The Last Green Valley: A Novel
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- Create Date：2021-04-17 12:37:45
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Mark T. Sullivan
- ISBN：1978637624
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Brenda
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Set mostly in Ukraine， Romania， Poland and Germany this novel is a kaleidoscope of unspeakable horrors， decisions， fears， determination， love， hope and unshakeable faith。 It is a nonlinear timeline with most happenings occurring in the 1920s and the 1940s。 What human beings are capable of。。。both barbaric and heroic。。。is stunning。 Not only did the Martel family go through intensely harrowing circumstances but they were almost constant with very few breaks of normalcy。 Though a historic fiction no Set mostly in Ukraine， Romania， Poland and Germany this novel is a kaleidoscope of unspeakable horrors， decisions， fears， determination， love， hope and unshakeable faith。 It is a nonlinear timeline with most happenings occurring in the 1920s and the 1940s。 What human beings are capable of。。。both barbaric and heroic。。。is stunning。 Not only did the Martel family go through intensely harrowing circumstances but they were almost constant with very few breaks of normalcy。 Though a historic fiction novel it is based on true life events and knowing that this did happen to real people makes it that much more disturbing and tragic。 Emil and Adeline Martel have a decision。。。to live in Ukraine and die or leave Ukraine and die。 Either way， they must choose between the least evil。 Hitler or Stalin？ What a choice。 They and their small sons Walt and Will pack their wagon with a few belongings and leave home for good， hoping for an escape。 Other family members leave in their own wagon and join a large convoy of sorts。 But the escape is grueling and harrowing and the Martels scarcely escape with their lives。 They are in constant fear of being discovered and taken away to Siberia as others have and never come back。 They suffer from starvation and watch while soldiers turn wheat piles over， ruining it with shovels in front of them in mockery。 Emil is once kept for a few nights and is faced with a horrendous decision， a decision he cannot move on from。 But he is taken much longer later。 Family members do not know who has survived。 I just love and admire Adeline's courage and faith to go on no matter what。 Discovering what happens to each family member later is fascinating。My emotions were all over the place reading this unputdownable book from tears of sadness and frustration to joy。 But mostly tears of heartache。 The anguish and despair are almost touchable。 I have read scores and scores of books about this era and have an ancestral connection so always appreciate new perspectives and vantage points。 This was not exactly an enjoyable read but a very important one。 The thread of hope really inspires。My sincere thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the honour of reading the e-ARC of this wondrous book。 。。。more
Zilpha Owens
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My simple review will never give this story and the Martels justice。 I wish I could find the words to describe this beautiful， inspiring story。 The writing and attention to detail is phenomenal。 I can’t imagine living through what the Martels lived through。 I never would have made it。 Their struggle was difficult to read。 Not because it was poorly written， but because it was， and is， unimaginable what one human can inflict upon another。 I’ll never understand the hate that lives in our world。 I f My simple review will never give this story and the Martels justice。 I wish I could find the words to describe this beautiful， inspiring story。 The writing and attention to detail is phenomenal。 I can’t imagine living through what the Martels lived through。 I never would have made it。 Their struggle was difficult to read。 Not because it was poorly written， but because it was， and is， unimaginable what one human can inflict upon another。 I’ll never understand the hate that lives in our world。 I fretted and worried right along with Emil and Adeline and their family。 But just as often as that occurred， I also leapt for joy at their triumphs and love。 I cried and laughed when they did。 I think in the end what is most important is that their story is one of love， hope and resilience。 It is a story I won’t soon forget。 。。。more
Trudy
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Raw and heartbreaking， but inspiring and ultimately triumphant。 A story of strength and faith。
Amy Blehm
