The book took a bit to get into, but I really enjoyed the story of this book. The book's structure is set up in two different timelines the "pre-war" Nancy and the "spy" version of her. I didn't really like how the timelines mashed up and I was constantly wanting the book to get back to her spy and military work in France. The author spun an interesting tale, and now I want to go and read more about Nancy Wake. Highly recommend for WWII historical fiction fans.

If you love WWII books, you will love this! If you’re burnt out on WWII books, (like I am), wait until you aren’t burnt out to read this. Ariel Lawhon is such a skilled writer!

I hate when a book is labeled historical fiction because it lumps a story like this, based on the life of a real person with a few facts tweaked to improve the story, in with novels completely made up. That said, I absolutely LOVED every page of Code Name Helene. The plot would seem fantastical, except that it's all true. I read it late into the night and was bleary-eyed at work the next day because I stayed up so late to finish it. The ending is guaranteed to tug at your heart strings.

This is one to recommend to your friends.

*ARC via netgalley in exchange for agreement to review*

Let me start by saying that this is the first book that I've read by Ariel Lawhorn, but it definitely will not be my last. It took me a little bit to get in to it, but once I did it was very intriguing. The book is based on the true story of the Australian spy, Nancy Wake, that led a large group of French freedom fighters during World War II. Lawhorn does a fabulous job intertwining the different timelines in Nancy's life from her life before meeting the love of her life, Henri Fiocca, to her escape from France because she was wanted for helping Jewish refugees and to her final involvement as a spy and resistance leader. There was a some language, but it made sense to the story and Lawhorn explains it in the Author's Note at the end. This story will stay with me for a while. Thanks to Doubleday Books via NetGalley for the free ebook copy that I received.

30 // I stayed up late last night to finish CODE NAME HÉLÈNE, truly one of the best WWII historical fiction novels I’ve ever read. if you’ve been waiting for the next book like THE NIGHTINGALE, this is it. the story is absolutely gripping, and it’s based on the extraordinary efforts of one woman—Nancy Wake—during the war. it will probably be one of my favorite books of the year! 5/5 ⭐️—I loved it!

thank you to @doubledaybooks for the e-copy of this book! #partner

This book is one of my favorites for 2020 so far. It is nearly perfect for me, with an incredibly strong female character and a page-turning plot (most of which really occurred). I love this book because it is both plot-driven and character-driven. The author does a remarkable job at making the reader feel all the emotions.

I will absolutely recommend this book to all of my friends.

This was a fascinating fictional account of Nancy Wake's role in World War II. What a remarkable woman! She displayed impressive leadership, dedication, and tenacity, but she was also human and caring about her friends and the soldiers she lead. The book alternates between 1944 when she parachutes back into France to lead the resistance, and earlier in the 1930s and 40s to explain how she became involved. This was a wonderful piece of historical fiction.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fascinating book about Nancy Wake and her exploits during WWII. I was not aware of her role in the war and was spellbound by this story. Extremely well-written. I recommend this to everyone! I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion..

There’s nothing better than a historical fiction novel with a kickass heroine who happened to really live. Lawhon is a master of research and of making historical places and people come alive. Code Name Helene, based on the life of Nancy Wake, is a wonderful story and will thrill fans of The Nightingale and Lilac Girls alike.

This is the most enjoyable form of historical fiction for me - stories based on real events. The journey of Nancy Wake of a woman that bluffs her way into a job at a newspaper and then becomes a hero during the war with several aliases riveted me. The author did a brilliant job of keeping the facts there, but also of writing a story that captivated and entertained the reader.

A fictional account based on the life of Nancy Wake. She was an Australian ex-pat, who moved to Paris in the late 1930s just as Hitler's brownshirts were taking over Europe. Witnessing an unspeakable incident of terror, she wrote an article for Hearst publications, and this appeared without her name - after all, she was a woman and did not count. She married a Frenchman and lived a life of ease, until she didn't. Recruited by the English, she became a secret agent. She was one of those rare individuals who was fearless and resolute. Once she applied her Victory Red lipstick she was ready for anything or anybody. She used four different code names and was able to thwart the Nazis at every turn, becoming the “most wanted” with a sizable price on her head. She was not afraid of members of the resistance who balked at taking orders from a woman with the power to deliver arms from the Allies. Lawhon has done an incredible amount of research to write this story. The notes section at the end is worth reading.

