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Searching for Gertrude
I'll come for you. No matter what. I'll find you, and we'll be reunited.
When Gertrude is forced to flee Nazi Germany with her family, Rudolf is left behind. Despite the distance, he remains devoted to her. Even after her letters stop.
Eight years pass before Rudolf is finally able to follow Gertrude to Istanbul. Their reunion should be inevitable, but Rudolf can't find Gertrude. He stumbles upon Rosalyn who immediately agrees to help him search for his lost love.
Willing to do anything in their search, they find themselves entangled with a British intelligence officer. As the danger increases and the search for Gertrude stretches on, Rudolf and Rosalyn grow close, but Rudolf gave his heart away long ago.
How far would you go to find the woman you love?
Includes questions and discussion points for book clubs.
When Gertrude is forced to flee Nazi Germany with her family, Rudolf is left behind. Despite the distance, he remains devoted to her. Even after her letters stop.
Eight years pass before Rudolf is finally able to follow Gertrude to Istanbul. Their reunion should be inevitable, but Rudolf can't find Gertrude. He stumbles upon Rosalyn who immediately agrees to help him search for his lost love.
Willing to do anything in their search, they find themselves entangled with a British intelligence officer. As the danger increases and the search for Gertrude stretches on, Rudolf and Rosalyn grow close, but Rudolf gave his heart away long ago.
How far would you go to find the woman you love?
Includes questions and discussion points for book clubs.
225 pages, ebook
First published January 22, 2018
84 people are currently reading
640 people want to read
About the author
D.E. Haggerty
131 books985 followersD.E. Haggerty is actually just plain old Dena, but she thinks using initials makes her sound like one of the cool kids. She was born and raised in the U.S. but has spent the majority of her adult life abroad living in cool-sounding places like Istanbul, Heidelberg, and The Hague. She has job hopped from military policewoman to lawyer to B&B owner. She finally jumped off the job hopping bandwagon a few years ago when she decided to turn her addiction to romance novels into a career. If anyone has ideas on how to turn a love of wine into a job, she's all ears.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
February 28, 2018
A book which opened in such an exciting fashion so that it was hard to put down, right from the start. Captivating and endearing characters and a story that resonates through time.
Rosalyn becomes central to the story and is so creatively written that the reader can't help but care about this woman. Poignant, dramatic, romantic, frightening, melancholic, exciting... a book for everyone and a fantastic read.
As a Military Historian I was very impressed with this author's first foray into historical fiction. The accuracy of the portrayal of the politics of Germany, Great Britain, America and Turkey in the early days of World War Two is excellent. This book has inspired me personally to do further research into what has often been considered a back water of World War Two, as no battles were fought there.
5 stars. A fantastic story of history and true love.
My Rating: 5 stars
This review first appeared at N. N. Light's Book Heaven: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/si... We love all things books and reading so please join us!
Rosalyn becomes central to the story and is so creatively written that the reader can't help but care about this woman. Poignant, dramatic, romantic, frightening, melancholic, exciting... a book for everyone and a fantastic read.
As a Military Historian I was very impressed with this author's first foray into historical fiction. The accuracy of the portrayal of the politics of Germany, Great Britain, America and Turkey in the early days of World War Two is excellent. This book has inspired me personally to do further research into what has often been considered a back water of World War Two, as no battles were fought there.
5 stars. A fantastic story of history and true love.
My Rating: 5 stars
This review first appeared at N. N. Light's Book Heaven: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/si... We love all things books and reading so please join us!
January 31, 2018
The book begins in Germany, 1933, when sixteen-year-old Gertrude and her family are forced to abandon their home and move to Istanbul, Turkey, because they are Jewish. Her nineteen-year-old neighbour Rudolf is forced to watch his soulmate leave, and he vows to be reunited with her one day. Eight years later, in 1941, Rudolf finally makes his way to Istanbul, after studying and gaining a position as a foreign diplomat. There, he meets Rosalyn, a young Jewish woman who has recently arrived from New York - in the guise of becoming a nanny - to help the exiled Jews in any way she can. Rudolf and Rosalyn form a mutually beneficial relationship, meeting on a bench in the park to update each other on their search for Gertrude. But, as their feelings for each other grow, what will happen once their search for Gertrude is over?
The story is told in alternating chapters from the perspectives of Rosalyn and Rudolf. The chapters headed with a quote by Rosalyn are from Rudolf’s viewpoint and vice versa, so these quotes serve to provide a commentary on the events of the preceding chapter. It’s obvious the author has done extensive research to write this book. The inclusion of German and Turkish dialogue adds an authentic touch; however, it is never translated, and the meaning is not always apparent in context. Many real-life events are also incorporated into the plot; the account of the Struma, a ship carrying nearly 800 Jewish refugees, is particularly heartbreaking.
While the author builds suspense by foreshadowing trials and tribulations to come, these never eventuate, and things are often resolved quite easily. This leaves us with more of a sweet, historical romance than a thrilling espionage thriller.
An entertaining and informative read.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
Full blog post (31 January): https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.co...
