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The Mademoiselle Alliance
How did a young Parisienne mother, celebrated for her beauty and glamour, come to lead the largest spy network in France? A powerful, heartbreaking historical novel by the New York Times bestselling author
Morocco, 1928. Eighteen-year-old Frenchwoman Marie-Madeleine is not the kind of woman who goes through life sitting down, something her new husband can attest. Her unconventionalities - rally car driving, flying planes and dabbling in intelligence work for the government - earn her a reputation, but she knows who she is at an adventurer.
Paris, 1938. As Europe teeters on the brink of war, a chance encounter with a mysterious man codenamed Navarre turns Marie-Madeleine's life upside down. Recruited to help build a resistance network known only as Alliance, she conceals her identity - and gender - as she navigates a perilous double life away from her children and the man she loves. Capture and death are only a heartbeat away.
Bestselling Australian novelist Natasha Lester passionately brings to life the true story of one of history's unsung Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, the only woman to lead a resistance network in WWII France. Her story is one of epic love, tragic loss and magnificent leadership.
Morocco, 1928. Eighteen-year-old Frenchwoman Marie-Madeleine is not the kind of woman who goes through life sitting down, something her new husband can attest. Her unconventionalities - rally car driving, flying planes and dabbling in intelligence work for the government - earn her a reputation, but she knows who she is at an adventurer.
Paris, 1938. As Europe teeters on the brink of war, a chance encounter with a mysterious man codenamed Navarre turns Marie-Madeleine's life upside down. Recruited to help build a resistance network known only as Alliance, she conceals her identity - and gender - as she navigates a perilous double life away from her children and the man she loves. Capture and death are only a heartbeat away.
Bestselling Australian novelist Natasha Lester passionately brings to life the true story of one of history's unsung Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, the only woman to lead a resistance network in WWII France. Her story is one of epic love, tragic loss and magnificent leadership.
408 pages, Paperback
First published April 8, 2025
440 people are currently reading
12522 people want to read
About the author
Natasha Lester
20 books3,369 followersNatasha Lester is the multi-award winning and New York Times best-selling author of THE PARIS SEAMSTRESS, THE PARIS ORPHAN, THE PARIS SECRET and THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ASTRID BRICARD. Her new book, THE MADEMOISELLE ALLIANCE, the story of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, the only female leader of a French Resistance network in WWII, is coming in April 2025.
Prior to writing, she worked as a marketing executive for L’Oreal, managing the Maybelline brand, before returning to university to study creative writing.
Natasha's books have been translated into twenty-one different languages and are published all around the world. She lives in Perth, Western Australia with her 3 children and loves fashion history, practising the art of fashion illustration, collecting vintage fashion, travelling and, of course, books.
Prior to writing, she worked as a marketing executive for L’Oreal, managing the Maybelline brand, before returning to university to study creative writing.
Natasha's books have been translated into twenty-one different languages and are published all around the world. She lives in Perth, Western Australia with her 3 children and loves fashion history, practising the art of fashion illustration, collecting vintage fashion, travelling and, of course, books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews
April 9, 2025
EXCERPT: "What are you fighting for?"
He's the first person who's asked me this and I almost snap a retort at the condescension that probably lurks beneath the question. But Léon's expression is curious, as if he's looking for someone who wants the same thing he does.
"I have two children," I say very carefully, because thinking about how long it's been since I held them makes me want to cry, and speaking of them is the hardest thing of all. "I never want . . ."
Béatrice's blonde hair unfurls in my mind. My hands quiver, wanting to braid those tresses. Are they still long, falling to the middle of her back?
Mothers should know those things. But I only know this: "I never want my children to believe that their mother taught them to sit back and accept something that they know is wrong."
I almost don't add this last thing, but it spills out. "My youngest is a girl, and I can't bear her knowing only a world that shuts women in a trap from the moment they're born. Based on what's happened in Germany, the Nazis are readying that trap for France."
Léon is silent for a moment, staring at the empty glass in his hand. Then he says softly, "That's worth fighting for."
ABOUT 'THE MADEMOISELLE ALLIANCE': How did a young Parisienne mother, celebrated for her beauty and glamour, come to lead the largest spy network in France?
Morocco, 1928. Eighteen-year-old Frenchwoman Marie-Madeleine is not the kind of woman who goes through life sitting down, something her new husband can attest. Her unconventionalities - rally car driving, flying planes and dabbling in intelligence work for the government - earn her a reputation, but she knows who she is - an adventurer.
Paris, 1938. As Europe teeters on the brink of war, a chance encounter with a mysterious man codenamed Navarre turns Marie-Madeleine's life upside down. Recruited to help build a resistance network known only as Alliance, she conceals her identity - and gender - as she navigates a perilous double life away from her children and the man she loves. Capture and death are only a heartbeat away.
MY THOUGHTS: Natasha Lester brings to life the true story of one of history's unsung heroes, Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, the only woman to lead a military intelligence network in WWII France. Her story is one of epic love, tragic loss and magnificent leadership.
Marie-Madeleine Fourcade was a brave woman, an extraordinary woman. Mother. Rally-car driver. Journalist. A woman who was at the top of the Gestapo's most wanted list. A woman whose heart was broken over and over again by treachery, by the war, but who kept fighting because it was the right thing to do.
This is a story about the very best people, those who endangered their own lives and the lives of their loved ones and associates, and the very worst people in the world, those who tortured, destroyed, raped, pillaged and killed.
At one point the Gestapo pushed in Marie-Madeleine Fourcade’s door while hunting for French Resistance spies. They shoved her aside, ransacking her apartment for information about an important member of the Resistance cell known as “Alliance.” Little did they know its ringleader was Fourcade herself. The inability to recognize—let alone even imagine—a woman spymaster wasn’t just a German shortcoming: throughout, the same proves true of men on all sides of World War II, including MI6 in London.
Fourcade was the revered leader of thousands of men and women who, as members of a military intelligence network and at the cost of their own lives, resisted Nazi domination. She was a master of disguise, intelligent, resourceful, and cunning, but most of all incredibly brave.
I, and I assume most of us, had never heard of this woman, but once I became immersed in Marie-Madeleine's story, I did more research online and learned something more of her story, and then the author's note at the end of this book (make sure you read it) answered many more of my questions. She also lists her sources for this novel, and I have asked my local library to try and obtain some of these for me. She explains the liberties she took with the truth and the characters in order to produce a readable novel, and eminently readable it is.
The Mademoiselle Alliance is not a quick read. There were days I had to put it down and walk away, overwhelmed, sickened, afraid for this amazing woman and her children. I cried. Copiously. I was also amazed by the strength, determination and courage of Marie-Madeleine and, like the author, developed a 'hero-worship' of her.
There are many other wonderful characters in this novel, Léon, Lucien, to name but two - but I shall leave you to discover them for yourself.
After the harrowing opening to this novel, there came a point where I worried that this was going to be superficial and nothing more than a love (yes, love - not romance) story set against the backdrop of WWII. How wrong I was.
