I absolutely loved this book. I am typically skeptical of debut novels…especially historical fiction novels of the WWII era. This one was superb! It was meticulously researched and very refined. Prior to reading this book, I was not aware of Himmler’s Lebensborn program. I have read so many historical fiction books from this time frame and yet I continue to learn new things with every book. I still find the events that occurred during this time so surreal. I just cannot wrap my brain around how humans can perform such atrocious acts against other humans.

Characters play such an important part in my review of a book. They tend to make or break a book for me no matter how good the plot is. These characters were just absolutely everything I could ever want in a character. They were so well written with tons of emotional depth and growth throughout the novel. I really liked seeing a different side of an SS officer. It brings to light the possibility that not all Nazi soldiers were without humanity. Many were stuck…forced into a situation that they weren’t sure how to get out of. So many were probably not more than children. Karl was the perfect example of this. He had a conscience, he had remorse, he tried to right wrongs but who was really capable of going against Hitler. I cannot imagine being put into that position. Allina, also barely more than a child, was such a strong female character. The life experiences that she had to face were enough to break anyone yet she found a way to persevere. She was so incredibly brave. Strong female characters are my absolute favorite.

I loved the plot and how the author tried to stay as close to fact as possible but taking liberties in the storyline to give the reader hope for a hopeless situation. I liked that she used some factual figures along with her fictional characters. It really gave the story an authentic feel. At times, I forgot that this was a fictional story based on factual events and not a historical account of actual events. The author states in her note that this was 20 years in the making and I believe it. She definitely took the time to do thorough research which I appreciate and respect. I look forward to future books from this author. I would definitely recommend this book to any reader who enjoys WWII historical fiction.

The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri
🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

This most surely will become a classic! This is a fictional story rich with accurate historical significance. It left me with tears, yet relief.

The author illustrates the Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany. Allina's bucolic life is forever torn by one destructive night when the Nazis kill her family and force her into labor as a nurse at a baby-making factory for the Germans.

At first, she is timid due to horrific events that happen to her and what she is surrounded by. Her resiliency grows imperishable after she meets, falls in love with, and marries a high-ranking SS officer, Karl. Together and with many other allies, they work tirelessly to save as many Jewish children as possible.

Ultimately, Karl sacrifices himself so that Allina and their daughter, Katrine, are able to survive and thus, altering the course of their futures.

This story was well researched and made this reader feel the emotions and dilemmas of each character. The atrocities of this time and horrible experiments and treatment are so deep and incomprehensible. The author brought this to life in a profound way.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#TheSunflowerHouse #NetGalley #StMartinsPress #HistoricalFiction #WomensFiction
#AdrianaAllegri @netgalley @stmartinspress @adrianaallegri #TheHolocaust #LebensbornProgram #Romance

The Sunflower House is an incredible debut novel that brings to light the Nazi Lebensborn Program in which women are sent to homes to give birth and also to meet and mate with German soldiers in an effort to propagate pure-born German children.

Some children remained with the mothers, others were adopted out and any with defects were sent away to a likely unfortunate end. I had heard of these homes, but this is the first detailed account I have read about what went on in the homes.

The main character, Allina ends up being sent to one such home after her village was raided and many of her neighbors and family members were murdered by Nazi soldiers. She was lucky to be saved due to her youth and appearance.

While at the home, Allina recovers from the physical and emotional trauma from the raid and eventually meets a high-ranking officer. The two become drawn to each other and after a time build enough trust to reveal their secrets and their desire to work against the Nazi regime in order to save the children.

I loved reading about this strong German woman and her brave officer. While the beginning of the story was harrowing, the rest of the story was predominately set in the home with the children and finally a tension-filled ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to rad an advance copy. I am happy to recommend this to other readers. I really enjoyed the book.

This historical fiction set in WWII Germany was both heartbreaking and beautiful. It had tension and suspense but not at a stressful level, which I appreciated.

Allina Straus is living a happy, quiet life working in her uncle's bookstore in a small German village. What she doesn't know is that her aunt and uncle have kept secret the dangerous fact that she is a Mischling, a person with mixed Jewish heritage. After her village is attacked, Allina is forced into servitude at a government run baby factory called Hochland Home, where she becomes a witness to the horrors of Himmler's eugenics program.

