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Secrets Revealed
Secrets Revealed Hitler has surrendered. The Nazi flags, which once hung throughout the city, striking terror in the hearts of Polish citizens, have been torn down. It seems that Warsaw should be rejoicing in its new-found freedom. But Warsaw is not free. Instead it is occupied by the Soviet Union, held tightly in Stalin’s iron grip. Communist soldiers, in uniform, now control the city. Where once people feared the dreaded swastika, now they tremble at the sight of the hammer and sickle. It is a treacherous time. And, in the midst of all of this danger, Ela Dobinski, a girl with a secret that could change her life, is coming of age.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 19, 2018
1047 people are currently reading
369 people want to read
About the author
Roberta Kagan
72 books644 followersI’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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
March 24, 2018
Once again Roberta kagan makes me read all day Amazing
Roberta kagan is one of the best historical writers i have ever read, her books are so captivating you feel like your back in war time.
Roberta kagan is one of the best historical writers i have ever read, her books are so captivating you feel like your back in war time.
January 2, 2019
A readable story, but not much to it. I like WWII stories and I have read extremely powerful and well written condemnations of the calamities experienced in this period, most of them written by non-Jewish (and therefore less biased) authors. This novel seems more concerned with extolling the Jewish people than with being a good piece of literary work. The ‘secret’ that gives the title to the book is explored with little emotion and narrative refinement, and most of the coincidences throughout the novel sound far fetched and unnatural.
January 8, 2019
SECRETS REVEALED: Book 2 in the I Am Proud to Be a Jew series
Ela Dobinsky was born in Poland to a Jewish mother. As the Nazi occupation became more repressive for Jews and they were herded together in the Warsaw ghetto, her mother smuggled Ela out of the ghetto and she was raised a Roman Catholic, not knowing of her Jewish origins. With the end of WWII, Nazi genocide of Jews was replaced by Stalin's Communist Soviet repression and Ela survived in her Catholic family. As an older teen, she met and fell in love with a Russian soldier who, himself had been born a Russian Jew but was placed as a child with a non-Jewish family to escape the German occupation and holocaust. He witnessed the slaughter of his parents and other Jews at Babi Yar, ran away, joined the Russian Army, and passed as Christian. Secrets Revealed is the couple's story, raised separately, finding each other, and how they fall in love, learn of their past heritage, and move on to the new nation of Israel and finally the USA. It seems unnecessary to read Book 1 of the series, but later books will continue the story. If you're interested in the triumph of love over adversity, it would be a great read. I give it four of five stars.
Ela Dobinsky was born in Poland to a Jewish mother. As the Nazi occupation became more repressive for Jews and they were herded together in the Warsaw ghetto, her mother smuggled Ela out of the ghetto and she was raised a Roman Catholic, not knowing of her Jewish origins. With the end of WWII, Nazi genocide of Jews was replaced by Stalin's Communist Soviet repression and Ela survived in her Catholic family. As an older teen, she met and fell in love with a Russian soldier who, himself had been born a Russian Jew but was placed as a child with a non-Jewish family to escape the German occupation and holocaust. He witnessed the slaughter of his parents and other Jews at Babi Yar, ran away, joined the Russian Army, and passed as Christian. Secrets Revealed is the couple's story, raised separately, finding each other, and how they fall in love, learn of their past heritage, and move on to the new nation of Israel and finally the USA. It seems unnecessary to read Book 1 of the series, but later books will continue the story. If you're interested in the triumph of love over adversity, it would be a great read. I give it four of five stars.
April 6, 2018
Secrets Revealed: I Am Proud to Be a Jew series Book 2 is by Roberta Kagan. This is a fiction series about a young Jewish Girl who was smuggled out of the Warsaw ghetto and brought up as Catholic. The series follows her from being taken from the ghetto to her life as a Catholic and finally her life in America. This series is fantastic. It gives a different view of surviving the Holocaust. Even though it is fiction, the details are such that it seems real. In fact, this story could possibly have happened to one or more children in the Warsaw ghetto as many children were smuggled out.
