Anther emotional read by Shari J. Ryan. Having just finished The Prison Child, I knew Ryan’s knack for capturing the reader and totally immersing them into the story. The twist for this read was the point of view of the main character, Charlie, who at the tender age of 12 knew that something was wrong with the new school his parents were thrilled about. He became a reluctant Nazi, who grew to despise himself for what he was forced to do. He wore his heart on his sleeve and his love story will linger in my heart for a long time. Once again I was devastated by the acts committed against thousands of innocent people. I cannot imagine being forced to participate in these horrific acts day after day. Having read many excellent books published in the last few years that share this appalling time in history, Ryan gave me pause to wonder how many other Nazi soldiers struggled with following their ghastly orders. Truly a different mindset. I loved reading the letters Charlie penned to Amelia. Another five star book from this amazing author.
Many many thanks to the truly gifted Shari J. Ryan, Bookouture, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read an arc of another emotional tour de force by this author, to be published on May 24th.

Interesting perspective but with some issues🤔

I give the author lots of credit and support for writing this story of death, persecution and guilt from a German soldier's perspective. However, there seem to be inaccuracies that put the whole historical fiction side of the story into question and a failure to catch major ones is hard to comprehend.

Charlie's story takes us from his happy, carefree childhood in Bavaria in the 1930's through the rise of Hitler, WWII, and Charlie's search for the Jewish woman he loves on two continents over most of his long life. The end is sweet but his journey is tainted by the things he has seen and been forced to do as a German soldier posted in Czechoslovakia and guarding Theresienstadt concentration camp.

The view from Charlie's side is enlightening. Charlie never denies his role but has to constantly explain that during his education and his military service he never agreed with the violence and persecution or the Nazi mindset about the Jewish people. In fact, he does what little he can to avoid violence and help some of the prisoners, going so far as to risk his freedom and even his life to get his beloved Amelia and a child out of the camp to safety. His path from student to soldier is one that, at least from what I've seen, is seldom told.

But the questionable history in the book was a problem. Biggest of all, the European war did not end and Hitler did not die in 1944 as per repeated references in this novel. That all came about in 1945. And I will admit I did not undertake exhaustive research but I could not find any indications of a Nazi-backed training school in Belgium that a young Charlie could have attended. There is repeated mention of using euros as currency when I don't believe they even yet existed. I also question the apparent ease with which non refugee Germans in this story were allowed to immigrate to the U.S. so soon after the war and despite their wartime service in the enemy German army. For me, these elements weakened Charlie's story.

The love story is poignant, particularly Charlie's steadfast devotion and his efforts to reunite, but I preferred The Girl With the Diary, the first book in this trilogy. The earlier book spends much more time focusing on the romantic relationship as it developed and in old age. At this point, having read all three parts of the trilogy about Amelia, Charlie and Lucie/Annie, I think I would have been content with just reading the first volume.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Third in Ryan’s trilogy, The Soldier’s Letters captures Charlie’s side of the story. Although a soldier for Germany, he did have a conscience. Ryan had an insurmountable task: how does an author tell a Nazi’s story? I think the author did an admirable job. The brainwashing began very early and defined an entire nation. It still occurs today.
The final book is good. I liked the modern day chapters the best. I do find it difficult to warm up to Charlie’s character, however.

This is the third book in a trilogy by Shari J Ryan chronicling the life of Charlie Crane and Amelia Baylin and their family. This is Charlie’s story.

For some reason, this is a very hard review to write. Not because the book was bad - it wasn’t. The book was brilliant and so beautifully written, I couldn’t put it down. However, it’s hard to praise a book told from “the enemy’s” perspective. Especially when talking about the Nazis. So it was intriguing to read a note from the author saying she also struggled to write this book. I could tell. This story wasn’t written in a rush of creativity but rather it was the manifestation of a ton of soul-searching and introspect.

Charlie is a Nazi soldier, reluctantly drafted and voluntold into being in the SS. From the very start, we see how antisemitism didn’t happen overnight. It was the well-thought out brainwashing that took place over a number of years. Charlie is warm, compassionate and has his whole world stripped from him when he’s chosen to become one of Hitler’s followers. I liked how carefully Ryan handles this piece - there’s not a lot of excuses given. We get a simple clear view of a young boy who didn’t have a choice. She’s very factual but in a way that slices into your heart.

