Saving Amelie

Praise for Cathy Gohlke

“Cathy Gohlke is a master at mixing intrigue, romance, beauty, history, and faith into her action-packed plots. . . .
Saving Amelie
swept me away. A fascinating, heart-pounding, and heartwarming story.”

MELANIE DOBSON, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF
CHÂTEAU OF SECRETS

“Fans of
Promise Me This
will find they will love [
Band of Sisters
]just as much. It still has Cathy’s excellent storytelling, historical accuracy, and is a page-turning book you can’t put down.”

RADIANT LIT

“A wonderful story. . . . The characters are strong . . . charming, witty, and some even have a little bit of devil in them.”

ROMANTIC TIMES
, 4½-STAR REVIEW OF
BAND OF SISTERS

“Historical detail is lush and evocative and keeps the reader riveted. High conflict keeps the reader turning page after page, breathless at the ending, and wishing there were more pages to turn.”

TITLETRAKK.COM
ON
BAND OF SISTERS

“Compelling . . . well-crafted . . . impressively emotional storytelling. Gohlke has written a page-turning mystery within the pages of a tender story of friendship and the unbreakable bond between sisters.”

FRESHFICTION.COM
ON
BAND OF SISTERS

“Captivating.”

CHRISTIANBOOKPREVIEWS.COM
ON
BAND OF SISTERS

“[
Band of Sisters
is] a compelling and inspiring novel. . . . Gohlke’s fast-paced prose, exceptional pacing, and vibrant characters make for believable historical fiction with a subject matter as resonant today as it was during Maureen and Katie’s time.”

NOVELCROSSING.COM

“Rich with characters and story lines . . . an extremely intricate and compelling story.”

FICTIONADDICT.COM
ON
BAND OF SISTERS

“Gohlke tells a gripping tale of sacrifice, loss, love, and hope against the setting of familiar historical events.”

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
ON
PROMISE ME THIS

“This dramatic and heart-wrenching interpretation . . . will enthrall fans of character-driven Christian fiction and readers who enjoy Francine Rivers.”

LIBRARY JOURNAL
, STARRED REVIEW OF
PROMISE ME THIS

“[
Promise Me This
] grabs the reader from the first sentence.”

ROMANTIC TIMES
, 4½-STAR TOP PICK REVIEW

“Gohlke’s attention to detail provides believable characters, good dialogue, and historical accuracy.”

LIFE: BEAUTIFUL
MAGAZINE ON
PROMISE ME THIS

“Explores the depth of human nature and emotions through its three-dimensional, compelling characters. . . .
Promise Me This
will certainly satisfy romance readers who enjoy historical details and character-driven plots.”

CHRISTIANBOOKPREVIEWS.COM

“Gohlke does not disappoint with her third novel, a carefully researched story full of likable characters struggling to cope with the difficult realities of grief and wartime. . . . [A] sweet, compelling story.”

SHELF-AWARENESS.COM
ON
PROMISE ME THIS

“[A] riveting story [that] is mesmerizing and compelling as well as historically accurate. This novel of hope, redemption, and promise amidst profound despair is one that will bring the story of the
Titanic
alive during her centennial.”

FICTIONADDICT.COM
ON
PROMISE ME THIS

Visit Tyndale online at
www.tyndale.com
.

Visit Cathy Gohlke’s website at
www.cathygohlke.com
.

TYNDALE
and Tyndale’s quill logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Saving Amelie

Copyright © 2014 by Cathy Gohlke. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of mother and child taken by Stephen Vosloo. Copyright © by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph of building copyright © by Tanja Luther/Westend61/Corbis. All rights reserved.

Designed by Stephen Vosloo

Edited by Sarah Mason

Published in association with the literary agency of Natasha Kern Literary Agency, Inc., P.O. Box 1069, White Salmon, WA 98672.

Scripture quotations are taken from the
Holy Bible
, King James Version.

Saving Amelie
is a work of fiction. Where real people, events, establishments, organizations, or locales appear, they are used fictitiously. All other elements of the novel are drawn from the author’s imagination.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Gohlke, Cathy.

  Saving Amelie / Cathy Gohlke.

       pages cm

  ISBN 978-1-4143-8322-4 (sc)

1.World War, 1939-1945—Underground movements—Germany—Fiction. 2.World War, 1939-1945—Children—Germany—Fiction. 3.Medical ethics—Germany—Fiction. 4.Family secrets—Fiction. I.Title.

  PS3607.O3448S38 2014

  813'.6—dc23 2013048548

ISBN 978-1-4143-9602-6 (ePub); ISBN 978-1-4143-8418-4 (Kindle); ISBN 978-1-4143-9603-3 (Apple)

Build: 2014-05-09 13:31:56

For Dan

Celebrating thirty-two years and all our adventures

I love you—forever.

