| Title | : | The Edelweiss Sisters |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 437 |
| Publication | : | First published June 8, 2021 |
Johanna, Birgit and Lotte Eder have always lived quiet lives, working in their father’s clockmaking shop and helping their mother in the house. But like many other Austrians, they find it impossible to ignore the changes in the world around them.
At first Johanna finds it hard to believe the Nazis pose a real threat. But then her father hires Franz to help in his shop. He’s kind and soulful, with dark eyes that twinkle with intelligence. But he’s Jewish, and as Johanna falls for him, she realizes that loving him puts them all in danger.
Then comes the Anschluss—the reunification of Austria and Germany under Nazi rule. The three sisters’ lives have become ever more separate with Lotte joining the convent at Nonnberg Abbey and Birgit’s secret involvement with the Resistance. But as Johanna realizes how mistaken she was about the level of danger, she begins to see that it may be down to her to protect the man she loves.
She knows that she can’t do it alone though. She will have to turn to the people she trusts the most: her sisters.
The three of them work together to try to get Franz to the safety of Switzerland, and they soon prove invaluable to the Resistance. But they’re risking everything. Can three women who would die for each other, also be prepared to die for what is right?
The sisters’ subsequent journey from Nazi-occupied Salzburg to the devastating concentration camps of Ravensbruck and Mauthausen will show the strength of human spirit like never before. As, out of the darkness, a tiny seed of hope flowers…
A totally heartbreaking and impossibly powerful story about love, tragedy, and the power of humanity. Perfect for fans of The Nightingale, The Lilac Girls and The Sound of Music.
The Edelweiss Sisters Reviews
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4.5 stars
Life is quiet in Saltzburg, Austria, for the Eder sisters. Joanna, Birgit, and Lotte however along with the people of Austria all that serenity while working in their father's clock-making shop is about to end as the world approaches war and Hitler is about to annex Austria. The girls all have different opinions about Hitler and the presence of the Nazis. Joanna thinks they might not be so bad, while Birgit believes that they are up to no good. Lotte, the baby of the family wants peace and solitude and is on the brink of considering a vocation to the nunnery.
When their father hires, a young man, Franz, a Jewish boy, Joanna is smitten but the realization overtaking many is that Jews are to be detested, are to be purged from society, and of course eventually are to be eliminated. With the Anschluss being put in place, the lives of the girls and their family change to inevitable tragedy. Their father a non-supporter of the Nazis is taken to prison and interrogated while Franz goes into hiding, luckily not being found in the Eder household. The father returns damaged from his ordeal.
Meanwhile, Lotte has entered the nunnery, at Nonnberg Abbey, where she believes she can escape the war and its tumult. Little does she realize that soon, it will come knocking on the abbey's door. Birgit can't watch the unhappiness that war brings. She enlists in the resistance which later on will play an important part in helping Franz escape for a while.
The sisters come to the realization that they will need to band together, and enable their hope and spirit to succeed and do what they can to thwart the injustices they see around them. There is sadness ahead as they and others experience the horrors of Ravensbruck and Mauthausen. The outright detailing once again of conditions, and how people were annihilated because of their faith, their way of life, and their physical or mental state is one that brings that horror home once again. However, it is that hope and love which powers them forward even though it seems as if destiny will deal them an awful fate.
I enjoyed this story which had much going for it as the girls awaited fate and certainly were not prepared in any way for its outcome. The power of love and the belief that humanity when called upon can succeed, once again show that life does go on despite the horrors of war. It always a powerful message especially to those of us who have lived in freedom.
Thank you to Kate Hewitt, Bookouture, and Net Galley for a copy of this book due out June 8, 2021. -
Three sisters, Johanna, Birgit and Lotte Eder lived above the clockmaker’s shop in Salzburg, Austria, where their father took much pride in his work. Birgit was helping him as an apprentice when a young man, Franz Weber, a Jew rescued from Vienna, arrived to start his apprenticeship. Johanna helped their mother in the kitchen while wishing she could have more from her life. The three sisters had been named the Edelweiss Sisters at a singing competition some years prior; their father had the edelweiss on his shop and gave the girls sprigs to wear on their clothes.
When Lotte joined the convent at Nonnberg Abbey not far from their home, she welcomed the peace and serenity it brought. Meanwhile Birgit had covertly joined the Resistance, not doing a lot to begin with but that soon changed. When the Nazis took over Austria – the Anschlus – the fear people felt magnified, especially when the brown shirts raided the shops, putting signs on shop doors ‘No Jews Allowed’, branding the Jews as scum and non-citizens. Nazis were everywhere, they received adulation from some, hatred from others.
Johanna and Franz knew their future was uncertain and when it came time for Franz to be spirited away, the three sisters worked to make that happen. Would they manage to get Franz to the safety of Switzerland? And what would their future be like with the Nazi brutality, cruelty and savagery now well known?
