An Innocent Child

Margot's Secret #2

by Roberta Kagan

In the haunting backdrop of a world in turmoil, love, loyalty, and lineage converge in this gripping sequel.

As the specter of Nazism looms over Germany, Margot finds herself torn between two men—Ben, the Jewish doctor who sees her potential, and Max, her childhood confidant and now husband.

Their lives are further complicated by Margot's sickly son, Erik, who grapples with a life-threatening illness. Ben might have the expertise to help Erik, but the rising tide of anti-Semitism means he lacks the resources.

In a desperate bid to save his son, Max is forced to make a heart-wrenching choice that shatters bonds and creates unlikely alliances.

In this dire situation, Margot's sister, Trudy, plays a dangerous game. Married to an ambitious Nazi officer and harboring feelings for Max, she is armed with a secret that could devastate her sister's life.

One wrong move could shatter families, and betrayals could be fatal.


Authors
This is the second installment to the series. It is recommended that you read The Secret They Hid first.

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II

294 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 7, 2023

About the author

I’m an American writer of Jewish and Romany decent. I write Historical Fiction and Historical Romance, most of which is set during the holocaust. Although I never discount the horrors of the time period, the main focus of my work is on ordinary people who prove to be strong heroic characters in unfathomable circumstances.

Facebook Author page:
http://www.facebook.com/Rkagan4

Facebook Book Club:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/14942...

Instagram:
RobertaKaganAuthor

Reviews

[Toni Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Margot’s Secret” book #2

It is highly recommended to start with the first book “The Secret They Hide” in order to enjoy and not be lost. Book#2 picks up where the first left off and we have little back information to situate us.

Nazism is right around the corner. Margot is married to Max and they are close friends with Ben, a Jewish doctor. When their sickly son Erik grapples with a life-threatening illness they turn to Ben, but the rising tide of anti-Semitism, Ben doesn’t have the medication to take care of him. In desperation Margot turns to her sister Trudy, who is married to an ambitious Nazi officer but Trudy has deep feelings for Max and wants his attention at no cost.... She is holding back a family secret that could change everything if revealed and will shatter families....

Although this historical fiction is set before and during WW11 it is mainly of sisters and how far one is willing to go to help a sick child. Ms. Kagan doesn’t shy away from the horrors of Action T-4 a program set by the Nazis to euthanized individual not deemed to be part of the Aryan society: mentally ill or physically deformed individual. These poor souls where sent to a hospital who would give them special care...the author also tackles in her storyline the Lebensborn Program, a program set to increase Germany’s population.

We have a lot going on which fans of historical fiction may find repetitious but around all the known events we do have an interesting family saga and an intriguing backstory of Trudy’s maid. As usual Ms. Kagan has painted a dramatic story that could have happened during war time. The emotional struggles and the many changes the citizens had to endure are well noted and highlight how power to a group ruined the lives of many. I am with some reviewers saying that Ms. Kagan’s words are not simple words but words we need to learn from....

The writing is simple and well-done. The narration flow smoothly and keep a steady pace, in all very active. This is an interesting storyline that held my attention from start to finish. I cared for the characters; they each have a strong personality to love or to hate. In all this is a good book.

Well-said, well-done

I received this ARC from the publisher Book Whisperer via Netgalley

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite series yet

I'm beginning to run out of words of praise for this author. I almost devoured this book in one sitting. Finally sleep overtook me around 91% but I awoke early to finish it. This book is one emotional roller coaster and I never want to get off. The next book in the series comes out in January and I can hardly wait. Just excellent!

[Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roberta Kagan’s novels are always difficult to read due to their subject matter — the atrocities committed by the Nazis in the period leading up to and during World War II. An Innocent Child focuses on the so called cleansing program which the Nazis considered “not murder but mercy killing of useless eaters.” The novel depicts the lives of the sisters we have met in Ms. Kagan’s previous novel and what their lives have become with children and the various relationships they have with the Jews (particularly Ben and his needed medical skills). The book includes poignant descriptions as well as several examples of cruel unnecessary murders for no reason other than the amusement of the Nazis in their attempt to “perpetuate our Aryan race.” I thank NetGalley and Roberta Kagan for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication and will wait (not patiently) for the continuation and/or conclusion in the next book.

