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My Dearest Dietrich: A Novel of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Lost Love
A staggering love illuminating the dark corners of a Nazi prison
Renowned German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer is famous for his resistance to the Nazi regime and for his allegiance to God over government. But what few realize is that the last years of his life also held a love story that rivals any romance novel.
Maria von Wedemeyer knows the realities of war. Her beloved father and brother have both been killed on the battlefield. The last thing this spirited young woman needs is to fall for a man under constant surveillance by the Gestapo. How can she give another piece of her heart to a man so likely to share the same final fate? Yet when Dietrich Bonhoeffer, an old family friend, comes to comfort the von Wedemeyers after their losses, she discovers that love isn't always logical.
Dietrich himself has determined to keep his distance from romantic attachments. There is too much work to be done for God, and his involvement in the conspiracy is far too important. But when he encounters a woman whose intelligence and conviction match his own, he's unprepared for how easy it is to give away his heart.
With their deep love comes risk--and neither Dietrich nor Maria is prepared for just how great that risk soon becomes.
Based on detailed historical research and including photos from both Maria's and Dietrich's lives, this is a true love story at once beautiful and heartrending. My Dearest Dietrich sheds new light on a world-famous theologian . . . and the woman who changed his life.
Renowned German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer is famous for his resistance to the Nazi regime and for his allegiance to God over government. But what few realize is that the last years of his life also held a love story that rivals any romance novel.
Maria von Wedemeyer knows the realities of war. Her beloved father and brother have both been killed on the battlefield. The last thing this spirited young woman needs is to fall for a man under constant surveillance by the Gestapo. How can she give another piece of her heart to a man so likely to share the same final fate? Yet when Dietrich Bonhoeffer, an old family friend, comes to comfort the von Wedemeyers after their losses, she discovers that love isn't always logical.
Dietrich himself has determined to keep his distance from romantic attachments. There is too much work to be done for God, and his involvement in the conspiracy is far too important. But when he encounters a woman whose intelligence and conviction match his own, he's unprepared for how easy it is to give away his heart.
With their deep love comes risk--and neither Dietrich nor Maria is prepared for just how great that risk soon becomes.
Based on detailed historical research and including photos from both Maria's and Dietrich's lives, this is a true love story at once beautiful and heartrending. My Dearest Dietrich sheds new light on a world-famous theologian . . . and the woman who changed his life.
360 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2019
64 people are currently reading
1845 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Barratt
18 books392 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Amanda Barratt is the bestselling author of numerous historical novels and novellas including THE WARSAW SISTERS, WITHIN THESE WALLS OF SORROW, and THE WHITE ROSE RESISTS. Her work has been the recipient of the Christy Award and the Carol Award, as well as an Honorable Mention in the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards.
Amanda is passionate about illuminating oft-forgotten facets of history through a fictional narrative. She lives in Michigan and can often be found researching her next novel, catching up on her to-be-read stack, or savoring a slice of her favorite lemon cake.
To connect with Amanda, visit: www.amandabarratt.net.
Amanda Barratt is the bestselling author of numerous historical novels and novellas including THE WARSAW SISTERS, WITHIN THESE WALLS OF SORROW, and THE WHITE ROSE RESISTS. Her work has been the recipient of the Christy Award and the Carol Award, as well as an Honorable Mention in the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards.
Amanda is passionate about illuminating oft-forgotten facets of history through a fictional narrative. She lives in Michigan and can often be found researching her next novel, catching up on her to-be-read stack, or savoring a slice of her favorite lemon cake.
To connect with Amanda, visit: www.amandabarratt.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
June 13, 2022
This is the first novel I've encountered about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the pastor that was a spy for the Abwehr and a member of one of the better-organised rings of conspirators that tried to kill Hitler. He's a very intriguing man, as a person and as a spiritual leader, one of the few you can genuinely like and admire, and although there's good non-fiction about him, besides his own writings in German and English, I had never seen a novel that told his private life and passions until now.
This dual perspective novel isn't about his entire life, however, nor only about his life. It's about that period in his life spanning from the year he met the woman that would become his fiancée until he was executed at Flossenburg for his anti-Nazi resistance activities. As such, it's a romance novel that focuses on Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Maria von Wedemeyer's relationship, a love story that is rather quiet and somewhat brainy than all-consuming passion.
I have seen other readers felt uncomfortable at the age difference between Dietrich and Maria, as he was 36 to her 18 when they meet. His is double her age. But honestly, that's the personal tastes of those readers, I'd say, as there's nothing depicted here (or was in their real-life relationship, for that matter) that would make them legitimately uncomfortable besides the age gap. I mean, Maria is of legal age and from all accounts she was a mature girl, very smart, and self-aware. Please read her letters or at least her biography on the web, and you'll see the point. She wasn't a minor being groomed by an older man, and from all accounts this was a liaison both parties wanted and entered into knowing what they were in for. Furthermore, this being written by a Christian author, it's a "clean romance" book; nothing happens but some kisses here and there. If age gaps weird you out, then that's on you, not on the book or the people involved.
Personally, I'd have preferred the novel be more about Bonhoeffer's life as a whole as well as Maria's instead of about their romance. For the simple reason that, given their similar personalities, neither Maria nor Dietrich were the sort to lead an interesting love life. They both were the sort to love quietly and intensely, loyally and without a fuss. You would never see grand gestures from either, and ergo you won't see drama from them either. Theirs is the kind of solid love that endures but goes unsung, because it simply is. And because of that, it doesn't make for a particularly engrossing romance in the novelistic sense of the word. Amanda Barratt seems to have realised this, and thus she artificially created drama by making up a rival for Maria's affections that, of course, had to be your typical cartoony Gestapo goon. I hated the artificiality of this fake "triangle," give me the anti-Hitler scheming storyline anytime instead.
As a whole, My Dearest Dietrich is a better novel than Barratt's novel about the White Rose, which I wasn't impressed by. It's better written, better characterised too, although it'd be hard to ruin a story about Bonhoeffer's exemplary life. But it suffers from the same issues. Namely, the authorial penchant for overusing and misusing German, a language it's obvious Barratt doesn't speak. It's an annoying quirk that she's always inserting needless common words in German like nein, ja, vater, Grossmutter, etc. All words that aren't rare, unstranslatable, or non-existent in English. She even writes laughable sentences where she inserts mein in German instead of "my," in a sentence that's entirely in English save for that random "mein"!
