It was fun to read some of the classic fairy tales I've grown up with as well as ones of which I had never heard. The one downside to these is that many of them were very similar to each other, so after awhile the stories felt a bit redundant. Also, there were a few that ended abruptly or, in the last paragraph or two, seemed to change topics completely so that I had no idea how the ending fit with the rest of the story. Overall though, they were enjoyable and were very easy to get through as many of them are very short.

This was such a wonderful read! I've enjoyed Kristin Hannah's books over the past several years, but her debut into historical fiction blew me away.

This story follows two sisters, telling both of their stories as they live out the years in German-occupied France during World War II. Hannah does a great job of dividing up both stories evenly while also make each one interesting in its own way. One sister, Vianne, lives in her home in the small town of Carriveau with her daughter. While awaiting the return of her husband, who was drafted into the French army, her house is billeted by a Nazi soldier. She must try to keep herself and her daughter alive despite smaller rations being available while also trying to keep from doing anything that could be reported by the soldier in her house. Her younger sister, Isabelle, is much more rebellious and decides to find a way to join the French resistance. The story builds as the Nazis become more tight in their security and more cruel in their treatment of the French people during the six years of the occupation.

As I've read very little about World War II in France, this story provided a lot of historical information while also giving me a story that kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen to the main characters, their friends and neighbors, and those caught in the wake of their actions. If you're interested in World War II history and can handle some romance thrown in here and there, I would highly recommend this book.