Rape and sexual assault are strong themes in Sisters Of The Resistance, so if these subjects trigger you then this is probably a book best avoided. Having said that, it is a story that needed to be told and I thought author Jina Bacarr did an excellent job of it. Set in Paris during the second world war, this is the story of sisters Ève and Justine Beaufort, who were separated after Justine was brutally raped and kidnapped by SS Major Saxe-Mullenheim, a cruel and sadistic Nazi officer, who keeps her as his mistress. With Ève working for the Resistance and Justine apparently working for the Nazis, it seems that the close relationship between these two is lost forever. Both are wonderfully crafted characters, Ève a scientific whizz kid who excels at blowing things up, passionately loathes the Nazis and is appalled when she meets her sister looking every inch the Nazi whore. Justine, however, is not what she seems. She has a baby daughter to protect from the monster who raped her and whom she loathes despite him being the father of her child. She is also working as a double agent, gathering information for the British in the milliner’s shop where she works as a designer. With both girls treading a fine line to keep those they love safe while hampering the Nazis as much as they can, there is plenty going on to keep you turning the pages. The romance between Justine and her English handler Arsène and Ève’s simmering love for her Resistance pertner Michal are secondary threads through this story and help to lighten what would otherwise be pretty horrific reading. I also loved many of the secondary characters especially the girls’ mother, Madame de Giacomte, for whom their mother works, and whom they manage to protect from being sent to a concentration camp as a Jew. While there is plenty of unpleasantness in this story, all of it coming from the Nazi contingent, there is also plenty of hope, a strong sense of family and moments of great kindness. This is a book that showcases an often overlooked side of war and the things that people will do to protect those they love. I found it fascinating, horrifying at times and yet also uplifting. It was a compelling story from start to finish and one I clouldn’t stop reading.

The sisters have been torn apart but will there love for one another be strong enough to unite them in the fight? I went from anger to joy to sadness while trudging through this tragedy filled plot. I was devastated and furious about what these humans had to go through but I felt love and admiration for how courageous and brave they remain. A powerful story that is highly recommended and not a easy read to comprehend although it will definitely be staying in my mind for a long time.

This story will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. It’s the story of sisters Eve and Justine Beaufort who have more in common that they realise, nerves of steel and love for a man who is out of their reach. Or is he? It’s based on a time when the Nazis were invading the streets of Paris and taking what wasn’t theirs, belongings, women & property. Justine has had her youth and family taken from her, will she succumb to the evil ways of the German perpetrators!
Eve feels she has lost her confidante, is she prepared to forgive? In the meantime Eve works hard for the resistance, going undercover, blowing up rail lines. Is there evil within the network.

It was fascinating reading the other side to the resistance, family life, love and loss. My favourite character was Justine. Least favourite had to be Geller. I even found a soft spot for General Von Klum who came across as nearly human.

This was a heart-wrenching story based in the world of Nazi-occupied Paris; it explored the bonds of sisterhood and betrayal.

The story follows two sisters—one involved in the Resistance and the other fraternising with the enemy.

The complications of their relationship make the story riveting when Evie discovers that her once-beloved sister Justine has started to work with a Nazi SS officer.

The setting of occupied Paris is well described, and I felt immersed in the book, among the characters' dangers, which made it a gripping read.

The novel portrays complex emotions—grief, guilt, hope, and fear.

The story of strength and survival was clear throughout, and blood is really thicker than water. It was an emotionally charged story of sisterhood, love, and the moral complications of war.

Unfortunate circumstances lead to Justine and Eve being taken in by a wealthy Jewish banker and his wife when Monsieur and Madame de Giocomte hire their mother as a seamstress. Maison Bleue, their grand mansion, becomes a safe haven for the girls and their mother. That is, until one August night in 1940 a Boche major invades their home and claims one of the sisters along with the de Giocomtes’ art collection.

Years later, when Eve arrives at Hotel Drouot to steal back The Daisy Sisters, she spots her sister in the crowd. She’s shocked to see that she’s still alive! Watching her, however, proves that she’s been indoctrinated by the Nazis. Will the Beaufort sisters get another chance to fight for what they once had? Will Eve be able to recover the painting - a memory of their past?

