A beautiful read that will keep you turning pages! Those who love historical fiction may find this more of a light-hearted take on a fictional story. Still, it is crucial to remember that primary source references do lead historians to believe that before the invasion of D-day POW camps, those captured were not treated with such brutality as we often hear. Knowing this offers a different perspective to the story, as when reading it, I felt the POW camp was very watered down, but I appreciated the lightheartedness of it. It was refreshing.

At the end of the book, the author references the true story, which was the base of this work. I appreciated that!

I enjoyed this easy read with a beautiful story. I loved the characters and the flow. The ending was rushed and could have been finished in more depth, but overall it was a great read!

I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

This is a beautifully written story that holds your attention from the first page until the last. I love how the author combined fact with fiction to make this an outstanding read. I loved everything about this book and highly recommend it.
Thank you, Barbour Publishing and Marilyn Turk, for the complimentary copy via NetGalley. I was not required to write a review and all opinions expressed are my own.

I loved this story of both sides of the war.

War is awful no matter where you are. Having a great uncle who was a POW, it was fun to hear stories from within a camp and the escape attempts.

Loved the cool at home war effort story, too!

And mix in a little romance and it was so sweet!

Fascinating Historical Novel!

The title of this book is so fitting in more ways than one. The premise captured my attention as I had never heard of this bit of World War II history, a board game used to help prisoners escape. So fascinating! I also found it intriguing that one of the main characters, Kenneth Bordelon, was an American POW before the United States had officially entered the war. The way facts from history were woven into an engaging story made for a thought-provoking read. Beryl was a strong heroine with her volunteering as an air warden, holding down a steady job and caring for her mother. Her brother James was an excellent model of faith to his friend Kenneth and others. A surprise twist involving one of the side characters was so satisfying. I found this book to be compelling and a nice combination of rich storytelling and historical background.

I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher and NetGalley via Celebrate Lit Bloggers and Reviewers. A positive review was not required and the opinions expressed above are my own.

An inspiring read for WW2 fans!
A good look at life on both the home front in England and from the inside of a German prisoner of war camp during the early war years. This well researched story includes some interesting history, with strong family ties, friendship and faith.
It was fascinating to learn about the use of a board game as a way to pass information to POW's. The scenes in the camp made me think of watching the show Hogan's Heroes and the movie The Great Escape, both favorites. It made me appreciate again the bravery of the people who actually lived through these things. They were so young also!
It is easy to read, quick paced and had a satisfying ending.
This would be a good read for teens and up. Recommend!
4.5 stars

The Escape Game by Marilyn Turk is an exciting Christian historical novel that I read in just one sitting. I could not put it down.
The novel is set during 1941 and into 1942 in Leeds, West Yorkshire and also on the continent. The chapters alternate as we follow a young lady in Leeds and an American fighter pilot.
Marilyn Turk has perfectly captured life on the home front. Leeds was subject to bombing raids that altered lives in an instant. We witness the bravery of ordinary folks who took it all in their stride. The indomitable bulldog spirit was very much alive. People helped those in need as homes were opened up to those who had been bombed out.
Life was tough with rationing too. Families made meals with what was available.
Some of the action is set in the Waddington factory. I was certainly educated as I read. As you work your way through the novel, you will be amazed as you uncover a top secret that was hidden for many years.
Life as a pilot could be fragile. Marilyn Turk shows the guts needed to just keep going. The young pilot is a brave and determined young man.
Marilyn Turk has clearly and methodically researched for her novel. From her masterful pen, the reader ‘lives’ through the action. We can ‘feel’ the fear of the raids and marvel at the bravery of all.
Faith in God is what held people together. Those with faith had a great hope – hope that God held them safely and that all would be well. God was in control whatever happened and they could experience His peace despite their circumstances.
The Bible holds the keys to faith and freedom as we see in the novel. Those without a faith begin to tentatively explore as what they see in others with a faith is attractive. We know that all of heaven rejoices when a sinner comes home.
God weaves all things together and is working His purposes out.
Thank you Marilyn Turk for another cracking novel.
I will leave you with my favourite quote:
“Anything that’s out of my control, I just hand over to God. He sees the whole picture, and I only see a little piece of it.”
I received a free copy from the author. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed reading The Escape Game. Marilyn Turk took me back in time to follow along with her characters during WW2. The story follows Beryl from Leeds, England and her friend Kenneth and brother James from a German POW camp. I loved following Beryl around in her everyday life during the war and seeing how brave and resilient the people of England were despite the dangers of war going on around them. I was captivated by Kenneth and James story, learning how the POWs were treated by the Germans and how the prisoners made many attempts to escape. I found it very interesting how a special Monopoly game was a useful tool to the prisoners. I also enjoyed watching the love story blossom between Beryl and Kenneth. I thought the author developed the characters well, But I felt the story ended very abruptly.

