The Winter Guest by Pam Jenoff

WWII was still going on, and Poland was suffering along with all the European countries as families struggled to survive.

Helena and Ruth were left in charge of their three younger siblings since their father was killed by a runaway wagon and their mother was put in the hospital.  Both girls were hard workers but had different views about the war and safety as well as being jealous of each other for everything.​  
As the book continued, something unforgivable happened between the two sisters that led to more jealousy even though the incident was not spoken about but felt by the sisters.   ​

THE WINTER GUEST puts you right into the heart of the war with the fears and hardships the population was enduring.  As Helena and Ruth struggle to keep themselves and their younger siblings fed and safe, Helena then finds something out about her mother's heritage that she had kept secret her entire life and a secret that puts their family in more danger because of their mother's secret.

As you follow the Nowak family through their daily routine, you learn what they had to go through worrying about the Germans storming into the town and knocking on the door or stealing what they had, worrying about hunger, worrying about the children, and worrying about staying alive.​

Ms. Jenoff has written yet another wonderful, heart wrenching account of WWI​I.  The beginning pages grab your attention immediately, and the suspense and interest continues throughout the entire book.

​You will fall in love with the Norwak children.  Ruth and Helena are a bit difficult to like, but they beautifully carry the story to the end with its intrigue and ​revelations.  There is also a tender, sweet love story inside all of the pain and terror.

If you have never read a book by Ms. Jenoff, you need to.  Ms. Jenoff perfectly depicts what happened in Europe during WWII in all of her books that I have read.  

THE WINTER GUEST is no exception.  Do not miss reading this book or any of her other books.  

The only thing I don't understand is how the cover portrays "the winter guest"  because I thought the guest was a male.  :)  5/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.