One word: Captivating.

This book held captured my attention from the start and held it until the last word. I LOVED following the lives of all the characters. Sometimes when there are multiple points of view, some become favored over others. That was not the case here. I can't recommend this book enough, and I'm off to read book three in this series.

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

The Berlin Wife’s Choice is the latest compelling historical fiction novel by Marion Kummerow and the second book in her ‘German Wives’ series. I read and reviewed the first book in the series ‘The Berlin Wife’ (previously published as The First Spark of Fire) earlier in the and it was one of my standout historical fiction novels of the first half of 2023 so I was eagerly anticipating the release of The Berlin Wife’s Choice and it certainly didn’t disappoint.
Our story follows on directly from the end of The Berlin Wife in 1938 and takes us on a journey through the events leading to the outbreak of war and then into the early years of the war. One of my favourite thing about Marion Kummerow’s novels is the way they take a deep dive into the time period in question and cover many key events in depth. As the narrative spans a shorter timeline than was covered in The Berlin Wife (which was set between 1923 and 1938) we do see a smaller number of significant events but those which were featured, which included The Gleiwitz Incident and the continuing introduction of antisemitic laws in Germany, were explored well. As with the previous book, the history was all clearly meticulously researched.
In The Berlin Wife’s Choice, we continue to follow the stories of Edith and Helga, two non-Jewish women supporting their Jewish husbands (and in Helga’s case, also her half-Jewish children) through the introduction of antisemitic laws. They are both fantastically written characters and it is brilliant to explore this unique perspective on the rise of antisemitism in Germany. Through Edith’s husband Julius, who has recently been released from Sachsenhausen, we get a fantastic portrayal of his lasting trauma following his experiences of being arrested and spending two days in the concentration camp. We also continue to follow Edith’s brother Joseph as he rises through the SS ranks, gaining further insight into how indoctrinated he has been into the Nazi regime. He is extremely well written as a truly vile character and his sense of self-importance was sickening, even describing himself as “omnipotent” at one point.
Overall, The Berlin’s Wife Choice is another powerful historical fiction novel from Marion Kummerow and a fantastic new instalment of the German Wives series. The series is a must-read for those with an interest in Second World War history and I’m eagerly anticipating the release of the next instalment ‘The Berlin Wife’s Resistance’ in early 2024.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I have posted my review on my blog www.yourschloe.co.uk and the post is linked.

This was a hard story to read. A good one, but hard on the emotions. It left me feeling thankful for the blessings in my life.

Marion Kummerow, in the second book of the German Wives series, brings the true tension and stress of being a German Jew in the 1930s to life in this latest installment. Following Helga, Edith, their husbands, and their families as anti-Jewish legislation continues to spread across Berlin, Kummerow brings the stresses of the period to the forefront of her novel through the perspectives of two Aryan women married to Jewish men. While Helga and Edith refuse to abandon their husbands in this terrifying time, their husbands seek to protect their wives and families from further persecution. The characters are the heart and soul of the story, their experiences driving the plot forward and emphasizing the key events and actions of the period. Their relationships, particularly their relationships with their husbands, also further the plot forward, as it is these relationships that are creating such hardship and strife for the respective couples. Kummerow also shifts to other perspectives, such as Helga’s son or Edith’s sister-in-law, to show the spread of Nazi influence and Jewish oppression (and their opportunities to escape the country before it is too late). Kummerow has once again created an emotional character-driven historical fiction novel that brings World War II and the terrors of Nazi Germany to life.

The Berlin's Wife's Choice is the second book in the German Wives series. It picks up the story from where Book 1 finishes..
Excellent research and wonderful writing continues to bring the early years of Hitler's reign pre World War II to life as more and more restrictions on the Jewish population rain down restricting their lives completely.

I would have given this a 5; but having just finished the first book in the series; I felt that many of the sections in this book were repetitive of happenings in the first. This made the book less interesting to me.

Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of the Books on Tour for “The Berlin Wife’s Choice”. Marion Kummerow has done it again!
It picks up from the first book, “The Berlin Wife”. This is another excellent book with twists and turns that you don't expect.
I won't give away the ending but it is everything I had hoped for. Very good read! I am looking forward to the next book in the series. 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.

