As in Anita Abriel’s debut novel, The Light After the War, Lana’s War focuses on WWII’s impact on women. Lana loses almost everything during the occupation, and with every loss, she must reinvent herself. While her character frequently seems young or naïve, she clearly has enough spunk and determination to carry on.

Author Abriel created interesting characters. She made me question almost every character’s motives and alliances. Even Guy, Lana’s assigned partner in the resistance, sometimes behaved in ways that made me wonder about his devotion to the cause. The setting quickly moves from war-torn Paris to the lap of luxury in Cap Ferrat, Nice and Caanes. The descriptions of exquisite clothes and jewels is juxtaposed to the extreme lack of essentials and the expensive black market.

Even though Lana is warned not to get emotionally involved in anyone, she can’t help but personalize the reason she is committed to helping Jews escape France. When the Germans take over occupation of the Cote d’Azur from the Italians, Lana’s mission becomes not only more important but more dangerous.

Ms. Abriel’s Lana’s War is French Resistance Lite. It is an easy-to-read historical fiction. I would have liked a little more of the resistance storyline. Lana’s budding romance is nice and anticipated addition. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but the end really didn’t work for me (I can’t explain why without including spoilers).

Lana, a daughter of a Russian countess is married and living with her husband in Paris during the war. When she visits the school to inform him that she’s pregnant with their first child, she witnesses his murder at the hands of the Gestapo for teaching a young Jewish child. Devastated and shocked, she retreats with her anger and grief, only to lose the child and find no satisfaction in remaining hidden from the world.

Finding her entrée into the émigré community of Russians, many of whom are friendly with the German occupiers, she uses her birth and polish to infiltrate the parties, gathering information from the source as it were, in Nice. The first of many that I’ve read using a fortunate birth circumstance to gain access to information, this was also the first story I’d read that used widowhood and the ‘pleasures’ of the Riviera as a backdrop to the story.

Lana was complex, naïve, angry and often distracted by her own insecurities and emotions. Her narrative was a bit of an up and down story: her purpose was clear to everyone but her, and the continued worry that were little more than her own insecurities: not about the dangers she was facing in gathering information, but in the way she ‘received it’, with her own immaturity shining through frequently in her response to information gathered, or her own emotional wreckage. I’d wanted a stronger and more determined heroine, one not constantly distracted with overly immature displays of emotional stress (huffing, gulping, shocked). Even though the horrors, we all understand, were unlike and unfamiliar to all that had come before – there was something missing in the character that had me believing that she was able to perform consistently enough to make a difference. All in all, I didn’t love or root for Lana near as hard as I should have, as the urge to shake her was often stronger than her actions to bring down the horrible regime would allow.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aQF /” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

A World War II romance with tragic overtones (or maybe a tragedy with romantic overtones) set during the German occupation of Paris with the plot moving to the Riviera.
Unfortunately I just wasn’t connecting.

An Atria Books ARC via NetGalley

1943 Paris may not be wonderful, but Lana Hartmann is happy with her husband. They don’t have much, but they have each other. When she arrives at his school to share the good news of her pregnancy, she is horrified to witness him being executed by a Nazi officer for hiding and protecting a Jewish child. The aftermath leaves her shocked and losing the baby on top of it, leaves her unmoored. Not sure what to do with herself, she finds comfort in helping the nuns and the children at her husband’s school. When the Sister puts her in contact with a member of the resistance, Lana finds herself in the unique position to do more to help the Jewish people and children and work against the man who killed her husband.
In LANA’S WAR by Anita Abriel, Lana reclaims her heritage and travels to Nice to gather intel by joining the elite Russian community as a displaced Russian Countess. In this role, she’s uniquely positioned to get close to Nazi officers and gather information that can help the Resistance rescue Jewish people before the Nazi’s get to them.
Once Lana got started, she was a strong and determined woman. She had to figure out who to trust and to trust her judgment, especially when it came to the people closest to her, including Guy, her partner. I loved this about her. Despite the fact Guy tries to keep her from doing more, she continues to follow her conscience and do whatever it takes to keep those she’s become close to safe.
This was a different perspective on WWII and the French Resistance, and it was a delight to read. The story was interesting and flowed nicely, while the characters were well-developed. Lana had me rooting for her from the beginning, and while things didn’t turn out for her as she wanted, she didn’t give up. Find a comfy spot and curl up with this one.
#lanaswar #anitaabriel #anitahughes #atriabooks #Simon&Schuster

