The start of a gut wrenching series that tore me in two. The love I could feel through the pages and the beautifully written words.

An absolutely captivating read that was both uplifting and full of hope and heartbreaking in equal measure

I find Marion’s books leave me with a thirst for more.
This one looks at the early years of unrest in Germany. Unbeknown to Edith life is about to change forever, being married to Jewish born Julius. Then her brother Joseph becomes a SS officer whose loyalty is to Hitler and not family!
Helga an old school friend of Edith’s, married to Heinrich who is Jewish and their children David and Amelie. There are obvious contrasts between both families.
I especially enjoyed the detailed history within the story and can’t wait to read the follow up

The First Spark of Fire is the latest gripping historical fiction novel by Marion Kummerow and the first in her new ‘German Wives’ book series. It is a gripping and fast paced exploration of the Nazi rise to power and the impact it had on German citizens, focusing on two fictional housewives Edith and Helga.
The narrative opens in Munich in 1923 and we’re taken on a journey through the 20s and 30s as the Nazi Party take control of Germany and move Europe towards another world war. Although the novel is less than 300 pages long, it provides a deep dive into many key events in Germany during the inter-war period. This includes the Beer Hall Putsch, the Reichstag fire (and the political consequences of the fire such as the Reichstag Fire Decree and Enabling Act), the Night Of The Long Knives, the 1936 Summer Olympics and Kristallnacht. This was all clearly meticulously researched and history is seamlessly woven into the story. Never before have I read something which covered so many crucial historical events in such depth whilst still creating a captivating and emotive story.
The First Spark Of Fire provides an unique perspective on the rise of antisemitism in Germany through its focus on non-Jewish women who were supporting their Jewish husbands (and in Helga’s case, also her half-Jewish children) through the introduction of antisemitic laws and were determined to keep them safe. We have two strong female characters in both Edith and Helga and it was nice to see a strong female friendship represented through the two old school friends reconnecting in adulthood. The choice to give the women contrasting family backgrounds was really impactful and allowed us to explore the impact rising antisemitism had on a range of different members of society.
Alongside Edith and Helga, we also get some chapters sharing the perspective of Edith’s brother Joseph as he joins the SS and rises through its ranks. I was conflicted on the choice to give Joseph his own chapters as it does ultimately really humanise the SS but on the other hand I do also recognise the importance for historical fiction to explore how ordinary Germans such as Joseph were sucked into the Nazi ideology and became willing to commit such atrocities. Sharing Joseph’s perspective also allowed us to explore how families could have really opposing views on Hitler and the Nazi party and the impact it would have on their family relationships.
In The First Spark of Fire, Marion Kummerow has found a powerful balance between creating a story which is educational and historically accurate whilst also capturing the raw and emotional experiences of German citizens at the time. The characters are all beautifully written and perfectly capture the courage shown by Jewish people and their non-Jewish spouses during the rise of antisemitism. The ending to this book is rather abrupt, paving the way for the next book in the series. After reading the entire story in a single sitting I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
Overall, The First Spark of Fire is a powerful and incredibly gripping piece of historical fiction which is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and those with an interest in Second World War history.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

The years prior to World War II in Germany.
This was a story giving back the mentality of the various people. Persons that didn't feel Jewish and weren't following the Jewish traditions expected to be save till it was to late. Married couples had to decide if they stood by their spouse or divorce often under high pressure from their families. How the calm self controlled emotional banker eventually lost it when the Nazis started a fire in his bank.
This book shows a lot of different aspects of was going on prior to World War II.
A lot of people assumed things would get better. That the German people would not stand for Hitler’s maniac politicks. They were proving wrong. Hitler had a natural way about him to convince a lot of people that he could correct a lot of wrongs and make Germany great again. The actions taken against Germany after World War I made it easy for Hitler to convince the German population that he was their savior.

Whenever I think of World War II and the Third Reich, I think of the 1940s. This book by Marion Kummerow begins two decades before, actually in 1923. This was when Hitler’s rise and his growing plans became more and more evident to those living in Germany.

This captivating historical fiction shows how the Nazi reign grew exponentially and what things lead up to the second world war. In fact, the lives of families of Jewish dissent were examined, including how they lost their homes and businesses, to make way for those who were serving the impending war effort. Families were divided, lives were destroyed, and tragedy ensued over and over again.

