Brothers at War

This is the third book in the Orphans of War series. Once again, we come across the two brother’s Floris and Christiaan. Floris once in full SS honor is now delegated to be a prison guard at the concentration camp since being wounded in the war. Christiaan is working for the resistance and sent to same concentration camp.

Nora is Floris’s wife and she is working with the British as a radar Operator. When Christann her brother-in-law is missing, she is faced with a choice. Stay safe in Britain or take on a dangerous assignment.

Lisa is Christiaan’s sister and she is working with the British in London but yearns to be more involved and wants to find out what happened to her brother.

The story follows these three as they make their way in the war and the consequences of their bravery and resistance against the Nazi’s. The Nazi’s do not think well of Spies and usually the consequence is death.

It is well written and follows the three characters from the other books in the series. It is at times hard to read about the cruelty of the Nazi’s, but the courage of these characters is great.
I love that it has two independent and courageous women as characters in some very dangerous situations with dire consequences at times.

The story was good and I enjoyed reading it.

I received a complementary copy of the book to read and review. The review is voluntary and the words are my own.

A good book, but not one I would be interested in reading again or recommending to my friends. Just ok

A descriptive story of the horrors of war and a story that will stay with you a long time.
Many thanks to The Book Whisperer and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this.

I read this book, unaware that it was part of a series. Despite this, I enjoyed this book, however, I did find it a bit slow and at times hard to piece together, as it centres on four POVs. I think I would have enjoyed this more, had I read the previous books in the series.

Though this is the finale of the Orphans of War trilogy, it is the only book I have read and it works as a stand alone book.
It is a very real look at lesser known aspects of WWII. It shows the horrors of WWII, but also the courage and sacrifice during the final months of the war. The horrors were so real that at times I had to put the book down to digest what I had read. After I finished the book, I kept thinking about the characters. I wasn’t ready to let them go.

This was probably the least favorite of the books in the series. It both had highly improbable situations as well as horrible images of the tortures of the period (while true, there gets to be a point where some seems gratuitous. It was still an interesting story. I liked the second book better as Floris' character seemed to have some humanity that is missing in this book.

An amazing story but very graphic. If you don't want to read about what really went on during WWII stay away. Otherwise a great perspective on many different fronts of the war.

A very interesting yet haunting story of the final stages of WWII.. it never ceases to amaze me the courage and strength of so many people in wars. Characters risking their lives for their country and their beliefs. Yet on the dark side the atrocities that occurred in concentration camps. When you read this book you will discover the vast differences in human nature and wonder how anyone can commit such deadly cruelty to another human being. The author’s words create a picture not easily forgotten. I highly recommend this novel.

This is the concluding book in a series. The characters are well written and the story moves quickly. The reader learns that some of the scenes are based on real events. We learn about those facts as we read what the author shares about his research for the novel. The author presents lesser known facts from WWII, so the reader is likely to learn something. It is an enjoyable read. I read an electronic copy courtesy of Net Galley.

This is the third book in the Orphans of War trilogy. It was a fantastic and well awaited conclusion to the story. It brings the stories of Nora, Christiaan, Floris, and Lisa full circle. I enjoyed the entire series, but this may have been the best. Christiaan, ended up in Mauthausen concentration camp, which I have visited. The author did a fantastic job of conveying the horror of the camp and the extreme circumstances of the steps. Overall, 5 out of 5 stars

Courtesy of Netgalley and The Book Whisperer, I received the ARC of Crossroads of Granite by Michael Reit, the third book in his WWII historical trilogy, focused on members of the Danish Resistance. This novel is well researched and plotted, a compelling story of courage against so many odds. I found the descriptions of Nazi atrocities difficult to read but they must be remembered. Truly a page turner, I highly recommend this book for those who want to learn more about WWII.

The horrors of World War Two come to life in Crossroads of Granite. My preference in reading are books that come under Historical Fiction. I have read my fair share of WWII (which are now flooding the market) and most of the time I try to stay away with books that deal with concentration camps. However, this time with this series I didn't allow myself to look away. Being Jewish, of course, I have known people who have survived the death camps, have heard some of their stories. This book brought back some of those stories I have heard from the survivors I have known. For me, it was difficult to read this book, but I did. Well written, well researched, kudos to the author. No we should never forget. Now we are at a time when the generations of the past have left us very few of those who experienced what this book put into words are left. While the war was over in 1945, it was never over for those who struggled to stay alive, who managed to leave the concentration camps behind. But, did they ever, did they ever forget, and most of all, what about the guilt that they survived while others did not! As a Jewish woman, I have the responsibility to always remember, for we are the bearers of that history. Do not fool yourselves, this could happen again, as history has a way of repeating itself.

