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Vienna Prelude (Zion Covenant #1)

by Bodie Thoene (Goodreads Author), Brock Thoene

4.26 of 5 stars 4.26 · rating details · 3,739 ratings · 336 reviews

No one is safe...

In 1936 Nazi darkness descends upon Europe. Every person is only one step away from being swept into the nightmarish tide of evil. Blond Elisa Lindheim, and violinist with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, adopts an Aryan stage name for protection. But her closest friend, Leah, a talented Jewish cellist, is in perilous position.

There are those who choose...more

Paperback, 461 pages

Published March 17th 2005 by Tyndale House Publishers (first published May 1st 1989)

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Jan 10, 2009 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am not going to write about all nine books in the Zion Covenant series (which I have read), but I enjoyed them immensely and learned a ton. They are historical fiction novels written by Christian authors. I learned an enormous amount about why Hitler managed to do what he did and got a much better feel for life during that time without being totally depressed by the raw language that some authors use.

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Jan 30, 2010 Rachel rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own

I think I gave it a fairly decent chance to captivate me. I waited, and read up to page 111 when I decided I was done with it. And the words are small font so 111 pages is a lot of words, more so than the average book.

You know, I have read tips on writing historical fiction, and one such tip is to make sure history isn't the main character. Keep it in the background. And now I see how it looks when that tip isn't regarded.

I read a lot about that period, the laws, the landscape, the people, nee...more

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May 29, 2012 Anna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: wwii-and-holocaust, christian, jewish-protagonist, 1900s-before-wwii

This is the fifth Christian WWII fiction book I've read; the first four were Tricia Goyer's WWII Liberators series and I fell in love with all 4. So, gave this a try.
Firstly I'm not really into romance, although I don't mind a little of it, but this entire book revolved around Elisa's love life. She likes this one guy, but can't admit it. This other guy likes her, but she's not really into him. Another guy likes her, but he's a German officer. Then the guy who likes her sees her in the German of...more

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Jul 25, 2011 Julianne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Here is another holocaust story, but from the viewpoint of pre-World War II. We already knew that Hitler was wicked and evil and conniving. This book shows us just exactly how wicked and how evil and how very conniving he was. It makes you want to shake the English and the Americans and say, "Pay attention!" They could have stopped him, they could have prevented all his take-overs, they could have shed light on his hatred. But they didn't. And thus, we have the sad and tragic happenings of the l...more

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Apr 05, 2011 Vicki rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book in this series of 6 books. It is historical fiction based on the years 1936-39 starting in Germany and Austria and continuing on to other countries that Hitler tired to take over. It mostly focuses on the plight of the Jews. If this book is accurate in its history, it is amazing to me how all the countries that fell to Hitler, like Austria, Czech, Poland, how the people all thought that Britian and France would come in and fight for them, that Britian and France would save...more

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Feb 15, 2011 Vicki rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love this series of books and others by these authors. Now that I have recently re-read the series I can see that the author definitely progressed in her ability as she wrote more. I thoroughly enjoyed this book the first time I read it but the second time I realized I enjoyed the rest of the series much more. The romance in this first one seems a little hurried and contrived but in the rest of the series that is not a problem.

The author's husband is a history professor so the books are histor...more I love this series of books and others by these authors. Now that I have recently re-read the series I can see that the author definitely progressed in her ability as she wrote more. I thoroughly enjoyed this book the first time I read it but the second time I realized I enjoyed the rest of the series much more. The romance in this first one seems a little hurried and contrived but in the rest of the series that is not a problem.

The author's husband is a history professor so the books are historically accurate. The books have been used extensively in high school history programs because they are accurate and use enjoyable fiction to engage the students interest in history.

There is so much to recommend in these books. My daughters and I learned a lot about history from these books, so much about how Hitler managed to come to power in Germany and the German people's response or lack of to him. His tactics were exposed so well that now when we see certain political unrest etc. we ask ourselves who is really behind the unrest, is all as it seems at first.

The heroine is a Jewish musician who escapes Germany in part because she looks more like her German mother than her Jewish father, she changes her name, and is a violinist with the Vienna symphony. Though she is considered safe in Vienna at the time her life changes from one of music, society life, and materialism to a very different life as she feels the need to help others escape Germany at great danger to herself, her friends, and family who also participate in smuggling Jews, mostly children, out of Germany.

