The Berlin Wife's Vow

German Wives #4

by Marion Kummerow

She kneels by her husband, his face contorted with pain. “You must get yourself to safety,” he tells her. She grips his hand tighter as a tear tracks down her drawn, pale face. “I promised to stay beside you. I will keep that vow to the end.”

Berlin, 1944. Edith Falkenstein weeps with joy when the crowds of brave women protesting on Rosenstrasse manage to save their Jewish relatives, including her husband Julius, from deportation to the camps.

Julius once believed abiding by the rules would shield him and his wife. But now he knows better: there is no such thing as mercy from the Nazis, and they must do all they can to save others. Their apartment, long stripped of its luxurious furnishings, might offer little protection from the frigid winter air, but it has become a place of secret shelter—though it puts all their lives at risk.

As bombs rain a thunder of devastation on the city and Soviet soldiers close in from the east, the Nazis have only become more desperate, and more deadly. For the inhabitants, their only option is to flee. But when another raid leaves Julius critically injured, Edith realises he is far too frail to make the perilous journey. She closes her eyes and prays for a miracle.

The final days of the war are here, but there is no cause for celebration in Berlin, where death lingers on every corner. Their love has been the source of their strength and survival all these long years, but will either of them live to see the end?

An absolutely page-turning and deeply heart-rending story of one woman’s promise to protect the people she loves. Perfect for fans of The Nightingale, The Alice Network and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II, Historical

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 3, 2024

About the author

Marion Kummerow was born and raised in Germany, before she set out to "discover the world" and lived in various countries. In 1999 she returned to Germany and settled down in Munich where she's now living with her family.

After dipping her toes with non-fiction books, she finally tackled the project dear to her heart. UNRELENTING is the story about her grandparents, who belonged to the German resistance and fought against the Nazi regime.

It's a book about resilience, love and the courage to stand up and do the right thing.

Reviews

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the final book in the Berlin Wife's series, and I have diligently read and followed along with it all. Being fascinated with learning about past history especially WWII history I enjoy reading this author's books so much for what I learn from them. Exceptionally well researched which I always appreciate she makes the stories come to life on the pages. It's as though she's there back in time and writing about her observations in day-to-day life, amidst the fear, danger, courage, blood, sweat, tears and shocking realizations.
I have read most of the books the author has written and was pleased to see a return of characters from other books in the series and even a few characters made it into the book I remember from other series. If I had to choose my favorite characters would be David and Roxie. Roxie has really come a long way from the time we were first introduced to her.
Such resilience in the face of darkness. We meet new characters, see failures but despite these, the human spirit is strong.
I am so impressed with the way the author portrays each character, so realistically, the struggles and hardships are real. Despite all this I felt the strong family love the characters have for each other. I greatly look forward to reading the new series the author is writing.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Wendy Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a lot of this author and admire her work. She paints a vivid picture of the times and has and has an extraordinary talent for setting the scene and describing the character's feelings and reactions. However, I did not enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed her other novels.

[Emma Crowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Berlin Wife’s Vow is the fourth and final instalment in Marion Kummerow’s German Wives series. It picks up more or less where the previous book left off in 1943 and instead of the situation for all the characters getting better things seem to be deteriorating at a rapid pace. The matriarchs of the two families featured, Edith and Helga, take more of a back seat in this book and it was only around a quarter or so into the book that I realised this. The younger generation are stepping forward and sharing their stories and this made sense when I read the author’s end notes. Once, I realised that the aforementioned characters wouldn’t have as dominant a role to play I stopped searching for them to feature heavily in chapters and settled into the story. Yes, the two women do feature but to a much lesser extent than they previously had.

David and his sister Amelie live with their parents Helga and Heinrich in a shared apartment with the Falkensteins, Edith and Julius. The siblings are of Jewish descent but only half Jews as their mother is not Jewish, still that does not make them free from the threat of capture or the laws that are imposed upon Jews. Julius is not a practicing Jew and had denounced his religion but again being of Jewish descent means he is a target. Julius has gone from being a powerful businessman who owned a bank and had great wealth to a shadow of his former self. He is weak and frail from his previous incarceration which is not helped by a further injury which hinders him throughout the story. His sense of strength and hope has left him and with every turn of the page I expected him to just give up. His wife Edith is steadfast and loyal and has been with him through thick and thin yet I could sense there was an apprehension about her that time was running out for them and with the situation in Berlin worsening with bombs raining down and the threat of capture from the Gestapo that she too questioned whether they could all make it safely out through the other side.

