During the WWII, the Western Ukraine suffered from two external conflicts. In 1939 its lands were annexed by the Soviet Union with establishment of totalitarian regime of the communist dictatorship on its territory. In 1941 another totalitarian entity - the Nazi Germany - conquered its lands, bringing death and new hardships to people.

Digging through memories, there are thousands of families that have their own stories to tell as testimonies of the cruelty of that time. One woman has recently given voice to her mother-in-law’s memories in a sincere way, bringing back to the surface what war means and how it affects people.

In a realistic, moving but also punctual account, Angelic Tarasio has written Mother Maria. The author was born in the Ukraine and at the present time she is residing in the United States. The memory of the above mentioned historical events and personal example of her mother-in-law greatly affected the life of the author, as well as the lives of author’s husband and children.

The author doesn’t want people to forget the mercilessness of war when the human world lost 72 million people without gaining anything except painful memory. It’s our history. We are not able to change it but we can avoid senseless losses in future if the right conclusions are made. The experience of the past teaches people to be cautious with developing of new political systems.

Angelic Tarasio learned from her mother-in-law’s life experience that there is always chance of surviving. The most important thing is to find the right way. The author described truthfully, having in her family a bright example of how hard a woman can fight and how life can be devastating while still leaving a chance of surviving, just if someone is able to believe and see it.

Maria, the central focus of Angelic Tarasio’s book, is a woman who has overcome many hard times, preserving her inner spiritual integrity. Tarasio writes in her dedication: "an amazing mother-in-law Maria, who was saved by the Divinity and who did not separate her life from serving God". As she is drawn by Angelic, we see Maria in the image of an extraordinary strong and talented person and at the same time she is a humane, humble and gentle woman.

It took time and under the pressure of war danger Maria, a fragile young woman, becomes strong, and fights for herself and her family. She was surely driven by a spiritual force to overcome particular moments of her life, but besides the support from above all her personal strength is so clearly spotted that she can easily be raised to a possible paradigm of how to face life and how strong one can be when needed.

Still, this is not an inspirational book only: it is not only an emotional love story. It is both of these things, plus a well-detailed alternative history document with lots of precise references to the war and the actual events, all working as a frame for Maria’s life. Starting from real episodes, Tarasio uses her mother-in-law’s memories together with her imagination, so not all the events described in the book are factual; yet the very foundation is conversations between the author and Maria herself.

She was a demure and sensitive young girl from an educated family, who developed into resourceful and brave woman. Captured by the Nazi’s in the vicious circle of WWII, she finds herself being a witness to the horrors of mankind. She is, then, subjected to another form of abuse, torture and slavery. However, Maria is saved. Her explanation is that she is miraculously saved by her faith in Divinity. She asked and was blessed to find her way to remain alive and successful.

Angelic Tarasio beautifully tells us the story of a survivor. As every pain makes us stronger, her strength, integrity and inspirational dedication gets enhanced by her hardships. The way she has overcome the life threatening difficulties keeps Maria in the memory of her family and now, thanks to the book, of everyone who will read Mother Maria.

Excerpt from Dorrance Publishing Co. letter:

We have read your manuscript, and we would be pleased to publish in under our subsidy program.

As the first part of an intended trilogy, "God’s Miracles in Lives of Regular People: Mother Maria" is designed to recall exactly what the title suggests. Maria is your mother-in-law, whom you described as "my first teacher in theology, my older sister in Christ, and my dear friend in life." The manuscript recalls the World War II, coupled with several miraculous occurrences that allowed her to survive. Thus, in many ways, your work is designed to be a testament to living by faith……..

Several aspects of "God’s Miracles in Lives of Regular People: Mother Maria" could help the manuscript to have a wide appeal. In many ways, it is a fast-paced tale of adventure, whose suspense may keep readers on the edge of their seats. In other ways, it is a striking testament to the power of faith; readers might enjoy the prayers that run as refrains throughout these pages. Lastly, "God’s Miracles in Lives of Regular People: Mother Maria" offers an invaluable first person perspective into the struggles of ordinary people during World War II; you are able to convey the fear, paranoia, and danger that these people faced every day. Thus, your manuscript is able to add a fresh perspective and dimension to the canon of World War II literature…….

