I was very touched by this moving historical novel about World War II and the sisterly bond that it portrayed. The visual descriptions of the locations really added to the story and I felt the character development was excellent.

What an interesting book! This book follows the story on two English women who are fans of the opera but turn into women who help save people from the Nazi's. I haven't read much about the time between the two world wars so I learned a lot! To me the book started a little bit slow but quickly got interesting and I couldn't put it down!

A true story of two sisters during WWII. They work nonstop to help people get to safety, knowing their own risks. I beautiful well written story by one of my favorite authors.

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

This is my first book by Rachel Wesson and it definitely won't be my last! An edge=of-your seat book that showcases the daring and courage of those who stood up to the Nazi madness, it also contains a love story. This is my absolute favorite kind of book to read and I highly recommend it!

What an amazing book. Connie and Dottie are fictional characters but based on a real life story. They live the opera and when the Nazi party start moving across Europe they use visiting the opera to smuggle out money and jewels from those trying to escape so particularly Jewish families. A fictional account although these events did happen during that harrowing time. Thanks to Rachel and her publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley

"A Song of Courage" is a beautifully written historical novel that inspired and deeply moved me. The story takes place in the lead-up to World War II and follows two sisters, Connie and Dottie, who are thrust into a dangerous mission. When a close family friend reveals the horrors inflicted on Jews in Germany and Austria, Connie and Dottie are determined to help.

What truly elevates this book is its basis in truth. Knowing these characters' bravery mirrored real-life actions adds more weight and admiration. The sisters, using their love of opera as a clever cover, embark on a perilous journey to aid those in need. Their unwavering courage and selflessness in the face of immense danger is what makes this story so powerful.

Dottie, the aspiring romance novelist, particularly resonated with me. Her decision to funnel all her book advancements toward the cause showcased a remarkable depth of character. The story isn't all hardship, however. The bond between the sisters and their unwavering determination also brought tears of joy to my eyes.

"A Song of Courage" is a must-read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction, especially those seeking tales of heroism and resilience. It's a story that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

As much as I loved the thought of this book, I found the MC to be wholly unlikeable and naive to the point of stupid.

Also, how many times must one be reminded, whilst in Nazi Germany, to be quiet and not openly badmouthing the regime? Apparently more than once. Including while sitting in a restaurant FULL of SS.

The writing style felt stilted to me - stiff and unnatural. I couldn't settle into a rhythm while reading it.

I was intrigued by the blurb about this being inspired by a true story but unless I missed it, I didn't see an acknowledgment or summary of the women this story was based on.

Ultimately, this was a miss for me.

(Thank you to net galley, publisher, and author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.)

This ticked all the boxes for me. Historical fiction based on real people and events is my favourite genre. This book shows how brave people can be in the face of injustice, and the escalation of tension worked really well. There are so many stories about WW2, but this one has a freshness about it, perhaps because of the different ways Constance and Dorothea went about their mission. The ending was so satisfying. All in all, a thoroughly compelling and informative read, and I hope to read more by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC to review.

Set in the 1930s, two sisters travel frequently, worldwide, attending operas, particularly in Germany and Austria. When trouble begins brewing as the Nazis rise to power, and Jews are increasingly targeted for violence and arrest, the sisters devise ways to help many friends escape the country. They display nerves of steel while encountering various border and police officials, all while transporting valuable jewels and furs out of the country, sometimes in plain sight.

This novel is based on the true story of the Cook sisters, whose love of opera is surpassed only by their love of people unjustly victimized. They risk their lives time and time again to smuggle valuables out of Nazi territory so that the valuables' owners have money in Britain where they can immigrate and escape imprisonment and death. Descriptions of people, places, and events are well constructed and seem historically accurate. The book starts off pretty slowly, hence four stars, but it is worth persevering to the point where the action accelerates. The reader will rejoice with each successful delivery of valuables and each Jew who manages to escape Hitler's evil designs.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

An easy read especially considering the subject material. It reminded me obliquely of Eva Ibbotson's A Song for Summer. By turns poignant and heart pounding, this WWII fic is not to be missed.

“ A Song of Courage” is a book based on two sisters who helped Jewish families leave Germany during WWII.

A very well written based on two sisters who helped Jewish families leave Germany during WWII. I enjoyed reading about these two sisters who might appear ordinary but who showed immense courage. Camouflaged by their love of opera, they managed to smuggle money, jewelry out of Germany and Austria. This money was put on a bank account in England for the owners, enabling them to apply for a visa for immigrating to England. (However , they did not only save people with money!) It might look so easy, but my blood pressure did say something else all through the novel... A true story well worth telling !
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.