The story continues with the characters Edith and Julius in Germany during the year 1938. While their lives started off in an idyllic fashion, the Germans became really focused on those in the Jewish community, and this included Julius. More than that, Edith’s brother Joseph became an SS officer, and with her husband, being a Jewish descent, their lives were going to be at risk.

What a deep and introspective book. It was impossible not to feel for all of those affected by the pre-war days, which included the harsh prejudices and laws that were created in order to eliminate as many Jews as possible. This is a powerful story, one that shows courage and hope even in the darkest of times.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

The First Spark of Fire Marion Kummerow

Today is my stop on the book tour for The First Spark of Fire by Marion Kummerow. A very informative and historically accurate account of the rise of Nazism in Germany. This book takes place in Germany in 1923 up to 1938, just before the start of World War II. I found it very interesting to learn more about this time period, as most of the historical literature I read takes place during the second world war. I found it of particular interest to learn more about Hitlers rise to power through attempted coups, corruption, coercion, the disgusting mistreatment of Jewish people and the annihilation of anyone who got in his way.

This story follows the lives of Helga Goldman and Edith Falkenstein. Both women were childhood classmates and are now married to men that were born Jewish. But this is where their similarities end. Edith is married to Julius, a wealthy bank owner. She lives a sheltered life of luxury and privilege. She has almost everything she wants except a husband who loves her passionately and children. Helga, on the other hand, has two children and a husband, Heinrich, who adores and loves her with all his heart. But unlike Edith, Helga lives a life of financial hardship, even more so after her husband lost his job, merely because he was a Jew. The First Spark of Fire follows these two brave and courageous German wives as they struggle to navigate life in Germany during the rise of Nazism. Both women share the determination and commitment to do what ever it takes to keep their families safe.

Such an excellent book. Well researched, thought provoking and heartfelt. It can be so difficult to write about such a horrific time in History in such a thoughtful and compassionate manner. But Marion Kummerow did just that. The only negative thing I have to say about The First Spark of Fire is the abrupt ending that has left me hanging. I don’t know that I can wait until book two in the series comes out to find out what happens to Edith, Julius and Helga, Heinrich and their children. Hopefully I don’t have to wait too long.

Thank you Bookouture, Netgalley and Marion Kummerow for my advanced electronic copy of The First Spark of Fire and having me on this book tour.

The First Spark of Fire follows the lives of two women, Edith and Helga from the 1920's up until the start of WWII and is the first book in the German Wives series.

It is a thought-provoking and emotional novel highlighting the difficulties the Jewish people faced with Hitler's slow but sure rise to power and what it meant for German wives who were married to Jews and their children.

Edith was married to Julius, a prominent banker and converted Christian who did not consider himself a Jew. He did not think that he would be in danger and refused to emigrate while he could.

Helga on the other hand was married to Heinrich Goldmann, a Jew and a qualified accountant but without a job. She desperately wanted to emigrate with her husband and two children but was unable to do so without sufficient funds.

The author has done a great job of providing insights about historical events before and during the Nazis came to power. Both Edith and Helga are brave, courageous and strong and will go to any lengths to protect their loved ones.

The book ends in 1938 and we are left speculating the fates of Edith and Helga and their families. I am so looking forward to Book 2 now.

Most of us are more than aware of the events of the Second World War, however I’m not sure many of us know of Hitler’s rise to power, and the lead up to the outcast and mass extermination of the Jewish population.

Based on real-life events, Marion Kummerow gives a huge insight into this, in The First Spark of Fire (German Wives #1), the first in a new series, from this incredible author. We follow two very different families, Edith and Julius, who are wealthy, want for nothing and have always been at the forefront of society. Our other family is Helga and Heinrich, who often struggle to keep themselves and their young family afloat, and that doesn’t get any easier once Hitler is in charge. Edith and Helga are German, whilst their husbands are Jewish and they both stand by and support their family as a difficult time approaches.

As in her other books, Marion Kummerow deals with extremely sensitive issues throughout with compassion and empathy. I found the book slow to begin with, but it soon picked up pace and now I can’t wait for the second book in the series to discover how Edith and Helga deal with the next decade.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review a copy of The First Spark of Fire by Marion Kummerow.

