Monday, December 26, 2022

Renee Ryan: The Secret Society of Salzburg

 By Kelly Bridgewater

London, 1933

At first glance, Austrian opera singer Elsa Mayer-Braun has little in common with the young English typist she encounters on tour. Yet she and Hattie Featherstone forge an instant connection—and strike a dangerous alliance. Using their friendship as a cover, they form a secret society with a daring goal: to rescue as many Jews as possible from Nazi persecution.

Though the war’s outbreak threatens Elsa and Hattie’s network, their efforts attract the covert attention of the British government, offering more opportunities to thwart the Germans. But Elsa’s growing fame as Hitler’s favorite opera singer, coupled with her secret Jewish ancestry, make her both a weapon and a target—until her future, too, hangs in the balance.

From the glamorous stages of Covent Garden and Salzburg to the horrors of Bergen-Belsen, two ordinary women swept up by the tide of war discover an extraordinary friendship—and the courage to save countless lives.

 


My Thoughts:

With plenty of intrigue and rescue moments, The Secret Society of Salzburg by Renee Ryan captured the horror of being part Jewish with a Hitler supporter for a husband. My favorite aspect of reading World War II stories is showing the brave women and men who risked their own lives to help the Jews who were being persecuted for their religion or their appearance. With the plot, it really captured my attention as readers will observe Elsa as she struggles with helping the Jews and keeping her opera singing career alive. Hattie used her art to help rescue many Jews and help them escape into England. Of course, there was romance, but nothing too over the top. A little bit of horror when the story moves to a concentration camp, but nothing that readers familiar with this genre have not read before. Overall, The Secret of Salzburg by Renee Ryan is a nice World War II novel that I enjoyed reading.

I received a complimentary copy of by The Secret Society of Salzburg by Renee Ryan from Love Inspired Trade Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating:   4 out of 5 stars

Purchase The Secret of Society

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