Set in the time of WWII, this story followed Violet, an obedient daughter, who ultimately chose her dreams over those of her fiancé and her parents. She broke off the engagement and volunteered with the Red Cross to be trained as a nurse.

In North Africa, she served in the Free French Foreign Legion as a driver and occasionally as a nurse. She was called La Fleur (the Flower), and she was an inspiration to many men.

Violet’s courage was evident everywhere. She was a driver for important military officials, a great mechanic, a faithful friend, a warrior and a great protector of her superiors and colleagues. She gave hope in dramatic moments. This brave woman was a disappointment to her family, but a hero to others.

Based on the real life of Susan Travers, it was an inspiring story of war, friendship and a dash of love. Some scenes were tragic and heartbreaking, but this book was a delight to read.

The plot was fantastic. The characters were so engaging that I was instantly drawn in and looked forward to returning to this story.
A very powerful story and I definitely recommend reading this book.

ARC Review - Tomorrow Is for the Brave

Perfect for fans of historical fiction! Kelly Bowen shares such a unique story and interesting perspective on women during WWII. Violet was an amazing main character. She was strong, determined, and BRAVE. She challenged her family and societal norms for women. However, George and Henri stole the show for me. They were fun and intriguing characters who I was rooting for the entire time. This book has the perfect amount of mystery and romance sprinkled in as well. Definitely recommend!

I loved reading Kelly Bowen's Season Of Scandal series last year but I hadn't tried any of her Historical Fiction books yet, so I was very excited to dive into Tomorrow Is For The Brave and it did not disappoint! I usually read more HR novels than HF but I was drawn in by the premise here and I ended up loving it!

Violet St. Croix is a young socialite who seems to live a charmed life in Nice, France and though she tries her best to meet her parents' expectations, she isn't always happy with the way her family or friends lead their lives. After falling in love with cars a few years ago, she had convinced her father to let herself drive but her new fiance isn't too keen on the way she works on them and repairs them too. Chafing at the restrictions imposed on her, she makes some new friends - George, who wants to volunteer with the Red Cross as a nurse and her brother Henri, who's a bit prickly and not too impressed by Violet at first. When war breaks out, Violet ends up defying her parents and fiance's expectations by signing up to volunteer as a nurse too. Though she's not that talented at nursing, her driving skills are perfect and soon she becomes an ambulance driver and eventually goes on to drive cars for military personnel in North Africa too. And while working there alongside the French Foreign Legion, she encounters some plots that have her suspecting that there might be a spy in their midst.

Violet was a fascinating protagonist and I loved that her character was inspired by the real-life Susan Travers, who was the only official female member of the French Foreign Legion! Her slow growth from a hesitant girl to a confident and brave officer was amazing! She doesn't let the words of her family or other men break her and operates within her own set of principles. I also liked the setting that focused on the North African front, unlike the other WWII novels! There's also a mystery subplot surrounding the spy and a few red herrings as we try to guess his identity. I also liked the touches of romance with Henri and Violet's friendship with George and the other officers. I loved reading the author's note at the end too!
Overall, this was a great historical fiction novel with an admirable protagonist and equal parts action and mystery!

Set in 1939 France, Bowen's "Tomorrow Is for the Brave" is a historical fiction following the story of our FMC Violet St. Croix as she volunteers for the nursing corps and ends up in North Africa driving ambulances and officers. I loved learning about a part of the war I didn't know much about (even though it is historical fiction, the novel is incredibly researched and based on true events). HIghly recommend to fans of historical fiction. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you Netgalley and Forever for the chance to read Tomorrow is for the brave by Kelly Bowen. This story was based on the real life of Susan Travers, and follows Socialite Violet St. Croix when she decides to defy her parents and becomes involved in the war effort when France falls to the Nazi. She is sent to the North African campaign to drive ambulances. After starting to read it last month, I put it down because I found it a bit slow. Once I picked it back up I was able to get into the story and enjoyed it as it wasn't the usual WWII story.

