A Time for Defiance

by James D. Shipman

In this gripping, high-stakes novel of World War II, the bestselling author of Before the Storm draws on real events to tell the story of one woman’s daring role in the Dutch resistance as part of a most unusual taskforce.

May 1940: In the months since the war in Europe began, nineteen-year-old Aafke Cruyssen and her family have tried to carry on as normal—running their modest grocery store in Eindhoven, hoping that Germany will leave Holland alone as it did during the Great War.
But this time, Holland will not be spared. The invasion comes, swift and merciless, and Dutch forces are easily overpowered. In Eindhoven, a valuable transport and trade hub, Nazi soldiers swagger through the streets. Aafke’s one glimpse of humanity comes from a young German corporal who intervenes when a gang of looters tries to rob her family’s shop.

Aafke joins the Dutch resistance and is drawn into a relationship with its charismatic leader. Wanting more than the menial missions assigned to women, she and her friends create a taskforce of their own—a “dating club” where women target Nazis, luring them to their arrest or death. Discovery by the Gestapo will mean torture and execution. Just as dangerous is the reappearance of the soldier who once helped her family. Otto Berg is now an influential Nazi commando, intrigued by Aafke’s fragile courage.

As the conflict deepens, so does Aafke’s quandary. The tides of war continue to bring her and Otto into each other’s circles. And beyond the battles that make history are countless sacrifices and unthinkable choices she must make for the sake of the resistance, and to save her own life and those she loves.

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II

370 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 26, 2024

Reviews

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aafke Cruyssen and her father Maarten have been busy running their grocery store in Eindhoven, Holland and hoping the German's will leave them alone like they did in The Great War and the country can remain neutral.

This doesn't happen, the Dutch forces including her brother Christiaan who’s been called up are overpowered on the 15th of May 1940 and the government and royal family flee Holland.

A family friend Arno points out to Aafke food is going to be scarce, while she tries to hide as much of their stock as she can a gang of looters breaks into the shop and Corporal Otto Berg steps in and stops them. Not what Aafke is expecting from a German soldier, soon she has to decide how she's going to survive and what she’s going to do, Aafke has two choices go along with the Nazi’s or join the resistance and fight back.

Aafke joins a group who are sneaking around at night, after curfew and they meet in a derelict cottage in the woods. The women get tired of the men taking the leading roles in acts of sabotage and rebellion and they decide to create a “dating club” where they target German soldiers, lure them away and deliver them to the resistance. Aafke forgets about Otto the German soldier, but he has never stopped thinking about her, as he moves up the ranks and is awarded medals for his bravery and becomes a Nazi commando.

Otto is from Munich, like many young German men he joined the army, he thought it was the right thing to do, Otto was prepared to fight but not break the humanitarian rules of combat and treatment of POW’s, he doesn’t agree with all Hitler’s ideas and especially towards Jewish people and he can’t tell anyone.

I received a copy of A Time for Defiance from Edelweiss Plus and Kensington publishing in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Author James D. Shipman writes fast paced historical fiction based around true events and facts.

This time it's told from the points of view of a young Dutch woman, a German soldier and he explores what’s just and fair during a war, can truly trust anyone and someone on the same side and can good people change, and turn on you, including family and friends?

I highly recommend A Time for Defiance and the author's previous novel Before the Storm and Mr. Shipman writes war stories that are extremely realistic and powerful and four and a half stars from me.

[Tami Gandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gripping yet sad story follows a teenage girl, Aafke that lives with her drunk father over a grocery store they run in Eindhoven in Holland. They hope the war will not reach them but unfortunately it does as the town is a valuable transport and trade hub.

The villagers get wind of their village will be soon taken over by the Germans. A young German Corporal intervenes when a gang of looters tries to rob their family store. Before that occurred they moved a lot of their supplies up to their apartment over the store. Aafke is mistreated verbally and sometimes physically by her father.

She runs away to join the Dutch resistance. She and her friends create a task force of their own where women lure Nazis to their death or arrest.

Aafke continues to run into Otto Berg the soldier that helped her family in the beginning. He is wounded gravely and ends up in a hospital. The story ends with the two reuniting as Aafke is working in a hospital where Otto is recovering.