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Oh the tears！ This story， inspired by the Martel family， completely gutted me and also reminded me of the beauty and strength found in love and faith。 What Emil， Adeline， and their children had to endure is the substance of nightmares。 Trying to outrun Stalin’s army while having to trust the protection of the Nazis is not unlike running with cunning， self-satisfying wolves while being chased by mean， hungry bears。 Their hopes and dreams of a peaceful family life on their farmland in the Ukraine Oh the tears！ This story， inspired by the Martel family， completely gutted me and also reminded me of the beauty and strength found in love and faith。 What Emil， Adeline， and their children had to endure is the substance of nightmares。 Trying to outrun Stalin’s army while having to trust the protection of the Nazis is not unlike running with cunning， self-satisfying wolves while being chased by mean， hungry bears。 Their hopes and dreams of a peaceful family life on their farmland in the Ukraine were destroyed and buried under the realities of scarcity and war。 What followed were years of hardship， toil， and loneliness as refugees。 Instead of caving to suffering and oppression， Adeline led her family to hold firmly to faith and boldly claim that beauty would come from every cruelty they faced。 Sullivan meticulously crafted these characters and plunged me into their harrowing circumstances。 What they felt， I felt。 What they experienced， I experienced。 I really adored Adeline and her stubborn faith and persistent， unconditional love。 If ever there was a perfect matriarch， Adeline portrayed that。 But my very favorite character was quirky， delightful Corporal Gheorghe。 He was immensely endearing while also being surprisingly wise。 （Don’t miss the author’s notes regarding the real life inspiration for Corporal Gheorghe！）I’ve read a wide variety of WW2 historic fiction， but this was my introduction to Black Sea Germans and The Long Trek from Ukraine to Germany。 I found it a unique addition to a seemingly full genre。 In the foreword Mark Sullivan says， “I hope their story （the Martels） will give comfort and courage to the afflicted and a better understanding of what ordinary people can endure and achieve when all seems lost。” As I ruminate on the Martels and what they had to bear， I am reminded that perspective and hope can indeed fuel the impossible。 Thank you Mark Sullivan， Lake Union Publishing， and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book。 。。。more
Shirley McAllister
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Fleeing the bear and running with the wolvesOne of the best books I have read all year。 This story spans all range of emotions， Love， Hate， Fear， Sadness and even at times loathing。 It is a story that would test the faith of even the most staunch of believers。 Half the time I was holding back tears and the rest of the time I was holding my breath。 I cannot believe the courage of this family。 First under Stalin， then under Hitler and once more under Stalin。 I know it was said that there is a safe Fleeing the bear and running with the wolvesOne of the best books I have read all year。 This story spans all range of emotions， Love， Hate， Fear， Sadness and even at times loathing。 It is a story that would test the faith of even the most staunch of believers。 Half the time I was holding back tears and the rest of the time I was holding my breath。 I cannot believe the courage of this family。 First under Stalin， then under Hitler and once more under Stalin。 I know it was said that there is a safe place in the eye of every storm， but there were times where I wasn't sure there was a safe place for this family anywhere。 This is the story of Emil and Adeline Martel and their two children Will and Walt。 As young people they immigrated to Ukraine from Germany。 They remember the Holodomor suffered as children。 The killing Ukraine famine where millions died under the failed policies of Joseph Stalin in 1932 and 1933。 They have been farming in the Ukraine under Hitler's rule。 Now Stalin is coming back to take over Ukraine once again and in 1944 they fled from the Ukraine toward Germany with the fleeing Nazi's hoping they can break away and go west toward the allied forces during WWII。 They go on what the know as "The Long Trek" a journey from Ukraine to Hungary on the way to Poland and Germany。 They traveled through Moldova， Romania， Hungary and Poland on the route of the Long Trek with aging parents and two small children。 With a cart and a horse and later just a red wagon on they traveled。 Their travel and life and death experiences are documented in this story。 You will be holding your breath and cheering them on in their travels。 Just as they have decided to try and break away and travel west Emil is arrested by Polish policemen and held for the Soviets and sent to a prison camp in Poltava Ukraine。 Adeline and the boys kept traveling west and made it to Berlin。 The lives they both had to live Emil in the camp and Adeline under Nazi rule for the next five years is a story of great strength， courage and faith。 It is a testimony of their love for each other and their will to someday be free。 The things they see and are forced to do will haunt you long after you finish this book。 You will be holding your breath through their daring escapes to freedom and wondering if they will make it or not。 I will not give away the ending but it will be worth reading the book to find out。 It makes it more real knowing that the author wrote it on actual stories told to him by the people that lived them， and that the historical events and the actions by the Soviets and the Nazi's did take place during this time as horrible as they were。 I would definitely recommend this book。 Thanks to Mark Sullivan， Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of the book and to give my honest review。 。。。more
