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The Sunflower House
Win a free print copy of this book!
1 day and 10:08:51
20 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
Family secrets come to light as a young woman fights to save herself, and others, in a Nazi-run baby factory—a real-life Handmaid's Tale—during World War II.
In a sleepy German village, Allina Strauss’s life seems idyllic: she works at her uncle’s bookshop, makes strudel with her aunt, and spends weekends with her friends and fiancé. But it's 1939, Adolf Hitler is Chancellor, and Allina’s family hides a terrifying secret—her birth mother was Jewish, making her a Mischling.
One fateful night after losing everyone she loves, Allina is forced into service as a nurse at a state-run baby factory called Hochland Home. There, she becomes both witness and participant to the horrors of Heinrich Himmler’s ruthless eugenics program.
The Sunflower House is a meticulously-researched debut historical novel that uncovers the notorious Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany. Women of “pure” blood stayed in Lebensborn homes for the sole purpose of perpetuating the Aryan population, giving birth to thousands of babies who were adopted out to “good” Nazi families. Allina must keep her Jewish identity a secret in order to survive, but when she discovers the neglect occurring within the home, she’s determined not only to save herself, but also the children in her care.
A tale of one woman’s determination to resist and survive, The Sunflower House is also a love story. When Allina meets Karl, a high-ranking SS officer with secrets of his own, the two must decide how much they are willing to share with each other—and how much they can stand to risk as they join forces to save as many children as they can. The threads of this poignant and heartrending novel weave a tale of loss and love, friendship and betrayal, and the secrets we bury in order to save ourselves.
In a sleepy German village, Allina Strauss’s life seems idyllic: she works at her uncle’s bookshop, makes strudel with her aunt, and spends weekends with her friends and fiancé. But it's 1939, Adolf Hitler is Chancellor, and Allina’s family hides a terrifying secret—her birth mother was Jewish, making her a Mischling.
One fateful night after losing everyone she loves, Allina is forced into service as a nurse at a state-run baby factory called Hochland Home. There, she becomes both witness and participant to the horrors of Heinrich Himmler’s ruthless eugenics program.
The Sunflower House is a meticulously-researched debut historical novel that uncovers the notorious Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany. Women of “pure” blood stayed in Lebensborn homes for the sole purpose of perpetuating the Aryan population, giving birth to thousands of babies who were adopted out to “good” Nazi families. Allina must keep her Jewish identity a secret in order to survive, but when she discovers the neglect occurring within the home, she’s determined not only to save herself, but also the children in her care.
A tale of one woman’s determination to resist and survive, The Sunflower House is also a love story. When Allina meets Karl, a high-ranking SS officer with secrets of his own, the two must decide how much they are willing to share with each other—and how much they can stand to risk as they join forces to save as many children as they can. The threads of this poignant and heartrending novel weave a tale of loss and love, friendship and betrayal, and the secrets we bury in order to save ourselves.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published November 12, 2024
About the author
Adriana Allegri
1 book134 followersAdriana Allegri is a first-generation American whose parents lived in Europe before, during, and after World War II. She grew up on stories about how small acts of compassion saved lives, a theme that shows up in everything she writes, regardless of genre. A former high school teacher and educational program administrator, Adriana also served as a writer and project manager for a leading data analytics company. She spent fifteen years in the New York metro area but is happily relocated in Chandler, Arizona with two ornery rescue cats. When not at the keyboard, she enjoys painting, cooking, jewelry-making, antiquing, travel, and, of course, curling up with a favorite read.
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November 11, 2024
The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri
Have you ever heard of the Lebensborn Program? Part of Heinrich Himmler’s ruthless eugenics program consisted of housing and providing for pregnant “Aryan” women with financial assistance, a series of private maternity homes where they could live and give birth, and adoption services. But the program was so much more (or less, depending on how you look at it). Young women taken into the program were encouraged to "mingle" with the SS soldiers who visited the homes for a variety of "social" activities. The homes were baby factories of only the purist of Aryan children. The program was expanded eventually to include the kidnapping of “biologically valuable" children to be adopted by German couples deemed to be excellent party members. Any children that did not meet the standards of perfection were eliminated in one way or another.
In 1939, sixteen year old Allina Strauss lives in a small village with her aunt and uncle. When Allina's family and most of her village is wiped out by German soldiers looking for traitors to the party, Allina is severely beaten and more and then is made to work as a nurse at a state-run baby factory called Hochland Home. Among the many horrors that Allina witnesses is the fact that the babies are not to be touched any more than absolutely necessary to clean them, change diapers, and feed them. Those are the lucky babies, the babies deemed suitable to carry on the Aryan race. There are worse horrors at this house and Allina will do whatever she can to help the children.
Allina is under the protection of the brute who brought her to the house and later to a Karl, a high-ranking SS officer who isn't like the other officers. This is such a difficult story, seeing all the devastation of lives, the use of humans that are disposed of once they are no longer useful. Plus, learning the background of Karl and the guilt that eats at him even while he is trying to help what children he can help. Karl's story is heartbreaking in its own way and I was torn in so many directions by the choices he made in the past, by all his choices.
I'm ready to read whatever Adriana Allegri writes next. I could not put this story down despite knowing my heart would be broken. I applaud the way she handled the two timelines set so far apart in time. We see only what we need to see in the present day and instead get to be with Allina in her younger days, as she lives events that will be a part of her for the rest of her life, even if she keeps them locked up in her heart.
Publication November 12, 2024
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, SMP Influencers program, and NetGalley for this ARC.
Have you ever heard of the Lebensborn Program? Part of Heinrich Himmler’s ruthless eugenics program consisted of housing and providing for pregnant “Aryan” women with financial assistance, a series of private maternity homes where they could live and give birth, and adoption services. But the program was so much more (or less, depending on how you look at it). Young women taken into the program were encouraged to "mingle" with the SS soldiers who visited the homes for a variety of "social" activities. The homes were baby factories of only the purist of Aryan children. The program was expanded eventually to include the kidnapping of “biologically valuable" children to be adopted by German couples deemed to be excellent party members. Any children that did not meet the standards of perfection were eliminated in one way or another.
