Liesl Weiss has been around the holiday studio's her entire life. We start the story with Liesl losing her job, and having no way to support her two young children in the wake of her husband leaving. Desperate she ends up taking a job spying for a lawyer. Meanwhile 13, another spy, is imbedded in a local nazi organization trying his best to get people out before they do something they regret.

Liesl's journey in this story was very well written, her struggles with her faith due to her husband leaving, her struggles learning how to stand up for people who she cares about, and her parenting struggles. I honestly enjoyed Liesl learning to stand up for the people that she cares for and having her eyes opened to the under current of anti-Semitism in her community. I liked 13, even though he did come across flat at point, and his mission to try and help vunerable young people get out before they do something they will regret.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Story Enjoyment Rating: 9/10 Christian Faith Rating: 3/3

Review:
I really enjoyed Code Name Edelweiss. It is a Christian, historical, mystery and suspense book.

I requested this book from NetGalley, and Tyndale House was kind enough to let me have a free ebook to read and review. I was excited to read this book because it is set in Los Angeles just before the Second World War – a time and place I knew nothing about. I believe the book releases on the 7th of March 2023.

The book follows Liesl, who is a German American working in Hollywood. She is offered a job by a Jewish lawyer to spy on the people in her community who are sympathetic to the Nazis. The story is told from her perspective (in the first person) and from the perspective of a mysterious Agent Thirteen (in the third person).

I really enjoyed the fast-paced chapters, which made the story feel like a contemporary mystery and suspense novel. The book contains spies, mysteries, hidden identities, as well as complicated family dynamics. It deals with the topic of antisemitism and the difficult choices people have to make to do the right thing. I learned a lot about the culture at that time.

The faith content stayed prominent throughout the book. Several characters were either Christian or Jewish. Faith played a large part in the way that they acted, and the events that happened had an impact on their faith.

I would definitely read more books by this author in the future. I enjoyed the writing style and the complex character relationships.

Content: contains some violence and deals with antisemitism

An immersive spy story of a woman going undercover to spy on Nazis in Hollywood, California… and it is based on true events! So much history that I’d never heard about!

My favorite quote from the book, “…if good people did nothing, the evil around us would continue to grow and flourish” and “A story doesn’t have to be true to tell the truth” (the last one is in the authors note). This book provides a compelling reason to be the one to stand up for truth. “If not us, who? If not now, when?”

I highly recommend checking out the audiobook!

Thank you NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for a complimentary copy of this book! This novel takes place in the early 1930’s in the Los Angeles/Hollywood area, a few years before the start of WW2. It is based on a true story. Leon Lewis, a Jewish Lawyer, sets about to establish a spy ring to stem the rise of the Nazis and anti- Semitic retaliation in America. He recruits Agent Thirteen and Liesl to infiltrate the German Nazi Group to help him put a stop to the attacks and plans of Hitler to take over the city. But the problem is, it’s hard to know who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. The secret agents aren’t allowed to reveal themselves to other fellow agents. Only Leon Lewis knows the identity of them. Will they be able to foil the plans of the Nazi takeover of the city and possibly the entire US?
I loved reading this novel! It pulled me in from the start! It will be available on March 7, 2023!

1933 Los Angeles

Liesl Weiss loses her job at MGM, when she does not take well to unwanted advances. She and several others are let go. She goes to get a secretarial job with Leon Lewis, but finds out the job is not what she thought. He tell hers “What I am looking for…what I desperately need, Mrs. Weiss-is a spy.” She is a single mother of two children trying to support her family. Her husband vanished.

Soon she is working with Agent Thirteen and is told to spy on her neighbors and friends in her community. She works under the code name of Edelweiss, which is based on a true story. I really was invested in this story of courage. Well done Landsem.

4.5⭐Early 1930s. During the great depression. A highly engaging fictional story based on historical events. A true story of a group of amateur spies who discovered Hitler’s plans to take over Hollywood. How fascism-the evil of Europe ran rampant in Los Angeles, pre-WW2. There is a lot to like about this story, the setting, the characters, the twists and turns, intrigue and suspense, the light on the romance, the mystery, and the detailed research that went into creating this story. The plot of the story is full of action. A little slow to start but is worth it keep reading until the end. Did you know German-American spies planned to take over Hollywood in the 1930s?.... I question whether History is repeating itself --right before our eyes.


Thank you, NetGalley and Tyndale House for the advance eARC. all opinions are my own.

