Poor Valérie is in such a terrible place by trying to help others, but risking her & their safety.
Set in Switzerland, this is a unique setting for a #WW2 novel.
Even better, there will be a series to continue this story.
Harriet Collings is a wonderful narrator.

Thank you, Dianne Haley, bookouture, #bookoutureaudio & netgalley for my copy of the written and audio versions! All opinions are my own.

Thankyou to NetGalley and the Publisher Bookouture for the arc of this book

5 star read- love this genre of book recommend to all who like this genre of book- gives you an insight into Nazi's and parts of Europe who faced hardship which you dont hear about much like in this book the Swiss resistance workers which i really enjoyed

Switzerland 1942: Valerie watches with fear and incredulity as the war gets ever closer. She is anxious to stop the incessant rise of Nazi power and helps with resistance. Her sweetheart Philippe is a soldier but Valerie's actions could spell danger for the man she loves...
The Watchmaker's Daughter is an historical novel set in Geneva. It is author Dianne Haley's debut novel and will be the first in a series.
Valerie is brave, defying her father who is keen to appease the Germans to protect his business and family. She smuggles secret messages as she goes out on her deliveries. But one message creates a moral dilemma as it could put her own sweetheart in danger.
I haven't ever read a book set in Switzerland during the war so was fascinated to read a new perspective. For me, Switzerland is associated with neutrality so it was interesting to read how this had to be negotiated. I felt that the author had researched the era and culture to make the book as realistic and vivid as possile.
The book is written from Valerie and Phillipe's third person perpectives. The sense of fear for both lead characters provides tension and anticipation which fuel the emotional side of the plot. Both characters are in danger and unsure who they can trust.
The Watchmaker's Daughter is an enjoyable historical novel about love and bravery against the odds.

While I do love historical fiction this one did not make my favourites list. I found the story line to be rather slow and lacked interest. Valerie’s side of the story was more appealing to me and I would have liked to have more details revealed about her and her fathers side of things.

An ok read but fell a little short for me.

Thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for the advanced copy.

Thank you for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a historical fiction novel set in WWII. The characters and storyline seemed a bit flat and repetitive to me.

What sweet characters intertwined in one of the worst times in history (WWII). Valerie is trying to find her own footing in a landscape that is changing by the day, even by the hour, as she tries to continue her life working for her father while loving Phillipe as best as she can. Valerie is also friends with Emile, and their friendship is put to the test as a French lady survivor relies on their bravery to keep her secret safe, a secret so guarded that she's willing to die for. What happens next changes the lives of Valerie and Emile and Phillipe and her dad in ways they didn't expect. Looking forward to the next installment of this storyline. Well done!
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

Historical drama set in Switzerland during World War Two. I liked the characters in this book they were very believable and the story was full of drama and intrigue.

Valerie, the watchmaker's daughter, secretly helps Jews escape into Austria, despite the fact Austria has closed its borders to Jews trying to escape Hitler's carnage. She does this knowing the risks to herself, her father, and her loved ones. As Austria becomes cozier with the Nazis, Valerie feels her duty to protect the helpless and forsaken more profoundly, despite the dangers it brings to her doorstep. At the same time, her longtime boyfriend Phillippe faces his own struggles amid the treachery of Nazi sympathizers among his army colleagues. Neither knows who to trust and when Phillippe is framed and Valerie's father appears to be in league with the Nazis, Valerie doesn't know who she can trust anymore.

I really enjoyed the story, especially told from a viewpoint of WWII not entirely familiar to me. If I was aware of Austria's antipathy about the Nazi's at best (complicity at worst), it was only as a brief inkling. The fresh perspective was nice. Though Goodreads doesn't allow half-star ratings, I rate this novel a 3.5. 3 stars on their system. I liked Phillippe's story perhaps better than Valerie's, possibly because Valerie at times felt too timid and unsure of her own convictions.

I do recommend this novel, though, for those historical fiction lovers, especially those who love reading about WWII and would enjoy a new perspective.

A beautifully written debut WWII historical fiction novel set in Switzerland. It follows Valérie as she helps the French Resistance by smuggling messages through watches her father makes. I was really enthralled by the action and felt like Haley kept the pace going through the whole book. It’s on the shorter side for historical fiction too (looking at you, Kristin Hannah 🤣), so it’s a very binge-able read. The sequel is coming out in October 2022!

