Saturday, October 1, 2022

About the Book

Book: Escape from Amsterdam

Author: Lauralee Bliss

Genre: Christian Fiction/ Historical / Romance / Intrigue

Release date: September 1, 2022

A University Student Smuggles Children Out of Amsterdam

Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.

Helen Smit believed she was called by God to become a teacher. Little does she know that her care for kids will take a drastic turn for survival when the Germans occupy Amsterdam and Jewish children and parents begin to be deported. Now all she can think of is helping all the kids escape before it’s too late.

Erik Misman’s newfound love for Helen is tested when he joins a plot to help move Jewish children to a safe place in the countryside. If danger can foster a closer bond with Helen and save the lives of the little ones, he will do it all. But a German patrol that stumbles upon the farm where they are hiding with three children and a soldier who takes an unexpected interest in Helen, could well destroy their plans for safety and love.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Lauralee Bliss is a published author of many romance novels and novellas, both historical and contemporary. Lauralee’s prayer is that readers will come away with both an entertaining story and a lesson that speaks to the heart and soul. When not writing, Lauralee can often be found on the trails where the author has logged over 10,000 miles of hiking. She makes her home in the Blue Ridge mountains with her family. Visit Lauraleebliss.com for more information about the author and her adventures.

More from Lauralee Bliss

Oh, the simple beauty of the Netherlands. Windmills. Tulips. Dutch wooden clogs. Beautiful Delftware and delicious speculaas cookies. Quaint villages nestled beside the waters. And here I am, an American that was able to visit this beautiful country on the heels of my husband winning a contest through his work. We had planned to immerse ourselves in Dutch culture, see the sites, and yes, visit places like the Secret Annex of Anne Frank and the town where Corrie ten Boom and The Hiding Place existed. Little did I realize though that this unique trip would become a journey into the heart of a hurting country in World War II. During our time there, we visited the Jewish Quarter in the center of Amsterdam and learned the details of Nazi occupation for many years that eventually caused two-thirds of the Dutch Jewish population to be exterminated. Walking in the place where a theater once stood and Jewish people gathered there to be deported was indescribable. Seeing the Jewish stars embedded in the pavement and noting the name of a man or woman killed at Auschwitz, was heart-wrenching. But through these horrendous details came the strength of courage and heroism. Across the street from the theater, Jewish children were rescued because of the efforts of those who gave everything to see them go into hiding. Thus the book, “Escape from Amsterdam” was born. It honors those that aided and hid Jewish children from the Nazis to avoid deportation. I am grateful for the opportunity to write this story of two common Dutch people, a college student and a grocery store clerk, called to a dangerous mission to save the innocent when the odds were the greatest. It is a timely book that magnifies the strength of courage in adversity and allows us to become better people because of it. I hope you enjoy this journey and as you do, remember those who came before us and allow their acts of courage to encourage you to persevere, no matter what.

MY REVIEW

With a breathtaking look at Amsterdam during a war that changed so many lives, the author illustrates how dangerous it was in this period of history. I enjoyed how we felt like we were there with the people who lived peacefully in Amsterdam. When the Germans invade their peaceful land, we witness how the enemy destroys quickly and without remorse.

The plight of the Jewish people during this time was so hard to read. They were treated poorly and had to find certain places to live. The author does give us an insight into how hard it was to survive and the vicious attacks on them physically and emotionally. As we are introduced to Helen we see how compassionate she is. Her dream to become a teacher is in jeopardy as German soldiers slowly start to occupy areas where Helen used to feel safe.

Erik is very much a person who believes in helping others. He sees friends and neighbors losing their jobs and homes because they are Jewish. When he meets Helen they form a friendship that will take them on an adventure where they will see lives taken as chaos surrounds them. It is hard to read how horrible it was for people to find shelter and keep their families safe. As the enemy gets close, Erik knows he must do something to help the innocent people who are being tortured because they are Jewish.

The story takes a dark turn when talk of death camps is explained to Helen. Erik tells her that children are being taken there as well as adults. The ones who are taken away never come back and Helen suddenly understands the need to save children from this horrific place. There is an urgency to get the few children they can to safety. When Helen and Erik return to friends they had met before, this loving couple took them in without hesitation. I adored Ephraim and Delia and found them to be a very important part of this story. For me they were the real heroes of the story. They risked everything to hide Erik, Helen and the three children from German soldiers. Their faith was very strong and they knew that God had called them to do this mission.

I found the book to be interesting and really gave a voice to the Jewish people who had suffered at the hands of evil which I hope will never be repeated. The author notes at the end gives us more details about this war and the people who were persecuted. We find that there were people who were willing to risk their safety to help others who needed to find shelter. I loved how the author used faith throughout the story and showed how people were faithful to trust God to keep them from harm.

“We must care for each other as God would have it. There is no greater calling on earth.”

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.