Warsaw has surrendered to the Russians. The Nazis who terrorized the town are gone. However, Warsaw is not rejoicing as it is still not free. They have traded the Nazis for the Soviets. Now they fear the hammer and sickle flag. Upon surrendering, the Soviets entered the City and began to exact revenge for the Nazi’s cruelty to Soviets earlier. Women were raped, men were killed, homes were destroyed and/or looted. Helen and Ela have to learn to survive on their own after Helen’s husband and Lars died. Now six years later, they have a somewhat pleasant life. Then Ela tells her Mother about her plans for the future. She is planning on joining a convent and becoming a nun! Helen is shocked and knows she must finally tell Ela the truth about her parentage even if she might lose her. Now Ela must decide whether to pursue her Jewish roots or become a nun.
In 1941, Dovid Levi has lived in Kiev all his life. As an only child, he is doted upon. Life is changing. His Father, Dr. Levi, helps many of the refugees and others without money free medical advice when necessary. When a Polish woman brings her sick son to him, he hopes to save him; but can’t. Now he has to tell her he has died. Then, the Jews in Kiev are told to gather at the trains and bring only what they can carry. Dr. Levi doesn’t want Dovid to go with them so takes him to the countryside and persuades the woman to keep Dovid on her farm in place of her dead son. Here, he hopes Dovid will be safe. Dovid had different ideas and sneaks back to town after his Father. Dovid’s parents and other Jews make their way to the trains, only there were no trains. Instead, they were all murdered at Babi Yar. Dovid watched as his parents were shot down. He is determined to make the Nazis play so he takes the woman’s dead son’s name, Oskar Ivanov , and joins the Red Army.
Will he be able to exact revenge? Will he even live through the war? What is his relationship to Ela?
Warsaw has surrendered to the Russians. The Nazis who terrorized the town are gone. However, Warsaw is not rejoicing as it is still not free. They have traded the Nazis for the Soviets. Now they fear the hammer and sickle flag. Upon surrendering, the Soviets entered the City and began to exact revenge for the Nazi’s cruelty to Soviets earlier. Women were raped, men were killed, homes were destroyed and/or looted. Helen and Ela have to learn to survive on their own after Helen’s husband and Lars died. Now six years later, they have a somewhat pleasant life. Then Ela tells her Mother about her plans for the future. She is planning on joining a convent and becoming a nun! Helen is shocked and knows she must finally tell Ela the truth about her parentage even if she might lose her. Now Ela must decide whether to pursue her Jewish roots or become a nun.
In 1941, Dovid Levi has lived in Kiev all his life. As an only child, he is doted upon. Life is changing. His Father, Dr. Levi, helps many of the refugees and others without money free medical advice when necessary. When a Polish woman brings her sick son to him, he hopes to save him; but can’t. Now he has to tell her he has died. Then, the Jews in Kiev are told to gather at the trains and bring only what they can carry. Dr. Levi doesn’t want Dovid to go with them so takes him to the countryside and persuades the woman to keep Dovid on her farm in place of her dead son. Here, he hopes Dovid will be safe. Dovid had different ideas and sneaks back to town after his Father. Dovid’s parents and other Jews make their way to the trains, only there were no trains. Instead, they were all murdered at Babi Yar. Dovid watched as his parents were shot down. He is determined to make the Nazis play so he takes the woman’s dead son’s name, Oskar Ivanov , and joins the Red Army.
Will he be able to exact revenge? Will he even live through the war? What is his relationship to Ela?
March 13, 2019
“Secrets Revealed” by Roberta Kagan is the second book in her “Proud To Be A Jew Series” set in post WWII Warsaw, Poland. I downloaded this one as an ebook on my Kindle for my “Around The World In 80 Books” reading challenge. Though I didn’t read the first book in the series before diving into “Secrets Revealed,” I didn’t feel completely out of the loop. (Which was nice!)
