An Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestseller.From the USA Today bestselling author of A Curve in the Road comes a spellbinding novel about one woman’s love, loss, and courage during wartime.After a crushing betrayal by the man she loves, Gillian Gibbons flees to her family home for a much-needed escape, but when she finds an old photograph of her grandmother in the arms of a Nazi officer, … her grandmother in the arms of a Nazi officer, Gillian’s life gets even more complicated. Rattled by the discovery, Gillian attempts to unravel the truth behind the photos, setting her off on an epic journey through the past…
1939. England is on the brink of war as Vivian Hughes falls in love with a handsome British official, but when bombs begin to fall and Vivian’s happy life is destroyed in the blitz, she will do whatever it takes to protect those she loves…
As Gillian learns more about her grandmother’s past, the old photo begins to make more sense. But for every question answered, a new one takes its place. Faced with a truth that is not at all what she expected, Gillian attempts to shine a light not only on the mysteries of her family’s past but also on her own future.
This gorgeously written multigenerational saga is a heart-wrenching yet hopeful examination of one woman’s struggle to survive, perfect for fans of The Nightingale and Beneath a Scarlet Sky.
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Without question, one of the best books I have ever read! I’m a sucker for novels set in WWII, but this one blew me away. The unexpected twists I never saw coming; the rich characters, complicated relationships, and vivid settings that pulled me in from page one; a breathtaking pace that sent me flying through the pages … all joined together to make this an unforgettable, beautifully told story. I absolutely adored it!
I could not put this book down! I generally don’t read romance, but I really enjoy historicals and the romance was well done with enough plot twists to keep me guessing right to the end.
BTW: Yes, the author chose to lightly gloss over the tragedy that was Dunkirk, but then the focus of her book was on France and spies and there was enough heartbreak to deal with in the story, so I was satisfied and very glad I read this book, and I highly recommend it.
This new novel is a blend between history and romance, between present day and WWII. it’s a book about family and love and forgiveness all put together with lots of research and likable characters. It’s well written and one of my favorite books of the year.
The story – especially during the war is so well written that you feel like you are in London during the Blitz. The author did an excellent job of showing what life was like in London during this time. The characters were very likable and their fear was deeply felt. The dual time line plot was well done and I enjoyed both the present day story and the historical story. The author did a lot of research on what life was like in England and France during this time period and it made the story so much more realistic.
This is a story of love and forgiveness, family and friendship. It has romance, mystery, bravery, danger and most of all love. I read a lot of WWII historical fiction and this one ranks near the top of the list.
Julianne MacLean’s books are all winners, but this one was really special – an original take on WW2. I listened to the audiobook and couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next.
Author Julianne MacLean is a fresh voice in WWII fiction, writing a book full of twists and turns all the way until the end. A story of sisters, loyalty, motherhood, love, and wartime drama, this one will become a beloved fixture in the genre.
I just finished this book and loved it. The plot was so well done, providing twists and turns, and, of course, a happy ending. It’s always good to be reminded of the sacrifices war brings to all of us.
Two generations.
War, and the choices her grandmother had to make.
Gillian is heartbroken when she finds an intriguing photo of her grandmother.
This is a richly written book that spans generations. She has to uncover who her grandmother truly is and the choices she had to make, and a few similarities between them both.
Recommend.
This book just blew me away. From the first page to the last, it was like, what? I never expected that. I don’t want to give anything away because one of the best things about reading this book, is I had no spoilers and to see where Julianne MacLean took us was wow. It has some interesting history, some great characters and a storyline that just kept giving me the unexpecting.
I would highly recommend this book to everyone. I have read other books by Julianne MacLean and this was another one of her books that you won’t be disappointed in. After finishing the book, I am still thinking, I can’t believe where she took me in this book. All I can say is WOW! What an amazing book. I hope you all get as excited reading this book as I did.
Set in 2011 United States and WW2 England, A Fire Sparkling is another dual timeline historical fiction. Gillian comes home and finds an old wartime photo of her grandmother (Vivian) in the arms of a Nazi officer and is set on figuring out what it means. Vivian has kept her past a secret for so long but when her son and Gillian ask her about the photo, she realizes it’s finally time to tell them the story of her war life.
