Another book that proves what a master storyteller Danielle Steel is! The story follows Sophie during WW2. It describes the horrors of the time delicately enough to leave you emotional and engrossed in the story. As I turned the pages I was amazed by her dedication and bravery as she fights for survival Such brave and caring characters risking their lives to help others is so heartwarming. Thanks to Thank NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!

Only the Brave by Danielle Steel is a book you won't forget but hope you can live with the knowledge. Being the daughter of an American who fought in WWII it broke my heart to read this. It was very horrible time in Germany and Europe and the hardships were horrendous. It is hard to believe one man could effect such atrocities and just how many poor soles died. If I had not just requested the book because I like the author I don't think I would choose it however, the strength and story of Sophia Alexander was so beautiful and worthy of reading that alone is why to read this. She was a hero and not many could fill her shoes. So the good and the bad of this book is the war crimes and the strength to fight back. How one person bad and one person good can effect change. Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing and of course Danielle Steel for her ability to bring this story to us.

Only the Brave is a departure from Danielle Steel’s usual fare although she can’t seem to bypass a romance element.
Unlike most WWII historical novels, the family that runs afoul of the Nazis is German, not Jewish. The Alexanders, father and 2 daughters, are a respected Berlin family. The father, Thomas, a surgeon with his own hospital, has treated many German officers, but has remained apolitical. Theresa, his younger daughter, has bought in completely to the Nazi agenda and is only too happy to be a part of the partying life of the Nazi elite. His other daughter, Sophia, is completely repulsed by it. She’s serious, dedicated to her profession of nursing and supporting resistance actions. She also has a deep spiritual side which has provided a physical and emotional haven in the turbulence. I felt these characters were realistically portrayed, giving the reader three distinct but plausible points of view of an horrific period.
The book deals with the fate of each family member. Sophia is the most prominent so the majority of the storyline and important secondary characters are in her sphere. The brutality of Nazi treatment against anyone considered inferior or an enemy of the state is not shied away from, but was not taken to the depths of some historical fiction covering this period.
A positive is that this work has much more substance than usual from Ms. Steel. As her readership is large, it may offer those who are not familiar with this subject matter some insight. Overall there are many gripping moments, some suspense, and a love story that was not absolutely necessary but appropriate to the circumstances.
Thank you to the author, the publisher Delacorte Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC.

This really wasn't one of my favorite Danielle Steel books. I didn't particularly like Sophia's character - she was honestly just a step down from a saint, but something about her just felt off. The storyline was interesting and kept my interest throughout, but the ending completely fell flat for me and didn't follow what I would have expected given the entire rest of the book. There were also some discrepancies in the details that a decent editor would have caught. Overall, I enjoyed the story, but small issues kept this from being anything but just okay.

This book takes place in Berlin, Germany as Hitler slowly rises too power with the Nazi's taking over Germany leading to WW2.

Sophia Alexander is German, the daughter of a very successful surgeon who's Mother is sick with tuberculosis. She's responsible for her younger sister, Theresa, who's only 14 years old, two years younger than Sophia. Sophia is beautiful, green eyes and black hair, but she's serious about life. She wants to follow her father and study medicine, becoming a surgical nurse in his practice. Whereas, her sister only cares about boys. Sophia attends church regularly while her mother is sick. After their mother dies, Sophia becomes a nurse, working alongside her father during the day. At night, she goes to church finding solace amongst the nuns. That's when she decides to join the convent to become a nun, devoting her life to others.

Her father is shocked about her decision. Her sister got married when she turned 18 and became a Baroness. Theresa and her husband are having parties inviting the officers of the SS, not believing anything about what's happening to the Jews in Germany. That is until her husband finds out that his grandmother is Jewish. Now they must leave everything behind and go to Zurich before they get arrested and thrown into a concentration camp. Sophia has a friend who helps Jews cross the border, she asks him to help her sister and brother-in-law. Theresa is almost 7 months pregnant, so Sophia goes with them on the journey in case medical help is needed. That journey becomes a part of her mission to help others survive.

When the SS want her father to "get rid" of sick or disabled patients, he gently turns them down. They wanted him to euthanize those unwanted people. It went against everything he believed in. A year later, he's approached again with the offer, but this time when he says no, he's arrested for treason. He's taken to a concentration camp and he dies 7 months later from injuries. Sophia still hasn't taken her final vows due to the war. When she's out late one night after helping a child to safety, she's stopped by patrols. The following day she's arrested at the convent because of her father's treason and her sister's escape. They think that she's guilty by association. She gets sent to a women's concentration camp after getting severely beaten.