Lana’s War by Anita Abriel is a story of loss, courage and strength in uncertain times. Paris, 1943, Lana Hartmann is a happy woman. Despite the Nazi occupation of Paris, she is on cloud nine. She is happily married to Frederic and she has learned that they are now expecting a baby. Her happy world ends in a heartbeat. While on her way to tell Frederic her happy news, she witnesses a SS officer shoot and kill Frederic because he dared hide a Jewish child he was teaching. Later that day, it becomes evident that she loses the baby as well. Fast forward three months, Lana is going through the motions of life when she gets the offer that will change her life. A man offers her the chance to stop the man who killed her husband. The French Resistance needs her help on the Riviera. As the daughter of a Russian countess, she has the perfect background to socialize with the community of Russian aristocrats who socialize and sympathize with the German officers who occupy the area. Together with Guy Pascal, she gathers information and finds ways to bring the Jewish people to safety. She doesn’t expect to become attached to a young Jewish girl left on her own. Will she succeed in her mission? Or will her attachments lead to her capture?
Lana’s War is the second book I’ve read by Anita Abriel and she writes a story that pulls you in and keeps you intrigued until the end. I enjoyed reading Lana’s journey as she deals with the sudden loss of her husband and their baby. At the beginning of the story, she is a woman without a care in the world, despite the growing Nazi presence in Paris. As long as she has Frederic, she doesn't care about anything else. She learns quickly that the war will touch you and everything you care about eventually. She’s prepared to do what she can to avenge her husband and their baby. I loved that intrigue and the uncertainty of who Lana could trust and who she shouldn’t. Even as a member of the Resistance, is Guy a man she can trust with her life? The relationship between Guy and Lana was also great as they treated each other with cold indifference before they slowly learned to trust each other. The story was wonderful, filled with suspense and drama. I eagerly devoured the pages as I wanted to see if Lana completes her mission and survives. Unfortunately, I felt the ending was rushed but it doesn’t take away from the story. Overall, I enjoyed Lana’s War and highly recommended it. If you love World War II stories and stories about the French Resistance, you will enjoy Lana’s War.

Lana’s War is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The concept here is interesting, playing into the fact that Lana’s family was part of the Russian aristocracy before being forced to flee the country during the Bolshevik Revolution. It presented her with an easy in to German society, given that many in her situation sympathized with Hitler and wanted to see him defeat Stalin. I don’t think I’d read anything from that perspective before (and I’ve read a lot in this genre!), so I appreciated the new angle it provided. The setting was also gorgeous, which made it fun to read in a way that contrasted somewhat uncomfortably (in a good way) with the horrifying events going on.

However, I found the writing style to be far too simplistic for my tastes. It made for an easy read, but one that I never felt any deep connection to because it stayed on the surface level at all times—and an emotional connection would have made all the difference given the subject matter. As much as I wanted to like this, I just couldn’t get past that and enjoy it.

I am such a big fan of Anita Abriel’s work. Her writing is incredible and her previous novel The Light After the War stayed with me. I was so excited to hear about her new release Lana’s War, a beautiful novel set during WWII. A novel full of strength, hardship, danger and perseverance. After a tragic event at the start of the story, Lana finds herself uncertain of what’s next. It takes her on an important journey, from Paris to Nice, and onto the French Riviera.

The novel depicts the terror and fear the Nazi’s instilled everywhere they went. The difficult choice Lana made to help others while risking her own life is that of a true hero. A novel that feels so real, you’ll forget it’s historical fiction. I certainly did. I truly recommend this novel, it’s beautifully written, narrated in third person, and an instant favorite.

