Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"If not me, who? If not now, when?"
This is a not a book about endings. Its talk leaves the continuation of what is to be one of the darkest times humanity has ever experienced and the fight people had to lead so they could keep life in order and safe. Even if in the next years they painfully fail to do so, they still try. It's not a fiction novel about the end of this terror, but about the beginning and the injustice of it that waits to come.

Our MC, a badass single mother of two puts everything at risk to the cause. First, for the money and later for the people she cares about. Through her, we learn how dangerous silence is, how shady the human nature is and how even though it might not be YOUR cause, you're part of something: a community, friendship, family that might need your hand. "I would fight this war. I would not be silent."

And while one person can't change the world, they can surely contribute to making it a better place from those who wish it harm.
Because if not me or you, who?

Even if the story seems like it doesn't go anywhere, it is by no means static. It just shows a glimpse of hope the people had on changing something that could go from bad to worse. It shows how, in a moment in time, somewhere in the 1930s, people tried to move the course of a nightmare, from stopping it before it struck an entire nation. This book is a glimpse in time, when people were just being people. Whether bad or good, the human nature was depicted in the small lenses of the Interwar Period.

Now, I'm not a very historical fiction gal. Especially when it comes to books set in the Nazi period; maybe because it makes me uncomfortable, maybe because I, myself, live in a country that in my parents's childhood was covered in communism, maybe because I'm a history major in high school and I already struggle with these topics, but believe me when I say I do not regret reading this book.

It is on a slower pace, I admit, but the spy-thriller aspect kept me intrigued. I don't know how much of this is fiction and how much really happened, but the author made me actually believe through her writing that every scene and all characters are real. For my historical people out there who want to search for more about this period, this is for you:)

Really enjoyed this book, it was told from 3 characters' viewpoints, one of which was named Agent 13, it was a fun layer trying to figure out who he was while the other characters were talking

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, especially stories set during WWI and WWII, so listening to Code Name Edelweiss which was set in 1930's Great Depression era was really interesting to learn about and the influence Hitler had in America and Hollywood during that time.

3 stars

Unfortunately for me, this book fell a little flat. I wanted more from the characters and I wasn't really surprised by anything that occurred during the book. All the big "OMG" moments fell flat or were easily to predict.

I received an advanced listening copy of Code Name Edelweiss by Stephanie Landsem through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and, here it is.
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☆☆☆☆ ½ - rounded down to 4 stars
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I was so excited to read this story because it's set in Hollywood just before WWII and I haven't read any stories in that setting before. It did not disappoint!
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Liesl, a German, is a working mother of two and also supports her mother and brother. She's been working at MGM studios for many years and suddenly gets fired. Liesls gets hired on by a Jewish lawyer who has a hidden agenda; to spy on neighbours and friends, and infiltrate a Nazi organization to keep them at bay.
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I loved how the intensity grew stronger and stronger as the story went on, it was exactly what I was looking for in a story like this! I really liked the different perspectives, all of the unique characters, and the pace of the storytelling.
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I absolutely loved the family and friend complexities, the intrigue, the spying, the suspense, the secret identities, and the individual trauma and struggles that were depicted.
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Thanks to Dreamscape Media, NetGalley, and author Stephanie Landsem for this ALC to honestly review. Code Name Edelweiss will be available on March 6th!

boring with Christian undertones
Agent 13 was more interesting than Liesel who is simply annoying. So stiff and I get it, she wants whats best but dear God, so repetitive. Book could've been shorter.
As for the content, loved learning about the lawyer Leon Lewis, he's cool. Would've liked more of him

Code Name Edelweiss
by Stephanie Landsem
A very intriguing and inspirational audible book. I found the need to question if not now when, if not me then whom. The book looks into the problems in the studio industry of the movies just before the second world war. Where political and social strain affects all the division of the industry. Jews against gentiles, men against women, those who had work and those looking for work. An inspiring story of mystery and intrigue in this very divisive time. The characters are very well described with meaning and reason for their choices and actions. The idea of the exploitation of people divisions, as a reason for hatred is a dire warning for us in our own times. I hope this story opens our eyes to the manipulation of social media by groups that want to exploit the divisions. I would suggest this book to any intellectual reader, or history buff.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook for my honest opinion. This was my first book by Stephanie Landsem & I really enjoyed it. This book had a different spin from others because it was a historical fiction with spy’s. I had never read a book like this & I read a lot of historical fiction. Liesel Weiss is a single mom working at MGM studios when she loses her job, no fault of her own. She is the only one supporting her family- her children, mother & brother so she is desperate to find another job. Liesel goes to an agency & sneakily becomes aware of a job & decides to pursue it. She ends up working with Leon Lewis a Jewish lawyer who believes Nazi agents are working to seize control of Hollywood & agent 13 to spy on her friends & neighbors in a German community. My favorite part was when agent 13 & agent 17 met each other. It was interesting to read a historical fiction that had spy’s.

