I enjoyed the story of this book. I found it interesting and hopeful. I felt the author had missed opportunities to develop the story more. I loved the character growth of Helen and how she loved her family. This book made me tear in certain spots.

I struggled to finish this book but am grateful to Netgalley and publisher for granting me a copy in exchange for my review.
For me personally, the religious aspect was off putting and I didn’t feel engrossed in the story. I typically enjoy WW2 fiction but unfortunately this one didn’t capture my emotions.

I loved the story of humanitarians in Amsterdam. My family is from The Netherlands and I take great interest. Helen and Erik risk everything including their relationship to save Jewish children. Another look through different eyes of WWII.

Helen feels like her world is getting disrupted right when she is about to finish her teacher’s training at the university. She met Erik right before the Germans invade their homeland and their world is turned upside down. They learn to lean on each other and point each other to Christ as they find ways to help other people survive the German invasion.

I have immensely enjoyed the books in this series as it gives a glimpse of the heroine stories of women during World War II. There are so many aspects of the war that have been revealed within this series. This book is no different. The book was a quick read that has the reader wanting to find out how things will work out for Helen and Erik.

I would recommend this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own and I was not required to leave a positive review.

Netherlands 1939-40
Helen Smit is determined to be a teacher. She’s about to start at the local university to make her dream come true. Helen decided to get out of town and it just maybe a trip to change her life. Erik Minger works for a local grocery store. He’ll eventually become a partner. On a trip to a boat race with his younger brother, his life may just change his life. As the German’s invade and life gets more difficult as time passes Helen and Erik’s lives will change in ways they never expected as their romance blooms. They’ll make decisions that will put them in danger and have them on a journey to Escape from Amsterdam.

Lauralee Bliss’s book Escape from Amsterdam. Is the seventh book in the Heroines of World War II series. A chance meeting on a trip outside of Amsterdam bring two strangers together just before the invasion on the Netherlands by Germany. Even through the uncertainty of the invasion a romance blooms and may just become more. As atrocities are revealed and the rumors seem to be true citizens of Amsterdam have to make decisions on what they’ll do. Helen’s brother sides with the resistance early on. Escape from Amsterdam shows life in an occupied country and has some real-life heroes thrown into the mix. When Helen and Erik must decide what their feelings for each other the treatment of their fellow citizens will be. Their decision just doesn’t affect each of them but each other and the people around them. With lives in danger and a immediate threat to some children these two will have to make an on-the-spot decision and figure out their plan as they go. Lauralee Bliss’s Escape from Amsterdam gets a slow start with sticking with romance of the two main characters. As their romance gets more serious and the invasion happens, the fear of what happens will ratchet up. The danger intensifies the more that Erik and Helen learn of what is happening in Amsterdam they’re appalled by it all and rely on God to help them figure out how to survive. They’ll take a stand that will put them and their families in danger. A satisfactory and happy ending that has the characters having a mixture of emotions and finding out about the people they care for who were left behind.

An intriguing and deeply emotional read. It gave me all the feels and broke my heart. I loved the pace and characters and the adventure and romance.

Escape from Amsterdam is a fantastic WWII novel. A very interesting plot that kept me glued to the book. I definitely recommend this book. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

Escape from Amsterdam
by Lauralee Bliss
Pub Date 01 Sep 2022
Barbour Publishing, Barbour Fiction
Christian | Historical Fiction | Romance


I am reviewing a copy of Escape from Amsterdam through Barbour Publishing and Netgalley:






If you are looking for a series full of intrigue adventure, and romance, in this series the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII are celebrated.



Helen Smit felt she was called by God to become a teacher. Little does she know that her care for kids will take a drastic turn for survival when the Germans occupy Amsterdam and Jewish children and parents begin to be deported. Now all she can think of is helping all the kids escape before it’s too late.



After Erik Misman joins a plot to help Jewish Children to a safe place in the countryside, his new found love for Helen is tested. If danger can foster a closer bond with Helen and save the lives of the little ones, he will do it all. After a German patrol that stumbles upon the farm where they are hiding with three children and a soldier who takes an unexpected interest in Helen, could well destroy their plans for safety and love.



