The Violin Makers Daughter by Sharon Maas
Stacey • July 28, 2019
A riveting tale of impressionable Sarah, an apprentice violin maker and non-practising Jew in the midst of a raging war, systematically spreading throughout Europe. The first time the Nazi’s appear they decide to hide their Jewish background and stay in their beloved family home. The terrorizing wait to see if they can remain hidden and be left in peace…. The ultimate betrayal eventually comes to call and their status of Aryan decent has come into question and they are given a week to provide the paperwork… The countdown begins.
The time has come to flee but they cannot flee together. They must separate and go in smaller groups. Sarah must go alone and she must leave first. Her life depends on her ability to blend in, keep her head down, trust the people she does not know, to keep her safe. She must learn to keep her emotions in check. Keeping the despair of leaving her family from bubbling to the surface and her blind hatred for all Germans under wraps as to not draw attention to herself.
On her journey she mets Ralf, German and a soldier. She still can’t bring herself to trust him, even after her saves her life. Now he’s on the run too and agrees to get Sarah safely to where she needs to be. During their journey he will do much more than just protect her…. He will teach her to avoid detection, master her emotions, be brave and how to survive… He shows her that just as a war can destroy and create hate, It doesn’t have the power to stop an all consuming love.
Hiding their identities and deny who they are as the race from safe house to safe house, Ralf and Sarah continue their journey together. All too soon Ralf is captured and Sarah has a choice to make.
The weight of the world seems to rest on the shoulders of young Sarah. Having no world knowledge and being held in practically like a hostage in her home by a war she doesn’t understand and the full gravity of it being held secret by her parents. All she wants to do is make violins and put the love and careful attention to detail into each and every one. When the pounding on their door comes that night and Sarah now knows what her parents were keeping from her. She must leave the safety of her home, of her family and make the dangerous journey to safety. The rough terrain and the soldiers everywhere. Not knowing who she can trust, keeping a part of herself hidden so she can remain undetected. She has to keep her wits about her and ultimately her eye on the prize.
You can feel the emotional rollercoaster she is on. You literally watch her throw off her adolescences and transition into womanhood in such a quick succession, it would make anyones head spin. It really comes to a head when she is saved by a young German Soldier, Ralf who is now on the run too, having risked his life to save her and her friend Eric.
The journey is, at times, agony to read. Sarahs hatred for all Germans is so black and white that she can’t, at first, see there is so much grey all around her. Everything she says, everything she does, every small detail has to be just right in order to avoid detection. She has no life skills to help her on this life or death quest to safety. She is learning as she goes.
The whole book from start to finish is like watching Sarah mature from a naive caterpillar into a butterfly of knowledge. Her full transition from child to woman is painfully played out and you will feel every emotion right along with her. My heart was so full to bursting and the tears were hard to bite back knowing she was wholly dependent on herself and trying to navigate her feelings for a man she barely knows and didn’t trust in the beginning. No experiences to draw on and no Mother to ask. The whole book had me reeling with the simplicity of tale and the complexity of a world that we today, cannot comprehend. You could almost hear the footsteps of the Soldiers along the cobble stone streets and feel the pounding on the front door.
I’ve never read any of Sharon Maas’ work before, which is shocking to me as I am an avid historical fiction reader. This book was right on the money for me. You can feel the fear of the unknown, the hatred and the violence of a time that the author herself, didn’t live through but really has a way with the written word. I felt like I was living through 1940s France. The hairs on my arms would stand on end whenever she came to a check point. The air of silent terror really played out well through the whole book for me.
I really felt love can conquer all, even hatred. Historical fiction enthusiasts should really add this to their reading pile. If you enjoy having your heart beating as fast as a drum, having sweaty palms so slick you can barely hold the book any more and breathing so quietly so the Nazi’s can’t hear you, then this is the read for you.
