A Family Shattered

Michal's Destiny #2

by Roberta Kagan

Tavvi and Michal face many challenges in their relationship, but together, they build a life filled with love and mutual understanding. They now have a family with two beautiful daughters, Alina and Gilde, and a home brimming with happiness.

1938—Kristallnacht. Blood runs like a river through the streets, shattered glass covers the walkways of Jewish shops, and gangs of Nazi thugs rampage through Berlin in a murderous fury. When Tavvi, a strong-willed Jewish carpenter, tries to save his daughter's fiancé, he doesn't think of his own safety.

Little does Michal know that this act of bravery might mean she will never hold him in her arms again. In an instant, all the stones they laid together come crashing down, leaving them with nothing but the hope of finding each other again.

Readers are loving the heart-wrenching second installment of the Michal's Destiny Series:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Have your tissues ready for this one. It is a beautifully written story that makes you feel right alongside the characters. It was hard to put down and carry on with life. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to others.” – Goodreads reviewer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “An emotionally written story of love and sacrifice during WWII when families were torn apart by prison, death, and escape.” – Goodreads reviewer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “This well researched story will keep you captivated and anxious for the next book in the series.” – Netgalley Reviewer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Another great addition to the series of Michal's Destiny and an emotional read that goes straight to the heart.” – Netgalley Reviewer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I loved everything about it. It was so heartfelt and emotional. The author had a way of making the characters seem so real. I ended up connecting with them a lot.” – Netgalley Reviewer

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Holocaust, World War II, War, Jewish

306 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 10, 2024

About the author

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

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

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

Instagram:
RobertaKaganAuthor

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the first sequel in the Michal’s Destiny series, I looked forward to continuing this Holocaust based saga. As with its predecessor, I found the story to be gripping almost immediately. There are several protagonists to follow but the writing structure made it easy to understand. Unfortunately the publisher failed to spot some minor editing errors which can be distracting.

The authors depictions of Berlin during the Second World War appear accurate. Unlike some historical fiction wartime stories, this isn’t solely focused on one man and woman and their romance. The author doesn’t have an overly descriptive writing tone, which works for her books and means the story paces well.

I look forward to the final two instalments of this series and will likely continue to read other books by this author.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Family Shattered: Michal’s Destiny Series Book Two is written by Roberta Kagan. This book begins in 1938 and ends with the end of the war. How did the Jews who survived manage to survive? What happened to their hope? What about the Germans who were anti-Nazi, how did they manage? From Germany to the United States, Roberta follows Michal’s family.
When Kristallnacht occurred in November, 1938, it spelled the beginning of the shattering of Michal and Taavi’s family. The two had finally managed to come together and create their family. Their daughter Alina was now almost grown and was even being courted. Their second daughter, Gilde, was twelve. However, both had been the victims of Anti-Semitism. Alaina could not attend school to become a teacher, so she worked with Lotti, Taavi’s best friend and partner’s wife, at the Jewish Orphanage. Gilde had been bullied at school and ended up going to the school at the orphanage. Taavi had decided to sell his furniture business and try to get his family out of Germany. Of course, the family included Lotti and Lev. Then within hours, their lives were destroyed.
Alaina and her fiancé, Benny, were almost at Alaina’s when armed youths began beating a man across the street. Against Alaina’s pleas, Benny went over to help the man. Instead, he was beaten as well. Taavi, upon hearing what was going on, ran across to help Benny but was caught up in the mess and arrested. Benny was beaten to death. Michal went to the police station the next day to see if she could find out anything about Taavi. She provoked the police office she was talking to and was arrested and taken to Ravensbruk. Lotti and Lev stepped in to care for Alaina and Gilde. They had no idea where Taavi and Michal were.
What will happen to the girls and Lotti and Lev? How will they manage to live now that their world has been destroyed? Add that Lotti and Lev are breaking the law by being married since Lotti isn’t Jewish.
This book tells mostly Alaina’s story while the next in the series dwells on Gilde. The horrors of the war are experienced through the lives of the Margolis family and friends. Everything that happened to them can be documented by facts that have been exposed through research into the Holocaust. It is very realistic for a fiction. It is well worth reading to get an idea of what went on in their lives.

