Wow, I adored and inhaled this novel. Widowed Cornish farmer Gwenna agrees to take in a Jewish refugee mother and child at the request of her friend Freda. It is thought that the serenity of country air will salve the mothers trauma. Sadly little Lotti arrives alone, with her mother killed as she flees the train bringing the pair to Truro, while it is packed with German POW. Together Gwenna and Freda decide to appeal the decision that the poor woman has taken her life. Much becomes clear when Max one of the POW is deployed to work his time on Gwenna’s farm. The locals do not take easily to Germans working the widows land, but little lotti speaks for the first time to Max, and gradually as he and Gwenna grow closer the real cause of Lotti’s mothers death (or rather the reason she fled the train) is revealed.

I’d generally tell you that a novel set in WWII isn’t my favourite genre, but this one was different. Gwenna is a kind soul, I fell in love with clever gentle little Lotti, and Rumtoph her bear and his story. Ezra is written so beautifully that I loved him too, a no nonsense farm hand with a heart of gold. Freda while she angered me at times won me over. Laterally Max won my heart too, and I can’t forget Wiggie, the blonde haired red lipped scouse land girl who transports the men to work the land.

I can’t express enough how beautifully written book is. The characters, the scenery, the changing of seasons and time, even the farm animals are written so clearly I could conjure the very image of them. It is heartbreaking, gripping, thrilling and distressing. There are violent scenes that may upset some. The story winds on perfectly. The last few chapters were a bit of a rush through the later years of war, I’d possibly have rounded up to 5 stars if there had been a little more detail in them but none the less not a disappointing ending, and of course the necessary message Never again should not be discounted.

The narration is fantastic. With just the right amount variations in local dialects, and smatterings of German language. Perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley and the bookouture for the opportunity to listen to this audio book in return for an honest review.

The Girl with the Yellow Star by Natalie Meg Evans
Narrated by Amalia Vitale

Cornwall, England, 1943 Gwenna Devoran loses both her husband and her father in a short period of time. She's been living with her wealthy in-laws while her husband was at sea. Mixed in with the grief of losing her husband is her anger at him for reasons we don't learn right away. Gwenna leaves the safer haven of her in-laws home to take over the managing of the Cornish farm that has been in her family for generations.

Working the farm with three of her father's long time employees, Gwenna has support from the oldest of the workers but gets nothing but scorn and verbal abuse from the middle aged couple who were sure that the man of the two would be the new caretaker of the farm. To make matters worse, the government has huge demands as to what the farm should produce for the war effort and there is a very real risk that Gwenna could lose her family's farm if she isn't able to meet impossible quotas and deadlines. It's only when she is forced to take three German prisoners of war that she has a chance of making her farm meet the government demands. Still, her hatred of the enemy has her fighting against this much needed help, at first.

Compounding her conflicting needs and emotions is that she has taken in a traumatized German Jewish refugee girl. It's as if so much of the war has landed on her doorstep with little Lotti having to live around the very people who want to wipe her people from the face of this earth. Yet it's Gwenna who seems to suffer the most for this affront, who needs the workers to save her farm but also is trying to do what is best for this young girl who trusts one of the prisoners and is drawn to the very fact that he is German, like her.

So much is going on with Gwenna having to protect Lotti from the cruelty of the townspeople. Jealousy from both expected and unexpected quarters hinder even everyday life for Gwenna and Lotti. She finds that some of her own worst enemies may be those who she thought she could trust. And she is drawn to the German prisoner of war in a way she never thought possible. Her years of loneliness and frustration make giving in to the unthinkable almost welcoming.

I was glued to this story that touches on so many situations that I've encountered before. Prisoners of war living and working among their enemies while the war still wages on. War rationing and war needs meaning that properties that have been in families for centuries risk being given to the people who can get the most out of the property. Trying to protect a young German Jewish girl who isn't safe from persecution anywhere. Where you would think that there would be solidarity, there is division, even among the prisoners in the POW camp. Heartbreak and sacrifice seems to be Gwenna's lot in life but she's not going to give in or give up easily.

Amalia Vitale's narration is so good that I have tried to find more that she has narrated. I was able to just listen to the story and enjoy the words because she does such a good job with all the characters. I became attached to the good but flawed people in this story and to the Cornish location, too.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.

