musch!

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

Another fantastic installment in the "Heroines of WWII" series!

I especially enjoyed this book after reading Amy Lynn Green's book _Things We Didn't Say_ last summer. The two cover the topic of German POW camps on American soil very well, and bring a little-covered aspect of WWII to life.

_Season of My Enemy_ was a nice foil to _Things We Didn't Say_ as well, being written in prose rather than epistolary; I prefer prose, myself, though Green did an amazing job at getting me out of my comfort zone. :)

The characters, time period, and Wisconsin setting leaped off the page here. It _almost_ (let me say again, _almost_ :D) made me want to have my own Midwestern farm, haha! But for now, I'm more than content to leave farming on the page. ;) It is truly never-ending and hard work, that's for sure. And Munsch thoughtfully, graciously dealt with a lot of challenging topics in _Season of My Enemy--farming aside. Even now, eighty years after WWII, we still see so much fear and distrust across all sorts of lines, whether racial, political, or otherwise--take your pick. But she poignantly reminds the reader that "if we began to untangle all the roots of our family history, we would find that there is really very little that separates any of us" (eARC loc 3357), and, "I know that evil men will have their just reward. I can't judge the whole human race or even a small part of it by them. None of us can" (eARC loc 3373). Powerful words, and a powerful reminder--both then and now.

4/5 stars.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This is a book in the Heroines of WWII and one that I found I was able to relate to very easily. Fannie has to shoulder the responsibility of her family’s farm while her brothers are away fighting. She has to reluctantly accept the help offered to her, German prisoners of war. I can imagine that would have been extremely difficult to not see those men as a representation of all she and her family had suffered. The portrayal of Fannie of having the gamut of emotions: hate, distrust, acceptance, and then love was very well done.

The contrast shown between her brothers truly showed the attitudes of the men as they returned home from the war. One brother was bitter, while the other brother chose to forgive and let go of the past. I was hopeful that time would heal all wounds for Fannie’s family.

Ms. Musch’s historical notes at the end of the book were enlightening and extremely interesting. I am glad I read them! I learned quite a bit about German PW’s and camps that I never knew before and had a greater appreciation for the book. I enjoyed this book and recommend reading it if you like books filled with faith and forgiveness.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC of Season of my Enemy. A positive review was not required, only my honest opinion. All thoughts are expressly my own.

When I read historical fiction, I read to learn as well as to be entertained. There's nothing more satisfying than a strong story that subtly but accurately depicts the era in which it is set.
Season of My Enemy is just such a story!
Author Naomi Musch has more than "done her research." As I read, I found myself transported to a Wisconsin summer during World War II. I felt sweaty and gritty along with the heroine, who has to step into the role of a farmer when her older brothers leave for war--felt her worry over losing the crops unless her family takes on German prisoners of war to help with the work, and felt the struggle--on both sides--to forgive and to build trust.
Musch has managed to capture the slower, methodical pace of life in a former era and lace through it a story with tension at every turn.
In short, this story gave me "all the feels" and left me with much to think about.
Highly recommended! :)

My dad tells stories of cherry picking in Wisconsin’s Door County where German prisoners of war worked. Dad’s German-born friend enjoyed talking to the PWs, as did many Wisconsinites. Dad remembered seeing their lunch, plain slices of bread, lying on the ground. The PWs were unsupervised much of the time; guards drove around for occasional checks. His experience prompted me to read this book.
In this story, Fannie resents the Germans who work on their farm because her two older brothers are in Germany, one a prisoner, the other missing. Her attitude that the prisoners are all Nazis and must have had something to do with harming her brothers made it hard to warm up to her.
After a slow start, it wasn’t until around the midpoint that I could get into the story. It is told from the points of view of Fannie and PW Wolfgang, and interestingly, PW Leo, who does have harm on his mind. Fannie’s brother Dale returns from a POW camp with the attitude of not dwelling on the past.
One very puzzling aspect of this novel is the portrayal of the fighting in World War Two. Mustard gas, becoming tangled in barbed wire, and facing the Germans over the trenches belong to World War One

Barron County, Wisconsin 1944-1947

Great addition to the Heroines of WWII Series!

