3.5 Stars! *This was an ARC provided by NetGalley. This is a fictionalized telling of a REAL woman SOE agent- Yvonne Rudellat and her efforts fighting with the resistance in France! Overall, I thought it was a good read. A few things made it more difficult to follow the story line and pulled me out of the story.
#1- Yvonne practiced yoga? And called it yoga? Not believable at all and really pulled me out of the story both time this is mentioned. A quick google search confirms that though some yoga poses were starting to be incorporated in very very tiny circles in England between the wars, they were definitely NOT called yoga. I will admit this did make me doubt the research of the book at first, but I will put this aside because the rest is well researched and well written.
#2- I really wish the author/publisher had decided to go in chronological order for Yvonne's story instead of jumping back and forth between her training days and her time on the ground in France. I felt like it would have made the book definitely more of a 4/4.5 star read as it would have built to showing what Yvonne overcame and how she was prepared to do what she came to do. It detracted from the story. The storyline of Max chasing her also felt rather weak with this.

I'm glad I read this book and could overlook the things that were disappointing to me as the writing was very strong outside of those items. Yvonne was an amazing woman who bravely did so much for the war effort. Audrey Blake really does her justice in showing her passion, resilience, and strength.

In Audrey Blake’s riveting novel, “The Woman With No Name,” readers are transported into the heart of World War II espionage, where the protagonist, Yvonne Rudellat, emerges from the ashes of destruction to find a new purpose. Despite facing personal turmoil and estrangement from her family, Yvonne seizes the opportunity to become Britain’s first female sabotage agent.

Blake intricately weaves together elements of historical fiction with a tale of resilience and determination, as Yvonne navigates the treacherous landscape of occupied France. With her unsuspecting demeanor and proficiency in explosives, she becomes a formidable force against the Nazi regime, earning a reputation as the enigmatic figure who strikes fear into the hearts of her enemies.

However, amidst the chaos of war and her newfound role, Yvonne grapples with the moral complexities of her actions and the toll it takes on her identity. As she becomes consumed by her mission, she faces adversaries from all sides, forcing her to confront the sacrifices she’s made and the woman she’s become.

“The Woman With No Name” is not just a thrilling tale of espionage; it’s a poignant exploration of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Blake masterfully captures the essence of the women behind the Resistance, shedding light on their courage and sacrifices often overlooked by history. With its gripping narrative and compelling characters, this novel is sure to captivate readers until the very last page.

The Woman with No Name is a well-written story of courage and bravery, friendship and strength.

The author has done an excellent job of researching the true story of Yvonne Rudellat, the Special Operations Executive (SOE), the training that was undertaken and the French Resistance - both the people involved and their courageous acts. I did encounter some elements of confusion early on in the story - perhaps because there are so many characters and due to the organisation of the story which moves around a lot. However, I found this improved as the book progressed and the ending in particular was rather moving.

The audiobook is very well narrated by Amy Scanlon. The pace is perfect, allowing the story to flow and be understood by the listener. She beautifully brings the characters to life - many spoken with French accents!

Thank you to the audio publisher, RB Media for an audio copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you #partner Recorded Books for the #gifted ALC.

The Woman with No Name is a historical fiction novel based on the real Yvonne Rudellat, a French mom who gave her all to the resistance during WWII.

Yvonne is middle-aged, estranged from her husband, with a grown daughter. Following the bombing of her home, she seeks purpose in her life and offers her services to the resistance. What transpires is nothing short of heroic, as we travel on this journey with Yvonne and others who sacrificed so much to help win the war.

The audiobook, narrated by Amy Scanlon, is definitely the way to go with this one! Scanlon's narration is impeccable, and she really captures the tone of the book and characters -- especially with her excellent French!

Wow, wow, wow! The Woman with No Name, by Audrey Blake is an edge of your seat heart dropping nail biting thriller about the French resistance during WWII. This book is based on real people, and true events. I was struck by the incredible bravery they showed, and the duty they felt towards something bigger than themselves. The Narrator did outstanding job bring this amazing book to life!

Thank you NetGalley, Audrey Blake and Sourcebooks for allowing me an ARC for this audiobook. How can you put into words how wonderful a book is when talking about such a bad*** of a woman? Britain's first female sabotage agent with an knack with explosives. It's her ability to go unnoticed even with her tenacity that makes her such a charismatic character.
I usually find books that have been fictionalized about real people to be hit or miss and this was a definite hit. I also adore the fact that at the end Audrey Blake uses an author's note to specify which parts were real and which were fictionalized to further the plot of the story. She also provides sources to look into Yvonne further, which made my little nerd heart soar.
I also feel like the WWII trope is hit or miss at this point with being so saturated, but this felt fresh and refreshing. I think part of that comes from being based around a real woman we don't hear about in history.
I definitely recommend reading this, but highly suggest the audio - Amy Scanlon was wonderful as the narrator!

The Woman With No Name went from being a 3-star, just ok book, to a 4-star with the author's note! I wish it was more obvious (maybe a note at the beginning or something on the front cover) that this was based on a real woman's experience and a lot of the events actually happened! I very rarely read the whole synopsis of a book, because I don't like to know the whole plot, and it doesn't say it's based on a true story until the very bottom!
All that said, any complaints I had about the storyline were largely assuaged by finding out that they were trying to stay accurate to the true story.
I listened to the audiobook and went back and forth on whether I thought it should have been read by someone with a French accent instead of the English accent it was read in. But I decided by the end that, since so many of the characters were French, it DID make it easier to differentiate the dialog and narration. Plus, the reader had a lovely voice and did a good job with the variety of accents.

