Yvonne Rudellat, age 40 and was French. She was considered old for taking on this dangerous assignment. Yvonn became estranged from her family after the Blitz bombing. Yvonne was a brave woman, mainly through her ability of creating bombs for the French. Yvonne’s training included swimming in the Thames. I am amazed with her training.

There were many characters, however, once I sorted them, I managed to enjoy the story. As a reader, I prefer novels that are based on a true story. Thank you Audrey Blake, SourceBook, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the novel.

I love historical fiction that stays true to real people and real events. The Woman With No Name follows Yvonne Redellat as she is recruited to be the first female sabotage agent for Britain in WWII France. She was a real person and this story is built around the documentation and first hand reports of her life as a resistance leader. Following in the vein of this subgenre, the book is what you expect from a historical fiction set in WWII.

Where it fell short for me though was in the authors effort to not get it wrong, they shy away from digging into the complexity of what Yvonne might have been thinking and feeling during this time in her life. The story is written in first person which could have given us a unique exploration into the emotional and dangerous journey the years in France would have been for her. It all felt very surface level. The last 15% gave us more emotional depth sucking me into the story. Unfortunately before that, I just felt like there was a lot of missed opportunity leaving me with a lot of questions.

Virtually alone, homeless and purposeless in London during WWII, Yvonne is desperate to help in any way she can - but no one wants a woman of her age. When the SOE recruit her, she finds the purpose she'd lost, travelling to France to set up an undercover resistance network, coordinating sabotage and generally helping the British any way she can. But such a purpose is dangerous - between potential traitors, scared citizens afraid to buck the Germans, and the Germans themselves, capture seems ultimately inevitable. Can she keep going? And will she live to see the culmination of her hopes: an Allied victory?

Honestly, the prologue nearly put me off - I'm not keen on the idea of a woman leaving her husband and going out with another man while still married. Once I really got into the story, though, I was eager to keep reading. I had slightly mixed feelings about the triple storyline (Yvonne past, Yvonne present and bad guy past to present) - it broke up the storyline in a way that was sometimes good (giving variety) and sometimes bad (distracting). But the story itself, based as it is on a true story, is an inspiring story of fighting against the odds for what one believes in - even at a potentially very high cost to self. It also does a good job of keeping a war/resistance book realistic-feeling but not overly violent or graphic, which I appreciated. All in all, an interesting and enjoyable read, based heavily on a true story, of a resistance leader in France in WWII.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

I have loved every book I have read by Audrey Blake, but this one not so much. It was certainly well written with an inspiring subject, but I just couldn’t get into it. Even though it was clearly factionalized, it read more to me like a biography—a list of events and situations. I hate to leave a review like this about one of my favorite authors, but it would be even harder for me to be dishonest.

Maybe it was just the wrong book at the wrong time for me. I hope so, and I certainly look forward to reading this author’s next book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have read many books about the French Resistance; this one really blew me away. I was intrigued from the get-go. Most of the characters in this book are based on real people and that stuck with me throughout the book. I found myself holding my breath, anxiety growing from the pit of my stomach, my hands becoming clammy, as I witnessed some of the bravest people's stories. People who put their own lives on the line for the benefit of others. This is what the French Resistance did. Make a thousand different shallow cuts that would drive the Germans nuts. From destroying windshields, blowing up train tracks, laying trees in the road, and the list goes on. All these things may seem small, but you add them all up and it does affect the everyday workings of the German war machine.

Yvonne Rudellat wants to do something new with her life. She is estranged from her husband, her daughter is married, and she needs to help her birth country of France. When she is asked to train as the first woman saboteur in Britain, she jumps at the chance. She is small and unassuming, just what Britain is looking for. Someone who can get in and out of places without a second glance in her direction. She is determined to make her training successful, no matter what her instructors throw at her. If someone tells her she cannot do it, she will find a way to make it happen. She finds herself in France and her new boss does not think she can make it. She takes the matter into her own hands and sets up one of the most successful resistance movements in Northern France.

I was an emotional wreck as I read the last chapter. Audrey Blake does an astonishing job of bringing to life Yvonne and her incredible story. The amount of research that seeps out of this book is astonishing. This is one World War II book you do not want to miss. Thank you to Audrey Blake and Sourcebooks Landmark for this incredible journey.

This was a fascinating read, especially during Women’s History Month. Based on a true story, The Woman with No Name follows Yvonne Rudellat who served as Britain’s first female sabotage agent during WWII.

This book was clearly well researched and appears to stay true to actual events. Overall, I liked this book. However, I did find myself losing focus during some of the slower paced sections of the book.