Why? To make it obvious that the characters are German and speak their language? We already know they are. Besides, inserting the few words like yes, no, father, grandmother, doesn't make the setting or characters all the more authentically German. It simply proves the author doesn't speak German and only knows these few little words she uses over and over, and sometimes uses them incorrectly, places the umlaut where it shouldn't be, and so on. This writing quirk has to go. Leave the German for those words that are better conveyed in this language and for the untranslatable ones, not for everyday articles.
The story was worth reading for me, though, because for the most part it did respect the real people's memory. Other novels have played fast and loose with the facts to the point of being disrespectful to the memory of brave people that died fighting fascism in Germany, so I appreciate that this one hasn't.
This dual perspective novel isn't about his entire life, however, nor only about his life. It's about that period in his life spanning from the year he met the woman that would become his fiancée until he was executed at Flossenburg for his anti-Nazi resistance activities. As such, it's a romance novel that focuses on Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Maria von Wedemeyer's relationship, a love story that is rather quiet and somewhat brainy than all-consuming passion.
I have seen other readers felt uncomfortable at the age difference between Dietrich and Maria, as he was 36 to her 18 when they meet. His is double her age. But honestly, that's the personal tastes of those readers, I'd say, as there's nothing depicted here (or was in their real-life relationship, for that matter) that would make them legitimately uncomfortable besides the age gap. I mean, Maria is of legal age and from all accounts she was a mature girl, very smart, and self-aware. Please read her letters or at least her biography on the web, and you'll see the point. She wasn't a minor being groomed by an older man, and from all accounts this was a liaison both parties wanted and entered into knowing what they were in for. Furthermore, this being written by a Christian author, it's a "clean romance" book; nothing happens but some kisses here and there. If age gaps weird you out, then that's on you, not on the book or the people involved.
Personally, I'd have preferred the novel be more about Bonhoeffer's life as a whole as well as Maria's instead of about their romance. For the simple reason that, given their similar personalities, neither Maria nor Dietrich were the sort to lead an interesting love life. They both were the sort to love quietly and intensely, loyally and without a fuss. You would never see grand gestures from either, and ergo you won't see drama from them either. Theirs is the kind of solid love that endures but goes unsung, because it simply is. And because of that, it doesn't make for a particularly engrossing romance in the novelistic sense of the word. Amanda Barratt seems to have realised this, and thus she artificially created drama by making up a rival for Maria's affections that, of course, had to be your typical cartoony Gestapo goon. I hated the artificiality of this fake "triangle," give me the anti-Hitler scheming storyline anytime instead.
As a whole, My Dearest Dietrich is a better novel than Barratt's novel about the White Rose, which I wasn't impressed by. It's better written, better characterised too, although it'd be hard to ruin a story about Bonhoeffer's exemplary life. But it suffers from the same issues. Namely, the authorial penchant for overusing and misusing German, a language it's obvious Barratt doesn't speak. It's an annoying quirk that she's always inserting needless common words in German like nein, ja, vater, Grossmutter, etc. All words that aren't rare, unstranslatable, or non-existent in English. She even writes laughable sentences where she inserts mein in German instead of "my," in a sentence that's entirely in English save for that random "mein"!
Why? To make it obvious that the characters are German and speak their language? We already know they are. Besides, inserting the few words like yes, no, father, grandmother, doesn't make the setting or characters all the more authentically German. It simply proves the author doesn't speak German and only knows these few little words she uses over and over, and sometimes uses them incorrectly, places the umlaut where it shouldn't be, and so on. This writing quirk has to go. Leave the German for those words that are better conveyed in this language and for the untranslatable ones, not for everyday articles.
The story was worth reading for me, though, because for the most part it did respect the real people's memory. Other novels have played fast and loose with the facts to the point of being disrespectful to the memory of brave people that died fighting fascism in Germany, so I appreciate that this one hasn't.
June 8, 2019
One of the most impeccably researched books I have ever read in any genre in my reading life.
June 19, 2019
Oh my goodness, this book!
First of all, can I just say how amazing 2019 has been for books that blow me away? I mean, I read a lot. And I'd say each year, there are quite a few books I really, really like...and maybe 10 or 12 that make me think, wow, that was even better than expected...and 1 or 2 that I just can't stop talking about for the rest of the year. This year, I think there's been 3 or 4 already that are in the latter category.
And this is one of them!
My Dearest Dietrich is gorgeously written and impeccably researched. It makes Dietrich Bonhoeffer--a man I've read enough about to admire greatly--into a "real" man rather than just a pretty sweet historical figure. And it makes Maria a real and vibrant and lovable person, too. She's not just part of Bonhoeffer's narrative...she has her own rich journey. This history is vivid and heartbreaking. I'll admit I kept putting off reading the ending because I knew enough of Bonhoeffer's story to know where it was going...but once I got there, once I turned the last page, I knew the story was far from over—in reality and in my own heart. I can't possibly recommend this highly enough. A poignant and thoughtful masterpiece from Amanda Barratt!
Just a side note - I also really appreciated the author's addendum at the end, giving updates on what happened to various characters and letting us know which pieces of the story were fact (the majority were) and which were author liberties. She did a truly outstanding job not just incorporating real events, but making those events the story while weaving in just enough fiction to make this truly feel like a novel (and a romantic one, at that) versus, well, a recapping of history.
First of all, can I just say how amazing 2019 has been for books that blow me away? I mean, I read a lot. And I'd say each year, there are quite a few books I really, really like...and maybe 10 or 12 that make me think, wow, that was even better than expected...and 1 or 2 that I just can't stop talking about for the rest of the year. This year, I think there's been 3 or 4 already that are in the latter category.
And this is one of them!
