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The Emerald Sisters #2
The Girl with a Secret
Rosa’s blood runs cold. He hasn’t seen her yet, but she would recognize those blue eyes anywhere. Will he reveal her secret? And if he does, how will she ever survive?
Germany, 1939: When Rosa Herzelfeld boards the SS St Louis, she doesn’t believe its promise of freedom. Surely there can be no escape from the Nazis, not even on the other side of the world. Besides, she knows that no matter how far she travels, there is no escaping her past…
When the ship is refused entry to Cuba, Rosa finds herself penniless and alone in England. Desperately trying to make this strange country home, the last thing she expects is to fall in love. But when she meets fellow refugee Peter, she is surprised by how quickly his gentle smile and warm brown eyes help her forget the horrors she left behind.
As their affection deepens, Rosa grows fearful. Should she tell Peter about the terrible decisions she was forced to make to survive in Germany, or simply pray he never finds out? Deep down, she begins to realise that she must tell him the truth…
But before she can, Rosa is sent to a remote internment camp on the Isle of Man. And when fate finally reunites her with Peter, her past is threatening to catch up with her. With time running out before her secret is revealed, Rosa must make an impossible choice…
This second book in the Emerald Sisters series tells a heartbreaking and unforgettable story about hope, second chances and the resilience of the human spirit. Perfect for fans of The Orphan Sisters and My Name is Eva.
Germany, 1939: When Rosa Herzelfeld boards the SS St Louis, she doesn’t believe its promise of freedom. Surely there can be no escape from the Nazis, not even on the other side of the world. Besides, she knows that no matter how far she travels, there is no escaping her past…
When the ship is refused entry to Cuba, Rosa finds herself penniless and alone in England. Desperately trying to make this strange country home, the last thing she expects is to fall in love. But when she meets fellow refugee Peter, she is surprised by how quickly his gentle smile and warm brown eyes help her forget the horrors she left behind.
As their affection deepens, Rosa grows fearful. Should she tell Peter about the terrible decisions she was forced to make to survive in Germany, or simply pray he never finds out? Deep down, she begins to realise that she must tell him the truth…
But before she can, Rosa is sent to a remote internment camp on the Isle of Man. And when fate finally reunites her with Peter, her past is threatening to catch up with her. With time running out before her secret is revealed, Rosa must make an impossible choice…
This second book in the Emerald Sisters series tells a heartbreaking and unforgettable story about hope, second chances and the resilience of the human spirit. Perfect for fans of The Orphan Sisters and My Name is Eva.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 12, 2024
2497 people are currently reading
449 people want to read
About the author
Kate Hewitt
881 books1,706 followersKate is the USA Today-bsetselling author of many books of both historical and contemporary fiction. Under the name Katharine Swartz, she is the author of the Tales from Goswell books, a series of time-slip novels set in the village of Goswell.
She likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.
Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in a market town in Wales with her husband, five children, and two Golden Retrievers.
She likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.
Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in a market town in Wales with her husband, five children, and two Golden Retrievers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
April 9, 2024
With the SS St Louis meandering across the ocean as it, and its inhabitants, were refused entry in Cuba, the United States, and many other ports, Rosa Herzelfeld and her friends Hannah and Rachel wondered if the ship would be forced back to Germany. Sophie had managed to be accepted into the US, before the ship left Cuba - now the other three friends had no idea on their futures. But soon, the approximately one thousand Jewish people on board were told four countries had agreed to take them, and before long Rosa and her parents were on another ship, heading for England.
They were free - at least of the Nazis and Germany - but the conditions they lived in were hard. Rosa was able to get work washing dishes, pots and pans, in a nearby cafe, spending ten hours a day on her feet. But when the three of them were to be interned on the Isle of Man, Rosa couldn't understand it. And just as they were beginning to feel settled once again, Rosa was moved back to London where she would be doing "highly classified war work". Her head was spinning, but she was so happy to finally be doing something positive...
The Girl with a Secret is the 2nd in the Emerald Sisters series by Kate Hewitt and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Book #1 was Sophie's story, this one is Rosa's - I wonder who will feature in book #3? The small piece of the emerald jewel that they all received after Sophie cut it into four, meant so much to these women. And Rosa kept her piece - and her hopes - with her always. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
They were free - at least of the Nazis and Germany - but the conditions they lived in were hard. Rosa was able to get work washing dishes, pots and pans, in a nearby cafe, spending ten hours a day on her feet. But when the three of them were to be interned on the Isle of Man, Rosa couldn't understand it. And just as they were beginning to feel settled once again, Rosa was moved back to London where she would be doing "highly classified war work". Her head was spinning, but she was so happy to finally be doing something positive...
The Girl with a Secret is the 2nd in the Emerald Sisters series by Kate Hewitt and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Book #1 was Sophie's story, this one is Rosa's - I wonder who will feature in book #3? The small piece of the emerald jewel that they all received after Sophie cut it into four, meant so much to these women. And Rosa kept her piece - and her hopes - with her always. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2024
This series is based on the true story of The SS St Louis that set sail from Hamburg in 1939 with one thousand Jews onboard bound for Havana, can they finally get away from the Nazis? Onboard four young woman make friends, bound by a talisman, part of an emerald these four make a pact to meet again after the war, will they make it?
When the ship is refused entry into Cuba they sail away not knowing where they will end up, finally some countries agree to take them, Rosa Herzelfeld and her family are bound for England, here they try to start their lives again, Rosa is soon working and attending classes, here she meets another Jewish refugee Peter and after all Rosa went through in Berlin never expecting to even become close to a man she finds her heart is opening up.
The family are sent to an internment camp and soon Rosa is asked to come back to London to help more with the war effort, she is keen to help and soon she is helping even more, her work is top secret and is starting to get more dangerous, she is happy to be doing something that may bring an end to Hitler and his regime.
This is a heart-wrenching story it shows strength and courage, will the girls meet at their designated meeting place after the war, will the emerald pieces bring them together and whose story will be next? I loved this story and am loving this series and I highly recommend it to any lover of historical fiction.
My thanks to Netgalley for my digital copy to read and review.
When the ship is refused entry into Cuba they sail away not knowing where they will end up, finally some countries agree to take them, Rosa Herzelfeld and her family are bound for England, here they try to start their lives again, Rosa is soon working and attending classes, here she meets another Jewish refugee Peter and after all Rosa went through in Berlin never expecting to even become close to a man she finds her heart is opening up.
The family are sent to an internment camp and soon Rosa is asked to come back to London to help more with the war effort, she is keen to help and soon she is helping even more, her work is top secret and is starting to get more dangerous, she is happy to be doing something that may bring an end to Hitler and his regime.
This is a heart-wrenching story it shows strength and courage, will the girls meet at their designated meeting place after the war, will the emerald pieces bring them together and whose story will be next? I loved this story and am loving this series and I highly recommend it to any lover of historical fiction.