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

[Sue Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in holland during WWll. An awful father who is self centered, physically, verbally and emotional abusive plus narcissistic. A man who betrays her and a man who loves her and saves her while she saves him.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very suspenseful novel full of surprises!!!! I enjoyed the storyline as it explicitly showed not to trust appearances... Rather thought provoking as to the work of a German soldier as opposed to that of a Nazi. Easy to generalize the duties of both as many people do. I really hated some characters and really loved others who showed seldom integrity and conscience... A great novel which has kept me up most of last night!
I received a digital copy from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.#

[Ginny · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my opinion not a very good book. I do not like to read about women who think they can't survive without a man no matter how they treat them. Otto's side of the story was somewhat interesting but could not carry the book.

[Felicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aafke Cruyssen and her father Maarten have been busy running their grocery store in Eindhoven, Holland and hoping the German's will leave them alone like they did in The Great War and the country can remain neutral.

This doesn't happen, the Dutch forces including her brother Christiaan who’s been called up are overpowered on the 15th of May 1940 and the government and royal family flee Holland.

A family friend Arno points out to Aafke food is going to be scarce, while she tries to hide as much of their stock as she can a gang of looters breaks into the shop and Corporal Otto Berg steps in and stops them. Not what Aafke is expecting from a German soldier, soon she has to decide how she's going to survive and what she’s going to do, Aafke has two choices go along with the Nazi’s or join the resistance and fight back.

Aafke joins a group who are sneaking around at night, after curfew and they meet in a derelict cottage in the woods. The women get tired of the men taking the leading roles in acts of sabotage and rebellion and they decide to create a “dating club” where they target German soldiers, lure them away and deliver them to the resistance. Aafke forgets about Otto the German soldier, but he has never stopped thinking about her, as he moves up the ranks and is awarded medals for his bravery and becomes a Nazi commando.

Otto is from Munich, like many young German men he joined the army, he thought it was the right thing to do, Otto was prepared to fight but not break the humanitarian rules of combat and treatment of POW’s, he doesn’t agree with all Hitler’s ideas and especially towards Jewish people and he can’t tell anyone.

I really enjoyed reading this book.

[Janet McGuire · Rating 4 out of 5]

An historical novel set during WWII in Holland in 1940.
Aafke, who is 12, the local grocery store in Eindhoven, Netherlands. It is the family grocery but her mother has just passed away and her brother is fighting in the War!
This leaves Aafke and her father to run the store. Her father is no help to her and at the age of 12 she has taken on a lot of responsibility as her father remains in their apartment above store sleeping and drinking. Her father constantly belittles her and tells her she is no good. A family friend, Arno, has promised her father that he will help keeping the shelves in the store full of groceries. It becomes a hardship as the Nazi’s have commandeered the groceries for themselves. They walk in without paying and leave the shelves bare. One day a young German soldier, Otto, comes in the store with his friends. Otto does not like the way they are treating Aafke and speaks up. Otto must leave but he holds Aafke in his heart and will try and keep her from harm. Arno and Aafke eventually develop a romantic friendship. Arno shows Aafke where he gets the provisions he give her. Arno belongs in the Dutch Resistance and eventually Aafke joins also to help in the cause and because of her lover, Arno, is part of the movement. Otto tries to check on Aafke anytime he comes to Enidhove. Eventually he moves there as the Nazi’s have a headquarters there and he can help Aafke if she needs his help.
I’m not going to go into the twists and turns that the story takes. It is a fast paced book of adventure and history. I have never read anything else by James D. Shipman but after reading this book, I have put his other books on my TBR list.

[Jennifer Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

James D. Shipman’s A Time for Defiance takes us to Eindhoven, Netherlands where the sudden occupation of the country brings Aafke and Otto, a German officer, to each other when he steps in to stop looters at her father’s grocery store. The story continues to tell each of their paths during World War II with Aafke joining the Dutch Resistance and Otto fiercely fighting - the war and his conscience about what his homeland is doing to people during the war. Through the story, they find each other again more at Otto’s perseverance in seeing her. Aafke prefers not to be seen with him due to what her missions are within the Resistance.

Otto is a character that you find hoping will see the end of the war alive and bonded to Aafke, whom he never gives up on no matter how much she tries to push him away. Aafke feels she has a lot to prove as a woman trying to take part in getting freedom for the Netherlands. Shipman also has some distasteful characters in Aafke’s father and her fellow Resistance fighter, Arno, who displays similarly abusive traits. Overall, I enjoyed the book and reading about the war from a male writer’s perspective since I seem to read more female authors. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book will be published on November 26, 2024.

