David is deported in a cattle truck. His only hope is the secret document he has entrusted to his sister Hannelore and thirteen year old daughter Clara. Can they reach safety or will the Nazis find them?
A Light to Guide Us Home is an historical novel set during WW2. It is the third book in a series but works as a stand alone novel. I have previously reviewed the first book in the series, The Watchmaker's Daughter.
Clara is just 13 but has been given a hugely important task to complete. The danger and tension is present from the start as David is hauled away to a camp. All his hope for a better future and a chance of survival is in the successful transport of a document to Allied hands. Meanwhile he has given the other half of the document to his sister in the hope that at least one of them can get to safety.
The book is written from various points of view which allows us to better understand the characters, their feelings and actions. The author has clearly researched the era and geography of the locations so her descriptions bring the events to life.
The youth of Clara adds an extra dimension to the tension and my maternal instincts kicked in as I worried for her situation. Intense drama, fear and danger radiate through the book but this is balanced by the hope of a better future and the simple acts of humanity that make a difference during the darkest days.
A Light to Guide Us Home is an emotional and intense read about hope and danger in war-torn Europe.

What a finale! I was on the edge of my seat. And then the outcome!
As soon as Valerie’s name popped up I could recall the previous books. Then I was lost in the pages, couldn’t put it down.
Hannelore and niece Clara have each been entrusted with part of an important document for the Allies. How to get them out of the country, Valerie comes to the rescue, working with the resistance movement to secure safety for them.
Meanwhile Valerie’s fiancé Philippe is in danger, will she ever get to marry him?
I really enjoyed the way in which Valerie learned about her mother’s life/death.
Recommend this book.

This is the first book in the series but I haven't read the others and found that I didn't need to as it was so good. I would read the previous book to get more of their story. I am hoping there may be another book to follow to continue the story of Clara, Valerie, Hannelore and Phillippe's as I would love to read more.
Lovely warm compelling world war book that anyone can enjoy.

Risking her life to help young Jewish children escape from the Nazis, Valery stays a step ahead of the Gestapo in her mission to bring the children into neutral Switzerland. Well written historical fiction.

A Light to Guide Us Home is the third in the Resistance Girl series by Dianne Haley. The way the books are written means they can easily be read as standalone stories but to get a real sense of what a phenomenal character Valerie is I suggest going back to the start and you will appreciate everything she has been through and what she continues to fight for. I did enjoy a Light to Guide Us Home as it gave us a deeper insight into Valerie’s past and we learn how she is still affected by the death of her mother. There are lots of twists and turns and connections to be made to the story that unfolds. But, I do think out of the three books published so far that this is not the strongest but still it did move the series as a whole forward pretty well.

The opening pages provide the reader with an update as to what stage the war is at. It’s 1943, Switzerland remains neutral. Terror continues in occupied France with the rounding up of Jews to be sent to concentration camps. In Italy, Mussolini has been replaced and the country’s allegiance has switched to the Allies. We then shift focus to what will form the essential plot of the book as in Paris a man named David is being interrogated as to a certain document which contains evidence of high level military and industrial spies in the British establishment who are sympathetic to the Nazi cause. David is a scientist and knows he can’t give away any information for said document has been split in two and now lies with his sister Hannelore and young daughter Clara. They have been tasked with getting the document into the right hands for if the information contained within falls into enemy hands it will be a huge and devastating setback in the war effort. David himself knows he must remain silent but the fate that potentially awaits him if he does so is unspeakable.

David’s family have to flee Paris but Hannelore decides to stay when a friend of hers is desperately ill and said friends husband has been arrested. She continues her work in the hospital laundry whilst tending to her friend. On one hand, you admire Hannelore’s loyalty to her friend but on the other you think she was being utterly reckless. Having the documents puts her in constant peril and there were people putting their own lives on the line to ensure she got to safety in Switzerland in order to pass on the documents. So why didn’t she do what was initially required of her? It made me think that she wasn’t contemplating the bigger picture.

