Book Review for: "In The Arms of the Enemy"
Book Review for: In The Arms of the Enemy Written by: Lisbeth Eng Wild Rose Press ISBN: 978-1-60154-829-0 293 pages 4 Stars Reviewed by: S.
Burkhart Eng pens a suspenseful tale of love, betrayal, desperation and hope with "In The Arms of the Enemy.
" Isabella Ricci is a spy for the Italian resistance.
When she's told to make a German mark, Isabella doesn't realize how dangerous the assignment is, not only to her person, but to her heart.
Set in Verona, Italy in 1944, the Nazis have established a base.
The Italian resistance is alive and thriving.
Isabella Ricci belongs to the Verona branch.
With the encouragement of her lover and fellow resistance leader, Massimo Baricelli, Isabella meets an old friend, Sylvia, who introduces her to the world of social parties where Germans and Italians mingle.
At one of these parties, Isabella meets Captain Günter Schumann.
He works in supply and is a linguist.
Günter is immediately smitten with Isabella.
The young Italian is beautiful and carries herself humbly, unlike most of the women he's met.
He takes Isabella on several romantic dates.
Despite herself, Isabella is charmed by Günter and becomes his lover.
As Isabella dates Günter, she learns more about the Nazi occupation.
She makes a copy of his keys and begins copying documents for the resistance.
All the while, the duplicity is weighing on her soul.
Günter's lovemaking is intense, as well as soulful, while all Massimo cares about is Isabella's ability to slip him information useful to the resistance.
When Isabella is caught, what choice will her heart make - Massimo or Günter? Eng's plot is complex, yet smooth and easy to follow.
She brings a rich authenticity to the locale and setting with vivid descriptions that are easy to visualize and don't weigh down the writing.
Eng's style of writing is nice to follow.
Günter, Massimo, and Isabella are interesting characters.
Massimo is dedicated, but it is clear his heart comes second.
Günter is sensitive and soulful, yet not afraid to do what he knows must be done.
Isabella is daring and brave, but her heart becomes a battleground for two men's love.
The supporting cast is strong and a delight to read about.
The story is sophisticated for romance readers with love scenes that are tasteful, yet a bit tame.
As a reader, I would have liked Isabella and Günter's love scenes to be a bit more steamier, since theirs is the love that endures, but honestly, that's a small thing in the overall novel.
"In The Arms of the Enemy" will run the reader though a gambit of emotions that will invoke happiness, frustration, and nervousness, but ultimately will leave them believing in the power of love.
Burkhart Eng pens a suspenseful tale of love, betrayal, desperation and hope with "In The Arms of the Enemy.
" Isabella Ricci is a spy for the Italian resistance.
When she's told to make a German mark, Isabella doesn't realize how dangerous the assignment is, not only to her person, but to her heart.
Set in Verona, Italy in 1944, the Nazis have established a base.
The Italian resistance is alive and thriving.
Isabella Ricci belongs to the Verona branch.
With the encouragement of her lover and fellow resistance leader, Massimo Baricelli, Isabella meets an old friend, Sylvia, who introduces her to the world of social parties where Germans and Italians mingle.
At one of these parties, Isabella meets Captain Günter Schumann.
He works in supply and is a linguist.
Günter is immediately smitten with Isabella.
The young Italian is beautiful and carries herself humbly, unlike most of the women he's met.
He takes Isabella on several romantic dates.
Despite herself, Isabella is charmed by Günter and becomes his lover.
As Isabella dates Günter, she learns more about the Nazi occupation.
She makes a copy of his keys and begins copying documents for the resistance.
All the while, the duplicity is weighing on her soul.
Günter's lovemaking is intense, as well as soulful, while all Massimo cares about is Isabella's ability to slip him information useful to the resistance.
When Isabella is caught, what choice will her heart make - Massimo or Günter? Eng's plot is complex, yet smooth and easy to follow.
She brings a rich authenticity to the locale and setting with vivid descriptions that are easy to visualize and don't weigh down the writing.
Eng's style of writing is nice to follow.
Günter, Massimo, and Isabella are interesting characters.
Massimo is dedicated, but it is clear his heart comes second.
Günter is sensitive and soulful, yet not afraid to do what he knows must be done.
Isabella is daring and brave, but her heart becomes a battleground for two men's love.
The supporting cast is strong and a delight to read about.
The story is sophisticated for romance readers with love scenes that are tasteful, yet a bit tame.
As a reader, I would have liked Isabella and Günter's love scenes to be a bit more steamier, since theirs is the love that endures, but honestly, that's a small thing in the overall novel.
"In The Arms of the Enemy" will run the reader though a gambit of emotions that will invoke happiness, frustration, and nervousness, but ultimately will leave them believing in the power of love.