Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I tried to brace myself for this story. I really did. I knew it would be a tough read and I knew what would eventually happen. But the mark of a great Amy Harmon book is her expertly crafted story that builds so very slowly - she builds you up and up and before you know it you’ve fallen for her characters and then it happens - the downfall that completely shatters you. I was not prepared for the onslaught of emotions this story brought out in me. There was one point when I just sat and wept over the horrific events that the innocent victims of this senseless war endured. And in true Amy Harmon fashion, she manages to find beauty within the horror, and teaches us lessons in even the ugliest of circumstances. Amy does not get overly detailed about politics or the war, and everything was broken down into simple facts and explanations. She spared us the gory details and yet still manages to paint such a distinct portrayal of the suffering that took place during this time. The common theme within all of her books is that love and faith conquers all, and how hope and resilience can help you rise above even the most difficult of situations. I think her trademark message has never shined more brightly than it does in From Sand and Ash. Eva & Angelo’s story is one that I will never ever forget. I really hope that people give this book a chance. Even if you’re not a fan of historical fiction, the message in this book is one that we need to be reminded of. We need to remember the atrocities that happened in Europe during WW2 so that millions did not die in vain, and nothing like this will EVER happen again. Thank you Amy, for honoring the memory of my Jewish ancestors and the millions of others who lived during this awful time in our history. These are just a few of the dozens of powerful quotes I highlighted. Amy’s writing has never been better: “In him I have found a slice of the divine, a morsel of peace, and when his lips are on mine, his hands on my skin, there is reason to believe that life is more than pain, more than fear, more than sorrow. I am hopeful for the first time in years. And strangely enough, I find myself convinced that God loves his children – all his children – that he loves me, and that he provides moments of light and transcendence amid the constant trial.” “Many will seek to tell me what God’s will is. But nobody knows. Not really. Because God is quiet. Always. He is quiet, and my anguish is so intense, so incredibly loud, that right now I can only do my will and hope that somehow, it aligns with his.” "Our immortality comes through our children and their children. Through our roots and branches. The family is immortality. And Hitler has destroyed not just branches and roots, but entire family trees, forests. All of them, gone."