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Karolina's Twins: A Novel

In the tradition of The Nightingale, Sarah's Key, and Lilac Girls, comes a saga inspired by true events of a Holocaust survivor’s quest to return to Poland and fulfill a promise, from Ronald H. Balson, author of the international bestseller Once We Were Brothers.~~“Readers who crave more books like Balson’s Once We Were Brothers and Kristin Hannah’s bestselling The Nightingale will be enthralled by Karolina’s Twins.” ―Booklist (starred review)~~She made a promise in desperationNow it's time to keep itLena Woodward, elegant and poised, has lived a comfortable life among Chicago Society since she immigrated to the US and began a new life at the end of World War II. But now something has resurfaced that Lena cannot ignore: an unfulfilled promise she made long ago that can no longer stay buried.Driven to renew the quest that still keeps her awake at night, Lena enlists the help of lawyer Catherine Lockhart and private investigator Liam Taggart. Behind Lena’s stoic facade are memories that will no longer be contained. She begins to recount a tale, harkening back to her harrowing past in Nazi-occupied Poland, of the bond she shared with her childhood friend Karolina. Karolina was vivacious and beautiful, athletic and charismatic, and Lena has cherished the memory of their friendship her whole life. But there is something about the story that is unfinished, questions that must be answered about what is true and what is not, and what Lena is willing to risk to uncover the past. Has the real story been hidden these many years? And if so, why?Two girls, coming of age in a dangerous time, bearers of secrets that only they could share.Just when you think there could not be anything new to ferret out from World War II comes Karolina's Twins, a spellbinding new novel by the bestselling author of Once We Were Brothers and Saving Sophie. In this richly woven tale of love, survival and resilience during some of the darkest hours, the unbreakable bond between girlhood friends will have consequences into the future and beyond.

Hardcover: 320 pages

Publisher: St. Martin's Press (September 6, 2016)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1250098378

ISBN-13: 978-1250098375

Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1.1 x 9.4 inches

Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #11,922 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #45 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Historical > Jewish #50 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Religious & Inspirational > Jewish #205 in Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature

Re-telling your nightmare of living in occupied Poland during WWII would stir up emotions that I would want to forget, but Lena Scheinman Woodward wanted it told.Lena Woodward lived in Poland during the holocaust, lost her entire family, but did find her best friend, Karolina, in the factory where they were required to work and make coats for the Germans.We are there as Lena tells of her experiences to an attorney and private investigator in hopes of getting the help she needs to fulfill the promise she made to her friend Karolina to find her twins.Lena Woodard made a promise to her friend 70 years ago, and now at the age of 89 decided to tell her story and to try to find Karolina's children that sadly had to be abandoned because of the situation they were in.When Lena's son finds out she is telling her story, he causes problems because he is worried about his inheritance being taken by the attorney and the investigator even though he indicates his concern is only with his mother's welfare.As Lena's story unfolded for her attorney, Catherine, we re-lived with her the terror and atrocities committed by the Nazis, and we learned that there was a secret Lena had been keeping for 70 years.Lena and Catherine were two characters I loved. They were strong, determined women. Liam was fun. Arthur, Lena's son, was not pleasant. I truly enjoyed the interaction of the characters both present day and past as Lena told her story.KAROLINA'S TWINS flowed very nicely, and was another well-researched book by Mr. Balson. Mr. Balson has a marvelous writing style and a knack for keeping readers interested by combining facts with human interest.Mr.

I have come to the conclusion that the sound of war is not the guns banging nor the bombs blasting, it is the sound of a blessed voice that has made it through another stupid battle fought for naught... This book was inspired by the story shared to the author by Fay Scharf Waldman... and others...It was a good life there in Chrzanow...There was no strife between neighbors because of their religions... Death occurred naturally and was accepted as part of the life cycle...The Scheinman family had been comfortable and Lena's father had served during WWI, as no religious distinction was made at that time. One hundred thousand Jews fought in the German army, often holding high ranks, and twelve thousand lost their lives. Jewish families had been welcomed then and Jewish society flourished. After the War, Captain Scheinman was still referred to by his title in honor of his rank and service... They were happy days when Lena's mother would often be singing as she worked in the kitchen.But when Hitler rose to power, everything changed for everybody.. But it was the Jews he planned to exterminate...It is through Ben from Once We Were Brothers, that Lena Scheinman Woodward meets Catherine Lockhart, lawyer, and her husband and private investigator, Liam Taggart... Catherine is impressed with this elderly woman who is well-dressed, meticulous in her care and effectively communicates her wishes...But she needs to share her story at her own pace and with her own memories... At first Catherine and Liam are ready and wanting to move on to the investigation to find two baby girls that were lost during the War. However, Catherine, who is the primary listener of the story, is soon caught up, just like I was, in Lena's life...

Based on real life events, Karolina’s Twins by Ronald H. Balson is a riveting novel about a Holocaust survivor’s search for her best friend’s twin daughters more than 70 years later. Although this is the third book featuring lawyer Catherine Lockhart and private investigator Liam Taggart, it can be read as a standalone.At 89 years of age, Lena Woodward might be feeling the physical effects of her advanced years but her mind is still sharp as a tack. Realizing she is running out of time to fulfill a long ago promise, she contacts Liam and Catherine to help her locate her childhood friend Karolina Neuman’s twin daughters whom she has not seen since they were just a few months old. Lena and Karolina are childhood friends whose lives were torn apart when the Nazis invaded their hometown in Poland.Forced to work as seamstresses in a coat factory, the young women manage, with the help of Karolina’s German lover, to survive extreme conditions. Not long after Karolina gives birth to twin daughters, the coat factory shuts down and the women are sent to Gross-Rosen concentration camp where they are forced to work as slave labor. Knowing the babies' fate if they arrive at the camp, Lena and Karolina take drastic measures that will hopefully save the girls from a horrific fate. After surviving Auschwitz, Lena marries and moves to the United State but the fate of Karolina’s twins weighs heavily on her mind.Needing to know whether or not the girls survived, Lena hopes Liam and Catherine can trace the girls’ whereabouts. However, her son Arthur is convinced she is suffering from dementia and his efforts to have her declared incompetent could interfere with their efforts.

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