Sincerely, The Lioness
Book Review - ALC audiobook - Psychological Thriller - Romantic suspense - Unreliable Narrator The Newlywed by Zia Rayyan Librarian Morgan Sloane just wants her happily after… After her boyfriend breaks up with her she is distraught. She decides to join a matchmaking service that promises marriage at first sight. Being flown to a secluded island to meet her future husband… He is perfect… But someone is not going to allow this to continue. Can Morgan survive her honeymoon? Or has she walked into the sights of someone who now wants her dead. This might be one of the craziest plots I have come across but dang… It worked for me. I’ve never read this author before but I am now backlisting anything by them I can get my hands on. The plot was wild! I love the idea of a woman who is intense in relationships going to the extreme of wanting a matchmaking service marrying her off within days.. CRAZY but ok, I rolled with it but the whole story and that ending! Land o' Goshen! I did not see any of that coming! It was the kind of twist that will give you whiplash for days. The writing was good… The pace is sublime! I am a big fan!! If you need an isolated island with a mystery stalker.. GRAB IT! The narration was on point too!! 4 stars #thrillerreader #thrillertok #booktok #bookstagram #readersoffacebook #bookreviewer #bookblogger
Book review - ALC audiobook - mystery thriller - Police Procedural - Cat and Mouse The Devoted Game by Debra Webb Ex FBI agent Ryan McBride didn’t expect to open his door and find Special Agent Vivian Grace standing there. He isn’t interested but she isn’t giving up.. A 6 year old has been kidnapped and the kidnapper… Will only talk to McBride. The clock is ticking… They must solve the devoted fan of McBrides puzzles and each puzzle gets more and more twisted. Is the kidnapper a deranged obsessed monster? Or is there more going on? One of the things you can expect from this author… You won’t get a moment to breathe once the games start! Ryan is my kind of MC. He was gruff and grumpy. He was drowning in the loss of his job. Vivian had survived her own trauma and she had so much to prove. It was a wild ride. I loved the plot and how clever it all came together. I normally hate unnecessary romance in my thrillers but you know what.. This worked. I loved the narration, I loved the characters and the mystery was awesome. I was entertained. 4 stars Thank you to @netgalley and @brilliancepublishing for my gifted copy #brillianceaudio #brilliancepublishing #thrillerbook #bookreview #bookblog #bookishblog #blogger #reading #aboutbooks #lionessofliteracy
Book Review - ALC Audiobook - Historical Fiction - Biographic Fiction - The sins of the father The Architect of New York by Javier Moro The life and death of a genius… Rafael Guastavino revolutionized the gilded age of New York City. This story is told through the eyes of his son… A rags to riches story of an immigrant family making their own destiny. I really enjoyed this book. I have never done a biographical fiction book before but dang I was hooked. The audiobook was narrated really well and I was oddly charmed by the wackadoodle haha. He was a womanising cheater. He made insane decisions and lost his shirt on more than one occasion but he kept on climbing and he managed to reach the stars in the end. It was oddly inspiring. I liked the pacing and the book has some many interesting elements and spanned decades. It was entertaining and I learned things about architecture. Great book. 4 stars Thank you @netgalley for my gifted copy #bookishblog #reading #lionessofliteracy #booklover #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #bookblogger #literacyinfluencer #booktok
Book review - Audio ALC - Fiction - Romance - womens fiction The Wild Card by Carolyn Brown Carla Wilson is a professional poker player but she won the deed to a cafe… Something she can sell since she is down on her luck. That is until she moves there and meets Sunny, the cook who treats her like family. It makes leaving mighty hard. Add in the gorgeous Jackson and you have a recipe for sticking around.. It is starting to feel like home and this might just be where lady luck smiled at her the most. Full disclosure… I nearly DNF’d this audio.I actually meant to but somehow.. Maybe it was lady luck, started playing it again and something caught my attention and LAWD I am so glad I did not stop listening. The narration was amazing. It just took time to get into the story. I adored what those ladies were doing with the cafe! It was so much more than just a business. It was a fresh start for those who need it the most. The characters were hilarious and fun! I need senior neighbors like that. I was charmed! It was so well written. It felt almost cozy, it isn’t supposed to be but I felt oddly like I had come home too. I liked everything about it. Even the slow start didn’t faze me in the end. It was decently paced and I enjoyed how it ended. 4.5 stars Thank you @netgalley for my gifted ALC #contemporaryfiction #bookishblog #reader #lionessofliteracy #bookishbusiness #bookservices #bookpod
