by Erika Robuck
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 368
Format: eARC
Buy the Book: Amazon
Goodreads: France, March 1944. Virginia Hall wasn't like the other young society women back home in Baltimore--she never wanted the debutante ball or silk gloves. Instead, she traded a safe life for adventure in Europe, and when her beloved second home is thrust into the dark days of war, she leaps in headfirst.
Once she's recruited as an Allied spy, subverting the Nazis becomes her calling. But even the most cunning agent can be bested, and in wartime trusting the wrong person can prove fatal. Virginia is haunted every day by the betrayal that ravaged her first operation, and will do everything in her power to avenge the brave people she lost.
While her future is anything but certain, this time more than ever Virginia knows that failure is not an option. Especially when she discovers what--and whom--she's truly protecting.
Kritters Thoughts: Virginia Hall was an American embedded in France who eventually became well known for her way to get much needed supplies to the resistance fighters hoping to rid their towns of the Nazi regime.
The thing that I liked about this book was the different perspective of this war that has been written about time and time again. Seeing the resistance fighters up close and personal and finding out the work that went in to get them supplies and to keep all of the things hidden was so interesting. Knowing before starting this book that the main character was based on fact made reading her story so much more impactful.
I also enjoyed that this book didn't end on D Day. This made me learn more about how long it took for the Nazis to leave France and that it was a snap on D Day and life went back to normal - it was a slow return to a more normal French way of living.
What I didn't love about the book were the oddly placed flashbacks to Virginia's past. For me, most of them were distracting from the story and I thought that they possibly took away from the greater story. If they had been more easily marked and pulled out from the story, I think I would have enjoyed those moments more, but just a thought.
I also felt as though the story lost its pacing towards the middle. Part of this could have been my timing as to when I was reading it, but the beginning was great getting to know Virginia and her mission and the back third was so good as she was finishing her missions and the reader is waiting for the Nazis to vacate the towns.
I must say that I have read a few other books by Erika Robuck and loved them, this one just didn't completely work as well for me. I loved the character and the unique viewpoint of World War II, but there were just a few things that I didn't fall in love with.
Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more
Ebook 2021 Challenge: 5 out of 100
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one copy of this book free of charge from Penguin Random House. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I like the WWII background too.
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