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The Girl from Berlin #1
Standartenführer's Wife
This is a diary of Annalise Meissner, a young German Jew with long time ago falsified papers, living a carefree life in pre-war Berlin. A talented ballerina, she comes from a wealthy family and at first doesn’t want to concern herself with the changes her country starts undergoing under the new Nazi regime. However, when the oppressions against the Jewish population begin, she realizes that she can’t be a silent bystander and swears to help her people in any way possible.
She falls in love and gets married to her father's longtime friend, Standartenführer Heinrich Friedmann, who even though he works for SD – the Reich Secret Service – seems to share her views, and soon Annalise learns why. Her new husband turns out to be a counterintelligence agent working for the US government, and together they start a dangerous game against the sinister Gestapo, trying to save as many lives as they can and not to compromise themselves.
But it's not only the persecuted people Annalise wants to save; she meets the leader of the Austrian SS Gruppenführer Ernst Kaltenbrunner who everyone seems to fear, but for some reason Annalise isn't intimidated by the Chief of the Austrian Gestapo and doesn't believe the rumors about his brutality. Gruppenführer Kaltenbrunner isn't hiding the fact that he would love to get this beautiful girl as his mistress, but Annalise, despite the mutual attraction, stays faithful to her beloved husband. However, the risky game she’s playing will soon change everything…
She falls in love and gets married to her father's longtime friend, Standartenführer Heinrich Friedmann, who even though he works for SD – the Reich Secret Service – seems to share her views, and soon Annalise learns why. Her new husband turns out to be a counterintelligence agent working for the US government, and together they start a dangerous game against the sinister Gestapo, trying to save as many lives as they can and not to compromise themselves.
But it's not only the persecuted people Annalise wants to save; she meets the leader of the Austrian SS Gruppenführer Ernst Kaltenbrunner who everyone seems to fear, but for some reason Annalise isn't intimidated by the Chief of the Austrian Gestapo and doesn't believe the rumors about his brutality. Gruppenführer Kaltenbrunner isn't hiding the fact that he would love to get this beautiful girl as his mistress, but Annalise, despite the mutual attraction, stays faithful to her beloved husband. However, the risky game she’s playing will soon change everything…
359 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 12, 2015
229 people are currently reading
1185 people want to read
About the author
Ellie Midwood
43 books1,164 followersEllie Midwood is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning historical fiction author, whose works have been translated into 20 languages. She owes her interest in the history of the Second World War to her grandfather, Junior Sergeant in the 2nd Guards Tank Army of the First Belorussian Front, who began telling her about his experiences on the frontline when she was a young girl. Growing up, her interest in history only deepened and transformed from reading about the war to writing about it. After obtaining her BA in Linguistics, Ellie decided to make writing her full-time career and began working on her first full-length historical novel, "The Girl from Berlin." Ellie is continuously enriching her library with new research material and feeds her passion for WWII and Holocaust history by collecting rare memorabilia and documents.
In her free time, Ellie is a health-obsessed yoga enthusiast, neat freak, adventurer, Nazi Germany history expert, polyglot, philosopher, a proud Jew, and a doggie mama. Ellie lives in New York with her husband and their three dogs.
In her free time, Ellie is a health-obsessed yoga enthusiast, neat freak, adventurer, Nazi Germany history expert, polyglot, philosopher, a proud Jew, and a doggie mama. Ellie lives in New York with her husband and their three dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
May 17, 2016
Nazis, the Third Reich, the suffering of the Jews, genocide, all words that for us are part of one of the bleakest moments in history, but for one teen, it was all part of her life and she learned to do what she must to survive while secretly adding those she publicly turned her back on. Will Annalise become a cold-hearted machine like the German soldiers around her or will her spirit and determination to do the right thing become a beacon of hope for those she helps?
The Girl from Berlin: Standartenführer's Wife by Ellie Midwood is not a fictional Diary of Anne Frank, nor does this author try to make it so. This is the diary of a daring young woman, often too brash and naïve to realize when she has crossed a line and somehow, manages to pull through, unscathed, to deceive the Germans another day.
Annalise is a gifted ballerina, her family holds a position of wealth and power within the party, but the hidden truth is they are Jews with the perfect Aryan features. A man from her past, a friend of her father’s captures her heart, and she becomes the wife a very influential SD officer. Does she share her secret with him or is that like signing a death warrant for both herself and her family?
Could it be that her Intelligence Officer husband has his own secrets, just as deadly as hers, but far more terrifying if he is found out. Follow her life a she grows into a woman sure of her ability to tame even the wildest of beasts from the SS as she learns espionage is not a game, but a calling for those who seek justice for all. Watch as she walks through a landmine of possible failure and comes out the other side, by the grace of God or sheer luck, to make her mark on history.
Ellie Midwood has penned a beautiful and moving tale of the power of love, determination and the desire to risk everything for the ones who can do little for themselves. That kind of strength is rare and Ms. Midwood has done justice to her characters and the world they lived in. From page one, I was riveted to each page, with a feeling of expectancy or perhaps even dread as the nightmares of a bygone era come to life.
I received this copy from Ellie Midwood in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Ellie Midwood; 1 edition (September 12, 2015)
Publication Date: September 12, 2015
ISBN-13: 9781517353063
Genre: Historical Fiction
Print Length: 194 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
The Girl from Berlin: Standartenführer's Wife by Ellie Midwood is not a fictional Diary of Anne Frank, nor does this author try to make it so. This is the diary of a daring young woman, often too brash and naïve to realize when she has crossed a line and somehow, manages to pull through, unscathed, to deceive the Germans another day.
Annalise is a gifted ballerina, her family holds a position of wealth and power within the party, but the hidden truth is they are Jews with the perfect Aryan features. A man from her past, a friend of her father’s captures her heart, and she becomes the wife a very influential SD officer. Does she share her secret with him or is that like signing a death warrant for both herself and her family?
Could it be that her Intelligence Officer husband has his own secrets, just as deadly as hers, but far more terrifying if he is found out. Follow her life a she grows into a woman sure of her ability to tame even the wildest of beasts from the SS as she learns espionage is not a game, but a calling for those who seek justice for all. Watch as she walks through a landmine of possible failure and comes out the other side, by the grace of God or sheer luck, to make her mark on history.
Ellie Midwood has penned a beautiful and moving tale of the power of love, determination and the desire to risk everything for the ones who can do little for themselves. That kind of strength is rare and Ms. Midwood has done justice to her characters and the world they lived in. From page one, I was riveted to each page, with a feeling of expectancy or perhaps even dread as the nightmares of a bygone era come to life.
I received this copy from Ellie Midwood in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Ellie Midwood; 1 edition (September 12, 2015)
Publication Date: September 12, 2015
ISBN-13: 9781517353063
Genre: Historical Fiction
Print Length: 194 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
May 28, 2016
***** A Chilling Portrait of Dangerous Times
I must say, this sure was a stay-up-reading-until-the-wee-hours-of-the-morning kind of book!
It’s a fascinating portrayal of Annalise, a young girl caught up in the horror of Hitler’s full swing into power in Nazi Germany. Is she a typical young girl? In many ways, she is––in her quest to be a ballerina, her love of fun times, her close knit family, her dear, Jewish, best friend, Adam. But when her father explains how their clan is actually Jewish with forged papers, her life takes a different tact as things around her are quickly heating up. Soon, neighbors she’s known all her life and members of her ballet school are forced to ‘disappear’ because of the strict German anti-Semitic laws. And when she falls in love with and becomes engaged to a man who happens to be high up in Nazi Intelligence, things get even more complicated and tense.