The Edelweiss Sisters by Kate Hewitt is another brilliant historical offering which I devoured. A different angle from the usual WW2 books, it was intriguing, heartbreaking, poignant and showed the courage of many, in this case the three sisters. They were young and naïve when the Nazis arrived in their hometown – that soon changed as they found a strength they didn’t know they had. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review. -
Too emotional to write much 🥲
A beautifully written and powerful message within the pages of the book. A fantastic book that will stay with me for years. -
⭐️4 .5 Stars⭐️
The Edelweiss Sisters by
Kate Hewitt was an absolute page turner for me! What a heartrending and inspirational World War II epic this was and so beautifully written, a story of family, strength and sacrifice.
Set in 1934, Salzburg Austria we have three sisters Johanna, Birgit and Lotte Eder who live with their parents Manfred and Hedwig, above their father’s clockmaking shop. Their ordinary lives are about to change as a Nazi invasion is imminent.
Johanna the eldest and strongest thinks her life is uninteresting and wants something more than spending her life as kitchen helper to her mother, she dreams of attending a secretarial school to gain some independence.
Birgit works in their father’s clockmaking shop alongside her father and feels invisible most of the time, she finds herself entering the world of the Resistance movement. Her father hires Franz to work in the clockmaking shop as his apprentice, he’s Jewish and is soon included as part of their family.
Lotte the youngest sister is the prettiest, most charming and musically talented. Regardless of her love of music, to her family’s surprise she leaves her music studies to join the convent.
Upon trying to get Franz safely to Switzerland two of the sisters wind up being caught, imprisoned and then later transferred to a prison camp.
The characters were skillfully executed and evolved throughout the story. My favourite part of the book was about the youngest daughter Lotte and her journey of joining the convent and of all of the sacrifices that came from that decision, it was so intriguing.
It was so inspiring to see so many courageous young women involved in the Resistance
The story also features the Von Trapp family, made famous by the Sound of Music!
A must read for all historical fiction fans, if you’ve never read historical fiction before try this one as an intro, I’m sure you’ll love it.
Publication Date June 2021
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy to ready and review. -
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.
A different take on the now common WW2 books; this one set in Austria...with a cameo appearance from the Von Trapp family!! Heartbreaking!! -
I’m going to venture to say this is the best WW2 historical fiction tale I’ve ever read.
You need to read this book because:
1) it’s a WW2 novel set in Austria; unique setting
2) it’s told from three sisters’ points of view - one in love with an SS officer, one in love with a Jew and one devoted to God.
- When major milestones of the war occur, such as Anschluss or Kristallnacht, readers get to see it from all three POV
3) you will read about the Ravensbruck and Mauthausen concentration camps as well as the resistance movement in Austria not normally mentioned in other books focused on this time period
4) It’s inspired from Edelweiss, the show tune from The Sound of Music
- when Captain von Trapp is singing during the concert in the movie, you’ll now know more about the pressure on him
- you will understand the title of the book and the flower symbol
5) The characters are definitely not cookie-cutter characters
6) Hewitt masterfully brings readers into the pages to feel how terrifying the future is for the Viennese, to feel the tension and fear when one sister brings the enemy into the family house, etc. Hewitt not only shows the emotion, you feel it.
If you love historical fiction, this is a MUST read.
I was gifted this advance copy by Kate Hewitt, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review. -
A heartbreaking story of Love, courage, and Faith
Three sisters in 1938 Austria, Johanna the eldest is strong and steady, Birgit the middle sister is an apprentice clockmaker with her father, and Lottie the youngest is pretty and has a beautiful singing voice.
When the Nazi's march into Salzburg it changes all their lives. In order to resist the Nazi's they put their lives on the line. In trying to help one young man all three sisters are endangered. Will any of them survive, and if they do at what cost.
I loved the courage and the faith shown in the forming of the characters in the story. I especially liked the character of Lottie, what a beautiful girl of faith she portrayed and even through the most trying times she never lost her faith.
I have read many WWII stories set in England, France and Italy, but this is set in Austria. I was inspired by the courage of the resistance movement, and that so many of those involved were young women.
From the beauty of Salzburg before the war, to the history of the occupation of Austria, and the horrors of the Nazi's and the concentration camps this book was very well written and an inspiring read.
Thanks to Kate Hewitt, Bookouture, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of the book for and honest review. -
This tragic yet compelling read follows three German sisters whose lives change drastically during World War II. Life ceased to be normal for any Jewish person in Salzberg, which is where Johanna, Brigit and Lotte lived. With loving parents, the sisters each played a different role. When Johanna, who often felt invisible, begins to draw close to Franz, hired by her father as an apprentice in his clockmaker's shop, she sadly relaizes how different their prospects are, as Franz is Jewish.
When the Anschluss presses closer and closer, Brigit and Lotte each take vastly different directions in their lives. Secretly, the resistance is taking place, and each of the girls take on roles to help as many Jeews as possible, despite the ultimate danger they will face if they are ever caught.
