Quote: "You were brave. Braver than anyone I know."

The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri starts out with Katrine receiving a phone call that her mama has been in an accident. When Katrine arrives at the hospital, her mama is fine, just a bit banged up. Katrine takes her mama home and while she is sleeping, Katrine starts cleaning up the closet where her mama fell. While cleaning up, she discovers a box that shocks her. Will the discovery of this box lead to answered questions that Katrine has had all her life? The contents of the box lead to Germany. Katrine cannot believe what she is seeing. Allina walks in and sees what her daughter has found. Through tears Allina tells Katrine that she will explain everything.

We are taken back in time through a heartbreaking journey of secrets, survival, strength, love, betrayal and redemption.

For my fellow lovers of Historical Fiction, I absolutely recommend The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review The Sunflower House.

Although there are numerous, World War II-related stories and many have quite a few similarities, this one is quite different. It is about the Lebensborn program, a state-run program to increase the number of pure Aryan births. It is quite a unique and interesting story that is very emotion-stirring. It is a times incredibly moving, at times heartbreaking, and at times even horrifying. Allina and Karl's love story is touchingly bittersweet.

They are also both quite admirable as individuals. They are caring, strong-willed, and tenacious. They do what they can to do what is right despite their circumstances. The real world nears more people like them.

🌻𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗥 𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗘🌻
𝒽𝒾𝓈𝓉ℴ𝓇𝒾𝒸𝒶𝓁 𝒻𝒾𝒸
🗓️𝙿𝚞𝚋: 𝙽𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟷𝟸, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺(𝚃𝙾𝙳𝙰𝚈!)
🤩𝕄𝕪 𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: 𝟝 𝔹𝕀𝔾 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤! ★★★★★∞︎︎

🤏𝚃𝚎𝚎𝚗𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚍𝚋𝚒𝚝...”Family secrets come to light as a young woman fights to save herself and others in a Nazi-run baby factory—a real life Handmaids tale……

🌻𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚊𝚢...LOVED THIS BOOK! This one is wayy up there in my top reads of 2024! A hist fic that reads like a thriller..because of the pace💨…yes, please! 🙌 This one has it all..perfect length, a bit of suspense, a little romance & lots of WWII history. 👊I didn’t know much about the Nazi run Lebensborn program before this book & phew, what a heartbreaking piece of history. Honestly, this book will rip your heart out, but it’s done in a beautiful way. I know that sounds weird, but holy moly…this book was fantastic & I am so excited today is the pub day 🥳so yall can scoop this one up! 🌻Do it!

Allina Strauss is a teenager who lives in a small German village with her aunt and uncle, her parents having died when she was very young. Her family is protecting her from her past = her mother was Jewish - and in 1939, Hitler’s extermination plan is in full swing. When the village is raided because of suspected protection of Jews, most of its residents are killed. Allina is “spared” by a ruthless Gruppenfuhrer and brought to Hochland House, one of several state run facilities set up by Heinrich Himmler to pursue his eugenics program-the purification of the Aryan race. Young women of pure German blood stay here with the goal of becoming pregnant from pure German men in order to perpetuate the Aryan population. Known as the Lebensborn Program, the babies are sent to “good” Nazi families, but there is way more to the story. When a second SS officer, Karl von Strassburg, enters the picture, Allina must overcome her fear and cooperate with Karl as the horrors of the real destination of many of the children becomes apparent.

At the halfway point of the story, I had to take a break - the story was heartbreaking, almost overwhelming. The last half of the book was a love story in addition to the horrors of the Nazi programs of medical experimentation and extermination. But the heroine and hero’s determination could not be stopped. Add in a couple of other characters of courage and you have an emotional and well written story.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this historical novel.

Historical fiction at its best a story so heartbreaking a story of baby factories something Inknew nothing about during ww2.This is a very special story a book I will be recommending.#netgalley #st.martins

This is a chilling book that is based in WWII and specifically focuses on the atrocities surrounding the Lebensborn Program. This was a program that consisted of baby-making factories, called Lebensborn Homes, where women deemed "racially valuable" and high-ranking German officers would, in an act of service to Hitler, procreate children that would strengthen Hitler's vision for an Aryan race.

The book also weaved in the love story of a nurse, Allina, who works in one of these homes and a high-ranking officer, Karl, who chose to resist and save as many children as they can.