Sleeping with the enemy (collaboration horizontal) has been highlighted by many historical fiction authors focused on the German occupation of France, but rarely has rape and sexual violence suffered by women at the hands of the Nazis and the Gestapo been examined. This tastefully written story explores how fighting back sometimes means going undercover and releasing the bonds to the ones we love in an effort to keep them safe. Bacarr explores the ripple effect of a rape by an SS officer and how it affected the Beaufort sisters and the men they loved as well as the power of sisterhood that endures through the toughest times.

I was gifted this copy by Boldwood Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Sisters Of The Resistance by Jina Bacarr is a powerful and heartbreaking historical novel. It is the sequel to Sisters At War which I recommend reading first for maximum enjoyment.
The novel opens in 1942. The action is mainly set in Paris with alternating chapters between the two sisters, Eve and Justine. They both ‘fought’ very different wars. “Not everyone fights the Boches with guns and ammo.” Both were in opposition to the Nazis – one in the resistance, the other from within the Nazis as a spy but posing as a mistress, after events took a dreadful turn in the opening of book one. For safety’s sake, secrets and silences were kept, even when it meant others thought badly of them.
The battle for France was played out not just on the battlefields but in homes and streets, the people fought back however they could, holding on to the hope that one day France would be free again.
Family is important. Family ties and their safety saw one sister denying herself in order to preserve her family. “Winning the war is what counts, not me.”
There were some truly awful atrocities committed by the Nazis against women. Jina Bacar has realistically and sensitively portrayed some very hard to read scenes of the violence and attacks against the women of Paris.
Round-ups and the treatment of the Jewish people was horrific. A sister declared “I need to know. Then someday I can tell the world what I saw.” Survival was essential to tell the world what really happened.
We see that “war unites women … we’re in this fight together to save our men, our families …save France.” As the lights went out in Paris, the battle for France began.
The resistance saw many give their lives. It took skills and bravery to survive and to attack.
Hope kept people going, a hope that there would be a brighter tomorrow and that loved ones would return from the camps and prisons.
Morality altered during war, behaviour was forced to adapt and change. People did what they did in order to survive, to fight and to save others. We must never judge them. “I don’t have the right to ask God for forgiveness until this war is over.” One day forgiveness would be asked for and would be granted.
All the characters were well drawn and believable. The two sisters are to be applauded for their bravery. We see that not all Germans are Nazis. And not all Nazis supported Hitler and the party, as the war continued. Some worked to sabotage from within.
Jina Bacar has written a powerful tale that is horrific and shocking but also inspiring. The story of the French women is appalling but it needs to be told.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
A word of warning: there are situations and themes which some readers may find upsetting. If you are affected, please talk to someone and seek help.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had that element that I was looking for in a World War 2 novel. I thought this was done realistically and was what I was hoping for. The characters had that element that I was expecting and thought they worked in this setting. I thought Jina Bacarr wrote this perfectly and was engaged from the first page. The bond between the sisters was realistic and well written.

Wow this is such a powerful, emotional, hard hitting read that will stay with me for a long time. For me this is about resilience, strength, forgiveness and determination. This follows two sisters, Justine and Eve, whose lives are torn apart when the Nazis arrive in Paris. They both have different ways of coping with the events but ultimately want the same outcome. It is a heartbreaking read about what women had to endure at the hands of the Nazis and how they dealt with this horrific time in history. At times quite harrowing and graphic but I think that made it an even more powerful read and I congratulate Jina Bacarr from not glossing over the facts. The depth of historical knowledge is very obvious and although at times not an easy read it is definitely one that I would highly recommend. Thank you to Boldwood Books, Netgalley and of course Jina Bacarr for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I read the previous novel by the author and enjoyed. However, there was a lot of repetition in the sequel and wonder whether the story could have been compressed into one novel rather than two, thus retaining pace and reader involvement.

Goodness this was brutal. This book isn’t for the faint hearted, yet is absolutely worth the read. The violence isn’t gratuitous but it is graphic and needs to be to call out the cruelty of the German soldiers and leaders in the war. The book shows how rape was used to overcome women,to force them and to frighten them into submission, the wider impact on the women is made clear, sometimes pregnancy, sometimes suicide and sometimes murder. The two sisters at the heart of this book are on opposite sides of the line, whether to collaborate or whether to join the resistance. Both Eve and Justine fight for their survival, and for the right to fall in love.

