Welcome to the Historical Fiction Virtual Book Blog Tour for We Shall Not Shatter by Elaine Stock! I have been waiting for this book since Elaine first wrote about it in her newsletter. In fact, I immediately ordered my own copy! If you don’t end up winning the giveaway, then I highly suggest you order your own copy!
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About the Book
We Shall Not Shatter: A WWII Story of Friendship, Family, and Hope Against All Odds Author Elaine Stock
Published by Amsterdam Publishers
on May 15, 2022
Genres: Fiction / Biographical, Fiction / Friendship, Fiction / Historical / World War II
Pages: 308
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | GoodreadsAn unforgettable story of friendship, family and hope as two courageous young women face one of history's most horrific tragedies.
Brzeziny, Poland, 1939 Zofia's comfortable lifestyle overturns when her husband, Jabez, who monitors Nazi activity, has gone missing. Rather than fleeing the country with her young son, as she had promised Jabez who is fearing retaliation, she decides to stay. She cannot possibly leave her friend, Aanya. Since their childhood they have amazed fellow Brzeziners that it does not matter that Aanya is Jewish and deaf, and that Zofia is Catholic and hearing. Now, more than ever with war looming, Zofia will do whatever is necessary to protect her family and Aanya.
As both love and war approach their Polish town, Zofia and Aanya must make choices that will change the meaning of family, home, and their precious friendship. The journey, decisions and the no-going-back consequences the women face will either help them to survive-or not-as Hitler's Third Reich revs up its control of the world.
My Perspective
Elaine Stock has penned such a beautiful, touching, heartwarming novel that will stay with readers for years. She took such a difficult part of our history, and told a story that readers can resonate with, take pause for, and learn from. Yes, there were emotional scenes, heavy topics, heart wrenching parts. But with that there was hope, beauty, and faith. There were moments that required tissues, and moments that enabled rejoicing. It was a roller coaster of emotions, but so worth it in the end.
You can tell how special this story must be to Stock. She took such care with the details, even the small ones, to get them just right. But the friendship between Zofia and Aanya was simply exquisite. Two girls/women who had their differences, and even at first a language barrier (Aanya being deaf), and yet found a way to communicate right from the very beginning. They formed a friendship that lasted a lifetime. They saw each other through so many difficulties, and really it was this friendship that spoke to me the most while reading.
Stock surpassed any expectation I had about reading this book. It truly touched my heart and I know it will touch the heart of others as they read. I highly recommend We Shall Not Shatter.
**While I did receive a copy of this book through this tour, and was not required to write a favorable review, I also purchased my own copy.**
About the Author
Elaine Stock writes Historical Fiction, exploring home, family and friendships throughout time. She enjoys creating stories showing how all faiths, races, and belief systems are interconnected and need each other.
Elaine’s grandparents, on both sides of her family, narrowly escaped World War II by immigrating from Poland and Austria to the US. Fascinated by the strong will of people to overcome the horrors from this era, she wrote We Shall Not Shatter, Book 1 of the Resilient Women of WWII Trilogy inspired by her deaf great aunt who was left behind as a teenager in Poland and perished in the Holocaust, while her other deaf siblings were permitted to enter the US when their young ages helped them to circumvent medically-revealing exams. Other extended family members also remained in Poland to lose their lives in the Holocaust.
Although multi-published in award-winning Inspirational Fiction, and a past blogger and online magazine contributor, Elaine now pens novels for the General reading audience. She is a member of Women’s Fiction Writers Association and The Historical Novel Society. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she has now been living in upstate, rural New York with her husband for more years than her stint as a city gal. She enjoys long walks down country roads, visiting New England towns, and of course, a good book.
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Thank you for the review. Sounds like a good book.
Thank you for this wonderful review, Jessica! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Amy
HF Virtual Book Tours
Heartfelt thanks and much appreciation, Jessica, for hosting me as well as writing and sharing one of the loveliest reviews on We Shall Not Shatter. I’m so touched that you also purchased the book.