My Dearest Dietrich is gorgeously written and impeccably researched. It makes Dietrich Bonhoeffer--a man I've read enough about to admire greatly--into a "real" man rather than just a pretty sweet historical figure. And it makes Maria a real and vibrant and lovable person, too. She's not just part of Bonhoeffer's narrative...she has her own rich journey. This history is vivid and heartbreaking. I'll admit I kept putting off reading the ending because I knew enough of Bonhoeffer's story to know where it was going...but once I got there, once I turned the last page, I knew the story was far from over—in reality and in my own heart. I can't possibly recommend this highly enough. A poignant and thoughtful masterpiece from Amanda Barratt!
Just a side note - I also really appreciated the author's addendum at the end, giving updates on what happened to various characters and letting us know which pieces of the story were fact (the majority were) and which were author liberties. She did a truly outstanding job not just incorporating real events, but making those events the story while weaving in just enough fiction to make this truly feel like a novel (and a romantic one, at that) versus, well, a recapping of history.
Read
February 15, 2019As beautiful as it is brave, My Dearest Dietrich is an illuminating novel that both exposes the darkness and chases the shadows away. This is a multi-faceted story of the highest stakes and the deepest loves, and Amanda Barratt has proved herself worthy of its telling.
July 10, 2019
Beautiful and inspiring! Amanda Barratt brings these two historical figures to life in truly lovely prose, and the description of life in Nazi Germany is well-researched and harrowing, highlighting the heartrending choices faced by people of conscience. If you’re already familiar with Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the novel will illuminate a soft side of this greater-than-life man. And if you aren’t, you’ll want to learn more. Either way, don’t miss it. This is a powerful novel, and I highly recommend it.
May 29, 2019
"Always remember. It is only space that separates us."
It takes an extraordinary writer to pen a story whose ending is eternity and whose beginning brings it back to life for all the world to see. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who arguably possessed one of the most brilliant theological minds of the last century, fought bravely and loved deeply. Who knew? Through letters written back and forth to his young fiance, Maria von Wedemeyer, we glimpse Bonhoeffer's passionate faith, a faith that pervaded his very being and overflowed into his heart.
"What was faith if it was not living fully and completely in all of life - its joys and sorrows, burdens and blessings? . . . . . 'I have given you so little, but if my unending love is worth anything, then it is yours. Know that what ever comes, it is and always will be . . . yours.'"
Yes, this story is filled with times and places, events and circumstances; recounts of lives that were snuffed out prematurely at the whim of a diabolical regime, but mercifully it paints a picture of loveliness and light in the midst of darkness and inconceivable brutality, so that we may proclaim with boldness, "Auf Wiedersehen" our dearest Dietrich and Maria. "It is only space that separates us."
I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
It takes an extraordinary writer to pen a story whose ending is eternity and whose beginning brings it back to life for all the world to see. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who arguably possessed one of the most brilliant theological minds of the last century, fought bravely and loved deeply. Who knew? Through letters written back and forth to his young fiance, Maria von Wedemeyer, we glimpse Bonhoeffer's passionate faith, a faith that pervaded his very being and overflowed into his heart.
"What was faith if it was not living fully and completely in all of life - its joys and sorrows, burdens and blessings? . . . . . 'I have given you so little, but if my unending love is worth anything, then it is yours. Know that what ever comes, it is and always will be . . . yours.'"
Yes, this story is filled with times and places, events and circumstances; recounts of lives that were snuffed out prematurely at the whim of a diabolical regime, but mercifully it paints a picture of loveliness and light in the midst of darkness and inconceivable brutality, so that we may proclaim with boldness, "Auf Wiedersehen" our dearest Dietrich and Maria. "It is only space that separates us."
I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
June 7, 2019
“Nein, Maria. Nothing is ever godforsaken. He is in everything ... In the giving and taking of life. In all of our moments, even this one.”
It’s so hard to find the words to do this book justice. It’s such a wonderfully beautiful and haunting story of love and loss. Amanda Barratt did such a great job telling the love story of Dietrich and Maria. Their story came to life right on these pages. There was so much going on. It’s best to read this book slowly so you can savor each moment. This book filled my heart and challenged me. I found myself asking if I could stand strong in my faith if it gets tested. I definitely recommend this book!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
It’s so hard to find the words to do this book justice. It’s such a wonderfully beautiful and haunting story of love and loss. Amanda Barratt did such a great job telling the love story of Dietrich and Maria. Their story came to life right on these pages. There was so much going on. It’s best to read this book slowly so you can savor each moment. This book filled my heart and challenged me. I found myself asking if I could stand strong in my faith if it gets tested. I definitely recommend this book!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
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January 29, 2019Review to come. I'm too wrecked and amazed to write one now.
June 22, 2019
“I hold your picture in my hand every night, and tell you lots of things—lots of ‘do you remembers,’ and ‘later ons’—so many of them that I finally can’t help believing that they’re only a small step away from the present. And then I tell you all the things that can’t be put into writing—certainly not if other people have to read my letters—but things you already know without my writing them down.” ~from Maria von Wedemeyer to Dietrich Bonhoeffer~
As a fan of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, I applaud Amanda Barratt for making his story available and relatable to all readers through this beautiful historical fiction novel!
Through her writing, Bonhoeffer’s admirable qualities—his bravery, commitment, eloquence, kindness, faithfulness—shine, yet we also see him as a man in love, hoping for a happy future surrounded by wife and children. This makes his willingness to risk his life and personal happiness in order to stand against evil even more poignant and powerful.
If you’re not familiar with the story, during WWII, Bonhoeffer, “a balding bachelor of thirty-six” fell in love Maria von Wedemeyer “a beautiful eighteen-year-old who could take her pick among any aristocratic young man she fancied.” Perhaps what made an impression on him was that the first time he met her, she was disheveled and mud-covered from taking a stand against the neighborhood bully to protect an innocent. Maria was a “muddy, Goethe-quoting girl who’d swept into the room, disordering it—and him—in a matter of seconds.”
As a man who “didn’t have a regular income, lived with his parents in Berlin and his aunt when in Munich” and had “written few books, preached lots of sermons, and now worked daily in a conspiracy that could just as easily get him killed as not,” Dietrich had little to offer her. Yet Maria found herself drawn to him.