This book has all the feels. I loved it - tissues needed, some chocolate helps.
Edith and her Jewish husband lead a glamorous life. Until the Nazis come into power.
Living in terror with other families, small crowded space, the sound of footsteps enough to bring hysteria.
Such an amazingly descriptive read. Very well done.

The Berlin Wife's choice is the second book in the German Wives series and starts off just where the first book ended.

It was an absolutely gripping and heartrending story of the lengths we go for love. I once again was in awe of the two main protagonists from the first book, Edith and Helga who remained strong and resilient among hardships as Aryan women married to Jews during Nazi reign in Germany.

This was a fast paced historical fiction and the author has put in a lot of efforts into researching the events of 1941 and I was completely transported to Berlin with an impending sense of doom and dread and could not help but worry about what fate would befall Edith and Helga and their families.

The book ends on a cliffhanger making way for a third book in the series and I can't wait to see where Edith and Helga end up. If you are a fan of WWII fiction, I highly recommend reading this series from the start.

Thank you @bookouture for having me on the #booksontour and @netgalley and @marionkummerow for a digital ARC to read and review.

Berlin, 1939; Julius and Edith lived a perfect life. They were happily married and so much in love with each other. They lived in their beautiful historic mansion enjoying the fancy parties and guests dressed in their finest attire. But as soon as the war began, those days slipped away and the glitz and glamor turned into darkness and sorrow. Julius loses everything he has because he is Jewish. What little possessions they had left, they were forced to sell in order to buy food. They scraped together whatever they could in order to survive. Julius was able to avoid being captured by the Nazis but Edith is convinced that he won’t be so lucky a second time. But Edith is faced with the decision of her life, and Julius will do whatever he has to to keep her safe and alive.

The Berlin Wife’s Choice written by author Marion Kummerow was a heart-breaking and wonderfully written historical fiction. This author has an amazing gift of incorporating real life facts and teaching the reader through fiction story telling. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. My heart broke for Edith and Julius and the wonderful life they lived and were forced to give up. This is the second installment in the German Wives Series, and was every bit as great as the first book. This can be read as a standalone novel but my suggestion is to read the whole series. Thank you Marion Kummerow for such a wonderful story, I definitely recommend this story.

In this highly emotive read, principal characters Edith and Helga are living the day in and day out horrors of the Nazi regime. They are among those singled out, forced to sell or even give over their businesses, non-Jewish wives pressured to divorce their Jewish husbands, being forced to wear a compulsory yellow star to identify them as Jews, and so much more, was poured onto those who led happy and productive lives, until they sadly did not.

Although only 240 pages, this book felt long. No, not due to the writing, which was absolutely excellent, just the pure horror that so many who were singled out by the regime, and what they had to experience. I was filled with true sadness while reading this book. Although not an easy read, I think it is well worth reading, as well as the first book in this series, The First Spark of Fire.

Personal note: Although I am a POC, my great-grandather was Syrian, and although he came over to the US in 1914, I couldn’t help but imagine what some of my other relatives who remained in Syria experienced. Books like this bring the history of millions alive and I don't think their suffering should ever be forgotten.

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

This is the second book in the German Wives series. The Berlin’s Wife Choice carries on from where The Berlin Wife ended: Kristallnacht in November 1938. Here, we see the aftermath of The Night of the Broken Glass and the repercussions for its Jewish citizens.

In the story, we discover more of the degrading policies implemented on the Jewish population, such as relinquishing their driving licences and vehicles; all their silver, gold, platinum, and precious jewels; leaving their current housing and moving into Jewish quarters, usually sharing an apartment with another Jewish family; and finally wearing the Star of David on their coat arm. These changes didn’t happen in quick succession, they were drip fed bit by bit, but the Jewish population had no choice but to conform or risk imprisonment.

The Berlin’s Wife Choice follows the same characters as in the first book.

Edith Falkenstein is an Aryan woman married to a Jewish bank owner, Julius Falkenstein. In the first book, Julius was arrested, but in the second one, we discover what happened while he was there. Edith reached out to her brother, an SS official, Joseph Hesse, who pulled some strings to free Julius.

