This was an interesting journey inside the peace-loving village of one of the Amana colonies in 1917. It is the last in this series, and can easily be read as a stand alone story. This book has a little bit of a mystery and suspense to it that I enjoyed.

The Great War has started and it is about to disrupt the Amana Colonies and their peaceful quiet life. For Ilsa Redlich, who has grown up in the colonies helping her parents run a hotel in South Amana, it will mean watching her brother go off to serve in the military. For Jutta Schmidt it will mean returning to the Amana colonies to spy on them in order to protect her parents from being taken away by the Council of National Defense as traitors to their country.

Ilsa and Jutta will work together and become like sisters, but when Ilsa's sweethart is accused of being a spy, Jutta will need to confess her purpose for being there and seek forgiveness from many who trusted her. But there is also the strange acting couple that has been staying at their hotel and they will also play a big part in this story and in its conclusion. A story about the Amana people and their way of life and their beliefs, but also a story of how quickly people's sentiments can change when there is a war going on. I enjoyed the story and learning more about the Amana colonies. A job well done and very satisfying.
I will say the cover though doesn't seem to go with the story at all. Not sure what the cover is portraying from the story. ( )

Wars’ affects are like ripples in the water. They affect the soldiers who fight in them, but they also change society and our social structure, even when they are fought on foreign soil. Such was the case for German-Americans during the Great War, as illustrated in this story of rural America in the early twentieth century. Anti-German sentiments are running high, and what had been a peaceful existence is no longer possible for these Americans of German ancestry. Even worse, some are “recruited” to spy on their friends and neighbors, forced by misguided members of the Council of National Defense. As the story unfolds, we learn how the lives of two families are nearly torn apart by these bullies hiding behind the law and how the families struggle to overcome prejudices. An interesting tale of a time in American history that is sometimes overlooked. ( )

It is 1917 and sentiment against people of German descent runs high among the citizens surrounding the Amana colony. Those sworn to uphold the safety of American citizens misuse their power to intimidate, scare, and abuse anyone who is German, of German heritage, or a German sympathizer. How will the people of Amana survive such treatment, protect their loved ones, and prove their patriotism? Well, you must read Judith Miller's Daughters of Amana trilogy! Book eight for this year was the final book in this trilogy entitled A Bond Never Broken. It was a great book and really brings to light the fact that a war is not always fought overseas, but sometimes in our own backyard. ( )

I enjoy reading and learning about things I didn't know about in historical fiction and this book revealed the suspicion of German-Americans by many people who didn't know better during WWI. I liked the main characters and their extended families. I wish that the author explained why Jutta's family left the Amana colonies in the first place. Also, I figured Mr. Young to be some kind of double spy half way through the book. ( )

NCLA Review -During WWI many German-Americans were under suspicion by other Americans. Ilsa Redlich and her family lived in the colonies of Amana. Jutta Schmitt moved out of the colonies away from her family. When the Iowa Council of National Defense comes calling on Jutta's family, their whole world is turned upside down. Jutta is forced to return to the colonies to spy on them. Ilsa's family is in need of help to run their hotel. Luckily for Jutta the Elders allow her to return to work at the hotel. When Jutta has little to report, the Council is angry. On her second visit home, Jutta finds her parents missing and the bakery destroyed. In Amana, Ilsa's boyfriend, Garon, is arrested for treason. Will Jutta tell the Elders her secret and help save Garon? The book was interesting, but it kept jumping back and forth between Jutta and Lisa making it hard to keep track of who was who. Rating: 3 —NP ( )