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The Hideaway
Thea looked at the small suitcase on the kitchen table. The tan leather was scuffed, with the soft gleam of age. She ran her hands over the smooth, cool lid. The thunk of the lock sounded very loud in the stillness of the cottage and she froze, her eyes on her grandmother’s bedroom door. Hearing nothing, she took a big breath and peered inside…
Hedi Fischer, aged ninety, smooths her hair and applies a touch of red lipstick from the tube. Over her pristine wool skirt suit she has knotted a men’s tartan bathrobe, wrinkled and frayed with age. Hedi hasn’t taken it off since Harry passed. Since the day she gave away everything but her battered leather suitcase and decided that she too was ready to die.
Thea has never met her grandmother Hedi, so she’s surprised when she receives a call from social services to take the frail old woman home. She’s not sure how Hedi will fit into her new life – the one where she’s left her boyfriend and moved into a run-down cottage miles from the nearest town. And Hedi refuses to talk about her past, or why she and Thea’s mother haven’t spoken for more than thirty years. So when Thea spots Hedi’s old suitcase on the table, she can’t resist taking a peak inside.
What Thea finds there is more heartbreaking than she could have ever imagined. It is a story that begins in World War Two, when young Hedi arrives by train at a Nazi concentration camp, from which she has no hope of escaping alive…
A heart-warming and emotional read that will have you reaching for the tissues! Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Lily Graham and Rachel Hore.
Hedi Fischer, aged ninety, smooths her hair and applies a touch of red lipstick from the tube. Over her pristine wool skirt suit she has knotted a men’s tartan bathrobe, wrinkled and frayed with age. Hedi hasn’t taken it off since Harry passed. Since the day she gave away everything but her battered leather suitcase and decided that she too was ready to die.
Thea has never met her grandmother Hedi, so she’s surprised when she receives a call from social services to take the frail old woman home. She’s not sure how Hedi will fit into her new life – the one where she’s left her boyfriend and moved into a run-down cottage miles from the nearest town. And Hedi refuses to talk about her past, or why she and Thea’s mother haven’t spoken for more than thirty years. So when Thea spots Hedi’s old suitcase on the table, she can’t resist taking a peak inside.
What Thea finds there is more heartbreaking than she could have ever imagined. It is a story that begins in World War Two, when young Hedi arrives by train at a Nazi concentration camp, from which she has no hope of escaping alive…
A heart-warming and emotional read that will have you reaching for the tissues! Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Lily Graham and Rachel Hore.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 10, 2022
642 people are currently reading
355 people want to read
About the author
Norma Curtis
14 books14 followersNorma Curtis was born near Wrexham, North Wales, where her family still resides, and now lives in London, England, with her husband and a son. She is a novelist and short story writer, and she was elected the twentieth Chairman (1999–2001) of the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Her first novel, "Living It Up, Living It Down", published in 1994 by HarperCollins, won the Romantic Novelists' Association New Writers’ Award, and also featured in the WH Smith Fresh Talent promotion. Her other books, The House Husband (Quality Time) and The Last Place You Look have also been published by HarperCollins. Her short stories have appeared in Woman, Woman and Home and Woman’s Own, anthologies and teenage magazines. She writes with a unique blend of dry humour, warmth, wisdom and originality.
Her first novel, "Living It Up, Living It Down", published in 1994 by HarperCollins, won the Romantic Novelists' Association New Writers’ Award, and also featured in the WH Smith Fresh Talent promotion. Her other books, The House Husband (Quality Time) and The Last Place You Look have also been published by HarperCollins. Her short stories have appeared in Woman, Woman and Home and Woman’s Own, anthologies and teenage magazines. She writes with a unique blend of dry humour, warmth, wisdom and originality.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
December 21, 2022
“The family she never knew. A tragic secret that will change her life”
..
Occasionally, it is good to slow the pace right down, be prepared to suspend belief a little unless you are a great believer of coincidences or sixth sense, grab a handful of tissues, curl up with a hot chocolate and some comfort snacks, and just go with the flow!
So, here’s a short taster of what to expect from your journey…
..
Thea works as a school secretary in London, who believes herself to be in love with art teacher Adam, although when he mentions settling down with her and includes marriage and children in the equation, Thea inexplicably panics, tells him it’s all over, and takes flight for the summer.
She has no one she can confide in about her mixed feelings and muddled emotions, as there was only ever her and Maggie, her rather self-centred, bohemian mother, who now lives in New York with her latest partner.
Heading for the coast of somewhere – anywhere, she pitches up in Bear Cave, North Wales, where she spots ‘The Hideaway’ for rent. It is a small, remote and rather dilapidated cottage, complete with outside privy, no wi-fi or mobile phone signal, and its own jetty on the riverbank, but Thea is in love with it.
Out of the blue she gets a phone call from Maggie telling her that her grandfather Harry has died, and she wants Thea to return to London to represent her at the funeral. Given that she had always been led to believe that both her grandparents had been deceased for years, Thea is even more amazed to discover she also has a grandmother, Hedi, a nonagenarian who wants nothing more than to follow the love of her life into the next world.
Social Services threaten to take Hedi into care because of her strange behaviour, so on the spur of the moment Thea offers Hedi a place to stay for the summer at ‘The Hideaway’, which she accepts. Hedi and Thea immediately begin to forge a strong familial bond, although both are tested when Thea is caught in the act of prying into her grandmother’s personal belongings and Hedi’s acerbic tongue and nasty temper come to the fore.
An unusually contrite Hedi accepts Thea’s abject remorse and apology, deciding it is time to reveal the secrets her battered brown suitcase holds, which so shaped her life and are the root cause of her falling out with Maggie, resulting in Maggie leaving the family home, taking Thea with her when she was only a toddler.
In a series of all-night sessions, sat in deckchairs down on the jetty, with copious amounts of red wine being consumed, Hedi and Harry’s story slowly and painfully unfolds. Tears are shed as memories are laid bare, recriminations are aired, and a lifetime of guilt and shame is put to rest. Thea gets to understand that there is more to her own mother than she could ever have guessed and quickly realises that Maggie and Hedi are two of a kind, both stubborn and intransigent, which is why they never saw eye to eye on things.
Hedi has far more surprises up her sleeve, including a revelation about Harry and their early life together, which stuns Thea, who had only ended up at Bear Cave by accident – or so she imagines!
An unexpected visitor arrives unannounced, and more tears are shed, this time of joy.
Will there be happy endings? You’ll just have to wait and see… but keep those tissues handy is my advice!
..
This wonderful dual timeline story, narrated by three of the characters, was told in short, well signposted chapters, which kept things moving along at a steady pace and had me turning the pages ever faster, needing to know what happened next.
Rich in atmosphere, multi-layered, highly textured, poignant and evocative, there is a compelling and compassionate honesty and integrity in this immersive storyline. The way in which Norma presents some of the socially unacceptable consequences of war and the unseen trauma they can heap on the human psyche, is perceptive, sensitive and well considered, without ever becoming preachy or prescriptive.
The destructive power of keeping secrets and not having any dialogue, is also examined, with the long-term effects this has on three generations of strong-minded, stubborn and resilient women. The liberating freedom they experience when barriers are broken down and the truth is out there, is a completely game-changing experience and instantly draws them closer together as a family, albeit briefly… All that time wasted!
Whilst, so far as I can establish, Bear Cave village is a fictional location, it didn’t take too much detective work to establish roughly whereabouts I was, as soon as Hedi arrived and knew so much about other nearby popular areas, which having been to them several times myself, I also know quite well. The descriptive narrative drew me in and painted the scene beautifully, so my ‘armchair journey’ to North Wales was indeed most satisfactory.