Wise beyond her years, she at first believed: “Though she didn’t yet love him in the way of a woman on her wedding day, she knew beyond anything that she would.” However, through letters and visits to Dietrich while he was in prison, their bond grew. Maria claimed: “Is there a limit to how much one heart can miss another? If so, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, I haven’t found it.”
Their relationship shows how friendship can grow into love.
This is a thoroughly researched story of love, sacrifice, courage, family bonds, duty, romance, and—above all—faith. At times gripping, at times sweetly romantic, it’s a great read!
I’ve already started giving hard copies of this book as gifts. Can’t wait to share this story with my students!
Thanks to Amanda Barratt, NetGalley, and Kregel Publications for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
Quotes I like:
“I admire anyone seeking to defend the defenseless. Even if she did go about it in a rather … interesting manner.”
“‘Only from a peaceful, free, healed heart can anything good and right take place.’ A beautiful sentence. She wanted to own it for herself, to be peaceful, free, and healed when everything around her was at war, constrained, and broken.”
“We have been silent witnesses of evil deeds; we have been drenched by many storms; we have learnt the arts of equivocation and pretense; experience has made us suspicious of others and kept us from being truthful and open; intolerable conflicts have worn us down and even made us cynical. Are we still of any use? What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straightforward men…. There remains for us an experience of incomparable value. We have for once learnt to see the great events of world history from below, from the perspective of the outcast, the suspects, the maltreated, the powerless, the oppressed, the reviled—in short, from the perspective of those who suffer.” ~Dietrich Bonhoeffer~
“Fear had imprisoned her. And she wanted nothing more than to rip off the chains . . . she wouldn’t withhold herself from contacting her fiancé any longer. If danger came to her, so be it. She was ready for it. They all faced danger daily. Wasn’t it right and good to meet it with those who mattered most?”
“She tilted her head to look at him. How different he seemed now, simply a man walking beside her instead of the great pastor in the pulpit. And she, no longer the little girl relegated to playing with her brothers and sisters, could be free to converse with him on equal terms. Tonight had the texture of hope in it, brought on perhaps by the presence of this man who seemed to emanate it. As if the fragrance in the air and the shades of the sky gave them permission to temporarily forget about all that went on in the world outside Klein-Krössin.”
“There was this church I attended. Abyssinian Baptist. Church in America is an entirely different experience than here in Germany . . . It was there that I learned, perhaps for the very first time, what it was to be not just a theologian but an actual Christian. Someone who took the gospel out of dusty pages and ancient cathedrals and applied it to day-to-day life and everyday people, while still maintaining the truth of that gospel, without attempting to dilute it into something weak and popular.”
“Their country was being destroyed. Not only by battle and bombs, but by an all-encompassing allegiance to a regime that spread its poison like a toxin through the country’s veins. Lethal. She didn’t want any part in it. Though she may be forced to continue her national service, she’d not let the Vogels rule her. She’d continue to feed Boris, tell the little girls bedtime stories about a Lord other than Adolf Hitler. She’d resist. Even in the small ways.”
“I don’t believe in allowing another to do what I cannot, simply to absolve myself of guilt. You asked if I would be willing to take up arms and assassinate Adolf Hitler?” Dietrich swallowed, throat suddenly dry. “I know I would have to resign from any position I held in the church. But ja, I would. Guilt must not be left to others, but taken upon ourselves.”
June 10, 2019
This is a hauntingly beautiful tale- the kind that haunts the reader long after the last page has been read. It is a poignant love story of two people who become extraordinary during a dark time in history. It is a story of faith and how that faith becomes a beacon of light within such darkness.
Amanda Barrett, a new to me author, has landed a spot on the top of my author list. Her prose is poetic and historical research is impeccable. Her skill in weaving the two into a story that will impact the reader is that of a master storyteller! Bravo!
A couple of my favorite quotes:
"God will give us the strength at the time we require it. Not a minute before."
"Death is not the end...It's the freedom and light and promise. Its grace...Ours to accept of our own free will. Without Christ it is cold and dark and empty, but with Him.....death is beautiful. He transforms it."
"Ultimately it wasn't about him. It was about submitting to the will of One greater than himself, seeking that will more than he sought anything else. Valued anything else. Even his own life."
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Amanda Barrett, a new to me author, has landed a spot on the top of my author list. Her prose is poetic and historical research is impeccable. Her skill in weaving the two into a story that will impact the reader is that of a master storyteller! Bravo!
A couple of my favorite quotes:
"God will give us the strength at the time we require it. Not a minute before."
"Death is not the end...It's the freedom and light and promise. Its grace...Ours to accept of our own free will. Without Christ it is cold and dark and empty, but with Him.....death is beautiful. He transforms it."
"Ultimately it wasn't about him. It was about submitting to the will of One greater than himself, seeking that will more than he sought anything else. Valued anything else. Even his own life."
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 7, 2019
Glimpse into the impact that love had on Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life, especially while in Tegel Prison. It's clear the author has done extensive research and brings history of that time to life through her words.
June 22, 2019
It is not often I read a novel that lingers with me long after I’ve finished the last page and closed the book. My Dearest Dietrich is just such a story. Author Amanda Barratt combines stellar writing and craft to create a world based on truth, and infused with such intimate knowledge of her characters, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Maria von Wedemeyer, as to make them come alive for me on the page. I also loved learning about the little-known history of the silent battle going on in Hitler’s Nazi Germany, and was inspired by one man's unwavering faith and conviction. This is a must-read for fans of both historical fiction and Christian romance!
June 23, 2019
I have mixed feelings about this book. It is very well written and very well researched. The characters were developed well. Barratt really gave a sense of the dilemma Christians felt when the leader of their country went horribly wrong. Some felt it was their duty to serve their country, such as in the military. Others felt they needed to stop Hitler, as did Bonhoefffer. I also got a very good sense of the pain and agony Christians experienced at the loss of their loved ones.
Part of the character development included dialogue and actions. Barratt notes at the end of the book that almost all of the events she portrayed actually happened. She said she did create a German military officer who tried to force Maria into a relationship.
And that bothers me a bit. Authors of historical fiction must imagine the thoughts, words and actions of real people, such as Barratt did with Bonhoeffer. As I read the book, I kept wondering if Bonhoeffer would really think that or say that or do that. It was a distraction for me.