This was a great story that's as relevant today as it was in 1933! Everything Liesl is confronted with comes back to the old adage, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

Liesl is struggling to make ends meet as the sole support for her two children, cranky mother and irresponsible younger brother. Jobs are scarce, so she takes daring action in order to secure a post she knows she's more than qualified for. But it turns out to be more than she bargained for, and what starts as a job turns into a mission.

I honestly had a hard time putting the book down. The courage and bravery of the main characters was enthralling and inspiring. Well done!

Thank you to Stephanie Landsem, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

Wow what in introduction to Stephanie Landsem, this is my first novel by her, it was also my debut into the world of audiobooks and I wasn’t disappointed. Code Name Edelweiss Is a beautifully written historical novel set in America during the depression. Based on true events we enter a world of courage, bravery, deception and danger as a Jewish lawyer and amateur spies try to save America from Adolf Hitler’s plan to take over Hollywood, while also trying to deal with personal issues at home. It had some well written quotes used throughout one of my favourites being “If not me, then who and if not now, then when”.
Both narrators Cady Zuckerman and Neil Hellegers I thought where amazing, the voices rose and fell and changed to add the excitement or anticipation when needed. Highly recommended read or audiobook.

I would like to thank Dreamscape Media, NetGalley the narrators and the author for the opportunity to listen to this complimentary copy for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.




#CodeNameEdelweiss #NetGalley.

Wonderfully woven story based on real-life events set in Hollywood during the 1930s. I love WWII historical novels and found this refreshingly different as it is set in Los Angeles. I loved Leisl, the main character as she struggles internally with the difficulties of being a single mom dealing with cultural anxieties. I was on the edge of my seat with the dangers she found herself in as a spy infiltrating Nazi organizations and trying to thwart their plans.
Wilhelm is a complex character who is dealing with his own demons. The secondary characters are well-rounded and enhance the story.
I hope to enjoy more stories by Stephanie Landsem. She did a thorough job of researching the events and bringing them to life. The audiobook was well narrated.
Thank you, Netgalley and Dreamscape for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A unique take on Historical World War II fiction. "Code Name Edelweiss" takes place in The United States during Hitler's rise to power in 1933. While the terror in Europe feels lifetimes away at this point, there was trouble closer than anyone thought. The story is based on true events and outlines how a Jewish lawyer and a small group of spies help to foil one of Hilter's plans. The dictator wanted to take down Hollywood, but not on their watch!

I love that this author writes stories about women in history as it's such an important voice. As a woman who loves history, I am clearly her target audience. I really enjoyed this audiobook and story and look forward to seeking out more works by Stephanie Landsem.

This historical fiction and spy thriller mashup had some good moments but seemed to take a long time to go nowhere in particular. Code Name Edelweiss is a fictionalized account of how a Jewish lawyer, Leon Lewis, and his private network of Christian spies foiled Hitler’s plans to take over Hollywood. It’s amazing to think that despite the authorities not taking Leon’s warnings seriously, he bolstered enough courage to assemble a group to thwart Nazi terror. This story was a bit slow in the beginning but it gets exciting and is well worth the read. If you enjoy historical fiction around the WWII ear, you will enjoy this tale especially as you discover at the end that many of the characters, incidents and threats were indeed factual and not just Landsems' clever imagination.

Leon Lewis, a Jewish lawyer, has his worries about Adolf Hitler and his attempt to take over Hollywood as the greatest propaganda machine ever created, but no one believes Him or his warnings. Meanwhile Liesl, the breadwinner for her 2 visten, her mother and troubled brother, loses her job at MGM, she is forced to take the only job available-to work for Leon Lewis and the mysterious Agent Thirteen to spy on her neighbors and friends and uncover the truth.