On her way to tell her husband the good news, Lana Antanova witnesses his execution. Charged with hiding Jewish students, he's gunned down in the prime of his life and the shock causes Lana's miscarriage.

Struggling to pick up the pieces of her former life, Lana joins the Resistance on the French Riviera. Hiding in plain sight, Lana attempts to flirt and socialize her way to discover the the German officers' secrets. Thwarting raids, she's instrumental in saving lives and avenges her husband's memory.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early read in exchange for an honest review. I love historical fiction and the disturbingly-wonderful World War II era. While a grim time in history, the stories of perseverance and strangers risking their lives to save others is inspiring.

Lanas War by Anita Abriel was quiete a story. I cannot imagine the fear of being Jewish and especially being a child. The ending was surprising to me though seems like there could be another story written someday.

The dress on this cover... it's just... gorgeous! I don't think I could pull it off, but I'm so attracted to this cover! It feels so elegant... And THEN I read the summary and knew I had to request it! Thank you @AtriaBooks for allowing me to read this and offer my honest opinion!⁠
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First, I cannot imagine going through what Lana goes through in Lana's War. Her internal war is certainly traumatizing and heartbreaking. This leads her to taking the risks necessary to potentially help the resistance.⁠
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This is a breathtaking view of the internal workings of WWII. It's emotional, heartbreaking, and beautifully written. If you're someone who loves historical fiction, read this. I don't want to give it all away though. It published yesterday, so be sure to get your copy now!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read Lana’s War.

I went into this book expecting to love it, but unfortunately did not.

I found the characters shallow and mostly uninteresting. And the story was just ok.

I did appreciate the setting for the book though and the author did a great job of capturing the atmosphere.

Lana Antanova is living in Paris, 1943 when she loses her husband and unborn child at the hands of the Gestapo. At the height of WWII, Lana is left heartbroken and unsure of how she can keep living when her world is falling apart.⁣
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Shortly after her tragic loss, Lana is approached and asked to join the resistance, where she will have the chance to save hundreds from the Jewish community by escaping the deadly Nazi raids. As the daughter of a Russian countess, she knows she would be a perfect fit to infiltrate the world of the wealthy French and weasel her way into the lives of the powerful German officers who keep their company.⁣
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With nothing to lose, Lana travels to the French Riviera where she is launched into high society and becomes an undercover spy. In this novel, the stunning French Riviera is the backdrop for horrific and tragic events. And as the war rages on around her, Lana experiences her own internal war mixed with heartbreak, love and loss. ⁣
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I have to start by talking about how despite it being the middle of WWII, the French Riviera was still described so beautifully in this book that even I stopped reading a few times just to imagine myself basking in the sun and walking the Mediterranean shoreline (maybe at a different time in history though). ⁣
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The story started off strong, with plenty happening and I felt that, like Lana, I was being catapulted into this story head first. The excitement continued into the middle of the book, but then the story started to lull. I felt as though some scenes were repetitive and it was almost as if the growth of the characters was happening too fast for it to be realistic. That’s when the story lost me. ⁣
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I pushed through to finish the story and I can still say it was entertaining albeit a bit rushed at times. Historical fiction is also right up my alley so I might be a bit biased when I say that I enjoyed the story even when it was lacking intensity and suspense.⁣

I really enjoyed this book. Unlike a lot of WWII stories it was on the light side. It wasn't too gruesome, which for this I liked. Lana saw her husband get shot because he was hiding a Jewish child in a school where he taught piano. She was devastated which caused her to miscarry their baby. She was a strong woman and was asked by Henri to work with the Resistance in the Riviera of Nice. She took that challenge. Lana is a beautiful women of Russian decent and caught the eyes of many German gestapo's which helped her find out when and which Jews were being deported to the camps. Her and Guy, another Resistance worker, would then try save the Jewish families. The author's description of Paris and the Rivera were so beautiful she made you want to visit. There is love, drama and suspense in this novel and if you like historical fiction, you would enjoy this book.

