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    Secrets She Kept
    Secrets She Kept
    Secrets She Kept
    Audiobook13 hours

    Secrets She Kept

    Written by Cathy Gohlke

    Narrated by Morgan Hallett and Suzy Jackson

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    All her life, Hannah Sterling longed for a close relationship with her estranged mother. Following Lieselotte's death, Hannah determines to unlock the secrets of her mother's mysterious past and is shocked to discover a grandfather living in Germany. Thirty years earlier, Lieselotte's father is quickly ascending the ranks of the Nazi party, and a proper marriage for his daughter could help advance his career. Lieselotte is in love-but her beloved Lukas is far from an ideal match, as he secretly works against the Reich. Yet Lieselotte never imagined how far her father would go to ensure her cooperation. Both Hannah's and Lieselotte's stories unfold as Hannah travels to Germany to meet her grandfather, who is hiding wartimes secrets of his own. Longing for connection, yet shaken by all she uncovers, Hannah must decide if she can atone for her family's tragic past and how their legacy will shape her future.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateAug 20, 2015
    ISBN9781501904349
    Secrets She Kept
    Author

    Cathy Gohlke

    Cathy Gohlke is a Christy, Carol, and INSPY award-winning author who writes novels steeped with inspirational lessons from history. Her stories reveal how people break the chains that bind them and triumph over adversity through faith. When not traveling to historic sites for research, she and her husband, Dan, divide their time between northern Virginia and the Jersey Shore, enjoying time with their grown children and grandchildren. For more information, visit CathyGohlke.com.

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    Reviews for Secrets She Kept