The story is told in alternating chapters from the perspectives of Rosalyn and Rudolf. The chapters headed with a quote by Rosalyn are from Rudolf’s viewpoint and vice versa, so these quotes serve to provide a commentary on the events of the preceding chapter. It’s obvious the author has done extensive research to write this book. The inclusion of German and Turkish dialogue adds an authentic touch; however, it is never translated, and the meaning is not always apparent in context. Many real-life events are also incorporated into the plot; the account of the Struma, a ship carrying nearly 800 Jewish refugees, is particularly heartbreaking.
While the author builds suspense by foreshadowing trials and tribulations to come, these never eventuate, and things are often resolved quite easily. This leaves us with more of a sweet, historical romance than a thrilling espionage thriller.
An entertaining and informative read.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
Full blog post (31 January): https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.co...
December 27, 2018
I have found another gem! I can't say this is a hidden gem since it's a new release, but it is a gem! I've been trying for days to come up with words to express my feelings for and about this book and I still don't think these will be adequate, but here goes...
The past couple of years I've been lucky to find, (or have they found me?!?), these unassuming little books that I, in no way, could have imagined the impact they would have on me. I love when I'm completely wrapped up in a book and the whole world fades away. That's what happened to me on Sunday when I started this book, I could not put it down. And I didn't, until I devoured every last word. Searching for Gertrude had me completely mesmerized as I journeyed along with Rudolf and Rosalynn in what started as a quest to find Rudolf's long lost love Gertrude, but developed into so much more.
This book, these characters, I was consumed by them! This story is beautiful and heartbreaking and captivating. It's charming and engaging and I didn't want it to end. I loved that we got to be inside both Rosalynn and Rudolf's heads, so we were able to see things from each of their points of view during a very tumultuous time in the world. I appreciate how much research and detail went into this book, as it really brought the characters and story to life. What a truly inspiring, sweet, and endearing book!
Searching for Gertrude is already a top read for 2018!
The past couple of years I've been lucky to find, (or have they found me?!?), these unassuming little books that I, in no way, could have imagined the impact they would have on me. I love when I'm completely wrapped up in a book and the whole world fades away. That's what happened to me on Sunday when I started this book, I could not put it down. And I didn't, until I devoured every last word. Searching for Gertrude had me completely mesmerized as I journeyed along with Rudolf and Rosalynn in what started as a quest to find Rudolf's long lost love Gertrude, but developed into so much more.
This book, these characters, I was consumed by them! This story is beautiful and heartbreaking and captivating. It's charming and engaging and I didn't want it to end. I loved that we got to be inside both Rosalynn and Rudolf's heads, so we were able to see things from each of their points of view during a very tumultuous time in the world. I appreciate how much research and detail went into this book, as it really brought the characters and story to life. What a truly inspiring, sweet, and endearing book!
Searching for Gertrude is already a top read for 2018!
May 27, 2018
Searching For Gertrude.
As a youth, Rudolph, a non-Jewish German, is forcibly separated from the Jewish girl he loves. She and her family flee Germany in 1933 as the Nazi regime is ramping up atrocities against the Jewish community. Left in Germany, Rudolph vows he will go to the ends of the earth to find Gertrude.
Each chapter starts with a quote from one of the characters. These quotations were dull and irrelevant. Without being too pedantic, while I love the setting in Istanbul and the historic association with the holocaust and the beginning of the Second World War, I found the pace a bit slow and the stakes a bit low. As a work of Historical fiction, it hit some of the expected marks, but didn’t succeed in bringing me into the time and place. I never really felt or saw the actual nature of life in Istanbul at that time. There were snapshots, but no emersion. I was left feeling like I’d watched someone’s vacation slide show. The premise of Rudolph spending seven years of his life in search of the girl next door was interesting, but seemed to lack intensity, perhaps because those seven years in which he became a man were reduced to little more than a chapter. When he arrives in Turkey, the espionage triangle was so lacking in intrigue and drama as to be nearly mundane. Even an explosion at a hotel as the result of a suitcase bombing read like a newspaper story rather than the horrific event it must’ve been. The horrors of either the war or the holocaust were in no way depicted. Perhaps this will appeal more to a female reader.
In summary, this is really a Historic Romance set in Istanbul and readers of that genre will love the ending.
As a youth, Rudolph, a non-Jewish German, is forcibly separated from the Jewish girl he loves. She and her family flee Germany in 1933 as the Nazi regime is ramping up atrocities against the Jewish community. Left in Germany, Rudolph vows he will go to the ends of the earth to find Gertrude.
Each chapter starts with a quote from one of the characters. These quotations were dull and irrelevant. Without being too pedantic, while I love the setting in Istanbul and the historic association with the holocaust and the beginning of the Second World War, I found the pace a bit slow and the stakes a bit low. As a work of Historical fiction, it hit some of the expected marks, but didn’t succeed in bringing me into the time and place. I never really felt or saw the actual nature of life in Istanbul at that time. There were snapshots, but no emersion. I was left feeling like I’d watched someone’s vacation slide show. The premise of Rudolph spending seven years of his life in search of the girl next door was interesting, but seemed to lack intensity, perhaps because those seven years in which he became a man were reduced to little more than a chapter. When he arrives in Turkey, the espionage triangle was so lacking in intrigue and drama as to be nearly mundane. Even an explosion at a hotel as the result of a suitcase bombing read like a newspaper story rather than the horrific event it must’ve been. The horrors of either the war or the holocaust were in no way depicted. Perhaps this will appeal more to a female reader.
