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When Courage Comes: A world at war. Two siblings separated by 6,000 miles. The enemy soldier who changes their lives forever.
"...OFFERS READERS AN ARRAY OF INTRIGUING CHARACTERS AND PLENTY OF RICH PERIOD DETAILS. A HISTORICALLY AUTHENTIC WAR TALE…” – Kirkus Reviews
"FLEMING’S RICH PERIOD PIECE IS A SENSITIVE DEPICTION OF ROMANCE AND DIVIDED LOYALTIES DURING WORLD WAR II." -- BookLife Reviews
"A WARM AND TOUCHING STORY ABOUT THE ABILITY OF LOVE AND HUMAN CONNECTION TO STAND THE TESTS OF WAR, HATRED, AND VIOLENCE." – IndieReader
A WORLD AT WAR. TWO SIBLINGS SEPARATED BY 6,000 MILES. THE ENEMY SOLDIER WHO CHANGES THEIR LIVES FOREVER.
It’s 1943 in Huntsville, Texas. Stephan, a German army conscript, is imprisoned in one of the first POW camps hastily built in America. The hostile community opposes the enemy on American soil, but Stephan’s greatest threat lurks inside the camp, where Nazis demand his loyalty to a cause he despises.
Stephan arrives in Huntsville after his surrender in North Africa where he saves the life of his American interrogator Captain Ralph Bauer. After parting ways, a shaken Ralph discovers a family heirloom that belongs to the prisoner. Obsessed with finding Stephan and returning the keepsake puts Ralph on a collision course for Huntsville, where Stephan begins work on a cotton farm, striking up a relationship with Rose—who is Ralph’s sister.
Neither Rose nor Stephan are aware of the other’s connection to Ralph. They soon risk the unthinkable in this tense and deeply moving story about a part of World War II few have discovered. When Courage Comes explodes against this rare backdrop, blurs the line between sworn enemies, and delivers hope in the midst of hypocrisy.
"FLEMING’S RICH PERIOD PIECE IS A SENSITIVE DEPICTION OF ROMANCE AND DIVIDED LOYALTIES DURING WORLD WAR II." -- BookLife Reviews
"A WARM AND TOUCHING STORY ABOUT THE ABILITY OF LOVE AND HUMAN CONNECTION TO STAND THE TESTS OF WAR, HATRED, AND VIOLENCE." – IndieReader
A WORLD AT WAR. TWO SIBLINGS SEPARATED BY 6,000 MILES. THE ENEMY SOLDIER WHO CHANGES THEIR LIVES FOREVER.
It’s 1943 in Huntsville, Texas. Stephan, a German army conscript, is imprisoned in one of the first POW camps hastily built in America. The hostile community opposes the enemy on American soil, but Stephan’s greatest threat lurks inside the camp, where Nazis demand his loyalty to a cause he despises.
Stephan arrives in Huntsville after his surrender in North Africa where he saves the life of his American interrogator Captain Ralph Bauer. After parting ways, a shaken Ralph discovers a family heirloom that belongs to the prisoner. Obsessed with finding Stephan and returning the keepsake puts Ralph on a collision course for Huntsville, where Stephan begins work on a cotton farm, striking up a relationship with Rose—who is Ralph’s sister.
Neither Rose nor Stephan are aware of the other’s connection to Ralph. They soon risk the unthinkable in this tense and deeply moving story about a part of World War II few have discovered. When Courage Comes explodes against this rare backdrop, blurs the line between sworn enemies, and delivers hope in the midst of hypocrisy.
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Published February 15, 2021
119 people are currently reading
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About the author
Paul M. Fleming
2 books3 followersPaul finally ran out of excuses and published his breakout novel, When Courage Comes, in 2020. Now, after bidding farewell to his day job (an award-winning ad agency he started in 1987), this restless baby-boomer embraces a career combining his research skills and fondness for history with a passion for startling stories that have never been told. Telling A Thumper has now been added to that list. He lives in the Philly suburbs with his wife. They have two grown daughters and four fabulous grandkids who call him “Pop.” This ultimate optimist with a wickedly dry sense of humor is already nurturing more unexpected tales -- usually inspired during long walks on the beach at the Jersey shore.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 16, 2020
This was a great read. I learned a great deal about the Second World War and how it impacted the people in the U.S. as well as the German prisoners held in a camp in Texas. This book was very well researched and was hard to put down. I am looking forward to Paul Fleming’s next book!