My thanks to Netgalley for my digital copy to read and review.
March 10, 2024
This is book number 2 in the emerald sisters series, and in this book we follow rosa. What I appreciated about the book, it was interesting to see the secret unfolding, i liked the development in the characters , and I really enjoyed the sweet lovestory. But the book was a little bit too slow for me, and I was Just expecting more. But I Will still continue with the series.
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion
March 25, 2024
Note: Thank you to NetGalley, Bookoutre, and Kate Hewitt for the advanced reader copy of the book. This review will also be posted on NetGalley. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.
This is the second book in Kate Hewitt’s Emerald Sisters series about four girls who meet on the SS St. Louis, trying to escape the Nazis in Germany. The ship was well-known for the fact that it was turned away from so many places with a complement of passengers who were Jews trying to escape the Holocaust. In the first book, The Girl on the Boat, we met all four girls but only followed the story of Sophie as she was able to disembark before the ship headed back to Europe and carve out a life for herself in the United States.
This second book follows Rosa. She was leaving Germany with her parents. Her father was a wealthy doctor in Germany and used to being the center of attention. Still, when the Nazis took over their home, even he was forced to leave the country. When the SS St. Louis is turned away from Cuba, Rosa and her parents don’t know where they will end up. Eventually, they are allowed to enter England.
Arriving in London, they are given an apartment in a Jewish neighborhood, which is a big step down from what they are used to. The Jewish refugee agency that found the place for them will only pay the first month’s rent, and there will be another family residing with them eventually. Her father goes to try to see what became of the money he was allowed to send out of the country and finds out it has disappeared.
Rosa seems to be the only one in her family with a grip on reality as she finds work in a coffee shop washing dishes. Her mother sits in a chair by the window, while her father pontificates to other refugees and considers learning English and sitting again for medical exams beneath him. Rosa also begins attending English classes, and that is where she meets Peter, a fellow refugee who was maimed by the Nazis at one of the camps.
However, Rosa is carrying a guilty secret. That secret could threaten everything of the life she has in London. Rosa wonders if she confessed the secret to her friends from the ship and if they would even like her anymore. She is afraid to admit the truth to Peter or anyone. Yet, secrets from the past have a way of coming back to haunt people.
To read my full review, please go to Book Review: The Girl with a Secret by Kate Hewitt
This is the second book in Kate Hewitt’s Emerald Sisters series about four girls who meet on the SS St. Louis, trying to escape the Nazis in Germany. The ship was well-known for the fact that it was turned away from so many places with a complement of passengers who were Jews trying to escape the Holocaust. In the first book, The Girl on the Boat, we met all four girls but only followed the story of Sophie as she was able to disembark before the ship headed back to Europe and carve out a life for herself in the United States.
This second book follows Rosa. She was leaving Germany with her parents. Her father was a wealthy doctor in Germany and used to being the center of attention. Still, when the Nazis took over their home, even he was forced to leave the country. When the SS St. Louis is turned away from Cuba, Rosa and her parents don’t know where they will end up. Eventually, they are allowed to enter England.
Arriving in London, they are given an apartment in a Jewish neighborhood, which is a big step down from what they are used to. The Jewish refugee agency that found the place for them will only pay the first month’s rent, and there will be another family residing with them eventually. Her father goes to try to see what became of the money he was allowed to send out of the country and finds out it has disappeared.
Rosa seems to be the only one in her family with a grip on reality as she finds work in a coffee shop washing dishes. Her mother sits in a chair by the window, while her father pontificates to other refugees and considers learning English and sitting again for medical exams beneath him. Rosa also begins attending English classes, and that is where she meets Peter, a fellow refugee who was maimed by the Nazis at one of the camps.
However, Rosa is carrying a guilty secret. That secret could threaten everything of the life she has in London. Rosa wonders if she confessed the secret to her friends from the ship and if they would even like her anymore. She is afraid to admit the truth to Peter or anyone. Yet, secrets from the past have a way of coming back to haunt people.
To read my full review, please go to Book Review: The Girl with a Secret by Kate Hewitt
April 11, 2024
Rosa Herzfeld believes she will never escape the Nazis. She fears their horrible reign will never end. She boards the SS St Louis while hoping for freedom but her hope is quickly shattered. The ship full of refugees is refused entry to Cuba. She soon finds herself alone and penniless in England. She believes this is where she will live her life and tries to do everything she can to make it feel like home. Rosa meets Peter, who is also a refugee, searching for a place to call home. Though they grow close to each other, she is hiding a secret from her past and she hopes he will never find out. When she musters up the courage to finally tell him, she is sent to an isolated internment camp located on the Isle on Man. Rosa and Peter are finally reunited, and once again she is faced with a decision, does she tell Peter the secret from her past or keep it hidden?
The Girl With a Secret, authored by Kate Hewitt is a phenomenal addition to The Emerald Sister Series. I loved the character of Rosa and the storyline with her and Peter was engaging. This story pours over from the first in the series with Sophia, Rachel and Hannah. Though a heartbreaking read, it is still a rapid and edge of your seat page turner. I love the pace of the story but I had to stop a few times to let the tears flow. This heart wrenching story is a definite must read. It can be read as a standalone, but I highly suggest start with the first book in the series. You’ll want to know everything about the characters in this captivating and compelling story. I highly recommend this ten star book.
The Girl With a Secret, authored by Kate Hewitt is a phenomenal addition to The Emerald Sister Series. I loved the character of Rosa and the storyline with her and Peter was engaging. This story pours over from the first in the series with Sophia, Rachel and Hannah. Though a heartbreaking read, it is still a rapid and edge of your seat page turner. I love the pace of the story but I had to stop a few times to let the tears flow. This heart wrenching story is a definite must read. It can be read as a standalone, but I highly suggest start with the first book in the series. You’ll want to know everything about the characters in this captivating and compelling story. I highly recommend this ten star book.
June 4, 2024
I enjoyed this book and thought that the story was intriguing. It did take me a while to get into it but it might have helped if I started with book 1. The ended left me eager to read the next installment though to see how the story continues.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
April 13, 2024
The Girl with a Secret is the second in The Emerald Sisters series by Kate Hewitt. Thankfully there were only a few brief months between publication of the first and second books as this is an interesting and captivating series where each book ends on a cliffhanger and I was quite impatient to know what was going to happen next. I am presuming there will be four books in the series given it is following four young women who meet onboard a ship travelling to Cuba but then circumstance means they are scattered to the four different countries. But now after reading this second instalment I am wondering will there be a fifth book given the way the first two have ended maybe an additional book will bring these cliffhangers together rather than rushing through things towards the end of a fourth book. This is pure surmising from me and perhaps me being a little bit greedy as I am really enjoying the series and reading about each girl’s journey and experiences.
