Book Blurb:
A deeply moving and truly unforgettable story of love and survival. A must-read that celebrates family, resilience, and the enduring power of hope!” – The International Review
THEIR ENTIRE LIVES, TWINS AVA AND SHALOM ARE LED TO BELIEVE THEY ARE GERMAN . . . UNTIL ONE NIGHT THEY FIND OUT THE TRUTH . . .
In the summer of 1921, outside the medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Hanz Wolff finds twin baby girls in a wicker basket in his barn. Wrapped in woolen blankets embroidered with the Star of David, a note begs the German farmer and his barren wife to love and raise them as their own. Believing it to be a gift from God, the ecstatic couple keep the newborns’ Semitic heritage a secret, claiming that Maria had birthed them at home.
The Wolffs live in familial bliss as the girls grow into lovely, intelligent young women, shielded from the smoldering hatred and discrimination toward the Jews and others in Nazi Germany. But when the outbreak of the Second World War plunges Europe into chaos and terror, that which is hidden is threatened to be exposed.
One night a desperate Jewish woman comes to the farm, banging on the door, pleading for help to hide from the Schutzstaffel (SS) who have just slaughtered her entire family . . . It’s the girls’ birth mother! Soon secrets that have been long held for twenty years are revealed, profoundly altering everyone’s lives forever . . .
From the bestselling authors of The Consequence of Anna comes a new, riveting story about life before and during the Holocaust for Jewish twins, Ava and Shalom, raised as Germans. A heartbreaking yet triumphant tale of tragedy, bigotry, and hatred, superseded by love, art, and music, with many twists and turns leaving the reader breathless. A story that ultimately celebrates the true power of love, family, and the human spirit.
Reader praise for Kate Birkin and her books . . .
"Remarkable! An extraordinary writer tells an extraordinary story!"– ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon
"This is why I read, to find the exceptional. A classic in waiting!"– ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon
"Some writers have a special gift. This writer has it!"– ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon
"Absolutely brilliant. Never have I been so emotionally moved by words!"– ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads
"The characters come to life. Brilliant, beautiful, and poignantly written!"– ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ BookBub
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/wT4j
Author Bio:
Kate Birkin is the Amazon #1 Bestselling author of The Consequence of Anna. With degrees in English Literature and History, she is an accomplished author and ghostwriter of a dozen novels and two original screenplays. Her co-author and dear friend, Mark Bornz, has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering with a minor in Psychology. Together they enjoy working on their projects and writing as a team, thrilled that their stories have entertained millions of readers around the world.
Kate lives in Carmel, California, in her refurbished Victorian home overlooking the sea, where vintage oil painting portraits adorn the walls and their eyes seemingly follow you, stairs creak and doors mysteriously open by themselves, a fire is always crackling in her stone fireplace, and her two Siamese cats, Matilda and Carmichael, sit by her side while she writes.
Things that inspire her: ivy-covered wrought iron gates, deteriorating mansions from another era, long-held family secrets, hidden rooms, and beautiful places like the Land of Éire (Ireland) and the Isles of Scotland, to name a few.
As a lover of the arts, Kate also enjoys the opera, ballet, and playing her violin and piano. A passionate advocate for human and animal rights, she supports multiple charities that champion their cause.
“When I was a child, I knew books were pure magic. Portals into another realm where the book cover itself is the enchanted key to enter. To be able to time travel and experience life through someone else’s eyes is something I have always cherished. And now, as I create these stories and characters myself, I fall in love with them. It’s not just the reader who embarks on a journey as they begin one of my novels. Like Bastian in The Neverending Story, I too venture on that same journey when I write, loving every minute of it!”
Visit https://katebirkinbooks.com to learn more about Kate and her books.
Editorial Review: “Ava and Shalom”
Author: Kate Birkin and Mark Bornz
Hanz and Maria Wolff are farmers. In Germany. In the 1920s. They can’t have children. Finding twin baby girls abandoned in their barn is wonderful happenstance, and creates the family they have always wanted. Ava and Shalom grow up loved and secure in their family unit, until World War Two brings a secret to light, revealing the girls’ true heritage and as good as signing their death warrant.