Thanks to #Atriabooks, #AnitaAbriel and #netgally for an ARC of this book

Lana lost everything the night the Gestapo shot her husband because he was hiding a Jewish child in his piano, and she also lost her unborn child because of the shock.​​

Did she really lose everything? She didn't lose her desire to help save other Jewish families and especially children.

She had to avenge her husband's death, and an opportunity arose.​​ Lana was approached by the French Resistance to help out at the Riviera.

She was apprehensive because she would have to pretend she and a stranger were lovers as they did their work.​​ Lana didn't have too much to do at first, but in order to not look suspicious and to get some information, she and Guy did attend lavish parties that the SS soldiers attended.

The information Lana received about what they were going to do to exterminate the Jewish community including children made her ill, but she had to attend the parties and find information so they could save as many lives as possible.​​

We follow Lana and Guy as they save lives and learn of raids the Gestapo had planned.

You will feel their anxiety and fear and marvel at their expertise as they carry out missions to save lives.​​​​​

I honestly didn't know that the Germans and upper class carried on as if a war were not going on.​​

Lana, Guy, and Pierre were likable, authentic characters.

​​LANA'S WAR is very well written, well-researched, flows nicely, and pulls you in with Ms. Abril's writing style and story line. 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of historical fiction and I have loved the recent surge of books about WWII including stories of the courageous women who served as spies for the resistance. I had previously read The Nightingale and Alice Network and I was excited to get an ARC for the Lana’s War by Anita Abriel that seemed to have some similar themes. I was immediately engaged in Lana’s heartbreaking story. Lana Antanova was on her way to tell her husband that she was pregnant when she discovered that he was being interrogated by the Gestapo for suspicion of harboring Jewish children in the convent where he works teaching music. When a young Jewish child is discovered hiding in the piano, she watches her husband position himself to try to save the child before being shot by the German Officer. She is so overcome with grief that she loses the child and is unconsolable for months. It is during her grief that Henri reaches out to her to see if she is willing to channel that loss into working for the Resistance to help save other Jewish children and families. He enlists her help in going undercover as a mistress of a Swiss businessman, Gus Pascal, in the French Riviera. One of the things that I liked about this book was that it took place in a different part of the world that I had read about in other WWII novels. Anita Abriel did a great job of describing the beauty of the places they visited. “There’s beauty in this world that even Hitler cannot take away.” Like Lana, I almost felt guilty reading about the opulent hotels, extravagant dinner parties and dancing knowing that there was so much hardship in the rest of the world. The main focus of the book is on Lana. I was impressed with the way she embraced her role as the Russian Countess Antanova to flirt with the high ranking German officers in order to learn more about their upcoming raids so she could get families to safety. She utilized her charm and quick thinking to get closer to the very people she despised including the man who killed her husband. I do not know if I could have been so brave around people who were truly evil. I knew from the beginning she was going to have a soft spot for Odette that could jeopardize the mission. I also hoped for a romance with Gus. As some other reviewers have stated, there was so much potential for this story, but there was also something lacking to enable us to truly bond with the characters. I feel like we had more investment in Odette because we could read her letters and hear her thoughts. We needed more from Gus so his decisions did not seem so brash. I also needed to know more about her neighbor, Giselle, and the mysterious Charles Langford, to see if they could truly be trusted. And I know everyone will be talking about the ending, which I do not want to spoil. One thought is that the ending may have worked better if the book started with the present day Lana looking back on her time in the resistance. It could have started with the line “I’m like a tightrope walker at the circus. But if I fall, it’s not just me who gets hurt. I’ll take down everyone with me.’ Overall, this book is a solid 3.5 stars and provides the reader with more insight into the lives of survivors of the war. Thank you to #netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I am glad to help promote this book which comes out in mid-January.

