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Searching for My Daughter
The queue is long, but that barely matters. She is used to waiting. For the midnight knock at the door, for her number to be called, for the next meal of watery soup, the sound of a gunshot... Sustaining her through every moment of waiting, there has remained the tiniest flicker of hope: her daughter Rosa’s face, eyes bright and expectant, arms outstretched.
Germany 1945: Miriam has travelled for over two weeks to reach safety. Exhausted and hungry, she knows she is still one of the fortunate ones. One of the few to survive the camps. Having lost her darling husband and son, the only thing that has kept her walking is the hope of finding her daughter, Rosa.
As she arrives at the checkpoint, she is told it is closed for the day. But in her mind Miriam can hear her daughter’s voice: Be strong, stand up to them. Don’t let anyone bully you, Mum. Standing tall, she comes face to face with the guard and refuses to leave until they help her.
When Miriam is introduced to an English officer named Jack, she describes how, fearing the Nazis, she and her husband sent Rosa to England to marry. It was not a marriage of love but of survival. Now, Miriam needs the officer’s help: if she is to be reunited with her beloved daughter, he will need to help her travel to England.
But as Miriam begins to describe Rosa, there is a look of recognition in Jack’s eyes. As he listens to her story, he is transported back to an unforgettable English summer, to secret picnics in the long grass, and to a love that shaped the man he became. Will Jack now risk everything to help Miriam make the biggest journey of all, back to her daughter and her freedom?
An utterly gripping and emotional novel about bravery, enduring love and keeping hope alive in the darkest of times. Perfect for fans of The Nightingale, Beneath a Scarlet Sky and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
Germany 1945: Miriam has travelled for over two weeks to reach safety. Exhausted and hungry, she knows she is still one of the fortunate ones. One of the few to survive the camps. Having lost her darling husband and son, the only thing that has kept her walking is the hope of finding her daughter, Rosa.
As she arrives at the checkpoint, she is told it is closed for the day. But in her mind Miriam can hear her daughter’s voice: Be strong, stand up to them. Don’t let anyone bully you, Mum. Standing tall, she comes face to face with the guard and refuses to leave until they help her.
When Miriam is introduced to an English officer named Jack, she describes how, fearing the Nazis, she and her husband sent Rosa to England to marry. It was not a marriage of love but of survival. Now, Miriam needs the officer’s help: if she is to be reunited with her beloved daughter, he will need to help her travel to England.
But as Miriam begins to describe Rosa, there is a look of recognition in Jack’s eyes. As he listens to her story, he is transported back to an unforgettable English summer, to secret picnics in the long grass, and to a love that shaped the man he became. Will Jack now risk everything to help Miriam make the biggest journey of all, back to her daughter and her freedom?
An utterly gripping and emotional novel about bravery, enduring love and keeping hope alive in the darkest of times. Perfect for fans of The Nightingale, Beneath a Scarlet Sky and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
307 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2022
973 people are currently reading
962 people want to read
About the author
Liz Trenow
16 books368 followersLiz Trenow's family have been silk weavers for nearly three hundred years, and the company is one of only three still operating in the UK today, weaving for top-end fashion houses and royal commissions.
It is this remarkable silk heritage that has inspired many of Liz's four novels, including the most recent The Silk Weaver (UK pub Jan 2017) It will be published in the US as The Hidden Thread in May 2017.
It is set in London in the 1760s in the very house in which the family company began, just down the road from where the pre-eminent silk designer Anna Maria Garthwaite lived at the same time. It is the unknown early life of Anna Maria that has inspired the plot, set against the historical backdrop of racial tension and industrial unrest.
With beautiful illustrations of Anna Maria designs throughout, this will be a book to treasure.
It is this remarkable silk heritage that has inspired many of Liz's four novels, including the most recent The Silk Weaver (UK pub Jan 2017) It will be published in the US as The Hidden Thread in May 2017.
It is set in London in the 1760s in the very house in which the family company began, just down the road from where the pre-eminent silk designer Anna Maria Garthwaite lived at the same time. It is the unknown early life of Anna Maria that has inspired the plot, set against the historical backdrop of racial tension and industrial unrest.
With beautiful illustrations of Anna Maria designs throughout, this will be a book to treasure.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
May 22, 2022
Based around the time of the holocaust and the turmoil that families went through, not only devastation but also loss of family and friends and those that have survived……looking for them.
This was so well written I could easily place myself in the footsteps of the mother looking for her child.
Walking miles upon miles. Getting to another camp to queue up only to be turned away for the day.
Heartbreakingly realistic.
Liz Trenow has become one of my historical authors who have lately discovered I just love her writing.
I listened to this on netgalley audio. I thought the narrator did a grand job of pitch power and pace.
This was so well written I could easily place myself in the footsteps of the mother looking for her child.
Walking miles upon miles. Getting to another camp to queue up only to be turned away for the day.
Heartbreakingly realistic.
Liz Trenow has become one of my historical authors who have lately discovered I just love her writing.
I listened to this on netgalley audio. I thought the narrator did a grand job of pitch power and pace.
May 11, 2022
I read the Audiobook version of this book. It was narrated well and easy to listen to.
It is 1945 and Miriam has survived the horrible prison camps. She is searching for the only surviving member of her family, her daughter. She has been lining for hours at the checkpoint, for potentially travelling into England. The guard counts the people in the queue, they reach their quota for the day and they turn Miriam and the rest of the crowd away. Miriam is devastated, she has been travelling on foot for weeks now, with no food, no clothing or shelter, the only thing she has to live for is the hope of finding her daughter. A voice inside her head tells her to be brave, the voice of her daughter. She stands up to the guard and begs him to let her into the checkpoint, and he obliges.
Once inside Miriam is requested to wait, before she can be attended to, it is warm and quiet inside, Miriam accidentally relaxes and falls asleep. She is awoken by a guard and discovers that everybody has left, for the day. She is told she must leave and return again tomorrow to try again. Miriam refuses to do this, and begs to stay there, she insists she wont be any trouble. Miriam meets an officer Jack, whom as it turns out has previously met Miriam's daughter Rosa. With Jack's help, Miriam may actually have a slight chance of potentially finding her daughter Rosa.
I found the story itself was good. The book tells two stories, Miriam's story and also Rosa's story, which keeps it interesting. Both ladies have had a very tough life, but Rosa's is incredulous, she is a very strong lady, who is brave and fearless.
Rosa's and Miriam's journey had me in tears, there is a special moment in the book that had me a blubbering mess. The book takes a little while to get going, but after a while you are hooked.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this advanced audio. This book is available to purchase from May 15th, 2022
3 Stars: It was a good book and well-crafted. I would recommend it to the right person.
Please visit my Facebook page and blog to see all of my past and future book reviews.
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It is 1945 and Miriam has survived the horrible prison camps. She is searching for the only surviving member of her family, her daughter. She has been lining for hours at the checkpoint, for potentially travelling into England. The guard counts the people in the queue, they reach their quota for the day and they turn Miriam and the rest of the crowd away. Miriam is devastated, she has been travelling on foot for weeks now, with no food, no clothing or shelter, the only thing she has to live for is the hope of finding her daughter. A voice inside her head tells her to be brave, the voice of her daughter. She stands up to the guard and begs him to let her into the checkpoint, and he obliges.
Once inside Miriam is requested to wait, before she can be attended to, it is warm and quiet inside, Miriam accidentally relaxes and falls asleep. She is awoken by a guard and discovers that everybody has left, for the day. She is told she must leave and return again tomorrow to try again. Miriam refuses to do this, and begs to stay there, she insists she wont be any trouble. Miriam meets an officer Jack, whom as it turns out has previously met Miriam's daughter Rosa. With Jack's help, Miriam may actually have a slight chance of potentially finding her daughter Rosa.