I received a copy of #TheEscapeGame from #NetGalley this is my honest review given voluntarily.

I was intrigued the moment I read the description of The Escape Game. I have read a lot of World War II stories, but had never heard of this way of escaping from prisoner of war camps, and I knew I wanted to read the book. So, did it live up to my expectations, or not?
Leeds, England, May 1941: By day, Beryl works in a factory that makes board and card games. By night, she is an air raid warden. She also cares for her mother, who has not been the same since her husband was killed in bombing a few months ago. Beryl‘s brother ends up being captured by the Germans when his plane is shot down, and when Beryl learns of a possible way to help him escape,  she must come up with clever ways to tell him about it.
Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany, August 1941: James, Beryl‘s brother, and Kenneth have both been captured by the Germans when their planes came down, and they are in the special prisoner of war camp for airmen. Both want to escape, especially Kenneth. When one attempt after another ends with Kenneth in isolation, is it time to give up? Then, James’s sister Baryl started sending mysterious messages woven into her letters. Can they figure out what she means? Meanwhile, Beryl and Kenneth find themselves more attracted to each other. Will they ever be able to spend time together?
At first, I was rather disappointed with The Escape Game. The writing style was more passive than active, and just didn’t draw me in very much. I kept reading, however, and before too long I was finding myself quite engrossed in the story. The concept of using board games to smuggle escape tools into the camps was fascinating – I was really intrigued with the author’s note to the end. I have son’s who particularly like the board game that was used, and they were quite fascinated too, when I told them about the story. If you enjoy books about World War II, and about escapes, you will enjoy this book.
I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
WARNING: A few words like d*rn, for Pete’s sake, and gee.

This is a fascinating read.
As the years pass, more information comes out about WWII. RAF pilots captured early in the war had it okay as prisoners of war in Germany. But as time went on, conditions deteriorated.
The ingenuity of prisoners was amazing. And a monopoly game became front and center of escape plans.
Meanwhile, those in England had to fight their own war during the Blitz.

The Escape Game by Marilyn Turk is a fascinating and engaging novel based on a true story.

We meet Beryl Clarke, who works at Waddington's game company as secretary to the boss. She is single and cares for her mother after her father dies. Beryl's brother James and his best friend Kenneth end up in the same Nazi prison game where they plan their escape. Fortunately for them, Beryl's company is creating Monopoly games with escape plans. How can she let them know when German censors are reading her letters?

There is a lot happening in this book, and it was quite enjoyable, from Beryl trying to figure out how to tell her brother about the Monopoly game to her acting as a warden and rescuing a widow from a bombed building. This side story was beautifully written, and I absolutely loved the surprise ending for it!

That said, while reading, I was constantly reminded of the tv show Hogan's Heroes and the many escape tunnels they dug in the show. Also, the movie The Great Escape came to mind, so I found that aspect enjoyable as well.

The author's notes at the end really surprised me and made the book all the more interesting. I had no idea Monopoly games with hidden escape plans were distributed to POWs during WWII. While I was reading, I thought to myself, "Wow! I wonder if they really did that?" Well, guess what? In a nod to the Geneva Convention, Germany allowed The Red Cross to deliver packages to the POWs. Some of those packages were redesigned Monopoly games with silk maps of Germany built into the game and compasses as the tokens. This was a national secret for 50 years! Waddingtons is a real company, and they did make these games. When Beryl discovers what her company is doing, she makes it her mission to inform her brother and Kenneth.

The book has a small faith element, with James having faith and praying and Kenneth having no faith. Toward the end of the book, he does pray to God in desperation, but the story ends, so we don't know if Kenneth has really changed. I would like to have seen that explored more.

While this is the ninth book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. If you enjoy WWII historical fiction, you should enjoy The Escape Game.

I received a copy courtesy of Barbour Publishing through NetGalley for my honest review.