He meets a young Amelia Baylin at one of the most horrific moments of her life. The enemy in her story, we see how this begins to unravel him. He follows her to a concentration camp and begins a forbidden relationship with him. Over the next few years, he experiences every ramification of the horrors he not only witnesses but has to inflict. I mean - is it even possible to feel sorry for a Nazi? Ryan expertly handles this in a way that doesn’t distract from the fact that Nazis WERE evil! Hitler was evil personified and six million Jews were sacrificed at the alter of his madness. Ryan doesn’t downplay this fact at all.

As Charlie’s story goes on, switching between the past and current day, we’re invited further into the psychological breakdown that he experiences. We see his love for Amelia as the only link to life and we see how that love and hope not only kept him alive, but exhorted him to try to make amends for being a Nazi.

Ultimately, this story is about forgiveness. But not the kind of forgiveness that’s blown around like a dandelion, light and fluffy and gone with the next wind. This is hard forgiveness, the kind that comes from deep within and see beyond evil. It’s the forgiveness that anchors itself and stays steady and strong and true, surpassing even the passing of time.

I loved this story. It made me cry and it made me think and it made me hurt. This trilogy isn’t an easy read but it is a necessary one. One that I would highly recommend.

Lots of words come to mind as I ponder what to include in my review. This is the first WWII book I have read from an enemy's point of view and I found it to be spellbinding and a real page-turner. Charlie Crane and his childhood pal, Claude, are sent to boarding school to train for the Nazi army. Charlie did not want any part of it once he found out what the training was for. Once he is a Nazi soldier in a concentration camp, he comes across Jewish prisoner Amelia Baylin and there is a connection between them. Charlie breaks the rules to try and protect Amelia.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this very intense, sad and heartwarming book which I loved and I highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of WWII Historical Fiction.

When I received a copy of this book, I didn't know it was part of a trilogy - the fact that I hadn't read the other two didn't seem to detract much from the overall story line, which seemed well paced for going back and forth between the past and the present.

While the story itself was thought provoking, there was a lot about this one that got on my nerves. The dialogue between Charlie and Emma, especially at the beginning had me rolling my eyes. It felt forced and extremely unnatural, even taking into account they are pretty much strangers to each other at that point. And then the fact checking - Charlie goes to an Adolf Hitler School in Belgium, in 1937?

The tossing in of German words randomly was, perhaps one of the more annoying aspects of the book. If you give two of the characters such Anglicized names (Charlie Crane and Claude Taylor from Bavaria) Anglicize everything and include no German words tossed in sentences.

Despite the downsides, it was an overall fairly enjoyable read that I'd recommend.

So initially cover picture of this novel by Shari Ryan definitely caught my interest and the book did not disappoint. It was interesting to read about the war from the soldiers point of view and how they were sometimes also victims of Hitlers terrible time in history.
This book follows Charlie and Amelia. One a soldier and the other a captive. A true love story. Full of emotion and excellent writing.

One of the most beautiful WWII stories that I have ever read. It was an emotional read and it tugged my heart, demanded every emotions to be felt. This story brings out the facets of humanity in an effortlessly beautiful way. Absolutely loved it.

This emotional book is book number three in the Last Words series, it can be read as a standalone but I definitely recommend reading the previous books for the background story.
This is the story of Charlie Crane, a reluctant Nazi and Jewish sympathiser, that spans seventy years. It is an emotional and compelling read and the whole series will stay with me for a long time.
Recommended for readers of historical fiction, Holocaust and World War two.

This is the final book of Last Words series. This time the story is written in the perspective of Charlie Crane, who was a former Nazi who fell in love with Amelia a beautiful Jew.

Very rare I read a book in a Holocaust fiction with the Nazi's perspective, the first book, The Storyteller by Jodi Piccoult, where there's a part of a former Nazi who recounts his story. Here, the entire book is told from Charlie's perspective--starting with the time when he was around twelve years when Hitler came to power in 1933 to the time when he joined Hitler Youth Movement and ended up becoming a Nazi. Despite being a Nazi, he did not share the ideologies and secretly did not support Hitler's political agenda. As a result, when he meets Amelia, a Czech Jew, he was determined to save her life, at whatever cost. The story goes on to tell his love story with Amelia, shifting back and forth from past to the present day when Charlie was reunited with Amelia after being separated for over seventy years.

