Edith and Helga are both married to Jewish men- and the Nazi party is rising in power. Set between 1923 and 1938, this is the story of their early lives and how they cope as things get worse for their husbands. Edith and Julius have money but will that protect them? It won't matter that he converted or that Helga's husband Heinz is non-practicing. This is an unusual entry in the WWII genre in that it's set in the run up- and it leaves the reader hanging. That said. I am waiting for the next installment. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

The book does a good job of how the Jewish people got caught in the rise of the Nazis persecution. It started out with a few inconveniences and gradually got worse until it was too late for the Jewish people to escape. The rich felt they were safe and secure and the poor people had nowhere to go. It seems to be really realistic of what probably happened at the beginning of the WW in Germany.

My big disappointment is that the story isn’t finished. It ends with the story unresolved and who knows how long until the next book is out to continue the story. Except for this I really enjoyed the book.

Thanks NetGalley and Bookouture for an early copy of this novel.

I enjoyed reading this book but to find out what happens next you have to buy the next book.. The ending left you feeling that it was unfinished. I like books that finish the story. If they are that good you will want to read the next one.

A fantastic WWII novel that is unputdownable. Authentic details and superb writing raise this book above the rest. I really enjoyed it and will read anything this author decides to write!

THE FIRST SPARK OF FIRE is the first novel in the German Wives series by MARION KUMMEROW and I am really looking forward to the follow up novels.
The story starts in 1923 and goes right through to 1938, following the rise of Hitler and the Nazis and the escalation of their horrific treatment of the Jews.
We follow two women who are married to Jews, Edith Falkenstein, whose husband Julius converted to prostentism when he turned twenty one, and Helga Goldman whose husband Heinrich is a non practising Jew. Julius and Edith are extremely wealthy with Julius being a brilliant businessman and owning the Falkenstein bank, and Heinrich and Helga, with their two children, struggling first of all with the effects of inflation and then with Heinrich, a hardworking accountant, losing one job after another. The Nazi answer to their problem would be for them to divorce their husbands and save themselves!
We see the incredible courage of these two school friends as they determine to do all they can to keep their husbands safe. Their families have turned their back on them and agree with the Nazis that they should divorce them and keep themselves safe……..
We will have to wait until the next book in the series to see what happens next!
This author really knows her WW11 history and has written an interesting and enlightening account of the horrors of the time.
I highly recommend The First Spark of Fire to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

A great read! What I particularly enjoyed about this novel is that it takes place in 1920 up to the Second World war. That is, a time not often thematic in novels. I found really interesting to follow the political development through different kinds of families: non Jewish, half Jewish, practicing Judaism, converted Jewish people to another religion, or just uninterested in religion. The psychological development of the characters appeared to me very credible: the way it took to realise that religion actually did not so much to do with anything....
The conclusion was surprising in the sense that it was not a conclusion as such, but rather a harsh ending of book 1! Meaning I can't wait for book 2!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.

Enjoyed book one in a new series and now looking forward to reading more! Three cheers for the author because they have done it again… I opened this book and I was lost straight away… brilliant story… perfectly paced… I just love this author… 5 stars, of course.

In many respects this is an excellent book. Focusing on the interwar period in Germany it details the rise of Nazism and the growing persecution against Jewish people.it marries together individual stories demonstrating how nazism affected them. My main problem with this book is that it is book 1 in the seriesand left the story hanging, waiting for the next in the series. How frustrating!