Thank you, Natasha Lester. I have rediscovered my love of history through your passion and your storytelling.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheMademoiselleAllianceNatashaLester #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: Natasha lives in Perth, Western Australia with her 3 children and loves fashion, history, practicing the art of fashion illustration, collecting vintage fashion, travelling and, of course, books. Prior to writing, she worked as a marketing executive for L’Oreal, managing the Maybelline brand, before returning to university to study creative writing.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hachette Australia and New Zealand for providing an e-ARC of The Mademoiselle Alliance by Natasha Lester for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
He's the first person who's asked me this and I almost snap a retort at the condescension that probably lurks beneath the question. But Léon's expression is curious, as if he's looking for someone who wants the same thing he does.
"I have two children," I say very carefully, because thinking about how long it's been since I held them makes me want to cry, and speaking of them is the hardest thing of all. "I never want . . ."
Béatrice's blonde hair unfurls in my mind. My hands quiver, wanting to braid those tresses. Are they still long, falling to the middle of her back?
Mothers should know those things. But I only know this: "I never want my children to believe that their mother taught them to sit back and accept something that they know is wrong."
I almost don't add this last thing, but it spills out. "My youngest is a girl, and I can't bear her knowing only a world that shuts women in a trap from the moment they're born. Based on what's happened in Germany, the Nazis are readying that trap for France."
Léon is silent for a moment, staring at the empty glass in his hand. Then he says softly, "That's worth fighting for."
ABOUT 'THE MADEMOISELLE ALLIANCE': How did a young Parisienne mother, celebrated for her beauty and glamour, come to lead the largest spy network in France?
Morocco, 1928. Eighteen-year-old Frenchwoman Marie-Madeleine is not the kind of woman who goes through life sitting down, something her new husband can attest. Her unconventionalities - rally car driving, flying planes and dabbling in intelligence work for the government - earn her a reputation, but she knows who she is - an adventurer.
Paris, 1938. As Europe teeters on the brink of war, a chance encounter with a mysterious man codenamed Navarre turns Marie-Madeleine's life upside down. Recruited to help build a resistance network known only as Alliance, she conceals her identity - and gender - as she navigates a perilous double life away from her children and the man she loves. Capture and death are only a heartbeat away.
MY THOUGHTS: Natasha Lester brings to life the true story of one of history's unsung heroes, Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, the only woman to lead a military intelligence network in WWII France. Her story is one of epic love, tragic loss and magnificent leadership.
Marie-Madeleine Fourcade was a brave woman, an extraordinary woman. Mother. Rally-car driver. Journalist. A woman who was at the top of the Gestapo's most wanted list. A woman whose heart was broken over and over again by treachery, by the war, but who kept fighting because it was the right thing to do.
This is a story about the very best people, those who endangered their own lives and the lives of their loved ones and associates, and the very worst people in the world, those who tortured, destroyed, raped, pillaged and killed.
At one point the Gestapo pushed in Marie-Madeleine Fourcade’s door while hunting for French Resistance spies. They shoved her aside, ransacking her apartment for information about an important member of the Resistance cell known as “Alliance.” Little did they know its ringleader was Fourcade herself. The inability to recognize—let alone even imagine—a woman spymaster wasn’t just a German shortcoming: throughout, the same proves true of men on all sides of World War II, including MI6 in London.
Fourcade was the revered leader of thousands of men and women who, as members of a military intelligence network and at the cost of their own lives, resisted Nazi domination. She was a master of disguise, intelligent, resourceful, and cunning, but most of all incredibly brave.
I, and I assume most of us, had never heard of this woman, but once I became immersed in Marie-Madeleine's story, I did more research online and learned something more of her story, and then the author's note at the end of this book (make sure you read it) answered many more of my questions. She also lists her sources for this novel, and I have asked my local library to try and obtain some of these for me. She explains the liberties she took with the truth and the characters in order to produce a readable novel, and eminently readable it is.
The Mademoiselle Alliance is not a quick read. There were days I had to put it down and walk away, overwhelmed, sickened, afraid for this amazing woman and her children. I cried. Copiously. I was also amazed by the strength, determination and courage of Marie-Madeleine and, like the author, developed a 'hero-worship' of her.
There are many other wonderful characters in this novel, Léon, Lucien, to name but two - but I shall leave you to discover them for yourself.
After the harrowing opening to this novel, there came a point where I worried that this was going to be superficial and nothing more than a love (yes, love - not romance) story set against the backdrop of WWII. How wrong I was.
Thank you, Natasha Lester. I have rediscovered my love of history through your passion and your storytelling.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheMademoiselleAllianceNatashaLester #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: Natasha lives in Perth, Western Australia with her 3 children and loves fashion, history, practicing the art of fashion illustration, collecting vintage fashion, travelling and, of course, books. Prior to writing, she worked as a marketing executive for L’Oreal, managing the Maybelline brand, before returning to university to study creative writing.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hachette Australia and New Zealand for providing an e-ARC of The Mademoiselle Alliance by Natasha Lester for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
December 11, 2024
Just read this one for a cover quote and it will stay with me a long time--a passionate, fiery tribute to a historical woman so extraordinary she almost defies belief. Marie-Madeleine is a young Parisienne with style and verve to burn, equally happy cuddling her young children, driving racecars, or learning to fly planes--but she'll need more than verve when her beloved France is invaded by the Nazis. Recruited to help build a resistance network known as Alliance, she lives on the run and comes to command thousands who revere her, even as she grieves the necessity of sending her children away to safety, and mourns every time she loses one of her spies to the Gestapo. Natasha Lester writes with razor-sharp research and evident admiration for a woman whose name deserves to be blazed across the pages of history.
March 17, 2025
'My place is the air, the void, the very edges of existence. And from that place, I manage 3,000 agents, the only network that covers the whole of France'.
Marie-Madeleine is just a 30 year old mother of two, living in France, estranged from her husband, when the reality of Hitler's impending advancement becomes clear. When asked to help courier some bits of information to British intelligence, she deosn't hesitate. Little does she know that not only is this the dawn of WW2 escalating, it's the introduction to the evolution of the French Resistance. Although clearly a woman with gumption, if her rally car racing and aviation skills were anything to go by, ultimately it was her dogged resilience, in the face of fascism, that propelled to become the leader of the largest, nation-wide resistance group- Alliance.
This a great piece of historical fiction based on the real life Marie-Madeline. A mother who utterly resisted the idea of Germany’s occupation of France and all they stood for. Lester does well to give a feminine voice and mother’s perspective to the violence of war, ‘The train draws into the Gare de Lyon in Paris…I leave behind the mother who has no children and become, once more Herisson’.
Firm fans of Lester’s fiction, will not be disappointed with this latest addition. It also another coup for bringing women written in the margins of fiction to the fore.
‘It will make you believe in the power of a few courageous souls, led by one remarkable woman, to change lives and give humankind back its freedom’.
Marie-Madeleine is just a 30 year old mother of two, living in France, estranged from her husband, when the reality of Hitler's impending advancement becomes clear. When asked to help courier some bits of information to British intelligence, she deosn't hesitate. Little does she know that not only is this the dawn of WW2 escalating, it's the introduction to the evolution of the French Resistance. Although clearly a woman with gumption, if her rally car racing and aviation skills were anything to go by, ultimately it was her dogged resilience, in the face of fascism, that propelled to become the leader of the largest, nation-wide resistance group- Alliance.