Fantastic! I thoroughly enjoyed this engaging historical fiction about a little known time in our history where a lone Jewish lawyer and his group of amateur spies work to stop Nazi infiltration in Los Angeles. Author Stephanie Landsem weaves a brilliant story, and challenges the readers to to not be silent in the face of evil around us. And "to move past fear with courage and love", love for our families and friends, love for those different from us, and love for our enemies. I highly recommend this excellent historical fiction.

"What I am looking for-what I desperately need, Mrs. Weiss-is a spy." "Believe me, Mrs. Weiss, this hatred has come into Los Angeles. And Adolf Hitler will not stop there."

"We're on the right side of this, have faith in that."

"If not me, who? If not now, when?"

"Adolf Hitler and his religion of anti-Semitism was not a Jewish problem. It was my problem. And if good people did nothing, the evil around us would continue to grow and flourish."

So many similarities between current times and Nazi Germany. Misguided purpose makes something sound good that's really evil.

Another important takeaway for me was to really love those that are on a wrong path instead of getting angry.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. I'm looking forward to my pre-ordered copy to arrive from Baker Book House.

Hollywood infiltrated by Nazis? Liesl Wiess, a single mother of two, loses her job as secretary for MGM and with no other options ends up working for Jewish lawyer Leon Lewis. The trick? Leon has put together a network of spies to infiltrate the growing fascist groups in Hollywood and stop them from spreading Nazi propaganda. Now Liesl is part of that network; helping uncover Nazi affiliations in her German community.

Based on a true story of a network of amateur spies from different backgrounds who discovered Hitler’s plan to take over Hollywood to spread anti-semitism propaganda, this fictional retelling gives you an in depth view of some of its spies. I loved the portrayal of Liesl’s courage to do what’s right and help Leon’s despite her fears and reservations. Despite being German herself, attaches herself to the cause to help her own neighbors.

The book is not heavy on action but it portrayed well the rising tensions of the time. The neighbor against neighbor. The stress that the Great Depression brought along with the consequences. This was a well written, fictionalized account of real events. It was a very intense read from beginning to end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale for an e-copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

A great piece of historical fiction set in old Hollywood. It’s a grand time in Hollywood as the world is on the brink of war. Hollywood is run by the Jews, but Nazi sympathizers want that to end. Enter Edelweiss, a woman that never dreamt that she would become a spy under the most dangerous of circumstances. Now, she must determine which side she can truly trust. A well done piece that I was grateful to read from NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this book! It is based on true events. WWI had just ended. Hitler was not a dictator yet, but was gaining popularity in Germany. Code Name Edelweiss is about a young mother whose husband has left her to support two children, mother and a brother. After she is let go by MGM in Hollywood, she shows up at a lawyer's office.The lawyer offers her a job she cannot refuse. Money is good and sounds easy. The more she learns about what she is asked to do become complicated and at time scary. If you enjoy history and mystery you will love this!

Having never known about the Nazi attempt to overcome Hollywood, this was an interesting tale. Based on history, this novel will give readers an inside view of the spy network ran by Jewish Lawyer Leon Lewis in the 1930s. Liesl Weiss was a courageous young woman caught up in a deadly plot. Recommended.

Wow! I was surprised by this book, but in such a good way. I was expecting the typical European intrigue of a WWII novel, but was happily surprised to find a book about a little known US history time period right before the war.

I read the book in about 24 hours and had a hard time leaving it mentally even when I set it down. There were parts that were hard to read because of the evil of humanity, but it was truly challenging to be the one that stands up for those without a voice… “if not me, then who?”

My one complaint with this book is that the protagonist seemed perhaps to be over-sexualized. I got weary of hearing about how much skin she was showing, etc. I do understand that she worked in a time when sexual harassment was overlooked and even accepted by the males at work, but it felt like more than was needed as far as frequently talking about her legs, etc.

Why I chose this book: Honestly, the back cover copy and the cover got me at first. I enjoy WWII historical novels and taking a look at how it was playing out on American soil appealed to me.

Type of Book: While the publisher says it's mystery/thriller, I'm not sure I would place it there. If I was expecting a mystery/thriller, I think I would have been disappointed. It's just a really, really good Historical Fiction. So many historical fiction writers include a bit of romance but sometimes it's nice to just dive into a solid historical without the romantic undertones.