This story can easily be read as a standalone as plenty of background information is dotted throughout where you can easily pick up on events from the previous book. I was a little apprehensive in starting this one because I really didn’t want a rehash of the first half of book one which detailed the girls journey on the SS ST.Louis as it left Germany bound for Cuba.I just didn’t want to be reading of the same details again although from a different characters perspective as I felt I knew enough about it already and I wanted the story to move forwards not backwards. So reading this section of the book, I was glad that things didn’t go overboard into needless detail but rather there was just the perfect amount to refresh readers minds if they needed it and to bring new readers up to speed with what had been going on. Anyway, book one had been still very much fresh in my mind given the brief but welcome gap between publication.
As before, the book opens with a brief prologue set in Paris in June 1946, the four young women, Sophie, Rosa, Hannah and Rachel had all agreed to meet in a café in Paris on a specific date following the conclusion of the war. The Emerald Sisters were to be reunited having not seen each other since that tumultuous voyage across the Atlantic. But circumstances have changed and all is not as it seems. All I can say regarding this meet up is that it stirs up a whole lot of questions for the reader and made me want to reach the end of the series immediately. If only that were possible.
This time around we follow Rosa aged 21 who comes from a privileged background but yet because of her Jewish religion (although her family do not practice) herself and her parents are forced to flee Germany in May 1939 thanks to the persecution, abuse and restrictions of opportunity imposed by Hitler and his Nazi’s. Rosa, Fritz and Elsa are among 1000 people given visas to start a new life away from Germany. They leave Hamburg on board the SS ST.Louis which will take them to Cuba and through her fathers connections and the money he had sent away from Germany they hope to establish a new life in America. In a way, it’s strange reading the same story from a different perspective as I felt I had already formed opinions about Rosa and her family without ever reading anything directly from their viewpoint. But over the course of the book my opinion of Rosa certainly changed and did so for the better so it shows writing a series like this does work and really helps provide a well-balanced angle and mindset.
Rosa’s family are not very close and its clear her mother Elsa loathes her and pretty much leaves her to her own devices whilst onboard the ship. Her father’s behaviour disgusts her as he is pompous, arrogant, self absorbed, irritating and difficult. He was a physician back in Germany and there are subtle hints as to what he engaged in that are dropped in every now and again and in turn they are explored in detail later on in the book. Rosa too hides secret and is racked with guilt and this becomes more apparent as we delve further into the story and learn more about her character. What went on in regards to her family up until the point they left Germany will have a significant forbearing on a major plot of the book and it makes you think how could they have been involved in this and then expect a better life some else without any repercussions? But I suppose unless you are physically and mentally in the situation yourself you really can’t make any judgements. Rosa forms a strong bond with the three young women she meets but their happiness at a new friendship and their hopes for the future are shattered as they are turned away from Cuba. But Sophie is lucky and before she departs she splits an emerald giving each person a shard and a promise is made to one day reunite. This emerald becomes a talisman, a beacon of light and hope amidst the dark times ahead.
As the much longed for freedom in America does not materialise and it is as if they have been sent on a wild goose chase and the promises that were made were not fulfilled. Rosa and her parents find themselves sent back across the ocean and they reach England. Separated from her friends she must forge ahead on her own at a time when her parents more than ever shirk their responsibilities and act like everything will just fall into their laps and they will be readily accepted. But Rosa knows this won’t be the case and from here on in she demonstrates her fortitude, tenacity, strength and bravery. This is when I thought the book really got going and it felt the same as with book one as in the later half was far stronger than the first. I really started to engage with Rosa and she came down to an ordinary level far from the dizzy heights she lived in in Germany. But the past will always have a way of coming back to haunt you if it has not been settled and Rosa harbours guilt and shame which she must try to get through in order to forge onwards in a positive light into the future.
The scenes set in England as Rosa and her parents struggle to adapt to their new life were real and vivid and although perhaps not the best word to use I did enjoy reading about their daily lives. You could sense the anxiety about being in a strange new country and having to be wary that they were German although Jewish. Not everything was handed to them on a plate and Rosa began to show her resourcefulness and her ability to adapt at a time when she was required to step up and provide as her parents remained stuck in the past clinging on to something that was no longer there. She was practical and resourceful and knuckled down to things that would have been way beneath her in her previous life. Through her work and her English classes, she meets Peter, himself having fled Germany too. I loved the subtleness of their friendship which had potential to develop into something more. It was never rushed or forced and the pacing of all this was excellent and I loved how things connected towards the end through circumstance, acceptance and understanding.
The outbreak of war leads to trials and tribulations for Rosa and her parents and it was interesting to see her past having an impact on her present. The chapters set on the Isle of Man were fascinating and again showed a different side to Rosa. One I wouldn’t have thought possible when we first meet her as she boards the ship. Again, there was lots in store for Rosa and without going into detail she finds herself doing work that is vital yet on first arriving in Britain she would never ever have thought possible given her background and situation.
The Girl with a Secret was an excellent read and really moved the series along very well. Again as with book one we were left on a cliffhanger and I really wanted it to continue on for several more chapters but I was prepared for it to end around the 80% mark as this had happened previously. Strong female characters are really coming to the fore and Rosa’s viewpoint of the overall story has only made me even more eager than I already was to discover what is in store for Hannah and Rachael. This book didn’t disappoint and once more my only wish is that it won’t be too long a wait before the next instalment.
This story can easily be read as a standalone as plenty of background information is dotted throughout where you can easily pick up on events from the previous book. I was a little apprehensive in starting this one because I really didn’t want a rehash of the first half of book one which detailed the girls journey on the SS ST.Louis as it left Germany bound for Cuba.I just didn’t want to be reading of the same details again although from a different characters perspective as I felt I knew enough about it already and I wanted the story to move forwards not backwards. So reading this section of the book, I was glad that things didn’t go overboard into needless detail but rather there was just the perfect amount to refresh readers minds if they needed it and to bring new readers up to speed with what had been going on. Anyway, book one had been still very much fresh in my mind given the brief but welcome gap between publication.
As before, the book opens with a brief prologue set in Paris in June 1946, the four young women, Sophie, Rosa, Hannah and Rachel had all agreed to meet in a café in Paris on a specific date following the conclusion of the war. The Emerald Sisters were to be reunited having not seen each other since that tumultuous voyage across the Atlantic. But circumstances have changed and all is not as it seems. All I can say regarding this meet up is that it stirs up a whole lot of questions for the reader and made me want to reach the end of the series immediately. If only that were possible.
This time around we follow Rosa aged 21 who comes from a privileged background but yet because of her Jewish religion (although her family do not practice) herself and her parents are forced to flee Germany in May 1939 thanks to the persecution, abuse and restrictions of opportunity imposed by Hitler and his Nazi’s. Rosa, Fritz and Elsa are among 1000 people given visas to start a new life away from Germany. They leave Hamburg on board the SS ST.Louis which will take them to Cuba and through her fathers connections and the money he had sent away from Germany they hope to establish a new life in America. In a way, it’s strange reading the same story from a different perspective as I felt I had already formed opinions about Rosa and her family without ever reading anything directly from their viewpoint. But over the course of the book my opinion of Rosa certainly changed and did so for the better so it shows writing a series like this does work and really helps provide a well-balanced angle and mindset.