In summary, this is really a Historic Romance set in Istanbul and readers of that genre will love the ending.
April 28, 2018
Will love prevail against fate? 3.5 Stars.
Set in Istanbul during WWII, Searching for Gertrude delves into one man’s undying love for his childhood sweetheart, and a young woman’s determination to help him find her. The two main characters arrive in the neutral country of Turkey to pursue separate quests. Rosalyn, a young Jewish-American teacher, leaves her home in New York to lend whatever support she can to the Jewish emigrants who fled Germany for Turkey. After settling into a position as a nanny, she contacts the Jewish Agency for Palestine to offer her assistance, but her hope of helping out comes to naught.
Rudolf, another recent arrival in Istanbul, works as a clerk at the German consulate. Although he loves his homeland, he despises the Reich for forcing his beloved Gertrude and her family to leave Germany eight years earlier. Despite the passage of time, Rudolf maintains a deep and abiding affection for the Jewish girl he last saw when she was 16, and he was 19. Now his mission to reunite with her seems hopeless until he meets Rosalyn, who agrees to help the lovesick young man find his Gertrude.
Despite Turkey’s neutrality, the horrors of war invade Istanbul. When a terrorist bomb explodes in a popular hotel, the ensuing chaos brings Rosalyn together with Malcolm, a British spy, who takes a romantic interest in her. On their first date, she tells him all about her friendship with Rudolf, emphasizing his hatred of the Reich. I thought Malcolm would seize the opportunity to connect with a disaffected German working inside the enemy consulate, but he shows no interest in Rudolf other than sympathizing with him for having lost Gertrude. Weeks go by before Malcolm suddenly sees the light and decides to act, a delay I found implausible. His romantic interest in Rosalyn aside, Malcolm has a job to do. His country desperately needs hard intelligence, yet he’s inexplicably slow to consider Rudolf as a possible recruit.
This well-woven story proved interesting though not entirely compelling. The opening sequences drew me in, but then the pace slowed down as the plot unfolded bit by bit. The action sequences are few and far between. Toward the end, the tension finally ratchets up but never quite reaches the level of thrilling. While I had hoped for more in the way of adventure, the poignant interaction between Rosalyn and Rudolf makes up for this. The author’s straightforward style is easy to absorb, in particular her development of the two main characters. I regret not getting to know the character of Gertrude, as this might have helped me empathize with Rudolf’s timeless love for her.
After such a slow buildup, the ending felt a little rushed, with all the loose ends tied together too quickly and neatly to feel satisfying. Still, this historical drama with a dash of intrigue will appeal to a broad audience, especially those looking to immerse themselves in a sweet, clean romance.
Set in Istanbul during WWII, Searching for Gertrude delves into one man’s undying love for his childhood sweetheart, and a young woman’s determination to help him find her. The two main characters arrive in the neutral country of Turkey to pursue separate quests. Rosalyn, a young Jewish-American teacher, leaves her home in New York to lend whatever support she can to the Jewish emigrants who fled Germany for Turkey. After settling into a position as a nanny, she contacts the Jewish Agency for Palestine to offer her assistance, but her hope of helping out comes to naught.
Rudolf, another recent arrival in Istanbul, works as a clerk at the German consulate. Although he loves his homeland, he despises the Reich for forcing his beloved Gertrude and her family to leave Germany eight years earlier. Despite the passage of time, Rudolf maintains a deep and abiding affection for the Jewish girl he last saw when she was 16, and he was 19. Now his mission to reunite with her seems hopeless until he meets Rosalyn, who agrees to help the lovesick young man find his Gertrude.
Despite Turkey’s neutrality, the horrors of war invade Istanbul. When a terrorist bomb explodes in a popular hotel, the ensuing chaos brings Rosalyn together with Malcolm, a British spy, who takes a romantic interest in her. On their first date, she tells him all about her friendship with Rudolf, emphasizing his hatred of the Reich. I thought Malcolm would seize the opportunity to connect with a disaffected German working inside the enemy consulate, but he shows no interest in Rudolf other than sympathizing with him for having lost Gertrude. Weeks go by before Malcolm suddenly sees the light and decides to act, a delay I found implausible. His romantic interest in Rosalyn aside, Malcolm has a job to do. His country desperately needs hard intelligence, yet he’s inexplicably slow to consider Rudolf as a possible recruit.
This well-woven story proved interesting though not entirely compelling. The opening sequences drew me in, but then the pace slowed down as the plot unfolded bit by bit. The action sequences are few and far between. Toward the end, the tension finally ratchets up but never quite reaches the level of thrilling. While I had hoped for more in the way of adventure, the poignant interaction between Rosalyn and Rudolf makes up for this. The author’s straightforward style is easy to absorb, in particular her development of the two main characters. I regret not getting to know the character of Gertrude, as this might have helped me empathize with Rudolf’s timeless love for her.
After such a slow buildup, the ending felt a little rushed, with all the loose ends tied together too quickly and neatly to feel satisfying. Still, this historical drama with a dash of intrigue will appeal to a broad audience, especially those looking to immerse themselves in a sweet, clean romance.