This a great piece of historical fiction based on the real life Marie-Madeline. A mother who utterly resisted the idea of Germany’s occupation of France and all they stood for. Lester does well to give a feminine voice and mother’s perspective to the violence of war, ‘The train draws into the Gare de Lyon in Paris…I leave behind the mother who has no children and become, once more Herisson’.
Firm fans of Lester’s fiction, will not be disappointed with this latest addition. It also another coup for bringing women written in the margins of fiction to the fore.
‘It will make you believe in the power of a few courageous souls, led by one remarkable woman, to change lives and give humankind back its freedom’.
March 13, 2025
Natasha Lester uses the true story of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade as a basis for her latest historical fiction novel and she was the only woman to lead a resistance network in France during the Second World War. A risk taker, Marie-Madeleine liked to drive fast cars and fly planes and she did this while living with her husband Édouard Méric in Morocco and when they separated she moved back to France.
Marie-Madeleine was approached by a man calling himself Navarre to start a resistance group, to fight back and to free France with the help of the English. They have no idea Hedgehog is a woman, one who had to keep her children safe and her identity a secret. You read what it was like to live and survive in France at the time and as the resistance group grows. Marie-Madeleine had to worry about finding radio operators to pass on vital intelligence and organize air drops and everyone in the group doesn’t stay in one place for long and they play a game of cat and mouse with Gestapo and traitors.
I received a copy of The Mademoiselle Alliance by Natasha Lester from NetGalley and Hachette Australia and New Zealand in exchange for an honest review. At stages the narrative did move along at a slow pace, I was concerned at first and Ms Lester obviously had to lay the groundwork and a foundation.
A story about leadership, bravery and courage, war, friendship and the bond Marie-Madeleine had with the fellow resistance members, danger and sacrifice and even romance. An inspirational and amazing woman, and Marie-Madeleine helped France and the allies win the war and she put her country and children first and herself last, I highly recommend and five stars from me.
Marie-Madeleine was approached by a man calling himself Navarre to start a resistance group, to fight back and to free France with the help of the English. They have no idea Hedgehog is a woman, one who had to keep her children safe and her identity a secret. You read what it was like to live and survive in France at the time and as the resistance group grows. Marie-Madeleine had to worry about finding radio operators to pass on vital intelligence and organize air drops and everyone in the group doesn’t stay in one place for long and they play a game of cat and mouse with Gestapo and traitors.
I received a copy of The Mademoiselle Alliance by Natasha Lester from NetGalley and Hachette Australia and New Zealand in exchange for an honest review. At stages the narrative did move along at a slow pace, I was concerned at first and Ms Lester obviously had to lay the groundwork and a foundation.
A story about leadership, bravery and courage, war, friendship and the bond Marie-Madeleine had with the fellow resistance members, danger and sacrifice and even romance. An inspirational and amazing woman, and Marie-Madeleine helped France and the allies win the war and she put her country and children first and herself last, I highly recommend and five stars from me.
March 25, 2025
It was 1938 in Paris when Marie-Madeleine's life changed forever. The Nazis were devouring Paris and joining the resistance was a no-brainer for the adventurous young woman. A mother with two young children, Marie-Madeleine would soon head the resistance group known as Alliance, where they grew in strength and numbers, receiving aid from Britain. Known only by code names, it wasn't long before the Nazis were aware of Alliance - there were plenty who would betray the group to the Germans - and Marie-Madeleine would shift their headquarters many times, only just staying ahead of the Nazis who were determined to rid Paris of their existence. But the courage of men and women who were determined to see their country free from the domination and cruelty that surrounded them continued.
Marie-Madeleine would be captured - and escape - along with many of her fellow resistance members. A lot would lose their lives to the brutality of the Nazis but Marie-Madeleine kept her courage and determination, while missing her children desperately, and craving peace...
The Mademoiselle Alliance is an exceptional piece of historical fiction, based heavily on fact, by Aussie author Natasha Lester and in my opinion, it is her best yet! Her author's notes are descriptive and heartbreaking; definitely not to be read before the novel. I hadn't heard of Marie-Madeleine, but certainly have now. What an amazing woman, running a huge resistance group on her own, while battling shocking odds. This is one book I recommend very highly.
With thanks to NetGalley & Hachette AU for my digital ARC to read and review.
Marie-Madeleine would be captured - and escape - along with many of her fellow resistance members. A lot would lose their lives to the brutality of the Nazis but Marie-Madeleine kept her courage and determination, while missing her children desperately, and craving peace...
The Mademoiselle Alliance is an exceptional piece of historical fiction, based heavily on fact, by Aussie author Natasha Lester and in my opinion, it is her best yet! Her author's notes are descriptive and heartbreaking; definitely not to be read before the novel. I hadn't heard of Marie-Madeleine, but certainly have now. What an amazing woman, running a huge resistance group on her own, while battling shocking odds. This is one book I recommend very highly.
With thanks to NetGalley & Hachette AU for my digital ARC to read and review.
December 13, 2024
The Mademoiselle Alliance details the extraordinary efforts of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, a woman of incredible strength and determination who commanded thousands in one of the most effective networks in the French Resistance. Natasha Lester brings Marie-Madeleine to life, as a resistance fighter, as a woman in a world where men underestimate her, and as a mother. Written with heart, passion, and impeccable historical research, The Mademoiselle Alliance is a powerful story readers will not be able to put down.
June 17, 2025
The Mademoiselle Alliance is a fascinating account of a real-life heroine who risked everything to reclaim a free France – for her children and her country.
Morocco, 1928. At eighteen, Marie-Madeleine Fourcade marries Edouard Meric, an army officer working for the French Intelligence Service. He is eight years her senior. It doesn’t take long for her to realize their energies don’t align. Her memories of growing-up in Shanghai reawaken her adventurous spirit - something her husband struggles to accept.
Her time in Morocco reveals her natural gift for assembling the pieces needed to gather intelligence. She defies her husband by taking secret camel rides to visit the tribal groups he needs to befriend, proving herself adept at winning trust and navigating unfamiliar terrain.
Paris, 1936. Now, separated from her husband and raising two children, Marie-Madeleine refuses to let conventions limit her. She becomes a journalist in Paris defying societal expectations that mothers should stay home. She delights in uncovering the stories of remarkable women often ignored by conservative French newspapers.
After competing in the Monte Caro Rally and finishing third, she meets Navarre, one of France’s most prominent military intelligence officers. At party, he tells her he’s launching a newspaper – and that he’s aware of some of her work in intelligence. He needs her rare blend of skills: journalism and intelligence.
When France falls under occupation, Navarre secures a position under Vichy France to collect and relay its secrets to the Allies. As he gains the trust of Marshal Petain, leader of Vichy, Marie-Madeleine rises as key figure in recruiting the agents for the Resistance.
If it means disguising herself as a man, she does it. She does whatever it takes to restore free France for her children. Like a chameleon, she adapts to every challenge, skillfully interviewing men and enlisting some in their crusade against the Vichy regime.
Seven years after her separation, while recruiting men, one man stands out in the crowd: Leon Faye. He becomes the leader of the new North African sector. When both Leon and Navarre leave for North Africa, the network is left without leadership. Now thirty-one, Marie-Madeleine realizes the men trust her more than Navarre – they know her; she recruited them. She feels an unshakable responsibility to carry on their mission.