She confesses her background to him and he doesn’t seem rattled by it, which at first I must admit, I found hard to believe. We find out later not only is he a secret agent working against the government, we also see firsthand how for Annalise marrying an elevated member of the Nazi party does have its pitfalls. She is forced to attend a mandatory interview with Himmler himself to make sure she is ‘an appropriate, Aryan bride’. Furthermore, at their wedding (attended by Goebbels) her husband’s and her charade was to me, horrifying, albeit spellbinding. And once she becomes active in her husband’s spy ring, the pages just couldn’t go fast enough! A definite 5*-er!
I must say, this sure was a stay-up-reading-until-the-wee-hours-of-the-morning kind of book!
It’s a fascinating portrayal of Annalise, a young girl caught up in the horror of Hitler’s full swing into power in Nazi Germany. Is she a typical young girl? In many ways, she is––in her quest to be a ballerina, her love of fun times, her close knit family, her dear, Jewish, best friend, Adam. But when her father explains how their clan is actually Jewish with forged papers, her life takes a different tact as things around her are quickly heating up. Soon, neighbors she’s known all her life and members of her ballet school are forced to ‘disappear’ because of the strict German anti-Semitic laws. And when she falls in love with and becomes engaged to a man who happens to be high up in Nazi Intelligence, things get even more complicated and tense.
She confesses her background to him and he doesn’t seem rattled by it, which at first I must admit, I found hard to believe. We find out later not only is he a secret agent working against the government, we also see firsthand how for Annalise marrying an elevated member of the Nazi party does have its pitfalls. She is forced to attend a mandatory interview with Himmler himself to make sure she is ‘an appropriate, Aryan bride’. Furthermore, at their wedding (attended by Goebbels) her husband’s and her charade was to me, horrifying, albeit spellbinding. And once she becomes active in her husband’s spy ring, the pages just couldn’t go fast enough! A definite 5*-er!
December 7, 2015
A good book needs great characters and this book certainly has those in spades! Annalise - the heroine, is naive at first but we see her mature and better understand the world she inhabits, with all its dangers and evil. Heinrich, her husband, is definitely one of the 'good guys' and the nasty characters are all well depicted.
I particularly enjoy stories set during the second world war and the backdrop certainly provides a sweeping context for love, hatred, fear and many other powerful emotions, which the author conveys very well through her characters.
The historical part of the story is accurate and merges cleverly with the fiction. We all know the basic facts of Nazi Germany and what took place but it is the individual family stories such as this, which really brings home the horror of those times.
This is a real page turner and I am going to quickly move on to read the second book in the series.
Highly recommended!
I particularly enjoy stories set during the second world war and the backdrop certainly provides a sweeping context for love, hatred, fear and many other powerful emotions, which the author conveys very well through her characters.
The historical part of the story is accurate and merges cleverly with the fiction. We all know the basic facts of Nazi Germany and what took place but it is the individual family stories such as this, which really brings home the horror of those times.
This is a real page turner and I am going to quickly move on to read the second book in the series.
Highly recommended!
December 15, 2015
The Girl from Berlin: Standartenfuhrer's Wife is a fascinating story about Jewish girl named Annalise growing up in Nazi Germany. In order to survive, she has to learn to hide her true identity in this coming of age saga, which is the first book in the series. The novel is well researched, and written with great attention to details that effectively convey the zeitgeist of the era. Ellie Midwood is a gifted writer who's not shy of putting her heroine in the harms way. The Girl from Berlin is ripe with conflict, difficult situations, and unexpected turns. It reads like a thriller with the tension dripping off every page of the narrative. At its core, however, the novel is a most improbable love story of a Jewess and a Nazi. The master storyteller she is, Ellie Midwood holds a surprise for a reader to make the romance plausible. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I'll say that Annalise posing for an Aryan is not the only one with a secret in The Girl from Berlin. I understand the story will take another turn in the next book of the series: The Girl from Berlin: Grouppenfurrer's Mistress. The first book was a great read and I look forward to reading the second installment.
October 30, 2015
The Girl from Berlin is a beautiful love story of two brave people who weren't afraid to fight against the Nazi regime. A Jewish girl and an SS officer working for the Reich Main Security Office, they weren't meant to be together, yet they fall in love and start a dangerous game against the sinister Gestapo, the bets in which are people's lives... and even their own lives as well...
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
The Girl from Berlin: Standartenführer's Wife is an historical novel written by Ellie Midwood. When she was growing up, Annalise Meissner was not interested in going to school with the other children her age. She’d much rather practice her pirouettes and dance in the square, but somehow, Gryselda, the family’s housekeeper, knew her preferences and made sure she was safely back in school. Annalise was really much more comfortable with adults than children her own age, and she loved being with the grownups in her life. Her perfect world had some strange aspects to it, however, such as the talk her father had with her and her brother, Norbert, when she was nine years old. The Meissners were not really the Aryans she had always believed them to be, but rather they were originally from Poland and were Ashkenazi Jews. Her father’s grandparents had seen troubles coming and had changed the family’s name and converted to Protestantism to protect the family and their assets. Still, as Annalise was growing up in the comfort of the family’s upper middle class lifestyle, the treatment of the Jews in the increasingly intolerant conditions in Germany during the 1930s was troubling, especially considering her beloved family doctor, his son who would become her dance partner, and the other Jewish people she cared so much about were in deadly peril while her life continued unchanged.
Ellie Midwood’s historical novel, The Girl from Berlin: Standartenführer's Wife, is a fast-paced and utterly enthralling novel that chronicles the years leading up to World War II through the eyes of a young ballerina, Annalise Meissner. This novel is meticulously researched, and Annalise’s story is so compelling that I became totally engrossed in her life and experiences. Midwood is a master at blending fact and fiction in such a way that I was often tempted to revisit my history books to see which characters were historical personages and which were not. Her writing is seamless and inspired, and I soon forgot that an author was actually the creative force behind Annalise’s words. I was quite pleased to discover that Midwood plans a sequel to this story, Gruppenfuhrer’s Mistress. The Girl from Berlin: Standartenführer's Wife is highly recommended.
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
The Girl from Berlin: Standartenführer's Wife is an historical novel written by Ellie Midwood. When she was growing up, Annalise Meissner was not interested in going to school with the other children her age. She’d much rather practice her pirouettes and dance in the square, but somehow, Gryselda, the family’s housekeeper, knew her preferences and made sure she was safely back in school. Annalise was really much more comfortable with adults than children her own age, and she loved being with the grownups in her life. Her perfect world had some strange aspects to it, however, such as the talk her father had with her and her brother, Norbert, when she was nine years old. The Meissners were not really the Aryans she had always believed them to be, but rather they were originally from Poland and were Ashkenazi Jews. Her father’s grandparents had seen troubles coming and had changed the family’s name and converted to Protestantism to protect the family and their assets. Still, as Annalise was growing up in the comfort of the family’s upper middle class lifestyle, the treatment of the Jews in the increasingly intolerant conditions in Germany during the 1930s was troubling, especially considering her beloved family doctor, his son who would become her dance partner, and the other Jewish people she cared so much about were in deadly peril while her life continued unchanged.