Overall: I would highly recommend this book by Stephanie Landsem. It is my first book of hers that I've read and I look forward to backtracking and reading her other works. I do believe authors get better over time and I suspect she is on a path to create quite a following of loyal readers. The book has great tension, smooth pacing, dynamic characters, great plot. There isn't anything that stood out to me as lacking. Great job Stephanie and Tyndale team!

Favorite Quotes/Characters: "But is was the way in which he spoke...as if there was another meaning, a dangerous meaning underneath his words, as a river hides currents under the smooth surface."

Bookshelf worthy? Yes! Five stars. I truly enjoyed the characters in this story and looking at a portion of US and World history through this lens.

Teenability: Totally readable for teens. Clean. There are a couple suggestive scenes where a man is trying to take advantage of the heroine but I feel it is written well and delivered well. Especially when she goes back and stands up to him.

Thrilling yet surprisingly deep, Code Name Edelweiss is a gripping read full of compelling characters based on real people, unexpected twists you don’t see coming, and poignant themes you’d expect to see in a historical fiction novel.

Best of all, it’s based on true events, leaving you eager to dive back into your history books as you follow Jewish lawyer Leon Lewis and his ring of heroic spies as they fight the rise of Nazism in Los Angeles.

Characters:

I fell in love with Liesl almost from the first page. I wasn’t expecting her to be such a traditional character, but I found her a refreshing change from the stereotypical “spy girl.” She felt real and down to earth, and I could relate to her desire for order and neatness and control. And I’m always a fan of the reluctant heroine.

Her perspective as a single mother added an interesting element to the story, giving more stakes and depth that compelled me to keep reading. I felt deeply for her as she was burdened with being the main provider of the home.

My heart broke for the losses she endured, but I admired her courage. I thought it was realistic how she was drawn in by the Friends’ overt kindness at first. And I loved watching her grow as a person over the course of the story as she began to make the spy mission her mission, and not just a job.

While I didn’t find Wilhelm to be particularly complex as a character, I did admire his reliability and his dedication to doing the right thing no matter the cost. His protectiveness of Liesl and their growing romance was adorable. They really were perfect for each other!

Plot:

While the plot was slower-paced than you would expect from a typical spy novel, there were still some twists that hit me out of nowhere—in a delightfully surprising way. My favorite being that Wilhelm was Agent 13. For some reason, I never made the connection, but it made for a very fun surprise! The only drawback was that I found some of the time shifts confusing.

The author’s prose was smooth and easy to read, the world of early 20th century film production bursting to life through her skillful pen. It’s a world I was unfamiliar with, so I found the story a fascinating, insightful look into the historical events and atmosphere leading up to World War II.

Theme:

I wasn’t expecting the Christian undertones, but they surprised me in the best way possible. I thought they were handled in a tastefully subtle way, while still clearly present. The theme of fighting for what’s right even when it’s costly is certainly relevant for our time.

All in all, Code Name Edelweiss is a surprising, riveting, yet deeply emotive story that ends in a truly spy-novel-worthy conclusion. It’s one you won’t be able to put down!

Nazis in Hollywood? It really happened. In America’s backyard.

Stephanie Landsem’s upcoming historical fiction is set in 1930s Los Angeles and is based on a true and little-known story of the rise of Nazism in America.

Code Name Edelweiss is a fictionalized account of how a Jewish lawyer, Leon Lewis, and his private network of Christian spies foiled Hitler’s plans to take over Hollywood. It’s amazing to think that despite the authorities not taking Leon’s warnings seriously, he bolstered enough courage to assemble a group to thwart Nazi terror. Hitler had wanted to gain control of the Jewish-run Hollywood movie studios in order to spread his anti-Semitic propaganda. Lewis’ network infiltrated the growing fascist groups and worked together to stop the Nazi plans.

You’ll love Liesl Wiess and her courageous steps to uncover the Nazis infiltrating her German community in Los Angeles. She’s a single mother of two children and is struggling to support her family, her outspoken mother and her troubled brother. Not only that, her husband is missing. When she becomes jobless and has no money to support them, she’s forced to join forces with Leon. I loved the portrayal of this mother, felt her anxiety and wrestled alongside her as she faced her fears head-on.

You’ll be amazed at how a group of amateur people, a wonderful mix of Jewish and Christian German Americans, worked together for democracy.

In this clean read, Landsem explores grace, trust, and abandonment and showcases brotherly Christian love in the face of fear.

“We must not meet that fear with anger, no matter how angry we are, for that only fuels the fire. Perhaps only love can change their minds.”

You’ll be in awe of the gorgeous cover!