At Hochland Home, Allina meets Karl, a handsome high-ranking SS officer with his own secrets. Together they attempt to save as many babies as they can, while slowly learning to love and trust each other.

I loved this book even though it was difficult to read. The slow-burn romance was heartwarming, and the history lessons were valuable.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for this ARC to review!

I chose this book to request on NetGalley because the synopsis grabbed my attention. I have read many historical fiction books set during World War II, but I have never read anything about the topic discussed in this book. The Sunflower House explores the topic of the German lebensborn program in which German women of "pure" blood were encouraged to breed children for the Reich.

The main character, Allina, is a young German woman with Jewish blood in her ancestry, but this fact is well-hidden. Through a series of terrible events, Allina finds herself placed in Hochland Home, one of the German "baby factories." She serves as a nurse and teacher to the children there. Through her connection to a young German officer, she seeks to help the children under her care while protecting her identity.

I found this book to be both engaging and informative. It sent me down a rabbit hole of information. The character development is done well. I felt sympathy for the main characters and the children in the home, and I felt disgust for the Nazi regime and its ideas and practices. I even found myself a little teary-eyed toward the end.

Overall, this is a solid, well-written WWII historical fiction. I would recommend it to fans of the genre.

Thank you, Netgalley & SMP for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is outside my normal genre. I don't "often" read historical fiction, but I occasionally pick one up for something a little different than my typical fantasy/romance. This was an excellent, eye-opening, and emotional read, especially in today's times. For that reason, it wasn't easy to read for me in some parts. But, this was a beautifully written story.

An emotional story.
This is a book dealing with lesser-known facts happening during World War II. Not only in Germany but also in other occupied countries but you need to read other books for those stories.
Allina accidentally lands herself in a Lebensborn program and luckily managed to prove herself as a nurse. Helping the mothers and babies.
Wives whose husbands were away at the front and found this a safe place to have their baby till they could return home. Other woman where solemnly there to get pregnant and produce pure race children to be future members of Hitler’s army.
Allina is not only shocked to see what is going on but must be extreme careful her Jewish parentage is not brought to light.
There is so much more to the story but for that you must read it yourself because I do not want to give away what happens. Expect to feel anxious while reading. Have a handkerchief ready and feel completely absorbed by the story till the last page.

How to begin this review. This was a perfect first novel. A debut to be so proud of. One that will take your breathe away. Make you shed tears and even give you a bit of hope in places. It also made me feel fear. Sadness. Some happiness. And possibly hope. Hope that if enough people read this and other historical WW2 books they will not let it ever happen again.

This book starts out in 2006 with us meeting Katrine. She got a call in the middle of the night that her mother was in the hospital due to a fall. She goes and gets her then takes her home. From there she learns so much about her mother's life. Allina is Katrine's mother. She's 86 years old and a fiesty woman. She's kept some secrets from her daughter. Some very deep secrets.

You meet Allina when she was young and find out what happened in her young life. What was done to the people in the small town where she had always felt so safe. What the Germans did to innocent people. Just because they could. Because they were quick to take. What happened when she was left and a high ranking officers made her feel safe. What he did before he took her to Hochland Home. A place where women were mated. It was a place where children were made and then sold to German families. There was no love given in this place. The children were trained from birth to be docile. To not be fussy. To just exists until they were placed in a home with parents who may or may not love them. Germany wanted lots of babies. Hopefully lots of male babies.

Allina's story is a love story. A sad story in so many ways. But also happy. She found love. She did a lot of good. What her and Karl do is so important. What they go through is both sad and happy. You get to know each of them and how things happened the way it did. It made me weep in so many places. A part of history that should be told and never forgotten.

This book is well researched. Read the Author's Note at the end. It's a must. This author did such a good job of making this story real. Making those feelings come out. I can't wait to see what she writes next.

Thank you #NetGalley, #StMartinsPress, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

A must read.

Five big stars.