I found the story itself was good. The book tells two stories, Miriam's story and also Rosa's story, which keeps it interesting. Both ladies have had a very tough life, but Rosa's is incredulous, she is a very strong lady, who is brave and fearless.
Rosa's and Miriam's journey had me in tears, there is a special moment in the book that had me a blubbering mess. The book takes a little while to get going, but after a while you are hooked.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this advanced audio. This book is available to purchase from May 15th, 2022
3 Stars: It was a good book and well-crafted. I would recommend it to the right person.
Please visit my Facebook page and blog to see all of my past and future book reviews.
https://www.facebook.com/Kylies-Book-...
https://kyliesbookaddictreviews.blogs...
April 20, 2022
The Journey
An enduring story of a mother's search for her lost daughter. Her miraculous escape from death at the hands of the Nazi's and her journey to a life of freedom.
As the rules of the Nazi's worsen and it becomes clear that her family is no longer safe, Miriam sees her daughter Rosa marry Daniel in order to immigrate to England and escape the danger and the cruelty of the Nazi she has been working for as a housekeeper. Miriam desperately tries to get her son on the kinder transport, but there is an error in his paperwork and he is not allowed to board the train.
They flee to the countryside, but the Germans find them and send them to the concentration camp. By a miracle Miriam survives and manages to make her way to the checkpoint at the border. She finds the guard Jack who is sympathetic to her journey to find her daughter and allows her to cross. When he questions her they find that Jack knows her daughter Rosa as his was the family that sponsored Rosa and her husband when they went to England.
With Jack's help, Miriam makes it to London. She never gives up searching for her daughter Rosa. This is a story of Miriam's journey searching for Rosa. It is also Rosa's story of coming to London and searching to find if her parent's survived after the war.
Much is written about life in the concentration camps, but this story is about a survivor and what happens afterward. Of parents doing what they must to ensure the safety of their children. Of families torn apart and lives spent searching for each other.
It was a very inspirational story of a mother's courage and the everlasting love for her daughter. I really enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it.
Thanks to Liz Trenow for writing another great story, to Bookouture for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available for me.
An enduring story of a mother's search for her lost daughter. Her miraculous escape from death at the hands of the Nazi's and her journey to a life of freedom.
As the rules of the Nazi's worsen and it becomes clear that her family is no longer safe, Miriam sees her daughter Rosa marry Daniel in order to immigrate to England and escape the danger and the cruelty of the Nazi she has been working for as a housekeeper. Miriam desperately tries to get her son on the kinder transport, but there is an error in his paperwork and he is not allowed to board the train.
They flee to the countryside, but the Germans find them and send them to the concentration camp. By a miracle Miriam survives and manages to make her way to the checkpoint at the border. She finds the guard Jack who is sympathetic to her journey to find her daughter and allows her to cross. When he questions her they find that Jack knows her daughter Rosa as his was the family that sponsored Rosa and her husband when they went to England.
With Jack's help, Miriam makes it to London. She never gives up searching for her daughter Rosa. This is a story of Miriam's journey searching for Rosa. It is also Rosa's story of coming to London and searching to find if her parent's survived after the war.
Much is written about life in the concentration camps, but this story is about a survivor and what happens afterward. Of parents doing what they must to ensure the safety of their children. Of families torn apart and lives spent searching for each other.
It was a very inspirational story of a mother's courage and the everlasting love for her daughter. I really enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it.
Thanks to Liz Trenow for writing another great story, to Bookouture for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available for me.
April 23, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to this arc audiobook.
This book follows Mirriam's story of her journey to England to be reunited with her daughter Rosa and Rosa's life in England and the fallout of a horrific experience earlier in her life.
Both Mirriam and Rosa's stories were unique and at times heartbreaking. I really love historical fiction. This one was amazing.
The narration was great, kept you captivated and held just the right pace.
This book follows Mirriam's story of her journey to England to be reunited with her daughter Rosa and Rosa's life in England and the fallout of a horrific experience earlier in her life.
Both Mirriam and Rosa's stories were unique and at times heartbreaking. I really love historical fiction. This one was amazing.
The narration was great, kept you captivated and held just the right pace.
March 28, 2022
“My recovery will be complete when I find Rosa.”
In recent days I’ve read about a female Russian fighter ace in WW2, Stalin’s past oppression of the Ukrainian people and now a similar topic of contemporary resonance, sending children away from their war-torn homeland to ensure survival in the hopes of one day reuniting with them.
Rarely done in historical fiction is the immediate aftermath of camp liberation and prisoners making their way in an unfamiliar world; whether it be back ‘home’ or on to a new life. This fresh perspective adds to Trenow’s success.
I was in awe of Trenow’s storytelling! She had the ability to place me right in the setting and I love when that happens. The serendipitous moment at the border checkpoint almost had me in tears. Her characters are crafted to perfection and I truly cared what happened to them - some of the best characters I’ve read this year! The tension and mystery were fantastic and kept me turning pages. This was a five-star read up until Rosa took employment at the Steiner home.
Since a big part of a book review is the reader's reaction to what they read, I feel validated in expressing my disappointment. I’ve thought about it for days and although I understand Steiner’s role in the book, I can’t help but wonder if there had been a different way to portray how despicable he was. It left me feeling disgusted that it had to be included in an otherwise 5-star book. Such a shame. Perhaps it wasn’t only the act itself, but rather the manner in which it was portrayed or written. Please familiarize yourself with trigger warnings prior to reading.
Trenow deftly explores the strength of a mother’s love and the lengths she’ll go to protect her own. They say a mother’s love knows no bounds….Trenow taps into that knowledge.
The author was inspired by a story her uncle told from his time in Germany as an intelligence officer post WW2. He was tracking down escaping Nazis and helping to manage the tide of desperate refugees.
I was gifted this advance copy by Liz Trenow, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
In recent days I’ve read about a female Russian fighter ace in WW2, Stalin’s past oppression of the Ukrainian people and now a similar topic of contemporary resonance, sending children away from their war-torn homeland to ensure survival in the hopes of one day reuniting with them.
Rarely done in historical fiction is the immediate aftermath of camp liberation and prisoners making their way in an unfamiliar world; whether it be back ‘home’ or on to a new life. This fresh perspective adds to Trenow’s success.
I was in awe of Trenow’s storytelling! She had the ability to place me right in the setting and I love when that happens. The serendipitous moment at the border checkpoint almost had me in tears. Her characters are crafted to perfection and I truly cared what happened to them - some of the best characters I’ve read this year! The tension and mystery were fantastic and kept me turning pages. This was a five-star read up until Rosa took employment at the Steiner home.
Since a big part of a book review is the reader's reaction to what they read, I feel validated in expressing my disappointment. I’ve thought about it for days and although I understand Steiner’s role in the book, I can’t help but wonder if there had been a different way to portray how despicable he was. It left me feeling disgusted that it had to be included in an otherwise 5-star book. Such a shame. Perhaps it wasn’t only the act itself, but rather the manner in which it was portrayed or written. Please familiarize yourself with trigger warnings prior to reading.
Trenow deftly explores the strength of a mother’s love and the lengths she’ll go to protect her own. They say a mother’s love knows no bounds….Trenow taps into that knowledge.
The author was inspired by a story her uncle told from his time in Germany as an intelligence officer post WW2. He was tracking down escaping Nazis and helping to manage the tide of desperate refugees.
I was gifted this advance copy by Liz Trenow, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
May 14, 2022
This is a highly emotional tale of a family separated by the horrors of the holocaust. A mother faces havoc and an abundance of roadblocks in her efforts to reunite with her daughter at the end of WWII. The characters are well-drawn and a believable reflection of the terror of those heartbreaking times. Trenow's writing delivers high emotional impact and this one will tear at your heartstrings.