Tiger
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This review may contain spoilers。 Read at your own risk。 I would also like to say that I won this book via a giveaway on Goodreads （my first and only winner so far lol）。 I'm not sure if they are different， but this book is the advanced reader's copy。The first thing I want to say about this book is that the cover is gorgeous and I'm not sure what they used to make it， but it doesn't feel like a normal book cover。 It feels really cool and I like to touch it， which sounds weird but that's how it is This review may contain spoilers。 Read at your own risk。 I would also like to say that I won this book via a giveaway on Goodreads （my first and only winner so far lol）。 I'm not sure if they are different， but this book is the advanced reader's copy。The first thing I want to say about this book is that the cover is gorgeous and I'm not sure what they used to make it， but it doesn't feel like a normal book cover。 It feels really cool and I like to touch it， which sounds weird but that's how it is lolThe first scene I want to talk about is the scene with them running away from the tanks。 It was so damn intense， I swore for a moment I was watching an action scene playing out in a movie。 I almost started crying when the horses got hurt， but I can't be mad at Emil。 He was scared and trying to save his family！ He even felt guilty about it and did his best to help mend their wounds， bless him。One of the first things I thought about when I was a few chapters in was about how people always write about these supernatural creatures as these evil hellbent beings， but the real monsters， the real demons， are human beings。 That's not to say this book talks about supernatural beings， it doesn't， but that's just what I thought about when they were describing the cruelty that was happening around them。 This book just reinforces the fact that I would take a demon or a supernatural creature any day over a human being。I think the scene that left me the most speechless was when Haussman shot at Emil。 The way it was written， I was sure he had shot him dead and my mouth hung open in shock。 I stopped and stared at that paragraph for a solid minute or so before I moved on。 I was ready to cry， too， because I really love Emil。 Such a good man and father！"We come in with nothing， and we go out with nothing。" - Emil Martel。Now， let me say this - I am an atheist。 I don't believe in god or religion at all。 Not to say that's bad。 If someone wants to believe or needs to believe in order to get through the hell that is life， then that's on them， I won't tell them otherwise unless they try to force it on me。 Honestly， I just try to avoid it and I felt uncomfortable every time it was mentioned， but I understand。 With everything the Martel clan went through， all the horrors they faced and saw， they needed something to believe in。 I did find myself getting a bit annoyed at Adeline when she would get upset at Emil when he stopped believing。 But as the book went on， she got better about it， which I'm thankful for because I really like Adeline。 She's a damn good mother and a strong woman。 I don't think I could have survived what she went through， she's a good role model。Another part that was unbelievable was what happened to Rese。 I was in shock at what had happened to her。 No one deserves that mess， but Rese of all people？ She was such a free spirit， so much fun and full of life。 To go through something so traumatic and life-changing。。。 I felt so sorry for her。 Karoline， on the other hand， is a character I'm perfectly satisfied with hating。 She's such a bitch。 Manipulative and self-centered。 She doesn't care about anyone but herself and her own beliefs。 What she said about Rese。。。 I get being in shock but goddamn。 That was too far。 I really fucking hate her， even thinking about her pisses me off。 How someone like her can raise such an amazing son such as Emil， I will never understand。And Marie！ Poor Marie， losing both of her babies in such a short time。 I'm still shocked that she jumped into that truck and I hope whatever life that led her to， she was able to find some peace within herself。I feel like the Martel clan splitting up was a bad idea。 It's the first rule of any horror movie， you know？ Never split up because you're much stronger together。 It broke my heart when they separated， I really liked Adeline's side of the family。 Though I felt betrayed on Adeline's part when her mother said those things about Emil。I never went to school， so the things most human beings learned about history， I never did， so the things I read about in this book were。。。 appalling。 To think that the women had to hide out in a fucking church with the doors barred just to avoid being raped as a fucking reward of war。。。 I mean， I know women weren't equal back then but that's just ridiculous。 I would have flipped my shit if Adeline didn't talk her way out of being raped by that douchebag。"When you suffer and curse your life， the Almighty listens closely。 When you have no goodness in your heart or your prayers。 No love。 