Thanks netgalley for this very well written book about Helen and Erik in the Netherlands in 1939. The Germans had started taking over the town and killing all the Jews.
Helen a teacher wanted to help everyone escape the Germans and with Eriks help they rescued three children whose parents were either i
Killed or injured and decided to take them to safety.
The story told of the difficulties they went through to succeed , they were young themselves but in love and believed they could make a difference
.A love story as well as learning about the horrors of war.

With a breathtaking look at Amsterdam during a war that changed so many lives, the author illustrates how dangerous it was in this period of history. I enjoyed how we felt like we were there with the people who lived peacefully in Amsterdam. When the Germans invade their peaceful land, we witness how the enemy destroys quickly and without remorse.

The plight of the Jewish people during this time was so hard to read. They were treated poorly and had to find certain places to live. The author does give us an insight into how hard it was to survive and the vicious attacks on them physically and emotionally. As we are introduced to Helen we see how compassionate she is. Her dream to become a teacher is in jeopardy as German soldiers slowly start to occupy areas where Helen used to feel safe.

Erik is very much a person who believes in helping others. He sees friends and neighbors losing their jobs and homes because they are Jewish. When he meets Helen they form a friendship that will take them on an adventure where they will see lives taken as chaos surrounds them. It is hard to read how horrible it was for people to find shelter and keep their families safe. As the enemy gets close, Erik knows he must do something to help the innocent people who are being tortured because they are Jewish.

The story takes a dark turn when talk of death camps is explained to Helen. Erik tells her that children are being taken there as well as adults. The ones who are taken away never come back and Helen suddenly understands the need to save children from this horrific place. There is an urgency to get the few children they can to safety. When Helen and Erik return to friends they had met before, this loving couple took them in without hesitation. I adored Ephraim and Delia and found them to be a very important part of this story. For me they were the real heroes of the story. They risked everything to hide Erik, Helen and the three children from German soldiers. Their faith was very strong and they knew that God had called them to do this mission.

I found the book to be interesting and really gave a voice to the Jewish people who had suffered at the hands of evil which I hope will never be repeated. The author notes at the end gives us more details about this war and the people who were persecuted. We find that there were people who were willing to risk their safety to help others who needed to find shelter. I loved how the author used faith throughout the story and showed how people were faithful to trust God to keep them from harm.

“We must care for each other as God would have it. There is no greater calling on earth.”

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

This book was really good and really pulled on the heartstrings. I cried as I read about the struggle these people went through as they tried to do the right thing while surrounded by so much evil. I loved how they did what they could to help the children to escape Amsterdam. I also loved that there were people along the way that were there to help them not only with the children but with their faith. I think it would have been hard to be living in Amsterdam at the time of World War II. I thought this author did a great job of bring the characters to life and making us care about what happened to them. This really was an emotional book that will have you crying.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

What is impossible for us is possible with God. One can’t live in peace under tyranny.

This story might make you want to scream a warning, perhaps even bite your nails, and it most certainly will make you think about what you might have done if you found yourself in the same situation. Helen Smit has dreams and aspirations just like most young people - she wants to be a teacher. Erik Minger works in a very busy grocery store with the possibility of perhaps taking over some day. A chance meeting, a picnic by the sea, occupation and annexation come together to force these young people to grow up very fast and make decisions that affect others. Will their faith see them through?

This installment of the Heroines of WWII was received through Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. These impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.

This is a good historical novel highlighting the efforts of the Dutch to save Jewish children from the hands of the Germans during WW II. It was heartbreaking to read how the neutral country of The Netherlands was slowly taken over by the Nazis. We follow the lives of two people whose future was changed forever by the desire to save others.

Bliss explores several issues in her novel in addition to loosely representing historical events. How one treats the enemy was a question many faced. Another issue was an exploration of trusting God when such evil was happening all around. Readers may think about what we would do when faced with similar situations.

Being of Dutch descent, I loved all things Dutch in the novel. I am familiar with many of the Dutch phrases and even sang the Sinterklaas song as a child, wondering what I would get in my shoe, something nice or a piece of coal.