As the heroine is a musician there is much in the books relating to music expressing the emotions that can not be expressed with words. I am not very familiar with classical music but was able to learn to appreciate many classical pieces though these books.

In a later series we also find out that the author is actually of German Jewish heritage and many of her books are based on actual family experiences. Somewhere along the lines the family became Christian and she is able to intertwine the heartfelt feelings, beliefs, longings, and desires of both religions and cultures in a most interesting and touching way. She honors both her Jewish heritage and her Christian upbringing and is able to draw the reader into the best of both.

I love this book and all of the Thoene books that I have read, over and again.

I have to amend that last statement now, too. As I have read more of the Thoene's books I can't say I love all of them. Later writings concerning Israel seem to repeat things from the first two series. Some of them seem formulaic also. The Zion Covenant series and Zion Chronicle series are still some of my favorite books. My daugher used to read and re-read them and I couldn't understand why but I've tried reading the series again and learned more and enjoyed more than the first time, except for the first one, Vienna Prelude.(less)

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Sep 25, 2010 bookczuk rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to bookczuk by: Rebecca Flannery

Shelves: bookcrossing, made-me-look-something-up, places-i-have-been, read-on-recommendation, not-to-my-taste

This is the first book I've read in what is apparently a series of books, this, I'm told, being a prequel to The Zion Chronicles Series. The writing style did't really thrill me, but I wanted to see what happens with the story enough so that I kept reading. I did find myself getting irritated when the author has Elisa talk about Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. Thoener uses theEnglish translation, which is pretty weird and not nearly as beautiful or meaningful (or even the same meaning as) the Germa...more

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Dec 07, 2012 Kimberlin rated it 5 of 5 stars

This has been one of my favorite books since 7th grade. It was much more difficult for me to understand back then, and I remember feeling very advanced and smart while I was reading it. Of course, on the second go-through, it's a very simple book to understand. But all of my favorite parts are still there, and all of the pieces I didn't understand before I grasp much more easily now. This book fueled my interest in the events of WWII.

Of course, being a girl, I love the romance aspects of it. I'...more

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Dec 01, 2012 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, historical-fiction

'Vienna Prelude' by Bodie and Brock Thoene is a prequel of a six book series. The story concentrates on Jewish life in Germany and Austria during 1933 through 1936. I learned quite a bit about the reaction of the Austrian government to the takeover by Hitler. I didn’t know about the protest about the protest of the Austrians even though there was no hope of rescue from England and United States. I was very impressed by the words and actions of Churchill and Eden and some of the Austrian statesme...more 'Vienna Prelude' by Bodie and Brock Thoene is a prequel of a six book series. The story concentrates on Jewish life in Germany and Austria during 1933 through 1936. I learned quite a bit about the reaction of the Austrian government to the takeover by Hitler. I didn’t know about the protest about the protest of the Austrians even though there was no hope of rescue from England and United States. I was very impressed by the words and actions of Churchill and Eden and some of the Austrian statesmen.

The main characters are Elisa Linder aka Elisa Lindheim, a concert violinist whose father was raised as a Jew and John Murphy, an American reporter. The story has many minor characters but it was easy to keep them straight. Both characters were very emotional and not able to communicate their hurt and disappointment to each other so there were plenty of misunderstandings in their love story. Even though I was interested in their story throughout the book, I ended up fascinated by the story of the fall of Austria, and mostly of Vienna. The characters were painted very real and the story was vivid.

My main negative criticism is that the book’s font was tiny the book was long. I think that there could have been more edited to reduce the size of the book. I did feel like I would like to read the other five books sometime to find out what happened to all the characters of the story. Did Otto reform? Did Elsa’s father survive? Did the two continue to have turbulent lives?

Also, I thought Elsa’s life could have been simplified. She could have fewer loves. I see now that this book was written to show case what was happening to a German Nazi, a county man not carry too much about politics and the American reporter but it got so I was impatient with Elsa because she couldn’t make up her mind!

I recommend this particular part of the series to people who want to learn more about other countries that Nazi Germany took over before and after. The font verged on beginning too small for me to read and I think that may prevent me from reading the rest of the series.

