Rating: 
Summary: How much disbelief are YOU willing to suspend?
Review: I have very mixed feelings about Treason and Triumph. On the one hand, there are a number of things I liked about this book. On the other hand, the plot pushes credibility to its outer limits.On the plus side, Toews is at her best when she is describing background events. Her account of Kristallnacht is memorable, and I enjoyed the scene in which a Luftwaffe pilot, flying over England with faltering plane, gallantly struggles to keep it in the air long enough to avoid hitting some stately homes. On a smaller scale, her use of powerful metaphors paints many vivid images of people, places, and events. On the minus side, there are just too many convenient coincidences and Tartuffian devices driving the plot. A German SS Colonel is a British spy (you couldn't get into the SS without proving you were a fanatical Nazi). What's more, he has perfect pitch, and is able to pass coded messages by playing the piano. But his persona is dwarfed by Lady Catherine's, whose talents know no bounds. At times, this English rose is nurse, radio operator, secret agent, and nun. And also a famous concert pianist (specialty: Beethoven's Ninth Symphony on the piano; silly me - I thought Beethoven wrote it for full orchestra and chorus). Oh, and yes - she's King George VI's cousin as well. Her best friend is Marla, an American journalist of Jewish descent, who has or wants to have sex with a large proportion of the male characters, including a Gestapo agent charged with torturing her. Both women, while brave, are none too bright. But by a series of amazing coincidences, the characters always conveniently land right in the right place at the right time. It's as if the whole war had been carried out by just a handful of participants in six countries who keep bumping into each other. And as the novel reaches its protracted and belabored conclusion, it spirals in even larger circles of improbability. Many technical terms are sprinkled into the text for a suggestion of verisimilitude. But a three-sentence description of the make, model, serial number, and other attributes of an airplane engine does not historical accuracy make, so be advised that there are errors in the telling of the larger tale (for example, in the book Churchill is said to be still opposing a western front seven months after D-Day). Curiously, in the author's note at the end of the book, the only thing Toews claims to have invented is exploding horse manure; the SOE could have used her - according to "Secret War" by Juliette Pattinson, British secret agents did use exploding horse manure. There is no doubt that Toews has a vivid imagination and the ability to express it, and she is, as the cover of the book says, a master of surprise. So, if you enjoy dramatic scenes and shocking story developments and are not too fussy about whether the plot holds water (or even whether you can follow it), then this could be the book for you.
Rating: 
Summary: A reason for Triumph!
Review: I very much enjoyed Bonnie Toew's Treason and Triumph. And I won't even compare her writing to Ken Follett or W E B Griffin. Same genre but delivered in a better and different way. In Treason and Triumph Bonnie quickly draws us into the action and the horror of WWII, European Theater. We are introduced to two British women spies/commandos. The Brits employed many women during this war. Follett's "Jackdaws" is an example. Yet, unlike other writers in this genre, her characters are real. They were people whom I came to know and fear for. The book is historically accurate and I appreciated Bonnie's painstaking research. Treason and Triumph is well paced, well written, and well plotted. Her skills as a writer and as an editor a demonstrated through out the story. If I were asked to recommend an excellent work of fiction related to the role that women played in WWII, this would be the book I would recommend. This is a well-told and exciting story.
Rating:
Summary: Never repeat history.
Review: I was a kid when World War II was playing havoc with life everywhere. At night, we used to huddle around the radio, hoping that the war would be over. I read everything I could find, and I know Bonnie Toews spent months in deep research. She learned about the complexities of the political, scientific, strategic and armed forces structures and reveals this truth through her amazing ability to tell the story. The people are not characters, they become real, and you care about them. The treason is a maze, but only when you have finished the book can you go back and see all of the clues that were so artfully woven it. As the world again faces war, this book is a "must read" in the hope that atrocities such as these will never be repeated. 5 Stars! Jeffie Greer
Rating: 
Summary: Not 5 Stars, but Close
Review: I've noticed there seems to be a clique of authors here who give each others' books 5-star reviews. Never having read Toews, but being interested in Nazi Germany, the Holocaust, and World War II, I thought I'd give this book a try. Toews is strong in research but could grow as an author. I'll forego the book summary, as that's been done, but feel this book could have been better. Sorry, but I can't agree with the 5-star reviewers here, although this one does come close.
Rating:
Summary: Make no suppositions -- you will be surprised!