Ellie Midwood’s historical novel, The Girl from Berlin: Standartenführer's Wife, is a fast-paced and utterly enthralling novel that chronicles the years leading up to World War II through the eyes of a young ballerina, Annalise Meissner. This novel is meticulously researched, and Annalise’s story is so compelling that I became totally engrossed in her life and experiences. Midwood is a master at blending fact and fiction in such a way that I was often tempted to revisit my history books to see which characters were historical personages and which were not. Her writing is seamless and inspired, and I soon forgot that an author was actually the creative force behind Annalise’s words. I was quite pleased to discover that Midwood plans a sequel to this story, Gruppenfuhrer’s Mistress. The Girl from Berlin: Standartenführer's Wife is highly recommended.
sampled-and-declined
December 29, 2020This author has problematic romanticised portrayals of known Nazi war criminals in her record, and her books reflect a rather rose-coloured view of Nazi-era Germany.
March 17, 2021
Ernst Kaltenbrunner was a real person. A devoted anti-Semite, and after the death of Reinhard Heydrich, the man who oversaw the concentration camp system.
In 1943, Kaltenbrunner pushed the Ministry of Justice for an edict mandating compulsory castration for any man found guilty of homosexuality. This was considered too extreme for even the Nazi Ministry of Justice, however Kaltenbrunner, fanatically homophobic continued to prosecute and investigate over 6000 innocent men whose only crime was being gay.
After the Anschluss of Austria, Kaltenbrunner created the Mauthausen concentration camp, a brutal slave labor camp where almost 100,000 prisoners were murdered. He would visit the camp several times throughout his tenure, most infamously in 1943: during this visit 15 prisoners were selected to demonstrate for Kaltenbrunner three methods of killing – by a gunshot to the neck, hanging, and gassing. Fifteen people were murdered for a ‘demonstration’ for him.
After the unfortunate failure of Operation Valkyrie, Hitler summoned Kaltenbrunner to investigate and eradicate those responsible for the attempt on his life. Kaltenbrunner personally oversaw the deportation and murder of 5000 people, some only tangentially related to the would-be assassins.
On February 6, 1945, Kaltenbrunner authorized his men to murder any “disloyal” people at their discretion, without judicial review. Many innocent Germans whose only crime was attempting to flee from the carnage were murdered under these orders.
During his trial, he famously became “The Man without a Signature”, claiming (often to the bemused amusement of his fellow Nazis on trial, especially Hermann Goering, who chuckled several times during Kaltenbrunner’s falsehood-filled testimony) that his adjunct, Heinrich Muller, affixed his signature to many orders that he did not read. This was a blatant lie, as there is much evidence in the form of letters, pictures, orders, and testimony that Kaltenbrunner knew about the Holocaust, personally and enthusiastically participated in it, and did so willingly.
He was found not guilty of conspiracy to wage a war of aggression or crimes against peace but was found guilty of actually waging a war of aggression, of committing atrocious war crimes, and of crimes against humanity.
This is the real man, the real unrepentant murderer who this author would have you believe was a poor sweet misled little boy who did nothing wrong. In a desperate attempt to woobify this murderer to make him palatable as a love interest, the author has essentially taken the lies Kaltenbrunner told at Nuremberg, lies that even his own codefendants mocked for this ridiculousness, and tried to trick you into believing they are truth.
Do not fall for it. Ernst Kaltenbrunner was an evil human being, and this attempt to excuse him because “lol he hot look how tall uwu” is disgusting. It’s Nazi apologensia, pure and simple. This is especially on display in Book Three of the Girl from Berlin, wherein the author actually unironically makes the argument that Ernst Kaltenbrunner was ‘just following orders’.
He was not. He was a fanatic. He knew what he was doing and chose to do it. Stop making excuses for disgusting murderers because you think they’re hot. Genocide isn’t hot.
Since the author knows info about Kaltenbrunner that would frankly be impossible to find online since there’s such a dearth of info on him, I will assume she had access to the only biography about Kaltenbrunner, the now out of print 1984 biography by Peter Black. This book now costs a ridiculous amount of money, but I happen to already have a copy that I read an eternity ago.
Now I’m not gonna read the entire thing again because frankly I don't feel like it, but I may glance at it while discussing this series. That being said, from memory I could tell you that the book does NOT claim that Kaltenbrunner was really a good man who just needed wuv unlike that EEEEEVIL Hitler. It merely pointed out his few good actions and personal biases that led him to occasionally stray from the ideological line.
Big whoop, every one of them strayed from the ideological line when personal bias got involved. Hitler saved his Jewish doctor, Heydrich protected his Jewish aunt. Kaltenbrunner is not special because he is a hypocrite, nor because he is human, nor because he wasn’t a comic book villain. All Nazis were human beings. That doesn’t matter: we remember them as evil men, not as monsters. Being human does not make you a redeemable sweetheart. It just means our standards for judgement aren’t absurdly low.
In 1943, Kaltenbrunner pushed the Ministry of Justice for an edict mandating compulsory castration for any man found guilty of homosexuality. This was considered too extreme for even the Nazi Ministry of Justice, however Kaltenbrunner, fanatically homophobic continued to prosecute and investigate over 6000 innocent men whose only crime was being gay.
After the Anschluss of Austria, Kaltenbrunner created the Mauthausen concentration camp, a brutal slave labor camp where almost 100,000 prisoners were murdered. He would visit the camp several times throughout his tenure, most infamously in 1943: during this visit 15 prisoners were selected to demonstrate for Kaltenbrunner three methods of killing – by a gunshot to the neck, hanging, and gassing. Fifteen people were murdered for a ‘demonstration’ for him.
After the unfortunate failure of Operation Valkyrie, Hitler summoned Kaltenbrunner to investigate and eradicate those responsible for the attempt on his life. Kaltenbrunner personally oversaw the deportation and murder of 5000 people, some only tangentially related to the would-be assassins.
On February 6, 1945, Kaltenbrunner authorized his men to murder any “disloyal” people at their discretion, without judicial review. Many innocent Germans whose only crime was attempting to flee from the carnage were murdered under these orders.
During his trial, he famously became “The Man without a Signature”, claiming (often to the bemused amusement of his fellow Nazis on trial, especially Hermann Goering, who chuckled several times during Kaltenbrunner’s falsehood-filled testimony) that his adjunct, Heinrich Muller, affixed his signature to many orders that he did not read. This was a blatant lie, as there is much evidence in the form of letters, pictures, orders, and testimony that Kaltenbrunner knew about the Holocaust, personally and enthusiastically participated in it, and did so willingly.
He was found not guilty of conspiracy to wage a war of aggression or crimes against peace but was found guilty of actually waging a war of aggression, of committing atrocious war crimes, and of crimes against humanity.
This is the real man, the real unrepentant murderer who this author would have you believe was a poor sweet misled little boy who did nothing wrong. In a desperate attempt to woobify this murderer to make him palatable as a love interest, the author has essentially taken the lies Kaltenbrunner told at Nuremberg, lies that even his own codefendants mocked for this ridiculousness, and tried to trick you into believing they are truth.
Do not fall for it. Ernst Kaltenbrunner was an evil human being, and this attempt to excuse him because “lol he hot look how tall uwu” is disgusting. It’s Nazi apologensia, pure and simple. This is especially on display in Book Three of the Girl from Berlin, wherein the author actually unironically makes the argument that Ernst Kaltenbrunner was ‘just following orders’.
He was not. He was a fanatic. He knew what he was doing and chose to do it. Stop making excuses for disgusting murderers because you think they’re hot. Genocide isn’t hot.