When the sisters end up in different concentration camps, they experience horrid treatment due to their strong values, despite the bonds of love they had formed before they were imprisoned. In fact, one of them fell in love with a German soldier, just as Johanna fell in love with Franz. And another took an entirely different dictiron in life. How will the sisters remain strong and surive the cruel treatment they and thousands of other individuals faced in those horrid camps? With their loving parents stilll in Salzberb, their lives changed irrecovably as hope seemed like something very far away.
This story broke my heart, bringing tears and intense sadness as I read it. The lessons in this story proved that love and courage can indeed make a person strong, so strong that surviving the worst possible treatment can indeed happen. However, what occurred along the way as we see the amazing strength each sister had and how they managed to survive the best they could was just incredible.
One thing about historical fiction that I enjoy is the setting. Reading about World War II does not bring happiness any way whatswever. However, when reading a story that took place in Austria, especially when the sisters' story had a clear connection to my favorite movie of all time, The Sound of Music, which I have seen dozens of times, gave me more knowledge about that terrible time in history and how and why many different people ended up in concentration camps. The reason for their imprisonments gave me a powerful history lesson.
I love how faith waas threaded through the pages of this powerful story making it even more compelling. Kate Hewitt is a fabulous author and this book moved me into double digits with the books I have read by her, and each and every one, including this book, proved to be wonderful and inspiring reads.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion. -
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Kate Hewitt's heartbreaking THE EDELWEISS SISTERS.
This is my first book by Kate Hewitt and I chose it because of its genre and premise. I have read many a tale set during this time surrounding the Nazi occupation and concentration camps and yet this one was still different enough to stand out. It centres around three sisters and each chapter is told in the narrative of each sister respectively for a fuller and clearer picture. But what also makes this story that little bit different is that it incorporates other figures from history that we may have heard of from that time - the Von Trapp family, Maria Von Trapp and Corrie and Betsie Ten Boom - as well as a visit to Hitler's own mountainside retreat Berghof.
The prologue opens in 1945 with a heartbreaking scene that immediately draws the reader in. A baby, just weeks old, is left in a crate on the doorstep of Nonnberg Abbey. Who is she? Where did she come from? And who was her mother? These are just some of the questions we ask ourselves as we begin this heartbreaking tale. But to answer that, we have to rewind some years for the complete story.
Beginning during a time when Hitler was rising to power in the 1930s and Austria lived under constant threat of occupation, we meet the three Eder sisters - Johanna, Birgit and Lotte - who once sang together in a festival in which the Von Trapp family had also in 1934 and known as the Edelweiss Sisters, for the sprig of Edelweiss their father had each given them to wear on stage.
The sisters live in Salzburg with their clockmaker father Manfred and their stalwart mother Hedwig above the clock shop and while the family fear their nation will fall to the Nazis but do not subscribe to their propaganda or bullying tactics. So when Franz Weber arrives to begin work as an apprentice the family offer him solace in their attic and soon Johanna finds herself caught in trap of forbidden love. For Franz is Jewish - albeit half-Jewish but that will matter not to the Nazis. The couple enjoy trysts and hidden meetings together whilst trying to keep their love secret. Meanwhile, Johanna wishes to do something more with her life but keep house and live in the kitchen.
Middle sister Birgit had been her father's apprentice for two years when Franz arrived to replace her. Hurt and angered that her abilities were not valued, Birgit longed to find something in which she would be appreciated. Then when she sees the unnecessary violence inflicted on a poor Jewish lad, she enters the world of the Resistance movement to stand up against the rise of the Nazi regime. At least here, her presence is seen whereas at home she feels invisible. But one night, the authorities arrive to raid the coffeeshop where their meetings are held and Birgit flees along with her comrades...straight into the arms of Werner Haas who rescues her from capture with a kiss. And Birgit falls in love. But Werner is a soldier with the Austrian army which Birgit knows will only be time before becoming the German army...meaning he will then be a Nazi. So she keeps her activities with the Resistance secret from Werner and keeps Werner a secret from her family, unsure they would approve of some of his ideals. And then the Resistance learn of her relationship with Werner and Birgit finds herself having to prove her worth to them by gathering information from Werner for their cause. Until Werner learns of her motives and her involvement...
And then there is Lotte, the youngest of the sisters. She is the one with the angel's voice that prompted her father to send her to study music and song. But Lotte finds that everyone there is far too competitive taking the joy out of singing for her. It is then that Lotte finds herself drawn to the peaceful confines of the church and thus a calling to become a nun, entering the Nonnberg Abbey as a postulant. Life in the Abbey is a sheltered one and far different to that which is going on around them. Lotte does not see her family in all the time she is a postulant and for the first six months or so of her service as a novitiate. But it is when she discovers a fellow novitiate is assisting the Resistance with the harbouring of Jews in the Abbey that Lotte finds herself in a quandary. To report her would place the Abbey and all therein in danger...but to do nothing would also place them in danger. And then one night she is summoned. Her sister Johanna has come seeking her help for Franz. The Gestapo have raided their house and shop and taken their father away for questioning. Johanna has learned of the Abbey's involvement through the Resistance and now begs for their help for Franz. Lotte knows at once what she must do.