The first thing I’m going to say about this story was that I liked it. It was a novella (I think all the books in the series are) and used the method of “flashbacks” throughout the story so you could piece together who was who and why that character was important. Because of that, some of the story is told in a post World War II setting and the flashbacks are set during the war. The jumps weren’t confusing or hard to follow and the more I read the more I was drawn into the story. That said, I did feel that the writing wasn’t as professional as most of the books I read, but it wasn’t awful either. After the first few chapters, I found the plot so interesting I was able to overlook the writing style and simply enjoy the story. There’s something captivating and powerful about novels set during the Great War and though this wasn’t the best one I’ve ever read, it did move me and portray the suffering of the Jews accurately.
Conclusion: If you’re wanting a quick read with a WWII setting that’s meaningful but not too deep, “Secrets Revealed” just might be the story for you. Because I was reading this novella for my reading challenge, I really enjoyed the information on Warsaw and what happened to both the Jews and Poles when Hitler took over. There was a lot of history mentioned in the book - and I love learning through stories! For a novella, I felt that the characters were well developed, especially Oskar, who watched the Nazi murder his parents. I would recommend reading the series in order for a better understanding of the characters and setting, but all in all, I think this was a good book and I wasn’t disappointed.
The first thing I’m going to say about this story was that I liked it. It was a novella (I think all the books in the series are) and used the method of “flashbacks” throughout the story so you could piece together who was who and why that character was important. Because of that, some of the story is told in a post World War II setting and the flashbacks are set during the war. The jumps weren’t confusing or hard to follow and the more I read the more I was drawn into the story. That said, I did feel that the writing wasn’t as professional as most of the books I read, but it wasn’t awful either. After the first few chapters, I found the plot so interesting I was able to overlook the writing style and simply enjoy the story. There’s something captivating and powerful about novels set during the Great War and though this wasn’t the best one I’ve ever read, it did move me and portray the suffering of the Jews accurately.
Conclusion: If you’re wanting a quick read with a WWII setting that’s meaningful but not too deep, “Secrets Revealed” just might be the story for you. Because I was reading this novella for my reading challenge, I really enjoyed the information on Warsaw and what happened to both the Jews and Poles when Hitler took over. There was a lot of history mentioned in the book - and I love learning through stories! For a novella, I felt that the characters were well developed, especially Oskar, who watched the Nazi murder his parents. I would recommend reading the series in order for a better understanding of the characters and setting, but all in all, I think this was a good book and I wasn’t disappointed.
December 19, 2020
Read the series in order
As this is the 2nd book in the series, I was hesitant at first, and thought there would be a lot of back story that I missed. I was partially right. The first book ends with the end of WWII, & this book starts with Russian occupied Poland. The main characters in the first book are now secondary characters.
The characters are very well developed, and the plot is a good one. The pacing is just right, as you follow Dovid and Eidel through their separate discoveries of who they are at the core, their courtship, and their early married life.
There were though, two things that bothered me. The first was Eidel’s Jewish identity - her full name is Eidel Weiss, and every time I read it, I heard Christopher Plummer playing guitar and singing. The second thing that bothered me was the seemingly easy way Dovid survived the war and life as a Russian soldier, all the way to their leaving Poland and living on a kibbutz. It was far too simple to leave Poland even in the late1950s.
Good book, easy to read, but I wouldn’t count on it for giving the reader an accurate picture of what life was like after WWII.
As this is the 2nd book in the series, I was hesitant at first, and thought there would be a lot of back story that I missed. I was partially right. The first book ends with the end of WWII, & this book starts with Russian occupied Poland. The main characters in the first book are now secondary characters.
The characters are very well developed, and the plot is a good one. The pacing is just right, as you follow Dovid and Eidel through their separate discoveries of who they are at the core, their courtship, and their early married life.
There were though, two things that bothered me. The first was Eidel’s Jewish identity - her full name is Eidel Weiss, and every time I read it, I heard Christopher Plummer playing guitar and singing. The second thing that bothered me was the seemingly easy way Dovid survived the war and life as a Russian soldier, all the way to their leaving Poland and living on a kibbutz. It was far too simple to leave Poland even in the late1950s.