I read a lot of books set in the World Wars. This is one of, if not the, best one I’ve encountered. Nancy Wake was an amazing person, a woman, who led the French Resistance during World War II against all odds and did an awe inspiring job while her husband kept the home fires burning. This reads like a rollicking book of fiction but you must realize it is about a real person who lived most of these events. Read this book if you are interested in historical reads about WW II, love, friendship, marriage, France, loyalty, the Resistance or are just looking for a book that will stay with you long after you’ve finished. I would give this more stars if I could. Thank you to Ariel Lawhon, #netgalley and Doubleday Books for the chance to devour this ARC of #codenamehelene ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

Spy and Resistance Fighter: the Story of a Remarkable Woman During WWII

Nancy Wake had a life of many challenges. An ex-pat Australian in France before WWII, she talked her way into a job as a reporter for the Hearst Newspapers. Wanting to get a first hand look at what was happening in Germany, she and a photographer went to one of Hitler’s rallies. The story she wrote got printed in the paper, but without her by-line because she was a woman.

The romance in the novel centers around her marriage to Henri Fiocca, a wealthy business man. When Henri is pulled into the war, Nancy becomes a spy and smuggles documents and people from France across the border to Spain. When the Nazis identify her, she’s forced to flee the country and leave Henri behind.

In England, she’s recruited by the SOE, which leads to her being air dropped into France to work with the Resistance. As Madame Andrée, she becomes a famous leader of a group of Resistance fighters.

Nancy Wake was a truly remarkable woman. The story is underpinned with in-depth historical research, but as the author points out, it is a work of fiction. This can be seen in the amount of time devoted to the romance between Henri and Nancy, delicious, but not really historically significant except for the fact that it drove her to devote herself to becoming a spy and Resistance fighter.

The book is well written and quite exciting to read. My only quibble is that the author is constantly switching between one phase of Nancy’s life and another. I didn’t find the discontinuity too difficult to follow, but it does detract from the narrative timeline.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Code Name Helene is an unforgettable historical novel based on the incredible true story of Nancy Wake. Nancy was a women the author describes as bold, bawdy and brazen. Nancy is also a loving wife who leaves her devoted husband to join the Resistance. Initially she works as a courier, squiring Jews to safety. Ultimately Nancy directs thousand of resistance fighters living with her in the French woods. She has several code names but this doesn't stop enemies from pursuing her. She is the most powerful leader in the Resistance. Lawhon is a brilliant writer and Nancy Wake is more than a character. She is an unforgettable person.

Hélène is a reporter at the early part of the war. She meets and marries Henri, the love of her life. He is sent to protect the Maginot line. While he is gone, she drives and ambulance and ends up, in a convoluted way, with the resistance. She helped change the history of WWII. And because of all her undercover activities, she saved a multitude of lives.

When this story began, I was in awe of Hélène. And I pretty much stayed that way through the whole book. This woman was a powerhouse and a force to be reckoned with. However, the story is a little muddled, especially in the middle. But, boy am I glad I read it. I learned so much! What an amazing lady and and an amazing story of her life.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Based on a true story Nancy Wake was a very independent woman for her time. A real amazing woman who earned the respect and loyalty of the male members in the resistance group she was working with.
464 pages, longer then the average books these day but it is a fast read. Hard to put down and I highly recommend reading it. I got so interested in Nancy Wake that I plan to check out her autobiography "Nancy Wake The White Mouse"
Told in alternating timelines, I do recommend that the reader pays close attention to the dates listed at the beginning of each chapter as the chapters bounce back and forth in time. I would have given it a five star if she had kept the timeline sequential so that it be easier to follow what happened with the various characters at the same time. Also some literally liberties were taken were I preferred she had not but that's only my own opinion.

One of the things I love about reading historical fiction is that I often learn of important historical figures that were previously unknown to me. Such is the case with Ariel Lawhon’s latest novel Code Name Hélène. Set in Europe during World War II, Code Name Hélène follows the adventures of Nancy Wake, an Australian-born socialite who is living in Paris when World War II breaks out. When we first meet Nancy, she is working hard, trying to be taken seriously as a journalist in a man’s world. When the war breaks out, however, Nancy finds her true calling as a spy and ultimately becomes one of the leaders of the French Resistance.

