Published by St. Martin's Press Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Holocaust, Mystery, Romance, War
Format: ARC, eBook
Gripping, heartbreaking, moving, thought provoking and hard to put down! The Sunflower House is a tale of survival, courage, love, and strength. This was a wonderfully written and researched debut historical fiction book that shows the evil of Heinrich Himmler’s notorious Lebensborn Program of Nazi Germany. These infamous ‘baby factories’ were meant to increase Germany’s population with “racially valuable” children.
In the present day, Katrine, finds a box in her mother’s belongings……
1939 – Allina Strauss has learned that her birth mother was Jewish and, after losing everyone she holds dear, finds herself working as a nurse in a ‘baby factory’ called Hochland Home. There what she witnesses is horrific and distressing. She has a lot to deal with including her Jewish identity and trying to do her best for the infants and toddlers in her care. There she will meet Karl, a high-ranking SS officer who has his own secrets. They are drawn to each other and are committed to saving all the children they can.
Whew! I had no idea when I started this book how much I would enjoy it. I found this book to be moving, thought provoking, heartbreaking, and brimming with history. It is so sad to think that these homes for children really existed. The horrors and evil which occurred during the holocaust are beyond devastating and horrific. I thought that Adriana Allegri did a fabulous job of not only showing the horrors but also showing the good in people, their desire to help even knowing what the consequences await if they are caught.
I also enjoyed the friendships in this book, the love in many forms, the drive, determination and courage that the characters showed. I often wonder while reading books like The Sunflower House, what would I have done? Would I have made the same choices? Could I be so brave?
This was an incredibly impressive debut book. I’m so happy that I took a chance on it and look forward to reading more of what Adriana Allegri writes in the future.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
