Searching for Gertrude take you on a hunt to find a girl of a young man love. Will he find this true love he lost. The young man is German and he has some issues with his government.

We learn about the laws that are going down in Germany at the beginning of Hitler Resign. The Nazi believed that Germans were not allowed to marry Jews. Will Rulfoff find this love or will Rudolf get his answers by searching for the girl he fell in love with when he was young. Things to go down hill when his love of his life family must move away to Turkey. He is determined to find her.

He goes undercover for his government even though he does not follow or like this government laws and ideas. As a German consulate there are a few surprises along the way will he go against or follow this government as he is now working for them. Find out by reading.

Rosalyn is an American Jew who come to Turkey to be a Nanny. Rudolf stumbles upon her in his search for Gertrude and ask her for help. Does she help him or not you will need to read the story to know for sure.

Rosalyn come to Turkey for her own reason as well. There is twist and turns throughout the book. Will Rosalyn do as she came to do in Turkey. The author does a wonderful job with the plot. I could not put it down and the fact, that she shows the time and era and history behind what going on in Turkey. Is Turkey with Nazi or they Nurteral during the War. If you are a historical fiction reader or just like learn some facts about history. This book is a good one to pick up. Want to learn more about Germany or Nazi Germany and other surrounding areas or Turkey in the 1930’s. ( )

Looking for a book with romance, mystery, and espionage? Your search is over.

'Searching for Gertrude' by D.E. Haggerty follows two characters, Rudolf and Rosalyn in their attempt to find Rudolf’s lost love Gertrude. Gertrude’s family leaves Germany in 1933 after Germany appoints Adolf Hitler as chancellor. According to the United State Holocaust Memorial Museum, it didn’t take long for the Third Reich to strip German citizens of their human rights and open its first concentration camps.

Gertrude’s family was Jewish. Rudolf was not. Consequently, Gertrude’s father chooses to move his family to Turkey, favoring his family’s safety over his daughter’s love for Rudolf. Rudolf is devastated. He assuages his hurt and anger by openly opposing the Nazis, but his father points out: “’I didn’t say you should stop opposing [the Nazis]. I said you can’t continue with your current activities. Activities, may I remind you, which have gotten you noticed at college.’” Rudolf’s father asks, “’Have you ever considered you can do more damage from within than from without?’”

Rudolf heeds his father’s advice and studies Oriental history and culture, which gets him a job with the German consulate in Turkey where he hopes he can finally find his Gertrude. In his quest for Gertrude, Rudolf enlists the help of Rosalyn, an altruistic Jewish-American nanny, and Malcolm, a British spy.

I’m not a huge fan of romantic books. I have no idea why. I love chick flicks. I was obsessed with 27 Dresses for years. I should like romantic books too right?

Because historical romance isn’t usually my favorite genre, I didn’t think I was going to love this book. As with 'Carnegie’s Maid', however, I was wrong. 'Searching for Gertrude' is satisfying in a way few books are, and I enjoyed it. 'Searching for Gertrude' is well written and tidy. There are no loose ends or trying to be more than it is: a sweet love story set in World War II. Haggerty's writing style is to-the-point, no flowery language or overblown setting descriptions, which helps make 'Searching for Gertrude' a light read as far as World War II novels go.

I also enjoyed the espionage and mystery in 'Searching for Gertrude'. Did anyone else want to be a spy when they grew up? Malcolm’s slight-of-hand and other “tricks of the trade” fascinated me. I also sympathized with Rosalyn. Although Nazi Germany no longer exists, the world is still rife with injustice, and I often find myself asking, “but what can I do? I’m nobody.” Unlike me, however, Rosalyn persists and gets involved in her own little spy ring.

Finally, the food Haggerty describes in 'Searching for Gertrude' sounds so delicious that I found myself craving esme and Turkish fish dishes late at night. (That’s when I do most of my reading.) I was so enthralled with the food in 'Searching for Gertrude' I’m dedicating the next article on my blog, Picking Books (pickingbooks.com) to the food Haggerty discusses in the book. Keep an eye out for it in about two weeks.

For a more detailed review that discusses the history in Picking Books visit Picking Books: https://pickingbooks.com/blog/searching-for-gertrude ( )