Rosa’s family are not very close and its clear her mother Elsa loathes her and pretty much leaves her to her own devices whilst onboard the ship. Her father’s behaviour disgusts her as he is pompous, arrogant, self absorbed, irritating and difficult. He was a physician back in Germany and there are subtle hints as to what he engaged in that are dropped in every now and again and in turn they are explored in detail later on in the book. Rosa too hides secret and is racked with guilt and this becomes more apparent as we delve further into the story and learn more about her character. What went on in regards to her family up until the point they left Germany will have a significant forbearing on a major plot of the book and it makes you think how could they have been involved in this and then expect a better life some else without any repercussions? But I suppose unless you are physically and mentally in the situation yourself you really can’t make any judgements. Rosa forms a strong bond with the three young women she meets but their happiness at a new friendship and their hopes for the future are shattered as they are turned away from Cuba. But Sophie is lucky and before she departs she splits an emerald giving each person a shard and a promise is made to one day reunite. This emerald becomes a talisman, a beacon of light and hope amidst the dark times ahead.
As the much longed for freedom in America does not materialise and it is as if they have been sent on a wild goose chase and the promises that were made were not fulfilled. Rosa and her parents find themselves sent back across the ocean and they reach England. Separated from her friends she must forge ahead on her own at a time when her parents more than ever shirk their responsibilities and act like everything will just fall into their laps and they will be readily accepted. But Rosa knows this won’t be the case and from here on in she demonstrates her fortitude, tenacity, strength and bravery. This is when I thought the book really got going and it felt the same as with book one as in the later half was far stronger than the first. I really started to engage with Rosa and she came down to an ordinary level far from the dizzy heights she lived in in Germany. But the past will always have a way of coming back to haunt you if it has not been settled and Rosa harbours guilt and shame which she must try to get through in order to forge onwards in a positive light into the future.
The scenes set in England as Rosa and her parents struggle to adapt to their new life were real and vivid and although perhaps not the best word to use I did enjoy reading about their daily lives. You could sense the anxiety about being in a strange new country and having to be wary that they were German although Jewish. Not everything was handed to them on a plate and Rosa began to show her resourcefulness and her ability to adapt at a time when she was required to step up and provide as her parents remained stuck in the past clinging on to something that was no longer there. She was practical and resourceful and knuckled down to things that would have been way beneath her in her previous life. Through her work and her English classes, she meets Peter, himself having fled Germany too. I loved the subtleness of their friendship which had potential to develop into something more. It was never rushed or forced and the pacing of all this was excellent and I loved how things connected towards the end through circumstance, acceptance and understanding.
The outbreak of war leads to trials and tribulations for Rosa and her parents and it was interesting to see her past having an impact on her present. The chapters set on the Isle of Man were fascinating and again showed a different side to Rosa. One I wouldn’t have thought possible when we first meet her as she boards the ship. Again, there was lots in store for Rosa and without going into detail she finds herself doing work that is vital yet on first arriving in Britain she would never ever have thought possible given her background and situation.
The Girl with a Secret was an excellent read and really moved the series along very well. Again as with book one we were left on a cliffhanger and I really wanted it to continue on for several more chapters but I was prepared for it to end around the 80% mark as this had happened previously. Strong female characters are really coming to the fore and Rosa’s viewpoint of the overall story has only made me even more eager than I already was to discover what is in store for Hannah and Rachael. This book didn’t disappoint and once more my only wish is that it won’t be too long a wait before the next instalment.
March 3, 2024
A magnificent story, but cut short by the ads for Kate Hewitt’s other books before the war was over. I would have liked to know of Rosa succeeded with her spy training and survived to marry Peter. I also don’t think we needed the SS St. Louis recap from the first book. And what was German military intelligence the Abwehr doing on a civilian cruise ship?
April 22, 2024
The Girl With A Secret by Kate Hewitt is the second in the Emerald Sisters series about a group of young women who met on the St Louis leaving Germany but were returned to Europe to be sent to a variety of places. This book features Rosa Herzelfeld, the daughter of a doctor and his drugged-up wife. He prescribed the drugs for her “nerves.” She and her parents were assigned to alight in England, the luckiest of the group, possibly. The Jewish aid society found them an apartment and paid the first month’s rent. Then they discovered they would have to share it with another family. Rosa realized she was the only one who could get a job, so she did just that, as a dishwasher. Her father was a doctor but would have to retake the exam to practice here and would have to learn English to do that. Slowly her life began to evolve. She took an English class at the community center and met a young man: Peter. Refugees were classified into three groups, the most dangerous to least a threat. After a while, letters arrived instructing them to go to the police station. It seemed her father’s past had caught up with them. He had treated Nazis and so they were now under suspicion.
This is a fast-paced story although it actually took place over a period of years. Rosa was a sympathetic character who cared for people, including her parents, who had never been parents to her, really. She was cheerful in the face of adversity and always prepared to helpful. She was a well-written character who lived her life with courage and fortitude, doing the best she could. She made every effort to keep in touch with her “sisters,” although it was not always easy. The over-arcing plot is one we know well, although this may be the first refugee to England book I’ve read. I found it compelling as well as interesting. The plot is fairly simple, as far as war goes, and thorough. War is difficult at best and this war was everyone’s worst nightmare. These are lovely young women and this is a terrific series. Thanks, Kate Hewitt, for the Emerald sisters!
I was invited to read The Girl With a Secret by Bookoutre. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #KateHewitt #TheGirlWithASecret
This is a fast-paced story although it actually took place over a period of years. Rosa was a sympathetic character who cared for people, including her parents, who had never been parents to her, really. She was cheerful in the face of adversity and always prepared to helpful. She was a well-written character who lived her life with courage and fortitude, doing the best she could. She made every effort to keep in touch with her “sisters,” although it was not always easy. The over-arcing plot is one we know well, although this may be the first refugee to England book I’ve read. I found it compelling as well as interesting. The plot is fairly simple, as far as war goes, and thorough. War is difficult at best and this war was everyone’s worst nightmare. These are lovely young women and this is a terrific series. Thanks, Kate Hewitt, for the Emerald sisters!
I was invited to read The Girl With a Secret by Bookoutre. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #KateHewitt #TheGirlWithASecret
May 16, 2024
“The Girl With A Secret” is the second novel in the Emerald Sisters series, inspired by stories of people who had travelled on board the doomed SS St Louis, which carried 937 Jewish refugees fleeing Germany.