Both have secrets that can jeopardize their efforts and this story shares what they risk to help save the lives of others.

💭 My thoughts:
I was pulled in from the beginning when the book opens with Allina's daughter discovering a box with a swastika on it among her mother's things.

The story is told mostly in the past and provides insights on what was going on in these homes. I had chills up my spine knowing that these programs actually existed and my heart broke for those children who didn't meet the "strict criteria".

I appreciated the research that went into writing a book like this and it was evident that it was quite thorough. The plot was vividly described and I could feel the tension in some of the cliff hanger moments.

I love WWII based novels that depict strong and resilient characters in the face of such horrible monstrosities and for the most part, that was delivered.

The biggest disappointment for me was the way in which things tied up near the end. I felt they were extremely rushed (particularly on how Karl ended up in the situation he found himself in at the end). Like, how did we get here? What happened? Did I miss reading some pages? It all just felt very abrupt which is why I knocked off a star.

Apart from that, this was still a very solid read and worth a pick up if you enjoy historical fiction based in WWII.

If you’re a fan of historical romance, this is the perfect book for you! This story jumps timelines, but the majority is told during WWII in Nazi Germany.

I’ve always had an interest in WWII era and I could not stop reading this story. With the way things are in America right now, it’s a little scary how parallel things seem to reality.

Wow!

I have to say that when I started reading this book, I almost couldn't go on, giving recent election results.. But, I am so glad I continued. Such a well written, well-researched book about a subject I knew nothing about! And the plot!!! And the characters!!! Do not hesitate, this is a book that you must read.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me an e-arc via Netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own honest opinion.

I loved everything about this book. It was both heartwarming and realistic. This is a book that I will be recommending to anyone who loves historical novels. I know that so many people are over reading World War II books, but this is not a book that you are going to want to miss. It truly is a diamond in the rough and it highlights a part of the war that many maybe don’t know as much about makes it an outlier. I have only ever read one other book with this as a theme and I enjoyed that as well, but I really loved Allina’s and Karl’s story. I can’t wait to get this book into the hands of readers.
Thank you so much to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

I don’t usually read historical fiction but the synopsis of 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 enticed me to pick up this novel and read about a darker side of history that I frankly knew very little about. As the story moved along, it became clear that the author put great care and research into delivering a heart wrenching story that was fictional, yet influenced by true events surrounding WWII and the Lebensborn program. Heinrich Himmler was behind creating the Nazi eugenic program (which was basically a baby factory)where German unwed mothers would be housed, cared for and praised for producing the next generation of “superior Aryan” children. Although the story was definitely not light as it was surrounded by pain, loss and survival, there was also space for love, friendships and strength. I had such a hard time putting this novel down, it brought forward so many emotions and thoughts about the treatment of the children and the aftermath of the program. Such an incredible and must read debut novel.

✵𝖬𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝖲𝗍. 𝖬𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗂𝗇’𝗌 𝖯𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗌 & 𝖭𝖾𝗍𝖦𝖺𝗅𝗅𝖾𝗒 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗀𝗂𝖿𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖠𝖽𝗏𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾𝖽 𝖱𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋’𝗌 𝖢𝗈𝗉𝗒 𝗂𝗇 𝖾𝗑𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗆𝗒 𝗁𝗈𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝗏𝗂𝖾𝗐.✵

This was a impactful story but be aware, there are brutally difficult moments to read about. This one shows insight into the Lebensborn homes, which were basically baby factories for the Nazi regime. This wasn’t my first time reading a HF about these homes but this was a deeper look, and one I appreciated.

However, there was something that didn’t quite fit for me when it came to a traumatic experience and then very speedy recovery from it. It felt like too far of a stretch, even for the sake of making the story move along, and I struggled with that throughout the story. Even with that blip I still found a lot of the story and information enlightening and am glad I took the time to read this one.

“It’s a sickness, this hatred the fuhrer has for the Jews, and hate infects everyone it touches.” *quotes from arc’s may be different than in a finished copy

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the arc via Netgalley.

