I really liked The Tea Planter’s Wife so I thought I would like this work of historical fiction. It was a solid 3 star book. Thanks for the review copy.

I am a little bit obsessed with historical fiction right now and the Second World War. Anytime I get to travel to another country through amazing characters and writing, I am happy. While I wasn’t over the top shouting from the rooftops with this one, I did love the writing! And I definitely will be looking for the next book by this author.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley

I enjoyed this story right until about the end where the doctor and one of the sisters were collecting penicillin by the bottle full. Penicillin wasn't available during the war apart from within certain army circles. It made an appearance in France about 1947 and even then it was difficult to get enough to treat patients in hospital settings.

Daughters of War is the start of a new series (also called Daughters of War). This novel is set in a small village in France during the last year of World War II. Three sisters live alone in a little cottage after their mother left them to move back to England years ago. There is Helene, an artist turned nurse, who takes care of everyone, Elise, who is involved in the Resistance movement, and Florence, the youngest, an innocent dreamer.

I wanted to read this novel because I love historical fiction and the 1940's is my favorite time period to read about. I also love books set in France, so this novel was particularly appealing to me.

This book is such a big, sprawling, old fashioned family saga. Although it is a long read, I finished quickly because I had a hard time putting the book down!

This is a fascinating story about three sisters who are so different from each other, but who have a powerful bond after growing up largely on their own.

The story of German occupation was heartbreaking and some of the violence the sisters witnessed - and experienced - was brutal. Through it all they had an admirable resilience and strength.

This is my first read by Dinah Jeffries and I absolutely love her writing. She has a painterly eye for descriptions, like:

"Hélène was pensive as she threw open her bedroom window the next morning to listen to the church bells. Thank goodness it was Sunday and she didn’t have to go to work. She loved gazing at the magical view over their part of the Dordogne or, as their mother always called it, the Périgord Noir. It was a land of oak and pine trees, rocky gorges and clifftop castles and the prettiest villages you’d ever see, their limestone buildings soft and buttery. She watched as the sun broke through the early-morning mist to reveal the silvery shine on the river and golden sunlight bathing the rooftops of the village. Spring was well and truly here, and the air was as fresh and clear as crystal" (eBook location 149).

Of the three sisters I found Helene's story the most interesting and nuanced, as she is creative but also the family caregiver. I also enjoyed her slow moving romance with Resistance fighter Jack.

I found Daughters of War fascinating and absorbing, and look forward to reading the next books in the series as well. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction, and especially for anyone interested in France during World War II.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper 360 for this ARC!

Daughters of War by Dina Jefferies was an absolutely engrossing, beautiful and thought provoking novel set in WW2 France. We follow three sisters, Helene, Elise and Florence, whose lives have been changed due to the Nazi occupation of France. Each of the sisters' personalities were written so well, and it was easy to bond to each of them and the emotions/struggles they felt throughout the book. I highly recommend this novel for any lover of WW2 historical fiction. I am so happy this is being made into a series!

It was refreshing to read a WWII story that was not a dual timeline. The book follows three sisters living in occupied France during the final stretch of the war. It was a heartbreaking read, as each sister endures different tragedies and sacrifices. You get a real feel for small village life and the people there, living through such dark times. The writing was a bit choppy and lacked some lyrical flow but I still enjoyed and was touched by the story. I'm excited to read the next book in the trilogy when it comes out!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper 360 for access to this arc.

I don't know the author but if I did I would shake her hand, tell her how the book made me feel. This book is truly what historical fiction is, it's makes you come alive,feel things.
This book takes place in 19944, France. Three adult sisters live by themselves in an old stone cottage on the edge of the village and they just want the war to be over.
The book is about how the war affects them and the choices they make about the war affects them.
I don't personally have anyone in my family that was in WW11 and I thank all who did serve for their sacrifices but that doesn't mean I and others weren't affected by this tragedy we call war.
This book is realism, this could easily have been a written portrayal of three sister's lives that experienced this.
Life can never be compartmentalized, stuffed into a box and tried to be made neat.
This book is life, it's also death,blood,violence,caring,making love,compassion,betrayal,fear,wanting to start over,unbelievable grief,picnics in the woods,caring for your neighbors as you would yourself,hiding,delicious meals with family and not knowing where your next meal is coming from,it's ugly,it's beautiful.
This book should win an award, it's beyond amazing!

Published November 16th 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks #NetGalley #HarperCollins @HarperCollins360 @Harper360 for a complimentary eARC of #DaughtersOfWar upon my request. All opinions are my own.

