"The Secret They Hid", by Roberta Kagan

Margot’s Secret Book #1

The story primarily takes place in Berlin between 1915 and 1933 and it revolves around the captivating love triangle of two brothers, Leo and Alex in their share interest with the beautiful Adelaide. This story is of love, family secrets and the challenges of survival.

Although this fiction is set during the Great War, its aftermath and during the rise of Hitler it primarily tells a story of survival and gives us a perspective of life in Germany for the working classes. Mostly we see how Adelaide survives when both brothers were gone to war leaving her to support three very young children. This story is intense and difficult to put down. Adding a blend of romance and intrigue into the historical context is simply a bonus.

This story reads well and is smooth sailing from the opening chapters till the conclusion. I like that the focus was on the characters rather than on the horrors of war. Every word is written with passion, sorrow, despair and torment in everyday language. The characters are well-crafted: some you love and others you surely will dislike...

“The Secret They Hid “has all what lovers of historical fiction which for: a captivating story well told and well played out.

A million thank you to the publisher The Book Whisperer for this ARC which I received via Netgalley