Michael Reit brings the dangers of crossing Europe to life in his latest novel Crossroads of Granite. Following Christiaan, Lisa, and Nora, all of whom are spread across Europe until their paths realign in the most unexpected places. Christiaan, a Dutch agent dropped into the Netherlands by British intelligence, encounters his brother Floris in an internment camp, while Nora continues her work as a radio operator until she can no longer fulfill her duties. Lisa joins up with the American army, working overtime as a nurse to help the Third Army cross into Germany and push back Nazi forces. Reit certainly ups the stakes in Crossroads of Granite, bringing the horrors, tension, and fears of 1945 to life through Christiaan, Lisa, and Nora’s experiences across central Europe. The multiple perspectives strongly highlight the perils of the period, while Reit’s characters remain fully developed and complicated as they continue to fight for European independence. Reit’s prose and setting construction are strong, building the foundations of the period and using his settings to help his characters evolve and struggle. Crossroads of Granite brings the Orphans of War trilogy to a satisfying, high-stakes resolution for Nora, Lisa, Christiaan, and the rest of the Allied force.

I LOVED THIS BOOK, IT’S TERRIFIC, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE OT STOP READING. I believe the characters are wonderfull.

I really enjoyed Crossroads of Granite. Michael Reit provides a great story and really paints a great picture with compelling characters and storylines. I look forward ot reading other novels in the future.

Crossroads of Granite by Michael Reit is filled with intrigue, brother against brother, female spies, and concentration camp tortures. Who will survive?

A copy was provided for my review, but all opinions are my own.

Crossroads of Granite by Michael Reit is the final installment in the self-published Orphans of War trilogy. What makes his books different from other WWII historical fiction is his focus on lesser known aspects of major events and lesser known places.
In this book, the principal focus is the Nazi prison/work camp in Mauthausen, Austria with its associated granite mining pits. This was one of the most brutal of the Nazi camps run by the SS and not a common subject in this genre. Other topics were the radio communication and radar tracking support for major operations such as Quicksilver and Overlord, and the Army field hospitals set up during liberation.
A native of the Netherlands, Mr. Reit’s main characters are Dutch and we learn about the roles Dutch citizens played outside the Netherlands during the war.
As mentioned earlier, this is the third and final book of the series. I read it without having read books 1 and 2 as I was reading it for a review. Although the time period covered stands alone, the stories of the principal characters are continuing. Little in the way of backstory is given to tell readers what preceded and what are the relationships between the characters in the first few chapters of Crossroads. More is revealed later in small bits. I strongly recommend that readers read the summaries of the prior books if reading this as a stand-alone to avoid confusion.
Two of the principle characters are brothers Floris and Christiaan Brouwer. Floris is an SS soldier and prison guard. Christiaan, working as a spy for the British SOE, has been captured and becomes a prisoner of the SS. The other two principals are Nora and Lisa, both of whom have escaped the continent and reside in England. Nora is Floris’ wife and has joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force to work as a radar and radio receiver operator at Bawdsey in Suffolk, the world’s first fully operational radar station. Lisa is Christiaan’s partner, Jewish, and working in communications with the Dutch government’s intelligence branch in London as part of the Allied effort to invade France and liberate Europe.
Crossroads of Granite is an intensely researched work, particularly with regard to Mauthausen. It was evident that Mr. Reit is passionate about this subject and has written a totally engaging story based on fact. I was totally on board with his characters, both good and evil. His writing is quite cinematic, giving one the sense of actually being present watching events occur. There are parts which are very difficult to read but he handles these expertly.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this highly interesting and informative book. A very welcome and appreciated addition to the WWII historical fiction genre.

First off, even though this book can be read as a standalone it would be better to read the first two book to get the full background as to why the characters ended up where there were and why they are currently doing the jobs they are doing.

Now to the story at hand. It was an extremely emotional read. You were fully transported into the story and were looking at everything through the eyes of each character. It’s been a very long time since I’ve been fully engrossed into a book this deeply. Feeling everything that these characters felt, every feeling, every emotion, every heartbreak.

These are not the watered down stories that we learned in school. This is the real deal. This is what leaves you thinking for days on end because every time you get a spare moment you’re like.. wow that’s really a part of our history.

What a well researched book. Very moving and not for the faint hearted. Thought provoking and descriptive which sometimes leaves you pondering. It always had feelings and thoughts for the subject’s which make the story. Very worth while to read.

I enjoyed this series from beginning to end! Michael Reit did a great job of researching real characters and events in history to include in his books. The author did not hold back describing the brutalities of war. 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. Many thanks to the author, The Book Whisperer and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.