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

G
ENESIS 2:24

Contents

1. Acknowledgments
   
2. Part I: August 1939
   
   1. Chapter 1
      
   2. Chapter 2
      
   3. Chapter 3
      
   4. Chapter 4
      
   5. Chapter 5
      
   6. Chapter 6
      
   7. Chapter 7
      
   8. Chapter 8
      
   9. Chapter 9
      
   10. Chapter 10
       
   11. Chapter 11
       
   12. Chapter 12
       
   13. Chapter 13
       
   14. Chapter 14
       
   15. Chapter 15
       
   16. Chapter 16
       
   17. Chapter 17
       
   18. Chapter 18
       
   19. Chapter 19
       
   20. Chapter 20
       
   21. Chapter 21
       
   22. Chapter 22
       
3. Part II: October 1939
   
   1. Chapter 23
      
   2. Chapter 24
      
   3. Chapter 25
      
   4. Chapter 26
      
   5. Chapter 27
      
   6. Chapter 28
      
   7. Chapter 29
      
   8. Chapter 30
      
   9. Chapter 31
      
   10. Chapter 32
       
   11. Chapter 33
       
   12. Chapter 34
       
   13. Chapter 35
       
   14. Chapter 36
       
   15. Chapter 37
       
   16. Chapter 38
       
   17. Chapter 39
       
   18. Chapter 40
       
   19. Chapter 41
       
   20. Chapter 42
       
   21. Chapter 43
       
   22. Chapter 44
       
   23. Chapter 45
       
   24. Chapter 46
       
   25. Chapter 47
       
   26. Chapter 48
       
   27. Chapter 49
       
   28. Chapter 50
       
   29. Chapter 51
       
   30. Chapter 52
       
   31. Chapter 53
       
   32. Chapter 54
       
   33. Chapter 55
       
   34. Chapter 56
       
4. Part III: July 1940
   
   1. Chapter 57
      
   2. Chapter 58
      
   3. Chapter 59
      
   4. Chapter 60
      
   5. Chapter 61
      
   6. Chapter 62
      
   7. Chapter 63
      
   8. Chapter 64
      
   9. Chapter 65
      
   10. Chapter 66
       
   11. Chapter 67
       
   12. Chapter 68
       
5. Epilogue
   
6. Note to Readers
   
7. Preview of
   The Auschwitz Escape
   
8. About the Author
   
9. Discussion Questions
   

Acknowledgments

I
N
THE
RESEARCH
AND
WRITING
of this book I am deeply grateful to . . .

The late Dietrich Bonhoeffer, dissident German pastor, prophet, spy, and martyr, who early recognized the corrupted ideology of the Nazis and the eugenics movement, who challenged the church to protect others, stand against evil, and live for Christ. Before his death at the hands of the Nazis, Bonhoeffer wrote
The Cost of Discipleship
—a book that set my heart on fire.

Natasha Kern, my agent and friend, who believed in this book from its conception and championed its ideals.

Stephanie Broene and Sarah Mason, my wonderfully gifted editors, and Shaina Turner, acquisitions assistant, for patiently working through the complexities of this manuscript and helping me bring to the page the vision God placed in my heart; Julie Dumler, my innovative marketing manager; Christy Stroud, my enthusiastic and dedicated publicist; the wonderfully talented Stephen Vosloo for cover design; the excellent PR and sales teams; and all at Tyndale House Publishers who’ve worked so diligently to bring this book to life and to readers.

Terri Gillespie, dear friend and writing colleague, for capturing this book’s vision, for helping with research and sharing your passion for the unity of God’s people in Christ, Jew and Gentile. Thank you especially for your encouragement and prayers when Nazi research became too dark, and for your critique and repeated readings of this manuscript.

Carrie Turansky, dear friend and writing colleague, for your faithful encouragement and prayers, your unflagging support, and for your early critique of this manuscript.

Dan Gohlke, my husband, for generously donning your chauffeur cap and sharing research adventures through England, France, Germany, and Poland, and for your early critique of this manuscript. I could not ask for a better husband or traveling companion.

Elisabeth Gardiner, my daughter, for trekking with me through Berlin in search of the Nazi book-burning site, for climbing through overgrown cemeteries in Poland, for your insights and brainstorming of this story, and for your reading and early critique of this manuscript. I’ve loved sharing this literary journey with you.

Daniel Gohlke, my son, for combing through museums and research sites in Berlin, Oranienburg, and concentration camps in Germany and France—all difficult research that tried our souls but inspired story and voice, amid so many discussions. I cherish your companionship in this writing journey.

Karen and Paul Gardiner, dear family and friends, and parents of my son-in-law, Tim, for inviting us to join you in your tour of Germany and to see the Passion Play in Oberammergau. That trip cemented our friendship at the time our children wed. Now we are celebrating the birth of our precious granddaughter from that blessed union!

Bob Welch, retired music director at Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, Virginia, who envisioned taking your choir to Oberammergau to view the Passion Play. When your magnificent choir sang “Silent Night” in the tiny Oberndorf
Stille Nacht Kapelle
, I wept for the beauty of that moment. Little did you know that you fulfilled a treasured dream from childhood.

Brigitta Salyers, for enthusiastically guiding the Immanuel Bible Church tour through southern Germany and Austria, including Oberammergau’s Passion Play. You are an amazing woman, a brilliant and patient tour guide, and a dear sister in Christ.