The Lies We Told takes place in Germany during WW2. It was not until I came to write this review that I realized that it was part of a series. That being said, it explains why I was a bit confused with some of the history when it was brought up, but overall, this is a stand-alone book, and an excellent one at that.

Girls are going missing and turning up dead in Frankfurt. Not just any girls, buy Ayrian girls, all young, blond, blue-eyed and working at the same restaurant. Margot just found out she is pregnant and also works at the restaurant. While there she meets an SS officer named Kurtis. She sees a way out of her predicament. Even though she is against everything that Hitler represents (she is half Jewish), she decides that in order to protect her baby, she must convince this man that her child is his and marry him.

This story also switches back and forth to Max a prisoner at the Dachau concentration camp. He and Margot were married, but now neither of them knows if the other is alive. Turns out, this is where Kurtis is in charge.

If you would like a glimpse into Nazi Germany during the occupation, this book will help you understand, but I don’t think anything can come close to how things actually were back then.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I will be reading the previous books in the series.

I’m so sad to say goodbye to this series and these characters. This last in the series was a page turner. Roberta makes it hard to hate the bad guys, always giving their back story to how they became broken. I was more than excited to meet a new character with my son’s name, Barrett! I did feel like there could’ve been more at the end, or maybe I just didn’t want it to end.

While this series in this very popular "Women heroes in WWII" genre by Roberta Kagan is interesting because of the topic and Nazi Germany settings, I find her writing style less than appealing. Cleary she is a prolific writer and has many avid readers, but for me I think if she took more care and time over the craft of writing her novels could be so much better and her characters more believable. I think I am likely not her target reader.

This is the fourth and final book in the Margot’s Secret series. You can read this as a stand alone, but I recommend reading them in order because they are so good!
Margot is pregnant and has to hide the identity of the baby’s father. Trudy has an affair with an SS officer and has the offer to become his mistress. Follow these two women on a journey of survival.
Roberta Kagan has such a way of making you feel as if you were there! I was transported back to WWII. Kagan weaved real people and events in with this historical fiction. I loved this book! I wish there was an installment to find out more about their lives. 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.

The Lies We Told by Roberta Kagan is the final of four books surrounding the life of Margot Kraus, both in and out of Nazi Germany. When I first started reading this book I thought, where can this go? It should be over now. Boy, was I wrong. Kagan had much more story to tell, some of it implausible, but all of it enchanting. Margot was on the run at the end of the last book so much of the story revolved around her husband, Max, and her sister, Trudy. This one is all about Margot, who has escaped and is living another life as a waitress. She doesn’t love it but no one has found her or found out about her heritage. She thinks about the two men in her life, Jewish Ben who is dead, and her husband, a never-Nazi, Max. She assumes he is dead but really has no idea. She comes to the attention of a Nazi officer about the same time she discovers she is pregnant with Ben’s child. She hates it but must save her baby and so begins and affair with the officer, Kurtis, who is the commandant at Dachau, and manipulates him into marriage. She must save her child.

Margot is clever and she is a survivor. Her sister Trudy is loose with her favors and is simply wanting the kind of life that can be purchased. Max, as it turns out, is a prisoner at Dachau, another manipulation by Trudy, although Kurtis and Max never discover their connection. Max has remained a good man and does his best for the people her encounters. His story is heart-breaking, but relatively mild given some stories about concentration camps. There are all kinds of people woven throughout this story. Some good. Some bad. Kagan writes a good character. The plot is complex with stories of each of the remaining characters from the beginning. It is relatively accurate about Nazi Germany and the plights of those living there. It has been a great story. Just enough realism without digging too deeply. Thanks for this short series, Ms. Kagan!

I was invited to read a copy of the The Lies We Told by Book Whisperer. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BookWhisperer #RobertaKagan #TheLiesWeTold

“The Lies We Told” is the last book in the four book series “Margot’s Secret” written by prolific writer Roberta Kagan. Being half Jewish and half Romany, Ms. Kagan has dedicated her writing career to exposing the truths and keeping alive the memories of the devastation of the Holocaust and Hitler’s regime. Although this book is the last in the series, it may be read on its own, as I did.

Not having read anything previously written by Ms. Kagan, I had no trouble whatsoever following the storyline and understanding the characters’ relationships. In fact, the story is relentlessly repetitive and needlessly spells out facts that already are abundantly clear to the reader. A couple of the chapters in the book are so repetitive of certain details they seemed merely to have repeated prior sentences and even whole paragraphs word for word.

I enjoyed the many plot twists and secret relationships between the characters that several of them are not aware of but eventually discover or disclose. Also, Ms. Kagan excellently portrays the angst, fear, hardship, and pain many endured as a result of the Nazis’ ruthless actions against millions of innocent people. She also portrays one of several hypocrisies held by high ranking Nazi officials: chief propagandist and eventual leader of Germany’s all-in military strategy, Joseph Goebbels, was born with a birth defect (club foot) while seeking to eradicate all persons with any mental or physical abnormality. However, the story would have been much more interesting and far better served had the author left more unsaid, allowing nuance and innuendo to elicit the same results in readers’ minds without bludgeoning us over the head with the obvious.