Since the author knows info about Kaltenbrunner that would frankly be impossible to find online since there’s such a dearth of info on him, I will assume she had access to the only biography about Kaltenbrunner, the now out of print 1984 biography by Peter Black. This book now costs a ridiculous amount of money, but I happen to already have a copy that I read an eternity ago.
Now I’m not gonna read the entire thing again because frankly I don't feel like it, but I may glance at it while discussing this series. That being said, from memory I could tell you that the book does NOT claim that Kaltenbrunner was really a good man who just needed wuv unlike that EEEEEVIL Hitler. It merely pointed out his few good actions and personal biases that led him to occasionally stray from the ideological line.
Big whoop, every one of them strayed from the ideological line when personal bias got involved. Hitler saved his Jewish doctor, Heydrich protected his Jewish aunt. Kaltenbrunner is not special because he is a hypocrite, nor because he is human, nor because he wasn’t a comic book villain. All Nazis were human beings. That doesn’t matter: we remember them as evil men, not as monsters. Being human does not make you a redeemable sweetheart. It just means our standards for judgement aren’t absurdly low.
September 21, 2015
First of all, I'm a huge fan of Ellie Midwood's. I loved The New York Doll and The Brooklyn Boys Club, so I'd been dying to get my hands on this one! And WOW, it didn't disappoint. All of Ellie's stories are different, but each one is so character-driven. I always feel so attached to her characters, like they're sharing their story with me, and only me. This is a beautifully written story that's a historical romance, but also an action-packed thriller of sorts. It's basically the story of a sweet Jewish girl and a military officer who band together to stand against the Nazi regime, all the while falling deeper in love. Annalise has to play a game of sorts, getting close to one of the Austrian leaders who is known to be dangerous. Only he doesn't seem as bad as Annalise expected...I don't want to give spoilers, so I'll stop there. The writing is superb. Ellie is quite the wordsmith, although she never loses her down-to-earth, easy-to-read style. Her characters are richly developed and the plot flows smoothly throughout. There are so many interesting themes throughout- the importance of standing up to evil, even when it's dangerous or unpopular. And it's a gorgeous story about love, and finding light even in the darkest of people and situations. Kudos to the author! She will blow her readers away with this one!
September 6, 2021
I love reading about this time period and though I did enjoy this book, the heroine got on my nerves quite a bit. I know where the series is going and I just wonder how the author will make Annalise a likable, sympathetic MC. We only get her POV and she is so naive and spoiled that it's hard to relate to her at all. She is living in such scary, difficult times and yet she's flighty and shallow. She flirts with leaders of genocide and thinks that because they smile and joke with her they can't be all bad and so she doesn't believe what everyone says about them. She has a wonderful husband who lets her basically do anything she wants and yet she continues to push for MORE, no matter how dangerous it is or how unprepared she is. She defies orders that can cause countless deaths. Even when she first told her then-boyfriend she was jewish, i couldn't believe her complete stupidity and lack of awareness. This is NAZI GERMANY and she's dating the head of the SS and tells him she's jewish b/c she's had too much champagne!? He could have murdered her and her entire family! So while I did enjoy this book overall, some parts dragged and the heroine's stupidity brought the rating down to 2.5 but I'm rounding up to 3.
October 10, 2018
I've read several of this author's books over the year and what strikes me about each of them is how she takes a subject and turns it on its head. Everyone knows so much about WWII but somehow she is able to find something fresh. Taking atypical characters that are often despised for their actions or connections, she humanizes them and makes the readers see that nothing is ever black and white. The author's meticulous attention to detail, her ability to sink the reader into time and place, and her aptitude for always making me cry are just some of the reasons I keep drifting back to her series. The Girl from Berlin is no exception and another gem.
March 14, 2019
Outstanding!!!
I loved this book and can"t wait to start book two to follow Annalise. And Heindrich and Ernst!! Great story!
I loved this book and can"t wait to start book two to follow Annalise. And Heindrich and Ernst!! Great story!
November 15, 2017
A compelling story about an extremely naïve young German woman who succeeds in becoming a top-tier ballerina as the Nazis prepare for war. But blonde-haired Annalise is actually Jewish, although her family has hidden it well. She’s soon married to a high-ranking Nazi secret police officer who turns out to be secretly fighting for the Allies. Annalise joins him in his dangerous efforts to help save Jewish lives.
I enjoyed the story, which moves along at a quick pace, although I did, at times, marvel at the heroine’s lack of understanding, and her extreme risk-taking. But her belated awareness of the full extent of Nazi plans to exterminate the Jews mirrors the lack of understanding in real life as those awful events played out.
The writing comes across almost as though the author is not a native English speaker, which, interestingly, tends to make the story sound a little more authentic, including convoluted sentences. But there are also jarring modern expressions that yanked me out of 1940s Berlin, like “Screw it!” and “I owe you one.”
This is the first in a series of books about Annalise during the war, so the ending is the starting point for book 2.
I enjoyed the story, which moves along at a quick pace, although I did, at times, marvel at the heroine’s lack of understanding, and her extreme risk-taking. But her belated awareness of the full extent of Nazi plans to exterminate the Jews mirrors the lack of understanding in real life as those awful events played out.
The writing comes across almost as though the author is not a native English speaker, which, interestingly, tends to make the story sound a little more authentic, including convoluted sentences. But there are also jarring modern expressions that yanked me out of 1940s Berlin, like “Screw it!” and “I owe you one.”
This is the first in a series of books about Annalise during the war, so the ending is the starting point for book 2.
February 15, 2016
Annalise Meissner is the protagonist of a historical novel written by Ellie Midwood entitled The Girl from Berlin: Standartenführer's Wife. The novel starts in late 1930’s Berlin and chronicles the rise of Hitler and the Nazi juggernaut. Annalise is a teenaged ballet dancer focused on her craft to the exclusion of all else. Her family was not the Aryans she believed them to be. They were wealthy Ashkenazi Jews from Poland. Both her mother’s and her father’s grandparents had foreseen more trouble from the ever on-going anti-Semitism pervading Europe. They immigrated to Germany, changed the families’ names by paying for too-good-to-be-falsified documents and converted to Protestantism. They were able to create a legend of several generations of pure Aryanism. While her dancing career flourishes the problems for her family’s beloved Jewish doctor and his son, also her dance partner and platonic friend, multiply.
Initially Annalise doesn’t want to concern herself with the changes happening to her country by the Nazi regime but as the oppressions against Jews and others intensifies her Grandmother spills the beans about the family’s origins and she realizes that she can’t be a silent bystander. However she falls in love with an older man who saves her from the unwanted advances of an SS officer. The man happens to be her father's longtime friend, Standartenführer (Colonel) Heinrich Friedmann, who even though he works for SD – the Reich Secret Service – seems to share her views. She falls in love with Friedmann and her new husband reveals himself to be a counterintelligence agent working for the US government. She joins his efforts to save as many lives as they can while doing their best to aid the Allied cause. Annalise meets the leader of the Austrian SS Gruppenführer (Major General) Ernst Kaltenbrunner who has a sinister reputation. She manages to charm the General and seems to be courting him for a purpose we don’t learn about until the sequel to this novel.
This is a fast-paced, well-researched novel with characters we care about. It would benefit from more careful editing.
