Roberta Kagan’s books have always been of interest to me. This latest novel tells of life in Germany for a family in the period leading up to World War I, the war years and the aftermath. There are several romantic entanglements and the manner in which a Jewish person is introduced is different. The characters are well defined and the stories are extremely interesting — conflicts between parents and children, brothers and sisters and families. The only negative, in my opinion, is waiting for the next installment in the lives of the characters.
I thank NetGalley, the publisher and, of course, Roberta Kagan for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

I really enjoyed this book. I love historical fiction books. I will definitely read this book again and recommend it to others. I would give it a 10 out of 10 stars if I could.

Truly amazing book! Ms. Kagan’s writing and storytelling get better with every story. One of my favorite historical fiction authors. Cannot wait until the next one.

This book takes place primarily from 1915 to 1933 in Berlin, giving us the story of two working-class brothers. One is responsible & hardworking while the other is the total opposite. One loves a woman, Adelaide, from afar while the other marries her although he doesn't love her. This story is not only emotional but also gives an excellent perspective on life in Germany for those who are not part of the elite. The descriptions of trench warfare were visceral. Curiously, both brothers randomly meet Hitler, in Vienna & on the front line, long before his rise to power.

Just as important is Adelaide's story of survival when the men have gone to war, leaving her to support three very young children in addition to her in-laws. I am continually amazed at the resilience of women, bonding with each other & becoming a family in every sense of the word. At the end of this novel, Hitler has just become Chancellor of Germany, and the three girls are teenagers. Honestly, the foreshadowing was so intense at this point that I was glad that the book came to an end because I needed a mental break. I look forward to reading the next one in this new series...I should be recovered by then. All historical fiction fans will love this page-turner.

Many thanks to NetGalley and The Book Whisperer for the digital ARC. All opinions & the review are my own.

A page tuner and heart breaking…but I enjoyed the love story. I’ve enjoyed every book I’ve read from Roberta Kagan and can’t wait for the next one!

Really enjoyable….my only disappointment is not having the next books in the series available! Roberta’s books are so easy to consume and you feel immersed in the story. I’m both excited and nervous to see how this series plays out because I love and despise some characters. So glad this was an instant read on NetGalley! Definitely looking for the next in the series. Love this author’s work!

Waiting anxiously for the next book! Another wonderful story from Roberta Kagan. It was a page turner just like all her other books. Love, betrayal and all the other adjectives that can explain this great book.

The Secret They Hid: by Roberta Kagan

I loved reading book one of Roberta Kagan’s latest serious Margot’s Secret. I enjoyed the story of the two Schroder brothers, Alex and Leo, and their love for young Adelaide in Berlin 1915. I loved the story of how their lives progress as Alex wins Adelaide’s heart and they marry meanwhile Leo secretly still loves her. Then the two brothers go to fight in the trenches during the Great War and everything Adelaide needs to do to survive.

This book spans twenty years from 1915 to 1935.

I enjoyed this book very much and I cannot wait for the next book in this serious

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

First of all, how dare you end the story like that! I need to know what happened next!! This book was definitely sooo fun to read.
Some parts did make me quite uncomfortable and I would’ve been happy without, but they do play a SUPER important part in the story and in truths of history.
Trigger warning: this book does talk about rape and child abuse.
I rate this book 4.5/5 only because of those uncomfortable portions of the book.
If your looking for a clean book, this book is not entirely clean, I would consider it like a “cracked door” book where there’s a little detail but it fades quickly into the next point.
If you love love stories READ this!
I do not want to give any more information about the book but just trust me, it was GOOD.