REVIEW:   SHADOWBOXING

by Anne Barwell

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Publisher:  Dreamspinner Press, 2nd Edition

SYNOPSIS:

Echoes Rising: Book One

Berlin, 1943. An encounter with an old friend leaves German physicist Dr. Kristopher Lehrer with doubts about his work. But when he confronts his superior, everything goes horribly wrong. Suddenly Kristopher and Michel, a member of the Resistance, are on the run, hunted for treason and a murder they did not commit. If they’re caught, Kristopher’s knowledge could be used to build a terrible weapon that could win the war.

For the team sent by the Allies—led by Captain Bryant, Sergeant Lowe, and Dr. Zhou—a simple mission escalates into a deadly game against the Gestapo, with Dr. Lehrer as the ultimate prize. But in enemy territory, surviving and completing their mission will test their strengths and loyalties and prove more complex than they ever imagined.

First Edition published by Dreamspinner Press, 2012.

REVIEW BY CHRISTOPHER HAWTHORNE MOSS

I happened to read the sequel to this book first, that being WINTER DUET.  It was satisfying to get a sense of how these men and women found each other and began the bonds that are still there in the next two books.  This book ends rather abruptly, but now I know what happens next and am satisfied.

Kristopher is a German prodigy, working on what appears to be the first atomic bomb. Coming upon an unexpected letter by his boss and mentor, he realizes exactly what he’s been working on and decides to quit. There are allied resistance fighters looking for him and the plans. After finding each other in initially the two groups separate, each facing incredible danger from the Gestapo.  Kristopher and French resistance fighter Michel managed to escape Berlin with the help of a priest and a few nuns and become lovers in the safe house where they are hiding the other group is up against a great deal more danger as they have to break their leader, Matt, out of Gestapo headquarters, which happens to get shelled while there they are. When they escape they have to take the Gestapo leader with them.

So clearly this is a very exciting story. Besides Kristopher and Michel, the two other lovers are Mat and an American soldier who is in love with him.  I have to admit this is one couple too many for credibility, but what the heck.  The stories are sweet and compelling and definitely Dreamspinner quality.