September 9, 2020
If you’ve read a lot of WWII historical novels, read this one. I loved this book—such rich characters, perspectives, and unique settings including Stephan, a German soldier who is captured in North Africa and sent to a POW camp in Texas. Rose, a young German-American woman helping run her family’s Texas cotton farm while her brothers are away fighting in Europe. And so many more. The book was hard to put down, incredibly uplifting, and taught me history I never knew. I didn’t want it to end.
September 6, 2020
Great Historical Fiction
Thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the history I was never aware of. Want my grandchildren to read this to have a better grasp of their country’s history and the sacrifices made by everyday Americans.
The development of the characters helped the reader to understand both the enemy, those charged with running the camps, the lives of black Americans during Jim Crow. Well done.
Thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the history I was never aware of. Want my grandchildren to read this to have a better grasp of their country’s history and the sacrifices made by everyday Americans.
The development of the characters helped the reader to understand both the enemy, those charged with running the camps, the lives of black Americans during Jim Crow. Well done.
September 9, 2020
Excellent read. Explores a fascinating part of history that is meticulously researched by the author. I quickly became invested in the characters and riveting storyline, making for a fast paced read. Highly recommend.
August 29, 2020
When Courage Comes
Everyone should read this inspiring novel. It has intrigue, mystery, romance, but so much more about what people went through during World War II. It is definitely a read again.
It has the right Title, it took a great deal of courage to live through those times.
Everyone should read this inspiring novel. It has intrigue, mystery, romance, but so much more about what people went through during World War II. It is definitely a read again.
It has the right Title, it took a great deal of courage to live through those times.
March 12, 2025
An incredible story of a lesser known part of history of the second world war. I was hooked from the beginning to the very end. There were no chapters that felt like filler to the story, I learned a lot of new things about the time period, and I loved watching the story unfold from several different perspectives and I was deeply invested in their lives and struggles. Even told from the third person, the story and characters are very complex and engaging, and I spent most if not all of the book smiling, tearing up, and laughing out loud.
From Africa and the surrender of his battalion, we follow Stephan, an Austrian soldier, to the POW camps in the United States, and we also follow the stories of Rose and her brother, Ralph, people who are connected even before they ever meet. I also loved all the side characters like Corporal Burns, Colonel Warren, Heller, Clyde, and I especially loved Hugo and Oma.
The POW camps in the United States aren’t often written of outside of historical biographies, so I enjoyed seeing it from a fictional perspective that really brought it to life in a different way. Nazi rule within the camps was one of the troubles difficult to manage by American troops and even in captivity, the danger for Anti-Nazi soldiers—or even ordinary men who didn’t explicitly express loyalty to the Reich—was great. They were often the target of violence and kangaroo courts, and some camps in the USA were far more dangerous for these men because of Nazi takeover.
The story also touches on the issue of the pre-civil rights movement in America, and ties into the overarching theme of doing what is right even when it’s difficult, dangerous, and even when it seems the majority of people are against it.
When Courage Comes will definitely stay with me for a long time and deserves a lot more attention. 5⭐️
From Africa and the surrender of his battalion, we follow Stephan, an Austrian soldier, to the POW camps in the United States, and we also follow the stories of Rose and her brother, Ralph, people who are connected even before they ever meet. I also loved all the side characters like Corporal Burns, Colonel Warren, Heller, Clyde, and I especially loved Hugo and Oma.
The POW camps in the United States aren’t often written of outside of historical biographies, so I enjoyed seeing it from a fictional perspective that really brought it to life in a different way. Nazi rule within the camps was one of the troubles difficult to manage by American troops and even in captivity, the danger for Anti-Nazi soldiers—or even ordinary men who didn’t explicitly express loyalty to the Reich—was great. They were often the target of violence and kangaroo courts, and some camps in the USA were far more dangerous for these men because of Nazi takeover.
The story also touches on the issue of the pre-civil rights movement in America, and ties into the overarching theme of doing what is right even when it’s difficult, dangerous, and even when it seems the majority of people are against it.
When Courage Comes will definitely stay with me for a long time and deserves a lot more attention. 5⭐️
November 10, 2021
A new story in historic fiction!
The little-known story of German soldiers captured and brought to the US to prison camps and working the farms is revealed in this tale. Interesting interweaving of characters. As a WWII era history buff, I found the story charming and enriching. Learning about the dangers faced by those forced into the Reich army from fanatical Nazis, and ineffectual but well-meant attempts by our side to separate the good from the bad- while abiding by the Geneva convention - is a compelling aspect! America has much to be proud of in our morality of the time. We seem to have slipped far from it.
