My Thoughts - The Secret Hotel in Berlin Author: Catherine Hokin

About the Book

Book: The Secret Hotel in Berlin

Author: Catherine Hokin

Berlin, 1944. ‘It is a great honour to have you here, Herr Hitler.’ Lili doesn’t stumble over the lie, her hand steady as she pours champagne. Everything must be perfect, no one can suspect a thing…

Lili Rodenberg and her husband Marius run the Edel, Berlin’s most glamorous hotel. For its wealthy guests, it is an escape from the destruction outside, with its elegant piano bar and fine amber brandy. But Lili is Jewish, a secret she is terrified will end in tragedy for her and their beloved little girl.

Lili’s only choice is to hide in plain sight, her heart racing each time uniformed officers step through the Edel’s grand entrance. As Berlin becomes a more frightening place, Lili pleads with her husband to help shelter those in danger but Marius is adamant: he will not risk the lives of his wife and daughter. Until the day he is called to the front – and goes missing in action.

Left in sole charge of the Edel, a heartbroken Lili fixes her smile as she serves men who would have her killed in an instant if they knew the truth. She decides she must fight back, hiding Jews in the hotel’s wine cellar before moving them to safety. Though she is seized with terror, it gives her the strength to carry on.

But her courage catches the attention of the Resistance. What they ask of her is impossible.

Lili has protected her daughter by living a life full of secrets. Can she risk it all now and put her child in danger for the sake of her country?

An absolutely unforgettable and heartbreaking story of bravery, love and sacrifice that will keep you turning the pages and reaching for the tissues. Fans of The Nightingale and The Book of Lost Names will be swept away by this stunning novel.

About the Author

I write historical fiction set primarily in Berlin, covering the period from the 1930s up to the fall of the Berlin Wall and dealing with the long shadows left by war. I've had nine novels published with Bookouture to date, including a series, and there are more to come. My books have also been translated into a number of languages including French, Danish and, most recently, German.

I spends as much time as I can in Berlin, where my son also lives, and can read German fluently, although I speak it more like a toddler. I'm from the North of England but now live in Glasgow with my American husband. I love to travel and am currently planning a trip next year to Japan. If I'm not at my desk, you’ll find me at the cinema or just follow the sound of very loud music but bear in mind that I've been told, more than once, that I have the musical tastes of a teenage boy…

I'd love to hear from you and there are lots of ways you can find me, so jump in via my website or at my Cat Hokin FB page, at Catherine Hokin Writer on Twitter or on my Cat Hokin Author page on Instagram.

My Thoughts 

The Secret Hotel in Berlin is written by  Catherine Hokin. This is my first book by this author, and it will not be my last. The author transports readers back in time and we see Lili and Marius Rosenberg. They run the Edel Hotel. This hotel caters to the more wealthy and prestigious customers. However, The Hotel is in Berlin and Lili is Jewish.

You can feel Lili's fear radiate off the pages.  Every time that a German officer comes throuh the doors, she is terrified her secret will be discovered. She knows that she has to do something. She convinces her husband to allow her to hide Jewish neighbors and others that are trying to  escape the wrath of Hitler. 

When her husband is sent to the front lines, he goes missing in action. She suddenly finds herself alone and trying to stay brave while she is terrified on the inside. The author captured such raw emotions. My heart broke for the cruelty that was a reality for so many. 

The author has done careful research, in order to bring this portion of history to life. Her descriptions allow readers to close their eye and visualize the hotel unfolding around them. Thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.