The Secrets We Left Behind is a powerful story of love and loss, hope and sacrifice, courage and survival in France, 1940.

The author has undertaken thorough research on the historical facts of the Le Paradis massacre and the Dunkirk evacuations, then successfully penned a novel that I would highly recommend without any hesitation. It is the first time I have read any of Soraya Lane’s work and I would happily read other novels of hers.

All of the characters are wonderfully depicted, the pace is good and the story flows really well between the different viewpoints. The novel has a wonderful ending which gives the reader a sense of closure on each of the main characters.

There are lots of great historical fiction novels published now, but I have never before read about the Le Paradis massacre. Not only does The Secrets We Left Behind bring this horrific event to light, but the author successfully portrays three brave women who fought to save their own lives, and the lives of others.

I am grateful to Amazon Publishing UK and Lake Union Publishing, via NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Very well written and poignant WWII story, starting with the evacuation at Dunkirk and then transitioning to Le Paradis, France. British nurse Cate and French sisters Elise and Adelaide work together to keep their soldiers and themselves safe and hidden as France falls to Germany.
Parts of this story were brutal and gruesome realities of war. I hoped for the best for all the characters, as they were all likeable, but that wouldn't have been realistic. It was a good book, and I loved the historical aspects explained in the author's note at the end. This is a great book if you are interested in a more truthful but still fictional historical WWII story.

I was fascinated by The Secrets We Left Behind! There are so many stories based on WWII, but this tale excelled at capturing your hope for the women and men that find themselves hiding in Le Paradis, France, not far from Dunkirk.
Soraya M. Lane craftily reveals some of the most brave women during the war. They are based on real characters and real events that occurred. The characters came alive as I read, and I couldn't put the book down because I had to know what would happen next! The British Nurses, Cate and Lilly, exhibit courage under fear I could not imagine. French sisters Elise and Addy are headstrong in their own right, but their love for one another allows them to make decisions that go beyond just saving themselves. The bonds of friendship and trust are tested many times, and it is a beautiful story that is revealed when the outcomes are made clear.
Though this was a pretty quick read, I highly recommend it. Add to your TBR pile right away!
I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opinions expressed are completely my own.

The Secrets We Left Behind is a gripping WW2 historical fiction that brings to life the horrors endured in France during the war while also highlighting the sacrifices and love of strong women. Soraya M. Lane’s beautifully told tale of perseverance will grip your heart in this tale from a 3 young women.

The Secrets We Left Behind is a very well written WWII historical. A great plot and character dynamics. I highly recommend this book.

A well written WWII historical fiction centered around Dunkirk and the massacre at La Paradis. Follows Cate, a British nurse, and 2 sisters and the will to survive. Emotional, intense. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

A magnificent novel of the Second World War! The power of strangers and the unique bonds that can exist during the brutality of war. At the heart of this story, are three women whose lives converge under the most extreme circumstances. Their perilous journey is one of unimaginable choices, the courage to survive and resilience to believe in a better future.

I loved this brave novel, these incredible women and the constant building tension kept me turning pages till the very end.

Another great historical novel from Soraya Lane and extremely well researched. Two British nurses go off to France, to work in field hospitals, caring for British forces. They’re excited and anxious to do their part for the war.
Little do they know that they’re entering a nightmare, that they weren’t emotionally prepared for, as they experience the horrors of war.
As the Nazi’s keep pushing British troops back, they start evacuating troops. Captured troops are just slaughtered, ignoring the rules of war. Cate is left behind with the men that were unable to tolerate the move. She escapes with an injured soldier and finds their way to a small village, surround by Nazi troops. And so begins their struggle to survive.
This is a real thriller, with suspense and drama that holds your attention. Wonderful, believable characters that personify the heroism of brave troops and the medical people that labored to keep them alive. I don’t believe I ever thought about the suffering of those abandoned and exposed to the brutality of a corrupt regime.
I loved everything about this book and thank NetGalley, Soraya Lane for the ARC. I hope I gave it the review it deserves.

The Secrets We Left Behind is a gripping story that tells the horrors endured and faced by three strong women who heartachingly persevered during World War II. It's one of those compelling war stories that's hard to put down as the author brilliantly captures readers with suspense through beautifully written prose. A must read for historical lovers out there!