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Jan 02, 2012 03katieb rated it 5 of 5 stars

"We have been privileged to see what becomes of men who give themselves to darkness. They are no longer men. They are the creatures; we are still men...And yet, we all began exactly alike, like lumps of coal, maybe in different shapes and sizes. The fire and the pressure of hatred consume some men until they consume others around them in a white-hot fire. And others, trapped in the same fierce pressure and terrible heat, become diamonds to glisten in the hand of God. To shine bright when the bl...more "We have been privileged to see what becomes of men who give themselves to darkness. They are no longer men. They are the creatures; we are still men...And yet, we all began exactly alike, like lumps of coal, maybe in different shapes and sizes. The fire and the pressure of hatred consume some men until they consume others around them in a white-hot fire. And others, trapped in the same fierce pressure and terrible heat, become diamonds to glisten in the hand of God. To shine bright when the blackness is all around, to find love when others are burning in their hatred. Isn't that the essence of God?" - Theo, pg. 372
The book Vienna Prelude was a wonderful story. It is about love, courage, forgiveness, finding yourself, and standing up for what you believe in. It is full of inspirational messages, and also has a spiritual aspect. The story takes place mainly in Austria and Germany during WWII, starting around 1936. As the Nazi influence begins to descend upon Europe, the world is changing and being swept into darkness. Elisa, a musician, and daughter is the main character. She is torn between her own emotions. She is desperate to help, longing to hide, and searching for answers. Her Aryan features cannot hide her Jewish blood for long. Theo is her father, and a German war hero. The country he loves and fought for has turned against him, and declared him an enemy of the state. After a short encounter, John Murphy, an American journalist becomes more involved than he had originally planned. He falls head over heels for Elisa, and promises to help her father. Throughout the story the characters face many trials, but learn from it and begin to see things in a new light. One theme this story teaches is that pretending that something terrible isn’t coming cannot make it stop. Please don’t feel discouraged by the thickness of this book, because the story will be well worth your time. I really enjoyed it. The messages inspired me, and really made me think. It is a great book for both teens and adults.
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Nov 09, 2009 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Loved it! This historical fiction is extremely well written and although I've read extensively about this time period, I learned quite a few new facts about the early stages of WWII. Sometimes I forget that the rumors of war in Europe began as early as 1933 when Hitler fist took power, almost eight years before Pearl Harbor and the lessons I remember from history class.
Thoene is a Christian author and is able to beautifully weave faith and hope in Jesus Christ into her story. Once again, I'm a...more

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Mar 29, 2013 Nola rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction

I had previously read fiction and non-fiction books about the Holocaust, but I hadn’t fully appreciated the events that led up to those atrocities. The catchcry of the Thoenes is “to discover the truth through fiction” and I felt Vienna Prelude helped me to do just that.

Set in Germany and Austria in 1936-7, this book follows the story of the beautiful violinist Elisa Lindheim who looks Aryan but is half Jewish. As the Nazis increase their stranglehold in Berlin, she and her Jewish father escape...more I had previously read fiction and non-fiction books about the Holocaust, but I hadn’t fully appreciated the events that led up to those atrocities. The catchcry of the Thoenes is “to discover the truth through fiction” and I felt Vienna Prelude helped me to do just that.

Set in Germany and Austria in 1936-7, this book follows the story of the beautiful violinist Elisa Lindheim who looks Aryan but is half Jewish. As the Nazis increase their stranglehold in Berlin, she and her Jewish father escape to join the rest of the family in the Tyrol. However, her father is detained by the Gestapo and Elisa must travel to the Tyrol and then back to her home in Vienna, not knowing her father’s fate. A year later, with her father presumed dead, Elisa and her Jewish friends from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra watch in horror as Austria’s future hangs in the balance. Torn between her love for the brash American journalist John Murphy and her former lover Thomas, who now serves in the Abwehr (i.e., German military intelligence), Elisa must decide who to trust and what role she will play in the unfolding events.

I really loved this book and found myself enthralled throughout its 452 pages. It is beautifully written and the historical details are woven into the story almost seamlessly. I found myself caring for the characters and wanted to know what happened to them. Even some of the less admirable characters such as Thomas and Rudy had other dimensions that showed them in a different light as the story progressed. Some of the historical events were real eye-openers for me. For example, I didn’t realise that Jews were already dying in concentration camps before the war and I was amazed at the failure of other western countries to stand up to Hitler and Mussolini earlier. My only slight criticism is that it seemed that every man who came in contact with Elisa fell in love with her, even though she wasn’t the sort of character who invited that sort of attention. However, I felt drawn to her plight and that of her family and friends. Issues of Christian and Jewish faith were also woven into the story, but never in a heavy-handed way. Whenever such issues were raised, it seemed to fit the story perfectly.

