I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has purchased, read, and taken the time to review one of my books. All profits from my books go to help get dogs like Roxy, Cruz, Cookie, Phoebe, Henry, Kayla, Brandee, Mazee, Skeeter, Juniper, Calvin, Jordan, Tyler, Bruce, Potato, Payton, bonded kennel mates Frieda & Buster, Annie, Sundance, Keanu, Saniah, Antonio, Lawrence, Gotti & Sebastian (see photos below) out of kill shelters. So far in 2020 26 dogs have been rescued. In 2019 409 dogs have been rescued. In 2018 670 dogs have been rescued. In 2017 we’ve helped free 904 dogs. In 2016, 250 dogs were freed. In 2015, 149 dogs were freed.
AND please for everyone who’s purchased a book could I humbly ask you to write a review when you’ve completed the read. Amazon promotes and ranks books according to number of reviews in addition to sales. Every voice helps spread the word and that is an energy that can help a dog.
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AMAZON RANKING
My books have been ranked in the top 100 best sellers on Amazon U.S. in their categories (historical fiction, teen and young adult, and literary fiction). What an honor to be ranked #87 LITERARY FICTION BEST SELLER next to Paulo Coelho; incredible author of The Alchemist and The Pilgrimage.
Amazon Australia ranked my book NUMBER ONE in all it’s categories: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction & Teen and Young Adult and is #3 best seller in the entire kindle bookstore.
And in Amazon U.K. it just made it to#1 Best Seller List in Teen & Young Adult Category and #3 in Historical Fiction Category and #24 best seller in the kindle books store.
NEW RELEASE AMAZON RANKING #3 FOR A DIFFERENT KIND OF ANGEL
RECENT REVIEWS FOR THE OLD GILT CLOCK
AMAZON U.S.
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2020
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
This fabulous book covers far more than the WW II an era rife with hatred, bigotry, and war crimes it is easy for heroes to fall through the cracks of history. Thus, THE OLD GILT CLOCK unveils the heroism of Willem Arondeus; a Dutch artist and author. Member of the Dutch resistance movement during said War.
From his painful birth on 22 August 1894; causing detachment and rejection from his mother, His self-discovery as a homosexual, completely incompatible with the views of his abusive drunken father. Culminating with his execution by the German Nazi Regime on 1 July 1943. We feel Willem’s pain, confusion, and growth. The prose in this book is powerful and beautifully crafted. As a result, while reading I felt very connected to the character. The book brilliantly parallels Hitler’s life as well as well-known and lesser known historical events.
This gave me as a reader a clear sense of the historical timeline and an awareness of some historical data I did not know. By following his life, we see the buildup and growth of prejudice and bigotry, that affected the world in both world wars.
Willem Arondeus was a homosexual man, in an era that placed him as unacceptable in a society that murdered so many. His understanding of suffering is key to propel the need to protect the Jewish people of Holland, risking and eventually losing his life.
The way words are woven so beautifully, had me re-reading here and there, as some of the lines were poetic. Inasmuch as knowingly reading a book with a guaranteed sad ending, the author manages to shed power of love and light in Willem’s journey through self-love, self-acceptance and the friendships he forges.
As WWII celebrated 75 years of ending in Europe sealed archives and information is revealed, I hope Paulette Mahurin and other Historical Authors will continue to unveil forgotten heroes and moments.
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2020
Paulette Mahurin writes beautiful description and instantly draws the reader into the narrative with parallels between the main character and Hitler in the early parts of the book. I found it easy to be taken into the intimate story of Willem Arondeus, who is an artist and a homosexual man. The early part of the book follows his childhood with cruelty from his father and cold-hearted treatment from his mother, then into World War 2 in the second half of the book. Willem shows heroic and courageous qualities and even though he has been treated harshly he maintains his compassionate and loving nature. He is also portrayed in a realistic manner as well. This is a powerful book, thoroughly researched, covering themes of love, compassion, courage and portraying a story we rarely hear. Mahurin’s description and characterisation is superbly done, drawing the reader instantly into the narrative and sustaining this throughout. This is a beautiful, at times sad but ultimately an important story of sacrifice and heroism that is not often seen.
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2020
On the background of the political situation in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century, in her lyrical language, the author introduces to us Willem Arondeus who was born into a dysfunctional family. We are invited into the inner sanctum of a boy then a teenager and later the young man with all his insecurity and loneliness. A gifted artist, he is not a typical person but one of them whose sexual orientation although tolerated in Netherlands is still frowned upon. When Hitler and his cohort come to power in Germany and then in Europe, the situation changes drastically, placing him into the category of undesirables like Jewish people and gypsies. Masterfully painting an accurate picture of the time and people, the author tells the story of the person who evolves into a fighter against prejudice and bigotry, who sacrifices his life while helping to save lives of Jewish people, the victims of injustices and persecutions. In the words of one of the characters, “It is the duty of every man to help them up and let them feel there is some hope for them in life”’ is in the core of this enthralling, vividly depicted tale of a real person.