Book review - Fiction - Paperback ARC - Retelling - Historical fiction - fantasy - debut I just finished Aicha by Soraya Bouazzaoui and here are my musings. Not yet published Expected 24 Mar 26 Aicha is the daughter of a freedom fighter and she was born ready for battle. She sees the devastation of war and she is angry. It burns in her soul.. Fighting for Morocco’s freedom is her life. Her only reprieve is her secretary lover, a rebellion leader… But the monster under her skin wants release… It will no longer stay hidden. Well that was a surprise! I’ve never read a book with such feminine rage and this was something I had no idea I would enjoy so much. Her anger was a sight to behold and It was (cough cough) relatable. I also enjoyed the family, sisterhood and friendship that was weaved throughout the book. SO GOOD. You could feel the turmoil from all the characters and that made it feel so realistic. The world building is amazing. It was the best part for me. I did feel the smutty parts were a bit much for the tone of the book but I’m probably in the minority here. The story was culturally rich and that was amazing and it had a decent pace. I wish we had had Aicha’s childhood to give a more rounded view of her anger but all in all… Very entertained. 4 stars Thank you @orbitbooks_us for my gifted copy #bookblogger #readerblog #bookinfluencer #bookreader #bookpodcast #fantasyreader #lionessofliteracy
Book Review - ALC Audiobook - Romance - Women's Fiction - Twin Rivalry Life as Planned by Amanda Prowse How can one childhood decision change the course of two people's lives? Remy and Ashleigh are twins… As their lives unfold in a way neither of them expect, the courses of their loves don’t run smoothly and as the guilt gnaws away at Ashleigh, it starts to produce cracks between the sisters.. Can they find their way back to each other before they lose sight of each other and themselves? I was actually really enamoured at the way this story unfolded and I don’t normally like books that span such a time period… It literally started when they were little kids all the way to old age. It was actually done with remarkable panache! I really enjoyed the twin storyline. It was clever and I liked the fact the author fractured the relationship from a young age and that both twins viewed a specific incident very differently. I really enjoyed it. I thought the narration was done really well and I loved the cover. I really highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a book with sibling rivalry and a story that spans a whole life… This is it 4 stars Thank you @netgalley for my gifted ALC #amandaprowser #romancereader #romancebookblog #lionessofliteracy #bookishpodcast #bookinfluencer
Book Review - ALC Audiobook - Sci-Fi fantasy - Romantasy - Cottagecore - Forced Proximity How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days by Jessie Sylva What would you do if a goblin is living in the home that you inherited and won’t leave? You go toe to toe for ownership. The more they fight, the more they learn about each other and begin to fall in love. Can they trust each other enough to help band their people together to oust an intruder. The tropes are troping Enemies to lovers Forced proximity Grumpy sunshine Opposites attract There’s only one bed I absolutely loved the vibes of this book. I did not love the narration. I did end up switching to reading because I just couldn’t do it. Reading was better. I really loved the cozy elements. It was whimsical and sweet. Audio 3.5 Reading 4.25!! Come check out my podcasts!! Litdulterous whore Book slayers with Betty and Bonny Stace and Jace spill the book #bookpodcast #romancereader #bookreviews #bookblogger #blogging #bookblogging #readersofig #igbooks #booktok
