My Review:

I really could not put this book down, it’s heart-breaking, heart warming and incredibly well put together.

The research that must have gone into writing this is a credit to the author. You’ll need tissues.

Set just before and leading into WWII we follow Sophie Weiss and her families journey on the SS St Louis on it’s way to Cuba giving almost 1000 Jews a glimpse of freedom and a new life, away from persecution.

Her dad is broken by the events of the Kristallnacht, her stepmum keeps him as calm as she can, whilst caring for young Heinrich, Sophie’s half-brother.

There they were on a ship where they didn’t know if they were liked, accepted or loathed.  Hope for a new life what they all have in common, even with that silent rumble of fear.

Sophie befriends Rosa, sisters Hannah and Lotte and Rachel Blau. Together they see the good and bad sides of the ship and witness some horrors, learning that some Jews were more privileged than others. Surprisingly there were children travelling alone in hopes of reunions.

Arriving on the shores of Cuba they learn they are trapped in a floating prison when no one wants these hopefuls or at this point hopeless Jews on their shores.

The 4 friends go on their separate journeys, will they find their feet and stay alive?

Sophie winds up in the US learning a new way to live in a place that has its own discrimination towards some of its own people.

Before I tell you the whole story, let me stop here to say I fully recommend this 5 Star read.

Book Description:

Germany, 1939: “Quickly, take this emerald. This was my late mother’s gem, and it will keep you safe. And I promise, we will all meet again in Paris…”

When Sophie Weiss boards the SS St Louis, she has no reason to stay in Germany. The Nazis have taken everything from her, and her only hope is escape. But when she meets fellow Jewish refugees Rosa, Hannah and Rachel on board, the friendship they form gives Sophie hope that there can be happiness in her future, after all.

But their worst fears are realized when the boat is refused entry at a port they thought would be safe. Terrified of being sent back to Europe, the women cling together and desperately wait for news. At last, word reaches the ship that a friend of Sophie’s father is willing to take her in — but there is only room for her.

Quickly, Sophie unpicks the lining of her coat, revealing her late mother’s emerald hidden in the lining. She hands a piece of the precious stone to each of her friends, and the women promise to meet in Paris when this nightmare is over.

Watching the SS St Louis grow smaller on the horizon, Sophie’s heart breaks. How can she embrace her freedom when those she loves face an unknown fate? And what can she do to help them? Gripping her emerald with a fierce determination, she fixes her eyes on the boat: I will find a way to help you, no matter what…

This is the first book in the unmissable Emerald Sisters series that follows the incredible stories of four brave young women, as they each forge their futures against the backdrop of the Second World War. Perfect for fans of Roberta Kagan, Kristin Harmel and Kate Quinn.

Author Bio:

Kate Hewitt is the author of many romance and women’s fiction novels. A former New Yorker and now an American ex-pat, she lives in a small town on the Welsh border with her husband, five children, and their overly affectionate Golden Retriever. Whatever the genre, she enjoys telling stories that tackle real issues and touch people’s lives.

https://www.kate-hewitt.com/
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https://twitter.com/author_kate

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Buy Link:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0CND22H5Gsocial

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