Hattie & Vera are civil servants working in London during the 1930s. The sisters dream of greater things—Hattie as an artist and Vera as a writer. They meet Elsa, a budding opera star while she is performing in London. Using their friendship as a cover, Hattie & Elsa work together to rescue Jews from the Nazis. They are aided by Oliver, a liaison from the War Office and owner of several art galleries. A great story highlighting the efforts of people who worked hard to “just save one.”

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin Romance Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What a emotional, gripping, hard to put down story. This beautiful work of WWII historical fiction based on real life heroines Ida and Louise Cook. The story’s main characters, each talented artists meet “by chance”. Two American sisters and one European opera star who risk everything to save as many Jewish refugees as they can from Nazi atrocities and near certain death. The story includes extraordinary bravery, dark history, beautiful artwork and song, friendship and faith. It really is a book you don’t want to miss.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read to honest review.

THE SECRET SOCIETY OF SALZBURG by Renee Ryan is an emotionally riveting historical fiction story primarily set in WWII Salzburg and London featuring two talented artists who risk everything to save as many Jewish lives as possible from persecution. Loosely based on a true story, I was unable to put this book down. Make sure you have some tissues handy.

Hattie and Vera Featherstone are sisters who have been working clerical jobs to survive, but they both have bigger dreams. Vera, being the oldest has also been a mother figure to the younger Hattie since their mother’s death. Even as she does everything in her power to encourage Hattie’s dream of being an accomplished artist, she works on her own dream behind closed doors. Hattie’s art is good, but there is still an emotional depth missing until she and Vera are introduced to a young opera singer’s work.

Elsa Mayer-Braun has worked her entire young life in Salzburg to reach operatic recognition and fame. As her fame rises, so does the threat from the new Nazi party. When Elsa meets the two sisters Featherstone on tour, she forms an instant bond with Hattie. Elsa and Hattie refuse to ignore the threat to the Jewish population and set up network to help as many as possible escape to England.

This dangerous alliance will test both women’s courage and bond of friendship forged in a time of danger with spies, traitors, and informers around every corner.

This is an inspirational historical fiction story beautifully written with memorable characters, acts of bravery and of human depravity and treachery which kept me on an emotional roller coaster. Hattie and Elsa displayed courage, bravery, and an unbreakable bond of friendship. All the secondary characters are as realistic and fully fleshed as the main characters. The plot is divided between two timelines that merge into an uplifting and triumphant ending.

I highly recommend this inspirational historical fiction!

If you like WWII stories, but want something different, this is the book for you!

Elsa is a famous opera singer, so famous in fact that she even performed for Hilter. Henrietta (Hattie) is just a girl struggling to find her path in a world with lots of uncertainty. She is working a job she doesn't like and wants nothing more than to create art. From the first moment Hattie heard Elsa sing, she couldn't turn off the flow of creativity flying from her fingers. Through her artwork, Hattie and her sister, Vera, find a way to meet the singer and their lives will never be the same. Elsa and Hattie form a friendship that runs so deep that they each trust each other completely then they will find a way to save anyone that can from the hands of Hilter's regime.

I had no idea until I finished the book that Ms. Ryan was inspired by two real-life sisters that actually saved 29 people during WWII. You can feel the bravery of both the real-life inspiration and the fictional women within these pages.

The Secret Society Of Salzburg by Renee Ryan is a powerful historical novel that consumed me from the start.
This is a fictional account but based on fact. It was such an engrossing and compelling read that I have now bought the autobiography of Ida Cook.
The action is set from mid 1930’s to the end of World War II as the reader hops from England to Austria, Germany and Sweden to name but a few. It was a time of great danger as we follow characters through Nazi-occupied territories.
Spies are everywhere. Trust is in short supply. Horrors are all around. No one is safe. Many are content to do nothing. A few are compelled to act. They cannot sit idly by and watch the evil continue. We hear of a character with “her head full of details and her heart full of purpose.”
There are times when it all seems impossible – but God is the God of the impossible. A character cries out to Him. “Dear God, please. This is bigger than us. We need Your help.”
Friendships are formed in the most unlikely of places. Friendships formed in danger will not be broken as a steadfast bond is formed.
There is the theme of forgiveness. It may be hard to do in our own strength. It is then that we must lean on God and offer the hand of forgiveness through His power. As we forgive, grace is extended.
This was such a powerful read. There were unspeakable horrors and also tremendous bravery as characters dug deep to help those who were persecuted and powerless.
The Secret Society Of Salzburg is a book that must be read in memory of the six million innocents who perished, and also of the brave who did not stand idly by but rescued one by one.
I received a free copy via Just Read Tours for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