Until now, the sisters and their family had mistaken the level of danger that threatened them all. They were not Jewish but by not supporting the Nazi's regime and their propaganda, they are as good as, therefore putting them all in danger. And now Johanna must find a way to protect the man she loves as the sisters risk everything to transport him to the safety of Switzerland.
WOW! When I started this book I found it so completely slow going and wondered when it would ever pick up. It didn't help that the chapters were also lengthy and it did take a bit for the story to gain momentum and pick up. But it eventually did and I was glad I stuck with it because it is one of those stories that will stick with you long after you have finished. Those that feature the horrific nature of the Holocaust will always tug at the heartstrings when you see just how cruel mankind can be. The harsh and unfair treatment of the Jews was abhorrent, and to simply expect whole nations to concur and succumb to their cruel regime was just barbaric. What I found a little refreshing was a soldier who bore no hatred for Jews despite rising to the ranks of a Nazi officer and thus finding himself questioning the motives behind such harsh treatment of individuals who are completely innocent. He fought for what he thought was best for Austria but found himself in a situation he wanted no part of.
The camps feature in the latter part of the story and, although not heavily, they do play a significant role. It is there we meet Betsie ten Boom briefly, sister to Corrie who is mentioned towards the end of the book. Her love and faith are a refreshing change to the sorrow and death normally highlighted in the camps. But Betsie is like a breath of fresh air, though she only features for a small part, she is definitely hard to forget. And while many would ask "where was God when thousands of Jews were being slaughtered and their women raped?", the inclusion of such faith despite the uncertain and evil times in which they were in I felt were a realistic portrayal of their plights.
THE EDELWEISS SISTERS is certainly a different WW2/Holocaust tale but still has the capacity to tug at the heartstrings with this heartbreaking tale of three sisters who against all odds, rise above them with their faith, love and bravery.
I recommend this story for fans of historical fiction who like a real tear-jerker with a heartwarming end. But bring tissues!!
I would like to thank #KateHewitt, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheEdelweissSisters in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at
https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/. -
A story of three sisters.
A story of love, the forbidden and secretive kinds.
A story about family.
A story of courage.
A story of hope.
A story of war torn Europe.
A story of people trying to hold on to what little happiness they could find in times of grief.
Set in the scenic Austria, it's a fast paced, albeit a heartbreaking read. And I loved the guest appearance of Maria Van Tropp😍
But but but....make no mistake, it's a sad sad tale filled with atrocities of Hitler led Nazis, concentration camps, murdering people like they were lifeless....a tale that would make you cry and leave you speechless at the horrific face of humanity. -
From start to finish, The Edelweiss Sisters will keep you on the edge of your seat, eager to turn the page to find out what happens next.
Set in Austria during WWII, The Edelweiss Sisters follow three sisters, Johanna, Birgit and Lotte as they experience the wrath of war. As a family, they know what is happened all around them is wrong and vow to do something about it by assisting the resistance. When the Gestapo comes knocking at the door...the sisters set off to hide their fathers apprentice at his clockmaking shop in an abbey. While one sister continues to aid the resistance, two of them are caught and sent to a camp. When all seems lost, the sisters hold on to hope that one day the war will end and they’ll be together again.
This is the third novel from Kate Hewitt that I’ve read. I’m a fan of her work so I was super excited to crack open this book and it did not disappoint. Told from the alternating perspectives of each sister, it’s hard not to get emotionally involved. You can feel their love, their fear, their hope, their grief. I also enjoyed this book because its set in Salzburg, Austria. My knowledge of Austria’s involvement in WWII is limited so I got a bit of a history lesson as well. I highly recommend this story of a family’s love.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bookouture and Kate Hewitt for access to this wonderful book! I can’t wait to spread the word about it!! -
An emotional story full of love, hope and family ties. The three sisters are so different, yet come together to fight the common enemy. This is a fast paced read covering the whole period of the war and at times felt a little rushed. I really enjoyed the spirit of togetherness that the women shared and their strength was unquestionable. Definitely worth a read. -
Three sisters— Johanna, Birgit, and Lotte—living in Austria respond Hitler's invasion and the resulting upheaval differently. But they eventually forge a bond of resistance.
I enjoyed this fiction read but it did not envelope me. I felt detached from the characters.
It so closely resembled Corrie ten Boom's The Hiding Place that it felt derivative. -
Kate Hewitt, autorka nietuzinkowej powieści „Dziewczyna z Berlina”, powróciła do nas z kolejną piękną i niezwykle przejmującą historią o odwadze i wyjątkowej sile miłości. Literatura wojenna zarówno ta na faktach, jak i beletryzowana, zawsze wywołuje w czytelniku mnóstwo emocji. Historia trzech sióstr – Johanny, Brigit i Lottę to wyjątkowa powieść, na kartach, której autorka w przepięknym stylu kreśli obraz prawdziwej siostrzanej miłości, która pomimo przeciwności losu, w obliczu wojny, jest w stanie przetrwać wszystko. To właśnie miłość, w tych trudnych czasach, dawała ludziom siłę i nadzieję na lepsze dni. Taką miłością darzyły się trzy siostry – Johanna, Brigit i Lotta, bohaterki powieści „Wybór sióstr”.
