I fell in love with Marion Kummerow's writing style with "Not Without My Sister" . While her stories are set within a much written about time period, the concepts with which she portrays them are so unique and wholly original. They are not your usual run-of-the-mill tales re-telling the plight of the Jews. The premise of A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW was certainly an intriguing one that promised a fascinating tale to be told.

Berlin, 1941: The story opens with a bang - quite literally - an air raid on the city sees the Hubers scrambling to the safety of their cellar. An officer of high standing within the SS, Huber and his wife along with their daughter Annegret push their maid aside in an attempt to save themselves without sparing a thought for her. And why would they? She was nothing but a dirty Jew, employed as a housemaid to undertake their every whim and every chore...ableit unpaid. Her life meant nothing to the superior greatness of the German people.

But as the bombers disappear and the dust slowly settles, Margerete is the only one left standing in the rubble. As she crawls through the debris seeing the family she had slaved for laying dead, she wonders how she is to survive in a city where Jews are spit upon or worse, sent sent to death camps. As she passes by the lifeless form of Annegret, an idea begins to form. Before she can change her mind, she swaps identity papers with the dead girl and drapes her in her coat bearing the yellow star that identifies her as Jewish. And she becomes Annegret Huber in order to protect herself from the harsh atrocities of war and to stay alive. She steals away to Leipzig to her only surviving relative, Aunt Heidi, who is an Aryan but had married a Jew and gets herself a job at the university library.

Meanwhile in Paris, Wilhelm Huber is a low ranking SS officer who is enjoying the easy life in the French capital with throngs of beautiful women and delicious food when he is suddenly recalled to Berlin to attend the funeral of his parents. His elder brother Reiner is a high ranking officer in the SS who is faithful to the Furher and his cause. Although he has yet to produce a male heir, his two daughters are named Adolphina and Germania in honour to his faithfulness to Hitler. Whilst staying with Reiner's family, Wilhelm's eyes are opened to his brother's complete disrespect for women, including that of his own wife. But Reiner simply states that she just knows her duty is to serve her husband in every way and be a good German wife. That, however, doesn't stop him from bedding any other woman he may get his hands on...including raping his parents' Jewish servant girl.

Upon learning that Annegret has disappeared since the bombing that claimed their parents and their servant girl Margerete, word has reached Reiner that Annegret has been seen in Leipzig. Wilhelm decides to make the journey to see for himself but what he discovers is nothing what he expected. Instead of his sister he finds Margerete has been passing herself off as Annegret and is immediately angered. But before he can turn her in, circumstances take a different turn and Margerete flees the city for an unoccupied part of France whilst Wilhelm returns to Paris without his sister or revealing the subterfuge.

In Paris, Margerete awaits the connecting train that will take her to her destination when she comes face to face with Wilhelm once again. Instead of revealing her true identity, he introduces her to his friends as his sister Annegret citing that she has come to join him for Christmas. Margerete has no idea if Wilhelm will report her to the Gestapo and yet she knows that if he does he faces charges of treason himself for maintaining the deception. Instead, he has a proposition for her. She is to continue to live as his sister so that he can marry her off and gain control of her inheritance. All they have to do is to continue to hide her from his brother Reiner who will spare neither of them should he learn the truth.

As Margerete becomes Annegret, she battles daily with her conscience and her own identity feeling as in doing so she is betraying her people. But Margerete is fighting for her life and before long she finds that isn't the only battle she is up against. Over the weeks they have lived together, Wilhelm has shown her a kindness and respect she does not associate with Nazis. But how is she to survive trusting this man, a Nazi, with the only things she has left? Her safety, her life and even her heart? And instead of the freedom for which she longs, Margerete finds herself trapped with an impossible moral dilemma of love, life and death.

"Was one person's life worth more than another one's? And who got to decide which person was allowed to live?"

A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW is a heartwrenching tale of survival that is a compelling read you won't want to put down. It draws you in and has you questioning the moral dilemma of whether one human life is worth more than another. The despicable views of the Nazis concerning Jews and even the French people has you shaking your head with disbelief. The German people actually believed the brainwashing propaganda of the Nazis concerning their superiority and the unworthiness of the "filthy Jews". There were times when Wilhelm shook his head in disbelief when he was actually puzzled as to why the French did not welcome them with open arms. He actually believed the propaganda Hitler spouted.

This is a story of strength, courage and survival. A story of determination against all odds. A story that highlights the prejudices and bigotry whilst reminding us that there is hope. But it is also a love story...

A tale that is heartbreaking as well as intriguing, A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW is ultimately Margerete's story and her plight to survive the war. Does Margerete get her happy ending?

An emotional read from beginning to end. Recommended for historical fiction fans.

I would like to thank #MarionKummerow, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #ALightInTheWindow in exchange for an honest review.

A Light in the Window is a compelling and inspiring read that takes place in very dangerous times.