February 7, 2018
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February 12, 2018
An interesting romance set in Istanbul of the 1930- early 1940's. The characters are an American Jewish girl, a British diplomat/spy and a German bureaucrat who hates working for the Nazis, but it is his only way to find his lost love, Gertrude. How they all get tangled together is interesting. How the author resolves it is equally interesting. There is a tension in each of the characters due to the times and situations. Who can you really trust? Are you falling in love? And can this end well?
April 10, 2018
Searching For Gertrude by D.E. Haggerty is a historical romance novel that takes place over two decades on two continents in a well-researched, steady paced tale. Rudolf Wolf is a student in pre-WWII Germany in love with the girl next door, Gertrude Liebster. Only the newly-enacted anti-semitic decrees cause her family to flee to Turkey in search of a new life. Rudolf’s desperation leads him to employment at the German Embassy in Istanbul. His investigation takes him across the path of Rosalyn Buchman, an American Jew working for the family of Professor Michael Hirsch, another repatriated German Jew. Rosalyn is able to put him next to Malcolm Wright, a secret agent for the SIS. Together they wend their way along a dangerous path that takes them to a tragic destination: the sinking of the MV/SS Struma on February 24th, 1942.
The theme of acceptance resonates throughout the novel as Haggerty’s protagonists are never able to change the course of history or their individual fates. The Jewish community has their lives stolen from them and can only navigate their lives from day to day, trying to overcome the constant twists of fate. Rudolf tries to overcome the life crisis but eventually realizes that Rosalyn is a gemstone in his life he nearly overlooks. Malcolm hopes to harvest intel from the couple, but realizes they have nothing to offer but hopes and dreams for the future.
This is a well-researched novel with a poignant atmosphere that draws you into the foreboding times, enlightened by an undying spirit of hope. For historical fiction buffs, romance fans and audiences of all ages (no sex/violence), Searching For Gertrude by D.E. Haggerty is one you won’t want to miss.
The theme of acceptance resonates throughout the novel as Haggerty’s protagonists are never able to change the course of history or their individual fates. The Jewish community has their lives stolen from them and can only navigate their lives from day to day, trying to overcome the constant twists of fate. Rudolf tries to overcome the life crisis but eventually realizes that Rosalyn is a gemstone in his life he nearly overlooks. Malcolm hopes to harvest intel from the couple, but realizes they have nothing to offer but hopes and dreams for the future.
This is a well-researched novel with a poignant atmosphere that draws you into the foreboding times, enlightened by an undying spirit of hope. For historical fiction buffs, romance fans and audiences of all ages (no sex/violence), Searching For Gertrude by D.E. Haggerty is one you won’t want to miss.
November 15, 2018
Searching For Gertrude is a romance set during World War Two.
Rudolf has loved the daughter of his Jewish neighbour for as long as he can remember, but one morning he wakes to discover her family are leaving, because of the dangers present in the country during that time. Gertrude’s father has lost his job at his German university, and he’s taking his family to Istanbul.
Devastated by the loss of his love, Rudolf vows to follow. But first he must finish his studies, and it is eight years before he can travel to Istanbul. When he arrives, his search for Gertrude is made harder as she hasn’t written to him for six years, and he doesn’t have her address. See here for full review https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-bOO
Rudolf has loved the daughter of his Jewish neighbour for as long as he can remember, but one morning he wakes to discover her family are leaving, because of the dangers present in the country during that time. Gertrude’s father has lost his job at his German university, and he’s taking his family to Istanbul.
Devastated by the loss of his love, Rudolf vows to follow. But first he must finish his studies, and it is eight years before he can travel to Istanbul. When he arrives, his search for Gertrude is made harder as she hasn’t written to him for six years, and he doesn’t have her address. See here for full review https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-bOO
February 25, 2018
Since I began listening to one of my favorite series, The Bronze Horseman, by Paullina Simons, on Audible a few months back, I’ve been collecting and obsessing over stories surrounding World War II. I feel like WWII books are in a genre all their own and I’ve always found them interesting, devastating, scary, and romantic depending on the plots involved.
Needless to say, I was ecstatic when I was offered the chance to read Searching for Gertrude by D.E. Haggerty. A WWII tale with a little mix of espionage and romance thrown into the mix, and I was sold. This is the first story of hers I’ve read and I was not disappointed!
Rudolf has been in love with a girl he’s known since childhood in Germany. Her name was Gertrude, and now he’s searching high and low through Europe to find her. With tensions growing in Germany with the rise of the Nazi party, as a Jewish girl, Gertrude must emigrate with her family to Turkey before they find themselves in danger.
Vowing to reunite with the love of his life years after she was forced to leave Germany, Rudolf travels and does everything he can to follow Gertrude’s tracks and be with her once more.
When he finds himself at the German Consulate in Istanbul as an associate of sorts, his research unites him, in a roundabout way, to a girl named Rosalyn. An American girl living and working as a nanny for a Jewish family in Turkey, she wants to do what she can to help with the war effort and rescue families in danger. In meeting Rudolf and hearing of his plight, she decides to do a little digging on her end and help him find his long lost love.
This book had everything for me. There was romance, action, drama, sadness, and danger as Rudolf and Rosalyn went about their secret mission to locate Gertrude. As they snooped through neighborhoods, paperwork at the consulate, and asked around, I couldn’t help but have my heart in my throat. I was paranoid that at some point in the story, emotions would take precedence over caution and logic, and the pair would be found out as to their intentions in Istanbul.
