Fresh Book Friday - The Line That Divides

Title: The Line That Divides
Author: Melanie Mason
Genre: Historical Romance (World War II)
Publisher: Walnut Springs Press
Date of Publication: November 2014

Synopsis:
With boundaries clearly drawn by the horror of World War II, Austrian teenager Marianne Leichtner doesn't think about love. Returning from Germany, where she was forced to attend school as a linguist, she settles back into life in the countryside.

The crash of an American B-17 bomber in the hills behind her family's home changes everything. Shortly following the accident, Marianne discovers Charlie and Sam, the only surviving crewmen from the plane, hiding in the barn. She decides to help them and is thrust into a world of danger and secrets. An unlikely friendship forms, and then the Nazis arrive. After a week of hiding the young men, Marianne is attacked by Lieutenant Herske, a Nazi officer, and is rescued by Charlie. She helps the Americans escape, but assumed the worst when she learns two Americans were killed trying to cross the border.

As she pieces together her broken heart, Marianne decides the only way she can defy the Nazis is to join the Austrian resistance. To cross that line means discovering who she really is and what she is willing to do. Because of Charlie, she is willing to take the chance.

When the war ends it seems impossible to return to normal life. But a miracle occurs, saving Marianne one more time.

Excerpt:
Marianne made her way over to the chicken coop and gathered the eggs. She set aside a dozen in a smaller basket for Frau Schmidt and put the remainder in the large basket to deliver later that day. The hens clucked uneasily in the pen, and collecting the eggs took longer than normal. Marianne quietly closed the coop and made her way back toward the door.

She stopped when she realized she had left the smaller basket in with the chickens. After carefully setting the large basket on the ground, she turned back to the coop but stopped when she heard a soft moan from behind her. She whirled around to face the pile of straw in the corner. Another low moan came from the pile, which seemed almost to shudder. Marianne’s mind shouted for her to run and tell her mother, but curiosity got the better of her.

She stepped toward the moving straw, hesitated, and then reached out to brush aside the loose covering of stalks. Suddenly a hand clamped over her mouth, and another one pinned her arms to her side and pulled her back. Her nostrils were assailed by the smell of sweat and pine trees.

In a panic she struggled against the tight, muscled arms, her cries muffled by the hand covering her mouth. She tried in vain to pull the arms away and escape.

My Review:
Melanie Mason's debut novel, The Line That Divides, is a fast-paced story of young love, dangerous choices, and inevitable consequences amidst the turmoil of World War II. Mason's writing shivers with intriguing twists and turns.

Purchase Links:

Deseret Book | Amazon  

Available in print at Deseret Book Stores

Author Bio:
Melanie Mason has told stories all her life and finds her passion in writing. She graduated from Utah State University with a degree in communications. She won first place in the Beginning of Book Contest for Young Adult Fiction at the American Night Writers Association 2014 conference, and she is the editor of ANWA’s monthly newsletter. Melanie has published several articles and stories that are featured on HubPages.com. She lives in Portland, Oregon, where the beauty of the Pacific Northwest feeds her imagination.

Find Melanie:
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