Now, Julius is plagued by nightmares, and there’s been a change in his character: he is definitely more forlorn and negative than what he used to be. There are drastic changes coming towards the Falkensteins and even their rapidly replenishing wealth won’t be able to help them…

Helga Goldmann, like Edith, is an Aryan woman married to a Jewish man, Heinrich. The Goldmanns aren’t as well off as the Falkensteins, but I’d say they are much happier and still very much in love after twenty years together. They have two nearly grown up children, David and Amelie.

David falls in love with Thea Blume, one of Amelie’s friends. Thea is also Jewish, but she had Aryan looks: blonde hair and blue eyes. She hates the eastern Jews because ‘it’s all their fault’ (even though she is Jewish herself!). She’s not the cleverest, but poor David is smitten.

Edith and Helga are friends and the two women do everything in their power to hold their families together. However, when they are in public with their husbands, they are ridiculed because they are married to Jewish men. As I was reading, I was quite shocked that people would say such awful things to another human being. I admired Edith’s and Helga’s determination and bravery to hold everything together.

The book finishes on such a cliff hanger and I simply cannot wait to read the next one in the series.

I enjoyed it, despite the harrowing treatment of the Jewish people. I know that the worst is still to come…

I love reading historical fiction. A well written book like this one has a lot of factual information in it. With how well researched the book is I am able to travel back in time with the author to a time of Nazi rule in Berlin. Jews must wear a yellow star on their clothing. Once she wore fine jewels and ate steak dinners, now the jewels have been sold on the black market for food and rationing coupons barely get the family by with the most basic of necessities. Picking up where the last book left off, we see the continuous struggles the Jews have and feel their anger, grief, fear and feel their helplessness. The German women are told to divorce their Jewish husbands and shunned if they don't. Despite the darkness that has enfolded them these women will stand by their man despite the hardships it causes them. Full of strength, and belief in their husbands these women who don't get enough credit are the backbone of their family and hold it all together. They will go to any length to show their love despite the danger they find themselves in.
I greatly look forward to the next book in this series.

Pub Date 09 Aug 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

The Berlin Wife’s Choice picks up more or less where The Berlin Wife left off. It follows two women Edith and Helga and their families in the years leading up to World War Two and the years that follow the outbreak of war. This can be read as a standalone if you have not read book one in this series German Wives series by Marion Kummerow. It’s easy to discern what has previously happened in the story which brings us to the point where we once again meet the characters who are feeling the effects of Hitler’s uncontested rise to power. Don’t be expecting endless events or twists and turns as the plot moves at slow pace throughout as it’s very character driven but you will be rewarded for your patience as events really ramp up towards the end.

The chapters move back and forth between Edith and Helga’s viewpoints and again, as with the first book, the contrast between their families and their social standings was deftly explored and developed. Edith always stands by her beliefs and her loyalty and devotion to her husband Julius is never in question and the same can be said for Helga in relation to her husband Heinrich. Edith is estranged from her family because they never wished for her to remain with Julius upon discovering he came from a Jewish family, rather they hoped she would divorce him and return to the family fold and be on their side in terms of their support for Hitler and his policies. Her brother Joseph has a high position within the SS and the few chapters told from his viewpoint are at times quite chilling as he is in direct opposition to his sister and sees no harm in what he is engaging in. He is devoted to Hitler’s cause and it’s quite frightening how sucked in he is by everything.

Edith deserves much admiration because she stands by Julius’ side through thick and thin never forgetting her marriage vows. She too feels the stranglehold of the Nazi’s twisting and strengthening. She has to become accustomed to herself and Julius’ downfall in society and going from mixing in high circles to being alienated and forced to use the dreaded ration cards. But I admired how she dealt with everything with such good grace and I thought she was a lot more street wise than Julius. I think she could see the bigger picture that was coming down the line and wanted to prepare for it but Julius stuck his head in the sand almost believing himself to be bulletproof and unassailable. I sense there is a lot more to come from Edith in the next book and we have merely scratched the surface in terms of what she is capable of doing and achieving. She has taken on the role of leader and provider in the relationship and has done so with self respect and dignity.