There she's put to work as a seamstress. A young Nazi officer, Hans, sees her working on his suit and likes her. He has her assigned to cleaning his house once a week and feeds her. She takes the food back to her bunk every week and shares with her four bunk mates. Hans sees his future with Sophia, even though she told him about becoming a nun. He thinks that he can change her mind. Hans tells Sophia that her father died 7 months ago in the camps. That's when Sophia decides to escape. She and her friends make a plan, it's risky, but she'd rather die trying. After two days in the woods, Sophia uses an old contact and the women end up at a convent. Sophia feels like she's come home again being with the nuns.

Months later, while outside walking in the woods, she sees a soldier hanging from a tree stuck in his parachute. He's an American who's plane was shot down. Sophia nurses Ted back to health for 2 months and they fall in love with each other. But she is so convinced that she can only do good as a nun that she's ready to turn her back on love. She still hasn't taken her vows. They both have the same goals, helping others. Ted promises her that he'll come back for her after the war.

Almost two years later, he finds her back in Berlin at her old convent. She is housing women who are homeless now that the war is over. Ted wants a life with her, telling her that if she was meant to be a nun, she would have already taken her vows. Something has always stopped it from happening. She realizes that he's right and before he leaves her for Paris, she needs him to know that she wants to be with him forever.

A good read!

Summary:
In 1937, Sophia Alexander is adjusting to her new normal life. Her Mother has passed away, her Father is a workaholic with his own general surgeon practice. Sophie's younger sister, Theresa is a socialite in the making. But everything changes when World War II erupts. Everything they once had is now being threatened and each has to make their own way. Sophia has no clue what the future holds for her- or her family.

Life as Sophia knew ended when her mother died. The family unit she grew up with was forever changed. Her beloved father, a general surgeon with his own practice, spent more and more time at his office. Her younger sister, Theresa, gets married. And Theresa attends nursing school. Among all that, World War II erupts. It doesn't take long before the War seeps fear into their lives.

Her father is approached by the Reich for his assistance in carrying out one of their diabolical agendas. When he declines, he prays that's the end of it. However, it wasn't. Later on, he's approached again. When he declines a second time, he's arrested and sent to camp. Everything he built is destroyed.

Theresa's husband is discovered to be a quarter Jewish, which is enough to force them to flee for their lives. She's very pregnant and his parents aren't as lucky. The very people his family had partied with are the ones who declare them enemies. Sophia calls on a friend to help her get Theresa and her husband to safety. Will they make it?

Sophia not only decides she's going to become a nun, but she begins attending underground meetings and helping Jewish children to safety. She's never caught, but suspicion builds and she becomes guilty be association. Sophia goes from living in the safety of a convent to the terror of Ravensbruck. It takes her brains and guts to survive within it's walls. It takes her bravery to leave it.

I've always loved Danielle Steel's historical fiction books the best. And while this one wasn't my favorite, it was still a good one. There were times when I felt people kept pressuring her to not go through with what she wanted. Overall, the story was a good one. It isn't a long book, so it's perfect for a short jaunt into another time.

Am a DS fan but every now and then a book of hers really stays on your mind. nly the Brave, is so much more than a romance set against the backdrop of WWII. She deftly depicts the chaos and danger in Germany as the Nazis rose in power as told through the eyes of Sophie, a skilled nurse and devout Catholic who is on the cusp of taking her final vows to become a nun just before she is arrested as an enemy of the state and sent to a concentration camp. As i said, it will stick with you. Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for a review.

Instead of romance this leaned more towards historical fiction. I still enjoyed it but prefer her more current romance reads. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this early copy for read and review

I enjoyed the way this story played out - History at its finest - it gave us the feel "of being there". One minute there was happiness, scared, anxious and excitement - spmetimes in one breath! Thank you for the chance to preview this title.

Another great book by Danielle Steel. This is not a typical romance novel like most of Steel’s book but a historical fiction set during WWII Germany. As the Nazi’s gain control over Germany, Sophie a nurse and devout Catholic makes the choice to become a nun modeling her life after her hero Edith Stein. Just before taking her final vows, Sophie is arrested as an enemy of the state and sent to a concentration camp because of the actions of her family. Sophie is able to escape the camp and in a chance meeting Sophie meets an injured American pilot who she nurses back to health. This meeting will change both of their lives forever.
A story of bravery during the uncertain times of war is beautifully written and portrays the heartbreaks associated with the atrocities of the Nazi’s.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing – Ballantine for my ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

An unforgettable, courageous journey through war torn Germany..This novel gripped my heart at the very beginning and will stay with me a long time. It is a story of courage ,resilience, and sacrifice.
Many thanks to Random House and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Couldn’t put this book down. It was moving and heartbreaking of the tale of what happened during WW2. The heroism and survival of this amazing woman.and what she endured. Human compassion in helping others to escape the Nazi occupation.

