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478th out of 627 books
—
1,912 voters
The Gathering Storm (Zion Diaries #1)
by
Bodie Thoene (Goodreads Author),
Brock Thoene
As Nazi forces tighten the noose, Loralei Kepler, daughter of a German resistance leader, must flee her beloved Germany. But is any place safe from Adolf Hitler's evil grasp? Loralei's harrowing flight leads her into the arms of needy child refugees, who have sacrificed everything in exchange for their lives, and toward a mysterious figure, who closely guards an age-old se...more
Paperback, 380 pages
Published
August 1st 2010
by Summerside Press
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Well written, but lacked a little believability at the end.
The Thoenes are two of my favorite authors and I've read a lot of their books.
The Gathering Storm is an excellent story about Jews in World War II, and as always I really enjoyed their insights into what life was like during the war. They do a great job of painting a picture of what Jewish families went through in Europe. I particularly liked their portrayal of England and the attitude of the English people--both their courage and thei...more
The Thoenes are two of my favorite authors and I've read a lot of their books.
The Gathering Storm is an excellent story about Jews in World War II, and as always I really enjoyed their insights into what life was like during the war. They do a great job of painting a picture of what Jewish families went through in Europe. I particularly liked their portrayal of England and the attitude of the English people--both their courage and thei...more
Title: THE GATHERING STORM
Authors; Bodie and Brock Thoene
Publisher: Summerside Press
August 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60936-033-7
Genre: Inspirational/historical
American born Loralei Kepler is the daughter of a missionary family in Belgium. Nazi’s are invading Brussels and the Jews are trying to make a quick getaway. The Kepler family isn’t safe, and Loralei’s father makes the difficult decision to take his two daughters, one eight months pregnant, and his young niece and flee the country. But before they l...more
Authors; Bodie and Brock Thoene
Publisher: Summerside Press
August 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60936-033-7
Genre: Inspirational/historical
American born Loralei Kepler is the daughter of a missionary family in Belgium. Nazi’s are invading Brussels and the Jews are trying to make a quick getaway. The Kepler family isn’t safe, and Loralei’s father makes the difficult decision to take his two daughters, one eight months pregnant, and his young niece and flee the country. But before they l...more
First off, when you want excellent historical fiction on WWII in Europe the Thoene's are the authors to go to. They have outstanding series already (The Zion Chronicles and The Zion Legacy books) and now this new series is filling in the gap between those two series. So we enter Europe in the early 1940's. How do you expound on the writings of the Thoenes? Their research is amazing, their characters are incredible, the settings are so well written that I fell like I'm there... Then there are the...more
Aug 12, 2010
Molly
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone
Recommended to Molly by:
CFBA
Shelves:
book-review
Amazing! Interesting! Beautiful! And so much more! For along time now, book lovers all around me have talked about Brock and Bodie Thoene's wonderful work and I was always thinking to myself-who is that and what's so special about their stories? Well now I know and now I totally, without a doubt, can agree with them. Bodie and Brock Thoene write story that is all at once intense, riveting, beautiful and suspenseful. I was awake late into the night turning page after page, waiting for what happen...more
I really enjoyed this work of historical fiction. It's written from a Christian perspective, but does not preach at all, and also introduces a mystical element that is unusual, in my experience, in Christian fiction.
The book opens and closes with the author, Bodie Thoene, writing in the first person as herself. She describes meeting Loralei and being entrusted with her personal diary of wartime experiences in the hope that she could help Loralei to have it published.
As Loralei's story unfolds, w...more
The book opens and closes with the author, Bodie Thoene, writing in the first person as herself. She describes meeting Loralei and being entrusted with her personal diary of wartime experiences in the hope that she could help Loralei to have it published.
As Loralei's story unfolds, w...more
I was a huge fan of the Zion Chronicles and Zion Covenant series. It's about 15 years since the Thoene writing team returned to WWII subject matter. Consequently, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book and finished it in less than a week.
