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pawstoodream's review against another edition
5.0
Another winner read for Suzanne Kelman.
Ok! You made me cry again. How do you do it? Is by writing an amazing story.
Sophie the main character seeing a picture of a woman in the London Blitz wearing the family crest finding that weird. She brings the picture to her aunt Jean and she thinks it does look like her great-aunt Vivienne the traitor according to the family and the village.
This started Sophie’s quest to finding the truth about Vivienne. It took Sophie to London, Germany, Normandy, Brittany and to the great-nephew of the man she was accused of defecting with Marcus Vonstein names Alex Vonstein.
Finally, after all the extensive research done Sophie was able to tell the truth to her family especially her great-uncle Tom who has taught Vivienne a traitor.
Vivienne Hamilton and Marcus Vonstein we’re members of the SOE underground Resistance and not traitors.
A good solid WW2 story. Keep them coming.
I want to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and Suzanne Kelman for an early copy in exchange of an honest review.
Ok! You made me cry again. How do you do it? Is by writing an amazing story.
Sophie the main character seeing a picture of a woman in the London Blitz wearing the family crest finding that weird. She brings the picture to her aunt Jean and she thinks it does look like her great-aunt Vivienne the traitor according to the family and the village.
This started Sophie’s quest to finding the truth about Vivienne. It took Sophie to London, Germany, Normandy, Brittany and to the great-nephew of the man she was accused of defecting with Marcus Vonstein names Alex Vonstein.
Finally, after all the extensive research done Sophie was able to tell the truth to her family especially her great-uncle Tom who has taught Vivienne a traitor.
Vivienne Hamilton and Marcus Vonstein we’re members of the SOE underground Resistance and not traitors.
A good solid WW2 story. Keep them coming.
I want to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and Suzanne Kelman for an early copy in exchange of an honest review.
fallen_ire's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
bree_waters's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
dabutkus's review against another edition
5.0
This book was brilliant! What if you didn’t know about a family member but what you learned was that person was a traitor? This is how Sophie learns about her great aunt Vivi. The story only starts there. The book alternate between Vivi’s and Sophie’s stories, both filled with agony, pain, and many decisions along the way. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and for a long time I thought what Sophie though - her aunt was a traitor and that’s it. But as the story unfolds the reader is brought into the story and you’re learning that a lot of history is a series of decisions that the person thought we’re right at the time. Suzanne does a brilliant job of weaving both stories together beautifully. Highly recommend this book!!l
pagesandplannersabroad's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to Net Galley and Bookouture for the free advanced reader's copy.
When We Were Brave tells the story of two women. Sophie Hamilton is a high-end solicitor who loses her young daughter unexpectedly. As a way to cope with her sudden loss, she leaves her job and finds a different job working as an archivist of historical materials. While working on a project, she comes across a photograph taken in 1944 with a woman who looks like someone in her family. Asking after the picture, it turns out to be her long lost great aunt Vivienne--the black sheep of the family. Vivi was last seen leaving Cornwall fleeing to Nazi-controlled France with a Nazi!
Suzanne Kelmen goes back and forth from Present Day to WWII reconstructing events. There are times we see what Vivi and Marcus -the Nazi- are doing and experiencing in the past. At times, we are with Sophie in the present as she discovers pieces of the past in the present.
I highly recommend this historical fiction novel. it is fast paced. It keeps you guessing. At times, I wanted to take Vivi to task for being so naive during her time in the SOE but that brings authenticity to the character. It is a love story in more than one way.
When We Were Brave tells the story of two women. Sophie Hamilton is a high-end solicitor who loses her young daughter unexpectedly. As a way to cope with her sudden loss, she leaves her job and finds a different job working as an archivist of historical materials. While working on a project, she comes across a photograph taken in 1944 with a woman who looks like someone in her family. Asking after the picture, it turns out to be her long lost great aunt Vivienne--the black sheep of the family. Vivi was last seen leaving Cornwall fleeing to Nazi-controlled France with a Nazi!
Suzanne Kelmen goes back and forth from Present Day to WWII reconstructing events. There are times we see what Vivi and Marcus -the Nazi- are doing and experiencing in the past. At times, we are with Sophie in the present as she discovers pieces of the past in the present.
I highly recommend this historical fiction novel. it is fast paced. It keeps you guessing. At times, I wanted to take Vivi to task for being so naive during her time in the SOE but that brings authenticity to the character. It is a love story in more than one way.
magdaleite's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5 stars
I was given this ARC by Netgalley in exchange for a review. And I have to thank them so much!
I LOVED THIS BOOK! It takes place in two different time periods: WW2 and the present. During WW2 we follow Vivi, a British spy in Paris that might or not, betray her country for love. In the present, we follow Sophie, a descendant of Vivi who sets on a quest to clean her great-aunt's name. Vivi couldn't actually have betrayed her country, could she?
Vivi is a fierce heroine and represents the bravery that everyone had to have during the war.
Sophie just got through a very difficult period in her life and the fact that she still goes on, without ever forgetting the people she lost was so emotional.
I loved both perspectives and there were times where I, myself, was worried for Vivi and for the answers that Sophie would uncover.
The one thing that I have to point out is the ending: I would have loved for it to finish when someone reads a certain letter. That would have been perfect for me.
I recommend this book to everyone that loves historical fiction novels.
I was given this ARC by Netgalley in exchange for a review. And I have to thank them so much!
I LOVED THIS BOOK! It takes place in two different time periods: WW2 and the present. During WW2 we follow Vivi, a British spy in Paris that might or not, betray her country for love. In the present, we follow Sophie, a descendant of Vivi who sets on a quest to clean her great-aunt's name. Vivi couldn't actually have betrayed her country, could she?
Vivi is a fierce heroine and represents the bravery that everyone had to have during the war.
Sophie just got through a very difficult period in her life and the fact that she still goes on, without ever forgetting the people she lost was so emotional.
I loved both perspectives and there were times where I, myself, was worried for Vivi and for the answers that Sophie would uncover.
The one thing that I have to point out is the ending: I would have loved for it to finish when someone reads a certain letter. That would have been perfect for me.
I recommend this book to everyone that loves historical fiction novels.
megmcreads's review against another edition
1.0
I was given this ARC by Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for a review.
Unfortunately I did not enjoy this book. I was not able to get into it as the writing just didn't flow. It read like a poor translation, if that makes sense. It plodded rather than flowed and that was so hard to get past. It also felt rushed and not fleshed out completely.
The concept was pretty interesting but that is the extent of any positive feedback I can give.
Unfortunately I did not enjoy this book. I was not able to get into it as the writing just didn't flow. It read like a poor translation, if that makes sense. It plodded rather than flowed and that was so hard to get past. It also felt rushed and not fleshed out completely.
The concept was pretty interesting but that is the extent of any positive feedback I can give.
ajewel4books's review against another edition
5.0
I want to thank Netgally for the advance copy of When We Were Brave by Suzanne Kelman
I truly loved this book. It is beautifully written it is heartbreaking and touching and so incredibly done. I adored the characters and the setting. This story will stay with me for awhile
I truly loved this book. It is beautifully written it is heartbreaking and touching and so incredibly done. I adored the characters and the setting. This story will stay with me for awhile