I have loved the previous 2 books from Audrey Blake I've read immensely, so I had quite high hopes for this book. Unfortunately it didn't live up to the expectations, but there are a few reasons for that, I think. First, I listened to the audio and while the narrator was fantastic, I don't think I paid as close attention as I should have to fully grasp the story and understand what was going on. The second was how different the previous books were and how original the stories were, where as with this book it feels like there's been many books with a similar storyline. It didn't feel the SAME as all the other books, but just similar.

For the good parts, because there were a lot - the writing was fantastic as usual from Blake. I found there were a lot of characters that were a little hard to keep track of, especially on audio, but once I could straighten them all out, it was much better. I thoroughly enjoy historical fiction novels that are based on real events/people and this one hit the mark in that sense. The author's note really caps off the book, make sure to take a minute to read it!

Yvonne is divorced and raising a young daughter. She is determined to help with the war effort. Because of her age, she is having trouble finding a cause who will let her help. So, when the war takes a turn for the worse, Yvonne ends up being a famous demolition expert.

This story is a bit drawn out and can get a bit slow, especially during all the different operations. But, I did enjoy Yvonne. She is tough, intelligent, and strong. I love that the author uses a real person. It always makes the story more personable and has me researching.

The narrator, Amy Scanlon, did a good job. There are quite a few characters and she had a voice for every one.

Need a novel based on a true story…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I loved this authors previous two books, so I was excited for this one. However, it fell a bit flat for me. I think this is an instance of where print would be better than the audio because it was hard to follow the time jumps and I found myself having to go back and relisten to figure out where the story went to. I also just wanted richer development of the main character. I’m also realizing that I’ve read so much about WWII that I think I need to be aware and not seek out these kinds of books. Thank you for the opportunity to listen to the eARC.

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 was excited to read an ARC of The Woman With No Name because I loved Audrey Blake’s Nora Beady books about a girl in the 1800s who wanted to be a surgeon. This book is about a small middle aged woman who feels overlooked and insignificant after her daughter is grown and working on the WWII effort in England, she's estranged from her husband, and her house is bombed. When she's told she is too old to help in the war effort, she lies about her age and volunteers to train as a Special Operative Executive. But once she is dispatched to France she goes way beyond the call of duty, and the rest of the story tells about all the things she does to sabotage the Germans and help win the war. I found this book a bit difficult to follow with timelines and points of view that cover characters from England, France and Germany, and timelines that span from 1928 until after WWII. But the ending was satisfying and I was surprised to find out it is almost all a true story

Yvonne Rudellat wants to help in the war effort but is thwarted every time she tries. Her estranged husband leaves her be for the most part, and her daughter Jackie is grown and busy with her own war work. When her building is destroyed in a bombing, she is distraught and suicidal. Recruiter Selwyn Jepson sees her potential as a French born English citizen and invites her to join the secret service operatives in England.

Feeling every bit of her forty five years, and her small stature, Yvonne fights her way through training working to overcome her fear of the water to be an undercover agent in France. With her fluid French, Yvonne can help organize drop zones, deliver messages, and help to sabotage German supply lines. It is this last duty that she is particularly good at damaging and disturbing troop transports as well as the German’s caches of food and weapons. She became known as the saboteur with no name.

Yvonne was a real person, and it is obvious the care the author put into her research, but I could have done without the dual timelines. I actually would have preferred a chronological story that maybe jumps forward as necessary. The toggling back and forth between her time in France, and her training made it hard to pay attention. The narrator was fantastic though, and did her level best to keep me engaged.

Thank you to NetGalley, RB Media, and the author Audrey Blake for the advanced copy of the audiobook. The Woman with No Name is out in audio format on March 12th. All opinions are my own.

A WWII historical fiction novel with a strong female heroine, add in dual timelines and espionage, that will always be a yes for me. I was able to enjoy this one on through an audio book and it is always a pleasure to hear the accents and inflections especially in names and places when you are reading/listening to a book in Europe. This was a delight. This novel is based on a true story. For history buffs, be prepared to go down several rabbit holes and enjoy every single word!
Yvonne joins the resistance because she was feeling too old, and washed up, she lost her home, so what was left ? She finds a recruiter and through a lot of training becomes one of the first secret service operators in England. This is a book that I wish I would purchase and keep on my shelves

I have been having a hard time lately finding any historical fiction novels that interested me enough to commit to reading but when I saw this one was written by Audrey Blake I knew it wouldn’t disappoint. This is a story about a woman who in the most of war felt like she needed to do something. Her home had been bombed, her husband had left her to fend for herself and her daughter joined up. She was feeling lost and washed up, but she wants to help. She interviews with a recruiter at Baker Street and she becomes one of the first women secret service operatives in England. The story follows her through her training and her mission. I loved the way she didn’t always do what was expected. It’s always fun to read about how women get under men’s skin when they don’t do what they are told.

Most of the characters in the book are real people. I love it when the book I am reading is so good it sends me straight to google to learn more. What an amazing story and the perfect one to read at the beginning of Woman’s History Month!

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

When I read the premise for “The Woman with No Name,” I was intrigued and really looked forward to listening to the audiobook. While it was certainly interesting that this novel was based on a true story, it fell a little flat to me. Initially, I was really involved in what was going to happen to Yvonne Rudellat, the heroine of this story, and waited to feel that hook throughout the first few chapters. However, that never really happened for me. I can’t really put my finger on why this was the case. It did feel a little slow, and that may be why, but I also felt like the characters were a little one dimensional. I didn’t feel any connection to them, which I was missing. Amy Scanlon, the narrator, did a great job at voicing all of the characters. I really enjoyed listening to her tell the story and would certainly listen to another audiobook voiced by her.

