THAT COVER. It immediately intrigued me in and I’m so glad LANA’S WAR did not disappoint. I’ve read A LOT of historical fiction novels set in WW2 and this one set its self apart by taking place in the French Riviera rather than Paris. The beautiful backdrop is juxtaposed with the ugliness of the war and the horrible astrocities that took place against the Jewish by the Nazis. This book drew me in from the very first chapter and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction! it left me wanting to read more from Anita Abriel and I will definitely be checking out more of her books in the future.. 4/5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of Lana’s War in exchange for an honest review.

This story has a good premise and kept me engaged throughout. It is a bit choppy and could do with a good editing. I wasn’t crazy about the ending but also didn’t hate it. Thank you to netgalley for the arc.

After being swept off to the French Riviera with its old world charms and dazzling beauty, I almost forgot the horrid backdrop of this novel which was the relentless persecution of the Jewish people by Hitler and the Gestapo in German-occupied France during World War II. Lana was born and raised in Paris, the child of Russian nobles. Her pregnant mother fled Russia during the Bolshevik revolution after Lana’s father was killed. Some twenty years later, Lana then suffers the tragic death of her husband who is shot by the Gestapo for hiding Jewish children. As a result, she has a miscarriage and sinks into a deep depression. Lana leaves Paris and joins the French Resistance in order to avenge her husband and unborn child’s untimely deaths at the hands of a German SS officer. This book is about the war she wages to help those Jewish families from being sent to concentration camps and/or murdered. It is also about one woman’s journey of survival and the strength of her spirit to overcome immense tragedy and to continue on living and fighting for what she believes in. Great story!!!! I did not want to put it down. I highly recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction. Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn't put this book down and finished it within 48 hours. I have read several WWII historical fiction works and I enjoyed the premise of this one. The Riviera setting is one that I haven't experienced before and I found it fascinating. The main character, Lana, was one that you want to cheer for. The novel had the right balance of action/war related adventures and moments where the characters needed to have normalcy. I did feel that the end was a bit rushed and compressed - maybe that's because I didn't want the story to end. However, I did like how it turned out.

I thought this novel was well researched with a great plot. I love the time period and had never read a WWII book set in the French Riviera. I wish the writing and the emotions had gone deeper though. I wasn't as pulled in as I wanted to be. I also didn't really buy the ending.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for access to this ARC.

Despite Hitler's occupation of Paris and the lack of money and food, Lana is thrilled to tell her husband she is pregnant. Arriving at the convent where he is teaching music, she is just in time to see his shot by Nazi officers for hiding Jewish children. In her grief she miscarries the baby. She is listless and uncaring until someone comes to her and asks her to join the resistance use her background as the daughter of displaced Russian nobility to get information out of the Nazis that have recently taken over the Rivera. Moving in with a Swiss businessman and posing as his mistress puts her heart in danger, and the actions she takes as part of the resistance working to save the Jewish people in the area puts her life in danger, but she willingly risks both.

I loved how this book was written, the premise was fresh and unique and the characters were very well done. The glamour of the parties contrasted starkly with the life of the everyday people. I wish there had been slightly more depth of emotion described, I wanted the complexity of the character's emotions to be given more time. I also felt like the ending was a bit abrupt and there were many hanging threads that didn't tie up. I felt that the story built and built and then cut off before it properly reached the climax. I would really love it if this book became part of a series!