The First Spark of Fire is the first in a brand new series, German Wives, by Marion Kummerow and what a brilliant start it was. If this is only the beginning, I can’t wait to see what is to come in future books. It tells the story of two German women, Edith and Helga, who were once school mates but whose lives have split into two very different paths. The story opens in Munich in 1923 and takes us right up to 1938. Right from beginning the author provides us with a fascinating insight into Germany in the years following World War One, detailing how the country suffered an economic depression and also showing the rise of Hitler and his party through to the many absurd laws forced upon the Jewish population. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book quite like it and it really gave me a much deeper understanding of the lead up to World War Two and how ordinary German citizens were so deeply affected by the beliefs and actions of one mad man.

Munich 1923, and the situation is desperate for the citizens of Germany. Desolation is taking hold with hyperinflation and many struggle to put food on the table. The Great War had ruined the country with reparations to be paid which only increases the awful economic situation. A man named Hitler is rumoured to be their saviour and he has recently formed the National Socialist German Workers Party. Reading of the rise of Hitler and initially people’s innocence believing this man will solve all their problems, well it was just heart-breaking. I felt this way because I knew what was to come in future years and you want to reach into the pages of the book and tell the characters what is ahead of them so in that some way they could possibly prepare for it. But sadly that couldn’t happen and the further the story develops the more you feel such sadness and worry for the people you have become invested in.

Edith is married to Julius who owns one of the most important banks in Germany. Julius’s family are Jewish but he converted to Protestantism when he came of age. Edith and Julius have a somewhat strained relationship as she is unable to give him an heir to his business following numerous miscarriages. The love they had for one another when they married has diminished but I sensed underneath it all when the bad times do come that they would be there for each other. That Edith, despite being desperately lonely in Munich away from her family and friends, will always be there for Julius and this sentiment is tested more than ever as the political situation grows unsteady. I loved how we had numerous chapters from Julius’ point of view. Too often it’s only the female characters who are given a voice but here Julius is able to express his opinions and it made me feel some empathy towards him fairly early on.

Given Julius had such a high powered and important job he could have come across as untouchable and invincible but the author gave him a voice and one which I found very interesting. You could see that he did love Edith and as things became worse in Munich he moved them back to Berlin. Both of them were kind and caring when it came to helping others and I loved how Edith wasn’t afraid to ask him for what she wanted in order to aid people. There was no air of arrogance surrounding Julius although I did think he thought he was untouchable in terms of him having Jewish heritage.That the laws that were introduced curtailing the rights of Jews would not affect him given the crucial role he occupied in society. But the author showed how every person with Jewish heritage no matter how fragile was affected. No one was spared and whether you had money or power it made not a scant difference.

An incredible picture was built up of the marriage between Edith and Julius and how they operated in society and as the years pass and the political climate alters you see how they are tested and the reign of terror and its influence spreads and comes closer and closer to their door. As Edith’s family are Jewish, she is encouraged to divorce Julius but I loved how she showed such allegiance to her husband. When family, laws and threats are forcing you to do one thing and you have the ability to stand form and do the opposite that shows a remarkable strength of character. I sense that this trait of Edith’s will be tested time and time again.

Edith’s brother Joseph is the character you will love to hate. He is firm in his views that Hitler is a man for good who will rid Germany of the undesirables who have caused such economic pain and hardship. He becomes a member of Hitler’s SS group and Edith is appalled and firmly against what he stands for and his actions. He is sucked deeper and deeper into the hotbed of pure evil and as the years pass by and Hitler’s party and domination grows in strength Joseph only becomes further entrenched in the worst that has fallen Germany. It’s hard to fathom how two siblings could hold such opposing views and that Joseph could venture down such a twisted path but again this is where the well balanced view portrayed by the author comes into play. As it does with the character of Helga.

Helga is the polar opposite to Edith in terms of where she lives and her family set up. She doesn’t have an endless amount of money at her disposal and when we are introduced to her, her family are struggling to survive the economic depression with her husband Heinrich unable to find work. Her two children Amelie and David suffering cruelty at the hands of friends and teachers in their school all thanks to the laws introduced by Hitler. As with Edith, Helga shows her devotion and love for her husband and family and she will always stand by her man and do anything to help her family survive. She herself is not Jewish but her family members are and as the net tightens around them, she shows her strength, grit and determination time and time again. I did think I would liked to have read more of Helga’s story but as this is only the first book there is plenty more time to discover what fate has in store for Helga and her family.