In 1939, sixteen year old Allina Strauss lives in a small village with her aunt and uncle. When Allina's family and most of her village is wiped out by German soldiers looking for traitors to the party, Allina is severely beaten and more and then is made to work as a nurse at a state-run baby factory called Hochland Home. Among the many horrors that Allina witnesses is the fact that the babies are not to be touched any more than absolutely necessary to clean them, change diapers, and feed them. Those are the lucky babies, the babies deemed suitable to carry on the Aryan race. There are worse horrors at this house and Allina will do whatever she can to help the children.
Allina is under the protection of the brute who brought her to the house and later to a Karl, a high-ranking SS officer who isn't like the other officers. This is such a difficult story, seeing all the devastation of lives, the use of humans that are disposed of once they are no longer useful. Plus, learning the background of Karl and the guilt that eats at him even while he is trying to help what children he can help. Karl's story is heartbreaking in its own way and I was torn in so many directions by the choices he made in the past, by all his choices.
I'm ready to read whatever Adriana Allegri writes next. I could not put this story down despite knowing my heart would be broken. I applaud the way she handled the two timelines set so far apart in time. We see only what we need to see in the present day and instead get to be with Allina in her younger days, as she lives events that will be a part of her for the rest of her life, even if she keeps them locked up in her heart.
Publication November 12, 2024
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, SMP Influencers program, and NetGalley for this ARC.
Want to read
October 11, 2024"Family secrets come to light as a young woman fights to save herself, and others, in a Nazi-run baby factory—a real-life Handmaid's Tale—during World War II."
It's been awhile since I read historical fiction, I'm ready for the trauma 😭😭
✨Thanks to NetGalley, The Author, & St. Martin's Press Publishing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review✨
September 16, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own. A special thank you to Sara Eslami for an invite to download this title
As our story begins, a woman uncovers a box containing long-held secrets that reveal her true identity. We are then transported to a German village in the 1930s where our main protagonist, Allina Strauss's story begins. It is a story that tells of a woman who must hide her Jewish ancestry and become a witness to Heinrich Himmler's eugenics program. It is a tale of hardship, determination, and, above all else, a mother's love (arguably the greatest love story in the book).
A perfect historical fiction for fans of Alyson Richman and Pam Jenoff.
Expected Publication Date 12/11/24
Goodreads Review Published 15/09/24
As our story begins, a woman uncovers a box containing long-held secrets that reveal her true identity. We are then transported to a German village in the 1930s where our main protagonist, Allina Strauss's story begins. It is a story that tells of a woman who must hide her Jewish ancestry and become a witness to Heinrich Himmler's eugenics program. It is a tale of hardship, determination, and, above all else, a mother's love (arguably the greatest love story in the book).
A perfect historical fiction for fans of Alyson Richman and Pam Jenoff.
Expected Publication Date 12/11/24
Goodreads Review Published 15/09/24
November 11, 2024
This is an extremely well-researched and well-written debut novel. It tells a story that is both moving and heartbreaking, yet hopeful. What is unique about this story is that it gives a fresh perspective on some of the situations facing the German people who did not support Hitler and his programs, even someone who was a member of the SS.
In New Jersey in 2006, long hidden secrets are revealed when Katrine finds a hidden box of old photos and memorabilia in her 86-year-old mother's closet. Allina divulges to her daughter the abuse and subjugation that she endured by the Nazis in Germany during WWII and how she became employed in Heinrich Himmler's Lebensborn program. The Lebensborn program had homes that were set up for women in order to perpetuate the continuation of a pure Germanic race of people, or Aryan ideal. The mere thought of the actual existence of this program is frightening and its administration terrifying.
An important SS officer takes a keen interest in Allina. Their story demonstrates that even in a hellish time and place, attraction and romance can bloom. Together they bravely work to carve out a better life for themselves and others. However, things eventually go awry, and they need to seek an escape. The way that scenarios are written in this story make them seem so very real. I felt danger, fear, panic, anger, and grief.
I highly recommend this novel to fans of historical fiction or WWII fiction, that also contains some romance. I can't wait to read what Ms. Allegri writes next.
My sincere thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
In New Jersey in 2006, long hidden secrets are revealed when Katrine finds a hidden box of old photos and memorabilia in her 86-year-old mother's closet. Allina divulges to her daughter the abuse and subjugation that she endured by the Nazis in Germany during WWII and how she became employed in Heinrich Himmler's Lebensborn program. The Lebensborn program had homes that were set up for women in order to perpetuate the continuation of a pure Germanic race of people, or Aryan ideal. The mere thought of the actual existence of this program is frightening and its administration terrifying.
An important SS officer takes a keen interest in Allina. Their story demonstrates that even in a hellish time and place, attraction and romance can bloom. Together they bravely work to carve out a better life for themselves and others. However, things eventually go awry, and they need to seek an escape. The way that scenarios are written in this story make them seem so very real. I felt danger, fear, panic, anger, and grief.
I highly recommend this novel to fans of historical fiction or WWII fiction, that also contains some romance. I can't wait to read what Ms. Allegri writes next.
My sincere thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
November 13, 2024
This was a very well-written and engaging story. It centers around a young woman named Allina and Heinrich Himmler’s appalling Lebensborn Program. After a traumatizing experience in her small home town Allina is forced into service as a nurse at Hochland Home where young Aryan women are encouraged to procreate with the SS soldiers in order to populate Germany with children of "pure blood."
What Allina goes through and what she sees there is just horrifying. The story is heartbreaking and gripping. There are parts that are definitely difficult to read, but it was clearly well-researched.
There are two timelines in this story, but the main focus is Allina and the 1939 timeline.