Kate Hewitt tym razem zabiera nas do Austrii, gdzie towarzyszymy trzem siostrom w ich życiu codziennym. Dziewczęta każdego dnia pomagały ojcu w warsztacie, naprawiając zegarki. Pomagały również swojej matce w codziennych obowiązkach domowych. Każda z nich miała swoje marzenia, jednak dzień, w którym wybuchła wojna, nie tylko sprawił, że wszystkie marzenia legły w gruzach, ale również spotęgował strach o los bliskich osób.
Pewnego dnia ojciec zatrudnia do pomocy młodego Żyda, Franza. Niedługo pomiędzy nim a Johanną rodzi się głębokie uczucie. Gdy wybucha wojna, dziewczyna wie, że ich miłość zagraża życiu całej rodziny. Czy uczucie tych dwojga przetrwa najtrudniejsze czasy?
Do czego są gotowe siostry, by w obliczu wojny uratować swoich bliskich?
„Żyję, pomyślała. Teraz czuję, że żyję. Czy tak właśnie odczuwało się odwagę? Tę niezwykłą świadomość, poczucie czasu jednocześnie ulotnego i cennego płynącego niczym woda, stale odmierzanego tykaniem, jak w zegarach ojca?”.
Kate Hewitt stworzyła powieść nietuzinkową poruszającą najczulsze struny serca, ale również dającą nadzieję. Powieść, która od pierwszych stron wciąga nas w wir wydarzeń ogarniętego wojną kraju. Fabuła poprowadzona jest z perspektywy każdej z sióstr, dzięki temu wydarzenia przedstawione w powieści możemy poznać z różnego punktu widzenia.
„Wybór sióstr” to historia o sile i potędze miłości ukazująca nam jak wiele jest w stanie znieść człowiek dla dobra bliskich, ile gotów jest poświęcić. Ciężko mi ubrać w słowa, jak bardzo zachwyciła mnie ta powieść i ile emocji we mnie wywołała. Kate Hewitt ma niesamowity dar do tworzenia powieści z wojną w tle. W bardzo obrazowy sposób, z dbałością o szczegóły potrafi nakreślić historię, którą czytając, mamy wrażenie, jakbyśmy byli jej bohaterami.
„Wybór sióstr” to kolejna historia, która poruszyła mnie do głebi, ale również utwierdziła w przekonaniu, że miłość ma potężną moc. Spisane na kartach losy sióstr z pewnością na długo pozostaną w mojej pamięci. Polecam Waszej uwadze ten tytuł, jestem przekonana, że będziecie zachwyceni równie mocno jak ja. -
The Edelweiss Sisters by Kate Hewitt is an excellent WWII-era historical fiction novel that I enjoyed immensely.
I have been a fan of Kate Hewitt for a while now, so I was super excited to know she came out with a new HF. I really enjoyed this book.
It is a bit unique in that it takes place in Austria during WWII and focuses on what the people of that country experienced and how they were affected by the horrific changes and occupation. I really liked that aspect.
This focuses on three sisters: Johanna, Birgit and Lotte Eder and their joint story as well as their individual stories. I won’t delve too deep on the plot, as I do not want to spoil anything for the readers, but the cast of characters were fantastic. There was adventure, suspense, mystery, passion, romance, gripping moments, and I loved every minute of it. These women, and so many others, went through so much, and I really appreciate being able to read this story.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Bookouture for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
From the Publisher:
Book Description:
1938, Salzburg. A powerful story of hope, forbidden love, and incredible courage, about three sisters who will risk everything—even their own lives—as part of the resistance movement in Nazi-occupied Austria.
Johanna, Birgit and Lotte Eder have always lived quiet lives, working in their father’s clockmaking shop and helping their mother in the house. But like many other Austrians, they find it impossible to ignore the changes in the world around them.
At first Johanna finds it hard to believe the Nazis pose a real threat. But then her father hires Franz to help in his shop. He’s kind and soulful, with dark eyes that twinkle with intelligence. But he’s Jewish, and as Johanna falls for him, she realizes that loving him puts them all in danger.
Then comes the Anschluss—the reunification of Austria and Germany under Nazi rule. The three sisters’ lives have become ever more separate with Lotte joining the convent at Nonnberg Abbey and Birgit’s secret involvement with the Resistance. But as Johanna realizes how mistaken she was about the level of danger, she begins to see that it may be down to her to protect the man she loves.
She knows that she can’t do it alone though. She will have to turn to the people she trusts the most: her sisters.
The three of them work together to try to get Franz to the safety of Switzerland, and they soon prove invaluable to the Resistance. But they’re risking everything. Can three women who would die for each other, also be prepared to die for what is right?