As previously mentioned, the younger generation come to the fore here, one of them being David. He wants to go underground and live illegally. He plays a very dangerous game throughout and goes outside with his jacket wearing his jacket bearing the star of David inside out so he will avoid detection. It was fascinating to read of the resistance work that he became involved in. I thought he was so dogged and determined and was stepping up to do his bit at just the right time. He was the leader of the younger generation as the older generation had passed the baton on. Not that they probably wanted to but just that they physically, and to a great extent mentally, were not able to continue on.

Roxi is from a Romani background and has seen her family and community members decimated in a similar way to the Jewish population. She is without doubt the standout character of the book. I adored her as a character and wanted her to feature even more than she did. She was brave, intuitive, fearless and resourceful and was like a cat with nine lives. You could feel the love and devotion that herself and David had for each other and that if circumstances were different they wouldn’t have to hide their relationship and could be out and about in public relaxed and at ease. I admired Roxi from beginning to end and I loved that she put herself in the firing line when push came to shove and she had to do something that could potentially have resulted in her own imprisonment if discovered.

Amelie, David’s sister, does feature and play her part in resistance activities whilst at the same time making sure her family are safe which is not easy considering as the story moves forward into 1944 and 1945 the situation throughout Berlin is precarious and death, starvation, danger and the threat of capture by the Gestapo lurk around every corner. Amelie in my mind was under utilised and I would have liked to read more about her. She seemed to pop in and out at various intervals and I would have liked to get to know her in more depth. But perhaps the worst character of all was Thea. She is a former school friend of Ameile’s and was once David’s girlfriend and as the author herself says in her end notes she is complex and conflicted. I definitely would use those two words to describe her but selfish and self-centred would be another two. She is Jewish and has been living underground since her parents were taken away. She has no idea where her husband Ralf is not that she cared for him in the slightest. Thea had lived a good life and wanted for nothing and now she has fallen very far from grace and is about to go even further with her actions that are revealed over the course of the book.

Thea doesn’t want to be captured and sent away to a camp to god knows what fate. So when the Gestapo do locate her and take her in she fears the worst will befall her. But she is clever and will play any game to make sure her parents aren’t sent away when she discovers they are in a holding camp and she wants to secure her own fate. She went to a very dark side and in one small way I could see she was thinking of her parents but in another she only ever thought of herself and her long term future. She gets involved in something that earns her a name feared throughout the streets of Berlin. She has made a deal which I thought the results of would never ever come to fruition. She was gullible and given the entire reason for the war in the first place and Thea being Jewish well the deal was never going to come off. Instead, she caused heartache and despair for so many and at times I really didn’t want to read of her viewpoint because she caused so many conflicting emotions within me.

For me, The German Wife’s Vow wasn’t the best book in the series but I wouldn’t have missed out on it because I had become fully invested in all the characters in particular Edith and Julius. The ending did feel a little rushed but I suppose it did reflect the reality of the last days of war as the Soviets approached the city and those that were left had no choice but to take action. I did think why hadn’t they done this earlier as the option had been available to them but then there wouldn’t have been any books to read. The series as a whole has been very good and I have enjoyed it immensely as it was very interesting to read of families perspectives of the war coming from marriages that meant the children weren’t fully Jewish. I did enjoy that it was always set in Berlin as it’s not often I read about how the Germans themselves survived in a city ruled by the Gestapo and bombs raining down upon them from the British. It’s always good to get two sides to a story. The author mentions she has a spin off series forming in her head. Clues for which were dropped in this book. Well, I didn’t pick up on them so I suppose that’s a good thing as I will be completely surprised by the new series and who will feature. Although being truthfully honest I’d love an entire series devoted to Roxi. I could read about her forever.

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the fourth and final book in the German Wives series. Every single book has been no less than excellent. Marion Kummerow writes from the heart, and this is so clear throughout the series. It can be read as a standalone, but I am sure if anyone reads just one book, they will surely want to read the rest of the series.

