Latest From Ronald H. Balson out today! Karolina's Twins, A Literary Tale of Redemption...

I have come to the conclusion that the sound of war is not the guns banging nor the bombs blasting, it is the sound of a blessed voice that has made it through another stupid battle fought for naught... This book was inspired by the story shared to the author by Fay Scharf Waldman... and others...

"In those days, Chrzanow had about twenty-five thousand residents. Forty percent of the town was Jewish and the remainder was Catholic. The immediate area around Chrzanow was hilly and thick with forests. Beyond the perimeter, the countryside was a patchwork of farms, lumber mills and mining operations, especially coal. Krakow, Poland's second largest city, was forty-five kilometers to the east.

"My mother's family owned a store on the edge of the main square that sold building materials and farm provisions. It had been in her family for years. My mother, Hannah Scheinman, worked in the store se4veral days a week. My father, Jacob Scheinman, worked there as well. With both my parents working, Magda not only took care of the house, she took care of Milosz and me.

"The day I met Karolina, it was raining. Magda had gone out of town to visit her mother. My father was supposed to pick up Milosz, but he got tied up at the store and couldn't break away. He asked the school's headmistress to have someone help me bring Milosz home. Karolina was chosen.

"Our home was three blocks off the market square--a two-story, stone house with a gabled roof and a small attic. I mention the attic because it would soon become the centerpiece of my existence. When Karolina brough Milosz home, she hung around for a while. As young girls will do, we have a snack and gossiped away the afternoon. Soon my mother arrived and insisted that Karolina stay for dinner. I was twelve at the time. Milossz was seven. Karolina was thirteen.

"I had seen Karolina at school, but she was a year ahead of me. She was also very popular. Even then, as a young teen, she was exquisite and she grew more beautiful with each passing year. She was strong, athletic and vivacious. She had dark, curly hair and big expressive eyes. Coy, flirtatious, smart, bold and very sure of herself, the boys flocked to her.

"I didn't know at the time, but her confidence was a charade, an appearance that she wore like an overcoat. Inside she was unhappy and insecure. Her father, Mariusz Neuman was a withdrawn, severe man, always worried about his business. He had little patience for Karolina's gaiety. His business was struggling, especially in the 1930s. So, Karolina started spending a lot of time at our house.

"Karolina became an adjunct member of our family. We all loved her and she loved us, but I think she loved Milosz the most. She would sit and listen to him play even when he was just practicing his scales." Lena shrugged. "Or perhaps it was my mother's kreplach soup. Any way, Karolina practically lived at our house..."

~~~

Karolina's Twins

By Ronald H. Balson

It was a good life there in Chrzanow...There was no strife between neighbors because of their religions... Death occurred naturally and was accepted as part of the life cycle...

The Scheinman family had been comfortable and Lena's father had served during WWI, as no religious distinction was made at that time. One hundred thousand Jews fought in the German army, often holding high ranks, and twelve thousand lost their lives. Jewish families had been welcomed then and Jewish society flourished. After the War, Captain Scheinman was still referred to by his title in honor of his rank and service... They were happy days when Lena's mother would often be singing as she worked in the kitchen.

But when Hitler rose to power, everything changed for everybody.. But it was the Jews he planned to exterminate...

It is through Ben from Once We Were Brothers, that Lena Scheinman Woodward meets Catherine Lockhart, lawyer, and her husband and private investigator, Liam Taggart... Catherine is impressed with this elderly woman who is well-dressed, meticulous in her care and effectively communicates her wishes...

But she needs to share her story at her own pace and with her own memories... At first Catherine and Liam are ready and wanting to move on to the investigation to find two baby girls that were lost during the War. However, Catherine, who is the primary listener of the story, is soon caught up, just like I was, in Lena's life...

Come with me.
Where are we going?
To the Synagogue. We'll say Kaddish for your family...
"Kaddish?" I said to Yossi. My tone mocked him. "To Whom? To the absent God?" My voice was rising. "Do you think someone's listening when you chant Kaddish? Face it, Yossi, if there's a God, he's ong ago check out of this hotel. Where is he when they're torturing us? Where is God Almighty when pious people are slaughtered? Where is . . ."
"Stop!" he commanded. He grabbed my arms. "You are a Jew. They cannot take that from you. The Nazis can take away your house, they can take away your bread, they can even take your body, but they cannot take away who you are. The Nazis seek to kill us physically and spiritually. I may not be able to stop them from killing me physically, but I am in control of my spirituality. I, and I alone, will decide when to say Kaddish, when to welcome the Sabbath, when to dance on Simchat Torah. Your father, your mother and your little brother--they were all Jews. Nazi Germany, with all its might, attached their Jewishness, but it did not win. It did not rob them of their faith. The Nazis cannot win as long as we remain Jews. Do you understand?"
"I admire your strength. I admire your resolve. But I cannot share your reverence. Look what they've done to you, Yossi. A learned man living minute to minute on a basement floor. No food, no water. All because you are a Jew."
"And I am still a Jew. And so are you. If you will not say Kaddish, will you assist me to the synagogue and I will say it for both of us? Walk with me, please. We will santify the name of God at a time when such sanctification seems wholly unavailing. And that is precisely why we do it. Walk with me."
~~~