This is Adriana Allegri's historical fiction debut and I can't wait to read what she writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
What Allina goes through and what she sees there is just horrifying. The story is heartbreaking and gripping. There are parts that are definitely difficult to read, but it was clearly well-researched.
There are two timelines in this story, but the main focus is Allina and the 1939 timeline.
This is Adriana Allegri's historical fiction debut and I can't wait to read what she writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
November 11, 2024
The Sunflower House is an emotional, compelling and gripping story that pulled at my heartstrings and had me holding my breath sooooo many times.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆?
Adriana Allegri has written an eye-opening must-read book. She has tackled an ugly and horrific part of history dealing with the Nazi Lebensborn Society maternity homes and eugenics programs. I truly applaud her ability to write real and complex characters true to the time and include all their ugliness and warped perceptions. Yet, at the same time balance it with characters who showed true compassion and who worked to help and save anyone they could at their own peril.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
WWII
Suspense
Dual POV
Bit of romance
Friendship
Nazi run Lebensborn Program
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲?
Steady
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
I still cannot believe this is a debut! Allegri has written an emotional story about good triumphing in the midst of horrid evil, and I can’t recommend this book enough!
Thank you St Martin’s Press for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆?
Adriana Allegri has written an eye-opening must-read book. She has tackled an ugly and horrific part of history dealing with the Nazi Lebensborn Society maternity homes and eugenics programs. I truly applaud her ability to write real and complex characters true to the time and include all their ugliness and warped perceptions. Yet, at the same time balance it with characters who showed true compassion and who worked to help and save anyone they could at their own peril.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
WWII
Suspense
Dual POV
Bit of romance
Friendship
Nazi run Lebensborn Program
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲?
Steady
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
I still cannot believe this is a debut! Allegri has written an emotional story about good triumphing in the midst of horrid evil, and I can’t recommend this book enough!
Thank you St Martin’s Press for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
August 7, 2024
am absolutely heartbroken.
This book is going to be my book of the year - I’m calling it. Reading about the horrors of what actually happened during WWII was absolutely maddening and awful. Following the story of Allina, from living a carefree life to being thrown into a baby factory and everything that happens in between and after, was so heartbreaking.
This is an absolutely beautifully written telling of a woman finding love and trying to survive in a dark dark world and I recommend absolutely everyone giving this a read.
This book is going to be my book of the year - I’m calling it. Reading about the horrors of what actually happened during WWII was absolutely maddening and awful. Following the story of Allina, from living a carefree life to being thrown into a baby factory and everything that happens in between and after, was so heartbreaking.
This is an absolutely beautifully written telling of a woman finding love and trying to survive in a dark dark world and I recommend absolutely everyone giving this a read.
September 30, 2024
This story takes place in Germany, where a woman named Allina is taken to work as an aide at a reproductive facility. There, she learns that the children are not treated equally due to the specific racial preference they seek. She meets a Lieutenant named Karl and learns that he wants to save the unwanted children. They plan an escape together; however, Karl is relocated, leaving Allina to follow through with the escape on her own.
What a tense story! Allina and Karl were heroic. They knew the dangers they were putting themselves in and still fought for what they believed. This story takes a different angle where the story is about Germans who didn’t agree with what the Reich wanted. However, there’s a twist. Both Allina and Karl were not fully Germans and had to forge their documents in order to survive and have access to personal files.
I enjoyed this story. It was well written and researched.
What a tense story! Allina and Karl were heroic. They knew the dangers they were putting themselves in and still fought for what they believed. This story takes a different angle where the story is about Germans who didn’t agree with what the Reich wanted. However, there’s a twist. Both Allina and Karl were not fully Germans and had to forge their documents in order to survive and have access to personal files.
I enjoyed this story. It was well written and researched.
October 31, 2024
This is a well-written, thoroughly researched, entertaining, fast paced, WWII historical fiction novel which is based on actual events. It vividly depicts the brutality and horrors of war and the Lebensborn and eugenics programs in Nazi Germany, and has a likable, strong and intelligent female protagonist, a kind and caring, brave male protagonist, romance, heartbreak, resilience, hope, healing and a satisfying conclusion. The author's notes contain interesting and enlightening information, and are truly appreciated. Many thanks to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and Ms. Allegri, from whom I received an advanced reader copy of this fabulous novel. This is my honest opinion.
October 30, 2024
WOW what an incredible debut. Although saddened by many things within this book, I love that Adriana Allegri wrote this extraordinary story straight from her heart during the twenty years it took to write. Her immaculate research into the lesser known “Lebensborn program” was brought about by the infamous Heinrich Himmler - - a known monster through his eugenics programs. These were in every sense of the word “baby factories” specific to producing aryan children to then be adopted into good German families. It was an assembly line of sorts, where the young Aryan girls housed in these homes were made to entertain German soldiers, in turn, reproducing these “pure” babies.. all for Hitlers new world. I can’t imagine the pain Adriana Allegri felt nor the horrors she uncovered during her research for this novel.
The story begins in New Jersey circa 2006 when Katrine is visiting her mother Allina, now 86. Allina immigrated from Germany keeping her previous life secret. She is now ready to tell her story. It all began during WWll in 1939 occupied Germany and follows 16-year-old Allina Strauss, a Mischling (half Jew - half German). With her family having perished by the Nazi regime, she’s forced into service as a nurse in a state-run baby factory. Not all children in these homes are treated fairly. Unfair treatment or death is most certain for all children not having the desired Aryan look. Allina meets Lt. Karl + although he’s a German soldier he is also against cruelty to these unwanted children. Together they fight for what they believe in until Karl is sent elsewhere. There are big twists revealing facts I don’t want to spoil, but let’s just say it’s heartbreaking, there were immense dangers, and the intensity for survival was incredible. Kudos to Adriana Allegri for providing me with excellent insight into the LP. Highly recommend. 5 stars — Pub. 11/12/24
I received an arc copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
*If you like this try Jennifer Coburns’ Cradle of the Last Reich that I’ve also read and recommended.
