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    For Such a Time
    For Such a Time
    For Such a Time
    Audiobook13 hours

    For Such a Time

    Written by Kate Breslin

    Narrated by Emily Durante

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    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?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateSep 29, 2015
    ISBN9781494587802

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    Reviews for For Such a Time

    4/5

    87 ratings24 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Lovely (?) book. About terrible injustice- well written. A bit too religious for me however it was justified
    • 4/5
      I love the parallel between For Such A Time and the Book of Esther. Accounts of the Jewish death camps are hard to read and this work of fiction is no exception. Kate Breslin obviously did her research. All through time, there are true life situations that mirror scripture. If more writers could put those comparisons into writings such as this, more people would be prompted to open their Bibles and that's never a bad thing. Kate Breslin's descriptions put the reader there. You can visualize the surroundings, the people, the situations. Well done, Kate Breslin, I can't wait for your next writing!
    • 5/5
      This is one of the best books I’ve ever read.For Such A Time has moved me like no other. A heart-wrenching, soul-pricking, life changing read.This story showcases the cruelties of WWII and the Nazis brutality, hatred and lack of compassion toward the Jews. It also illustrates how faith, love, and perseverance can overcome hardships that seem insurmountable.What I loved about this book:*The story. It was inspired by Esther’s story in the Bible. Just as Esther was chosen to save her people, Hadassah must find the courage and faith to do the same. Her plight is a difficult one, and her journey became my own.*The emotions. I felt a myriad of emotions. My jaw clenched in anger, my heart wrenched in agony, and I wept for the atrocities that were carried out. I smelled the fear, and felt the passions as well as punishments.*The characters. They are all flawed, some more than others. I sympathized with Hadassah’s (Stella’s) conflicting feelings. Her responsibilities and struggles were nearly unbearable. Aric is even more complex and conflicting. I fell in love with Hadassah’s uncle, and the others she grew to love. And other characters put such a palpable distaste in my mouth I wanted to spew them out.*The impact. This book transported me to a horrific place in history, where compassion, empathy and faith were difficult treasures to unearth. Kate Breslin, the author, has taken threads of differing textures: love/hate, empathy/cruelty, acceptance/denial, belief/doubt, and somehow woven them into a tapestry of beauty, love, and acceptance.What I didn’t love about this book:*Only that it ended. I’ll miss these characters and the journey we traveled together.I don’t know how anyone could read this book without being forever changed. Though this story is fictional, there were over a million men, women, and children who experienced similar atrocities.A book should make us FEEL—whether angry, proud, sad, disgusted, or happy—and this book succeeded.Cover: Love itTitle: Love itPublisher: Bethany House PublishersPages: 432Pace: Steady/fastFirst Lines: The stench was unmistakable. Seeping through the walls of the two-story chalet, turning pungent from the warmth of an oil furnace, the insidious odor drifted upstairs to where Stella lay asleep on a window seat.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a Review Copy. I was not required to write a positive review. The options I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
    • 3/5
      A very good book - an interesting retelling of the story of Esther set in Nazi Germany.
    • 5/5
      In a place where hope struggles to survive and lives are torn apart, Hadassah Benjamin will do whatever it takes to save her people."And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"Hadassah is hiding in plain sight as Stella Muller, secretary to SS Kommandant Colonel Aric von Schmidt at Theresienstadt. In 1944 the camp is a stopping point from which many are sent to Auschwitz. As she puts her life on the line to try and save her people she suspects that the Colonel has a tender heart despite his role as an SS officer. As their relationship grows, they will have to face their drastic differences. With this unconventional love Hadassah struggles to find the meaning behind it all. She does not understand how God could abandon His people to slaughter. But has the Lord brought them together for a bigger plan? Will Stella be able to save her people as well as the man she has grown to love?A book written about the atrocities of the Holocaust is never easy to read. It is full of emotion and the history is tragic. Kate Breslin did not soften the details of the horrors of the second World War, even though this is a romance. However, she did give us a new perspective of love during the war. I was drawn in by the intriguing story line. I had never imagined a romance like this. However, there are true stories of similar relationships taking place: Edith Hahn Beer and Helena Citronova. Although Stella and Aric's story is different, it is a wonderful book. In every page you can feel the battle raging within Stella as she falls deeper in love with Aric. There were many times that I found myself grinning from ear to ear while reading one page and crying on the next. Be prepared for a wealth of emotion to overcome you as you read this book, but it is worth it! For Such a Time is a truly remarkable story of redemption through faith. We are reminded that God's love for us never fails and His forgiveness is never out of reach.