Kelly Bowen weaves another fantastic historical tale in Tomorrow is for the Brave. In this story we follow socialite Violet St. Croix as she defies her family and friends and joins the war effort during WWII. I really liked that this story focused on the campaigns in Northern Africa, which I don't think is talked about enough. I enjoyed Violet as a character, along with the secondary characters, as they added a lot to the story. I also enjoyed the element of mystery that was part of the story, as it added a lot of intrigue and made the stakes even higher for the characters.
•
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the e-ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

Tomorrow is for the Brave by Kelly Bowan
Historical fiction. WWII. Based on true events.
1939, France. Violet St Croix is part of the elite, attending parties, wearing all the current fashions, and seeming to have it all. But Violet isn’t happy or content. She wants to matter. To make a difference. When France falls in war to Germany, Violet volunteeres to join the war efforts and is soon sent to North Africa as a driver for ambulances and officers. Her job is dangerous and she proves herself over and over again. She becomes the hero and known to the troops as La Fleur, the flower of the desert. There’s a rumor of a spy in their midst and Violet might be the person to undercover who it might be.

It’s uncomfortable and dusty and horrific in the number of injuries and deaths. I will never understand the justification for war. This story follows Violet’s (name changed) travels and recorded encounters as researched by the author and built into a compelling and deep feeling woman that wants to help and matter in life. And she does it with bravery and selflessness.
These are the stories that need to be told.
Visual and compelling storytelling.
4.5

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

After enjoying Kelly Bowens book last year I was excited about this one but sadly it just fell a little flat for me. I ended up listening to it on audio and I think that is part of the reason why I struggled with it. It was a little hard to follow on audio.

The start was really slow for me and I considered DNFing but decided to power through. I do think the length could have been cut down a little bit and it would have made it a little more enjoyable for me. Once we got into the bulk of the action I enjoyed it a little more. I did think this was a unique take on a WWII story and enjoyed that aspect. Overall, it was an enjoyable read for me but I feel like something was missing for me to enjoy it. With how many books I read a year this will end up being a pretty forgettable read for me.

I enjoyed reading about the Middle Eastern/Africa side of WWII. That is not a topic that I feel is often covered! The romance didn’t grip me. Overall, enjoyed!

I absolutely LOVED this historical fiction with a bit of romance.

Since this is a Forever Romance book, I thought there would be more romance. The beginning gave me that impression as well because I could immediately tell who the love interest was (he gave her a nickname and everything), but then when we're fully engaged in the plot of the book, the romance drops off. It's still woven throughout, but the romance isn't as prominent as I would expect in a romance book from a romance imprint.

HOWEVER, the lack of romance didn't bother me. I was given enough to keep me satisfied and the rest of the plot kept me ENGAGED. I loved the time jumps to different settings and the mystery of who the spy was. The book was well-written and I just wanted to keep reading so I could figure out who was trying to kill the MC!

This book is about hope during wartime, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

"Tomorrow Is For the Brave" stands as a compelling example of Kelly Bowen's narrative prowess. The novel is the result of extensive research, offering an emotionally impactful experience while ensuring a gripping read. It is a recommended choice for enthusiasts of historical fiction and those with an interest in personal accounts from World War II. This work not only provides entertainment but also imparts knowledge, establishing itself as a significant contribution to its literary category.

To summarize, "Tomorrow Is For the Brave" excels in encapsulating the period it portrays and conveys an enduring message regarding the resilience of the human condition. Authored by Kelly Bowen, the book serves an educational purpose while remaining captivating, warranting its recommendation.

I absolutely love this story, especially the ending. WWII Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, this story was written beautifully. My emotions were all over the place. I wanted to yell at Violet's parent's and Tino; the audacity of them. And for the way they treated her when Violet visited them one last time. The nerve!

The intensity of the war scenes had my heart racing and I was completely engrossed in what would happen next.

I loved the love story brewing between Henri and Violet. The ending was absolutely beautiful all the way until the last page.

Violet finding her independence,determination and bravery was inspiring. My favorite quote:

"But the problem, sir,is that no one truly knows for certain what tomorrow will bring, no matter where or who you are. But what I know without a doubt is what I will bring to tomorrow. Tomorrow is for the brave, who had the chance to surrender their convictions and beliefs a long time ago but did not. None of us got here by accident, sir. We chose this. We did not choose surrender but chose tomorrow, whatever that may look like."

This is a hard one for me to rate. Let’s break it down. I was so inspired by Violet and George who we meet right away. The strength and courage they face in a variety of situations is remarkable. They are interesting, fun and so strong. I loved reading about them and their lives!

Then, the war happens. And while it’s part of their story, so much of these war scenes were too much and went on too long. I was bored by a majority of the war pages, minus the parts where the females were *doing* something. I know it’s setting the scenes for war, etc. it just didn’t interest me.

I did enjoy the part about the spy and I figured it out right away. However, it was fun to second guess my guess and I felt so clever when I was right! This helped very much make this book interesting and multifaceted.

