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The Winter Guest Paperback – August 26, 2014


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Product Details

  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Harlequin MIRA (August 26, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0778315967
  • ISBN-13: 978-0778315964
  • Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 11 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,836 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Woven with rich historical detail and heart-wrenching sensitivity, The Winter Guest explores the sacrifices and risks of twin sisters against the backdrop of World War II Poland. Jenoff brings to life the complexities of sisterhood, the strength of family, and the power of love. This is a novel not to be missed."-Alyson Richman, bestselling author of The Lost Wife

"The Winter Guest takes us to the darkest places in Poland during the Nazi regime, making the fear and horror real through twins Helena and Ruth, who face awful decisions to protect themselves, their orphaned family, and their own hearts. Atmospheric, tender, and as realistic as any Holocaust survivor testimony, The Winter Guest is a must-read." –Jenna Blum, New York Times bestselling author of Those Who Save Us

"Pam Jenoff has written a book that sweeps the reader into a whirlwind of love, tragedy, history and hope, and created an irresistible and unpredictable cast of characters whom you will not soon forget. I was thoroughly taken by it."-David Gillham, New York Times bestselling author of City of Women

"Fans of Kate Morton and Alyson Richman should reach for popular Jenoff's latest historical romance..."--Booklist

"...Eloquent...a tale of surprise betrayals, unquenchable desire, and a necessary awakening; Jenoff's thorough and elaborate descriptions of character and setting makes for a satisfying period romance."-Publishers Weekly on The Ambassador's Daughter

"Stirring...Historical romance fans will be well rewarded."-Publishers Weekly, starred review on The Diplomat's Wife

"With luminous simplicity, Jenoff's breathtaking debut chronicles the life of a young Jewish bride during the Nazi occupation of Krakow, Poland, in WWII...This is historical romance at its finest."-Publishers Weekly starred review on The Kommandant's Girl

"... In her moving first novel, Jenoff offers an insightful portrait of people forced into an untenable situation and succeeds in humanizing the unfathomable as well as the heroic."-Booklist

"I have not been so moved by a book in quite some time as I was by The Kommandant's Girl ...The remarkably accurate account of a world at war, and the repercussions of that war make this a brilliant debut novel...I could not put the book down, yet was sad to see it end."-Historical Romance Writers

"Successful and satisfying...[Jenoff] expertly draws out the tension and illustrates the danger and poverty of Eastern Europe as it falls under communism. Highly recommended for all fiction collections."-Library Journal

About the Author

Pam Jenoff is the author of several novels, including the international bestseller The Kommandant's Girl, which also earned her a Quill Award nomination. Pam lives with her husband and three children near Philadelphia where, in addition to writing, she teaches law school.

More About the Author

Pam Jenoff is the author of several novels, including The Kommandant's Girl, which received widespread acclaim, earned her a nomination for the Quill Awards and became an international bestseller. She previously served as a Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. State Department in Europe, as the Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Army at the Pentagon and as a practicing attorney at a large firm and in-house. She received her juris doctor from the University of Pennsylvania, her masters degree in history from Cambridge University and her bachelors degree in international affairs from The George Washington University. Pam Jenoff lives with her husband and three children near Philadelphia where, in addition to writing, she teaches law school. Pam would love to skype with your book club or library group!

Customer Reviews

Story kept my interest and was well written.
Grannie
One act of jealousy changes everything this family ever stood for... love and loyalty!
Elizabeth Ness
Recommended for lovers of good historical fiction, character-driven novels.
Amazon Customer

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful By Andrea P. Katz on August 26, 2014
Format: Paperback
I am a huge fan of Jenoff's work. The Winter Guest is her best yet. Pam is one of the best Holocaust fiction writers today. This novel address war, first love and the bond/schism between siblings. The incredible detail Jenoff gives allows you to literally feel as if you are in the cold winter of the book. The character development allows you to feel as if you are each character- a true gift in a novel.