I received this as an ARC from Barbour Publishing and Netgalley. I really enjoyed this novel and did not realize it was a series until looking up the author. It however is a stand-alone as well. It was full of emotional heartbreak. It was so beautifully written and kept me reading to see what happened next. Great novel!

5 stars, Amazing game

THE ESCAPE GAME (HEROINES OF WWII, #9)
by Marilyn Turk

I have read 8 books in this series, and I must say, that this one is my favorite! Each one is a standalone, telling about some of the women who helped in World War 2 (WWII).

HEROINES OF WWII SERIES

1 The Cryptographer's Dilemma
2 A Picture of Hope
3 Saving Mrs. Roosevelt
4 Mrs. Witherspoon Goes to War
5 A Rose for the Resistance
6 Season of My Enemy
7 Escape From Amsterdam
8 On My Honor
9 The Escape Game
10 Beneath a Peaceful Moon
11 The Starlet Spy

"The hated "nasties," as some of her friends called the Germans,..."

A parallel story of life in Leeds, England, and living in a German POW camp for military pilots in Barth, Germany.

Beryl is a resourceful single young woman living in Leeds, England. She moved home to take care of her mother, soon after her father died in one of the bombing raids by the Germans. She keeps busy by working for a printing company that makes games, and also a second job, working to help during the bombing raids, to make sure everyone got into shelters and stayed safe.

Beryl's brother James and his friend Kenneth are pilots who are captured and taken to a POW camp.

The prisoners of war are allowed to receive one Red Cross package each, however often they come. Occasionally, a Monopoly game is included in the box, usually, it's a deck of cards. The printing company is helped in making an escape plan and tucking it secretively into the Monopoly games.

The way the games are arranged is ingenious, I learned a lot from the book. Highly recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of #TheEscapeGame from #BarbourFiction @BarbourPublishing I was under no obligation to post a review.

#HeroinesOfWWIISeries #historicalfiction #Friendship #Louisiana #USA #LeedsEngland #BarthGermany #MarilynTurk

The Escape Game was an "on the edge of my seat" read for me. It was a thrilling read, filling me with both excitement and dread. I didn't know what was going to happen next at prison camp or in Leeds, England. The glimpses into the terror and horrors of war were so realistic that they had my heart breaking over and over again. The story brought so many tears. It also brought even more respect, not just my own family that survived, but for all of those that survived and for those lives lost.

I can't believe how clueless I was regarding the dedication of the POW's to escape their prison. Many never gave up trying to reach freedom. The ingenuity it took to create the Escape Kits left me speechless. I had such fun researching what I learned in The Escape Game. Three words kept coming to mind, "I didn't know" and my next thought is I need to know more. We all need to know more.

I have to admit I had blinders on regarding the damage to cities other than London until recently. History classes always talked about the London Blitz and I guess that was good enough. It was not good enough. Beryl's life in Leeds shows just how horrible it was during the war and the struggles that resulted from the bombs exploded. Beryl's volunteer job as an Air Raid Warden was eye to tragedy.

Beryl's day job as a secretary at Waddingtons was a brilliant way to tie the POW camp to England. Her brother, James, and a mutual friend, Kenneth, are taken to a POW camp after their planes went down. Kenneth had attempted numerous times to escape before James arrived. Kenneth would try again and again until he succeeded. It was his duty as a member of the RAF. It was Beryl's continuing hints about a Monopoly game in her letters that would make a difference. It didn't make sense to James and Kenneth until it did.

Companies like Waddingtons helped save the lives of POWs by creating Escape Kits. Prisoners of War worked hard to escape, helping to save lives. The people of England and other countries never gave up, working together, caring about each other.

Books like The Escape Game remind us that we should never forget what happened. Books like The Escape Game remind us that we owe a deep respect to those that experienced the war. I am so grateful for books like The Escape Game that help remind of us of the past so we don't repeat it in the future.