    4.5/5

    66 ratings12 reviews

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    • 5/5
      From the very first moment, I was hooked. The story line captivated me. The narrator was amazing. I was a little disappointed in the ending but only because it was too hurried.
    • 5/5
      I’ve listened to a few of her books now and I think this one may be my favorite so far. A heartfelt story with so many twists and turns founded in a non-fiction historical setting. This is a story I will definitely re-read again in the future.
    • 5/5
      This has to be one of my all time favorite reads. It was heart wrenching and riveting. I highly recommend it.
    • 5/5
      Lovely ( awful) story. Sad but uplifting - a little religious at the end but thought provoking
    • 5/5
      I appreciate all the truth in this book. It is the kind of book that you don't want to put down not even for a second.
    • 5/5
      An amazing story of how bitterness can rule and ultimately destroy lives. The author held true to the theme of book throughout.
    • 4/5
      Excellent story, compelling story of WWII, Holocaust Secrets, betrayal, survival - the end did go somewhat overboard in a religious way which didn't seem to flow right with the story - not that it wasn't understandable, it just changed the impact of the main story and seemed like a different book at the end - very moving story otherwise and quite a twist. I took off stars because of the ending.
    • 5/5
      What an emotional book, from beginning to end, and the worst of it, is that it could all be true. What a horrible time for mankind, and although part of the book takes place in the 1970’s, we spend a lot of time in Hitler’s Germany.When the book opens you never expect all that is about to happen, and Hannah’s Aunt is really not forth coming with any information. So when she opens a strong box and finds letters from Germany, she is about to open a way to family, and horror.I will tell you that once I started reading this, I could not put it down, it is an amazing story, and one everyone needs to remember. Hannah’s worlds are about to collide in answering a lot of questions about her parents, and why Lieselotte, her mother, was rather distant with her. I would never imagine!With all the secrets, that make her sick, she has to deal with the hardest of all, Forgiveness. I loved the author putting one of my most admired woman in this story, and knew that parts of this is really a true story, so in the end this is fiction based on fact.How did people fall under the spell of that monster, and yet it happens as history starts to repeat itself, and in the name of religion.A must read, and a story that will linger with you for a long time.I received this book through Net Galley and Tyndale House Publisher, and was not required to give a positive review.
    • 5/5
      If you like historical fiction this is the book for you. It is amazingly done. It goes between two people, the mother and daugher and keeps you riveted to the book. It is extremely well written, so much so that you're not sure it is fiction. She weaves in factual, historic events into this story of discovery, and forgiveness. It brings out many different emotions as you read this book. Hard to set down. Very intense.The book is extremely well edited also. No errors throughout the entire book. This in itself is very refreshing.If you want a synopsis of the book, please read the book description. I don't like to spoil the book. I was given this book through bookfun.org in exchange for my honest review. I highly recommend this book. You won't be disappointed.
    • 4/5
      Secrets She Kept by Cathy Gohlke is a Christian historical novel set in 1972. Hannah Sterling’s mother, Lieselotte passed away recently. They were never close, but Hannah is having trouble getting over her death. Hannah is taking it out on her students and the principal is making her take a leave of absence. Hannah believes that if she looks into her mother’s past, maybe she can understand why she was so distant and cold. Hannah finds some letters that lead her to a grandfather in Germany. Will Hannah get the answers she desires in Germany?Lieselotte Sommer is a young girl in 1938 when things start to become difficult in Germany. Her father is working to quickly climb the ranks in the Nazi party. He wants to make sure his daughter makes a good match and then produces children (Hitler encouraged Aryans to marry and reproduce). Lieselotte has other plans. She works behind her father’s back to help the Jews in hiding along with the Kirchmann family. Lieselotte has cared for Lukus Kirchmann for quite some time. Will there relationship develop into something deeper? Will her father allow it?Secrets She Kept tells the stories of Hannah and Lieselotte. We get to find out what happened to Lieselotte that made her cold towards her daughter (and other people). Will Hannah be happy with what she discovers and can she then move on with her life? Secrets She Kept was an engaging novel. It was a little slow in places, but overall a good book. I give Secrets She Kept 4 out of 5 stars. The Christian theme is light (not in your face). Secrets She Kept teaches how destructive secrets can be in a family. Once you get into the novel, you will not want to put it down until you are done. I received a complimentary copy of Secrets She Kept from NetGalley and The Book Club Network Inc. in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      Title: Secrets She KeptAuthor: Cathy GohlkePages: 416Year: 2015Publisher: TyndaleMy rating is 5+ stars.Cathy Gohlke wrote an exceptional tension-filled novel with mystery, intrigue, courage and so very much more. Cathy’s other novel I have read is Saving Amelie, which is another riveting tale set in the WWII historical timeframe. In her newest endeavor, the author crafts a heart-ripping redemptive story as one woman in America longs to learn her true ancestry after her mother’s passing.Hannah is invited to Berlin to visit a grandfather she has never met or known about and learning about his past just about breaks her heart. Yet, in the end, we learn a bigger story that has happened and who is the true Savior of mankind. I so enjoyed hearing about Cathy’s travels and her experiences when she was researching this tale, including in her trips with various family members.Some stories reach out and keep your attention because of characters and the action described in the pages. With Secrets She Kept, the attention of the reader doesn’t falter as the author uses flashbacks and returning to the current time to convey the tale from a couple different characters’ point of view. The best use of this method helped me enjoy understanding how each point of view could add a different dimension to the story being shared.We must never forget WWII or any other wars or tragedy because they are part of our nation’s history and we can glean many lessons from what was experienced. What Cathy shares is fiction and well-crafted, but also easy to imagine events happening for real as set up in the book. I hope you will read, enjoy and savor the flavor of the novel long after you finish it and then perhaps share it with another person. Here is a book for every personal library for people to read for years to come!Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
    • 5/5
      So wonderful. This book really makes you think. I could not put it down. Hannah loses her mother and really never liked her much or knew who she really was. She must go from North Carolina to Germany to learn who her family was. She learns things that she really wasn't ready for and needs to learn a few lessons. It is very hard for her. The book goes back and forth between the 1970's and during WWII Germany. This can make you cringe when you learn some of what happens to her mother, Lieselotte. I received a copy of this book from Tyndale blog network for a fair and honest opinion.