Review: In her debut novel, Bonnie Toews writes the story of WWII as if she lived through it. From April 6, 1937 through June 1946 characters change according to their experiences in an ever escalating war and the aftermath of its destruction. The book is an entrancing page-turner. With fresh metaphors, you will feel as if you are in the midst of the story. I found myself slowing the reading experience in order to savor the words as she reveals both beauty and horror. Kristallnacht (November 9, 1938) was the night the Nazis coordinated an attack on Jewish people and their property in Germany and German-controlled lands. In a startling scene, Bonnie Toews shows the true terror and shock of that event through imagery that lingers in your memory long after you finish reading the book. It is a night of unspeakable horrors, but it is also a key to the friendship between Marla Franklin and Lady Catherine. This friendship carries us through an incredible tale of war, the cost of war, patriotism, betrayal, espionage, love, and success. Details are revealed through dialogue and visual impact. Your suspicions grow just as they do in the cast of characters. Toews descriptions are sharp. The faces and places provide a surrealistic vision as if you are looking through a window or at a collection of photographs. This is a book to be read and read again. It shows the reality of treason and fills your heart with triumph. This book would make an excellent movie. It is five stars. Victoria Tarrani
Rating:
Summary: One Hell of a Story
Review: Several times while reading Treason and Triumph, I became so engrossed by the story that was unfolding that I was tempted to not put the book down until I had finished it. But like fine wine and Europe, Bonnie Toews is something to enjoy at your leisure. I found I was not just reading about some of the horrors and atrocities of World War II, but I was living it. Her attention to details, the consistency of her characters, and the intrigue of the story made this a thrilling story to experience. To me, it would be hard to classify this novel. Is it a 'spy' story, a 'love' story, an 'erotic description' of the act of love--want and need, an 'action/adventure' or 'historical fiction' novel? The answer is a resounding YES to all of the above, plus more. I write poetry, and within this novel I found prose of the finest caliber. This is but one brief example: "Everything we do, every one we meet becomes a part of us. Almost like scattered parts of our soul coming home to roost. For a moment, everything fits, and we belong to that moment, or to that person." she finished wistfully, as if she had not gathered all the missing parts of her own soul."
Rating: 
Summary: DUPED AGAIN BY READER REVIEWS
Review: Sorry folks but this book doesn't come close to living up to its reviews. I can't believe these reviewers have read any "real" good books to compare this with. I know first listed reviewer author Norm Harris hasn't. I also read his first novel "A Fruit from the Poisonous Tree" which was a terrible first effort. It's getting to where you don't dare try to experience a new author for fear of wasting your time and money. I'm sure that most people will ignore this review stacked against all the glowing reviews by others, but at least I tried to warn you. If you are into Harlquin Romances you will probably like this book but I don't consider that good reading or writing.
Rating:
Summary: A review ...
Review: SPELLBINDING STORY!!! Simply and incredible work of historically based fiction that not only entertained me, but enriched me as well. The very real characters captivated me from the very start and never let me go. I felt what they felt and I saw what they saw. This story was written in such a way that I could truly imagine myself there with the characters. Ms. Toews has created a very special story with incredible resarch and authenticity! This is a must read to entertain, and to help us remember a tragic time in world history. Outstanding from beginning to end!
Rating:
Summary: A great story with dynamic and heroic characters
Review: Starting in the late 1930's, war rips through Europe, causing much destruction and mayhem. In the midst of all the personal traumas inflicted on innocent beings are two different women, who look like identical twins. Marla Franklin is a renowned American journalist, covering the war for the London Times. Lady Catherine Rushmore is a talented concert pianist, who is starting to earn a deserved reputation as she plays the major halls of Europe. Besides their appearance, the two women become part of Churchill's Project Amanita team that is trying to prevent the Nazis from manufacturing the first atomic bomb. They plan to do whatever it takes over the next few years to insure the allies' triumph. However, the duo has a bigger problem confronting them, as one of their members is a traitor, willing to assist Hitler in defeating the English. TREASONS & TRIUMPH is a triumphant World War II thriller that will attain much acclaim for Bonnie Toews. From the start during the Spanish Civil War to the 1946 Derby race, the story line never slows down for a second. The motives of the important characters are clearly described so readers understand their acts of bravery. However, Ms. Toews' war novel is more than just an espionage thriller. The tale is so filled with vivid and often time ugly details of the horrors of the era that readers with a weak stomach will lose their lunch. The graphic descriptions built within a concise, fast-paced story line make this must reading for fans of the sub-genre. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Treason & Triumph
Review: The author describes the destruction and devastation of war as vividly as Picasso paints it in his most famous, La Guernica. As much as this novel provoked anger in me, it also challenged me to forgive. I found myself thinking about the scenes in this book long after I put it down and I searched for anyone who would listen. I had to discuss what I read. This book reaches a deeper level than just a "good read." It reaches the soul and reminds us we cannot allow the evil of history to repeat itself.
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