[Bevany · Rating 4 out of 5]

a touching continuation of this story. this is the second of the four part series. The characters continue to stay engaging and their stories are so moving.

[MW van Staden · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a disappointment. I bought this book because of the subject matter and there is no doubt that the Holocaust gives ample material for gripping personal histories. Unfortunately, the writer was not up to the task. It is a very basic requirement that a good writer does not tell, but show - Roberta Kagan does not show, she tells almost exclusively, immediately creating a distance between the events, the characters and the reader. In addition some of the events are so implausible it is laughable. Just one example: Caught without money in an unhappy marriage, a character builds up a nest egg by stealing a dollar or two per week from her despicable husband to support her and her child. He never suspects anything and he is portrayed as such a violent character that even suspicion of her theft would have created an outrage and possibly assault on her and and her child. The marriage only lasts a couple of years before she decides to leave him and they move in with a friend of hers who takes them in for free even though the house is also over crowded. The character is desperate for income and a job and even applies for a most definitely low paying job in a butcher's shop to survive (and she is even willing to stand outside in the rain until the lewd butcher can give attention to her application). Here in the rain she meets a prostitute and when they talk the character gets the good idea to open a brothel, which she promptly does. She persuades the prostitute and twelve of her friends to join - and suddenly she has stolen enough money from her husband to enable her to buy for cash a house big enough to house them all, as well as all the furniture and other things that go with it, including (for cash) a piano to set the right mood. There are many other examples. The subject matter had great potential, but the book is badly constructed and above all, badly written.

[Lisa Aiello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every time I crack open a book about this time in history, I am humbled. We must never forget it happened, even when it is so difficult to comprehend. I think it is somewhat easier to take in when written as fiction, because you can remove and protect yourself by saying "it's just a book", even when you know the horrors that happened and were part of peoples' lives and memories. I once again didn't pay attention that this was Book 2, so before jumping in I read the blurb of Book 1 and some reviews. I think this stands okay on it's own without having ready Book 1, but have no doubt the emotional impact would have been greater had I read it first. Regardless, I found this a very compelling story. I feel the author did considerably more telling than showing, but that worked just fine for me and the story.

[Debbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 2 begins in 1938 with Kristallnacht or "the night of broken glass" and tells the story of what happens to Michal and her family during the war. Much of it is tragic and sad. It's fiction but still you realize as you're reading that most of these things really happened to people.

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. Very much different than her previous books whereby the author explores a family dealing with the war when they escape to America. Great characters and wonderful storyline. One thing I love about her books is I learn something new about the war and the people who experienced it first hand. I am excited for the next book. One of my favorite authors! Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Jay Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I try to read every book available on WWII and the Holocaust. The stark evil on display and individual responses make for great reading and provide an emotional setting for a story. This book is the first I have encountered that manages to capture the evil environment very well without creating a compelling story. Yes, a family is shattered, but a few loose ends are left. Perhaps the next book in this series will provide more insight into the survivors.

[Linda Dickerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book 2 in this series

Another eye-opening novel by Roberta Kagan in this series. The atrocities these people suffered because of their beliefs is heart breaking. I realize this is fiction, however, there are many historical facts mixed in with the story line. I would highly recommend this book for story as well as History. I'm on to the third book now and looking forward to finding out about Gilde and her sister Alone after the end of the war.

[denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

!!

Roberta is the best author I have ever read. I have to wait till all books in a series is out before I start reading them. Roberta is fantastic, awesome.

[Bev Walkling · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is book 2 in a series by author Roberta Kagan. It was originally released in 2016 as far as I can tell but is now being released again. I don't know if any changes have been made since it was first released.

Readers could read this story without having read the first book as there a frequent looks back to what led each character back to where they are as the novel begins. I actually felt it was a little bit too repetitive as similar details were shared more than once.

