FOR SUCH A TIME (KATE BRESLIN)

Story Description:
Baker Publishing Group|April 1, 2014|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-0-7642-1160-7

Powerful Retelling of the Story of Esther

In 1944, blond and blue-eyed Jewess Hadassah Benjamin feels abandoned by God when she is saved from a firing squad only to be handed over to a new enemy. Pressed into service by SS-Kommandant Colonel Aric von Schmidt at the transit camp of Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia, she is able to hid behind the false identity of Stella Muller. However, in order to survive and maintain her cover as Aric's secretary, she is forced to stand by as her own people are sent to Auschwitz.

Suspecting her employer is a man of hidden depths and sympathies, Stella cautiously appeals to him on behalf of those in the camp. Aric's compassion gives her hope, and she finds herself battling a growing attraction for this man she knows she shosuld despise as an enemy.

Stella pours herself into her efforts to keep even some of the camp's prisoners safe, but she risks the revelation of her true identity with every attempt. When her bravery brings her to the point of the ultimate sacrifice, she has only her faith to lean upon. Perhaps God has placed her there for such a time as this, but how can she save her people when she unable to save herself?
My Review:
 I believe the story description above is pretty self-explanatory as to what this story is about and don't really have much to add. I loved this book so much that I'm afraid of giving away too many details and don't want to spoil the story for other people.

Stella, or Queen Esther was an immensely brave woman who saved her people at great cost to herself but she never faltered in her belief that she would somehow accomplish this feat. I was glued to this book from the first page to the very last and read it in two sittings. If it hadn't been for interruptions from my dogs, I would have read it in one sitting.

I'm most surprised at the fact that FOR SUCH A TIME is Ms. Breslin's first novel for she writes as that of a well-seasoned author. I look forward to more novels in the future. Well-done!