The cast of characters was quite large; however, author Norma Curtis took plenty of time to describe and draw them authentically and in great detail. They were an evolving, complex jigsaw of human emotions, often unreliable, vulnerable and volatile; yet always raw, passionate, genuine and believable to the roles in which they had been cast, which made them totally addictive.
My first book by this new to me author, but will it be my last? I don’t think so, as a couple of her previous novels have already magically appeared on my ‘wish list’!
What typically makes reading such a wonderful experience for me, is that with each and every book, I am taken on a unique and individual journey, by some amazing authors who fire my imagination, stimulate my senses and stir my emotions.
Thanks for some lovely memories to treasure, Norma.
..
Occasionally, it is good to slow the pace right down, be prepared to suspend belief a little unless you are a great believer of coincidences or sixth sense, grab a handful of tissues, curl up with a hot chocolate and some comfort snacks, and just go with the flow!
So, here’s a short taster of what to expect from your journey…
..
Thea works as a school secretary in London, who believes herself to be in love with art teacher Adam, although when he mentions settling down with her and includes marriage and children in the equation, Thea inexplicably panics, tells him it’s all over, and takes flight for the summer.
She has no one she can confide in about her mixed feelings and muddled emotions, as there was only ever her and Maggie, her rather self-centred, bohemian mother, who now lives in New York with her latest partner.
Heading for the coast of somewhere – anywhere, she pitches up in Bear Cave, North Wales, where she spots ‘The Hideaway’ for rent. It is a small, remote and rather dilapidated cottage, complete with outside privy, no wi-fi or mobile phone signal, and its own jetty on the riverbank, but Thea is in love with it.
Out of the blue she gets a phone call from Maggie telling her that her grandfather Harry has died, and she wants Thea to return to London to represent her at the funeral. Given that she had always been led to believe that both her grandparents had been deceased for years, Thea is even more amazed to discover she also has a grandmother, Hedi, a nonagenarian who wants nothing more than to follow the love of her life into the next world.
Social Services threaten to take Hedi into care because of her strange behaviour, so on the spur of the moment Thea offers Hedi a place to stay for the summer at ‘The Hideaway’, which she accepts. Hedi and Thea immediately begin to forge a strong familial bond, although both are tested when Thea is caught in the act of prying into her grandmother’s personal belongings and Hedi’s acerbic tongue and nasty temper come to the fore.
An unusually contrite Hedi accepts Thea’s abject remorse and apology, deciding it is time to reveal the secrets her battered brown suitcase holds, which so shaped her life and are the root cause of her falling out with Maggie, resulting in Maggie leaving the family home, taking Thea with her when she was only a toddler.
In a series of all-night sessions, sat in deckchairs down on the jetty, with copious amounts of red wine being consumed, Hedi and Harry’s story slowly and painfully unfolds. Tears are shed as memories are laid bare, recriminations are aired, and a lifetime of guilt and shame is put to rest. Thea gets to understand that there is more to her own mother than she could ever have guessed and quickly realises that Maggie and Hedi are two of a kind, both stubborn and intransigent, which is why they never saw eye to eye on things.
Hedi has far more surprises up her sleeve, including a revelation about Harry and their early life together, which stuns Thea, who had only ended up at Bear Cave by accident – or so she imagines!
An unexpected visitor arrives unannounced, and more tears are shed, this time of joy.
Will there be happy endings? You’ll just have to wait and see… but keep those tissues handy is my advice!
..
This wonderful dual timeline story, narrated by three of the characters, was told in short, well signposted chapters, which kept things moving along at a steady pace and had me turning the pages ever faster, needing to know what happened next.
Rich in atmosphere, multi-layered, highly textured, poignant and evocative, there is a compelling and compassionate honesty and integrity in this immersive storyline. The way in which Norma presents some of the socially unacceptable consequences of war and the unseen trauma they can heap on the human psyche, is perceptive, sensitive and well considered, without ever becoming preachy or prescriptive.
The destructive power of keeping secrets and not having any dialogue, is also examined, with the long-term effects this has on three generations of strong-minded, stubborn and resilient women. The liberating freedom they experience when barriers are broken down and the truth is out there, is a completely game-changing experience and instantly draws them closer together as a family, albeit briefly… All that time wasted!
Whilst, so far as I can establish, Bear Cave village is a fictional location, it didn’t take too much detective work to establish roughly whereabouts I was, as soon as Hedi arrived and knew so much about other nearby popular areas, which having been to them several times myself, I also know quite well. The descriptive narrative drew me in and painted the scene beautifully, so my ‘armchair journey’ to North Wales was indeed most satisfactory.
The cast of characters was quite large; however, author Norma Curtis took plenty of time to describe and draw them authentically and in great detail. They were an evolving, complex jigsaw of human emotions, often unreliable, vulnerable and volatile; yet always raw, passionate, genuine and believable to the roles in which they had been cast, which made them totally addictive.
My first book by this new to me author, but will it be my last? I don’t think so, as a couple of her previous novels have already magically appeared on my ‘wish list’!
What typically makes reading such a wonderful experience for me, is that with each and every book, I am taken on a unique and individual journey, by some amazing authors who fire my imagination, stimulate my senses and stir my emotions.
Thanks for some lovely memories to treasure, Norma.
April 23, 2022
“Curiosity killed the cat, satisfaction brought him back.”
I’m so excited to have read such a phenomenal historical fiction book, I’m bursting at the seams and can’t wait to tell you about it. I’ve read Norma Curtis’s books before, but this one was exceptional. She’s managed to tap into the emotional baggage of the characters AND write in a unique voice for each timeline; both are so important to me. The WW2 timeline reflects the emotions and mindset of those imprisoned in a concentration camp; it comes across as more factual than emotional.
“Their faces were vacant. Prisoners in the camps didn’t have expressions. They didn’t have the energy for them, and besides, they no longer had the muscles necessary to form a frown or a smile.”
The modern-day timeline set in Bear Cave exudes tension and emotion and, as the characters get to know each other, it is like a giant hug from between the pages.
Curtis explores the concept of home, what it means to love someone, and the importance of sharing and listening to each other. I was brought to tears when she pulled back the curtains on what it’s like for a spouse to be left behind when their partner dies - especially after a long, loving marriage. She highlights the human spirit’s capacity to shine in the deepest darkness. I cried, yelled and laughed out loud while learning about an anger-filled reaction that cost someone years of family togetherness, the Royal Army Medical Corps' role in liberating Bergen-Belsen, the ‘Harrod’s’ shopping experience and the lipstick-wearing ladies, and what it was like transitioning from a prisoner to a freed person and the options suddenly available, especially when choices weren’t a part of life behind the barbed wire.
I loved Harold ‘Harry’ Lewis and Hedi Fischer’s story and I was sad to leave them and Thea. If you plan on reading this story, please visit the author’s website and check out some photos of the locations mentioned. It enriched my reading experience. Congratulations on an amazing cover!
Yes, it’s a vague review. I don’t want to spoil it for you. Happy reading.
I was gifted this advance copy by Norma Curtis, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I’m so excited to have read such a phenomenal historical fiction book, I’m bursting at the seams and can’t wait to tell you about it. I’ve read Norma Curtis’s books before, but this one was exceptional. She’s managed to tap into the emotional baggage of the characters AND write in a unique voice for each timeline; both are so important to me. The WW2 timeline reflects the emotions and mindset of those imprisoned in a concentration camp; it comes across as more factual than emotional.