This was a book I could not put down! A beautiful tale of friendship, sisters, music and art all woven together in a tapestry of emotion and intrigue. Two British sisters discover their love for opera and become devoted fans of Elsa Mayer-Braun, Hitler’s favorite Opera singer. The lives of the three women become entwined over the course of the darkest days of WWII in Europe. Dealing with love, deceit, passion, injustice each one is forced to look inward at who they are and who they want to become, then make choices that will impact their lives and the lives of many others forever. Thank you @NetGalley for the preview! #WWII #historicalfiction #artandmusic #netgalley #TheSecretSocietyofSalzburg

4.5 glowing stars. The Secret Society of Salzburg by Renee Ryan was a gripping story that squeezed tightly at my heart. It began during the time as Hitler and the Nazi regime were taking hold of Germany and trying to slowly but surely eradicate the Jewish people. Amongst all this evil, unrest and uncertainty, one of the most unlikely friendships would take seed and flourish. The three women would support, respect, admire and risk everything for each other and for what they believed in. This was a story about friendship, trust, courage, strength, bravery and secrets.

Henrietta and Vera Featherstone were sisters and resided and worked in London. They were extremely close and even shared a flat together. The two sisters worked at civil servant jobs. They did not have a lot of money but they made ends meet. Both Henrietta and Vera had taken a liking to opera after hearing a guest lecturer talk about opera and her niece, famous opera singer, Elsa Mayer-Braun. That spurred them to purchase a record of the opera so they could listen to it any time they desired. They soon discovered that Elsa Mayer-Braun would be performing in London. They just had to go see her even if it meant walking to work or skipping a couple of lunches to save enough money to purchase the tickets.

Henrietta was an aspiring artist but so far her art was not receiving the feedback she had hoped it would get. After seeing Elsa Mayer-Braun perform the opera Elsa’s aunt had shown during her lecture Henrietta’s brush flew across the canvas. Henrietta had found what she had been searching for. Her art took on a new dimension. Vera loved Henrietta’s painting and encouraged her. The night of the opera, Henrietta and Vera were waiting in line when Henrietta saw Elsa and the conductor of the orchestra as they approached the door of the opera house. Henrietta rushed up to Elsa, introduced herself and her sister to Elsa and presented Elsa with a charcoal drawing Henrietta had drawn on her sketch pad. Elsa was so taken by the drawing and the warmth and sincerity of the sisters that she offered the sisters house seats. She also invited the sisters to come backstage after her performance. Thus began the beginning of a beautiful friendship that would grow stronger and stronger through the years.

Henrietta and Vera were determined to get to Salzburg for Elsa’s next performance. On the train, the sisters witnessed first hand the cruel anti-Semitic treatment of Jews. That was the catalyst that pushed Henrietta and Vera to want to do all they could to help the Jewish people. Elsa was also worried about the way the Jews were being treated. Her aunt was Jewish and her teaching position had already been stripped away from her. It was just a matter of time before she might loose her home or something worse. She was so worried about her beloved aunt who had raised her after her mother’s death.

Elsa had recently married the conductor of the orchestra. Their courtship was magical but once they were married Elsa began to see flaws she had not noticed before. Her new husband was befriending Nazi officers. He insisted she accompany him to homes of prominent Nazis officials and even sing for them. Elsa had become Hitler’s favorite opera singer. She was not happy or proud of any of those things. It made her stomach turn.