    • 4/5
      A wonderful retelling of the biblical story of Esther, set during the second World War. Highly recommended to lovers of Christian Historical Fiction.
    • 4/5
      In 1944, Hadassah Benjamin, a blonde and blue-eyed Jewish woman, is saved from a firing squad only to be pressed into service as a secretary by SS Kommandant Colone Aric Von Schmidt at Theresienstadt, a transit camp in Czechoslovakia. She hides behind a false identity, posing as Stella Muller. In order to survive however, and maintain her cover, she is forced to stand by as her own people are sent to Auschwitz.Stella suspects though the the Kommandant has hidden compassion and sympathies, which gives her hope, and she cautiously approaches him to appeal on behalf of those in the camp, she finds herself fighting a growing attraction to him, when she knows she should despise him as an enemy. She takes risks to keep at least some of the prisoners safe, even though she risks revelation of her true identity with every attempt; how can she save her people if she is not able to save herself?This fictional story is based on the Biblical story of Esther; I have to admit, I am not very familiar with Esther's story, but each chapter of the book began with a verse from the book of Esther, that related to the events of that chapter, which was helpful in tying Esther's and Hadassah's stories together. This was a very riveting story, and the further along I got into it, the harder it was to put down.
    • 5/5
      This is the story of a WWII woman who was saved from a concentration camp and it draws parallels to the story of Esther. It is an unusual comparison to draw and I suppose that's why it caught my attention. There were several aspects of the Holocaust that I had not considered before that were brought to light in this book. The concept of the book was very creative, although some of the outcomes might be predictable. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and would recommend the book.
    • 4/5
      Although most of us never had to actually experience the Holocaust, it is something "real" to us, something we've seen pictures of, heard 1st hand accounts of, etc. So to place Esther's story in that time period, I think it allows us to more fully connect and understand the story of Esther. I really enjoyed looking for the correlations between Esther's story and Breslin's novel, and for awhile the author did a great job of updating the Esther story; however, about 3/4 into the book, the story took a dramatic detour from the Biblical story. It was still interesting, but it was most definitely no longer Esther. And it doesn't have the part of Esther where she risks her life to go before the king, which is my favorite part, as well as the most important part, in my opinion.That said, it was still a pretty good book. Well-written and kept me interested, wanting to know what would happen. I liked the main characters and I was invested in their story. It was somewhat predictable at time, but I find most books usually are, so I don't hold that against it. Oh, I do recommend reading the note at the end of the book - it explains which parts of her story were actually part of the holocaust and which parts were fictional - something I thing is good to know.
    • 4/5
      This is a very moving story set mostly in a concentration camp during WWII. Stella is rescued from the ovens at Dachau to be the secretary of Aric, commandant at another camp. Although she is terrified, she cares for the commandant's houseboy and becomes his surrogate mother. She also inspires other Jews in the camp. The book references the book of Esther in the Bible. It seems like a somewhat forced connection but I was really moved by this book. The author, Kate Breslin, did a great job of getting me caught up in the lives of her characters! It is obvious that she did a lot of research on the time period I highly recommend For Such A Time to anyone interested in the era or a fine historical novel.
