This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
Based on real-life events, Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again is the story of the trials and tribulations of a Jewish family during World War II in Romania. Author Roni Rosenthal delves into her family history by following the life of Friddie Stoleru, a young rebellious Jewish woman living in Bucharest, Romania, in the 1930s, who audaciously refused to marry the young man her parents had selected for her. Friddie travels to the town of Eforie Nord, where she meets a charismatic perfumer named Freddy. Soon, she succumbs to his charms and marries him while carrying his child. However, after his sudden disappearance, Friddie's life turns upside down as she is charged with treason and spends the next decade in prison and forced labor camps. During that time, her Uncle David and his family perish in the massacre of Iași.
Showcasing the horrors suffered by Jewish families during World War II, Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again is one of those stories that tend to get lost in the annals of history. Roni Rosenthal gives an unflinching account of the lives of her family members during a time in Europe when discrimination and the persecution of Jewish people were at their peak in the first half of the 20th century. The struggle for survival is something everyone, as humans, should be able to relate to, and this is what the narrative focuses on the most. Friddie's continued resilience against appalling atrocities makes her an inspiring figure, and readers are bound to sympathize with her plight. A gem of a book for history buffs.
