A Mother's War by Helen Parusel - #BookReview #blogtour @HelenParusel

 

The sounds of the fjord were different that night. Laila lay in bed, listening: a faint drone beneath the whine of the wind, a low hum from the churning sea. She heard a shout. Her body stiffened. More shouts. She kicked back her eiderdown and swung her feet onto the wooden floor. Her long, white nightdress twisted around her ankles as she darted to the window. Ice and snow covered the glass. She pulled at the window but the old frame jammed. A jiggle and a yank; she forced it open. Raw air gushed in and covered her face in a cold mist.

Through the swirl of snowflakes, she saw a mass of grey-black silhouettes hulking across the fjord. People with torches and binoculars were gathered along the shore. A man pointed and the crowd ran from the waters edge...

***

Narvik, 1940. After Laila awakens to the sight of warships in the fjord, it isn't long before she turns resistor to the brutal Nazi regime. She is horrified when local girls begin affairs with enemy soldiers, yet against her own principles, she finds herself falling in love with German soldier, Josef.

Josef is not like the others. He becomes involved in helping her and the locals with resistance activities, risking his life on more than one occasion.

But then Laila finds out she is pregnant. With Josef sent to the Russian front, and Laila cast out by her family, she turns to a home for women which promises to care for her and her unborn child. But instead, she finds herself caught in a system of evil far beyond what she thought possible…

***

There are many books on the market which are set during WWII. This particular book is an excellent addition and in fact offers something a little different. Set in Norway during the occupation there was much to glean about life for Norwegian people during this time.

We also learn much about the Lebensborn homes - a place where Norwegian women who were pregnant with the baby of a German soldier, could go to be cared for and give birth to their babies. However, all is not as it seems and the author has clearly researched this very well.

Laila is a marvellous main character and we follow her along her physical and emotional journey. She is a strong woman who we observe as discovering hidden resources and bravery within herself that she did not know that she possessed.

It was an emotional read. Not in that it was a tear jerker but there were points that were sad coupled with parts that were joyous. Without giving anything away, suffice to say that the book has a very satisfying ending, which always gives me pleasure in a book.

As a debut novel, I think this book is excellent and I am looking forward to seeing what else the author will offer us in the future.

ISBN:  978 1837515257

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages: 352 (paperback)

Purchase link

About the Author:

Helen is from London but now lives in Hamburg, Germany with her husband and daughter. She gave English lessons to retired Germans for twenty years and became intrigued by many of their wartime stories.

Her mother comes from Linz, Austria and she spent her summer holidays there for years which inspired her next novel. She has always loved reading and writing, and now finally has the time to devote to writing.

(ARC and author media via Rachel's Random Resources)