Love and Perseverance Spanning Three Continents - an Editorial Review of "The Soap Maker"

Book Blurb:

From the French Resistance to the liberation of Paris, to the high fashion industry of post-WWII New York, and to the bucolic valley of Sonoma California, "The Soap Maker" is a story of tragedy, love, revenge, and finally a life fulfilled.

Anton is thirteen years old when WWII starts and turns his idyllic family farm life upside-down. He grows rapidly to manhood, guided by his Papy (grandfather), known as the "Soap Maker" and a member of the French Resistance.

One fated night, he finds his first love and soul mate in Marie amid Nazi-occupied France. Yet life under the Nazis is never safe or full of promise. What will become of his family? What will become of his budding first love?

Anton will need extraordinary perseverance, and every lesson learned from Papy, The Soap Maker, to survive this nightmare.

EVOLVED PUBLISHING PRESENTS an historical/literary novel that will punch you in the gut, then lift you up and fill you with joy.

"A book rich in historical detail and whimsical charm that consistently challenges readers’ expectations." ~ Kirkus Reviews

"A sweeping tale of survival, vengeance, and personal triumph, The Soap Maker is an evocative and deeply moving story that captures the human spirit's ability to endure and rebuild." ~ Readers' Favorite Book Reviews, K.C. Finn (5 STARS)

"The Soap Maker is beautifully told, a memorable and moving tale that captures the spirit of resilience and the impact of war on ordinary lives. ...should be made into a movie." ~ Readers' Favorite Book Reviews, Carol Thompson (5 STARS)

"Author Terrence Pershall masterfully blends historical drama with deeply personal storytelling, creating a novel that is both gripping and emotionally resonant." ~ Readers' Favorite Book Reviews, Rabia Tanveer (5 STARS)

"The Soap Maker by Terrence Pershall is a one-of-a-kind historical book that seamlessly combines a contemporary narrative and a historical account. Each character is wonderfully depicted, with their own motivations and intricacies. Readers who value sophisticated weaving will find this story compelling and delightful." ~ Feathered Quill Book Reviews

"The first half of this book, which follows the actions of several resistance fighters and their attempts to outwit the Nazis, is full of exciting incident. Impressively, Pershall manages to sustain a similar level of intrigue during much of the second half, as Anton enjoys postwar prosperity and seeks revenge against a high-ranking Nazi official. The scenes depicting his first years in America are some of the best in the book. …Pershall's scope and ambition are laudable." ~ US Review of Books

"The Soap Maker is a textured tapestry of a novel. It will resonate deeply with fans of The Nightingale or All the Light We Cannot See. Pershall’s writing captures the stench of betrayal and the fragrance of lavender with equal skill. It is ultimately an uplifting exploration of how love and tradition can survive even when the world is set on fire." ~ Printed Word Reviews / Falcon Reviews

Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/0TuO

Author Bio:

Growing up in California I spent most of my time outdoors. Between, Y Indian Guides, Boy Scouts, and summer camp I learned a great appreciation for the natural gifts that surround us. I try to share this appreciation in my books and through my characters. I have also found that it's always better to get one's point across by telling a story rather than giving a lecture. My desire is to see the natural world as a healthy and vibrant place for those generations who follow us so they may appreciate the natural gifts that have been placed upon our table.

Editorial Review:

Title: The Soap Maker

Author: Terrence Pershall

Rating: 4.4

"The Soap Maker: A World War II Historical Novel" by Terrence Pershall follows Anton Lemieux, a French farm boy who grows up during the German occupation of France. He is twelve years old at the start of the novel and ninety at the end. His life is not marked by glamour but by forced obligations, duty, exhaustion, loss, and physical labour.

“ “However,” he continued, “Papy Philippe has a job in mind for you that will help our cause.” Anton’s countenance brightened considerably upon hearing this. “What is it, Papa? I want to help.” “You will be delivering his soaps for him.”"

This moment occurs right after Anton's mother's murder by the Nazis. Here, the reader sees him transition from a victim into an active participant, who takes on a task that at first feels mundane, yet forms the backbone of something major- a dangerous craft that is his family's quiet war. The book implores the reader to look beneath the surface where everything about his purpose is hiding, and from where the truth of who he will later become has already started taking shape.

“I understand now why you beat the Nazi officer so severely,” said Rene with a smile. “You said your grandfather’s name was Philippe, correct?” Anton nodded. “Was he by any chance known as the “Soap Maker”? Anton looked surprised. “Why, yes, he was!”

Here, the reader feels the weight and the demand of a name that is not just a mere family nickname, but a legend within the resistance network. Anton not only feels seen and recognized when his grandfather is mentioned, but also burdened with carrying the latter's legacy forward. The nickname feels like both his ticket and test, and the reader understands that he is not starting from zero but continuing something that will most definitely outlive him too.

"It seems your Marie showed up late for an important shoot, and proceeded to thoroughly alienate the director in charge. Apparently, the man was quite vindictive and passed the word that Marie was unreliable and a drunk. While this was total nonsense, rumors like this fly around the industry like a plague, and soon all Marie’s jobs dried up..."

The novel has spent its first part showing how the Nazis destroyed lives through physical violence. But here, it introduces another kind of destruction- reputational assassination. The reader has watched Marie, Anton's lover, suffer for years after she was kidnapped from their farm by a German Major who had long coveted her. The reader alongside the protagonist hopes the rumours are not true, and that she is not disappearing into a darkness no one can follow her to. It's a crucial moment that has the reader seething, not at a soldier but at a man with a clipboard, which somehow makes it feel even worse.

This lengthy read forces patience. It mirrors the war's exhaustion and makes the reader understand what was lost and what was passed on, in a way a novella never could. It denies its villains a sense of dignity, while offering its protagonist the honour of a life well lived. You notice how it changes its pacing particularly when the war ends, a deliberate shift that leaves the reader struggling alongside the characters to learn how to live again. One of its greatest strengths is in showing who the characters become, and how war, loss and time transform them. It profoundly shows the cost of that transformation, making the reader understand that survival is not a single heroic act but numerous unglamorous choices made over decades.

"The Soap Maker: A World War II Historical Novel" is a story that asks for patience, which it rewards with the rare sensation of having lived inside another person's life right from his first loss until his final breath. Lovers of historical fiction will find themselves sinking in slowly, into its battles, dramas, sorrows, as well as its silences.

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