The story is written as a first-person biography. I imagined that Lena had gone over and over the events to keep everything fresh in her mind. Not because it wouldn't have been better to forget much of her life story, but because she had made a promise to her best friend, her adopted sister, Karolina, to try to find "Our" babies.

For it had been Lena, Karolina, and a nurse Muriel, who had come together, moved into a tiny furnace room, where heat was still available, and took care of the two beautiful little girls who brought bright light to the world, a love breaking through the hate, the pain, the hunger and the suffering that plagued every Jew who now had been pinpointed for elimination from Chrzanow - in one way or another... 

I find though I've read other individual stories from Holocaust survivors, I never tire of reading each singular tale. The war and the German soldiers' actions may change very little, but it is in the lives of those who suffered that we gain their memories, their losses...so that, we, too, can never forget.

Lena's father had forced her to promise to hide in their attic if the German's came for them. She could hear what was happening and then see the ravages to their home, including her brother's wheelchair, which had been totally destroyed, and his one shoe, which had undoubtedly fallen off when they lifted him out and carried him away... Lena picked up and treasured that shoe, taking her into what she faced ahead, as the only remnant of her family...

Almost the entire book is Lena's story, interspersed with the responses and beginning investigation activities by Liam... But the drama deepens when Lena's son begins legal action to have his mother declared incompetent to handle her own affairs... I must say that the legal and court portion of the book is quite interesting and is certainly a learning experience regarding this potential situation for all seniors....

Undoubtedly, the extensive coverage of the war is of interest to historical enthusiasts. I have noted that the author has expanded into other information of the time as it relates to the specific book. For instance, this book included much more about the Russian involvement...and also about those who secretly sought to eliminate Hitler...

There is both happiness as well as tears shed as Lena shares her story with us. The author mentions in his afterwords that the novel is made up of other people's stories in order to fill out the overall storyline. To me, that only broadened the impact, knowing that the Holocaust survivors are speaking out and sharing about the degradation--the horror--perhaps the worst, ever, that's been seen on this earth... Why did we not learn from it???

The contrast between such a beautiful old song and pictures of such a terrible event shows all sides of humanity. The beautiful side is shown by the song and the terrible side is shown by the photographs.
-..creator of video...

Ronald Balson has been given a wonderful gift--a gift of listening and then sharing individual stories molded into a novel that reaches into the hearts of readers. It may bring tears, but it also shares the joy that does come...

Highly recommended!


GABixlerReviews

Ronald H. Balson is an attorney practicing with the firm of Stone, Pogrund and Korey in Chicago. The demands of his trial practice have taken him into courts across the United States and into international venues. 

An adjunct professor of business law at the University of Chicago for twenty-five years, he now lectures on trial advocacy in federal trial bar courses. 

Travels to Warsaw and southern Poland in connection with a complex telecommunications case inspired Once We Were Brothers, his first novel.

Thinking of Our Independence Day While Reading The Seven Year Dress by Paulette Mahurin...

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing:

 the last of human freedoms - 

to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, 

to choose one's own way. 

Viktor E. Frankl

It was strange, sad, reading Paulette Mahurin's latest book while we in America are singing and dancing, enjoying the freedom that America presents to us... Yet, Mahurin was able to take me away from our own freedom and immerse myself in the story of Helen Stein, one of the few who lived to celebrate Auschwitz Liberation Day. Sometimes, I lost myself so deeply into the story that I had to break away and read a cat mystery book, so that I could maintain some sense of separation in order to express my thoughts coherently.

