Publication Date: July 27, 2023
A mystery – the theft of a precious book. A disappearance without a trace. Three women, three very different destinies, all entwined in time and circumstance. Maria Eduarda, a mixed-race beauty born into the elite of Portuguese aristocracy, who is reaching adulthood during World War II, in neutral Portugal, in its capital – a melting pot for refugees, the displaced, spies, diplomats and opportunists. Hertha, born into German farming stock, destined to endure the terrible privations of war as a young child. Valeria, a child born of a much later generation, who brings the two together. And a man, Gerald Neale, English diplomat, and spy, devastatingly handsome, fluent in Portuguese but a not-so-nice guy, the shadow behind Eduarda and Hertha.
Stars Maintain Their Glow is the story of two exceptional women whose lives were impacted by social conventions of the time, war and men’s privileges. Their story is gradually revealed through the words of Valeria – her promise to Hertha to complete the book that Hertha felt she could not.
Two stories, seemingly unrelated, unfold through the memories of a German woman who lived through the devastation of World War II.
Author M.G. da Mota veers away from the traditional style of storytelling in Stars Maintain Their Glow. Instead, the author uses Valeria, a writer and historian, to document Hertie Lohmeyer’s memories, which intersect with the fate of a Portuguese woman named Maria Eduarda.
The storyline is well organized, with the introduction preparing readers for a trip to Portugal in 1940. The first section highlights the actions of a young man serving as a spy for the British against the Germans working in what was supposed to be a neutral country. While there, he becomes obsessed with the beautiful Maria Eduarda.
The second section focuses on Hertie in the mid-1940s as she and her family struggled to have enough food. While many stories of the time period focus on Hitler’s persecution of various groups of people, this one highlights the challenges of the common German people. With the threat of Russian troops, Hertie and her family are forced to escape.
The two stories, while seemingly unrelated, overlap to create some startling revelations. Both Hertie and Valeria are eager to find closure, which provides for fascinating reading.
The title itself plays a significant role in that both female main characters look to the sky during troubling times, relishing the beautiful stars shining brightly.
Stars Maintain Their Glow packs a powerful emotional punch with memorable characters who are unknowingly tied together.
 
M G da Mota is Margarida Mota-Bull’s pen name for fiction. She is a Portuguese-British novelist with a love for classical music, ballet and opera. Under her real name she also
writes reviews of live concerts, CDs, DVDs and books for two classical music magazines on the web: MusicWeb International and Seen and Heard International. She is a member of the UK Society of Authors, speaks four languages and lives in Sussex with her husband. Her website, called flowingprose.com, contains photos and information.