Although I enjoyed both timelines, I preferred the ones focused on the past with Vivian. They were well written and paced well. There were plenty of twists and turns that made me want to keep reading more. I felt the chapters with Gillian were relatable and although they didn’t have as much “action” they continued to build on her story well and kept me interested in her life as well as her grandmothers.
I enjoyed this passage from the book:
“He’s very charming, Gram,” I replied. “And he’s smart and witty. So yes, I would still find him attractive.”
She shook her head. “I hate that word. Charming. Women should steer clear of men who charm them. If you’re charmed, then you’re under some kind of spell, and women need to stay sharp. Real life isn’t a dream. You have to keep your eyes open. Ears too.”
If you are looking for a historical fiction based in London during the blitz, this book would be a great choice for you.
A gorgeous book filled with unexpected twists. Loved the characters and the setting. Especially loved the chapters set during WWII.
There are many World War Two novels to choose from, but if you like that era then don’t miss this one. Although it has two threads, one contemporary and the other wartime, the war era makes up the majority of this book. I hesitate to say too much for fear of giving away at least two major twists, so I’ll just share that the writing is wonderful, the characters are compelling, and the plot structure that successfully surprised me is very well done!
I loved this book. The characters are wonderful and the setting is great. A sad time yes but a beautiful story also. I’ve read a couple of very sad book with the WW2 setting and this was a nice and different take on the era. While it was emotional in many ways and places it was also told with such heartfelt love and realism.
I’m very happy I read this one and have loved all I’ve read by this wonderful author.
Thank you #NetGalley for this book. This is my honest review and I’m very sorry it took me a bit to get to it. Life got in the way.
A huge 4 stars and high recommendation from me.
I love a good historical fiction with a bit of romance in it, but this book exceeded my expectations. There were two twists I did NOT see coming that simply elevated this to a fantastic read. I’m a big fan of Julianne MacLean, and this did not disappoint!
Julianne MacLean’s A Fire Sparkling is a beautiful, sweeping tale about love, courage, family secrets, and forgiveness that is impossible to put down.
War tests the bonds of family and the heart in Julianne MacLean’s newest novel. A Fire Sparkling is a touching examination of the intricacies of love with a cleverly interlaced plot that kept me reading at a breakneck speed.
Brimming with twists, secrets, and romance, A Fire Sparkling carries the reader back to WWII Europe as modern-day woman Gillian Gibbons unravels the past kept hidden by her grandmother for decades. This is author Julianne MacLean’s most ambitious work to date, a heartfelt and remarkable tale of courage, secret identity, and the deep, unbreakable bonds of family. Highly, enthusiastically recommended.
What a fantastic read! On one hand I wanted to read it through until the end and on the other hand I wanted to savor every word. Seedlessly switching from present day to the 1940’s, the story unfolds and holds you in its thrall. Highly recommended.
This is a five stars and more. Such a well written story of twins, April and Vivian and their struggles, losses, heartache and bravery during the London Blitz and invasion of France. Identical twins, so connected, yet so different, have secrets that put themselves in danger and those they love. Written in two time periods, early 40s and 2011, Julianne MacLean skillfully takes the reader between the events of both eras. I enjoyed this book so much and it ended for me, much too soon.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and thank Lake Union for the opportunity to review this wonderful book. I loved it.
#AFireSparkling #NetGalley
I enjoyed this well-written book. Gillian goes to her family home when she catches her boyfriend in a lie. She discovers photographs from her grandmother’s past that starts her on a journey to discover more about her grandmother’s life. The more she discovers, the more mysteries she finds. This multigenerational story brings aspects of World War II to life, along with Gillian’s emotions and her grandmother’s journey. This was an entertaining book and I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Julianne MacLean’s best book ever – – and that had to top a bunch. The history, the romance and the drama are most intriguing but the twists in character fates will astound you. The book takes you back to another time and place where dramatic pivotal decisions literally changed the course of lives. Hallmark or Netflix should take note – this book would make a wonderful movie or a mini-series. I plan to reread “A Fire Sparkling” because the ember it ignited in my mind won’t go out.