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Writer's pictureKirsty Whitlock

'The Hideaway' by Norma Curtis

Updated: Jun 14, 2022


About the book

Thea placed her hands on the soft, aged leather of her grandmother’s suitcase, the one the slight old woman never let out of her sight. The thunk of the lock sounded very loud in the stillness of the cottage and Thea froze, her eyes on the bedroom door. Hearing nothing, she held her breath and peered inside… Hedi Fischer, aged ninety, smooths her hair and applies a touch of red lipstick from the tube. Over her pristine wool skirt suit she has knotted a men’s tartan bathrobe, frayed with age. Hedi hasn’t taken it off since her darling Harry passed. Since the day she gave away everything but the battered little suitcase that holds all the memories she’s tried her best to lock away. Thea has never met her grandmother Hedi, so she’s surprised when she receives a call to take her home. She’s not sure how Hedi will fit into her new life – the one where she’s left her boyfriend and moved into a run-down cottage miles from the nearest town. And Hedi refuses to talk about her past, or why she and Thea’s mother haven’t spoken for more than thirty years. So when Thea spots Hedi’s case on the table, she can’t resist taking a peak inside… What Thea finds there is more heartbreaking than she could have ever imagined. It is a story that begins in World War Two, when young Hedi arrives by train at a Nazi concentration camp, from which she has no hope of escaping alive… A heart-warming and emotional read that will have you reaching for the tissues! Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Lily Graham and Rachel Hore.


BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'The Hideaway' by Norma Curtis


Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Norma Curtis, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous


Publication date 10th June 2022.


This is the first book I have read by this author.


I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching unique cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Lily Graham and Rachel Hore.' I am a huge fan of Lily Graham so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).


This novel consists of 41 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!


This book is based in Belsen and Bear Cave.


This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Hedi Lewis, Harry Lewis and Thea Lewis . The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. The fact there are multiple protagonists is even better as it increases the readers knowledge of what more characters are doing and feeling.


'The Hideaway' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Norma discusses/includes death and cruelty.


Well, what can I say but wow!!! This story is definitely not going to leave my head anytime soon. Firstly I must congratulate Norma for an absolutely extraordinary novel that seriously needs to be made into a movie which I assure would be best selling!!!


This book is extremely powerful and extremely well written. It is devastatingly heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. It is absolutely rammed with emotions that will make you smile, cry and laugh on the roller-coaster ride to hell that is Belsen.


This book did not disappoint. Some people believe that these stories should not be written but I am a strong believer that these victims earned the right for their stories to be told and to not be forgotten and this book does just that. I loved discovering not just Hedi and Harry's stories but also Thea's. I absolutely LOVED how this book was composed of two stories perfectly intertwined together to make one of the most emotional reads I have ever read!!! The fact that Norma has written a story filled with loss, death, hate and love being told during a time of sadness, family and romance just takes the reader on an absolute rollercoaster rider of emotions. It is great when you come along an absolute gem like this as normally you would expect a book about a war story to be dark and horrific throughout but Norma manages to show the horrors while lightening up the reading tone during every other chapter. This book was very hard to read during Hedi's story but there were certain parts that will stay with me for a very long time and that were soul destroying which is why Thea's story mixed in is so important. It helps give the reader light hearted breaks between. What the Nazi's did to these innocent people makes me absolutely sick to my soul. The poor victims watching each other suffering especially. My heart screamed out to Hedi for what she went through along with Magda, Ursula and Renate. I absolutely loved how this book ended although it was also heartbreaking too. Hedi and Theo are such amazingly strong women who I absolutely loved and Harry was an absolutely amazing gentleman that are such a rare breed. I was completely invested in all their stories and lives. I am sad to say goodbye to them and they will live in my mind for a very long time!!!


It is set over/includes multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture. I loved the modern day chapters as well as the historical ones and felt like I was being told the story over a cup of tea.


Clear your schedules and grab your tissues as you will not be able to put this book down or stop the tears from streaming!!!


Again congratulations Norma on an absolutely stunning emotional rollercoaster ride of a book!! I would say this book is on par with the likes of 'The' diary of Anne Frank' which left me with the same feelings your novel has of not even more emotional. I cannot wait to read the best of your books and I would like to welcome you to my favourite 5 historical author list!!!


Overall a heart wrenching, absolutely beautifully devastating story filled with love, loss, hope and so, so much more!!!


Genres covered in this book include Romance Historical Fiction, Women's Literary Fiction, Women's Historical Fiction and Women's Romance Fiction amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Fiona Valpy, Lily Graham, Rachel Hore and anyone looking for a gorgeous historical romance.


302 pages.


This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle (or free on kindle unlimited, at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!


Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.


Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews


@NormaCurtis @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86











Author bio:

Norma Curtis's first published stories were for teenage magazines and she began writing novels when she joined the Romantic Novelists' Association. Her first novel won the New Writer's Award and was chosen as a WH Smith Fresh Talent title. A couple of years after being invited onto the RNA committee she was made chairman and following her two-year term of office she studied creative writing at City University before taking an MA in Prose Fiction at Middlesex University. The Drowned Village is her sixth novel and she lives in North London with her family.

Author social media:

Twitter: @The NormaCurtis







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