Have read all of Kelly Bowen's books and always enjoyable. A good story and a fast and interesting read. Thanks for providing the opportunity to read.

Tomorrow is for the Brave is a fascinating WWII historical fiction based on real events.
The novel centers on Violet St. Croix who has been raised in wealth and privilege. Going against her family’s wishes and risking being disowned, she seeks what gives her self worth. Becoming an ambulance driver with the free French Foreign Legion, she is faced with dangerous situations, actions of a spy and a chance for love. Action packed and definitely worth reading.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

I loved this one it was filled with some deep insights that resonated for today but was still an engaging historical fiction book . It’s a good book club read too

“The opinions of others had always been like a living, fire-breathing dragon in her life, ready to snuff out her very existence at the merest hint of misjudgment.”

This was a spectacular novel!

Kelly Bowen held my attention from cover to cover and had my highlighter working overtime!

I immediately knew I had characters I could root for and understand. Georgette ‘George’ Chastain and Violet St. Croix were so masterfully crafted that I won’t forget these tenacious women any time soon.

Set in 1934 Nice, France and centered around the theme of new beginnings and pulling together threads of freedom, friendship and adventure, Bowen celebrates those who stepped outside of society’s norms and found happiness.

As much as I loved George, Henri and Violet, I equally detested Mr. St. Croix. His indignation and preoccupation on what other’s think made my skin crawl. I shook my head and was tempted to throw my Kindle across the room on many occasions. He continually fought with his daughter and disregarded her opinions or wishes. He couldn’t accept that she’d toss aside “the future [he] worked so hard to secure for [her].” I wanted to yell at him to remind him that if his daughter was old enough to get married, she was old enough to know what SHE wanted. Don’t get me started on her fiancé! Violet wants to volunteer with the Red Cross and become useful and her father forbids it. What happens next is on him! I pity people who make everyone around them feel small in an attempt to make themselves big.

I loved the emphasis on women doing and saying things that stretched the edges of society’s bounds at the time. I felt Violet’s desperation and was glad when she met George and Henri. I appreciated George teaching Violet that perspective is defined by a person’s happiness and capability. Having dealt with the same fire-breathing dragon that Violet dealt with, I felt her exasperation and championed her on to greatness on her own terms.

The historical fiction lover within was absorbed in the wonderful story centered around the flower of the desert, ‘La Fleur’, who served with the Free French Foreign Legion as a driver for a Commandant, the Legion’s medical officer. My heart fluttered (is that a thing?) reading about a man who knew the love language of the woman in his life…he brought her books. Books! In the middle of a war. Written in English. In a country where English wasn’t the main language. Oh my heart. Swoon.

This was a perfect balance of love, mystery, history and adventure.

A few of the spectacular lines I want to remember:

“Everyone always tells you that adversity and struggle builds character, but they’re wrong. It doesn’t build anything. It only reveals what was already there.”

“Don’t become an accessory. Not to anyone.”

“We can’t control how others choose to think. Best to just keep on living without trying to please everyone but yourself.”

“Everyone’s place is not defined by the opinions of others but where they are happiest.”

I’ll be the one standing on a soapbox with a loudspeaker telling everyone to read this book. Tommorrow IS for the brave.

I love how Violet "grow up" in this book. From a spoiled brat to a mature woman with a mind of her own.

The book started very slow - setting up the background of all the characters. I love George immediately. :)
I urge you all to read on. Once I reach the true heart of the story, it really is a page-turner!
I love the addition of the spy character and the touch of romance between Violet & Henri.

The dates on the book is a plus as I'm not a fan of "somewhere south of...".
I wish there was a day where they didn't do anything but play, read or just snore the day away. That would have given a soft chuckle.

This is the first book I've read from this author that is not Regency romance which I also love.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for early free download of this book for a review consideration.
I own this short review.

PS - I see Saoirse Ronan & Tom Felton

The publisher describes this book as a gripping World War II page turner about a courageous woman, and this assessment is completely accurate.

We meet the heroine, Violet St. Croix, of the story as a young and privileged woman living with her family in a sumptuous village in Nice. Her father is dictatorial and she dutifully does as she is instructed. A chance meeting with a girl from a fisherman’s family and a view of the Grand Prix changes the trajectory of her life. She finds that driving a car and taking care of it gives her much more pleasure than the rounds of tennis and other activities her father forces her to accomplish.

At the dawn of WWII, she begins to question the purpose-less and stultifying life her father and fiancé want to force upon her and finds the courage to embrace her own sense of self and purpose.

Most of the well-researched novel occurs as Violet drives an ambulance for the Free French Foreign Legion. There are many harrowing moments and a spy to uncover. It really was a thrill ride reading this book. There is also a romance that develops in a very authentic way, and that is an enjoyable part. However, this is a great read even without the romance.