Highly recommend this one! Especially if you liked The Alice Network or The Nightingale.

I wanted to enjoy this book but the book ended up being too slow. India jumping to conclusions that Matt is the Dark Rider right away doesn't really make sense. I liked the magical part but I was hoping it had more touch to it.

The Watchmaker's Daughter by Dianne Haley pulled me in from the very beginning. The author wrote the story from the viewpoint of a Swiss resistance fighter. I found this perspective to be very interesting.

The Watchmaker's Daughter, puts us behind the scenes during WWII in Switzerland where we find Valerie Hallez working for the Resistance. Valerie delivers watch repairs for her father while at the same time smuggling messages that will help move refugees across the border to safety. Valerie's working with the Resistance causes much tension between father and daughter since Albert's business receives lots of support from the Germans and keeps his business afloat.

This is the type of suspenseful historical novel I enjoy, and Haley did not disappoint!

A wonderful historical fiction, a great story of courageousness in the face of danger. The story of Valerie and the choices she makes, against her fathers wishes to help the French Resistance.

This is a book of family, choices and a war. It is such a well written book, not too long and drawn out and the perfect amount of history, danger, and struggles. I love the characters and found it not only heart-wrenching but heart-warming as well.

Wow, is all I can say. How on earth can this only be the debut novel from Dianne Haley? Where has she been all this time? Why hasn’t she had many more books published as The Watchmaker’s Daughter was a brilliant read from beginning to end. So much so that I read it in one sitting barely coming up for breath and was completely gutted when it ended. Thankfully, I learned at the end of the book that this is the first in a planned series because Valerie and Philippe are two fantastically constructed characters that I am desperate to read more about.

The entire book was so tightly plotted with no room for filling in pages or just chapters there to pad out the story. Right from page one, the author has you in the palm of her hands and that grip does not relinquish until you reluctantly reach the last page. There is no messing around with a long drawn out introduction informing the reader of background information to the characters or what is going on. This story didn’t need that at all. Instead, the action starts right from the get-go and anything you need to know is told as you read along whilst the plot keeps moving forward at a rapid pace that never lets up.

What I loved about this story was the setting of Switzerland. I’d never read a book set here before and especially not during World War Two. Everyone knows, that Switzerland was neutral during the war and I naively thought oh right then not much occurred there as the country kept out of what was going on its doorstep. Well this book proves the opposite and sheds a light on the bravery, courage and resilience of so many who put their own lives on the line to help those in need. Countless Swiss citizens secretly helped Jewish refugees escape from occupied France.

Our main female character, Valerie, lives in Geneva with her father who makes mechanisms for watches. As the city is near to the boarder with France and in the winter of 1942 when this book begins the Germans have occupied the Vichy region of France and many refugees are desperately trying to escape over the border. Valerie, alongside her friends Emilie and Marianne, is involved with the resistance and she hides those who Emilie has managed to smuggle over the border. She keeps everything secret from her father and can use the excuse of delivering parcels for him around the city to pass messages and gather information for the resistance group. At first I found Valerie to be quite nervous and apprehensive about what she was doing and you couldn’t blame her for if she was discovered by the Swiss authorities or indeed the Germans than the consequences didn’t bare thinking about. But as the story progressed I found she went through such a transformation. She became brave and fearless and the love she had for Philippe who was away in the Alps working on top secret defences for the country to be remarkable and very strong.

Valerie can’t understand why her father doesn’t seem to have the same stance that she has when it comes to what the Germans are doing. It’s like he is hiding under a rock working away on his watches and just hoping the war and its affects will not hinder his life. But even though Switzerland is neutral the war still has far reaching consequences and the threat of invasion is real and even more so if any Swiss citizen is found to have collaborated with the Allies or the resistance. Valerie put her life on the line time and time again to help those less fortunate than herself and so did her friends. She is a character who deserves nothing but admiration and respect and although she may be stubborn at times she is mighty and fierce as is demonstrated when she sets off to try and prove Philippe’s innocence. This quote really sums up the dedication and bravery of Valerie. ’I can’t sit on the side-lines and watch events as they happen. I have to try and change them’. And change them she does with danger, intrigue, mystery, terror and mistrust at every turn. Her love for Philippe and wanting to help the war effort in any way she can is what drives her on and makes her a character that you want nothing but a positive outcome for. Although there are plenty of people who would like to see the worst befall her.