The sisters’ subsequent journey from Nazi-occupied Salzburg to the devastating concentration camps of Ravensbruck and Mauthausen will show the strength of human spirit like never before. As, out of the darkness, a tiny seed of hope flowers…
A totally heartbreaking and impossibly powerful story about love, tragedy, and the power of humanity. Perfect for fans of The Nightingale, The Lilac Girls and The Sound of Music.
Author Bio:
Kate Hewitt is the author of many romance and women’s fiction novels. A former New Yorker and now an American ex-pat, she lives in a small town on the Welsh border with her husband, five children, and their overly affectionate Golden Retriever. Whatever the genre, she enjoys telling stories that tackle real issues and touch people’s lives.
https://www.kate-hewitt.com/
https://www.facebook.com/KateHewittAu...
https://twitter.com/author_kate
Buy Links:
Amazon:
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Apple:
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Kobo:
https://bit.ly/3vMJw2x
Google:
https://bit.ly/3lDNQwg -
The Edelweiss Sisters by Kate Hewitt spans nearly a decade from the mid-30’s until the end of WWII, telling the story of three sisters, Johanna, Birgit, and Lotte, as they navigate their lives in Salzburg in the innocent days before the Nazi occupation and then in the tumultuous ones after.
Although the sisters look similar with their blonde hair and blue eyes, they are as different as night and day. Johanna feels stuck in her life as kitchen-helper to her mother. She longs to be married and have a family, but how can she meet anyone when she’s stuck in the kitchen all the time? Birgit assists her father in his clock business but when he hires Franz as an apprentice, not acknowledging the work she does, she soon realizes that she is as invisible as she feels. Lotte is the bright, pretty, cheerful one, the one who is attentive and loves peace, but she’s not happy as the family songbird. She finds herself drawn to the calm of the nuns in the local abbey and sets out to determine if she has a vocation.
As time passes, the women are tested, compelled to decide what is right and moral and just exactly what they should do when the confronted with the atrocities brought on by the inhumane Nazi regime.
The Edelweiss Sisters was a gripping and emotional story that I picked up at every opportunity. Hewitt depicted the sisters so realistically, especially regarding their foibles, and they were so self-aware that I felt like I was reading about real people.
The fear and tension of the Nazi invasion was palpable especially compared to the pre-war scenes in which individuals believed that their lives would always be peaceful, that evil would not cross the border. Hewitt ably took us to that time of suffering, fear, and heartbreak, making us feel and realize how little time it takes to change worlds–although perhaps this we realize after the past year.
While The Edelweiss Sisters is quite different from the first Kate Hewitt novel I read, A Vicarage Wedding (see my review), the two novels have made me a Kate Hewitt fan because of strong writing, excellent characterization, and a knack for on-point detail. Keep tissues close by for this one.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. -
Once again, Kate Hewitt has brought me to tears with her newest WWII release, The Edelweiss Sisters. This is a story not only steeped in sadness, tragedy, but a story filled with life, family, courage, love and faith.
Johanna, the eldest of the Eder sisters, wants more out of life than in becoming an exact replica of her mother by taking care of the home, cooking, cleaning and raising babies. She would love to go to school and become a secretary. Brigit, the middle child, often feels ignored and invisible and to stave off that feeling, she becomes an apprentice to her fathers clockmaking shop. Lotte, the baby of the trio is attending music school, but her passion is not in music it is with the church.
Trouble is brewing on the horizon with Hitler, but the sisters feel that a potential war will never touch them as far as they are in Austria. They were wrong. When Austia comes into power under Nazi rule, the sisters will band together in solidarity to protect those considered less than desirable under the Nazi regime. Franz Weber, an apprentice to the sisters’ father happens to be Jewish and Brigit, Lotte and Johanna will do everything in their power to make sure he reaches the safety of Switzerland.
The opening prologue really draws the reader in when a baby is left on the doorstep to an Abbey. Who is the mother of this child? Is it one of the three sisters? The story then winds back to the second half of the 1930’s and is told through alternating points of view between all three sisters. One can not help but find strength and courage within the sisters even when they feel hopeless and defeated. You can easily fall in love with each of the sisters and hope for the best for all three of them.
I do seem to read a lot of WWII stories and while many of them follow the same plot to a certain extent, Hewitt adds something fresh to The Edelweiss Sisters and it is in learning more about the resistance and how courageous many women were to help those less fortunate than themselves even at the cost of their own lives if they were caught. The resilience of these women is astounding.
If you love WWII stories or just love Kate Hewitt’s books in general, then you definitely WILL want to pick up a copy of this well written and fantastic five star read. -
The Edelweiss Sisters by Kate Hewitt is set in Austria and how refreshing to read of a different location compared to a lot of World War Two historical fiction often set in France or Germany. It was very interesting to see how Austrians dealt with the occupation of their country by a madman intent on eradicating a whole section of society and expanding his power and cruelty throughout Europe. The book has a tense opening prologue focusing on a woman in Salzburg in 1945. Instantly you want to know who is she? What has led her to this point of exhaustion whilst gripped with fear and terror? You sense she has reached the final stages of an important task but there are so many questions that will remain unanswered until the very end.
