From Goodreads : “ One woman’s secret war against the Nazis. One man’s war against himself…
1940, Jersey
When Nazi forces occupy Jersey in the English Channel Islands, Céline Huber, who is married to a German, must decide where her loyalty lies.
Love for her island, and fear for her Jewish friend Rachel, soon propel her into a dangerous double life.
Meanwhile, Céline’s husband Fred is conscripted into the Wehrmacht in occupied France.
Horrified by Nazi acts of atrocity and torture, he soon becomes a double agent for the French Resistance.
But when things go wrong, and his Nazi masters discover his true allegiance, he finds he has the whole of the German Army on his tail.
How far will Céline go for her best friend? Will Fred make his way home to her?
Or will their lives be changed forever by the brutality of war?”
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My Review
This was a lovely surprise of a book, one that gripped me and played with my emotions.
I had an ulterior motive for reading this book whilst I had my Kindle Unlimited subscription. My mother was a child during the Nazi Occupation of Jersey during World War Two, and every now and then I like to read books set during this very dark period of my island’s history. This year just like mainland Europe we will be celebrating 75 years of freedom from the Nazi Occupation, so it seemed even more appropriate to read it now.
As I mentioned above this was a really good historical fiction novel. It really did grip me from the beginning, as war is declared and Fred is called up to join the Germany army in France, leaving his wife Celine at home in their bakery back in Jersey. Little do either of them realise how difficult life is going to become for both of them in France and in Jersey in the coming years.
I loved both Celine and Fred and felt for them as followed their journeys throughout the book. I was scared for Fred as his life took a very dramatic turn in France when he unwittingly becomes a double agent. In Jersey poor Celine not only has to endure not knowing what is happening to her husband, but also the fact that the German army takes over the island changing life completely for everyone living there.
I’m really glad I read this and discovered that one of the storylines is based on true events that happened during the Occupation.
I definitely recommend this for lovers of historical fiction, particularly novels set during WW2.
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This sounds exactly my kind of read. Great post!
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Thanks Linda x
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Sounds like a book that personally had an impact Nicki
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Yes it was really gripping.
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fab review! sounds like one I need to pick up!
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Thanks definitely one for the mountain! 😉
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That’s amazing about your Mom! Excellent review, Nicki💜
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Thanks 🙂 My Mum doesn’t remember much about it and thinks her parents probably shielded her from the worst of it.
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Oh wow, I love the sound of this story! Especially since I love WWII historical fiction in the first place… Fab review! xx
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Thanks I think you’d enjoy it xx
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Interesting, I will be looking this one up. Thanks for the review. Have a good day, Charente
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Thanks hope you enjoy it if you do decide to read it. 🙂
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Great review! I guess the novel must have felt even more real for being set where you live.
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Thanks and yes it did! 🙂
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Wonderful review Nicki. It is always special when there is a connection to a story, even if it is not a happy one. Being on KU, I am going to try and read it.
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Thanks Carla I hope you enjoy it as much as I did when you get to it.
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