“Their faces were vacant. Prisoners in the camps didn’t have expressions. They didn’t have the energy for them, and besides, they no longer had the muscles necessary to form a frown or a smile.”
The modern-day timeline set in Bear Cave exudes tension and emotion and, as the characters get to know each other, it is like a giant hug from between the pages.
Curtis explores the concept of home, what it means to love someone, and the importance of sharing and listening to each other. I was brought to tears when she pulled back the curtains on what it’s like for a spouse to be left behind when their partner dies - especially after a long, loving marriage. She highlights the human spirit’s capacity to shine in the deepest darkness. I cried, yelled and laughed out loud while learning about an anger-filled reaction that cost someone years of family togetherness, the Royal Army Medical Corps' role in liberating Bergen-Belsen, the ‘Harrod’s’ shopping experience and the lipstick-wearing ladies, and what it was like transitioning from a prisoner to a freed person and the options suddenly available, especially when choices weren’t a part of life behind the barbed wire.
I loved Harold ‘Harry’ Lewis and Hedi Fischer’s story and I was sad to leave them and Thea. If you plan on reading this story, please visit the author’s website and check out some photos of the locations mentioned. It enriched my reading experience. Congratulations on an amazing cover!
Yes, it’s a vague review. I don’t want to spoil it for you. Happy reading.
I was gifted this advance copy by Norma Curtis, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
June 14, 2022
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Hideaway' by Norma Curtis
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Norma Curtis, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 10th June 2022.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching unique cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Lily Graham and Rachel Hore.' I am a huge fan of Lily Graham so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 41 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Belsen and Bear Cave.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Hedi Lewis, Harry Lewis and Thea Lewis . The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. The fact there are multiple protagonists is even better as it increases the readers knowledge of what more characters are doing and feeling.
'The Hideaway' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Norma discusses/includes death and cruelty.
Well, what can I say but wow!!! This story is definitely not going to leave my head anytime soon. Firstly I must congratulate Norma for an absolutely extraordinary novel that seriously needs to be made into a movie which I assure would be best selling!!!
This book is extremely powerful and extremely well written. It is devastatingly heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. It is absolutely rammed with emotions that will make you smile, cry and laugh on the roller-coaster ride to hell that is Belsen.
This book did not disappoint. Some people believe that these stories should not be written but I am a strong believer that these victims earned the right for their stories to be told and to not be forgotten and this book does just that. I loved discovering not just Hedi and Harry's stories but also Thea's. I absolutely LOVED how this book was composed of two stories perfectly intertwined together to make one of the most emotional reads I have ever read!!! The fact that Norma has written a story filled with loss, death, hate and love being told during a time of sadness, family and romance just takes the reader on an absolute rollercoaster rider of emotions. It is great when you come along an absolute gem like this as normally you would expect a book about a war story to be dark and horrific throughout but Norma manages to show the horrors while lightening up the reading tone during every other chapter. This book was very hard to read during Hedi's story but there were certain parts that will stay with me for a very long time and that were soul destroying which is why Thea's story mixed in is so important. It helps give the reader light hearted breaks between. What the Nazi's did to these innocent people makes me absolutely sick to my soul. The poor victims watching each other suffering especially. My heart screamed out to Hedi for what she went through along with Magda, Ursula and Renate. I absolutely loved how this book ended although it was also heartbreaking too. Hedi and Theo are such amazingly strong women who I absolutely loved and Harry was an absolutely amazing gentleman that are such a rare breed. I was completely invested in all their stories and lives. I am sad to say goodbye to them and they will live in my mind for a very long time!!!
It is set over/includes multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture. I loved the modern day chapters as well as the historical ones and felt like I was being told the story over a cup of tea.
Clear your schedules and grab your tissues as you will not be able to put this book down or stop the tears from streaming!!!
Again congratulations Norma on an absolutely stunning emotional rollercoaster ride of a book!! I would say this book is on par with the likes of 'The' diary of Anne Frank' which left me with the same feelings your novel has of not even more emotional. I cannot wait to read the best of your books and I would like to welcome you to my favourite 5 historical author list!!!
Overall a heart wrenching, absolutely beautifully devastating story filled with love, loss, hope and so, so much more!!!
Genres covered in this book include Romance Historical Fiction, Women's Literary Fiction, Women's Historical Fiction and Women's Romance Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Fiona Valpy, Lily Graham, Rachel Hore and anyone looking for a gorgeous historical romance.
302 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle (or free on kindle unlimited, at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheHideaway #Bookouture #NormaCurtis #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@NormaCurtis @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhi...
Review for 'The Hideaway' by Norma Curtis
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Norma Curtis, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 10th June 2022.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching unique cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Lily Graham and Rachel Hore.' I am a huge fan of Lily Graham so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 41 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Belsen and Bear Cave.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Hedi Lewis, Harry Lewis and Thea Lewis . The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. The fact there are multiple protagonists is even better as it increases the readers knowledge of what more characters are doing and feeling.
'The Hideaway' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Norma discusses/includes death and cruelty.
Well, what can I say but wow!!! This story is definitely not going to leave my head anytime soon. Firstly I must congratulate Norma for an absolutely extraordinary novel that seriously needs to be made into a movie which I assure would be best selling!!!
This book is extremely powerful and extremely well written. It is devastatingly heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. It is absolutely rammed with emotions that will make you smile, cry and laugh on the roller-coaster ride to hell that is Belsen.
This book did not disappoint. Some people believe that these stories should not be written but I am a strong believer that these victims earned the right for their stories to be told and to not be forgotten and this book does just that. I loved discovering not just Hedi and Harry's stories but also Thea's. I absolutely LOVED how this book was composed of two stories perfectly intertwined together to make one of the most emotional reads I have ever read!!! The fact that Norma has written a story filled with loss, death, hate and love being told during a time of sadness, family and romance just takes the reader on an absolute rollercoaster rider of emotions. It is great when you come along an absolute gem like this as normally you would expect a book about a war story to be dark and horrific throughout but Norma manages to show the horrors while lightening up the reading tone during every other chapter. This book was very hard to read during Hedi's story but there were certain parts that will stay with me for a very long time and that were soul destroying which is why Thea's story mixed in is so important. It helps give the reader light hearted breaks between. What the Nazi's did to these innocent people makes me absolutely sick to my soul. The poor victims watching each other suffering especially. My heart screamed out to Hedi for what she went through along with Magda, Ursula and Renate. I absolutely loved how this book ended although it was also heartbreaking too. Hedi and Theo are such amazingly strong women who I absolutely loved and Harry was an absolutely amazing gentleman that are such a rare breed. I was completely invested in all their stories and lives. I am sad to say goodbye to them and they will live in my mind for a very long time!!!
It is set over/includes multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture. I loved the modern day chapters as well as the historical ones and felt like I was being told the story over a cup of tea.
Clear your schedules and grab your tissues as you will not be able to put this book down or stop the tears from streaming!!!
Again congratulations Norma on an absolutely stunning emotional rollercoaster ride of a book!! I would say this book is on par with the likes of 'The' diary of Anne Frank' which left me with the same feelings your novel has of not even more emotional. I cannot wait to read the best of your books and I would like to welcome you to my favourite 5 historical author list!!!
Overall a heart wrenching, absolutely beautifully devastating story filled with love, loss, hope and so, so much more!!!
Genres covered in this book include Romance Historical Fiction, Women's Literary Fiction, Women's Historical Fiction and Women's Romance Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Fiona Valpy, Lily Graham, Rachel Hore and anyone looking for a gorgeous historical romance.