Something else I found distracting was the odd use of a few German words in dialogue when nearly all of it was in English. I know they spoke German and the book is in English. When I read something like, “...vater and brother,” I wonder why Barratt would use the one German word yet not the one for brother. (2430/6248)
I do recommend this book as it portrays the dilemma Christians experience when the leader of the country goes wrong. One could have some good discussions around that issue. Just remember this is a novel.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Part of the character development included dialogue and actions. Barratt notes at the end of the book that almost all of the events she portrayed actually happened. She said she did create a German military officer who tried to force Maria into a relationship.
And that bothers me a bit. Authors of historical fiction must imagine the thoughts, words and actions of real people, such as Barratt did with Bonhoeffer. As I read the book, I kept wondering if Bonhoeffer would really think that or say that or do that. It was a distraction for me.
Something else I found distracting was the odd use of a few German words in dialogue when nearly all of it was in English. I know they spoke German and the book is in English. When I read something like, “...vater and brother,” I wonder why Barratt would use the one German word yet not the one for brother. (2430/6248)
I do recommend this book as it portrays the dilemma Christians experience when the leader of the country goes wrong. One could have some good discussions around that issue. Just remember this is a novel.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
May 28, 2019
Love love and love this story. Loving someone is one of the easiest and the hardest things we will ever do. It's promising to stay beside someone through everything, not just the happy moments, but the heart-wrenching, gut-punching, take- your- very- breath rough stuff too. It's letting someone see the very heart of you, flaws and all. Your hopes, dreams, fears, and every other bit of you. It also means letting them open up to you as well, an invitation to see the real person they are. Love is hard, there's just no easy way to put it. But real love is able to grow stronger despite the things that life tries to throw at us. Things that are meant to break apart are the prefect opportunity to grow closer together. It's so hard sometimes, but real love and the people in our lives are always worth it.
June 6, 2019
'It was what it all came down to in the end. He wanted to live, to see his parents and marry Maria, but ultimately it wasn't about him. It was about submitting to the will of One greater than himself, seeking that will more than he sought everything else. Valued anything else.'
How in the world do you start to read a book you know is going to end in tragedy? I could not bear to start for a while because I knew what was going to happen. It was going to break my heart. I have long admired Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was one of the greatest theologians of the last century and gave his life for Christ. Bonhoeffer refused, in the face of Nazism, to compromise the values of the Bible and of Christ to Hitler's evil machinations. And he paid with his life. He knew that was a distinct possibility, yet he forged on, knowing that he was following the right path.
Amanda Barratt took on an admirable task when she made the decision to write about Bonhoeffer's life. And she gave us a deeper look at his life, concentrating on not only his incredible faith and bravery, but his love for his fiancé, Maria von Wedemeyer. The fiancé he would never be blessed to marry, but who he would carry in his heart all the way to the gallows. And Barratt writes this so well, so well indeed, that the reader's heart just weeps with what they know is to come. Her research is impeccable and she manages to convey such deep emotion that I nearly weep every time I just look at this book. Well done!
And one quote from Bonhoeffer just stirs my soul: 'Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am Thine.' May we all have this view.
*My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book. The opinions stated here are entirely my own.
How in the world do you start to read a book you know is going to end in tragedy? I could not bear to start for a while because I knew what was going to happen. It was going to break my heart. I have long admired Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was one of the greatest theologians of the last century and gave his life for Christ. Bonhoeffer refused, in the face of Nazism, to compromise the values of the Bible and of Christ to Hitler's evil machinations. And he paid with his life. He knew that was a distinct possibility, yet he forged on, knowing that he was following the right path.
Amanda Barratt took on an admirable task when she made the decision to write about Bonhoeffer's life. And she gave us a deeper look at his life, concentrating on not only his incredible faith and bravery, but his love for his fiancé, Maria von Wedemeyer. The fiancé he would never be blessed to marry, but who he would carry in his heart all the way to the gallows. And Barratt writes this so well, so well indeed, that the reader's heart just weeps with what they know is to come. Her research is impeccable and she manages to convey such deep emotion that I nearly weep every time I just look at this book. Well done!
And one quote from Bonhoeffer just stirs my soul: 'Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am Thine.' May we all have this view.
*My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book. The opinions stated here are entirely my own.
July 20, 2022
After reading Amanda Barratt's exceptional The White Rose Resists a couple of years ago, I knew I'd have to go back and read her previous novel My Dearest Dietrich at some point. I also knew I'd want my own copy so waited until the paperback came out :) It did not disappoint.
My Dearest Dietrich is another amazing story and reading experience based on real events and people -- such a powerful read, just like the White Rose. So well researched and written. If you're a historical fiction fan and enjoy reading World War 2 stories, you must add both of these books to your list. I know I'm late to the game with this particular book but just have to add my encouragement to do yourself a favor and read these amazing novels by Amanda Barratt. Highly recommend!
My Dearest Dietrich is another amazing story and reading experience based on real events and people -- such a powerful read, just like the White Rose. So well researched and written. If you're a historical fiction fan and enjoy reading World War 2 stories, you must add both of these books to your list. I know I'm late to the game with this particular book but just have to add my encouragement to do yourself a favor and read these amazing novels by Amanda Barratt. Highly recommend!
May 30, 2019
I think every reader starts a book with certain expectations. I expected this book to be good because I knew about Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Haven’t most? This book wasn’t just good, it was unforgettable.
I found it amazing how enthralled I was with the story, knowing the outcome. It takes a special kind of writing to want to enjoy and savor a book where there really aren’t any spoilers. I knew the ending ; yet I so enjoyed the journey, the blessed journey of this couple..so beautifully written.
The scenes are painted with intricate detail...as they tried to visit in prison with others looking on, the reader can feel the tension and the hesitancy of the actors, the characters. They are alive...so real and vibrant. I knew the happily ever after would never come, that darkness was abundant. However, it doesn’t overtake the beautiful love story, and the love God gave these two for each other. This book makes Mr. Bonhoeffer more a man than a minister...more human, and more relatable.