Hannelore’s story over the course of the book feeds into Valerie’s and I loved how the two became connected. I had always sensed with Valerie, who has been the main female protagonist throughout, that there was much more to her history than meets the eye. Little subtle clues and tantalising titbits have been dropped in every now and again in the previous books. Yes, they were very subtle but were enough to heighten my senses that the work Valerie was doing was more valid than ever.

Valerie lives in Geneva and helps her father in his watchmaking business. She delivers parcels all over the city which is the perfect cover for other deliveries she may have to make as part of her work with the Resistance. Since book one, she has had such fire in her belly and a dogged determination to do her bit for the greater cause. She has put herself in innumerable perilous situations with the constant fear of being caught swirling around her. Yet, she always remains strong and steadfast and keeps going. She risks her life, time and time again for strangers and when she is tasked with ensuring Clara is safely met once she crosses the Swiss boarder she doesn’t hesitate. That’s what I love about Valerie she puts everyone else first because she knows there are people in much greater need than she herself is. She could have easily just continued her normal day to day life but herself and her friends always go the extra mile in a world fraught with danger and terror at every corner.

Valerie’s love for her fiancée Philippe, who is recovering from an incident which occurred in the previous book, knows no bounds and in this book, they certainly went through plenty of emotional turmoil. My heart broke at a certain point at what was unfolding. I couldn’t believe it was happening but I did have my suspicions which were proven correct. As threads from the past begin to draw together the further the book developed the more the tension, unease, suspicion and danger was ramped up. But still, I did feel around the midway point there was a bit of a lull but then thankfully things did pick up again. There was a sense of Valerie working in the present to find Clara and get her to safety because she was involved in a much bigger picture. Yet also, Valerie, was on her own personal journey of discovery which took her back into the past with an even greater atmosphere of mystery and suspense unfolding. I was on the edge of my seat at certain points because it really did feel like things were going to go very much awry.

What sets this series apart from all the rest of the books/series currently focusing on World War Two is that it is primarily set in Switzerland. A country that remained neutral throughout the war. As this setting is not often used in books in this genre, the work of the people living there tends to get overlooked. Well, for me it has, until this point, but Dianne Haley has shone a light on a country and its people where I have oiften thought that nothing much happened during the war as their neutrality meant they stayed out of things. That couldn’t be further from the truth and the work of Valerie, her friends and fellow Resistance members prove this. They were brave, fierce, determined and courageous and I have really enjoyed reading their stories. I definitely feel that there is room for at least one more book in order to tie up Valerie’s story. There is still a lot of fight in her and herself and Philippe need to get that happy ending they so desperately deserve after everything they have been through. A Light to Guide Us Home is a very good read as I have said in my opinion not the best so far in the series but one I certainly wouldn’t have missed out on.

Before 13 year old Clara Lieberman’s parents were sent to Nazi death camps her father gave her half of a document which held vital information that needed to be passed to the Allies which could help bring about the possible end to WWII. The other half of the document was given to his sister, Clara’s aunt Hannelore. In neutral Switzerland Valerie is working with the resistance while her fiancé Philippe is fighting in Italy. When Valerie hears about brave orphaned Clara she is determined to find and rescue her and the information she has hidden. Her next mission is to rescue Hannelore from German occupied Paris not only to make sure that the documents are passed to the right hands but also to reunite aunt and niece, the only surviving family each has. The author’s descriptions of both rescues were very tense and I frequently found myself holding my breath! The threats and encounters along the way made for frightening reading and I’m increasingly in awe of the brave men and women of the resistance. This is a fabulous, well researched book and I highly recommend. I hadnt noticed until I’d finished reading that this was the third book of a trilogy. Clearly works well as a stand alone. My thanks to NetGalley Uk and the publishers for an E- arc.

A Light to Guide Us Home by Dianne Haley is the third book in the Resistance Girl series.
Each book can easily be read as a stand-alone though.
WOW! Once I started reading this I was completely hooked. This series is dynamite.
So absolutely powerful. Though it may seem like the Swiss are down for the count, they're not! They will continue to do their part helping Jewish refugees escape from France using many methods including bribery, hiding them, false documents, faking injuries and more. They did this all knowing what the cost to themselves would be if caught.
I held my breath while reading, there with the author experiencing the story playing out. Hoping for the best, knowing it doesn't always work out that way. My afternoon was booked, I had my book and my tea. Couldn't possibly need more. So heart-breaking and dramatic. Such unparalleled bravery displayed by the characters.
I love historical WWII fiction especially with such detail as this.