The flaws I found in the repetition and statements of the obvious in the novel distracted me from its interesting storyline and plot twists. Despite her prolific and prodigious writing career, Ms. Kagan’s writing quirks left me not wanting more.

I received “The Lies We Told” as an advanced reader’s digital copy through the Book Whisperer and downloaded it from NetGalley. I am grateful to these entities and to author Roberta Kagan for providing me the opportunity to read the book prior to its official release. This review was written VOLUNTARILY.

The Lies We Told by Roberta Kagan

What a wonderful conclusion to Roberta Kagan’s latest serious Margot’s Secret.

In this book we find out what happens to Trudy, Margot, Mattie and Max as the war comes to an end.

I enjoyed this book very much. Roberta Kagan never disappoints, bringing all her characters to life. I cannot wait to see what Roberta has in store for us next.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Book Whisperer for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved how detailed the contents of the each persons story was. At first, it was a bit hard to follow along in their stories because the print for the locations of the chapters were hard to read and small, but overall once I realized how to follow along I loved this book and could not put it down!!! I love WWII stories and this one is definitely in my top favorites!

Let me begin by saying I really enjoyed this book. I realize now that this book was the last in a series - Margot's Secret. That being said the author did a good job giving enough background of each character that it was easy to understand the relationship between the other characters. This is a story of survival and what people endured during the holocaust to protect those they love. Now that I have been introduced to this author I will definitely read, not only the previous books in this series, but other books by Ms. Kagan.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

1944, World War II, Frankfort Germany is the setting where Margot works as a waitress in a restaurant, run by a Nazi sympathisizer and popular with SS officers. Her husband is prisoner at Dachau, although she does not know if he is dead or alive. Kurtis, a Nazi officer sees Margot at the restaurant, and focuses his attention on her as he relentlessly pursues her, leading to a web of lies.
This story has a lot going on and the author delved deep into the daily happenings of Dachau as well as the everyday lives of Aryan Germans. The characters were believable, each with a unique voice and interaction with Margot. There were plenty of tension filled situations which kept me turning the pages. In addition, there were several honest relationships that made the characters real.
The book brought a human side to the Jews left behind and reinforced the anguish, fear and deprivation that they faced trying to survive.
Fortunately, the book did end on a hopeful note, and I breathed easier knowing the eventual outcome. The story was a little predictable, but that did not diminish the impact of the story for me.
I received a complementary ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. the opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Another great book and read from Roberta Kagan. Book 4 of Margot's Secret Series this is a continuation of the previous books in the series but also can be read as a stand alone as there is enough information in the book to give you a rundown of what has been so you can enjoy reading what is to come.

It is yet another enthralling page-turner of a book and will not disappoint. I love how the story continues and flows onwards and love the way Roberta Kagan writes. She makes it easy to read, even during the hardest moments of the book. The characters remain real and believable and the story is heart-breaking and emotional. I really enjoyed reading this one and as always I do look forward to seeing what comes next from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Book Whisperer for giving me the opportunity to read adn review this book.

A Fantastic Series of Hope and Despair.
The Lies We Told is the fourth (and final) book in the “Margot’s Secret” series by Roberta Kagan. This book can be read as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend you read the 3 books before in this series as you will not be disappointed.
This book follows Margot, her husband Max, and her sister Trudy as they try to survive in Germany during the later part of WWII. Margot has fled to Frankfort trying to survive, Max is in a concentration camp (also trying to survive), and Trudy Margots sister is trying to find lovers to take care of her.
Margots story carry’s on with Margot working in the restaurant and a German officer who pursues her relentlessly and wishes to marry Margot. Trudy as usual is up to her tricks and is causing trouble and threatening to reveal Margots secret of being half Jewish.
Will Margot follow her instincts and marry the officer she hates to save her skin during these times and can she get her sister Trudy of her back. Will Max survive the camp and what more horrific ordeals are in store for him.
This book is as exciting as the last, each book is a page turner. You will not want to put this book down until you have finished it and find out how it all ends. Thanks to Roberta Kagan for writing this great series, her books portray the period and a positive message during a wonderful time of hope and despair. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to Netgalley.co.uk for an Advance Review Copy in return of an honest review.

I have not read the 3 previous books in this series, so I was unsure if this would impact my understanding or enjoyment of the book. As it turns out, enough information is provided in the first few chapters to piece together the gist of Margot's story. Although, I am left wondering if I have made some assumptions, and whether or not I have followed it correctly.
On the whole, this is a good story, with a few surprises and the fingers-crossed promise of a good ending. The players are a complex cast, with coincidence being pushed to its boundaries. However, the links between them also leads to a clearer understanding of the secrets, lies and misgivings they each hold.
I loved and loathed certain individuals with equal measure, and struggled at times to find a redeeming quality in any of them. Perhaps that is why the book appealed, the subject matter is such that the reader is encouraged to look deeper into the meaning of the story.