The book has prose as beautiful as poetry, and tells of a beautiful love story...but in a way that I’ve never quite read before.
This book finds its place on my forever shelves, and I definitely plan on visiting Maria and Dietrich again!
I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
I found it amazing how enthralled I was with the story, knowing the outcome. It takes a special kind of writing to want to enjoy and savor a book where there really aren’t any spoilers. I knew the ending ; yet I so enjoyed the journey, the blessed journey of this couple..so beautifully written.
The scenes are painted with intricate detail...as they tried to visit in prison with others looking on, the reader can feel the tension and the hesitancy of the actors, the characters. They are alive...so real and vibrant. I knew the happily ever after would never come, that darkness was abundant. However, it doesn’t overtake the beautiful love story, and the love God gave these two for each other. This book makes Mr. Bonhoeffer more a man than a minister...more human, and more relatable.
The book has prose as beautiful as poetry, and tells of a beautiful love story...but in a way that I’ve never quite read before.
This book finds its place on my forever shelves, and I definitely plan on visiting Maria and Dietrich again!
I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
January 6, 2025
I felt a part of the story. Burning with anger, melting with tenderness, tense with fear, eyes twinkling with gaiety, at different points. I felt all this and more, though I started already knowing how the book would end.
Well researched with an excellent author's note at the end. I learned many interesting things.
Well researched with an excellent author's note at the end. I learned many interesting things.
May 21, 2024
I thought this book was a beautiful and potent read! It was well researched, beautifully told, and made me want to do a deeper dive into Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life and legacy.
July 6, 2019
Barratt has written a beautiful, poignant story about Dietrich Bonhoeffer. My first recommendation is to read it slow. I am usually a speed reader, but with this story I purposefully took my time. First of all, there is so much history to be learned. Barratt's desire to stay true to history was so evident, and she packed in so much information that I wanted to make sure not to miss a thing. Don't mistake that for a boring read - Barratt doesn't info dump. No, instead she presents the facts methodically, perfectly and in a way that only enhances the story line.
War stories really intrigue me, but this was different than any I've ever read. No, you do not see Dietrich on the battle lines per se, but you do see his battles. When you think about the time of Hitler, it doesn't too often cross your mind that just maybe some of the Germans were not on Hitler's side. At least not me. But here was a man who was more concerned about what the Lord thought, then bowing down to Hitler who considered himself a god. What an example not only to the other characters, but to us as readers. Sometimes taking a stand has its consequences (as Dietrich learned in the latter part of the book), but that didn't stop him. Nor should it stop us. As believers in Christ, we should not be afraid of the consequences of standing up for Christ, no matter what punishment the world offers.
Amongst the history, the emotions, the fear, is a love story that had my attention from the beginning. Maria is an extremely strong character. Not only because of enduring the long distance relationship (well, by the time they actually called it that), but because of the sacrifices she made as his girlfriend/fiance. She put herself in danger for him. She kept secrets for him. And although their time together was scarce, her love for him never wavered. I was not familiar with Dietrich's story, so I was not really ready for the ending, (yes I had tears) but I was okay with it. Not all love stories have the ending we want. But they do have the ability to speak to our hearts, and stay with us for a very long time.
This book absolutely blew my socks off. It was everything I wanted and so much more. It exceeded the every single expectation I had for it. But again, take your time reading it. There is so much to be gained, and every single word is important to the story. I can see this book easily becoming a classic years from now. It's a book I know I will revisit many times! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
War stories really intrigue me, but this was different than any I've ever read. No, you do not see Dietrich on the battle lines per se, but you do see his battles. When you think about the time of Hitler, it doesn't too often cross your mind that just maybe some of the Germans were not on Hitler's side. At least not me. But here was a man who was more concerned about what the Lord thought, then bowing down to Hitler who considered himself a god. What an example not only to the other characters, but to us as readers. Sometimes taking a stand has its consequences (as Dietrich learned in the latter part of the book), but that didn't stop him. Nor should it stop us. As believers in Christ, we should not be afraid of the consequences of standing up for Christ, no matter what punishment the world offers.
Amongst the history, the emotions, the fear, is a love story that had my attention from the beginning. Maria is an extremely strong character. Not only because of enduring the long distance relationship (well, by the time they actually called it that), but because of the sacrifices she made as his girlfriend/fiance. She put herself in danger for him. She kept secrets for him. And although their time together was scarce, her love for him never wavered. I was not familiar with Dietrich's story, so I was not really ready for the ending, (yes I had tears) but I was okay with it. Not all love stories have the ending we want. But they do have the ability to speak to our hearts, and stay with us for a very long time.
This book absolutely blew my socks off. It was everything I wanted and so much more. It exceeded the every single expectation I had for it. But again, take your time reading it. There is so much to be gained, and every single word is important to the story. I can see this book easily becoming a classic years from now. It's a book I know I will revisit many times! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 27, 2019
Oh my, I just finished this most beautiful story! Absolutely a FIVE STAR read. So many words come to mind when thinking of thinking of My Dearest Dietrich, these are just a few: brave, tender, lovely, moving, sad, horrific circumstances, evil, courageous, faithful. I knew little about Dietrich Bonhoeffer before reading and loving "My Dearest Dietrich" by Author Amanda Barratt. That's what I love about well written historical fiction, it always makes me want to learn more, in fact I just ordered one of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's books, and also Maria's book of their love letters while he was in prison, both found on the author's "for further reading" list. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, was a German theologian and pastor who tried to fight the brutality and the evil of the Nazi's in his own quiet, yet potentially dangerous way. It really makes one think about how important it is to fight evil where it exists in our day as well. Amanda Barratt did an impeccable job with her research, and seamlessly wove real history into this beautiful tale. I have at least a dozen pages earmarked with quotes I want to revisit. One in particular sticks out to me "...where the gospel permeates every aspect of one's life......the whole of it-work, family, marriage -should be given over to God in its entirety." That is certainly the goal. This is an excellent book, I highly recommend it.
November 29, 2024
The beautiful love story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Maria von Wedemeyer. Amanda writes such good books based on the WW2 and this one definitely did not disappoint. I’m am learning a lot about Bonhoeffer and his journey and I loved to learn about who he fell in love with especially during such a difficult time. The book was an amazing read and I highly recommend it.