Although this book deals with a serious topic and there are many serious, sad, and even tragic passages; it is not all doom and gloom. Indeed, there are many lighter moments and there is always the hope that things can be better if only people will put their faith in the right things and help their fellow humans.

This is Book 1 of the 9-book Zion Covenant series, and I will definitely be continuing. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction.
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Aug 10, 2012 Stephen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Some books grab you based upon the strength of their characters and others based upon the strength of the plot line. This book was much more of the latter. Set in WWII, it tells the story of half-Jewish violinist Elisa Lindheim and American reporter John Murphy right before Germany invades Austria. The historical setting provides plenty of intrigue and both characters (along with many others) quickly get caught up in a plot to oppose Hitler and smuggle Jews out of the Third Reich. Overall, I fou...more

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Jan 11, 2012 Giovanna Roth rated it 4 of 5 stars

i liked the book it was a good book there were many problems like ho wshe was part jewish and that her father was in jail and that hitler was taking over austria. the story wouldnt really work any other time but could be in a different place.
eilsa was the main character i liked her she was nice, smart, and very pretty she was pretty much the ideal person in the world. but there was also hitlerhe wasnt really in the story a lot but he was mentioned A LOT.
i really liked the book it wasnt one i wo...more

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Mar 28, 2013 laurenpie rated it 1 of 5 stars

Methodical, dry writing style; a stilted third-person narrative.

Had to force my way through this book. I usually enjoy historical novels, but not this one. When, oh when, will I ever run across a "Christian" novel worth reading? Oops! Nevermind! Please don't start recommending any to me! I'm going to give Gilbert Morris a try, but otherwise I'm giving up on the genre!

I'm tempted to say the author should have stuck to newspaper or periodical reporting, or perhaps non-fiction books. But honestly,...more

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Sep 06, 2011 Glory rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, world-war-ii, own, holocaust, favorites

I stepped out of our car at the rest stop on the long drive from Sacramento to LA. The music playing in front of the MacDonald’s was so light, so happy, focused on love and feelings. But suddenly it all seemed so frivolous. People milled in and out of the glass doors, wandered to and from their hot, sticky vehicles. They all seemed to blissfully unaware. Didn’t they understand the deeper things in life? Was it just all about themselves?

You see, I’d just read a stirring chapter in Vienna Prelude....more I stepped out of our car at the rest stop on the long drive from Sacramento to LA. The music playing in front of the MacDonald’s was so light, so happy, focused on love and feelings. But suddenly it all seemed so frivolous. People milled in and out of the glass doors, wandered to and from their hot, sticky vehicles. They all seemed to blissfully unaware. Didn’t they understand the deeper things in life? Was it just all about themselves?

You see, I’d just read a stirring chapter in Vienna Prelude. And to me at that moment, I was walking among the everyday folk in America and Great Britain, among the kind of people who figured that anything that was not New York or London wasn’t worth a thought about. I felt like John Murphy, from the story, who’d despaired at the isolationist attitude running through the Allies. They didn’t know a Holocaust was coming, and did they care? Only the few, exiled Churchill and beaten Eden, saw what we know now.

But it was this book which gave me this perspective. It was this piece of fiction that spoke fact like I’ve never felt it before. There are many times in this book where I’ve cried, where I’ve been enlightened, where I have joyed or sorrowed in events so real and poignant. It is not a book of mere entertainment. It is a book to make you grow and understand. What it teaches ranges from the political to the spiritual. From this book, I’ve learned and understood the political feelings before the war. I’ve learned how people could crowd the streets to cheer Hitler. I’ve learned how one could hope in a place like Dachau, I’ve learned how the danger of isolationism can lead to another Holocaust. I’ve learned how small a person could feel when he is living in times like the late 1930s, when he knows what is coming, but can do nothing to stop its evil advance. And I’ve placed a greater meaning to the Christian idea of “hoping in the Lord.” Hope is such a little thing to people like us who are financially and politically secure, but to those people, hope was something tangible. My perspective has been shifted so I can see and appreciate the deeper things by seeing myself in their shoes and asking, how would they see this?

