I’ll leave you with a powerful - meaningful excerpt that another Goodreads member SKIP…..included in his review. To me he captured the essence and meaning for this book — This book is based on a part of history I wasn’t aware of, how the Germans tried to fill their cities with German families who had moved years ago to the Ukraine. They were eager to leave the Russian communists behind, who hated their German heritage, but was following the Nazi Germans to ‘safety’ going to be any better? The Inside Flap Podcast: “‎The Inside Flap: Inside Chat: War And Bees With Mark T. Sullivan on Apple Podcasts”

The Last Green Valley by Mark T. Sullivan | Goodreads

This is the first book I’ve read by Mark Sullivan and I’m looking forward to reading more of his books in the future. I’ve read many historical fiction books over the past few years and this is one of the best, based on a true story about a family fleeing Stalin and heading West towards the end of World War 2. After the publication of BENEATH A SCARLET SKY in 2017, Mark started to receive letters from readers, telling him stories of their loved ones. Many of these stories were incredibly interesting, and Mark was hooked on the idea of discovering of whose story he should tell next. I found Mark Sullivan to be engaging and sympathetic in how he conveyed the situations and choices faced by Emil and Adeline. It would have been easy to veer into sentimentality and cliche but the story remained engaging throughout and you were left caring about what happened to the family.This is a WWII historical fiction that is very hard hitting. This WWII historical fiction follows a family of German heritage whose ancestors have farmed in Ukraine for a long time before the war started. I think all the other WWII historical fiction books I have read in the past follows a Jewish family, so I feel this book is like no other WWII historical fiction book I have read in the past. I have to say this book is incredibly hard to read at times because the author goes into details about the very bad things that is happening to this family we are following. There is way to many trigger warnings to go though all of them in this review, but if you are a person that gets upset by what you read please look into the trigger warnings before reading this book. While reading this book I felt I was right there with these characters. This book was well written. The author notes at the end when into how the author came to write this book, and you find out that this book is written basic on a true story someone told the author. This was a very moving story, and it is sad that people were treated the way these characters were. This is just one of those moving heart touching book you read, and it stays with you for a long time. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Lake Union Publish

Review: The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan | Authorlink Review: The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan | Authorlink

Sullivan tells me, “There was a significant amount of research for both novels. With the entirety of World War II, the stories offered such rich terrain, just these stories of regular and ordinary people up against astronomical stakes. You really don’t want to screw that story up.” Our final green moment in the Last Green Valley? Still River Cafe in Eastford, north of Natchaug State Forest, has garnered raves from the New York Times, and its Sunday brunch earns every star. Owned and run by two former attorneys, this place treats produce with reverence, and elegance is as effortless as breathing. Husband Robert Brooks works the organic garden; wife Kara cooks and designs the dishes, some of the prettiest food you’ll ever see. Bring your phone so the staff can guide you in. (Some locals may not give you directions, since Eastford was a dry town until the cafe applied for its wine and beer license.) Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the early digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Interesting note to myself — this is the second recent book I’ve read with visions- destinations in *Montana*…. Mark Sullivan has been a well-respected author for years with multiple awards to his name, and he wrote the Private series alongside the one and only James Patterson. However, with the release of his 2017 novel, BENEATH A SCARLET SKY, he entered another stratosphere. He produced a work of historical fiction set during World War II, a little-known tale of bravery and hope against all odds featuring an Italian hero named Pino Lella.Just as they have decided to try and break away and travel west Emil is arrested by Polish policemen and held for the Soviets and sent to a prison camp in Poltava Ukraine. Adeline and the boys kept traveling west and made it to Berlin. The lives they both had to live Emil in the camp and Adeline under Nazi rule for the next five years is a story of great strength, courage and faith. It is a testimony of their love for each other and their will to someday be free. The things they see and are forced to do will haunt you long after you finish this book. It hurt for a second there,” he said, standing up and wiping the sweat gush­ing from his forehead. “But I’m all right.”

The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan | Waterstones

Stroking her son’s face, Adeline gazed into Will’s eyes, smiled, and said, “We’re going to a beautiful green valley surrounded by mountains and forests. And snow up high on the peaks. And below, there will be a winding river and fields of grain for bread, and gardens with vegetables to feed us, and Papa will build us a house where we’ll all live together forever and ever, and we’ll never be apart.” I am honestly surprised I haven't heard more people talking about this book. I do wonder, like myself, that when this book was released that the world in its chaos and uncertainty was not able to handle this heavy story. I know for me, I had started this book numerous times but due to my mental health at the time could not keep going. I am so glad that I didn't push this book aside. It deserves all the attention. Historical Novel Society: “Learning From Those Who’ve Endured: The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan”Mark is one of the most gifted and successful novelists of our generation. His ability to weave drama, morality, and emotion through wonderfully captivating stories of the human spirit puts him among the greats.” — Tony Robbins, #1 New York Times bestselling author and the nation’s #1 life and business strategist

The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan – Karen K is reading The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan – Karen K is reading

There is so also much useless dialogue in this book. I swear there is a solid 5 minute part where the parents are discussing on whether or not their child should pee out of the wagon. And I had the speed at 1.3 so it probably was even longer. The Martel family is not at the camp in Poland for long before they are separated, stripped away from Haussmann and sent with several other men to again prove their loyalty. Now the true test of hope and faith for the Martels will be pushed to the limit. While Emil is toiling away in the East and trying to survive day to day, Adeline and the two boys follow his command of “going as far West as they can,” with the promise that he will find them. While not quite as varied a story, in my opinion, as Beneath a Scarlet Sky (also by Mark T. Sullivan) The Last Green Valley remains a compelling story of one family’s struggle under extremely difficult circumstances. The Last Green Valley in northeastern CT (and MA): An oasis of peace old-time nostalgia. Trails to hike, places to stay, meals to eat, gifts to buy, and what to do with the kids. Illustration by Beth Griffis Johnson A bucolic setting in Brooklyn, home of the Golden Lamb Buttery and the Brooklyn Fair, held every August.Mark Sullivan tells me that he came out of college determined that he was not going to have a typical corporate job. Perhaps this was what drew him to the Peace Corps, ultimately to him being posted to Africa. Sullivan confirms that it was this experience that opened his eyes to a larger world around him. Perhaps that was how the stories evolved for both Beneath a Scarlet Sky and The Last Green Valley, that there was a world vastly greater than what we are oftentimes acutely aware of. The raw wind gusted. A curled brown leaf from the previous autumn lifted from the dead grass to Adeline’s left, spun, looped, and danced across the stubble and around her and the boys in a curious, stuttering pattern before the gust sighed and the leaf tumbled softly to earth. It reminded her of a night long before when she’d seen money appear on the wind, a single crumpled bill that had danced before her in the same curious manner as this leaf, as if in response to some desperate and primal prayer. I’ve been wanting to read a book by Mark Sullivan since his Beneath a Scarlet Sky was such a smashing success. I still haven’t read that one, but I’m grateful to say I’ve read and loved The Last Green Valley. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own. We weren’t ready to go with your parents at four a.m., and as usual, they weren’t waiting for us,” Adeline replied sharply. “And . . .”