Good book, easy to read, but I wouldn’t count on it for giving the reader an accurate picture of what life was like after WWII.
December 7, 2018
Customer Review
Diana Berns
5.0 out of 5 starsLove against adversity.
7 December 2018
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I have not read book 1 of this series, but There Is so much detail in the book you can add it up. It is a story of war, deceit, (done for the best of intentions) and love. It brings the getto in Warsaw to life, you feel the pain. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in jewish history and anyone who would like to know more.
Customer Review
Diana Berns
5.0 out of 5 starsLove against adversity.
7 December 2018
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I have not read book 1 of this series, but There Is so much detail in the book you can add it up. It is a story of war, deceit, (done for the best of intentions) and love. It brings the getto in Warsaw to life, you feel the pain. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in jewish history and anyone who would like to know more.
Diana Berns
5.0 out of 5 starsLove against adversity.
7 December 2018
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I have not read book 1 of this series, but There Is so much detail in the book you can add it up. It is a story of war, deceit, (done for the best of intentions) and love. It brings the getto in Warsaw to life, you feel the pain. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in jewish history and anyone who would like to know more.
Customer Review
Diana Berns
5.0 out of 5 starsLove against adversity.
7 December 2018
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I have not read book 1 of this series, but There Is so much detail in the book you can add it up. It is a story of war, deceit, (done for the best of intentions) and love. It brings the getto in Warsaw to life, you feel the pain. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in jewish history and anyone who would like to know more.
December 18, 2018
It's for the best
History will no doubt hide some of the awful truth as it is to know just how bad things were for Jews in 1940's Europe specially in the East to survive the Nazis the free that did then to still have to hide when Communist occupied Poland. This is the story of Ela and Dovid two children who's parents took the choice to put their children first and in doing so undoubtedly saved them from horrors that seem impossible to believe.
The world can be a cruel place and to be hated because of your race or skin it's just wrong but here is a story of hope out of pain and the reward of truth. Roberta excellent story that doesn't shy away from the facts and reality of this era tells this story that will touch you and remind you off what must never be forgotten.
I highly recommend this book and hope it's tougher story line helps you not to forget and know that love is stronger than hatred and is always the winner.
History will no doubt hide some of the awful truth as it is to know just how bad things were for Jews in 1940's Europe specially in the East to survive the Nazis the free that did then to still have to hide when Communist occupied Poland. This is the story of Ela and Dovid two children who's parents took the choice to put their children first and in doing so undoubtedly saved them from horrors that seem impossible to believe.
The world can be a cruel place and to be hated because of your race or skin it's just wrong but here is a story of hope out of pain and the reward of truth. Roberta excellent story that doesn't shy away from the facts and reality of this era tells this story that will touch you and remind you off what must never be forgotten.
I highly recommend this book and hope it's tougher story line helps you not to forget and know that love is stronger than hatred and is always the winner.
May 16, 2019
I wanted to give this novella 3 1/2 stars. I really liked the story line and the characters. As the jump in years took place in the last quarter of the book, the author (for me, at least) left gaping holes in the story. The writing style did not match the author's storytelling skill. As an author myself, though, and less successful by far, I respect Kagan's ability to sell books and find a loyal audience. To be envied.
Alfred J. Garrotto
The Soul of Art
Alfred J. Garrotto
The Soul of Art
December 2, 2019
2.5 stars
Set in Warsaw, Poland in 1946, Polish citizens have formed a resistance group called the Home Army. Joseph Stalin has promised to send Russian troops to help the Polish in their rebellion.
Although the Home Army put up a lot of effort, they were defeated in the end by the Nazis.
By this time, Russia and Poland have formed an alliance and the Nazi’s flags strewn all over Poland have been torn down. But in their place, the Russians have put up their own flags—this means that Poland now belongs to Russia.
In midst of all this strife is a girl named Ela Dobinski, a girl with a secret that could change her life.
