My Mother's Secret: A Novel of the Jewish Autonomous Region

After her husband’s death in 1988, Regina looks back and slowly reveals bits and pieces of her past to her daughter in this riveting historical fiction/romance read.

Regina's past includes Stalin’s purges, Siberian gulags, World War II, the frozen Eastern Front, a German P.O.W. Stalag, fear, repression, hope, and immense personal sacrifice. Also listening to one’s own judgment “instead of ceding it to somebody else.”

As daughter Lena listens, stunned, she suddenly realizes "she’d never known her mother at all.”

Young Regina flees Moscow during Stalin’s reign of terror. A half-step ahead of the dreaded NKVD, Regina runs to Birobidzhan. She has high hopes for the socialist autonomous Jewish community until toiling in the fields in primitive conditions throws a cold splash of Reality on her dreams. But it’s not all bad.

Here she meets the dashing, kind-hearted Aaron Kramer. He’s head of Regina’s agricultural detail. The pair falls in love. The romance blossoms into a marriage proposal. But Aaron has also drawn the ire of Birobidzhan’s Soviet leader, Felix. Regina has caught Felix’s eye as well. In a fit of jealousy and rage, Felix “arranges” for Aaron to be transferred to the Red Army and the Eastern Front.

Regina refuses to leave Aaron. She exits the community, joins a medical unit, looks for and finally reunites with the love of her life. A baby is born. Then Aaron’s unit is transferred. Shortly thereafter, word reaches Regina that her beloved Aaron has been taken prisoner by the Germans. Undaunted, Regina makes up her mind to find him and bring Aaron home. Can she? And at what cost?

Forty years later... Oh, wait. You'll have to read the book yourself for that.

Fascinating and deeply immersive, My Mother’s Secret is a compelling love story set against the sweeping backdrop of the old Soviet Union. Think Doctor Zhivago meets Fiddler on the Roof meets Exodus. With snow. Lots of snow.

Rooted in a little-known chapter of Soviet history, My Mother’s Secret is a powerful story about the unbreakable bond between mothers and daughters. It’s also about consequences, the beauty of hope, and choosing wisely.

Beautifully written, thoroughly researched, and utterly absorbing, My Mother’s Secret expertly combines riveting historical fiction, compelling characters, high octane action, and a poignant love story. It’s sure to melt even the most Siberian hearts. I'd grab a copy, 'fize you. Now would be good.