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All her life, Hannah Sterling longed for a close relationship with her estranged mother. Following Lieselotte's death, Hannah determines to unlock the secrets of her mother's mysterious past and is shocked to discover a grandfather living in Germany. Thirty years earlier, Lieselotte's father is quickly ascending the ranks of the Nazi party, and a proper marriage for his daughter could help advance his career. Lieselotte is in love-but her beloved Lukas is far from an ideal match, as he secretly works against the Reich. Yet Lieselotte never imagined how far her father would go to ensure her cooperation. Both Hannah's and Lieselotte's stories unfold as Hannah travels to Germany to meet her grandfather, who is hiding wartimes secrets of his own. Longing for connection, yet shaken by all she uncovers, Hannah must decide if she can atone for her family's tragic past and how their legacy will shape her future.… (more)
User reviews
Author: Cathy Gohlke
Pages: 416
Year: 2015
Publisher: Tyndale
My rating is 5+ stars.
Cathy Gohlke wrote an exceptional tension-filled novel with mystery, intrigue, courage and so very much more. Cathy’s other novel I have read is Saving Amelie, which is another riveting tale set
Hannah is invited to Berlin to visit a grandfather she has never met or known about and learning about his past just about breaks her heart. Yet, in the end, we learn a bigger story that has happened and who is the true Savior of mankind. I so enjoyed hearing about Cathy’s travels and her experiences when she was researching this tale, including in her trips with various family members.
Some stories reach out and keep your attention because of characters and the action described in the pages. With Secrets She Kept, the attention of the reader doesn’t falter as the author uses flashbacks and returning to the current time to convey the tale from a couple different characters’ point of view. The best use of this method helped me enjoy understanding how each point of view could add a different dimension to the story being shared.
We must never forget WWII or any other wars or tragedy because they are part of our nation’s history and we can glean many lessons from what was experienced. What Cathy shares is fiction and well-crafted, but also easy to imagine events happening for real as set up in the book. I hope you will read, enjoy and savor the flavor of the novel long after you finish it and then perhaps share it with another person. Here is a book for every personal library for people to read for years to come!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Lieselotte Sommer is a young girl in 1938 when things start to become difficult in Germany. Her father is working to quickly climb the ranks in the Nazi party. He wants to make sure his daughter makes a good match and then produces children (Hitler encouraged Aryans to marry and reproduce). Lieselotte has other plans. She works behind her father’s back to help the Jews in hiding along with the Kirchmann family. Lieselotte has cared for Lukus Kirchmann for quite some time. Will there relationship develop into something deeper? Will her father allow it?
Secrets She Kept tells the stories of Hannah and Lieselotte. We get to find out what happened to Lieselotte that made her cold towards her daughter (and other people). Will Hannah be happy with what she discovers and can she then move on with her life? Secrets She Kept was an engaging novel. It was a little slow in places, but overall a good book. I give Secrets She Kept 4 out of 5 stars. The Christian theme is light (not in your face). Secrets She Kept teaches how destructive secrets can be in a family. Once you get into the novel, you will not want to put it down until you are done.
I received a complimentary copy of Secrets She Kept from NetGalley and The Book Club Network Inc. in exchange for an honest review.
The book is extremely well edited also. No errors throughout the entire book. This in itself is very refreshing.
If you want a synopsis of the book, please read the book description. I don't like to spoil the book. I was given this book through bookfun.org in exchange for my honest review. I highly recommend this book. You won't be disappointed.
When the book opens you never expect all that is about to
I will tell you that once I started reading this, I could not put it down, it is an amazing story, and one everyone needs to remember. Hannah’s worlds are about to collide in answering a lot of questions about her parents, and why Lieselotte, her mother, was rather distant with her. I would never imagine!
With all the secrets, that make her sick, she has to deal with the hardest of all, Forgiveness. I loved the author putting one of my most admired woman in this story, and knew that parts of this is really a true story, so in the end this is fiction based on fact.
How did people fall under the spell of that monster, and yet it happens as history starts to repeat itself, and in the name of religion.
A must read, and a story that will linger with you for a long time.
I received this book through Net Galley and Tyndale House Publisher, and was not required to give a positive review.