Their lives are torn asunder as all around them show themselves as friend or foe, and as all students of human nature know, the answers are never what one might expect. Husbands, beaus, siblings, friends, parents…who will protect the twins, and who will reject and betray them? How can an individual ever truly balance self-interest with altruism? And is standing up to the evil of Hitler (or the appalling experiments of Mengele) ever possible when the consequences seem impossible? The reader will be confronted with all these questions – and more – in the historical novel “Ava and Shalom” by Kate Birkin and Mark Bornz.
““I’m a man of God, and the Bible says we should be peacemakers. Adolf Hitler is a man of war, and a devil who spews nothing but hatred.” His words were a lamentation for the path his country was taking. A path he didn’t want his family to follow.
Luka removed their suitcases from the trunk and carried them up the steps. “We know you’re a man of God, Papa. But religion and politics don’t mix.”
Hanz stood, towering over his adopted son. “And politics should reflect the laws given by the Creator, not those invented by evil men.”
“The world is changing,” said Luka with a thread of defiance as he continued into the house. “You either change with it, or get stomped on as it runs you over.””
Readers should realize that this book and the style of writing takes no prisoners. While there is plenty of emotion (of both the positive and negative kind), much of the storyline is set in Auschwitz and certainly does not gloss over the suffering of the twins and others around them. In other (less heart-breaking) chapters, the writing focuses on nature, as well as country life. The characterization is detailed, and the authors ensure that characters have different sides to them; for example, Hanz, the gruff farmer, is also an artist with a sensitive side. Maria is also a complex character, and Ava and Shalom are both differentiated as individuals while also having a strong bond as twins. The twins’ family and friends are splintered by the war, and readers will wait anxiously to find out what fate has in store for each.
““Hanz immediately brought his horse to a halt. His boots crunched softly on the underbrush as he slowly approached the distressed animal, its spot-less white coat shimmering like a ghostly specter in the sunlight. “It’s all right, little one,” he said in a calm voice. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
The fawn’s large, doe eyes, rimmed with the faintest touch of pink, met his gaze, frozen in fear and pain. With careful hands, Hanz worked to free it. The creature trembled but seemed to sense his compassionate intent, its panicked breaths slowing. Finally, with a gentle tug, the fawn was liberated, though it crumpled to the ground, its slender leg broken and unable to sup-port its weight.
Hanz couldn’t leave the baby deer to the mercy of wild predators, so he tenderly scooped it into his arms and brought it to his carriage, wrapping it in a blanket to keep it warm. The animal’s eyes closed, comforted by the security of this stranger’s care.””
“Ava and Shalom” has a storyline that moves from the present, back to the past, and then contains an epilogue of sorts, with developments that the reader may not expect. Overall the pacing and structure of the book flows well, however the start of the book and creation of a fictional author character as a mechanism to tell the story, while ending with an Afterword from the actual author(s) may make the reader do a double-take. The substantive plot line is so powerful and compelling it could stand on its own without the need for a fictional author searching for writing inspiration.
“The visits from the white buck were infrequent now. Rare, like the majestic animal itself. But each appearance was a gift to Hanz, a precious moment captured in time, a fleeting connection to a world where the miracle of nature and the reality of life intertwined. Ever watchful for his albino friend, he would notice the buck’s arrival from afar, and whatever task occupied him–be it tending to the fields or mending a fence–he would set it aside, swelling with a mixture of joy and nostalgia.”
“Ava and Shalom” by Kate Birkin and Mark Bornz is a highly emotional novel, with the central characters of Ava and Shalom facing cataclysmic circumstances that threaten everything. The authors have created a masterful narrative that encompasses family, sisterhood and adult relationships, set in the appalling situation of Auschwitz. Readers who can bear the heartbreak will reap the rewards of experiencing an incredible story.
*****
“Ava and Shalom” by Kate Birkin and Mark Bornz receives 4 ½ stars from The Historical Fiction Company
To have your historical novel editorially reviewed and/or enter the HFC Book of the Year contest, please visit www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/book-awards/award-submission
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