A Book Review for Capturing Hope by Angela K Couch

About Capturing Hope

Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this new series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.

After her father is murdered by Nazis and her mother flees to her native Germany, hope is something of which Nadia Roenne feels little—even if it is the meaning of her name. It isn’t until an American photographer sacrifices his escape from Poland to save a Jewish family, that she finds a purpose.

David Reid is very familiar with failure, but when he is charged with getting Nadia safely out of Poland, he is determined to succeed—even if she works against him at every turn, putting other’s lives ahead of her own. While they race against the daily shower of bombs over Warsaw and the ever-nearing German army, Nadia grows used to risking her life. . .but dare she risk her heart?

My Thoughts

My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Capturing Hope had my heart racing. From the opening chapter to the very last page, I could not put the book down.

Capturing Hope opens in Poland on the eve of the Nazi’s invasion. Nadia’s father makes David promise to get Nadia safely to England–and the adventure is on.

Angela brought the reality of the bombing of Poland to life. I’m pretty sure my breathing was coming way too fast and shallow as I followed David and Nadia through Warsaw, dodging bombs and rescuing innocent lives.

The characters were absolutely captivating. David and Nadia both had a lovely character arc as they learned to put others ahead of themselves. My favorite kind of people to read about.

I loved the beautiful theme of the hope in the midst of trials and sacrifice.

I wasn’t entirely satisfied with how David’s problems were dealt with in the end. He was making progress in trusting God, but I would have liked to see him come just a little farther, become just a little stronger in his faith. Especially before becoming a husband and father.

All things considered, I truly did enjoy this book. I would definitely recommend it for anyone in the mood for a World War II novel full of danger, adventure, and faith.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book, but my thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

Grab a copy of Capturing Hope!

About the Author

To keep from freezing in the great white north, Angela K Couch cuddles under quilts with her laptop. Winning short story contests, being a semi-finalist in ACFW’s Genesis Contest, and a finalist in the 2016 International Digital Awards also helped warm her up. As a passionate believer in Christ, her faith permeates the stories she tells. Her martial arts training, experience with horses, and appreciation for good romance sneak in as well. When not writing, she stays fit (and toasty warm) by chasing after five munchkins.

More From Angela

When I first decided to set a story during the invasion of Poland, I was woefully unprepared for the pain and horror I found there. I wasn’t new to World War II and had just finished writing A Rose for the Resistance, which is set in France during the war and deals with the resistance and the Normandy invasion. The atrocities and genocide in Poland cut so much deeper.

In the early hours of September 1, 1939, the small town of Wielun, Poland, woke to a shower of bombs on their community. They did not house an army or warehouses, only homes and civilian businesses. Wielun was not the only town or village targeted—demonstrating the Nazi goal to spread fear and death. Six months earlier, Hitler had promised that if Poland did not bow to his wishes, he would wipe them off the map. Over the next month, and more so in the following six years, he came very close to succeeding.

For the full month of September 1939, while German armies rolled across the country, the city of Warsaw endured daily bombardment. Homes, workplaces, churches on Sunday morning, the Warsaw maternity hospital— nowhere was safe. On the tenth of September, someone recorded seventeen separate air raids over the city. I was moved to tears while viewing photographs of women and children who had been shot in the streets and fields by the bombers after they had dropped their payloads over the city.

No one came to their rescue.

Poland was abandoned by its allies to the Nazis.

So how do you write about all that and more while still trying to keep hope alive in the story and in the characters who have to live through such a frightening and demoralizing history?

I invite you to read Capturing Hope to find out.