Kelly Rimmer has again given us a thought provoking, at times heartbreaking tale set in out not too distant past.

The German Wife gives us points of view prior, during and after World War 2, and it will break your heart then lift it right up again. We are set in Nazi Germany, the US Dust Bowl and post war Alabama, so we have a lot to process as we are reading

You can tell that the author has done extensive research into Operation Paperclip and the US Government bringing German scientist to work on their space programme - I am wondering if our main male character Jurgen is based on Von Braun?

This shows us the reality of the post war period. the prejudices faced by those who have had their choices taken away, when they are just trying to do what they have to do to keep their family safe.

I cried at times as I was reading. We sit here in the here and now and complain about how difficult things are (and yes, they are our complaints and are allowed to own then), but when I sit and read about what people of my grandparents generation went through, I do think we can be quite a whiney bunch!

The Gernan Wife is a poignant story that will leave you thinking about it for a long time after finishing it.