#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #ATimeforDefiance #JamesDShipman #KensingtonPublishing

[Judy Odom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Time for Defiance is the suspenseful tale of the invasion of Holland by the German soldiers in WW2

Aafke runs her family grocery store but that all changes when the Nazi's arrive in town and take over.

Tension is high among the citizens of Eindhoven and when there is a run on the store for goods, chaos results and Otto a German soldier rescues Aafke from total disaster.

Their paths will cross throughout the war and this special connection is always present.

Tension mounts as the underground fights back against their invaders and Aafke joins the ranks.

Things do not go as planned and Aafke soon learns that she never really knew her friends.

We also see the war from Otto's perspective and though he is the enemy he does abide by rules .

James Shipman does an excellent job of making the reader feel the tension and he has you holding your breath for both Otto and Aafke.

This is my first but not last book by James Shipman and I highly recommend you grab your copy of A Time for Defiance and settle in for a captivating read.

Please take time to read the author's notes at the end of the book , they add so much to the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing/Kensington for the privilege of reading and reviewing A Time for Defiance.

[virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first book I read by James D. Shipman. A Time for Defiance was interesting, but it took me several weeks to finish. Although I liked the story between Aafke and Otto, I found the other characters dull and uninteresting.

The setting was the Netherlands as the Germans invaded, which the author portrayed well; the story failed to pull me in. Some decisions the characters made seemed unrealistic, given the punishments they may have faced, which left me questioning the believability and realism of the story.

The author offers a glimpse into another part of the war I always wanted to read more about, which is what kept me reading along with the perseverance and courage of the main characters despite the orders and horrors they faced.

This book was a three-star read as I struggled through the narrative a few bits at a time. But if you like learning about previously unknown aspects of WWII, this is an enlightening historical fiction read.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and Net Galley for the E-book ARC. My review is voluntary and mine alone.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Time for Defiance by James Shipman was the first book I have read by this author. Since I like historical fiction that shines light on little-known aspects of WWII, I thought I would like this book. The plot about a young Dutch woman who helps the resistance sounded compelling, but the execution of the story fell flat for me.

I found the characters and the actions they took to be unbelievable, compared to other fiction and non-fiction books I've read about WWII. I appreciated some of the themes the book explored: following orders vs. following one's own conscience, loyalty, courage to stand up for oneself and others, resilience and persistence.


Thank you for Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[R J Mckay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Goodreads in exchange for a review.

Most books about World War II seem to center around Germany or France. The focus in ‘A Time for Defiance’ is Holland. It’s a fast-moving plot the pulls on the readers heart-strings as the story follows the life of Aafka Cruyssen, a young Dutch woman who has to navigate a world gone horribly wrong. From the strong personality of Arno, the resistance fighter, to Otto, the German corporal who is stationed in Eindhoven for a time, and an alcoholic father who blames her for everything bad, Aafka is pushed and pulled in every direction. There are friends that will turn into enemies in the blink of an eye and enemies that will become friends. It is a book you won’t want to put down.

[Daiva]

James D. Shipman has a degree in history, so he knows the events he's writing about.
Without talking too much about the plot, I'd just like to jump straight to my thoughts.
An honest Waffen-SS soldier, who's not completely brainwashed and questioning morals? Well I was expecting author's notes on that one (and yes, found them, thank you).
Horrible treatment of a woman - not from the enemy, but from those who are supposed to be closest to her - that was impossible to read without lots and lots of anger. But, unfortunately, historically accurate.
Overall, well written, easy to read (except for annoying a**hole characters and a few details that didn't quite connect, but I won't list it, you might find it yourselves).

[Marion Defnet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character, Aafke and her abusive father run a grocery store in Eindhoven, Holland. Germany did not invade Holland during the Great War but overtook the country during World War 2. Due to her father's alcoholism and inability to run the grocery store, they soon lose it. Aafke has to find other employment to keep her father and herself alive. Her childhood friend, Arno, helped them when possible. When Aafke figures out he's in the resistance, she joins his group. A German soldier, Otto, is in and out of her life throughout the war.

