This has been a tough road for Ella that ties back to the fateful decision to stay with her father as the fence was going up between West and East Berlin. As the years pass separated from her brother Josef and her dear friend Anton, she was able to find love with Stefan, but that too didn’t last, and thus she turned to alcohol to drown out the pain of all that she has lost. If she doesn’t quit drinking she might just end up incredibly sick or worse. There’s good in store for Ella, she just has to become present in her life to realize it.
I don’t want to spoil how this book turns out because there’s so much happening over the years here in Release. But Ella does find herself again, Ella the fighter, the one who has only wanted to see the wall come down and to be reunited with her family. That fighting spirit will help her in this book, but it also puts her in dangerous situations, as anyone that goes against the Stasi isn’t safe. She needs to learn to rely on her gut, to rely on her friendships and her hope for the future that things really can change.
Reading The Berlin Butterfly trilogy has been such an emotional journey. Moyes has done a wonderful job in the research to create a fantastic story steeped in actual events and movements that sprung up all over Germany during this time. This is a great blend of historical fiction and romance, with vividly rich characters. I’m a little sad to see this series go but I look forward to what Moyes has in store for her readers, and I’m grateful to have been a part of this journey.
You can read my review on Amazon, Goodreads, and Bookbub, give it a like while you’re there. Release is Available on Amazon for $4.99, it’s enrolled in KU. Start the trilogy with Ensnare for 99 cents, also enrolled in KU, and lastly, read my reviews for Ensnare and Deception.
Rae's Reading Lounge 