The ingredients were all there for me to LOVE Lana's War, but it never quite clicked into place for me. Set in World War 2, Lana, raised in Paris but the daughter of a Russian Countess, is called upon to spy amongst the Russian elite on the French Riviera. Her pedigree gives her the perfect cover amongst the Russian immigrants who have sided with the Nazis in the hope that Hitler will restore the aristocracy in Russia.

What unfolds felt...predictable. I thought the characters were shallow and that there were far too many plot holes and unanswered questions. By the time I finished the book, I found myself thinking "Oh well that makes sense." Despite that, I loved the scene that Abriel creates in France and I had no idea there was such a dynamic between the ousted Russian aristocrats and the Nazis. The backdrop of the Riviera was sumptuous and I loved the setting but overall, the novel fell a bit flat for me.

Lana's War by Anita Abriel is a light historical fiction novel that takes place in the Riviera during WWII. I have been a fan of Abriel ever since I read her wonderful book, The Light After the War, based on her own family’s history. Therefore, I was thrilled to receive a copy of her latest novel.

The French Riviera was a unique and colorful setting, and I found myself fully transported there with the sun on my face and colorful flowers all around me as I followed Lana down the streets. The plot and story hooked me in right from the beginning. From there the story kept it’s fast pace and I couldn’t put it down as I followed Lana’s new life a a spy for the French Resistance. However. at times I thought the story was a bit rushed, and I had a hard time connecting with the characters.

Lana was a unique character who had her strong and brave moments along with her incredibly naïve moments. The other characters in the story did help bring a bit more depth and life to the plot. I found Pierre, the cab driver, the most realistic character in the story.

I felt like this story had so much possibility with the romance, resistance work, and action, but overall there weren’t enough bones holding it together to support the plot and the romance felt rushed, one sided, and a bit implausible. Maybe if there was more dialogue, characters with a bit more life, and the resistance work was fleshed out and detailed more, I may have found it more appealing. There really was a lot of potential in this story, but it just needed more depth.

I think this book will work for those who shy away from WWII historical fiction stories due to the harsh and sometimes graphic content of the war and concentration camps. In Lana’s War the cinematic writing, setting and engaging plot will keep you hooked, while still seeing a more mild side of the war and resistance work.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Atria Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy of Lana's War.

In a world where there are so many World War II historical fiction, this was middle of the road. I liked that it looked at a slightly different variation of the French Resistance, but there wasn't a lot else that would set this apart or make this a must read in one of my favorite genres.

I liked that it was fast paced, but the characters were a little too one-dimensional and the ending was a little too unbelievable and happened so quickly that I was surprised by it.

LANA’S WAR by Anita Abriel is the tale of a young widow using her Russian heritage in Vichy France to work as a spy for the French Resistance. It is a standard issue WWII tale that for some reason has become very popular lately in historical fiction. I am not completely sure why there is such a surge in WWII women-as-heroines-in-disguise novels and Abriel’s book might have fared better without the competition. There is nothing unexpected in the story. Further complicating the story is that key scenes read at some emotional distance for the reader; they just don’t register much impact. Without a sense of connection, historical fiction loses its resonance and becomes dry. This tale may shed light on a small portion of WWII activity but its larger story has been told often and with greater skill. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

3.5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Lana’s War is an intriguing book about World War II and the efforts of the French Resistance. It is well researched and engaging, providing a great sense of the atmosphere of the time period, and along with some beautiful descriptions of the French Riviera.

The story is engaging and fast-paced, not stopping to meander much, which means you likely won’t be bored by this book. The intrigue of the goings-on within the Resistance are compelling and will keep you invested.

I did have mixed feelings about the characters. I felt the opening with Lana’s loss of her husband and unborn child was strong and emotionally resonant, and I felt the result being her over-analysis of situations and reluctance to engage with her feelings was only natural. However, it did also result in my feeling a bit detached from her when she did emote, and the romance she develops over the course of the book did not move me, in spite of it being very pivotal to her personal arc.

This book is pretty good, and I like what it has to offer the World War II subgenre of historical fiction as a whole, in spite of my nitpicks. If you’re looking for a book about the French Resistance during World War II, I think you’ll enjoy this.