Well written and full of realistic and relatable characters. I liked that much of it showed how gray circumstances and scenarios were during the war. While there was plenty that was black and white, right and wrong, there was still more that was ambiguous and blurred. Betrayal vs Sacrifice really was a great theme.

I liked Camille so much and I even respected Vivian in her flaws, as much as I very often didn’t want to. I thought her character provided a great opportunity to evaluate what you would do in her position when it’s not so cut and dry. And I thought Rachel was well painted in her struggle with constant fear and anger at her situation.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

Beautiful story of 2 women, Lila and Sandrine, who fought behind the scenes in the Paris Resistance during WW2. Well written and difficult to put down, the book delves into the difficult choices the women made, how they fought for and hoped for the people they loved, and sacrificed with courage in the process.

The only reason I dropped my rating to 4 stars instead of 5 was because each chapter did a time jump which was a bit frustrating trying to keep track of. I get that it was to create intrigue but it was hard to remember where you were at half the time and just felt a bit like whiplash having to get your bearing from chapter to chapter.

I liked reading about the topic of stolen art during ww2 and a spin on hiding/preserving it. However, I struggled to stay interested in it and felt like I was trudging thru even tho the idea was intriguing. I couldn’t get invested in or identify with either main characters - I don’t know if it was the lack of emotional description or all the many focuses, or maybe it was just me. The idea was a good one tho.

Such a poignant look at the enormously difficult decisions mothers had to make during ww2, and the way tragedy can either make us bitter and self-focused or resilient and generous.

While the story was a bit predictable, it was still both heartbreaking and engaging watching it unfold. I kind of wish some of it was more fleshed out and delved into like Elise’s work in Aurignon, or during the remainder of the war with Juliette, but I get that wasn’t the purpose of this story. So many sad and devastating parts to it especially for Elise. But it was a beautiful reminder to only hold to the past loosely or you end up forfeiting your future.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are expressly mine.

Really well written, lots of mystery and suspense in the stories of Josie and Eloise, as Charlotte tries to unravel her dad’s past. It was a great snippet of SOE and Nacht und Nebel history of the women who risked - and spent - their lives for their country and families, and the friendships they shared. Enjoyed the unearthing of a double agent and waiting/hoping for the characters to catch up to the story as well.

Also, on a personal note, I loved being able to identify with Josie having Celiac Disease since I do as well.

On a side note, the editing on this leaves much to be desired. There were a number of glaring mistakes - wrong names, years, typos, etc. hopefully it’s re-edited soon

While the story itself of Dolly Cameron and the rescue home was a good and important one, I didn’t care for the writing style. I had forgotten when I started this one that I read another from Ms Morris and didn’t care for that one either, for the same reasons.

It was valuable information learning about the sex and slave trafficking of Chinese girls and women in San Francisco but the book read more like a narrative or a documentary event based, not character driven, and outside of a handful of moments, something you watch from the outside instead of being invited fully into what the characters felt and thought.

It also seemed to drag on a lot more than necessary. While the stories of saving girls is certainly important, I’m not saying it isn’t, the book felt like it was listing the same story over and over after awhile with only slight variation. I liked hearing about May Lein (I’m sure the spelling is wrong but I listened to the audio so no spelling), more of that would have been better to me. Beyond that I just started getting bored after a bit.

3.5 ⭐️s rounded up. I learned a lot, and the story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta was fascinating, how she became the queen’s ward and I was surprised to learn how different England treated Africans and people of color in such stark contrast to America at the time.

I knew England didn’t utilize (African) slavery but I didn’t realize interracial marriage was no issue and an (almost) equal status was had by black people in Britain, and neither was restricted. Not that the white British attitude towards them wasn’t racist, believing they were the saviors to Africa, but looking back at how long it took America to abolish segregation alone, even after slavery, to see it not even a thing in Britain in the 1800s is crazy to me - and makes me enormously sad for America.

I did struggle a little with the writing; it felt stiff and the dialogue a little unnatural at times. And Sarah was so bitter and spiteful most of the book, I just didn’t care for her character. I liked her at the end though, when she was still candid and bold but not cutting and spiteful.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

It was interesting, but mostly just ok. I figured the majority out pretty quickly in the book and was just waiting for all the characters to, but there was a twist at the end I hadn’t predicted so that made it a little better for me.

Fascinating hearing about Einstein’s first wife but utterly devastating. It was well written but so very sad watching Maleva’s dreams fall apart after essentially one foolish decision and giving her heart to a man with consistently empty promises. The contrast with Marie Curie’s relationship with her husband, while not necessarily a real conversation, shows how the spouse you choose can make or break you.

Regardless I loved learning about a brilliant woman in history, especially one who very likely deserved so much more recognition than she received.