November 18, 2019
My Dearest Dietrich: Is It My Favorite Book of the Year?
Well, the year isn’t over, so I can’t say unequivocally, but my tentative answer is a decided yes.
How’s that for wishy-washy? Sorry, can’t help it.
If you don’t know the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his work to bring down Adolf Hitler, it would be best to read up a little on him before reading the book. Readers unfamiliar with him might find the book unsatisfactory, otherwise.
But My Dearest Dietrich offers what I love best in good fiction—heroism, self-sacrifice, faith, and love shown in action rather than effusive protestations of affection.
And she did it without yielding to the temptation to create a fast-paced, “whirlwind” style story. That sort of “it’s a war so let’s rush the narrative to give the illusion of tension and speed” would have destroyed this book’s greatest strength. It flows at the natural pace of a couple who must wait, watch, and trust for the Lord’s timing to their lives, and all without prompting the drumming of fingers.
The attention to historical detail couldn’t be more impressive. It became most obvious only when I realized I hadn’t noticed it in the narrative. It’s woven so delicately and deliberately through the story that instead of being slapped over the head with setting, facts, and figures, Barratt simply immerses you into a tale you hope never to emerge from.
And yet, when the story ends, you realize that for it to be the deeply moving, powerful, and life-changing story that it was, it couldn’t have been told any other way. It had to end when and where it did. True stories work like that, and instead of trying to make a true story fit the romantic tropes that the genre demands, Ms. Barratt simply told their tale as God wrote it.
How could it be any better than that?
Recommended for lovers of history, WWII buffs, and for those who cherish the memory of a German theologian who loved Jesus even more than his beloved Maria.
About the book:
A staggering love illuminating the dark corners of a Nazi prison
Renowned German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer is famous for his resistance to the Nazi regime and for his allegiance to God over government. But what few realize is that the last years of his life also held a love story that rivals any romance novel.
Maria von Wedemeyer knows the realities of war. Her beloved father and brother have both been killed on the battlefield. The last thing this spirited young woman needs is to fall for a man under constant surveillance by the Gestapo. How can she give another piece of her heart to a man so likely to share the same final fate? Yet when Dietrich Bonhoeffer, an old family friend, comes to comfort the von Wedemeyers after their losses, she discovers that love isn't always logical.
Dietrich himself has determined to keep his distance from romantic attachments.
There is too much work to be done for God, and his involvement in the conspiracy is far too important. But when he encounters a woman whose intelligence and conviction match his own, he's unprepared for how easy it is to give away his heart.
With their deep love comes risk--and neither Dietrich nor Maria is prepared for just how great that risk soon becomes.
Based on detailed historical research, this true love story is at once beautiful and heartrending. My Dearest Dietrich sheds new light on a world-famous theologian . . . and the woman who changed his life.
Well, the year isn’t over, so I can’t say unequivocally, but my tentative answer is a decided yes.
How’s that for wishy-washy? Sorry, can’t help it.
If you don’t know the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his work to bring down Adolf Hitler, it would be best to read up a little on him before reading the book. Readers unfamiliar with him might find the book unsatisfactory, otherwise.
But My Dearest Dietrich offers what I love best in good fiction—heroism, self-sacrifice, faith, and love shown in action rather than effusive protestations of affection.
And she did it without yielding to the temptation to create a fast-paced, “whirlwind” style story. That sort of “it’s a war so let’s rush the narrative to give the illusion of tension and speed” would have destroyed this book’s greatest strength. It flows at the natural pace of a couple who must wait, watch, and trust for the Lord’s timing to their lives, and all without prompting the drumming of fingers.
The attention to historical detail couldn’t be more impressive. It became most obvious only when I realized I hadn’t noticed it in the narrative. It’s woven so delicately and deliberately through the story that instead of being slapped over the head with setting, facts, and figures, Barratt simply immerses you into a tale you hope never to emerge from.
And yet, when the story ends, you realize that for it to be the deeply moving, powerful, and life-changing story that it was, it couldn’t have been told any other way. It had to end when and where it did. True stories work like that, and instead of trying to make a true story fit the romantic tropes that the genre demands, Ms. Barratt simply told their tale as God wrote it.
How could it be any better than that?
Recommended for lovers of history, WWII buffs, and for those who cherish the memory of a German theologian who loved Jesus even more than his beloved Maria.
About the book:
A staggering love illuminating the dark corners of a Nazi prison
Renowned German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer is famous for his resistance to the Nazi regime and for his allegiance to God over government. But what few realize is that the last years of his life also held a love story that rivals any romance novel.
Maria von Wedemeyer knows the realities of war. Her beloved father and brother have both been killed on the battlefield. The last thing this spirited young woman needs is to fall for a man under constant surveillance by the Gestapo. How can she give another piece of her heart to a man so likely to share the same final fate? Yet when Dietrich Bonhoeffer, an old family friend, comes to comfort the von Wedemeyers after their losses, she discovers that love isn't always logical.
Dietrich himself has determined to keep his distance from romantic attachments.
There is too much work to be done for God, and his involvement in the conspiracy is far too important. But when he encounters a woman whose intelligence and conviction match his own, he's unprepared for how easy it is to give away his heart.
With their deep love comes risk--and neither Dietrich nor Maria is prepared for just how great that risk soon becomes.
Based on detailed historical research, this true love story is at once beautiful and heartrending. My Dearest Dietrich sheds new light on a world-famous theologian . . . and the woman who changed his life.
June 9, 2019
Amanda Barratt has written a page-turning and beautifully haunting love story of Bonhoeffer and his Maria von Wedemeyer in her novel My Dearest Dietrich. From page one the story and the characters spring to life through the story and the historical details, which have obviously and meticulously been researched to great lengths. Readers will feel as if they are right there with the characters, almost feeling like they are the characters. This is an amazing and powerful love story that shows the darkness of the time during WWII, as well as the deep emotions of true love. This novel has all the feels. Readers will be touched and powerfully moved by this beautiful and inspiring story!
