BLOG TOUR - The Stolen Twins

  

DESCRIPTION:

Auschwitz, 1944: “You can’t leave me,” I whisper, my hand trembling as I reach for her cheek. “You can’t. We’re in this life together, always, just you and me.” This utterly heartbreaking yet beautifully hopeful World War Two page-turner tells the story of identical twin sisters in Auschwitz. Born minutes apart, Arina and Nora have never left each other’s side—until now…

The cattle car is dark, except for the light filtering through the boarded windows. There are too many of us to count, crushed up against each other. The air is stuffy, carrying the scent of our terror—none of us know what awaits us when this train stops. I cling onto Mama’s hand and Nora, my twin sister, clutches Papa’s.

After what feels like forever, the train stops. We spill out of the carriage, the sun blinding us after being imprisoned in darkness for so long. There are people everywhere, soldiers separating children from their parents, husbands from wives.

We’re in some sort of queue, and a man in a dark-green SS uniform walks by, glancing at everyone he passes. “Twins, twins,” he shouts. My heart falls into the pit of my stomach.

“Right here,” says Mama, hesitation in her voice. “My daughters are twins.” My eyes widen, and Nora trembles. Papa tries to tell Mama to be quiet, but it’s too late.

The Nazi catches sight of us. “Twins,” he says again, pausing to inspect Nora and me. “Yes, you are, aren’t you? You two are going to come along with me.”

This unforgettable World War Two page-turner, perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Lucky Ones and The Midwife of Auschwitz, shows that, in the darkest of times, love can save your life…

(Previously titled: We Only Had Each Other) 

BUY LINK:

https://geni.us/B0BMLWT7HDsocial

MY THOUGHTS:

 

Title:   The Stolen Twins

Author:  Shari J. Ryan

Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Historical Fiction 

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:  322

Date of Publication:   February 14, 2023

My Rating:   5 Stars

Nora and Arina, fifteen-year-old twins, were living a contented life in Hungary with their parents. All of their lives were turned upside down when the family was taken to Auschwitz in 1944. As soon as the train arrived to this terrible destination, Nora and Arina, as well as the other children, were separated from their parents. Soon they heard a German soldier shouting for twins. Their lives would never be the same again.

An SS doctor named Josef Mengele was performing experiments on Jewish children, especially those who were twins. This often heartbreaking story, told from both Nora and Arina‘s perspectives alternately, is shockingly based on a true story. These girls went through adversity that was utterly brutal at times. However, they were both strong girls, and this touching story turned into one of hope. The story shifts back-and-forth between one and the girls were fifteen and seventeen years of age. Together at the age of fifteen, this was not the case when they were seventeen. Nora’s case was especially difficult, as she was born with a stutter, and the brutal doctor performed a devastating experiment on her that left her worse off than imaginable. 

Arina was able to get the United States, but what she wanted more than anything was to be reunited with Nora. Plagued with guilt over what happened with her sister, Nora experienced strong feelings of doubt, fear and anger. Meanwhile, Nora struggled in the worst way imaginable after the failed operation, but what kept her going was the hope of finding Arina once again.

Shari J. Ryan writes the most effective and compelling stories that are based on one of the darkest times in history. Reading the author’s note at the end of this incredible book will help readers understand her motivations in writing such incredible stories. Desperate for Nora and Arina to be reunited once again, as well as Ryan’s powerful storytelling, kept me turning page after page in this book that left me and complete awe. In fact, this emotional story was also one of survival, with sweet bits of romance threaded through the pages, leading to wonderful epilogues at the end. Thank you Ms. Ryan for providing another incredible story, one that will be with me for a long time to come. 

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy my YouTube video review - 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Shari J. Ryan is a USA Today Bestselling Author of Women’s Fiction, WWII Fiction, and 20th Century Historical Fiction with a focus on the Holocaust and Pearl Harbor.

Shortly after graduation from Johnson & Wales with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, Shari began her career as a graphic artist and freelance writer. She then found her passion for writing books in 2012 after her second son was born. Shari has been slaying words ever since.

With two Rone Awards and over 125k books sold, Shari has hit the USA Today Bestseller List, the Amazon's Top 100, Barnes & Noble's Top Ten, and iBooks at number one. Some of Shari’s bestselling books include Last Words, The Other Blue Sky, Unspoken Words and A Heart of Time.

Shari, a lifelong Boston girl, is happily married to her personal hero and US Marine and they have two wonderful little boys. For more details about her books, visit: www.sharijryan.com

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