Thus began the beginning of a beautiful friendship that would grow stronger and stronger through the years. She also invited the sisters to come backstage after her performance. Elsa was so taken by the drawing and the warmth and sincerity of the sisters that she offered the sisters house seats. Henrietta rushed up to Elsa, introduced herself and her sister to Elsa and presented Elsa with a charcoal drawing Henrietta had drawn on her sketch pad. The night of the opera, Henrietta and Vera were waiting in line when Henrietta saw Elsa and the conductor of the orchestra as they approached the door of the opera house. Vera loved Henrietta’s painting and encouraged her. Henrietta had found what she had been searching for. After seeing Elsa Mayer-Braun perform the opera Elsa’s aunt had shown during her lecture Henrietta’s brush flew across the canvas. Henrietta was an aspiring artist but so far her art was not receiving the feedback she had hoped it would get. They just had to go see her even if it meant walking to work or skipping a couple of lunches to save enough money to purchase the tickets. They soon discovered that Elsa Mayer-Braun would be performing in London. That spurred them to purchase a record of the opera so they could listen to it any time they desired. Both Henrietta and Vera had taken a liking to opera after hearing a guest lecturer talk about opera and her niece, famous opera singer, Elsa Mayer-Braun. They did not have a lot of money but they made ends meet. The two sisters worked at civil servant jobs. They were extremely close and even shared a flat together. Henrietta and Vera Featherstone were sisters and resided and worked in London. This was a story about friendship, trust, courage, strength, bravery and secrets. The three women would support, respect, admire and risk everything for each other and for what they believed in. Amongst all this evil, unrest and uncertainty, one of the most unlikely friendships would take seed and flourish. It began during the time as Hitler and the Nazi regime were taking hold of Germany and trying to slowly but surely eradicate the Jewish people. The Secret Society of Salzburg by Renee Ryan was a gripping story that squeezed tightly at my heart. What better excuse to avoid housework and ignore clocks?Ĥ.5 glowing stars. Several years later, with an eclectic cast of characters swimming around in her head, she began seriously pursuing a writing career. She went on to teach high school Economics, American Government and Latin in between coaching award-winning cheerleading teams.
Two years later, armed with a degree in Economics and Religion, she explored various career opportunities, including stints at a Florida theme park, a modeling agency, and a cosmetic conglomerate. Hooked from page one, she spent hours consuming one book after another while working on the best (and last!) tan of her life. It wasn’t until the summer between her sophomore and junior years at Florida State University that she read her first romance novel. To entertain herself during those countless hours of “laying-out”, she read many of the classics. Surfing didn’t work for her, but that didn’t keep her from watching others tackle the waves. Renee Ryan grew up in a small Florida beach town. But Elsa’s growing fame as Hitler’s favorite opera singer, coupled with her secret Jewish ancestry, make her both a weapon and a target-until her future, too, hangs in the balance.įrom the glamorous stages of Covent Garden and Salzburg to the horrors of Bergen-Belsen, two ordinary women swept up by the tide of war discover an extraordinary friendship-and the courage to save countless lives. Though the war’s outbreak threatens Elsa and Hattie’s network, their efforts attract the covert attention of the British government, offering more opportunities to thwart the Germans. Using their friendship as a cover, they form a secret society with a daring goal: to rescue as many Jews as possible from Nazi persecution. Yet she and Hattie Featherstone forge an instant connection-and strike a dangerous alliance. From the author of The Widows of Champagne, and inspired by true events, comes a gripping and heartwrenching story of two very different women united to bring light to the darkest days of World War II.Īt first glance, Austrian opera singer Elsa Mayer-Braun has little in common with the young English typist she encounters on tour.
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