Escape from Amsterdam by Lauralee Bliss certainly whisked my mind into another place and time. For this history buff, World War II Amsterdam and the fight to rescue Jewish children from the Nazi terror was right up my alley. With the impending doom of war, the realization of anti-Semitic horror, and the fight to do what was right regardless of the cost, this novel kept me on my toes. I greatly appreciate books that entertain, but also make you think. This book did just that. For within the pages was a challenge to stand up for the lost and helpless within my own sphere of influence.

I look forward to reading more from this author This was a story to enjoy!

I received this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This story follows Helen, a college student, during the German occupation of Amsterdam. She relies on her faith to make it through each day and is trying to stay strong. Erik, her boyfriend, does his best to stay positive and settle Helen’s fear. They see their country taken over and destroyed by the Nazis. Helen does not give herself enough credit, she is extremely strong and brave.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

What a wonderful book! it's full of emotions and you can feel every one of them. The author brings the book to life with her words and you feel like you are there. I loved it and highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I've read all of the _Heroines of WWII_ series' books, and was really excited for a new installment. Unfortunately, this is the first one I didn't finish.

The premise was super interesting, and the book certainly has promise--but the writing style was not for me. A lot of telling vs. showing (a personal pet peeve of mine), and overly descriptive; some tighter editing could have helped to cut down unnecessary wording and allow for the word count saved to be used elsewhere. Disappointing, as I've really enjoyed the other books in the series to date.

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

I have read, and even heard from my own relatives, how they lost their faith during World War 2. I had never looked at it from the perspective of a strong faith helping some survive. Escape from Amsterdam has given me a better of understanding of those whose faith guided them throughout the war.

Helen and Erik meet by chance before the German invasion of the Netherlands. The Netherlands were supposed to be neutral but Germany had different ideas. Escape from Amsterdam follows their relationship through the end of the war.

Through their eyes, the reader gains an understanding of the difficulties the Jewish people experienced and how some christians struggled to accept the treatment while others went along with the changes. The reader watches as the Germans affect day to day life.

Helen begins teaching at a Jewish center gaining a front row seat the downfall of the Jewish people. The Germans are killing Jewish men, women and children. She has had enough. She can't take it any longer. She can't save them all, but with Erik's help she can safe a few. They can escape from Amsterdam.

The journey to freedom won't be easy. The journey will have many risks. It will take a deep faith to survive. The story is very intense.

The author did an amazing job of expressing the struggles and emotions of Helen and Erik and the children as they run for their lives. I became invested in the characters. I wanted the to survive at all costs.

Barbour Books is publishing a series called Heroines of World War II, and each book stands alone in its story, there is no overlap with characters or plot lines. I have read all but one of the Heroines series and I have loved every single one of them. I liked this offering by Lauralee Bliss, but I didn't love it as much as the others. It is a worthwhile read and very enjoyable, but I didn't find the tension I was expecting from the book. Is that something wrong with the book? Not necessarily. It just didn't quite meet my expectations.

Helen lives in Noord Amsterdam but has been given the opportunity to go to college in central Amsterdam. She is wanting to become a teacher. While running errands for her mother, she meets Erik and his little brother, Hans, on their way to a boat race with other children. Erik is drawn to Helen's kind and gentle spirit and seeks out opportunities to see her.

After Helen finishes her schooling, she gets a job at the creche next door to the college. When the Germans begin their racial cleansing in the Netherlands, Helen and Erik take three of the children and goes north to a dairy farm where they take refuge. Erik hires on as a laborer on the farm, learning to make cheese and milk cows. When a German soldier takes interest in Helen, Erik and Helen have to move quickly to protect the children. The night they are to leave, they marry and then flee toward Belgium. Once in Belgium, Erik takes on the same role as farm laborer.

This is a sweet story that does explain some historical events and historical figures are included in the plot lines in the book to flesh out the story. It is an easy read and entertaining, so four stars. It's worth the time and still gives a broad picture of what World War II was about.

