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Eoin Dempsey
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White Rose, Black Forest Kindle Edition

by Eoin Dempsey (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 45,758 ratings
Goodreads Choice Award nominee
See all formats and editions

An Amazon Charts bestseller.

In the shadows of World War II, trust becomes the greatest risk of all for two strangers.

December 1943. In the years before the rise of Hitler, the Gerber family’s summer cottage was filled with laughter. Now, as deep drifts of snow blanket the Black Forest, German dissenter Franka Gerber is alone and hopeless. Fervor and brutality have swept through her homeland, taking away both her father and her brother and leaving her with no reason to live.

That is, until she discovers an unconscious airman lying in the snow wearing a Luftwaffe uniform, his parachute flapping in the wind. Unwilling to let him die, Franka takes him to her family’s isolated cabin despite her hatred for the regime he represents. But when it turns out that he is not who he seems, Franka begins a race against time to unravel the mystery of the airman’s true identity. Their tenuous bond becomes as inseparable as it is dangerous. Hunted by the Gestapo, can they trust each other enough to join forces on a mission that could change the face of the war and their own lives forever?

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  1. Print length
    273 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Lake Union Publishing
  5. Publication date
    March 1, 2018
  6. File size
    7583 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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  1. The true patriots were the ones with a healthy suspicion of the government and every motive it acted upon.
    Highlighted by 1,258 Kindle readers
  2. On every level of social and political life, the National Socialist revolution manifested itself as a kind of seepage upward—the scum rising to the top.
    Highlighted by 1,025 Kindle readers
  3. “‘Where they burn books, they will also, in the end, burn people.’”
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A Goodreads Choice Award Semifinalist, Historical Fiction

“White Rose, Black Forest is partly a lyrical poem, an uncomfortable history lesson, and a page-turning thriller that will keep the reader engaged from the beginning to the end.” —Flora J. Solomon, author of A Pledge of Silence

“There is much to praise in Eoin Dempsey’s White Rose, Black Forest, but for me it stands out from the glut of war fiction because of its poetic simplicity. The novel does not span a massive cast of characters, various continents, and the entire duration of the conflict. It is the tale of one young man, one young woman, and the courage to change the tide of a war. Emotional, taut, and deftly drawn, White Rose, Black Forest is a stunning tale of bravery, compassion, and love.” —Aimie K. Runyan, bestselling author of Daughters of the Night Sky

“Dempsey’s World War II thriller is a haunting page-turner. The settings are detailed and the characters leap off the page. I couldn’t put this book down. An instant bestseller.” —James D. Shipman, bestselling author of It Is Well and A Bitter Rain

“A gripping story of heroism and redemption, White Rose, Black Forest glows with delicate yet vivid writing. I enjoyed it tremendously.” —Olivia Hawker, author of The Ragged Edge of Night

“Tense, taut, and tightly focused, White Rose, Black Forest is a haunting novel about courage and compassion that will keep you gripped from the very first page.” —Colin Falconer, bestselling author of The Unkillable Kitty O’Kane

From the Publisher

Trust, like so many things, was a bygone notion in World War II–era Germany. The bonds that united friends—or even family—were tested by unimaginable atrocities and a government that demanded unwavering loyalty, stripping citizens of any sense of security in an already fraught time. Who or what was safe to trust, if anyone or anything?

That’s a question Franka Gerber, the woman at the center of Eoin Dempsey’s riveting historical novel, has to ask repeatedly in day-to-day life—which makes her decision to rescue an injured airman she knows nothing about all the more remarkable. Broken by the deaths of her family and boyfriend and recently released from jail for affiliating with the White Rose resistance, Franka is adrift when she discovers the unconscious pilot in the Black Forest. She resolves to take him in, the nurse in her unable to dismiss his grievous wounds, her conscience unable to ignore its moral duty. Even so, it’s not without a great deal of reluctance and fear that she drags him to her cabin. Just who is this mysterious man in uniform? Why is he here, in the middle of the mountains?

