The face of the woman in the photograph was tilted upwards, as if enjoying the sunshine just for a moment, even as the wreckage of the bombed-out street lay behind her… 1944, Cornwall: Blinded by love, Vivienne Hamilton eloped to Paris with a Nazi prisoner-of-war, never to be seen again. A disgrace to her family, her name would not be mentioned by any of her relatives for over 75 years.Present … over 75 years.
Present day, London: When Sophie discovers a photograph of her great aunt Vivi from World War Two, it throws her into a world of confusion. Because, as she learns about this secret relative, she quickly realises that the photograph doesn’t fit with her family’s story. It shows Vivi leaving an address associated with a spy network in London – a place she had no reason to be – and it is dated right before she disappeared.
Meanwhile Sophie’s own life feels as blasted and bombed as the blitzed city in the photograph she’s looking at. Her beautiful daughter – as full of joy and wild energy as Vivi had apparently once been – is gone; and Sophie’s heart has been left broken into pieces.
Retreating to the family home in rural Cornwall to seek solace from her pain and the feelings of guilt that she could have done more to protect her daughter, Sophie finds herself becoming obsessed with Vivi’s life.
But nothing can prepare Sophie for what she is about to uncover – the story of a woman who risked everything for the person she loved the most; and a secret family history that could be the key to Sophie’s own future.
A powerful, haunting and unforgettable read about love, heartbreak and betrayal set in Second World War Britain and France. Perfect for fans of The Nightingale, Beneath a Scarlet Sky and My Name is Eva.
Readers love When We Were Brave:
‘Wow! Just wow! This book kept me on the edge of my seat right from the get-go!… [An] amazing story.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘Fantastic… Historical fiction at its best. Characters that you fall in love with, a story you will hate to end.’ NetGalley Reviewer
‘Totally captivating… About the bravery of the silent heroes of WWII, the secret agents who intercepted codes… A wonderful, compelling story that will grip you to the very end, it will break your heart but it will also leave you with a sense of gratitude for these selfless individuals. I can’t stop thinking about this story.’ Krafti Reader, 5 stars
‘I [am] hooked on this FANTASTIC author. When We Were Brave is another OUTSTANDING piece of fantastic writing… I have nothing but total admiration.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘Mesmerising and captivated me with every turn of the page… Absolutely heart-breaking… Filled with sadness, love, courage and sacrifice – I couldn’t put this book down.’ Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars
‘A heartbreaking tale of war, love, loss, betrayal and courage.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘Oh my goodness I loved this book!!!… A beautifully woven time-slip novel… This story and its characters will stay with me.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘I LOVED THIS BOOK!… Vivi is a fierce heroine and represents the bravery that everyone had to have during the war… I recommend this book to everyone that loves historical fiction.’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars
‘A truly heartbreaking and inspirational read. I was gripped from page one and literally flew through the pages.’ Jaynie’s Book Reviews, 5 stars
‘After reading When We Were Brave [Suzanne Kelman] is officially added to my autobuy author list… For a book to bring tears to my eyes it has to be amazing… I highly recommend this one to anyone who loves WWII fiction and even those that normally do not… You will not be disappointed.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 starsmore
When We Were Brave by Suzanne Kelman is the incredible story of a modern-day Sophie who finds a photograph of her great aunt during the war and tumbles into a family mystery that is gripping, heart-wrenching, and beautifully crafted.
The story features a dual point of view, with Sophie searching for the truth of what happened to Aunt Vivian, and Viv in her glory working for England’s defense. But is she a spy for England, or did she join the Nazis tarnishing her family’s name forever?
This book keeps you wondering through the entire story all the way until the surprising ending! Don’t miss this emotional WW2 drama.
1944 – England. Vivienne wanted to do something to help with the war. She is accepted and trained as an agent who will be taken to Paris and send information back to England. Her mission was a disaster and she was no longer needed by the agency. She returned home to find that her ancestral home had become a hospital. She asks to work there and is trained as a nurse. Because she is able to speak German, she is called in to help with a German pilot whose plane crashed near there. As she gets to know him they fall in love and she helps him escape to France. Her family was shamed by her betrayal that no one in the family ever talked about her.
Present Day – London. Sophie is in a dark place in her life. Her daughter and her mother had recently died and her relationship with her boyfriend is falling apart. She goes to work at a museum working on exhibition of WW II memorabilia. While looking at pictures, she sees someone in a picture who looks a lot like her mom. When she tries to talk to her family about it, she finds out that the person in the picture is Vivienne and that after she eloped to France with a Nazi, was no longer mentioned in the family. She decides to investigate further and travels to France and Germany to find out what really happened to her great-aunt.
But nothing can prepare Sophie for what she is about to uncover – the story of a woman who risked everything for the person she loved the most; and a secret family history that could be the key to Sophie’s own future.
This was a wonderful book and one I will recommend to all of my booklover friends. I have fallen in love with historical fiction books that deal with WWII. This book takes a unique approach and introduces the reader to the British SOE … or better known as Winston Churchill’s Secret Army. This group of spies sacrificed so much in their efforts to stop Hitler’s advances across Europe.
The author does an amazing job of blending the story of Sophie Hamilton from the present with her Aunt Vivienne during WWII. There is mystery and intrigue. And while you don’t discover the truth until the end, the trip through the pages makes the journey worthwhile. I loved the story and the historical details. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and could not put the book down. And make sure you have a few tissues on hand because you will need them! Having turned the last page and closed the book, I am moved by this touching story of love, bravery, and sacrifice.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookoutre, and Suzanne Kelman for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I am beyond grateful to have been given the opportunity to experience this saga and share my opinion.