I highly recommend this book as well as Pam Jenoff's other books. I predict that The Winter Guest will be a huge bestseller.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful By Michele on August 27, 2014
Format: Paperback
I won this book from the Goodreads giveaway and even though we have the same last name we are not related(although I wouldn't mind as she is an excellent writer)I read the first 7 chapters the day the book arrived because I couldn't put it down! I don't know why but I have always been fascinated by W WII stories and the perseverance of the Jewish people and others persecuted by the Nazis. The fact that the story was set in Poland and I am of Polish descent added to my interest especially the Polish words and traditions portrayed in the book I recommend this book to history buffs,romantics,and anyone who wants a good read.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful By Elizabeth Ness on August 27, 2014
Format: Paperback
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

WOW!!! I literally just finished this book and have tears in my eyes!!! This is one of the best love stories I have EVER read! And I have read thousands of love stories!!! This is such an unique and beautifully written story! If you love and enjoy a good love war story this is the book for you! Its based in Poland during WWII and it gives you some idea as to what these families went through, and its absolutely heart wrenching! The bravery of these people! Your heart goes into this book! The story of a forbidden love during WWII makes this book a page turner and the sister who betrays that love.... (oh I hate her) makes this book unable to be put down! This is a story of two sisters who are left to take care of their younger siblings in a time of despair and destruction and hatred and how one sister is lucky enough to find true love in such a trying time. One act of jealousy changes everything this family ever stood for... love and loyalty! The ending is simply stunning and I love how everything comes full circle. One of my all time favorite books! READ THIS BOOK!

I am as we speak looking for more Pam Jenoff books to read! I absolutely LOVED this WWII Historical Fiction novel! And look forward to reading more Pam Jenoff! Thank you Pam Jenoff for giving me such a amazing story to read! I can't wait to read more! Ekk!! =)
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful By Silver's Reviews on August 27, 2014
Format: Paperback
WWII was still going on, and Poland was suffering along with all the European countries as families struggled to survive.

Helena and Ruth were left in charge of their three younger siblings since their father was killed by a runaway wagon and their mother was put in the hospital. Both girls were hard workers but had different views about the war and safety as well as being jealous of each other for everything.​

As the book continued, something unforgivable happened between the two sisters that led to more jealousy even though the incident was not spoken about but felt by the sisters. ​

THE WINTER GUEST puts you right into the heart of the war with the fears and hardships the population was enduring. As Helena and Ruth struggle to keep themselves and their younger siblings fed and safe, Helena then finds something out about her mother's heritage that she had kept secret her entire life and a secret that puts their family in more danger because of their mother's secret.

As you follow the Nowak family through their daily routine, you learn what they had to go through worrying about the Germans storming into the town and knocking on the door or stealing what they had, worrying about hunger, worrying about the children, and worrying about staying alive.​

Ms. Jenoff has written yet another wonderful, heart wrenching account of WWI​I. The beginning pages grab your attention immediately, and the suspense and interest continues throughout the entire book.

​You will fall in love with the Norwak children. Ruth and Helena are a bit difficult to like, but they beautifully carry the story to the end with its intrigue and ​revelations. There is also a tender, sweet love story inside all of the pain and terror.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful By VICKIE DAILEY on August 27, 2014
Format: Paperback
this was the first book I had read by Pam Jenoff - here is my review: The Winter Guest is more historical than romance - while there is romance between Helena & Sam, it is secondary to the story. Helena & her sister Ruth have been left to take care of their (3) siblings right before the start of WWII in a small town in Poland. It is a story of what you know about yourself and what you find to be actually true of yourself. The sacrifices you are willing to make for others.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful By Deborah Haupt on August 27, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
The Nowak twins Helena and Ruth although identical were not born with the joined-at-the-hip genes most twins enjoy. Ruth was always more domestic like their mother and Helena more adventurous and shadowed their father hunting and trapping. Now at 18 with their father dead and their mother institutionalized life has dealt them a fatalistic blow when they alone are left to care for their three younger siblings, and in 1940 rural Poland hunger isn’t the worse thing that can happen. Even this Catholic family is affected by rationing and is concerned by the rumors that the Jews are disappearing. To make matters more difficult Helena has discovered a wounded American solider and not only is helping him hide and recover but keeping him a secret from her family. But Helena is not the only one keeping secrets and some of them may get them all killed.
Jenoff’s haunting WWII tale is a chilling and heartrending page-turner. She deals only peripherally with the Nazi atrocities but readers will get the gory gist. Her storyline educates and entertains, while her effortless narrative tells the heartbreaking yet hopeful tale. She depicts her un-twin like protagonists perfectly so much so their sameness doesn't even register at times and her co-stars all shine. In the 24/7 news availability of today and with very few living survivors of that time remaining these WWII novels hold a special place in the heart.
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