302 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle (or free on kindle unlimited, at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheHideaway #Bookouture #NormaCurtis #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@NormaCurtis @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhi...
October 9, 2022
Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. I have not read a book by this author before but I am sure that this will not be the last time :)
Hedi is a very old lady who has been married to Harry for a very long time. When she loses him, she loses herself.
Thea is Hedi's granddaughter but the two of them have never met. Thanks to Thea's unconventional upbringing, she is very wary of relationships and doesn't believe in true love.
Hedi and Thea end up sharing a cottage in the Welsh countryside and so they start getting to know each other. Lots of secrets are revealed and as the two form a bond, it changes them both.
I found this story, told over a dual timeline, very moving indeed. I loved the pragmatic approach that Hedi had to everything, and considering what she had been through, fair enough (plus, she was German, enough said!). As I have Dutch parents (and grandparents), I could hear Hedi's pronunciation very clearly and I thought the little examples of phonetic spelling that the author put in the book, very clever. I have to admit to hearing my mother's voice here, she pronounced her words just like that! My friends used to tell me that they had trouble understanding what she said and I always told them that I had no problems with understanding my parents at all, because they always spoke in Dutch to me! lol.
The descriptions of life in the camp were so beautifully done. I don't think I have ever read what it was like for the internees to transition from prisoners to free people before - and the shopping at 'Harrods' put a lump in my throat. Hilary was gorgeous :)
Beautiful, beautiful book.
5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
Hedi is a very old lady who has been married to Harry for a very long time. When she loses him, she loses herself.
Thea is Hedi's granddaughter but the two of them have never met. Thanks to Thea's unconventional upbringing, she is very wary of relationships and doesn't believe in true love.
Hedi and Thea end up sharing a cottage in the Welsh countryside and so they start getting to know each other. Lots of secrets are revealed and as the two form a bond, it changes them both.
I found this story, told over a dual timeline, very moving indeed. I loved the pragmatic approach that Hedi had to everything, and considering what she had been through, fair enough (plus, she was German, enough said!). As I have Dutch parents (and grandparents), I could hear Hedi's pronunciation very clearly and I thought the little examples of phonetic spelling that the author put in the book, very clever. I have to admit to hearing my mother's voice here, she pronounced her words just like that! My friends used to tell me that they had trouble understanding what she said and I always told them that I had no problems with understanding my parents at all, because they always spoke in Dutch to me! lol.
The descriptions of life in the camp were so beautifully done. I don't think I have ever read what it was like for the internees to transition from prisoners to free people before - and the shopping at 'Harrods' put a lump in my throat. Hilary was gorgeous :)
Beautiful, beautiful book.
5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
June 12, 2022
The Hideaway is the second book that I have read by Norma Curtis and I have to say I enjoyed it immensely. It’s a quick read but certainly an emotional and heartfelt one which is centred on a fractured relationship in a family because one woman has been holding a secret close to her chest for a very long time. This book has the most gorgeous of covers which draws you in and makes you want to visit the Hideaway. The cottage becomes a focal point for the story and it’s characters. It becomes a place where the characters can heal as they reveal their story and try to reconcile the past with the present. This is a story about home which is a place heard to define but you know once you have gotten there. The main character Hedi has kept a part of themselves secret ever since the conclusion of World War Two and therefore those that try to love her feel they can’t love the whole of her because they don’t really know her. Hedi’s experiences have meant a certain section of her life has been a closed book but the time has arrived to open the pages and share her story.
In the present day, Hedi is 93 and has spent a long time with her husband Harry. He is slowly slipping away and asks for the phone to speak to his daughter Maggie. This is very unusual as there has been a deep rift between Maggie and her parents. They argued one day and she left with her daughter Thea and never came back. There has been no communication but Hedi still has her number. She has lived with regret all her life and when Harry places the phone call Maggie is surprised as she as presumed her parents have been long dead. Maggie is not very receptive, even more so when soon after Hedi must contact Maggie again to tell her that Harry has passed away. The hurt and pain oozes from the pages and Hedi places a lot of the blame on herself. Her refusal to talk about the past has had such a detrimental effect on those living in the present. Everything has been hidden for so long she fears she can no longer reveal the truth.
The barrier that exists between Maggie and her parents grows ever stronger when she refuses to come to Harry’s funeral. Instead, she sends her daughter Thea, who is even more surprised to learn that she has grandparents still living. What follows is the beautiful development of a relationship between Hedi and Thea. One which will be transformative and restorative. Hedi has more or less given up following the death of her beloved who saved her when things were at their worst for her. She prepares to leave this world to, doing very strange things and disposing of everything in the flat that herself and Harry shared. Even though Thea does not know her grandmother she feels she can’t let her go like this. She needs to prove to her that life is still worth living and by hopefully sharing her story she can come to terms with the past and allow those in the present to gain an understanding and acceptance for Hedi’s harsh reaction which caused the family rift in the first place.
Thea is a school secretary and just as the holidays approached the art teacher Adam, proposed to her. Thea’s reaction was to turn and run as she has a major problem with commitment. As she leaves London for the summer, she is in search of something but doesn’t know what. By pure chance, she comes across a cottage, surrounded by woods and a flower meadow with a jetty, at the end of the garden. Everything looks beautiful and peaceful although the cottage is full of dust and has an air of neglect but it speaks to her and it speaks to the reader too. It was so vividly described and it felt like a place to escape to and to seek refuge. It took on an almost magical quality and when Thea goes to her grandfather’s funeral a connection is established with Hedi and she brings her back to the Hideaway. Hedi is flattened and crushed by Harry’s loss and she just wants to die in peace but Thea won’t let that happen. I thought despite not having met in so long and Thea was but a mere young child when they did, that the bond they forged over the course of the time spent at the cottage was just so beautiful, raw and real. There is an open heartedness and willingness to listen and share with each other. It was like Thea almost forgot her own personal life situation, which to be honest wasn’t the crux of the book, nor should it have been and the focus was able to be 100% on Hedi’s story and what a story it was.
When Hedi and Thea are at the cottage the plot slips back and forth seamlessly between the present day and the last months of the war where Hedi had been incarcerated in the Bergen Belsen camp. Hedi’s story is harrowing and no details are spared but it goes an awful long way in explain why she reacted the way she did with Maggie. I have read lots and lots of historical fiction but this was something different because it focused on the prisoners experiences in the last weeks of the war when the British were allowed into the camp to help the Germans as typhus raged and they couldn’t do anything to stop it. The Germans knew defeat was in sight and without Harry and his fellow soldiers and the Red Cross Hedi may never have left the hell hole that was Bergen Belsen.
The scenes set in the camp are horrific and traumatising and the anger, frustration and despair is evident from the prisoners. All the women are crowded into barracks in the most inhumane of conditions. Disease, death and starvation are rife, and they are reduced to walking skeletons. Hedi had been imprisoned due to her father’s political beliefs and she longs for the day when she can break free. Everything has been taken away from her - freedom, family, possessions, looks, pride, self-respect, free will and her health. That is everything except her identity which she holds close to her heart. Hedi is strong and does her best for those that surround her in the barracks. She knows that with the arrival of the British that there is an air of hope in the air but with typhus running riot, death could be calling at any moment. The relationship she develops with one or two fellow women was heart-breaking to read. The aspect of the book following Hedi in the camp most definitely highlighted that the human spirit has the capacity to shine through the deepest darkness, that it can remain steadfast, bright, hopeful, untarnished and full of love.
