The Violin Maker’s Daughter: Absolutely heartbreaking World War 2 historical fiction is written by Sharon Maas. This story takes place in Colmar, France to Paris, to Poitiers, to Frieberg, Germany, and back to Colmar, France during World War II. The area is well described as the characters walk through the forests, up the mountains, and from town to town to be free. The book is compelling and you keep reading until you discover the end and then you wish for more.Josef Mayer was sure that changing the name of his business and the first names of his children as ordered by the Germans that his family would be safe. He was Jewish although his wife was not. However, he had never practiced Judaism and believed no one except his closest friends knew he was Jewish. He continued to make violins and taught his eldest daughter to make them as well. Business, however, had not been good for violin makers as the war began and continued. When he was denounced by someone, he was given a chance to prove he was Aryan and given a month to get the paperwork in. So, he had a month to get his five daughters and himself and his wife out of Colmar. He turned to the resistance with the help of his friend Yves. Yves got him in touch with the Resistance and they persuaded him to send his daughter, Sarah (17), out first; followed by Therese (14) and Amelie (12) with Josef and his wife with Manon (7) and Sofie (5) being last. They couldn’t go together as it would make the group too large. While they were waiting, their friends hid his violins, his tools, and many of the precious items from the house. Would they be able to get out in time?Sarah was the first to go although she resisted as long as she could. She was taken by van to a vineyard where she was hidden with Rebecca, the older woman who was to be her chaperone. She and Rebecca were led over the mountain on foot. They spent the night in a cabin in the mountains because Rebecca sprained or broke her ankle and could go no further. Victoire found them there to warn them that the Boche were somewhere on the mountain. Sarah and her guide Eric decided to go on while Victoire and Rebecca went back. The next day, Eric and Sarah ran across the Boche and were taken prisoner. The elder officer Kramer was going to rape Sarah and when Eric objected, he shot him in the leg. He was going to make Eric watch as he thought Eric and Sarah were lovers already. As he was attempting this, the younger soldier Rafe shot Kramer. He wasn’t going to let Kramer rape her. Rafe set them free and told them he was deserting the German Army. He had planned on doing this as soon as he got the chance and the chance was here. Rafe helped Eric back to the cabin where Victoire and Rebecca were still waiting. Since Eric could not go on nor could he and Rebecca make it back down the mountain without help, Rafe decided he would escort Sarah to her next safe house despite her obvious hatred of Germans in general. Reluctantly she agreed and the two took off for Metz and on to Paris. What the adventures they would have! Would they both make it to the end of the war? Would Sarah’s family make it out?The war makes strange bedfellows and even stranger friends and enemies. Who could they trust?