Pub Date 26 Apr 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions are my own,

As a reader of the first two books in this series, I was thrilled to see the story continued. The point of view coming from "neutral" Switzerland truly educates the reader on what the real climate was like at that time. While Switzerland was claiming to be neutral there were many Nazi factions operating and trying to remove people. This story has some great twists and turns and keeps you glued until the very end. I can't help but hope there will be more installments with these characters!

It’s 1943 and the Nazis have taken over France. Valérie Hallez is engaged and instead of making wedding plans she is hoping that she will see her fiancé Philippe again. Philippe is fighting the Nazis in Italy. As the war rages on across Europe, Valérie works for the resistance helping Jewish children cross the border to safety. Valérie is their only hope of surviving through this horrible time. Clara is an orphan that has lost her family to the Germans and Valérie does everything she possibly can to protect her and keep her safe. Clara is in possession of a very important Nazi document. Valérie begins searching for Clara but she isn’t the only one looking for Clara. Just when Valérie thinks she has located Clara she gets bad news about her fiancé Philippe. She has some very difficult decisions to make and some tough choices.

A Light to Guide Us Home by Dianne Haley was an extremely emotional historical fiction. This novel is the second installment in The Resistance Girl Series. This story was a very deep read and it was unputdownable. My heart broke for Valérie and her story of compassion and love that she had for the orphans and her support for the resistance. Valérie is a very strong character with a big heart. I cried many tears while reading this story and was heartbroken through to the end. This is definitely one of my top reads for the year. If you are looking for a phenomenal historical fiction that grabs you by the heart strings from the first page to the very last, this story is for you. I highly recommend it!!

I loved this series, and A Light to Guide Us Home is another page turner.

1943, Valerie Hallez is holding out hope her fiancée Philippe, will return from fighting the Nazis.
Valerie finds out Clara Lieberman, an orphan whose family was torn apart needs to be rescued. She is holding a critical Nazi document which can change the course of the war. She quickly learns the Nazi’s are looking for Clara as well. The hunt is on for Valerie to find her before the Nazis.

Clara has been in a children’s home. When Valerie shows up she finds out that the place has been raided and Clara is not there.

In the meantime, she finds out devastating news about her fiancée. Feeling lost, she decides to put herself out there with the resistance to help find Clara and help other Jewish children escape.

Hannelore, her aunt and is part of this story as she also has information critical to the war effort.
The novel is an emotional one for me. The bravery Hallez and others have is profound. The daily struggles everyone faces is astounding.

Valérie‘s story continues in this tense and emotional third book by Dianne Haley. The story mostly takes place in German-occupied Italy. This was the most action packed historical fiction book I have read in a while. I could not put it down for one second because of worrying for the characters.

Although the characters were trying to get to Switzerland, the Germans violated the country’s neutrality every chance they got, which meant that the danger never let up for one second. Considering that betrayal was at hand only increased the danger.

Valérie is trying to locate and assist a thirteen-year-old brave girl named Clara as she is transporting a very important document. This compelling read kept me on my tenterhooks from beginning to end and the tension never once let up, whether from Valérie‘s point of view or for the road Clara’s aunt Hannalore was on when it came to her concern for young Clara and for the documents they were trying to get delivered.

This stellar book is definitely one of my favorite reads of all time. Any Resistance story is bound to be heartbreaking, but the strength and courage shown by Valérie and the others was nothing short of amazing.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

This newest book in the series explores the role northern Italy played in the war, a topic that is either neglected or glossed over in WWII historical fiction,
Hannelore is stuck in Paris and Clara has a vital document that needs to be in the proper hands.
Valerie and Philips both work in the resistance but has the price become too high.
I enjoyed picking up the strands of the story. I could imagine and feel the danger lurking around every corner.
The characters have nerves of steel, something I doubt I would have had.
The ending was good and positive, not always a given with the Second World War.