    • 2/5
      I made the mistake of thinking I would find this book interesting purely based on the fact that my name is Esther, I'm very familiar with the story of Esther, and historic fiction centered around WWII has, in the past, been a genre I've enjoyed. ("The Book Thief", anyone?) My mistake, clearly. This book was insipid from start to finish. It tugged at heartstrings... but it was about a concentration camp. Pretty hard to avoid the tugging. Not really my type of book at all. Again, I decided to request it on a whim, so take my review with a grain of salt.
    • 4/5
      The retelling of Biblical Esther set during World War II. This book is difficult for me to review. I love the story of Esther and have read it many times in the Bible, I also enjoy reading stories set during World War II. I am not sure that I could quite connect the dots to entwine the two. That being said, the book is well written and captivating. I would recommend it to others.
    • 5/5
      This is one of the best books I’ve ever read.For Such A Time has moved me like no other. A heart-wrenching, soul-pricking, life changing read.This story showcases the cruelties of WWII and the Nazis brutality, hatred and lack of compassion toward the Jews. It also illustrates how faith, love, and perseverance can overcome hardships that seem insurmountable.What I loved about this book:*The story. It was inspired by Esther’s story in the Bible. Just as Esther was chosen to save her people, Hadassah must find the courage and faith to do the same. Her plight is a difficult one, and her journey became my own.*The emotions. I felt a myriad of emotions. My jaw clenched in anger, my heart wrenched in agony, and I wept for the atrocities that were carried out. I smelled the fear, and felt the passions as well as punishments.*The characters. They are all flawed, some more than others. I sympathized with Hadassah’s (Stella’s) conflicting feelings. Her responsibilities and struggles were nearly unbearable. Aric is even more complex and conflicting. I fell in love with Hadassah’s uncle, and the others she grew to love. And other characters put such a palpable distaste in my mouth I wanted to spew them out.*The impact. This book transported me to a horrific place in history, where compassion, empathy and faith were difficult treasures to unearth. Kate Breslin, the author, has taken threads of differing textures: love/hate, empathy/cruelty, acceptance/denial, belief/doubt, and somehow woven them into a tapestry of beauty, love, and acceptance.What I didn’t love about this book:*Only that it ended. I’ll miss these characters and the journey we traveled together.I don’t know how anyone could read this book without being forever changed. Though this story is fictional, there were over a million men, women, and children who experienced similar atrocities.A book should make us FEEL—whether angry, proud, sad, disgusted, or happy—and this book succeeded.Cover: Love itTitle: Love itPublisher: Bethany House PublishersPages: 432Pace: Steady/fastFirst Lines: The stench was unmistakable. Seeping through the walls of the two-story chalet, turning pungent from the warmth of an oil furnace, the insidious odor drifted upstairs to where Stella lay asleep on a window seat.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a Review Copy. I was not required to write a positive review. The options I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
    • 5/5
      I have read a lot of books this year that have been set in Europe during WWII. Most have been good, but Kate Breslin’s novel, For Such A Time, ranks as one of the best. While the degradation and abuses of the concentration camps are highlighted, Breslin manages to infuse enough hope to make the story sing with the love and faithfulness of God. Certainly a must read for those who love historical novels, I will heartily recommend For Such A Time to all who want a moving read.Aric Von Schmidt, a camp commandant on his way to Theresienstadt, rescues Stella Muller from execution at Dachau. Her indomitable spirit and beauty touch him in a way that he believed nothing could again. Bitter and hardened to the atrocities of war, he nevertheless reaches out to save her. Stella, though, has a very dangerous secret. Her false papers and her Aryan features label her as a true German. She maintains her identity in order to survive and hopefully to be the salvation of those who have no hope. The ghetto of Theresienstadt holds terror, abuse and despair for all those who enter and only certain death to those who leave. Through Stella’s daring, her uncle’s vision and Aric’s sacrifice, many might be saved from extermination.For Such A Time is a beautifully written account of the dark history of murder, terror and abuse that the Jews and others deemed undesirable had to endure at the hands of the Nazis. And while I knew the history well, it was still a startling and heartbreaking story that unfolded in the pages of this book. Difficult to read, it was also a wonderful testament to the will to survive and the deep faith in a good and gracious God in the midst of trial. I found the characters well-developed with poignant backstories that, while not lessening their crimes, made them seem terribly human in their motivations. Based on the biblical book of Esther, the novel portrays great courage and faith in God’s deliverance. Unfortunately, the story is fictional. The great escape never occurred. The author shares the facts in the Afterword, making the story all the more tragic.My favorite part of the book is the verses that Stella finds in her mysteriously appearing Bible. Speaking directly to her plight, she finds comfort where none seems to exist. And her memories of best friend Marta sharing the gospel will encourage the reader in his/her own encounters with those who need to know God’s love.A wonderful novel that transcends the historical genre, I highly recommend For Such A Time.Highly Recommended.Great For Book Clubs.