This novel continues the story of what happened to Taavi and his wife Michal after Taavi was arrested on Kristallnacht and Michal left to search for him. The reader will also meet again with Lev & Lottie who are friends as close as family. Alina and Gilde, Michal and Taavi's children also have their stories updated although after Gilde is sent to England via Kindertransport, her story basically ends (for now)

Both Michal and Taavi faced incredible hardships after their captures. There are descriptions of how severe winters were for prisoners to the point where fingers and toes could easily fall off. I have not read that kind of detail in any other novel.

As a reader I can only imagine the desperation this family felt as they were separated from each other and had no control over when or where or even if, they would meet again. The author brings to light how heart breaking this was and sadly still is in too many countries currently at war. War is never good and happy endings are few and far between - even in this novel. Not all will survive. I found the ending of the novel was rather abrupt though I suspect more details will come with the third book in the series.

Many thanks to #NetGalley and The Book Whisperer for allowing me to read an advance copy and provide an unbiased review.

[Shirley McAllister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kristallnacht

Taavi and Michal finally found their way back together, and they now have a good life. Taavi and Lev own a furniture shop and have a good business. Michal and Taavi now have two daughters, Alina and Gilda. Everything is going good for them until the fatal night of Kristallnacht when all their lives were changed forever.

During Kristallnacht Taavi was arrested for trying to help Alina’s boyfriend when he was attacked by Hitler youth. Michal went to the police station to find out where Taavi was and try to get him home. Neither of them returned home.

Alina and Gilda went to live with Lev and Lotti until their parents returned. No one knew what had happened to Michal and Taavi.

This is book two in the series. It tells the story of Taavi, Michal, Alina and Gilda after Kristallnacht. It is a sad story. It also tells the story of Lev and Lotti and her brother Johan.

The story brings to life how horribly the Nazi’s treated the Jewish people. It tells of the horrors of the concentration camps and of the treatment of those gentiles that were married to Jewish people.

It is a story of courage and of survival. A story of mistakes, and of redemption for the mistakes. A story of life during one of the most difficult times in history and how two families worked to survive, although some did not.

You will need a few tissues to read this one, tears will fall as you read of the horrors inflicted on a group of people for no reason other than their religion, or their perceived differences to the Nazi’s.

It is a good story and you will be glad you read it. I recommend this story and I can’t wait for book 3 in the series.

I received a copy for free. The review and the words are my own.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Family Shattered by Roberta is the second in the evocative Michal's Destiny series. I do prefer it to the first book as the story grabbed me around the throat in a good way. Kagan is an auto-read author for me.

Kristellnacht in Berlin in World War II is torment for so many, especially the Jews whose only crime is their ethnicity and religion. Nazis torture, taunt, rape, maim and kill without compunction. One murder victim's father-in-law Tavvi desperately tries to help but he's dragged off to a work/murder camp. His wife, Michal, inquiries about him at the police station but the police are powerful and ruthless so she is forced to Ravensbrück. Meanwhile, one of their daughters is with friends an the other sent to Britain. Layers of horror are Michal's new "life". What she endures is nightmarish and agonizing, so many reasons to want to die, but she befriends a woman who encourages her. Insipid food descriptions, medical experiments, lice, nakedness, physical labour, freezing and murder were the Nazis' idea of sport at Auschwitz, too. Greed and power are strong motivators and millions suffered for it. Michal and Tavvi were out of their minds wondering where the other was and were willing to resort to anything to find out.

This time the author includes perspectives from camp guards which intrigued me. The story is harrowing and heart crushing in its brutality and parts are gritty and graphic. I don't need a book to end neatly and prettily. But some thoughts and ideas were repeated a few times which is unnecessary.

My sincere thank you to Book Whisperer and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this engrossing novel.