But danger is ever-present. The Nazis pressure Vichy to crack down on the Resistance in the Free Zone. Someone in Vichy begins to suspect Marie-Madeleine of deception. A warrant is issued for her arrest.
Readers are given a front-row seat to the workings of the Resistance. It’s heartbreaking to witness the fate of some agents - and inspiring to see the strength and determination of those who risk everything for liberty. Even under capture, they guard their secrets with astonishing courage.
The resilience depicted in this story is nothing short of incredible. How could someone survive ten hours crammed in a mailbag? Or squeeze through the bars of a prison cell?
Even as Europe celebrates liberation, the final pages hold readers in suspense: will that one person survive the Nazis’ brutality?
The extraordinary achievements of the Alliance are masterfully portrayed, with richly developed characters and believable dialogue. Marie-Madeleine’s daring spirit shines throughout the narrative.
The Mademoiselle Alliance, by spotlighting the courageous work of the Resistance, is a deeply moving and profound read – one that urges the reader to pause, reflect, and appreciate the sacrifices made by others so that we might enjoy freedom today.
Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Morocco, 1928. At eighteen, Marie-Madeleine Fourcade marries Edouard Meric, an army officer working for the French Intelligence Service. He is eight years her senior. It doesn’t take long for her to realize their energies don’t align. Her memories of growing-up in Shanghai reawaken her adventurous spirit - something her husband struggles to accept.
Her time in Morocco reveals her natural gift for assembling the pieces needed to gather intelligence. She defies her husband by taking secret camel rides to visit the tribal groups he needs to befriend, proving herself adept at winning trust and navigating unfamiliar terrain.
Paris, 1936. Now, separated from her husband and raising two children, Marie-Madeleine refuses to let conventions limit her. She becomes a journalist in Paris defying societal expectations that mothers should stay home. She delights in uncovering the stories of remarkable women often ignored by conservative French newspapers.
After competing in the Monte Caro Rally and finishing third, she meets Navarre, one of France’s most prominent military intelligence officers. At party, he tells her he’s launching a newspaper – and that he’s aware of some of her work in intelligence. He needs her rare blend of skills: journalism and intelligence.
When France falls under occupation, Navarre secures a position under Vichy France to collect and relay its secrets to the Allies. As he gains the trust of Marshal Petain, leader of Vichy, Marie-Madeleine rises as key figure in recruiting the agents for the Resistance.
If it means disguising herself as a man, she does it. She does whatever it takes to restore free France for her children. Like a chameleon, she adapts to every challenge, skillfully interviewing men and enlisting some in their crusade against the Vichy regime.
Seven years after her separation, while recruiting men, one man stands out in the crowd: Leon Faye. He becomes the leader of the new North African sector. When both Leon and Navarre leave for North Africa, the network is left without leadership. Now thirty-one, Marie-Madeleine realizes the men trust her more than Navarre – they know her; she recruited them. She feels an unshakable responsibility to carry on their mission.
But danger is ever-present. The Nazis pressure Vichy to crack down on the Resistance in the Free Zone. Someone in Vichy begins to suspect Marie-Madeleine of deception. A warrant is issued for her arrest.
Readers are given a front-row seat to the workings of the Resistance. It’s heartbreaking to witness the fate of some agents - and inspiring to see the strength and determination of those who risk everything for liberty. Even under capture, they guard their secrets with astonishing courage.
The resilience depicted in this story is nothing short of incredible. How could someone survive ten hours crammed in a mailbag? Or squeeze through the bars of a prison cell?
Even as Europe celebrates liberation, the final pages hold readers in suspense: will that one person survive the Nazis’ brutality?
The extraordinary achievements of the Alliance are masterfully portrayed, with richly developed characters and believable dialogue. Marie-Madeleine’s daring spirit shines throughout the narrative.
The Mademoiselle Alliance, by spotlighting the courageous work of the Resistance, is a deeply moving and profound read – one that urges the reader to pause, reflect, and appreciate the sacrifices made by others so that we might enjoy freedom today.
Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 26, 2025
In the last few years, I have become a fan of Natasha Lester and her incredibly powerful and inspiring historical fiction novels. I was thrilled when I was given the opportunity by Hachette Books Australia and Better Reading to read an advanced copy of The Mademoiselle Alliance, which comes out March 26th.
This book took me longer than most to read but not because didn’t like it. It is a book full of historical facts and amazing characters that you just need to slow it down and take it all in. This book is based on the life of the only woman to lead an Alliance for France in WWII. She led 3000 agents to bring down the Germans, with her bravery, her determination, and her courage. She was one incredible woman that so many, including myself, have never heard of.
Marie-Madeleine was a fiery girl who loved to travel and drive race cars. She was a mother, and she was passionate about her children and those close to her. She led with her heart and her head. She had to make some tough decisions, and she had to keep everybody alive.it was a story that will stay with me. I highly recommend reading the authors note after you have finished the book, as always get some insight into Natasha’s writing process and research, which is always so interesting.
This book took me longer than most to read but not because didn’t like it. It is a book full of historical facts and amazing characters that you just need to slow it down and take it all in. This book is based on the life of the only woman to lead an Alliance for France in WWII. She led 3000 agents to bring down the Germans, with her bravery, her determination, and her courage. She was one incredible woman that so many, including myself, have never heard of.
Marie-Madeleine was a fiery girl who loved to travel and drive race cars. She was a mother, and she was passionate about her children and those close to her. She led with her heart and her head. She had to make some tough decisions, and she had to keep everybody alive.it was a story that will stay with me. I highly recommend reading the authors note after you have finished the book, as always get some insight into Natasha’s writing process and research, which is always so interesting.
April 16, 2025
Natasha Lester has done it again with her new book, taken a true story and turned it into an excellent story that shows the strength and courage of the resistance group, Alliance who worked throughout World War 2 with the backing of the British MI6 team to help bring down the Nazis and it was run by Marie-Madeline, a young mother and adventurer who never gave up.
Marie-Madeline was born in France, spent her younger years in Shanghai and at eighteen married and moved to Morocco, helping her husband with intelligence work, here her true adventurous self-came out learning to fly, driving rally cars, then giving birth to her son Christian but the marriage was not always a happy one and when she became pregnant for the second time with her daughter Beatrice she returns to France and here she stays with her two children.
1938 and Europe is on the verge of war, meeting a man named Navarre, who recruits her to help with the resistance group Alliance this turns her life upside down but she loves France, her children and her family and is determined to do what she can to save them all, but her real identity and gender is not known to many people. She also meets a man and at first meeting the chemistry is there, Leon Faye hero from the Great War will also become the man she loves.
Alliance is one of the biggest resistance groups there was during WW11 having sectors in every part of France, but there was danger every day, with the Gestapo moving in there are also traitors who cause death and trouble, will Marie-Madeline survive till the end and how many of the other Alliance members will?
This story is absolutely brilliant so many emotions as MS Lester brings to life the true story of Marie-Madeline Fourcade and showed what a truly amazing woman she was, this story is an heroic story of love, tragedy, heartbreak but above all else such courage and strength as we get to know and love the characters in this story and yes there were many tears from me.