You can’t expect a happy ending from a book like this but the message that “kindness exists in places least expected” made the impact from the descriptions of the atrocities committed by the German occupying forces a tad more tolerable. The novel ends on the powerful accord of “they will be remembered.” Yes, that’s why I suppose the author wrote this incredible story of Willem, whose kindness, compassion, and the spirit of a fighter would remind the future generations of his and his comrades’ heroic deeds.
I’m not giving out more details—read this wonderful, deeply touching, and humanistic-oriented novel from an amazing author-Paulette Mahurin. Highly recommended.
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2020
I am not typically a fan of historical novels. However the author managed to revisit Hitler and his army without making you feel like you were in a classroom. Willem decided to do everything he can to help the Jewish population get away from Hitler and his army. In doing so he gives up every hope of his own future and faces off with the Nazi army. I found Willem’s character to be extremely intriguing and fascinating. I was sad at how his band of friends was discovered and outed. Great emotional read that shows compassion goes a long way.
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2020
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
This book is wonderful in that it represents one of the biggest dilemmas in all of our lives. Do we quietly accept the machinations of powerful forces that confront us, or do we risk EVERYTHING to support love, well being, connectedness, and sanity. Very inspiring work.
Also, like great literature does, it inspired me to research and understand the lives of the resistance fighters in the Netherlands and elsewhere.
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2020
Format: Kindle Edition
I have to admit I am a fan of Paulette Mahurin’s books. In the Old Guilt Clock, I enjoyed the historical information. I was reminded that although we have our own personal challenges, we are also part of a community, society, and nation with issues we need to confront and help shape. During WWII the protagonist, Willem could have turned his back on the persecution of Jews and others. His story of standing up to the Nazis, of demonstrating courage in the face of personal sacrifice was inspiring. Mahurin’s book provides an example of how we can make a difference.
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2020
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
There are times, particularly in the face of conflict or adversity, in which one might be tempted to ask, “What can one person do?”
The story of Willem Arondeus is testament to the fact that one person can do a very great deal to oppose hatred or wrongdoing, both through their own efforts but also by inspiring and encouraging others to also stand against evil.
Willem’s life story is well written and makes compelling reading. A man well acquainted with prejudice and hatred, Willem has been brought to life by the author in a manner that is both realistic about his flaws and empathetic about his suffering, credibly portraying him as a very normal person with a profound commitment to doing what was right.
This book adds a personal dimension to history and confronts the reader with the sense of helplessness experienced by the Dutch people of the time, and with the anger and resentment they harboured toward the Nazis and those who dumped with them. It made me reflect on what I know of my own grandfather, who was also a member of the Dutch resistance during the German occupation of the Netherlands in WWII, and to feel.somehow even more strongly connected to Willem and his friends as a result.
This is often an uncomfortable read, but it is an important one. Because stories like this are told, our generation is prompted to be vigilant against evil, to stand with the oppressed, and to ‘do some good ‘ in our often hateful world. It is a most timely reminder.
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2020
Paulette Mahurin’s story “The Old Gilt Clock” takes place in the early 20th century in The Netherlands. We follow Willem Arondeus life starting from an awkward boyhood with an abusive antisemitic father and an emotionally cold (almost non-existent) mother. This boy had many strikes against him yet grew to be a talented artist and writer. As he matures, he realizes that he is homosexual (something abhorrent to his father). With no close family relationships, he develops friendships including a Jewish family. When the Nazi storm troopers descend on the Netherlands, Willem decides to work against them in whatever way he can. This is a story about striving to do the right thing against impossible odds.
It is a compelling story. I appreciate the historical research. Getting the details right without bogging the story down in minutia is a formidable skill. My only slight quibble was that occasionally the dialogue did not seem quite natural, but that could be my American perspective failing to grasp the culture. Over all it is a solid effort, well worth reading.
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2020
Format: Kindle Edition
A true story well protrayed and well researched. A very touching story of some trying to do good in an evil envoriment. We owe our gratitude to these good peple for all time. All gave some, some gave all!