The story begins in New Jersey circa 2006 when Katrine is visiting her mother Allina, now 86. Allina immigrated from Germany keeping her previous life secret. She is now ready to tell her story. It all began during WWll in 1939 occupied Germany and follows 16-year-old Allina Strauss, a Mischling (half Jew - half German). With her family having perished by the Nazi regime, she’s forced into service as a nurse in a state-run baby factory. Not all children in these homes are treated fairly. Unfair treatment or death is most certain for all children not having the desired Aryan look. Allina meets Lt. Karl + although he’s a German soldier he is also against cruelty to these unwanted children. Together they fight for what they believe in until Karl is sent elsewhere. There are big twists revealing facts I don’t want to spoil, but let’s just say it’s heartbreaking, there were immense dangers, and the intensity for survival was incredible. Kudos to Adriana Allegri for providing me with excellent insight into the LP. Highly recommend. 5 stars — Pub. 11/12/24
I received an arc copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
*If you like this try Jennifer Coburns’ Cradle of the Last Reich that I’ve also read and recommended.
October 29, 2024
This novel opens in New Jersey 2006 with Katrine finding a hidden box beneath the floorboards of her mother’s house and then hops back to 1938 Badensburg, Germany to give us background on Allina Strauss.
Allina has been hiding a secret for most of her life. Keeping it hidden when everything is taken from her becomes a necessity. Allina is forced into nursing at Hochland home where she uncovers the horrors of Heinrich Himmler’s eugenics program and the atrocities committed in perpetuating the ‘master race’. Unable to restrain herself any longer, she risks it all to ally with an SS officer, Karl von Strassberg.
This debut novel is more than 20 years in the making and highlights the Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany. Although I’ve read a few books centered around this program, I appreciated Adriana Allegri’s dedication to research. Her teacher’s heart came through as she uncovered the atrocities the children lived in daily and the bleak outlook many in the home faced. Allina’s courageous decision adds to the tension and I found myself rooting for her as she walked with her heart behind every step.
Why historical fiction readers will want to read this one:
✔️it shows that something beautiful can grow in the absence of light
✔️it shows the importance of nurturing our sunflower souls so that no matter how dark it gets, we will always chase the light.
I was a little shocked at the language.
I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Allina has been hiding a secret for most of her life. Keeping it hidden when everything is taken from her becomes a necessity. Allina is forced into nursing at Hochland home where she uncovers the horrors of Heinrich Himmler’s eugenics program and the atrocities committed in perpetuating the ‘master race’. Unable to restrain herself any longer, she risks it all to ally with an SS officer, Karl von Strassberg.
This debut novel is more than 20 years in the making and highlights the Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany. Although I’ve read a few books centered around this program, I appreciated Adriana Allegri’s dedication to research. Her teacher’s heart came through as she uncovered the atrocities the children lived in daily and the bleak outlook many in the home faced. Allina’s courageous decision adds to the tension and I found myself rooting for her as she walked with her heart behind every step.
Why historical fiction readers will want to read this one:
✔️it shows that something beautiful can grow in the absence of light
✔️it shows the importance of nurturing our sunflower souls so that no matter how dark it gets, we will always chase the light.
I was a little shocked at the language.
I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
February 15, 2024
I’ve just finished reading this advanced review copy and it is one of those books I’ll be thinking about for a long time to come. In this dual timeline story a grown woman finds a wooden box decorated with a swastika hidden under the floorboards in her elderly mother’s closet. What follows is the story of her mother’s life in heartbreaking detail. Set in Nazi Germany, the horror intertwines with moments of love. In the end all the mother’s secrets are revealed, and mother and daughter come to understand each other. A remarkable story from start to finish.
November 12, 2024
Adriana Allegri has created a masterpiece! Her powerful and meticulously researched debut, THE SUNFLOWER HOUSE, is a stunning 'winner out of the gate'.
Family secrets are unraveled as a young woman fights to save herself and others while in a Nazi-run baby factory, uncovering the horrors of the Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany during WWII.
Something rare and beautiful can grow in the darkest shadows.
About...
Allina Strauss resides in a German village and works at her uncle's bookshop. However, darkness follows as Adolf Hitler controls. Her family hides a secret (her mother was Jewish, making her a Mischling).
After losing it all, she is forced into working as a nurse at a state-run baby factory, Hochland Home, giving her a front-row seat to the horrors of the Lebensborn Program.
Will Allina and Karl be forced to make a choice? Will they be able to keep their secrets, join forces, and save the children?
1939: Alina's story (mother)
2006: Katrine (daughter)
It all starts when Katrina finds a box with a swastika among her mother's belongings, and Allina begins to tell her story to her daughter and the secrets of her life.
My Thoughts...
Wow! What a debut. THE SUNFLOWER HOUSE is Extraordinary!
Allegri pulls out all the stops in this compelling, meticulously researched, and brilliantly written tale of love, sacrifice, survival, redemption, generational secrets, and identity. Alina was a beloved wife and mother who lived an extraordinary life. A woman of strength, compassion, and grace.
It makes you want to discover more about your parents and grandparents.
Even though we have two timelines, Katrine (daughter in New Jersey) and Alina (mother's past in Germany), the author concentrates on Allina's story.
Despite the secrets that kept them apart for years, the truth eventually brought them back together. This is a story of a mother's love and sacrifice, of resilience in the face of adversity. A love story. Allina, a Hochland Home nurse, served under the ruthless eugenics program, despising it yet managed to save dozens of children from medical experiments and extermination.
The author beautifully balances the harsh realities of the Nazi regime with the warmth of love and hope in this essential work of historical fiction. Sunflower metaphors add a poignant touch to the narrative, making it an emotional journey of healing and love that readers will deeply connect with.
Prepare to be emotionally invested in Allina's journey. Her story is a moving and poignant exploration of love and loss. The memorable characters are so vividly portrayed that they will stay with you long after you finish the book.
