For Such a Time

By: Kate Breslin

Narrated by: Emily Durante

In 1944, blonde 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 that 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?

©2014 Kathryn Breslin (P)2015 Tantor

Critic reviews

"The atrocities of Nazi Germany come alive in this heart-rending tale of love, loss, and redemption." ( Library Journal)

For Such a Time

A riveting story. The style left a cliffhanger at the end of each chapter. Truly a surprise ending. I don't know which was the happiest moment, Captain Hermann's death or the surprise ending. My God given path of Guardian makes me lean toward Hermann's death, yet I am torn between the two. Kate is a classmate of mine and I love her work dearly.

Loved this Book!

From beginning to end this incredible story kept my interest! It is a mystery as to why a German commander falls in love with a blonde Jewish woman -He thinks she’s not Jewish-as the story unfolds with many twists and turns evolve in this beautiful love story.

Best book ever!

Wow what a great book! You won’t be sorry! Enjoy! Wish there was a book 2!

Beautiful, heartbreaking, worth listening to story

This is definitely not a story. I usually listen to, but I’m very glad that I did. The struggles, brutality, death, suffering…that the Jewish people suffered is just heartbreaking. To think it was not really that long ago either! The author did a great job of balancing heart aches & trauma with love and faith. The author does a great job weaving faith and unbelief throughout the story. It was a bit overkill with every chapter opening up with a verse from Esther. Some she used several times but it didn’t really totally fit. It’s not a lighthearted romance that’s for sure. But still worth listening to. The narrator did a fantastic job with the voices. I did struggle several times figuring out who the men were the author was talking about. I’m not familiar with military ranks of the German military. It’s sort of blended together at times. But it was not too bad.

A must read!

I loved everything about this book! I was riveting to the very end. Saving to my favorites!