Arms of Deliverance: A Story of Promise

World War II Liberator #4

by Tricia Goyer

Mary and Lee have gone from best friends to competing WWII journalists, but a bombing raid gone wrong puts Mary's life at risk and sends Lee on a heroic rescue attempt through the fierce teeth of combat. Then, amidst an adventurous struggle for freedom, they uncover the story of the unspeakable Lebensborn atrocity.With equal doses of adrenaline and poignancy, Tricia Goyer's storytelling brings well-crafted characters to life in a graphically authentic World War II setting. She places readers not only behind enemy lines into the heat of battle, but also deep into the innermost sanctuary of the human heart.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, World War II, Fiction, Historical, Christian Historical Fiction, Christian

329 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2006

About the author

Tricia Goyer is a busy mom of ten, grandmother of two, and wife to John. Somewhere around the hustle and bustle of family life, she manages to find the time to write fictional tales delighting and entertaining readers and non-fiction titles offering encouragement and hope. A bestselling author, Tricia has published thirty-three books to date and has written more than 500 articles. She is a two time Carol Award winner, as well as a Christy and ECPA Award Nominee. In 2010, she was selected as one of the Top 20 Moms to Follow on Twitter by SheKnows.com. Tricia is also on the blogging team at MomLifeToday.com, TheBetterMom.com and other homeschooling and Christian sites.In addition to her roles as mom, wife and author, Tricia volunteers around her community and mentors teen moms. She is the founder of Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Northwestern Montana, and she currently leads a Teen MOPS Group in Little Rock, AR. Learn more about Tricia at www.triciagoyer.com.

Reviews

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Frank Review of Tricia Goyer's Arms of Deliverance

Who could twist the phrase "It's not what you know, it's who you know," into a gospel message?
Tricia Goyer. Arms Of Deliverance is the fourth and concluding installment of her WW II novels, and what a way to close.

The fusion of Goyer's prose and WW II veteran interviews results in a powerful telling that time-warps readers to the 1940s. She's captured lost details. By recording the fading memories of a dying generation, Tricia's done an amazing service to the people whose patriotism put them in harm's way, and to the Jewish mantra, "Never again." She's literally branded history into my mind, because I lived it through her strong characters.

Arms of Deliverance is a painting of war, Holocaust horror, and National Socialist dystopia. The artist's brush sported bristles braided of lives. I've never read anyone so adept at capturing human mannerisms with a pen. She draws you into this black and white era with this tool-of-color so subtle, most writers don't even know it's in their box. When you read "Tingles traveled up the back of her neck..." you know exactly what she means. I actually felt that.

The Judeo-Christian presuppositions of Goyer's main characters, Mary, Lee and "Katrine", contrast Hendrick's Aryan world-view like a photo-negative. Through her powerful paradox of a morally black and white war, Tricia Goyer makes you see red.


Frank Creed is a manuscript critiquer, novelist, and founder of the Lost Genre Guild.

[Shirley Chapel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tricia Goyer has the gift of drawing her readers into her stories. It's as though I was actually there in the center of it all. Though fiction her books are so well researched that they seem real. Though in some parts of this story the scenes are graphic it only serves to make it seem more real. It took a while at the beginning for this reader to be drawn in but then when it happened I was glued to the pages.
This story centers around the American fighter pilots that flew the dangerous missions over Germany during WWII. Many of them never returning back to their homes. Also the story included reporters and the extent they went to get the war news out to the public. Reporting war news was definitely a man's job at that time. In Arms of Deliverance two lady reporters are sent overseas to the front lines. Both willing to go and do what ever it took to bring the latest war news back home the families of the enlisted men and women. Goyer gives readers a gripping story that will grab your full attention and have you on the edge of your seat.
If you love war stories this is a good one. You won't be disappointed.
It's part of the World War II Liberator series but it can be read as a stand alone.
I borrowed a copy of this book from the Kendal Owners Lending Library on Amazon. I was not asked to do a review. All opinions shared here are my own.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katrine is living a lie. As the Czech Jewess Rebecca, her blonde hair and fair features have allowed her to pass as Aryan, the epitome of German racial purity. Her fear and loneliness have driven her into the arms of Hendrick, a high-ranking Nazi officer who, ironically, works in the Office for Race and Settlement. There he selects children with highly desired Aryan features from German-occupied lands and places them with German families for indoctrination into the Nazi state. When Katrine reveals her pregnancy, to her shock Hendrick sends her to live in a Lebensborn home, where she meets other women selected to become "honored" mothers for the Third Reich, meant to perpetuate the Aryan ideal by giving birth to children with suitable Nazi fathers. All of Katrine's illusions of safety are shattered as her eyes are opened to the horrifying reality that she was selected by Hendrick to increase his power and prestige by giving him the "perfect" Aryan son. She is left with one burning desire -- to rescue her child from a future controlled by his maniacal Nazi father.

