Embers in the London Sky

Well I loved this story! It had a little bit of everything including mystery, intrigue, romance, kidnapping, murder, all of which was set during WWII. This story grabbed me from the get go, as it dealt with real issues that happened during that time, beginning in the Netherlands, and then taking us to England. The author included this in the author's notes at the end, "Writing this novel gave me greater appreciation and a more nuanced understanding of the challenges faced by the British in World War II, and I hope you enjoyed this peek into how these exceptional people endured a great trial." That is exactly what happened for me as I read this incredible story of heartache, betrayal, manipulation, but also of courage, integrity, love, teamwork, a willingness of never giving up, a mother's s love and devotion, all set within the backdrop of all that was going in the early 1940's when WWII.and was in full motion. Reading this amazing story, even though it was fiction, gave me a front row view of many of the struggles many faced in the countries occupied by Germany during that time, and how the allies, led by England, who was not only at war in Europe, but had so many struggles at home like bombings, lack of basic necessities, and safety from those bombings! I felt like I now have a better picture of what happened through Aleida's story, and her search for her beloved son, and also through Hugh, an aristocrat who decided to step away from the role he was born to, to follow his dream of being a reporter for the BBC. What a great story! It was well-written, the plot kept me turning the pages, the ending shocked me, and the characters flowed nicely together! A 5 star review for a 5 star book!!!!