Mahurin received the gift of this story directly from the woman who lived to share it with us. It is fiction based upon fact plus research to confirm and round out the story of what was happening. You will understand that, especially since Helen spent four years of that time of terror, underground, totally away from the world, alone only with her brother...

The book shares the intimacy of her life as she faced what had happened--what she saw, what she heard from other trusted individuals, but, more, what she herself experienced...

We all think we know about what happened during that time...but we don't. We can't. Even while reading this book, which is vividly detailed and written so authentically that many will think we are hearing the story directly from the woman sharing her story. While that means that the author has done an outstanding job in writing the book, it also has revealed to many of us a much more intimate, unforgettable tale of inhumanity that cannot be imaged except when we are forced to face the reality of it.  With a German heritage on both sides of my family, I can only get lost in heartache of what Hitler brought about that was so devastating that none of us will ever forget or accept it as anything more than the actions of the devil himself...and as we see, of his many cruel and evil followers.

--LOVIS CORINTH

The story begins when a young girl seeking a room to rent meets an older lady who has a room, but asks a lot of questions before she is willing to show the girl the room...

I was looking to rent a room. She was looking for family. I needed a place to live. She needed to fill an empty void in her heart. But it would take me a few weeks to realize the role I was to play in her life.

The author uses the Prologue to tell this story as they got to know each other and finally, the woman opens up to the young girl... The rest of the book is her story... began the day that the young girl spied the tattoo of numbers on her arm and realized what she'd gone through... One of the stories was about a picture frame holding a small scrap of cloth...it was once part of a dress...

Early 1920s Who could have possibly imagined that in three years a decorated veteran of World War I would become the leader of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, and years later become Chancellor of Germany and annihilate millions of Jews? Certainly not me, Helen Stein.

While Hitler was gaining popularity in the German Workers’ Party in 1919, I was born to a Jewish family in Berlin. My father, Irving Stein, at thirty-one-years old, was a government lawyer who adored his wife— my mother, Rose— a few years younger than he. Altogether, there were six of us. I was the youngest of the four siblings: Lawrence was seven years older, Shana was five years older, and Ben was four years older than me...

I came into the world in a time of great turmoil, civil unrest, and economic upheaval in the aftermath of The Great War that took the lives of more than nine million people. Ending the year before I was born, the war sent ripples throughout the countries that were affected, causing massive political, cultural, and social changes. Especially impacted was Germany, where a socialist revolution led to the formulation of a number of communist parties. The Treaty of Versailles (written by the victors, of course) placed blame for the entire war on Germany and levied a fine of 132 billion marks— more than 31 billion dollars— to keep the German economy from flourishing. To honor the restitution, the German Republic printed large amounts money. The economic effect was devastating. Hyperinflation made the German mark near valueless, and Germany fell into default. As a result, German territories were transferred to other countries. Because many Germans never accepted the treaty as legal and viewed the taking of their territories as hostile, the German Workers’ Party, later renamed the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSGWP, referred to in English as the Nazi Party), emerged. Created as a means to draw workers away from communist uprisings, the Party’s initial strategy was anti-big business, anti-bourgeois, and anti-capitalism, although these features were later downplayed to get support from industrial organizations. Harboring anti-Semitism from its founding, in the 1930s its focus would change to anti-Semitic and anti-Marxist ideas. I remember my parents talking about those earlier events through the years, but I never understood the foreboding tone in their voices until much later, in late 1938, when all hell broke loose...

~~~

Helen was just a child, but she was a curious one, and wasn't hesitant to listen to adult conversations to try to discover whatever she could. But, still, there wasn't much to worry about then. Her next-door neighbors had a son, Max, with whom she became close friends and she moved through school years much like all of us...Max and she were inseparable, but there came a day when Ben came home upset because Max had started to treat him differently. Helen demanded to know what he'd said and he finally admitted he'd call him a goy... As time went by, though, as Helen asked questions, Max finally hinted that he liked boys and Helen surmised that he liked Ben...

But it was more that the atmosphere was changing. Jews were targeted on an ongoing basis, as more and more government sanctions were announced and acted upon... and soon Helen realized that Max had just as many issues with what was happening as her family did...

In that silence, I came to understand that Max and I each had something very real to fear as “undesirables” living in Germany at this moment in history. The difference was that, if he was very smart and lucky, he might be able to pretend that he was not an “undesirable.” I was smart, but would never be that lucky. But I could already see the price he paid for concealing his true self. He was guarded and moody, not the sweet Max I grew to love and call my best friend. His secret was eating away at him, but revealing his secret— even to me— could have dire consequences. Many minutes had passed before I took his hand. “Let’s go somewhere safe.”

Max was forced to play a role and join the Germans forces, while the Stein family was stripped of their citizenship and employment. Soon, Helen and others were, first, learning to sew, and then acting as seamstresses to keep the family going... But then people on the streets were shot, killed for no reason and finally, the Stern home was soon to be attacked...

Max had gained some credibility and had been able to learn much of plans...It was Max who contacted Helen, and later Ben, trying to get them out of town, which he succeeded in doing, but the rest of the family were killed and/or taken (only the sister may have been still alive.) Max and taken Ben and Helen to his family's farm and they lived in the lower storage cellar...for four years...with only Max who came as often as he could to bring them fresh food and other supplies...and one day he brought Helen a dress...

Max went to a bag he’d brought. “Something for you, Helen.” When he handed a dress to me, I started to cry. He knew I loved my dresses, how they made me feel appealing, special. Boys paid attention to me when I had a nice dress on. This dress was a symbol of normalcy, my femininity, and my past. And I prayed it would also be my future. I hoped to see a day when I would be free to be out in the streets enjoying my life in a lovely new dress. The two dresses I’d been wearing in the cellar were filthy. Scrubbing the cellar’s grime from them with soap at the sink couldn’t remove the stains that had become part of the threadbare fabric. Grease and years of dirt covered everything in the cellar. Safety was worth the sacrifice in cleanliness— Ben and I had agreed. But both my dear brother and best friend understood how much I missed feeling like a proper young woman, and how much a new dress means to a proper young woman...
I slipped into my new, clean, beautiful dress: a blue cotton floral print with swirls of designs surrounding flowers. My fingers moved over the fabric, encircling the rose petals and luscious green leaves on the pattern. For a brief moment, it wasn’t a dress, but nature— and I was encircled in it...