Meanwhile, across the ocean in New York City, Mary Kelley and Lee O'Donnelly are rival reporters from very different backgrounds, working to proves themselves in a field long-dominated by men. Mary, a poor, illegitimate daughter of a newspaper editor, longs to rise above her hardscrabble background and gain success and respect as a top reporter. Lee, on the other hand, was born to privilege and utilizes every society contact to her utmost advantage. Lee and Mary apply for reporting positions overseas, longing to see the frontlines and write the stories that will get their names on the front page of papers across the country. Their coveted overseas assignments are the ultimate chance to prove themselves, but Lee and Mary never expected to have their lives profoundly changed by the incredible bravery and suffering they encounter while in the field. Lee heads to the frontlines, and Mary uses her father's connections to gain permission to join a B-17 bombing crew on a mission to Berlin. When Mary's B-17 is shot down and she and Eddie, the navigator, are stranded in enemy territory, could the dangerous position she finds herself in be the opportunity and the answer Katrine has longed for? Could they be the arms of deliverance Katrine desires for her son?

Tricia Goyer's writing is crisp, compelling, and richly detailed, masterfully re-creating a pivotal time in world history. Her characters' actions and emotions ring true thanks to Goyer's meticulous research and the extensive interviews she conducts as background work for her novels. The fast-paced action is balanced by great emotional depth, as Goyer explores everything from the thrill of victory to the power of great sacrifice and loss. This is a story about lives profoundly changed through the crucible of unimaginable horror and conflict. Mary and Lee's journeys especially resonated with me -- it is all to easy to simply focus on oneself and how every situation you encounter impacts you and you alone. Goyer takes her characters on a journey of spiritual awakening that opens their eyes to life beyond themselves, and how God can use people inspite of their fears, to reveal His grace and mercy. Mary and Lee discover that the war is much more than a chance for them to advance their careers as reporters -- it is an opportunity for God to use their lives and talents in the most unexpected of ways, with an impact far greater than they ever could have dreamed. Highly recommended!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fast-paced novel packed a punch! Although some of it was hard to read because of the real evil portrayed, it was nevertheless a riveting, action-heavy story with three fascinating heroines.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arms of Deliverance is a powerful and fascinating tale portraying the evil of the Nazi regime and the heroic people who resisted by refusing to conform. And, as usual, Tricia's storyline and writing is as gripping as the Thoene's, and I've read all of their books. One character's plight I found particularly gripping. Rebecca Lodz, a Czech Jewess, had to change her name to Katrine and pass herself off as Aryan to survive, only to end up in the Lebensborn project, where German babies were bred for the Reich.

Two female reporters were sent on dangerous missions (at their request) to report tales of heroism to inspire Americans and boost morale. Unfortunately, they both encountered terrors of war that made them question their judgment, but they "hung in there" despite their fear. They experienced things that imbedded in their minds and changed their hearts forever. (I love how Tricia always has strong female heroines in her books. Yes, even Rebecca had incredible strength.)

The Destiny's Child navigator, Eddie, is incredible and handsome--the ultimate hero, and of course, a Christian. He bonds to one of the female reporters during their plight and he proposes a plan that has Mary afraid--the title's name sake, yet she agrees to trust God. (I don't know how she does it, but Tricia always has me sighing over the guys in her stories.) The author also does what most excellent authors do...she takes the characters' worst fears and makes it happen, then adds even more trials to their load.

Great writing. Excellent twists and turns. Incredible plot. Strong faith element. Enthralling story. I don't want this series to ever end. What a great way to teach young people today about true heroism in the midst of a cynical society obsessed with self-preservation.

[Rachael Westbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful!!!!!!!!!

[SK · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the writing of this review, I’ve finished the last book in Tricia Goyer’s Liberator series, book four, Arms of Deliverance. As with other books in this series, this book was a wonderful, historical World War II story fleshed out with intensity and gifting the reader with more of a singular and personal picture of life in 1944 New York and Europe during WWII. Goyer approached the writing of this series with research, interpersonal skills, great storytelling, and what appears to me, a desire to help us understand a time period from a more personal perspective.

Each book of the series has a unique point of view. In Arms of Deliverance the unique point of view is expressed via the main characters that comprise two reporters, a crew of American Flyers, specifically featuring the navigator of a B-17, a Jewess hiding in plain sight as she has a definite Aryan look, and a duplicitous, disturbing, and diabolical S.S. Officer. The story weaves back and forth between the different characters. At the beginning the time lines are more distinct and gradually become more interconnected.