I do highly recommend this one to any lover of a fabulous historical fiction, you will not be disappointed, and I loved it.
Marie-Madeline was born in France, spent her younger years in Shanghai and at eighteen married and moved to Morocco, helping her husband with intelligence work, here her true adventurous self-came out learning to fly, driving rally cars, then giving birth to her son Christian but the marriage was not always a happy one and when she became pregnant for the second time with her daughter Beatrice she returns to France and here she stays with her two children.
1938 and Europe is on the verge of war, meeting a man named Navarre, who recruits her to help with the resistance group Alliance this turns her life upside down but she loves France, her children and her family and is determined to do what she can to save them all, but her real identity and gender is not known to many people. She also meets a man and at first meeting the chemistry is there, Leon Faye hero from the Great War will also become the man she loves.
Alliance is one of the biggest resistance groups there was during WW11 having sectors in every part of France, but there was danger every day, with the Gestapo moving in there are also traitors who cause death and trouble, will Marie-Madeline survive till the end and how many of the other Alliance members will?
This story is absolutely brilliant so many emotions as MS Lester brings to life the true story of Marie-Madeline Fourcade and showed what a truly amazing woman she was, this story is an heroic story of love, tragedy, heartbreak but above all else such courage and strength as we get to know and love the characters in this story and yes there were many tears from me.
I do highly recommend this one to any lover of a fabulous historical fiction, you will not be disappointed, and I loved it.
June 22, 2025
*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...
🏵A defiant heroine of the brave French resistance network finally takes centre stage after years of being lost in the history books. Natasha Lester breathes new life into this enigmatic woman, bringing her readers a courageous and engrossing biographical tale of bold actions, sacrifice, service and love.
🏵I was drawn to The Mademoiselle Alliance after attending an inspiring author talk by Natasha Lester at the recent Rachael Johns Readers Retreat. The room was utterly silent while Natasha spoke, she was so mesmerising and her presence for her subject was infectious. Later, during a table based 'speed dating' session, I was fortunate enough to speak with Natasha one-on-one. This rich exchange only deepened my resolve to read this novel and I dove in as soon as I returned from my weekend away.
🏵Over just two days, I consumed this epic tale of bravery, self sacrifice, power, risk, secrecy and resilience. Told through a linear one time frame narrative, which is in contrast to Lester’s previous work, The Mademoiselle Alliance follows the life of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade. Over almost four hundred pages, we learn that Lester’s key literary subject was the only woman to lead a resistance network in France during the Second World War. This was surprising to me as I thought I knew a great deal about this chapter in history. Lester brings to light a female based history that has been hidden in the shadows.
🏵In the opening spots of the novel we view Marie-Madeleine as a young, adventurous and spirited wife living in Morocco, where her courage and trailblazing spirit was already very obvious. A fateful encounter with a man known only by his codename leads our heroine onto a path of unimaginable danger and covert resistance. As she works behind the scenes to build the pivotal Alliance network, Marie-Madeleine must mask her identity, conceal her family ties and live with the constant threat of death.
What sets this novel apart is Lester’s special ability to breathe life into a historical figure with such depth and a true sense of humanity. Lester’s representation of Marie-Madeleine is not as an untouchable war hero, but as a woman we can relate to, thanks to her fears, choices and responsibilities. I know from listening to Lester speak recently that the research behind this novel was nothing short of thoroughly exhaustive. In particular the process of translating original French language documents sent on her quite the rabbit warren. It was undeniably a painstaking effort to piece together a life that history has largely forgotten. This was clearly a project that involved a high degree of emotional osmosis and it is evident on every page of the book.
Closing the final chapter left me with a bittersweet ache. Thanks to this novel I developed a sense of lasting admiration for Marie-Madeleine but I was also upset that her story remained so long untold. I was compelled to do some of my own research afterward leaving me with the lasting question, how could someone who gave so much be recognised so little?
With The Mademoiselle Alliance, Lester has taken her writing to an entirely new level, an incredible task, given how highly I already regard her previous works. Five stars! Thank you to @hachetteaus for the copy
🏵A defiant heroine of the brave French resistance network finally takes centre stage after years of being lost in the history books. Natasha Lester breathes new life into this enigmatic woman, bringing her readers a courageous and engrossing biographical tale of bold actions, sacrifice, service and love.
🏵I was drawn to The Mademoiselle Alliance after attending an inspiring author talk by Natasha Lester at the recent Rachael Johns Readers Retreat. The room was utterly silent while Natasha spoke, she was so mesmerising and her presence for her subject was infectious. Later, during a table based 'speed dating' session, I was fortunate enough to speak with Natasha one-on-one. This rich exchange only deepened my resolve to read this novel and I dove in as soon as I returned from my weekend away.
🏵Over just two days, I consumed this epic tale of bravery, self sacrifice, power, risk, secrecy and resilience. Told through a linear one time frame narrative, which is in contrast to Lester’s previous work, The Mademoiselle Alliance follows the life of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade. Over almost four hundred pages, we learn that Lester’s key literary subject was the only woman to lead a resistance network in France during the Second World War. This was surprising to me as I thought I knew a great deal about this chapter in history. Lester brings to light a female based history that has been hidden in the shadows.
🏵In the opening spots of the novel we view Marie-Madeleine as a young, adventurous and spirited wife living in Morocco, where her courage and trailblazing spirit was already very obvious. A fateful encounter with a man known only by his codename leads our heroine onto a path of unimaginable danger and covert resistance. As she works behind the scenes to build the pivotal Alliance network, Marie-Madeleine must mask her identity, conceal her family ties and live with the constant threat of death.
What sets this novel apart is Lester’s special ability to breathe life into a historical figure with such depth and a true sense of humanity. Lester’s representation of Marie-Madeleine is not as an untouchable war hero, but as a woman we can relate to, thanks to her fears, choices and responsibilities. I know from listening to Lester speak recently that the research behind this novel was nothing short of thoroughly exhaustive. In particular the process of translating original French language documents sent on her quite the rabbit warren. It was undeniably a painstaking effort to piece together a life that history has largely forgotten. This was clearly a project that involved a high degree of emotional osmosis and it is evident on every page of the book.
Closing the final chapter left me with a bittersweet ache. Thanks to this novel I developed a sense of lasting admiration for Marie-Madeleine but I was also upset that her story remained so long untold. I was compelled to do some of my own research afterward leaving me with the lasting question, how could someone who gave so much be recognised so little?
With The Mademoiselle Alliance, Lester has taken her writing to an entirely new level, an incredible task, given how highly I already regard her previous works. Five stars! Thank you to @hachetteaus for the copy
April 7, 2025
The Mademoiselle Alliance is the latest book by Australian author, Natasha Lester. This story is based on the true story of French woman, Marie-Madeleine Fourcade. Set during WWII, Marie-Madeleine becomes the only female to lead a resistance network, known as the Alliance, in France. The story has a dual timeline that takes place in 1920s Morocco, and France during the 1930s/40s. Marie-Madeleine was a mother and wife who shows courage, bravery and compassion. I had never heard of her, until reading this book but now I’m interested to learn more about this extraordinary woman. Thanks to Better Reading for my ARC.
