Captivating & heart wrenching story of two sisters in WWII
342982
I found I could not put this book down until I finished. The Nightingale starts out in the 1995 where we are introduced to an older woman preparing to move out of her home. We are next transported back to France at the start of WWII and told the gripping tale of two sisters - Vianne and Isabelle. Though very different they each find a way to contribute to France's fight against the Germans. Vianne trying to survive and keep her daughter safe while Isabelle the headstrong, rebellious younger sister takes a very different path. Great read,
3960579
Sad, tragic but also a beautiful story about 2 sisters with different approaches to surviving Nazi Germany in WW2. Easy to read as well as easy to visualize the setting. I felt transformed back to the 1930s and was very moved by this touching story. By the final pages, I was in tears!
2874897
I just finished this first novel of local author, Salena Fehnel. This emotional story of three generations of dysfunctional women is raw and eye opening. I found it interesting that this story was told in reverse, it allowed the reader to slowly put the pieces of the characters together and understand how they ended up where they did. The book is heart wrenching and captivating at the same time.
827670
An absolutely amazing story of two sisters bound by love and determination to survive the horrors of the nazis. Every one should have to read this kind of history.
509541
World War II seen and told through the eyes of two sisters - a love story of family, heroism and survival under unfathomable circumstances.  A true page turner in every sense - hard to put down.  It also brings to light the history that is often untold of occupied France and the continuously horrific, brutal world created by Nazi Germany. It is a history that we cannot ever allow to fade away and be forgotten. Read this book and it will stay in your soul.
1966832
I loved this book.  It was such a wonderful sad captivating story. I love to read these and just can't fathom how people survived this awful times with bombs dropping and lack of food.  War is awful and this is just a reminder of it all.  Great characters and wonderful story.  Highly recommend if you like stories about World War Two.  Super read....
3947198
Extraordinary story of two ladies who just wouldn't give up.
2127742
Wonderful, heart wrenching story about a young girl and her twisted family.  Clare learns a lot of hard life lessons through experience.  Anna Shinoda brilliantly weaves the past with the present to tell a gripping story of survival :)
2590488
I couldn't put this book down. The author takes us on a journey with two sisters and the how life's misfortunes affected each of them. She gave us a behind-the-curtain look at their psychology and the survival mechanisms they use to persevere through difficult experiences. This book will leave you rooting for its characters and marveling at the strength of the human spirit.
3876991
I have tears in my eyes having just finished this book. I will remember the bravery of two sisters who struggled to survive the war. Their stories are important and memorable.
2186961
Belinda Alexandra takes us on a heartwrenching journey into fascist Italy, under Mussolini's tyrannical reign. The characters are beautifully crafted with all their flaws & hardened throughout the book under the inluence of war. Although the cover is beautiful & bright, the story does not stay that way for long. With those beloved to the main character being torn from her, the morbidity & ruthlessness of the world around Rosa emerges from the people she has been surrounded by. The marchesa is only the beginning. Belinda describes some of the horrors of war with great insight & detail as well as the unjust suffering faced by young unwed mothers and political prisoners during this time. Your heart will break with Rosa as she faces the challenges in her life naive & ill equipped to deal with her terrible treatment & soar as you accompany her while she finds her inner strength. I was touched by Rosa during this story, thoroughly consumed with reading on. The plot is fabulous & the story itself written with such care. The best book I have ever read without a doubt.
77188
This book is very well written, I couldn't put it down. It is a gripping story about a 10 year old girl who is sent to America in order to escape war torn England. The German Wolf Pack has been roaming the Atlantic and sinking many ships traveling between the US & Great Britain, in the midst of that destruction, a young girl steps on an ocean liner bound for the US not knowing a soul. That trip changed the course of her life forever. The author gives an interesting and unique perspective on a WWII subject that is generally not heavily covered. This book shows the strength and character of that young girl/young woman as she deals with and overcomes the unexpected travails placed upon her and her family by the Second World War. I have known this wonderful woman all my life (I am proud to be one of her American nephews) and until this book had come out I had never known all the details of her amazing journey. I'd rate it a 5 star book even if I didn't know her.
4272244
I loved the fact that this story is about the heroism of French women during WWII, and it was a very personal look at the pains of such a horrific war; Love and joy mixed in with the creeping changes of people and families as war drags on and it's horrors touch home. I felt as though I was living it with the people of France. This is a must read for anyone seeking stories about strong women during extraordinary times.
3732465
Wonderful story about three strong sisters set in Germany. The author tells the story of their struggles and accomplishments very vividly.
The reading level is neither too simple nor too difficult so all readers can enjoy. I've read both of the first two books in the series and am looking forward to the third and final book in the trilogy.
1240260
A very good story with insight into the lives of two French sisters during WWII and its impact on their decisions.  I found it hard to put this book down.
4951293
I loved this book! It took me awhile to get into it, but I had 2 friends who loved it, so I perservered. I'm so glad I did! Towards the end of the book, I could hardly put it down! It's the story of 2 French sisters during World War II. The older sisters' husband is away, fighting. She also has a little girl. The younger sister can't hide her frustration at the Nazi occupation. Both of these characters are pretty unforgettable. The reader also learns alot about Vichy France and what it was like for the French living through the Nazi occupation.
462343
This is a captivating tale of three sisters getting a grip on their lives while conquering the most difficult circumstances immaginable.  Petra Durst-Benning spotlights the resilience of these strong women who overcome obstacles to achieve their dreams.