I give Escape from Amsterdam five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

This was a lovely story, based on the true tale of a young teacher in Holland who helped Jewish children escape during the war. When the book begins, Helen is a bright young student at teacher's training college, highly regarded, and very happy. However, the clouds of war are building, and Helen and her boyfriend Eric watch horrified as the Nazis take over with little resistance. After Helen discovers the Jewish children in grave danger nearby, she and Eric must find a way to help them.

I enjoyed this very story about the true heroism of two young Christians, who strongly rely on their faith to help them, and I am interested in reading the rest of the series.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I had the opportunity to read Escape from Amsterdam by Lauralee Bliss is a good book about an area that I did not know much about during World War Two. The characters were strong and held my interest. I enjoyed the following the story line through the sometimes nail biting moments. I would recommend this book to others.

Escape from Amsterdam, a stirring addition to Barbour’s multi-author Heroines of WWII series, offers a poignant glimpse into life in the Netherlands during the war and especially the plight of the Jewish people living there. Ms. Bliss excels at tapping into the emotions of her characters allowing the reader to feel the uncertainty, anger, and fear as their lives are drastically changed by the German annexation and occupation of their beloved Netherlands. The well-written, suspenseful plot kept me turning pages to see what happened next in Helen and Erik’s quest to hide and protect three Jewish children. The characters, main and secondary, are well-crafted and memorable. Rich historical detail and sweet romance add interest to the read. I especially appreciate the strong faith message present throughout the narrative that conveys truths about trusting in and depending on God even in the most adverse circumstances. I highly recommend this absorbing, thought-provoking story especially for fans of inspiring historical romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley with no obligation to post a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Escape from Amsterdam is a wonderful historical fiction book. I love these Heroines of WWII series and will never miss reading one!

I'm such a history buff.  History is something that I find enjoyment in studying. One time period that my husband and I, as well as our children, love to study is WWII.  We actually reenact as part of a Canadian group.  My grandmother was a WWII war bride from England as well so it's very interesting to me to know possibly some of the things she lived through. 

In this novel, we focus on the Jewish children and the atrocities that were dealt to them. 

I loved how realistic this book was.  It read quickly for me.  The characters came out and grabbed me.  It's always compelling to me when children are involved.  I love children.  I mean, you probably know that already considering the fact that I have twelve of them of my own.  And to think of what the children endured during this war, not just the Jewish children but all the children.  

Did I mention that there is romance as well?  There is!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

4 stars, Save the Children

ESCAPE FROM AMSTERDAM (Heroines of WWII #7)
by Lauralee Bliss

I like how this series the Heroines of WWII captures the bravery of women as they fight to save all that is right and true, including in this novel, saving the children that have been affected by the Nazi machine. Thankfully, the Nazis didn't win in the end, but they did cause untold suffering to a great many innocents.

This is the love story of Helen and Erik, as they struggle to be teachers in Amsterdam and rescue children who have been caught in the middle.

Highly recommend.

I thankfully received a complimentary copy of #escapefromamsterdam #heroinesofWWII from #barbourpublising I was under no obligation to post a review. #ww2 #WWII #survival #escape #lauraleebliss

Escape from Amsterdam is written by Lauralee Bliss. This is book 7 in the Heroines of WWII series. While this is part of a series, all books can be read as stand alones. They are written by a variety of authors and focus on WWII women heroes from all across the world. In this story, we travel to Amsterdam and see the invasion from the Nazis from Helen's eyes.

Helen has always wanted to be a teacher. She enrolled in college classes to do so. In the middle of a term, Nazi Soldiers overtook her beloved country. Suddenly she had to learn to live a new normal. Erik works at the local grocery store. He and Helen have become friends and have started to really enjoy each other's company. So much so they embark on a dangerous mission to help get Jewish children out of the country to prevent them from being taken by the Nazis.

I have never read a story from Amsterdam and their point of view. The one thing that I am seeing and enjoying with this series is that I have come to know so many different view points from various parts of the world. I really love books that I can read and learn from. The characters are well written and believable. The story line is intriguing. Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

I struggled with writing this review. I didn’t like the book. At all. Warning: Spoilers ahead.

I love reading historical fiction and World War II novels. I am familiar with the history of the Jewish nursery and was quite excited about reading the book. However, I prefer historical fiction novels that are historically accurate. I expect an author, who bases her book on true historical events, to do in-depth research, and provide a bibliography for the reader to dive into.