The First Spark of Fire was a brilliant read filled with honesty and intensity and one which provided the reader with an extremely well balanced view as to how all sections of German society were dealt a deck of cards which would go on to have desperate repercussions for many years. The themes explored and the history detailed were fascinating. Writing this kind of book, there was a danger that it could have read as if it was a history textbook as various events we have all learned about in school are detailed but thankfully it didn’t feel like this at all. The raw, emotional and human side of both Edith and Helga’s story was explored in a considerate, fair and just manner and it allowed you to appreciate both their stories. It showed how no sector of the population was spared. That any connection to being Jewish was ceased upon and therefore those people were marginalised from society no matter what role they held. The story asks many questions – what made the two women stick with their husbands given they could have easily done something which would have meant they were safe? Here love, devotion, bravery and loyalty are words that come to mind. How did their relationships develop and shift over the years as Hitler ruthlessly supressed all critics and made the Jewish population outcasts?

This story highlighted two courageous women who became the people who were to protect their husbands. Traditional roles were reversed in a world that became increasingly fraught with tension and danger with a safe and secure outcome not at all assured. As the book ended on what I would call somewhat of a sombre and uncertain note it only whetted my appetite for what is yet to come. There is so much left unsaid, so much still to happen as the war had not yet begun. There is an awful lot more upheaval, desperation and torment to come for thess characters. I am anxious as to what awaits them but am eager to read the next instalment which I hope I won’t be waiting too long for. It has certainly been one of the best historical fiction books that I have read so far this year.

This book starts off in 1920s Germany and follows the lives of two women: Edith and Helga.

The two couldn’t be further apart when it comes to their stance in society, however, a commonality will bring them together…

Edith Falkenstein is married to Julius, a man 15 years her senior, and a prominent banker, owner of the Falkenstein Bank. Julius is of Jewish heritage, however, he converted to Christianity and doesn’t consider himself to be Jewish.

Edith (who according to Hitler’s standards is a pure Aryan) fell in love with Julius and entered a high society life. She has everything a woman can wish for, apart from a child. It’s fair to say that her miscarriages had put a strain on their marriage.

Helga, on the other hand, is happily married to Heinrich Goldmann, a qualified accountant. The couple have two children, David and Amelia. With 1920s Germany being in dire straits after the WWI, Helga’s family are living hand to mouth.

Helga’s husband is Jewish, whereas she isn’t. With Hitler rising to power and hate towards the Jewish population growing each day, Edith and Helga will have to remain strong and fight for their marriages.

I adored this book so much I read it in two sittings. I loved the historical backdrop: hyperinflation following the Treaty of Versailles, stark poverty in Germany, Hitler’s slow but sure rise to power and the increasing Jewish oppression.

Julius, like majority of the Jewish population didn’t think that Hitler would stay in power for so long. He resisted the idea of leaving Germany because of his job, despite having all the cash in the world. On the other hand, Helga was desperate for her family to leave, but they didn’t have the financial means.

This is the first book in the German Wives series. It finishes in 1938, however, it is not the end yet, as we know that WWII is coming. I cannot wait for another book in this series – I am desperate to find out what’s in store for Helga and Edith.

The First Spark of Fire is a great introduction into the German Wives Series by Marion Kummerow. It gives the reader an insight to interesting historical events that took place as Hitler’s regime is starting to take power and lead into WW2. As the harassment of Jewish people starts, two women will need all the courage, strength and hope they can find so they can do everything they can, for the ones they love. The novel finishes in 1938 with the Jewish policies crackdowns, it leaves the reader wanting to follow these brave women fighting for those they love. An eye-opening read, I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
I would like to thank Bookouture, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read his complimentary copy for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Germany, 1938: Edith and Julius fall head over heels in love with each the very moment they meet. It was love at first sight, and Julius would do anything for Edith, including marrying her at the very first opportunity they have. They are enjoying their new life together as husband and wife, with grand ballrooms and the high society parties for Berlin’s elite. But when the Nazi’s begin to close in on the Jewish community, Edith and Julius’ life begins to crumble. Edith’s brother Joseph enlists as an SS Officer and soon her entire family abandons them. Edith knows she will eventually lose her husband to the custody of the Nazi’s, but she is bound and determined to protect him no matter what the cost is.