I enjoyed reading about Holland's part in the war and the Dutch's resistance groups. Aafke was a shy quiet, abused woman who found courage and a way to fight back against the Germans and her abusers.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves Historical Fiction. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the advanced copy.

[Myranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a 4.5 rounded up to 5 for me. Really the biggest part was because the chapter titles were in another language and not all of them would translate on my Kindle. Since that is where I was reading it, I was relying on the translate feature but they would either be German, Danish, Dutch, or an error. The characters were great to described vividly as is the war scenes. I did get some flash backs to watching some of Band of Brothers (I won't say what scenes in particular but there were a few). Definitely recommend if you're looking for a good historical fiction.

Full review on my website on Tuesday 11.26.24
www.mommodeloading.com

[Katie Beene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as part of the Goodreads giveaways, and I really enjoyed it. There were some points where the story dragged a little but overall, the characters were compelling, and the story drew the reader into the story. It is difficult to not be sympathetic to both Aafka's and Otto's stories and their shared reactions to the atrocities of war. Furthermore, the strong dislike and distaste for the unseemly characters helped balance the story and made the protagonists' stories even stronger. James D. Shipman does an excellent job showing the complicated nature of war and how there can be good and bad on any side of any conflict.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

In A Time for Defiance, James D. Shipman immerses us in the tension and moral complexity of Nazi-occupied Holland through the eyes of nineteen-year-old Aafke Cruyssen. When her everyday world shatters under invasion, Aafke joins a covert women’s network that lures and captures Nazi officers. Shipman’s subtle, evocative prose brings each character to life, honoring the often-overlooked contributions of women in wartime espionage. This concise yet powerful narrative stands as a moving testament to resilience, courage, and the intricate shades of human choice.

[Kaya ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was going along with this book just fine until about 70 percent through, and then I just completely lost my patience with it (and switched to audiobook because I just wanted it to be done already).

My main problem was really that I couldn’t stand Aafke. If I had to read about her saying “Oh Arno” one more time and throwing her arms around him weeping, I was going to puke. Everything about her felt extremely like a woman written by a man.

I also got really sick of all of the genuinely terrible people in this book. The amount of manipulative jerks in here was draining. That is exactly what I pick up a book to escape from, not read about.

And also, where was the romance in this? It was basically nonexistent (in fact, she’s with another guy for the majority of the book) until the very end. And then when it did happen, it felt so forced. Like, you two literally do not know each other at all. Otto deserved better.

3.25 stars.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from a Giveaway here on Gpoodreads with the promise of reviewing it. I enjoyed this suspenseful novel. I liked how the author weaved twists and turns in the chapters and how well he developed those characters. It had me reading this til the early morning hours. I highly recommend reading this novel, A TIME FOR DEFIANCE. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.

[TRICIA POTTER · Rating 5 out of 5]

powerful story!

Difficult story to read because of all the emotions that come into play. Well written story about the desperate struggles to survive in occupied Holland-war, brutality, courage, love, hate, betrayal, hunger and hope, to name a few. Most of all, I’m impressed with the commitment to honor and the bravery demonstrated by the two protagonists.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Holland during WW II, this historical fiction book tells the experience of Aafke Cruyssen. Her brother is sent to war, she helps her father run their store. He is verbally and physically abusive towards her. She joins the resistance with her friend, Arno. A Nazi commando, Otto, befriends her. Over time, Aafke is betrayed by those closest to her yet love tries to forge a path.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book through the Goodreads Giveaway. I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and had lots of twists and turns. I like how the chapters alternated between the two main characters while keeping the story moving aling. I will definitely read more of his books.

[Deanna]

This is a GREAT read! I could not put it down. I would read any book by James Shipman. It has a couple of unexpected twists and turns. I Enjoyed it. After reading this, I still think about the setting,
and how it changed people forever. LOVED the ending!

[Yolanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most read!

[Ron Frampton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of when Germany invades Holland and as war is seen by Aafke a dutch woman and Otto a German soldier.

[AMAO · Rating 5 out of 5]

💯💯💯

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book seemed to jump around with inconsistent details. My copy of the book is missing half of chapter 31 and all of chapter 32.

[Terry Yonkheym · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Hard to put down. Very educational.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this book blind& liked it significantly more than I thought I would.

[Doug Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel that shows there are “good” people on the “bad” side and “bad” people on the “ good” side in WWII Netherlands.