~~~

And it was that one act of love and kindness that led to danger! Because the farmhouse was invaded after Max had left (and later was killed along with his family as sympathizers.) The four years in the basement had ended, only to lead to much worse... Ben didn't make it, while Helen's simple, smart thinking to say that she was a seamstress saved her life...leaving Helen on her way to Auschwitz...

“My Papa told me life is precious.
I had to die many times to truly understand this.”

~~~

Paulette Mahurin has the talent to pull her readers into the story she has molded. This is a page-turner, although hard to read at times. It should be, shouldn't it? Because life is indeed precious and only a few of the millions that Hitler planned to murder, made it out to tell us exactly what happened. Horrific, atrocious historical events once occurred. This book forces you to live what those millions suffered. I believe readers will be better for reading it...I know I am! Highly recommended. Maybe even a must-read for most of us!

GABixlerReviews

Paulette Mahurin lives with her husband Terry and three dogs, Max, Bella, and Lady Luck in Ventura County, California. She grew up in West Los Angeles and attended UCLA, where she received a Master’s Degree in Science.

While in college, she won awards and was published for her short-story writing. One of these stories, Something Wonderful, was based on the couple presented in His Name Was Ben, which she expanded into the fictionalized novel in 2014. The first week out, His Name Was Ben, made it to top ten books sold in the Amazon Kindle store (topic: health/wellness/cancer). Her first novel, The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap, made it to Amazon bestseller lists and won awards, including best historical fiction of the year 2012 in Turning the Pages Magazine.

Semi-retired, she continues to work part-time as a Nurse Practitioner in Ventura County. When she’s not writing, she does pro-bono consultation work with women with cancer, works in the Westminister Free Clinic as a volunteer provider, volunteers as a mediator in the Ventura County Courthouse for small claims cases, and involves herself, along with her husband, in dog rescue. 

Profits from her books go to help rescue dogs.

Book Readers Heaven Welcomes Ron Balson, Author of Once We Were Brothers! With Giveaway!

The gripping tale about two boys, once as close as brothers, who find themselves on opposite sides of the Holocaust.

Elliot Rosenzweig, a respected civic leader and wealthy philanthropist, is attending a fundraiser when he is suddenly accosted and accused of being a former Nazi SS officer named Otto Piatek, "the butcher of Zamosc." Although the charges are denounced as preposterous, his accuser, Ben Solomon, is convinced he is right. Solomon persuades attorney Catherine Lockhart to take his case, revealing that the true Piatek was abandoned as a child and raised by Solomon's family only to betray them during the Nazi occupation. But has he accused the right man?

Once We Were Brothers is Ronald H. Balson's compelling tale of two boys and a family who struggle to survive in war-torn Poland and a young love that incredibly endures through the unspeakable cruelty of the Holocaust. Two lives, two worlds, and sixty years converge in an explosive race to redemption that makes for an enthralling tale of love, survival, and ultimately the triumph of the human spirit.

Welcome! I'm so happy to have the author of Once We Were Brothers, Ronald H. Balson, at Book Reader's Heaven today. The author has graciously provided for a giveaway of his book, which is out this month, so those interested should feel free to leave a comment with contact information!

Ron  I think you already know that your book is touching many lives. In fact, I have over one thousand visitors from Poland last month, so I'm looking forward to giving those individuals a chance to learn about your book!

I am honored.  Thank you. 

Ronald H. Balson is an attorney practicing with the firm of Stone, Pogrund and Korey in Chicago. The demands of his trial practice have taken him into courts across the United States and into international venues.

An adjunct professor of business law at the University of Chicago for twenty-five years, he now lectures on trial advocacy in federal trial bar courses.

Travels to Warsaw and southern Poland in connection with a complex telecommunications case inspired Once We Were Brothers, his first novel.

I understand that you first self-published your book. How did you decide to go that route--and then what happened to have St. Martin's picked it up?

           