In critique, the style of the writing is perfect, vocabulary changes from character to character, and one reads it as though it were a movie. The narrative was a little heavy, at first, as Thoene gave us backstory and background. Around 70-80 pages into the story, things begin to really get moving, and from there, it doesn’t stop much. Amazingly, there is no long lull in the middle that has come to every other story I’ve read. Thoene does a marvelous job of pacing, mixing humor, irony, and tragedy in a rich, complex blend of perfect poignancy.

Vienna Prelude has left me with images and scenes that I’d want to remember all of my life. So many are powerful, so many have such meaning and purpose. I’ve truly learned so much, experienced so much, felt and understood so much that I could never have gained from mere history books alone. Richness and depth are my criteria for beauty, and Vienna Prelude is beautiful indeed.

“Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan” (JS Bach)
What God has done is rightly done.(less)

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Jul 28, 2010 Rebekkila rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bookcrossing

Vienna Prelude chronicles the events leading up to the nazi occupation of Vienna. The story is told through the eyes of Elisa who is Jewish born but passes as an arayan woman. Elisa's family are Jewish living in Berlin, they all escape except for her father who ends up in Dachau. Elisa joins the underground movement to help Jewish children to freedom.
The book was a quick read, the stoyline moves along at a pretty fast pace. The only thing I did not like about the book was the love triangle invol...more

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Oct 20, 2009 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

This is a historical novel that takes place during WWII. Vienna Prelude takes in the beginning stages of the war and when Germany began the take over of Austria. This novel is very well written and I appreciated the historical research that was done for this book.

It's about a young woman who is a violinist with the symphony in Austria. She goes home to her family in Germany during Christmas. Her mother is German but her father is a Jew, however, he had converted to Christianity. He is also a Ge...more

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Dec 15, 2012 Meg rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-owners-library, historical-fiction

In 1936, the days before WWII, the world is still very naive about Hitler's influence and strength. Europe's leaders see him as just a ranting lunatic, and nothing more. They turn a blind eye to the atrocities Hitler's regime commits against their opposition and the Jewish population.

Elisa Lindheim is a violinist with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, but her family is back in Berlin -- and in danger. When the family is to come to Austria for a Christmas holiday, their plans go terribly wrong...more

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Jul 29, 2010 Karma rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was fun to read. I didn't know much about the political specifics of Austria and WWII - just that Austria surrendered without a fight. The author combined entertaining fiction with history in a very enjoyable way. The characters were engaging and lovable! I was actually laughing out loud at the ending - I don't want to spoil it but it was truly unrealistic and too much for me. There was so much sadness and misery in the rest of the book however that I will forgive the author this once...more

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Sep 18, 2011 Charyla Olsen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This series, starting with the Vienna Prelude, has done a great deal for my understanding of history. Listening through college to what, for me, were dry facts did not have much the same impact as the story line of Bodie Thoene. And while I understood the evil of the Nazis, this book began to open my eyes to the abject horror and gave me a sense of how all-pervasive the evil was. I am now on Book 5 and Ms. Thoene deserves all the accolades she has received for taking such a detailed and thorough...more

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Feb 03, 2011 Ruth rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this, even though when I first started it, I thought--no, not another story based on Nazi atrocities. It helps that it's a novel, even though the level of historical accuracy in the details surrounding the fictional characters was extremely high, and all too real. I kept wanting to yell out at the main character, Elisa (when she was encouraged at many junctures to leave Austria before the oncoming Anschluss), "yes, by all means, GET OUT OF THERE!!!"--I guess that's a natural tende...more

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Apr 08, 2009 Sharlin rated it 4 of 5 stars

this book was really good. it takes a little to get into, hence the 4 stars instead of five. but once you do, it gives a very personal and moving look into life during hitler's regime. it's hard to believe what was going on during that time.

it was also good personally. the heroine comes to a point in the book where she realizes that one way or other she will die some day. it helped her to decide to take risks for a higher cause that could cost her her life, since death is inevitable anyway. it...more

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Jan 25, 2011 Luckngrace rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian, historical-fiction

