The Emerald Sisters

Germany, 1939: “Quickly, take this emerald. This was my late mother’s gem, and it will keep you safe. And I promise, we will all meet again in Paris…”

When Sophie Weiss boards the SS St Louis, she has no reason to stay in Germany. The Nazis have taken everything from her, and her only hope is escape. But when she meets fellow Jewish refugees Rosa, Hannah and Rachel on board, the friendship they form gives Sophie hope that there can be happiness in her future, after all.

But their worst fears are realized when the boat is refused entry at a port they thought would be safe. Terrified of being sent back to Europe, the women cling together and desperately wait for news. At last, word reaches the ship that a friend of Sophie’s father is willing to take her in — but there is only room for her.

Quickly, Sophie unpicks the lining of her coat, revealing her late mother’s emerald hidden in the lining. She hands a piece of the precious stone to each of her friends, and the women promise to meet in Paris when this nightmare is over.

Watching the SS St Louis grow smaller on the horizon, Sophie’s heart breaks. How can she embrace her freedom when those she loves face an unknown fate? And what can she do to help them? Gripping her emerald with a fierce determination, she fixes her eyes on the boat: I will find a way to help you, no matter what…

Rosa’s blood runs cold. He hasn’t seen her yet, but she would recognize those blue eyes anywhere. Will he reveal her secret? And if he does, how will she ever survive?

Germany, 1939: When Rosa Herzelfeld boards the SS St Louis, she doesn’t believe its promise of freedom. Surely there can be no escape from the Nazis, not even on the other side of the world. Besides, she knows that no matter how far she travels, there is no escaping her past…

When the ship is refused entry to Cuba, Rosa finds herself penniless and alone in England. Desperately trying to make this strange country home, the last thing she expects is to fall in love. But when she meets fellow refugee Peter, she is surprised by how quickly his gentle smile and warm brown eyes help her forget the horrors she left behind.

As their affection deepens, Rosa grows fearful. Should she tell Peter about the terrible decisions she was forced to make to survive in Germany, or simply pray he never finds out? Deep down, she begins to realise that she must tell him the truth…

But before she can, Rosa is sent to a remote internment camp on the Isle of Man. And when fate finally reunites her with Peter, her past is threatening to catch up with her. With time running out before her secret is revealed, Rosa must make an impossible choice…

“Quickly, you must help me!” Hannah gasps, her hands shaking. “The Nazis are going to take the children at daybreak, and we must find a way to save them…”

France, 1939: When Jewish refugee Hannah Lerner and her beloved younger sister Lotte arrive in a small French town, Hannah promises her that they will never be separated, no matter what…

But when a children’s home offers refuge only to Lotte, Hannah knows that to keep her sister safe, she must let her go. Terrified and alone, Hannah soon meets Michel, a charming Frenchman who welcomes her into his family home. As the weeks pass, his warm smile and deep brown eyes make her trust in kindness again.

When Michel is sent to the frontlines, Hannah’s heart shatters once more. And when a local Nazi officer identifies her as Jewish, she knows she has precious time to flee. Travelling south with nothing left to lose, she works with the Resistance, determined to do what is right.

Through her network, Hannah hears of a plot that puts her sister and many other innocent lives in danger. But with time running out and her own life at risk, how far is Hannah prepared to go to save those she loves most?

Auschwitz, 1944: “Quickly, give me your baby, Rachel.” Her friend whispers. “This is the only way to save her…”

Germany, 1939: When Rachel Blau’s husband Franz is released from Dachau, she barely recognizes the man she married. But she knows in order to keep him safe they must leave the country they call home and pray a life far from the Nazis will heal him. Until he is better, she must be brave for both of them…

As Jewish refugees in the Netherlands, terrified and without a word of Dutch, Rachel and Franz watch helplessly as the Germans march closer to the border. And after the Nazis invade, they are forced, with the help of courageous Corrie ten Boom and her family, to hide from the Gestapo. Then their worst fears are realized when they are sent to a camp and—with a final whispered “I love you”—separated.

In the darkness that night, Rachel makes a wondrous yet terrifying discovery. Brushing a hand over her stomach, she realizes she has more than just a memory of her husband. In a heartbeat, she becomes determined to survive for the sake of her unborn child. But with the Nazis showing no sign of defeat, how will she protect the precious life inside her?

If the guards discover her secret, Rachel knows her baby will not live. But if she manages to smuggle her newborn from the camp, there is a chance her baby will survive. With tears streaming down her face, Rachel clasps her newborn tightly to her chest. Can she find the strength to give her longed-for child to strangers? And if she lets her baby be taken from her arms, how will she ever find her again?