[Brittany Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first of Roberta Lagan’s books that I read. It held my attention. I will read the next when it comes out because I do want to know what happens. I did struggle with the writing, and the chaos of so many different love triangles. Trying to tell 7 versions of a time period is difficult and I often felt confused about why a storyline was incomplete or another rushed. I still want to know what’s next.

[Alyson Lucille · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love being in Roberta’s world! She really brings the characters to life with her storytelling. Just when you think you know what’s going to happen she does something unexpected. I cannot wait to finish this series and see what happens to the characters! Thanks NetGalley and the author for this instant read.

[Joyce Cacioppo stein · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Innocent Child by Roberta Kagan is her second in the Margot’s Secret series. I did read the first one however it is not a necessity. The beginning of the book brings you up to date on the lives of the 3 sisters and their husbands. Margot does not get along particularly well with her twin sisters Trudy and Mattie. Trudy is married to a high ranking Nazi officer who is constantly trying to get Margot’s husband to join the party, mostly for his own advancement. Margot and Max have a sickly son and have been bringing him to their Jewish doctor friend Ben when he is sick. When laws against Jews go into affect, this is forbidden. Against Max’s better judgment, he consents to join the party so he has better medical services available for his son Erik.

The goal of the Germany under Hitler is to have a pure Aryan society. Anyone that is not should be done away with. Erik is entered into the T4 program which Margot and Max are told is a cure for his afflictions. This is not the case and the outcome is very unsettling. Trudy knew this but kept it to herself because she has always been in love with Max and is constantly trying to keep him close by so she can get him to want her. There are many side stories within this book, all pertaining to the secret that Trudy carries along with her obsession for Max. There is an awful lot of back and forth going on amongst these stories which makes it confusing.

As with the first book, I was not thrilled with the writing. I felt it was very choppy which for me did not present a smooth story. Also as was with the first book, I was left with an unfinished ending. I assume it left you with questions that will lead to the next in the series, but I find this unsettling. I like a book to have a clear ending.

I would like to thank Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this advanced copy.

[Lynne Hannmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in the Margot’s Secret trilogy. I appreciated having read book 1 before this, but it really can be read as a standalone.
As with other books by Roberta Kagan, it involves many characters to keep track of and a storyline which is all of the following: absorbing, informative, dramatic, emotional and at times deeply unsettling.
Margot and her husband Max have a son, Erik, who contracts whooping cough at a young age. Without treatment, he recovers but has significant after effects. Margot and Max have stayed out of the Nazi political situation, but Max is forced to join the party in the hopes of getting Erik treatment to improve the quality of his life. What they don’t realize is that less than perfect Aryan individuals are not going to survive in the planned Nazi societal structure. This primary storyline along with other dynamics involving extended family and friends round out a gripping and very disturbing picture of Germany in 1938 and 1939.
Overall I like Ms. Kagan’s works, particularly the characters and storylines. The characters are well developed and relatable. The stories need telling and are highly relevant to today. I do sometimes find the writing too simplistic and repetitious.
Thank you to the author, the Book Whisperer, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Innocent Child, by Roberta Kagan, is the second in the Margot's Secret series. While it is not a necessity to read the first entry in this series, I do recommend readers do so as it will add context to both the family dynamics and the historical period. These are the early years of Hitler's reign when he is just getting organized, and neither gentile nor Jewish Germans can foresee the ultimate endgame. Against the darkening political clouds, Kagan presents a family drama filled with chaos, love triangles, competition, and ultimate tragedy.

Kagan's strength is her ability to plot a family drama interwoven with the most abhorrent historical period. She exposes the horrors of the Nazi regime in a straightforward manner that actually emphasizes the savagery and inhumanity. However, Kagan's weakness is her characters. They lack dimension and are either all good or profoundly evil.

While this novel merits only three stars for me, I confess that I am looking forward to the next installment in the series. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for the opportunity to read a digital ARC.