No calm。 No desire to help others。 No thankfulness for the miracle of your life。 When you hold things like hatred or anger in your heart or envy or comparison， when life is all about how everything is unfair to me， me， me， the Divine understands those ancient languages of self-destruction， too。 The thing is， the Universal Intelligence will help you even if your dreams come from a dark place， but the dreams will end up destroying you in the process。 If you don't believe me， think of Hitler or any other tyrant。 So live here， Martel。 Love life like it is a miracle every day， every moment， and dream in a way that helps others。" - Colonel GheorgheColonel Gheorghe was a weird one when he first appeared， but my god is he one of the very best characters in this book。 A wonderful and wise man and I'm so fucking happy he reached his dreams。Finally， I was surprised when I heard that Emil was only getting 。50𝇍 an hour。 I guess things really were different back then。 I mean， I knew that already， but hearing how little he got paid when he put in so much work。 Though I imagine things weren't nearly as expensive back then as they are today。I feel like Adeline and Emil are the true couple goals。 They love each other so damn much that they risked life and limb to be together again。 To be a family again。 Their story is inspiring and unbelievable。 The things they witnessed， the things they went through， the hardships they suffered。。。 they are so damn strong and brave and， in my opinion， they are heroes。 I'm so fucking thankful they made it to their beautiful valley where they were able to raise their children and see their grandchildren。"Don't chew on the bad things that happen to you， dear。 Try to see the beauty in every cruelty。 It sets you free。 Forgive hurt if you want to heal a broken heart。 Try to be grateful for every setback or tragedy， because by living through them， you become strong。" - Adeline Martel。Rest in peace， guys。 You were all so strong and beautiful and thank you for sharing your story and for sharing you life lessons。 Many people can learn for their story if given the chance。 。。。more
Wanda
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Loved this book。 It is as good as the first one。 Shows the strength of men and women。 Gave me much to ponder。
Annie
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This was one of those page-turning books I yearn for and it gets all the stars from me。 🌟I fell in love with Mark Sullivan’s previous novel， Beneath a Scarlet Sky， and this one lived up to all my expectations。 Sullivan does a great job weaving together history with real-life events。 The Last Green Valley is about grit， perseverance， resilience and survival。 There were a number of hard hitting moments and I found myself on a rollercoaster of emotions。。。I gasped， I cried， and I prayed for the Mart This was one of those page-turning books I yearn for and it gets all the stars from me。 🌟I fell in love with Mark Sullivan’s previous novel， Beneath a Scarlet Sky， and this one lived up to all my expectations。 Sullivan does a great job weaving together history with real-life events。 The Last Green Valley is about grit， perseverance， resilience and survival。 There were a number of hard hitting moments and I found myself on a rollercoaster of emotions。。。I gasped， I cried， and I prayed for the Martel family。 I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole story， wondering how it would play out， and that’s what I love most about books。 The ones that really draw you in， that are captivating， and make you feel like you are living through each moment。 Beneath a Scarlet Sky is one of my favourite historical fiction novels， and this one is right up there with it。 What I love most is that both of these tell a different story than we’re used to seeing。 These tell the stories that happened in Italy and the Ukraine， which is a welcome change to the many I read about France。 。。。more
Beth Pols
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A sweeping saga full of resilient humans who value love and family。
Quirky
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A WWII novel from an angle I'd never read before， that of the Black Sea Germans， on their long trek west。 I didn't even know about them until I picked up this book！ The Last Green Valley by Mark T。 Sullivan is the fictional account， based on a real story， of one family's escape from the Ukraine west， and of the many hardships faced before and during。Kudos to whoever designed the cover of this book。 It's gorgeous。 Going into the book knowing I was reading about real people's experiences and then A WWII novel from an angle I'd never read before， that of the Black Sea Germans， on their long trek west。 I didn't even know about them until I picked up this book！ The Last Green Valley by Mark T。 Sullivan is the fictional account， based on a real story， of one family's escape from the Ukraine west， and of the many hardships faced before and during。Kudos to whoever designed the cover of this book。 It's gorgeous。 Going into the book knowing I was reading about real people's experiences and then reading about some of those experiences has me thinking， "Whoooa。" It is almost unfathomable the amount of cruelty humanity can demonstrate， but also inspiring the amount of perseverance it can show。 