I submitted it through an agent to several publishers and was rejected several times.  Becoming impatient, my son and I formed our own publishing company.  We sold the book through our website, various bookstores, Barnes and Noble and Amazon.  After we sold 100,000 copies, St. Martins offered to publish a new edition, which is coming out on October 8th. 

You mentioned you traveled to Poland for work and got interested--but do you also have any personal interest in what happened historically? In Poland? During the War?

            

None of my family was personally involved in the Holocaust.

Ben Solomon, by the way, is such an endearing character. Few would not agree that he had a right to seek revenge... Do you believe this desire runs through most individuals who were affected by the Nazis?

I can’t speak for them.  My character was...

Are there real-life examples of others trying to regain their losses from that time? What would you do if you discover a similar situation in your own family's background?

There are real life stories of people who sought the return of property or money taken from them.  With very few exceptions, those lawsuits are now barred.  There are cases, mentioned in the book, where people have brought suit to recover art works.

  

My mother would always clarify to me that "we were Americans" rather than German immigrants. I never asked but wondered if German-Americans must have felt shame (I know I do) for the actions of Nazi officers... Are you able to have any sympathy toward those German officers who tried to change their names and get away from the condemnation they would face?

I guess it would depend on what the German officers did during the war.  If they were active participants in the Nazi persecution, I would have no sympathy.  If they tried to change their names and sneak into the country under false identities to escape prosecution, I have no sympathy and think they should be deported for trial.  If they were just soldiers, I guess it would be different.  People forgive the Japanese, the Vietnamese.

Yes, I agree... You had Ben working with a lower-level lawyer rather than with the U.S. Attorney. Was there a reason behind that decision?

Ben thought that the U. S. Attorney’s office would not take on a case against such a prominent man without conclusive evidence.  He sought a civil lawyer (not a lower level) rather than the Justice Department.

Oops! I was thinking of "level" referring to hierarchy of legal system, but excuse my own confusion... 

You also had Ben's father tell Otto to go to the job his mother had arranged--and then later Otto seemed to blame that decision for what he'd done. Can you share a little of your thinking on these twists in your novel?

I leave that to the reader.

Now that's an interesting response... I would think most writers have a specific thought in mind and want the readers to catch it...LOL  

Because of my reading recently a book by Declan Finn, A Pius Man, I picked up your comments about meeting with the cardinal in Poland and his commenting that the Pope was fearful of antagonizing Hitler... yet later a local Father was helping with credentials, etc., to help the Jews out of the country. Could you clarify how you perceive the present-day feelings for Catholics and other faiths are today? 

            

There were many who helped the Jews at great personal risk.  Yad VaShem recognizes many of them as the Righteous Among the Nations.  As to the present day feelings of other faiths, I assume they all condemn the Holocaust and its perpetrators.

You had Ben believing that the Nazis were demons. Do you see the supernatural involvement in the Holocaust?

            

Ben does.

OK, you've convinced me that Ben took control of your book, just like he took control over Catherine's life and actions...LOL! 

You indicated that the Nazi persecution didn't limit itself to race. "Religion, national origin, alternative lifestyles, persons with disabilities--all were targets." Would it be safe to say that any individuals within those categories were included in the "count/number" for Jews...or is there information about those groups as well, if researched? 

            

No.  The count for Jews was six million.  Gypsies, Polish Intelligentsia, Polish Christians, Blacks, people with alternative lifestyles totaled another five million.

Wow! I had not known that additional number...Certainly makes me happy that writers such as yourself are incorporating this important information within enjoyable fiction novels so that more individuals have an opportunity to learn through them...