[Brittany Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first of Roberta Lagan’s books that I read. It held my attention. I will read the next when it comes out because I do want to know what happens. I did struggle with the writing, and the chaos of so many different love triangles. Trying to tell 7 versions of a time period is difficult and I often felt confused about why a storyline was incomplete or another rushed. I still want to know what’s next.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

"An Innocent Child" by Roberta Kagan is a tale set within Nazi Germany. Margot's heart-wrenching journey, torn between love, duty, and devastating circumstances, pulls at the core essence of familial ties and moral choices.

Kagan transported me to a time when the world was in turmoil. Margot's story is grounded in love, sacrifice, and the complexities of human relationships. The characters are beautifully fleshed out, each bearing the burden of their choices amid the imminent danger of anti-Semitic persecution.

Margot struggles between her loyalty to her husband, Max, and the Jewish doctor, Ben. These dynamics and the ethical dilemmas that arise are portrayed magnificently. The narrative threads create plot elements of tension and suspense that kept me engrossed until the very end.

The portrayal of Erik's illness and the dire choices made in desperation strike a chord, stirring empathy and emotional connection. Kagan doesn't shy away from the brutal realities of the time, capturing the fear, danger, and moral ambiguity of wartime Germany.

"An Innocent Child" reminds us of the resilience, sacrifice, and enduring power of love in the face of adversity. The novel unveils the untold stories of bravery that perseveres through the darkest of times.

"Love and sacrifice woven through the shadows of Nazism."

"A brilliant illustration of the resilience amid the turbulent era of World War II."

"Kagan reveals the human spirit's unyielding strength against adversity."

"A captivating story of familial bonds tested by the harrowing specter of anti-Semitism."

"An emotionally charged exploration of love, loyalty, and heart-wrenching choices."

"A haunting saga set against the backdrop of wartime Germany's turbulent landscapes."

"A riveting story of hope and despair amidst the rise of Nazism's dark clouds."

"A moving portrayal of sacrifices made and secrets held amid perilous times."

"A deeply touching account of love's endurance through the fires of conflict."

"'An Innocent Child' captures the heart's resilience amidst the shadows of war."

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Innocent Child by Roberta Kagan is the next chapter in the lives of Leo and Adelaide, and Trudy, Mattie, and Margot. Mostly people don’t change when they get older, outside of something catastrophic, like Adelaide’s husband, Alex, being burned with mustard gas and losing his good looks. His looks were pretty much all he had and when they were gone, there was nothing much left. Adelaide and Leo had been living as husband and wife for years when Alex finally died. In fact, his death, didn’t really affect much of anyone. The girls were older now and Trudy and Margot were both married: Margot to Alex, a carpenter, and Trudy to Rudy, a wealthy Nazi officer. Margot was happy with Alex and they had a beautiful son, Erik. She was still in love with her Jewish friend, Ben, but both of them had put that aside as it was no longer possible in the political climate in Germany. Trudy did not like her husband all that much much but she liked his money and what it could buy. She was still carrying the secret she had overheard about Margot years before and knew she would use it when the time was right.

Trudy was Kagan’s best character, as villains often are. She was greedy, proud, and vain. Her husband wanted her only for the children she could produce. She didn’t want children. He fooled around; she dreamed about Alex, her sister’s husband. Their son, Erik’s, bout with whooping cough had left him with seizures and general weakness, including several poorly formed limbs. Margot and Alex were desperate to get him help. At first, Ben, who had been a medical student helped, but when that became too dangerous, they sought out actual doctors. What followed was a Nazi dream and everyone else’s nightmare. It is a gently told story but doesn’t skimp on the details. It is easy to read and to follow and becomes a living-hell for so many. Well done, Kagan.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of An Innocent Child by Book Whisperer, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BookWhisperer #RobertaKagan #AnInnocentChild

[Firetruckmama · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.