Pub day: November 12
4/5⭐️

THE SUNFLOWER HOUSE by Adriana Allegri is a gripping story of a young woman’s fight to save herself and others in a Nazi-run baby factory in Germany during World War II. It is a historical novel about the Lebensborn program, run by Heinrich Himmler, whose ruthless eugenics programs sought to perpetuate the Aryan population. Women of “pure” blood were offered financial assistance and a place to stay while they gave birth to thousands of babies that would be adopted out to high-ranking Nazi families. Allina Strauss works at her uncle’s bookshop and will soon marry her childhood sweetheart. But Allina’s family is hiding a devastating secret – that her birth mother was Jewish. One tragic evening, Allina loses everything and everyone she loves. To save her own life. she is subsequently forced to work as a nurse at Hochland Home, a prominent state-run maternity home. There she witnesses unthinkable atrocities, experiments carried out on the children residing in the home. She meets Karl, a Nazi officer, who is also hiding a grave secret. Allina and Karl secretly join forces to try and save as many children as possible. When tragedy strikes, Allina must flee alone with her own baby. In 2006, Allina’s daughter, Katrine finds a box hidden beneath the floorboards of her elderly mother’s home. As she confronts her mother, the story travels back in time to fill in the details of Allina’s past. This was a heart-breaking and emotional story that kept me engrossed from beginning to end. It is a story I won’t soon forget and I highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

This book broke my heart. It was filled with so much anguish but so beautifully written that I could not stop reading. It is the story of a daughter and mother and long-kept secrets running deeper than expected. This story makes you feel sadness, anger, and helplessness for the terrible acts forced upon people. It's such a tragic story that it makes you question so many things.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!
#NetGalley #TheSunflowerHouse
This the most powerful and riveting WWII historical fiction I have read since The Nightingale. Allina suffers a fall and while her daughter is there taking care of her, she uncovers a Nazi embossed box in her closet and forces Allina to finally tell her story. In the 1930's she survives a Nazi raid of her home and town only to be brutalized by the soldiers and taken to a facility of unwed mothers by a powerful Nazi leader as "his" ward. With this she receives a little preferential treatment and is put to work in the nursery where she soon finds that it's not only a home but it is an incubator to fulfill the Fuhrer's wishes of creating perfect Nazi bred children. The women are cared for and service the soldiers when they have time off and then the babies are cared for until adoptions can take place. Allina soon realizes that the babies are not being touched, loved or taught and many are turning into toddlers deemed "slow" that cannot communicate and are not mobile and are sent away. She attracts the attention of another high ranking officer, Karl, who outranks the other leader and takes her as "his ward" but he expects nothing from her and is respectful but who obviously adores her. They both work to stop the testing of the "slow babies" and eventual deaths of many by starting a program to teach them. She still suffers PTSD from her attack and the murder of her aunt and uncle but will have to learn to trust men in uniforms to protect all that is important to her. I could not put this one down as it was a unique twist on the horrors of WWII and the bravery and strength of the German people. Loved it!

In this story we follow Allina, a young woman in the late 1930s in Germany through her experiences during part of World War II. Her life changes rapidly when she learns that she is part Jewish and those she loved were killed by the Germans. She is taken to be enrolled in the Lebensborn program to work as a nurse to care for the babies that are born to be 'children of the Reich.'

She meets an SS Officer, Karl, who seems a bit set apart from the rest of the Germans. With time, Allina learns to trust Karl and he learns to trust her. Together, they try to save as many children as possible while danger and the risk of discovery lurk around every corner.

This book seems to be historically accurate and the characters are well developed. I would have like to have had more background on Karl's portion of the story, but his point of view is sprinkled in now and then.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.5/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

Well, most of this story is made up, you can tell the research that this author took to make this masterpiece feel like it was a true story. I loved that it was heartbreaking, beautiful and honestly helped me to remember all the lost souls that left us due to WWII. This story will show you the heroic side of Allina and Karl, and what they did to save children and mothers in Germany, it's also a story about love, friendship, resilience, healing and hope above all else. This is a story about Katrina and her mother, but then you find out it's really about Allina (Katrine mother) and her story in Germany.