There were numerous descriptions of the women’s existence in the camp and what they were reduced to doing and they will leave you open mouthed in shock. There was also one particular account of how the Germans needed to dispose of bodies quicker which had my stomach churning. As mentioned, I do feel all these descriptions needed to be there and Hedi had to tell everything to Thea as they existed in their bubble at the cottage. If Hedi had not done so I don’t think Thea would have fully appreciated what caused the chasm that existed in her family and she wouldn’t have worked so hard to bridge it. The connection that developed between Harry and Hedi at the camp I felt was slightly underplayed. I know given the circumstances they couldn’t be with each other 24/7 but I just thought it needed a bit more fleshing out.They needed to meet and talk more often although when push comes to shove and Hedi realises the worst he was there for her.
The Hideaway was a really engaging and absorbing read that hits you deep in the heart. It’s a story of courage, survival and finding your home and ‘of trudging through the darkness until the sun rose again’. I much preferred this story to the previous book I had read by Norma Curtis as I felt there wasn’t any long drawn out parts that didn’t add anything to the story. Instead, the pace was perfect and the plot gave the reader an insight into a time of the war which is usually merely glanced over as an author hurtles towards the end of a book. This is a book I would definitely recommend as Hedi and her story will deeply affect you.
In the present day, Hedi is 93 and has spent a long time with her husband Harry. He is slowly slipping away and asks for the phone to speak to his daughter Maggie. This is very unusual as there has been a deep rift between Maggie and her parents. They argued one day and she left with her daughter Thea and never came back. There has been no communication but Hedi still has her number. She has lived with regret all her life and when Harry places the phone call Maggie is surprised as she as presumed her parents have been long dead. Maggie is not very receptive, even more so when soon after Hedi must contact Maggie again to tell her that Harry has passed away. The hurt and pain oozes from the pages and Hedi places a lot of the blame on herself. Her refusal to talk about the past has had such a detrimental effect on those living in the present. Everything has been hidden for so long she fears she can no longer reveal the truth.
The barrier that exists between Maggie and her parents grows ever stronger when she refuses to come to Harry’s funeral. Instead, she sends her daughter Thea, who is even more surprised to learn that she has grandparents still living. What follows is the beautiful development of a relationship between Hedi and Thea. One which will be transformative and restorative. Hedi has more or less given up following the death of her beloved who saved her when things were at their worst for her. She prepares to leave this world to, doing very strange things and disposing of everything in the flat that herself and Harry shared. Even though Thea does not know her grandmother she feels she can’t let her go like this. She needs to prove to her that life is still worth living and by hopefully sharing her story she can come to terms with the past and allow those in the present to gain an understanding and acceptance for Hedi’s harsh reaction which caused the family rift in the first place.
Thea is a school secretary and just as the holidays approached the art teacher Adam, proposed to her. Thea’s reaction was to turn and run as she has a major problem with commitment. As she leaves London for the summer, she is in search of something but doesn’t know what. By pure chance, she comes across a cottage, surrounded by woods and a flower meadow with a jetty, at the end of the garden. Everything looks beautiful and peaceful although the cottage is full of dust and has an air of neglect but it speaks to her and it speaks to the reader too. It was so vividly described and it felt like a place to escape to and to seek refuge. It took on an almost magical quality and when Thea goes to her grandfather’s funeral a connection is established with Hedi and she brings her back to the Hideaway. Hedi is flattened and crushed by Harry’s loss and she just wants to die in peace but Thea won’t let that happen. I thought despite not having met in so long and Thea was but a mere young child when they did, that the bond they forged over the course of the time spent at the cottage was just so beautiful, raw and real. There is an open heartedness and willingness to listen and share with each other. It was like Thea almost forgot her own personal life situation, which to be honest wasn’t the crux of the book, nor should it have been and the focus was able to be 100% on Hedi’s story and what a story it was.
When Hedi and Thea are at the cottage the plot slips back and forth seamlessly between the present day and the last months of the war where Hedi had been incarcerated in the Bergen Belsen camp. Hedi’s story is harrowing and no details are spared but it goes an awful long way in explain why she reacted the way she did with Maggie. I have read lots and lots of historical fiction but this was something different because it focused on the prisoners experiences in the last weeks of the war when the British were allowed into the camp to help the Germans as typhus raged and they couldn’t do anything to stop it. The Germans knew defeat was in sight and without Harry and his fellow soldiers and the Red Cross Hedi may never have left the hell hole that was Bergen Belsen.
The scenes set in the camp are horrific and traumatising and the anger, frustration and despair is evident from the prisoners. All the women are crowded into barracks in the most inhumane of conditions. Disease, death and starvation are rife, and they are reduced to walking skeletons. Hedi had been imprisoned due to her father’s political beliefs and she longs for the day when she can break free. Everything has been taken away from her - freedom, family, possessions, looks, pride, self-respect, free will and her health. That is everything except her identity which she holds close to her heart. Hedi is strong and does her best for those that surround her in the barracks. She knows that with the arrival of the British that there is an air of hope in the air but with typhus running riot, death could be calling at any moment. The relationship she develops with one or two fellow women was heart-breaking to read. The aspect of the book following Hedi in the camp most definitely highlighted that the human spirit has the capacity to shine through the deepest darkness, that it can remain steadfast, bright, hopeful, untarnished and full of love.
There were numerous descriptions of the women’s existence in the camp and what they were reduced to doing and they will leave you open mouthed in shock. There was also one particular account of how the Germans needed to dispose of bodies quicker which had my stomach churning. As mentioned, I do feel all these descriptions needed to be there and Hedi had to tell everything to Thea as they existed in their bubble at the cottage. If Hedi had not done so I don’t think Thea would have fully appreciated what caused the chasm that existed in her family and she wouldn’t have worked so hard to bridge it. The connection that developed between Harry and Hedi at the camp I felt was slightly underplayed. I know given the circumstances they couldn’t be with each other 24/7 but I just thought it needed a bit more fleshing out.They needed to meet and talk more often although when push comes to shove and Hedi realises the worst he was there for her.
The Hideaway was a really engaging and absorbing read that hits you deep in the heart. It’s a story of courage, survival and finding your home and ‘of trudging through the darkness until the sun rose again’. I much preferred this story to the previous book I had read by Norma Curtis as I felt there wasn’t any long drawn out parts that didn’t add anything to the story. Instead, the pace was perfect and the plot gave the reader an insight into a time of the war which is usually merely glanced over as an author hurtles towards the end of a book. This is a book I would definitely recommend as Hedi and her story will deeply affect you.
July 2, 2022
Oh, this was excellent!
In this thoroughly enjoyable dual timeline, a grandmother reflects back on her memories of not only the horrors, but the poignant moments during World War II.
A brilliantly written and researched story of love, loss, discovery and reunion, which had me in tears one moment, then chuckling the next.
I cannot recommend it highly enough for lovers of this genre.
In this thoroughly enjoyable dual timeline, a grandmother reflects back on her memories of not only the horrors, but the poignant moments during World War II.
A brilliantly written and researched story of love, loss, discovery and reunion, which had me in tears one moment, then chuckling the next.
I cannot recommend it highly enough for lovers of this genre.
July 14, 2023
I love historical fiction.
Norma Curtis did a great job writing between the past and present. This story focuses on 3 generations of women: Hedi, Maggie, and Thea.
Hedi has kept her past under lock and key all of her daughter's life. Maggie, Hedi's daughter, being very headstrong, like her mother, decides to cut ties with her parents after their relationships seemed to sour. After Hedi's husband dies, Maggie convinces her daugther to attend the funeral with Hedi. From this moment, a beautiful relationship forms and Thea learns about all of her grandmother's past and what made Hedi keep it hidden.