Readers will recognize some of the secondary characters from previous series. (E.g. Madame Rose who ran the orphanage in Paris. Eva, who escaped from Poland. Mac, the reporter.) The main character, Loralei Kepler, is new. She is the daughter of an American...more
Readers will recognize some of the secondary characters from previous series. (E.g. Madame Rose who ran the orphanage in Paris. Eva, who escaped from Poland. Mac, the reporter.) The main character, Loralei Kepler, is new. She is the daughter of an American...more
The Gathering Storm by Bodie & Brock Thoene is the first book in the Zion Diaries series. Loralei grew up in Europe after World War I while her father prophesied that Germany would rise again. As Hitler's Germany begins to crush the Jews, her family pulls together to help out however they can, aiding the escape of Jewish children to America, getting false Catholic identities for some, and Loralei even marries a Jewish man ,Varrick, partly to save him and his family, but also because she allo...more
I have read about just all of the Theone's previous books and was anxious to get my hands and heart around this one. It took me off guard at first, being written in first person. I am not fond of first person and it was a short while I got past that. I did find the story to be confusing at times, with the jumping around, although the basis of the story had me hooked. I couldn't put it down. The end was read in tears. I read some of the other reviews and understand the hesitance in accepting the...more
Back in 1990 I first discovered a genre called Christian fiction. The very first Christian novel I'd ever read was Vienna Prelude by Brock and Bodie Thoene. The story was excellent. From that point on I was hooked, and it was then that I discovered an affection for historical fiction, especially set during the devastation of WWII Europe. The characters in their books faced uncertain peril, but trusted in a powerful and loving God to save them. Since that time I have read at least 30 of their boo...more
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Brock and Bodie Thoene are two of my favorite authors, and their Christian historical fiction is always worth reading. Their characters are well-rounded, their writing style is entertaining, and their research is generally second to none. This is the first book in the Zion Diaries series, which occurs between the Zion Covenant and Zion Chronicles series. I loved most of the story, and will definitely read the rest of the series. There is one main reason this one got four stars from me instead of...more
I was so excited to hear of this new series, which I thought was going to pick up where the previous series, Zion Covenant, left off. While there are relationships between characters of the previous series, this is a very different kind of book. I really wanted to love it, because I did love the other series. Maybe my expectations were too high? It was a good read, but I didn't think the characters were as well developed or the plot-line as well developed as in other series by the same author. T...more
I've really enjoyed most of the Thoene's books. This one was also good, but I made the mistake of reading half one weekend and the other half a week later. When I picked it up last night, I had a hard time remembering who all the characters were. It took a couple chapters before I was immersed in the story again but then this afternoon I couldn't put it down. The ending created more questions than it answered but it was interesting.
The story introduces Tzadikim Nistarim (http://en.wikipedia.org/...more
The story introduces Tzadikim Nistarim (http://en.wikipedia.org/...more
I am a long time fan of Brock and Bodie Thoene's WWII fiction. I first read the Zion Covenant series and Zion Chronicles series over 15 years ago. I must admit I almost screamed with joy when I found there was to be a series bridging the two earlier series. I also screamed (on the inside) when I found The Gathering Storm at Barnes and Noble on Friday.
In true Thoene fashion, The Gathering Storm begins with a modern day prologue. However, unlike the earlier books, this one is written in first per...more
In true Thoene fashion, The Gathering Storm begins with a modern day prologue. However, unlike the earlier books, this one is written in first per...more
1 like · like · see review
The prologue begins with Bodie herself meeting her penpal, a woman who after reading Bodie's previous work contacted her with additional information. Lora lived through World War II and had worked with the refugee children. The narrative begins as Bodie reads the memoir as written by Lora's own hand.
As the story unfolds you will come across people you already know from The Zion Covenant as lives intersect; however, you don't need to have read the other books to fully enjoy this one.
There is bea...more
As the story unfolds you will come across people you already know from The Zion Covenant as lives intersect; however, you don't need to have read the other books to fully enjoy this one.
There is bea...more
First of all, this is the first book I've been able to finish since school started. It took me almost 2 months of 20 minute "Magical Mondays" to complete! Second of all, this is my first read by Bodie Thoene. That being said...