Picking up in 1943, when the previous book ended, I was back in Berlin at a time when families were being torn apart, and the fact you married a Jew mattered way too much. As always, I felt heartbroken as the story unfolded, and the plight of the German families with Jewish relatives had them living on tenterhooks daily. When every trip outdoors could mean families would be separated if only for religion.

The reason I constantly rate Marion Kummerow's historical fiction five stars is that she brings the German side of WW2 to vivid life. Her research is impeccable, and she brings the characters to life, so they almost pop out the pages as you read. I am a lover of historical fiction, and when it's written this way, I revel in it. Just the fact it teaches us the other side of the war. Germany was an enemy, but the people of the country suffered in ways that the people of England didn't. To me, books like these at least make the readers think and actually realise that the victims of Hitler's war weren't just every other country he invaded.

The Berlin Wife's Vows is a fitting conclusion to this series, well written and so emotional. I am sad I won't be able to revisit these characters. I can only look forward to whatever Marion Kummerow writes next.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the digital copy to write my honest review.

[Snoops · Rating 3 out of 5]

The whole series was a little unbelievable with the luck the characters had, but still a good read.

[Padmini Palaparthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Berlin Wife’s Resistance is the fourth and last book in Marion Kummerow’s Berlin Wife Series, with the first being The Berlin Wife, the second The Berlin Wife’s Choice and the third one The Berlin Wife’s Resistance. The story continues from the third book.

In this book, the author explores the relationship between David (Helga’s son) and Roxi ( A Romani girl David falls in love with) and delves deeper into Knut’s (Edith’s younger brother) life. The story revolves mostly around these characters and their resistance. The author also explores Thea’s (David’s ex-girlfriend and a Jewish girl who is tortured and forced to work for the Nazis) character in more depth.

As with the previous books, the author has moulded the story around historical events like Operation Valkyrie, originally a contingency plan to regain control over the nation in case of an uprising. This operation later transformed into a plan to usurp power after a coup and Hitler’s death. The author also mentions the Stauffenberg Coup, which was the last failed attempt to put Operation Valkyre into motion and led to numerous arrests and executions.

The author also talks about the visit to one of the concentration camps by the members of the International Red Cross, which ended up being a complete eye wash. The team gives in to the Nazi Propaganda and, instead of reporting the crimes, ends up perpetuating it. There are many theories around it, but it was undoubtedly a lost opportunity to save the people.

The last book is about the last few months before the war finally ends. The families face poverty, helplessness and desperation to break free as the allied bombings increase and the country is left in ruins. Hitler’s death comes as a relief to many and a sheer disappointment to his blind followers, including Josef ( Edith’s elder brother), who is left directionless. Things start changing rapidly, and eventually, the war is over. But what is left is a country in rubble with many dead and disabled. The author ends the story by giving a new purpose to the lives of Edith and Helga and by providing new opportunities for the younger generation.

The Berlin Wife’s Vow did complete justice to the story and all the previous books. It was as intriguing as the first three books and brought the story to a logical end.

[loopyloulaura · Rating 4 out of 5]

TRIGGER WARNING: Nazi antisemitic ideology and violence
1943, Germany. Jews in hiding. Nazi officers working against their leadership. Friends and family in danger of being denounced and arrested at every turn...
The Berlin Wife's Vow is an historical book set during the second half of WW2. It is the fourth book in a series and I do feel that I would have benefitted from reading the earlier books to better understand the journey the characters have been on. I was able to catch up quickly but it did feel a little like I'd been dropped into the middle of a story.
There are a wealth of characters introduced to us at the start of the book. All of them are struggling to cope with life in Germany under the Nazis and are united in wanting to subvert the regime. Edith is married to a Jew and has been rejected by her brother who is a Nazi officer at an extermination camp. Her other brother is involved with resistance, putting his life in danger. Thea is brutally beaten until she agrees to betray others, while Helga and her family are trying to help those at risk of arrest and deportation.
Initially I was unsure of the wife and vow in question so felt that the title and book blurb didn't quite match the plot (this was before I realised that it was the 4th book in a series). However, I understood better later in the book as events progressed. The writing style is easy to read and the characters were all depicted authentically and vividly brought to life. There is unpleasant violence and attitudes as you would expect due to the historical and geographical setting but these were not gratuitous. This was balanced by the kindness, love and hope that the characters cling to as they battle the worst of humanity.
The author has clearly researched the background for the book and has invested a lot in her characters and plot development over the series. My degree is in history and I have studied Nazi Germany a lot but I enjoyed being shown new perspectives and lesser known events such as the Rosenstrasse protest.
The Berlin Wife's Vow is an engaging, emotional and well researched historical novel.

[virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marion Kummerow’s, The Berlin Wife’s Vow is the fourth in a series. Although I am a great fan of the author’s books, I had not read the first three books in the series. But I am now. The story was interesting, and the characters were engaging, especially Roxi. The setting placed me inside the book, walking the streets with the characters and hiding out in the dingy, cold basements during the numerous bombing raids depicted in the book. The plight of David and his family and the Aryan woman trying to protect their Jewish husbands from the Nazi menace is both heartwarming and heartbreaking as they meander Germany circa 1943, where every outdoor visit is a test of safety and luck. To believe that others can harm other citizens this way had me reading deep into the night and the next morning. This book is a must-read. I do suggest you read the books in order in the series to have a deeper understanding of the situation these families were placed in after the programs hit Germany against the Jewish population. The book is well-researched and written in the usual effortless style Kummerow uses to bring her stories, settings, and characters to life. A solid 4.5 stars. I thank Net Galley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book. The opinions stated here are mine and mine alone.

[Caroline|Page~Turners · Rating 5 out of 5]

World War II rages on across Europe and people are growing weary wondering when the horror will ever end. Edith Falkenstein is over joyed knowing that some family members are saved from being transported to the camps, including her husband Julius. But it is way too soon to let their guard down. They must still fight to survive and they can never give up hope. I loved the characters David and Roxi and it didn’t surprise me that they bravely joined the resistance. As the bombs continued to fall from the sky, their life seems to get more and more dismal. But they hang on to each other and the hope of freedom one day.

The Berlin Wife’s Vow written by author Marion Kummerow is an amazing addition to the German Wives Series. I was heart broken at the horrible conditions and the life they had to endure. This gripping story was a fast-paced story that was unputdownable. I enjoy this author’s writing style so much, she keeps me coming back for more of her stories. She intertwines stories that are entertaining, engaging and inspiring, while educating the reader on the facts of history. I love that even though it was a long time ago, there are so many lives and families that will be forever changed through all the generations to come. May we never forget. I highly recommend this wonderful story.

[Monika Armet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth (and sadly last) book in The Berlin Wives series and what a fantastic ending!

The book starts in the year 1943 – the previous books date back to the period of when Hitler came into power in 1933 and the agonising persecution of the Jewish population. The different bans and things that the Jewish people couldn’t do were happening slowly, but steadily, and it was apparent in the previous stories.

In Berlin Wife’s Vow, the story is centred around the younger generation. Edith, Julius, Helga and Heinrich still feature in the book, but they are more in the background.

David Goldmann, who is Helga and Heinrich’s son, takes a centre stage and his relationship with Roxi, who is of Romani background. David gets involved with the resistance activities, which were perilous, but necessary to overthrow Hitler’s reign.

We also see more of Thea Dalke, who was David’s girlfriend many moons ago. I found her story fascinating, but it angered me at the same time. When caught by the Nazis, she decided to collaborate with them to save her skin.

Overall, I am quite saddened to see these characters go, as I grew quite fond of them. I hope that they will make an appearance in the author’s other books.

In the meantime, I urge everyone to read these books. If you like historical fiction, particularly WWII, then this is a series for you!

[Sue Garland · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE BERLIN WIFE’S VOW is the fourth novel in the German Wives series by MARION KUMMEROW. Having read all four novels I suggest you read them in sequence to get an idea of what the Jews, half Jews, gentile wives of Jews and anyone who didn’t fit in with the Nazi’s Aryan ideal, went through during WW11. Having said this, each novel can stand alone.
The story starts in 1943 with David Goldman, who has joined the resistance, seeking out his gypsy girlfriend Roxi who has gone missing from the attic where he was sheltering her in the house shared by his family and the Falkensteins. These two families have been through a great deal together and have become very close, especially Helga and Edith who are gentiles with Jewish husbands.
Things have become even worse in Berlin and we come across Germans, including Edith’s brother Knut, who is part of the resistance movement in the Abwehr, willing to sacrifice themselves as part of Operation Valkyrie. We come across Jewish collabotators as well. …….
Then come the Russians and the end of the war……
I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling things for you.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

