Deception (Berlin Butterfly #2) by Leah Moyes

Deception (Berlin Butterfly #2) Reviews

• 
  Energy (Rae's Reading)

  It's been hard on Ella waiting out Stefan's service in the military, but she has the letters he has sent to her to keep her going, until, the letters stop. Time seems to keep crawling forward and Ella isn't sure what to make of Stefan's radio silence. He hasn't even communicated with his family, and more importantly, his sister Katherine with whom he is very close with. On the one hand, it makes Ella keep hope that he hasn't blown her off because he isn't writing his family, and on the other hand, it has everyone worried for Stefan's safety.
  
  But as the months start to pile on top of each other, Ella starts to doubt Stefan. There is no reason for him to have gone on this long without writing her, so she crawls into a hole and shuts off communication with everyone who loves her. Finally realizing that this isn't the life she wants, she starts writing her brother and Anton again, she even makes contact with Katherine, who is now married and has returned home to work. Her desire for more out of life leads her back to some old friends, friends who don't want to stay in the East any longer.
  
  What embarks is a dangerous mission to tunnel out of East Berlin, to make her way back to Josef and Anton, and to escape the pain of Anton's betrayal in the East.
  
  I really love what Moyes has done with this series. Ella has evolved quite a bit since book 1 and while she still isn't completely strong and assertive, she is starting to take control of her life. There were things I wasn't expecting out of her relationship with Stefan and I can't wait to see how that resolves in book 3. Every time things started to go well for Ella, something set her back, and my heart broke for her. Deception is very nicely done and I cannot wait to continue Ella's story.
• 
  Amy Shannon

  Captivating
  
  I've read Ensnare, the first book in the Berlin Butterfly series, and while it's not necessary, I recommend it. In this story, now, it's 1966 and Ella is grown, there is still the battle of the Berlin sides, with its wall more than just barbed wire. This story was just as grand as the first one, and this one shows more character growth, and depth. A new storyline, but the same struggles and journey, adding heart-filled love to keep her going. This is just as much as a page turner as the other one, and I enjoyed both very much. I look forward to her next book due to be released soon. This book is recommended by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews.
  
• 
  Betty B

  I love this series! Deception is book 2 and I am captivated with the characters! Ella is strong yet vulnerable and Stefan and Anton...ahhhh...I understand there will be one more book, thank goodness! It was a cliff hanger!
• 
  Elizabeth Fellows

  Relinquish Butterfly
  
  Deception - what a heart breaking story. This book goes through a lot of emotional turmoil. So many thins that transpire in this story are dreadful and distressing. This is the continuation of Book 1, and the life of Stefan and Ella seem to get worse, not better. The reality of this book is that the reader comprehends the brutality of the East German system especially when Ella and her friends go through a failed escape and how brutal the border police where. This book keeps you are your toes throughout the read. The reader has such a deflated understanding and a feeling of total entrapment. Definitely worth the read.
• 
  Loretta Gabriel

  A great story of love and compassion.
  
  The author has written a great story of life and love and what happens to them when the troubles of the world get in the way to keep lovers and friends apart. Very enjoyable and entertaining reading that will give you a great prospective on life.
• 
  Lady Bookworm

  Great story
  
  This book gives you a glimpse of what life was like on the east side of Berlin. It's a great book but unfortunately these are true stories of people who suffered so much.
• 
  Melissa

  Berlin Butterfly Book 2
  
  So many things happened to Ella from childhood to adult. Love, hate and even wanted to die. She feels doomed to East Berlin. I really cried with this book.
• 
  Pam

  Berlin Butterfly: Deception: Berlin Butterfly Series Book 2 is by Leah Moyes. This is the second in the series about the Berlin Wall and its effect on the people who were separated from loved ones because of it. It is the continuing story of Ella and Stefan.
  The Wall went up one night without warning. At first, it was simply wire; but that swiftly changed into concrete barriers and then a second wall creating a zone between where many were caught trying to escape. There were many attempts at escape from the East to the West. Most of them probably didn’t make it. There was never a count and people just disappeared. Some tried to swim across and were shot or drowned. Some tried to climb the wall and were shot. Some tried to tunnel under the wall and either the tunnel collapsed, they were caught, or they made it through. The Stasi infiltrated clubs and groups and meetings to try to catch people talking about trying to escape. If caught, they were questioned, tortured, or bribed into exposing everyone possible in the group.
  Ella had not heard from Stefan for over thirty-three months. He had promised to write; but either he was unable to or his letters were being confiscated or he had fallen out of love with her. She was desperate to hear from him and tried everything to get news about him. His sister, Katherine, had not heard from him either and through her, she knew his parents hadn’t heard. There was to be a military parade that afternoon and the troops were to be marched through town so she intended to be there to see if she would be able to see him at least. She finally made her way to a place where she could see the men and watched them go by. Unfortunately, they all looked alike from a distance and she was unable to pick him out. So, she went to work at the café. When she got there, she served a group of soldiers and noticed they had the same insignia on their sleeves as Stefan did. She asked them about him and they knew exactly who she was. He was to meet them there. At that moment, he came in. She was able to spend the next three days with him. Of course, she had to share him evenings with his parents and she could not go to their house as they disapproved of her. Then he was gone again and they had no idea how long nor where. At lease they had reaffirmed their commitment to each other. Now they were back to letterwriting for who knew how long.
  While Stefan is gone, Ella tries to keep busy with her job and with the little girl Mari that they saved from the streets and managed to get into the orphanage where Ella had been brought up. She also tried to keep in contact with Josef and Anton who were in the West. She missed her brother and best friend very much; but not as much as she missed Stefan. Why didn’t he write?
  
• 
  Carolyn

  Berlin Butterfly series – Book two – Deception
  
  Deception is the second book in the trilogy Berlin Butterfly by Leah Moyes. Ella, the heroine of book one, continues to live a sparse life trapped behind the Wall. No longer employed by the wealthy Franke family, she now works as a waitress. Her beloved Stephan is serving a ten-year military service sentence and she spends her free time writing to him. However, she does not have his address, so her letters remain in a pile.
  Whenever there is a military parade in Berlin, Ella searches for a possible sight of Stephan. Three years after his departure, she miraculously finds him, and they reunite for a couple of wonderful days. Stephan even proposes to Ella, and she accepts. Later, they come across a young girl living under street debris, they decide to help her. They name her Mari. Mari needs immediate medical treatment to survive. Stephan gives the doctor his gold pocket watch to cover the costs.
  Then he is gone. He gives her his communal mail address. She continually writes to him but receives only one reply. Meanwhile, Ella speaks with the head of the orphanage where she herself grew up and secures a spot for Mari. Ella also makes contact with her brothers in the West. Her desire to be reunited with them grows and she begins to question her commitment to Stephan.
  Ella starts taking increased risks as she pursues the idea of trying to escape to the West. She puts herself in much more danger. In this second book, we see a much more confident and angry Ella. She keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.
  As in Book One, Moyes provides a vivid sense of time and place. The atmosphere of constant surveillance and danger is loud and clear. The military presence has increased as the government clamps down on any signs of subversive activity. The reader feels goosebumps!
  This historically accurate page-turner is a gem!!
• 
  Kristin Breaux

  Heartbreaking
  
  Parts of the writing annoyed me but Moyes can really tell a story. A heart wrenching, realistic story that is as messy as real life. I didn't want to stop reading. My heart aches along with Ella. Can't wait to the next.
• 
  K C B

  Must read series!
  
  Wow! Such an amazing book, I can’t wait to read #3. It’ll keep you drawn in! What more can I say than the other reviews??!