In 1944, three sisters live together in an old cottage as they wait out the war. Their father died and their mother is living in England. The oldest, Helene, works as a nurse for a local doctor and takes responsibility for her younger sisters. The middle sister, Elise, operates a small cafe in the village and is committed to working with the Reisistance despite the danger. The youngest sister, Florence, prepares the meals, works in the garden, and is artistic. As the war comes to their doorstep, the sisters take more risks as they fight to survive in their own ways.

From the first page, Daughters of War is an engaging and pageturning story of bravery and sibling relationships. Each sister participates in the war effort in her own way and makes choices and experiences events that effect the others. The story is told from alternating points of view, and I appreciate their distinct personalities and characterizations. From responsible and cautious to fiesty and impulsive to innocent and sensitive, each sister is likable and is a significant part of the story. They face loss, deal with danger, and hope for an end to the war. Because of their differences, the sisters have some tensions, but in the end they support each other and value their relationships.

Even though this story is character-driven, it also moves along at a nice pace with several harrowing events to survive and obstacles to overcome. I appreciate a well balanced, character-driven, and plot-driven story! Daughters of War is more eventful and dramatic than I first anticipated!

The characters are well-drawn and the author uses vivid details to help us feel like we’re in the midst of the action and facing the same circumstances. The lovely French countryside, the village life, their daily routines and interactions, and the realities of war are richly described.

I recommend Daughters of War (#1 in a Trilogy) for fans of fast-paced and well-written WW11 historical fiction, for readers who love a story of siblings and complicated family drama, and for book clubs. Although the story has a satisfactory ending some details hint at what could be next in the trilogy. I’m definitely here for book two!

Content Considerations: war atrocities, suicide, rape, sexual assault, gun violence, loss, and heartbreak

For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.

Daughters of War is the first book in the Daughters of War series by Dinah Jefferies. This is my first book by this author, and it definitely will not be my last. This is one of those stories that just pulls you in and doesn't let you go; it definitely left me wanting more. Lately I've been very interested in historical fiction set during World War II, and this book will keep me reading more of the same.

It's 1944 in the Dordogne area of France, near the village of Sainte-Cecile. In this perilous time the Nazis are occupying the country. The three Baudin sisters live in an old stone cottage here by themselves; their mother left them on their own when she returned to England. These young women are doing everything they can to hang on and just survive the war. Helene, the oldest, longs to be an artist, but she is currently working as a nurse for the local doctor. She is the one trying to keep their little family safe. The middle sister, Elise, is a rebel who is helping the Resistance at the side of her lover Victor when she isn't working at her cafe. The youngest is Florence, who is a dreamer and looks after the home as she cooks and works in the garden. One night the Allies come to their cottage requesting assistance, and they are drawn closer to the violence. Things are difficult enough, but then family secrets begin to emerge, throwing all three sisters into a tailspin.

Once I started reading this story my husband couldn't pry my e-reader from my hands. I was so immersed in this book I couldn't stop reading for long, and near the end I was pretty much sobbing. Ms. Jefferies brilliantly made the reader understand the resiliency of the human spirit, most particularly women, and the horrors of war. I must warn you that there is a horrific sexual assault here, as well as the violence of war. All three sisters were amazing characters, though Helene tended to be my favorite. She was the mother hen of the house, taking over the role when her seemingly uncaring mother left them when she returned to England. Her emotional state as she worried about her sisters, friends and patients was heartbreaking. She also wanted to be loved, and she hoped Jack, the special operations soldier who needed their help, would be the one. There was some mystery that surrounded him that I want to delve into more deeply. Elise was tough, wanting to take a more active role in the Resistance. It didn't matter if she put herself in danger, especially after her horrible loss; she just felt more compelled to fight. Florence was a naive and sweet young woman who would eventually learn just how difficult life could truly be. She also showed just how strong women can be and overcome the worst man can do. Secondary characters were done particularly well, especially Jack, Victor, Dr. Hugo and his wife Maria, and a German officer who was actually kind and helped protect some of the villagers. Ms. Jefferies made one understand the horrors of war, especially when the Nazis retaliated after the death of some troops at the hands of the Resistance. This story both ripped my heart out but also showed the strength and love of family. I was elated to find out there were further volumes in this series. The next cannot arrive quickly enough!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Jefferies (The Tuscan Contessa) lures readers into this complex narrative about three sisters surviving World War II in the French countryside. Hélène and her sisters Florence and Élise live near the village of Sainte-Cécile in France after leaving their home in England. Their mother Claudette chose to remain in England after selling the family home following their father’s death because Claudette’s summer home in France was too small for all of them.