I read a lot of World War Two Historical fiction. If I don't get hooked pretty quickly I move on. There are just too many books available to read. I almost put Only the Brave away. The first chapter just didn't do it for me. I am so glad that I continued on. I started chapter two and fell, hard. When in doubt, keep reading.

Only the brave soon became an obsession. Sophia's family is very prominent in Berlin. Her father is a physician, owning his own clinic and hospital, seeing the elite of Berlin. Being a true, dedicated doctor, he also sees those that are less fortunate including members of the Jewish community. He is simply wanting to help, to save. It will be his downfall.

Sophia works along side her father as a surgical nurse. She wants nothing to do with high society or the Nazis. She wants to help those in need. Sophia believes life is precious just like her father. Total respect for her and her devotions. Sophia shows how deep her resolve is on numerous occasions. Many situations left me speechless. Her strength overflows the pages.

What I liked most about this story is that it concentrated on those that helped and those that wanted to survive. The reader knows of the horrors. The reader is transported to a prisoner of war camp. But the evils did not take center stage. People like Sophia made this story. I can't remember a time when I wanted a character to survive more than Sophia. I wanted her to have a happily ever after.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC. Not a typical Danielle Steel book. Great historical fiction novel set in Germany during WWII. I found the book a bit slow in the beginning and questioned whether I was going to tough it out and I'm glad I did. I loved the characters and wished it had gone on a bit more with the ending. Definitely worth the read!

All the Danielle Steel series I have read are romances. This is not her typical romance book.. It is all about surviving Hitler and WWII. . It was a little more difficult for me to read, but mainly because I've read a lot of historical fiction lately, and probably need to take a break from it for a little while.

But it is a wonderful historical fiction book and is very intense and in-depth at times. Some parts of this book, as many WWII books have, really played on my emotions and made me very sad for the things that happened during this time. Danielle Steel did a wonderful job of getting this across to the reader.
The main character, Sophia, was the daughter of a wonderful surgeon who was arrested for not doing just what the Nazi's wanted him to do. I enjoyed reading about her joining the convent and the missions she completed to help keep children safe. Her story has several twists and turns, but showed her strength throughout WWII.

Thank you for allowing me to have an advanced copy!

I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Ballentine for allowing me to review this book This is one of the best books I have read of Danielle Steel. This book centers around Sophia in pre-WW2 Germany. Sophia was the eldest of two children of a doctor who was very well renown. Sophia worked at the hospital after school. Sophia's younger sister marries and due to a grandparent of her husband's being Jewish, needs to flee from Germany and the Nazis. Sophia ends up having to leave as the Germans are upset with her dad for operating on Jews and for refusing to take part in a program. This book was so good. Please don't resist picking it up.

I wanted to love this. I’m a huge fan of WWII historical fiction, but this was just not it.

I think the 3rd person narrative made it really difficult to follow. We don’t really have an investment in Sophia or anyone else so it’s hard to become engaged in the story.

Fans of The Nightingale will be disappointed in this one.

First and Foremost Thank You NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an early copy of this fantastic book. It’s been awhile since I read a Danielle Steel book but WOW! Also, I normally do not read Historical Fiction. But I’m so glad I read this one. It’s a heart wrenching story about Sophia and her journey through WWII and oh what a journey it is. I couldn’t put it down. So don’t miss this story.

Only the Brave by Danielle Steel is an emotional historical novel. Sophia Alexander is a strong main character. I found Sophia to be inspiring and kindhearted. Her determination to help others despite the circumstances was inspiring. Sophia’s life takes unexpected twists and turns throughout the story. She will be tested many times throughout the war. Sophia will need strength if she is to survive. I can tell that the author did her research. In the story, we get a glimpse at some of the atrocities that occurred in Germany during this time period. It is heartbreaking and unsettling that one man wreaked so much havoc on the world (baffling as to why people believed in him). It is a reminder to not let history repeat itself. As with all Danielle Steel books, there is repetition of details (does the author believe we will forget from one chapter to the next or, in some cases, one page to the next). There are some sections that are unhurried (could be a tad peppier). The story has an abrupt ending. There needed to be a better explanation for Sophia’s decision. Only the Brave is an emotive and compelling tale that will linger with you longer after you finish it.

A wonderful story and a bit of a departure from Danielle Steel's norm. This historical fiction is one that I may even re-read, it was such a great one. Well done as always!