Barbour Publishing provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

The book opens with a chance meeting between a young couple, which should have been the start of maybe a sweet romance, but life was about to take a terrible turn. Within days the beautiful country of the Netherlands was under attack, and we journey with this couple as the evil spreads over Europe.

This is a fictional story, but there are some real people named that do help rescue and save children.

We travel with Helen and Erik as they do their part to help some children escape death, and we are there as their romance blossoms under less than ideal conditions, and with many obstacles thrown in their path. We often have our hearts in our throats as the danger comes near, and in the end wonder if and whom will survive!

This is a story that needs to be told and not forgotten, so many died at the hands of these barbarians, and the author does a wonderful job of bringing this story alive!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Barbour, and was not required to give a positive review.

Escape from Amsterdam by Lauralee Bliss is a faith based Holocaust story which follows the lives of Helen Smit and Erik Misman lives during the Holocaust in the Neatherlands who eventually work together to smuggle Jewish children to the countryside. Helen believes that her calling was to become a teacher, however as the war continues her life takes a drastic change when the Germans begin to deport Jewish parents and their parents. Will Helen be able to undertake this risk and help to save these innocent children before they are deported away. Erik Misman has fallen in love with Helen, which is tested when he decides to help Helen move Jewish children to the countryside. While hiding at a friend's countryside farm a German patrol comes to the farm that Helen, Erik, and the children are hiding at, who believes Helen to be someone else and takes a romantic interest in her. Will Helen and Erik be able to save their love and their newly found children.
I really enjoyed the character development of Helen and Erik as their characters changed over the course of the novel. Escape from Amsterdam is told from the perspective of Helen and Erik and switches back and forth quite frequently. I was able to keep track of whose perspective it was and did not get overly confused when the perceptive changed, as I have had some novels where the perspectives change quite frequently, however the transitions are not as smooth. Bliss also was able to include a on the side romance between Helen and Erik which I found helped to develop the story. I am not the biggest fan of romance, however I was very invested with Helen and Erik romance and how it was affected by the events of World World II. In regards to the plot, I enjoyed reading about how both Helen and Erik showed bravery, compassion, as well as love for each other and the children they risked everything in order to save. In regards to the atmosphere of the novel, Bliss is able to provide an atmosphere that was very easy for the reader to visualize in their minds. In addition I was able to see how change in the atmosphere changed the characters developed and interactions with the supporting characters. I think that this is an important aspect as people’s interactions change with the various events. When thinking about the plot of Escape from Amsterdam I think that it was well developed and was relevant to the time period. The writing was fairly simple and easy to follow, with the exception of the Dutch phrases which did not have translations; however they did not affect my understanding of the plot.
While I found the plot to be interesting, I did find the beginning to be to lag on a bit and it seemed to be more focused on Helen and Erik’s romance rather than the Holocaust. While this did not prevent me from finishing the novel, I was not expecting that there might be a wait before The Netherlands were attacked by the Germans. Another aspect that I would have liked to see Escape from Amsterdam would be for the Dutch phrases to be translated into English. As stated above, these did not affect my understanding of the plot, however I think having the translations would have benefited the novel.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and think that any person who enjoys reading about the Holocaust needs to pick up this book. Bliss gives her reads another point of view that is not usually written about. I think that many of the Holocaust books that are published cover the typically the countries that are taught in public schools. Bliss does an amazing job at showing how her characters were affected by the invasion of the Germans. The Escape from Amsterdam is a gripping novel that gave me goosebumps while reading that any historical fiction readers will enjoy.

I want to thank NetGallery and the author - Lauralee Bliss for an advanced copy of Escape from Amsterdam.

Another installment in Barbour’s Heroines of WWII series. Full of interesting history about the German occupation of the Netherlands in WWII. I like that the story, though fiction, includes some of the real people who helped rescue children from certain death at the hands of the Germans. The fictional characters are likable and realistic. The story has plenty of adventure, intrigue and some unexpected turns making it a very good read.