I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated this tale. The only downside I found amongst this text was the lack of Gertrude’s story. I think I might’ve felt more invested and connected to her and Rudolf’s relationship if this story had a sprinkling of flashbacks within the pages. However, as the story progressed and became more about the work and relationship Rosalyn and Rudolf were building together, I guess it made sense that I wasn’t invested in Gertrude’s character. I think either way, the story would’ve worked and been quite the adventure.
If you’re into historical fiction, romance, and drama, do yourself a favor and grab this book. It was quite the journey and I can’t wait to check out what other stories Haggerty has to offer!
Needless to say, I was ecstatic when I was offered the chance to read Searching for Gertrude by D.E. Haggerty. A WWII tale with a little mix of espionage and romance thrown into the mix, and I was sold. This is the first story of hers I’ve read and I was not disappointed!
Rudolf has been in love with a girl he’s known since childhood in Germany. Her name was Gertrude, and now he’s searching high and low through Europe to find her. With tensions growing in Germany with the rise of the Nazi party, as a Jewish girl, Gertrude must emigrate with her family to Turkey before they find themselves in danger.
Vowing to reunite with the love of his life years after she was forced to leave Germany, Rudolf travels and does everything he can to follow Gertrude’s tracks and be with her once more.
When he finds himself at the German Consulate in Istanbul as an associate of sorts, his research unites him, in a roundabout way, to a girl named Rosalyn. An American girl living and working as a nanny for a Jewish family in Turkey, she wants to do what she can to help with the war effort and rescue families in danger. In meeting Rudolf and hearing of his plight, she decides to do a little digging on her end and help him find his long lost love.
This book had everything for me. There was romance, action, drama, sadness, and danger as Rudolf and Rosalyn went about their secret mission to locate Gertrude. As they snooped through neighborhoods, paperwork at the consulate, and asked around, I couldn’t help but have my heart in my throat. I was paranoid that at some point in the story, emotions would take precedence over caution and logic, and the pair would be found out as to their intentions in Istanbul.
I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated this tale. The only downside I found amongst this text was the lack of Gertrude’s story. I think I might’ve felt more invested and connected to her and Rudolf’s relationship if this story had a sprinkling of flashbacks within the pages. However, as the story progressed and became more about the work and relationship Rosalyn and Rudolf were building together, I guess it made sense that I wasn’t invested in Gertrude’s character. I think either way, the story would’ve worked and been quite the adventure.
If you’re into historical fiction, romance, and drama, do yourself a favor and grab this book. It was quite the journey and I can’t wait to check out what other stories Haggerty has to offer!
January 31, 2018
Take me away to another time.
The story really grabs the readers attention from the get-go. DE Haggerty does a great job being descriptive and allowing the reader to feel like they are immersed in the world and time.
This is an emotional journey for the main character that we are able to feel through the pages. DE Haggerty's voice shines through and gives a very powerful message. I enjoyed the pacing and writing style and this novel really stuck with me long after I finished reading it.
The story really grabs the readers attention from the get-go. DE Haggerty does a great job being descriptive and allowing the reader to feel like they are immersed in the world and time.
This is an emotional journey for the main character that we are able to feel through the pages. DE Haggerty's voice shines through and gives a very powerful message. I enjoyed the pacing and writing style and this novel really stuck with me long after I finished reading it.
January 22, 2018
For anyone who has read DE Haggerty, you know that most of her books are lighthearted, funny as all get out and so entertaining-with this book we see the breath of talent as a story creator she is.
Searching for Gertrude is in two words spectacularly beautiful. It is emotional, beautiful, captivating and just engaging and so so amazing. DE Haggerty’s creates the environment of what Rudolf and Rosalynn are going through that is so palpable and real. She creates the historical emotion and happenings in such a realistic way in both situations and emotion.
Rudolf and Rosalynn are extremely strong and very brave. Rudolf just takes your breath away with his love for Gertrude and the lengths he goes for that love. Even though that love has morphed he still does so much to find peace and resolution. And Rosalynn wow..what a very brave and compassionate woman. What she does for Rudolf and also the family she is working for is just wow. Rosalynn’s eyes are opened to the dangers of the war and Hitler when she is in Turkey working as a nanny. She sees the gravity of the situation and the danger of being jewish and yet she still helps Rudolf try to find his love.
What makes Rudolf so unique? He is a german in love with a jew in the time of Hitler and he changed his world to find gertrude the woman he was betrothed to until she had to escape Germany for being jewish. His journey is so so sad and beautiful. But his journey to finding acceptance and a new love is equally as compelling and emotional. You can’t help but fall in love with both Rudolf and Rosalynn. You literally feel the danger, intrigue of the situation Rudolf and Rosalynn are in. You also feel the friendship, respect and love that just leaps off the page and engulfs you in every moment and breath.
The plot is so so complex but brilliantly written with so much growth of characters, love poring through each action and description and the feel and the moments that DE Haggerty creates are beautiful, feel so real, emotional and just engross you into this harrowing and beautiful story of two people risking everything to find a lost love and gain a new love. A love that is built on friendship and a bond of going through something dangerous and harrowing.