Warning: The book describes the conditions in a concentration camp.
Norma Curtis did a great job writing between the past and present. This story focuses on 3 generations of women: Hedi, Maggie, and Thea.
Hedi has kept her past under lock and key all of her daughter's life. Maggie, Hedi's daughter, being very headstrong, like her mother, decides to cut ties with her parents after their relationships seemed to sour. After Hedi's husband dies, Maggie convinces her daugther to attend the funeral with Hedi. From this moment, a beautiful relationship forms and Thea learns about all of her grandmother's past and what made Hedi keep it hidden.
Warning: The book describes the conditions in a concentration camp.
June 12, 2022
The Hideaway is a dual timeline novel that begins with Thea who is on summer holiday from her job in a local school and her love life. She escapes London to the country in a small cottage aptly named the hideaway as there is no cell service and little disruption from peace and quiet. This out of date home is exactly what she needs to try to figure out her relationships with both her mother who has moved to New York and her boyfriend who is pushing her to the next step of marriage and a family. When she gets a call from social services while in town, she is surprised to find her grandmother is still alive and in need.
Hedi is ninety years old and has recently lost her beloved husband Harry. Though no one seems to believe her, she is sharp as a tack and has decided she is ready to meet her maker. She has no world without Harry. Social services believes otherwise, and calls Thea the closest next of kin to help devise a plan for Hedi’s future. When she joins Thea at The Hideaway, the story really begins and Thea learns all about her grandmother’s mystery suitcase and her estrangement from her daughter. Thea discovers her grandmother spent time in Belsen concentration camp and that short, but torturous period has affected her choices both in motherhood and in life in general.
The Hideaway is a touching story about love and heartbreak and the choices we must face to survive both physically and emotionally. I enjoyed this story, especially Hedi’s historical timeline, but I did not ever quite connect to Thea as a character. I did enjoy the sweet connection between Thea and Hedi. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Norma Curtis for the advanced copy. The Hideaway is available now. All opinions are my own.
Instagram.com/passionforprose
Hedi is ninety years old and has recently lost her beloved husband Harry. Though no one seems to believe her, she is sharp as a tack and has decided she is ready to meet her maker. She has no world without Harry. Social services believes otherwise, and calls Thea the closest next of kin to help devise a plan for Hedi’s future. When she joins Thea at The Hideaway, the story really begins and Thea learns all about her grandmother’s mystery suitcase and her estrangement from her daughter. Thea discovers her grandmother spent time in Belsen concentration camp and that short, but torturous period has affected her choices both in motherhood and in life in general.
The Hideaway is a touching story about love and heartbreak and the choices we must face to survive both physically and emotionally. I enjoyed this story, especially Hedi’s historical timeline, but I did not ever quite connect to Thea as a character. I did enjoy the sweet connection between Thea and Hedi. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Norma Curtis for the advanced copy. The Hideaway is available now. All opinions are my own.
Instagram.com/passionforprose
June 11, 2022
I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I think I’ll begin with saying what an absolutely stunning cover this is! It instantly makes you want to pick it up and see what’s inside, I’ve been reading a lot of WW2 historical fiction lately so I couldn’t wait to begin this one.
I was utterly captivated by this book after only a few pages the story just hooked me straight away, It was Hedi & Harry that drew me in first and then Thea did the same.
I enjoyed the dual timeline of the preset day with Thea & Heidi then the past with Heidi & Harry.
Families are so complex and you can easily see how families fall out and don’t speak for a very long time but I’m so happy that Heidi finally got to explain why she loved the way she did and acted in certain ways, it explains so much.
Hideaway House seems like the perfect place to be for Thea and as the story unfolds you find out exactly the reason why , I won’t give too much aways as it don’t want to spoil this truly incredible story.
I think I’ll begin with saying what an absolutely stunning cover this is! It instantly makes you want to pick it up and see what’s inside, I’ve been reading a lot of WW2 historical fiction lately so I couldn’t wait to begin this one.
I was utterly captivated by this book after only a few pages the story just hooked me straight away, It was Hedi & Harry that drew me in first and then Thea did the same.
I enjoyed the dual timeline of the preset day with Thea & Heidi then the past with Heidi & Harry.
Families are so complex and you can easily see how families fall out and don’t speak for a very long time but I’m so happy that Heidi finally got to explain why she loved the way she did and acted in certain ways, it explains so much.
Hideaway House seems like the perfect place to be for Thea and as the story unfolds you find out exactly the reason why , I won’t give too much aways as it don’t want to spoil this truly incredible story.
May 8, 2022
Moving story of family secrets that estrangement. Beautifully written with well rounded characters. The story stays with you which to me is the mark of a very good book. Thank you netgalley fir the advanced copy
January 4, 2023
The Hideaway is by Norma Curtis. This story takes place at Bear Cave in England at the present time; but it is a historical fiction that is based in Bergen-Belsen at the end of the war when the British took control from the Germans.
Hedi was having to deal with the death of her husband of many years, Harry,alone. Their daughter had left home with her small daughter many years ago and had cut off communication between them. Although they loved their daughter, the communication between them was flawed mainly, as Hedi felt, because of the War. They never talked about it to anyone, not even between themselves. Their daughter felt left out.
Hedi was a German girl who was placed in Bergen-Belsen because of her father’s political views. She and other women were caught up in the paranoia of the Nazis and treated nearly the same as the Jewish women. It was Hedi’s fortunate connection to Magda who claimed Hedi as her sister that helped her survive her time here.
Harry was an English military man who had been among those who were sent to Bergan-Belsen. The Germans asked them to come in and help with a typus epidemic. This turned out to be devastating for the German troops left here. They were either punished by having to bury the dead or sent to the front which meant nearly certain death. Harry and his men did their best; but in the first weeks, many of those in custody continued to die despite all the help they were given. Despite the non-fraternization policy, Harry fell in love with Hedi and asked her to marry him.
Theo learned of her grandparents when her mother called her asking her to attend Harry’s funeral for her. Hedi had called her when Harry died simply because it was right she know. Theo had gone on holiday now that school was out and ended up rending a house in Bear Cave. She returned there after the funeral and lunch with her grandmother. A short time later, Social Services called her about her grandmother. They were going to force her to move into a nursing home because she wasn’t taking care of herself. Theo went to London to meet with them and found her grandmother was simply preparing to die and had given all her belongings away and settled her business and was alone in her apartment in bed, hoping to die. Theo took her grandmother back to her holiday house with her until things could be settled. To her surprise, Hedi perks up when she finds out they are in Bear Cave. This was the town where Harry grew up and they were married here. It was here, also, that she decided to tell her granddaughter about her past. Something she had never talked about to anyone.
Theo decided she had to convince her grandmother to contact her mother and try to mend their relationship; but she didn’t know how to go about getting this done.
The book is very good and it is one that is very difficult to put down.
Hedi was having to deal with the death of her husband of many years, Harry,alone. Their daughter had left home with her small daughter many years ago and had cut off communication between them. Although they loved their daughter, the communication between them was flawed mainly, as Hedi felt, because of the War. They never talked about it to anyone, not even between themselves. Their daughter felt left out.
Hedi was a German girl who was placed in Bergen-Belsen because of her father’s political views. She and other women were caught up in the paranoia of the Nazis and treated nearly the same as the Jewish women. It was Hedi’s fortunate connection to Magda who claimed Hedi as her sister that helped her survive her time here.