This well written book had my heart breaking for the characters, the situations that they were put into and for all souls that lost their lives due to Nazi Germany. This author took a long time writing this book, but you can see the research, you can see the passion that she had for writing it well, making sure that everything was just right and having the characters likable/easy to connect with. I found this debut to be one that I would have never thought I would like but I am so happy that I took a chance with it because I will not be the same, and in a good way. You will learn about the horrible things that did happen in Germany, the horrible acts that the Nazis would take and how they would treat children that were not “perfect” for good German families to raise. However, through this book you will find hope, resilience and love in the most unexpected places. I loved the characters so much and the way the author writes them, I found it so easy to connect with them, I felt as though I had known these people my whole life. To see what actions they would take even knowing that it would be their death if they got caught, or people who they love. I loved getting to see Allina and Karls’ story unfold and seeing the love that they both have for each other throughout the whole book. You will see twists and turns in the plot and some of them are completely heartbreaking and other ones will have you smiling with joy and happiness that was brought to them during those years. I don’t want to say anything other than, go get this book and read it.

At the end of the book, you will find the author’s notes and I loved that she shared interesting notes and great information that I never knew about. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know!

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin Press for the opportunity to review this book.

The Sunflower House is another story concerning the atrocities of WWII but one in a different from so many other books. By Adriana Allegri, this story is a close look at the Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany which may be notorious to Many but was unknown to me until I read this book.

Well-researched and well-written this fictional story is heartbreaking and inspiring. This state-run baby factory called Hochland Home has one nurse who is willing to sacrifice and do what she can to protect the babies born there. Is there another who will join her as he too is appalled by the events happening there. A unique look at the depth of evil that the Nazis performed as well as the unsung heroes who stood in the gap.

The Sunflower House pulls readers into WWII Germany, where Allina Strauss hides her Jewish heritage, surviving in a world that brands her a “Mischling.” Forced to work at Hochland Home, a Nazi “baby factory,” Allina faces horrifying realities, risking her life to protect children trapped in the Lebensborn Program.

Adriana Allegri’s debut is meticulously researched, capturing both the historical horrors and the resilience of the human spirit. Allina’s bond with Karl, a conflicted SS officer, brings a powerful message of love and courage. This heart-wrenching story will linger long after the last page.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for my #gifted copy of The Sunflower House! #stmartinspress #TheSunflowerHouse #pubday #fivestarreview #AdrianaAllegri

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐀𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

𝟱★

Historical fiction lovers, this book is a MUST read! The Sunflower House is a debut novel by author Adriana Allegri, and you would never know it by reading this book. This book was flawless. It was written in such a way that kept me up reading late into the night. This book was full of suspense, heartbreak, love, determination, friendship, and more. I loved everything about this book from start to finish. I know the author spent a lot of time writing this book, but I truly hope she continues to write more, because she is truly so talented.

Allina lives with her aunt and uncle in Germany, but her family has been hiding a secret, that she finds out right before her uncle dies - her birth mother was Jewish. One night, after Allina’s village is turned upside down, and everything Allina loves is taken from her, she is taken to Hochland Home, which is a baby factory run by the state where she serve as a nurse. At Hochland Home, she witnesses the horror of Heinrich Himmler’s eugenics program. At Hochland Home, Allina meets Karl, a SS Officer with his own secret, and the two join forces to save as many children as they can.

I loved reading the Author’s Note at the end of the book and finding out about all the research that went into writing this book. I knew nothing about the Lebensborn Program and this book was truly so eye opening. I cannot recommend this book enough!

Posted on Goodreads on November 11, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around November 12, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on November 12, 2024
**-will post on designated date

This is an extremely well-researched and well-written debut novel. It tells a story that is both moving and heartbreaking, yet hopeful. A story that is filled with secrets, bravery, and resilience. What is unique about this story is that it gives a fresh perspective on some of the situations facing the German people who did not support Hitler and his programs, even someone who was a member of the SS.

Heinrich Himmler and Hitler's Lebensborn program is so well highlighted in this novel. The mere thought of the actual existence of this program is frightening, and its administration terrifying. However, the love story between Allina and Karl demonstrates that even in a hellish time and place, attraction and romance can bloom. The way that scenarios are written in this story made them seem so very real. I felt danger, fear, panic, anger, and grief.

I will highly recommend this novel to friends and to fans of historical fiction or WWII fiction. A book that also balances war and romance. I can't wait to read what Ms. Allegri writes next.

My sincere thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. I have reviewed this book on Goodreads and will send my review to Amazon and Barnes and Noble within a few days of publication.