Beneath a Starless Sky

Tessa Harris

Dec 2020 · Sold by HarperCollins UK

About this ebook

‘A gripping WW2 story of love, betrayal and courage...This novel will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions... A great read!’ – Reader Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Munich: Smoke filled the air.

Lilli Sternberg’s quickening heart sounded an alarm as she rounded the street corner. Lifting her gaze to the rooftops, a roaring blaze of thick flames engulfed the side of the building and joined the stars to fill the black sky. Her father’s shop was no more.

Lilli Sternberg longs to be a ballet dancer. But outside the sanctuary of the theatre, Munich is no longer a place for dreams.

The Nazi party are gaining power and the threats to Jewish families increasing. Even Lilli’s family shop was torched because of their faith.

When Lilli meets Captain Marco Zeiller during a chance encounter, her heart soars. He is the perfect gentleman and her love for him feels like a bright hope under a bleak sky.

But battle lines are being drawn, and Marco has been spotted by the Reich as an officer with potential. Lilli means more to him than anything and he knows he must find a way out.

With their lives on the line, will Marco and Lilli survive the growing Nazi threat, or do they risk losing everything in the fight to be free?

An absolutely gripping and emotional historical fiction novel about love, courage and betrayal for fans of My Name is Eva and A Woman of War

Readers LOVE Beneath a Starless Sky!

‘An amazing story with great characters and a very deep love that will transcend the pages of the book. It is a book that will make you feel, hopeful, faithful, and sometimes angry that humans can be so cruel.’Reader review,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This really is a special book. Fast-paced and beautifully written, it'll stay with me for a long time.’Reader review,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A great read, I had to finish it in one sitting...!’ – Reader review,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I thoroughly enjoyed this book – forbidden romance, heartbreak, glamour and a really interesting pre-WW2 setting.’ – Reader review,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ratings and reviews

Beneath a Starless Sky by Tessa Harris is a gripping, exciting, and very emotional story set in Europe before, during, and after World War II. It follows the story of Jewish ballet dancer Lilli Sternberg as she rises to stardom in Hollywood and after an injury, she becomes a spy. Lilli works hard at the ballet school in dreams of making it out of her home in Germany and becoming a star in Hollywood. On her way, she meets and falls for German soldier Captain Marco Zeiller. After a short romance, her heart is broken, but she finally finds her way to Vaudeville in New York City and eventually to Hollywood and becomes a dancer in the movies. Her life in America is what she’s always dreamed of and she meets and dances with Fred Astaire and other famous actors, actresses, and dancers. She also meets Prince Edward and his Americal mistress Wallis Simpson. I was swept away by this historical story that brought real-life history to life for me. The prologue had me flying through the pages of this superbly written saga to learn the fate of Lilli and her loves and family. Lilli is a remarkable woman whose courage, strength, and resiliency are perfectly balanced with her vulnerability and love for her family and country. I loved how the author weaved in the very real historical figures into this work of fiction, making the story believable and very realistic. As if this story really happened. I highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction and anyone who loves a good story. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

About the author

TESSA HARRIS read History at Oxford University and has been a journalist, writing for several national newspapers and magazines for more than thirty years. She is the author of nine published historical novels. Her debut, The Anatomist’s Apprentice, won the Romantic Times First Best Mystery Award 2012 in the US. She lectures in creative writing at Hawkwood College, Stroud and is married with two children. She lives in the Cotswolds.
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