What a beautiful and easy read. I could not put this book down and read it in one day. A story about two sisters and their journey of bravery and selflessness as they turn their love for opera into a cover to assist Jews in immigrating to England. This book is an inspiration and a reminder of how something unthinkable can happen on such a large scale. A much needed reminder in these times.

This is my first Rachel Wesson book but definitely it the last. Thank you.

this book is written in an easy style even though it was a hard and heartbreaking topic.
Another great book by Rachel Wesson.

This book was such a contrast between the hard topic covered and the violence, with a lovely chatty style of writing. This made the book such an easy one to read and to get properly stuck into that the time flew by as I read. The book bounces along well in different time zones, countries and towns and the view of the war and of hitler changes and adapts as war breaks out and actions are seen that impact Connie and Dottie and their entourage. Their courage is amazing and told in a very prosaic way making it that much more impactful.

The sweet story of two opera loving sisters who help wealthy Jews escape the darkening clouds around Nazi Germany and Austria. This is the fictionalized story of Marianne Monson’s Opera Sisters.

This book is loosely based on the lives of Ida and Louise Cook. Two sisters who rescued many Jewish people during WWII in a most unusual way. Although it is fiction, one gets a good idea of what these women went through. The author has done excellent research and throughout the story introduces actual historical figures. The settings and events feel authentic. Finding out what these women did is not only interesting but also truly amazing. It’s not a short book and I loved being able to get back to it, night after night. The author does a very good job of setting the scene, but then goes into tremendous detail. ”Mr. Siegal held his wife’s chair, seating her first before taking his own seat. The waiter did the same for Connie and Dottie.” It’s really a case of personal preference and I prefer less tell and more show. Fortunately, it’s not so outrageous that it was starting to bother me, but it is the reason for the 4 stars. Any history lover, will enjoy finding out more about these two women.

Many thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

First of all, congratulations on a spectacular cover and title! I’m influenced greatly by a cover and this one had me requesting the book before I even looked at the author or synopsis!

Secondly, the world needs this book right now. It’s so timely. We need more people like the unsung heroines of this novel - Constance ‘Connie’ Fitzwalter and Dorothea ‘Dottie’ Fitzwater. The Fitzwater sisters were inspired by two real-life sisters, Ida and Louise Cook, whose extraordinary courage saved dozens during a dark time in our history. Many, myself included, sit back after reading/watching the news and wonder why someone isn’t doing something. Here’s our answer. Approximately 30 people were saved due to these women’s efforts…that’s 30 more people than if they’d sat in an opera house at home and complained! Imagine if even 20% of the readers were moved with compassion to DO SOMETHING about our current turmoil in the world.

Who would have thought that the sisters’ passion for music, opera in particular, would lead them to Nazi Germany and into a world filled with danger and intrigue? Under the guise of high-society music enthusiasts, the girls use their concert-going experience to smuggle money and people across the border and into safety in England. I’ll admit to feeling as if a little ‘bravado’ had rubbed off on me as I turned the last page.

I loved these spunky sisters who refused to take no for an answer and how they became a light in the darkness and saved so many. I enjoyed going down a research rabbit hole on Google, checking out the English Schindler, Mr. Foley, and the sisters’ connections to the beginning of the Romantic Novelists Association.

I was gifted this copy by Storm Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Fair warning...this is not one of those books you can read a couple of chapters when you have a few minutes and then return to your normal schedule. Find a few hours, a quiet spot, and a box of tissues so you can read without stopping. The sisters in this novel, Connie & Dottie Fitzwalter, are based on real-life unsung heroes, Ida & Louise Cook. They were ordinary, unmarried, 30-something, British women who decided they couldn't sit back and do nothing once they became aware of the nightmare faced by Jews in Germany and Austria. They were middle-class, not wealthy or aristocratic, opera fanatics who traveled around Europe to see performances of their favorite operas. (I think they were like rock & roll groupies...maybe Deadheads, but classier.) The opera world was fairly small and the sisters became personal friends with famous singers and conductors who were contacts for those who needed to escape the Nazi regime from 1934-1939. They made countless trips to Germany and Austria until war was declared.

I can't think of a more timely book to read right now. Many of us feel overwhelmed by what we are witnessing and the problems feel immense. This story will inspire you because it illustrates that although we may not be able to help everyone, we can help someone. As Ida Cook said, "You never know what you can do until you refuse to take no for an answer." I believe that women are especially suited to help those in need. We are problem solvers, multi-taskers, and stubborn when motivated. Above all, we are empathetic and compassionate. The Talmud says, "If you save a life, you save the world." Reading this incredibly moving, well-written book will get you super-charged to do something because our world is in crisis once again. I loved this one.