All God's Children ~ Review

All God's Children
The Peacemakers Book 1
By Anna Schmidt

Elizabeth (Beth) Bridgewater is living on the edge of danger - she's an American Quaker living in Munich during World War II.  She came to German eight years earlier to help care for her aunt and cousin and now she can't leave even if she wanted to.  She gave away her papers and has no way to leave much less travel within the country.

When her Uncle Franz takes in a boarder Aunt Ilse is understandably concerned - why would the son of a well placed Nazi government official stay with his former professor?  Aunt Ilse fears that her American born niece is under suspicion and that Josef Buch is in fact a spy.

But first opinions are not necessarily right and Josef and Beth are soon drawn into a peaceful antiwar resistance.  If only the Nazis would respond in kind, but if their actions are discovered they are almost assured of a sentence of death.

Beth is impulsive in her compassion as is evidenced in some of the situations in which she finds herself, but how can a person with even an ounce of compassion do differently when lives are at stake simply because of their heritage or associations?

Josef is an enigma to the Schneider family, but he cares for them and is determined to save them if at all possible.  Josef is a thinker and wants to plan out everything, but he is at time impatient in his desire to keep those he cares about safe.  

All God's Children is reminiscent of Brock and Bodie Thoene's Zion Covenant series.  And for those who enjoy historical fiction set in the turbulent years when World War II threatened Europe and those who didn't fit the approved mold of perfection this is a book that should appeal.  The glimpses into the Quaker lifestyle are also intriguing and whet one's interest in learning more.  I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes reading good fiction that is well-written and entertaining.  I am eagerly looking forward to reading the second book in this series.

I was provided a copy of this book by TBCN/Bookfun.org and the publisher Barbour in exchange for my honest review.