The story then takes us back to Salzburg in 1934 where three sisters, Birgit, Johanna and Lotte, live with their parents Hedwig and Manfred above their father’s shop where he works as a clockmaker. They have been given the nickname of the Edelweiss sisters as they compete in a singing competition which they do not win but they do meet the Von Trapp family and Maria does feature ever so slightly. Brief though it was, this was expertly woven into the story as you do forget that the infamous film was based on a real life family and she offers advice to a character when needed at a point of indecision. The three sisters are so different and varied and chapters are dedicated to each sister’s viewpoint of the war. How their experiences are varied but the amount of hurt, devastation and brutality they each go through and their dedication to fighting against so many wrongs is never underestimated.
Johanna helps her mother in the house but feels stifled and would much rather learn more useful life skills. An opportunity arises to enrol on a secretarial course but Hedwig is resistant as she believes a women’s place is in the home. Johanna is slightly hard around the edges and wishes she could find that special someone who could soften her. Love is what she seeks. When Franz arrives to work as an apprentice with her father there is an instant connection between the pair. But their fledging relationship is a challenging one as the background of Franz becomes apparent. Johanna would do anything to protect him but what price must they pay? She keeps her love for Franz secret from her parents as she believes they would not approve given that he is of a different faith. But times are changing and when people need protection and shelter simply because of their faith maybe Johanna should open her eyes more and not judge people.
Birgit works with her father in the shop and feels very put out when Franz arrives. Does her father not think she is good enough to become a clockmaker? Birgit is a much brighter character compared to Johanna. She wants to be strong and purposeful and this really comes through when she is forced to endure the harshest of circumstances later on in the story. Her willingness to keep going and her devotion were so admirable in the face of illness, starvation and brutality. But as changes begin to occur in Austrian society and the ideals of Hitler start to become known believing Jews were destroying the peoples way of life and polluting pure Germanic blood, Birgit can not stand by and let this happen. She becomes engaged in resistance activities which made me think how brave and courageous she was as both Johanna and Lotte at times seemed to shirk away from what was going on around them. Birgit is daring and not afraid to fall into the path of danger if she knows it will help others in any way, shape or form. Meeting a soldier named Werner, purely by chance when he rescues her from a potentially very tricky situation, would not have Birgit believing that she could fall in love. Werner goes against everything she believes in and it's almost like she is going over to the dark side even whilst continuing her resistance work. Can she risk everything and still find love?
Lotte was a very simple soul. She attends classes at the local music institute but really she is struggling with a calling. All she wants a simple life filled with happiness, peace and contentment. Satisfaction, belonging and tranquillity are evading her. Her life with her family, although she loves her sisters and parents and has a strong bond with them, just makes her feel restless and discontented. Lotte makes a life changing decision, she wants to join the nuns in Nonnberg Abbey in the city where the family live. She knows she may never see her family again and will live a life of solitude and prayer but deep down she knows this is her destiny. This is what she needs to fill the gaping hold inside of her that will lead her to the place of contentment she has been so long searching for. But by doing this it only serves to highlight the very different paths the three sisters are on. They are out of sync with each other rather than working in harmony but when push comes to shove maybe they will unite again in the darkest and most desperate of times.
The first half of the book set up the entire story very well and gave us a deep insight into the political situation at the time and how the lives of people changed in the run up to the beginning of the war. Also the reader was able to become very familiar with each of the three sisters and to understand how different they were and to see that what they wanted in life was so varied. Hope and faith are two strong characteristics they had and they will need these as the world descends into madness in 1939. The first half was quite slow and I was longing for something thrilling and stirring to happen. I certainly got that in the later half of the book and when starting this book I didn’t think the story would take this direction. A selfless act of bravery leads some of the characters you have come to deeply care for onto a dark path with no definitive ending in place. The descriptions of the camps, particularly Mauthausen, and the mines and factories prisoners were forced to work in were hard to read about despite having lots of books in this genre before. It gave me a new and deeper appreciation of just what people went through not so long ago and they did all this without question in order to save others. If Hitler had succeeded the consequences would not have borne thinking about.
The Edelweiss Sisters is a powerful read packed full of tension, danger and unease but the bonds of sisterhood remain firm despite all the obstacles thrown in their direction. I wasn’t prepared for the conclusion to one strand of the story and wished it could have turned out differently but I loved how Kate Hewitt connected it back to the prologue. It seemed so bittersweet after everything that had happened. This story is definitely one of the better World War Two historical fiction books that are out there at the moment and well worth a read. -
The Edelweis Sisters by Kate Hewitt follows the story of the three Eder girls, Johanna, Birgit, and Lotte. Each one very differnt in their own ways, they’ve lived a relatively peacful and normal life until World War II approaches their doorstep. The invasion of Austria is swift and mostly non-violent, and suddenly life is drastically different.