July 6, 2022
I read a lot of World War II historical fiction, but I wanted to read something else, something beside the battles on the front or the life in the concentration camps, and that's what I got in this novel.
It is 1945, and the concentration camps have been liberated. Germany is controlled by Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Refugees have flooded the streets and many are looking to leave the country. Miriam is the only survivor in her family beside her daughter, Rosa, who married Daniel and managed to immigrate to England before the war began. Arriving in Great Britain, Miriam starts a race against to look for her daughter, the only relative she has.
After many hours at the border, Miriam is devastated by the journey she has made, on foot, walking for weeks, without food, without proper clothing or shelter, the only thing that kept her alive was the hope of finding her daughter alive. She is determined not to let anyone stop her and dreams of the moment when she will meet her daughter again. The unexpected help comes from one of the customs officers, Jack, who happens to know Rosa. With Jack's help, Miriam has a huge chance to find her daughter in a strange and unknown city, destroyed by the bombings.
The two women had a very hard life, Rosa became a distrustful wife, who is in an unhappy marriage, but can’t divorce because of Hans, her son. However, she is an extremely strong, brave and fearless woman. Miriam is a woman who has nothing to lose. A German woman in London, alone, without money and without documents. Her luck was Jack.
Although most of this story is told in 1945, there are a few flashbacks where we find out why Rosa married Daniel and they fled to Britain. The story is relaxing. The novel tells both Miriam's and Rosa's stories. However, what I liked the most was that everything happens in the present, and the characters briefly remember the past. Liz Trenow has written a beautiful story that is both heartbreaking and full of hope. The book touches many other subjects, including sexual and domestic abuse, women's roles in society, deception, war criminals or prejudices.
I listened to the novel and it was very nice. The audiobook was narrated by Karen Cass who did a wonderful job with the voices of the characters. There were different ages, accents and characters, both male and female and she did a great job, giving them their own voice. Her expression added emotion and the rhythm was great for me, especially since I'm not used to listening to books.
Thank you Net Galley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to this arc audiobook.
It is 1945, and the concentration camps have been liberated. Germany is controlled by Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Refugees have flooded the streets and many are looking to leave the country. Miriam is the only survivor in her family beside her daughter, Rosa, who married Daniel and managed to immigrate to England before the war began. Arriving in Great Britain, Miriam starts a race against to look for her daughter, the only relative she has.
After many hours at the border, Miriam is devastated by the journey she has made, on foot, walking for weeks, without food, without proper clothing or shelter, the only thing that kept her alive was the hope of finding her daughter alive. She is determined not to let anyone stop her and dreams of the moment when she will meet her daughter again. The unexpected help comes from one of the customs officers, Jack, who happens to know Rosa. With Jack's help, Miriam has a huge chance to find her daughter in a strange and unknown city, destroyed by the bombings.
The two women had a very hard life, Rosa became a distrustful wife, who is in an unhappy marriage, but can’t divorce because of Hans, her son. However, she is an extremely strong, brave and fearless woman. Miriam is a woman who has nothing to lose. A German woman in London, alone, without money and without documents. Her luck was Jack.
Although most of this story is told in 1945, there are a few flashbacks where we find out why Rosa married Daniel and they fled to Britain. The story is relaxing. The novel tells both Miriam's and Rosa's stories. However, what I liked the most was that everything happens in the present, and the characters briefly remember the past. Liz Trenow has written a beautiful story that is both heartbreaking and full of hope. The book touches many other subjects, including sexual and domestic abuse, women's roles in society, deception, war criminals or prejudices.
I listened to the novel and it was very nice. The audiobook was narrated by Karen Cass who did a wonderful job with the voices of the characters. There were different ages, accents and characters, both male and female and she did a great job, giving them their own voice. Her expression added emotion and the rhythm was great for me, especially since I'm not used to listening to books.
Thank you Net Galley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to this arc audiobook.
October 28, 2022
Really well written book that chronicles the struggle between Russia and Germany during WWII. The story chronicles a family where Rosa, the daughter, escapes to England before the German occupation. The rest of the family escapes the Natzi round-up but are thwarted on their escape the second time. They end up in Auschwitz where both the father and brother die. Mirriam, the mom, is released and begins the search for Rosa. It is well written and details the horrors of that period of time.
May 2, 2022
This novel was so moving, and I spent all day Sunday listening to the advanced audio.
Germany 1945: Miriam as survived one of the camps and has traveled a long way after losing her son and husband. Now she is determined to find her daughter Rosa.
Miriam arrives at the checkpoint and it’s closed, but she befriends an English officer Jack who gives her a place to stay overnight. Finding a compassionate person is hard in those times. The officer knows he could risk his job and life, but there is something about this woman. The officer is sympathetic to her story, and she needs his help to travel to England.
As Jack listens to Miriam’s story about Rosa, he realizes he is transported to a different time. This story is heart wrenching but full of hope and love. I cannot wait to read what’s next! Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this advanced audio. This book is available May 15th, 2022 by Bookouture.
Germany 1945: Miriam as survived one of the camps and has traveled a long way after losing her son and husband. Now she is determined to find her daughter Rosa.
Miriam arrives at the checkpoint and it’s closed, but she befriends an English officer Jack who gives her a place to stay overnight. Finding a compassionate person is hard in those times. The officer knows he could risk his job and life, but there is something about this woman. The officer is sympathetic to her story, and she needs his help to travel to England.
As Jack listens to Miriam’s story about Rosa, he realizes he is transported to a different time. This story is heart wrenching but full of hope and love. I cannot wait to read what’s next! Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this advanced audio. This book is available May 15th, 2022 by Bookouture.
April 7, 2024
Good plot. Good characters. Overall good story but the book fell a bit flat for me. I loved the storyline of a mother daughter's love and there were parts I was really pulled in. Ultimately it didn't end exactly as I'd hope. The end also felt a bit rushed and anticlimactic. I guess I just wanted more from this book
July 15, 2022
I really enjoyed this book even though some parts were harrowing to read. I felt that it was easy to really get into the experiences of the characters. Definitely the best book I have read this year.
May 6, 2022
I read a lot of WWII Historical Fiction, but I wanted something besides the fighting and the concentration camps and that is what I got in Searching for My Daughter. It is 1945, and the camps have been liberated. Germany is controlled by Russia, Britain and the US. Refugees have flooded the streets and many are looking for visas to leave the country. Miriam is the sole survivor of her family who were sent to the camps, but her daughter, Rosa, married Daniel and escaped to England before the war began. She shows up at the Embassy and coincidentally runs into an English officer named Jack, who it turns out used to know and love Rosa. Jack provides her with a visa, tickets to get to England and his address to keep him in the know. Will Miriam find Rosa?
Although the majority of this story is told in 1945, there are some flashbacks that set up the reason Rosa married and fled with Daniel. There is also some information about the action and fate of her parents and brother, but it is minimal. There are parts of this story that are heartbreaking and some made me very angry. Miriam was a character with nothing to lose, she had one thing keeping her going and that was finding her daughter. A German in London didn't have an easy time, but she had Jack on her side. Meanwhile, Rosa is also looking for her family and coming up against dead ends. The story is told from the POV of Miriam and Rosa, with the end being a third person narrative, and it works well. Liz Trenow has written a story that is both heartbreaking and hopeful. There were other themes including sexual abuse, domestic abuse, women's roles, cheating, war criminals and prejudice all enmeshed in this story. I did a read/listen and enjoyed both formats. The audiobook was narrated by Karen Cass. She does a wonderful job with the voices of the characters. There were different ages, accents and both male and female characters and she does a great job giving them their own voice. Her expression added emotion and the pacing was good. I will definitely watch for more books she narrates. If you are a fan of historical fiction, especially dealing with the time after WWII, then I recommend this book to you.