[Joyce Cacioppo stein · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Family Shattered by Roberta Kagan is the second book in the series Michal's Destiny. I just finished reading Michal's Destiny and since the book left me with so many unanswered questions, I felt I needed to read this one right to see what happened next. The book is more or less a continuation of Michal's and Tavvi's life during the Nazi regime in Germany. Being German Jews, the family's lives were in danger and they needed to do what they can to survive, Their daughter Alina was able to escape to America. She wound up marring twice, one resulting in death and the other was abusive. It goes into detail of how she was able to support herself after leaving her abusive husband and bring up her son Joseph alone. She has no idea what happened to her mother and father who were still in Germany, her sister Glide who was sent on one of the first transports to Britian, or their family's closest friends Lotti and Levi.

This book did not hold my interest as much as the first one. I felt that it was very wordy and found myself skipping sections that kept going on. It did eventually tell us what happened to the original characters Michal, Tavvi, Lotti and Levi during this terrible time in history, but those parts were brief. This book, as well as the first, did not have a finite ending, letting us know that there is more to come.

I would like to thank Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this pre-release.

[Trudy Dowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book two in the Michal's Destiny series. I had thought Michal's Destiny was an emotional read. I had thought I had cried all the tears. I had thought my disgust would not grow. I was wrong, so very wrong.

Michal's family has been broken apart. Taavi had tried to save his daughter's boyfriend during the Night of Broken Glass. They both paid the price. This book will take you through his struggles in a work camp after Taavi was taken away that night. You will feel his desperation to get back to his family. His life, although not really living, is a reminder of what happened.

The night Taavi went away, Michal went in search for her husband. For her, history repeats itself in many ways. If I thought her life could not get worse, I was wrong. Michal will know great suffering. She experienced horrors beyond imagination, but she never forgot her family.

A Family Shattered explores what it was like for many. Desperate times cause desperate measures. Following Michal's family touches on the suffering and the horrors of World War Two. The story is not an easy read, yet I found my self so engrossed that I couldn't close the book. I wanted to know what would be happening next. I wanted to see their strength and determination. My stomache is turning. My heart is breaking over what this story has shown.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Family Shattered by Roberta Kagan is the second in the Michal/Taavi series and to say it is a downer is putting it mildly. The only one that didn’t check in was Gilde, from England. For everyone else life is not going well. A powerfully written book, this brings the horror of this time period, not only in Germany, to the fore. It was well-written. The reader becomes so involved with these characters as we read, it is dreadful when things take a wrong turn. And they do. It would be inaccurate to have happily-ever-afters in a book about the Holocaust as there were so few, relatively. Excellent characters with a plot to match. Do not read it if you are a softie. It will make you cry.

Robert Kagan has found her niche and although I normally don’t read Holocaust books, I’ve had my fill, I make a couple of exceptions. One is Robert Kagan. We left the first book with Taavi arrested and shipped off and Michal going to the police station to see if she could get him released. She left her girls in the care of Lotte and Lev, who she knew would care for them. Things didn’t work out as hoped and the misery was palpable. Well written. Thanks for reminding us.

I was invited to read a Family Shattered by Book Whisperer. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BookWhisperer #RobertaKagan #AFamilyShattered

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the third book in Roberta Kagan’s Michal’s Destiny series, readers follow youngest daughter Gilde after her evacuation to England on the Kindertransport. Following her life over the course of World War II and the Blitz as she constantly wonders what happened to her parents and older sister Alina, readers discover how Gilde survived -- and occasionally thrived -- during the war years and in her own personal struggles, particularly in her relationships both platonic, familial, and romantic. With a strong emotional throughline and a fascinating series of relationships which are incredibly crucial to Gilde’s story, readers will be invested in her wartime narrative and her personal dynamics with the other complex and well-written characters in the novel. Readers will particularly enjoy her dynamics with her romantic partners and in how she finds ways to find personal fulfilment and security throughout the war and her adulthood. For those invested in Kagan’s other books and in the Margolis family saga, this third title brings World War II London to life in incredible detail, and Kagan’s character development is, of course, superb. Readers will be incredibly immersed in this new release because of its brilliant characters, complex character dynamics, and vibrant World War II setting.