[erin_leigh_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Berlin Wife’s Vow is the fourth and final book in the German Wives Series by Marion Kummerow. A fantastic historical fiction series about life in Germany before and during WWII and the rise and fall of Nazism. I have read all four books in the series and thoroughly enjoyed them all. But I have to say I think The Berlin Wife’s Vow is my favourite. I loved the character development of the younger generation, Amelie, David and Roxi and how the story line focuses more on their lives and journey through the war. I also felt like a lot of loose ends were tied up and gave me closure. Like the other three stories in this series, I felt heartache for the Falkenstein and Goldman families and all they endured but also was amazed at their resiliency, tenacity and determination to survive. For the first time in the series I felt a sense of hope for the future of The Falkenstein’s and Goldman’s. If you are a fan of historical fiction, and World War Two and want to learn more about the struggles Jewish people endured during Nazism then I’d highly recommend you read The German Wives series.

Thank you Bookouture for having me on this book tour and for my arc of The German Wife’s Vow. All opinions are my own. This book was a definite 5⭐️

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the fourth book of the German Wives series, readers follow Edith, Julius, the rest of their family, and their neighbors as life somehow continues in the aftermath of the Rosenstrasse protests. With the war seeming to come to an end, everyone tries to find a way to fight back and retain their dignity; if the Nazis are coming for them, then they will do what they can to keep themselves safe and damage the Nazis’ efforts. As the world continues to change and Nazis raids escalate as the Soviets move closer and closer to Berlin, Edith and Julius must make some hard choices to keep their family alive. With such high stakes and new horrors to live through, the Falkensteins’ story is just as fascinating and immersive as the first three books. Bringing many arcs and stories to a close, this novel is an immersive and detailed look into the lives of Berliners during World War II and their brushes with deportation and imprisonment. Kummerow’s characters are the stars of the novel, and the alternating perspectives add to the tensions. A fantastic read and an excellent continuation of the series, readers are guaranteed to enjoy the latest book in Kummerow’s series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance copy.

[Firetruckmama · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.

“The Berlin Wife’s Vow” is the final book in the “German Wives” series by Marion Kummerow. I would strongly recommend that before reading this book, the reader, at minimum, pick up the previous book (“The Berlin Wife’s Resistance”) or, if you want to know all of the background, read the three previous books. This book covers the last few years of WWII in Germany, but from the viewpoint of two Aryan women (Edith and Helga) married to Jewish men. This book focuses mainly on “the next generation” meaning the children (and some fringe characters) and how they try to fight the Nazis and/or survive as the war moves toward its conclusion. Out of all the books in this series, this wasn’t my favorite because I really wanted to spend more time reading about Edith and Helga. The people who were deemed “bad” in the previous books get their comeuppance, though some of the other fringe characters had their storylines fleshed out more. Overall, while this book wasn’t my favorite, it does provide a good and solid ending to the series, so I’d recommend it. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

[Judy Odom · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Berlin Wife's Vow captures your attention from the first to the last page in what is the final book in the series German Wives.

How I will miss all the people.

The war is drawing to a close and David has joined the resistance along with Roxi (my favourite character ) .

Things are still precarious for all the Jewish people and many are still being arrested and shipped out to the concentration camps.

The strength, fearlessness and determination of the resistance on both sides of the War is simply amazing.

Marion Kummerow has done a remarkable job of winding up the series and like all of her books they are hard to put down.

I did not want The Berlin Wife's Vow to end.

I cant wait to see what the next series will be by Marion Kummerow. I will be first in line.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an outstanding read

[Su Thor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, indeed series. It was a different slant on life during wartime in Germany. I couldn’t put the book down until I’d finished it.

What a story! I loved it. It did not disappoint. Having read the earlier books in this series I really wasn’t sure how the suspense could be held right to the last page. In the end, what other ending could there be: it was simple but yet gripping. These were real people who had lost everything but retained their humanity. Can’t wait for the next book.
When you choose to read this book you will feel love, fear, great fullness, admiration, joy and sadness. Once you open this book, you won’t be able to put it down. Thank you everyone, author, publisher and NetGalley for making it possible to read.

