Meet an SS Kommandant & a secret Jewess in
Kate Breslin’s
Historical romance
For Such a Time
Bethany House
The Story
In 1944, blond and blue-eyed Jewess Hadassah Benjamin feels abandoned by God when she is saved from a firing squad only to be handed over to a new enemy. Pressed into service by SS-Kommandant Colonel Aric von Schmidt at the transit camp of Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia, she is able to hide behind the false identity of Stella Muller. However, in order to survive and maintain her cover as Aric’s secretary, she is forced to stand by as her own people are sent to Auschwitz.
Suspecting her employer is a man of hidden depths and sympathies, Stella cautiously appeals to him on behalf of those in the camp. Aric’s compassion gives her hope, and she finds herself battling a growing attraction for this man she knows she should despise as an enemy.
Stella pours herself into her efforts to keep even some of the camp’s prisoners safe, but she risks the revelation of her true identity with every attempt. When her bravery brings her to the point of the ultimate sacrifice, she has only her faith to lean upon. Perhaps God has placed her there for such a time as this, but how can she save her people when she is unable to save herself?
Introducing Aric & Stella
Brief physical description
Credit: imdb.com
Aric resembles actor Jason Isaacs, except Aric has russet hair and green eyes. Jason has the rugged good looks I imagined for my hero, and he plays the part of a bad boy very well! 🙂
Stella/Hadassah resembles actress Michelle Pfeiffer. I envisioned her from the movie, Ladyhawke, with cropped blonde hair, wide blue eyes, and those perfect features.
Discover more images from For Such a Time on my Pinterest Board.
Strengths and weaknesses
Aric: His strengths lie in his courage and leadership as a soldier—he’s quite the decorated war hero when Hadassah first meets him. And he’s still honourable beneath that misguided Nazi exterior. His weakness is in owning up to his compassion and humanity.
Credit:gorgeouspfeiffer.com
Stella/Hadassah: She has survived a concentration camp when the story opens. Her strengths include determination, courage, compassion, and survival. She dares to take a chance. Her weakness lies in her feelings for Aric, and her anger at God.
Quirk (if any)
Aric is stickler for detail.
Your inspiration for the character
Aric: King Xerxes from the Biblical story of Esther.
Stella/Hadassah: Queen Esther from the Biblical story of Esther.
Background to the story
The idea actually came to me as I was reading Queen Esther’s story. I knew the Jewish people had suffered at the hands of one society or another throughout history, and as I observed similarities between the wicked Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews and Hitler’s Holocaust of WWII, I wondered if I could overlay this biblical work onto that more modern setting.
Thanks Kate ~ I’m delighted to feature the characters for one my favourite books of the year!
Relz Reviewz Extras
Visit Kate’s website and blog
Buy For Such a Time at Amazon or Koorong
May 25, 2014 at 3:58 am
I think modern authors are doing create jobs novelizing Biblical history. Hosea and Gomer’s tale in Redeeming Love, Esther and Xerxes in For Such a Time… a Tamar in Amy Sorrell’s How Sweet The Sound. I’d like to see a solid novelization of Ruth. 🙂
May 25, 2014 at 5:35 am
I want more about Joseph. After everything his brothers did to him, he’s so forgiving.
May 25, 2014 at 5:39 am
Great pics btw. I love that one of Michelle.
May 25, 2014 at 6:48 am
That’s a question! Hmm… I suppose since Esther is my favorite biblical story, I’m not sure I’ve thought of others to retell in a fiction format. Love Ruth’s story or as Juju says, Joseph would be a unique one to tell. What a message of forgiveness there could be!
May 25, 2014 at 9:56 am
I confess, war stories are not my favourites. However, I read a review of this book in which the reader mentions the romance being tastefully woven into the story. According to her, there’s breathtaking romantic suspense in ”For Such a Time as This”. That is music to my ears so we’ll see… Congratulations to Kate Breslin for the acclamation her novel has received!
May 25, 2014 at 10:04 am
*” For Such a Time”
May 25, 2014 at 1:35 pm
Rel
After reading Rachel Mac’s review & now your recommendation I simply must purchase this one. Esther is one of my favourite people in the Bible.
And yes, congratulations, Kate in bringing a modern twist to such a wonderfully powerful Biblical story.
May 25, 2014 at 9:42 pm
Oh I do love me some Jason Isaacs! I absolutely loved this book and enjoy having a good mental image of the characters now (I’ve never been good at picking out celebrity look a likes in my own). Easily my top read of the so far.
May 25, 2014 at 9:43 pm
Of the year rather. That’s what I get for trying to do something on my phone 🙂
May 25, 2014 at 10:43 pm
There are so many wonderful stories in the Bible that can be used as inspiration for a novel. I am an avid reader so I have read anything from inspirational suspense to Biblical fiction and I am a fan of it all. As I was going through all the fiction I have read, based on Biblical accounts, I came up with a conclusion; I have never read a book based on the beginning of creation and Adam and Eve. I personally think that would be an interesting book to read and to write.