I was hooked from the first to the last page, holding my breath many times that Margarete can escape with her life.

A Light in the Window is so well written you will feel that you are in France and Berlin along with Margarete and Wilhelm.

The pages flew by and I can't wait for Book Two in the series.

Surprisingly this was my first book by Marion Kummerow but it won't be my last. I am a fan.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a read that will stay with me for a long time.

Margarete in is an untenable position. She is a young Jewish woman in Germany with no family and forced to work for the family of a high-ranking Nazi leader. During her time in the Huber household, she finds the daughter, Annegret, to be spoiled and unpleasant, Annegret seems to make it her mission to treat Margarete as meanly as possible. When the three family members are killed in an Allied air raid, Margarete makes a hasty decision to assume the identity of the daughter.

When Wilhelm, Annegret's brother and a member of the SS, finds Margarete working in Leipzig using his sister's identity, he is enraged. Wilhelm knows the eldest brother, Reiner who is an SS officer, will send Margarete to a relocation site. Wilhelm brings Margarete (posing as Annegret) to live with him in Paris.

Wilhelm learns that not all Jews are the horrible people that Hitler has preached. Margarete learns that not all Nazis are heartless and cruel. When the two are in danger of being discovered by Reiner, Margarete plots with the Resistance to get out of Paris.

I appreciated reading about the degradations that the Nazis visited upon Jews and disenfranchised peoples. It's hard to believe that Hitler was so successful in sowing hatred among the German population. I didn't really like the way the book ended but, given the circumstances and climate of the time, it was really the only way to go.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. Historical fiction set in WWII is my favorite.

You can't fault Margarete for taking on the persona of Annegret. It's 1941, she's Jewish, and the entire family she worked for (well, not all of them) has been killed in the bombing so she poses as the dead woman. Until Wilhelm, son of the family and a dedicated Nazi turns up and realizes what she's done. He offers her a devil's bargain because he wants an inheritance. Now she's alive but always on tenterhooks. It's a good read with good souls and evil ones. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of WWII fiction.

An interesting and unusual WW2 plot in which Jewish maid Margarete takes on the character of her Nazi employer's daughter in the aftermath of a bombing on their Berlin house After a series of narrow escapes Margarete's path collides with her employer's youngest son as he seeks to uncover the whereabouts of his missing sister. The historical aspect of the plot was enjoyable and there were as expected several truly despicable characters to feel strongly about but sadly, and I can't pay my finger on why, I just didn't feel any attachment with either Margarete or Willem.

A Light in the Window by Marion Kummerow is Historical World War II Fiction set in Germany and France. The life of a Jewish Woman is changed by a bombing in Berlin by the British. There are many thrilling moments with plots, plans, and a love story. The characters are well developed including Nazis, the French resistance, Jews and many people fighting to survive this turbulent time. I liked the way the author portrayed the characters, some evil, others decent, some believing the National Socialist propaganda and others justifying what they think they must do to live. I found this book exciting and could not put it down.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars

Having 14 books on my Kindle written by Marion Kummerow, “A light in the Window” was the first one I started reading. Thoroughly enjoyed this story and the others have become a higher priority on my reading list. If you ever wondered what it be like to live in constant fear this book will give you the sense of the emotional turmoil a person goes through. Margarete escapes her predicament by taken the identity of her employer’s daughter killed in a bombing but quickly realizes it doesn’t solve the problem. Finding herself at the mercy of a Nazi Officer does not improve the situation. This is a story that you will keep on reading because you just have to know what comes next.

What a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive. That sums up the Huber family, sworn Nazis, during WWII. Herr Huber and his two sons serve in the SS.
They treat Margarete like a slave instead of a maid because she’s Jewish. Eldest son Reiner delights in raping her despite laws against such association with “subhumans.” When the parents and their awful daughter Annegret die in a Berlin bombing, Margarete takes Annegret’s papers and assumes her identity. She moves to Liepzig, but “brother” Wilhelm finds her, and recognizes her.
He goes along with her ruse in exchange for her serving as his maid in Paris. His brother’s licentious behavior disgusts him, but he enjoys carousing with women. Until Margarete rouses his interest. If their ruse is discovered, both will be in serious trouble.
The way German men didn’t treat their wives well, believing they were only there to served them, is appalling. Their attitude toward the occupied countries is revolting: how the French should have recognized German superiority and be ever so grateful to them for taking over and making them efficient.
The ending is quite unexpected. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved the premise of A Light in the Window. The story is set during WW2. After the Jewish girl, Margaret is presented with an opportunity to take on the identity of a German girl in order to escape deportation an entire wheel of events is set in motion.

After a few turns, Margaret ends up in Paris still pretending to be someone she is not. Instead of freedom though she finds herself trapped and faces an impossible moral dilemma of love, life and death.