Although the majority of this story is told in 1945, there are some flashbacks that set up the reason Rosa married and fled with Daniel. There is also some information about the action and fate of her parents and brother, but it is minimal. There are parts of this story that are heartbreaking and some made me very angry. Miriam was a character with nothing to lose, she had one thing keeping her going and that was finding her daughter. A German in London didn't have an easy time, but she had Jack on her side. Meanwhile, Rosa is also looking for her family and coming up against dead ends. The story is told from the POV of Miriam and Rosa, with the end being a third person narrative, and it works well. Liz Trenow has written a story that is both heartbreaking and hopeful. There were other themes including sexual abuse, domestic abuse, women's roles, cheating, war criminals and prejudice all enmeshed in this story. I did a read/listen and enjoyed both formats. The audiobook was narrated by Karen Cass. She does a wonderful job with the voices of the characters. There were different ages, accents and both male and female characters and she does a great job giving them their own voice. Her expression added emotion and the pacing was good. I will definitely watch for more books she narrates. If you are a fan of historical fiction, especially dealing with the time after WWII, then I recommend this book to you.
April 22, 2022
This book is amazing! I absolutely loved it so much!
In Germany in 1945, Miriam has survived the war after losing her husband and son, and she is now waiting in line to get a visa to England, so that she can be reunited with her daughter Rosa. While she is there, she meets a man called Jack, who it turns out used to know and love Rosa. He helps her get to England, but, after a long journey, will she finally be reunited with Rosa?
This is a heartbreaking, emotional and heartwarming novel which is full of love, romance, sadness, fear, strength, bravery and family values. It will bring a tear to your eye, but it will also fill your heart to the brim with warmth and hope.
I loved everything about this book; it was well written and captivating, and the audiobook narrator was superb.
It is one of the best books I have read this year and I would now love to read more books by this author. Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In Germany in 1945, Miriam has survived the war after losing her husband and son, and she is now waiting in line to get a visa to England, so that she can be reunited with her daughter Rosa. While she is there, she meets a man called Jack, who it turns out used to know and love Rosa. He helps her get to England, but, after a long journey, will she finally be reunited with Rosa?
This is a heartbreaking, emotional and heartwarming novel which is full of love, romance, sadness, fear, strength, bravery and family values. It will bring a tear to your eye, but it will also fill your heart to the brim with warmth and hope.
I loved everything about this book; it was well written and captivating, and the audiobook narrator was superb.
It is one of the best books I have read this year and I would now love to read more books by this author. Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2022
This is a story of love, hope and undeniable strength and will. Miriam suffered through the concentration camp in the work groups. The story begins with Miriam trying to get to England to find her daughter who has moved to England. Miriam’s daughter Rosa moved to England with her husband before the war when things were starting to get bad in Germany. Rosa moved there with a man she does not love but needed.. Miriam arrives at the checkpoint to get to England but finds that she must wait longer because the English officers aren’t there to allow her passing. Miriam just happens to meet an English soldier named Jack. Through this chance encounter, Jack finds out that Miriam is searching for the woman that broke his heart.
Liz Trenow has written a beautiful story that will have you cheering for Miriam and striving to follow her on her journey.
Thank you to #netgalley and #bookouture for allowing me to read the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.
Liz Trenow has written a beautiful story that will have you cheering for Miriam and striving to follow her on her journey.
Thank you to #netgalley and #bookouture for allowing me to read the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.
May 25, 2022
Touching
A heart breaking story. The deep bond between mother and daughter, the love entanglements, and serious needs and commitments, all bound up in one story.
A heart breaking story. The deep bond between mother and daughter, the love entanglements, and serious needs and commitments, all bound up in one story.
April 26, 2022
A good read about the direct aftermath of WWII, when people started to look for their missing family members again. Miriam prisoner of Auschwitz, is alive at the end of the war. Her daughter, Rosa is the only one who could escape to England before the Nazi's raids. Miriam will relentlessly search for her.... However, the book is not only about Miriam and the search for her daughter, it is a also story of love, friendship and vengeance.
I read this novel very quickly as I wanted to know its conclusion! What I did not like, is the too unsubtle (and unnecessary for this light read) way of describing too explicitly some of the characters' violence. It did not work for me in this novel whose plot relies quite a lot on coincidences and pure luck making this novel an easy and light read.
I read this entertaining novel as an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
I read this novel very quickly as I wanted to know its conclusion! What I did not like, is the too unsubtle (and unnecessary for this light read) way of describing too explicitly some of the characters' violence. It did not work for me in this novel whose plot relies quite a lot on coincidences and pure luck making this novel an easy and light read.
I read this entertaining novel as an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
May 7, 2022
Searching for my Daughter by Liz Trenow is predominantly set in the aftermath of World War Two and is the story of one survivor's search for her daughter who is the only remaining member of her family. It’s a story of hope, mixed with heartbreak and despair and overall it was a quick, easy, good read yet perhaps not the most gripping that I have read so far this year in the historical fiction genre. The story is split into three parts and firstly we are introduced to Miriam Kauffman. It’s July 1945 and she has walked for days and days to reach the Russian/British border within Germany. Miriam is one of the lucky ones despite the terrible trauma that she has experienced. She has done the impossible and survived Auschwitz but her husband and son have not been so lucky and they are lost to her forever.
Miriam is suffering from exhaustion and fear and all around her people are starving and without money or the relevant papers needed to leave the country. But she has one shining light guiding her on which has kept her going through the loss of her loved ones and the brutality she was forced to endure within the camp. The fact that she knows her daughter Rosa was able to flee Germany to England with her husband Daniel before war broke out. Miriam clings to this beacon of light and is strong willed and determined to be reunited with the last remaining person she has that she loves so dearly. But what happened to Rosa during the war years? Are Rosa and her husband still alive after all this time? If they are, did they give up hope that any family members survived in Germany? Miriam wants to discover a new life or return to a semblance of the one she previously enjoyed if that is at all possible. But how can that be, given the world and her family situation are completely altered after so many years of death and destruction.
When she is finally admitted to the British base where people are recorded and can apply for a visa, she is tired and weary but remains fierce and defiant at the same time. These are the traits that will stand to her throughout the book. I think Miriam was the best written character in the book and judging the story based on its title you would think she plays the dominant part throughout. Instead, I found the story moved back and forth an awful lot which disrupted the flow of the overall search. We went back and forth an awful lot from Miriam in the present, the pre wars, the war years themselves and then in the months following the conclusion of the war and this was all done from several viewpoints. I thought the plot was struggling to establish itself and was at times a bit all over the place. It was the last quarter or so where I felt things really started to come together and then I found myself becoming more invested in the outcome but it was just a little bit too late.
Jack is an intelligence officer in the British army and since the end of war has been doing his best to avoid returning to England and once again having to work in his fathers factory. His war years did not end well when he was in a prisoner of war camp but he counts himself lucky that he made it out alive. But guilt does eat away at him that his comrades didn’t survive. He knows now he has a duty to repay those who were lost by living his life in the best way he can. As he interviews those seeking visas at the base in Germany, there is something about one woman’s story that rings bells with him and the details seem familiar. To be honest this just seemed too much of a coincidence that a connection could be made between Miriam, Rosa and Jack but without it there wouldn’t have been much of a story to tell. Jack knows Rosa, in fact he knows her very well. It was his family that Rosa stayed with upon arrival in England but something happened just prior to the outbreak of war which meant both she and Daniel had to leave Jack’s family. As to her whereabouts now Jack is clueless but meeting Miriam you can sense that spurt within him to help her find the daughter she has been separated from for seven long years.