Harry was an English military man who had been among those who were sent to Bergan-Belsen. The Germans asked them to come in and help with a typus epidemic. This turned out to be devastating for the German troops left here. They were either punished by having to bury the dead or sent to the front which meant nearly certain death. Harry and his men did their best; but in the first weeks, many of those in custody continued to die despite all the help they were given. Despite the non-fraternization policy, Harry fell in love with Hedi and asked her to marry him.
Theo learned of her grandparents when her mother called her asking her to attend Harry’s funeral for her. Hedi had called her when Harry died simply because it was right she know. Theo had gone on holiday now that school was out and ended up rending a house in Bear Cave. She returned there after the funeral and lunch with her grandmother. A short time later, Social Services called her about her grandmother. They were going to force her to move into a nursing home because she wasn’t taking care of herself. Theo went to London to meet with them and found her grandmother was simply preparing to die and had given all her belongings away and settled her business and was alone in her apartment in bed, hoping to die. Theo took her grandmother back to her holiday house with her until things could be settled. To her surprise, Hedi perks up when she finds out they are in Bear Cave. This was the town where Harry grew up and they were married here. It was here, also, that she decided to tell her granddaughter about her past. Something she had never talked about to anyone.
Theo decided she had to convince her grandmother to contact her mother and try to mend their relationship; but she didn’t know how to go about getting this done.
The book is very good and it is one that is very difficult to put down.
August 4, 2022
Thea is shocked to discover that her grandmother Hedi is alive when her mother had always said she died years ago. Her grandfather Harry only died a few days earlier and Thea is sad at the lost opportunity. She is keen to develop a relationship with Hedi and is shocked by the secrets that Hedi and Harry have kept for decades.
The Hideaway is a dual timeline novel set in Wales and Germany in the present day and 1945.
Thea is at a crossroads in her relationship: he wants more commitment and she doesn't. She rents a property in Wales to collect her thoughts but invites Hedi to join her when she discovers her existence. Hedi reveals the love story that started in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp but which she has never been able to share with her estranged daughter.
The brutality of the camp and the shocking conditions and circumstances after liberation make for difficult and emotional reading. The women endure appalling conditions However, the cameraderie and hope as well as knowing that Hedi survives and lives a long happy life, lift the overall tone of the book.
In the present day, Thea and Hedi have a wonderful time getting to know each other and creating happy memories. Both of them have a stilted relationship with Maggie but Thea hopes she can reconcile her mum and grandmother before it is too late. There are two instances when Hedi lashes out with physical violence. She has bottled things up for so long and regrets her actions but I can understand why she wanted to protect her daughter from the truth.
The Hideaway is a beautifully written novel about love, grief and family.
The Hideaway is a dual timeline novel set in Wales and Germany in the present day and 1945.
Thea is at a crossroads in her relationship: he wants more commitment and she doesn't. She rents a property in Wales to collect her thoughts but invites Hedi to join her when she discovers her existence. Hedi reveals the love story that started in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp but which she has never been able to share with her estranged daughter.
The brutality of the camp and the shocking conditions and circumstances after liberation make for difficult and emotional reading. The women endure appalling conditions However, the cameraderie and hope as well as knowing that Hedi survives and lives a long happy life, lift the overall tone of the book.
In the present day, Thea and Hedi have a wonderful time getting to know each other and creating happy memories. Both of them have a stilted relationship with Maggie but Thea hopes she can reconcile her mum and grandmother before it is too late. There are two instances when Hedi lashes out with physical violence. She has bottled things up for so long and regrets her actions but I can understand why she wanted to protect her daughter from the truth.
The Hideaway is a beautifully written novel about love, grief and family.
April 12, 2023
#9: READ A HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK: Couldn't sum it up any better than this reviewer did: "The Hideaway by Norma Curtis is fantastic historical fiction written with a dual timeline. Thea is on summer holiday from her job at the local school. She's having a bit of a personal crisis and decides to get away from it all. Thea finds herself stumbling into a tiny town and is inexplicably drawn to a nearly hidden, somewhat ramshackle house that is available to rent.
Heidi is a 90 year old woman dealing with her own personal crises after the death of her husband. She has no will to live. Thea's mother Maggie has told Thea that her grandparents are dead. So when she gets a call from her mother asking her to attend the service for her grandfather, she's a bit of a shock. And when she shows up at the funeral and meets her grandmother, Heidi is also shocked. Both are in for a bit of an adventure and a long walk down memory lane when Pandora's Box in the form of Heidi's suitcase is opened. Could each of these women, and the grandmother granddaughter relationship be exactly what each of them need right now? And mind that relationship be just the bridge to bringing Maggie back to both women? This touching story is beautifully written moving back-and-forth from World War II era to present time. The moral of the story - it's never too late!" The only reason I gave it 4 stars was that those previously read---were so very very good!!! I'd highly recommend this book. KU
Heidi is a 90 year old woman dealing with her own personal crises after the death of her husband. She has no will to live. Thea's mother Maggie has told Thea that her grandparents are dead. So when she gets a call from her mother asking her to attend the service for her grandfather, she's a bit of a shock. And when she shows up at the funeral and meets her grandmother, Heidi is also shocked. Both are in for a bit of an adventure and a long walk down memory lane when Pandora's Box in the form of Heidi's suitcase is opened. Could each of these women, and the grandmother granddaughter relationship be exactly what each of them need right now? And mind that relationship be just the bridge to bringing Maggie back to both women? This touching story is beautifully written moving back-and-forth from World War II era to present time. The moral of the story - it's never too late!" The only reason I gave it 4 stars was that those previously read---were so very very good!!! I'd highly recommend this book. KU
July 18, 2022
The Hideaway by Norma Curtis is fantastic historical fiction written with a dual timeline. Thea is on summer holiday from her job at the local school. She's having a bit of a personal crisis and decides to decides to get away from it all. Thea finds herself stumbling into a tiny town and is inexplicably drawn to a nearly hidden, somewhat ramshackle house that is available to rent.
Heidi is a 90 year old woman dealing with her own personal crises after the death of her husband. She has no will to live.
Thea's mother Maggie has told Thea that her grandparents are dead. So when she gets a call from her mother asking her to attend the service for her grandfather, she's a bit in shock. And when she shows up at the funeral and meets her grandmother, Heidi is also shocked.
Both are in for a bit of an adventure and a long walk down memory lane when Pandora's Box in the form of Heidi's suit case is opened.
Could each of these women, and the grandmother granddaughter relationship be exactly what each of them need right now? And could that relationship be just the bridge to bringing Maggie back to both women?
This touching story is beautifully written moving back-and-forth from World War II era to present time.
The moral of the story - it's never too late!
Heidi is a 90 year old woman dealing with her own personal crises after the death of her husband. She has no will to live.
Thea's mother Maggie has told Thea that her grandparents are dead. So when she gets a call from her mother asking her to attend the service for her grandfather, she's a bit in shock. And when she shows up at the funeral and meets her grandmother, Heidi is also shocked.
Both are in for a bit of an adventure and a long walk down memory lane when Pandora's Box in the form of Heidi's suit case is opened.
Could each of these women, and the grandmother granddaughter relationship be exactly what each of them need right now? And could that relationship be just the bridge to bringing Maggie back to both women?
This touching story is beautifully written moving back-and-forth from World War II era to present time.
The moral of the story - it's never too late!
August 29, 2022
I enjoyed this book. No matter how many books I read about Holocaust survivors, I send a silent prayer to God that all writers tackle this subject as well as Norma Curtis has. Hats off to the cover artist, too. That beautiful aspect of a writer’s dream often gets lost in the process. This book made me cry at times but also made laugh. Beautiful sunny days wrapped inside that period of human travesty. Well done Norma! I loved it! A beautiful family story for younger people struggling to understand their parents and the horrors and joys they faced as parents and individuals before children. A tear jerker at the end!