Thanks to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for the advance copy.

[Eunice R · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is certainly appalling what human beings can do to other human beings. Roberta Kagan has graphically described it as such in this second book of the Michal's Destiny Series and it makes my heart cry. The nightmare that happened to the Jewish people in Hitler's Germany certainly shook families to their roots. Taavi, Michal, Alina and Gilde bore the brunt of it all. The title is so very appropo - A Family Shattered! Indeed.

I feel this work of historical fiction is not for the weak at heart. I cannot say I actually enjoyed this book due to the nature of the narrative but it is necessary for the story to be told. To know and realize all that happened to the various 'outcasts' of society and the impact on their 'innocent' Aryan citizens ... the horrors of reality.

~ Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger ~

October 2024

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

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

found this book looking for another and was not disappointed. i like WWII history and still to this day will never understand how people just pick another set of people and make then a minority. I will never get it. this book gave me an insight to what life was like for an ordinary family. ordinary people who were heroes in the most horrific circumstances. there are not words strong enough for the depths of depravity human beings put other human beings through and later said they were ordered. the reason i am an activist is to make sure things like this will never happen again and i personally will NEVER FORGET. my heart is broken for the people in these circumstances and the children now separated from their parent being treated like animals. every American needs to stand up for those being persecuted. this is who we are. do what you can. every small thing adds to a stack of big things.

[Stacey | read.with.stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Advanced Reader Copy through NetGalley. Book to release Oct 10, 2024.

I will preface this by saying that WW2 historical fiction is one of my favourite genres and I’ve read many books that I’ve loved. Unfortunately, this was not one of them.

The story itself had potential. It really did show the terrible struggles faced by people, particularly Jewish people, during WW2. However, I felt the ending of the book was a bit abrupt and we never got to know the outcome for a few of the characters in the book.

I did not enjoy the writing style at all. The sentences felt choppy. There was also too much repetition for me. For example, you’d learn something about a character in one chapter and then in the next chapter about that same character that same fact would be said again. It felt redundant to me and took away from the experience. I much prefer a show don’t tell type of reading experience.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book one in this series absolutely blew me away. Holocaust fiction very rarely gets 5 stars from ne, and yet Michal's Destiny did. So I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately for me it fell a little short. There were a couple of factual errors and timeline issues, which affected the story for me. I also found it slightly repetitive in places.

However, putting those aside it was a fantastic, and at times difficult read. Roberta doesn't shy away from the dark and gritty subject of being Jewish in Nazi Germany. In amongst the horrors of the camps, there were moments of beautiful friendship. I try to keep my reviews spoiler free, but the kindness that Bridget showed to Michal in Ravensbruck broke.

The title of this book, "A Family Shattered" is certainly appropriate. But "A readers heart shattered" would be an apt description.

[Lynne Hannmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Family Shattered is book 2 in the Michal’s Destiny series. It can be read as a standalone, but far better if read with book 1, Michal’s Destiny, as background.
There is an emotional intensity in this volume that is greater than in other books I have read by Roberta Kagan. It explores the Holocaust genre in ways similar to and in ways different from other historical novels covering this subject. It also includes a storyline on the immigrant experience in NYC of someone who was able to flee Germany despite the grave difficulty in doing so.
Overall I found the book to be well written, with spot on characterizations, more doing than telling, and emotionally gripping drama.
Thank you to the author and to the Book Whisperer for the opportunity to read and review the rerelease of a 2017 edition.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book one of this series was incredible. This one was a little frustrating. It felt like the author never intended to write book 2 but was forced to do so. She repeated herself a bunch of times and sometimes incorrectly. For instance, she kept telling us that michal and taavi were separated. Sometimes she would tell us that they fought and then michal left. I literally read book one 3 days ago. There wasn’t much of a fight. Something happened and michal left quietly. If the intention of her repeating the same past so many times was to give us the feeling that Taavi was constantly ruminating, it didn’t work. There were also a bunch of typos in this book. What is going on!?