I had never heard of Nancy Wake and was fascinated to learn what a huge part she played during the war. I was also a big fan of the way the author delivers Nancy’s story to us, using several interweaving timelines, one for each of the code names Nancy acquired through her work for the Resistance. We get to see Nancy in action as an oblivious mistress, Lucienne Carlier, as she smuggles documents and people across borders to safety. When the Nazis learn of Nancy and quickly become frustrated by her uncanny ability to evade capture, they nickname her ‘The White Mouse” and put a steep price on her head. Knowing she is in imminent danger, Nancy flees France and begins training with the Special Operations Executive where she earns a new code name, Hélène, and is air dropped back into France with a new mission. As Madam Andre, this final mission is to do whatever it takes to arm the French Resistance and drive the Germans out of France.

I was completely riveted by Nancy’s journey from start to finish. It is fraught with danger and suspense at every turn, and I just found myself more and more inspired by Nancy’s formidable presence and spirit. She’s fearless, brash, resourceful, and has a take-no-prisoners attitude. Working in what could only be described as a man’s world and wearing her signature Chanel red lipstick, Nancy ultimately commands respect from all of those around her, even those who initially refuse to accept the authority of a woman in a war zone. Heck, at one point, she even kills a Nazi with her bare hands!

As awe-inspiring as her career in espionage was, I also loved that the author chose to include a glimpse into Nancy’s personal life as well, most especially her relationship with Henri Fiocca, the love of her life. Watching how the war impacted their relationship was almost as gripping as watching Nancy order men around as a Resistance fighter.

Code Name Hélène is an inspiring story of bravery, resilience, love, and sacrifice. If historical fiction and strong women are your thing, this is a book you want to check out.

Most of the historical fiction I have read about WWII has been about how women suffered while the men went off to battle. But in Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon, it's a woman who flings herself into danger. This would be exciting enough without realizing that this is based on a real-life bad-ass: Australian born, Nancy Wake. This is a must read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

What I Liked:

Historical Details:

I loved all the details of what life was like for a woman in occupied France. From the hardships, to the small luxuries, I came to understand how Nancy lived.

Also explored were also the ways it would have been tough to live as the sole woman in a large group of men during a war. Beside the constant threat of sexual assault, there were other challenges that presented themselves. How does one deal with menstruation, bathing, and relieving themselves? What about clothing? How does one command a group of men when most men thought women were weak and less intelligent? Nancy handles all of these challenges and more.

Characters:

Nancy was one of the most fascinating characters I have encountered in a long while. She was a strong, independent woman at a time when that was frowned upon. She demanded, and received the respect of her male colleagues. But she wasn't perfect. She seemed addicted to the thrill of doing dangerous work. This put the people she loved at risk.

Henri, Nancy's husband, was more than what he seemed to be. Outwardly, he was the typical Frenchman: handsome, charming, and a ladies man. But, as he became more and more intrigued by Nancy, we see he was capable of deep loyalty and love. He also respected Nancy enough to never make the demands that most men would make of their wives at the time.

Depiction of a Strong Marriage:

I loved Nancy and Henry's marriage. They had an equal partnership, which would have been rare in the 1940's. They respected and trusted each other. And they showed their love for each other in lots of little ways. For instance, I loved that Henri made a list of things he knew Nancy couldn't do, and then was determined to teach them to her.

Story:

The story had two timelines that will eventually converge. One part deals with the final days of the war and Nancy's tremendous contributions to the success of the French Resistance. The other part is what lead up to her involvement in the first place. Both are fascinating and create a satisfying conclusion.

Couldn't Put It Down-ness:

This was a thrilling read. I have never heard of Nancy Wake, so I didn't know how this story would end. Nancy's life was in danger throughout the story, and I was compelled to see if she makes it to the end of the war. This made the pages fly by. I didn't notice the length of the book, until it was finished. Nancy was such an interesting, real life person, I wanted to keep reading even more about her!

WARNING: There are depictions of extreme war violence in this book (enough to cause nightmares)!

** I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
Historical fiction revolving around WW II is a favorite of mine. I am fascinated with the underground efforts that were operating during German occupation of Paris and other cities. Everyday men and women found themselves in extraordinary circumstances.
Although the heart of the story is a good one, the beginning of this book drags. I was looking for a solid story about how a woman found herself working to undermine the Germans in Paris. It eventually got there but the initial focus on the romance took away from the overall story. For me, this book was less than I thought it would me.

Nancy Wake Fiocca was a brave, fearless and remarkable woman. She was responsible for saving lives during WWII throughout France and leading men in the Resistance. She had to deal with a lot of push back from men but she won them over with her leadership and her bravery.

I would have never known about this woman if Ms. Lawhon hadn’t been hounded to write it.