Genre: historical, WWII
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Publication date: June 9, 2019
Number of pages: 360
A review copy of this book was provided by the author via her launch team. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
Genre: historical, WWII
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Publication date: June 9, 2019
Number of pages: 360
A review copy of this book was provided by the author via her launch team. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
February 10, 2020
This was a beautifully written novel. It swept me up in the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Maria von Wedemeyer, and I *wished* that their story had ended differently. I suppose that's the risk you run with reading a story about an actual person in history . . . you know the ending.
That said, the beautiful lessons about love, and the questions asked about where our responsibilities as Christians lie with regards to fighting against corruption (even to the point of disobeying unjust laws) were well worth the bittersweet inevitability of the love story itself.
4.75 stars
That said, the beautiful lessons about love, and the questions asked about where our responsibilities as Christians lie with regards to fighting against corruption (even to the point of disobeying unjust laws) were well worth the bittersweet inevitability of the love story itself.
4.75 stars
October 16, 2020
This. Book. Is. Painful.
You know, it is hard knowing what happened in history, but it is even harder to know what happened and read a book with the facts from the point of view of the historical figures.
I didn't read the whole book... I skimmed at points due to the painfulness of history. Barratt did a spectacular job and I'm sad that I didn't read every page but I just can't bear it!
For mature readers due to the subjects covered.
You know, it is hard knowing what happened in history, but it is even harder to know what happened and read a book with the facts from the point of view of the historical figures.
I didn't read the whole book... I skimmed at points due to the painfulness of history. Barratt did a spectacular job and I'm sad that I didn't read every page but I just can't bear it!
For mature readers due to the subjects covered.
June 9, 2019
It took me a few days to digest what I read, like when I went to the Holocaust Museum it is almost to much to take in. This book is a treasure trove of nuggets waiting to be mined and applied to your life. It has the ability to change you and make you a better person, because of what Christ can do when we face the hard times. Ms. Barratt tackled a difficult subject with the ability to draw you in and immerse you in the lives of Dietrich and Marie. You will need tissues, especially during the dance scene, which is one of the most tender, haunting scenes I have ever read. This book deserves an award of excellence for its research, accomplished writing, and interpretation of the characters. This is an emotional and prismatic journey that leaves you thinking about it for days afterwards. Recommended reading for everyone.
I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
June 17, 2019
*blows nose, dabs eyes, and takes a deep breath*
Wow. Where do I start? This book is beautifully written, impeccably researched, and as inspirational as it is heartbreaking. If you want to know the cost of discipleship, read this book. I mean, you could read Dietrich’s own words as well, but he LIVED that cost in a way most of us will never have to experience—Praise God! And reading his story—living his story—as it’s presented in these pages is a powerful experience that will never leave me, all the more so for the depth of love that grew between Dietrich and Maria at such a difficult time.
The choices that Dietrich, Maria, and their families had to make will also linger with me. It’s rare to find a story that gives the reader so much cause to consider what it would have been like to have been German and opposed to the Nazi regime. And if there was one thing that came through strongly as I read this novel, it was that there was no easy answer to the question of, “How should we respond?” In fact, the only answer was for each man and woman to prayerfully follow his or her own conscience, regardless of the cost—knowing full well that the cost would be high regardless.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s story is truly remarkable, and I cannot recommend this novel highly enough.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Wow. Where do I start? This book is beautifully written, impeccably researched, and as inspirational as it is heartbreaking. If you want to know the cost of discipleship, read this book. I mean, you could read Dietrich’s own words as well, but he LIVED that cost in a way most of us will never have to experience—Praise God! And reading his story—living his story—as it’s presented in these pages is a powerful experience that will never leave me, all the more so for the depth of love that grew between Dietrich and Maria at such a difficult time.
The choices that Dietrich, Maria, and their families had to make will also linger with me. It’s rare to find a story that gives the reader so much cause to consider what it would have been like to have been German and opposed to the Nazi regime. And if there was one thing that came through strongly as I read this novel, it was that there was no easy answer to the question of, “How should we respond?” In fact, the only answer was for each man and woman to prayerfully follow his or her own conscience, regardless of the cost—knowing full well that the cost would be high regardless.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s story is truly remarkable, and I cannot recommend this novel highly enough.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
May 21, 2021
"Always remember. It is only space that separates us."
What a hauntingly, brutal love story. It was so well researched, every detail poignant and thoughtful. Heartbreaking in its telling. The hope and courage between Bonhoeffer and Maria was beautiful. I have always admired Bonhoeffer for his unwavering faith, his reliance on God, and his unabashed desire to LIVE his faith. But his devotion to Maria was a part of him I never understood until now. What a remarkable human God placed here for us to learn, grow, and see faith lived out.
This book was very well written, I always give pause with stories like this because we have no idea what actually was said between Maria and Deitrich in those tumultuous prison meetings. But I was pleasantly surprised that those precious moments felt real, achingly so.
What a hauntingly, brutal love story. It was so well researched, every detail poignant and thoughtful. Heartbreaking in its telling. The hope and courage between Bonhoeffer and Maria was beautiful. I have always admired Bonhoeffer for his unwavering faith, his reliance on God, and his unabashed desire to LIVE his faith. But his devotion to Maria was a part of him I never understood until now. What a remarkable human God placed here for us to learn, grow, and see faith lived out.
This book was very well written, I always give pause with stories like this because we have no idea what actually was said between Maria and Deitrich in those tumultuous prison meetings. But I was pleasantly surprised that those precious moments felt real, achingly so.
December 27, 2023
Once again, I'm left in awe at a book written by Amanda Barratt! There's so many emotions linked with this book. Happiness and deep sorrow.
I'm in utter amazement at the man Dietrich was. His faith, his compassion. He's someone I would like to emulate.
Maria is so strong. She endures many heartbreaking circumstances, and yet she perseveres!
The love story is sweet and filled with tenderness! This is a definite must read! It will stay with me for a long time.
I'm in utter amazement at the man Dietrich was. His faith, his compassion. He's someone I would like to emulate.
Maria is so strong. She endures many heartbreaking circumstances, and yet she perseveres!
The love story is sweet and filled with tenderness! This is a definite must read! It will stay with me for a long time.
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