Set in Warsaw, Poland in 1946, Polish citizens have formed a resistance group called the Home Army. Joseph Stalin has promised to send Russian troops to help the Polish in their rebellion.
Although the Home Army put up a lot of effort, they were defeated in the end by the Nazis.
By this time, Russia and Poland have formed an alliance and the Nazi’s flags strewn all over Poland have been torn down. But in their place, the Russians have put up their own flags—this means that Poland now belongs to Russia.
In midst of all this strife is a girl named Ela Dobinski, a girl with a secret that could change her life.
March 25, 2018
A coming together of two lost souls
Eidel and Dovid both assumed different identities to survive the Nazi occupation. Eidel unknowingly and Dovid to survive. I was happy that Eidel found the truth and that Dovid found Eidel. I wanted Eidel to find Zofia while in Israel, and I. Was sad about Helen, but the story ended on a happy note, I am excited to read the next book and follow their further adventures as a newly wed couple. Great second book, I would definitely recommend it.
Eidel and Dovid both assumed different identities to survive the Nazi occupation. Eidel unknowingly and Dovid to survive. I was happy that Eidel found the truth and that Dovid found Eidel. I wanted Eidel to find Zofia while in Israel, and I. Was sad about Helen, but the story ended on a happy note, I am excited to read the next book and follow their further adventures as a newly wed couple. Great second book, I would definitely recommend it.
December 22, 2018
First time reading this author, and will be reading more. I am fascinated with this time in history, and love learning more. Author Roberta Kagan has a very through knowledge of this time period and draws you into the story. You feel like you are there. The despair felt by the peple being invaded. The love of family, culture is felt throughout the book. I was left wanting more of the people in the story.
March 24, 2018
I liked the writing in this better than the first one in the series, but.....there wasn’t anything to it. Just a short story. The “secret” (which the readers know) was revealed to the characters without much strife. I read this immediately after Book One. I know Book Three is not available yet and I’m not that excited to read it if it is anything like Book Two.
December 1, 2018
Nazi Germany
This breathtaking novel is a wonderful read for those that like romance, but even more so for history buffs, and in particular, Nazi Germany.
The story is part of a series, but can be a standalone novel.
It does whet my appetite for this whole series as well as another series based on the war and Nazis, and the Jewish people.
This breathtaking novel is a wonderful read for those that like romance, but even more so for history buffs, and in particular, Nazi Germany.
The story is part of a series, but can be a standalone novel.
It does whet my appetite for this whole series as well as another series based on the war and Nazis, and the Jewish people.
December 15, 2018
Another Holocaust Book
This is book 2 of the series. I didn’t read book one but caught on very quickly to the story. Ela is given to a Catholic woman just before her mother is sent to the camps. Helen raises Ela as a Catholic until she is seventeen when Helen tells her daughter about her real mother.
This is book 2 of the series. I didn’t read book one but caught on very quickly to the story. Ela is given to a Catholic woman just before her mother is sent to the camps. Helen raises Ela as a Catholic until she is seventeen when Helen tells her daughter about her real mother.
March 17, 2019
An interesting read
Eidel is living a very interesting life. World War II was very difficult for most people in Europe. Many hard decisions had to be made. For Jewish people decisions and life were unbelievably difficult. This story is about two young Jewish people who survived horrible circumstances in Russia and Poland and find happiness and love.
Eidel is living a very interesting life. World War II was very difficult for most people in Europe. Many hard decisions had to be made. For Jewish people decisions and life were unbelievably difficult. This story is about two young Jewish people who survived horrible circumstances in Russia and Poland and find happiness and love.
March 25, 2022
Revelations and romance.
My wife loved this book and I too found it a gripping read. Ela finally learns the truth and is understandingly conflicted as to how she wants to live her life from here on. A love affair changes her life forever. We will eagerly now read on with book three in the series.
My wife loved this book and I too found it a gripping read. Ela finally learns the truth and is understandingly conflicted as to how she wants to live her life from here on. A love affair changes her life forever. We will eagerly now read on with book three in the series.