Initially, I wasn’t in love with reporters Mary Kelley or Lee O’Donnelley, but knowing Goyer’s exceptional ability to put her characters through circumstances that develop them into people who grow and change into people worth knowing or people whose real, dark underbelly are exposed, I wasn’t worried. Although I’m a frequent flyer, I know next to nothing about B-17s and found the plot lines with the navigator Eddie to be engrossing and informative. When Mary joins the bombing mission to Berlin that doesn’t go exactly to plan, I was turning pages at a furious pace. The story concerning Katrine/Rebecca was overwhelming. At first, I thought Katrine was naïve, next rather sad, then delusional, and then when the full horror of the Lebensborn home and Heinrich’s role in the heinous plot, it was truly shocking. Like all her books, the reader is not left unscathed. I so appreciate how Goyer’s writing highlights the power of walking by faith, following God path, and “running with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

This book and series were worthy reads, I’m definitely glad I purchased them and finished them. Just like the characters in the book, I was blessed when I reached the end of the book series journey. This series moved me in the same way that Chasing Shadows by Lynn Austin stirred me.

[Sarah B White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nazi's Efforts to Create a Master Race and World War II

In order to create a pure, master race, the Germans had a breeding program where women of pure breeding were paired with men of pure breeding where they attempted to create babies of pure Aryan descent--blue eyed, blond haired babies with not a drop of Jewish blood was their goal. Nurseries were built to ensure that only the pure could reproduce. These nurseries were often in Catholic owned facilities that the Nazis used for this purpose. This book revolves around one of these facilities.

Mary, a newspaper reporter from the US, was on a bombing mission with a flight crew when their plane was hit and crashed. Mary and a member of the flight crew parachuted from the plane as it was crashing and were taken to a Catholic facility by an underground member after hiding out for a time in the forest and barns. There they noticed the blue-eyed, blond-haired babies and learned of the breeding program. They were moved when it became dangerous to be there by the underground.

Would they be able to alert the world of the attempts to create a Master race? Read this action packed book to find out. This book held my attention late into the night and I could not put it down until I finished it. I hope this book catches your attention also.

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before I reached the halfway point I had already decided that this book had not survived the second round of the purge from my personal collection. That changed.

I felt immense frustration through the first 45% of the book. Goyer wove together the stories of four separate characters but the "together" part did not come until the last 55% of the book. Once the threads came together the narrative advanced at such a pace that I could not put the book down. Prior to that I could have set the book down at any point because I simply was not able to engage with the narrative. After that things changed at a rapid pace. Even the quick romance between two of the characters avoided gag-worthy clichés and instead made perfect sense.

This book survived round two of the purge from my personal collection.

[Darcy Schock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book review: Arms of Deliverance by Tricia Goyer

Topic: World War Two through the eyes of two women reporters, a B-17 navigator, and a woman sent to the Lebensborn home for pregnant German women.

Who it may interest: World War Two historical fiction lovers.

Entertainment: My favorite books are ones that really transport me to the setting and this book really did that. It also kept me entertained, wanting to know what happens next. I loved the characters too.

Ease of reading: Easy.

Main takeaway: God has plans bigger than ours and He is able to work out all the details.

Extra thoughts: I loved the historical things I learned in this book and I loved the way the author wrote it. It’s a good read.

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will start by saying that Goyer is an impressive writer. It's obvious that she does a lot of research for her novels. It shows with how she peppers in so many facts to make her fictional stories come to life.
This is one of my favorite books that she has written. The characters were relatable and had realistic quirks. Their personalities were portrayed so well that at times I felt as if I knew them, personally.

I cannot recommend this novel, as well as the rest of the series enough. It is fantastic and will be staying on my keeper shelf to be read again and again.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I felt many of the emotions felt by the characters in the book. In my opinion the book could have been better if it had more about Katherine and the trying situation she was in. Through out the book I had a heart wrenching pain for the Jews and the trails they went through during the war.

[Cynthia Patten Tann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these stories!

Always a reminder of Gods goodness and His grace. He is made more real in the hardest of times. This author portrays that well. Only one complaint. Proofreading is an art of the past. Far too many spelling and grammar errors. Very distracting.

[Alissa Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read

This is a beautiful story of deliverance and hope. I recommend it to people of all ages. I love the way this author took the story of Destinys child and made her own narrative. Beautifully written.