Cleary, there is a much deeper meaning behind Jack just wanting to reunite mother and daughter and it’s in the sections where we go back and Jack recounts his family life and the time he got to know Rosa that we learn an awful lot more which gives us a much bigger picture and a deeper and greater understanding. I understood what motivated Jack and how he feels guilty for what happened just as war was about to be declared. It was a Summer that changed him but one that has stayed with him through the dark times. What was done may have had deep lasting affects but when your heart speaks loudly is it just too strong to ignore? I expected things to turn out a certain way and there were glimpses of this but to me the ending seemed a bit open ended and maybe I wanted a stronger more solid conclusion.
Rosa herself has a strong voice throughout the book and her actions in the last quarter were entirely justified for me given the insight we get into her life in Germany and what occurs when she is employed by a family. At first things seem normal but then things quickly turn dark and Rosa will carry this darkness and anger with her as she marries Daniel and flees to England. This aspect of the plot was detailed when we read of Rosa’s perspective but then was not mentioned until the later few chapters. At first when it cropped up again I thought it was quite out of place but then as it was developed I found it helped move the plot forward when it was in danger of perhaps coming to a standstill. Revenge is on her mind but in doing so will more trauma befall her?
But it worked well as it helped the many varied strands of the story to finally become woven together. Although separated from her family for so many years and existing in a marriage to Daniel that was not all she had hoped for, Rosa similar to Miriam never lost hope that they could one day be reunited if they both survived the war. The author did a very good job of showing how so many people were displaced and that once war was over things did not immediately return to normal. That the consequences were far reaching and long lasting. The different organisations established to help people locate missing family members were interesting to read about but the story showed their work was not easy and the results so desperately wanted did not always turn out in a positive manner.
Searching for my Daughter is a good book but as I have mentioned not one that will have a long lasting impact on me. It was refreshing to read a story set mostly after the war but at times I think it was too reliant of coincidences and sheer luck making some elements slightly implausible. It’s a light read that is about love, endurance and hope.
Miriam is suffering from exhaustion and fear and all around her people are starving and without money or the relevant papers needed to leave the country. But she has one shining light guiding her on which has kept her going through the loss of her loved ones and the brutality she was forced to endure within the camp. The fact that she knows her daughter Rosa was able to flee Germany to England with her husband Daniel before war broke out. Miriam clings to this beacon of light and is strong willed and determined to be reunited with the last remaining person she has that she loves so dearly. But what happened to Rosa during the war years? Are Rosa and her husband still alive after all this time? If they are, did they give up hope that any family members survived in Germany? Miriam wants to discover a new life or return to a semblance of the one she previously enjoyed if that is at all possible. But how can that be, given the world and her family situation are completely altered after so many years of death and destruction.
When she is finally admitted to the British base where people are recorded and can apply for a visa, she is tired and weary but remains fierce and defiant at the same time. These are the traits that will stand to her throughout the book. I think Miriam was the best written character in the book and judging the story based on its title you would think she plays the dominant part throughout. Instead, I found the story moved back and forth an awful lot which disrupted the flow of the overall search. We went back and forth an awful lot from Miriam in the present, the pre wars, the war years themselves and then in the months following the conclusion of the war and this was all done from several viewpoints. I thought the plot was struggling to establish itself and was at times a bit all over the place. It was the last quarter or so where I felt things really started to come together and then I found myself becoming more invested in the outcome but it was just a little bit too late.
Jack is an intelligence officer in the British army and since the end of war has been doing his best to avoid returning to England and once again having to work in his fathers factory. His war years did not end well when he was in a prisoner of war camp but he counts himself lucky that he made it out alive. But guilt does eat away at him that his comrades didn’t survive. He knows now he has a duty to repay those who were lost by living his life in the best way he can. As he interviews those seeking visas at the base in Germany, there is something about one woman’s story that rings bells with him and the details seem familiar. To be honest this just seemed too much of a coincidence that a connection could be made between Miriam, Rosa and Jack but without it there wouldn’t have been much of a story to tell. Jack knows Rosa, in fact he knows her very well. It was his family that Rosa stayed with upon arrival in England but something happened just prior to the outbreak of war which meant both she and Daniel had to leave Jack’s family. As to her whereabouts now Jack is clueless but meeting Miriam you can sense that spurt within him to help her find the daughter she has been separated from for seven long years.
Cleary, there is a much deeper meaning behind Jack just wanting to reunite mother and daughter and it’s in the sections where we go back and Jack recounts his family life and the time he got to know Rosa that we learn an awful lot more which gives us a much bigger picture and a deeper and greater understanding. I understood what motivated Jack and how he feels guilty for what happened just as war was about to be declared. It was a Summer that changed him but one that has stayed with him through the dark times. What was done may have had deep lasting affects but when your heart speaks loudly is it just too strong to ignore? I expected things to turn out a certain way and there were glimpses of this but to me the ending seemed a bit open ended and maybe I wanted a stronger more solid conclusion.
Rosa herself has a strong voice throughout the book and her actions in the last quarter were entirely justified for me given the insight we get into her life in Germany and what occurs when she is employed by a family. At first things seem normal but then things quickly turn dark and Rosa will carry this darkness and anger with her as she marries Daniel and flees to England. This aspect of the plot was detailed when we read of Rosa’s perspective but then was not mentioned until the later few chapters. At first when it cropped up again I thought it was quite out of place but then as it was developed I found it helped move the plot forward when it was in danger of perhaps coming to a standstill. Revenge is on her mind but in doing so will more trauma befall her?
But it worked well as it helped the many varied strands of the story to finally become woven together. Although separated from her family for so many years and existing in a marriage to Daniel that was not all she had hoped for, Rosa similar to Miriam never lost hope that they could one day be reunited if they both survived the war. The author did a very good job of showing how so many people were displaced and that once war was over things did not immediately return to normal. That the consequences were far reaching and long lasting. The different organisations established to help people locate missing family members were interesting to read about but the story showed their work was not easy and the results so desperately wanted did not always turn out in a positive manner.
Searching for my Daughter is a good book but as I have mentioned not one that will have a long lasting impact on me. It was refreshing to read a story set mostly after the war but at times I think it was too reliant of coincidences and sheer luck making some elements slightly implausible. It’s a light read that is about love, endurance and hope.
May 28, 2022
An emotional read with both heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. A mother���s love is like no other!
The author has created a well-researched story with strong, interesting characters. If you’re looking for love, hope & bravery set against the backdrop of World War II (and its aftermath), please consider this beautiful book. Historical fiction at its finest! Highly recommend.
I was gifted this advance copy by NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
The author has created a well-researched story with strong, interesting characters. If you’re looking for love, hope & bravery set against the backdrop of World War II (and its aftermath), please consider this beautiful book. Historical fiction at its finest! Highly recommend.
I was gifted this advance copy by NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
April 27, 2022
Searching for my Daughter by Liz Trenow is an inspiring story about a mothers determination to find her daughter after the events of The Holocost. Miriam was one of the few Jews to survive the concentration camps while her husband and son were not as fortunate, however they were able to send their daughter, Rosa away to England to marry. With the camps liberated Miriam has no family left in Gemery, so she embarks on a journey to find her daughter. With only the knowledge that her daughter was sent to England during the beginning of the War Miriam makes her way to the immigration border to begin her journey. While at the border Miriam meets an English officer Jack who choses to listen to her story and begins to remember secret panics and to a love that could never be. Will Jack be willing to risk everything in order to help Miriam reunite with Rosa?
Liz Trenow was able to write a book about The Holocaust that showed what the Jews went through after the liberation of the concentration camps. Most historical fiction books that I have read on this topic are more focused on people who hide Jewish families. I was very impressed about how Trenow was able to also incorporate Miriam’s journey that she embarked on after she was freed from the concentration camp. While at the same time, showing what Miriam and her family went through leading to when they were escorted to the concentration camps. Trenow was able to show exactly what Miriam's family went through - trying to send their children away, family struggles, etc. I feel as though I was given a complete story of Miriam's journey throughout the entire war. I really enjoyed reading about the aftermath of The Holocaust as well as what Rosa went through when she was sent away to England. Trenow also was able to show how the decisions that were made affected everyone in the family and how it impacted them specifically. It is clearly shown that Trenow did her research when writing this book.
