Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC of this book.

It's my habit never to read the book liner or a summary of Danielle Steel's books because they often give away too much of the plot, so I had no idea what to expect when I started this book. What I found was a coming-of-age historical fiction story set during WW2. The atrocities the heroine, Sophie, witnessed and experienced were incredibly sad and very well written. I enjoyed seeing the changes in Sophie, as well as her strength as the story progressed. As I find typical with Ms. Steel's book, once I started it, I couldn't put it down even though this was a very atypical story line for her.

In Only the Brave, Sophia Alexander begins as a teenager in pre-World War II Germany. Her mother is in a sanatorium due to tuberculosis, her father is a busy surgeon, and her younger sister is trying to do everything she can without parental supervision. When tragedy hits it comes in all directions. Her mother dies, her sister’s new husband learns that his grandmother was Jewish, and her father given the option of preforming medical procedures that he is against. Sophia finds her only comfort is with the Sisters of Mercy and a resistance group that she meets with twice a week. This comfort disappears when her sister must flee to German, her father is sent to a concentration camp and then they come to the convent for her.
Danielle Steel tells a story like none other. Her description of the concentration camps, the train and the forest and the destruction of Berlin allow the reader to see the events unfolding through Sophia’s eyes. Her research in the resistance shows a side of the German people that is often left out of history. Sophia’s story shows that there were many in Germany fighting to end the Nazi Regime and provide safety even when it could lead to their own imprisonment of death.
Thank you, NetGalley, Random House Ballentine and Danielle Steel for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the book! It started out kinda slow, but then I really got into it! I would definitely recommend this to everyone! If you like Danielle Steel books, then you will like this one! Like any book, romance, mystery! That’s how I see it! Some people might look at it differently, because I see things differently!

Only The Brave
By: Danielle Steel

5 stars

I grew up watching Danielle Steel movies with my grandmother. I have read and own most of her books. "Message From Nam" is one of my favorites as a wartime tale that has stayed with me. So when this one was offered, I JUMPED at the chance. I love novels based in wartime. World War 2, being my favorite.

World War 2 was a time of war and madness. The Nazis and Hitler have taken over everything. People are losing their homes, livelihoods, and lives, all for being Jewish or different in some way. Some are even sent away for simply disobeying orders. This story follows Sophia Alexander, a young woman with dreams of helping people. As a nurse at her father's well renowned surgical hospital, helping people comes easy. As the war rages on, she and others are not safe, no matter their status. Her father is sent to a concentration camp, her sister has to flea the country, leaving Sophia in the hands of the nuns. Soon, she finds herself in a camp as well. This leads Sophia on a journey she never imagined. She knows her life will never be the same, but only the brave can do what she does.

This book was powerful and was easy to love. This story, while being a bit on the darker side of war, brought peace and hope. Sophia has a powerful story full of loss and pain, but all the while, she stays filled with hope and continues to serve others.

If you need a read that will keep you intrigued and emotionally invested this is it. I was also surprised to learn some new information I didn't know about the war. I loved it and can see myself rereading this over and over again.

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Reviews

Wonderfully written book written during the Nazi wartime. Contains heart wrenching tales of the terrible treatment of people during this war and hope and love at the end. Definitely read if you enjoy these type stories. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

Hmm a book written during Hitlers time. We see through a young girls eyes. The turmoil and damage all around.

I am a fan of Danielle Steel and she never disappoints. I am not much for historical fiction but woth her books it's always a great read!

The time frame she made it to where you understand the WW2 setting! The characters were awesome! As usual what a great read!!!

Thanks NetGalley!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. Danielle Steele has done it again. Her books are such a comfort read, even if the subject is heavier. I greatly enjoyed this story. It follows Sophia, who is growing up in the middle of World War 2 in Germany. Although it is heavier than Steele’s typical books, I believe that many will enjoy Only The Brave.

Only The Brave was actually my first book I've read by Danielle Steel and it did not disappoint!!