I need to make a small comment about the part. I know the author, being Jewish and coming from a family of Holocaust survivors would have done research and tremendous research and making the story emotional and heartbreaking and enjoyable to the readers, but in Chapter 25, there was a small error. I am not sure if it was me or maybe a typing error, the year was written as 1944 when apparently the war ended and Hitlier died. Having done history, the year was wrong. The war was still going on in 1944--it was May 1945 when the war finally ended and Hitler died thus ending the war in Europe. But other than that small minute error, this is an emotional and heartbreaking journey of two lovers that will bring tears to the reader.

Shari Ryan has become one of my favorite authors and I am looking forward to read more of her books! Worth five stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

The third and final part of the trilogy that follows the forbidden love affair of Amelia, a Jewish prisoner, and Charlie, a German soldier.

I had really high hopes for the book, but unfortunately it fell a bit flat. The title is misleading, there are only a few letters in the book, the rest is a story told by Charlie - a love story spanning decades which was lovely, but not what I assumed I would be reading from the title. I also didn't feel as if this book was as well researched as previous, there were a few times I stopped reading and wondered if what was written was accurate.

All that said, I am pleased to have heard Charlie's side of the story, it felt like a good way to finish the trilogy - all three people who escaped the camp have had their story, and it felt right for them all to have been told.

A massive thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publishing house for allowing me an ARC of this book!

I can't put into words how much this book truly moved me! I love the way that this author writes in a way that the reader can fully connect and experience what the character went through in a way that it feels like you are right there besides them.
Following Charlie's journey feels like a real gift that should be treasured especially when reading about how much he truly loves and treasures Amelia!
This book truly broke me in so many ways that I know this will stay with me for a very long time!
I can't wait to read more by this author! Her truly style is really amazing and allows for a deep connection to be formed between the characters and the reader.

I love to read books that are about and/or set during World War II. What makes this book different than any other I've read, is that it's told from a Nazi's point of view. Charlie has a good heart and knows the Nazi mission is wrong. While he declined to kill Amelia's mother and helps many Jews where he can, he's still a Nazi. I do feel that the book didn't highlight many of the atrocities that were certainly happening and that Charlie was absolutely a party to..probably to help keep Charlie a sympathetic character. I've always wondered about people like Charlie. They cared, they knew it was wrong, they helped where they could, but what else?? In the preface, the author talked about her love of a happy ending, so I was prepared for that. I just felt like I wanted... something more. But this book made me really think and I always appreciate that!

"The Soldier's Letters" by Shari J. Ryan is the last in a trilogy called "Last Words." If you have not read the first book in this series, please do yourself a favour and read that one before reading this one. Also this book is being re-released as it was originally published in 2019.

I liked what Ms. Ryan was trying to show in this book - that not every "bad guy" should be painted as such. This story is trying to explain how there was a kind boy, Charlie, born in Germany who ended up serving in the Nazi party basically because if he wanted to live, he had to. I understand that - and I empathize. Not all people are bad ... and not all people are good. Along the way, he is ordered to kill an innocent and finds himself unable to do so - and that's where he decides to protect Amelia. Most of Amelia's side of this story can be read in the first book of this trilogy, but Ms. Ryan delves deeper into what Charlie was thinking and doing - and why. I felt this book rounded out Charlie a bit more, but once the narrative ends in the 1950s, there's a large space of blank that I felt could've helped flesh Charlie out a bit more.

One thing I appreciated was Charlie visiting schools and doing assemblies where he opened with "I was a Nazi." During my junior high and high school days, we had a number of concentration camp survivors give presentations to our school - those assemblies were always difficult (for both the presenters and the audience). I wonder if my school would've ever invited a former Nazi soldier and/or guard to the school for an assembly - probably not, but it would've been interesting to hear first-hand from someone from "the bad guy" side, in my opinion.

It must've been difficult for this author, whose great-grandmother and grandmother, I believe, were interned during WWII, to write this book.

Overall, I give this book a four star rating - it was an enjoyable book that nicely bookends with the first book. If I hadn't read the first book, I would've missed some information - but Ms. Ryan does a good job and giving backstory so things make sense.

A phenomenal read, one of the best WWII-era novels I have read in a long time. Well written, emotional, and evocative of a deeper understanding of humanity.

It will be alright in the end

The year is 1941, the place is Nazi occupied Prague. A young German soldier, Charlie Crane, watches as another soldier shoot a Jewish woman in the streets as she is calling out to her daughter. As the woman falls to the ground Charlie locks eyes with the daughter Amelia who is being loaded onto a truck. He notices the sorrow and the injustice but he cannot prevent the cruelty from happening.