I believe， like Emil and Adeline， that everything I face， good or bad， is necessary to make me who I am meant to be。The story is eye-opening， for sure。 At times I thought it felt a bit slow going。 I am not sure I feel like I know the Martel characters as well as I'd like even after finishing this book。 I thought that they felt a bit two-dimensional at times。 I didn't care for how much religious/faith thoughts seemed to guide the story， but I also understand that's probably how these people really did think and manage to survive what they lived。 I suppose I'm more like one of the minor characters， "Corporal Gheorge，" in my beliefs。Overall， though， this was a new take （I think） on a WWII tale。 It was interesting to read about this Long Trek and some of those who lived it。 I'd recommend fans of WWII historical fiction pick it up。Many thanks to Mark T。 Sullivan， Lake Union， and NetGalley for providing me with a copy to share my opinions on。 。。。more
Pam Jenoff
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Inspired by actual events during the Second World War， this book is about the Martel family who must make the impossible decision to leave their homier Ukraine as the Soviet army advances and follow the Germans。 They find themselves caught on the frontline between two warring nations in a harrowing journey of survival。 This book will be out May 4th so add it to your TBR pile now！
Nika
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Thank you to Amazon Publishing， Lake Union Publishing and Goodreads for giving me the opportunity to read this book before its official release！ I loved Beneath a Scarlet Sky， also by Mark Sullivan， and couldn't wait to read The Last Green Valley。 My parents were born in Ukraine and emigrated to the US after WWII so this story was especially interesting to me。 I can now better understand why neither of them talked much about their experiences during and after the war。 Thank you Mark Sullivan for Thank you to Amazon Publishing， Lake Union Publishing and Goodreads for giving me the opportunity to read this book before its official release！ I loved Beneath a Scarlet Sky， also by Mark Sullivan， and couldn't wait to read The Last Green Valley。 My parents were born in Ukraine and emigrated to the US after WWII so this story was especially interesting to me。 I can now better understand why neither of them talked much about their experiences during and after the war。 Thank you Mark Sullivan for including details about the Holodomor when Stalin willfully starved millions of Ukrainians in the early 30s。 It's a period of history that I wish more people knew about。 As far as the story is concerned， Emil and Adeline Martel and their families are allowed to leave Ukraine towards the end of the war because of their German heritage。 The book follows their dangerous trek through Eastern Europe towards Germany。 It would have been nice to have a map， showing that region of the world and their route; many of the borders and city names have changed since then and it was hard to find some of the locations on current maps。 I couldn't put the book down until about page 300 when it became much too spiritual for my taste。 But， in the end， I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction。 4。5 stars。 。。。more
Mary
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great book
Pamela Davis
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This book was so well written。 It immediately drew me in and kept me captivated until the last page。 The tribulations and horrors experienced by this extended family were gut wrenching and profound。 That being said， their determination to survive added the much needed element of hope。 Thru every setback， imprisonment， and injustice， I rallied for their triumph。 This story needs to be told and read so that everyone the world over knows what happened not just to the Martels， but to countless other This book was so well written。 It immediately drew me in and kept me captivated until the last page。 The tribulations and horrors experienced by this extended family were gut wrenching and profound。 That being said， their determination to survive added the much needed element of hope。 Thru every setback， imprisonment， and injustice， I rallied for their triumph。 This story needs to be told and read so that everyone the world over knows what happened not just to the Martels， but to countless others。 This book has enlightened me to the travesties of war and the ingenuity of those that survived its entrapments。 I hail the Martel family as well as all others who underwent such physical， mental， and emotional suffering。 I honor their courage and will remember their story all my life。 。。。more
Kara