I loved how the male perspective of the book wasn’t brushed over. Too often we just read of the woman’s man away fighting in the war and we never learn of what they go through. Instead here, Philippe is given a strong voice and he makes a great team with Valerie when they are together although circumstances keep them far apart rather than in each other’s arms where they wish to be. Philippe is away in the mountains at a fortress of sorts and it really blew my mind that this existed. That the Swiss were so fearful of invasion that they had top secrets plans set in motion if the worst did happen. I had a real soft spot for Philippe and loved when the story returned to where he was stationed. It was like himself and Valerie were on an even keel and of the same mind when it came to the outcome they wanted for the causes they believed so firmly in. Because they were so invested the reader feels likewise.

I found the descriptions of where Philippe was and what work was being done utterly fascinating and I loved the thriller/suspense aspect where sabotage and underhand tactics are suspected, and the blame falls on him. It seemed like it was a forgone conclusion as to the outcome for Philippe but the author led the reader to believe that there were several characters who could be the culprit. It was all so cleverly done and extraordinarily woven alongside Valerie’s aspect of the story and together combined to make a read that blew me away time and time again. So much so that you forget everything going on around you and just have to keep on reading to discover what would happen next.

Without doubt The Watchmaker’s Daughter is an absorbing, thrilling, tense and powerful read where the characters take you on an exhilarating, nail-biting and dangerous journey. You are rooting for them every step of the way, literally on the edge of your seat in fear of what the next turn of the page will bring. So often, the tag lines of historical fiction books can say gripping and heart wrenching and they never live up to that description but this book certainly does. I began reading expecting another run of the mill World War Two book which I have read so many of and don’t get me wrong I love this genre but at some points you feel like this has all been done before so I was surprised and excited by how much I became so deeply invested in this book and for all the characters.

I got that buzz that I love of discovering a new author and you wish that you could read more and more of their work and that’s why I find it hard to believe that this is a debut as it reads as if the author has been publishing books for years. Dianne Haley has written a very accomplished first novel which is packed full of action, twists and turns, mystery, suspense and of course romance and I was there for every moment of it loving what was unfolding and never guessing how the story would pan out. The Watchmaker’s Daughter had me from page one and these days that occurs few and far between so that’s a sign of how good this book really is. I hope we won’t be kept waiting for book two for too long because Valerie seems to have lots more work to do and I am dying to know what is next around the corner for her.

This story is a great balance of historical significance, suspense, thriller, and romance. Not one outweighed the other. I enjoyed this story from beginning to end. There were some nice twists and turns that made this story stand out with those in this genre.

Valérie Hallez is a local young woman helping her father deliver packages all over the city. But she is also secretly helping the French Resistance by hiding refugees in her father’s old workshop until it is safe for them to cross the border. I enjoyed this character. She felt real and not an over-the-top superhero (not that she is not). The author did an amazing job of expressing Valérie’s personality. As a reader, you know how she feels through her quirks and amazingly keeps her thoughts to herself. There is so much Valérie goes through in this story it is hard not seeing her strength and determination growing.

Phillipe is Valérie’s childhood sweetheart and a soldier in the Swiss army. At first, I was not sure about him. But I ended up enjoying him as well. His love for making maps showed in his excitement and disappointment. And his love for his country matched with his actions. In his own way, he went through just as much as Valérie, and his strength grew just as well.

The setting of this book is based in Geneva, Switzerland early 1940s. The author did an amazing job describing the story within this real-world location. As a reader, you can imagine the stores and marketplaces along the route Valérie takes during her deliveries, and the clothing style and harsh weather she and the residents wear. Being based during World War 2, the author describes the struggles Switzerland faces with supplies, police, Nazis, the allies, and the effects of being a neutral country.

Because of its mountainous nature, Switzerland was a neutral country during World War 2, and it significantly interested hostile states as the scene for diplomacy, espionage, and commerce, as well as being a haven for refugees.

I love historical based stores. It is one way to time travel and experience the eras without actually experiencing it (I mean, I personally would not want to wear the Victorian style dresses). The Watchmaker’s Daughter was a story about courage during one of our world’s darkest time. I would recommend this to anyone who loves World War 2 era based stories, romance, thrillers, and courage.

What is a Watchmakers Daughter to do when her home town of Geneva is crawling with German soldiers and refugees desperate to escape over the mountains to safety? Valerie must walk a fine line between helping those who need it more than anything and being cordial to the German officer whose business her father insists he needs to keep his small watchmaking company afloat during these unpredictable times. Secrets, lies, betrayal, redemption and so much more are to be found on the pages of this captivating story. It will keep you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out who betrayed those trying to help.

