Author Notes: "Reviewing photographs, poring over newspaper articles, watching endless newsreels and listening to real-time BBC radio broadcasts of the events as they happened hit a nerve in a core-deep place. It made me rethink how to view history and how we, as the generations those people were fighting for, are shaping the futures of our own children and grandchildren. We have a call to remember history as it was, to uncover the truth, to spotlight the savage consequences of sin and to educate future generations so that those brutal mistakes might never be repeated. For the lives lost, the lives lived and the lives yet to come...may we never forget."
I don't normally start with the author's notes but it goes to show the extent of the effort and the knowledgeable backdrop that this novel is built upon.
As we begin this new piece we are reminded of the French Resistance and the struggles of those seeking liberation during a time when Germany occupied France.
It was a time when women were found to be taking up arms, spying, and cataloguing stolen artwork for the enemy.
Meanwhile, these two strong willed women faced mounting heartbreak. Lila was a dress maker and recently lost her position with Chanel during the war. Her counterpart was Sandrine a mother and wife whose husband joined forces while she was cataloguing stolen art from the Jews.
The dual time lines combined for some hefty concentration from 1939-1944 and remembrance of facts between these two ladies. The ultimate connection is revealed but takes some considerable time before it occurs leaving readers to ponder during those moments.
The audio narration was splendid with a narrator who speaks multiple languages making this an absorbing and inviting read.
Upon starting I could tell this was more than just fashion and that there's some serious information and knowledge to gain here so please don't go into this thinking it's just about fashion and or artwork as you'll miss the historical significance and important aspects that are meant to be gained.
Thank you to Kristy, the pub, NetGalley, and Amazon Kindle for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.
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