Second Chances

by Scott Craig

Inga Klein's life was destroyed when Adolf Hitler took over Germany. Over the next several years, the Nazis took her family, her freedom, and Fritz, her one true love. When the Allies crushed the Third Reich, they not only freed Inga from the horrors of Buchenwald but also gave her a second chance at life and love in America. But when demons from her past surface in her new life, will those second chances prove to be her opportunity for revenge?

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction

204 pages, Paperback

Published February 16, 2016

Reviews

[Lis Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have some mixed feelings about this book. It's historical fiction. It's suspense fiction.

It's a romance novel set, partly, in a concentration camp in the Second World War.

Inge Klein and Fritz Wagner are childhood friends, but she's Jewish. Fritz not only isn't Jewish; his dead father's cousin is Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler. And Himmler is very interested in Fritz's mother.

The story starts on Kristallncht, the November 1938 destruction of Jewish businesses and assaults on any Jews found out and about, in Germany and German-annexed territory. Fritz and Inge are fourteen. Inge's father Jacob Klein is a lawyer, and while his ability to practice had already been restricted, he's still out at his office when the violence starts on the evening of November 8. Fritz takes the risk of finding and bringing him back when he's late. Fritz finds Jacob, but he has already been badly beaten, and though they do get home that night, Jacob dies of his injuries the next day.

When it becomes necessary for the Kleins to go into hiding, the Wagners successfully hide them in their apartment for months, even despite regular visits from Himmler. Fritz has made contacts with the underground, and is able to get two extra ration cards, so that, by shopping in two different stores in different neighborhoods, his mother is able to buy enough food for all four of them. Of course things keep getting more stressed and difficult, and the Kleins finally have to try to leave Germany.

Eventually, of course, it ends badly, and Inge winds up in Buchenwald,

Where Fritz, now in the SS, given a "safe" assignment by Himmler, is the commandant's aide.

So, yeah, this is a romance novel set in Buchenwald, between a prisoner and the commandant's aide.

There are so many problems with this, and yet I like Inge and Fritz.

That doesn't mean this really works for me.

This is roughly the first half of the novel, and then the war ends, and they become separated and Fritz uses a false name, and we follow Inge building a new life in America, believing Fritz is dead. He's not, of course, and what happens when we pick up with Inge fifteen years later is as well done as you could want it to be, with the triumph of love over adversity, separation, and seriously crossed stars.

And yet. A romance novel about a prisoner in Buchenwald and the commandant's aide. It's as well done as you could hope for it to be, and if, obviously, somewhat sugar-coated, still not sugar-coated enough that it didn't cause me serious distress and a need to pause and go read something else for a while. We're not shown what's happening away from Inge and Fritz, but it's implied pretty darned strongly.

It's well done, and yet I'm not comfortable with it.

That's all I can really say.

The narrator is good. A strong, clear, pleasant voice.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the narrator, and am reviewing it voluntarily.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intense story of the horrors of Nazi Germany and how one young woman survived, overcame, and created a new life in a distant country far from the past. It moves quickly but clearly and has more plot twists than I expected. It grabbed me on an afternoon and wouldn't let go!
Bill Nevitt has a clear yet moving delivery that enhances the good and the bad in the characters' experiences.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!

Before I started to listen to it, the book already ticked a lot of my boxes. I love Bill Nevitt as a narrator. His pace is perfect and he puts so much enthusiasm and energy into his narration that his books are a pleasure to listen to and just flow so well. I enjoy stories set in wartime, particularly World War 2 and also love courtroom and lawyer dramas. This book has it all!

I took a while after listening to write this review because I wasn't sure how I was going to do it justice without revealing spoilers. I hate it when other people do that in reviews so I'm always careful.

The book is about love, loyalty, overcoming tragedies without letting them make you bitter and so very much more.

I loved the intelligence, strength and determination of the heroine Inga and felt that we really get to know her well. The supporting characters were interesting and well described and helped to move the story along beautifully.

It reminded me a little of a pantomime - there's love and humour and coincidences. We cheer for the good guys and boo the bad guys and close the book (or switch off the player) having ridden a rollercoaster of emotions.

Yes, I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

[Bethany Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting audio book, part historical fiction, part more modern. At its heart it is a romance novel but there is so much more to it than this. Overall I think I preferred the historical element and the story set in Germany and the camps. My four star rating is mainly because I just found the coincidences in the American element of the book just a bit too contrived. Well narrated, the book flowed along and kept me engaged.

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

** Review of Audio Format **

Intriguing Premise

Inga survives Buchenwald with a lot of help from Himmler's cousin, Fritz, who she loves from childhood. Many years after the war, Inga is a successful attorney like her father was before the Nazi's took everything from them. She is presented with an opportunity to defend a man she believes is wrongly accused of murder. Can she defend a man she knows is guilty of murder and rape during the war just because she doesn't believe he committed the actual murder he was arrested for?

Much of this story is inaccurate to the time period and some of the dialogue is cringe worthy. The terms used during the more sexual parts are not terms used during the time the author is writing about. The WWII bits and the Nazi parts are more believable. I also had a hard time with the fact that all of the characters ended up in the same part of California after the war.

