In the present day, Christine and her relations are enthusiastically researching their family tree and collecting DNA for a wider response. When they receive a message from Ange Marie Preston in France concerning their grandmother Elodie (Elly) Mitchell, they are utterly astonished. In 1940 Elly is in France, studying and working as a journalist when her path unexpectedly crosses that of Josephine Baker. This is Elly’s story entwined with that of the famous Miss Baker as the Nazi invasion of France is imminent.

I find this a bit slow initially as the scene is set and Elly meets the key characters. However, once Josephine Baker is on the scene I become more and more invested in the novel. Although I know some of her story, this book allows you to become more personally involved and gives me a bigger picture. I’m particularly drawn to Josephine, she’s absolutely fascinating and larger-than-life. Her portrayal is excellent, as is that of Elly who I warm to and then grow to admire as I do the other characters such as Grant Monterey. I enjoy the way the characters interact and the relationship between Grant and Elly is especially interesting. All three have fascinating back stories which makes you admire them even more.

The author captures pre-invasion France extremely well and it’s full of atmosphere. All three are accepted in France but particularly Josephine (égalité etc) with each of them having very different experiences in their native USA as Black Americans. You also distinctly feel the danger in the air of the impending invasion as Elly et al get drawn into the spy network of the Resistance. The tension really grows, it’s all around becoming especially taut with the collapse of French defences. It becomes “horribly exciting” as Elly learns what they’re up against and a story of intrigue, daring, courage and bravery emerges.

However, this isn’t just a wartime story although that of course is pivotal. There’s racism, love, self realisation and for Christine’s family the importance of not labelling the older generation as they were young once.

Embassie Susberry has researched this very well and has created a novel that fans of historical fiction and World War Two will enjoy.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Avon Books U.K. for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Eloide Mitchell, a young African American goes to study in France and works as a journalist part time. She is invited to a show with the famous singer Josephine Baker and following the show she meets some fellow Americans who recruit Eloide to be a spy. Eloide becomes Josephine’s ‘cousin’ and attends events gathering vital information in working to resist the occupation of France by the Nazis .

The books is inspired by real events of Josephine Baker and the French Resistance. This is a story of bravery, survival and courage. A great read for historical fiction fans

A really interesting, well researched and written book, it captures the flavour of France at the start of WWII beautifully. It also features a real life character in Josephine Baker, famous not just as a French singer but also a member of the Free French Forces and a Civil rights activist. It can’t be easy using someone like Josephine and creating a whole story around images from your imagination, but this book really works.

Elodie and Grant are both well developed characters, their relationship nicely intriguing and realistic. Elodie finds herself torn between the need to get back to America and the need to help, to be with Grant and play her part in this obscene war where people were killed because of colour, religion and perceived deformities. There are so many people who dare to try to change the way things are, this acts as a nice tribute to them. You also can’t tell from looking at an elderly person just what they have done with their lives. An excellent read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A riveting WWII story inspired by the real life experiences of Josephine Baker, entertainer extraordinaire and spy for the French Resistance. Histfic fans will adore it!

This was based on real events of Josephine Baker and the French Resistance. This made me feel the book and characters, like I was experiencing the war. Young African American goes to study in France, gets recruited to be a spy. She needs all her wits, charm, and acting skills to make an impact in this story. I love learning new things about this period in history, we must never forget.

Thanks to the publishers, author, and NetGalley for the arc of this book.

If you enjoy historical fiction on WW2, you will love this book.

This is quite a different World War II historical novel and I found it to be much more than promised by the overview, with the tantalizing words of resistance and spies. The main heroine is Elodie, a young Black American student in Paris working on her second masters with a side job in journalism. The story begins during that strange interlude of "the phony war" when nothing much was happening and it paints a vibrant picture of Paris before the Nazi occupation.

Just as Europe was lulled by the Phony War, I was lulled by the first third of this book. Josephine Baker was such a fascinating & complex woman and her Black American expat friends were too. Suddenly, the spy game became deadly serious and then the Nazis arrived. This author's description of Parisians fleeing the city was heartbreaking. "A slow, delayed parade. Grandparents were being pushed in wheelbarrows by children and grandchildren unwilling to leave them behind, wagons packed with things and children." From then on, the story was like being on a runaway train and I couldn't stop reading.

This story begins and ends with the children & grandchildren of Elodie Mitchell finding out that there was so much they never knew about her because she chose not to tell them. We should all remember when we look at our older generation, they were once young too, with their own tales to share. This is a complex story, about more than just WW II in France or Josephine Baker. It's about family, racism, and courage. I loved it.

Many thanks to NetGalley & Avon Books UK for the digital ARC. All opinions and the review are my own.

I read this authors previous book and loved it.
This one I also loved. Set during WW2 a young black girl has gone to Paris to study the language and work as a reporter.
She then meets up with an older man who recruits her to become a spy for France as the Germans start to move it.
A great story of danger and intrigue amongst a small group of spy's.

As a massive fan of WWII history and historical fiction, I was so excited to get my hands on this book. It's rare to find one based on a black woman (or man, for that matter), and Elodie is a wonderful protagonist. The premise is interesting, and the research and historical accuracy is solid (no glaring anachronisms that rip you out of the time period you're reading about and bring you back to real life!). Bohemian Paris in the months leading up to Nazi occupation is brought to life vividly by the author - you can feel freedom slipping away, and tension and unease building. I'm drawn to stories of the French Resistance as I love to hear about ordinary, everyday people rising to the occasion and doing far more than they think they're capable of when faced with monsters at the gate, and this book delivers on that front.