In the concentration camp Theresienstadt, where he is a guard, Charlie memorizes Amelia's number and make sure she is in a good job in the camp. It is not what is meant to be, but Charlie and Amelia fall in love. It is an unlikely romance which could cost them both their lives. He knows he has to protect Amelia and when he finds she is on the list to be sent to Auschwitz he know he has to help her escape at all costs.

She escapes, but he is caught and they are torn apart. Charlie never stops looking for Amelia. Will he ever find his one true love? He writes letters which can never be mailed in the hopes that someday he can share them with the only woman he has ever loved. This is his story.

This was a heartbreaking story to read, the characters were perfect, the setting was so sad but I loved the ending. I am glad I read this book and the complete series. I do recommend this book and the series.

Thanks to Shari J. Ryan for writing a great story, to Bookouture for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me.

This book was such a pleasure to read, such a beautifully written, atmospheric book , everything about this book is just so perfect and beautiful, the writing, the characters, the world building and the story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This, the final book in the trilogy is a love story that spans 7 decades and gives readers the opportunity to view the Holocaust from the perspective of a Nazi officer - a victim of circumstance. Charlie Crane fell in love with a prisoner and risked his life to nurture their love and save his soul mate. Charlie Crane’s story not only fills in the gaps in the trilogy but also fills your heart with love and kindness and appreciation. Now is NEVER too late. Grasp it. Don’t let go.

Never underestimate the power of love. It truly moves mountains…or barbed wire, in this case. Charlie shows us exactly where we go wrong in making assumptions. Here’s a Nazi officer who doesn’t want to be where he is and doesn’t want to be doing what he’s commanded to do. He channels his hatred of his circumstance into helping the very people upon whom he was supposed to inflict fear and suffering. It was a good reminder for me to dig deep and not rely on surface suppositions. Amelia could see past his uniform and see his heart. We need to be willing to do this in our lives, too.

Never underestimate the power of redemption. I’ve always noted that in extreme cases where redemption doesn’t seem ‘fair’, people rise to the occasion. Charlie is a perfect example. Gratitude ruled his life outside of the confines of the barbed wire. Every day he justified himself. Every day he put others' needs first. We need to allow for or provide an opportunity for a change of heart and a change of direction. Exchange hatred and preconceived ideas for a foot in the door - a door to freedom. Freedom for ourselves and for others. Charlie exemplified this notion.

Again, my heart has been broken, pieced back together and encouraged by Ryan’s writing. She truly is a gifted author. I loved her exploration of forbidden love and the idea of a soul mate. I’m glad I’ve been able to experience both. This trilogy has a big impact. Do yourself a favour and allow yourself to be moved by Ryan’s stories. You’ll be better for it.

I was gifted this advance copy by Shari J. Ryan, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I can’t imagine how difficult it was to write this story from the perspective of Charlie Crane, a Nazi. It was such a beautiful and sad story. I’ve really enjoyed the three books in this series.

I was attracted to this book because It appeared to be an epistolary novel which is one of my favorite genres.. Even though it speaks of letters often, only about 4 are included and those in the second half of the novel. It was more of a tale told by the male protagonist, a reluctant SS Nazi soldier in Germany during WWII. It is a story to teach the reader empathy for the soldiers under Hitler. It was also a love story that was heartbreaking and yet endearing in that it lasted 74 years even without contact between them. If you were not one of the two people in love, I felt it was quite a long , slow story. I understood what the author was attempting to do however I also felt that the lesson was being continuously pounded in to my head. She wanted us to be empathetic and not hate , I got it in the first chapters. War is hell, not glorious. Honestly, i think that anyone knows that two 18 year old soldiers from different countries have more in common than not. They are both doing what they think is right and only want to protect their mom's, siblings, loved ones.None of them want to kill the other. It is the men in top positions that cannot use diplomacy and risk other's lives instead of their own in any war. But that is an opinion for another day. The story is a very emotional one and the author did a nice job of making the reader feel both the horror and the kindness that exists at any given time in the world. It was a well- written book but just not for me. I almost stopped reading several times but I felt I owed to Net Galley to finish it in order to review it. I am glad that I finished it.Perhaps I was just not in the right frame of mind to escape in to this book. I am sure that many will find it moving and and hopeful rather than heartbreaking. Perhaps those readers not as acquainted as I with the Holocaust history will find it informative also.