This is about the rise of fascism in 1930’s Los Angeles. Leon Lewis was a Jewish attorney who started a group of agents to prevent and provoke the Friends of New Germany (actually Nazis) from overtaking the MGM and other studios to push their propaganda on the American people through films. They all had code names, one of them being Edelweiss – a young woman with two children, a husband who has disappeared, a brother and her mother to take care of. Her job at MGM was taken away from her because of money problems with the studio. Instead she happened to meet Leon Lewis and she accepted his offer of being a spy on Friends of New Germany – and it goes on from there. It is a different type of story about the prewar era than I have seen and read. I strongly suggest you give this author and this story a serious look. You will enjoy her writing and this tory. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this great story

This was an interesting story based on true events. I hadn't heard of this history prior to this book so it was eye opening in that regard. The author gives you more detail at the end and where Stephanie Landsem elaborates on where she has taken license with history.

This book contained mystery, romance with a good dose of character progression. There were several side stories going on as well. I found that these added to the overall main story. I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to others.

I receive complimentary books for various sources including, Netgalley, Authors, and other such sources. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received compensation

An historical fiction based on a true story taking place around the Great Depression. This compelling story of amateur spies is filled with suspense and intrigue. The concept was interesting, the characters personable, and I found it difficult to put this book down. I highly recommend this to fans of historical fiction.

Thank you NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for the eARC. Expected Pub Date: March 7, 2023
#NetGalley #CodeNameEdelweiss

Sometimes you do the right thing for the wrong reason. Sometimes you do the wrong thing for the right reason. And in the world of 1930s Hollywood, that line gets crossed frequently...but which side is right? This is what Liesl must figure out for herself, and soon, before her family are in danger and consequential events unfold. This story is the whole package -- it's got a lot of history (based on real life), action-adventure, mystery, and just a smidge of romance. Definitely looking forward to more from this series!

This novel plays in the early 1930s in the L.A. area. I was attracted to the book because it deals with the influence of the Nazis in California before WWII. I find this such an interesting premise. I am familiar with the stories of German submarines near the American coast and agents trying to illegally enter the country, but I had never heard of a plot trying to unseat the Jewish owners of the film studios. The story drives home the point of how easy it is to let life happen and not stand up for what is right, despite what the majority of the people around you think. The main and supporting characters are real, imperfect individuals. They are struggling to make sense of this new wind that is blowing through the German-American community. However, through trial and error, they see what’s really happening, overcome their fears and fight for their convictions. The author has mastered the art of showing vs telling which makes for very pleasant reading. The novel breathes authenticity. The writer does an excellent job painting a picture of what life was like in the early 1930s, complete with the etiquette and social graces (or lack thereof) appropriate for the time period. What I appreciate is that at the end of the book the author gives background information on the true historical events that inspired her writing and shares which historical figures she fictionalized. It’s a good-sized book and some readers might feel that the story does not get moving fast enough. However, without that “setting the stage” part it would be difficult to fully engage with the story and to understand where people are coming from. I absolutely loved this book. Anyone interested in WWII historical fiction will enjoy reading a story that shows the Nazi’s far reaching influence and how it affected the people in a country outside of the occupied territories. The characters kept coming back to, “For if not us, who? And if not now, when? That’s a lesson that we should all take to heart.

Thank you NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for providing me with an ARC. I was not required to leave a positive review and all opinions are my own.

I am a big fan of Stephanie Landsem and have enjoyed all of her books. This new one does not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed it and my only complaint is that I read it too quickly. I could not put it down.

This book is a historical novel taking place in the early 1930's. Liesl is a woman whose husband has disappeared, she has two children to raise and also lives with her mother and brother, who rely on her. This is during the great depression. Liesl is of German heritage and she is fluent in that language as well as English.
Liesl loses her job and is offered the opportunity to make a lot more money, being a spy.

This was way before my time of course and I have read extensively on Hitler and the extermination of the Jewish people and all of the horrors in Germany, but I had no idea that a movement was also being fed here in the U.S. with the same sentiments, brought here by Hitler's men. Liesl works for Leon Lewis, a real person who was working hard, with his undercover agents, to infiltrate these horrible organizations that existed in Los Angeles. Liesl is one of his agents.

This book was about being human. It was about relationships and how they can be damaged. It was about doing what was right, even at risk of your own life. This book was about revealing the evil that came from Nazi Germany. It has some good lessons that we could learn from in our society today. We can see how people can be drawn into supporting evil, even if they are not evil people. It is also about family and love and new beginnings.

One of the things I love about Stephanie Landsem's books is that her characters are real and you can identify with them in many ways and see yourself and others in them, good and bad. No one is all one or the other.

This book was filled with suspense, danger (a little romance) and the ending was perfect.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Tyndale House for allowing me an early read of this novel.

Set in the days of the Great Depression, this is the story of a young woman named Liesl Weiss, a single mom and sole support of her children, her mother, and her brother. She is recruited as a spy by Leon Lewis, a Jewish lawyer who has watched Hitler’s rise to power with great alarm.

Code Name Edelweiss by Stephanie Landsem is based on a true story of a group of amateur spies who discovered Hitler’s plans to take over Hollywood. Well written, tense, and powerful, Code Name Edelweiss is full of important lessons we in the 21st century need to learn and remember.

Many thanks to Tyndale and Net Galley for my copy of this book. The opinions are my own.

Code Name Edelweiss is a beautifully written historical novel based on true events. It was an interesting glimpse into pre WWII era Hollywood and the prevalence of the spread of nazism. I love Liesl’s strong character, her love for her family, and her struggle to do what is right. Some parts of the story seemed like a lot of internal dialogue and not enough action, but overall the story flowed well and was difficult to put down.