The Lost Letter: A Novel Hardcover – June 13, 2017

Prior to reading this book, I never thought much of postal stamps... couldn't care less, however my grandmother had a tin of stamps that I kept when she passed away, I didnt keep the tin filled with stamps for the stamps (some are from the 1800s) however, I saved it because every time I open the tin, it smells of her... I never really stopped to think of what the stamps may have meant to her and now, this little tin of stamps are all that much more precious to me after reading this story.What an absolutely beautiful story.The ending is chefs kiss.I cannot WAIT to find another good read by this author I also learned she is in Tucson (my home town) how wonderful! This read has been pure joy. The characters are all truly lovable, no filler, no fluff, no disconnects... every page was easy to read and follow, sometimes, even with some of my fav authors, there are pages I wish I could just skip - sometimes entire chapters... This is not one of them. Absolutely wonderful. This story will stay with me forever.

I liked this novel because it talked about the War from a perspective I hadn’t heard about before (ie., the stamp engraving). Was it a ‘page turner’? No, but it was a good read and had a very happy ending!

Great story, great character development, very well written.This book is hard to put down and will take you through every emotion.

The Lost Letter by Jillian Cantor had me enthralled from the first page to the last. Flashing back and forth between the time of Hitler’s invasion of Austria in 1938 and the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989, an intricate story of parallel lives and struggles emerges. The author does a fantastic job of fleshing out the scenes of war-torn Europe and the Kristallnacht, the horrible night when anyone of Jewish heritage was sought out, killed or sent to work camps, never to be seen again.In the face of such terror, those who are brave enough to fight the Germans risk everything to help get others to safety. Jewish Elena, daughter of a prominent stamp engraver, fears nothing as she and her father’s German apprentice forge documents and stamps, allowing others to flee to freedom.Fifty years later in Los Angeles, Katie struggles as her life seems to implode all around her. With her mother dead, the care of her father falls to her. As Alzheimer’s erodes his mind, and the past and present blur, she has no choice but to put him into a special care facility. Feeling neglected and putout due to lack of attention, Katie’s husband unceremoniously tells her he wants a divorce and moves out.Running from the very first scene of the book to the last, postage stamps become the common thread throughout the story. They are the means to salvation. They are also the key to the past. And everything that happens in this incredibly rich, compelling tale is bound together in a flawless narrative that held me fascinated. I have read very few books that are this perfectly pulled together. I can’t recommend it enough. It will inspire, entertain, frighten and surprise you. And most of all, it will warm your heart.

It’s been a while since I felt compelled to read a book from cover to cover within a 24 hr.period. This book really kept me turning the pages. The author has crafted a well written and suspenseful novel with a satisfying ending. I will certainly be searching for other books by this author.The book alternates between events occurring during the German invasion of Austria and the main character’s (Kate’s) quest to unravel the mystery behind a letter and unusual stamp found in her father’s stamp collection, which she has inherited. She accomplishes well what other authors sometimes do very poorly. The transitions between the past and Kate’s present circumstances are seamless. You don’t find yourself going back to figure out what happened and how it ties in to the story. This is one of the drawbacks of leaping back and forth in time while telling a story.One of my requirements for liking a book is that I can identify with the characters and that they are real and likable. Kristoff, the young orphan and engraving apprentice; Elena, the fearless and sometimes reckless revolutionary; Miri, the younger sister who both admires and envies her older and more beautiful sibling; Frederick Faber, the master engraver who takes Kristoff under his wing, and Mrs. Faber who loves and nurtures them all: I love these characters!I love the way the plot develops by offering the reader subtle clues and “bite-size” resolutions leading toward the final resolution of the greater mystery. I will not spoil the adventure for you by revealing the details of the plot, but will very highly recommend this book.

The Lost Letter by Jillian Cantor is a winning story that wonderfully parallels two very different times. And several very different characters. I have to say that I was beginning to get nervous about the possibility that this amazing book would end without revealing the one piece of information I was dying of curiosity to learn. And that I would have write my own version in order to achieve a sense of completion. Lol. I will probably still ponder my own version of a lost letter for many months, and years, to come. 🦋

While the story takes place during a horrific time period, the story is one of hope and survival. I like Jillian Cantor’s books. This one is my favorite of her books. I highly recommend it.

An interesting and enlightening but sad narrative about a very dangerous time in history. The characters are all defined and seen gentle but strong. An enjoyable read.It

Wonderful story about love, courage and loyalty. Author creates 2 intertwined stories in different periods of time that slowly come together. As the tension builds, I just couldn’t put it down.

The way book is written is quite interesting. Going from present to past with every new chapter is something new I have read. Story is also good.

J'ai aimé cette romance dramatique sur son fond historique

Omg so amazing. Read this in one sitting and I want to pick it up and start all over again. I've been in a slight reading funk and this book reminds me of why I love it so much. It draws you in and won't let you go. Fifty stars. Read this book!Ps ignore the cover! This book is a must read! I'm so upset that the cover put me off of this book because it was so good! I wish I'd picked it up as soon as I had received it!