Anna Schmidt (1)

The winterkeepers in Yellowstone National Park are among the last bearers of their tradition, men who live in isolated cabins surrounded by an open and frozen landscape, working to keep the park's buildings from collapsing under the stress of heavy snow.

The year is 1933 and the setting is Gardiner, Montana just outside the entrance to Yellowstone Park. The novel begins at the cemetery when 14 year old Millie's mother is being buried. Millie and her mom had lived in Chicago and when her mom show more fell in love with Roger, they moved to Montana. When her mother died, Millie was lost - she didn't know anyone or have any family to help her out. Millie didn't like her step-father and the feeling was mutual. She overhears a conversation between Roger and his lawyer and Roger is enraged to find out that her mother's family money has been left to Millie. When Roger finds that out, he wants the lawyer to do anything possible so that he can get his hands on the money. Millie decides to run away and try to find her mother's oldest friend who lived at Yellowstone park with her husband who is the winterkeeper at the park. It's the middle of winter and Millie is frozen after she walks the 10 miles to their house in Yellowstone. No one is around so she hides in the bunkhouse until she is discovered by Nate - the husband of her mother's friend - who agrees to take her home to learn why she has run away and to keep her safe from her step-father. This is a dangerous decision for him because if anyone finds out what he's done, he will lose his job in a time that jobs are few and far between.

This is a beautifully written story full of fantastic characters. Millie is someone that you care about immediately - she is so brave and resourceful for someone so young. Nate is a wonderful character as is Ginny his wife. Nate and Ginny truly care about Millie and want to keep her safe. Her step-father is a scoundrel who only cares about Millie's potential money. Will Nate and Ginny be able to keep Millie safe??

You better have a blanket close when you read this. The descriptions of the snow and the cold in Montana made me cold to read about. show less

The second book in a series but this reads just fine as a stand-alone.

Religion plays a big role in this one so keep that in mind when determining whether this will be the right fit for you. While I’m not religious person, reading about other people’s faith can be interesting especially in a case like this one where following the unexpected death of her fiance, Bethany’s at a crossroads over whether or not to continue believing.

Where the religious aspect of this became a bit show more problematic for me and really made it difficult for me to entirely like the “hero,” were moments when it seemed almost like Cody was forcing religion on Bethany. I’m sure there are plenty of readers who will see his actions differently, but for me, it felt uncomfortable, I just feel like religion is a very personal choice not something a person should feel pressured into no matter how well-intentioned that pressure is.

I felt similarly about Cody and Bethany’s friends and family’s seeming impatience with Bethany’s grieving process. I totally understand that they were concerned and they meant well but again, grief is such a personal thing and to expect someone to adhere to what you think their timetable for grief should be, everyone deserves to experience it at their own pace without so much prodding.

While I didn’t always feel like the other characters gave Bethany the space to set her own pace for moving forward, I still thought she had a decently constructed arc and she did push back against Cody just enough that I was mostly okay with their relationship by the end. Also I appreciated that this wasn’t one of those whirlwind romances where you’re supposed to buy into happily ever after when they’ve only known each other for three days, I liked that this story unfolded over a believable timespan. show less

Although a story of this magnitude, of such horror is difficult to read, it is much easier than to live it! From the very first I had to admire Beth who left her home in Wisconsin to live with her Uncle and Aunt and cousin in Munich, Germany. Not at just any time, but during the time before and after America had declared war on Germany. As I learned more about her and the Quakers, to which she and her family belonged, I respected and valued her stand. Although I am not a Quaker the way they show more sat in quiet contemplation and prayer before big (or ideally, even small) decisions were made impacted my thoughts, and is something I would like to emulate.
The story is well written, and as hard as it was to wrap my mind around the things mentioned, I was compelled to read. It is not pretty, but a part of history that needs to be repeated again and again so that we do not become complacent. And I also wonder if this history is being repeated in some of the third world countries.

I found it of great interest that the day after I finished this novel, the extermination camp Sobibor, Poland was mentioned in two separate articles, one of which is in the Arizona Republic, which announced that Philip Bialowitz, who survived Sobibor, is going to schools to acquainted school children with what he endured.

I received this book free from Anna Schmidt and Barbour Publishing through Fred at The Bookclub Network in exchange for an honest review. A positive critique was not required. The opinions stated are my own. show less

This was a page turner! It takes place towards the end of World War II and is a story of survival, sacrifice, faith and love.

Anja Steinberg is a woman of immeasurable courage. She has lost her husband and daughter because of this horrific war, and now has to protect her son and grandparents. Yet, she has the calling to aid Air soldiers to safety so that they can once again fight the Nazis.

Peter Trent, an American soldier, finds himself in her care. She must work with him teaching him German show more and the ways to not get caught before she passes him down the line, which is like the underground railroad in essence.

They must both trust each other and rely on the Lord through the journey to safety. The romance that is weaved is sweet, beautiful, and full of love. Love is an underlying theme in this book. When you love someone, what are you willing to do for them? To give up? To sacrifice? Would you be able to sacrifice yourself for your loved ones? This is a very strong struggle that Peter faces as he sees so many people willing to do just that, and even sacrifice themselves for him, a stranger.

This is an amazing book and I highly recommend it. Anna does an amazing job with pulling the reader right into the story. The sights, the sounds, the feelings all come through so clearly. She has done an amazing job with this book and I look forward to reading more of her work.

Note: I received a complimentary copy for an honest review of this book. The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. Other reviews can be read at http://TMWoodsBooks.com/blog . Also follow me on Twitter @TMWoodsBooks, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/TMWoodsBooks . show less