Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed book 1 and #2 is even better!
I've not read very many World War II novels, kinda seems like historical stories end for me in 1920, but lately I have been coming across some really good ones that take place during the 40's, and this is one of those books. I read the first book in this series, All God's Children, and definitely enjoyed but I think I liked Simple Faith even more.
There was more adventure and intrigue in book 2. I also really liked how the heroine, Anja, is a strong woman. Going beyond her own pain at the loss of her husband and baby, having survived and escaped a concentration camp, she endangers her own life trying to save as many people as she can. Then everything changes, instead of guiding people towards safety she is the one needing help. On the run with an American pilot she is beginning to fall in love with, she winds up trekking across several European countries in a desperate bid to save his life, her own, and more importantly, her young son.
Each of the characters have their own battles, their own fears, and really their own inner demons. How far will each of them go to save the others? Are they willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice? To me, the story was much about choices and personal sacrifice and I found myself wondering how far I would go, would I be strong enough to do what Anja does?
Once again the pacifist faith of the Quakers is put to the test in the horrors of war. The Quaker faith is something I know very little about and I very much liked learning more about their beliefs and practices through entertaining pages of a novel.
This is a great book for fans of WWII fiction. Anna Schmidt has outdone herself with Simple Faith. In many ways this book had the same qualities of those wonderful old WWII classic movies, kind of like Casablanca without the questionable morals and dubious ending.
Excellent, enjoyable story, and I am definitely looking forward to book 3 when it comes out.
(I received a copy of this book from Revell through The Book Club Network for my honest review. All opinions are my own)
I've not read very many World War II novels, kinda seems like historical stories end for me in 1920, but lately I have been coming across some really good ones that take place during the 40's, and this is one of those books. I read the first book in this series, All God's Children, and definitely enjoyed but I think I liked Simple Faith even more.
There was more adventure and intrigue in book 2. I also really liked how the heroine, Anja, is a strong woman. Going beyond her own pain at the loss of her husband and baby, having survived and escaped a concentration camp, she endangers her own life trying to save as many people as she can. Then everything changes, instead of guiding people towards safety she is the one needing help. On the run with an American pilot she is beginning to fall in love with, she winds up trekking across several European countries in a desperate bid to save his life, her own, and more importantly, her young son.
Each of the characters have their own battles, their own fears, and really their own inner demons. How far will each of them go to save the others? Are they willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice? To me, the story was much about choices and personal sacrifice and I found myself wondering how far I would go, would I be strong enough to do what Anja does?
Once again the pacifist faith of the Quakers is put to the test in the horrors of war. The Quaker faith is something I know very little about and I very much liked learning more about their beliefs and practices through entertaining pages of a novel.
This is a great book for fans of WWII fiction. Anna Schmidt has outdone herself with Simple Faith. In many ways this book had the same qualities of those wonderful old WWII classic movies, kind of like Casablanca without the questionable morals and dubious ending.
Excellent, enjoyable story, and I am definitely looking forward to book 3 when it comes out.
(I received a copy of this book from Revell through The Book Club Network for my honest review. All opinions are my own)