I received an advance copy for free, and I’m leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you

I’m looking forward to the promised side stories.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kummerow concludes the series with this book. It’s fast paced, covering the last two years of the war.
Roxi was my favorite character in this one. She was a survivor who knew how to blend in and disappear at will.
Edith and Julius are in the background mostly as the story focuses on David, Roxi, and Thea.
I can barely her name much less read her chapters. Thea is the lowest of the traitors and it sickened me when I had to see her name. She deserved everything she got and more, so much more.
Kummerow explains what happened to everyone and also who was based on a real person including slimy Thea.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the early copy.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knowing that this would be the series' final book, I waited to read it simply because I hated for it to end. The author seamlessly threaded her characters through the most important historical events in Germany, from the 1930s through the end of World War II. This last book includes Operation Valkyrie, the Swedish clergymen who were essential to the Berlin resistance movement, and even the shameful Red Cross visits to the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp. This series was excellent, from the first book to the last, and gave me a better understanding of why so many Jewish Berliners didn't try to leave Germany before it was too late. I highly recommend all of the books.

[Yonah Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an amazing read. I did not want to put it down. I am a big fan of Marion Kummerow and I have read every one of her books. As far as an in depth review where could I start? So much is happening there in War torn Germany. Love, hope, betrayal, murder, theft, second chances, and more. There is no way that you will not love and cherish this book. There is an order to her masterpieces so do not read this one as a first time choice. Enjoy and feel what it was like to live in this dark time.

[Carolyn O’Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Four of series. Life deteriorates for these families left. David is missing presumed dead. No one knows what has happened to him. With the Allied shelling their apartment complex it is not safe to live. It’s almost the end of the war and Germany is losing and Hitler is dead. The families need to find a safe place to hide and survive until the end of Nazi rule. Where can they possibly go, especially with the train tracks bombed and Julius unable to walk due to a femur bone broken and not healed correctly…

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 4th book of the series didn't have the same impact on me as the earlier books. I wouldn't say the series ended with a whimper, it just wasn't up to the standards of the first 3 books. There is some good wrap-up of the storylines of the series, but it all seemed a little rushed. But that may have been more a function of the last days of the war. Still, I recommend this book to those that have gotten this far in the series and want to see how it ends.

[Jeanette Durkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book! It had a very unique perspective of the events that happened in 1943. In a time of horror and sorrow, heroes emerged!

Roxi is my favorite character! She's brave, intuitive, and resourceful. Her ingenuity saved many lives.

I was provided a copy of the book from Bookouture via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 4 out of 5]

The resistance is still going strong as the war goes on.
The Jewish population continues to be arrested and sent to concentration camps.
This story is very moving and emotional.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Debbie Trammell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good series

All of Marion's books are suberb. This series is very interesting in that it is about German women who married Jewish men and all the problem and heartache that caused along with their children. These German women steadfastly stood by their husband's and families and resisted as hard as they could. In some ways it is a very beautiful story.

[Dee Watkins]

The review written by Deanne Patterson really sums up my impression of the Berlin Wife's series and have enjoyed not only the stories but also the history of a time that took place before I was born. I have, as she stated, read many of Marion Kummerow's books and eagerly await the next, while continuing to read others that I have missed. Thank you Marion and Deanne!

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last of a four book historical fiction series taking place in Berlin Germany during the rise and rule of the Nazi Party. Based on many actual events and people the series provides the reader a glimpse of the day to day lives of Berlin citizens both Jew and Gentile. A well written series that I recommend.

[Rebecca Gaddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

so devastatingly enlightening

This series has refreshed my memory about Hitler’s rise to power & his ultimate demise. The stuff in between is froth with accuracy and still holds two families at the forefront. I find a parallel with current events today in the USA unfortunately. I wish this were necessary reading for teens & college students.

[Carey Mundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the final book in the German wives series. As the war draws to its conclusion, the two families do all
They can to survive in Berlin. The choices they must make are life-altering and they face many challenges. Great series

[Robert Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Book With Flaws

I read all four books in this series and basically enjoyed them due to my interest in WW II historical fiction. Aside from some proofreading errors I found it difficult to believe the Germans would have used terms such as "daft" or "bugger" or "bloody."

[Beverley Latimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read!

I enjoyed this book and can highly recommend it to anyone who loves WW11 fiction.
A story about how war can bring out the best in some people, and the very worst in others.