THE SUNFLOWER HOUSE is a compelling read and an excellent choice for book clubs. The story's rich themes and complex characters provide ample material for stimulating discussions. The author even includes additional resources to enhance your reading experience.
Exquisitely written, THE SUNFLOWER HOUSE is remarkable and inspiring. My pick for debut of the year and is included on my Top Books of 2024. If this is a debut, I cannot wait to see what comes next. Adriana Allegri is an author to watch!
Recs...
THE SUNFLOWER HOUSE is for fans of Kristin Hannah, Hazel Gaynor, Lynda Cohen Loigman, Patti Callahan Henry, Pam Jeoff, Heather Morris, Ronald H. Balson, and Meagan Church.
Audiobook...
I enjoyed reading the book and listening to the audiobook, which was superb. It was narrated by the talented cast of stars and favorites—Barrie Kreinik, Dallin Bradford, and Saskia Maarleveld—making the characters come alive and drawing you into their worlds. I highly recommend it.
Interview...
Stay tuned for my upcoming #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A with Adriana and behind the scenes of THE SUNFLOWER HOUSE and this new voice in fiction. (pub day Nov 12).
Thank you...
Thanks to St. Martin's Press for a digital advanced review copy via NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC (#MacAudio2024). #CoverLove
Get this gem on your TBR list, and thank me later.
blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: Nov 12, 2024
Nov Newsletter
Nov 2024 Must-Read Books
Nov Featured #AuthorElevatorSeries QA
Family secrets are unraveled as a young woman fights to save herself and others while in a Nazi-run baby factory, uncovering the horrors of the Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany during WWII.
Something rare and beautiful can grow in the darkest shadows.
About...
Allina Strauss resides in a German village and works at her uncle's bookshop. However, darkness follows as Adolf Hitler controls. Her family hides a secret (her mother was Jewish, making her a Mischling).
After losing it all, she is forced into working as a nurse at a state-run baby factory, Hochland Home, giving her a front-row seat to the horrors of the Lebensborn Program.
Will Allina and Karl be forced to make a choice? Will they be able to keep their secrets, join forces, and save the children?
1939: Alina's story (mother)
2006: Katrine (daughter)
It all starts when Katrina finds a box with a swastika among her mother's belongings, and Allina begins to tell her story to her daughter and the secrets of her life.
My Thoughts...
Wow! What a debut. THE SUNFLOWER HOUSE is Extraordinary!
Allegri pulls out all the stops in this compelling, meticulously researched, and brilliantly written tale of love, sacrifice, survival, redemption, generational secrets, and identity. Alina was a beloved wife and mother who lived an extraordinary life. A woman of strength, compassion, and grace.
It makes you want to discover more about your parents and grandparents.
Even though we have two timelines, Katrine (daughter in New Jersey) and Alina (mother's past in Germany), the author concentrates on Allina's story.
Despite the secrets that kept them apart for years, the truth eventually brought them back together. This is a story of a mother's love and sacrifice, of resilience in the face of adversity. A love story. Allina, a Hochland Home nurse, served under the ruthless eugenics program, despising it yet managed to save dozens of children from medical experiments and extermination.
The author beautifully balances the harsh realities of the Nazi regime with the warmth of love and hope in this essential work of historical fiction. Sunflower metaphors add a poignant touch to the narrative, making it an emotional journey of healing and love that readers will deeply connect with.
Prepare to be emotionally invested in Allina's journey. Her story is a moving and poignant exploration of love and loss. The memorable characters are so vividly portrayed that they will stay with you long after you finish the book.
THE SUNFLOWER HOUSE is a compelling read and an excellent choice for book clubs. The story's rich themes and complex characters provide ample material for stimulating discussions. The author even includes additional resources to enhance your reading experience.
Exquisitely written, THE SUNFLOWER HOUSE is remarkable and inspiring. My pick for debut of the year and is included on my Top Books of 2024. If this is a debut, I cannot wait to see what comes next. Adriana Allegri is an author to watch!
Recs...
THE SUNFLOWER HOUSE is for fans of Kristin Hannah, Hazel Gaynor, Lynda Cohen Loigman, Patti Callahan Henry, Pam Jeoff, Heather Morris, Ronald H. Balson, and Meagan Church.
Audiobook...
I enjoyed reading the book and listening to the audiobook, which was superb. It was narrated by the talented cast of stars and favorites—Barrie Kreinik, Dallin Bradford, and Saskia Maarleveld—making the characters come alive and drawing you into their worlds. I highly recommend it.
Interview...
Stay tuned for my upcoming #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A with Adriana and behind the scenes of THE SUNFLOWER HOUSE and this new voice in fiction. (pub day Nov 12).
Thank you...
Thanks to St. Martin's Press for a digital advanced review copy via NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC (#MacAudio2024). #CoverLove
Get this gem on your TBR list, and thank me later.
blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: Nov 12, 2024
Nov Newsletter
Nov 2024 Must-Read Books
Nov Featured #AuthorElevatorSeries QA
September 24, 2024
FULL REVIEW WILL BE ON NOVEMBER 12.
Katrine finally learns what her mother's life was like during WWII during her time as a nurse in one of the many Lebensborn Program facilities.
A heartbreaking but enlightening read where secrets were kept for years and where the reader can’t believe it happened.
A marvelous debut - wonderful research, wonderful, pull-you-in writing, and some tender moments despite what was going on. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Katrine finally learns what her mother's life was like during WWII during her time as a nurse in one of the many Lebensborn Program facilities.
A heartbreaking but enlightening read where secrets were kept for years and where the reader can’t believe it happened.