Do you truly believe "The Holocaust was not God's will. It was the will of those who had become infused of the devil...It is why we must remain diligent and relentlessly pursue men like Piatek. Evil is contagious. Much like a pathogen. It must be snuffed out at the source."?

            

Those are Ben’s views. 

You know, I'm beginning to think Ben and I have much in common, while the writer of this terrific novel is...a lawyer... No offense, Ron...That's a compliment for creating such wonderful characters that I wanted to get to know them better...LOL  Readers be sure to check out my review in a separate article! 

Thank you for your time! 

You’re very welcome.

Thanks again for visiting Book Readers Heaven...The newly published novel by St. Martins will be out October 8th... Don't forget to leave your name and contact information for a chance at the Giveaway copy!

BRH Review Coming Next!

Review: Mazurka "Must" be Spotlighted in Gus LeGarde Mystery Marathon!



Mazurka:


A Gus LeGarde Mystery


By Aaron Paul Lazar








Lazar is the first—the very first author who forced me to go to the back of the book to find out about a character. I didn’t read anything; I just made sure the name appeared again—I didn’t want to grieve if I didn’t have to! Ok, I’m giving away a little by saying that, so I’ll stop and just add that Aaron Paul Lazar’s characters in this series are so wonderfully created that I’ve become attached to them!

And no wonder! Would you believe that he changed a Honeymoon Trip into a Fantastic Mystery (for readers, that is)? I didn’t know whether to be irritated or excited!

You probably realize that Mazurka has now become my favorite in the Gus LeGarde series. They do indeed keep getting better, but I absolutely loved this one!

Gus and Camille are now married—you’ll see a wonderful rerun of the wedding near the end of the book—what a clever idea for sharing this important moment in such a unique. touching way! Gus and Camille had decided to first stop in Paris and then on to Vienna for their honeymoon. But since that early decision there had been a slight change.

Siegfried’s great aunt had requested Sig come to Germany—her health was bad and she had asked for a visit. If you’re following the series, you will know that Sig is the twin brother of Gus’ first wife who was now dead. Sig had also been Gus’ best friend so when he became his brother-in-law, he had moved to live on their property. As you may also know by now, Sig was hurt in an accident when he was twelve. Although he still has moments of brilliance, especially related to math, and has learned to drive a car and other things, his mental capabilities had been limited at that time. Interestingly, he had reverted to speaking the German he had known as a child and was quite comfortable in planning a visit with his relatives.

Sig wasn’t quite sure that he was not interfering with the honeymoon, but Gus and Camille both loved Sig and assured him he was welcome. Except...none of them could have realized what was awaiting them!

From all over the world, with one even on the plane with Gus’s small group, young men who were referred to as neo-Nazis were planning major terroristic maneuvers. So while Gus, Camille and Sig went to their hotel in Paris and began to tour, a major leader of the Nazi group also arrived. It was during their first shopping trip that the leader spotted Sig. With long blond hair pulled into a ponytail, Sig’s tall body stood out in any crowd, so as he waited outside for Gus and Camille to come out of a shop, the Nazi leader, thinking he was talking to a local German man, yelled out to Sig.

That was the worst thing he could have done. For Sig didn’t quite understand what was happening, but he did know that the Nazis had killed many of his family,  Sig was part Jewish and he screamed that back to the man. Instantly a fight began and during that fight Sig was seriously injured and one of the young men accidentally killed the leader, while aiming for Sig.

But to the young rebels, they didn’t care who had pulled the trigger. Sig, and Gus and Camille who had by then joined Sig were at fault. Revenge was what came after that!

The excitement, danger, and anger against the group who were imitating the old Nazi regime affects everybody in various countries, but only a few know of the chase after Sig, Gus and Camille. Sig has made it into Germany where he will recuperate, while Gus and Camille decide that it is all right to proceed to Vienna, although that, too, proves to be wrong. While there, they hear that a bomb has destroyed the home where Sig was staying!