Searching for Gertrude is in two words spectacularly beautiful. It is emotional, beautiful, captivating and just engaging and so so amazing. DE Haggerty’s creates the environment of what Rudolf and Rosalynn are going through that is so palpable and real. She creates the historical emotion and happenings in such a realistic way in both situations and emotion.
Rudolf and Rosalynn are extremely strong and very brave. Rudolf just takes your breath away with his love for Gertrude and the lengths he goes for that love. Even though that love has morphed he still does so much to find peace and resolution. And Rosalynn wow..what a very brave and compassionate woman. What she does for Rudolf and also the family she is working for is just wow. Rosalynn’s eyes are opened to the dangers of the war and Hitler when she is in Turkey working as a nanny. She sees the gravity of the situation and the danger of being jewish and yet she still helps Rudolf try to find his love.
What makes Rudolf so unique? He is a german in love with a jew in the time of Hitler and he changed his world to find gertrude the woman he was betrothed to until she had to escape Germany for being jewish. His journey is so so sad and beautiful. But his journey to finding acceptance and a new love is equally as compelling and emotional. You can’t help but fall in love with both Rudolf and Rosalynn. You literally feel the danger, intrigue of the situation Rudolf and Rosalynn are in. You also feel the friendship, respect and love that just leaps off the page and engulfs you in every moment and breath.
The plot is so so complex but brilliantly written with so much growth of characters, love poring through each action and description and the feel and the moments that DE Haggerty creates are beautiful, feel so real, emotional and just engross you into this harrowing and beautiful story of two people risking everything to find a lost love and gain a new love. A love that is built on friendship and a bond of going through something dangerous and harrowing.
April 25, 2019
Sears hinge for Gertrude
Another WWII novel with a totally different spin. Takes place in Istanbul which was a supposedly a neutral country. The characters tears are interesting and varied and the plot keeps you in suspense.
Another WWII novel with a totally different spin. Takes place in Istanbul which was a supposedly a neutral country. The characters tears are interesting and varied and the plot keeps you in suspense.
March 28, 2019
Searching for Gertrude was written by D.E. Haggerty. This novel is set in Istanbul, Turkey during World War II before America entered the war. In addition to the story, the author gives us a brief history of Jews in Turkey, the history of Istanbul and Turkey during the war, and the sinking of the ship Struma with all crew and passengers aboard. This was deliberate murder of these Jews.
In Germany in 1933, Rudolf was awakened in the middle of the night by screams. He ran downstairs to find his next-door neighbors moving out. He had grown up next to Gertrude and they were in love with each other. The two clung to each other crying while Rudolf tried to figure things out. He argued with their parents to let her stay or to let him go with them. However, they were separated but not before he pledged to find her one day. He then had to finish growing up under the rule of the Nazis, pretending to accept all their beliefs. He spent his college years taking classes which would help him be able to find Gertrude. His career led him to one in the diplomatic fiend and his study of the Orient led him to Istanbul where Gertrude and her family had gone. Now, he could look for her.
Rosalyn was a teacher in New York City in 1940. She had put up with anti-Semitism from her colleagues; but the headlines of the sinking of the SS Patria in Haifa harbor made her feel sick. She knew she had to help the Jews in Europe somehow. Over the objections of her Mother and with the help of her Father, she took a job as nanny to the Hirsch family in Istanbul. There, she hoped to be able to find a way to help. Since America was not at was with Germany, she was relatively safe.
While in the park with the twins, she meets Rudolf and hears his story of his search for Gertrude. She decides to help him in his search. She can ask Professor Hirsch for help and after she meets Malcolm, she is able to ask a British spy to help. Between them all, they surely should be able to find Gertrude.
In Germany in 1933, Rudolf was awakened in the middle of the night by screams. He ran downstairs to find his next-door neighbors moving out. He had grown up next to Gertrude and they were in love with each other. The two clung to each other crying while Rudolf tried to figure things out. He argued with their parents to let her stay or to let him go with them. However, they were separated but not before he pledged to find her one day. He then had to finish growing up under the rule of the Nazis, pretending to accept all their beliefs. He spent his college years taking classes which would help him be able to find Gertrude. His career led him to one in the diplomatic fiend and his study of the Orient led him to Istanbul where Gertrude and her family had gone. Now, he could look for her.
Rosalyn was a teacher in New York City in 1940. She had put up with anti-Semitism from her colleagues; but the headlines of the sinking of the SS Patria in Haifa harbor made her feel sick. She knew she had to help the Jews in Europe somehow. Over the objections of her Mother and with the help of her Father, she took a job as nanny to the Hirsch family in Istanbul. There, she hoped to be able to find a way to help. Since America was not at was with Germany, she was relatively safe.
While in the park with the twins, she meets Rudolf and hears his story of his search for Gertrude. She decides to help him in his search. She can ask Professor Hirsch for help and after she meets Malcolm, she is able to ask a British spy to help. Between them all, they surely should be able to find Gertrude.