I loved that this was based on a true story, I had no idea of this little snippet of history and I was able to learn a lot, but it felt like a novel rather than a documentary or text book. It was fun, exciting and I loved every moment. The audio was very enjoyable as well. I loved that it was read by 2 narrators. It usually takes me about 5-6 weeks to get through an audiobook, but I finished this one in just over a week. I highly recommend it! I rate it 4 stars, it was incredible!

In the crowded room of World War II historical fiction, Code Name Edelweiss stands out because of its unique positioning in Los Angeles during the Great Depression, during Hitler’s rise to power. Liesl Weiss is very much a cross of Elsa Martinelli (The Four Winds) and Clare Randall Fraser (Outlander) in that she is a morally grey, religious woman who doesn’t quite fit the mold society has set for her and has uncanny, chameleon-like abilities that enable her to support her family and ensure their survival, all while balancing a set of values that doesn’t align with the community surrounding her. This was a dual POV, with the other being Agent Thirteen who is also helping to save Hollywood, which the audiobook helped to masterfully drive home. The pacing throughout this was great, and I plan to read more from this author in the future.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the opportunity to listen and review!

Overrated Book:
Code Name Edelweiss
By: Stephanie Landsem

WHAT DO PEOPLE SAY?
A beautifully written historical novel.


HOW I FELT ABOUT IT:
I thought this would be so interesting, a spy ring set in America as the Nazis came to power in Germany. However, I found this book to be quite dull. There are too many characters, the build up isnt suspenseful…it was boring.

DO I STILL RECOMMEND IT? No

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This book sounds like something right up my alley. Unfortunately, it was a miss for me.

#bookstagram #books #readingnow #boogiereadsbooks #overhypedbooks #overratedbooks #audiobook #audiobooks #historicalfiction #codenameedelweiss #stephanielandsem

This historical fiction and spy thriller had some good moments but seemed to take a long time to go nowhere in particular. I enjoyed the opening of the book, but then Leisl and Wilhelm became too stiff. The storyline had too much going on and just didn't keep my attention. The narrator of the audiobook was enjoyable.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book.

I loved this story of spies in America during the time of Adolf Hitlers rise to power and their efforts to keep Nazis out of America. Stephanie Landsem wrote a captivating historical fiction novel based on true events in Hollywood in 1933. I enjoyed listening to this audiobook and following Liesl as she becomes a spy to help provide for her family and kids and while she wasn't sure of the cause when she agreed to be a spy her heart slowly changed.
This story flowed well and kept my interest from start to end. Stephanie ended the book beautifully with a slight hint of a sequel and boy do I hope there is a sequel! I'd love to see what happens with Agent Edelweiss and Agent 13.

I received a copy of #CodeNameEdelweiss from #NetGalley. This is my honest review given voluntarily.

Audiobook received for free through NetGalley

I absolute loved this book. It was a perfect listen that ends at the right spot but I would love a sequel too. Thanks

I really enjoyed "Code Name Edelweiss": the characters were interesting, the plot moved at a great pace, and the story itself was really good. I had no idea that the Nazis had any kind of influence in Hollywood.

Code Name Edelweiss by Stephanie Landsem is a heart pumping historical fiction spy novel that explores the fight against rising Nazism in America in the 1930s. Leisl and Wilhelm are both seeking to do good in a life full of uncertainty. Leisl is a widow who has a full house to take care of, at the beginning of the depression in the 1930's. When she is fired from her typing job at a movie studio she is thrust into a world of intrigue and surveillance after answering a mysterious job post. She begins to work for a Jewish lawyer undercover in a German "social club" and discovers that all is not as it seems. Wilhelm is a seasoned spy who knows there is another in the organization but the two don't know of each other's identities, for security sake. This leads to some intense moments and makes the book so interesting as they get closer and closer to the truth. I loved how much history was put into this book and you can tell that the author did a ton of research. The story moved along quickly and kept my attention the whole time with a little bits of German and Jewish traditions and language mentioned. I enjoyed watching both of the main characters evolve and mature throughout the story and I actually love that it left on a cliffhanger. I'd like to see more of these characters and the spy ring in the future and I'm hoping for additional books.