I was instantly attracted to this book based on the cover and the premise. I love reading books about the Holocaust (I really don't know why, it's such a sad point in history) and this cover instantly drew me in. The flag, the burning, the couple, told me that I might enjo...more
I was instantly attracted to this book based on the cover and the premise. I love reading books about the Holocaust (I really don't know why, it's such a sad point in history) and this cover instantly drew me in. The flag, the burning, the couple, told me that I might enjo...more
I thought I would like this more than I did. I liked the history aspect and I did get drawn in to the story, but I didn't connect with the main character. I didn't really understand how she thought. Also, I didn't really like the 36 people who have lived since Jesus came thing. It just didn't work for me, even if there are some who believe it's true. There's also a strong Zionist sentiment.
I love reading books that take place during WWII and that's probably why I like the books written by Thoene so much. This is a new series that they have created dealing with the "diaries" of people who had been through WWII. It's neat to see the interweaving of fiction characters with historical events and there are also a few interesting twists that occur during the storyline that keep you wanting to know more.
Feb 12, 2011
Anne
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
teens and adults
I have never read a book by this author that I did not love. This one ism a bit different in its content than many of her Zion series books. It is #1 in a new set, "The Zion Diaries" and I am looking forward to any new ones in the series.
Lorelei is a young American whose father is a preacher in Germany when the Nazi's invade. In love with one man, she never the less marries another, a Jewish man in the hope of saving his relatives and getting them to America. The trials she has are heartwrenchin...more
Lorelei is a young American whose father is a preacher in Germany when the Nazi's invade. In love with one man, she never the less marries another, a Jewish man in the hope of saving his relatives and getting them to America. The trials she has are heartwrenchin...more
This book provided a little different twist from the typical Zion Holocaust series by the Thoenes. Instead of the usual escape and reunite pattern, a storyline evolving around the ancient lore of 36 Righteous Men is introduced with a superhuman level. Interesting reading.
I really liked this book until the very end and then I'm sort of confused. As others have commented, I was also thinking that this Loralei was the Lori from the next book (and other previous books). I'll have to check further into that. If she is a totally different person why give her a similar name to only confuse some of us.
Oh, well, all in all a great story.
Oh, well, all in all a great story.
Not my favorite of the Thoene books as compared to their other WW2 series. I don't know if it is because I am not the historical and/or biblical scholar that they are, but the ending seemed farfetched. (I'll leave it at that so I don't ruin it for anyone.)
Once again I was blown away by a Thoene book! I think I could read every one of their books over and over. This book has a different take on their regular WWII fiction. It focuses on the war effort in London, the plight of the children refugees and the Jewish mythology/prophesy surrounding the events.
I love historical fiction. The Thoenes did their research and developed the story line and characters. However, I was disappointed with the mythical Judaism element introduced. I perceived that the mythical tale was presented as fact.
Very well researched and written about the life of those fleeing the terror of the Nazi's. The author captures the essence of fear, strength, courage, love, dispair, and so much more. I found this book very difficult to put down!
This book is wonderful! The author brings your right in to World War 2 Europe! You feel all of Lora's emotions and her struggles through out the book. The heart ache, the bits of joy. all of it ties together wonderfully!
A nice easy read with a few familiar characters that make you smile and typical Theone fashion of twists and turns. Just a bit odd on some of the plot and doesn't develop the characters as deeply as others of theirs.
Once again, Bodie Thoene's writing is far superior to most other Christian authors. Her historical background always seems very authentic and accurate and her writing keeps you going through the whole book. Good read.
This was a bit of a disappointment. I love the Zion Covenant and Zion Chronicles series and reread them every few years. This book moved into the mystic, instead of portraying real life as the others had.
This is another hit from Bodie Theone. A great follow up to the Zion Covenant and Chronicles series. I discovered these books in the 80's & 90's. Will read the rest of the diaries as they come out. Great historical and scriptural foundations in all their books.
Different than the Zion series I first read, but still very enjoyable. I love how the same characters continue to show up in the stories.
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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
More about Bodie Thoene...
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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