Against the fear and hatred that is stirred by this terrorist group, Lazar as placed a beautiful family intrigue. During the time that Gus and Camille are still in Germany, his great aunt shares a precious secret that has been handed down from generation to generation and now would go to Sig. At the same time, she is joyous to learn that her niece had a daughter about whom she have never heard—an important fact since the secret was to be handed down through the female side of the family. Sig was the one who quickly mentioned that it should go to Freddie who had received the formal name that was part of the story—Fredericka. This story in itself is worthy of its own short story and I commend Lazar for making it so realistic and beautifully presented within the overall novel! Indeed the title reflects this family heritage and fits so well within the overall theme of the Gus LeGarde Mystery series.

Aaron, you are getting better and better and I can’t wait to read the next in this series, as well as all of your future books! Aaron Paul Lazar has officially been added to my must-read favorite author list! I loved Mazurka...but I truly do recommend you begin at the beginning of this series. As mentioned above, the characters are so important that you just must meet them long before Mazurka “happens!”

Book Received Via
Facebook Reviewers Roundup

G. A. Bixler

Review: Freya's Child - Great Merge of Mythology and History!

Image via Wikipedia

Freya's Child

By Alvin Franzmeier




Wheatmark

ISBN: 9781604943658

241 Pages

It was 1939 and most of the world was watching as Nazi Germany invaded and took over countries. Would the US become involved? Alvin Franzmeier sets his book, Freya’s Child, during this time; however, within the background, the novel presents an alternative history that will fascinate readers in its potential...

Dr. Hulda Schwarz was a sergeant in the SS when she was told to meet with Nazi Schutzstaffel Reich’s Fuhrer Heinrich Himmler. Nervous at first, she was thrilled when she was asked to discuss a runestone that had been found in Minnesota. Many believed that the stone could have great significance for the future of the Reich. She shared a part that she had already been able to translate:

Shine Freya Moon gold bright and clear
Your day of rest draws near
Valhalla calls her maiden home...

For the German Nazis, they believe that the stone would lead to gold...

But for Dr. Schwarz, it was far more important. She tried to explain to Himmler about the true discoverers of the Americas when the Scandinavian countries had traveled into Canada and down into America in areas now included in the state of Minnesota. Finding a Runestone seemed to prove this to be true.

And to Dr. Schwarz and other believers, it was believed that the poem was foretelling the return of the goddess Freya and it would be her race, the Aryan race, that would now rule the world. Dr. Schwarz was willing to ride the Hitler wagon, though she knew that most Nazis were atheists.

When Dr. Schwarz arrived, it seemed that a strange number of coincidences had led her there and were supporting her beliefs. She was a Volva and practiced Seidh. Indeed it was her extensive research and study of her faith that allowed her to translate the words (runes) on the stone. She believed the prophecy pointed to their destiny as the leaders of the Aryan people and that blessed Freya, becoming incarnate in a promised child, would guide them.

Valhalla - "Heaven" for those who believed...

Image via Wikipedia...


That child, however, happened to have been born to Albert Freitag’s family. He was a Dakota County deputy sheriff; however, because he spoke German, he had been requested to work with the FBI on occasion because it was known that there were Nazi soldiers and sympathizers in the United States.

Tillie, his wife, was pregnant and was afraid for Al to go undercover. Especially when she met the beautiful Hulda Schwarz and saw her interest in her husband! But it was more than jealousy, she was afraid of Hulda and later for her child...
Al tried to reassure Tillie, but within himself, he worried and wondered. He seemed to be under a spell whenever Hulda was around. What was worse, his job demanded that he travel with her to try to find out what plans were underway by the Germans...

Alvin Franzmeier’s merge of the legends of Valhalla with the political power and takeover by Germany is a wonderful blend of history that results in an adventure both suspenseful and fantastical in its possibilities. I thoroughly enjoyed this and lovers of both history and mystery and suspense will find this tale well worth reading!


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G. A. Bixler