Wow what a whirlwind of a story. I was so enamored with this wonderful book I can’t even begin to describe it. First of all, it was completely unputdownable. Do not start reading this book if you can’t finish it at once. I completely lost track of time as I was pulled into this story, flipping through the pages at such a rapid speed, that I couldn’t stop. This emotional book so descriptive of Germany that I felt like I was actually in Germany. My heartbeat was faster and faster as my breath stopped completely while waiting to read what was going to happen next. This phenomenal read will definitely keep your attention while cheering on Edith and Julius. Thank you Marion Kummerow for a wonderful story of courage, hope and faith during one of the darkest times in history. I was very inspired from beginning to end and I highly recommend it!!

This book starts with those years leading to Hitler’s rise, highlighting the struggles for many, who lacked food, shelter and most importantly hope. It shows us how Hitler was able to take advantage of that environment and manipulate it to serve his own ends.
‘Hitler won’t last two months,’ they said, ‘his ideas are too radical.’ For banker, Julius and his wife Edith, their privileged life was unaffected for a long time, until “they came for him”. Dismissing Hitler’s rise to power as nothing to fear was easier from a position of wealth. Julius’s own sisters, unlike him had not converted to Christianity, and saw the threat coming. Julius felt that conversion offered him immunity… how wrong he was.
Yet, elsewhere, Hitler’s boldness was welcomed, people cheering on his determination to see through his promises, sensing hope after the country had been ravaged by WW1 and the ensuing reparations that bound Germany to years of austerity where inflation raged, the Reichsmark became worthless, and their futures looked bleak and uncertain. Edith’s own family, much less well off than her husband’s, however, saw things differently. Her brother Joseph rose in the ranks of the SS in support of Der Führer, putting a strain on family bonds from the start, bonds that could only stretch so far before snapping.
Caught in the middle, the Mischlings - Edith’s schoolfriend, Helga, who’d married a non-practising Jew, lived a happy life with their two children, but who could now only look on in horror as their lives unravelled.
With the benefit of hindsight, we can see the traps set to take the German people along with him. As the saying goes, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph in the world is that good men do nothing.” Yet what could be done when raising your head above the parapet made you a marked man?
What a pace this story moves at, switching between main viewpoints that deftly show how one’s life experiences and personal circumstances affected everything. The speed of change was beyond comprehension, new laws making life harder for those who opposed while being cheered on by those who saw their own prospects improving.
This story, so well researched, reminds us of those early atrocities and how unimpeded Hitler’s path to power became. Violence, sowing hatred and division, pitting citizen against citizen, family members against each other, employees against employers, and even wives against husbands, all tactics that worked in his favour.

It was impossible not to get drawn into this story, to not feel despair for the characters who could not believe what was happening to their country, nor could they understand how little time it took for family and friends to turn against them. Yet, to those in support of the regime, in their shoes, how might we have reacted?
Knowing what awaited those who fell foul of the Aryan dream, their stories are even more compelling. And yet, given what we know, it’s so sad to acknowledge how little we’ve learnt from the past, for are we not seeing similar seeds of division being sown in current times, pitting people against each other and stirring up tensions?
So compelling, moving, despairing and heart-breaking, yet the flicker of hope never went out.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy. I’m all in for the next in the series.

The author once again writes about her beloved Germany.
One thing I've noticed while reading this authors books, how impeccably researched they are.
This book is written in the time period preceding and during Hitler's rise to power. His followers were already rabidly devoted.
Set between 1923 and 1938 it follows the rise of Hitler and the Nazis and the escalation of the mistreatment of anyone with even a slight bit of Jewish blood. The Nazis want the women to divorce their Jewish husbands. What ensues is the women refusing and doing whatever it takes to save their men. These are women of bravery who would give up family relationships to stand by their man. Heartbreaking and realistic. A look at history we don't hear much about.
This is the first in the series and I look forward to reading more in this series to see what these brave women do next.

Pub Date: 11 Apr 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

This book definitely has all the feels.

Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of Books on Tour! The First Spark of Fire (German Wives Book 1) is an unputdownable story by Marion Kummerow.