Having previously read Kate Hewitt’s "The Edelweiss Sisters", which I thoroughly enjoyed, I was pleased that I landed on her just-published novel. Hewitt brews a compelling and convincing plot focussing on the trials and adventure of Rosa, one of the Emerald Sisters. Her moving narrative of what life on board a crowded ship is like for her and her friends and their families, not knowing with certainty where they are heading to, evokes feelings of fear, despair and even doom that are almost palpable but, at times slivers of hope slip in to raise one’s expectations that there’s always light at the other end of the tunnel.
Strong character development shines in Hewitt’s novels, a trait that I have observed in those I’ve read so far. Thus, in Rosa we would find a compassionate soul, always thinking well about her ‘sisters’ and hoping against hope that she would hear from them soon. And she’s also determined and tenacious, not allowing adversity to spoil her hopes for a better future in her adopted country. She proves this as readers follow her adventures. Rosa’s mom is one such character that some readers would love to hate. Certainly, for me I don’t have much sympathy for her. Rosa’s dad is stubborn and thinks highly of himself. However, beneath the veneer of toughness, he can be quite thoughtful and considerate towards Rosa and her mom.
Woven into the story are universal themes of hope and love, second chances, triumph over adversity and redemption that endears her to her fan base. I’d like to think that I’m in it and look forward to her next novel in the series.
I got this free ARC from Netgalley and thanks to Kate Hewitt. I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
Having previously read Kate Hewitt’s "The Edelweiss Sisters", which I thoroughly enjoyed, I was pleased that I landed on her just-published novel. Hewitt brews a compelling and convincing plot focussing on the trials and adventure of Rosa, one of the Emerald Sisters. Her moving narrative of what life on board a crowded ship is like for her and her friends and their families, not knowing with certainty where they are heading to, evokes feelings of fear, despair and even doom that are almost palpable but, at times slivers of hope slip in to raise one’s expectations that there’s always light at the other end of the tunnel.
Strong character development shines in Hewitt’s novels, a trait that I have observed in those I’ve read so far. Thus, in Rosa we would find a compassionate soul, always thinking well about her ‘sisters’ and hoping against hope that she would hear from them soon. And she’s also determined and tenacious, not allowing adversity to spoil her hopes for a better future in her adopted country. She proves this as readers follow her adventures. Rosa’s mom is one such character that some readers would love to hate. Certainly, for me I don’t have much sympathy for her. Rosa’s dad is stubborn and thinks highly of himself. However, beneath the veneer of toughness, he can be quite thoughtful and considerate towards Rosa and her mom.
Woven into the story are universal themes of hope and love, second chances, triumph over adversity and redemption that endears her to her fan base. I’d like to think that I’m in it and look forward to her next novel in the series.
I got this free ARC from Netgalley and thanks to Kate Hewitt. I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
April 2, 2024
Goodness Gracious!! This a great addition to the series. I can't wait for the series to be finished so I can binge read all of them in a weekend. The series begins on the SS Louis as almost 1000 Jews attempt to escape Germany. The journey is challenging. A simple trip to Cuba and safety was anything but. The for girls that had become friends on the ship, becoming the Emerald Sisters, will be separated by the kindness of countries.
Rosa and her parents are sent to England. They had lived as part of the upper class before Hitler invaded. Rosa's father had survived in Germany by treating SS officers for venereal diseases and acting as a friend. In England they must share a flat with another family. Rosa's parents just can't deal with the loss of station. What will happen if other Jews discover what he did. Reading the attempt, as little as it was, at adjusting was very amusing. The anticipation of what's to come was divine. I found myself putting off reality just to see what was going to happen next.
Rosa tried to adapt. She scrubbed pots 60 hours a week to support her parents. She is better than me. I don't think I could treat them so sell after they treated her like dirt. As a reader, I witnessed her dedication to her freedom. I watched her struggle when her family was taken to Isle of Man as enemy aliens. Rosa made the best of it, but wanted to do so much more.
She will soon get her chance to help fight the Nazis. It will give her the opportunity to rekindle a relationship that began in London. It will allow her to seek revenge on a love that crushed her in Germany.
The story ends with a doozy of a cliffhanger. Rosa will be standing with others against the enemy. She will come across one of her Emerald sisters. I can't wait to read the next story to discover their future.
Rosa and her parents are sent to England. They had lived as part of the upper class before Hitler invaded. Rosa's father had survived in Germany by treating SS officers for venereal diseases and acting as a friend. In England they must share a flat with another family. Rosa's parents just can't deal with the loss of station. What will happen if other Jews discover what he did. Reading the attempt, as little as it was, at adjusting was very amusing. The anticipation of what's to come was divine. I found myself putting off reality just to see what was going to happen next.
Rosa tried to adapt. She scrubbed pots 60 hours a week to support her parents. She is better than me. I don't think I could treat them so sell after they treated her like dirt. As a reader, I witnessed her dedication to her freedom. I watched her struggle when her family was taken to Isle of Man as enemy aliens. Rosa made the best of it, but wanted to do so much more.
She will soon get her chance to help fight the Nazis. It will give her the opportunity to rekindle a relationship that began in London. It will allow her to seek revenge on a love that crushed her in Germany.
The story ends with a doozy of a cliffhanger. Rosa will be standing with others against the enemy. She will come across one of her Emerald sisters. I can't wait to read the next story to discover their future.
April 1, 2024
The Girl with a secret by Kate Hewitt is the second book in the brilliant new The Emerald Sisters series and I loved it. This book is set in Germany in 1939, When Rosa Herzelfeld boards the SS St Louis, she doesn’t believe its promise of freedom. Surely there can be no escape from the Nazis, not even on the other side of the world. Besides, she knows that no matter how far she travels, there is no escaping her past….........
Then the ship is refused entry to Cuba, Rosa now finds herself penniless and alone in England. Desperately trying to make this strange country home, the last thing she expects is to fall in love. But when she meets fellow refugee Peter, she is surprised by how quickly his gentle smile and warm brown eyes help her forget the horrors she left behind.
Their affection deepens quickly, and Rosa grows fearful. Should she now tell Peter about the terrible decisions she was forced to make to survive in Germany, or simply pray he never finds out?
But, Deep down, she begins to realise that she must tell him the truth…
Before she can, Rosa is sent to a remote internment camp on the Isle of Man. When fate finally reunites her with Peter, her past is threatening to catch up with her. With time running out before her secret is revealed, Rosa must make an impossible choice….....and Pete's and Rosa's relationship survive? WoW!
This book is beautifully written and you will be gripped from the beginning till the end.
I highly recommend this book......another 5 star book from Kate.
Big Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Then the ship is refused entry to Cuba, Rosa now finds herself penniless and alone in England. Desperately trying to make this strange country home, the last thing she expects is to fall in love. But when she meets fellow refugee Peter, she is surprised by how quickly his gentle smile and warm brown eyes help her forget the horrors she left behind.