I alternated between the ebook and the audiobook which was narrated by Amy Scanlon. I highly recommend the audiobook! Amy’s performance was stellar and kept me more engaged. She was a dynamic storyteller with unique accents/voices for the various supporting characters in the book. I had a great listening experience.
𝘔𝘺 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨: 3.5⭐️ (4⭐️ on audio!)

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
🚲 WWII historical fiction
🚲 Strong mature female heroine
🚲 Espionage and suspense
🚲 Dual timelines
🚲 Stories about finding purpose and resilience

Thank you @NetGalley @bookmarked and @recordedbooks for the advanced copies for review. Opinions are my own

I loved this book! I am always intrigued to see how the people in countries invaded by the Germans in World War II fought their own battle against the Germans. This book is based on the true story of a small woman who was trained as a sabotage agent to go to France and help disrupt the German troops.

Boy, was she one tough woman! Yvonne underwent rigorous training in explosives, subterfuge and resisting torture along side a hand full of women and many men who doubted the ability of her to make it through the training. When she is sent into France she has to fight those in power (men) in her organization in order to make her mark as she pushes for more and more drastic measures.

I found myself never looking at page numbers while reading this book, which says it is really, really good. The Audrey Blake duo did a fantastic job on this one!

Thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the copy. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks for access to this arc.

When I first looked at this book, for some reason I thought it was a straight non-fiction account of a French resistance agent. Then I started reading it and looked closer at the cover and saw “a novel” and wondered if I’d imagined what I initially thought. Further investigation revealed that this is the novelization of the life of a real, older woman, Yvonne Rudellat, who had been turned down when she tried to volunteer for various agencies in London to help the war effort but who eventually came to the attention of the SOE.

I can believe that it was difficult to turn her story into a novel. She was in her early forties when she was recruited, small, short, easy to overlook. Who’d believe that she would stick out the grueling training needed to become an agent. Her exploits once in France did “set [her small corner of] Europe ablaze” as Churchill wanted. The real events that are known of what she and her recruited band of resistants achieved are impressive. What is imagined of what happened to her after the Germans finally managed to get their hands on her makes sense. The postwar letter written to her daughter by Vera Adkins explains much that might (as I’ve gathered after reading other reviews) puzzle readers.

I liked how Yvonne’s training in the UK and time in France are alternated. Her male trainees and resistants might have initially dismissed her but the Germans knew of her and were determined to catch her. One thing that did bother me a bit is that Yvonne, as written, appears to have brushed aside the civilian deaths that resulted from the actions of her resistance cell. C’est la guerre I suppose. While at times the pace of the novel gets bogged down a little in explanation, the dangers that agents faced were palpable which makes their determination to keep going all the more admirable. B-

The Woman with No Name by Audrey Blake is a well-written and immersive story that any historical fiction fans are going love reading this one.
I enjoyed the well developed and likable characters that Blake brought to life for me.
I find myself still thinking about the characters and the story even though I finished the book.
This multilayered, alluring, and incredibly absorbing tale is rich in detail, beautifully written and hugely absorbing for those who enjoy good historical fiction.
The Woman with No Name was well paced and was enriched with many vivid details of the time period. You will no be disappointed with her newest title.

Thank You NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I’ve read a few books by Audrey Blake and they are so good, she writes historical fiction and I find myself just getting lost in another world, in another time, when I read her books. Her latest is The Woman with No Name. A story about a female spy during World War II, yes, please! And this is based on a true story, which is incredible. There are numerous books about female spies during the war and wow, they were so brave. I am in awe.

Synopsis:

She’ll light the fire of resistance—but she may get burned…

1942. Though she survived the bomb that destroyed her home, Yvonne Rudellat’s life is over. She’s estranged from her husband, her daughter is busy with war work, and Yvonne—older, diminutive, overlooked—has lost all purpose. Until she’s offered a chance to remake herself entirely…

The war has taken a turn for the worse, and the men in charge are desperate. So, when Yvonne is recruited as Britain’s first female sabotage agent, expectations are low. But her tenacity, ability to go unnoticed, and aptitude for explosives set her apart. Soon enough she arrives in occupied France with a new identity, ready to set the Nazi regime ablaze.

But there are adversaries on all sides. As Yvonne becomes infamous as the nameless, unstoppable woman who burns the enemy at every turn, she realizes she may lose herself to the urgent needs of the cause …

Out on March 12

Just when you might think you've read enough WWII stories, this comes along and it's a winner. Yvonne didn't have a great life even before her home was bombed in the Blitz and her husband killed. A Frenchwoman living in England, she finds a way to fight back against not only the Nazis but also those who doubt that a 40-something woman of small stature can contribute. Well, she aces SOE training, with a few bumps, and heads to France where she sets up her own resistance lines. It's based on a true story. Resilience, grit, and determination, Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

This is a very good book about a middle aged woman during the Second World War. When her house is destroyed by a bomb and she is left with a dysfunctional family, she doesn’t know what to do with herself. She gets the opportunity to become a spy for Britain and with her aptitude for explosives and her tenacity she is a valuable asset for the resistance.