Lotte – the youngest believes she will find peach at the convent through a vocation. Birgit finds herself falling for a soldier, and Johanna falls in love with her father’s apprentice, a Jewish man. The story of each sister wraps its way around the others – showing how connected the three are even when physical distance separates them. Each story is uplifting and heartbreaking its own way, and none of them end quite the way I expected.
The Edelweis sisters really highlighted how the lives of everyday people were altered by the war – and not everyone made it out alive, healthy, or able to return to life as it was before. Work camps, interrogations, worrying about those you care for the most, and trying to find a way to do what you think is right all take a toll on the girls, and the toll was a real one.
Kate Hewitt did not shy away from the horrors of the Nazi regime, but she did find the very delicate balance between showing what happened and being too graphic for many readers. So many very heavy topics were addressed beautifully and in a manner that really showcased how life during war might have been.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book** -
The Edelweiss Sisters by Kate Hewitt is an excellent WWII-era historical fiction novel that I enjoyed immensely.
I have been a fan of Kate Hewitt for a while now, so I was super excited to know she came out with a new HF. I really enjoyed this book.
It is a bit unique in that it takes place in Austria during WWII and focuses on what the people of that country experienced and how they were affected by the horrific changes and occupation. I really liked that aspect.
This focuses on three sisters: Johanna, Birgit and Lotte Eder and their joint story as well as their individual stories. I won’t delve too deep on the plot, as I do not want to spoil anything for the readers, but the cast of characters were fantastic. There was adventure, suspense, mystery, passion, romance, gripping moments, and I loved every minute of it. These women, and so many others, went through so much, and I really appreciate being able to read this story.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Bookouture for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication. -
Love & God can carry you through anything.
I can vouch for that even though I haven't gone through anything like The Eidelweiss Sisters did! To think that real people faced this every day for years breaks my heart! I wonder what happened to Hitler as a child, or youth, for him to turn out so Evil? Whatever it was, it was no excuse for the atrocities he had done to other human beings! I pray that the Holocaust is NEVER FORGOTTEN! What with Cancel Culture these days, I'm not sure it won't be though. This book & many others, both novels & true stories, are one way we can help the truth from being hidden I recommend this book to every one who enjoys historical novels, but also to High School Students & their peers around the world, as an addition to their literature & history studies. -
Beautiful story of three sisters living in Austria during World War Two. We follow Johanna, Birgit, & Lotte’s lives as the world around them continues to change. All three sisters chose very different paths in love but risk everything to keep each other safe. The strength they have shown in dire situations is profound and yet heartbreaking too. My heart ached for these sisters and their story.
I loved this! The chapters alternated between characters which made it hard to put down. It seems like there is an abundance of historical fiction written about WW2, however this is a ‘must read’ if you love that genre. It was riveting & emotional. 5 stars!! Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC. -
Every WW2 book tells an unbelievable-but-true story of the Nazi invasions and the absolute evil perpetrated by Hitler and his military. The Edelweiss Sisters’ story is set in Salzburg and shows the progress of Nazi-occupied Austria through the lives of the Eder family. The cast of characters is wonderful…I quickly became attached to each one of the sisters, along with their parents and friends. They are strong, smart and human.
Well written and compassionate portrayal of the power of evil and the resiliency of the human spirit.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review. -
NetGalley
Member Review
Cover Image: The Edelweiss Sisters
The Edelweiss Sisters
by Kate Hewitt
Pub Date: 8 Jun 2021
Review by
jeanie m, Reviewer
Last updated on 8 May 2021
My Recommendation
With thanks to netgalley and Kate Hewitt for once again another outstandingly beautiful
and captivating storyline. I found the beginning a wee bit of a slower burner but by chapter 5 it was a whole new dimension and utterly fabulous can't praise this book enough.
Don't forget! Come back to your Review on the pub date, 8 Jun 2021, to post to these retailers. -
This book was one of the most emotionally charged books about WW2 I have ever read! Painful to read while the authenticity permeates every word and plot pace. The tension and suspense was fantastic as I never knew what would happen next. Three unique sisters are trying to come of age in Nazi occupied Austria while questioning family and gender values, as well as diverse political views. My first book by Kate Hewitt and I am a WW2 aficionado just blown away by her writing and this perspective of the war.
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This is a heartbreaking yet amazing novel with incredible characters. I felt as if I was going through the ordeals the characters experienced. I am so glad I found this fantastic book. Happy reading and listening!
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Poignant and heart wrenching. Beautifully written. A story that speaks to your heart. A wonderful read from.a master storyteller.
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I really enjoyed this book set mostly in Salzburg, Austria before and during WWII. Three sisters in a devout Catholic family play significant parts in the Allied war effort in different ways while also experiencing romance. Having previously read WWII novels set in England, France, Italy, Russia, Germany, and the United States, I was glad to get this perspective from Austria.