(Thanks to Bethany House Publishing and TLC Tours for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)
    • 5/5
      One of the most stunning and poignant debut novels that I have ever had the privilege of reading, Kate Breslin's "For Such a Time" is a retelling of the biblical story of Esther, set during the Holocaust. It is a beautiful and heartbreaking story of courage, loss, love, and ultimately redemption and salvation. The story centers upon secrets and coming to terms with one's past in order to fulfill one's God-given purpose and to move forward into the future. A historical thriller, "For Such a Time" explores how God works even in the most desperate and seemingly hopeless of situations to bring about His purpose and the salvation of His people.
    • 5/5
      I normally don’t read these types of books. Everything about this just sounds so….let’s say cliched. Either I was going to cry over the complete uber cheesiness of this book and power through it or I might just actually enjoy it.Nevermind that the author took various liberties with the historical aspect of the book and changed a couple of things herself. This sort of thing would have gotten my knickers in a knot and I would have been pulling my hair out in sheer anger at how someone could just do such a drastic thing especially with this type of historical subject. She does write a good author’s note at the end so I can forgive…..I also shrugged off the fact that it got a little semi preachy towards the end of the book, (I had to remind myself this was an inspirational novel - however I’m not that fond of the preachy tones) not to mention the romance during the last third of the book got my stomach a little queasy as I’m just not that used to this.I shrugged off the biggest thing that made me irksome in this book and that was the name Aric and I wondering how the heck is that a suitable name (what the heck was wrong with Erich??? which is a much more realistic sounding and perfect name for that era….if there was more research done in this particular era in history you’ll find DOZENS of soldiers named ERICH (including a famous general) so why does he need to be named something different??? is he a child of Hollywood??????)I overlooked all those three things that normally in any other book I’d have thrown to the wall and never touch again. Why?Because I absolutely loved Aric and Hadassah. The tense moments, the moments where they’re oh so close yet they come apart, or that one dramatic moment where everything actually DID, it just all was an emotional ride. However because their chemistry was so good, I couldn’t help but love them both together. They were so good together you wanted them to hit it off right away. They’re both almost made for each other and one just can’t help but be totally caught up with them through the entire book.So I said this was an emotional ride. Yes...aside from the very sensitive subject matter, you can’t help but absolutely hate the antagonists in the book with such a rabid rage you feel like going into the book and gave them the haymaker of your life, or skewer them like sausages (hahah a reference to Hadassah’s Herr Sausage haahhaha!) however if the author’s intention was to instill these kinds of emotions from the reader with these kinds of characters; then consider the job very well done.As to the plot; again if you’re a historical nitpick this might hurt. However, detailed setting descriptions and the overall mood of the story does fit well. The story itself is alright if one can forgive the historical inaccuracies and the attempts to make it fit into the plot, all the action seems to have been crammed into the final third of the novel which does give it a feeling of being rushed, but nevertheless the reading is good. It’s really the characters that carry the novel. The ending, made me weep (whether happy or sad tears, I am not going to say. It would be considered a spoiler) :) Would I recommend this? yes, if you want to read a pair of characters that just hit it off from almost page one. No, if you’re bothered by the preachy undertones, the historical warping, and the somewhat nauseous romance that develops later…
    • 4/5
      I'm reviewing this for the early reviewers, but it took me a while. I enjoyed this book. It was a unique look at an often written about time period. I highly recommend this book for someone looking for something different yet substantial.
    • 5/5
      This was an amazing story of love, heartache, and redemption. I am not usually a fan of war novels but I enjoyed this book from the very first page until the very last. Author Kate Breslin has written a truly gripping tale based upon the story of Esther. The characters are so real you can't help but feel their emotions as they struggle through this heart wrenching time in history.
    • 4/5
      An interesting book and an interesting concept. I have always enjoyed the story of Esther from the Bible, so I found this novel particularly compelling. The main character, Stella/Hadassah, hides her true identity as a Jew when she is chosen to become the secretary to the Kommandant of a concentration camp. If you know the story of Esther, you can probably deduce the basic plot of this novel. The novel was interesting and enjoyable. I never did warm up to the main male character, Aric, however. He seemed stiff and wooden, and I never got a real sense of his personality. Some of the concentration camp scenes seemed a bit unrealistic also. I felt at times that the true horrors for those imprisoned there were downplayed. We see chitchat between friends and an almost party-like atmosphere at one point, although there were more realistic scenes included also. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys inspirational fiction.
    • 5/5
      This book is a captivating, powerful, inspiring and emotional story set during World War II in the Nazi concentration camps. It parallels the Biblical story of Esther, with a little excerpt from Esther at the heading of each chapter. The characters are very nicely developed, and the storyline is intense. Little details were woven into the story in a lovely way about Jewish life, such as the Sabbath and the Biblical Holidays. This is a book that begs to be read in one sitting if one has the time! I received an advance reading copy of this book at the perfect time: right before the holiday of Purim, when we celebrate the deliverance of God's people through the hands of Esther and Mordecai. I absolutely loved this book, and would recommend it to anyone.
    • 5/5
      This novel puts you in WWII, during the Holocaust , into Hitlers concentration camps ...not a nice place to be, but you know that going into the story. The horrors are not glossed over, but are also not the main focus of the book. Relationships are. Stella, a young Jewish woman, is shown mercy by a Nazi Commandant, Arac, and rescued from the camp to become his secretary. He is almost devoid of emotion, and you're not sure what his true motives are, but are given occasional clues. Both are attracted to the other, but Stella is appalled that she feels anything for this 'monster' who is helping annihilate her people. She gets glimpses of the real Arac, and we are shown her conflicting emotions as she struggles to sort them out. We also meet Stella's uncle, the man who raised her, who is a prisoner in the camp, along with a number of other characters, some endearing, some repugnant. The heartbreak, despair, hopelessness, anger, grief, fear and terror....so many powerful emotions are shown. Also loyalty, courage, perseverance and love. Breslin's characters all bring it to life in a world that has been turned upside down. Breslin also gives some insight into the Nazi's thoughts: Arac's memories of being swept up in Hitler's early campaigns, and now trapped in a mess from which he sees no way out , while some seem to delight in tormenting the Jews for their own personal reasons. The story becomes intense at times, and keeps you turning pages to see what will happen next! How fantastic it would have been if the final events had actually been based on historic fact instead of fiction!! It is very well written, the characters are well developed, and you are quickly absorbed into the story and the time period. I also liked the parallels to the story of Esther, and when I would read the scripture telling Esther's story at the start of the chapter, I'd wonder at it's meaning, what it was foretelling would happen in THIS story. Then after I finished the chapter, I'd go back and read it again, and it would 'click'. It added to the historic story, like history being repeated. I hope and pray that such events do not get repeated again.... I would recommend this book highly. It is a story not easily forgotten, and I find myself thinking about it even after I've finished reading it. I will definitely be looking for more books by Breslin! Thank you to Bethany House for sending me this advanced reading copy via LibraryThing Early Reviewers to read and review!