The way life in the Netherlands is portrayed, especially during WWII, does not resemble reality. After reading about one of the siblings turning “pink as a tulip”, early on in the book, I started to wonder what was ahead. I’ll explain why I feel this book does not paint an accurate picture. My parents lived through it, I’ve heard plenty of stories. My examples refer to either the Dutch way of life or to historical inaccuracies.

Dutch Way of Life
The customers in the cheese shops buy wheels of cheddar. I’m not sure Dutch people would have known what cheddar was, but one thing is for sure, no-one in the Netherlands buys wheels of cheddar (or gouda for that matter.) The wheels are too big, too heavy and there’s no way you can eat that much cheese before it gets moldy. In the cheese shop you order a piece of cheese that they cut off the wheel for you. The Dutch do not eat (American) biscuits, or eggs and ham for breakfast. Instead of eating meatballs on top of noodles, they pair them with potatoes. In the book, everyone has a telephone. In reality telephones became a common household item in the 1970s. At a certain point, to my utter amazement, Helen takes off in Erik’s car. At that time, it would have been very unlikely for “regular” people to have a driver’s license. However, a car (like the telephone) would be owned by the local doctor or a business that needed a truck, but definitely not by a shop assistant. Besides, there was a lack of gas, you’d never use a car for an outing or to visit a friend. Delia’s friend would have come on her bike and she would not have knocked on the front door but walked in the back door (without knocking.) The plates are Delft pottery. When you’re rich yes, but Delft pottery is way too expensive for a farmer. A Delft vase, maybe. Names like Esmee, Mary, Lars or Helen are perfectly fine in today’s world, but they do not fit in the WWII time period. A geographical error: The Markermeer did not come into existence until 1976, more than 30 years after the war.

WWII
The author mentions that there is a lack of flour and Erik continues to buy pastries. Would they really make pastries over bread? That makes me think of Marie Antoinette. During the Saint Nicholas holiday they leave sugar cubes in a wooden shoe for the horse, then Helen observes that Erik has gotten really thin because there’s a lack of food. There was little to no sugar during WWII. If you had it you would not give it to a horse, not even if the horse belonged to St. Nicholas. There’s an instance of a car parked in the middle of the night with the lights on. There was a black-out, cars (if they were allowed out after dark) had to have their lights covered except for a small slit, just enough to see where you were going. The German soldier spoke fluent English when he came into the shop. Not impossible, but improbable.

Some events do not make sense to me. Why would Erik want to draw attention to himself and Helen while sitting on a terrace? Why would they flee to Belgium. Granted, I have not investigated this, but I’ve never heard of the Germans going easier on the Belgians than on the Dutch. I’d love to read more about that. Erik and Helen are in hiding for an extensive period of time. Why not attempt to get an identity card for the 3rd child?. Why do they hide with the kids? I can see why Erik has to hide (he’d be sent to Germany as a worker otherwise), but why does Helen hide? I understand that as an author you sometimes need to take some liberties for the sake of the story. Placing the Pearl Harbor attack (December 7th) on the same day as the Dutch Saint Nicholas Day (December 5th), I can live with (although an explanation at the end of the book would have been nice.)

My last issue is with the main characters and the type of conversations they are engaged in. I find Erik and Helen very immature. There is a ridiculous amount of jealousy and distrust on Erik’s part that I find inappropriate for the stage of their relationship. Just about every conversation is about God, it no longer sounds authentic. Do people really interact like that? I was set on finishing the book, but the end couldn’t come soon enough for me. I am puzzled by the number of five star reviews and find it difficult to understand that the editor did not pick up on a number of these historical inaccuracies.

If you are intrigued by the nursery’s backstory and want to read more I’d suggest checking out “The Orphans of Amsterdam” by Elle van Rijn. Elle did two years of research, has a bibliography in the back of the book and had the privilege of speaking with Betty Goudsmit, one of the nursery workers, before she passed away. Besides describing the rescue of many children, the book also gives an authentic and chilling insight into the way the Jewish population experienced the early years of WWII as the nazis tightened the noose.

Thank you Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for making an ARC available to me. I’m truly sorry I wasn’t able to leave a positive review.

Escape from Amsterdam is sad and tragic due to the evils of WWII and the Holocaust, but has a foundation of hope, faith, and heart. Erik and Helen share a wonderful story of courage and empathy in their attempts to help the Jewish children of war, and I connected with these heroes so easily.