In Season of My Enemy, the focus is on how the war impacted those on the home front. The O'Brien family runs a farm, which has proven difficult with the two oldest sons away at war and the patriarch recently deceased. Fannie does her best to run things with her mother, younger sister and brother. When Mrs. O'Brien recommends the family utilize German prisoners of war to help with harvesting crops, Fannie is less than pleased. Over time though, she begins to realize, the "PWs" are people too.

This novel highlights the struggle for those trying to keep things together back in the states as well as the harm in paint brushing an entire ethnic group.

Engaging novel from beginning to end. Loved the author's note at the end which shared historical details related to prisoners of war and other aspects of the novel.

Most people are not aware that there were German prisoner of war camps throughout the midwest from 1942 until the end of the war; and when it was clear that farms, canning factories and such needed help maintaining a secure food supply, prisoners were put on work details. Naomi Musch based her most recent novel on the idea that a Barron county (northern WI) needed that help or they would not be able to bring in their crops. The two older brothers were in the service (one a prisoner of war himself in Germany and the other had not been heard from for weeks). The father had died unexpectedly, and as a result Fannie has quit teacher's college and is overseeing work on the farm with her sixteen year old brother's help. When her mother makes arrangements to have German POW's help harvest the peas, both Fannie and her brother are aghast, but must submit to her wishes. As work continues throughout the summer, there are lessons for everyone. I was attracted to this title because I live in an area that had a POW camp and the men there worked for our local canning factories. They must have also worked on the roads crew because there is a story about my mother-in-law showing kindness to a group of men. She was baking pies and saw this POW crew doing roadwork outside the family farm, so she took fresh pie out to them. When questioned about it, she answered that she was a mom and she hoped that if her sons were ever in that situation, someone would show them kindness. At the time, my husband had not been born and his three older brothers were quite young. In many ways one theme of SEASON OF MY ENEMY is a parallel to her actions; when we look beyond the label "enemy" in many circumstances we find people just like ourselves. I also enjoyed 1940's farm setting; while this book is set in Northern Wisconsin, my parents were busy farming in Southern Wisconsin during this time so I appreciated Musch's attention to the details of everyday life. I received a copy of this novel from Netgalley. All opinions are mine

I’ve really enjoyed this series about women in WW2. This story is a thought-provoking novel set on the “home front.” With her father’s recent death, and her two older brothers fighting overseas Fannie and her mother are in charge of keeping their farm going. Without any migrant workers to depend upon, Fannie’s mother decides to hire German POWs to bring in the crops in the summer of 1944. Fannie struggles with bringing the enemy right on to the farm, but eventually learns that the soldiers are just men – some good and some bad. This novel is a picture of rural agrarian America and the struggles of those left behind to produce crops when their men are fighting overseas.

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

Season of My Enemy is an enjoyable historical romance story by Naomi Musch. The WWII genre is one of my favorites to read, and Musch did not disappoint me with her engaging story of Fannie and her family struggling to keep their farm afloat during the war. The story is a beautiful and captivating account of forgiveness and of unexpectedly finding love in stressful and difficult situations. And as the story develops, the characters begin to recognize that despite the fact of the war, despite the mistrust and ambiguous feelings, there is very little that separates them from the enemy. The writing style is graceful and flows smoothly, and the author has beautifully crafted her characters--characters who are well defined and well rounded with attributes and flaws. I enjoy historical fiction, and the author did a great job portraying the use of German prisoners to help with the workload of farmers and factories while the American men are overseas fighting the war. The situations and emotions that family members on the homefront faced are realistic and sometimes heartbreaking, yet not without hope. Readers who enjoy historical fiction will want to read Season of My Enemy. I read a complimentary copy of the book and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.