[GJ S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a hard book to read on how the Nazis tortured the Jews. There were many non Jews who helped them to escape. I recommend this christian author and this 4th book

[Virginia Ventola · Rating 5 out of 5]

A+

Well wish there were more of this excellent series. Great writing. Hard to put the book down. Thank you Tricia Goyer

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This excellent Christian historical fiction novel has plenty of action to keep you interested and great examples of faith, sacrifice, and courage.

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just okay.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arms of Deliverance is author Tricia Goyer’s fourth novel to feature Christian values in a World War II setting. Surprisingly, the main focus of her story is not the men who fought the battles in this bloody, war-torn era. It is, instead, a tale of three women: competitive New York Tribune reporters Mary Kelley and Lee O’Donnelley, and Czech-born Katrine. These women find their lives intertwined despite their vast differences. Mary, a tag-along reporter on a bombing run, finds herself behind enemy lines when Destiny’s Child, the B-17 she is aboard, is shot down while returning from its mission over Berlin. Lee, hailing from the glitz and glamour of high society, learns several lessons of the heart as Mary’s occasional roommate, as a war correspondent on the front lines following the Normandy invasion, and in her effort to rescue her friend. Katrine is an Aryan-appearing Jew hiding in plain sight in Nazi-occupied Belgium. Her deception is so effective and complete that she becomes pregnant with the child of a Nazi Schutzstaffel officer. She lives in terror that her secret will be discovered, thus threatening her life and the life of her unborn child. Heinrich, the SS officer, has devout belief in the righteousness of the Nazi cause. He is a complex character who possesses great national pride and a single-minded drive that is stereotypical of Nazi inflexibility and madness. Though he seems human at times, his humanity is often swallowed up by the part of him that is has become a brutally evil monstrosity. His actions are governed by his misguided belief in the Nazi philosophy of Aryan supremacy, his rationalization of the Nazi breeding program, and a deep desire to produce a son to perpetuate the Thousand Year Reich.

The Historical Notes and Acknowledgments pages, thoughtfully included by the author, speak of the care she has taken to bring her readers realism through research and historical accuracy. Although her book is a work of fiction, she has skillfully interwoven fact into this tale, effectively breathing life and honest emotion into the characters that populate it.

Arms of Deliverance is touted as "A Story of Promise" and, in this, Tricia Goyer does not disappoint. The diverse obstacles each of the three women face and the tough choices they make in moments of great adversity contribute to their increased faith in God and a resulting bond of trust in each other. Although some may be tempted to categorize her work as historical romance, it goes beyond such mundane attempts to pigeonhole it. Goyer’s book is a war story, a tale of faith in God, and a romance. Even so, her book is not written for the hardened student of military history, nor is it strictly for the Christian fiction crowd, nor those who devour romance novels by the dozen. In Arms of Deliverance, the author has created a sweeping meld of genres, and has provided a story that will be satisfying to a wide range of readers. It is an unexpectedly heartwarming story of promise—Tricia Goyer offers us the promise that there is hope for humanity through kindness, love, sacrifice, and individual acts of faith.

For more information about Tricia Goyer and the books she has written, visit http://www.thegoyers.com/

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. Where to begin?! I have read this particular story and the entire WW2 Liberators series several times since I first discovered Tricia Goyer as an author back in 2009. Arms of Deliverance was a phenomenal read. Inspiring and sobering to say the least! Tricia Goyer is a talented writer who obviously puts a lot of time and research into her writing. She has a gift for telling captivating stories of history intertwined with themes of faith and persevering through the hardest of times. These are lessons we can draw from and apply in our own world circumstances of today. The following are just some of my thoughts and takeaways from this powerful story. I enjoyed watching the journeys of Mary and Lee unfold. As reporters, at first they only sought to gain notoriety and prestige for themselves by always looking for that " front page story" that would elevate them to the top of their field. By then end of the story their hearts had completely changed due to the nature of the circumstances they experienced as frontline reporters. Their motives then became about being a voice for the voiceless and telling stories simply because they were stories that NEEDED to be told for current and future generations sakes. Eddie, the navigator was a sweet christian gentleman who relied on his faith to get him through the worst of times. The battle scenes while on board the B-17 were gripping and realistic and gave me a sense of the harsh realities that WW2 airman endured. (Including my own Grandfather who flew on B24s during the war!) Eddie's christian witness eventually inspired and led Mary to her own conversion which I loved. My heart broke for "Rebecca " aka" Katrine and all she had to endure as a Jew torn away from her family, then mistress of a Nazi officer as a way to "blend in" ( because of her strong Aryan features) and ultimately as ( basically) a prisoner in Lebensborn a Nazi breeding home. I was inspired by her strength and ultimate sacrifice on behalf of her son. The reader is left with a feeling that things ultimately will be well for her. It was interesting and revolting to learn about Nazi breeding programs and their twisted and demented quest to achieve racial purity. The lengths they went to in an attempt to achieve their vision for " a thousand year reich." is sickening. It probably sounds cliche at this point but TRULY we must never forget how evil,radicalized and twisted the Nazis were. Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it as they saying goes. All in all I enjoyed this powerful story and Arms of Deliverance will forever have a place on my book shelf!