Initially Annalise doesn’t want to concern herself with the changes happening to her country by the Nazi regime but as the oppressions against Jews and others intensifies her Grandmother spills the beans about the family’s origins and she realizes that she can’t be a silent bystander. However she falls in love with an older man who saves her from the unwanted advances of an SS officer. The man happens to be her father's longtime friend, Standartenführer (Colonel) Heinrich Friedmann, who even though he works for SD – the Reich Secret Service – seems to share her views. She falls in love with Friedmann and her new husband reveals himself to be a counterintelligence agent working for the US government. She joins his efforts to save as many lives as they can while doing their best to aid the Allied cause. Annalise meets the leader of the Austrian SS Gruppenführer (Major General) Ernst Kaltenbrunner who has a sinister reputation. She manages to charm the General and seems to be courting him for a purpose we don’t learn about until the sequel to this novel.
This is a fast-paced, well-researched novel with characters we care about. It would benefit from more careful editing.
March 28, 2021
Warning: DO NOT READ THE PROLOGUE (it has a major spoiler!!)
3 books for this book, but 5 stars for the whole trilogy! I highly recommend this series for avid historical romance readers.
Reading order
Standartenführer's Wife
Gruppenführer's Mistress
War Criminal's Widow
The Austrian: A War Criminal's Story
The Austrian: A War Criminal's Story, 2
Absolutely read the Girl from Berlin trilogy FIRST. Then move on to the Austrian duology.
Ellie Midwood is a fantastic HR author, on par with, or even better than the likes of Kate Quinn (who is one of my all-time faves).
3 books for this book, but 5 stars for the whole trilogy! I highly recommend this series for avid historical romance readers.
Reading order
Standartenführer's Wife
Gruppenführer's Mistress
War Criminal's Widow
The Austrian: A War Criminal's Story
The Austrian: A War Criminal's Story, 2
Absolutely read the Girl from Berlin trilogy FIRST. Then move on to the Austrian duology.
Ellie Midwood is a fantastic HR author, on par with, or even better than the likes of Kate Quinn (who is one of my all-time faves).
February 5, 2017
Such an amazing story
You don't find many 'romances' written about WW2 and even less about Nazi Germany. I absolutely loved this story, and the author is amazing with the historical accuracy of the time period. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book! The only thing is some of the grammar was confusing but may be it was just because the character's voice. However, it didn't alter my enjoyment of the story.
You don't find many 'romances' written about WW2 and even less about Nazi Germany. I absolutely loved this story, and the author is amazing with the historical accuracy of the time period. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book! The only thing is some of the grammar was confusing but may be it was just because the character's voice. However, it didn't alter my enjoyment of the story.
October 26, 2018
I really enjoyed this novel as a whole and found the characters to be interesting, relatable, and compelling. My only gripe is that it definitely would have benefited from better editing. Still, I really this book and series and would definitely recommend it to fellow history lovers.
April 23, 2017
A Brilliant, Timely and Poignant Glimpse into What Happens When Things Fall Apart
A Jewish ballerina is initially sheltered from the rise of the Nazis in pre-WW2 Germany by a kind of Faustian bargain her family made to hide their faith and cultural identity, in an effort to keep living a normal life as the nation teetered on the edge of insanity. Midwood's unique voice and piercing vision exposes a much wider circle of victims than acknowledged by most historical accounts, including Nazis who are simply "in name only", including a high ranking Nazi intel officer who became a spy for the Allies after being overcome with guilt after an atrocity in Poland.
Beneath the black and white veneers of uniforms and people marked for their faith is a complex weave of villains, heroes and people who simply wanted to live in peace with their friends and neighbors. The pressure cooker of laws, spies, SS and gestapo patrolling the streets destroys the cultural fabric of the country and crushes peoples' spirits with harsh no win dilemmas that are a matter of life and death.
The ballerina, Annalise Meissner, is inevitably swept up like all Germans into a churning cauldron of rage and xenophobic blame games directed at Jews, other minorities (and socialists) as the German government attempts to establish a pure Aryan nation out of the ashes of its WW1 defeat and the failed economy drained by reparations.
Midwood's fine balance between complex characters and tumultuous events makes the horror up close and personal and yet avoids the trap of easy stereotypes that can compress historical fiction into a kind of objective, record-keeping exercise. The result is an authentic, page turning immersion into a cultural catastrophe that led to a horrific war between open democratic societies and desperate broken regimes hoping for the wealth and resources of others to bring them to greatness.
The Girl from Berlin will change you. You'll discover how easily troubled societies can disintegrate into horrors of unimaginable scale and depravity, and the sweeping destruction it can bring to any semblance of truth or the higher angels of our nature.
As Annalise calmly discusses her life and choices and the people and places she discovers as the streets darken with uniforms and German tanks roll into neighboring countries, the reader is transported into a reality that he or she will never be able to dismiss (as the last time that kind of epic catastrophe will ever happen). This is, unfortunately, a very relevant glimpse into modern times in several failing states and the future. Bravo!
A Jewish ballerina is initially sheltered from the rise of the Nazis in pre-WW2 Germany by a kind of Faustian bargain her family made to hide their faith and cultural identity, in an effort to keep living a normal life as the nation teetered on the edge of insanity. Midwood's unique voice and piercing vision exposes a much wider circle of victims than acknowledged by most historical accounts, including Nazis who are simply "in name only", including a high ranking Nazi intel officer who became a spy for the Allies after being overcome with guilt after an atrocity in Poland.
Beneath the black and white veneers of uniforms and people marked for their faith is a complex weave of villains, heroes and people who simply wanted to live in peace with their friends and neighbors. The pressure cooker of laws, spies, SS and gestapo patrolling the streets destroys the cultural fabric of the country and crushes peoples' spirits with harsh no win dilemmas that are a matter of life and death.
The ballerina, Annalise Meissner, is inevitably swept up like all Germans into a churning cauldron of rage and xenophobic blame games directed at Jews, other minorities (and socialists) as the German government attempts to establish a pure Aryan nation out of the ashes of its WW1 defeat and the failed economy drained by reparations.
Midwood's fine balance between complex characters and tumultuous events makes the horror up close and personal and yet avoids the trap of easy stereotypes that can compress historical fiction into a kind of objective, record-keeping exercise. The result is an authentic, page turning immersion into a cultural catastrophe that led to a horrific war between open democratic societies and desperate broken regimes hoping for the wealth and resources of others to bring them to greatness.
The Girl from Berlin will change you. You'll discover how easily troubled societies can disintegrate into horrors of unimaginable scale and depravity, and the sweeping destruction it can bring to any semblance of truth or the higher angels of our nature.
As Annalise calmly discusses her life and choices and the people and places she discovers as the streets darken with uniforms and German tanks roll into neighboring countries, the reader is transported into a reality that he or she will never be able to dismiss (as the last time that kind of epic catastrophe will ever happen). This is, unfortunately, a very relevant glimpse into modern times in several failing states and the future. Bravo!
April 21, 2018
First book of my new favorite love/spy trilogy. When you start you will not be able to stop until you read all three books. I know I couldn't, always wanting to know what happened next. Love the way this author writes, love the way she builds her characters. I love the way she uses historical events for background of her story, although her characters are those who carrier the story. I would recommend these books to anyone looking for good read.
December 9, 2015
I enjoyed this book written by an obviously talented writer immensely. The story told through
the eyes and times of Annalise Meissner. A brash but at least in the beginning a naive aspiring ballerina.
