Secrets She Kept


Secrets She Kept is the first book by Cathy Gohlke I've read. It caught my attention because it blends history, suspense, romance, and more - several of my favorite genres. I especially love World War II era fiction, so it made the book even more interesting. Hannah is on a mission to discover the secrets of her mother's mysterious past, a quest which takes her to another country and relatives she didn't know existed. Secrets She Kept seamlessly blends the past and present and unfurls a satisfying ending. The book description reads:

"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."

Secrets She Kept definitely didn't disappoint. First of all, the cover is gorgeous. A good cover is so important to setting the feel of a book before you even open it - and this one is eye catching and perfect. The story itself was compelling and emotional. I couldn't stop reading, wanting to know what would happen to both Hannah and Lieselotte. Hannah's journey is perfectly paced and page turning. I enjoyed the way the chapters flipped back and forth between mother and daughter - it kept the tension building and made it difficult to put down. The prose was lyrical and at times haunting. This is truly one of those fictional books that will deeply affect you in a profound way. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Christian fiction.

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Comments

  1. Thank you, Denise, for this wonderful review. I'm so glad you enjoyed Secrets She Kept and that the story moved you. God bless!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Surviving Death

Can I Just Hide In Bed 'Til Jesus Comes Back?