This book is based on a true story and discusses the training Yvonne had to go through before going to Germany as well as some of the many feats while helping fight against the Germans. She was an amazing woman and very brave.

I would highly recommend this book. Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks landmark for an advanced copy of The Woman With No Name.

This was a moving novel based on the courageous life of a real SOE woman working with the French resistance during WWII. Incredible acts of bravery, espionage and acts of sabotage, this was a compelling read, great on audio and perfect for fans of books like The excitements by CJ Wray. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read this book.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought this was a fiction story until I got to the end and was surprised to find out it was a true story. I loved how it was a straight forward about a girl trying to take down the Germans. There was no romance it was nice to not have it take away from the story. I liked how she went back and forth between when she was in training and present day. I have read a ton of books about WW2 but usually it's about American or British spies. I hadn't read very much from the French perspective and so I enjoyed that as well.

I wanted to like this one so much! I read reviews and was so excited to read it--unfortunately, it fell flat for me. This book could not keep my attention.

WWII story based on the real life of Yvonne Rudellat.

Yvonne feels that after the destruction of her home and the separation from her husband and daughter, there is nothing left for her in life. After many failed attempts, she finally gets the chance to take part in the war. She becomes a secret agent under the false name of her daughter Jacqueline. Yvonne undergoes intensive training in France and is sent on a great mission to Germany. Together with her network people, she detonates explosions, bombs places and carries out many other dangerous missions. Despite the danger that threatens her, she fights the enemy.

Jacqueline was a hard worker and overcame all obstacles, even the ones she feared the most, to become one of the best saboteurs. Her determination and courage had a profound influence on other French Resistance fighters. It was the story of a warrior and hero who never betrayed her people and remained faithful to her mission until the end.

Most of the characters in this book were real. The same goes for events. I felt the authors' passion for this book, showing people who changed the world by fighting for freedom.

I'm very glad that this wonderful writing duo continues to write great books based on true facts. I can't wait for their next story.

Based on a true story, Yvonne becomes the first female sabotage agent for Britain to go into France during WWII; she not only has to fight the Nazis but also her own male agents who don’t believe in her and some who actively are against her. As someone who has nothing to lose, she is exceptionally brave and does everything she can to fight for the allies.

I wish I could say I liked this one more than I did, but it was a really slow moving story. My personal taste is not to read so many battle-type scenes so maybe this one wasn’t for me in the end since so much of the book was about her missions. The audio was done well (I really liked the narrator) but the timelines kept jumping back and forth which led to a lot of confusion as to where in the novel I was; it was a bit easier when I was reading the book, but the time jumps were still a bit janky for me even then. I do think Yvonne’s life was interesting and I wish the book held that interest more for me.

3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Source Landmark Books for the ARC to review

An outstanding book to read for Women's history month. A true story with a strong female character that helped to slow the Germans down during WWII. If you know her history, you will know the ending, but still worth reading for the suspense. Holocaust books are tough to stomach and this was no different. Another character with incredible faith to help the France gain back their strength by weakening the Nazis.
Yvonne was recruited as Britain's 1st female sabotage agent with the SOE- Special Operations Executive. Her bravery earned her notoriety to transport weapons and go unnoticed due to her size and age. She was considered "nameless and unstoppable burning the enemy at every turn." The fear of captivity is on every corner and not knowing who she can trust. It was a slow start, but so educational and worth knowing the history of her strength. Her strength comes at the loss of her marriage and her daughter is busy as an adult, leaving her feeling abandoned, so this was a forward step to do something good for the people.
The author did an outstanding job researching the evidence of her bravery. Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the Nora Beady series by Audrey Blake, so I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately, I was kind of let down. :(
It was hard to get into for a really long time. I didn’t really get invested until at least 50% in. The time jumping confused me really bad as well. I appreciate that the author researched and based this on a real person/story but I do wish it was a little better organized and not rushed at the end.

This was a really wonderful historical fiction story. I read plenty of WWII Fiction, and this was an extraordinary story of a truly tremendous life. I love to read historical fiction because I feel like it's important to continue learning, and well written books like this one, especially with well done authors notes to help establish fact from fiction, are such a great way to learn about new people, places and events. This book had me researching Yvonne's life and work, and I"m so thankful to know some of her story!