March 26, 2018
Another great read by Roberta Kagan. She keeps you captivated till the end.
I love WW 2 books, so much history that needs to be remembered. I can’t wait for the third and fourth books in this series. I would highly recommended this series to anyone.
You wouldn’t be disappointed .
I love WW 2 books, so much history that needs to be remembered. I can’t wait for the third and fourth books in this series. I would highly recommended this series to anyone.
You wouldn’t be disappointed .
March 30, 2018
Very disappointed
The reasons for my rating is that the same stories are repeated again and again. There is nothing new she writes the same profiles with different names. Her earlier books were much more interesting
For
The reasons for my rating is that the same stories are repeated again and again. There is nothing new she writes the same profiles with different names. Her earlier books were much more interesting
For
April 13, 2018
Enjoyed
I am a fan of WWII history. This is a story of post war Poland under Soviet rule. The Russians are a little better than the Germans but life is still tough. Need are still not trusted. This is the story of Ella and Oscar, two Individual with secrets.
I am a fan of WWII history. This is a story of post war Poland under Soviet rule. The Russians are a little better than the Germans but life is still tough. Need are still not trusted. This is the story of Ella and Oscar, two Individual with secrets.
May 24, 2018
Another fast, eAsy read in this series
This author entertains with her stories. her characters are likeable. The coincidences are a bit far fetched but I like all historical fiction so I keep reading them.
This author entertains with her stories. her characters are likeable. The coincidences are a bit far fetched but I like all historical fiction so I keep reading them.
December 5, 2018
Bridge to Book 3
It is I really enjoyed book 1 and was hoping for more of the same. It is basically a bridge to Book 3 and lacks character development. Characters are shallow and uninteresting. Quick read.
It is I really enjoyed book 1 and was hoping for more of the same. It is basically a bridge to Book 3 and lacks character development. Characters are shallow and uninteresting. Quick read.
January 21, 2019
Interesting in the beginning, but the character development was lacking, with little depth. How does someone contemplating becoming a nun so easily toss away her religion instantly upon discovering she's Jewish? Also, how did Eidel go from age 19 at 56% into the book to 17 at 79% in?
February 7, 2019
Love conquers
Inspiring, beautifully written. Love is selfless, unconditional. It gives hope and faith for today's young generation who who's giving up on true love because of their passion on technologies and robots
Inspiring, beautifully written. Love is selfless, unconditional. It gives hope and faith for today's young generation who who's giving up on true love because of their passion on technologies and robots
June 4, 2022
Interesting wartime story
Touching story, this is the second of the series. Would have helped to have read the first book and then book ends and one must read 3rd book to complete the saga. Might be best to write as one book.
Touching story, this is the second of the series. Would have helped to have read the first book and then book ends and one must read 3rd book to complete the saga. Might be best to write as one book.
June 13, 2023
Saga continues
Eidel's story progresses as she moves on to adulthood and this takes place after WWII. Rich character development and an interesting journey ahead. Very much enjoying this series.
Eidel's story progresses as she moves on to adulthood and this takes place after WWII. Rich character development and an interesting journey ahead. Very much enjoying this series.
July 12, 2025
Empty Secrets- Nothing Revealed
Great premise but atrocious writing. Zero plot development or character development. On the plus side, it reads very quickly. So glad I got it for free.
Great premise but atrocious writing. Zero plot development or character development. On the plus side, it reads very quickly. So glad I got it for free.
March 21, 2018
Another great book by Roberta Kagan. I couldn’t put this book down. Great story with interesting characters. A must read .
July 10, 2018
Very fast read. Not quite as good as the previous.
Seemed to skim the surface. She didn't expand the characters. I liked the end. Prepares you for more to come.
Seemed to skim the surface. She didn't expand the characters. I liked the end. Prepares you for more to come.
August 8, 2018
Excellent
I am captivated by these books. I cant wait to get to the next one. Excellent writing , kept me wanting more
I am captivated by these books. I cant wait to get to the next one. Excellent writing , kept me wanting more
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews