Wings Like a Dove

Title: Wings Like a Dove

Author: Camille Eide

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publishing Date: Dec 1, 2019

Publisher: Ashberry Lane

Length: 300 pages

About the Book:

Can the invisible walls that separate people ever come down?
In 1933, Anna Leibowicz is convinced that the American dream that brought her Jewish family here from Poland is nothing but an illusion. Her father has vanished. Her dreams of college can’t make it past the sweat-shop door. And when she discovers to her shame and horror that she’s with child, her mother gives her little choice but to leave. Deciding her best course of action is to try to find her father, she strikes out…hoping against hope to somehow redeem them both.

When Anna stumbles upon a house full of orphan boys in rural Indiana who are in desperate need of a tutor and a cook, she agrees to postpone her journey. But she knows from the moment she meets their contemplative, deep-hearted caretaker, Thomas Chandler, that she doesn’t dare risk staying too long. She can’t afford to open her heart to them, to him. She can’t risk letting her secrets out.

All too soon, the townspeople realize she’s not like them and begin treating her with the same disdain they give the Sisters of Mercy–the nuns who try to help Thomas and the boys–and Samuel, the quiet colored boy Thomas has taken in. With the Klan presence in the town growing ever stronger and danger to this family increasing the longer she stays, Anna is torn between fleeing to keep them safe…and staying to fight beside them.

Oh, that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest…

My Review:

Wings Like a Dove was my first read by Camille Eide but I’m sure it won’t be my last! I was instantly transported back to 1933 and into the heart and mind of Anna Leibowicz.  Her life was no easy road and each hurdle that came her way only made me cling to hope for her even more. She was an easy character for me to have empathy for. She wanted a loving family and a place to belong so desperately yet she needed to learn to forgive and love herself first before she could accept the same in return from others. It was a powerful journey to healing that I’m glad I went along for the ride for.

One of the most memorable relationships for me in this novel was the friendship of Anna and the little colored orphan boy Samuel. Especially since I read a lot of WWII fiction, I’ve read numerous books where people faced persecution for being Jewish. I’ve also read many where people were targeted for their skin color. It was a unique perspective to see two people under the same roof fighting the same oppression for different reasons. Yet was seemed to tighten the bond between Anna and Samuel, also seemed to create a divide between them and others. This was such a powerful element to the story.

As for Thomas? Oh, Thomas. Gotta love a good hero. There were some places were he almost seemed “too perfect” because of how he handled everything, but at the same point he did have his own pain and emotions that he wrestled with. Even when it was hard, he put others before himself and cared more about their well-being than his own. He was amazing.

This was such a good story on so many levels and I’m glad I picked it up for the read. I know I’ll be looking for more from the author in the future. I highly recommend to historical fiction fans.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

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