As things in Germany and Austria got worse for the Jewish people, Elsa confronted Henrietta and Vera and asked if they would escort her aunt to London. Of course, all the right documents were needed and London had to approve her aunt’s entrance into their country. Elsa’s aunt was the first in many that followed that the sisters and Elsa helped escape the Nazis and the atrocities that they would have suffered if they remained in Austria. Elsa, without her husband’s knowledge, established safe houses and funded as many escapes of Jewish people as possible. Vera became too scared to keep doing it but Henrietta refused to stop helping. Both Elsa and Henrietta only wished they could have saved more Jews than they did. At that time it was not so simple to relocate to different countries. Even places like London and the United States made it extremely difficult for Jews of Germany, Austria or any other country Hitler invaded to enter their countries and relocate. Every time Elsa and Henrietta organized a relocation they risked their lives and safety as well. As restrictions got greater, Elsa and Henrietta and the others that were helping them had to interview all the Jewish people that came to them for help. Deciding who to pick became a living nightmare. They wanted to help all of them but that was impossible. How could they choose?

Renee Ryan’s talent as a masterful storyteller shone throughout The Secret Society of Salzburg. Her research was impeccable as well. The Secret Society of Salzburg was based on real facts as Renee Ryan spoke to in her author’s notes. This book was heartbreaking at times and uplifting as well. The bravery of women like the ones in this story must be honored and commended. Their resilience, bravery and courage went over and beyond. I really enjoyed reading The Secret Society of Salzburg by Renee Ryan and highly recommend it. Publication is set for December 27, 2022.

Thank you to Harlequin- Romance/Love Inspired Trade for allowing me to read the ARC of The Secret Society of Salzburg by Renee Ryan through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

An outstanding book that will keep everyone intrigued. The characters definitely carry the story. From the first page I kept trying to guess what could possibly happen next.

Compelling, intense, and absorbing!

The Secret Society of Salzburg is a charged, intriguing tale set between the mid-1930s to the end of WWII that takes you into the lives of Hattie Fetherstone, a young British artist with a love for opera and a kind heart, and Elsa Mayer-Braun, an Austrian operatic singer, who after befriending a devoted fan and discovering just how dangerous the world is about to become, creates a network with the help of her new friends to transport as many Jewish people as possible out of Nazi-occupied Europe to the safety of the United Kingdom.

The prose is fluid and rich. The characters are resourceful, loyal, and trustworthy. And the plot is a captivating mix of life, love, loss, secrets, passion, heartbreak, betrayal, tragedy, survival, danger, friendship, art, opera, and war.

Overall, The Secret Society of Salzburg is an enticing, heart-tugging, atmospheric tale by Ryan that transports you to another time and place and immerses you so thoroughly into the feelings, lives, and personalities of the characters you can’t help but be fully engrossed and completely invested throughout.

The Secret Society of Salzburg is written by Renee Ryan. The author has done careful research to bring this story to life. Per the description, it is inspired by true events. Elsa Mayer-Braun is a famous Austrian opera singer. She has hidden her Jewish heritage and has been raised as a Christian. In 1933, she meets sisters who are fans, Vera and Henrietta Featherstone. The ladies get along right away and form a wonderful friendship. The two also share a common interest, help the Jewish people.
Elsa's husband, famed composer Wilheim rubs Hattie the wrong way, but out of respect for Elsa she does not bring it up. When War is declared this makes their mission harder. Plus Elsa has to hide more from her husband. Plus Wilhelm’s alliance with the Germans makes things tough.

Suddenly, Elsa finds herself detained. She had been Hitler's favorite opera singer and she is taken into custody and interrogated. Hattie is worried about her friend, but knows work needs to go on. Since Elsa was a well known opera singer, she is held in a special camp, Bergen-Belsen. The Nazi's want to potentially use this as leverage.
This story flashes back and forth to 1933 and 1943 when Elsa is arrested. The author does so seamlessly. It's so beautifully written and well researched. I enjoyed seeing Hattie and Elsa on their adventures. I love that Harlequin has been expanding and we now have the Love Inspired Trade books.

Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

Title: The Secret Society of Salzburg
Author: Renee Ryan
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5

London, 1933

At first glance, Austrian opera singer Elsa Mayer-Braun has little in common with the young English typist she encounters on tour. Yet she and Hattie Featherstone forge an instant connection—and strike a dangerous alliance. Using their friendship as a cover, they form a secret society with a daring goal: to rescue as many Jews as possible from Nazi persecution.

Though the war’s outbreak threatens Elsa and Hattie’s network, their efforts attract the covert attention of the British government, offering more opportunities to thwart the Germans. But Elsa’s growing fame as Hitler’s favorite opera singer, coupled with her secret Jewish ancestry, make her both a weapon and a target—until her future, too, hangs in the balance.

From the glamorous stages of Covent Garden and Salzburg to the horrors of Bergen-Belsen, two ordinary women swept up by the tide of war discover an extraordinary friendship—and the courage to save countless lives.

I love World War II historical fiction. That being said, I did DNF one just a couple of weeks ago. I wasn’t ever in danger of putting this book down, though! Both Hattie and Elsa were fascinating characters, and I was fully invested in both of their stories. I wanted to see them succeed beyond their wildest dreams—and it was exhilarating seeing that happen on the page.

World War II was one of the most horrific times in world history, but seeing Hattie and Elsa jump in, determined to help Jewish people despite the danger to themselves was inspiring and uplifting. I truly loved every page of this book!

Renee Ryan grew up in Florida and now lives in Wisconsin. The Secret Society of Salzburg is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin in exchange for an honest review.)

I love historical fiction that makes me curious to learn more. Included in Renee Ryan’s author’s note are the names of the women who inspired this book. I can’t wait to read about them. I also love historical fiction set in lesser known places. This is my first WWII novel set in Salzburg.

The Secret Society of Salzburg is a heartbreaking yet hopeful story. The reader knows from page one that Hitler’s favorite opera singer Elsa Mayer-Braun has been arrested and is being interrogated. The narrative switches to 1934 London where Hattie Featherstone and her sister Vera work as civil servants in jobs where they can only eke out a living. Unexpectedly they attend a lecture on opera which includes recordings. This inspires Hattie’s art in ways she never expected, and the sisters become opera fans. Ryan’s character development is excellent, as Elsa and Hattie grow and change. There is so much heartfelt emotion. This book is definitely a win!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Hattie and Vera are sisters who live in a small flat in London and have jobs as civil servants. For her entire life, Hattie dreamed of becoming an artist but her goals were crushed by harsh criticism from a school professor. A German lecturer came to give a talk on music and as part of her lecture she played on opera for the group. Hattie and Vera had never heard opera before and the music they heard that day touched their souls. It gave Hattie the mental push she needed to create beautiful and emotional paintings. She gave one of her drawings to a world famous opera singer - Elsa and they become friends. When Hattie and Vera decide to save their money to attend the Salzburg music festival to hear Elsa, the friendship between the three grows. They work together to get Elsa's aunt out of Germany before she is arrested for being Jewish. Hattie and Vera were appalled at the treatment of two Jewish people on the train an vowed to do what they could to help people. After their continued success helping people escape, the two best friends continued meeting in different spots in Europe to help get many Jewish people out of Nazi territory. They used Elsa's music tours and Hattie's love for opera to plan their meetings. Vera realized the danger of what they were doing and decided to no longer be a part of the clandestine secret society. Even though Elsa has become Hitler's favorite opera singer, she is in constant danger of being discovered. As their lives hang in the balance, both women decide to continue their escape work. Will they be able to continue to help other people or are people suspicious and willing to betray them to the Nazis?

It's apparent that the author did extensive research and it shows in every page. The story is loosely based on the Cook sisters, two English sisters who rescued 29 Jews from Germany during the 1930s. Be sure to read the Author's Notes to get more information on the real people that this story is based on. Overall, this is a story about bravery and resilience during a dark time in history. Despite the turmoil in this world, these three friends kept creating beautiful art that continued to shine in the midst of the horrors of the war.

Another WWII novel, but this one memorable in the sense that it features a friendship that crosses over into enemy territory, and brave female leads who put others’ lives ahead of their own. And of course there were plenty of parts that made me go through almost half a box of tissues!