The narration was stilted, as others have observed, though it did get better when people were actually speaking. It did not detract from the listen or take me out of the story. It just wasn't great and did not add to the enjoyment of the listen for me. I did listen on 1.5 speed.

I received this audiobook for free through Audiobook Boom! in exchange for an honest review.

[Anne Rightler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second Chances by Scott Craig is an engaging story set during WWII and later years. It deals with the Holocaust and specifically a young couple. A young couple who are in a forbidden love relationship with Inga being Jewish and Fritz being a German. The author has created vivid characters that elicit the reader's emotions. The fast-paced storyline is interesting and keeps the reader's interest high wondering what will happen next and how situations will be resolved. As the title suggests, the book is about second chances, with themes of forgiveness and love as well. The narrator, Bill Nevitt, does a great job giving voice to the characters and their story, making for an enjoyable listening experience. I listened to a complimentary copy of the audio version of the book and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.

[Rabid Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an emotion filled, unusual romance set during WWII and the later years. The emotion of the story draws you in from the very beginning. You can really feel the devastation, loss, fear and horror that occurred. Your heart breaks at the atrocities, the hate and for the lives lost. The vivid characters and suspenseful plot elicit both good and bad emotions. I will never understand how one human can act like that against another, it is unfathomable. This story has themes of forbidden love, loss, determination, forgiveness and survival. The narrator really brings the story to life, showing all the emotions, giving the characters individual voices and adding some accents. The story has action, suspense, lots of emotion and an entertaining plot.

[Holly Lenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second Chances is an entertaining WW2 Holocaust story and romance. I found the German part of the story stronger then the more modern part, and the romance seemed unnecessarily complicated, but overall it was an entertaining book to listen to.

The narrator does a nice job telling the story, and he has a variety of voices for the characters, but I personally think the book would have been better served with more German accents since the bulk of the characters are German.

I received a complimentary copy of this audio book. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook review
The story in the beginning up to the court case was good. The war the camps the pain. Awful & as we know horrendous.
After this and into the court case I’m sorry to say it lost me. I know it’s fiction but I found it really hard to believe the steps taken & what went on. I get involved in books & I couldn’t as, not wanting spoilers here, why would she? My personal thoughts obviously.
The narrator was good, tempo was good.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A historical novel which recounts some of the horrors of the Nazi persecution of Jews. Very emotive in parts, slightly whimsical in others. Inga relates her personal experiences including her romantic ties with Fritz, her first love, who being related to an influential Nazi official finds himself on the opposite side of the conflict. Nevertheless Fritz endeavours to make Inga’s incarceration in Buchenwald as safe as possible. A thought provoking story with a romantic tale at it’s centre.

[Sharon :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I surprisingly loved this historical romance not a history buff but had to read historical fiction for a book challenge and I was pleasantly surprised! I needed a change from the same old typical romance fiction books I read and this was that welcome change. I also enjoyed Bill Nevitt’s narration! I love to see how 1 narrator audiobooks deal with multiple characters and Bill’s voices were fantastic 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really beautiful love story in very horrific times during the Second World War. The love story of a Jew and a German Nazi from childhood through to adult life and if and how they can survive through the atrocities that occurred during the Second World War. This was a beautiful if and devastating audio which was mesmerising.

[Sara Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fabulous book that spanned over several genres. First of all, it is set during World War II. However, it does fast forward to present day later on in the book which is when more of the mystery and legal side of the book take place. Often, I find legal scenes to drag and become uninterested but Craig puts just enough that you have all the information that you need. Where several second chances are given for love, redemption, healing, and much more. I found myself really rotting for these characters by the end of the book. This story did not unfold the way I expected it to and was just an amazing story and easy to follow from start to finish.

Bill Nevitt is one of the most talented audiobook narrators I have heard in a long time. His voices are SO unique and consistent. Several times I thought I was listening to an audiobook done by various narrators because that is how good of a job he does. His female voices are also well done.

I cannot wait to listen to more books by Scott Craig and/or Bill Nevitt. I have already recommended this book to a few friends and family.

I did receive a copy of this book at my request, and I have voluntarily left this review.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inga Klein's life was totally changed by Adolph Hitler and the Third Reich, they took everything from her, her father, her home, her mother, and finally the love of her life, Fritz. But despite all of that she made it to America got her law degree, pasted the bar, and had her son.

This is a great historical fiction book and I liked it a lot the characters were very believable and well defined, there was plenty of action, and the whole book is suspense. The level of details in the book remarkable. If you are able get the audio narrated by Bill Nevitt he is very talented and he brings the book alive for you, his voices for the characters and accents bring the book to a different level. Either way you chose you can't go wrong as this is a great book.

[Roger]

My first read from author Scott Craig, wonderfully narrated by Bill Nevitt. A WWII to present romantic suspense/mystery, heavy on the suspense/mystery. So good that at times I sped the narration speed up to "turn the pages faster". I was given an Audible copy of this book and am voluntarily reviewing it. Well-written with captivating characters.