"Was one person's life worth more than another one's? And who got to decide which person was allowed to live?"

The author paints a very realistic picture of Nazi Germany and also of Paris during the time of German occupation. While I could transport myself right to the places described I often struggled to relate to the characters. I'm not sure why that was. With all the things that happened to and around Margaret and all the strong emotions displayed by the various characters, I would have expected to be more emotionally involved but I just couldn't establish a stable emotional connection.

Marion's characters make you question humanity during times of war --internal conflicts of ethics, morality, survival instincts that are necessary, and the duplicitous nature of loving someone society is telling you not to.

Reading this reminded me of one of my favorite movies, Pretty Woman, if it was set in WWII Germany and I am so excited for the rest of this series!

A wonderful, wonderful addition to the ever-growing genre of WWII fiction. I have never read this author, but the premise sounded interesting, so I requested it. I didn't expect much, but I was blown away by this book. I couldn't put it down. I ignored everything and everyone until I finished it. The author did a great job with making me feel as if I were truly in occupied Paris, and I really cared for the characters. Overall, this was a gem and a great find and I'm so glad I took a chance on this book.

Margarete Rosenbaum is a young Jewish girl working as a housemaid in Berlin during 1941. When the house she works in is bombed and she is the only survivor she takes the drastic decision to take on the identity of the daughter of the family she works for in order to escape and stay alive. Everything about her rushed plan seems to be working until the younger son Wilhelm starts looking for his sister and eventually tracks her down. Once again fearful for her life, she is surprised when instead of turning her in, Wilhelm has a proposition for her. She is to continue posing as his sister Annegret so that he can eventually claim her share of the family inheritance. All they have to do is continue to hide this deception from Wilhelm’s elder brother.
Margarete is continually battling her conscience between saving her own life by taking on the identity of Annegret and feeling like she is betraying her own faith and people. She is fighting to stay alive but is also fighting against embracing the person she must become in order to do that as she sees it as the ultimate betrayal to all the Jewish people that are suffering at the hands of the German army. You can’t help but feel for Margarete as she is forced to compile a list of people who are requesting books that have been banned by Germany, knowing that by doing so she could be sentencing these people to a terrible fate. What is worse she is developing feelings for Wilhelm, someone who should be her sworn enemy. Ultimately those that she considers her friends are the ones that truly put her in harms way and give her the biggest test of her life
The biggest change of character is most definitely in Wilhelm. At the start he is the ultimate spoilt second son of an important family but as his circumstances change and he has to adapt his life you do see him questioning what he is doing, and he starts to get the feeling that he wants to protect Margarete no matter what the cost to him especially as the deception they are both trying to pull off gets complicated
Having loved a previous book by Marion Kummerow I was well aware that this author writes stories that will draw out every kind of emotion in her readers. Even though these books are fiction there is always true events threading throughout that highlight the trauma’s that many victims in WW2 had to endure and you get the sense that little by little you are getting a deeper picture of the true cost of the war.
There is a hint at the end of the book that this is the first in a series and I for one look forward to learning more of the fate of Margarete and if she ever gets to take back her true identity

I have complicated feelings towards this book.

It sounded amazing and intriguing and the plot was a fascinating idea. I'm just not sure if I liked how it was executed. The story follows Margarete a young Jewish woman in WW2 who takes the identity of her employer's dead Nazi daughter to avoid prosecution and her relationship/connection with the son of the same family who is also an SS member.

This novel deals with some heavy and complicated topics and ideas and I knew that going into it, I wasn't expecting a light read but I was expecting to be at least slightly sympathetic towards the love interest. I despised him, I held out hope that he would change throughout the course of the book and become more sympathetic and less vile and bigoted- he did not. I am of the opinion that just because someone is alive during a historical event and born into a particular side, that does not forgive horrendous personal opinions and morals.

It's a pity that my dislike for Wilhelm colored my enjoyment of this so much because I liked Margarete and was rooting for her and the writing was lovely but I just couldn't bring myself to enjoy this as much as I could have.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, my first by this Author the cover attracted me,but i can see no relation to the Books Title to any of the story, also i appreciate there is a follow up book but the ending i felt was so rushed i was very disappointed

I love those books that REALLY make you think! It’s not just a story. It’s a moral compass check-in point or calibration.

I can always count on Marion Kummerow to pen a compelling historical fiction novel that grabs my attention, holds it and rewards me with a plethora of knowledge learned!

This tale centers around a moral dilemma - a philosophical question about whether one human is worth more than another one. Set against the backdrop of Berlin 1941, Margarete Rosenbaum is forced to make some difficult decisions. A Jewish maid in a high-ranking Nazi officer’s home, Margarete discovers that during the bombing she’s the only one in the house to survive. Around her lay the bodies of her boss, his wife and their daughter. Encouraged by the gardener’s son she pulls from the rubble, Margarete swiftly exchanges her coat with the yellow star for Annegret’s coat. Tucked in the pocket is her ticket to freedom – Annegret’s identification papers. In a spur of the moment decision, Margarete Rosenbaum becomes Annegret Huber.