February 6, 2018
A story to keep you glued to your seat, Searching for Gertrude kept me totally engrossed and I was unable to put the book down. Having spent some time in Istanbul, and also having lived in Israel for a number of years on a work assignment, I was familiar with the echoes of the stories in this book. Love knows no boundaries, and as Rudolf meticulously planned his search for Gertrude, taking years to bring him to a place where he could eventually begin his quest, he finds that the task is much more difficult that he first anticipated. Suspicion and mistrust abound everywhere, especially in the German Consulate where he worked. Rosalyn, on the other hand took responsibility for people who couldn't help themselves but it is with a breaking heart that she observes the devastation. Finding herself the go-between between a British spy and a German embassy official, she gets caught up in the frightening day to day role as a courier, until it becomes clear that to continue puts everyone she holds dear in danger. This suspenseful romance is really well written with a tender love story that evolved out of the pain, and it ends on a triumphant note. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.
February 27, 2018
Searching for Love in Wartime Turkey… Ever since Gertrude was pulled from Rudolph's arms, Rudolph has worked towards finding her. All Rudolph knows is that Gertrude and her family fled Germany in the middle of the night for Istanbul. Eight years later, Rudolph has completed university and managed to secure an administrative job in the German Istanbul office. Rudolph didn't realize how hard it would be to find Gertrude whom he lost touch with 6 years earlier. Rosalyn, a young Jewish American, wants to help the European Jewish people. To her family's dismay, Rosalyn leaves her teaching position and becomes a nanny to a Jewish professor in Istanbul. When Rosalyn meets Rudolph and he tells his story, she wants to help him find his love. This is a wonderful story which is set in neutral Istanbul. The book is told mainly from both Rosalyn and Rudolph's point of view. They are well developed characters and there are good secondary characters. I enjoyed this book and learned about life in Istanbul during the war.
January 23, 2018
This was my first time experiencing a novel written by this author, and it was a memorable one.
I’m a geek when it comes to the greatest generation, and I tend to over-analyze books set in the era. However, I’m also a true fan of romance. Haggerty blends the two beautifully, making this a mesmerizing novel that can’t be put down.
The entire story is entrancing, the setting is perfect, and the trials and tribulations our characters endure are believable. Historical events are a pivotal part of the story, instead of being thrown in as background noise, and they’re intelligently written. There’s never a lull, and the author puts you in that time and place. I was hooked from the beginning and just hated to put it down!
Perfect book for fans of Historical Romance, and lovers of the era.
Highly recommend!
*I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.
I’m a geek when it comes to the greatest generation, and I tend to over-analyze books set in the era. However, I’m also a true fan of romance. Haggerty blends the two beautifully, making this a mesmerizing novel that can’t be put down.
The entire story is entrancing, the setting is perfect, and the trials and tribulations our characters endure are believable. Historical events are a pivotal part of the story, instead of being thrown in as background noise, and they’re intelligently written. There’s never a lull, and the author puts you in that time and place. I was hooked from the beginning and just hated to put it down!
Perfect book for fans of Historical Romance, and lovers of the era.
Highly recommend!
*I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.
January 25, 2018
Searching for Gertrude take you on a hunt to find a girl of a young man love. Will he find this true love he lost. The young man is German and he has some issues with his government.
We learn about the laws that are going down in Germany at the beginning of Hitler Resign. The Nazi believed that Germans were not allowed to marry Jews. Will Rulfoff find this love or will Rudolf get his answers by searching for the girl he fell in love with when he was young. Things to go down hill when his love of his life family must move away to Turkey. He is determined to find her.
He goes undercover for his government even though he does not follow or like this government laws and ideas. As a German consulate there are a few surprises along the way will he go against or follow this government as he is now working for them. Find out by reading.
Rosalyn is an American Jew who come to Turkey to be a Nanny. Rudolf stumbles upon her in his search for Gertrude and ask her for help. Does she help him or not you will need to read the story to know for sure.
Rosalyn come to Turkey for her own reason as well. There is twist and turns throughout the book. Will Rosalyn do as she came to do in Turkey. The author does a wonderful job with the plot. I could not put it down and the fact, that she shows the time and era and history behind what going on in Turkey. Is Turkey with Nazi or they Nurteral during the War. If you are a historical fiction reader or just like learn some facts about history. This book is a good one to pick up. Want to learn more about Germany or Nazi Germany and other surrounding areas or Turkey in the 1930’s.
We learn about the laws that are going down in Germany at the beginning of Hitler Resign. The Nazi believed that Germans were not allowed to marry Jews. Will Rulfoff find this love or will Rudolf get his answers by searching for the girl he fell in love with when he was young. Things to go down hill when his love of his life family must move away to Turkey. He is determined to find her.
He goes undercover for his government even though he does not follow or like this government laws and ideas. As a German consulate there are a few surprises along the way will he go against or follow this government as he is now working for them. Find out by reading.
Rosalyn is an American Jew who come to Turkey to be a Nanny. Rudolf stumbles upon her in his search for Gertrude and ask her for help. Does she help him or not you will need to read the story to know for sure.
Rosalyn come to Turkey for her own reason as well. There is twist and turns throughout the book. Will Rosalyn do as she came to do in Turkey. The author does a wonderful job with the plot. I could not put it down and the fact, that she shows the time and era and history behind what going on in Turkey. Is Turkey with Nazi or they Nurteral during the War. If you are a historical fiction reader or just like learn some facts about history. This book is a good one to pick up. Want to learn more about Germany or Nazi Germany and other surrounding areas or Turkey in the 1930’s.