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The Last Green Valley follows the Martel family at the end of and post-WWII。 The Martel family， an ethic German family， has lived as farmers in Ukraine for over a century。 However， having already lived under Communism， they decide to flee with the Germans， in what is known as the Great Trek， in hopes of eventually escaping the Nazi cruelties and reaching the American or British occupied zones。The story of the Martel family exemplifies what it means to survive hard times with integrity。 Even with The Last Green Valley follows the Martel family at the end of and post-WWII。 The Martel family， an ethic German family， has lived as farmers in Ukraine for over a century。 However， having already lived under Communism， they decide to flee with the Germans， in what is known as the Great Trek， in hopes of eventually escaping the Nazi cruelties and reaching the American or British occupied zones。The story of the Martel family exemplifies what it means to survive hard times with integrity。 Even with so much tragedy around the family， they still somehow remain hopeful for the future。I found that I enjoyed Beneath a Scarlet Sky more， but the Last Green Valley is still a new and different story in the same way Beneath a Scarlet Sky was。 I’ve read many books set in this time period， but I had never heard of the Great Trek and the events surrounding it。 It was refreshing to learn something new。 The beginning was a little slow， but once it picked up speed， I couldn’t put it down。 Thank you to #NetGalley and #UnionLakePublishing for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review。 。。。more
Shashi21
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I received this advanced copy through ARC。 It was noted as an untold true story。At times， I had to put the book down because I found it a bit graphic， but well written。The story of the Martels is one of survival and immigration。 The exodus from Ukraine to Montana takes the reader on a dangerous journey to freedom during the final months of world war 2。I never knew about the way the Ukraine people were treated and how Hitler and Stalin actually squeezed them but placing them in labor camps。I reco I received this advanced copy through ARC。 It was noted as an untold true story。At times， I had to put the book down because I found it a bit graphic， but well written。The story of the Martels is one of survival and immigration。 The exodus from Ukraine to Montana takes the reader on a dangerous journey to freedom during the final months of world war 2。I never knew about the way the Ukraine people were treated and how Hitler and Stalin actually squeezed them but placing them in labor camps。I recommend this book。 People need to be made aware of what immigrants both past and future go through in order to reach freedom。 。。。more
Sweetheart
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This was a book I just one in a giveaway， and I enjoyed it immensely。 I would even go so far as to say that it is one of the best books I have read on this area of WW2 history。 I will definitely reread it。
John Pierce
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Another amazing story from Mark Sullivan， which delves into the trials and tribulations of the Martel family caught in the middle of the war between Nazi Germany and Stalin’s Russia。 Struggling to survive the horrors that Stalin inflicted on the citizens of the Ukraine， Emil Martel and family decide to move to the west only to become embroiled in the politics between the warring nations。The road is terribly hard， testing the family’s faith to the extreme， their will and love push them forward。 T Another amazing story from Mark Sullivan， which delves into the trials and tribulations of the Martel family caught in the middle of the war between Nazi Germany and Stalin’s Russia。 Struggling to survive the horrors that Stalin inflicted on the citizens of the Ukraine， Emil Martel and family decide to move to the west only to become embroiled in the politics between the warring nations。The road is terribly hard， testing the family’s faith to the extreme， their will and love push them forward。 Though many setbacks mar the way the desire for freedom wins out and they find their green valley。This book is a first class page-turner and I recommend to anyone who enjoys reading about triumphant stories of the will to succeed。 。。。more
Sean
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A story of perseverance that leaves the reader with hope and gratitude。 It was refreshing to read a WW2 historical fiction that took place on the other side of the line。 The author did an excellent job portraying the brutality and idiocy of Stalinist Russia through the situational responses of individual characters。
Amanda Bennett
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Told in the last year of World War II， when Stalin’s forces were pushing through Ukraine where many families of German descent had farmed for years， the Martels’ journey is definitely one worth reading about。 Forced to decide between two awful choices， staying under Stalin’s oppressive communist regime that had already starved millions during the Holodomor of 1932-33， or following the Nazi’s who were fighting on their last fronts against the Allies。 Emil and Adeline Martel， along with their two Told in the last year of World War II， when Stalin’s forces were pushing through Ukraine where many families of German descent had farmed for years， the Martels’ journey is definitely one worth reading about。 