Member Reviews
This one was so good it is a heartbreakingly beautiful story of the time and place and of the relationship between two sisters . I loved her writing style . This is historical fiction at its finest.
Thanks for letting me review this book to Netgalley and the publisher
You will need a box of tissues by your side while reading this beautifully-written, heartfelt novel of the strength of sisterly love set in the terrible days of World War Two.
Martha, shy and quiet, but beautiful, discovers that her much bolder sister Charlotte is missing, and wonders if she has been secretly working for the Resistance. Charlotte decided to stay in France at the beginning of the war to help preserve the nation's art treasures and look after their family friend Anita's gallery. Will Martha have the courage to travel to France and look for her beloved sister?
Charlotte stays in France at great risk to herself but she feels a duty to look after her friend's chateau and her mother's friend's art gallery, however, when the Nazis invade, she finds herself in a whirlwind of danger. Can she do her duty and work for the Resistance? Charlotte's story is gripping and difficult to put down as the hated Nazis take over every aspect of life in France, looting the art and depleting resources.
Ella Carey's vivid descriptions are thrilling - she really captures the atmosphere of a cowed nation with pockets of underlying defiance. She also describes the scenes of the French countryside and the chateau beautifully. I have loved every book by Ella so far! The only problem is that I wanted to know what became of one particular character.
I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9781803145433
PRICE £2.99 (GBP)
Ella Carey hits another home run with the fourth installment of her The Girls of New York Series!
Martha and Charlotte are sisters coming of age just as WWII begins. They are very different women, Martha is quiet and reserved and Charlotte is bold and brave and an ocean separates them. Martha is in New York with their father, still grieving the loss of his wife some years earlier. Charlotte is in Paris with their mothers best friend Anita who is like a second mother to her. When Anita suddenly passes away, Charlotte is determined to continue running Anita’s art gallery and her legacy but when the Nazis invade France…all of the art, including Anita’s collection is at danger of being stolen. Unsuccessful at persuading her sister to leave Paris, Martha is on pins and needles with worry but also wishing she could be as brave as her sister. As Charlotte travels around France with sacred pieces of art she secretly joins the resistance but her determination to protect the art and the people she loved most will turn out to be her legacy.
What I love about this series is the delicate infusion of characters from previous installments into the current book. While they are but minimal characters, their inclusion ties the entire story together and I love that! I also love the history lessons that the author includes in her stories. I greatly appreciate Ms Carey’s telling of the significance of French art and culture during WWII and the great lengths it’s citizens went to keep it safe! I can’t wait for the next installment!!!
Thank so much NetGalley, Bookouture and Ella Carey for early access to this gem of a story! I look forward to the next one!!
A heartbreaking yet gripping historical fiction read. I love Ella Carey’s books and the Daughters of New York series is a wonderful set of stories. I could not put this latest edition down.
It is a family story of two sisters Charlotte, living in Paris and running an art gallery owned by a Jewish family and Martha, living in America with her father. Martha desperately wants to bring her sister home as there are rumours of another war with Hitler making his presence and his feelings about Jews known to the world.
The story alternates between Charlotte and Martha’s life during the War with a backdrop of their mother Chloe’s story who died in Paris in the early 1920’s. This background places context to the family friends and the current life of the girls and their father.
A truly riveting read and one a highly recommend to fans of historic fiction. A definite 5/5
Martha is travelling to France from the USA where her sister is. She runs an art gallery there and Martha and her father fear for her as it's 1938 and stories are emerging from Germany about how Hitler is treating the jews and the owner of the gallery is jewish and has just died. Martha wants to bring home Charlotte and the owner Anita’s parents to safety. On the journey there she meets a young man whom she was introduced to prior to travelling. Clyde keeps her company and spoils her with first class fare.
This is a beautifully described book and some chapters are set at the end of the first world war, each chapter being dictated by a certain character. Martha and Charlotte are both very likeable characters and their determination, especially Charlotte in the face of adversity is admirable. Although fiction we know that things like this did happen especially in France where the resistance was very active and many braved their lives to spread the truth and help the allied forces. An interesting, descriptive read
Make sure you have tissues on hand for this storyline. I absolutely adored this book! I could not put it down, probably the fastest I have read a book… If you enjoy historical fiction, you will love this. The perfect book to curl up on the sofa with. Ella Carey you have a fan in me!