The first half of the novel progresses at a consistent but rather slow pace. It picks up in the latter half. It is a good representation of how God fearing people helped others in need.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Poignant World War II Drama

“Just keep thanking God above, because He is deserving. And keep listening to that still, small voice”.

And so it was that Helen Smit and Erik Minger had to do just that, continually, even when it seemed so difficult. I have read several inspirational World War II books, but very few about the German occupation of the Netherlands. I found myself reading with increasing horror as the conditions of life in Amsterdam rapidly deteriorated, especially for Jewish people. Events came to a head and compelled Helen and Erik to hide some Jewish children. The hardships they all endured had me turning the pages as I found myself waiting to see what would happen. Along with the author’s historical research and detail, the romance between Helen and Erik was well done—sweet yet fraught with tension due to the difficulties of war time. The faith message of trusting in God was inspiring and provided the characters with strength and hope. Ephraim and Delia were wonderful supporting characters, so uplifting and encouraging. This novel made me think and feel deeply and I love when I read books like this one that make me want to learn more about a time or place. I highly recommend this book and the entire Heroines of World War II series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and Celebrate Lit Bloggers and Reviewers. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed here are completely my own.

Insightful:
This was a solid addition to what has been an outstanding series highlighting courageous women and their unsung stories during WWII. It was interesting discovering what it was like for everyday folk in the Netherlands when under German occupation.
This was more on the gentle side and whilst I appreciated that it wasn't too heavy nor depressing, it did come across as a bit slow and not terribly exciting at times. I enjoyed the latter part of the book more, which was intense and full of danger and suspense. I did think that the author did a good job of highlighting what people were thinking and the thoughts and fears that they wrestled with. There was also an uplifting message of putting our faith and trust in God and how he blesses us with peace and direction no matter what our circumstances.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

You will feel you are right there in Amsterdam with Helen Smit, a teacher, and her fiance', Erik Misman, as they attempt to move three Jewish children to safety from the German patrol. When a German officer is romantically interested in Helen, she feels she must do whatever she can to protect Erik and the children. Helen's life is not what she expected when she studied to become a teacher! Escape from Amsterdam gives you a glimpse into what life was like in Amsterdam during World War II. I recommend Escape from Amsterdam to anyone interested in historical fiction. I received a complimentary copy of the book from Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

I have loved this series from the start. Sadly, this installment did not seem to draw me in as well as the last few. I was over halfway through this book before the story felt like it was starting. It was very slow and hard to develop a relationship with the characters. I did enjoy the last half of the book.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked getting to know the characters, and it was an unexpected joy to get to know them so thoroughly for a historical novel set in WW2. There were a few moments that I felt could have benefited from more information about the war and what was happening, but given how it was set often with the main characters' limited knowledge, that fit and showed how hard it can be to make the "right" decision with so limited field of vision sometimes. Parts were nothing short of heartbreaking and I definitely cried.

It was encouraging to see how they struggled despite their faith, as that truly humanized the characters and made them more believable as I struggle even though I trust God and His path.

I'm interested in reading some of the other Heroines of WW2 books.

Thank you to Netgalley for an Ebook ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A poignant telling of the bravery many people showed during the dark years of World War II. When asked to fall into line with the marching orders of the German Third Reich, what choice will the Dutch people make? Many will gladly follow the new laws put into effect. Some will want to rebel and say no but their families lives depend on jobs and perceived safety. A small but strong group will risk it all in order to follow the leading of God and to try and save His chosen people. Injustice takes so many forms, how far can a person be pushed before they have to speak up and take a stand? This book follows a couple of Dutch people who dearly love their God and their country. Just when they wonder if love will grow between them, Germany invades their beloved country. Now Helen, as a teacher, has the need to save her students. Will Erik throw caution aside and help her in a seemingly impossible task?. Will they make it out of Amsterdam safely? Are there any people left who will aid them in their run? How will they know who they can trust? When German soldiers close in on them, what chance do they have to escape?
With great research and depth of emotions, Lauralee Bliss transports the reader back to the tumultuous days of the Third Reich and WW II. The fear of random attacks and discovery feels real as you work through the book. You whisper for the children to be quiet when danger is near and cheer when the enemy is thwarted, if even for a mere day. It was nice to read a story from a Dutch perspective, to learn another facet of this dark time in history. Lauralee Bliss handles the whole topic with grace and strength. I would happily recommend this book to anyone with an interest in WW II fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was good. It was different from what I usually read, but I still enjoyed it. I have started to enjoy historical fiction and this brought that to a different level compared to historical fiction books I've read in the past.