It’s difficult to say I enjoyed this story because of the subject matter, but so much depth and heart makes this a memorable tale with such a beautiful message. Though there are parts of the story that slowed (too much) the book is a quick read. One thing I appreciate is that the romance took a back seat, and the more important aspects kept the story moving along.

The setting is described well, enveloping me in the place and time of war, and the characters were relatable, showing courage and faithfulness. I was heartened by their deeds at the same time I was saddened for those who couldn’t escape. I suppose one of the most moving factors of the story is that much of it is grounded in the sad truths of wartime.

First Lines: Pop, pop, pop. What was that?
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction, WWII
Page Count: 256

Disclosure: #CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book.

A story about the brave men and women who stood against the Germans during the annexation of the Netherlands.

Helen Smit is a young woman with a heart for children, attending school to become a teacher. I loved how important faith is to her, and how that is one of the things that bring her and Erik together, I admired their passion for helping others, their compassion and courage. The book is well researched, and I thought that the author did a good job bringing to life the realities of the annexation to life, and I thought that it was a unique perspective of the war, that I haven't much from in the past.

A compelling tale of faith, that does a good job of showing the difficulties faces by the Dutch people during the German annexation, the courage of some citizen in the wake of the German persecutions of the Jews.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Escape from Amsterdam is an historical WWII Christian novel by author Lauralee Bliss. Books on war are not my favorites. World War II books are especially hard for me to read because of the cruelty of that war. This was a poignant, lovely, inspirational story that I would highly recommend.

It is the story of Helen Smit, a college student, and Erik Minger, a grocery store worker who loves Helen. They undertake the challenge of a lifetime as they discover what it means to follow what God asks in caring for others. Their new friend, Mr. Visser, tells them: “We must care for each other as God would have it. There is no greater calling on earth.” Very true! Along with assistance from others and God, Helen and Erik help to smuggle children out of Amsterdam. I wondered if angels were some of the others that helped. I was on the edge of my seat as I read this. It was hard to put it down.

The author has written a well researched, well organized, and very well written story. It pulled on my heartstrings and touched my emotions as I read about the good things that a group was trying to do while being stalked and under attack by evil ones. This novel brought the place and wartime to life. I appreciated that it wasn’t as violent as most books on that subject, but it did have me in tears in many parts.

I loved the Christian message woven throughout this entire book. It emphasized we need to help each other and trust God. What a timeless message and relevant today.

This book will linger with you long after you finish it. My mind still thinks about the selfless people that helped many children escape horrific danger and death. This would make an excellent book club choice. There is plenty to discuss.

I highly recommend it. It receives a 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.

“The Germans had done more than just invade Poland. They were invading everyday lives and relationships, bringing fear and uncertainty.”

Ah, this novel, the seventh of the Heroines of WWII, and written by Loralee Bliss, was difficult for me to read. In Escape to Amsterdam, Bliss writes with an easy-to-read style, but the fear and uncertainty mentioned above are so real that I could hardly bear the emotional pain.

We see Helen Smit, a teacher, and Erik Minger, a grocery store worker, take on the challenge of their lives as they ponder what it means to follow the advice of a new friend, Mr. Visser. “We must care for each other as God would have it. There is no greater calling on earth.”

How will this affect their lives? Occupied Holland comes to life with its stifling oppression, great deprivation, and horrible injustices.

So why am I recommending this novel? “Those who don’t learn from history are destined to repeat it.” This novel made me feel like there are many parallels to our world today. We have to choose if we will stand up and support what is right, or if we will be silent and slowly let evil overcome.

Another overarching theme: we are stronger working together, and we need to help everyone. Bliss presents the strong Christian message of trusting God when the worst is happening.

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

This story, based on actual happenings in the 1940s, shares the actions of ordinary Dutch citizens in their daily lives and their efforts to assist Jews during the German occupation. This time period and setting interest me because I knew a woman who lived through such experiences in Holland. I have also read another novel about those who rescued children in Amsterdam as well as all the others in this Barbour “Heroines of WWII” series, and these all bring the situations and seriousness of those dangerous times to life. Readers feel like they are actually present in the difficult circumstances the authentic characters heroically face in this suspenseful book. I admire those who risk their lives to rescue others. So grab this historical fiction and immerse yourself in World War II in the Netherlands. It could make a good read for book clubs and for teens and older studying history and offers plenty of material for discussion. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.