Book Beat – For Such a Time by Kate Breslin

2014 has been an excellent year for Christian fiction set during World War II. For Such a Time by Kate Breslin sets the biblical story of Esther in Nazi Germany. Stella Muller is Jewish but looks Aryan. Drawn by Stella’s beauty, SS Kommandant Aric von Schmidt rescues Stella from a firing squad and spirits her away to his home outside the transit camp at Theresienstadt. Stella conceals her faith to save her life, but finds herself pulled into the lives of the Jews in the camp, including her beloved uncle, Morty. Aric wrestles between his gruesome duties and his natural compassion and honor, and Stella finds herself falling for this man in spite of herself. But will Stella be able to stand up for her people, and what hope possibly remains for either Stella or Aric?

For Such a Time has received well-deserved raves. Kate Breslin‘s debut novel is impressive on so many levels. The story is compelling, beautiful, with seemingly insurmountable odds. The characters are complex and believable, and you can’t help but wonder what you’d do in either Stella or Aric’s shoes. And the message of courage and sacrifice and honor is timeless. Please read this book. You will not be disappointed.