Escape from Amsterdam by Lauralee Bliss is an interesting tale about the horrors of war and the heroes who stand against tyranny.

We meet Helen Smit, who believes she has been called by God to be a teacher. But what God actually calls her to do will test her faith more than she could imagine. Fortunately, she has the love of a good Christian man, Erik Misman, to help her carry out what she feels God has asked her to do - hide some Jewish children from the Germans who have occupied their country.

The cover and the story compelled me to read this book. Also, knowing that Canada supplied the most soldiers for the liberation of Amsterdam had me wondering if they would be mentioned in the book. Sadly, they were not. But that didn't distract from the story or the danger the characters faced. Their escape from Amsterdam was very well-written, leaving this reader pondering the fates of those who (in real life) didn't escape.

While the author aptly described the terrors of the time, the characters in this book could have been more fleshed out. I found them to be one-dimensional. I appreciated the faith element, but in my opinion, it was over the top. People don't go around spouting Scripture at others every chance they get. It isn't realistic. Also, the lack of trust Helen and Erik had in each other seemed out of step with their Christian walk. There were many times when I was confused by their reactions to certain events. For example, they had a plan to explain who the children were should they run into any Germans. But it is never used, and instead, Helen goes entirely off the rails and does something no rational human being would ever do. It did not sit well with me at all.

All that aside, the story is compelling, and it will keep you reading. If you enjoy WWII stories, you will probably like Escape from Amsterdam.

it was well written and it was a gripping story about a woman and her willingness to protect the Jewish children from the Nazi's. It was based on actual events and had a little romance thrown in.
a tale of honor, bravery and suspense and it made it hard to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lauralee Bliss, and Barbour Publishing for providing this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a unique view for a historical fiction novel. Usually we see the war picture, but this is all about the everyday people and what they went through. The unsung heroes of WWII. It does say that it is also a romance novel, but the romance felt more side story than big picture. The vivid descriptions made me feel like I was there in that time period and in that setting. I really enjoyed this story.

This review will be posted to my Goodreads and Amazon accounts immediately and to my instagram account (@ginganinja333), and to my newly created bookstagram (@paulas.book.nook) upon publication on 9/1/2022.

First of all, I would like to thank NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book!

Set in Amsterdam during WWII, we are given a picture of what the war was like for the Dutch people. I think this may be the first WWII with this setting that I have read. It was very interesting to read how the Dutch reacted to being invaded by the Germans. It was also interesting to read about the courage of the two real people that this book is based on.

I also appreciated the faith aspect of this book, which is not typically common in books about WWII.

I highly recommend this book!

Although a bit of a slow start, the novel develops into a good story about Erik & Helen who face the German occupation of Amsterdam. Helen felt called by God to be a teacher and Erik felt called to business. When Erik’s brother goes missing while they are on an outing, Erik & Helen meet Ephraim & Delia Vissier. As the story develops the Vissier family plays an important role in moving the plot forward. Erik’s love for Helen is tested when she decides to rescue some children placed in her care in a nursery. The characters were likeable, but I wasn’t impressed with the German officer storyline. I think it could have been left off without messing with the plot. 3.5 stars rounded to 4

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

Escape from Amsterdam is an intriguing look at WWII and it’s effects on the Netherlands. I really enjoy these stories which mix real life characters and situations with fiction to create a novel that draws the reader into a historical event. Helen begins working with Jewish children at the creche in Amsterdam after finishing college to become a teacher; Eric works at a grocery store. When the Germans begin to invade and force Jews to live only in certain areas and store owners to not serve them, Eric and Helen’s faith begins to be tested. Eventually they flee the area with three young children they hope to save. They find their faith must withstand many tests if they are all to survive this ordeal.
I found myself not wanting to put this book down. There is so much going on and when you realize these are true situations from that time it pulls at your heartstrings. While the horror of the Holocaust is devastating to even imagine, real lives were lost and families torn apart. This story focuses on God and his provision for believers more than the horror of war though we know it is there in the background. The book is so well written I felt a pull to comfort or help the characters on some way. It also made me question if I’m doing enough in the present to help those less fortunate or those who are being persecuted today. I feel blessed to read this story and give it 5 of 5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was a very interesting book and could not put down.I can't wait to read more books by this author.It is amazing what people have to do to keep alive and help others.