Julius forms a central part to this story and it was brilliant to see a male character given such a prominent role in what one would term a book with women at its forefront. We see his slow descent from his role of power as a commanding businessman who owns his own bank into someone a former shadow of himself. A man who can’t believe that despite his renouncing his Jewish heritage from a young age and practicing Protestantism, the laws, harassment and humiliation actually apply to him. The roles are reversed between himself and Edith and he detests this despite deeply loving her. He had always felt as many at the time did that a husband should protect their wife and provide for them but now the opposite is occurring and I don’t think his ego could cope with this. I think Julius felt that given he had such an important role in German society and mixed in the circles of the higher powers that he was in fact invincible and untouchable. He got quite the shock when he found this not to be the case.

I thought Julius was quite cocky in his beliefs that himself and Edith would escape the war untouched and unscathed. Instead he went from a powerful business man to a nobody, ostracised from society wishing he had heeded Edith’s urging a long time ago and emigrated when they could. Instead they are sharing their Berlin apartment with two Jewish families which leads him to be even more resentful. Saying all this makes Julius sound like an awful ungrateful character and one whom I didn’t like at all but that’s not true. It’s just Marion Kummerow explores so well how all people in society were affected by Hitler and his laws and that no one no matter how weak or fragile a link to Judaism would be spared. The role reversal between himself and Edith was well explained and detailed and it showed how the German Wives of the title really stepped up when needed the most showing courage, grit and determination and how they could adapt and survive through the harshest of times.

Edith’s situation was a lot more comfortable than that of Helga’s but her fall was far steeper but yet the two and their families are alike in many ways. The friendship the pair formed in school may have shifted and time and society separated them but deep down they are there for each other. This is shown when Edith takes in Helga’s family when laws are introduced forbidding Jews to live in certain areas and buildings. Helga also does a role reversal with her husband Heinrich. She is the one who can go out to work to try and provide for her family even if the pay is pitiful. She is not Jewish but being married to a Jew means all the laws apply to her and her children David and Amelie. I felt Helga was being worn down by all the new laws that were enacted and that her family’s situation grew ever more desperate with every turn of the page.

Helga was a character who had strength and resilience and even if Heinrich did believe that she would be better off without him she never listened to him and remained steadfast by his side hoping that soon Hitler and his party would be quashed. Helga and Heinrich were much more realistic as to what was happening as opposed to Julius. It was as if they were really on the ground and front and centre as to what was going on whereas Julius wanted to remain in his gilded cage for as long as possible. If I had to choose between Edith and Helga I think I would prefer Helga but only by a slight margin and that’s because her family background and social position meant she was much more down to earth and pragmatic about things. She fights the injustices against her family and will do everything in her power to make sure they make it through the war unscathed but whether that will happen remains to be seen.

The Berlin Wife’s Choice is a mixture of fact and fiction detailing the gradually worsening conditions, restrictions, discrimination and humiliation that befall the Jewish population of Germany as well as gypsies, dissidents critics, homosexuals and asocials. Basically,anyone whom Hitler deemed not ideal to contribute to the perfect Aryan race that he was creating. Given the majority of the story takes place prior to the official declaration of war I read through this with an impending sense of doom and dread because with each turn of the page I expected the worse to befall the characters. We all know what happened to the Jewish population at the time and because I have become invested in the characters and the fact they weren’t aware of what was around the corner only makes for a read packed full of tension. They unwillingly accept each new law and regulation throw at them thinking things couldn’t get any worse but I fear for Edith and Helga the worst is just around the corner.

The ending left the reader with a cliff-hanger with a precipice of sorts where things could go either way but I have a strong sense of what will occur and I do so hope it doesn’t but I will have to wait until next year to discover what happens when The Berlin Wife’s Resistance is published. Helga and Edith have so much more of their story to share and I for one will very interested to see what further developments await them.

BOOK TOUR STOP

Another stellar historical fiction novel by Marion Kummerow. The Berlin Wife’s Choice is book number 2 in the German Wives series.

The book picks up with the return of Edith’s Jewish husband, Julius Falkenstein after his arrest on the Night of the Broken Glass; a tragic 48 hours in history instigated by the Nazis against the Jews of Germany and Austria. Thousands of Jews were brutalized, tortured, killed and arrested and sent to German prison camps, while their businesses, homes, schools and synagogues were destroyed. After his arrest Julius was sent to a German camp and if it weren’t for Edith’s intervention and the fact that she is Aryan, Julius would “be rotting away in the Sachsenhausen Camp”.