April 3, 2025
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The Mademoiselle Alliance is a powerful and captivating novel about a young woman's grit and perseverance to save her family and her country from Nazi rule during WWII.
This novel chronicles Frenchwoman Marie-Madeleine's transformation from young wife and mother to the leader of a resistance organization. Through fictionalized storytelling, this book pays homage to the real-life Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, often overlooked, the sole female resistance leader heading up the "Alliance" network supporting the Allied forces. Her network of spies, dubbed "Noah's Ark" after their animal code names, was one of the largest intelligence gathering efforts providing crucial information to help the Allies defeat the Nazis.
Author Natasha Lester successfully merges real historical events with the imagined depths of Marie-Madeleine as a character exploring her loves, her family, her losses, and her strength. Lester's writing is impeccable—both powerful and heartbreakingly beautiful—an immersive experience of plot and character development. The characters, many of them also real-life heroes, are profoundly rich with their own arcs of growth and progression. I hope the readers fall in love with them as much as I did. But be prepared to be devastated as not everyone will make it, and that is the reality of war, which Lester captures extensively. I laughed, I got mad, I cried, I fell in love, I cried again, I grieved, I got pissed, I cried some more, then I felt empowered and ready to fight. "La Patronne" (The Boss) Marie-Madeleine, code name "Hérisson" (Hedgehog), can lead me anywhere, and I would follow, in the same way so many would follow her to the ends of the Earth, which Lester conveys through her extensive research.
The novel is addictive, drawing the reader in to root for Marie-Madeleine and the Alliance network. Well-paced and inspiring, this book comes at the perfect time—a time when the world is once again prickly with conflict and destined to repeat history. It's an important reminder to stand up to fascism and not be lulled into complacency and complicity. Let's follow Marie-Madeleine's lead.
If you've enjoyed The Nightingale, The Quiet Librarian, Lilac Girls, or The Alice Network then I highly recommend The Mademoiselle Alliance. I wish I could read it again for the first time.
Thank you to Natasha Lester, Ballantine Books, Random House Publishing Group, & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my authentic review.
The Mademoiselle Alliance is a powerful and captivating novel about a young woman's grit and perseverance to save her family and her country from Nazi rule during WWII.
This novel chronicles Frenchwoman Marie-Madeleine's transformation from young wife and mother to the leader of a resistance organization. Through fictionalized storytelling, this book pays homage to the real-life Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, often overlooked, the sole female resistance leader heading up the "Alliance" network supporting the Allied forces. Her network of spies, dubbed "Noah's Ark" after their animal code names, was one of the largest intelligence gathering efforts providing crucial information to help the Allies defeat the Nazis.
Author Natasha Lester successfully merges real historical events with the imagined depths of Marie-Madeleine as a character exploring her loves, her family, her losses, and her strength. Lester's writing is impeccable—both powerful and heartbreakingly beautiful—an immersive experience of plot and character development. The characters, many of them also real-life heroes, are profoundly rich with their own arcs of growth and progression. I hope the readers fall in love with them as much as I did. But be prepared to be devastated as not everyone will make it, and that is the reality of war, which Lester captures extensively. I laughed, I got mad, I cried, I fell in love, I cried again, I grieved, I got pissed, I cried some more, then I felt empowered and ready to fight. "La Patronne" (The Boss) Marie-Madeleine, code name "Hérisson" (Hedgehog), can lead me anywhere, and I would follow, in the same way so many would follow her to the ends of the Earth, which Lester conveys through her extensive research.
The novel is addictive, drawing the reader in to root for Marie-Madeleine and the Alliance network. Well-paced and inspiring, this book comes at the perfect time—a time when the world is once again prickly with conflict and destined to repeat history. It's an important reminder to stand up to fascism and not be lulled into complacency and complicity. Let's follow Marie-Madeleine's lead.
If you've enjoyed The Nightingale, The Quiet Librarian, Lilac Girls, or The Alice Network then I highly recommend The Mademoiselle Alliance. I wish I could read it again for the first time.
Thank you to Natasha Lester, Ballantine Books, Random House Publishing Group, & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my authentic review.
March 28, 2025
I usally enjoy historical fiction but found The Mademoiselle Alliance hard to get through. I found the timeline changes in the first third a bit tricky (even though I usually really love multiple timelines) and there were lots of characters to try and remember. I enjoyed if more from about a third of the book, but found the last 15% was when I was really engaged.
Marie-Madeleine is an amazing woman and I appreciate knowing her story - somthing I hadn't read anything about before. It was heartbreaking and raw and I can see how much research has gone into the story. There was just something about it which made it hard for me to stick to and pick up regularly. Could be a case of it's not the right time in my life to read this book rather than anything wrong with the book itself.
Marie-Madeleine is an amazing woman and I appreciate knowing her story - somthing I hadn't read anything about before. It was heartbreaking and raw and I can see how much research has gone into the story. There was just something about it which made it hard for me to stick to and pick up regularly. Could be a case of it's not the right time in my life to read this book rather than anything wrong with the book itself.
February 14, 2025
The Mademoiselle Alliance by Natasha Lester was a significant disappointment. As someone who enjoys historical fiction and has read my fair share of WWII stories, I found this novel lacking depth. Lester provides no room for readers to interpret the emotions or motivations of Marie-Madeleine (the narrator)—everything is laid out plainly, leaving little to the imagination.
Additionally, the novel is written entirely in the present tense, with a heavy reliance on lyrical prose. Instead of immersing the reader in a thrilling spy narrative, it felt as though the author was trying to craft one memorable line after another, which became off-putting.
Another issue I had was with the pacing and structure of the plot. The transitions were jarring, with Marie-Madeleine suddenly finding herself in a completely different location or situation without any clear progression from one moment to the next. Moreover, several lines appeared to be lifted directly from Madame Fourcade’s Secret War by Lynne Olson, a book Lester references in her author notes. This felt like a missed opportunity for original storytelling.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
Additionally, the novel is written entirely in the present tense, with a heavy reliance on lyrical prose. Instead of immersing the reader in a thrilling spy narrative, it felt as though the author was trying to craft one memorable line after another, which became off-putting.
Another issue I had was with the pacing and structure of the plot. The transitions were jarring, with Marie-Madeleine suddenly finding herself in a completely different location or situation without any clear progression from one moment to the next. Moreover, several lines appeared to be lifted directly from Madame Fourcade’s Secret War by Lynne Olson, a book Lester references in her author notes. This felt like a missed opportunity for original storytelling.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
March 31, 2025
I fear I may be in the minority here, but having read all of Natasha’s books and a huge fan, I must say this one was a bit of a slog to get through. For me it was too much like reading a non-fiction book, too plot driven and not enough character driven, too many characters to keep track of and a bit repetitive. The last 100 pages the pace picked up but it was not my favourite book of hers. The detail she goes to is commendable but it took away from being a good read in my opinion.
Thank you so much to Better Reading and Hachette Australia for providing a copy of this book for review purposes.
Thank you so much to Better Reading and Hachette Australia for providing a copy of this book for review purposes.