Forced to decide between two awful choices， staying under Stalin’s oppressive communist regime that had already starved millions during the Holodomor of 1932-33， or following the Nazi’s who were fighting on their last fronts against the Allies。 Emil and Adeline Martel， along with their two boys fled with the Nazi’s with the Soviet tanks on their tails for a chance to escape communism。 Split for part of their journey， Adeline in East Germany behind the rapidly closing Iron Curtain and Emil in a prison camp， they continued to hold out hope for Adeline’s dream of their own “Green Valley” in the west， preferably far away from a communist government。 The Martels’ story is one of perseverance， faith， and unwavering love and commitment during their Long Trek and will move even the most cynical of readers。 I highly recommend reading this inspirational story when it is released on May 4th。 Thank you to Mark Sullivan， Netgalley， and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy。instagram。com/passionforprose 。。。more
Carrie Esler
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3。5 I’ve heard a lot of historical fiction lately and this was one story I hadn’t heard over and over。 The story itself was good and interesting， but some of the character dialogue was a bit soft for me。 （Lovey dovey， repeatedly discussing believe in god saving them， etc）
Angie
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I was provided this ARC through a Goodreads Giveaway。 Thank you！ I have not read any books before by this author， but other reviewers promised he wouldn't disappoint in this book， he didn't。 It was a great story of courage and perseverance。 It took me a bit to read this book because it was a lot to take in。 I didn't really know what to expect， it was a gripping page-turner at times。 I enjoyed this book of survival and often imagined myself in their shoes as the story unfolded。 I was provided this ARC through a Goodreads Giveaway。 Thank you！ I have not read any books before by this author， but other reviewers promised he wouldn't disappoint in this book， he didn't。 It was a great story of courage and perseverance。 It took me a bit to read this book because it was a lot to take in。 I didn't really know what to expect， it was a gripping page-turner at times。 I enjoyed this book of survival and often imagined myself in their shoes as the story unfolded。 。。。more
Cara
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Incredibly powerful and masterfully told - Mark balances between a story that's both heart-breaking and full of hope。 This is one of those immersive page-turners that you're willing to lose sleep over to finish。 Incredibly powerful and masterfully told - Mark balances between a story that's both heart-breaking and full of hope。 This is one of those immersive page-turners that you're willing to lose sleep over to finish。 。。。more
Hope
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I had zero expectations， and was really impressed with this historical fiction perspective on WWII。 I devoured this book in every spare moment I had to read！TW: rape， POW， murder and genocideThemes: Refugees， family bondsIn a market saturated with WWII focus， Sullivan provides a fresh perspective from a Ukrainian family's point of view。 The power of the human spirit shining in the darkest places culminates in a hopeful takeaway。 Emil and Adeline feel like family。 Even as they journey with Nazis， I had zero expectations， and was really impressed with this historical fiction perspective on WWII。 I devoured this book in every spare moment I had to read！TW: rape， POW， murder and genocideThemes: Refugees， family bondsIn a market saturated with WWII focus， Sullivan provides a fresh perspective from a Ukrainian family's point of view。 The power of the human spirit shining in the darkest places culminates in a hopeful takeaway。 Emil and Adeline feel like family。 Even as they journey with Nazis， I was rooting for them to succeed。 The Last Green Valley will stay with me for a long time - I think everyone should read it。 。。。more
Liz
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Beneath a Scarlet Sky is one of the best historical fictions I’ve ever read， so I couldn’t wait to see what Mark Sullivan would produce next。 The Last Green Valley is also based on real people， again the history of a family now living in Montana。 This time， the story starts in Ukraine。 The Martels are Volksdeutsche， sixth generation Germans brought to the Ukraine by Catherine the Great to share their agricultural skills。 Of course， under Stalin， they became personae non gratae and Adeline’s fath Beneath a Scarlet Sky is one of the best historical fictions I’ve ever read， so I couldn’t wait to see what Mark Sullivan would produce next。 The Last Green Valley is also based on real people， again the history of a family now living in Montana。 This time， the story starts in Ukraine。 The Martels are Volksdeutsche， sixth generation Germans brought to the Ukraine by Catherine the Great to share their agricultural skills。 Of course， under Stalin， they became personae non gratae and Adeline’s father was sent to Siberia。 During the war， the land was taken over by the Germans。 