Trenow's book was written in three parts - the first part told from Miriam's perspective while the second part is told from Rosas’ and the third part is told in the third perspective. This was very well thought out and really helped me to connect to each of the characters as I was getting the story from both Rosa and Miriam's perspective. In addition to this, at the start of each new part there was a reference for a place and time for that section. However, as I read further into each section there would sometimes be flashbacks that I was unaware were flashbacks until after reading a little more or towards the end. Through the characters' journeys they were traveling to other countries and cities. I think that having the city name would be helpful in keeping track of the journey that each character took and how it related to the other characters. While this did create some sections that were hard to get through they were not enough to make me want to stop reading the story. Trenow had me intrigued and invested in these characters from the beginning.
Each character in Searching for my Daughter had their own personalities that resembled the various types of people during World War II and The Holocaust. While I do not think that any character's major changes, all the characters were true to themselves. Characters who stayed strong willed usually made decisions that a character with this attribute would make. In addition to this Miriam did have some small character development - as she became more determined as she was looking for her daughter. While reading, I also appreciated that each of the major characters - Miriam, Rosa, Jack, and Steiner - had important roles in regards to the plot of the novel. I enjoyed reading about each of these characters' story arcs and how they all intertwined with each other. The interactions that these characters had with each other were written in such an accurate way that they had me feeling the feelings that Trenow wanted her readers to feel.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Searching for my Daughter as it had everything that I expected from a Holocaust book and more. I would love to see more books written about how the surviving families each dealt with the camp's liberation. I think that anyone with an interest with World War II and The Holocaust would enjoy reading this book and following these characters on their journeys.
Liz Trenow was able to write a book about The Holocaust that showed what the Jews went through after the liberation of the concentration camps. Most historical fiction books that I have read on this topic are more focused on people who hide Jewish families. I was very impressed about how Trenow was able to also incorporate Miriam’s journey that she embarked on after she was freed from the concentration camp. While at the same time, showing what Miriam and her family went through leading to when they were escorted to the concentration camps. Trenow was able to show exactly what Miriam's family went through - trying to send their children away, family struggles, etc. I feel as though I was given a complete story of Miriam's journey throughout the entire war. I really enjoyed reading about the aftermath of The Holocaust as well as what Rosa went through when she was sent away to England. Trenow also was able to show how the decisions that were made affected everyone in the family and how it impacted them specifically. It is clearly shown that Trenow did her research when writing this book.
Trenow's book was written in three parts - the first part told from Miriam's perspective while the second part is told from Rosas’ and the third part is told in the third perspective. This was very well thought out and really helped me to connect to each of the characters as I was getting the story from both Rosa and Miriam's perspective. In addition to this, at the start of each new part there was a reference for a place and time for that section. However, as I read further into each section there would sometimes be flashbacks that I was unaware were flashbacks until after reading a little more or towards the end. Through the characters' journeys they were traveling to other countries and cities. I think that having the city name would be helpful in keeping track of the journey that each character took and how it related to the other characters. While this did create some sections that were hard to get through they were not enough to make me want to stop reading the story. Trenow had me intrigued and invested in these characters from the beginning.
Each character in Searching for my Daughter had their own personalities that resembled the various types of people during World War II and The Holocaust. While I do not think that any character's major changes, all the characters were true to themselves. Characters who stayed strong willed usually made decisions that a character with this attribute would make. In addition to this Miriam did have some small character development - as she became more determined as she was looking for her daughter. While reading, I also appreciated that each of the major characters - Miriam, Rosa, Jack, and Steiner - had important roles in regards to the plot of the novel. I enjoyed reading about each of these characters' story arcs and how they all intertwined with each other. The interactions that these characters had with each other were written in such an accurate way that they had me feeling the feelings that Trenow wanted her readers to feel.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Searching for my Daughter as it had everything that I expected from a Holocaust book and more. I would love to see more books written about how the surviving families each dealt with the camp's liberation. I think that anyone with an interest with World War II and The Holocaust would enjoy reading this book and following these characters on their journeys.
May 2, 2022
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Liz Trenow's heartbreaking tale SEARCHING FOR MY DAUGHTER.
What a beautiful an compelling story. So rare are there historical fiction stories in the immediate aftermath of concentration camp liberation and survivors making their way into an unfamiliar world they had been torn from nearly a decade before. So many tales of wartime fiction recount similar stories of the death camps and Jews being rounded up tortured under the Nazi regime that they tend to all blend together after a while. But SEARCHING FOR MY DAUGHTER offers something completely different.
July 1945: Beginning in the months after the liberation of the camps, a lone woman old before her time joins the long queue outside the British border station, just beyond Russian territory. Miriam Kauffman has trekked for hundreds of miles for two weeks with little food and water in the hope that she may be granted a visa to travel to England so she can begin her search for her daughter Rosa. Just as all hope appears to be lost, she meets Captain Jack Preston who upon taking her details recognises her daughter's name. Can Jack help her get to England? And will she be finally reunited with Rosa after seven years?
Miriam has not seen her daughter since 1938 when she married Daniel Levy and gaining refuge in England prior to the war just as life for Jewish people was becoming more difficult under Hilter's new Nazi regime. It seemed to be the safest option for Rosa when Daniel proposed and whisked her away under the sponsorship of a family who will house them and employ Daniel in the Preston factory manufacturing fans for aircraft. But life in England, although it holds the promise of a fresh start, does not go too smoothly for the couple and before long are left to fend for themselves. However, being German in Britain at a time when the country is at war with theirs is not a friendly place to be. Apart from the fact that they are Jews who have been persecuted by the Nazi's, the fact remains that they are German. And no one is sympathetic to their cause.
When the war comes to an end in May 1945, Rosa longs to find out what became of her family. Daniel had promised that he would try and organise visas for them to join them in England but war broke out before that could happen and her family disappeared into the ether. She contacts the Jewish Information centre and the Red Cross in the hope that they may be able to trace her family and what became of them...but it seems the information she receives is a dead end.
Just as Rosa begins her search, Miriam embarks on her own journey to find her daughter with Jack Preston's help. It seems both women are at cross purposes throughout as so often they are close and yet so far from one another. In a city of millions in the wake of a debilitating war, can mother and daughter find each other against all odds? Can the promise of new life give them both hope?
Told in three parts, SEARCHING FOR MY DAUGHTER is a story of survival, of hope and of never giving up. It is not one woman's journey, but both women's journeys to new life and hopefully back to each other. So many stories focus on the horrors of the death camps, the hiding and persecution of the Jews and high-handedness of the Nazi rule. This story is different in that it's focus is on the aftermath. Both Miriam and Rosa's stories were unique and heartbreaking, so have your tissues handy.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would. It is compelling, heartbreaking and poignant...but it is also hopeful and inspiring. I would love to see more stories like this as those about life in the camps and so forth have flooded the market that readers are drowning in them. SEARCHING FOR MY DAUGHTER offers something different.
Overall, an engrossing read that is a poignant tear-jerker with a hopeful ending. One of the best I have read in a long time.
I would like to thank #LizTrenow, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #SearchingForMyDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
What a beautiful an compelling story. So rare are there historical fiction stories in the immediate aftermath of concentration camp liberation and survivors making their way into an unfamiliar world they had been torn from nearly a decade before. So many tales of wartime fiction recount similar stories of the death camps and Jews being rounded up tortured under the Nazi regime that they tend to all blend together after a while. But SEARCHING FOR MY DAUGHTER offers something completely different.
