MY THOUGHTS AND BOOK REVIEW
Absolutely a must - read, Historical German fiction novel taking place between the timeline 1931-1945 in Sweden, Stockholm during Second World War. This book can be read as a stand alone, long novel with more than 500 pages.
I absolutely loved the suspense, the growing and the advancing relationships between different characters in the plot, especially Matilda Wallin and the Countess of The Lion Hall, Agnetas Lejongard, Matilda and Paul, her dream boyfriend she plans to marry someday. This is a captivating story and I would love to read the entire series.
Mathilda's father and mother insisted that she must focus on getting a good education instead of getting married to a man who can take care of her. Susanna Wallin, Matilda's mother suddenly dies and her father drowned himself in a sea of strong currents who did not come home one day. Devasted by Matilda's mother's death and her fathers disappearance, the school was a sympathetic place of refuge her. One day, out of no where, a new comer comes to her life to take in charge of her as a Guardian, that is from The Lion Hall, Countess Agneta Leojongard, from noble royal family, ancient noble line in sweden over a guardianship envelope written by her mother to countess Agneta. Having summoned by a lawyer and her School principal, Matilda had no choice but leave Stockholm and her dear friends Paul and Daga, half - heartedly, by obeying her Guardian. Matilda was still minor and 17 years old, liked going to school, also too young to have a boyfriend like Paul. Her Plans to go to business college and marry Paul with her dreams of establishing a company was going to end. The countess being very impressed by Matilda's Science and English learning skills promises to send Matilda to Business College in the country side of The Lion Hall, Kristianstad. Matilda decides to leave Stockholm for four years and assured Paul and Daga that she would be in touch. Agneta's relationship with Matilda's mother is a curious turn in the plot.
Therefore, Matilda leaves to Unknown Lion Hall Estate to be welcomed dearly in a tall splendidly shining white Manor -by twin sons of Countess Agnetas and Count Lennard Ekberg. Matilda gets acquainted to Magmus and Ingmar, the twins. Ingmar becomes her close friend and Magmus snaps at her when ever they see each other. Magmus never took responsibilties or cared for his parents. Matilda was treated good at the Lion Hall Manor and like their family member.
Well researched story and plot. The second part of the novel was heartbreaking, finding love with Paul at Stockholm and events unfolding during WW2. The suspense whether Paul and Matilda will find love with each other, her return back to Stockholm from The Lion Hall, death of Ingmar, her close friend in a air crash left me lingering with the surprise ending of the novel. Not to forget the war, as the novel evolves when the war began in 1939- 1940, what is happening to Sweden is unclear at that time. I enjoyed how the author describes the glimpses of the second world war that tells about Nazi-occupied Norway, Germany attacked Poland in Sept 1939 and both France and where Britain declared war on Nazi Germany, Sweden declared itself a neutral country. At the time of the winter war between Finland and the Soviet Union, Sweden declared itself to be non belligerent actively sliding with Finland. Since WW2, Jews found refuge place in Sweden escaping from persecution, especially for those from Eastern Europe. And as the war ends in 1940, March, Magnus becomes inclined to assume responsibility for Lions Hall business and welfare. Lennard Ekberg is suffering extremely serious health problems. Ingmar travels to Norway and doesn't appear that he will appear anytime soon. Agneta writes to Matilda that she needs her assistance to manage both Lion Hall and the Ekberg Estate. Lennard's death was anticipated leaving half of the Ekberg estate to Matilda. But Ignmar died so young while doing something that brought him joy was a cruel twist of fate.
A story of endurance, deception and a woman finding true love when the war takes place, from the best selling author of the The Inheritance of Lion Hall.
Corina Bomann
Publisher: Amazon Crossing
Publication Date: June 14, 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction
About the Author - By Corina Bomann
Corina Bomann is the bestselling author of "Butterfly Island und "The Moonlit Garden". Her books have been translated into many languages und have been on bestseller lists in Germany. Bomann was born in northeastern Germany, and now lives with her family in Berlin.
I just reviewed Matilda's Secret by the author Corina Bomann #NetGalley
Thank you Net Galley and Amazon Crossing Publishers for the advance copy of the book for an honest review.
Book Description
In pre-WWII Sweden, fate and secrets change an impetuous young woman’s life in a novel of deception, true love, and reinvention by the bestselling author of The Inheritance of Lion Hall.
Sweden, 1931. Matilda Wallin has a future in Stockholm: business college, then establishing a company with the young man she plans to marry. It’s all upended by her mother’s death—and a stranger who has been appointed her guardian. Matilda has no idea who Countess Agneta Lejongård is or why this aristocrat has taken an interest in her. Agneta summons Matilda to live with her and her family on their magnificent country estate but remains mysterious about her connection to Matilda. Torn from her previous life and its promises, Matilda has no choice but to follow Agneta to venerated Lion Hall.
At first resistant to rural aristocratic life, Matilda tries to adjust. In Agneta’s son Ingmar, Matilda finds a new friend. In Ingmar’s twin brother, Magnus, she finds a churl who dismisses her as an interloper beneath his family’s stature. But just as the estate and Agneta’s benevolence win Matilda’s heart, she discovers the secret that ties her to the Lejongårds in ways she never imagined, which could change her life once again. Now, Matilda must make a decision: return to Stockholm and the commitments of her heart or take a risk on the unknown at Lion Hall.
Disclosure of Material: I have received a review copy of this book by the publisher in the form of e-book from NET GALLEY as Advance Reader Copy. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
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