Now， in 1945， the Germans are in retreat from the Russian Army and the Martels must make a choice whether to follow the Germans or stay behind to be destroyed by the Russians。 The story is told from Emil’s and Adeline’s perspectives - both in the “present day” of 1944 forward and the past， starting in 1922。 Time and again， we see the contrast of doing what’s needed to survive and doing what’s right。 One of the main themes of the book is faith- keeping it and losing it。 The book also provides constant reminders about finding small joys in each day。 One of my favorite characters was Corporal Gheorghe and I was thrilled to discover in the Author’s Notes that he was based on a real person。 This book isn’t as engaging as Under a Scarlet Sky。 It was interesting， but not engrossing。 But I felt I learned much more about the last days of WWII。 It’s thoroughly researched and Sullivan does a great job of fleshing out the facts with fiction。 It was a total revelation to learn about The Great Trek by the ethnic Germans。 This book is also a reminder of the importance of immigrants to the US experience。 My thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advance copy of this book。 。。。more
Jess
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Such an enthralling and suspense-filled read！ I was unfamiliar with Sullivan’s other works until receiving an ARC through a Goodreads Giveaway。 The physical book is absolutely gorgeous and I was honored to receive a copy。 I have always gravitated towards WWII novels， but have recently become more particular in my selection due to the sheer number of novels based on this time period。 Where many seem to be based on the experiences within the camps or those working to protect and save them， Sulliva Such an enthralling and suspense-filled read！ I was unfamiliar with Sullivan’s other works until receiving an ARC through a Goodreads Giveaway。 The physical book is absolutely gorgeous and I was honored to receive a copy。 I have always gravitated towards WWII novels， but have recently become more particular in my selection due to the sheer number of novels based on this time period。 Where many seem to be based on the experiences within the camps or those working to protect and save them， Sullivan tells of the lesser known plight of ethnic Christian Germans living in Stalin’s territory when the war breaks out。 Inspired by the true story of the Martel family and their attempt to escape the war， The Last Green Valley is a captivating story of the sacrifices innocent civilians made and the risks they took to protect their families。 This book is full of impossible choices for the Martel family and Sullivan does a fantastic job of including the details of German， Soviet and American troop actions。 As the Martel’s， and the communities they find themselves in， grapple with the suppression of Soviet rule， the violence of German soldiers， and the promise of American freedom， you will find yourself wondering what decision you would have made as they journey through a war zone in search of a peaceful， green valley。 Now I’m off to buy a copy of Beneath a Scarlet Sky！ 。。。more
Joyce
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Very powerful writing by this author showing his detailed research and staying as close to truth as possible。A very moving story of how love， belief， hope， luck and persistence can bring brighter days to beyond imaginable circumstances。The atrocities the people had to endure are described vividly in detail so that the reader can truly understand the plight of POWS， those fleeing persecution and immigrants。A VERY COMPELLING READ。
Vernon Luckert
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Review is of a free ARC。 I really enjoyed this book！ Talented author， I will have to get a copy of his previous works to enjoy。 I am a fan of historical fiction; and would really like to find out how much of this work is history， and how much is fiction。 Seems to have a really strong historical base。 I think this and other similar books should be read by all those out there that are currently in favor of socialism。 The communism of Stalin， and the socialism of Hitler were not all that different Review is of a free ARC。 I really enjoyed this book！ Talented author， I will have to get a copy of his previous works to enjoy。 I am a fan of historical fiction; and would really like to find out how much of this work is history， and how much is fiction。 Seems to have a really strong historical base。 I think this and other similar books should be read by all those out there that are currently in favor of socialism。 The communism of Stalin， and the socialism of Hitler were not all that different for the common man on the street。 A quote from this novel， "。 。 。 the new life under Stalin and the Communists was the same as the old one: based on fear， tyranny， and the destruction of anyone who had an original thought or dream。" Those who favor socialism need to know that this is the direction you would be taking this country for everyone。 To think that it could not get that bad here is beyond naive; it is simply foolish。 Take the time to read this fine novel; it will be time well spent。 。。。more
Rhonda
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