This amazing story is of WWII in France. As the Germans come closer everyone is evacuated but one nurse, Car, refuses to leave her patient, Jack. Together they manage to escape and are taken in by two sisters in France.

I loved the heroism in this book. I am amazed by every WWII story and what people went through. At the end of the book we find that part of the story is true, and that makes it all that more amazing.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a WWII story about survival, finding love, and persistence.

Its 1940 France and the Germans are advancing hard and fast through France, Elise and Addy French sisters watch the massacre of British soldiers and then rescue two of them, hiding them in their home. When Cate, a British nurse who has fled Dunkirk with a patient asks for help, they take them in as well. Told from each woman's perspective, it's a tense read that makes you think about heroism and the choices we make. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Perfect for fans of the WWII novel.

This book took me a bit of time to get into but otherwise was a great read. Love what the author says at the end where she looks at a time in history and asks what the women were doing then.

I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Set in wartime Dunkirk, this tale is fictionalized history of the stragglers abandoned to their fate as the Germans occupy the land. Field hospitals are overrun and nurses and doctors alike are either abandoning their posts and patients or staying to do what they can to survive and ensure the survival of their fellows. Romance and intrigue combine to make this a well written and insightful book worthy of serious consideration. It would make for excellent book club discussions. Highly recommend this author and her contribution to the genre.

I've been conflicted on this book. While I found it difficult to put down, there was an element I strongly disliked and places where I wanted more.

For the most part, this World War II story follows three women - Cate, Elise and Adelaide (Addy) - in France after the evacuation at Dunkirk. There are also two men who figure in it, Jack and Harry, though the story isn't told from their POVs.

Cate was, for me, the strongest character. A British nurse, she is left behind when the British evacuate Dunkirk. I thought she was really well written. I could feel her internal struggle, her conflicted emotions about her fiance, her role as a nurse, the struggle to find some place safe, trying to stay strong during extraordinary times. Everything about Cate worked for me and I was cheering for her the entire time.

Elise is a young French woman, one of two sisters who live in a small village outside of Dunkirk. They witness Nazi atrocities and then find themselves acting as a safe haven for others hiding from the Nazis. As the oldest of the two, her emotions are understandable. They've lost their parents and brother, Elise feels responsible for her sister and every reaction begins and ends with this concern and fear. However, i would have liked to see Elise open up just a little to "I wish I could just be young, too!" and not always with such a heavy mantle of responsibility weighing on her. Her strength carries through the last 1/3 of the book, and heartbreaking times.

Addy is the second sister. She is portrayed as always seeing the best, the positive, blindly optimistic in times of war even after she's seen horrifying acts. This character was gratingly unsuccessful for me. I probably could have believed in her more if she was younger (she's 20 here) and if so much bad had not actually happened around them. Rumors could have given her plausible deniability, instead of head in the sand behavior over things actually witnessed and experienced. I can chalk that up to my own cynicism, I supposed, and others may not find her sunshine personality so jarring. It didn't work for me, though it ends up being a major plot point ultimately.

Jack and Harry are both British soldiers, wounded and desperate for escape back to England. Their characterizations felt authentic to me. There are a couple of other small side characters who similarly feel authentic, helping successfully bring this world to life.

Another prominent character is a Nazi officer. He is fully evil and the author is not trying to set him up as anything but evil. Addy, however, cannot see that, and I spent a lot of time cringing about the storyline involving the two of them, afraid that the author was in fact trying to make him a hero. Lane is not. He is pure evil, and readers can be assured of that.

Outside of the Addy character, I enjoyed this book a lot, and knowing how the Addy storyline resolved, I might not find her as grating on a reread. Like I said at the beginning, I did have a hard time putting this down, and that says a lot.

Yes, this is another WWII historical, but there are hundreds of stories involving this war and I think Lane does a good job bringing us yet another perspective with things to think about and heroes to remember. There are always intriguing stories in the author notes and more I want to learn about. Ultimately this was a 4 stars book for me on my first read, and I expect I will reread it after publication.

This was an engrossing book about survival during WWII.