A marvelous debut - wonderful research, wonderful, pull-you-in writing, and some tender moments despite what was going on. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
November 13, 2024
I've read my share of historical fiction and I was expecting more of the same with this novel -- espionage, undercover work, some romance. However, The Sunflower House delivered more that that. It just blew me away. Sure, it has the requisite suspense, military occupation, some romance. But The Sunflower House contained unforgettable characters -- heros and villains. And the atmosphere as well as the plot were memorable. It was a story that has everything a reader would want. A heartwrenching love story set in the backdrop of WWII in Germany that projects courage under the most adverse conditions. It is a story that I will not forget. An amazing debut from author, Adriana Allegri. Five outstanding stars.
I was invited to read a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.
I was invited to read a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.
April 5, 2024
The Sunflower House was a in-depth story about the Lebensborn Program in WW2 Germany, trying to maneuver socially without raising flags, and fighting for your life when people you knew and loved now wants you dead. The narrative was poignant and wonderfully written. Not a lot has to be said for this book as it speaks for itself best. Please read trigger warning first before picking up this book. I highly recommend reading this book. 4.25 - 4.5 ✨✨✨✨💫
I would like to thank NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me ARC access to this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me ARC access to this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 11, 2024
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Nov. 12, 2024
Adriana Allegri’s debut novel, “The Sunflower House”, is a World War two historical fiction novel that has the distinction of being one of the very, very few I have read in this category that have managed to introduce me to a topic I know very little about.
Allina Strauss is living with her aunt and uncle in a sleepy German village, helping her uncle run his book shop. But it’s 1939 and, all of a sudden, Allina’s life is turned upside down. Hitler has declared war on Jews, and after the death of Allina’s uncle, she finds out the truth about her past- her mother was Jewish, making Allina half-Jewish, which makes her a target. Desperate to escape persecution, Allina uses forged papers and begins work as a nurse in a place called Hochland House. Hochland House is one of the sites for the Nazi’s eugenics program and Allina sees it firsthand, how women are used as breeding stock to continue the Aryan race, and how babies are adopted by “purebred” Germans, in order to further the German population. She is trapped with no way out until she meets SS solider Karl, who promises to give her a better life. But can she really live a life with a German solider, putting her life at risk to try and keep who she really is a secret?
“The Sunflower House” tells the story of the Lebensborn homes (essentially, baby factories) that were scattered throughout Germany during World War Two, whose sole purpose was to create more “pure” Germans to fight in wars against other nations. Although I knew the eugenics programs existed, to hear it told through the eyes of a frontline nurse was extremely powerful. The struggle of Allina, as she wore a German façade, while children with disabilities were “sent away” to be killed as they were non-adoptable, was something that had me feeling so many emotions, all at once.
The story is narrated, of course, by Allina, in 1939, but the beginning of the story starts in the 21st century, when Allina’s daughter, Katrine, finds a box with a swastika on it in her mother’s belongings. Allina tells the story to her daughter slowly, and she pulls the reader along on a tension-fueled, heartbreaking and emotionally fraught storyline that did not stop until the final pages.
Allegri’s novel is well-researched, and it stands out for many reasons, not the least of which being that it is her debut! Wherever she has been hiding, I am glad that she had taken her chances and released this book into the world and I can’t wait to see what she does next.
Expected publication date: Nov. 12, 2024
Adriana Allegri’s debut novel, “The Sunflower House”, is a World War two historical fiction novel that has the distinction of being one of the very, very few I have read in this category that have managed to introduce me to a topic I know very little about.
Allina Strauss is living with her aunt and uncle in a sleepy German village, helping her uncle run his book shop. But it’s 1939 and, all of a sudden, Allina’s life is turned upside down. Hitler has declared war on Jews, and after the death of Allina’s uncle, she finds out the truth about her past- her mother was Jewish, making Allina half-Jewish, which makes her a target. Desperate to escape persecution, Allina uses forged papers and begins work as a nurse in a place called Hochland House. Hochland House is one of the sites for the Nazi’s eugenics program and Allina sees it firsthand, how women are used as breeding stock to continue the Aryan race, and how babies are adopted by “purebred” Germans, in order to further the German population. She is trapped with no way out until she meets SS solider Karl, who promises to give her a better life. But can she really live a life with a German solider, putting her life at risk to try and keep who she really is a secret?
“The Sunflower House” tells the story of the Lebensborn homes (essentially, baby factories) that were scattered throughout Germany during World War Two, whose sole purpose was to create more “pure” Germans to fight in wars against other nations. Although I knew the eugenics programs existed, to hear it told through the eyes of a frontline nurse was extremely powerful. The struggle of Allina, as she wore a German façade, while children with disabilities were “sent away” to be killed as they were non-adoptable, was something that had me feeling so many emotions, all at once.
The story is narrated, of course, by Allina, in 1939, but the beginning of the story starts in the 21st century, when Allina’s daughter, Katrine, finds a box with a swastika on it in her mother’s belongings. Allina tells the story to her daughter slowly, and she pulls the reader along on a tension-fueled, heartbreaking and emotionally fraught storyline that did not stop until the final pages.
Allegri’s novel is well-researched, and it stands out for many reasons, not the least of which being that it is her debut! Wherever she has been hiding, I am glad that she had taken her chances and released this book into the world and I can’t wait to see what she does next.
February 11, 2024
The majority of my historical fiction reading is in the time period of WWII. This particular story focused on Lebensborn homes. I was equally horrified and fascinated to read about this aspect of the war for the first time. The author executed a fast paced, informative, entertaining novel with undertones beyond the scope of the war. I am grateful for the love stories in the midst of all the grief to prove good things can happen in the midst of terror. It is no wonder this book took twenty years to create.
April 1, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC! For fans of Kate Quinn and Kristin Hannah, you will LOVE this book! I have never read anything quite like this. This book broke my heart in so many ways but I am so glad I read it. I had never heard of the Lebensborn program, aka Nazi baby factories, before reading this book. The author did an incredible job sharing the atrocities that happened to the women and children who passed through the doors of these facilities. Allina Strauss is a character who has been through literal hell and does her best to survive the impossible hand she was dealt, all while grieving immeasurable loss, falling in love, and helping as many children as she can. This book made me furious, sorrowful, and hopeful… This story will stay with me long after I put it down. Be sure to have tissues close by!
