Book Review: The Warsaw Orphan by Kelly Rimmer

Publisher: Harlequinn Books, June 1 2021

Format: ebook

Pages: 416

Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

In the spring of 1942, young Elzbieta Rabinek is aware of the swiftly growing discord just beyond the courtyard of her comfortable Warsaw home. She has no fondness for the Germans who patrol her streets and impose their curfews, but has never given much thought to what goes on behind the walls that contain her Jewish neighbors. She knows all too well about German brutality–and that it’s the reason she must conceal her true identity. But in befriending Sara, a nurse who shares her apartment floor, Elzbieta makes a discovery that propels her into a dangerous world of deception and heroism.

Using Sara’s credentials to smuggle children out of the ghetto brings Elzbieta face-to-face with the reality of the war behind its walls, and to the plight of the Gorka family, who must make the impossible decision to give up their newborn daughter or watch her starve. For Roman Gorka, this final injustice stirs him to rebellion with a zeal not even his newfound love for Elzbieta can suppress. But his recklessness brings unwanted attention to Sara’s cause, unwittingly putting Elzbieta and her family in harm’s way until one violent act threatens to destroy their chance at freedom forever.

From Nazi occupation to the threat of a communist regime, The Warsaw Orphan is the unforgettable story of Elzbieta and Roman’s perilous attempt to reclaim the love and life they once knew.

My Review:

Thank you Harlequin for the copy of this book.

Read if you like: WW2 stories, Polish history.

This book had a bit of a slow start but once the two protagonists met, I was hooked and I could not put it down.

Emilia must conceal her identity from the Germans but she wants to get involved with other people helping Jewish children. Roman wants to help his family but he and his family are Jewish so they are struggling. Both characters experience German brutality in Poland. I really loved Emilia and Roman and loved reading about their experiences.

CW: sexual assault and rape, violence, death, fighting, the Holocaust.
 
 

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