What a heartbreaking story ..I will never forget what people went through and the strength the everyday person showed to survive
Excellently written with relatable characters

Book 2 of 2 - WWII- such a deep, heartbreaking story. So much sacrifice the people went through. I hope you will enjoy it like I did.

Sisters of the Resistance by Jina Bacarr
3.8/5

“And if there’s one thing I learned during those war years, it’s that the power of sisterhood endures through the toughest times.”

Thanks to NetGalley and Bolwood Books for giving me an ARC of this book.

Trigger warnings of the book and this review: Mention of se*ual abuse, kidnapping, t*rture and m*rder.

This story follows the lives of Ève and Justine during the Nazi occupation of Paris in World War II. Just after the Nazis had arrived in Paris, an SS officer assaulted and kidnapped Justine right in front of Ève’s eyes. A year has passed, and Ève thought her sister was dead, until one day, she sees her and realizes she is working for the Nazis. Ève herself is part of the Resistance, fighting the enemy, and trying to free France from Nazi power.
Both of these women have to fight the only way they can to survive, help their family and friends survive and get France to liberty.
What I liked about this book is how strong women are portrayed even with the adversities they endure. I liked how the book kept me on my toes most of the time with all the mystery and espionage. The slight romance that the author gives us is a small reward after the suspense of the rest of the plot.
What I didn’t like as much was the way the book describes what’s happening. I felt that sometimes, the book was telling me more than showing me with dialogue. I also found certain scenes quite repetitive, like when Justine or Ève described when Justine was kidnapped. Also, Ève’s inner thoughts were sometimes contradictory and changed very quickly in a couple of sentences.
Overall, I would say, it is a very interesting book, it talks about really important topics, like sexual assault and war, in a responsable and caring way. I think it is always important, especially nowadays, to never forget the atrocities that a group of extremist people can do. With the genocide happening in Gaza, the conflict in Sudan, this book is relevant today more than ever. It is our responsibility to stay informed and not forget history. This book teaches us that everyone has the power to speak up and fight in small ways against abuse and injustice.

A brilliant yet harrowing second story of Eve and Justine The Beaufort Sisters song with their family and co workers. It’s best to read book one first Sisters at War before delving into this one as it deals with sexual violence both for the characters and the author’s story. Thanks so much to Jina and Boldwood Books.Thanks also to NetGalley

I was introduced to an author I haven’t read before with Jina Bacarr’s Sisters of the Resistance. Set in 1942 Paris, sisters Justine and Eve are helping the allied war effort in their own, separate ways. Eve has joined the Resistance and utilizes her science background to help make and set explosives. Her partner in these tasks is a Polish man, Michal, who works to erase the tragedies he has experienced in the war himself. Meanwhile, Justine is raising her daughter that she had after being raped by a major in the SS who uses brutality and abuse to keep Justine in line. There is a vast cast of supporting characters, including a Gestapo officer who is intent on bringing down Eve and catching Justine doing something wrong.

Sisters of the Resistance is a sequel, but there is enough background given in the early stages of the book that you don’t feel lost in what the sisters have gone through, together and separately. Jina Bacarr is upfront at the beginning of the book about the trigger of sexual assault, so if this is an area that is uncomfortable for you, proceed with caution and choice. There were some areas I felt were a little slow for me, but once I hit the last 1/3 of the book, I couldn’t put it down. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book will be published on September 28, 2024.

#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #SistersoftheResistance #JinaBacarr #BoldwoodBooks

Paris, 1942: It’s been two years since Major Saxe-Mullenheim arrived at Maison Blue and changed the lives of the Daisy Sisters Justine and Ève Beaufort and attacked Justine and kidnapped her.

Justine is now his unwilling mistress and doing her best to protect her baby daughter and working as a double agent. Ève is fighting with the French resistance, blowing up trains and printing and distributing flyers. Unfortunately French women are still being threatened and their families by the Germans, abused, sexually assaulted and murdered.

An unlikely truce has been formed between the sisters, and they're both waiting for the right time to take back control, get revenge on the Germans and justice for Justine.

To do this Justine has to stop hating herself, thinking that what happened to her was somehow her fault and change her mind set and it’s not easy to do. Justine worries about her daughter being taken to Germany and given to another family to raise and Ève moves around a lot, trying to stay one step ahead of informants and the Gestapo.

I received a copy of Sisters of the Resistance from NetGalley and Boldwood Books in exchange for an unbiased review. The narrative continues on from the first book Sister at War, Jina Bacarr doesn't stop stressing in the plot how women who have been assaulted and violated need to overcome shame and fear and it’s hard to do and with the culprits still prowling the streets of France and they worry about it happening again, how strong and brave they are and eventually they fought and won the battle.

I felt the second book by Ms. Bacarr really explained what life was like in Paris during the Second World War, shortages of food and basic necessities, the tension and uncertainty, fear and suffering, and women were forced to do things to survive, face being either being tortured by the Gestapo or sent to a camp and it makes you think what you would do if you found yourself in the same situation?

I highly recommend both books in The Wartime Paris Sisters Series however you must be prepared to read about sexual assault during war and unfortunately it’s still happening, and the Sisters of the Resistance is due to be released on the 29th of September 2024 and four stars from me.

I am sorry to.say i dnfed this book at 22 %. . The story was good, but some of the topics are just not for me. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

I was blessed to get to pre-view this book. This was a story I will not soon forget. It tore my heart out, made me think, and I wanted to keep reading. This is a story of what women went through in France during WW2. As I have read things about England, the US, the Netherlands, and about children during the war, but this was something I had not had the pleasure of learning about yet. As a scholar of history, this time period is one I have studied, but never have gotten to see a more personal take on what happened in France during the war.

To avoid spoilers; we get to see the horror that was Nazi occupation in France; the French resistance and those who fought against this occupation. You can see what happened to the French people, the Jewish people both nationals of France, and those who were refugees from other European nations. You see how people treated those who worked with the Nazi's, as well as what people did to try and fight them. You see the joys of people surviving, and the struggles of war, rationing, and how the Nazi's stole from other nations to fight the war. You also get to see what happened once the French people were finally free, and the Jewish survivors came home.

The sisters in this book both tell their stories in parallel and you can see how they felt and what was happening to them each. You go through the horrors that women experienced during this terrible war, and the small triumphs they experienced as well. I did not know this was the second book in the series when I started it, but it had great flashbacks to keep you informed where you were in the story, and not feel like you were missing something.

I am next going to look into history, to see if anything like what the sisters did at the end of the war really happened. I want to know if the women fought for their rights; about if they did work to have the Allies stand up for them. I want to see if the people who subjected the women to their horrors were punished in any way. I want to see if there was some truth to what the sisters did to try to defend women, and make sure their stories were told. I want to know if the Allies did anything at all to fight for the women who suffered so much at the hands of the Nazi's. I will also get ahold of the first book about these sisters, as I was so touched by their story, I want to know more.

This is a gripping historical fiction that is set in Paris during WWII.
The story centers around two sisters, who find themselves on opposite sides of the war. One sister, deeply involved in the French Resistance, is shocked to discover that her sibling has become entangled with a Nazi SS officer. This revelation sets off a chain of events that tests their loyalty, courage, and love for each other and also explores things like betrayal, sacrifice, and the moral complexities of war. Sisters of the Resistance is a powerful and heart-wrenching tale that captures the essence of human resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity. It is a must-read for fans of historical fiction, particularly those interested in stories of World War II and the French Resistance

**Sisters of the Resistance by Jina Bacarr - 3.5 Stars**

Thank you Boldwood Books and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.

"Sisters of the Resistance" by Jina Bacarr offers a glimpse into the harrowing experiences of Eve and Justine during WWII. While I appreciated the historical setting and the emotional journey of the sisters, the story itself fell a bit short for me.

The narrative had moments of tension, but I found myself distracted by how often the characters seemed to get lucky in dire situations, which made some events feel a bit unbelievable. Additionally, I noticed a tendency for the story to lean more towards telling rather than showing, which affected my engagement with the plot and characters.

Despite these issues, I did find myself invested in Eve and Justine’s fates, hoping they’d find their happy endings amidst the chaos of war. The uncertainty surrounding the baby added another layer of concern that kept me reading, even if the book wasn’t quite the page-turner I usually enjoy.

Overall, while it wasn't a standout read for me, it was an okay book that I'd rate 3.5 stars.

#SistersoftheResistance #NetGalley #ARC-BOOK-READ