As Marie-Claire held her precious baby in her arms, and Benjamin wrapped them both in his embrace, the new parents quietly cried, overwhelmed with relief and gratitude that mother and child had both survived the delivery. And yet, the same night that this light had come into their lives, a deathly darkness had fallen... in nearby Germany.
***
The Blurb
Paris, 1940 - Marie-Claire steps into the Gare de Lyon, not knowing it will be the last time she'll see her husband and son. Fleeing occupied Paris, she travels into the countryside of Normandy, and stumbles upon a chateau near Caen and a growing resistance movement. Soon, Marie-Claire finds herself working in a cafe in the quiet village of Sainte-Mère-Église, where she tries to come to terms with all she has lost – but little does she realise that her presence in Normandy will change the course of history…
1998 - Half a century later, Esther is returning to the Normandy village she visited as a teenager, seeking a break from her monotonous life. Back then, she'd fallen in love with a rustic farmhouse and the family that lived there – not least the charming eldest son, Jules Joubert. But now, when Esther discovers an old annotated cookbook in the family kitchen, she begins to realise that the place she holds so close to her heart may hide more secrets than even the Jouberts realise...
What stories does the area carry? And could this trip change Esther’s life for ever?
My Review
This was a lovely dual-timeline novel, which I enjoyed very much.
The book opens in 1940 with the main character, Marie-Claire, about to board a train in Paris accompanied by her husband and two-year-old son. I won't say what happens within the first few pages of this book, but suffice to say that an event occurs which made me sit up and just devour the rest of this book.
Marie-Claire was a fabulous character - strong, determined, and brave. I was absolutely immersed in her story and was rooting for her every step of the way.
The part of the book which is set in Poole, England, and Normandy, France, in 1998 introduces us to Esther, who is the main character of this part of the story. Esther visited Normandy when she was thirteen to stay with a family there, and she remained good friends with Giselle, and thus kept her connection with the family.
The setting, which is mostly Normandy, is well portrayed. The author's description of the countryside around Giselle's family farm depicted an area of beauty. Even during the war years, when we see the struggles of those living there, it was still possible to see the wonder of the physical surroundings.
Both timelines of the novel work together seamlessly and are ultimately brought together with ease. The author did a fabulous job with making the shift from one time to the other seamless.
This was a highly compelling novel which I enjoyed. My only criticism, and it is a minor one, is that there is an event which occurs at the end of the book which I felt was needless. However, this did not inhibit my enjoyment of the book, and I highly recommend it.
Book Details
ISBN: 978 1835331170
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Formats: e-book, audio, hardback and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)
No. of Pages: 280 (paperback)
Purchase Links
About the Author
Rachel was born to English 10-pound-pom parents in sub-tropical Brisbane, Australia, and when the family moved back to Poole, Dorset, she was just 5 years old. She then grew up against the stunning backdrop of Poole Harbour where she sailed and played on the beaches of Brownsea Island and Studland, and walked across the Purbeck Hills, all of which inspired her imagination and provided the setting of her debut historical fiction novel set in WWII. Since then, Rachel has moved back to Brisbane, Australia.
You can also find Rachel at:
(ARC and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources/Netgalley)
(all opinions are my own)