As he recovers, Franka learns there is more to him than appearances would suggest, and her ability to trust is put to the ultimate test as they embark on a covert mission that builds to a breathless conclusion. Few characters may embody the unease and isolation of living in wartime Germany as vividly as Franka, but it’s her perseverance, and especially her humanity, that make her truly unforgettable.

- Chris Werner, Editor

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07416NFHL
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lake Union Publishing (March 1, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 1, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 7583 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 273 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1503954056
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 45,758 ratings

About the author

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Eoin Dempsey

Eoin Dempsey

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For the free prequel to Eoin's upcoming series set in Nazi Germany in the 1930s, go to eoindempseybooks.com. Or else paste this link into your browser https://www.subscribepage.com/k4s6h3

Eoin (Owen) was born and raised in Ireland. His books have been translated into fourteen languages and also optioned for film and radio broadcast. He lives in Philadelphia with his wonderful wife and three crazy sons. You can connect with him at eoindempseybooks.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/eoindempseybooks/ or by email at eoin@eoindempseybooks.com. He loves to hear from his readers, so don't be a stranger.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
45,758 global ratings
A Personal Perspective of World War II
4 Stars
A Personal Perspective of World War II
It was interesting to get a sense of what it felt like to be a German during the rise of Fascism in the '30's and after. The book also laid out a sequence of events that I vaguely knew about but gave me a better understanding of how they unfolded. The characters were interesting and the tension between them was compelling. I wish they had been more vivid. I also wish the author had paid more attention to the very end of the book, but then it would have been 100 more pages. I did enjoy it and would recommend it.
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Top reviews from the United States