Book review - Fiction - Psychological thriller - Horror - Debut I just finished Lucky Number Six: A Psychological Thriller by Julia Shraybman When four survivors make it through a cafe gun shooting, their lives are never the same again.. When a woman comes and gifts them with the lives they always wanted, it's too good to be true especially when she can take back what she has given…. This book starts out wild! It was horrifying!!! So dark… So disturbing…. So my kind of book. It was truly intense and I am here all day for that. The book was told through multiple POVs and I am not a fan of that but it worked well here. Maybe I need to change my opinion on that haha. It was so so good! I enjoyed the fast pace and the supernatural elements. It was a welcome surprise. I’ve also never been to Chicago and I now wanna go. It was a solid book. It had all the right elements, the writing was decent and I was entertained through out. 4 stars Thank you @juliashraybman for my gifted copy. #indieauthor #indiebook #horror #bookblog #bookishblog #readerblog #lionessofliteracy #bookish
Book review - Fiction - E-ARC - ALC - Psychological Thriller - Mystery Thriller I just finished When I kill you by B A Paris and here are my musings. Nell is certain she is being followed but she never actually sees anyone. She has every right to be afraid… 14 years before she went by another name.. She witnessed a girl get into a mans car and she was found murdered. Obsessed with the crime she went to extreme lengths and people ended up dead. Has someone discovered her new identity or is it something else entirely? Oh man this book was GOOD!!!! The greedy book gremlin had both the ARC and Audio and the narration was amazing. I always try and do an equal balance of both for reviews but I got gripped a few times with the audio so be warned if you try to switch medias haha First things first.. This is done over two timelines… Elle in the past and Nell in the future.. It takes some time to piece together why these two timelines are overlapped this way and it's juicy. It felt like a mystery wrapped up in another mystery and it was a little slower paced than I liked but honestly the story building needed to be done this way. I was gripped. I was invested. The book was loaded with obsession and a fair amount of multiple people stalking and it was clever the way the story weaved itself together. It will keep you gripped from start to finish. Its not a wild ride but it is a richly complex story with a lot of heart racing moments. 4 stars Thank you @stmartinspress and @macmillanaudio for my gifted copies. #bookreview #bookblog #bookblogger #readersofig #booktalk #audiobooks #readerblog #blogofbooks
Book Review - Paperback - Romantic suspense - Romance - frenemies to lovers I just finished Decoy in Stilettos by Selena Robins and these are my musings. "Picture this: You’re a professional decoy, looking like absolute fire in six-inch stilettos, getting paid to catch a dirty cheater in the act. Easy money, right? Wrong. The target drops dead, the Russian mob is suddenly blowing up your phone, and you’re officially the world's most stylish person of interest. Now, Ryan has to go on the run with the only man more annoying than a hitman: her high school crush turned 'I-have-no-personality' Detective Gabriel Marchetti. We’re talking 'forced proximity' with a man who thinks your career is a felony. Strap in for Decoy in Stilettos —it’s a chaotic, slow-burn disaster where the only thing sharper than the wit is the footwear. Seriously, if you like your romance with a high body count and even higher heels, this book is for you! Firstly the author, Selena, is absolutely one of my favorite people and you can find our interview at https://open.spotify.com/episode/1UYKCtd1Pcr9fU73omPGfC on my book podcast. Let’s get down to the brass tax. This book was hilarious and will smack you right in the face from chapter one. So much stuff goes down right out the gate and your head will explode from being thrown into the deep end but the execution was so precise you will be hooked from the first sentence. I loved chaotic and wild Ryan and she meets her match in stoic and A type Gabe. Imagine knowing your life is in the hands of someone you can’t really stand but I adored watching Ryan and Gabe slowly appreciate and learn to love the difference in who they are and it was romantic. The writing was tight, not a plot hole to be found and it is beautifully paced. It was a solid book. Plot vs Character driven in perfect balance and I gobbled it up! The tropes were troping and the banter was top notch! Oh and a mother that will make you run through the asylum door and close it firm behind you! If you love forced proximity with a protective MC.. Grab this one today! 4.5 stars! Loved every moment. Thank you @selenarobins for giving me the opportunity to read and chat with you! #booklover #bookinfluencer #bookishpod #romancereader #oppositesattract