TW: sexual assault, child abuse
TW: sexual assault, child abuse
October 1, 2024
A disturbing and heartbreaking portrayal of yet another Nazi atrocity in which young women bore children in an institution solely to bolster the aryan race. The characters are well-drawn and the story has a nice flow to it with vivid descriptions detailing the terrible events taking place. This will be a hit with book clubs. For fans of Heather Morris and
Mario Escobar.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, St. Martin’s Press and Adriana Allegri for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Mario Escobar.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, St. Martin’s Press and Adriana Allegri for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 14, 2024
This historical fiction set in WWII Germany was both heartbreaking and beautiful. It had tension and suspense but not at a stressful level, which I appreciated.
Allina Straus is living a happy, quiet life working in her uncle's bookstore in a small German village. What she doesn't know is that her aunt and uncle have kept secret the dangerous fact that she is a Mischling, a person with mixed Jewish heritage. After her village is attacked, Allina is forced into servitude at a government run baby factory called Hochland Home, where she becomes a witness to the horrors of Himmler's eugenics program.
At Hochland Home, Allina meets Karl, a handsome high-ranking SS officer with his own secrets. Together they attempt to save as many babies as they can, while slowly learning to love and trust each other.
I loved this book even though it was difficult to read. The slow-burn romance was heartwarming, and the history lessons were valuable.
Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for this ARC to review!
Allina Straus is living a happy, quiet life working in her uncle's bookstore in a small German village. What she doesn't know is that her aunt and uncle have kept secret the dangerous fact that she is a Mischling, a person with mixed Jewish heritage. After her village is attacked, Allina is forced into servitude at a government run baby factory called Hochland Home, where she becomes a witness to the horrors of Himmler's eugenics program.
At Hochland Home, Allina meets Karl, a handsome high-ranking SS officer with his own secrets. Together they attempt to save as many babies as they can, while slowly learning to love and trust each other.
I loved this book even though it was difficult to read. The slow-burn romance was heartwarming, and the history lessons were valuable.
Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for this ARC to review!
September 24, 2024
I’ve read a lot of historical fiction and nonfiction about World War II and this book definitely sits in the recommended category. The book is about Allina Strauss - the main character, who is living a carefree life in a German village. On the cusp of adulthood, life is good and she has much to look forward to. But all is not what it seems. She discovers that her birth mother is Jewish, and in 1939 Germany, that is frighteningly devastating as Hitler and his comrades, especially Heinrich Himmler, are on a mission to implement their eugenics program. As her village is targeted (not revealing why) and destroyed, Allina is forced to work in Hochland Home where the objective is to ensure that pure-bred children are born and placed in Nazi families. To survive, Allina has to conform. But on learning of the secret floor of neglected children, she daringly risks all together with Karl, a high-ranking SS officer who has secrets and demons of his own, to save the children. This book drew me in immediately. It was fast paced and kept me turning the pages. I enjoyed how the author structured the storyline - a short glimpse into the present, and then taking us back to the past. The characters leaped across the pages and felt real with their array of emotions as they grappled with the enormity of their situations and utter disregard for humans by Nazi Germany. History and the world in general tend to paint things in stark terms - one side was good, the other bad. But there were many people, as this book illustrates, who supposedly fell in line and conformed, but who clandestinely worked tirelessly to save countless lives at their own peril. This book kept me engaged and interested and I did not want to put it down - the hallmark of a successful novel. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 3, 2024
Wow. I truly feel honored to have been able to read this book. I've read other holocostbooks, but never from this point of view. It saddens me to know what people; children went through. It's also good to learn the history.
November 13, 2024
Wow.
Such a heartbreaking, yet important story. The main characters are fictional, yet so beautifully crafted and complex that they feel real. The things that happened in the book are so appalling that I wish they weren't real; but sadly, they were. One thing that blew my mind was how many women *willingly* took part in these Nazi baby factories. Some of the mothers were raped, some were unwed and had accidental pregnancies, some were officers' wives; but there weren't enough husbands to go around in the wake of the population decline following the Great War, and many women actually bought into the idea that this was a good deed in service to the Reich: to give birth to baby after baby, often with different fathers, in order to build the master race.
This is such a thought-provoking book with so many layers to it. No character is one hundred percent as they seem on the surface. Many people, as in real life, are carrying around secrets and hiding pasts that others may never guess.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing me with a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Such a heartbreaking, yet important story. The main characters are fictional, yet so beautifully crafted and complex that they feel real. The things that happened in the book are so appalling that I wish they weren't real; but sadly, they were. One thing that blew my mind was how many women *willingly* took part in these Nazi baby factories. Some of the mothers were raped, some were unwed and had accidental pregnancies, some were officers' wives; but there weren't enough husbands to go around in the wake of the population decline following the Great War, and many women actually bought into the idea that this was a good deed in service to the Reich: to give birth to baby after baby, often with different fathers, in order to build the master race.
This is such a thought-provoking book with so many layers to it. No character is one hundred percent as they seem on the surface. Many people, as in real life, are carrying around secrets and hiding pasts that others may never guess.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing me with a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
February 27, 2024
Equally heartbreaking and fascinating, the Sunflower House is a heavily researched historical fiction about one of Germany’s Lebensborn houses during WWII. I’ve somehow lived decades without learning about these horrifying baby farms. The atrocities penetrated my thoughts daily and had me returning to the book often in search of morsels of joy. Alina and Karl’s story was poignant, demanding, and at times, endearing. I wanted nothing more than for their love to transcend in the face of war and terror.
“Secrets can’t exist in the light of truth, and while the truth can be painful to hear, its lasting gift is peace.”
I reduced my rating by one ⭐️ because there were a few lulls in the story. I was simultaneously left with questions and wanting so much more for Alina, Karl, and Katrine. The dual/multiple POV was fantastic and helped me invest in most characters.
Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Adriana Allegri, for this advanced e-copy!
“Secrets can’t exist in the light of truth, and while the truth can be painful to hear, its lasting gift is peace.”
I reduced my rating by one ⭐️ because there were a few lulls in the story. I was simultaneously left with questions and wanting so much more for Alina, Karl, and Katrine. The dual/multiple POV was fantastic and helped me invest in most characters.
Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Adriana Allegri, for this advanced e-copy!
August 16, 2024
Just finished this advance copy & I need to gather my thoughts...what a story
Historical fiction is my go to genre. Always something new is learned & that leads me to want to read more about certain eras, or just specific parts of history.
This starts in current times, when a daughter is caring for her elderly mom & finds a secret box in her mom's closet. She approaches her mom & what follows if the mom reliving her time as a German & her difficult story & how she ends up at the Lebensborn House, a home for women to have babies & raise them as future members of Hilter's army. Parts were very disturbing & I was thankful that some parts were alluded to without heavy descriptions.
And the book ended back to current times with mother & daughter trying to work through all that the daughter didn't know.
Very well written & researched & yet there were likable people in a time of anger, hatred & terror.
Historical fiction is my go to genre. Always something new is learned & that leads me to want to read more about certain eras, or just specific parts of history.
This starts in current times, when a daughter is caring for her elderly mom & finds a secret box in her mom's closet. She approaches her mom & what follows if the mom reliving her time as a German & her difficult story & how she ends up at the Lebensborn House, a home for women to have babies & raise them as future members of Hilter's army. Parts were very disturbing & I was thankful that some parts were alluded to without heavy descriptions.
And the book ended back to current times with mother & daughter trying to work through all that the daughter didn't know.
Very well written & researched & yet there were likable people in a time of anger, hatred & terror.
September 22, 2024
A heartbreaking story of one woman's journey to survive.
As a daughter comes back to help her mother, she stumbles on a large wooden box with a swastika on the cover. Her mom is quick to assure her - it's not what you think. From there is her mother's story. It's so hard to read, and yet, full of hope and perseverance. It's the love of family, the will to survive and the mission to save kids, even if it costs you everything. This was a moving story. I appreciated the author's note at the end, relaying the source material and the facts as they are known.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
As a daughter comes back to help her mother, she stumbles on a large wooden box with a swastika on the cover. Her mom is quick to assure her - it's not what you think. From there is her mother's story. It's so hard to read, and yet, full of hope and perseverance. It's the love of family, the will to survive and the mission to save kids, even if it costs you everything. This was a moving story. I appreciated the author's note at the end, relaying the source material and the facts as they are known.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
March 25, 2024
As someone who has read a lot of WW2 historical fiction books, I have not encountered a book woven as this one centered around the Lebensborn project. There were many aspects to The Sunflower House that I felt were unique. The backgrounds of Allina and Karl, the officer life (and the wives as well) and everything surrounding the girls and children. I really enjoyed the writing. The way emotions and friendships were shown was something that stood out to me. Really enjoyed this one!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC - all opinions are honest and individual.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC - all opinions are honest and individual.
November 14, 2024
The Sunflower House is an incredible debut novel that brings to light the Nazi Lebensborn Program in which women are sent to homes to give birth and also to meet and mate with German soldiers in an effort to propagate pure-born German children.
Some children remained with the mothers, others were adopted out and any with defects were sent away to a likely unfortunate end. I had heard of these homes, but this is the first detailed account I have read about what went on in the homes.
The main character, Allina ends up being sent to one such home after her village was raided and many of her neighbors and family members were murdered by Nazi soldiers. She was lucky to be saved due to her youth and appearance.
While at the home, Allina recovers from the physical and emotional trauma from the raid and eventually meets a high-ranking officer. The two become drawn to each other and after a time build enough trust to reveal their secrets and their desire to work against the Nazi regime in order to save the children.
I loved reading about this strong German woman and her brave officer. While the beginning of the story was harrowing, the rest of the story was predominately set in the home with the children and finally a tension-filled ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to rad an advance copy. I am happy to recommend this to other readers. I really enjoyed the book.
Some children remained with the mothers, others were adopted out and any with defects were sent away to a likely unfortunate end. I had heard of these homes, but this is the first detailed account I have read about what went on in the homes.
The main character, Allina ends up being sent to one such home after her village was raided and many of her neighbors and family members were murdered by Nazi soldiers. She was lucky to be saved due to her youth and appearance.
While at the home, Allina recovers from the physical and emotional trauma from the raid and eventually meets a high-ranking officer. The two become drawn to each other and after a time build enough trust to reveal their secrets and their desire to work against the Nazi regime in order to save the children.
I loved reading about this strong German woman and her brave officer. While the beginning of the story was harrowing, the rest of the story was predominately set in the home with the children and finally a tension-filled ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to rad an advance copy. I am happy to recommend this to other readers. I really enjoyed the book.
November 7, 2024
When Katrina discovered a Nazi Swastika in her elderly mother’s hidden belongings, she was shocked and quite upset. Allina has always been vague and secretive about her early life in Germany and about Katrina’s father. All is not what it seems and as the story unfolds, Allina finally reveals her secret past to her daughter.
This story was both emotional and suspenseful. The book focuses on the German people who lived in fear of Hitler in the pre WWII era and during his reign during the war. It is also about the Hebensborn Program that encouraged unmarried German Aryan women to produce children for the good of Germany and to promote Hitler’s idea of a “pure race”.
Although this is historical fiction the events depicted did occur. It was disturbing to read at times but it important that we never forget.
This story was both emotional and suspenseful. The book focuses on the German people who lived in fear of Hitler in the pre WWII era and during his reign during the war. It is also about the Hebensborn Program that encouraged unmarried German Aryan women to produce children for the good of Germany and to promote Hitler’s idea of a “pure race”.
Although this is historical fiction the events depicted did occur. It was disturbing to read at times but it important that we never forget.
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