Full review with spoilers on Goodreads.

Haunting Story of WWII
This is a wonderfully written tale that has been based on true stories. Even though it is fictionalized history, it is totally believable. The horrors of Nazi Germany, concentration camps, and antisemitism are included in this story. This is a 'clean' story that is not graphic about the trauma and horrors. It lets the reader know what is going on without causing nightmares. It is a haunting book to read, hard to put down but never wanting to finish. I really enjoyed it.

Secret Society of Salzburg is a creative, gripping, moving tale of resilience, bravery and sacrifice set during WW2 Germany, Austria and London. I loved the arts angle of the storyline and the characters of Elsa and Hattie were captivating. Read this in a night, it was so hard to put down until the end. I also liked how Elsa's timeline was split. A moving historical fiction read, especially those who like WW2 women's historical fiction. There was romance, but it was sweet and gentle (and chaste). Faith themes weaved throughout the story and Elsa's character reminded me of Esther from the Bible. Well done! Thanks #NetGalley and HARLEQUIN - Romance (U.S. & Canada), Love Inspired Trade for the ARC.

THE SECRET SOCIETY OF SALZBURG by Renee Ryan is a heart-wrenching and powerful story of friendship, secrets and extraordinary bravery during the dark time of Hitler’s rise to power. It is inspired by true events and the lives of two sisters, Ida and Louise Cook, in London in the early 1930s. Austrian opera singer, Elsa Mayer-Braun, forges an unlikely friendship with two English sisters, Hattie and Vera Featherstone, who she meets while on tour in London. The sisters are both working in low-level jobs for the British government. Appalled by the treatment of Jews by Hitler and his regime, Elsa enlists Hattie to use their connections and the guise of their innocent friendship to form a secret society to help rescue as many Jewish refugees as possible from Nazi persecution. Their clandestine efforts put them in constant danger, but they continue to risk their own lives to save others. I found myself totally immersed in this gripping story. The characters were wonderfully-portrayed and the story was filled with suspense and intrigue. I could not put this book down. This well-researched and moving historical novel will stay on my mind for a long time to come. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

**3.5 STARS**

Content Warning: holocaust, Nazis, WWII

I haven’t read a historical fiction book in a long while so I thought this would be something good to showcase on my blog. Here’s what I thought:

+ Very interesting story where two women, am Opera singer named Elsa, and am artist named Harriet befriend one another and end up helping people escape Hitler’s regime.

+ The story captured the time period very well, especially in the way they talked back then – I think the dialogue reflected that. I could feel the tension in the characters who live in that time when Hitler was taking over Europe. Harriet can’t not help, whereas her own sister Vera thought if it didn’t concern them they should stay out of trouble. Elsa was totally at risk since she was half Jewish, yet married to a German to disguise it.

+ There is a happy ending for these women after some turmoil and it’s always a strong message to show how people braved death and torture to help others.

~ I think I wanted more from the story, but it’s a quick and entertaining read regardless.

Why you should read it:
*heroic story about two women during WWII
*you love historical fiction
*love how it shed light on the arts (Opera and art) during WWII

Why you might not want to read it:

My Thoughts:

I like that it focused on an opera singer who was hiding that she was half-Jewish and an artist from England. I like that we get to see how people in the art and creative world was affected by Hitler’s regime. I found it to be a quick read and if you like historical fiction set in World War II then you will definitely like this book.

“To who much is given, much is required.”

A five-star story featuring the woman who carried the label of Hitler’s favourite opera singer!

Elsa Mayer-Braun has been hiding behind a mask for so long she fears that she’s going to lose herself in the process of trying to be someone she’s not. For some, she wears the mask of Anna in Strauss’ Intermezzo, Butterfly in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly or the Queen of the Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute. For others, she wears the mask of a respectful daughter or dutiful wife of a celebrity husband with suspected ties to Hitler. For many, she is simply known as the Salzburg Songbird. It’s when she meets sisters Henrietta and Vera Featherstone that Elsa finally feels the freedom to set aside her masks and allow her authentic self to be seen - a giver of blessings rather than simply a receiver of them.