“An Innocent Child” is a historical fiction book by Roberta Kagan. This book is the second in the “Margot’s Secret” series by this author. This book can be read as a stand-alone, as Ms. Kagan does a great job getting the reader up to speed on who is who and what’s what from the first book. On the plus side of this book, the historical aspects are interesting. Ms. Kagan does weave historical facts into her character’s lives very well. From the opening prologue - and from the first chapter - it’s easy to tell what is going to happen by the end of the book. Ms. Kagan doesn’t shy away from the horrors of Action T-4, but it still makes for difficult reading. I believe that this book wasn’t easy for Ms. Kagan to write - meaning it’s hard when parents believe they’re doing the best for a child, but sometimes situations - and people - don’t make parenting decision easy. While I think this book was more tightly written than the first book in this series, there’s still a bit of repeated information. I also found the backstory of the maid interesting, but it came out of nowhere toward the end of the book and was rather jarring - I wish it had been woven into the story earlier. This book focuses a lot on two of the sisters and their husbands, which at times felt like a warped wanna be love triangle, although it was more like a one-way street of obsession - or maybe teenage high schoolers. I feel this book was stronger than the first book in the series as there was a clear focus over a short time period. However, if you’ve lost a child, this book may be a difficult one to read. I’m giving this a 3.5 rating, down to 3 stars because while I think the overarching story is an important one, at times it seemed all over the place with side characters and secondary subplots, which distracted from the main focus. I’d recommend this book and I do want to continue reading the series.

[Kathleen Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Heart Breaking but Brilliant Story.
An Innocent Child is a historical fiction book by Roberta Kagan. This book is the second in the Margot’s Secret series by this author. I highly recommended to start with the first book The Secret They Hide which really brings the characters to life.
At the beginning of this book, you are brought up to date on the lives of the three sisters and their husbands. Margot does not get along particularly well with her twin sisters Trudy and Mattie. Margot and Max who have an extremely sick son and their friend Ben who is a Jewish doctor does everything he can for Erik but that all changes when the laws against Jews go into effect. Ben is forbidden from having anything to do with the family and this sadly is where their friendship must end for the safety of both family’s.
Rudy inform Margot and Max that Erik will have better medical services available to them for their son if Max joins the party as Rudy is in the SS. Max after discussing this option with Margot joins against his better judgement believing this will help and benefit Erik.
Rudy and Trudy are the perfect examples of Germans who believe Jews are worthless as the goal of Germany under Hitler is to have a pure Aryan society and any disability deserves to be exterminated.
The book is professionally written, and the characters are well developed. Just when you think you know what is going to happen something unexpected changes in this book. The characters continue to grow and change. The book is beautifully written with real heart and honesty and is a beautiful and moving story about survival and kinship Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Trudy Dowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have ever wondered why the history of World War 2 must be taught in schools, you just need to read books like An Innocent Child. As a people we owe to the past to learn, remember and never repeat to atrocities of the second World War.

The author has painted a dramatic story of what might have occurred during that time period. The story may not be based on complete facts but there is enough truth for us to learn from and guide us to learn more.

This is the second book in the Margot's Secret Series. The Secret They Hid was heartbreaking. An Innocent Child gutted me. The author has spun and emotional tale of the struggles during the war. There were many changes put upon the citizens in Germany.

The Nazi soldiers didn't seem to care about the everyday person. This story shows how many took advantage of the power they could wield. The theme, Power Corrupts, fills the pages. It isn't just the officers but the wives as well that think nothing of treating others like they are nothing.

I think I have finally gained a little understanding of how some of the situations may have occurred. I can only hope we are all smart enough, strong enough to make sure it doesn't happen again. Everyone is someone's baby and should be treated with the utmost care. Every child is innocent and deserves a chance to succeed it the world.

It was not up to someone sitting in an office to make the choice between life and death. Roberta Kagan's story brings the situation to life with her words, words we need to read and learn from.

[Shirley McAllister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erik's Illness

This is the second installment of the Margot's Secret series. It hinges on the sisters Trudy and Margot and their husband's Rudy and Max. Trudy is married to Rudy but secretly in love with Max. She is jealous of her sister Margot for being married to Max.

Rudy is an SS officer in the Nazi army. Max is talked into joining the party because he and Margot's son Erik is ill and needs medical help. Rudy tells Max that if he joins the party they will help Erik get medical help. Too late he learns what this help is.

This book brings into text the Nazi parties rules on people that are not perfect, that may have deformities or medical conditions. The program the Nazi's developed to deal with people they deemed to be unworthy of their society.

It is also about the worsening of the persecution of the Jewish population in Germany.
It is about a sister that will go to any lengths, and does, to be with her sister's husband and to destroy the sister she loathes. She holds a deadly secret of Margot's that she uses to cause deadly consequences.