Although Jewish by ancestry, but German in the eyes of her country due through the elaborate scheme and falsification of papers by her grandparents. This result forced her family to exude a double life. The Jewish bloodlines always deeply imbedded behind a German mask.
Annalise rather early in the story marries a longtime family friend, Heinrich Friedmann. This is due partly from falling deeply in love but also because it offered a sense of security initially. The only problem however is that he was a high ranking officer in the Nazi regime. How could this work I wondered?
Despite the couples obvious love Annalise’s Jewish ancestry creates early friction and she risks prosecution by disclosing this to her husband. Much to her relief he has no adverse reaction in the slightest. However the revolting nature of the Nazi’s evil toward her people almost lands her into big trouble with the Gestapo. She is disclosed as being Jewish by a fellow ballet dancer after being seen wearing a Star of David under her clothing. But with quick thinking and a little nervous charm she is able to outwit her interrogators. One of these being Grappenfuhrer Kaltenbrunner the SS Austrian leader who she sort of befriends partly due to a mutual attraction of sorts.
This close encounter with being exposed however has a silver lining. It brings out a discloser from her husband that he is a counter intelligence agent and actually works against the Nazi regime. This unfoldment leads Annalise to insist that she be allowed to work for the resistance with Heinrich her husband. He ultimately agrees to it with some reservation at first. Forming this new alliance with her husband the couple work together to help the Jews and undermine the Nazi machine. So placing their own life in constant danger this is what they do together while also intermingling with the upper echelon of the Nazi officer hierarchy. This allows them to infiltrate and perform counter intelligence measures.
The book is intriguing and wonderfully written. It ends on a sad note with the suicide of her brother Norbert. This instills a strong desire for revenge against Reinhard Heydrich the prevailing SS commanding officer that Annalise holds responsible. This ultimately leads you into the next book in the series, “Grappenfuhrer’s Mistress”.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to read a well written story not just for “The Girl from Berlin’s historical prospective.
the eyes and times of Annalise Meissner. A brash but at least in the beginning a naive aspiring ballerina.
Although Jewish by ancestry, but German in the eyes of her country due through the elaborate scheme and falsification of papers by her grandparents. This result forced her family to exude a double life. The Jewish bloodlines always deeply imbedded behind a German mask.
Annalise rather early in the story marries a longtime family friend, Heinrich Friedmann. This is due partly from falling deeply in love but also because it offered a sense of security initially. The only problem however is that he was a high ranking officer in the Nazi regime. How could this work I wondered?
Despite the couples obvious love Annalise’s Jewish ancestry creates early friction and she risks prosecution by disclosing this to her husband. Much to her relief he has no adverse reaction in the slightest. However the revolting nature of the Nazi’s evil toward her people almost lands her into big trouble with the Gestapo. She is disclosed as being Jewish by a fellow ballet dancer after being seen wearing a Star of David under her clothing. But with quick thinking and a little nervous charm she is able to outwit her interrogators. One of these being Grappenfuhrer Kaltenbrunner the SS Austrian leader who she sort of befriends partly due to a mutual attraction of sorts.
This close encounter with being exposed however has a silver lining. It brings out a discloser from her husband that he is a counter intelligence agent and actually works against the Nazi regime. This unfoldment leads Annalise to insist that she be allowed to work for the resistance with Heinrich her husband. He ultimately agrees to it with some reservation at first. Forming this new alliance with her husband the couple work together to help the Jews and undermine the Nazi machine. So placing their own life in constant danger this is what they do together while also intermingling with the upper echelon of the Nazi officer hierarchy. This allows them to infiltrate and perform counter intelligence measures.
The book is intriguing and wonderfully written. It ends on a sad note with the suicide of her brother Norbert. This instills a strong desire for revenge against Reinhard Heydrich the prevailing SS commanding officer that Annalise holds responsible. This ultimately leads you into the next book in the series, “Grappenfuhrer’s Mistress”.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to read a well written story not just for “The Girl from Berlin’s historical prospective.
July 10, 2016
The Girl From Berlin is the first in a series of three books by Ellie Midwood that focuses on World War II Germany and the upper echelons of the Waffen SS and German Intelligence.
In this first story, we meet the hero and heroine, husband and wife team Annalise Meissner and Standartenfuhrer Heinrich Friedmann of the Reich's Secret Service, the SD. I am loath to give away any of the plot, but this former ballet dancer Annalise and her new husband team up to work against the Third Reich.
Although I found some of the horrors of the war were necessarily brushed over by the author, I do totally understand that this book was written from the German perspective and more than that it was written from the perspective of those high up and instrumental in implementing the "final solution". Quite naturally those responsible for such a barbaric and inhumane program found their work satisfying and rewarding. I'm sure they did joke amongst themselves about gassing those "dirty jews", but to be honest, as a reader, it was pretty hard to accept at times. I commend the author for sticking to her perspective and not allowing herself to moralize too much. This was a story of genocide from the perspective of those committing the genocide and as such, they were proud of their exceptional methods of "ethnic cleansing", regardless of how hard it was to read at times.
I did like the author's writing style and found it a very difficult book to put down. Her character development, I felt was great. When I start shouting at a character when she is about to do something; "Oh God, woman don't be so damn stupid!"you know the author has gotten the character into your head.
This was an excellent read from my perspective and it makes me want to read the next book, Gruppenfuhrer's Mistress. We saw enough of the Gruppenfuhrer in book one to fascinate and I am keen to see where Annalise takes this relationship in book two. Now, if that's not the sign of a well-written, enjoyable book, I don't know what is. Despite a few flaws, I am still prepared to give Standartenfuhrer's Wife the full five stars, if only because it makes me want to read Book II, which is the greatest compliment I can pay Author Midwood.
In this first story, we meet the hero and heroine, husband and wife team Annalise Meissner and Standartenfuhrer Heinrich Friedmann of the Reich's Secret Service, the SD. I am loath to give away any of the plot, but this former ballet dancer Annalise and her new husband team up to work against the Third Reich.
Although I found some of the horrors of the war were necessarily brushed over by the author, I do totally understand that this book was written from the German perspective and more than that it was written from the perspective of those high up and instrumental in implementing the "final solution". Quite naturally those responsible for such a barbaric and inhumane program found their work satisfying and rewarding. I'm sure they did joke amongst themselves about gassing those "dirty jews", but to be honest, as a reader, it was pretty hard to accept at times. I commend the author for sticking to her perspective and not allowing herself to moralize too much. This was a story of genocide from the perspective of those committing the genocide and as such, they were proud of their exceptional methods of "ethnic cleansing", regardless of how hard it was to read at times.
I did like the author's writing style and found it a very difficult book to put down. Her character development, I felt was great. When I start shouting at a character when she is about to do something; "Oh God, woman don't be so damn stupid!"you know the author has gotten the character into your head.
This was an excellent read from my perspective and it makes me want to read the next book, Gruppenfuhrer's Mistress. We saw enough of the Gruppenfuhrer in book one to fascinate and I am keen to see where Annalise takes this relationship in book two. Now, if that's not the sign of a well-written, enjoyable book, I don't know what is. Despite a few flaws, I am still prepared to give Standartenfuhrer's Wife the full five stars, if only because it makes me want to read Book II, which is the greatest compliment I can pay Author Midwood.
March 8, 2017
This is a thought-provoking and emotional story about a girl /young Jewish woman who hides her true roots and becomes embroiled in the dark days of Nazi Germany.