If only there were more than 5 stars to give , I would not hesitate.
When We Were Brave is both a heartbreaking and inspiring book that pays to tribute to all those during the War who were put their lives on the line from fighting, to resistance, to spying for a cause that gave us our freedom.
I cant imagine .
The story is told from the perspective of 1944 when Vivi disappears with an enemy soldier never to be seen again and from present day when her great niece Sophie finds a picture from the war of Vivi
You soon get lost in the story , you are nervous for Vivi and the pages turn quickly.
Sophie is a big part of the story as she traces the story behind the picture.
I hated the book to end and I know I will think often of this book.
If you haven’t read A View Across the Rooftops by Suzanne Kelman , get your copy today.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the privilege of reading When We Were Brave.
A brilliantly written dual timeline.
Sophie is on a quest to uncover the truth behind her great aunts time during World War II, and discovers a tragic story of loyalty, enduring love during the atrocities of war.
This is a very compelling read which I found hard to put down; highly recommended.
I enjoy reading historical fiction.
This book was a mystery to be solved as the unknown history and disappearance of an older family member is unraveled that brings peace to the family, as the bad feelings of the past are put to rest and the reality of what happened brings pride to their family.
I love books with 2 stories: the past and the present and how one relates to the other.
Very good story
This book was a wonderful reminder of the sacrifices so many people made for love of their counties and the people in them. Hard to put down.
good read, if you like WW!! stories.
I loved this book–I loved what I learned about WW II and French Resistance and SOE British operations. I loved the characters on both sides of time. This is my FAVORITE genre of historical fiction: where you see into the hearts and heads of both sides of the timeline! I loved the resolve for our modern-day character who was struggling so much in her personal life, and how the events of family and history brought her peace and action. Exceptional story, wonderful writing.
I like WW II books and this one was surely different and very interesting. Great read!
A story that takes the reader on a journey of heartache, loss, love and hope. Tears will flow while reading this one. Excellent read.
I cannot say enough good things about this book. It’s another winner from the author of A View Across the Rooftops. The characters are engaging, and the plot is one of the most intriguing I have read in awhile. Sophie, the contemporary plotline main character, is likable, and her search into her family’s history (including a relative that nobody ever talks about) drew me in from the start. But for me, the WWII plotline is where everything happens. I could not get enough of Vivi’s story. This is one of my favorite books so far this year. For more thoughts, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC of the book.
5 stars
I really liked Suzanne Kelman’s first book, A View Across the Rooftops, and was excited to read her new book, When We Were Brave. This book did not disappoint. First, AI appreciate the research Kelman did in creating this story. I have been on an emotional roller coaster the past two days. This book is told in two time periods, present day and during WW II. Present day Sophie is trying to recover from losing her very young daughter and her mother who were killed in a tragic accident. As a research archivist, she has come across her great Aunt Vivi in an old photograph taken in front of the English Intelligence Office. Vivi’s family knows that she helped a German escape and feels she was a traitor. Both Sophie and Vivi are strong woman trying to survive. I had so many different feelings while reading this book. From deep sadness, to admiration of courage of both women, to admiration for the courage each has, to find love..
I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When We Were Brave by Suzanne Kelman was an intriguing tale post World War II chasing wartime happenings. Aunt Vivienne was rarely mentioned. It was rumored that she had run away with a Nazi and returned to Germany to become a Nazi but no one would ever really talk about it. He great niece, Sophie Hamilton was intrigued, especially when she saw a photograph in a new exhibit that she was certain was her mother, but her mother had yet to be born so it must be Aunt Viv. But, what was she doing in London, outside the offices of the Woolworth Building? The only possible way t o find out was her grandmother, who had been married to Viv’s brother. She might know. A night out of town would do her good. It hadn’t been that long since her 16-month old baby and her mother had been killed in an auto accident and Matt, the baby’s father was drifting further and further away in the wake of the accident. Her grandmother was exactly what she needed.
The Nazis were ruthless. This we know. This story is not your typical ghetto or concentration camp tragedy; it is a simple story of how love can go wrong. Much of it is told in hindsight and Viv and Marcus, her lover, were both excellent characters trying to survive in a time when survival was the best one could hope for. Viv had been trained as a spy and sent to France. It was determined that she was not cut out for the job and she was returned to civilian life. As she searched for something meaningful to do, she returned home, to Cornwall. She found her home had been turned into a hospital and she began working there, then training there to become a nurse. There she met Marcus, a Nazi soldier to claimed to be an English agent. She believed him and helped him escape and was never hear of again, until Sophie started looking for her. This was a wonderful story that touched on the periphery of that which was Nazi Germany. I was also a love story and a story that would teach Sophie not to take things at face value. There was more…and she found it. I enjoyed the read. It was lighter than many WWII novels but just as powerful. I recommend it.
I received a free ARC of When We Were Brave from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #whenwewerebrave
Another really good historical fiction from Suzanne Kelman. I enjoyed the character development very much and the dual time periods of both characters. I like a mystery to solve also which this definitely had. I found myself reading quickly as I wanted to find out if Sophie would be able to solve what really happened to her great aunt Vivi. This one will tug at your heartstrings for sure. Lots of emotion. It truly is inspiring to realize the sacrifices made by so many during WWII.