The Woman with No Name stands out in the realm of WWII literature, presenting a refreshing and unique perspective on the resistance against the Nazis. In a genre saturated with war narratives, this novel delves into the clandestine world of sabotage through the eyes of a woman trained for a pivotal role. The revelation of the training process adds depth to the story, shedding light on the intricacies of bomb-making and subterfuge. This aspect not only enhances the realism but also captivates readers with the challenges faced by those who fought behind enemy lines. What sets this book apart is its deliberate avoidance of gratuitous blood and gore, opting for a more nuanced approach to convey the gravity of the situation. This decision provides a welcome alternative for readers seeking a less visceral yet equally impactful experience.

Yvonne Rudellat's journey as the first female sabotage agent unfolds with a perfect blend of intrigue, mystery, and suspense. The narrative skillfully weaves these elements as she navigates a world where her seemingly unassuming stature becomes her greatest advantage. The skepticism she faces from her male counterparts adds an extra layer of tension, making her achievements all the more remarkable. Despite the dual timeline format, which introduced moments of confusion, the immersive storytelling kept me engrossed, turning page after page. The Woman with No Name offers a unique lens through which to explore the complexities of World War II, challenging preconceived notions about the roles women played in the resistance. This novel is a compelling read for historical fiction enthusiasts, providing an engaging and thought-provoking experience.

Thank you NetGalley and Recorded Books for the chance to listen to and review this audiobook.

I did not finish this audiobook. After listening to about 15% of it, I was still very confused about the timeline. It jumps around to a few different time periods, which can be hard to track in an audiobook. I think this would be easier to follow in a print version. There also wasn't much going on in the present timeline that kept me interested in learning more about the main character. I did not feel connected to her yet. The narrator does a nice job with the different accents and character voices, but ultimately this wasn't keeping my attention after a few tries. I really wanted to like this book, but I don't think I'll be revisiting it. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to try this book in exchange for my honest review.

Over the years I have read a few stories of women behind the scenes of world war II working for the resistance. this was one of those, but the first in such a special operative mission such as explosives. Learning about Yvonne’s journey as an “older” (because we all know 40 ain’t that old now 😅) woman joining the opposition was intriguing.

The first 1/3 of the book was a little slow and took times to remember the names and roles of characters. As the book progressed Yvonne had close encounters with Gestapo members and you were able to follow the trail in which they were weaving to find this mysterious woman.

The ending really made the book better for me - I felt captivated by what could and would happen, knowing this was based on a true story and was founded in facts. There wasn’t a classical epilogue by book standards but the authors wrapped it up so nicely in a way I won’t give away. The authors note was also a great touch to the ending.

Thank you NetGalley and RB Media Recorded Books for a copy of this audiobook. Publication date is set for March 12th, 2024!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book! Wow!! I love a good story about a strong women. I was shocked to find out this book was based on real life events. I didn’t want to put this down, soo good!!!

I really found this historical fiction story based on the true story of a WWII spy fascinating. It was very fast moving and interesting. The author has a very good command of the English language and often I would think, that the phrase or words she chose really improved the story.
I listened to this on audio and the narrator was exceptional. She handled all the different accents really really well and was very easy to listen to.
The story does jump around between there different time periods, which I did find confusing at first, but after about 1/4 of the book, it began to make sense to me and was not confusing at more.

I recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction at all.
Thank you to NetGalley and Recorded Books for my ARC.

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!

I’m gonna be honest, I could not pay attention to this book. Every time I sad down to listen (audiobook), I zoned out. I thought it was just me, but nothing in it actually grabbed my attention.

The book is written in such a boring way. The story premise is so fascinating, but the writing style made it feel so passive. There was no emotional attachment to the characters. It felt like I was listening to a book report. After reading the author’s note, it’s clear the author essentially did do a book report. It’s a shame, because all the content was there. The author just lacked the emotional aspect.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my gifted audiobook copy of The Woman with No Name by Audrey Blake in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this one not knowing the synopsis, but was intrigued by the title and the cover. I really wanted to like this one more than I did, but sadly it fell short for me. I thought that the pacing was too slow and through no fault of my own, I realized this was one of the time periods that I just have read too much. I know that there will be many who enjoy this one but I do not think this book was for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance audiobook of this novel. The narration was top notch and managed to portray many different characters convincingly. Ms. Scanlon's voice was a pleasure to listen to.

The novel is historical fiction that hems very close to the real life of Yvonne Rudellat, a middle-aged female explosives expert who worked for the British in occupied WWII France. Overlooked and unhappy in her regular life, and stuck in a loveless marriage to a controlling man, Yvonne finds meaning and purpose in becoming a spy. Despite her gender, everyone looks to her as a natural leader for her judgment and fortitude in planning terrorist acts against the Germans. She has little to lose at this phase in her life and she puts everything into doing the right thing, with clarity of purpose, competence, grit and the strongest moral compass. A truly inspiring story that should be taught in school. Highly recommend.

This book is a lengthy historical fiction centered around war. The characters were enjoyable, and the author did an excellent job with their research, building relationships and weaving together the whole structure of the book. The characters' personalities are the key to the story. I appreciate how the author turned historical figures into fictional characters, which made for a fascinating read. While I found the book a bit slow for my liking, I believe that fans of this genre will find it enjoyable.