by Tessa Harris
Publication Date February 4, 2021
Published by HarperCollins Publishers
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Goodreads
Genres: Fiction, Fiction / Women, Historical, History, Women, World War II
Pages: 384
Format: ARC
"Munich 1930. Lilli Sternberg longs to be a ballet dancer. But outside the sanctuary of the theatre, her beloved city is in chaos and Munich is no longer a place for dreams. The Nazi party are gaining in popularity and the threats to those who deviate from the party line are increasing. Jewish families are being targeted and their businesses raided, even her father's shop was torched. When Lilli meets Captain Marco Zeiller during a chance encounter, her heart soars. He is the perfect gentleman and her love for him feels like a bright hope under a bleak sky. But battle lines are being drawn, and Marco has been spotted by the Reich as an officer with great potential. A relationship with Lilli would compromise them both. Will Lilli be able to escape the threats facing her family, and how much is she willing to risk for the man she loves?"--Publisher.
My Review:
Beneath a Starless Sky by Tessa Harris is a gripping, exciting, and very emotional story set in Europe before, during, and after World War II. It follows the story of Jewish ballet dancer Lilli Sternberg as she rises to stardom in Hollywood and after an injury, she becomes a spy.
Lilli works hard at the ballet school in dreams of making it out of her home in Germany and becoming a star in Hollywood. On her way, she meets and falls for German soldier Captain Marco Zeiller. After a short romance, her heart is broken, but she finally finds her way to Vaudeville in New York City and eventually to Hollywood and becomes a dancer in the movies.
Her life in America is what she’s always dreamed of and she meets and dances with Fred Astaire and other famous actors, actresses, and dancers. She also meets Prince Edward and his Americal mistress Wallis Simpson.
I was swept away by this historical story that brought real-life history to life for me. The prologue had me flying through the pages of this superbly written saga to learn the fate of Lilli and her loves and family. Lilli is a remarkable woman whose courage, strength, and resiliency are perfectly balanced with her vulnerability and love for her family and country. I loved how the author weaved in the very real historical figures into this work of fiction, making the story believable and very realistic. As if this story really happened.
I highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction and anyone who loves a good story. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.