The Woman with No Name shines a light on one of WWII’s lesser-known heroes in the dual-timeline work of historical fiction. Yvonne Rudellat is a woman struggling to find her place, with an estranged husband and grown daughter. She wants to do her part for the war effort, and not in some on-the-sidelines sort of way. She works her way up to being Britain’s first female sabotage agent.

Lots of adventure, lots of intrigue, and the weight of history make this an interesting and worthwhile read.

Amy Scanlon did a nice job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Audrey Blake, RB Media, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was great! I loved the author’s writing style and the way she told a piece of the story, then moved to another time and told another piece. Everything fit together perfectly by the end and the writing was so descriptive! Highly recommend!!

Just have to say I loved this book both in print and in audible. I was impressed with the narrator and how she brought the characters to life. But the storyline and the author’s ability to engage the reader was just fantastic.

I voluntarily reviewed both audiobook and kindle provided by NetGalley.

I love historical fiction, especially when they tell a woman's side and their experiences. Its a, oh, your a woman and you shouldnt be doing this or why are you doing this you are too old. But she shows that she is just as strong as everyone else. Good book.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

That ending! OMG, This is such an amazing tale of resilience, strength, passion, absolute skill, and patience. Strong FMC, older woman which is so refreshing from the other World War II books I've read. I teared up and I was shocked and excited to listen to more this narrator killed it! This character was based on a real person which is explained at the end of the book and I was so happy to hear because this was such a wild story!

This is an amazing true story of one women's struggle to find purpose in her life. In 1942, at 45 years old Yvonne has lost almost everything. Then she is recruited by Britian and becomes the first female spy as a sabotage agent. I have read many war stories, but this really goes inside the lives of the brave people that fought behind the scenes and risked everything to help their Country. I audio by Amy Scanlon was well done and I felt like I was right there.
Thank you NetGalley for this audiobook.

This was a DNF for me. I was listening on the audiobook and the pace of the book was too slow for me. Normally I love WWII books, but this one wasn’t for me.

The Woman with No Name by Audrey Blake will take you on an emotional ride. I could not put this book down. I had to know what happened next.

Yvonne Rudellat has a complicated relationship with her husband and daughter Jackie. One night in September the home they occupy is bombed. Her daughter becomes busy with war work leaving Yvonne feeling all alone. As she is contemplating taking her life an opportunity is presented to her that she can’t pass up.

Many believe she is too old, too weak, plus the fact she is a woman. Yvonne wants to prove them all wrong, and help bring down the Germans, and bring peace for all women in Europe who come after her.

This book is based on a true story, and will bring all the emotions out. Being a woman and mom myself made me really connect with Yvonne’s character. The narrator for this book brought to life each character. I could feel the emotions and excitement while I listened to the audiobook. This is a must read/listen to for 2024! 4.5 ⭐️

This novel is a thoughtful exploration into the true life and story of Yvonne Claire Rudellat, Britain's first female SOE-trained agent to go to France during WWII, depicted through the creative lens of Audrey Blake. Using the codename "Jacqueline", she is an unassuming yet formidable spy and models the raw essence of human resilience. The novel's structure, with its interlacing of multiple perspectives and timelines, offers the reader a deep, reflective journey rather than a straightforward historical recount. The ending of the book had me hooked and I certainly wanted to learn more about Yvonne thereafter. Lastly, the author's note extended my appreciation of this tribute to an unsung heroine of history.

This was an incredible story…and to realize at the end that much of it was based on a true person, and many of the things she experienced…in real life! Well, just amazing! And…brought a tear to my eye…

Yvonne Rudellat is not happy with her life.
She is married, but estranged from her husband.
But after an unfortunate accident in the beginning of the story, she has no choice but to go back to him, with her little girl, and live unhappily…

Time goes on and her daughter, Jacqueline, grows up, and gets married too…and is living her own life…

Yvonne finds no purpose in her life anymore, and tries to get involved in the war efforts, but is turned away every time.
She feels she is too old. Too benign. And she has nothing to offer anyone…

Just as she’s about to give up on her own life, a gentleman approaches her with an offer…and her entire life changes…and the book really begins!

As she becomes intricately involved in aspects of the war, she becomes INVALUABLE!! She is known throughout the war for all her efforts. She becomes a leader in her own rights!

She is looked up to, and depended on…by many.

Beautiful and yet heartbreaking story about war, life, friendships…and the unexpected turns life can have…even during a war!

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

⭐️ Historical Fiction.
⭐️ Broken Family.
⭐️ Friendships formed (not expected, and during wartime!)
⭐️ Beautiful, strong female main character. (Based on a true hero!)

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #RecordedBooksMedia for an ARC of the audiobook. The book was just released on 3/12/24!

#TheWomanWithNoName by #AudreyBlake and beautifully narrated by #AmyScanlon.

If you like historical fiction, with a strong root in reality, take a look at this one!

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I love a good historical fiction with a strong, determined and inspired woman, so this book had all the ingredients to a winning recipe for me. Unfortunately, I just had a really hard time getting into this one. A lot of the writing felt technical and lacked the emotional connection to this fierce female that I look for in a great book. Don’t get me wrong, there were some scenes that were hard to put down but it took me a while to get there. I do appreciate the writing of this story, and if you enjoyed the likes of The Alice Network, you may enjoy this!

DNF at 10% this is just a little too dry and depressing and boring to get into. I gave it a fair shot but I just couldn’t get into this audiobook at all.

HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY! While I can acknowledge that this is a well written and well crafted book, I was not the target audience for it. I love historical fiction, however this one was a bit too “James Bond-y” for my liking. With a premise surrounding espionage style action, it just wasn’t my vibe. I think this would make an entertaining movie that I’d see with my fiancé but not something I’d generally choose.