    • 5/5
      This was a story that made you think about it even when you weren't reading it and one I will remember long after I have read it. It is author Kate Breslin's debut and I hope she continues to write as I would gladly read more of her work. This is a fiction story, but based upon real places and times. "For Such a Time is an evocative retelling of the Esther story set in WWII Europe", says the description on the back of the book. I can understand why they say it is a retelling of the book of Esther as the author quotes from Esther at the beginning of each chapter, but for me it was hard to compare these two events.It is the year 1944 and Hadassah Benjamin finds herself rescued from a firing squad and handed over to SS Kommandant Aric von Schmidt, who thinks she has wrongly been accused of being a Jew. He takes her in and she becomes his secretary. Hadassah must keep her nationality a secret in order to live and hopefully help "her people" in the concentration camp Colonel Aric von Schmidt is running. Aric finds himself attracted to Hadassah and she finds him a caring person and not at all like other officers she has met and been beaten by. But can she truly trust him with her secret and can these two people from very different backgrounds really come to care for and love each other? I would say not possible, but the author did a great job of convincing me otherwise. I won't spoil the ending, but stress it is a work of fiction and things that happened near the end are pure fiction. What takes place in the concentration camps though are real and very hard to understand how people lived through this dark time in history. I highly encourage others to read this story and be moved by the characters and the history they will read about.I received an advanced reading copy from LibraryThing through Bethany House to read and review. File Size: 4468 KBPrint Length: 432 pagesPublisher: Bethany House Publishers (April 1, 2014)ASIN: B00DWA695U
    • 5/5
      LibraryThing early reviewer...1944 - World War II was in full swing. Hadassah Benjamin, half Jew, had ceased to exist. She was now Stella Muller, an Austrian bookkeeper. Stella was told her beauty would save her, her blonde hair and blue eyes being rare to her people. She'd spent months in Dachau, living in quarters unfit for livestock and her dignity was stripped bare. The Nazis used hunger as a weapon, making the weak fall victim to disease and death. Colonel Aric von Schmidt, an SS Kommandant, bends the rules and removes Stella from Dachau and takes her to Theresienstadt. Stella had clerical skills and she was to become Herr Kommandant's secretary, but what were his real motives? He was the enemy, this Jew Killer, but he'd shown Stella concern. Stella totally captivated the Herr Kommandant and had drawn him in. A forbidden love evolves that is wrapped in survival and tragedy --- and the story unfolds. Theresienstadt was to be Stella's new home and her safety depended on Herr Kommandant. Behind Theresienstadt's facade lay dirty, straw filled stalls crammed with Jews who were suffering from hunger and dysentery. There was no hope for them, unlike her they would not be rescued, but put on cattle cars, a death train, and transported to Auschwitz, a place where Jews never returned - a place where Krematorium fires burned day and night. This is a powerful and intense book filled with anger, grief, and humiliation. An absolute must read that will evoke many emotions - a story about the Holocaust. Simply one of the best books I've read on this horrible period of history. My rating is 5 stars. From the book - The Moorexpress had reached the Krematorium. A loud wail echoed from inside the ovens - a child's cry of terror. I received an advanced reading copy from LibraryThing through Bethany House to read and review. All opinions shared are solely my responsibility.
    • 5/5
      I have had the pleasure of receiving an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher. First off, I would like to say that I would highly recommend this book. The story is brilliantly written and is one of those that you will keep thinking about even after finishing. I loved the characters and the motives they each had, even the bad guys had an interesting dimension to them. Careful detail and love went into this book. It is a must read. One of the best books I have read in a long time.