I was instantly drawn to this story because of its location…Switzerland. While I’ve read many WWII stories that mention or briefly visit the neutral…I had yet to come across one that takes place entirely in the country. I never knew just how close it came to being invaded so the history lesson that came with this story was much appreciated! I love the character of Valerie. Her determination to help despite the danger painted a vivid picture of just how far ordinary people would go to do the right thing and help those who needed it most.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bookouture and Dianne Haley for early access to this engaging story!

This is the first time I’ve read a book that speaks of the people of Switzerland during WWII. The Watchmaker’s Daughter is about Valerie Hallez who is faced with an incredible dilemma. Going against her father’s wishes, Valerie feels she cannot stand by and watch what the Nazi’s are doing to the people of France. With Switzerland being a neutral country during WWII, yet constantly concerned the Nazi’s are going to invade, Valerie decides she must do something to help those trying to escape the Nazi’s.

Dianne Haley does a wonderful job keeping the reader engaged and interested. A wonderful addition for those who read WWII historical fiction.

Thank you to #netgalley and #bookouture for allowing me to read the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.

Switzerland 1942
I've always thought of Switzerland as being neutral. Just that. Anyone who went there was safe. Not very true at this time. Germany was threatening to invade, people were trying to escape from bordering countries and Switzerland didn't want to anger the Germans or be responsible for taking care of the refugees. There were Swiss police, the Swiss Army and Allies. Everyone was walking their own tightrope. Valerie's father was a watchmaker, needing to continue his business to support him and his daughter and make as many sales as possible. They had to be nice to everyone.
Valerie felt the need to help Jews and the Resistance. Philippe is in the Swiss Army, excels in leadership but is not in charge, assigned to special work with maps of their defense system. It's a dangerous time for all of them, especially when things aren't right and suspicions run high, people are being killed. And things are going on all around them both that they don't know about, friends and foes become mixed up. Tense, intense reading, constantly pulling at your heart strings. Hard to put down.
I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
#TheWatchmakersDaughter #NetGalley #fivestarbooks #historicalfiction #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout

I love reading about the war years as I learn so much more about it than I knew - we didn’t study those years when I was at school - we learned about the tudors and the stuarts!! This novel is fantastic. I felt as though I was actually living in Switzerland with Valerie!! Highly recommended

Debut author Dianne Haley has written a superb book.
There have been many WWII books written and they are good but one that has a different topic covered such as this one really catches your attention.
What keeps your attention is the page after page reading of danger,heart wrenching heartbreak the characters face though not of their own causing. Such injustice done to children just trying to escape to a better life.
You get very invested in the character's lives,holding your breath as you read the risks they are taking through espionage and secret communications.
France has fallen to the Nazi's and Switzerland's people know they could be next but a long time jeweler needs the business with the Germans to survive. As his daughter does bike deliveries for him she, unknown to her father ,smuggles messages for the French Resistance, hidden among his watch deliveries.
It is a huge risk she is taking but she does it while thinking of Philippe, her childhood sweetheart who is a soldier based in secret military fortresses in the mountains.
When unexpected danger strikes will she stay safe, will her father?
Highly recommended!

Pub Date 25 Apr 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Geneva, 1942, Valérie works with her father making watches. She hears devastating news over the radio airwaves from occupied France. It’s only a matter of time before the Nazi’s invade. She is worried not just for her country’s future but also for Philippe, her childhood sweetheart. Philippe is fighting in the army and Valérie just can’t sit by and do nothing, so she decides to help the French Resistance. She sneaks messages in her father’s watch delivery boxes. Thinking it’s not enough she soon decides to hide Jewish refugee children in her father’s old workshop. But one night she has to make a devastating decision that possibly could forever change her past, present and future. This heart pounding and utterly gripping story had me on the edge of my seat. I was completely hooked from the first page to the last. This ‘new to me author’ immediately pulled me in, and I felt as if I was living inside the story. Each scene played like a movie in my mind’s eye. Wow, this unputdownable story is absolutely captivating and a definite must read. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, it’s an auto buy for sure.

Thank you Dianne Haley for such an amazing and inspiring book. This is truly a story that is sure to stay with you. I highly recommend this book.