The book follows Sophia from the start of WW2 with all of the events she experiences.
This novel is heartbreaking, inspiring and beautifully written. I truly felt like I was seeing Sophia's life during WW2.
I loved this book and will recommend it to any that loves historical fiction.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House publishing group for the opportunity to have this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Another 5 Stars from me! Thank you again for letting me get my eager hands on another ARC!! Such a great romance, and love for friends and family during WWII, Germany Nazi’s wartime.

I love Danielle Steel books and this one is one of the reason's why she is a no-brain have to read for me. This book left you with. all the feels, I could relate to this book so much because we lived in Germany for 3 years and had visited Dachau. I can still remember the eery silence that was over the concentration camp as we walked the grounds where so many died. Your heart ached for what had been done there. The research that went into this book was very well done and I felt like I was right there with Sophia as she endured the horrible era of Hitler's reign.

Sophia Alexander has always been mature for her age, but when her mom is put into a sanatorium for people that have Tuberculosis, she has to grow up even faster and try to keep a reign on her younger sister that is boy/men crazy. Sophia makes it a point to visit her mom every day and while doing so and taking care of her mom, she finds her calling in life to be a nurse. Sophia's dad is a well known surgeon and is always busy with his practice. Sophia takes up a lot of the slack for her dad by visiting her mom everyday and taking care of her sister. Before too long, her mom takes a decline and they end up loosing her, It was devastating for Sophia because she had been the one spending so much time with her mom.

Sophia decided to go into nursing and get to where she could help her dad at his practice to try and relive some of the workload. Her dad was still always busy and ended up spending the night at the practice a lot because he was worried about his patients and wanted to keep a close eye on them. When the war started, her dad was a go to for the people that were trying to hide out from the soldiers collecting the Jewish people and sending them to concentration camps. Thomas would treat them and then help them get back without anyone really knowing they had come to see him. Sophia was always busy helping her dad, but she had also found a way to feel needed and useful for the Jewish children. Sophia would help get them to a safe place during the cover of night or sit with them while they were waiting for someone to come and get them.

The things that Sophia and her family have to go through because of the war will break your heart. I felt like I was going through it with them while reading this but I know I could never feel what they felt. It is so sad to know what all they went through, and they weren't even Jewish. They had just offered to help and were faithful to their oath that they had taken being in the medical field. I know Danielle Steel had to have done some research on all of this and I can't imagine listening to someone's story that actually lived through this, Such a sad time for the Jewish community.

I know you will enjoy going with Sophia on her journey during the concentration camps and what all she and her family had to go through. Bring your tissue because some of it will have tears rolling down your face. How could they do what they did to innocent people? This is such a great story and I am so fortunate that I got to read it early.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. It will pull at your heart strings!

Wow! Danielle Steel is definitely one of my favorite Authors, but this is by far one of my favorite novels that she's written.

Reading about historical fiction and the atrocities that happened during WWII always takes an emotional toll on me. However, this is something that the world needs to remember.

This was written so well and I just want to hug and cry with Sophia. She was such a lovable character and devoted her life to helping others. This book focuses on how the cruel atrocities were also committed on so many of the German (Non Jewish) people as well. Anyone that openly did not agree with Hitler was automatically punished.

I could not put this book down. It's definitely one that I recommend for everyone to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Two sisters in Berlin during WW2. Their father is a well respected surgeon, and they live in comfort. All the younger daughter wants is to get married, have lots of babies, and live in comfort. The older sister wants to be a nurse and work beside her father. Then the Nazis start their reign of terror.

The atrocities described in this book are simply immeasurable and almost unimaginable the amount of suffering that people during this time went through. It is one thing to read about it, have an emotional reaction to what transpired but as a person, I cannot even come close to what happened to those that experienced it. To the guards and those who supported the movement, these prisoners were not even human. They saw people wither away in front of their eyes. One line that stuck with me is when Sophia saw women torn apart by dogs. This was nothing but evil. Yet, Sophia persevered in her quest to help others and to sacrifice potentially her life in doing so as evidenced by her helping Theresa and Heinrich escape to safety. She helped her bunkmates escape from the concentration camp. She nursed Ted back to health. Her goodness and compassion for others was more than most people believe is possible. Like the title said, only the brave could have lived through what she did and continued to believe. The greatest emotion that permeated through this book is love. Her and Ted were brought together for a reason.