I will probably go back and read the previous books after this to ease my curiosity

The Lies We Told by Roberta Kagan is the fourth and final novel in the Margot's Secret series. Told in multiple points of view and set during World War II Germany, Kagan weaves her magical tapestry again. Her characters all evoke emotions, whether likeable or despicable. Earth-shattering war cause people to act and react differently than they would in times of peace. Secrets, deceit and violence are rife.

Margot believes her husband to be dead and after a relationship with another man she loves, she makes difficult choices In hopes of giving her unborn child a chance. Though utterly repulsed, she decides to marry a Nazi who works (aka torments and kills) at Dachau. Her disloyal sister tries to throw Margot to the lions again. But her world crashes all around her. Meanwhile, Max is doing what he must to survive Dachau.

Aryan women are typically revered by Nazis for breeding and motherhood. But a few go missing in this story and some know who is responsible. Not only does Kagan write of family drama and horrors of war but also mystery which is very intriguing. Just know details are graphic.

The ending wrapped up a bit too quickly and abruptly and didn't sink in as deeply as it could have considering the subject matter. But all in all, this is a strong series.

My sincere thank you to Book Whisperer and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this beautifully-written and heart tugging novel.

The fourth and final book in the Margot’s Secret series did not disappoint. Kagan has a way of weaving a story that is a page turner once again. She brings everything together to a wonderful conclusion. Her characters are very real. When you sit down to read one of Roberta Kagan’s books you are always in for a great read!!!!

Margot's story comes to a conclusion in The Lies We Told. Margot has found a new life in Frankfurt where she is hiding in plain sight as a waitress.

Drastic times call for drastic measures is the best way I can some up the story. Margot will need to make decisions that she will make her uncomfortable. Life depends on her following through.

Her sister, Trudy, that has created many of Margot's problems will show up in Frankfurt. She will be her usual disgusting selfish self, demanding much from Margot. In order to survive, Margot will do what she must.

There was a lot going on in this story as the author worked take it to closure. Unfortunately, for me, it made following the story a bit of a challenge. Some of the characters had me fuming. The creep factor was extreme. I didn't know what to expect when I moved through the chapters. I did know that I wanted Margot to find happiness. If there ever was a character deserved it, it was her.

That being said, The descriptions of Dachau were heart wrenching. The treatment of prisoners had me in tears. The violence at the hands of Kurtis Richter had me thinking the unthinkable. Sometimes revenge is better than a happily ever after.

I had no idea this is book 4 in a series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone book as I did. It was excellent! I had a hard time putting this one down. I didn't feel like I was missing anything because the author gave enough of the back story to make it feel more like a standalone. Margot's story is of love and loss and doing whatever it takes to keep her and her unborn baby alive during WWII. She's a Jew, adopted by Germans, has an insanely jealous sister who will stop at nothing to ruin Margot's life, Margot's husband is believed to be dead, but is at Dachau concentration camp. She has told many lies in order to protect her unborn baby and the secrets eat away at her but she must do whatever it takes to survive. I enjoyed this story and will probably go back and read the first 3 books. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Margot finds herself in a very unfortunate situation. Her husband, Max is missing (unbeknownst to Margot, he’s at the concentration camp Dachau), she is pregnant by Ben, a Jewish doctor who was her former friend and lover, who’s now dead. An SS officer, Kurtis, has fallen in love with Margot and has no idea that Margot is secretly half-Jewish. In a desperate attempt to save her unborn child, she convinces Kurtis he impregnated her and they marry so she can protect her baby. Meanwhile, in Margot’s newfound town of Frankfurt, there’s a murderer on the loose targeting blonde haired and blue eyed women.

The story line was interesting, but for some reason, I just couldn't bring myself to enjoy the authors writing style. I can’t find the right words to express, but the style is just hard to find a flow in the words and sentences.

Once again the hardships of living in Nazi Germany during WWII are portrayed in this fourth book in the Margot's Secret series of historical fiction. This tale takes the reader to Frankfurt with Margot where she works under the Nazi radar as a waitress. The layers of danger pulsate and enwrap Margot as she struggles desparately to survive and protect her as yet unborn child.

Readers will find it difficult to put the book down hoping upon hope that all will work out, never knowing what will happen even at the next moment and so they will very likely be carried along holding their hearts in their throats as I did.

The authoress, Roberta Kagan allows for major peeks inside the Dachau concentration camp and exposes its many horrors. Here you will meet others from the former books in this series and you will wonder if Margot will ever see or hear from Max again.

Some readers may not appreciate intimate relationship details of which there are some.

I dub this saga a 4-Star performance.

~ Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger ~

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

I really enjoyed this book and could not put it down! I have not read the rest of the series and am excited to go back and read the beginning of Margot’s story!