August 8, 2022
Heartbreaking and filled with hope
This is truly a tear jerker but so much more. The story shines with the resilience and hope of three generations of women each of whom hid powerful secrets from each other. When the oldest, the grandmother, shares what she spent most of 60 years hiding from her daughter, in an effort to give her daughter a perfect childhood, all of them learn to see each other as people rather than just the archetypal roles they have played. They are astonished to learn who each of them really are. Absolutely engrossing!
This is truly a tear jerker but so much more. The story shines with the resilience and hope of three generations of women each of whom hid powerful secrets from each other. When the oldest, the grandmother, shares what she spent most of 60 years hiding from her daughter, in an effort to give her daughter a perfect childhood, all of them learn to see each other as people rather than just the archetypal roles they have played. They are astonished to learn who each of them really are. Absolutely engrossing!
November 14, 2022
Loved this journey of a grandmother and granddaughter that opened up the history of relationships that were sealed away. Memories have a way of changing our lives even when we feel we have chosen the way of secrets. Those secrets can disappear, and truths never revealed, but our loved ones near to understand our past to move forward. This relationship helped to repair the mother/daughter rift as well. When the granddaughter came upon "The Hideaway" was it a coincidence? I think not! I believe that all of our actions have a destiny. Each step was opened by sharing a memory from the grandmother's past!
November 19, 2022
An All Nighter Read
I couldn't quit reading. I was mesmerized by the story. Misery of war, evilness, goodness, and hope woven altogether. It is a chilling story of a young girl in a German camp and the people met a!omg the way. Of a handsome young man she would always love. It seemed she tried so hard to make the perfect !ife after losing all from her life before the war till her daughter ran away. Some stories need to be told in order to move on.
I couldn't quit reading. I was mesmerized by the story. Misery of war, evilness, goodness, and hope woven altogether. It is a chilling story of a young girl in a German camp and the people met a!omg the way. Of a handsome young man she would always love. It seemed she tried so hard to make the perfect !ife after losing all from her life before the war till her daughter ran away. Some stories need to be told in order to move on.
February 20, 2023
I enjoyed this book. The burgeoning relationship between grandmother (Hedi) and granddaughter (Thea) tugged at my heart. Though, what might linger most for me, is the pain of lost time and opportunity.
Of course, I appreciated learning a bit more than I knew before about the liberation of Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp, a camp that was somewhat unique among those horrific sites - and for which there remains photographic evidence.....I'll never understand how so many humans were able to set aside their humanity and choose, instead, to be complicit in atrocities committed during the Holocaust. We humans can be truly monstrous.
A well-written snippet: "A house doesn’t like to be empty. It loses faith in itself."
Of course, I appreciated learning a bit more than I knew before about the liberation of Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp, a camp that was somewhat unique among those horrific sites - and for which there remains photographic evidence.....I'll never understand how so many humans were able to set aside their humanity and choose, instead, to be complicit in atrocities committed during the Holocaust. We humans can be truly monstrous.
A well-written snippet: "A house doesn’t like to be empty. It loses faith in itself."
July 15, 2023
Thea is taking a break from her boyfriend and ends up renting a small cottage in a small village. While there she learns that her grandmother needs help. The doesn’t know her grandmother as her mother is estranged. What follows is a month of learning the past that the grandmother had never shared with anyone. It is a love story, a story of building relationships, and a story of mending relationships.
November 18, 2022
I loved reading this book. Not only historical fiction, but the characters were believable and family dynamics along with surviving against most odds made it a most compelling read. The book was just an all around good story and I would recommend it for those who like stories of people who have grit and sorrow and somehow manage to live their lives in spite of things they cannot control.
December 26, 2022
I love/hate stories about the Holocoust! They drag you down, but most of the time they pick you back up...and more. This book was different. The reader always had hope for the victims in this book. Yes, it was depressing at times, but we need to re-live that history for the sake of those victims. It was well-written and quite poignant.I liked it.
February 28, 2023
5 stars
Heartbreaking and absolutely gripping is the perfect description! I was unable to put this book down. The stories of the camps across occupied Europe are terrifying but essential in the hopes of never repeating that evil insanity. This story was beautifully written and the characters intensely realistic. I highly recommend this book.
Heartbreaking and absolutely gripping is the perfect description! I was unable to put this book down. The stories of the camps across occupied Europe are terrifying but essential in the hopes of never repeating that evil insanity. This story was beautifully written and the characters intensely realistic. I highly recommend this book.
July 22, 2023
Heartbreaking and Gripping for sure
I found myself hopelessly and joyfully lost in this page turner. I couldn't wait to hear Heidi's next recount even though I knew it would be sad. Somehow, though, there was always hope and compassion. "Watching" the estranged granddaughter and grandmother basically fall in love with each other is priceless.
I found myself hopelessly and joyfully lost in this page turner. I couldn't wait to hear Heidi's next recount even though I knew it would be sad. Somehow, though, there was always hope and compassion. "Watching" the estranged granddaughter and grandmother basically fall in love with each other is priceless.
April 17, 2024
The Hideaway
A tragic story of misunderstandings that separated four generations of women in one family. It begins near the end of WWII and ends in the present day. Grandmother, Daughter and Grand-daughter torn apart by war, by culture and silence, yearn to meet and reconcile but can they forgive?
A tragic story of misunderstandings that separated four generations of women in one family. It begins near the end of WWII and ends in the present day. Grandmother, Daughter and Grand-daughter torn apart by war, by culture and silence, yearn to meet and reconcile but can they forgive?
July 8, 2022
a wonderful story
This book was perfect it wasn’t too short and it wasn’t too long and I couldn’t put it down. It was a beautifully written story of pain and sacrifice but most of all of love I recommend it to all my friends
This book was perfect it wasn’t too short and it wasn’t too long and I couldn’t put it down. It was a beautifully written story of pain and sacrifice but most of all of love I recommend it to all my friends
July 22, 2022
Very Good
This is a well written story about a concentration camp survivor during WW2. She has lost everything including her family. It is a novel about family, friendship, romance, and broken relationships.
I enjoyed reading and recommend.
This is a well written story about a concentration camp survivor during WW2. She has lost everything including her family. It is a novel about family, friendship, romance, and broken relationships.
I enjoyed reading and recommend.
October 28, 2022
lovely read
Good first to last. I’m not sure about the ending, but After I thought about it, how could it end any other way…I did I love the three women in the book and Harry. I’m enjoying reading about WWII as I don’t know much about it and the story was sad and happy both
Good first to last. I’m not sure about the ending, but After I thought about it, how could it end any other way…I did I love the three women in the book and Harry. I’m enjoying reading about WWII as I don’t know much about it and the story was sad and happy both
January 10, 2023
Marvelous!
Oh its difficult to explain the beauty of this author's talent to grab the reader right from the get go! It weaves so beautifully, and sometimes sad as you will experience. But most of all, it is brilliant. I could hardly put it down! Enjoy!
Oh its difficult to explain the beauty of this author's talent to grab the reader right from the get go! It weaves so beautifully, and sometimes sad as you will experience. But most of all, it is brilliant. I could hardly put it down! Enjoy!
February 15, 2023
Quite the story!
This story depicted how trauma affects a person and alters behavior. I really liked the characters and was happy for Hedi and Thea that they were able to connect. They filled a hole in each other's life.
This story depicted how trauma affects a person and alters behavior. I really liked the characters and was happy for Hedi and Thea that they were able to connect. They filled a hole in each other's life.
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