Rating 3.5

"What is happening to us is evil.” “I think God wants to be our refuge and strength, no matter what. To keep us strong even with the challenges ahead. To give us peace even if we’re afraid. To trust Him.”

This story started out strong and captivating, and even though the WW2 facts were delivered in a powerful and emotional story, the rollercoaster relationship between Helen and Erik caused for a few moments where the reading was really slow, causing some disinterest.

"But I believe we won’t be given any more trouble than we can handle. We have to trust God just for today. Not for tomorrow, but for each day as it comes."

It is quite sad to see how the German's slowly through the time tightened the strings in Netherlands and how the people accepted it.

"But I have to keep the faith that God understands and we are safe with Him, no matter what."

Though this story ended with some happy endings and reconciliations, I was left with this deep feeling of loss for all the children who could not escape.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*

A college student in the Netherlands becomes involved in smuggling Jewish children to safety during the World War II Nazi occupation, while enjoying a budding romance. I thought the religious aspects were handled a little heavy-handed, but over all this was an engrossing story.

Escape from Amsterdam by Lauralee Bliss is the newest book in the Heroines of WWII series from Barbour Fiction. As the title implies, it's set in The Netherlands in the early days of German occupation. It was sobering to read about the gradual takeover of daily life by enemy forces.

The story is told through main characters Helen Smit and Erik Misman, young adults who are setting the course of their lives. Upon their chance meeting, their attraction is instant, but their courtship is severely impacted by national events. Then Helen's job as a teacher leads her and Erik to risk everything to rescue Jewish children from the German genocide.

This novel read very slowly for me, especially at the beginning. While I appreciated the realistic pacing to some extent, I expected the plot to be fast-paced and thrilling, so I was anticipating a very different reading experience.

The author's note at the end of the book explained that the plot was inspired by actual events and historical figures Professor Johan van Hulst and Miss Henriette Pimentel whose brave actions saved countless lives.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

There are countless stories involving heroic people who tried to survive the nightmare existence of World War II. The author has created fictional characters and has included true life heroes in this story from Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Helen Smit is a young woman who is trying to find her place in life. She seeks God's will and decides it is meant for her to go to college and become a teacher. A professor there encourages her to become involved in the predominantly Jewish nursery school located next door. This first volunteer project completely sets her on an incredible and heroic journey she never expected.

Erik Minger notices the beautiful young woman while out one day with his young brother. After a time, he gathers courage to see Helen again. He is drawn to her and becomes part of her mission to save Jewish children from the clutches of the murderous enemy. Erik presents a good example of a devout Christian man during the time period.

I want to thank Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced reader's copy of this new book in the Heroines of World War II series. This is such an emotional story. I learned about the Holocaust when I was in Jr. High. It was a shock to me. This book, in my opinion, would be appropriate for age twelve and up. I feel it represents a small piece of the rescue efforts that very brave, dedicated and fiercely decent human beings undertook in the shadow of absolute evil.

This was part of the Heroines of WWII Series and I have read most of the books and really enjoyed them. I loved that this story was set in Netherlands as that is where our family originally came from. I also thought that the story of helping children escape from the Nazis sounded so interesting.



Helen and Erik are drawn together and seek to understand the world as it is changing so much with the Nazis invading the Netherlands. They each have a very strong faith and depend on that and each other. I wish that the story would have moved a little faster in the beginning and moved more to the heart of the story. The Vissers were a very sweet couple and I enjoyed the descriptions of them.