Seven years later, in 1944, the sisters are in the midst of a war-torn France- Élise working secretly with the Resistance, Hélène staying busy as a nurse, and Florence, the youngest, preparing meals and tending the garden.

When Special Operations Executive Jack shows up at their door, the women agree to take him into their home. But Jack’s presence is complicated by the arrival of Tomas, a terrified young German soldier who has abandoned his military post. Though Jack and Tomas do not stay at the sisters’ home for long, the consequences of their presence have long-lasting implications.

As Hélène joins in Resistance activities to help Marie, the wife of local doctor Hugo, escape Nazi persecution if they discover that she is Jewish, Florence endures a horrifying assault. Together, the three women remain resolute in the desire to work to endure the terrors of war while grasping onto the hope that it will end soon.

Jefferies’ latest novel is magnetic and revealing, enticing with its rich historical detail and bird’s eye view of the lives of three women faced with the ever-present danger of living in a county occupied by the enemy. Fans of World War II fiction will be riveted.

I just loved this book. The sisters story was compelling. It is 1944 in a small town in France. The three sisters have been living in the cottage in the woods for the last seven years and have survived the war because the youngest sister Florence is a genius in the garden and kitchen. She even keeps goats and has found a was to hide them from the Germans. Helene is the oldest. Her mother always told her she wasn't pretty but she loves her sisters and takes care of them by becoming a nurse even though her first love is painting. She is haunted by memories of her mother and knew something happened to turn her into the cold person she is now. Elise is the middle child, a little wild and is working with the Resistance. The youngest is 22-year-old Florence. She takes care of the house, is a genius in the kitchen and gardening. The town is occupied by the Germans and it is hard to know who you can trust. These characters were so well developed and even though the personalities were so different they loved each other deeply. I really don't want to give too much away because there is a lot going on but the story just flows. In the end I was hoping for an epilogue but was delighted to read this is the first part of a trilogy. I'm looking forward to reading more about the Baudin sisters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper 360 for providing me with this book.

Daughters of War demonstrates the ravages war has on families and individuals. Three sisters endure tremendous stress, strain, and heartache as their French village is assaulted by the Nazis. This novel really got to me. I felt Elise’s ache for Victor, Florence’s pain, and Helene’s sorrow about Jack. The ending left me feeling so bereft. Until I learned there is going to be a second and then third novel to finish out the sisters’ stories. I can’t wait!

The Daughters of War by Dinah Jefferies is a dramatic WWII novel. This is a story about three sisters, Helene, Elise and Florence Baudin and how their lives were changed during the Nazi occupation of France. Family drama and suspense will keep you turning pages to the end. Thanks to author Dinah Jefferies, publisher HarperCollins, and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for an honest review.

I have read Dinah Jefferies books before and am always amazed at how lyrical of a writer she is. The words she strings together sounds more like poetry than fiction. I give fair warning to all readers, this book is not for the faint of heart. There is much loss and sadness between these pages. But it is war. And the devastating loss and destruction of WWII must always be remembered, and the author does not shy away from showing the true cost that war brings. Amidst that though, there is always hope, and the love shared between these three sisters is breathtaking. I do not have any sisters, and have never felt the loss of that, until now. Now I wish I did.
This book is a first in the series, so be prepared for that as well. My only criticism is that the chapters were a bit choppy, it seemed like. But this book was still great.

I have read previous works by Dinah Jefferies and while the subject of this book and the story of the sisters during World War II was interesting, I had a lot of trouble following it. It was very hard to finish it.

“Hélène glanced up at the only fluffy white cloud left in the sky. ‘Just remembering what a peaceful world feels like.’ ‘Wonderful, isn’t it?’ ‘Gives me hope.’”

It’s easy to forget that our world has constantly been plagued by war, since the first bite of that apple.

This book was filled with unbelievable loss and despair, common tales for this time period of WWII. But it’s filled with so much love between sisters and their local village to fill those gaps caused by death, betrayal and pure survival.

I gave it a 3 star because the transitions were a bit choppy and I often struggled picking it up again, which is unusual for me. I think because in this season of life I needed a bit more joy in my reading and there wasn’t always much of it in this book.

Advanced Reader copy provided by NetGalley