Their affection deepens quickly, and Rosa grows fearful. Should she now tell Peter about the terrible decisions she was forced to make to survive in Germany, or simply pray he never finds out?
But, Deep down, she begins to realise that she must tell him the truth…
Before she can, Rosa is sent to a remote internment camp on the Isle of Man. When fate finally reunites her with Peter, her past is threatening to catch up with her. With time running out before her secret is revealed, Rosa must make an impossible choice….....and Pete's and Rosa's relationship survive? WoW!
This book is beautifully written and you will be gripped from the beginning till the end.
I highly recommend this book......another 5 star book from Kate.
Big Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
April 12, 2024
THE GIRL WITH A SECRET is the second novel in The Emerald Sisters series by KATE HEWITT. There is quite a bit of repetitian of book one in the first seven chapters, but this time things are looked at from Rosa and her family’s persective. This means the novel can easily be read as a stand alone, although I suggest you read the first novel as it is really worth reading.
It is heartbreaking to see how the Jews were treated by the Nazis, but there is hope as we see how Rosa Herzelfeld and her family make the best of their new life in England after their ship was turned back from Cuba.
All through her hardships Rosa holds tightly to the piece of emerald that unites her to her three friends, looking forward to reuniting with them in at Henri’s when the war is over.
From prison on the Isle of Man, where she and her family are sent because of her father’s dealings with the Nazis, to Cockfosters Camp where she finds Peter Gelb who she became friendly with in London during her time of learning English at the Jewish Day Centre and washing dishes at the Lyons tearoom, she works hard for her family and for the British war effort, but “She could never forget the prison of her memories,” and is afraid her secret will come out……
The novel is full of emotion and psychological warfare. There is also forgiveness and a sense of restoration and new beginnings.
I am looking forward to book three in the series.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.
It is heartbreaking to see how the Jews were treated by the Nazis, but there is hope as we see how Rosa Herzelfeld and her family make the best of their new life in England after their ship was turned back from Cuba.
All through her hardships Rosa holds tightly to the piece of emerald that unites her to her three friends, looking forward to reuniting with them in at Henri’s when the war is over.
From prison on the Isle of Man, where she and her family are sent because of her father’s dealings with the Nazis, to Cockfosters Camp where she finds Peter Gelb who she became friendly with in London during her time of learning English at the Jewish Day Centre and washing dishes at the Lyons tearoom, she works hard for her family and for the British war effort, but “She could never forget the prison of her memories,” and is afraid her secret will come out……
The novel is full of emotion and psychological warfare. There is also forgiveness and a sense of restoration and new beginnings.
I am looking forward to book three in the series.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.
April 30, 2024
Rosa's Secret
This is the second book in the Emerald Sister's Series. A story of four friends that meet on the ill fated ship the S.S. St. Louis which left Berlin with thousands of Jewish refugees on board for Cuba. On the boat four girls made close friends, sharing a sliver of an emerald Sophie split in fours they call themselves the Emerald Sisters. They vow to meet again once the war is over.
This, the second book in the series, is about Rosa. She escaped on the St. Louis with her parents. When Cuba does not take in the refugees different countries divide them. Rosa is sent to England. Her family has a secret that she does not want anyone to find out regarding the Nazi's and her father.
When Rosa meets fellow immigrant Peter she becomes close friends and is afraid he will find out about her secret, then she is sent to The Isle of Man to an internment camp for German's. She makes her way back to England as a translator and when she meets Peter again she is very happy. Then something happens to bring her secret from Germany to the surface and could spoil everything between her and Peter.
It is a story of secrets, romance and a young girl trying to make her way in a world that is foreign to her in customs and language.
I enjoyed this book two of the series very much and now await book three.
Thanks to Kate Hewitt for writing a great story and for Amazon for having a kindle edition affordable for me to purchase.
This is the second book in the Emerald Sister's Series. A story of four friends that meet on the ill fated ship the S.S. St. Louis which left Berlin with thousands of Jewish refugees on board for Cuba. On the boat four girls made close friends, sharing a sliver of an emerald Sophie split in fours they call themselves the Emerald Sisters. They vow to meet again once the war is over.
This, the second book in the series, is about Rosa. She escaped on the St. Louis with her parents. When Cuba does not take in the refugees different countries divide them. Rosa is sent to England. Her family has a secret that she does not want anyone to find out regarding the Nazi's and her father.
When Rosa meets fellow immigrant Peter she becomes close friends and is afraid he will find out about her secret, then she is sent to The Isle of Man to an internment camp for German's. She makes her way back to England as a translator and when she meets Peter again she is very happy. Then something happens to bring her secret from Germany to the surface and could spoil everything between her and Peter.
It is a story of secrets, romance and a young girl trying to make her way in a world that is foreign to her in customs and language.
I enjoyed this book two of the series very much and now await book three.
Thanks to Kate Hewitt for writing a great story and for Amazon for having a kindle edition affordable for me to purchase.
April 12, 2024
The Girl with a Secret is part of The Emerald Sisters Series by Kate Hewitt. Having written several WWII historical fiction novels, this author explores some less common events pre and during the war. In 1939 Rosa Herzelfeld boards the SS St Louis hoping to leave Germany and the Nazis behind but does not land where she had hoped. Now in England, she tries to settle in with this new place and life.
This is a sweet love story in the middle of the political uproar and the horrors of the war. Still Rosa has secrets that she tries desperately to keep from Peter, a fellow refugee, and others there in England. Rosa and Peter were my favorite characters but Rosa’s parents not so very much. They seemed to be the typical kind of wealthy people that are often portrayed in books. Ones who have some entitlement issues and high views of themselves. After fleeing Germany I found this to be sad.
The Girl with a Secret is an eye-opening addition to the Emerald Sisters Series. One that will cause you smile one minute and shake your head the next. Still it did seem to be an authentic look at what happened during those dark days where Jews were persecuted in Germany and unwanted abroad. Read today.
This is a sweet love story in the middle of the political uproar and the horrors of the war. Still Rosa has secrets that she tries desperately to keep from Peter, a fellow refugee, and others there in England. Rosa and Peter were my favorite characters but Rosa’s parents not so very much. They seemed to be the typical kind of wealthy people that are often portrayed in books. Ones who have some entitlement issues and high views of themselves. After fleeing Germany I found this to be sad.
The Girl with a Secret is an eye-opening addition to the Emerald Sisters Series. One that will cause you smile one minute and shake your head the next. Still it did seem to be an authentic look at what happened during those dark days where Jews were persecuted in Germany and unwanted abroad. Read today.
March 10, 2024
This is book two in the Emerald Sisters Series and I would recommend reading book one first. Book two starts up exactly where book two ends except from a different girls POV.