I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

It took me awhile to get into this book. Part of it was the format of the ARC (it was a PDF which was super tiny on my phone - not the book's problem) but part of it was it was just hard to get into the characters. I really liked seeing how they evolved over the course of the book, in particular Helen. She was really tested as her whole world changed. However, I found Erik to be pretty one note. A few times I wanted to tell him to just grow up :)

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC.

Helen Smit of Amsterdam Noord is just embarking on adulthood, attending Teacher's College of Amsterdam, that is until her country's government surrenders to Germany and changes come to the Netherlands. Erik Minger is a young man employed in a grocery store in which his family has invested. It appears that his future lies in business management, that is until the government began restricting where certain people groups are allowed to shop and do business. In Escape From Amsterdam we follow these two characters from 1939 into 1945, along with three children who come into their care, and those who love and support this special family.

Lauralee Bliss' writing style in Escape From Amsterdam is beautiful in its simplicity. It stays laser-focused on the need to remain steadfast in one's faith in God and in the work of Christ in spite of one's circumstances. Bliss clearly demonstrates showing greater love by laying down one's life for another, which at times may mean being willing to die for someone, but also may mean giving up the kind of life one hoped to live.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Escape from Amsterdam from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Consider what you would do if, during WWII, a child you loved was going to be sent to a death camp with his or her parents. Especially if you knew that if you grabbed the child and ran, you might go to the camp, too, or be killed on the spot.

This excellent novel is one of the best WWII stories I have read this year! The author shows happiness and joy, fear and devastation, faith and doubt reflected in lives of both Jewish and Gentile residents of the Netherlands. Most characters are fictional, but their lives echo the reality many people lived. We meet wonderful folks whose walks with the Lord are challenged as they witness God’s faithfulness. I loved the emphasis on praying about everything, and I was completely invested in the characters.

Helen and Erik met in the Netherlands in 1939. She fell from her bicycle and bent the handlebars. Erik was on his bicycle with his little brother and had tools to make the repair. It was the beginning of a friendship that grew into a beautiful, sacrificial love. Germany was preparing to invade Poland, and soon after, their own country.

Helen loved children and learning and wanted to be a teacher. She attended a teaching college and boarded at the home of the Cohens during the week. Erik, who worked in a grocery store near the college, was able to visit her when their schedules allowed. Over time, she and Erik developed strong feelings for each other.

As Germans began to occupy the Netherlands, everything changed. They began denying rights to Jewish people, little by little, until they had to move into their own part of town. Rumors flew of young men being taken to work camps to replace Germans who went to war. Finally, they heard that people were not going to work camps, but death camps. One of Helen’s brothers had been doing underground work for the Resistance and wanted her to do so as well.

A couple years later, Helen and Erik were engaged but had not set a wedding date yet. Helen became a teaching aide at the childcare center next to the college. She loved working with the children and grew very attached to a little girl named Lida. When a theater near the childcare center became a station from which Jewish people were gathered to send to death camps, she knew what she had to do and talked with Erik. They disappeared with Lida, whose mother had been ordered to report to the theater, and two homeless boys. Praying continuously, they left Amsterdam. Their families could not know what they did for their own safety.

They went to the farm of Ephraim and Delia Visser, an older couple they met a couple years earlier. The Vissers had an incredible faith in the Lord, and should they need to go deeper into hiding, would find out where to go. Whatever they faced, Erik believed “We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. It’s all we have.”

This novel was captivating from beginning to end. The faith of both couples was an incredible example. Many in Europe did the same thing for their Jewish neighbors. It hurt my heart to read about the committed atrocities, and I delighted in the depth of selfless love and obedience to the Lord. The conclusion was excellent in every way, and I highly recommend it to women of all ages who appreciate Christian WWII fiction set in Europe.

From a thankful heart: I received an e-ARC of this novel from Barbour through NetGalley, and this is my honest review.