This is a historical fiction novel focused on a young woman named Sophia, and her experience during WW2. There is a lot of raw emotion in this story as Sophia grows up in a strong household, mourning her mother's illness and death, assisting her father as one of her surgical nurses, and then experiencing the impacts of the war as her sister has to escape Germany after learning of her husband's newly discovered Jewish heritage. The story incorporates the life in concentration camps, efforts of the resistance groups, and most of all, Sophia's strong resilience in all circumstances.

It is never easy to read a novel that explores the atrocities of World War II Germany, and this book is no exception. However, it is a superb historical novel featuring elements of the author’s classic style – namely a strong, independent female protagonist, a fast-paced storyline, and a modicum of romance. While I enjoy Steel’s books for entertaining escapist reading, her historical novels (Flying Angels, and Ball at Versailles) including this one, reflect her best work.

Sophia Alexander lived a comfortable life in Berlin leading up to the war due to her father’s skill and devotion as a successful surgeon. All that rapidly changed – first with the death of her mother followed by the rise of the Nazi party to power. Trained as a nurse, she shared her father’s deep commitment to serve, and while her practice was based on the same principles, her faith added another dimension. Ultimately, she joined a convent while participating in underground activities to save children from the Nazi efforts to exterminate undesirables.

The storyline follows the courageous and compassionate acts of a woman who was willing to risk her life to save others, including a daring escape from a concentration camp. Sophia was an admirable, even inspirational, character as well as her father as he stood up for his oath as a physician and paid a horrific price. There are other characters that also demonstrated bravery in the light of the severe consequences of resisting Hitler’s agenda, as well as a few who lived in wealth and comfort far removed from the horrors of war.

While this story is a work of fiction, it rings true based on historical facts. I highly recommend it for those who enjoy the author’s work – just be prepared to be deeply affected by the events and the characters.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

This one was more of a slow burn for me than the usual DS fare…once it hooked me tho boy was I hooked. Sophia is quite the tortured heroine this time, from a sick mother to a concentration camp and beyond she sure is tested and comes out on the other side stronger. My only complaint is how quick it wraps up…the ending almost feels like an afterthought…other than that I rate this as 4.5 out of 5 stars!

Loved reading the engaging and engrossing story. When war breaks out in Germany, Sophia sees the atrocities being done to the Jews, helps her sister and husband (1/4 part Jewish) flee Germany, works as a nurse, her father, a well-known doctor won't agree to euthanize, and Sophia joins a convent. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read riveting story of a woman who wants to do everything she can do to help. Can't wait to read the next novel by the phenomenal author, Danielle Steel.

Only the Brave by Danielle Steel is one of the best historical fiction novel, I have read. Sophie is a delightful and inspiring heroine. Her commitment to helping others even in the worst of times is truly remarkable. Ms Steel touches on the horrors of the times which a deft hand that makes the reader feel the terror and heartbreak rather than describing them in lurid detail. Highly recommended.
Thank you to Ms. Steel, publisher, Random House Publishing Group--Ballantine, and NetGalley for opportunity for preview the book.

I’m not usually a fan of historic novels, but a Danielle Steel novel will always catch my eye.. I couldn’t help but admire the bravery of Sophia’s father, standing up for his beliefs and continuing to uphold the Hippocratic Oath against Hitler and his men. Sophia follows in his steps through the adversity and heartbreak of her journey during World War II. This novel gives you a glimpse of the travesties that took place during this war. I was on the edge of my seat hoping the outcome I wanted was the outcome that happened.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC copy. I thoroughly enjoyed it!