At the heart of this book are two French sisters, Adelaide and Elise who risk their own lives to help save the lives of two British soldiers and a British nurse, Cate, who were evacuated from Dunkirk as the German’s started closing in. Their interaction starts when Cate is caught by German’a and she lies saying she lives nearby, and the two sisters go along with her story.

This is a tale of survival, strength, friendship, and the strong bonds that are formed when fighting a common enemy. I liked the inclusion of Adelaide and Elise’s reluctance to help initially, who wouldn’t be scared and second guessing themselves in this situation?

This was a fantastic book that also appears to be well researched and I definitely recommend it if you like historical fiction!

I love Soraya Lanes WW2 books they have great stories and characters that blend so well together and they bring the story to life.This book tells us the story of Cate and sisters Elise and Adelaide in occupied france living tough lives and having to be carefull.5*

This is a very emotional, very gripping story about survival during WWIi. The story takes place in France during the evacuation of the British at Dunkirk. Cate is one of the nurses left behind. When the German’s come, she flees with one of her patients Jack, whom she has become attached to. They wind up at Elise and Addy’s farmhouse. At the same house they find 2 Royal Norfolk Regiment survivors of the massacre that took place at Le Paradis. Unfortunately one of the survivors decides to surrender so Elise and Addy concentrate on getting the other 3 home. The strong bond that develops between the 5 of them shows us what we will do to help others when it is presented to us, and how much we are willing to risk for our fellow human.

Thank you Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to pre-read this amazing book.

Fantastic read! From the very first chapter I was hooked and couldn’t put it down until I was finished. It’s a book that remains on your mind long after you finish reading. The story of a WWII nurse and a patient she is hell bent on saving have you feeling all the feels, you’ll be on the edge of your seat for sure! The author does an amazing job connecting the reader to the characters. The descriptions of the characters are lifelike and the details are vivid. Meanwhile 2 young sisters witness an unspeakable crime. Your heart breaks for them and you can only imagine the horrors that occurred in real life. As a granddaughter of a WWII veteran who never spoke of the war, this book helps me understand why. I recommend this book to those who enjoyed All the Light We Cannot See and The Nightingale. I highly recommend this book!! Thank you #NetGalley and #amazonpublishinguk for gifting me the eARC for #TheSecretsWeLeftBehind in exchange for an honest review.

I have read a lot of books about WWII and I'm still surprised when I find a story told that is unique and from others that I have read. The Secrets We Left Behind is about 3 extraordinary women, Cate, Elise and Adelaide who are forced to make difficult choices to save the lives of 2 soldiers. Cate is a British nurse working at a field hospital in France when they receive news that the France is on the brink of falling to German forces. As the hospital and its patients are evacuated, some must stay behind and Cate is unfortunately one of them. In a daring escape, Cate takes one of her patients with her who helps guide her to a small village. Somehow Cate ends up on Elise and Adelaide's doorstep and is graciously taken in, along with her patient. Elise and Adelaide are sisters who witness the brutal massacre of surrendering British forces. They find 2 survivors and take them in. With 4 British refugees hidden in their home, the sisters risk their lives to help them recover and plan an escape, but not all of them will make it out alive.

I devoured this novel in 2 days. The inner conflicts that the characters struggled with in the face of danger were heartbreaking to read. Despite these conflicts, these strangers bonded and risked everything for each other. The brutality of the German forces and the bravery of ordinary people are things that I can't imagine experiencing.

Thank you @netgalley for an advanced readers copy of this book in return for an honest review. You can also find this review on Instagram @maria.needs.to.read

Wow. This was an incredible story.

Adelaide and Elise are sisters living alone in their family home in France during WWII. The Germans are invading and clearly winning the war in France. One day, just outside their home, the sisters do not believe their eyes when they witness nearly 100 British soldiers come out from hiding to surrender only to be massacred by the Germans. However, two survivors find their way to the sisters’ doorstep.

Cate, a British nurse, is left behind and forced to flee in order to survive along with Jack, a soldier and a patient when the Germans invade the French Coastal town she was stationed in.

This is a story that I won’t soon forget. The bravery, the strength, the kindness and compassion of these women is truly inspiring.

If you enjoy historical fiction, if you loved Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale, then you do not want to miss this one!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars!

Thank you NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Soraya M. Lane for this eARC!