I learned about how the Nazis forbade the Jews from using public libraries, from shaking hands with Aryans, held public book burnings and created lists of books to be burned. I was unaware that the Gestapo had their national headquarters in Leipzig in the national library where they oversaw the banned book business and kept a meticulous record of those who requested banned books. I was in awe when I read that a book from my Grade 9 English curriculum was on the list – All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque!

In addition to the fantastic tension created surrounding the identity switch, the plot is well-paced and the characters well fleshed out. Although the ending might not have been what my heart was aching for, it was representative of the times, and I was pacified with the knowledge that a sequel is in the works.

Interesting to note that the inspiration for the book came from within Kummerow’s own family. Her grandfather fought over the same issue when he planned to assassinate propaganda minister Goebbels. He wondered if saving many would erase his guilt for killing one. You’ll have to read to find out if Margarete is accepting of her situation or if she’s willing to make sacrifices.

Publishes July 20, 2021.

I was gifted this advance copy by Marion Kummerow, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

The Disguise

How would it feel to impersonate someone else to save your life? Would you be able to carry it out in a room full of people that hate you for your race?

Margarete is a Jewish woman working as a maid for a high ranking Nazi officer. During a bombing raid in Berlin the house is bombed and she assumes the identity of the families daughter Annegret who perished with her parents during the raid and is similar in looks and age.

This is a story of choices she makes while posing as Annegret. There are times when she is happy to be free, times when she fears for her life , a bit of romance and a choice she must make that is the hardest choice she has ever had to make.

This story was heartbreaking and riveting. I was up until wee hours of the morning reading it. It couldn't put it down until I found out what was happening next. I would recommend this book.

Thanks to Marion Kummerow, Bookouture, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy for my honest review

In the aftermath of a bombing, survivor Margarete…a Jewish maid…assumes the identity of her fallen boss’ daughter who also died in the blast. It was a hasty decision on her part but she wanted to survive. What was to come was quite the web of lies and storytelling that only gets more complicating when the surviving members of the family want to cash in on their inheritance.

I wanted to like this book so much and the first half definitely had a hold of me but it lost me towards the middle and I was a bit anxious to finish. I felt very little emotion despite everything though several characters were full of rage and hatred. Having read a previous work of the authors and really enjoying it…this one came up just a little short for me.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Marion Kummerow for early access to this midsummer release

Margarete makes a split second decision to shed her yellow star and steal the identity of a dead young German woman after a building was bombed in Germany. As she leads her new life with a stolen identity, many other decisions need to be made on the fly. The charade of her fake life becomes harder to follow as characters from her past intertwine with her present.

Although A Light in the Window is historical fiction, its quick pace reads like a thriller and will have the reader guessing what Margarete's next move would be. I was quickly hooked on seeing what would happen next!

I received this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review. All opinions are mine,

Set in Germany in WWII. Margarete a young Jewish girl is housekeeper for a high ranking Nazi family. She wears the yellow star on her clothes and is treated poorly by the family, especially by the daughter Annegret. One night the house is bombed and the entire family dies. Margarete survives and when she climbs out of the rumble she sees Annegret lying crushed in the bombing and notices her identity papers sticking out of her pocket. A decision is made in an instant and she now has to live with the consequences of taking the identity of the German woman and hiding her jewish faith. The sons of the family, SS officers, Willem and Reiner begin the search for their sister. Willem tracks her down but doesn’t disclose her identity. What does he really want and why does he want her to continue to pretend she is his sister. A heartbreaking story of the horrors of war and the strength and desperation of a young woman to do what she has to do to survive.

I enjoyed this novel by Marion Kummerow, very much. A new author for me, I found the theme to be very original and the characters well developed and interesting.
Margarete is a young Jewish girl, working as a domestic in the home of a high ranking Nazi official, in Berlin. Her family have all been exiled and she fears that when no longer useful, she too will be sent to a camp.
The city is bomb and she survives the blast, but the family are killed, leaving their two sons, one in Paris and the other, in another area with his family.
Margarete finds an opportunity to escape, using the identification papers of the daughter. She flees to another city, hoping to make her way to an aunt in another town.
This is a tale of living day by day to survive, while taking on the identity of a wealthy, spoiled German girl, just the opposite of her. She encounters many obstacles in the attempt to reach her only family member. It demonstrates how courage and grit are needed to live among people that hate you and would kill you, if they discover the truth.
Apparently the author intends to write a sequel and I can’t wait to see what awaits Margarete, as she continues her journey.
My thanks to NetGalley, the author and Bookouture for the ARC. All opinions are my own.