It is well-written (apart from the typos) and fast-paced and certainly throws the reader into the horrifying events of that time.
The characters are developed and all too real, of course revealing the true history of how power corrupts in the worst way, and how arrogance shrivels the soul, allowing evil to take control.
It was interesting to see that the Jews consider themselves a race and not a religious sect...not German but Jew. And, like all religious followers (whatever they follow) that they are the 'chosen people'. Which seems exactly the same mantra as the Nazi doctrine, who mistakenly believe the are 'chosen', only for different reasons.
Stories like these are important to highlight the depths of how low humans can sink, but, unfortunately, lessons are never learned.
Recommended read.
It is well-written (apart from the typos) and fast-paced and certainly throws the reader into the horrifying events of that time.
The characters are developed and all too real, of course revealing the true history of how power corrupts in the worst way, and how arrogance shrivels the soul, allowing evil to take control.
It was interesting to see that the Jews consider themselves a race and not a religious sect...not German but Jew. And, like all religious followers (whatever they follow) that they are the 'chosen people'. Which seems exactly the same mantra as the Nazi doctrine, who mistakenly believe the are 'chosen', only for different reasons.
Stories like these are important to highlight the depths of how low humans can sink, but, unfortunately, lessons are never learned.
Recommended read.
February 26, 2016
Suspenseful and fast-paced, ‘The Girl from Berlin: Standartenführer’s Wife” is a captivating historical romantic thriller set in War World II Germany. The story is told from the unique perspective of a young and beautiful Ashkenazi Jew, Annalise Meissner, whose wealthy family, thanks to falsified papers, lives in Berlin as Germans from Aryan descend. As a young girl, Annalise is focused on her dream to become a ballerina and not too interested in the political events changing the country, but as brutalities against Jews intensify she can’t stay indifferent to the suffering around her. She falls in love and gets married to the handsome Heinrich Friedmann, who works for the Reich Secret Service but has deep secrets of his own. Annalise grows from sheltered and self-centered to compassionate and selfless as her heart breaks open witnessing the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime. Devoted to help save as many lives as possible, she uses her beauty as a weapon to navigate the world of cruel and powerful men at the risk of losing everything. But will she come out unscathed from the violence and darkness that surrounds her?
Ellie Midwood’ skills at mixing fiction and historical facts are very impressive as is her knowledge of the World War II era in Germany. Her characters are multi-dimensional and the narrative is quite compelling. I really enjoyed reading Book 1 and had to get Book 2 and 3 right away to make sure I could keep following the story. I enthusiastically recommend The Girl from Berlin.
Ellie Midwood’ skills at mixing fiction and historical facts are very impressive as is her knowledge of the World War II era in Germany. Her characters are multi-dimensional and the narrative is quite compelling. I really enjoyed reading Book 1 and had to get Book 2 and 3 right away to make sure I could keep following the story. I enthusiastically recommend The Girl from Berlin.
October 4, 2015
First off, no one writes Anti heroes they way Ellie does. A story of a perfectly ordinary couple in perfectly ordinary surroundings. As perfectly ordinary as it gets when one of you is Jewish and the other one is working for the other Government under the pretext of serving the fuhrer, while in Berlin in the 1940's.
I was hooked into the story before even the prologue could end. I was literally on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next, wanting more and at the same time cringing at discovering what 'more' had to offer.
The characters are properly developed and know their purpose and role in driving the story forward. The dialogues are cleverly crafted and give the readers enough bait to keep them desperately trying to catch it.
This is the second book of Ellie's that I've read and i can see how much and how well she has grown as a writer. Well done! I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Which reminds me, whyyyyyy did you leave it on a cliffhanger!!! I almost couldn't believe that I had reached the end of the story with so many questions burning a hole in my head.
Having said that, I'm really happy I read this book.
I was hooked into the story before even the prologue could end. I was literally on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next, wanting more and at the same time cringing at discovering what 'more' had to offer.
The characters are properly developed and know their purpose and role in driving the story forward. The dialogues are cleverly crafted and give the readers enough bait to keep them desperately trying to catch it.
This is the second book of Ellie's that I've read and i can see how much and how well she has grown as a writer. Well done! I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Which reminds me, whyyyyyy did you leave it on a cliffhanger!!! I almost couldn't believe that I had reached the end of the story with so many questions burning a hole in my head.
Having said that, I'm really happy I read this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2015
Annalise and her family are Jewish.successfully living in Berlin just before World War two. Years before, family members were able to secure false papers for the Meissners. Annalise first meets her father's friend Heinrich Friedmann when she is a child and meets him again as a young woman. They fall in love but can it work? She has her secret and he works for Hitler's secret service.
The Girl From Berlin takes the reader from the wealthy life style of the high ranking Nazi officer to the concentration camps of Europe.
I really enjoyed this book. Ellie Midwood was able to transport me into this world of distrust and evil whilst also telling this beautiful love story. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an exciting love story mixed with historical fiction.
I received this book in return for an honest review. Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this very well written and enjoyable book. I will be reading the second.
The Girl From Berlin takes the reader from the wealthy life style of the high ranking Nazi officer to the concentration camps of Europe.
I really enjoyed this book. Ellie Midwood was able to transport me into this world of distrust and evil whilst also telling this beautiful love story. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an exciting love story mixed with historical fiction.
I received this book in return for an honest review. Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this very well written and enjoyable book. I will be reading the second.
July 12, 2016
I've just finished the first book in the series The Girl From Berlin and I absolutely loved it! I did not want to put this book down. Annalise is such a likeable heroine. She starts out as a naive little girl and grows into a strong young woman. The prologue immediately sucked me in and made me want to read more. As the book develops, it wraps you up in the story of Annalise and Heinrich, their love for each other and their resistance of the Nazis. There's romance and adventure and a bit of heartbreak too. It's heart-pounding in moments and then steamy in others. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to read book two!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
March 7, 2019
Disappointing
I'm disappointed at the way this story is told. The plot is good. It tells the story, narrated by the protagonist here, of a young, Jewish German girl during the early WWII years and her eventual marriage to a Nazi SS officer.
The plot seems too contrived and not very believable. I think part of my problem with it is the dialogue which just feels too modern for the era. The girl here is too good. Too perfect. It just killed it for me.
I read The Austrian books first, and felt they were much better written.
I plan to read the next book in this series and hope it is better.
I'm disappointed at the way this story is told. The plot is good. It tells the story, narrated by the protagonist here, of a young, Jewish German girl during the early WWII years and her eventual marriage to a Nazi SS officer.
The plot seems too contrived and not very believable. I think part of my problem with it is the dialogue which just feels too modern for the era. The girl here is too good. Too perfect. It just killed it for me.
I read The Austrian books first, and felt they were much better written.
I plan to read the next book in this series and hope it is better.
August 23, 2020
Read this book sort of by mistake because I was looking for a book by the same title (but different author). Once I started reading, I was caught up by the story; however, the writing itself is truly awkward and I won't be following the series.