July 1945: Beginning in the months after the liberation of the camps, a lone woman old before her time joins the long queue outside the British border station, just beyond Russian territory. Miriam Kauffman has trekked for hundreds of miles for two weeks with little food and water in the hope that she may be granted a visa to travel to England so she can begin her search for her daughter Rosa. Just as all hope appears to be lost, she meets Captain Jack Preston who upon taking her details recognises her daughter's name. Can Jack help her get to England? And will she be finally reunited with Rosa after seven years?
Miriam has not seen her daughter since 1938 when she married Daniel Levy and gaining refuge in England prior to the war just as life for Jewish people was becoming more difficult under Hilter's new Nazi regime. It seemed to be the safest option for Rosa when Daniel proposed and whisked her away under the sponsorship of a family who will house them and employ Daniel in the Preston factory manufacturing fans for aircraft. But life in England, although it holds the promise of a fresh start, does not go too smoothly for the couple and before long are left to fend for themselves. However, being German in Britain at a time when the country is at war with theirs is not a friendly place to be. Apart from the fact that they are Jews who have been persecuted by the Nazi's, the fact remains that they are German. And no one is sympathetic to their cause.
When the war comes to an end in May 1945, Rosa longs to find out what became of her family. Daniel had promised that he would try and organise visas for them to join them in England but war broke out before that could happen and her family disappeared into the ether. She contacts the Jewish Information centre and the Red Cross in the hope that they may be able to trace her family and what became of them...but it seems the information she receives is a dead end.
Just as Rosa begins her search, Miriam embarks on her own journey to find her daughter with Jack Preston's help. It seems both women are at cross purposes throughout as so often they are close and yet so far from one another. In a city of millions in the wake of a debilitating war, can mother and daughter find each other against all odds? Can the promise of new life give them both hope?
Told in three parts, SEARCHING FOR MY DAUGHTER is a story of survival, of hope and of never giving up. It is not one woman's journey, but both women's journeys to new life and hopefully back to each other. So many stories focus on the horrors of the death camps, the hiding and persecution of the Jews and high-handedness of the Nazi rule. This story is different in that it's focus is on the aftermath. Both Miriam and Rosa's stories were unique and heartbreaking, so have your tissues handy.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would. It is compelling, heartbreaking and poignant...but it is also hopeful and inspiring. I would love to see more stories like this as those about life in the camps and so forth have flooded the market that readers are drowning in them. SEARCHING FOR MY DAUGHTER offers something different.
Overall, an engrossing read that is a poignant tear-jerker with a hopeful ending. One of the best I have read in a long time.
I would like to thank #LizTrenow, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #SearchingForMyDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
July 31, 2022
Miriam Kauffman comes across RAF officer by the name of Jack Preston who processes her ID papers and grants her entry to England. She survived the Auschwitz concentration camp. Unfortunately Hans Kauffman and son Willie are left behind. Rosa was able to escape from Germany by getting married to Daniel Levy. The couple is sponsored by the Preston family in England where she meets 18 yr old Jack. They fell end up in an amour feu which leads to a short affair. Mr. & Mrs Preston are ashamed of their son behavior with a married woman. His parents put a stop to it by evicting the Levy's. Rosa told Jack that if he truly cares about and loves her very much. He must never make contact with her ever again. Sadly Rosa leaves Jack behind with a broken heart. Six years in the RAF fighting the Luftwaffe.
Jack is still finishing his war aftermath duties doing post border guard duty. He helps process new immigrants papers.
Miriam tells Jack Preston she is looking for Rosa in England. The name is familiar to him. He moved on with his life respecting the boundaries that Dan and Rosa Levy don't want him to cross. Jack could have chose to have a hard heart to Miriam by not being going out of his way to be kind to her. I was very deeply touched by Jack going beyond and above being kind. The mother always showed herself grateful to him. He talks about his friendship with Rosa. She is now a translator for the War Office in London and is a mother to a little boy named Hans.
Perseverance led to Miriam finding her daughter and son-in law Daniel with Jack's help. She is delighted with her grandson Hans. Captain Preston is delighted to see Rosa who wants to make her marriage work. Happily knowing that Rosa is alive and well. Jack is able to put the past behind and move on with his life.
Jack is still finishing his war aftermath duties doing post border guard duty. He helps process new immigrants papers.
Miriam tells Jack Preston she is looking for Rosa in England. The name is familiar to him. He moved on with his life respecting the boundaries that Dan and Rosa Levy don't want him to cross. Jack could have chose to have a hard heart to Miriam by not being going out of his way to be kind to her. I was very deeply touched by Jack going beyond and above being kind. The mother always showed herself grateful to him. He talks about his friendship with Rosa. She is now a translator for the War Office in London and is a mother to a little boy named Hans.
Perseverance led to Miriam finding her daughter and son-in law Daniel with Jack's help. She is delighted with her grandson Hans. Captain Preston is delighted to see Rosa who wants to make her marriage work. Happily knowing that Rosa is alive and well. Jack is able to put the past behind and move on with his life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2022
Set immediately after WW2, Miriam has survived Auschwitz and is desperate to travel to England to find her daughter Rosa who moved there just before the war. When she arrives at the checkpoint in Berlin, the first step in her journey to England, she meets an officer Jack Preston. What a coincidence, as Jack knew Rosa a few years ago in England … can he help Miriam find her daughter?
This book follows Miriam as she travels to England and searches for her daughter – of course it is not all straight forward and there are many hurdles along the way. The storyline was quite different to the usual WW2 fiction and whilst there were some slightly unrealistic moments and some difficult topics (including racism & abuse), overall it was very sensitive to the survivors of the Holocaust and the families separated by the war. I felt that the author has researched how families might have undertaken the search to reunite with family members and incorporated how it was not always straightforward.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator worked well for the book, differentiating the characters well. Overall this is an emotional read that will tug at your heartstrings, with moments that will bring tears & ones that will bring hope.
Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book free via NetGalley. Whilst thanks go to the author & publisher for the opportunity to read it, all opinions are my own & my review is left voluntarily.
#SearchingforMyDaughter #NetGalley
This book follows Miriam as she travels to England and searches for her daughter – of course it is not all straight forward and there are many hurdles along the way. The storyline was quite different to the usual WW2 fiction and whilst there were some slightly unrealistic moments and some difficult topics (including racism & abuse), overall it was very sensitive to the survivors of the Holocaust and the families separated by the war. I felt that the author has researched how families might have undertaken the search to reunite with family members and incorporated how it was not always straightforward.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator worked well for the book, differentiating the characters well. Overall this is an emotional read that will tug at your heartstrings, with moments that will bring tears & ones that will bring hope.
Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book free via NetGalley. Whilst thanks go to the author & publisher for the opportunity to read it, all opinions are my own & my review is left voluntarily.
#SearchingforMyDaughter #NetGalley
December 26, 2022
1945: Miriam is released from a concentration camp. All of her family are dead except for her daughter Rosa who travelled to England before the war. Can the mother and daughter be reunited?
Searching For My Daughter is an historical novel set in the 1930s and 40s.
The book begins in 1945 when Miriam has travelled for weeks to reach the British for help in relocating. She is desperate to find her daughter Rosa, her only remaining family member after the Nazi genocide. She meets officer Jack Preston who knows Rosa and supports Miriam in her search.
We then travel back to 1938 to see Rosa's experience before the war and during her relocation to England. It makes for emotional reading as she is abused sexually and physically by her employer and then her husband. She finds a glimmer of hope and love with Jack before being forcibly parted.
This book is not for the faint hearted. The sexual and physical abuse in tandem with the concentration camp descriptions make this an emotional read. The book is written in the third person with different perspectives taking centre stage. I found myself swept up in the plot and the lives of the characters, and the story develops at a reasonably swift pace. The style of writing is engaging and easy to read, making it easy to identify with the characters and their emotions.
Searching For My Daughter is a gripping and emotive historical novel.
Searching For My Daughter is an historical novel set in the 1930s and 40s.