The Berlin Wife’s Choice continues with the story of Edith Falkenstein and Helga Goldman. Two aryan women whom were classmates many years ago, who fight to protect their Jewish husbands and families from the evils of Hitler and Nazi Germany. Their love and devotion to their husbands fuel their fire to save them at all costs.

Like the first book in the German Wives Series, this book is historically accurate, well researched and heartfelt. For some reason I seemed to connect better with Edith and Helga in this book compared to the first one. I felt the author went into more depth into who they really are and what they feel and believe in.

I also found The Berlin Wife’s Choice extremely thought provoking, igniting a lot of internal moral dialogue. I grappled with a lot of “what if’s”and “what would I do” scenarios. To me that’s a sign of a well written book.

I was sad the story finished but cannot wait for book number 3 so I can find out what is happening in the lives of my two favourite heroines.

Thank you so much Bookouture and NetGalley for my advanced readers copy of The German Wife’s Choice in exchange for my honest review

This is the second book in the German Wives series, and we continue along with the stories of Edith and Julius, and Helga and Heinrich, as Hitler gains power and WWII begins. Julius and Heinrich are Jewish, although from differing backgrounds, and we discover just how life changed, step by step, for those unfortunate Jews.

Once again Marion Kummerow has delivered a brilliant story, based on fact but very much a work of fiction and once again, I learnt things I didn’t know about Hitler’s rise to power and the atrocities he was responsible for, at the very beginning of the war.

Enjoy is probably the wrong word, but I was interested in the continuation of Joseph’s story, a staunch SS member, but also Edith’s brother. He played a big part in the commencement of the war, but he also had Edith’s back and ultimately wanted what was best for her.

I would definitely recommend this book if you are a fan of historical WWII fiction, but check out the first in the series to begin with, so you are introduced to the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review The Berlin Wife’s Choice by Marion Kummerow.

Second book in the series.
I really recommend that the previous book be read first if you haven’t done that. That way you will have a better understanding of the changed environment. How many Jewish people who had the means to emigrate earlier just could not fantom how quickly everything drastically changed. Losing your property, not allowed to work or have a business. Been stripped of your German citizenship and been branded as a subhuman. It’s amazing the non-Jewish woman who stood by their Jewish husband and shared the hardship when a simple divorce would have restored their rights and privileges. They fell that the marriage would safeguard their spouses. This book really gives a feeling of what life was like at that time. Hope we don’t have to wait too long for the next book.

This is the next installment in the German Wife’s series. The story begins where the last book left off so we can continue with the same characters we have come to know.
The story has so much heartbreak going on. But, along with heartbreak, you see love and hope emerging.
What lengths will one go for love?
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.

Emotional, gripping and fast-paced WW2 novel with love and desperation.

Before the Nazi time, Edith Falkenstein and her Jewish husband Julius lived in a life without any a single worry. When the Nazi arrived, they lost almost everything. From living in a mansion to a cramped place with other families.

Julius was sent to the camp once, luckily he escaped from it. But Edith knew they could not stay here anymore. When they still had a chance to fly to other countries, they had to make the decision.

I started this as my first read in German Wife series. I will go back to read the first one and can’t wait for the next installment in that series. The life, frustration and hope created a perfect story plot under Marion Kummerow’s pen.

Many thanks to NetGalley, bookouture and Marion Kummerow for this heartbreaking WW2 story.

Kindle: 268 pages
Pub date: Aug 9, 2023

Even though I didn’t read book one this was very easy to get into the story and the characters. This genre is one of my favorites and I was not disappointed. It was easy to follow yet hard to put down. I read it in one setting! I can’t wait for the next book!

Hindsight is 20/20. There were so many clues along the way as Hitler pushed his agenda. It is obvious now, but living through it was much different. “It can never get worse”…
There are multiple characters within this story. But the ones that stand out are the Gentiles married to Jews. They have a choice. Divorce and continue in favor with the Nazis, but also support the Nazi agenda or, stay true to their marriage vows and slowly become demonized with their spouses.
Racism is once again destroying our own country. We are all made in God’s image. The color of skin does not matter. It is the heart that makes one true colors show.