The Girl with a Secret is Rosa’s story. After getting denied entry to Cuba she finds herself in England with her privileged parents. While Rosa grew up with money, I like that she realized that her past privileges do not matter in England and if she wants to keep her family safe she must earn some money. She is able to see that her past life is not her future. She must make a new life and accept that her past could affect her future.
Rosa’s relationship with Peter was unique. They met at an English class and their friendship grew. I felt like it lagged a little and could have moved a little quicker. But there is the threat of war in England, so being cautious is understandable also. I like that their relationship moved slowly and carefully with the knowledge that their future is very unknown.
The Girl with a Secret is a great second book in this series. I am excited to see what happens next and if all 4 girls will ever be back together.
The Girl with a Secret is Rosa’s story. After getting denied entry to Cuba she finds herself in England with her privileged parents. While Rosa grew up with money, I like that she realized that her past privileges do not matter in England and if she wants to keep her family safe she must earn some money. She is able to see that her past life is not her future. She must make a new life and accept that her past could affect her future.
Rosa’s relationship with Peter was unique. They met at an English class and their friendship grew. I felt like it lagged a little and could have moved a little quicker. But there is the threat of war in England, so being cautious is understandable also. I like that their relationship moved slowly and carefully with the knowledge that their future is very unknown.
The Girl with a Secret is a great second book in this series. I am excited to see what happens next and if all 4 girls will ever be back together.
April 14, 2024
This is the second in a series and as much as I loved the first I think this one blew me away even more! I’ve read plenty of WWII historical fiction, there is so much to know and so many different perspectives on things and this book taught me more that I didn’t know.
Rosa and her family board the SS St Louis, leaving Germany for Cuba, as Jews who want to escape Hitler’s rule. Unfortunately they are turned away from Cuba and become refugees in the UK. As Britain goes to war with Germany, Rosa and her family and friends are interviewed by the authorities as they start to class how much of a danger, German Jewish refugees are to the country.
Rosa’s story is a complicated one, and I felt Kate Hewitt did an amazing job of battling with her conflicting emotions about herself, her family and those involved in war. We see Rosa start over numerous times and it reminded me of the amazing resilience people in her position had.
This is another different take on what happened during war times and I loved it. I also loved the focus on friendship, forgiveness and self development. I can’t recommend this series enough for historical fiction lovers and I’m hoping there’s another one to come as I love the characters!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rosa and her family board the SS St Louis, leaving Germany for Cuba, as Jews who want to escape Hitler’s rule. Unfortunately they are turned away from Cuba and become refugees in the UK. As Britain goes to war with Germany, Rosa and her family and friends are interviewed by the authorities as they start to class how much of a danger, German Jewish refugees are to the country.
Rosa’s story is a complicated one, and I felt Kate Hewitt did an amazing job of battling with her conflicting emotions about herself, her family and those involved in war. We see Rosa start over numerous times and it reminded me of the amazing resilience people in her position had.
This is another different take on what happened during war times and I loved it. I also loved the focus on friendship, forgiveness and self development. I can’t recommend this series enough for historical fiction lovers and I’m hoping there’s another one to come as I love the characters!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 15, 2024
The Girl with a Secret is a wonderful addition to The Emerald Sisters series and I loved it! Rosa Herzelfeld boards the SS St Louis, hoping to escape the Nazis. Finding herself alone in England Rosa holds onto her precious Emerald and thinks of her three friends praying that they are all safe. In this book I was thinking the answers to my questions would be answered but unfortunately I don't think they will until the last book of the series. This of course makes me eager for the rest of the series. I love that the characters are are four headstrong girls and Rosa I suspect is the strongest I liked her determination and dedication to fight for what she believes is right. The plot is about war, the Nazis and how the Jewish were unfairly treated. It also features friendship, love and family drama. It is nothing like The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley but for some reason it reminds me of that series so if you enjoyed reading The Seven Sisters then I would highly recommend The Girl with a Secret.
October 13, 2024
I am enjoying this series of 4 girls who met on a ship leaving Germany because they were Jewish. Each girl faces life and tries to come to terms with what is happening to the Jewish people. In this story, Rosa is sent to England as the SS St Louis was returned to Europe instead of deporting in Cuba. Rosa and her parents are taken to a flat and told their rent was paid for a month. Rosa’s parents are dysfunctional so Rosa finds work to support them. Suddenly, her father is called and sent to an interment camp. Roda is also sent. There she questions her parents and her life. She is given a chance to help her new country by translating German into English. So begins Rosa life of helping the war for England. There is much sole searching, some romance and coming to accept her and her parents. I look forward to the next story and hope the final story brings them all together. As with the last story, it abruptly ends and you never get to know what happens to the girl or if she ever gets to meet up with her friends from the ship.
March 31, 2024
*Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book*
The Girl With a Secret is the second part of The Emerald Sisters series, and this book starts at exactly the same place the first book started, but this time with Rosa’s POV.
The book was a bit slow to start since it felt like I was rereading the same story and it was a tad redundant, but it did pick up for me after a while. I felt myself connecting with the characters. The author really drew me in with the complicated relationship Rosa had with her parents, and her inner struggle with the decisions she and her father made at the start of the war when they were still at home in Berlin.
The growth of the characters, as well as the sweet love story between Rosa and Peter had me invested. I will be looking forward to the third book in the series and I’m very curious to see how the author will bring it all together in the end.
The Girl With a Secret is the second part of The Emerald Sisters series, and this book starts at exactly the same place the first book started, but this time with Rosa’s POV.
The book was a bit slow to start since it felt like I was rereading the same story and it was a tad redundant, but it did pick up for me after a while. I felt myself connecting with the characters. The author really drew me in with the complicated relationship Rosa had with her parents, and her inner struggle with the decisions she and her father made at the start of the war when they were still at home in Berlin.
The growth of the characters, as well as the sweet love story between Rosa and Peter had me invested. I will be looking forward to the third book in the series and I’m very curious to see how the author will bring it all together in the end.
March 17, 2024
Wow...Rosa Herzelfeld, from the SS St. Louis, is the girl with a secret in this second book and it was much darker than I could have imagined. Even meeting her strangely glamorous parents in the first book didn't prepare me adequately. That said, this story takes us completely through the shameful voyage of the SS St. Louis and the despair of the passengers is palpable, as are the deteriorating living conditions when they are refused entry in port after port. Rosa's family ends up in England in decidedly poorer circumstances than they are used to...and then things rapidly get worse. Because they arrived in England in 1938, we are given fascinating insights into the lives of Jewish refugees before the war and in particular, German refugees when they were rounded up as enemy aliens once war was declared. (If you've read about the Anschluss in Vienna, you'll recognize Colonel Kendrick from the British Passport Office when he meets with Rosa for "war work.")