Bravery and determination against the Nazis fill the pages of A Light to Guide Us. Philippe and Valerie are determined to go behind enemy lines to do what is right. They will risk everything in order to help end the war. What the resistance had to go through had me shaking in fear. Their determination is worth celebrating everyday and we can do that by making sure this never happens again.

The author gives the reader an amazing detailed glimpse into the horrors of WW2. The reader learns about the many different groups of people in Geneva that were willing to sacrifice much in order to help those that are about to lose their freedom, their lives. Danger lurked in the darkness. Spies were everywhere. Trust did not come easy to the members of the resistance yet at the same time they had to rely on others to be able to act.

The Resistance Girl series has shown me how little I actually know about a war my mother and her family survived. I no longer wonder why they don't want to talk about it. Who would want to live through it over and over again. The books were worth the tears I shed.

I shed so many tears reading A light to Guide Us Home. My stomach was frequently in knots. Their actions had me on the edge of my seat. Valerie's determination to rescue Clara and Hannelore is inspirational. Her actions can help turn the war against the Nazis. The sacrifices made my the characters may just bring light into the darkness. At the end of the series I finally got at least a little happily ever after. It is a shame that more of those affected could not get their own happily ever after.

|Although this is the 3rd book in this series it is the first one I have read., I will be looking for the previous books as this one is so good.. Very deep, you can imagine being with these people trying to help win the war, if they can. Great historical novel with all emotions, well worth 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

I couldn’t wait to read the third instalment of The Resistance Girl A Light to Guide Us Home. Dianne Haley did it again with this unputdownable and page turning novel. It will have your heart pounding and breaking, as the characters deal with trying to survive, dealing with the past, falling in love and loss. I hope we get some more books to this series; I don’t believe Valarie and Phillipe’s story is over just yet. Highly recommended emotionally packed WW2 series.
I would like to thank Bookouture, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this complimentary copy for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#ALighttoGuideUsHome #NetGalley

I’m loving this resistance girl series! Bookouture and Haley have a winning string of books.

This third book plops readers right in the middle of the atrocities of war and will hold their attention for the remainder of the book. It’s non-stop action showcasing bravery in one of the darkest times of our history - the 1943 Nazi occupation of France.

Despite Switzerland being a neutral country, it sill witnessed the atrocities being committed in neighbouring areas. The author highlights brave Swiss people who courageously helped Jewish refugees escape from occupied France.

It was wonderful to be reunited with Valerie Hallez again and learn what Resistance fighters faced on a daily level. One of the things Haley reminds us of is that these brave souls also had a life; they were ordinary people who had 'stuff' going on in their lives, yet were able to put it aside and focus on the cause. In this case, Hallez puts her anxiety regarding her personal life to one side and diligently works to locate a thirteen-year-old girl, Clara Lieberman, reunite her with her Auntie Hannelore and bring them both to safety. I was invested in the quest and was in awe of Valerie’s strength of character and bravery.

Knowing what secret Clara and Hannelore possessed and the power of it kept me glued to the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing, pacing, characters and message. This book would make a good movie.

Keep the tissues handy as this is an emotionally charged story. As I turned over the last page, I knew I had a special book in my hands, despite being emotionally wrung out.

I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I really enjoyed this book, even though it is a series it can be read as standalone novel. I like this genre and the author doesn't disappoint.

This is another great WWII read. One precious piece of paper, divided in two for extra safety in getting to the Allies in Geneva. However, this meant two persons must make it safely out of France under the Germans noses.
Tied to the current dangers, the mystery of a past death are still unsolved.
All the characters are well developed and will have you hoping for best ending possible.

The third book in the trilogy, and I enjoyed it very much! I loved meeting the characters of the first two books, still working for the resistance from Switzerland. I also found interesting to view WWII from this supposedly neutral country, and also having an insight into what was happening in North Italy. A good plot make this read a page-turner. No gruesome details meaning for me that I could just enjoy the storyline.
I received a complimentary ARC of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.

A wonderful 3rd book in this series….I’d describe this book as realistic fiction. The author has done an amazing job at creating imaginary characters and situations that depict the world and society.