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tricia Goyer has written a keeper in her book “Arms of Deliverance”, published by Moody Publishers. I enjoyed this book from page one.

This novel takes the reader to a time during World War II in England, France, Germany and Belgium. We see the war through the stories of Rebecca Lodz, a Jew living as an Aryan, Katrine, who is the mistress of a Nazi officer, Hendrick Schwartz. She becomes pregnant and he takes her to the famous Lebensborn, a Nazi baby factory. Along with Katrine and Hendrick, we also see the war from the life of Eddie Anderson, a bomber navigator; and Mary Kelly and Lee O’Donnelly who are war correspondents who make their way to the front lines.

I was totally immersed in this story from the beginning and all the way to the end. I felt as though I was living their lives and their stories unfolded and intermeshed. Anyone enjoying novels of the war will certainly enjoy this book. I will be looking for more books from Ms. Goyer.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book from Moody Publishers through Amazon.com in return for my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

You can find this review on my blog at http://wp.me/p2pjIt-8o.

[Faith Posten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually, I'd love to give this book a higher rating than just 5 *s. It is a fantastic book of the best caliber. Subpurb writing and great character development! I can't praise this book enough.

During World War 2, Katrine was the girlfriend of Hendrick, a German officer of Hitler's regime. When he learns that she is pregnant, he is thrilled as his wife is barren. She is actually Jewish, although he believes her to be German due to her beautiful blonde hair and blue eyes. He will raise his son for Hitler's army! He just knows he will have a son..

In another part of the world, there are some very invested female journalists who long to cover the war along with their male counter partners. But the editor of their prestigious paper will only select 2 of them. How the war changes these women alone is worth the read.

How these people and other characters interact is just so interesting as well as intense at times. This story is based on some actual historic events/people/battles even. The events are fiction, of course, but so believable. God is in the midst of this story in a beautiful way. I can't recommend it enough.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't decide if this book or From Dust and Ashes is my favorite of the series. I wish there would have been more chapters about Katrine, but other than that I loved it.

The inaccurate names some of the characters had did annoy me, however. As far as I know, Hendrick, Onna, and Katrine are not German names. Onna isn't a name at all, in fact. The author should have used Heinrich, Anna, and Katharina (or some other German variant). I know a lot of people wouldn't even care or notice, but it really detracts from the realism.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very exciting read. Though I don't really agree with women having careers outside the home, I can still enjoy books that include this. The story surrounds two women reporters who receive a big opportunity of writing on the front lines of WWII. There is also a Christian American navigator, a Jew pretending to be a German, and a Nazi officer seeking to keep "racial purity" going and all imperfections crushed. Their lives become intertwined, and God's gracious plan shows itself in the end.

[Debbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fourth and final book in the series, this one was about two New York women reporters who get the chance to go to Europe and the front lines. They come from opposite sides of the track and don't hit it off very well at first. We also meet a Jewish women who is passing herself off as Aryan and don't find out what she has to do with the story until more than half way through the book. I really liked all four of these books but I'd have to say this one was my least favorite.

[Rebecca Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant historical novel that shares both the beautiful and hateful stories of World War II - It is a story of redemption on so many levels. The novel carefully weaves the account of Destiny Child, a B-17 bomber over the skies of Berlin, and tells the story of the flight crew and passengers and their outcome. This book is a tribute to all of those servicemen and women who fought for freedom for the lives of many.

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is beatiful take on the tragedies of war. The stories of young lives taken and love blooming from pain is enough to move anyones emotions. An amazing read. Highly recomended to all romantics.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea this was the last of a four-part series. I grabbed it because my library had it. My library system doesn't have mnay Tricia Goyer books. Anyway, I guess you could say that this novel reads beautifully as a standalone.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say, I started this on Monday and finished on Tuesday - very well written, excellent story - will look for more books by Tricia Goyer. Read all four - you don't have to read in order. Highly recommend!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written and so well researched once again. This was such a good read. I'd never heard of these Nazi "birthing centers" before and the female American reporters was also a new angle of WWII fiction for me.