March 24, 2018
It’s 2am and I just can’t put it down. I’m peeling through the pages of Searching for Gertrude, absolutely riveted. Will Rudolf find his love? Will Rosalyn help the refugees? Will they get caught? Upon first receiving the book, I was put off by its cover. With seven different fonts and a amateur photoshopped image of a black and white bench in a park, I never would have picked it up at a bookstore. How wrong I was! If the author hadn’t reached out to my blog to review her book, I never would have experienced the joy and surprise and pleasure of reading this book.
Read the full review at my blog literarypixie.com!
Read the full review at my blog literarypixie.com!
January 24, 2018
Do you like to be swept off to a different time and place? If yes, this is definitely a great choice. I loved the way that Jeanette really sets the scene for novel. I was completely immersed in the year and it felt real to me. Kudos to her for doing her research.
The characters were probably my favorite part. I really enjoyed each of their stories. I didn't feel like anyone was out of place or didn't fit.
The plot was smooth and I liked the way it flowed from chapter to chapter. A quick and easy read and overall great Historical Novel.
The characters were probably my favorite part. I really enjoyed each of their stories. I didn't feel like anyone was out of place or didn't fit.
The plot was smooth and I liked the way it flowed from chapter to chapter. A quick and easy read and overall great Historical Novel.
January 29, 2018
Having read many DE Haggerty novels before, I had high hopes for this and I am happy to say i was not let down!
This is a very character driven novel and I love the fact that Haggerty always gives us both characters to root for and dislike.
My favorite part of this novel was the fact that along the way you don't know what is going to come next. He is on a journey and it could lead him anywhere, but hopefully to Gertrude. There were many surprises and the way that the author was able to keep the pacing just right really helps everything flow naturally.
This is a very character driven novel and I love the fact that Haggerty always gives us both characters to root for and dislike.
My favorite part of this novel was the fact that along the way you don't know what is going to come next. He is on a journey and it could lead him anywhere, but hopefully to Gertrude. There were many surprises and the way that the author was able to keep the pacing just right really helps everything flow naturally.
January 31, 2018
This is a quick read for anyone who is in the mood for a great escape and a new time and place to dive into. Rudolph is a great lead character. Well developed and intriguing.
The Author uses a great mix of Mystery, History, Romance, and even Humor throughout the story.
I found myself entranced by the story as a whole.
The Author uses a great mix of Mystery, History, Romance, and even Humor throughout the story.
I found myself entranced by the story as a whole.
February 18, 2018
Loved how this book takes you to a different country and a different time. The realistic feel this book puts off is amazing! The escape from reality that this book will do is great, yes you will find yourself hooked once you start!
February 26, 2018
I think it was beautifully written. It digs a little deeper into the lives of Jewish people during the beginning of the Third Reich's reign. It is romantic, emotional, and suspenseful at times.
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
January 8, 2018
Full review to follow by Wednesday, January 10.
February 6, 2018
I received this book as a GoodReads Giveaway. This is a love story written against the backdrop of WW II. I have to admit that I was a little disappointed in the story. I m an, I liked it, but, it left too many unanswered questions.
March 5, 2019
History
The second world war and Germans and Jews in Istanbul is some well researched history with a fictional twist that keeps the pages turning.
The second world war and Germans and Jews in Istanbul is some well researched history with a fictional twist that keeps the pages turning.
January 3, 2019
Oh I really liked this book! Rosalyn is a very developed and delightful character. I can just picture her and everything she did seemed in character. Interesting history-does make one wonder (again) do we learn nothing from history?? Liked the cover of the book a lot too-the bench.. The colors
February 24, 2019
In search of a lost love and the people who help him find her.
September 25, 2018
This narrative begins with two German teenagers, Rudolf and Gertrude, neighbours who fall in love. In 1933 Gertrude's family are forced to flee Germany as they are Jewish and face persecution by the Nazis, setting up a new life in Turkey. Rudolf if heartbroken. He hears from Gertrude, by mail, for the first two years, then nothing. He is determined to find his love and rekindle their relationship.
He meets Rosalyn and gradually they search for Gertrude, using some of Rosalyn's local knowledge. As they continue their seemingly hopeless search Rosalyn finds she is beginning to feel more for Rudolf, falling in love with the man whose only thoughts are for Gertrude. All around them things are changing for the worst. Turkey begins to adopt some of Hitler's tactics, certain minority groups become threatened. Who can be trusted, who is safe, who in danger?
Based around everyday lives in WW11. American, British, German, Jewish, Turkish etc, all trying to survive the horrors thrown at them by the war. All believable as humans with very human emotions.
I really enjoyed the clever mix of human love and emotion with the horrors of the war. It certainly brings home a lot of the tragedy many of us only hear about at school.
He meets Rosalyn and gradually they search for Gertrude, using some of Rosalyn's local knowledge. As they continue their seemingly hopeless search Rosalyn finds she is beginning to feel more for Rudolf, falling in love with the man whose only thoughts are for Gertrude. All around them things are changing for the worst. Turkey begins to adopt some of Hitler's tactics, certain minority groups become threatened. Who can be trusted, who is safe, who in danger?
Based around everyday lives in WW11. American, British, German, Jewish, Turkish etc, all trying to survive the horrors thrown at them by the war. All believable as humans with very human emotions.
I really enjoyed the clever mix of human love and emotion with the horrors of the war. It certainly brings home a lot of the tragedy many of us only hear about at school.
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