The book begins in 1945 when Miriam has travelled for weeks to reach the British for help in relocating. She is desperate to find her daughter Rosa, her only remaining family member after the Nazi genocide. She meets officer Jack Preston who knows Rosa and supports Miriam in her search.
We then travel back to 1938 to see Rosa's experience before the war and during her relocation to England. It makes for emotional reading as she is abused sexually and physically by her employer and then her husband. She finds a glimmer of hope and love with Jack before being forcibly parted.
This book is not for the faint hearted. The sexual and physical abuse in tandem with the concentration camp descriptions make this an emotional read. The book is written in the third person with different perspectives taking centre stage. I found myself swept up in the plot and the lives of the characters, and the story develops at a reasonably swift pace. The style of writing is engaging and easy to read, making it easy to identify with the characters and their emotions.
Searching For My Daughter is a gripping and emotive historical novel.
May 18, 2022
Standing on a train station platform in Hamburg, Miriam Kauffman watched as her daughter, Rosa and her new husband left for safety in England. It was 1939 and things were starting to get bad for the Jewish community of Germany. Though she, her husband and son were ultimately betrayed and sent to Auschwitz, Miriam managed to survive. Once she regained her health, she wouldn’t stop until she found her daughter in England. Getting there wasn’t easy but by some miracle, the English officer who interviewed her was the eldest son of the family who sponsored Rosa and her husband. A series of small events would lead to their eventual reunion nearly a year later but Miriam wouldn’t stop until she could hold her daughter in her arms once more.
I loved that this story showed the contrast between countries during the war and their treatment of the jewish community. I always appreciate the history lessons that I learn when I’m reading historical fiction and this story touches on the fact that many Nazis escaped to South America to flee prosecution of their crimes. I highly recommend this story! It is a great weekend read!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bookouture and Liz Trenow for access to this captivating novel about a mothers love.
I loved that this story showed the contrast between countries during the war and their treatment of the jewish community. I always appreciate the history lessons that I learn when I’m reading historical fiction and this story touches on the fact that many Nazis escaped to South America to flee prosecution of their crimes. I highly recommend this story! It is a great weekend read!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bookouture and Liz Trenow for access to this captivating novel about a mothers love.
May 29, 2022
Reading "Searching for My Daughter" underscores the strength of those who endured the holocaust. And now, sadly, our world seems to be regressing to that horrible time. Miriam's road to survival, seeing her family reunited, allowed her to do things she found repugnant. Even when she realized she had lost most of her family, her need to reunite with Rosa gave her the strength to continue.
I have read other books by Liz Trenow and enjoyed them. I will say that "Searching for My Daughter" was the best of her books I have read. I always thought that when the camps were liberated, those prisoners received every assistance to help them recover (although I'm not sure recovery is totally possible). I never understood that after a meal or two and treatment of the most severe of their illness, prisoners' horrors continued as the tramped through Europe looking for reunification. Why can't we do better for each other?
I have read other books by Liz Trenow and enjoyed them. I will say that "Searching for My Daughter" was the best of her books I have read. I always thought that when the camps were liberated, those prisoners received every assistance to help them recover (although I'm not sure recovery is totally possible). I never understood that after a meal or two and treatment of the most severe of their illness, prisoners' horrors continued as the tramped through Europe looking for reunification. Why can't we do better for each other?
June 9, 2022
Searching for my Daughter by Liz Trenow is a story of WWII and the aftermaths. I can't imagine what it was like to look for someone in the aftermath of that horrendous time. Before computers could list their names for us to look through and before the Nazis destroyed piles and piles of records. Simply heart-rending. And that is what this story gives us.. When Miriam Kaufmann is released from a concentration camp at the end of the war, the only thought she has is to find her daughter. Rosa is married and in London, but Miriam isn't sure how to even begin looking for her. She meets Jack, a border guard, and the two set out together to find her. A gripping story about love and family and hope, the book had me shaking my head and praying that it all worked out in the end. Read and see what happened for yourself!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to listen to the audiobook. The narrator did a good job!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to listen to the audiobook. The narrator did a good job!
April 21, 2022
Yet another fantastic read from Liz Trenow.
Initially set in Hamburg, the Kauffman family life a settled life, and then Hitler starts his persecution of the Jews.
Rosa has her university place withdrawn, her father is 'arrested, Rosa takes a job with Eric Steiner to look after his children while his wife is recuperating in a sanatorium in Switzerland . Once he discovers Rosa is a Jew, he rapes and abuses her, and when she tells him of her impending marriage he threatens and stystematically try and destroy her family.
Rosa and her husband Daniel are fortunate to escape the horrors of Hitler and his persecution thanks to a sponsorship by a company who Daniel's father trades with in England.
The story follows their life, and also the miracle of her mother surviving the camps.
A great read, exciting and a tear jerker.
Initially set in Hamburg, the Kauffman family life a settled life, and then Hitler starts his persecution of the Jews.
Rosa has her university place withdrawn, her father is 'arrested, Rosa takes a job with Eric Steiner to look after his children while his wife is recuperating in a sanatorium in Switzerland . Once he discovers Rosa is a Jew, he rapes and abuses her, and when she tells him of her impending marriage he threatens and stystematically try and destroy her family.
Rosa and her husband Daniel are fortunate to escape the horrors of Hitler and his persecution thanks to a sponsorship by a company who Daniel's father trades with in England.
The story follows their life, and also the miracle of her mother surviving the camps.
A great read, exciting and a tear jerker.
May 3, 2022
Again I have to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and Liz Trenow for approving and giving me this beautifully written book.
An emotional, heart-broken and full of love historical fiction set in the darkest period of time in Germany and UK.
I read lots of historical fiction set before, during and after WW2. This is the only one I could not keep my tears. Through the title you can tell it’s about a mother who was searching for her daughter, desperately for 7 years. An emotional ride before the declaration of the war, trying to escape to save the children, being betrayed, disappointment, false documents, new identity and so on.
By interweaving relationship between family, friends and marriage, my heart tightened throughout the whole story. I loved the story and I loved the way Liz’s structure - clear but hooking.
Officially pub date: 5th May, 2022
June 15, 2022
Searching for My Daughter by Liz Trenow was a truly a beautifully written story and you will need some tissues handy! lots in my case!!!! Searching for my daughter is a very emotional story about a family that is separated in WW2 by the horrors of the holocaust. A mother called Miriam faces mayhem and heart ache when she is trying to find her only daughter Rosa at the end of WW2.
This book had it all, it was full of bravery, mothers love for her child, romance, lots of sadness which showed how brave and strength they all were, Hence why I said you may need tissues. All the characters were excellent and played a great part within this book.
WoW.......I need a strong cup of tea now.........to digest this book which I highly recommend.
Thank you to netgalley and bookouture for allowing me to read the eARC of this book.
This book had it all, it was full of bravery, mothers love for her child, romance, lots of sadness which showed how brave and strength they all were, Hence why I said you may need tissues. All the characters were excellent and played a great part within this book.
WoW.......I need a strong cup of tea now.........to digest this book which I highly recommend.
Thank you to netgalley and bookouture for allowing me to read the eARC of this book.
January 19, 2025
This book was not at all what I expected from the title. I expected the story to be about a young mother searching for the child she lost during World War II but it was so much more than that. The daughter, Rosa, was a married adult when she left her family in Germany for safety in England. Through the characters of both mother and daughter, the reader experiences the desperation of German Jews trying to escape Hitler's nightmare and the struggles of refugees once the war ends. It is especially heartbreaking for concentration camp survivors whose only proof of identity is the number tattooed on their arm. Rosa's personal story was disturbing and unsettling but it rang true for me. Women don't fare well in fascist regimes, ever. This is the first book I've read by this author but it won't be the last. I highly recommend it.
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