Although this story is set over 9 years, between 1934 - 1943 in Salzburg and London, I was so engrossed in the story that I felt I’d lived through a lifetime by the end of the book. Ryan’s writer’s skills created palpable tension on every page and demanded my attention despite not having a previous love of opera. I’m not sure how Ryan manages to keep writing stories that turn reading ‘just one more page’ into five more chapters, but she does!

I loved being thrust into a moment of high-stakes change as I cracked open this fabulous book. I immediately knew that the protagonist had a choice on the horizon and I was pulled into the glamorous life of a celebrity opera singer. I had to know what had happened in her marriage and career - Why was this her last performance? Why was her conductor husband mysteriously absent tonight? My love of history and the author’s twin threads of secrets and danger carried my interest to the conclusion.

Ryan’s story is not only populated with an empathetic protagonist who discovers that she does indeed have the freedom to make a stand and save many who are being persecuted for their beliefs, but also a handful of interesting, multi-faceted characters who play against each other. It’s full of conflict and danger, moves along at an enjoyable pace, and has a 1934 backstory that is filtered in to flesh out the suspense without lessening the impact of the 1943 narrative.

The juxtaposition of the setting is wonderful; an ornate theatre and uplifting arias delicately balanced with luxurious costumes, the luxury and decadence of Hotel Sacher and ‘goodness’ of what the Salzburg Cathedral represents, set against an uncertain climate in Europe filled with a foreboding black Mercedes driven by the hated political enemy, the evil that Hitler and his SS represented, a tense marriage full of secrets, and two women who communicate via secret notes stuffed in lipstick tubes!

Ryan’s ability to make me FEEL was paramount. One would think that sound and sight would be in the spotlight considering the setting, but Ryan explored how opera can make us feel and how we can get in touch with the things beneath the surface, the things that really matter. Ryan knows that good opera is important because it makes us feel something - gives us an inclination towards higher aspirations and towards greater sympathy. Not only did it do that for her characters, but also for me. Her story made me feel.

I loved the glimpse into God’s grace played out between the two women, the reminder to see the blessings amid chaos, the duty to make a stand, and the necessity of reaching for a dream. Most of all, I appreciated the reminder to be more than just a receiver of so many blessings - to be a giver of them, too.

I was gifted this copy by Harlequin and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

With every WW2 book I read; my respect for those that stood up against the Germans increases. The characters in this book blew me away. The determination of those trying to save the Jewish people seemed endless. Their safety mattered little compared to saving those at risk. It is books like this one that help me to understand what people struggled with to survive. We all need to read books, such as this, to make sure the losses are not forgotten and that the horrors are not repeated.

Reading about history in a story of fiction is so much better than a dry textbook. In The Secret Society of Salzburg, I was given the opportunity to learn so much and research what I haven't heard about in past readings or history classes. The characters actions were inspirational, but learning about some those that actually risked everything to save one Jew at a time was mind-blowing.

The author wrote a gripping story. I became invested in Elsa, an opera singer, and Hattie, an artist. Their friendship started with a painting that hattie presented to Elsa. The friendship grew as they worked to rescue as many of the Jewish people as possible. Their scheme was brilliant. Their smuggling was not without risk. With each success, they wanted to save more adding to the risk. Their actions had me on the edge of my seat. How did they actually do it? My stomach turned over a story.

I was gutted as I read about the treatment of Elsa when her world came crashing down. The evil oozed off the pages. I thought I understood how it had been. I was soooooo wrong. I needed to learn more, and it left me disgusted and in awe at the same time. The story reinforced the idea that we can't forget the past. The story helped me see the strength needed to survive the Nazi regime. Those that stood up against evil deserve our respect.

After reading The Secret Society of Salzburg my respect has increased ten fold for the survivors. My heart hurts for those that lost their lives. I don't think I will ever forget The secret Society of Salzburg. I guarantee I will not forget the dedicated heroes of WW2. I may not know their real names but they will always have my respect.