This story is told from four different perspectives in the time period preceding and during Hitler’s rise to power. If you are curious how “regular” people supported Hitler, this book is for you. What follows is a gripping adventure that will keep you up late at night. This book brought me down a rabbit hole of research. I can’t wait for the next book to come out!
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

READ THIS BOOK IF YOU
Are looking for a different type of WWII story
Are curious about history
Like a novel with multiple narrators
Need a good cry

This book gives an inside look at what it must have been like in the years leading up to Hilter rule and after it took hold. Beforehand people were going about their lives, some struggling much more than others. Even those more influential such as Julius, one of the main characters, was quick to dismiss Hilter as an actual threat. With that said, we have the benefit of hindsight to know that danger and extreme hardship was coming, especially to Jewish people and any who resisted the new movement.

This story moves along at a good pace and is told through a few people's points of view. You have a wealthy couple, who haven't experienced any financial hardship, though their marriage is growing increasingly distant. They belong to the top echelons of society. This is Edith and Julius, a born jew but baptized Protestant, who owns a bank. Then there's Edith's brother, Joseph, who believes Hilter is the solution to a better Germany. The third perspective belongs to an old classmate of Edith's. Her and her husband have felt the financial impact of an unstable economy. They have two young children to provide for, and he is of Jewish background.

It's so sad to see how blinded people were by Hilter's point of view and outlook. It blows me away that so many just fell in line to blindly follow after him. Just because Hilter said something, it must be true. How sad to think of all the horrendous acts conducted at this time in history under the guise of improving the world. Beyond violent acts, people lost their jobs and their homes. Equally sad is how it pitted family members against each other and tore marriages apart.

This book shed a light on this volatile time in history. I recommend this read for deep thinkers because it does get one thinking--and angry. But, sadly, history has taught us little. Even though Hilter is long dead, prejudice and hate crimes still exist and those seen as "different" are persecuted and outcast. This can be for any reason, no matter how slight. It may be due to a person's background, lifestyle, religion, appearance... Essentially anything that makes a person uncomfortable has the potential to wreck havoc. Honestly, in the present day, there is much more prejudice and stereotyping than most want to admit.

I also saw the reflection of history repeating itself with the recent pandemic. While it wasn't stereotyping, people back then tamped down Hitler's impact at the beginning, refusing to see what was coming even when it was right in front of their faces. With Covid-19, the warning signs were there and ignored or dismissed as being of little consequence. As a whole, humankind tends to downplay our instincts. Where would the world be if more of us listened to our voice inside and followed reason? Then who is to say what is right and wrong? But what if we decided to stand in our own power, thinking for ourselves rather than blindly following the masses?

The above line of thoughts are only only two I'm sharing. This book would be an excellent choice for a book club. I can only imagine the colorful and lively discussions. While this book didn't have a neat and tidy ending, we know from the history books where it was heading, and still recommend.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy.

The start of a new series, Helga and Edith are married to men who are Jewish. Edith longed for children and Helga had two. The book is a stark look at the beginning of the seduction of Hitler, beginning in 1923. The book spans over a decade so Kummerow selectively highlights key events as the noose tightened around Germany.
As always, the author brings her characters voices to a realistic pitch. We feel Edith’s angst and Helga’s frustration as the laws and landscape rapidly change in Germany.
I’m vested and waiting anxiously for the next book to see what happens.

The First Spark of Fire is a great first book in the series of German Wives.

Marion Kummerow always slowly draws you into to her historical fiction and soon you are caught up in the characters lives and the history of the era.

The book does a good job in depicting the rise of Nazism between 1923 and 1938 showing the horrific treatment of the Jewish people.

It is a story of courage and bravery as Edith and Helga both married to Jewish men do what they can to saves their husbands lives.

The writing is vivid and you feel the terror and the horror as the pages turn.

I for one loved the ending, it as after all a series so I don't expect the story to be wrapped up and I cant wait for Book 2 in The German Wives.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for gripping read.

“Bravery against the odds”
This was a different historical fiction story in that it takes us to a time period in history we do not hear about often. The story begins in 1923 before the rise of Hitler had become a reality to Germany.
The authors historical information brings to light more about what went on before the Nazi reign as well as during the reign.
The information about the beer hall coup, the fire at the Reichstag, the Night of the Long Knives were a few of the prominent historically accounts the author expanded on,
The ending left me wanting to know about the fate of the characters I had gotten to know so well. Hopefully the next book in the series will be just as good as this one was.
The First Spark of Fire is truly a heart wrenching, powerful and insightful story that I highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.