For Such a Time - By: Kate Breslin

I recently received a complimentary copy of For Such a Time written by Kate Breslin from Bethany House. I really enjoyed this book. This is Kate Breslin's first book and I applaud her. This book is set in Nazi Germany. She incorporated both German and Jewish phrases and names along with names of German cities and concentration camps. I also loved that fact that she included a glossary at the end of the book for those references. Not only did she write a historical fiction novel, she also made it based on the Biblical story of Esther. 

Hadassah Benjamin (Esther), a Jew, is going by the name of Stella Muller in order to keep her Jewish roots hidden. Right before she was to be executed, Kommandant Schmidt (Ahasuerus) observed Stella's papers and rescued her after noticing they had mistakenly been make "Jew". He brought her under his wings and into his home as a secretary. It is after she gets settled in her new home that she is reunited with her Uncle Mordecai (of course, Mordecai). Stella used this position to try to locate her uncle, and help free the Jews. During her time with the Kommandant, Stella notice the sadness in his eyes and is surprised to find a caring nature, despite his Nazi belief. 

Not only is there danger for Stella, in being found out as a Jew. She has also caught the (negative) attention of Captain Hermann (Haman). After turning down his numerous sexual advances, seeing her affection for the Jews, and her blooming romance with the Kommandant, Hermann is full of hatred both for her and for her Uncle Mordecai, the last remaining of the Jewish council in the camp. Stella begins to see that the Lord has placed her in this position "for such a time as this" and begins to devise ways to help free her people. When her true heritage is discovered, all those closest to her face almost certain death. 

Although this book gripped my attention from the beginning, it was based on the story of Esther in the Bible, so parts of it were predictable. The closer I got to end, the harder it was to put the book down. I remember reading part on my lunch break one day and feeling completely depressed about going back to work, because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I love the unexpected end of the book as well. Just when I thought it was ending, something else happened. I would love to read her books in the future!