January 12, 2025
All the stars for this novel, I loved it. I know a lot of WW2 French history, but through the character of Marie-Madeleine I saw the courage, the daring, the sacrifice and the machine that was the Alliance. What a novel! I feel I now know real heroes of World War Two that previously were just names; I have a sense of what leaders of the resistance must have gone through rather than just their exploits…the politics of resistance..oh so much more but no spoilers here; but definitely one to give you all the feels..just wonderful.
March 24, 2025
If you follow my reviews you know Natasha Lester is an auto buy for me, so get ready for this week her new book is about to be released ... and yes ... it is another five star read! I applaud Natasha once more as she flies the flag for these incredible women from history who so deserve their story to be told. This time we follow along with Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, the only woman to lead a resistance network in France during the Second World War.
'My place is the air, the void, the very edges of existence. And from that place, I manage 3,000 agents, the only network that covers the whole of France'.
Truly an incredibly inspiring woman, Marie-Madeleine helped France and the allies win the war putting her country first above all else. Natasha truly captures not only the time and place but more importantly the voice of the many who battled the Nazis. She brings to life Marie-Madeleine as a resistance fighter, as a leader, as a mother and as a woman in a man’s world. The risks and sacrifices that these heroic people undertook for the love of what was right and just is heart wrenching. Love and loss, bravery and brutality all come together in this fight against tyranny.
“These women will set the world ablaze. And from their courage, a better one will rise. We have to let them.”
Fans of Natasha will not be disappointed with this latest addition. For all historical fiction buffs this is a story you simply must read for its passion and power, for its inspiring and informative detail. A masterclass in beautifully crafted writing of an incredible tale.
“What’s happened in Alliance is extraordinary. I don’t know if ever again in history there’ll be another woman like you, MarieMadeleine.”
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
'My place is the air, the void, the very edges of existence. And from that place, I manage 3,000 agents, the only network that covers the whole of France'.
Truly an incredibly inspiring woman, Marie-Madeleine helped France and the allies win the war putting her country first above all else. Natasha truly captures not only the time and place but more importantly the voice of the many who battled the Nazis. She brings to life Marie-Madeleine as a resistance fighter, as a leader, as a mother and as a woman in a man’s world. The risks and sacrifices that these heroic people undertook for the love of what was right and just is heart wrenching. Love and loss, bravery and brutality all come together in this fight against tyranny.
“These women will set the world ablaze. And from their courage, a better one will rise. We have to let them.”
Fans of Natasha will not be disappointed with this latest addition. For all historical fiction buffs this is a story you simply must read for its passion and power, for its inspiring and informative detail. A masterclass in beautifully crafted writing of an incredible tale.
“What’s happened in Alliance is extraordinary. I don’t know if ever again in history there’ll be another woman like you, MarieMadeleine.”
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
December 19, 2024
I was so excited when I received the e-ARC for Natasha Lester's newest book. She is always a must-read author for me and this book did not disappoint. I had never heard of Marie-Madeleine Meric and what she did for France during WWII. I love the detail that this book goes into (and the author notes are interesting as always - do not read them until you have finished the book!).
An amazing fictionalized account of an amazing woman/mother/spy.
Read it if you love historical fiction, strong female characters, and stories of espionage.
Thanks to NetGalley for my early peek at this book. I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy.
An amazing fictionalized account of an amazing woman/mother/spy.
Read it if you love historical fiction, strong female characters, and stories of espionage.
Thanks to NetGalley for my early peek at this book. I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy.
February 28, 2025
Finally, a very courageous woman gets the recognition she deserves with this remarkable story.
Marie-Madeleine Méric was the leader of a 3,000 agent Resistance network in France during WWII. With intense research, Natasha Lester revealed how she ended up with this role during a time when most women were housewives taking care of their children. Not Madame Méric.
She was participating in car rallies with her husband’s disapproval. She wanted to be free and rather than stay with him in Morocco, she left with her two children and went to Paris. In 1940, at 30 years old, she had to do something about the Nazis taking control. She ended up stepping into the greatest journey of her life.
I almost didn’t get past the first page when it mentioned what would happen if she was arrested by the Nazis. It hit me hard thinking about the world news of today with fear spreading rapidly. This book had a progressive timeline of changes in Paris from 1940 to 1945.
Certainly, there was a lot going on and it had to be a difficult task to decide what to include in this story. It started strong yet, in the middle, there was a lot of detail and number of agents that made it move at a slower pace.
The best part was at the end when I wanted to reach out and hug this woman who was so brave. The Author Notes were full of warmth and wisdom like experiencing a wonderful dessert after a good meal.
My thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of April 8, 2025.
Marie-Madeleine Méric was the leader of a 3,000 agent Resistance network in France during WWII. With intense research, Natasha Lester revealed how she ended up with this role during a time when most women were housewives taking care of their children. Not Madame Méric.
She was participating in car rallies with her husband’s disapproval. She wanted to be free and rather than stay with him in Morocco, she left with her two children and went to Paris. In 1940, at 30 years old, she had to do something about the Nazis taking control. She ended up stepping into the greatest journey of her life.
I almost didn’t get past the first page when it mentioned what would happen if she was arrested by the Nazis. It hit me hard thinking about the world news of today with fear spreading rapidly. This book had a progressive timeline of changes in Paris from 1940 to 1945.
Certainly, there was a lot going on and it had to be a difficult task to decide what to include in this story. It started strong yet, in the middle, there was a lot of detail and number of agents that made it move at a slower pace.
The best part was at the end when I wanted to reach out and hug this woman who was so brave. The Author Notes were full of warmth and wisdom like experiencing a wonderful dessert after a good meal.
My thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of April 8, 2025.
April 15, 2025
⭐️4.5 Stars⭐️
Wow what an incredible and inspiring story of courage and hope, The Mademoiselle Alliance by Natasha Lester is a must read, I couldn’t put this novel down.
Young Marie-Madeleine, a journalist, rally car driver and pilot was the only woman ever to lead the largest resistance network (Alliance) during WWII in France and an unsung hero. This novel is inspired by the true story of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade (1909-1989).
The sacrifices this mother of two young children made are beyond belief, there was imminent danger around every corner as she become top of the Gestapo’s most wanted.
The research that has gone into this work is impeccable. I’m so grateful that authors like Natasha bring these unsung hero stories to life.
I admired Marie-Madeleine’s character and her leadership, my other favourite characters in the book were Leon and Lucien. The scene with the smuggled mailbag was unbelievable, now there’s determination! A beautifully written tale that’s so much more than a war story.
Now I’m going to google this heroine!
Thank you to the lovely team Hachette Australia for an ARC copy of the book.
Wow what an incredible and inspiring story of courage and hope, The Mademoiselle Alliance by Natasha Lester is a must read, I couldn’t put this novel down.
Young Marie-Madeleine, a journalist, rally car driver and pilot was the only woman ever to lead the largest resistance network (Alliance) during WWII in France and an unsung hero. This novel is inspired by the true story of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade (1909-1989).
The sacrifices this mother of two young children made are beyond belief, there was imminent danger around every corner as she become top of the Gestapo’s most wanted.
The research that has gone into this work is impeccable. I’m so grateful that authors like Natasha bring these unsung hero stories to life.
I admired Marie-Madeleine’s character and her leadership, my other favourite characters in the book were Leon and Lucien. The scene with the smuggled mailbag was unbelievable, now there’s determination! A beautifully written tale that’s so much more than a war story.