Richard
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2024
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This book helped me get through many hours on the treadmill. It is well written and I would recommend it to anyone.
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M D Tuch
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2022
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December 1943. German civilian and Nazi dissident Franka Gerber goes for a walk in the snow around her secluded cabin in the Black Forest near Freiburg, Germany. She happens upon a man in a German Luftwaffe uniform, lying unconscious in the snow. He has two broken legs and appears near death. Although she despises the Nazis, her training as a nurse prompts her to try to save his life. So, against her better judgement and with monumental effort, she hauls him back to her cabin. Thus begins another novel about damaged soldiers and airmen being discovered by country girls during WW II.
This one is a bit different though. Franka has served jail time for her involvement in the outlawed anti-Nazi group, ‘White Rose’. She barely avoided execution. Those closest to her were not so fortunate. Dempsey’s story involves the retrieval of the airman, keeping his presence a secret, and nursing him back to health. But after that, then what? When the injured man confesses that he is really an American spy, it is no surprise to Franka or the reader. But Franka suspects he isn’t being completely forthright about his mission. As more information is revealed, both parties’ safety and future become more and more uncertain.
The brutality of the Nazis to their own citizens is starkly depicted, enlisting sympathy for the civilians who endured the everyday hardships imposed upon them by Hitler and his Gestapo thugs. It was a time when no one could be trusted, not neighbor, friend nor relative. And these two people, from totally opposite backgrounds and ideologies, must find a way to overcome their suspicions and trust each other.
I enjoyed Dempsey’s book. It was an easy read and the story flowed well. There is a surprising amount of suspense, edginess and action. The ending is well done. The spotlight on German civilian life under Hitler was somewhat enlightening. My only criticisms (thus 4 stars) are the ubiquitousness of the premise and the sometimes-flat dialogue. I would recommend this book for a quick read that will leave the reader feeling good about the resilience of human nature and the determination to do what is right and just.
5 people found this helpful
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Birmom
5.0 out of 5 stars fast moving, exciting!
Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2023
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I’m a big fan of WWII stories, and recently found this book. The horrors of that war never cease to appall me, and the bravery of so many never ceases to amaze me. Life and death, love and hatred fight to overcome each other. This is a war story of survival against so many odds, and it is a beautiful love story.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2018
Verified Purchase
If you love historical fiction, you’ll definitely enjoy reading this story! It’s a bit on a slower-pace side (a bit like All The Light We Cannot See, if you read that one) so if you’re into a fast-moving plot, you’ll only see some major action in the very end. However, for me personally, it worked in this particular case as it helped me better connect with the characters and get to know them and, what’s more important, their personal stories and secrets behind their actions. I particularly enjoyed the author’s decision to make Franka one of the leading members of the doomed White Rose Resistance group, and it was certainly interesting reading about this famous German resistance cell “from inside.” Also, another great thing that many serious historical fiction fans will appreciate I’m sure, is lots of historical information dotted throughout the narration, which shows Hitler’s rise to power in great detail and how the influence of the Nazi Party slowly penetrated every level of society.
The language is beautiful and descriptive and immediately immerses you into the atmosphere of the German Black Forest, where Franka finds an injured Luftwaffe pilot. However, as Franka is braving the snow trying to help the German, he mutters something in English, and the charade starts unraveling, which will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. The novel is meticulously researched; the language, the characters’ actions and motivations are authentic, and the wonderfully-written dialogue only compliments the already engaging plot. And the ending was just perfect, so here’s my separate “thank you” to the author just for that. I loved it, and I would definitely recommend it. A really great story.
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JStr8on
4.0 out of 5 stars A Swift Read
Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2018
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Through four fifths of this book, I was entranced, intrigued and absorbed by the history of Hitler's Germany and the "final" moments of a young, beautiful and distraught suicidal German woman who had lost everything at Nazi hands. Her mother had died of cancer and the horror of a fanatical regime's rise. Her father had perished in a bombing against that evil regime. Her brother killed by that regime as he was not the physical Aryan ideal. Her lover had been executed while he and she had pursued an underground effort - their clandestine group called the White Rose - subverting the principles of the Nazis. She had survived but had to play a false and hated role to do so. Her self hatred had flared for doing that too. In the beginning, the snow swirled around her as she slogged to an isolated and abandoned cabin owned by her family in the Black Forest, there to end her life. She stumbled upon a near dead body with two broken legs in the snow on her journey. Saving this near corpse changed everything. The details and emotions are swirling and captivating. The slow build of their connection is realistic and spellbinding. And then there is the ending. There are no spoilers here. The ending is why I have given four instead of five stars to the book. It seemed rushed, unlikely especially in the back of a Gestapo truck surrounded by their enemy and rather bland and predictable at the outcome. I will keep what I liked, close however. It was well worth the time spent to read.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Devina Bacon
5.0 out of 5 stars An other amazing story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 19, 2023
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Wow, could not put this book down, I loved every part of it. Thank you Eoin Dempsey, I wish I could write like you, I will just have to read your next book instead, please keep them coming
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful
Reviewed in Canada on December 14, 2020
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This book was very powerful and very informative. My mother was a child in Nazi Germany. If was a horrific time and people need to realize how many people died by Hitler. Thank you for writing this amazing story.
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T. Corsico Piccolino
4.0 out of 5 stars Really good
Reviewed in Italy on January 6, 2022
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It was a fantastic story about an actual group of real heroes. Written in a “Top Gun” tone, it did manage to keep my interest.
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MISS SALLY M ORGAN
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping!
Reviewed in Spain on May 29, 2021
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Couldn't put this book down. A look into the horror of the Nazi regime and two peoples fight against it. Little twists that set my heart beating faster and just having to read on because when their is no hope, there just might be!
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Lucas Cruz
3.0 out of 5 stars A good story, but some things disappointed me.
Reviewed in Brazil on April 11, 2018
Verified Purchase
It's a very engaging story and the author did a fantastic job creating an atmosphere of tension and giving a point of view inside Germany during the end of the war. The main character is also great in all her melancholy and strength.

Unfortunately, some moments of the narrative are told with unnatural and fast pace (like if some chapters were cut off or were missing), such as a trip made by the main character or the epilogue at all.
And it's sad that the end of the book also have some cliches, like the ending scene.
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