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2020
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
The Old Gilt Clock, based on a true story, begins well before WWII with the birth and abusive upbringings of Willem Arondeus, a homosexual who is kicked out of his home by his homophobic father. The first half of the book deals with his upbringing and how when he is exiled from his home he is befriended by a compassionate Jewish family. It is here he grows into a famous Dutch painter and author. When the Jewish family flees to America to escape persecution, they leave an impact embedded in Willem’s heart and soul that motivates him to want to help others. When WWII breaks out and the Nazis invade the Netherlands, Willem joins the resistance. Willem devises a plan and along with his group of resistance members he saves close to a million Jewish people. Sadly their display of great courage is ultimately betrayed. Mahurin does a great job of piecing together the life of a hero in her beautifully descriptive story. The book captures what life was like in Amsterdam during WWII and brilliantly shows how malice and prejudice spread, poisoning a whole society. I found that the description of Willem’s background and the context of the society in which he grew up helped explain the motivation for his resistance work so that he was not just a cutout figure doing great deeds. The story brings the life of Willem Arondeus, an important gay hero who had been unknown, into our awareness. Honored posthumously by the Dutch, Arondeus has also been recognized by Yad Vashem in Jerusalem as a Righteous Among the Nations for his mighty efforts to save Jews. An incredible must read, especially in these troubling times when homophobia, racism, and other forms of persecution and intolerance are on the rise. Highly recommend.
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2020
I’m intrigued by individuals who are willing to put their lives on the line to help others. When and how is the spark ignited for them? Where do they get the strength? How do they hold onto their beliefs and continue to act under the worst circumstances? In her latest historical novel “The Old Gilt Clock,” author Paulette Mahurin answers those questions about Willem Arondeus, a Dutch man who joined the resistance during World War II and whose actions saved the lives of thousands of Jews.
I’d never heard of Arondeus, so Mahurin’s approach to this historical novel suited me perfectly. In the course of the novel, we learn that Willem grew up in the Netherlands in the early years of the 20th Century with a mother who showed him little affection and a father who tried to bully his son into becoming the man he wanted him to be. We learn how Arondeus developed his creative talents, gained friends, and came to stand up to his father. An artist, writer, and homosexual, Arondeus developed empathy for friends and patrons who were Jews. All this came into play for Arondeus when Hitler rose to power and exercised his hatred for Jews and other ‘undesirables.”
Mahurin does a particularly good job throughout the novel of grounding readers in the historical place and time. This skill is exercised in her other historical novels as well. She writes vividly, giving characters and scenes life, though sometimes she tells readers things they mostly likely know or can see in the scenes she depicts. I recommend this book to fans of historical fiction and World War II and to anyone who, like me, likes to know the deeper backstory of the person they’re reading about.
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2020
An unlikely hero, Willem Arondéus, a Dutch artist, novelist, and homosexual risked his life to join the Dutch Resistance movement during the Nazi occupation. He designed a plan and set in motion its implementations, along with a group of other brave men and women, that ultimately saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of Jewish Dutch citizens. A man who struggled with his father’s hatred of homosexuals (that is dealt with in the first half of the story) dared to come out in the face of being abandoned and kicked out of his home. But instead of Willem’s rejection from his family turning him cold and bitter, he displayed kindness, compassion, and remarkable courage. Honored as a hero by the Netherlands and Israel, Arondéus’ story is one that runs deep into the nature of intolerance. It casts a light on how one virulent strain of hatred can spread to inflict a death sentence upon millions of innocent people. Masterfully told, although this occurred in the early 1940s it is every bit applicable today with the rise of homophobia and anti-Semitism around the world. There is much to learn from the story of this courageous man. Much to be remembered, lest the acorns of hatred once again grow to mighty oaks. Highly recommended.
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2020
I had never heard of Willem Arondéus until I read this book. It tells of the braveness and courage of a man who was treated horribly by his parents , but grew in to a humane character that helped in the saving of many Jewish lives during WWII. Being Gay made it even harder for him and others during this time. Paulette did an amazing job in telling this story about a man that was Gay and still loved everyone. Recommended to everyone who enjoys a great read.
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2020
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I have read all of Ms. Mahurin’s books. I had never heard of Willem Arondeus before reading this book. I am now looking up more information on him. I will never tire of reading about good people doing good, great things, in the face of all evil. I consider a novel to be extraordinaire when it teaches me about compassion, truth, honor and dignity. When it leaves me wanting more information, and to be a better human. Thank you Paulette for bringing this man’s story to my world.
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2020
I’ve grown to be a huge fan of Paulette Mahurin’s novels. The Old GIlt Clock is somewhat different than the others in that it has a biographical bent to it, a storyteller’s rendition of a man’s life from the moment of his birth to the time of his death. For this reason, it felt less a novel written in the deep point of view of the characters, and more of a revelation and a recapitulation of a life journey, told from an omniscient perspective. Willem himself was a very sympathetic character with many admirable traits in terms pf sensitivities and artistic talents. A childhood in which Willem was shown virtually no love, eventual friendships with two compassionate Jewish families, and his continuing search for love within the gay community all gave the book a unique backdrop. The same influences were very formative in respect to the man he became. I feel like An Old Gilt Clock shines a light on a very important story and illuminates a tragic part of WWII history.
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2020
Format: Kindle Edition
This was a very different read for me. Though not a romance there are a few romantic elements. This is more a work of literary historical fiction.