This was a good second book in the series and I enjoyed reading it.

Thanks to the author and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy of the book to read and review.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carolyn's review Nov 09, 2023 · edit

Read 2 times. Last read November 4, 2023 to November 8, 2023.

What a riveting but horrifying story which zeros on to another inhumanity of the Nazi’s. Through a fictional German family in Berlin, Kagan shows how even blood relatives were turned against each other as the Nazi machine gobbled up men wanting the advantages, even luxuries of being a party member and officer. Trudy and Rudy were perfect examples of Germans who believed that Jews were worthless garbage. Max and Margot felt otherwise but as the pressures increased succumbed to party membership.
At the center of this powerful story was Erik, a child with minor physical birth defects but also a victim of whooping cough.
Kagan masterfully develops each of the main characters such that the reader can feel their pulses and expect their actions.
Historically, this book reveals the euthanasia that Nazi’s created to rid their “pure Aryan race” of any “blemishes.” I appreciate author Kagan for putting the spotlight on this horror.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a riveting but horrifying story which zeros on to another inhumanity of the Nazi’s. Through a fictional German family in Berlin, Kagan shows how even blood relatives were turned against each other as the Nazi machine gobbled up men wanting the advantages, even luxuries of being a party member and officer. Trudy and Rudy were perfect examples of Germans who believed that Jews were worthless garbage. Max and Margot felt otherwise but as the pressures increased succumbed to party membership.
At the center of this powerful story was Erik, a child with minor physical birth defects but also a victim of whooping cough.
Kagan masterfully develops each of the main characters such that the reader can feel their pulses and expect their actions.
Historically, this book reveals the euthanasia that Nazi’s created to rid their “pure Aryan race” of any “blemishes.” I appreciate author Kagan for putting the spotlight on this horror.

[Sharyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in a series and another cliffhanger!! Kagan's books are difficult reads because of the subject matter and many characters who are evil, but that is what happens when writing books about Nazi's. However, maybe readers reading her books today will get a better understanding of anti semitism, and realize why what is happening today is fanning flames that should be put out, as Never Again seems to be happening again.
We once again meet the sisters from the first book, especially Trudy and Margot.
Truly has married a rising Nazi and Margot has married Max, but stayed friends with Ben,who is now a doctor.
But after Kristellnacht ( the 85th anniversary, which was commemorated yesterday) life for Jews in Germany becomes even more perilous.
Reading these books, knowing what is coming, is quite heartbreaking. I will be watching for the next one.
Thanks to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for my EARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Donna Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m glad I read book 1 of this series, though this book could stand alone. Mattie, Trudy and Margot are raised as sisters. Margot is not aware that she is Jewish and isn’t actually a member of the Schroeder family.
Berlin, 1938: Margot is married to Max and they have a son, Erik, that has health problems. Her best friend, Ben, since childhood is a Jew and was training to be a doctor and is in love with Margot. Trudy is married to, Rudy, a German officer and is in love with Max. She vain and loves her life of luxury and partying as the wife of a prominent officer. Trudy hates Margot and is determined that Max will be hers even if she has to expose Margot as a Jew.
Berlin, 1940: Rudy and Trudy commit the ultimate betrayal on Margot and Max providing a cliffhanger. (Book 3?)

Thank you, BookWhisperer via Book Funnel

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a gripping story set in Germany as the Nazi regime is rising.

The main characters are Margot and Max, a married couple who have a young son. They are friends with Ben, a Jewish medical student. It’s 1935 Germany, and anti semitism is at the top of the Nazi agenda. Jews are deprived of all rights, ultimately being round up and sent to concentration camps.
Margot and Max are not Nazis, but when their young son starts to have seizures, Max is forced to join the Nazi party, in order to receive medical care for his son.
As the world around them degenerates, life unravels.
Roberta Kagan spares no details of the horrors of Nazi Germany. This is a well written, heartbreaking book, which, while being historical, still has relevance today. Antisemitism is rising again.
Thanks to The Book Whisperer, for the ARC in return for my honest review.