Another very moving book written by this author. I loved this story and I am sure that most readers will agree that it is definitely a book you will want to read.
As Beryl cares for her mother and her brother fights in the War life totally changes. Her brother becomes a POW along with a former college friend, Kenneth. They plan their escape but will they be successful? The book has action, sadness and all the feels that a war brings to the soul. I really liked this book and it goes along well with this series that I have enjoyed very much.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

I realized as I finished this book that I have been reading about World War Two for over fifty years. When I learned about the Holocaust in Junior High School, I felt a need to soak up historical books, fact and fiction so I could learn more. This Women of World War Two series has been a great addition to the many books I have read.
Beryl Clarke is an excellent character. She cares for her mother, works for a toy company and serves her community in Leeds, England. Things are hard for the young woman as her mother is suffering from the loss of Beryls' father and then learns that her brother, a war pilot, is missing. Her days and nights are busy when she learns that James and a college friend Kenneth Bordelon are POWS. How can she help?
This book moves smoothly with Beryl and the POW stories going back and forth. (There is a modern-day short opening and ending which makes sense, but I didn't feel it was necessary.) The daily lives were interesting, and I actually learned a few things that I did not know about both segments of life. The game boards and amazing help given to the prisoners is a great new piece of knowledge for me. The bravery and ingenious creativity shown is just incredible.
I want to thank Barbour Publishing, the author and NetGalley for the well-researched and interesting advanced reader's copy of this book. This is my own unsolicited opinion.

I love reading WW2 books and had absolutely no idea that games were used to help POW escape from camps, what an ingenious idea. The Escape Game is really well researched and draws attention to the moral and get on with it attitude of civilians, the American fighter pilot volunteers and the moral of those in some of POW camps and how crucial receiving information from the world outside those camps. The Escape Game is a well written, page turning novel with short, intertwined POV chapters and great characters that covers the courage, bravery and love of many during WW2. I did feel it was a bit hurried at the end but would highly recommend such an intriguing read.

I would like to thank Barbour Publishing, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this complimentary copy for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #TheEscapeGame #NetGalley





#TheEscapeGame #NetGalley

I read about this book. It Said a romance, escape from the nazistene and found family. Great premises right? But it did not grab my attention, it fell flat for me. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

If you’re looking for your latest WWII fiction story, then look no further than The Escape Game by Marilyn Turk. This novel was a quick and easy read that shares how POWs were always looking for ways to escape their captors and prison cells. Little did they know that their escape would eventually come in the form of the Monopoly game which had specifically been designed for them.

With this background in mind, I was eager to see how the story would unfold. The POWs were primarily Kenneth and James, two friends that had attended college together and ultimately found themselves in the same POW camp. Their story alternated with that of James’s sister, Beryl, who was doing what she could in the small town of Leeds to help the town citizens as an ARP. Her day job at Waddington’s put her in a special position to learn about these unique Monopoly games, but she must be careful to not reveal their secret.

There were sweet additions to the story in the form of a cute stray kitten and a sweet old lady who seems to be suffering from dementia. These characters as well as a few others help to soften the atrocities of war that surrounded them, and helped make this story an even more enjoyable read. I’m excited to see what new stories are to come in this Heroines of WWII series!

4 Stars

The Escape Game is a novel set during WWII. It takes place mainly in England and Germany. English fighter pilots are being held in prison camps after capture. Kenneth, an American flying for the RAF after training and joining in Canada and his friend James, who he met while studying at Oxford, are among the pilots. Kenneth joined the RAF as the US was not yet involved in the war. They receive care packages from James’ sister and mother which helps keep them warm and their spirits up. Beryl and her mother are doing all they can to support the war effort in England. When James and Kenneth begin receiving unusual letters from Beryl they know it must be clues but will they figure them out and will the clues help them escape?
I really enjoyed this book. There were some things I never knew but I don’t want to give too much away. The story goes back and forth between what’s happening in England, and later the United States, with what is happening in England. It flowed very smoothly from one to the other though at times I had to hurry and read the next chapter to get back to see what happened at the end of the previous chapter, lol. I was rooting for James and Kenneth and the others to make it through. At times it was very tense as they took chances around the guards. Overall this is a wonderful story and I give it 5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book from the Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Leeds, England 1941

What's not to love about a POW making escape attempts?

American Kenneth Borderlon joins the Royal Air Force before the U.S. entered WWII. Unfortunately, he becomes a prisoner of war in Germany. The details about life in a German POW camp was interesting and surprising. Glee club...who knew?

Beryl Clarke juggles a lot at her home in England. With her brother serving in the war, she's left as the sole caretaker of her mother. Beryl also has a job and is a volunteer for the war effort.

Chapters alternate between their two story lines which intertwine. The history incorporated in the pages was great including the importance of the game Monopoly.