Evensong

By M.L. St. Sure

Book Overview

M.L. St. Sure's Evensong is a powerful and captivating historical romance novel, set in World War II, about a beautiful, celebrated opera singer forced to sing the singspiel before Hitler. Amidst... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1419668242
• ISBN13: 9781419668241
• Release Date: August 2007
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

A LOOK BACK - Written by Linsey Cook

The Northern Iowan Written By: Linsey Cook Northern Iowan Book Critic With the Iraq War on everyone's mind, sometimes it's a good idea to look back at the past and try and learn some kind of lesson from it. While it's not the original intention of Iowan author M. L. St. Sure, this is exactly what the new book entitled "Evensong," accomplishes. "Evensong" is the story of Christina Cross who grew up on a farm in Missouri and learns how to sing opera from her war-scarred father. When her father dies unexpectedly, her mother throws her out of the house. Christina is forced to try and find a job to support herself; she starts by being a maid in a hotel, but she is discovered by the owner, who harnesses her talent and transforms her into an opera singer. When Christina finds that her younger sister is being abandoned by her older, abusive brother and that her mother is drinking, she decides to take her sister and escape to Europe. Going to live with her uncle, Phillippe Petain the premier of France in Paris, Christina immediately finds herself in the mix of World War II politics. When her uncle surrenders Paris and all of France to Hitler, she is forced to sing for the Nazis. Recruited by French underground leader Laurent de Gauvion into the resistance, Christina begins to realize what is really going on in the war. She does everything she can to help, from caring for orphaned babies to infiltrating a kinderkamp in Germany. Christina's journey makes us realize the costs of war and how they affect everyone, no matter what their role is. A bittersweet story with a heart wrenching ending, "Evensong" is a beautifully written novel. St. Sure transports us into the vivid world of the 1940s exploring everything from the lowest of the low to the highest of the high in the world. Readers become extremely attached to Christina and her sister Nicolette because St. Sure's characters are carefully crafted; they're vivid, interesting and provide different perspectives about what is going on in the world around them. St. Sure makes sure that readers are privy to their loves, hate, vengeances and motivations. The plot is fast-paced, taking you everywhere St. Sure needs you to go, while holding back on some of the more gruesome details. This is, after all, a story of one person's encounter with the war, not an overview of the war. The ending, while extremely sad, is appropriate and did not leave me feeling upset at the author, which is surprisingly unlike how other books have left me when faced with similar endings. At only 226 pages long, the author still finds a way to fit everything that is needed to create a truly remarkable story. A lot of novels about World War II are extremely long with all the detail, while the shorter stories sometimes feel as if they don't have enough information to make you feel fulfilled. With short chapters and an interesting topic, this is a good read for anyone of any age or gender. It leaves you attached to the bo

What a page-turner!

This book is a riveting page-turner!!! I had trouble setting it aside once I began reading. Ms. St. Sure weaves a truly believable tale which speaks truth to the brave courage of two young women transported from rural Missouri to the horrors of Nazi Germany during WWII. I seldom read a book twice, but this is worth a second reading.

Evensong

M.L. St. Sure has created a haunting melody in the new novel Evensong, as it takes its readers back in time to the terrifying era when Hitler and his cruel army threatened to change the world forever. Veteran Joseph Cross is simply trying to make a life for his family in the unforgiving farm land of Missouri. Wanting more for his children than he could provide, he trains his daughter Christina to sing the beautiful arias of the opera he himself could no longer sing. When tragedy strikes, young Christina falls back on her training and through the guidance of her benefactor Senator Liam Caradine, sets out to raise her family out of the poverty in which they lived. Christina soon takes to the stage where her voice will soon be recognized around the world. With her young sister Nicolette, Christina moves to Paris, France to live with her uncle Phillippe Petain. When Hitler's army invades, her uncle becomes the Premier of France and orders Christina to sing and entertain Hitler and his high-ranking Nazi officers. Having already been recruited by the resistance leader Laurent de Gauvion Saint Cyr, Christina refuses to sing, earning the wrath of Hitler. Christina, with Nicolette by her side, aids the resistance until young Nicolette is kidnapped. It is discovered to everyone's horror that Nicolette has been taken to the dreaded kinder camp, also known as the "Devil's Palace." Laurent risks all, including the very lives of those under his command in a suicidal mission to rescue Nicolette and return her to the sister he has fallen deeply in love with. Meanwhile during her own attempt to rescue Nicolette, Christina is apprehended and given to an angry Nazi officer known for his cruelty. Realizing who his captive is and her relationship to Laurent, whom he despises, the officer takes great delight in his torture and humiliation of Christina. Forced to sin for her captors, Christina faces a grave and pivotal decision: sing the Deutchland-Lied, or "Song of Germany," or taken a final stand in her allegiance to the resistance. Evensong brings to mind a great tragedy. Not only are the cruelties of the Nazi's unveiled and laid bare, but so to the cruelty of a deep love in a tie when love cannot be afforded. This is a moving story, one worthy of the attention of any interested in historical fiction.

Evensong

Evensong fits the style of the new Romance novel in that it focuses on heroines who are independent and strong-willed and whose heroes evolve into caring and compassionate men who truly admire the women they love. Two sisters raised in Missouri are transported to Paris after their father's death to live with their uncle and are subsequently caught up in the resistance movement during WW II. You feel the pain and the hopelessness of the characters in regards to their situation. This time in history demonstrates how far people will go to pursue power and the sacrifices others must endure to fight against it. I found it to be a fast paced, excellent read; well written in an informative historical setting..

Evensong

EVENSONG is a riveting book. I loved it...couldn't put it down! It is set during the tragic, poignant, courageous time of WW II in France. The characters are so well drawn...you become a part of the enormity of the situation. I know that I won't forget these brave souls.