This is a good historical fiction from interesting perspectives. I enjoyed the way it made me think at points. The book does have a good amount of contact that is hard to read or imagine, as a warning. Hard to imagine the choices people made & the consequences of choices in that time period.

This was a hard book for me. It is exceptionally well researched and written. It is the subject matter that made it hard. This historical fiction was about Hitler's SS Lebensborn program in which unwed mother's gave their babies to Nazi parents--some of the women possibly raped over and over. The babies were denied any form of affection, only fed and changed on a strict schedule. Many were seen as "slow" and experimented on.

The fictional part of the story is about the life of a now elderly woman in America who discovered she was part Jewish at the time that Hitler was in power in her home country of Germany. Her daughter wants answers when she discovers a box in her mother's belongings with a swastika on it, and her mother's hidden past slowly comes to light.

I alternated between the e-book and the audio version narrated by Barrie Kreinik, Dallin Bradford, and Saskia Maarleveld. The narrations were absolutely perfect. This was an amazing book that wouldn't let me put it down. Between both versions of the book, I finished this in one day.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the copies. All thoughts are my own.

I've read my share of historical fiction and I was expecting more of the same with this novel -- espionage, undercover work, some romance. However, The Sunflower House delivered more that that. It just blew me away. Sure, it has the requisite suspense, military occupation, some romance. But The Sunflower House contained unforgettable characters -- heros and villains. And the atmosphere as well as the plot were memorable. It was a story that has everything a reader would want. A heartwrenching love story set in the backdrop of WWII in Germany that projects courage under the most adverse conditions. It is a story that I will not forget. An amazing debut from author, Adriana Allegri. Five outstanding stars.

I was invited to read a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

Th.is debut novel just might end up on my list of favorite books of the year. The author has researched history and presented it in a story that is interesting and enjoyable. I encourage you to pick up this book and learn more about WWII history.

This book is so good that I read it in one sitting. Riveting and horrifying but with hope that goodness can prevail. This a story about secrets that rule one's life and the consequences from it. A story told by a mother to her daughter of her life, born in Nazi Germany, and what she needed to do to survive. A story of sacrifices made, choices made that become complicated, and the horrors of war. Allina, raised by her aunt and uncle in a very small rural town in Germany discovers that she is half-Jewish, a secret made to protect her during a time of hatred. When wickedness comes calling, Allina experiences untold tragedy. She ends up in a home where unmarried women live to breed babies for the Reich, under the protection of a high ranking German officer, where she becomes a nurse. Scarred but resilient, Allina heals only after meeting another SS officer, Karl, whom she forms an alliance. Horrified at the realities of the babies at this Lesenborn home, together they work to try to save them. But Allina's life becomes in danger as does Karl's. Conflicted in his position as a Nazi officer, and yet harboring a secret of his own, there is so much tension. It brings to light what people needed to do to survive during this time, how life choices were taken away, and accepting that one's destiny can't be changed. I found the Germany's belief and practice of creating and perpetuating a superior race with the propaganda of forcing and degrading women to have multiple babies and for the men to spread their seed extensively repulsive. But even scarier was the notion that the people bought into Hitler's ideals. A story well researched, my heart breaks for what Allina, other women, and the children endured during this time and for their loss. The Lesenborn program is not wilding known but is a story that will have you thinking long after the last page. I highly recommend this book. many thanks to #netgalley #stmartinspress #thesunflowerhouse #adrianaallegri for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own.

An interesting subject to focus on for a WW2 novel and I liked it. Some of the the other tromps are getting old, but this story got me investing the minute the box came out of the floorboard

What a magnificent debut by Adriana Allegri ! This is an impeccably researched historical fiction novel that rendered me speechless despite the mountains of WWII novels I have read in the past. Ms. Allegri has a true gift as a writer and had me glued to the pages from the get-go.

We meet Allina, a spirited young lady who struggles with staying quiet in the midst of all the injustice she is surrounded by. After a series of horrific events, Allina finds herself forced to work at the Hochland Home, a Nazi baby factory, mirroring one of the real-life Lebensborn facilities opened by Hitler to perpetuate the "German master race." Readers follow Allina's journey as a member of the resistance as her life intersects with Karl, an SS officer, who harbors his own hidden skeletons.

