Springtime of the Spirit (The Great War) [Kindle Edition]

Maureen Lang (Author)

Book Description

By the fall of 1918, the Great War has ended and the world is at peace, but there is little to celebrate in Germany. After four years of fighting for his homeland, Christophe Brecht returns to find there is little left of what he once called home. So when family friends ask him to travel to Munich to bring back their runaway daughter, Christophe agrees.
When he finally locates Annaliese Duray, he discovers she is far different from the girl he once knew. Headstrong, idealistic, and beautiful, she is on the front lines of the city’s political scene, fighting to give women and working-class citizens a voice in Germany’s new government.
As the political upheaval ignites in Munich, so does the attraction between Annaliese and Christophe. With an army from Berlin threatening to squash everything Annaliese has worked for, both she and Christophe are forced to choose between love and loyalty.

Product Details

• File Size: 652 KB
• Print Length: 390 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1414324375
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (March 1, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004L629NK
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #248,539 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Springtime of the Spirit by Maureen Lang March 1, 2011

By Tina

Format:Paperback

I am not one for books about war scenes. The gruesome fighting is too much for me, but still I was intrigued by the idea of a Christian novel based around the First World War. I am so glad that I did!

Springtime of the Spirit is the story of Christophe, a German soldier, who after returning home from war takes the charge of finding the young daughter of an old family friend. Annaliese, the woman that Christophe is searching for in Munich, is involved with promoting the Socialist movement. She has abandoned not only her family, but her faith as well, with the hopes of creating a better Germany. Christophe finds the young Annaliese and when she refuses to return with him, he decides to remain near her to insure that she stays safe. When the Socialist party does not win an important election, the leaders of her campaign, join forces with communist and stage a coup of the reigning government.

Lang develops the characters as well as the feel of the post war city; giving readers the feeling of watching a miniseries unfold as opposed to reading a novel. The story of Christophe and Annaliese is timeless and enjoyable. I highly recommend that you go out and grab a copy and maybe one for a friend, too!

A free copy of this book was provided to me by Tyndale House Publishing for review. I am never required to post a positive review, but this book is definitely one of the best I've read in a while!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great historical read! March 17, 2011

By Laura A. Jackson

Format:Paperback

At the end of World War I, Germans were caught between two conflicting political parties: one that wanted freedom and one that wanted communism to rule the land. Caught in the battle is Annaliese, a young and fearless woman who is willing to sacrifice herself for the good of her country. As she campaigns for women's rights in Munich, Annaliese joins a cause to give the working class a voice in the government, completely unaware the leaders of the group are pushing towards a communistic takeover of the country. When Christophe, her girlhood crush, comes to take her home for her own safety, Annaliese must confront her own feelings about herself, for Christophe, and for the beliefs she holds dear. Will she have to give up her dreams for working towards social justice for a chance at true love?
Springtime of the Spirit is the first book I've read by Maureen Lang, and I will definitely read more. I love history, and this book was a great mix of historical information about the clashes between the political groups in Germany after WWI with a love story that includes family and honor. The main characters were likeable, and growth in both characters was evident throughout the novel. At a few points, the dialogue about the differing views on the government grew weary. Instead of focusing on the different ideas and arguing back and forth, more time could have been spent with Annaliese as she visits her friend Meika. Annaliese's visit with Meika was a turning point for her spiritually, but it was glossed over in the book.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and will check out the other books in the Great War Series. I recommend this novel to Christian fiction readers, especially those fond of historical fiction.

I received this complimentary book from Tyndale Publishing for the purpose of reviewing.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Instantly Intriguing! March 1, 2011

By C. Estrella

Format:Paperback

Instantly intriguing!

What an interesting and realistic portrayal of Germany after the Great War. I was concerned that because the book was so politically based that I would lose interest in the storyline, but quite the opposite. The author did a wonderful job of keeping the main characters in the forefront of the book even though so much was happening in this war-torn country.

The seventeen year old heroine, Annaliese, was very inspiring and an encouragement that no matter your age, you can make a difference. Pride in your country and your principles are a powerful force. The hero, Christophe, had much to overcome from his past with serving in this horrible war but his conviction and morals keep him focused on what is truly important. He shows his devotion and integrity even amidst chaos.

This was the first book I have read by Maureen Lang, but it will certainly not be the last. Love the gorgeous cover and I highly recommend this story!

"Germans who lived during those first ten postwar years talked of them afterwards as a time full of dangerous strains, yet too of hope and promise-- a springtime of the spirit." ~~~ Terence Prittie

More About the Author

Maureen Lang has been writing stories since the age of ten, when she figured out a way to write the stories she feels like reading. Since then she's become the award-winning author of over a dozen published novels. In the last ten years her faith has directed her to write stories that reflect Christian hope and traditional values. She's also been an active member of the disability community since her oldest son was diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome, a genetic form of mental retardation. Maureen loves going on research trips to get a feel for the settings of her novels, and lives in the Chicago area with her husband, children, and lovable Labrador Retriever. Visit her on the web at www.maureenlang.com