Under A Brighter Sky

 

Under a Brighter Sky by Dianne Haley WWII historical novel (The Resistance Girl Book 2)

Set on the French/Swiss border in the second world war this tells the story of a small group of resistance fighters. Whilst trying to cross into Switzerland a family has been split up. The mother and daughter were taken away by the Nazis whilst the Jewish father Pierre and his son were hiding. The group are trying to keep them safe whilst finding out about the ladies whereabouts to reunite them. The group are also secretly taking part of the Nazi hoard, which has been confiscated from Jews, to either get it back to its rightful owners or to fund the resistance. One of the group has been betraying them to the Germans putting them in even greater danger.  

 

This is a really interesting read being slightly different from many war themed novels, being border and resistance based. Although fiction we know such things did happen and many put themselves in danger or were killed whilst trying to help others over the border. Valerie is a likeable character and her determination and tenacity is more than admirable. This is book two in the series but happily stands alone (the first being “ The Watchmaker's Daughter” - see blog for my review) There's a good tension with the main plot line throughout and several subplots along the way. An interesting read and a different one.

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Under a Brighter Sky: A completely gripping and heartbreaking WWII historical novel (The Resistance Girl Book 2) by Dianne Haley

 

1943, Nazi-occupied France. Clinging to her little girl’s hand, a young woman runs through the forest and stumbles in the dark. Behind her there are angry shouts in German and shots ringing through the pine trees. Her heart in her mouth, she prays desperately that her husband and son are safe, and that they will see each other again…

As the mountains come alive with bright alpine flowers, Jewish families flee into Switzerland from Nazi-occupied France. Young Resistance fighter Valérie Hallez has hidden Pierre and his little son in the dusty attic of her mother’s bookshop. At night, by flickering candlelight, Pierre tells Valérie of his fear that his precious wife and daughter have been captured. And as they both look to more hopeful days ahead, Valérie writes letters to her soldier fiancé Philippe, dreaming of the day when they can be safely reunited.

With the police going door to door hunting refugees, Pierre and his son must go further into Switzerland before they are caught. But Pierre will not leave without his wife and daughter, and nobody in the Resistance knows what has happened to them. Desperate to reunite the family, Valérie puts herself in more and more danger. But when Philippe discovers that the Germans have her listed as a key Resistance fighter, he begs her not to go back to the border. If she does, he might never see her again.

Valérie knows the Nazis will kill her if they find her, but she cannot bear to abandon the mother and child. Breaking her promise to Philippe, she crosses over into France to look for them. But one of Valérie’s friends in the Resistance is betraying secrets to the Nazis, and her life is in terrible danger. When Philippe hurries to save her life, will they both survive? And will Valérie’s efforts to reunite the family be in vain?

A completely unputdownable and heart-wrenching novel about a woman who risks everything to reunite a family torn apart by war. Fans of The Alice Network, The Nightingale and We Were the Lucky Ones will be swept away by Under a Brighter Sky.

 Buy link: https://geni.us/B09YM8TDJHsocial

 About the author

 

Originally from the north of Scotland, Dianne now lives with her husband in Edinburgh and has two grown-up children. After a thirty-year business career in London and Edinburgh when Dianne wrote between projects, she is now writing full-time.

Dianne and her family have been visiting the area round Lake Geneva since 1992 and love the Alps in all seasons. The inspiration for her series set in WW2 Switzerland came from a drive through Geneva’s old town on a rainy October evening, the cobbled lanes a perfect setting for secrets and hiding places.

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