The Old Guilt Clock is the story of a man from Birth on as he found himself, friends, and ways to help as many Jews and homosexuals as possible in the times of Hitler’s reign in War World II.
The story started a bit slow for me and skipped around with different views and I got lost some, but it was intriguing enough I kept on reading and was glad I did.
My heart went out to Wilhelm and his friends and I still can’t help but wonder whatever happened to that old clock.
The story is beautifully written, very descriptive, interesting and informative. If you like history, War stories, and a good ugly cry…this is for you.
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2020
The writing was great and I loved that a heroic gay man risked his life to save millions of Jews.
AMAZON U.K.
18 January 2020
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
Paulette Mahurin’s latest work follows the life of Dutch resistance member Willem Arondeus- and it’s an extremely powerful read. While the latter part of the book centres around the dire events of WW2, I found the first half of the book just as fascinating; Mahurin takes us on a journey through Arondeus’s young life and the challenges he faces from both his family and society as a homosexual. As expected, there are many harrowing moments in the story, but there are also moments of hope; the book serves as a reminder of the power of love and the need for tolerance and understanding. An extremely powerful and important book that’s not to be missed.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 January 2020
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
This is a story of the Dutch Resistance, describing the attempt of a group of people to disrupt the extermination of Dutch Jews…..but so much more than a war story.
The author builds a picture of how a society slowly succumbs to prejudice and ignorance, how innocent people are denigrated and dehumanised, how little the civilised values count when the barbarians have the upper hand – and how those same values inspire people to resist, to act at the cost of their own lives.
A book with a message all too valid for our own times.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 January 2020
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
This is one of my favourite authors and yet again she has written an excellent and very emotional story. Set in WW2, this is the true story of a Dutch man who joined the resistance and helped save the lives of many Jews. Willem Arondeus is an artist and homesexual, who experiences a terrible childhood with his bullying, drunken and homophobic father. When he is kicked out of home, he is fortunate to be befriended by a lovely Jewish family, who admire him both as a man and as an artist. The family flees to America to escape persecution but their impact on Willem remains. He is determined to do everything possible to save the Dutch Jews from the Nazis. He and his friends display great courage but they are ultimately betrayed. The author does justice to Willem with a beautifully descriptive story, which although sad in places is also inspiring. Highly recommended!
5 January 2020
This book has had me gripped from start to finish. Starting with the birth of Willem Arrondeus and following him throughout his life, it gives you an amazing insight into the prejudice of the Jews and of homosexuals at this time.
Willem had a very hostile environment as he grew up but he never stopped fighting for what he believed in. His character was admirable and author Paulette Mahurin has told his story tremendously. The research that has gone into this story is truly admirable and I highly recommend this book to be read!
REVIEWS ON A READERS FAVORITE SITE
The Old Gilt Clock
A Novel
Fiction – Historical – Event/Era
275 Pages
Reviewed on 01/18/2020
Reviewed by Heather Osborne for Readers’ Favorite
The Old Gilt Clock by Paulette Mahurin chronicles the life of Dutch resistance fighter Willem Arondeus. The novel begins with his experiences through childhood, including the abuse he faced from his alcoholic father. Realizing at a young age that he was homosexual, Willem never shies from his sexuality and is open about his relationships with men. Also a novelist and artist, Willem not only publishes an anti-Nazi pamphlet but begins working with another Dutch resistance member to forge documents for Jewish people in their town. However, their assistance is soon discovered thanks to the Amsterdam registry office. Willem is not to be deterred and comes up with a plan that he hopes will foil the Nazis’ attempts to deport Jewish people to concentration camps.
This is possibly the first historical novel I have read about a Dutch resistance fighter. Although the novel does focus a bit on Willem’s sexuality, it’s merely a part of who he is and doesn’t detract from his drive to help the people of their town escape from Nazi persecution. After some of my own research, I believe Mahurin has given life to an unsung hero of World War II, of which there are many. I applaud how she intermingles history into her fiction, producing a novel that is both heartbreaking and hopeful. I never knew how much the Dutch people resisted the Nazi occupation during the war. The Old Gilt Clock by Paulette Mahurin is certainly a must-read for anyone interested in resistance fighters during World War II.
RECENT REVIEW FOR THE SEVEN YEAR DRESS
AMAZON U.S.
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2020
Good book
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2020
Enjoyed the heart touching story
AMAZON U.K.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 January 2020
Format: Kindle Edition
A touching, gripping life story of a young girl growing up in hiding and surviving the death camp and her faith in survival.
DOGS RESCUED FROM KILL SHELTERS
Roxy has been rescued
Roxy’s freedom photo
Cruz has been rescued
Cruz’s freedom photo
Cookie has been rescued
Cookie’s freedom photo
Elderly phoebe has been rescued
Phoebe’s freedom photo
Siblings Pachito & Sultan rescued together
