All That Shines and Whispers

by Jen Craven

Perfect for fans of Kate Quinn, Kristin Hannah and Kristin Harmel. “Enthralling, suspenseful and full of heart.” Lara is depressed, lonely and homesick—on top of broken hearted after the boy she thought she loved in Austria turned out to be a traitor. While the family settles into a new life in Switzerland, thanks to the always-positive disposition of their new mother, Marlene, Lara retreats further into her sadness, longing for the freedom to live life on her own terms. There's just one she's hiding a secret that threatens to destroy not only herself but the family she loves. When Lara tires of living a lie, she makes a choice that comes with grave repercussions. As her world crumbles, the family is put at risk once again. All That Shines and Whispers explores themes of betrayal, sacrifice, consequence and redemption set against the backdrop of Nazi-era Europe. It is, in many ways, a coming-of-age story, tracing the mistakes young women make stumbling towards adulthood—in pursuit of love and trust and security—and all the identities they try on in order to know themselves.

Genres: Historical Fiction

224 pages, Hardcover

Published February 23, 2021

About the author

Jen Craven is the author of upmarket women's fiction, where one decision changes everything. The author of two historical fiction novels, "Best Years of your Life" is her debut contemporary work. She writes from northwestern Pennsylvania, where she lives with her family.

Reviews

[Nadine Feldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

We meet Marlene and her doctor husband Gerald in Switzerland after their escape from Nazi-held Austria. There they are working hard to re-establish their lives with their many children, from 18-year-old Lara to baby Erich.

Marlene is a loving stepmom who has managed to soften Gerald's hard edges. There are a few gentle nods to The Sound of Music, though this is a very different story.

The loving family is hiding a big secret, one which I will not reveal here. I will say, though, that the book worked better for me once I found out what was going on. Up until then I struggled with it a bit. After, though, I was hooked.

The strengths of this story lie in the family relationships and willingness to stick together. The love of a parent knows no bounds in this story, even when that parent makes a poor decision out of that love.

[rendezvous_with_reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes we do not appreciate the good things we have in our lives until we almost lose it all. In this novel inspired by The Sound of Music, a young girl longs for the boy she had to leave behind when her family fled Nazi occupied Austria for a new life in Switzerland. She makes a daring choice for love, and learns a hard lesson about the difference between infatuation and true love.  The author's imagined continuation of this beloved story was imaginative and realistic.  This was a fast moving plot and it kept me turning the pages until the satisfying conclusion.

[Jen Craven · Rating 5 out of 5]

A "Sound of Music" re-imagining, perfect for fans of Kate Quinn, Kristin Hannah and Kristin Harmel.

“Enthralling, suspenseful and full of heart.”

Have you ever wondered what happened AFTER the film credits rolled? Well, guess what? This book goes there. Fall back in love with your favorite characters and relive the nostalgia that made "The Sound of Music" one of the most beloved films of all time.

"All That Shines and Whispers" imagines the storylines once the family makes its way across the mountains to freedom. This family will be recognizable...but with a twist. They're not the wholesome, perfect unit they seem to be.

Find out what they're hiding, and once a decision is made, the lengths they will go to to protect the ones they love.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

The suspense truly kept me turning page after page. I am in awe of Jennifer Gildea Craven’s talent, her ability to develop characters that are so realistic and true to the era, and the amazing foreshadowing weaved throughout with the unsuspecting twists and turns!!

[Litzsiereads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspired by The Sound of Music, All That Shines and Whispers is a calming, nostalgic read that takes place in Switzerland where the Weiss family recently escaped soon to be Nazi occupied Austria. Oldest daughter Lara, is broken hearted and depressed after the boy she thought she loved turned out to be a traitor but there's another reason behind her depression. One that can put her entire family in danger.

The storyline was pretty straight forward and there wasn't many characters other than the Weiss family and the antagonist. I enjoyed the writing but felt a bit disconnected from the story itself. The events felt more convenient than natural, in my opinion.

Overall, this was a charming coming of age story that recalls the consequences of thinking with ones heart instead of head.

Thank you Jennifer for sending me a free copy of All That Shines and Whispers in exchange for an honest review.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a delightful read! I love The Sound of Music and this book was a great way to extend the story, post Austria. The characters and the story gradually develop making the book captivating up until the last page.

[Tanya Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

An immersive coming of age, historical fiction novel centred around a large dynamic family. Deftly threaded with historical detail, the setting comes to life as the characters decisions keep the pages flying until the end.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story depicts all the aspects of love whether it’s young blind love, parental love or the love of two souls finding one another for their forever. All that shines and whispers is a page turner with just the right amount of mystery. Great read!

[The Book Distiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging storyline, with a continuation story from
The Sound of Music. Likable characters, lovely setting in Switzerland.

[Kerry Chaput · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet story! I loved the nostalgia it created but also with enough new and interesting plot turns to keep it moving. Can't wait to see what this author does next.

[Sue Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the movie The Sound of Music and this book is an interesting development of similar characters. Fun to read!

[Naila Foister · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that this was written by a local author. Good read overall and not hard to get through. You fall in love with the characters even though they each make their own mistakes.

[Kelsey Gietl · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the Nazis force Gerald and Marlene Weiss to flee Austria for neighboring Switzerland, they are struggling to maintain a normal life for their seven children. They go about their days as they might have back home - work, school, family dinners - but the reality of their happy little sing-along family is much darker than the children know. At least all the children except for Lara. Homesick for Austria and heartbroken over her boyfriend's betrayal, she knows the secret her parents hide, and she's not sure if she can live a lie forever. But is she willing to risk her family's future in order to have the life she wants?

All that Shines and Whispers is only 275 pages, but it packs a punch in such a short span. I finished this novel in only two days because I couldn't leave the characters alone. There are ten people in the Weiss family and Jennifer Craven makes them all feel like individuals with their own unique personality traits. As a writer, I can tell you that it isn't easy to write a scene with ten characters and ensure no one speaks too much or is left out entirely. Jennifer Craven made me care about every person, tugging on every heartstring I have - maternal, spousal, and the memory of young love. They're a family I won't soon forget and Jennifer Craven is an author I will definitely return to.