I was gifted this copy by Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

It will never cease to surprise me that with all the reading of historical fiction and non-fiction I do, there are still whole chunks of history I knew nothing about...until some brilliant novelist came along and wrote a story about them. For instance... Did you know a group of Jewish-American and German-American spies worked together to thwart Nazi plans to take over Hollywood in the 1930’s? Neither did I. Until I read Code Name Edelweiss, by Stephanie Landsem (out March 7!).

Liesl Weiss, a German single mother whose husband has gone missing, takes on spying work to support her family and soon comes to realize how insidious the Nazi’s plans actually are. At the same time, she sees the deep ways in which the German community in America and abroad had been hurt since the Great War, leading them to accept or even crave anything posing itself as justice.

The plot of the story is full of action, but my favorite part was the portrayal of Liesl’s motherhood—very tender and loving, but also full of stress and perfectionism and worry. I also enjoyed that there’s just a *hint* of romance, but that any romantic storyline plays second fiddle to the action plot and other character development.

There was a moment or two where I questioned a plot point, but overall I was swept into the story and deeply enjoyed the ride. Good, clean adult fiction that will leave you thinking (and probably delving into some research of your own).

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The author gives a story of some very brave people, yes these are fictional, but the story is based on fact, and that is scary!

So much hate for a group of people, and the evil in Europe has infiltrated the US shores. This story takes place in 1933 Los Angeles, CA, but as we read it is happening in other cities!

The author gives us people. some by accident, that end up infiltrated these radicals, and we are there to hope they are able to thwart the evil.

What a page turner this read was, and often with my heart in my throat, but I was looking for answers. and they do come, but are they the way you want them to turn out?

So glad to read this story, and hopefully it will wake people up! We need never forget! Thank you Stephanie Landsem I will be looking for more reads from you!

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

Hollywood Glamor in the 30s

Liesl Weiss loves her job as a typist in MGM’s secretary pool, but she doesn’t love how men treat an honest woman trying to support her family. But as the Great Depression tightens its grip on America, Liesl knows speaking out could lose the family’s main source of income. As cutbacks hit the studios, Liesel’s worst nightmare comes true—she gets laid off.

Finding a new job looks hopeless because more and more employers will only hire men. But Liesl has two young children, an aging mother, and an irresponsible brother to support. She’ll do just about anything to feed her family. Even spy.

When Jewish lawyer Leon Lewis sends a request to an employment agency, he has specific qualifications. And the young woman who shows up at his office doesn’t meet those qualifications. But when she confesses to getting the interview dishonestly, Lewis sees her potential as a spy.

Because while Adolf Hitler’s National Socialist Party seems only to have a grip on Germany, Lewis has evidence Hitler plans to expand his party’s reach to the United States. If Lewis can place a spy in the Friends of New Germany office, he may find evidence to present to the police.

An Unlikely Spy

Liesl takes the job as a spy, even though she doubts the need. Hitler lives on another continent, and no one in Hollywood believes his drivel—do they? But the more involved in the Friends of New Germany Liesl becomes, the more she questions her convictions. And the more she worries about Wilhelm Otto, the enigmatic sidekick of her new boss at Friends of New Germany. Does he threaten her safety, or can she depend on him in a crisis?

Why I Loved this Book

Landsem’s historical research and details make this novel come alive. The protagonist lives in limbo—unsure of her husband’s fate. She knows she must carry on, or their family will end up on the streets—the nightmare of Liesl’s childhood.

In an era when leaders want to make America hate again, this timely tale of Hitler’s rise to power hits home. Liesel faces the same dilemma many Christians struggle with today: Should we follow the rhetoric of hate if it seems to bring us closer to our righteous ends?

Readers who love spy novels and reading about the underbelly of the glamorous Hollywood of the 30s will love this book.

I am newer to the historical fiction genre but it is slowly becoming a favorite of mine because of books like this. I found this story so compelling and interesting, even though this time period is often overdone and I find myself shying away from it. I know many that would enjoy this book!

Code Name Edelweiss is a fabulous read written by the talented author, Stephanie Landsem. I thought it was great. I loved getting to know Liesl and Leon. I was captivated with their story from start to finish. I had no problem have the whole book read in one sitting. It was fabulous.

Code Name Edelweiss will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading well written clean historical fiction. I would love to read more books like this from Stephanie Landsem in the near future. She has earned herself a new fan.

I received a digital copy of Code Name Edelweiss from netgalley, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.