This was a great read. In the synopsis it compares the book to The Nightingale so it wasn’t what I was expecting. Other than the time period it takes place, I see no comparison between the two. In the Nightingale I was more on the edge of my seat worried for the resistance fighters struggling to escape detection from the Nazi soldiers. This isn’t that type of book. Yes, the little girl is Jewish living in Europe during the war but it doesn’t address being in danger for the main point of the story. It’s more of a drama of the adjustment of the little girl in her new home with the woman who saves her. And somewhat a love story between the woman who is raising her and a German POW working the farm with the prejudice they face by the local people. I don’t mean to say that this isn’t a great book, I really enjoyed it. It just wasn’t what I was expecting.

Wow did I love this book! The ending just sealed the deal for me. First, I love how historical novels have the ability to teach about WWII. Obviously, the main storylines are going to be fake but there are facts and truth within. This story, for instance, reminded me of how long the war impacted other countries and the ways that people had to sacrifice during that time.
Second, I loved the bravery of this woman and the child. She was a single woman running a farm and she didn’t let any of the trials or tribulations get to her. True strength and dignity.


🌀Synopsis
Lotti is a Jew being persecuted during WWII. Her father is taken by the Germans and her mother tragically passes on their journey to a refuge far out in the country. When Gwenna gets to the train station and makes this discovery she whisks Lotti away to her farm and begins caring for the girl.

At first, she won’t talk. Then, however, some German prisoners of war are sent to work on Gwenna’s farm. As a newly single woman, she needs the assistance to be able to get everything done that the government is asking of them. Now, she must also manage these men and take care of Lotti.

With the help of one of the German prisoners, Max, they draw Lotti out of the fear she is held in. She begins to learn and thrive on the farm. Even though the war is still raging the three of them find a way to build a life together and make plans for when the war is finally over.

I really adored this book, it was just so amazing! It is a historical fiction book, set in England in 1943 to begin with.

Gwenna is a lovely lady, who takes in a little Jewish refugee girl called Lotti, after her mother is killed. Lotti is such a sweet, gentle, sensitive and amazing child, and I really loved her a lot. I loved Gwenna too, and also Max, who is a German prisoner of war who comes to work on Gwenna's farm. Together, the three of them work well together, and I really loved getting to know them and learning all about their lives.

I found this a really sweet story, although it was also heartbreaking at times, and emotional.

The audiobook narrator was perfect for the story, and she did a great job. I loved her voice, and I could listen to her all day long.

This is a wonderful book, which I recommend highly! If you love Kristin Hannah's books, you will love this one too!

Many thanks to the author, narrator, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

I have never read anything by this author and the book took me a bit to get into but then I really enjoyed it. This is a raw look at the devastation and challenges WWII brought to England. A tattered teddy bear that holds so many secrets. A young orphaned Jew, traumatized by running from Nazis twice. A young widow finally coming to grips with her husband’s true nature and death. A German officer, now a prisoner of war trying to convince those around him that he is not a Hitler loving Nazi; but rather a German forced to fight for his country. The complexities of English farmers forced to produce enough to satisfy the government in times of war and needing the man power of POWs because their own men were off fighting. This story does tackle sexual tension and behaviors that might offend some. I felt the details were realistic and not justified as being morally correct.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers

This was alright. It was a well written story about a woman whose husband died at the beginning of the war and ends up taking care of a Jewish orphan. Throughout the story, she ends up caring for the girl as her own, falling in love with someone unexpected, and coming to terms with issues in her marriage. She also has to deal with negative pushback from her community for treating German POW workers with civility.

I'd say it held my attention for about 75% of the way through. By that time, it felt like the story was supposed to end and that there were random wrenches being thrown into the mix to keep the story going. Fine for a one time read.

I so enjoyed this book. I hadn't read anything by this author previously, so this was a great start. The characters were all really well described and developed. I loved the fact that it was set in Cornwall as I hadn't heard very much about this area of the UK during the war. It was really interesting reading about the German PoWs and also the local reaction to those prisoners. This book had everything - courage, heartbreak, sorrow, love. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest unbiased review.

1943 Cornwall, England-Gwenna Devoran’s husband is killed. She is giving shelter to Jewish refugees in her farmhouse. One young ten-year-old, Lotti is waiting at a train station. Her mother died trying to get her to safety. She does not speak and of course is traumatized. Lotti is a little Jewish girl who steals Gwenna’s heart.

Max is a German captain who befriends Gwenna and Lotti. There is no way Max could be a Nazi. The village is full of rumors and she heard that Max was responsible for the death of her husband. Does she trust Max or the rumors? She desperately wants them to become a family. Gwenna finds her heart pulled in so many ways.

A heartwarming story of sacrifices and love during a horrific time in our history. I will be reading more by this author.