Set in 1936, Vienna Prelude delves into the Jews who have fled Germany to eventually discover that they aren't safe anywhere in Europe. Always a stubborn people, they go to incredible lengths to hold on to the fine music and elegant life of Vienna to no avail. As SS infiltrate every area of life, people must choose whether they will risk their own lives to help innocent Jews or join Hitler's minions. The Christian aspects of this book meld well and make perfect sense, never preaching or prosylit...more

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Jun 17, 2012 Kim Bolton rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: world-war-two, historical-fiction-shelf

This was my first introduction to this particular Brock and Bodie Thoene series. Although the series is labeled under the CF genre, the writing is very good, the plot thickens with each successive story and they write each character into the stories with such clear and convincing clarity that they remain with you long after you finish the books. You can tell the Thoene's have done their research. I own each book in this particular series and I have read this series at least twice and plan read i...more

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Jan 26, 2010 Donna rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was the first in a series by Bodie Thoene and I so much enjoyed it. It takes place in the 1930s as Hitler is sweeping across Germany and into Austria. The book begins with focus on a very famous violin and takes us to Vienna into the life a young violinist. Her father is a wealth Berliner (Jewish) and her mother German.

We get a dramatic view of the lives of several characters as the face or do NOT face the expanding power of the Third Reich.

I am excited as I begin the second book today, Pr...more

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Apr 10, 2013 Vickijean Hartley rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read this series years ago, when it first was published. Bodie Thoene is a real presence in this niche market of Christian fiction. When I look at this section in Walmart, grocery stores, and other booksellers in our rural area, all I see is the Amish stories. They are nice, but a bit redundant. Thoene combines Christian romance with historical narratives. These are not great literature, but nice escapist fiction. I recommend her to folks tired of the thrillers, and mystery, steamy romances an...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian, c, historic, romance-clean

I was very interested in this book from the start because it seemed to revolve around a violin that was of some importance in the 1930’s. It concentrates on Jewish life in Germany and Austria from 1933 – 1935. Brock’s history degree is put to good use in the accuracy of the Historical content. From their website: “Due to such careful research, The Zion Covenant and The Zion Chronicles series are recognized by the American Library Association, as well as Zionist libraries around the world, as cla...more

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Oct 23, 2011 Pamela rated it 2 of 5 stars

Sorry, but I won't read any more of this series. A lot of people love this, but it wasn't for me. It was overwritten to the point of ho-hum--put it on the nightstand to ensure falling asleep. The historical background was accurate but only served to lengthen a book that was unsatisfying in plot--with a few unrealistic coincidences. The basic premise of the book was good, but the main characters were perfectly plastic. For better writing and a much more gripping story, stick to SARAH'S KEY or som...more

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Sep 14, 2011 Calle rated it 4 of 5 stars

"Vienna Prelude", set in Austria and Germany during 1936-1938, is marketed as a Christian novel and, since I'm not a Christian, I didn't know what I'd think about it but decided to give it a chance, because of the many glowing reviews. And yes, the novel clearly is Christian and contains discussions about God and faith, as well as good and evil, and even heaven and hell, but for the most part it doesn't come off as preachy and as a reader you can choose to agree with the religious aspects of it,...more

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About Bodie Thoene

BODIE AND BROCK THOENE (pronounced Tay-nee) have written over 45 works of historical fiction. These best sellers have sold more than 10 million copies and won eight ECPA Gold Medallion Awards.

Bodie began her writing career as a teen journalist for her local newspaper. Eventually her byline appeared in prestigious periodicals such as U.S. News and World Report, The American West, and The Saturday E...more

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Quotes from Vienna Prelude

“This is me, God! Elisa. I once saw you in all the world. But the world is dark now, Lord. Full. Full of darkness. Close your eyes for a moment, God, and let me sing to you. Let me remember that you are here. Here in the notes. Smiling down as I play for you. Just this moment, God, let me sing to you. And maybe in the song, I will forget whether I am singing to you, or you are singing to me . . . ” — 8 people liked it

“The seasons sang to him - like ageless hymns with whisperings he could feel, but not fully understand.” — 6 people liked it

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/253047.Vienna_Prelude?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347471067l/253047.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/253047.Vienna_Prelude?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Vienna Prelude by Bodie Thoene[/url]

Vienna Prelude (Zion Covenant #1)

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