Escape from Amsterdam
by Lauralee Bliss
Publisher: Barbour Publishing
Series: Heroines of WW2
Rated: 3
Obtain: Borrow
Back of the Book: “A University Student Smuggles Children Out of Amsterdam
Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.
Helen Smit believed 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.
Erik Misman’s newfound love for Helen is tested when he joins a plot to help move Jewish children to a safe place in the countryside. If danger can foster a closer bond with Helen and save the lives of the little ones, he will do it all. But 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.”
Impressions: I anticipated an upbeat and fast paced novel but was disappointed that the plot was un- stimulating. There was action throughout the story but it felt dull. The characters were likable but the crux of their drama (German officer) felt unnecessary. It was a sweet story but perhaps its sweetness is what made feel flat.
Quotes: “When fear becomes normal behavior, thoughts and feelings conform to it. Complacency takes its place.”
“If I don’t , who will take up the fight?”
I received an ARC of this book via the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here. For more book reviews go to: https://simplyannehere.wordpress.com

Great book overall. Intriguing, easy to read. The World War 2 Genre has a lot of books written about this era and yet this book seemed to be fresh and offer a new perspective. The Christian/faith based perspective brought something lighter to a genre that can be very heavy and difficult. While the darkness of the period was present, the material had enough innocence that a 4th grader would be able to hear about without being traumatized. An overall engaging book and love story during a difficult time in history.

Escape from Amsterdam is a historical fiction faith-based novel about the Occupation of The Netherlands during World War II. As an avid reader of WWII historical fiction, this was my first time reading a novel that mentioned God, prayer, scripture etc. on every page and I found it to be an interesting perspective for this genre. Most WWII historical fiction novels tend to delve into the war, drama, romance, suspense, etc. There is a little bit of all of that sprinkled throughout this book.

Likes:
I really liked the character development of the two main characters, Helen and Erik. The story is told from their perspectives and switches back and forth often. I also liked their romance was hinted at but was not the main focus of the story. Both characters express their bravery, compassion and love for children through their faith and they risk everything to help save a particular group of children from their town.

Dislikes:
I felt like the beginning of the book was very slow to start. I asked myself quite a bit throughout the first few chapters what was the point of the book? Once it picked up, it almost felt too rushed. The main character, Helen, finds herself trapped when a Nazi soldier sets his eyes on her, and I would have loved to have the author delve more into his story and their story combined. The ending felt rather rushed too.

I would recommend this book to those that enjoy faith based reading or a shorter novel, as this was under 300 pages. For those looking for action, more in depth stories and prolonged story lines, this may not be a book you would enjoy. I still enjoyed the story and it was interesting to see it from a perspective of someone that relied solely on their faith to survive the Nazi occupation in their county.

I enjoyed this suspenseful story based upon those people who helped Jews escape from Amsterdam. The first half of the story was a little slow, but the second half was filled with suspense. I tend not to be excited about mainly romance stories and appreciated that though there was a romance in the story it was secondary to the dramatic and historic times in which the story took place. This was a story of Jews who survived by going into hiding, and the exceedingly brave people who risked their own life by saving those they could. I appreciated that the basis for the story was actual people who saved a thousand children from certain death. It is a story or survival and sacrifice. I appreciate reading an advance copy provided by Net Galley and Barbour Publishing. A review was not required