May 26, 2014 at 12:12 am
I would like to see Abraham and Sarah written about in a novel.
May 26, 2014 at 2:28 am
I really enjoy any story that uses the Bible for inspiration, but one character especially comes to mind. My grandson, Noah, died from complications after a tonsillectomy, 14 years ago, when he was 41/2. I have yet to read a credible fiction paralleling anything using him as a character. Would love to see one written, though that’s a difficult feat I think. But you asked!!
May 26, 2014 at 4:02 am
There are so many well done ones out there that it’s hard to think of one that I haven’t read yet would make a good story!
Maybe it would be kinda cool to read a story about maybe Abram and Sarai’s love story, before the events of the Bible stories!
May 26, 2014 at 4:18 am
There have been so many great books written already – maybe one on the life of Deborah or one on the life of King Hezekiah.
May 26, 2014 at 7:02 am
The story of Job.
May 26, 2014 at 7:24 am
When I pondered the question of which Bible story I’d like to see as a novel, the first that came to mind is that of Samson and Delilah. That’s quite a story.
May 26, 2014 at 8:03 am
My favorites have always been the stories of Ruth and Esther…. Would love to win a copy of this book!!! 🙂
May 26, 2014 at 8:45 am
I would love to see a good novelization of Joseph. I think it is one of the ultimate rags to riches stories. I love reading about David as well. martha(at)lclink(dot)com
May 26, 2014 at 9:16 am
I love the Biblical story of Esther. When I first saw this book on the Bethany House website and read the description I knew it would be one I would like to read, and place it on my reading wishlist.
Blessings,
Tammi
dandtdearing{at}earthlink{dot}net
May 26, 2014 at 9:19 am
I would love to read a novelization of Isaac and Rebekah.
Blessings,
Tammi
dandtdearing{at}earthlink{dot}net
May 26, 2014 at 10:03 am
Ruth, definetly Ruth, her loyalty and faith is inspiring, plus her and Boaz would make a good love story.
May 26, 2014 at 10:36 am
The story of Ruth is a great one. I think Liz Curtis Higgs already did it pretty well in her books ‘Here Burns My Candle’ and ‘Mine is the Night’.
May 26, 2014 at 11:24 am
Interesting question!! I think Mary’s, the mother of Jesus, story would be so interesting!
May 26, 2014 at 4:09 pm
Adam and Eve would be a hoot. Imagine the first romance ever.
May 27, 2014 at 6:03 am
Ruth or joseph would be my pick.
May 27, 2014 at 8:19 am
I would pick the story of Ruth. Thanks for the giveaway!
May 27, 2014 at 8:30 am
“For Such A Time” sounds amazing. I am not a fan usually of war fiction, but Esther is one of my favorite books of the Bible.
I loved Tessa Afshar’s Pearl in the Sand which was the story of Rahab & Salmone. I too think the story of Joseph would be a great one.
May 27, 2014 at 12:55 pm
I love the story of Esther and also as a WWII enthusiast this makes For Such A Time double interesting!! Another favorite would be King David, whom endured so much but still had a heart for God.
May 28, 2014 at 12:56 am
The author did an amazing job with this story and I can’t wait to read future books by her. Her characters and plot were so vivid and full, I had trouble putting the book down. There is no sugarcoating the setting as it was a dark place and you felt the characters fear as well as their strong will to survive. Great book!
May 28, 2014 at 2:32 am
Rel, Thanks so much for spotlighting Aric and Stella! And I appreciate all the kind words from readers of For Such A Time. Little Joseph turned out to be one of my favorite characters to write; he has so much courage yet still holds onto much of his childlike innocence during this terrible time.
I’m also loving the all these great Bible story ideas!
Blessings! 🙂
May 28, 2014 at 4:02 am
I would love to read a modern story of Isaac and Rebakah. Especially since there are so many ways of meeting people these days…would the author have the servant take the online dating route to find Isaac’s wife or maybe a church singles group…the possibilities are endless.
May 28, 2014 at 12:48 pm
I’ve always been touched by the faith of the widow woman with a little bit of oil & flour in the OT and in the NT the woman seeking the crumbs of mercy by humbling herself before the Lord. From small seeds, an interesting story could bloom. 🙂
May 28, 2014 at 1:21 pm
I think the story of Samson would be quite interesting as a novel…
May 28, 2014 at 11:33 pm
I have always loved the stories of both Ruth and Esther but Lydia, a seller Of purple cloth who was converted by Paul, would also be a great heroine. Kate, thank ylu for ariting Christian fiction and thanks so for a chance to win your book. Blessings!
May 29, 2014 at 7:40 am
I would love to see the story of Isaac and Rachel novelized.
May 30, 2014 at 9:27 am
The story of Job.
June 1, 2014 at 6:30 pm
steph j » Have you read Mesu Andrews’ Love Amid the Ashes? It’s an excellent retelling of Job, Steph