Although this book could have benefited from a good edit, the characters were well-developed and the story was intriguing. Ms. Milwood really pulls you into the Nazi era, and the whole time I was reading this, I felt a myriad of emotions. Annalise is a very 3-dimensional heroine and the ending is left open for the sequel. Well worth a read, especially to those interested in World War II!

‘The Girl From Berlin: Standartenführer’s Wife’ pulled me in and held me captive from the very first page. Written from the point of view of the heroine, Annalise, the story follows her sufferings and triumphs during the rise to power of the Third Reich. At just seventeen, Annalise’s extraordinary talent as a ballet dancer catapults her into the shamelessly arrogant, often brutal society of high-ranking Nazi officials in Berlin. With poignant clarity and directness, her written voice depicts the horror of Hitler’s purge, of enduring the loss of her friends, neighbors and countrymen whose only crime is that of being Jewish. Yet Annalise learns that not all Nazi officials share the heartless designs of their leadership, for one man, Heinrich, proves himself through kindness and compassion to be worthy of not only her admiration but also her love. She can even share with him the dark, hidden truth of her heritage, which, if revealed, would condemn not only her but her entire family. The two wed amid the threat of war and the continuing atrocities perpetrated upon her people. Eventually Annalise’s innate connection with her heritage, coupled with the vicious murders of her brother and countless others, motivates her to risk her all against a regime whose barbarity knows no bounds.

The plot is enthralling, the suspense spine-tingling, building with such realism that I felt as if I were right there in the heart of the action. Whenever I was forced to break from reading, I couldn’t wait to get back to the story, to see what would happen next to the characters who come to life in this stirring tale of intrigue, betrayal and love. Caught up in the precarious world of counterintelligence, Annalise forms an alliance with the chief of the Austrian Gestapo, a dangerous man whose help she desperately wants, to whose beguiling appeal she ultimately succumbs. The emotional strain of deceiving her caring husband, of making impossible choices to aid herself and her people, takes a toll on the once innocent Annalise, yet despite the danger of exposure and certain death, her strong will and intense hatred for the powers that be carry her forward to a nail-biting conclusion that left me wishing for more.

And so I say, Bravo! Ms. Midwood, for taking me on a remarkable journey that I can’t wait to continue.