[Eunice Chin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my third Roberta Kagan book to read but the second in the Margot's Secret series (Book 2). It is equally fantastic and un-putdownable! The Nazi cruelty surfaces in all its ugliness. Max, Margot and Erik are not unscathed. Rudy and Trudy leave their marks too. All-in-all another heart-twister. The ending made me want to burp bile, so definitely I want to read what comes next! In my opinion, any potential reader will not be disappointed with this work of historical fiction.

5 Star rating from me.

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

November 2023

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this.

First words I have is Oh My God.

This is book 2 in the Margot's Secret Series, and to point out, it cannot be read as a stand-alone book. Another wonderfully written book by Roberta Kagan, this time following the lives of the main character Margot, with some transitions to Trudie, who is still just as jealous as ever and desperate to ruin Margot's life in any way possible.

Given the events taking place, it is very easy to love and hate certain characters, given how they were (purposely?) written, and very probable that during this historical event, such familial events would/could have taken place.

The ending of this book has left me hanging, and eager to read the next book in the series. A definite must read!

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Innocent Child is not an easy read due to the main theme - the desire to create a pure race, the Aryan race, under Hitler's guidance. Margot's son, Erik, is chronically ill and depends on the care of her friend, a Jewish doctor. The child's as well as her family's lives will be totally disrupted because of the ways society was supposed to behave under Hitler's stronghold. Ms. Kagan's stories, although fiction, might have happened in real life and should be told and read by all in order to help avoid these awful mistakes from happening again.
I thank Ms. Kagan, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Roberta Kagan writes it…I will read it. This 2nd book in the series was very similar to Book 1. People getting married to someone, for one reason or another, while loving someone else or someone else wishing they had been the one to get married. This book was more volatile. More about how awful the Nazis were and jealous vengeance. In one section, I could have sworn RK wrote this after 10/07. I know she didn’t, but was so like 10/07. But it was 11/08. I thought this was a 2 book series and a little disappointed that there is another book. But, I will read it in January when it is released.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Kagan's ability to continue to write books that draw me in EVERY SINGLE TIME. I don't need time to "get into" her stories. As soon as I read the first page I'm already invested. This was another great installment of Margo's journey. There seems to be a little more depth to the characters and the story line this time around which I quite enjoyed and of course Kagan writes villians you love to hate.
An enjoyable read once again and I look forward to picking up some other Kagan series that I have not yet read.

Thanks to Net Galley and Book Whisperer for the advanced copy.

[Victoria Baldin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Innocent Child by Roberta Kagan

I loved reading book two of Roberta Kagan’s latest serious Margot’s Secret.

In this book we learn more about the adult years of three Schroder sisters; Margot, Mattie and Trudy. What kind of people they grew up to be, with what type of morals.

I enjoyed this book very much and I cannot wait for the next book in this serious.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Book Whisperer for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Polly Krize · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As the sequel to The Secret They Hid, this book continues the story of Margot and Max, their ill son Erik and the sickening Action T-4 and the Lebensborn Programs of the Nazis. Appealing to a Jewish doctor for help, they find he cannot supply the medication needed. Margot must find help and her sister, Trudy, married to a Nazi officer, may be able to help. Well written historical fiction.

[Carey Mundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in this series was as riveting as the first. Margot is married to Max and has a young son with health issues. With the war looming ahead and a new law that euthanizes any child with imperfections, Margot and her husband Max have much to worry about. With an evil sister secretly in love with Max, Margot must face horrible discoveries about herself, her sister and the fate of her young son.

[Theresa Werner · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading The Secret hey Hid, I couldn’t wait to read the next in book in the series, An Innocent Child. Kagan draws us in to the different facets of German life during WWII. Real people, real flaws. Some fall in to the trap of believing the propaganda. Others see through it and try to stand up to it, but also want to do what is best for their families. What choices would you make to save your child? I can’t wait for book 3.

[Victoria Baldin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Innocent Child by Roberta Kagan

I loved reading book two of Roberta Kagan’s latest serious Margot’s Secret.

In this book we learn more about the adult years of three Schroder sisters; Margot, Mattie and Trudy. What kind of people they grew up to be, with what type of morals.

I enjoyed this book very much and I cannot wait for the next book in this serious.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Book Whisperer for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.