April 7, 2017
‘The Girl From Berlin: Standartenführer’s Wife’ pulled me in and held me captive from the very first page. Written from the point of view of the heroine, Annalise, the story follows her sufferings and triumphs during the rise to power of the Third Reich. At just seventeen, Annalise’s extraordinary talent as a ballet dancer catapults her into the shamelessly arrogant, often brutal society of high-ranking Nazi officials in Berlin. With poignant clarity and directness, her written voice depicts the horror of Hitler’s purge, of enduring the loss of her friends, neighbors and countrymen whose only crime is that of being Jewish. Yet Annalise learns that not all Nazi officials share the heartless designs of their leadership, for one man, Heinrich, proves himself through kindness and compassion to be worthy of not only her admiration but also her love. She can even share with him the dark, hidden truth of her heritage, which, if revealed, would condemn not only her but her entire family. The two wed amid the threat of war and the continuing atrocities perpetrated upon her people. Eventually Annalise’s innate connection with her heritage, coupled with the vicious murders of her brother and countless others, motivates her to risk her all against a regime whose barbarity knows no bounds.
The plot is enthralling, the suspense spine-tingling, building with such realism that I felt as if I were right there in the heart of the action. Whenever I was forced to break from reading, I couldn’t wait to get back to the story, to see what would happen next to the characters who come to life in this stirring tale of intrigue, betrayal and love. Caught up in the precarious world of counterintelligence, Annalise forms an alliance with the chief of the Austrian Gestapo, a dangerous man whose help she desperately wants, to whose beguiling appeal she ultimately succumbs. The emotional strain of deceiving her caring husband, of making impossible choices to aid herself and her people, takes a toll on the once innocent Annalise, yet despite the danger of exposure and certain death, her strong will and intense hatred for the powers that be carry her forward to a nail-biting conclusion that left me wishing for more.
And so I say, Bravo! Ms. Midwood, for taking me on a remarkable journey that I can’t wait to continue.
The plot is enthralling, the suspense spine-tingling, building with such realism that I felt as if I were right there in the heart of the action. Whenever I was forced to break from reading, I couldn’t wait to get back to the story, to see what would happen next to the characters who come to life in this stirring tale of intrigue, betrayal and love. Caught up in the precarious world of counterintelligence, Annalise forms an alliance with the chief of the Austrian Gestapo, a dangerous man whose help she desperately wants, to whose beguiling appeal she ultimately succumbs. The emotional strain of deceiving her caring husband, of making impossible choices to aid herself and her people, takes a toll on the once innocent Annalise, yet despite the danger of exposure and certain death, her strong will and intense hatred for the powers that be carry her forward to a nail-biting conclusion that left me wishing for more.
And so I say, Bravo! Ms. Midwood, for taking me on a remarkable journey that I can’t wait to continue.
August 4, 2017
The time is the late 1930’s, the place Berlin, Germany and the world is in a major depression. Political upheaval rules the day and a new party joins the fray. In a few short years, the National Socialist Party, the Nazis, are in power.
The Girl From Berlin: Standartenfuhrer’s Wife by Ellie Midwood tells the story of a teenage girl coming of age during this disruptive time. The story is told from the view point of Annalise, who struggles to retain some sense of normalcy in her life as the society in which she was raised is destroyed. She is not immune and soon she is forced to make decisions and make choices as to what philosophy she will follow. Compounding this is the fact she is Jewish, though her ancestry has been hidden for three generations.
Ken Kesey, author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, said “To Hell with facts, we need stories.” I believe he was correct. There are points in human history that are so horrible and obscene as to defy description. The Girl From Berlin takes such a moment out of history and tells us of the facts in a way that most of us can not only understand, but generate feelings for the characters who, if nothing else, represent actual people. People who suffered on one side of the equation and people who caused the suffering on the other. This book allows us to digest that interaction and try to understand it.
It is one thing to walk by a pile of shoes at the Holocaust Museum and shake our heads at the enormity of the crime committed. The Girl From Berlin allows us a peek into one girl’s and one family’s efforts to stay alive. Those of us, who have never known such fear and such uncertainty can vicariously live it as we walk the streets of Berlin with Annalise.
Ms. Midwood did a masterful job of bringing the impact of holocaust on one family into focus and she did it in a way that will be remembered by those who read her novel. I look forward to reading the subsequent books in this series.
The Girl From Berlin: Standartenfuhrer’s Wife by Ellie Midwood tells the story of a teenage girl coming of age during this disruptive time. The story is told from the view point of Annalise, who struggles to retain some sense of normalcy in her life as the society in which she was raised is destroyed. She is not immune and soon she is forced to make decisions and make choices as to what philosophy she will follow. Compounding this is the fact she is Jewish, though her ancestry has been hidden for three generations.
Ken Kesey, author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, said “To Hell with facts, we need stories.” I believe he was correct. There are points in human history that are so horrible and obscene as to defy description. The Girl From Berlin takes such a moment out of history and tells us of the facts in a way that most of us can not only understand, but generate feelings for the characters who, if nothing else, represent actual people. People who suffered on one side of the equation and people who caused the suffering on the other. This book allows us to digest that interaction and try to understand it.
It is one thing to walk by a pile of shoes at the Holocaust Museum and shake our heads at the enormity of the crime committed. The Girl From Berlin allows us a peek into one girl’s and one family’s efforts to stay alive. Those of us, who have never known such fear and such uncertainty can vicariously live it as we walk the streets of Berlin with Annalise.
Ms. Midwood did a masterful job of bringing the impact of holocaust on one family into focus and she did it in a way that will be remembered by those who read her novel. I look forward to reading the subsequent books in this series.
August 13, 2017
Ellie Midwood managed to interject romance and gentle wit into a book written about Germany’s dark and terrible past under Adolph Hitler. The Girl from Berlin, Standbartenführer’s Wife details a love story between Annalise Meissner and Heinrich Friedman. She’s Jewish passing as a blonde, blue-eyed Aryan. He’s an SS intelligence officer in the Third Reich. Annalise is torn between her secret heritage and the tall handsome officer who makes her heart pound and her body tremble. Annalise surrenders to passion and to the hope of someday reconciling her devotion to Heinrich and her Jewish background.
As their relationship deepens and they wed, the couple ultimately discovers secrets that unite them against a common enemy.
You know how you scream at a character in a horror movie. “DON’T DO IT!” I had a couple of those moments in The Girl From Berlin when I wanted to shake Annalise and scream at her, “Don’t ever do that again!” The once-ingénue becomes a savvy woman who takes heart-pounding risks that made me want to chew my acrylic nails.
I struggled with German words. For a while, I attempted to pronounce them and get a handle on the long, tongue-twisting words. Later, I let my eyes skip over them and stayed with the meat of the story.
Ellie Midwood introduces those of us who are non-Jewish to traditions of her faith and culture. She knows her history and weaves the saga of the rise of the Third Reich with a rich and passionate love story.
The Girl from Berlin, Standbartenführer’s Wife is a satisfying read and I give it two thumbs up and five gold stars.
As their relationship deepens and they wed, the couple ultimately discovers secrets that unite them against a common enemy.
You know how you scream at a character in a horror movie. “DON’T DO IT!” I had a couple of those moments in The Girl From Berlin when I wanted to shake Annalise and scream at her, “Don’t ever do that again!” The once-ingénue becomes a savvy woman who takes heart-pounding risks that made me want to chew my acrylic nails.
I struggled with German words. For a while, I attempted to pronounce them and get a handle on the long, tongue-twisting words. Later, I let my eyes skip over them and stayed with the meat of the story.
Ellie Midwood introduces those of us who are non-Jewish to traditions of her faith and culture. She knows her history and weaves the saga of the rise of the Third Reich with a rich and passionate love story.
The Girl from Berlin, Standbartenführer’s Wife is a satisfying read and I give it two thumbs up and five gold stars.
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