The little-known story of German soldiers captured and brought to the US to prison camps and working the farms is revealed in this tale. Interesting interweaving of characters. As a WWII era history buff, I found the story charming and enriching. Learning about the dangers faced by those forced into the Reich army from fanatical Nazis, and ineffectual but well-meant attempts by our side to separate the good from the bad- while abiding by the Geneva convention - is a compelling aspect! America has much to be proud of in our morality of the time. We seem to have slipped far from it.
November 12, 2020
Enjoyed reading When Courage Comes, a moving historical fiction novel about family life on a cotton farm after a German POW camp is built in Huntsville, Texas, during WWII. Two brothers are fighting overseas in the war and the sister develops romantic feelings with a POW. Lots of exciting twists and turns. Great first novel for Paul Fleming!
November 13, 2020
Texas pow camp world war 2
I found this book very informative about the prisoners camps here in America, I was a 10 yrs old during the war and with two brothers in the European theater I read everything that our local news printed,but this book really gave me a human side of our enemies
I found this book very informative about the prisoners camps here in America, I was a 10 yrs old during the war and with two brothers in the European theater I read everything that our local news printed,but this book really gave me a human side of our enemies
March 23, 2021
Informative, engaging, and even secondary characters were well fleshed out. In addition to shedding light on the POW camps in the United States the author wove into the story the issues caused by the prejudice that prevailed and oppressed so many. Sad to say that prejudice continues to be an issue after all these years.
November 14, 2021
Excellent book!
This book pulls you into the story from the very first line. The characters, time and place are set right from the start. Once started I had trouble setting this book down and found myself reading late at night by the glow of my kindle. Loved the story and the ending was not what I expected!
This book pulls you into the story from the very first line. The characters, time and place are set right from the start. Once started I had trouble setting this book down and found myself reading late at night by the glow of my kindle. Loved the story and the ending was not what I expected!
October 4, 2020
Congratulations to Paul Fleming on this wonderful piece of historical fiction. This was a subject that over my vast amount of reading I had never come across (POW camps in the US during WWII). I loved this story. It had it all!
October 7, 2020
Great story line. Each character is well developed. Very well written. This is the second book I’ve read about German POWs imprisoned in the US. I live in Texas and love to read stories set in the state.
This book left me wanting a sequel. Please continue writing such engrossing books!
This book left me wanting a sequel. Please continue writing such engrossing books!
November 7, 2021
A different type of war story.
A beautiful tale of courage found. Fleming does a terrific job of character development and I found myself truly caring about these fictional people. Please consider a sequel so we can see where their lives take them.
A beautiful tale of courage found. Fleming does a terrific job of character development and I found myself truly caring about these fictional people. Please consider a sequel so we can see where their lives take them.
February 21, 2021
The ending
Why??? End such a good story this way???
It had me so pleased until the last. Hard to imagine war like that
Why??? End such a good story this way???
It had me so pleased until the last. Hard to imagine war like that
October 21, 2021
Amazing story
I couldn't put this book down! Fleming weaves fate into a truly unforgettable story! There must be a follow up book on Dr Heller??
I couldn't put this book down! Fleming weaves fate into a truly unforgettable story! There must be a follow up book on Dr Heller??
November 19, 2021
I will not forget this book.
This book is amazing. Nazi andAmerican soldiers intertwined alongside those caught up in a war within themselves. Powerful story that covers so much.
This book is amazing. Nazi andAmerican soldiers intertwined alongside those caught up in a war within themselves. Powerful story that covers so much.
April 18, 2025
Wow
I really enjoyed this book. It was an incredible story about courage in many forms. It also had a nice little twist at the end that I didn't see coming.
I really enjoyed this book. It was an incredible story about courage in many forms. It also had a nice little twist at the end that I didn't see coming.
October 1, 2020
A well written historical fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and shed a few tears along the way. I wasn’t aware of the existence of POW camps in the US during WWII. This is a story of a family trying to manage their cotton farm in Texas, while two brothers are off fighting in the war. The sacrifices people were willing to make to support the American war efforts. The story of one POW, and the impact he has on the whole Bauer family.
September 26, 2020
A great read from a new author approaches WW2 with a fresh storyline set predominantly in the U.S.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews