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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I absolutely loved this book. As a writer, I’m not often surprised by a story’s plot, but this totally surprised me, and in so many good ways. It has a twin-stranded story line (WWII and present-day), and both plot lines were equally compelling. I also loved the characters, past and present. Highly recommend!
A Fire Sparkling was a wonderful novel! I enjoyed the way that part of the story was from modern days and part was from during World War II. And I enjoyed the tone of the whole novel. The story was told alternating between these two times. Gillian is summoned by her father to come home one day. He has learned something about her grandmother and he wants to tell her more about it. Gillian arrives and learns that her grandmother has kept secrets from all of them ever since World War II when she was a young woman. This leads Gillian to travel to London to visit someone that her grandmother knew back then to learn more about what really happened. There she will find out even more secrets about her grandmother’s life. All of their lives will be changed as the truth comes out.
A Fire Sparkling blew my mind! I can’t believe how well written this book is. Ms. MacLean has done such a superb job of writing two separate timelines (one around 1939 and one present time) that by the time I had finished reading the chapters for one time period, I had completely forgotten about the other. I was so immersed in the plot and the characters that my heart was right there in that time and place with them.
As Gillian learns about her grandmother’s life during the war, the story is at times gut wrenching and difficult to read. However, the underlying thread of love and hope is always there. The suspense is palpable and the twists of the unexpected keep the story fresh and different. Ms. MacLean’s research into the time and places of World War II must have been quite extensive and is greatly appreciated. This is a superb book!
I was given a copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
Excellent, had a hard time putting it down.
Women’s Fiction, some historical
Beginning and End of this book read like a young adults women fiction novel, but the middle of the book was pure gold with an elderly grandmother recalling her past. Really Enjoyed the historical pieces of the Blitz, resistance fighters and WWII spies.
Loved this book, kept me glued to the pages . Didnt see the twist coming. Highly recommended.
A modern-day mystery of old pictures of Gillian’s grandmother with a Nazi officer before the war leads to a great story of wartime love, secrets and sacrifices. I really enjoyed this book. It is a real page-turner! I received an ARC for my honest review.
Not many WWII books capture or hold my attention like this one did. This one was riveting! That the word “Sparkling” is in the title is so appropriate because the story absolutely sparkles with a gripping intrigue throughout the book. And it all starts with an old photograph. Secrets surface as a 96-year-old Connecticut grandmother begins by slowly unraveling her days in London as Britain is drawn into WWII. Circumstances, characters and relationships there are complex and fascinating. As the story unfolds, the granddaughter is experiencing snags in her own present day relationship. Then there’s her father waiting to discover what the secrets reveal about his heritage. The atmosphere is richly painted, the characters vividly created, and all with just the perfect amount of momentum to keep the reader engrossed. A wonderful read!
An intricate tale of love, betrayal and long held secrets. Julianne Maclean draws the reader into dual timelines and multiple voices with impressive ease. If you’re looking to immerse yourself into the world as it was in WWII, look no further. This book kept me guessing, while endearing me to the women who people its pages – brave, fierce, and full of familial love.
I was completely enraptured with the unravelling of secrets and the author’s decision to not push the ‘romanticism’ too far but keep it in the realm of believability – thereby honouring the lead character’s intelligence, practicality, and hard-earned wisdom. An odd statement, haha, but read the book and you’ll know what I mean.
I loved this so much I filmed a video book review where I talk about some other aspects of the novel and … I admit it … gush a bit! If you prefer to watch your reviews rather than read them, check it out by clicking the link below.
https://youtu.be/uqkXQJ2IuSo
Loved it! Would have liked a little earlier evidence of the bond between the sisters.
Surprising ending that’s sad in a way, satisfying in another.
A wonderful, sweeping saga about the secrets we keep and the lies we tell in order to survive. Full of intriguing characters and set against the terrifyingly vivid backdrop of wartime London and Europe, Julianne MacLean certainly knows how to keep her readers guessing. I loved it!
A Fire Sparkling by Julianne Maclean is a story within a story: It begins with 35 year old Gillian fleeing to her grandmothers home in Connecticut after finding her boyfriend cheating. Upon arrival she finds her father having stumbled upon life changing photos – could the nazi soldier in the picture really be his father? Nothing to do but pin down her 96 yr old grandmother and gently demand the truth. The story that unfolds, that of two sisters surviving WWII London, is nothing she could have ever expected.
I have to admit some of the story line was predictable, but there were still enough unexpected twists and turned to keep me engaged, turning page after page to learn what happens next. There is also a definite ‘romance’ theme throughout the book, but as someone who typically avoids standard romance novels, I found this pertinent to the story and not so heavy it turned me off.
I began reading this book expecting what had become the typical WWII novel, but was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed this story and recommend for anyone looking for a WWII novel with a slightly different point of view.
I loved this story! The characters were great. I didn’t like April at first, but by the end of the story, I knew she was a heroine. What a life she lived. Gillian learned a lot from her grandmother’s life and came out better for it. I can understand why she went to research her grandmother’s past and to discover things about her family. Wow!
A FIRE SPARKLING by Julianne MacLean is a story of fiction, of history, of one family’s ties to the past.
Told from third person (Vivian), and dual first person (Gillian and April) using present day (2011) and memories from the past (1939-1945) A FIRE SPARKLING focuses on the search for the truth. Gillian Gibbons life was upended when she discovered her boyfriend of several years with another woman on the night of his fiftieth birthday. Hoping to clear her head, Gillian heads home only to be met by her father with a WWII era picture of her beloved grandmother in the arms of a Nazi officer. Gillian and her father struggle to confront Gillian’s ninety-six year old grandmother in an effort to understand what it is they found. What ensues is the retelling, revelations and acceptance of one family’s history, a history that has been turned on its’ head as Gillian’s grandmother reveals the truth about the past.
A FIRE SPARKLING follows three generations as past sins are slowly revealed. The mother and grandmother they have come to know is so much more than the frail old woman that now struggles with her life. Vivian Hughes’ life reads like a Hollywood movie script but a script where one woman has lived and died in an effort to save the people she loves. From London, England, Bordeaux France, then to the USA, the Hughes/ Cooper/ Gibbons family history is awash in secrets, lies, betrayal and love.
The world building pulls the reader into two vastly different timelines: 2011, and WWII beginning in 1939 and ending a few days after the Nazi surrender to the Allied forces. A FIRE SPARKLING is a tale of love wrapped in an historical account of one woman’s adventures, struggles, and loss during the war to end all wars. We are witness to the devastation of London before and after the day known as Black Saturday; the blackouts and rationing; the loss of lives and loves; betrayal and hate. Friendships forged but not forgotten reveal more to the story than everyone knew.
A FIRE SPARKLING is an emotional story of conflict and war; of betrayal, family, acceptance and love. A character driven story set to the backdrop of WWII wherein history is rewritten by one family’s secrets, and lies perpetuated by desperation and love.
This story has it all, from wonderful characters, romance, mystery and history. Taking place during WW2 to present day the story is between a granddaughter, her father and her grandmother. The plot has so many twists and turns about things that the family thought they knew, that might not be exactly true. Get ready for quite a few unpredictable truths that finally surface after years of never being told. It was a real page turner from beginning to end with joy and sadness too!
Many thanks to Lakeside Publishing, the author and NetGalley for allowing me to read an arc of this book. My review and opinions of this book are completely my own. I have read several of Julianne MacLean’s books and have enjoyed all of them!
What an emotional roller coaster this book is. Anytime you have a story about WWII a lot of emotions will be added to the story. I never saw all the secrets that came out coming. When you think you know everything, you don’t. I really enjoyed how we started in 2011 and then went back to hear the grandmother’s time during the war. What a life the grandmother had, wow. I really did enjoy this story.
*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley/author and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
Whatever you expect from this novel, there is more, so much more. When a personal crisis sends Gillian to her Grandmother’s home to re-evaluate her life and her future, she finds that there is more to her grandmother than she ever knew or could even imagine. Told in a dual time-line, we are moved from the present to World War II as Gillian’s Grandmother starts to reveal the secrets of her life.
This was a story with so many layers. The descriptions had me in London during the War and I felt what the characters went through as they navigated their lives trying to survive. There were secrets and betrayal, and love that sacrifices everything for another. Overall, there is family: a family that needed to heal and find its way to be whole; each individual and as a family.
A Fire Sparkling by Julianne MacLean was heart-wrenching and beautiful. I stayed up half the night reading with tears running down my face. Grab some tissues and let the story sweep you away.
#AFireSparkling #JulianneMacLean #LakeUnionPublishing
Vivian has a secret, one she has held onto since the war. She never meant to reveal it, but her son, Edward discovered the photos in the hidden compartment in the old sea chest. And now, Vivian has to tell her story in order to unravel seventy years worth of deceit.
Vivian’s granddaughter, Gillian, is home to nurse a broken heart after discovering her beau with another woman. Will she give Malcom a second chance or will she move on without him?
Vivian’s story leaves Edward and Gillian with questions…and reflections of their own.
Julianne MacLean shares with her readers a story of love, heartache, secrets, survival, and forgiveness. How far would you go to save the one you love? I look forward to reading more titles by author Julianne Maclean.
Wonderful story with great characters and all the emotions!
When Gillian Gibbons discovers the man she loves and lives with is cheating on her, she retreats to the Connecticut farmhouse her father and 96-year-old grandmother share. She hasn’t seen her father in over five years and their reunion is somewhat awkward at first but her father is desperately glad to hear from her: he’s uncovered a secret in the attic that might change the meaning of his entire life.
Gram came to this country with her young son, Edward, after the World War II, as the wife of her second husband, Grampa Jack. Her first husband, Theodore Gibbons, a deputy cabinet minister working with Churchill, had been killed in the Blitz along with her sister, April. After his death, Gram and Edward had gone to the country to stay with Theodore’s aristocratic family on their estate. But while doing her part in the war effort, Vivian had met and fallen in love with the American flyer, Jack Cooper, and after the war ended had married him and lived in the farmhouse since then. Or at least that is what Edward and Gillian had always believed.
While Edward was in the attic inspecting the roof, he’d come across his mother’s antique sea chest. The old chest was a familiar item; Gillian had always called it a “treasure chest.”) But, as Edward had examined it, he’d discovered a secret drawer inside with pictures of his mother and a German Nazi officer in Berlin dated only months after her marriage to Theodore. The photos made it clear that the two were very much in love. With so many questions and concerned that he was the son of a Nazi war criminal, he and Gillian decide to talk to Vivian and get some answers.
The story is Gram’s revelation of what the pictures were and what happened in the war. While her son and granddaughter listen, they gradually come to terms with the real history behind their family as well as the other issues in their lives that were keeping them apart. The retelling is an emotional story with lots of action and history and the things people do for love and country.
The author obviously did a lot of research to bring the reader a solid thriller with twists and turns that really held my interest and kept me up reading late into the night. I highly recommend this book to readers of historical fiction.