In addition to the compelling historical information threaded throughout this story, Rosa and her mother's personal epiphanies will resonate with many women readers. As in the first book, this one begins with a prologue with three of the girls meeting at the Paris cafe as planned. I had hoped to figure out who didn't make it but...nope, I still don't know. We are given this tidbit when one of the unidentified girls says: "I never expected her to give her life for me...but she did." Like the first book, this one ends long before the end of the war with Rosa starting down a new and dangerous road. The emerald shard has become a talisman of hope & endurance. I look forward to reading another piece of the puzzle in the next book but I'll be sure to have a fresh box of tissues when I do. I highly recommend this gripping story.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital ARC. All opinions and the review are entirely my own.
In addition to the compelling historical information threaded throughout this story, Rosa and her mother's personal epiphanies will resonate with many women readers. As in the first book, this one begins with a prologue with three of the girls meeting at the Paris cafe as planned. I had hoped to figure out who didn't make it but...nope, I still don't know. We are given this tidbit when one of the unidentified girls says: "I never expected her to give her life for me...but she did." Like the first book, this one ends long before the end of the war with Rosa starting down a new and dangerous road. The emerald shard has become a talisman of hope & endurance. I look forward to reading another piece of the puzzle in the next book but I'll be sure to have a fresh box of tissues when I do. I highly recommend this gripping story.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital ARC. All opinions and the review are entirely my own.
April 16, 2024
The Girl with a Secret (The Emerald Sisters Book 2) by Kate Hewitt
You can still read this as a standalone, but somehow it's continuing with book 1. When I started to read the book, I just realised how much I missed the ladies in the book! Imagine the lady was refused to enter Cuba during the WW2 time. What Rosa wanted to do was to survive and be safe. After being refused to Cuba, she then accepted in a new country to her, England. The unknown future did not stop her from having hope. The story then started a new romantic line after she met Peter!
I enjoyed the book 2 a lot. It's always emotional to read it. The characters were likeable and smartly created. This was not a long historical fiction. Fast-paced and I just kept flipping the pages!
Many thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for my copy.
Pub date: April 12, 2024
You can still read this as a standalone, but somehow it's continuing with book 1. When I started to read the book, I just realised how much I missed the ladies in the book! Imagine the lady was refused to enter Cuba during the WW2 time. What Rosa wanted to do was to survive and be safe. After being refused to Cuba, she then accepted in a new country to her, England. The unknown future did not stop her from having hope. The story then started a new romantic line after she met Peter!
I enjoyed the book 2 a lot. It's always emotional to read it. The characters were likeable and smartly created. This was not a long historical fiction. Fast-paced and I just kept flipping the pages!
Many thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for my copy.
Pub date: April 12, 2024
February 22, 2025
Book 2 of The Emerald Book series follows the life of Rosa and her family German Jews who were accepted in Great Britain after The ship St. Louis that was transporting 1000 Jews to Havana and ended up being refused entry into their waters. Rosa’s Dad was a doctor in Germany who treated and befriended high ranking Nazi’s hoping to give his family some protection. This ended up backfiring on him. They were treated better than if they had remained in Germany however were incarcerated. Rosa took advantage of the education, English classes, etc and this made her a much needed translator to help the British decipher German transcripts. Family issues combined with Nazi Germany trying to take over Europe and a new life makes this a very interesting read. The author does an excellent job of seamlessly going from plot to plot. Anxious to start Bk 3.
April 10, 2024
Another compelling read by Kate Hewitt. Rosa, the second of the Emerald Sisters, finally makes it to London. Life is very tough for Rosa & her family. It takes unexpected turns because of her father’s, & even her own, past in Germany with the Nazis before the war. She is given the chance to be involved in the war effort. The twists & turns are clever, & the characters are interesting. Rosa’s parents finally sort themselves out & become useful. The book ends rather suddenly before events are decided. I’m unsure as to whether this story is to be continued in another book.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley & Bookouture. I am writing a voluntary honest review
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley & Bookouture. I am writing a voluntary honest review
March 16, 2024
A unforgettable and heartbreaking story. The resilience and impossible choices that had to be made.
The historical information aspect was very interesting and eye opening to read about.
As in the first book, the journey we are taken on is gripping and fascinating.
Searching for the promise of freedom and second chances.
This is the second book in the Emerald Sisters series. I do recommend reading the first book.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
The historical information aspect was very interesting and eye opening to read about.
As in the first book, the journey we are taken on is gripping and fascinating.
Searching for the promise of freedom and second chances.
This is the second book in the Emerald Sisters series. I do recommend reading the first book.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 27, 2024
Four young Jewish women meet in 1939 aboard the St Louis, the ship that took one thousand Jews from Germany to Cuba, where they were denied entry. Sent back to Europe, Rosa and her pompous parents are granted refuge in England.
Sophie was sponsored by someone in the US, Hannah goes to France, and Rachel is accepted in the Netherlands. This is book two in the series. I have not read book one, which is Sophie’s story. After a rough start, Rosa’s life improves, but we’ll need books three and four to know how she and the others manage through the war.
March 28, 2024
I had been eagerly waiting this second book in the Emerald Sisters Series, and I was not disappointed . It is such a beautifully written portrayal of the injustices faced by the Jewish people during WWII. While not overly graphic, the story is rich in feelings, relationships, loss, and at times hope. This is the story of the second friend, Rosa, one of the Emerald Sisters, separated from the others but with a promise to reunite after the war.
A must read for all those who enjoy historical fiction. I cannot wait for the third book.
A must read for all those who enjoy historical fiction. I cannot wait for the third book.
April 7, 2024
This is the second book in a series and although I haven’t read the first book, I was able to understand this story anyway. It was a bit slow though and I felt like it stopped very abruptly and so I’m thinking that it would be better to read the whole series together so that the story flows. I quite liked the main character of Rosa and will be interested to see what happens to her and the other friends she met on the boat leaving Germany in the next book. Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 11, 2024
In the second book in the series we learn Rosa’s story. Something bad that had happened to her back in Germany is alluded to several times in the first chapters. What I thought it was way off the mark.
I liked the character development between Rosa and her parents and then how her mother really came into her own.
My heart ached for all the passengers on board the SS St. Louis and Hewitt gives a good rendition with a full range of emotions.
Hewitt never steers me wrong!
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the early copy.
I liked the character development between Rosa and her parents and then how her mother really came into her own.
My heart ached for all the passengers on board the SS St. Louis and Hewitt gives a good rendition with a full range of emotions.
Hewitt never steers me wrong!
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the early copy.
April 9, 2024
After reading the first story in this series I was curious about the other girls who met at the St Louis, the ship with all the Jews that were denied access to Cuba. This story is about Rosa, she has a secret, will that help or harm her in the next years?
This series can best be read in order so you have the story of all four girls. I love the character development from her and her parents and that not all is what it seems. I hope I don’t have to wait long for the rest of the story.
This series can best be read in order so you have the story of all four girls. I love the character development from her and her parents and that not all is what it seems. I hope I don’t have to wait long for the rest of the story.
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