Gifted copy thanks to Forever Publishing, NetGalley and BookSparks. All opinions are my own.

A socialite turned remarkably heroic woman—I loved this novel! I didn’t know anything about Susan Travers or her work in the French Foreign Legion but I was so entertained and impressed by this novel. It was nice to read about a woman who was very involved in action on the front lines rather than holding down the home front (still admirable work!) for a change. This was a thrilling novel; I would recommend it to anyone who’s a fan of Kate Quinn, Fiona Davis, etc. So good!

Violet is a beautiful socialite who seemingly has everything she could ever dream of having and she is about to be married to a handsome and wealthy man who can give her anything she doesn't yet have; but she feels unfulfilled. She then meets her friend's brother who, while rude to her (he sarcastically calls her "princess") challenges her to be more than she is settling to be (and settling for); and when France falls to Germany she defies her parents and joins the war effort. Taking her mechanical skills to the front lines she becomes one of the most adept drivers. While working among the men she notices odd things occurring (as well as a murder that she does not believe is a robbery) and through her own sleuthing, realizes there is a spy amongst the ranks and she may be the only one who can stop him (if he does not kill her first).


This one got me from the description, but I'll be honest, it then took me a bit to get into - however about halfway through I could not put it down. I think my mindset when I began was that I wasn't in the mood for another war story, but then, the spy plot just pulled me right in (the romance helped as well because I loved Henri). I did appreciate that the backdrop for the story was North Africa which is not a usual one for most WWII stories so it did give a different spin, plus it focused on a female on the front lines (and not a female spy which has also been done a few times recently). The novel mixed war, intrigue and a dash of romance and in the end I really ended up enjoying it and I am so happy that it gave this novel the chance that it deserved. @KellyBowen09 wrote a great historical novel with wonderful characters!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC

I have a book hangover. I started reading Tomorrow is for the Brave yesterday. It didn't take long before I realized that I may as well toss my to-do list to the side. Clearly, nothing was going to be accomplished until I had read the entire book and I didn't care. I was that deeply immersed into the life of Violet St. Croix. With each chapter read, I was that much more invested in her, a woman who defied her family - and fiancé - to do what was right for her country, a woman who risked her life on the front lines of the WWII North Africa campaign, a woman who became a symbol of hope against the murderous Nazi regime, a woman who seemed to be the only person willing to entertain the idea that there might be a deadly spy among them. I simply had to know what happened next!

Kelly Bowen, a historical romance auto-buy author for years, has now become one of my go-to authors for WWII historical fiction. Her research is impeccable with fictional and actual events - and people - woven together into compelling stories that are darn near impossible to put down and a sense of place that puts the reader in the middle of whatever is occurring. Each time I looked up from the pages of this story, it took me a minute to realize that I was reading a book in the comfort of my home in 2024 and not on a twisty coastal road in southern France in 1939 or a dug-out desert bunker in North Africa in 1941. It's that immersive and realistic.

Bowen's character development is so complete that it's difficult to not think that these were actual people who lived. Violet, George, and Henri, in particular, are characters who engaged my interest - and affections - completely. I was right there with them through all of the peaks and valleys of their intertwined journeys and fully invested in what happened to them. (While all three of these characters are fictional, Violet was inspired by a real woman, Susan Travers, the only woman to ever serve in the French Foreign Legion. Be sure to read the Historical Note at the back of the book for more information about Travers as well as events depicted in the book.)

As if the trials of war weren't enough, Bowen has also woven a deadly mystery through this book with plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing as to the actual identity of the "spy among us." Just when I decided I had figured out the spy's identity, she would throw another twist into the mix that had me second guessing. I love when authors stump me like that. I did finally figure it out but even then, it in no way took anything away from the suspense and danger as events played out.

If you're in the mood for a compelling, immersive, coming-of-age story featuring a young woman raised in the lap of luxury who leaves it all behind for a greater purpose amidst the turmoil and danger of WWII, finding courage, love, and a sense of self in the process, look no further than Tomorrow is for the Brave by Kelly Bowen. It has my highest recommendation.

Top Dish Review
ARC received from Forever via NetGalley. Fair and unbiased review.

Thanks to Forever and Hachette Audio for an advanced copy of Tomorrow for the Brave by Kelly Bowen. I love that the main character Violet is based on a female ambulance driver during World War II. 

