Copper Star

I HIGHLY suggest this book. It has an excellent balance of history, adventure, & a love story.

An outstanding first novel for Suzanne Woods Fisher! Set in a small, Arizona town, the big war in Europe seems distant, and nothing out of ordinary besides the typical war effort of the 1940's. But enter Louisa, a half Jewish girl with charm and spunk--and a commitment to changing the world. Fisher's heroine starts to churn this quiet town, and finds takers along the way, including a passive preacher whose lifeless sermons seem to mask a deep secret. What develops is a truly compelling story that holds you, especially the ending. Dietrich Bonhoeffer's spirit influences as well as hovers throughout the novel. Though already a Bonheoffer fan, reading Suzanne's book inspired me to watch again the recent PBS movie, and deepened my admiration for Bonhoeffer's faith and difficult sacrifice. I loved "Copper Star". I was engrossed with the story since it combined my own personal passions; travel, music and history. Though set in America, Mrs. Fisher's novel took me back to my years of living in Vienna--the cobble-stoned streets and ancient cathedrals. This book reminded me of the Zion Covenant books by Bodie Thoene, and particularly, "Vienna Prelude". I highly recommend this book.

The good people of Copper Springs stay with you long after the final page of the book is closed. Louisa, the beautiful emerging butterfly within all of us, bumbling and headstrong at first, but willing to submit to the Master's gentle molding of her life into a woman of faith and strength. Robert, the wounded and tentative, afraid to love again. Little William, who unabashedly acts on his feelings, learning to reach out for the mother's love he desperately needs. Aunt Martha, representing the difficult person in everyone's life. And even wicked Friedrich Mueller, the epitome of the dark forces of spiritual warfare, waging a battle that has already been won by the forces of Light! I'm anxiously awaiting the sequel, Ms. Fisher. Keep the great stories coming!

Louisa Schmetterling is a German refugee reaching the end of her dangerous and chilling journey from Nazi Germany where she has been working secretly for the resistance against Hitler. Her destination is a small town in the deep south of America, not far from the border with Mexico. Her host is to be a church pastor and his family. They are not what she expected and neither is she what they expected but as they grow together in difficult circumstances she becomes enveloped into their family almost by accident. Louisa has seen all of her family and friends murdered, taken off to concentration camps or put in prison and as such her deep desire is to return home to her native land after the war to help rebuild what must surely be a devastated, broken place. How else can she atone for the fact that she was saved when everyone else perished? What she didn't plan for though, is how much she would grow to love the townspeople amongst whom she has found herself? And how much they would grow to love her. As the story builds towards a dramatic climax she must choose between her long held sense of duty to her homeland and her growing sense of belonging in her present environment. This is not an easy choice, indeed it begins to look as though the choice won't be hers to make. Evocative, spellbinding and richly compelling, this story weaves together with such intricacy and beauty that you won't be able to stop reading until the very final page. Suzanne Woods Fisher's beautifully eloquent writing brings the era and the area richly to life. It is a story of espionage and fear, war and death yet with it hope and love, and forgiveness and faith. An inspirational read. review by Hilary Cockshaw at www.christianmums.com

Reviewed by Linda Benninghoff for Reader Views (1/07) The title of this inspirational historical romance comes from Copper Springs, the arid town in Arizona to which a German refugee of Jewish descent and a member of the anti-Nazi resistance has been sent to escape the Nazis. The Reverend Robert Gordon waits there to greet Louisa. He is a friend of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a martyr of the Christian faith who was involved in a plot to assassinate Hitler. Gordon's son William, a deaf child whom his father worries may be retarded, also meets Louisa and plays a critical role in the novel. It turns out that William not only is not retarded but highly intelligent. Part of the action of the novel surrounds Louisa's attempts to get William to learn how to speak. Louisa, inspired by faith, brings healing to both father and son, both of whom were wounded by the mother, an ambitious woman who left her husband and son when William was still a young child. I found the novel's discussions of God, faith and prayer fascinating. While in the beginning of the book Robert is somewhat lackluster and his sermons in need of inspiration, he begins to grow as the novel goes on. The characterization of Louisa, Robert and William is deft and compelling, and the changes they go through well-portrayed. The time of World War II, when everything still hangs in a balance, yet the Allied victory may be near, is captured in all its hopefulness and terror. It is as if the author had lived through these times. This novel will appeal to anyone with an interest in this period of history or in religion, or romance. "Copper Star" is a fascinating novel and also works on a deeper level, and draws the reader into its deeper thoughts as the plot unfolds.