The story was great otherwise. I’m glad the rift between Alina and Michal was addressed.

[Kathleen Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Family Shattered.

I love all the characters and the love, betrayal and sacrifice which carries on in book 2. This book is the suspense and emotions of how much the family members will endure to survive for love in the hope to see each other again. It is an immensely powerful and beautifully written book as the story of Taavi and Michal incarceration and their two children who have no idea what has happened to their parents where they are and move in with their parent's friends as the war rages. A very engaging and emotional book and I cannot wait for the next book in this series by Roberta Kagan. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book picks up right where the 1st book in the series, Michal's Destiny, left off

At the beginning of the story, I couldn't help but notice the similarities between Michal/Avram/Taavi and Alina/Benny/Johan.

Beautiful story, but I felt as though some of it was far-fetched. Many, many chapters in a row of the book focused solely on Alina, and I found myself missing reading about what was happening with the other characters. The author does do a decent job touching on each of the characters, with the exception of Gilde. I would really like to know what became of her once she was sent away.

As with Michal's Destiny, the book ended with a somewhat abrupt cliffhanger.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, books describing the Holocaust are sad and terrifying. However, based on real events, the reader must be educated to the facts. The Third Reich in Germany, led by Hitler, was the most devastating attack on Jews in our lifetime. Someone must tell the stories, and Roberta Kagan does this masterfully.

This book, -#2, in a 3 book series, continues Michal’s and her family’s journey, starting with kristallnacht, the rounding up of Jews in Germany, and continuing in the concentration camps.

Much of the first half of the book is a recap of book one, but then continues the journey’s of Michal’s children, husband and other new refugees.

It’s a heartbreaking story of lost lives, lives and survival under the Nazi regime’s brutalization of humanity.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second installment of Michal's story durning WW2. This one starts where the 1st one left off. I really enjoy reading all the multiple POVs, and instead of wondering what certain characters are thinking and experiencing during events, you actually read it from them first hand.

I really appreciate reading a book that is not scared to make events sound unpleasant. I've read lots of historical fiction books, and I'm not sure if the writer writes this story with more emotion or if she more imagery when writing, but reading this series feels more realistic and raw. You feel like you're actually experiencing events as the characters do.

Thank you to Netgalley, Roberta Kagan, and the publishers for this free ebook. This review is 100% my own and honest opinion.

[Tali · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book left me completely devastated and hopeless I nearly cried at work. That's on me for reading a series about the Holocaust right now of all times. Like with the first book, it was mostly tell and little show with the characters emotions and actions, and there did seem to be inconsistencies with the timings. The whole thing was crazy fast paced - it covered the majority of the Holocaust (1938-1945) in under 300 pages so it did make it hard to connect BUT I was so gripped the whole time anyway and now I think I have to finish the series because I haveeee to find out if the sisters are reunited (they'd better be).

(Thanks NetGalley for the arc!)

[Ash Laverty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half of this book took me a bit to get into, but the second half had me gripped!
This book flowed well, even though it is told with multiple timelines and points of view from multiple characters. I really enjoyed how this series started with Michal in book 1 and continued her story in book 2 while introducing Alina’s story alongside it - I am looking forward to seeing how the characters lives continue on in the next instalment. I felt like a couple of the characters’ thoughts or conversations were uneccesarily repeated in different chapters, but overall I still really enjoyed it.
4 stars out of 5 ⭐️

[Sherry Rosenberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved Roberta Kagan's All My Love Deitrich series. The first book in the Michal's series was not as good, but I was still interested enough to read A Family Shattered. Aside from the usual editing errors I always find in Ms. Kagan's Kindle editions, I found A Family Shattered too contrived. There was also too much of a recap of book one. I will probably read book three sometime later, but I certainly can't say I have such a need to know what happens next. I hope the author gets back on track and doesn't feel the need to go over the top.