This isn't your typical WWII book since it's about a female ambulance driver and takes place mostly in the North African sphere of the war and I liked that aspect but it took me a while to get into this book. I liked it, but it was just slow. 
I liked Violet and how she did what she believed was right, even when it was the hard choice. I also liked the Author's Note and how much research she shared about the real woman that inspired Violet. 

The audiobook was good - I liked the narrator Marisa Calin. It was just over 11 hours on audio.

If you're looking for a slightly different WWII historical fiction you'll enjoy this one.

I was drawn into this story from the very beginning. It is based on the story of Susan Travers who served with the French Expeditionary Forces as a driver for several high-ranking officers during the war. The author strove to accurately describe the brutality of the siege in Northern Africa and the bravery of the French forces assigned there as well as the people that were merely inconvenienced by the war. It’s a great story full of bravery and determination and finding out who you really are and what you are capable of.

Her books are so good! I love how she always finds amazing women from WWII to write about. Violet is a socialite, who has for the most part followed all her parents wanted for her, and is on the brink of getting married when war breaks out. Heading to the Red Cross to sign up with a friend, she is told that she needs to become a nurse, her skills in driving don't matter. Nurses are needed and so that is what she will become. After one disastrous event, Violet proves her driving skills and is quickly moved to a post more suited to her abilities. In the midst of war, Violet is finding out who she is and what she really wants in life and for herself. Even though she proves herself and her skills over and over again, with each move that is made, a male attempts to get her to go back home where she can be safe and become someone's wife. Violet having lived most of her life dictated by a mans decisions, continues to do her part for the war and finds that she has become an inspiration and known among many. Based on a true women, this novel was such a fascinating read! I really loved Violet's character and really had no idea about what was happening in Libya. It was very interesting to read about the bases they set up in those desert lands. Thank you to Forever Pub, the author, and Goodreads for the complementary novel won in a giveaway.

She wasn’t supposed to do the things that she wanted to do.

Yet Violet Le Croix, the only daughter of a wealthy British businessman who has been raised on France’s Mediterranean coast, is not interested in the luxurious but structured life she is told she must pursue. A chance sighting of race cars in the streets near her home as they prepared for a Grand Prix race when she was a teen sparked her interest in driving automobiles (a shocking passion for a female, especially in her circles) and was her first encounter with George (Georgette) Chastain, a free-spirited girl of about her age who works alongside her siblings in the family fishing business. A girl of humble circumstances like George would appear to have little in common with someone of Violet’s privileged life full of tennis lessons, couture gowns and diamonds, yet it is George who will support Violet a few years later when Violet chooses to defy her controlling father and her equally demanding fiancé Albertino Leblanc when they refuse to allow her to volunteer with the Red Cross as WWII begins. Violet had been allowed by her father to learn to drive and ultimately became adept at repairing the cars she drove, an aberration which would develop the skills which in turn allows Violet to become a valuable volunteer indeed. She breaks off her engagement, is disowned by her parents, but with the support of George and her family (including George’s brother Henri) Violet completes her nursing training for the Red Cross and is sent overseas. She is a dreadful nurse, but despite having been told that women could not be ambulance drivers, Violet demonstrates her skill and her composure at the right time and to the right person, and is transferred from nursing duties to those of a driver. She will ultimately find herself in North Africa alongside Henri as the French and British fight the Germans for control of the area, but when it seems that the enemy can predict her side’s every move she comes to suspect a traitor in their midst…and fears that it is someone she knows only too well.
Based on the true story of Susan Travers, author Kelly Bowen spins a tale of courage, loss, love and betrayal against a backdrop of war. Violet grows from a tentative person who wants to do the right thing to become someone who does what must be done in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Discovering that the character of Violet was based on someone who actually lived made the story both more credible and enjoyable for me. For readers who like a little romance in their historical novels there is the subplot of Violet and Henri, whose initial meeting could not be more hostile but who over time are able to see beyond their misperceptions and develop feelings for one another. An unnamed German spy narrates occasional chapters; the reader can see that this spy and Violet are on a collision course, and several candidates for the spy’s identity are introduced to keep the reader guessing. Events at the end of the First World War left scars on many of its survivors, and from that group has sprung the spy. Believable character and a well-developed sense of place contribute to making Tomorrow Is for the Brave a gripping and enjoyable read which will appeal to readers of authors like Julia Kelly, Erika Robuck and Paula McLain. Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever/Grand Central Publishing for allowing me early access to this page-turner.