Allegri does an incredible job with the dual timeline. She seamlessly transitions between Allina's modern-day life with her daughter, to whom she eventually discloses the atrocities of the past.

I look forward to reading more of Allegri's work in the future - with such a strong start, I'm sure she will continue to grace readers with her amazing words.

I'm so grateful to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this eye-opening novel.

A heartfelt thank you to St Martins Press and the author for the incredible gift of the e-book! Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook.

As a passionate fan of historical fiction set during WWII, I can confidently say this debut novel is a must-read. It delivers an emotional, inspiring, and gripping narrative that completely engrossed me.

The story of the Lesenborn facilities is one I hadn’t encountered before, and the author’s meticulous research truly shines through. Characters Allina and Karl are brilliantly crafted as they join the resistance movement to protect not only Jewish children but also those born in the Lesenborn facilities. Their slow-developing romance makes you root for their success with every turn of the page.

This novel is both heart-wrenching and uplifting, illuminating a profoundly dark chapter of history. I particularly appreciated how Allina’s daughter, upon uncovering her mother’s secret, helps her reconcile with the past.

The narration of this book was absolutely amazing. The accents, tone, and pace were on point and drew me into the story as I read the book.

If you’re a fan of historical fiction, this debut novel is an absolute gem and is available now!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Adriana Allegri for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An historical fiction account of Himmler’s, Legendborn Program of Nazi Germany, will keep you reading for a long time. It is hard to believe a program existed where women were housed to have babies to be raised by Nazi families. Allina, after losing her family, ends up working in Hochland Home, where she keeps her Jewish identity a secret, she caring for the mothers and babies. Allina sees neglect going on, and makes it her mission to save the babies in her care, as well as her own life. This fast-paced, heartfelt story will stick with you for a long time.

This was a very well-written and engaging story. It centers around a young woman named Allina and Heinrich Himmler’s appalling Lebensborn Program. After a traumatizing experience in her small home town Allina is forced into service as a nurse at Hochland Home where young Aryan women are encouraged to procreate with the SS soldiers in order to populate Germany with children of "pure blood."

What Allina goes through and what she sees there is just horrifying. The story is heartbreaking and gripping. There are parts that are definitely difficult to read, but it was clearly well-researched.

There are two timelines in this story, but the main focus is Allina and the 1939 timeline.

This is Adriana Allegri's historical fiction debut and I can't wait to read what she writes next.

<i>Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.</i>

We can choose our friends, but we can't choose our family.

In the decades since World War II, many have discovered that their parent or grandparent had a role in Hitler's government or army. How does a woman who grew up in the US process the fact that her father was an SS officer in the Third Reich?

This book begins with a discovery Katrine makes in her mother Allina's bedroom. A box with a swastika -- a symbol that is horrifying to contemplate. It is time for Allina to explain where the box came from and who Katrine's father was.

A part of that story is the Lebensborn program. Allina spends several years before and during the war as a "schwester" at Hochland Home near Munich. Thousands of babes with Aryan blood were born there as part of the Himmler program for populating the country and counteracting the losses to war.

How Allina becomes a part of Hochland Home and her meeting/romance with Karl von Strassberg (Katrine's father) are rooted in the work of that institution -- a very real place producing close to 25,000 babies.

Adriana Allegri spent twenty years writing and researching and her extensive notes are a welcome addition to the narrative. While many of our main characters are fictional, the fallout from such practices is very real and still affecting families to this day.

So this novel is as much about generational secrets, identity, and assimilation as it is about the Lebensborn program. My hope is that Allina's emotional journey with her daughter, Katrine, demonstrates thathealing is possible when secrets are exposed to the light. ~ from Adriana Allegri's Author's Note.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. Happy Publication Day!🌻

“The Sunflower House” by Adriana Allegri is an unputdownable book! Allina lives in Germany in 1939. She hides the fact that her mother was Jewish. Allina gets sent to with at a home for women to give birth to Aryan children. Life becomes even more complicated when she falls in love with an SS Officer.
Adriana Allegri has crafted a story that stays with you long after the last page. Many thanks to the author, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.