David Zeolla
Managing Director
Pittsburgh, PA USA

Review by: Joyce Rice

http://www.forewordmagazine.net/clarion/viewreviews.aspx?reviewID=844

Maria is only ten years old when her mother walks out of the house, leaving Maria’s father to raise five children alone. Maria can still remember her mother’s smell and the way she would sit on her bed at night and talk to her. Like most young girls, Maria dreams of one day marrying her handsome prince, raising a family, and living happily ever after. When she is college age, she visits her grandfather who predicts for her a life of sorrow but strength. Maria is frightened of this prediction and seeks to deny its reality in her life. The young college graduate has visions of a future filled with good things. Maria, however, is living in the Ukraine in 1941.

As the horrors of World War II and Nazi occupation are unveiled, readers follow Maria’s life through the pages of her diary, as told by her daughter-in-law. Her capture and assignment to a concentration camp, her multiple escapes from execution, and the evidence of her protection from a supernatural God are all a part of this story.

Maria’s miraculous rescue and reunion with her French fiancé, Alexander, are evidence of the goodness of others, even in the midst of war. Her story reminds readers that hardship comes to all and that perseverance and determination can bring you through the hardship and make you a stronger, better person. Essential to the story is the author’s belief that a loving, caring Heavenly Father is watching over each of us and directing our paths through situations, relationships, and dreams.

The foreword of the book by German-born Michael Schaefer, a management consultant, reminds readers that younger generations still have the opportunity to learn about this period of European history from those who lived through it. He believes that each person should consider this a gift and take advantage of those memories for future generations.

The book’s preface, dedication, and introduction are all written by the author, and some of these sections could have been combined. The language is a bit stilted, due in part to the author’s translation from German to English. Subject-verb agreement is often missed, and sentence structure can be forfeited as a result of the language differences.

Although the experiences of Mother Maria are enlightening to a readership that is seeking to gain a "feel" for this time in history, the author’s descriptions are simplistic and bland. When Maria and her fiancé narrowly escape the bombing of a hospital by driving away in a borrowed car, the description sounds more like they have just started out on a Sunday afternoon drive. Corrie Ten Boom’s Hiding Place is a more riveting book about this type of story.

Readers Reviews
www.mother-maria.com

Angelic’s veritable gift to tug the reader into Maria’s life journey is the work of astonishing skill and love. The author teaches us the power of faith under the most revolting conditions. We are reminded of the inhuman fate of ten million Ukrainian people, during world war two. Hitler’s death camps and Stalin’s gulag provide the reader a look into the repugnant details of evils darkest moments.

Dr. Maria Kotyk’s dossier was given to mom so her story could be told. Gods Miracles is a must read! The true story opens all your senses as her life unfolds. You can smell the spring flowers and hear the shrieks of pain. The feel of torture clouds your vision as the gun smoke engulfs you. The tissue is close by so you can see the next page.

-Michael J. Barrette B.A., DAV US, ARMY

I found this book very intellectually informative and spiritually inspirational.
It reminded me that throughout the history people underwent greater hardships than we endure today in our everyday life. In the worst case, we can lose a house or a car, however our life and freedom to succeed is not at jeopardy.
What are we stressing about these days???
Why are we forgetting to live and love in each moment of our Life???
This book reminded me of true values of life!!!

-Grateful reader

Very often we ask our self "Why does G-d test us? Why does an all-knowing G-d need to test anybody? Shouldn’t He know what is in our hearts without testing us? What is the G-d’s miracle?"
Tests are closely related to miracles: "A miracle is when G-d breaks out of his standard pattern of natural law and demonstrates unlimited powers.... A test is when G-d invites you to do the same." Maria passed the test with rock solid faith.
When G-dliness is not readily evident, and our lives often focus on material concerns, Faith is fundamental at this difficult time . "When there is little light from above, our Divine service must be illuminated by light from within, the fire of faith each one of us possesses in his heart."
This book helps such lights be kindled and fanned.
What is remarkable that this book came out in the month of Kislev which is month of Miracles.
Having gone through a test myself (I’m a cancer survivor) I found this story is inspirational and spiritual.

-Faina M.