Now I’m going to google this heroine!
Thank you to the lovely team Hachette Australia for an ARC copy of the book.
March 5, 2025
Read this if you like:
•strong females
•powerful story
•slow burn
I’m a huge fan of Natasha’s books. However this one just didn’t hit the same and was just okay. I think the inherent story was interesting, especially with the strong female character, but I found myself becoming disengaged at times. Thank you PRH for ALC
•strong females
•powerful story
•slow burn
I’m a huge fan of Natasha’s books. However this one just didn’t hit the same and was just okay. I think the inherent story was interesting, especially with the strong female character, but I found myself becoming disengaged at times. Thank you PRH for ALC
January 8, 2025
An amazingly well researched novel. I enjoy Natasha Lester's books, but this is definitely my favourite. A true story about an amazing woman who had been lost to history. Thank you Marie-Madeleine and all of the brave souls who worked with you for freedom 🙏
March 7, 2025
I don’t set out to write long reviews but some books give me so much to think about that the more I ponder, the more I remember what I saw and felt and have to express it. But Natasha’s novel The Mademoiselle Alliance left me stumped. Not because I have nothing to say but I would not know where to begin. It is such a complex detailed story with a lot of introspection, waiting, wondering and yet still plenty of action that unfolds sometimes like a dripping faucet and other times like a geyser! The pace, particularly towards the end, had me chasing the pages as there are some very tense and terrifying events that occur where the suspense is nail-biting. But I will not give anything away and although I just cannot say all that needs to be said without writing another book, due to the nature and volume of the material, I will talk more about how this novel made me feel.
While reading The Mademoiselle Alliance I became tightly wound, so yes, very stressed by the contents that pricked my heart at all angles. I slipped into the shoes of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade and felt I was living her life in slow motion, thanks to the fine writing skills of the author. At times, the lines were like staccato notes. The tone varied from anger, affection, sorrow and despair. The shades of the canvas snapped back and forth between greys and colour. The characters’ emotions were tightly controlled with only a few moments of weeping. Of course, this all reflects the difficult situations encountered by the Alliance and its members— particularly its leader, Marie-Madeleine. The sadness felt by her and others leaked into me like poison. I was exhausted and shredded by all this woman and her team had to endure. While I sensed their vulnerability, I was amazed at how they clung to hope in the direst of situations. As war is like walking through hell. Burnt flesh hangs from one’s frame like lifeless apparel. When you have been robbed of everything and ravaged by the enemy, nothing is left but a skeleton. The intent of the enemy is to see the fire of its victim’s spirit snuffed out.
This novel is a reflection of what the Alliance would have experienced. They endured horrors but still their wits had to remain razor sharp at all times. Training as noted in Eagle/Leon (yes, they are all given animal names in what became known as Noah’s Ark) shows us how agents learned to endure. No time to long or look back or space to wish for better days. And for Marie-Madeleine who carried the weight of so many lives it would have been painful. It was an awful responsibility to make decisions for her team who often were at risk. The doubts would rise as the deaths piled up. Yet, over and over this woman kept finding a new source of strength and stretched beyond herself for freedom of her country. She attempted to untangle the claws that the Nazis had set into their lives. Yes, Natasha’s dedication is apt. Marie-Madeleine was/is a hero in the truest sense. She was human with weaknesses including fears, of course, but her love for her family and country spurred her on when a wasteland of despair stretched before her. She manages to hang in there against the odds. But it is a sad moment when she states to Maurice a hard and painful truth. ‘Alliance is like a grey wolf, hunted to extinction – only the taxidermized carcasses of you and me remaining.’
As we know from history, victory does come after a long hard fight. Yet during the battles that Marie-Madeleine, her team and others endure, the only comfort is in the reason behind what they do: for their families to be free, for their country to be released. The threat of the Nazis regime is real and becomes the reason for nausea in their stomachs. Years of torture in minds and bodies—whether captive or waiting to be captured, or hoping beyond hope that they and their loved ones will escape, be freed by the allies. The waiting game plays on the psyches of so many. I felt this in the novel. I felt I was living Marie-Madeleine’s, Leon’s and others’ lives while following their journeys. Reading it all was a painful experience.
But I also was captivated by the last quarter or more of the novel. My breathing quickened as I learned of what becomes of various members of the alliance. The tension heightened to such an extent, it was like a rubber band ready to be released. Huge waves of chaos exploded across the pages and rushed into my bloodstream.
Marie Madeleine Fourad’s led a complex life shaped by the war and her position as head of the Alliance. Natasha’s detailed presentation breaks down every detail/facet into increments. I felt I was moving through this woman’s life by the seconds. The plot builds and builds to a feverish pitch then breaks like the splitting of an egg into a hot pan while the yolk and white of her experiences separate and coagulate. This woman’s bravery is real. Her fear is real. She is a reluctant warrior forced to be leader by the machine/hands of war. She must protect and lead so many lives… many who will go to their deaths for the cause of daring to fight back against the Nazis.
Reading this novel was a very different encounter. I walked, dragged, wept and fought through the pages in this woman’s shoes. I also was moved by Leon’s perspective and experiences. Their connection (and love) was both beautiful and tragic. So much loss, so much heartache breaks in waves across this solitary shore. I have not really mentioned the glistening presentation of the text. There were so many quotable lines. A poetic feast of metaphors laced with wisdom and bare naked truths that I could repost but won’t. Read the book. This is stunning, inspiring work. A story that takes over your mind and squeezes your heart until it hurts. Devour it, appreciate your freedom and weep. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Hatchett for a paperback copy to review.
While reading The Mademoiselle Alliance I became tightly wound, so yes, very stressed by the contents that pricked my heart at all angles. I slipped into the shoes of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade and felt I was living her life in slow motion, thanks to the fine writing skills of the author. At times, the lines were like staccato notes. The tone varied from anger, affection, sorrow and despair. The shades of the canvas snapped back and forth between greys and colour. The characters’ emotions were tightly controlled with only a few moments of weeping. Of course, this all reflects the difficult situations encountered by the Alliance and its members— particularly its leader, Marie-Madeleine. The sadness felt by her and others leaked into me like poison. I was exhausted and shredded by all this woman and her team had to endure. While I sensed their vulnerability, I was amazed at how they clung to hope in the direst of situations. As war is like walking through hell. Burnt flesh hangs from one’s frame like lifeless apparel. When you have been robbed of everything and ravaged by the enemy, nothing is left but a skeleton. The intent of the enemy is to see the fire of its victim’s spirit snuffed out.
This novel is a reflection of what the Alliance would have experienced. They endured horrors but still their wits had to remain razor sharp at all times. Training as noted in Eagle/Leon (yes, they are all given animal names in what became known as Noah’s Ark) shows us how agents learned to endure. No time to long or look back or space to wish for better days. And for Marie-Madeleine who carried the weight of so many lives it would have been painful. It was an awful responsibility to make decisions for her team who often were at risk. The doubts would rise as the deaths piled up. Yet, over and over this woman kept finding a new source of strength and stretched beyond herself for freedom of her country. She attempted to untangle the claws that the Nazis had set into their lives. Yes, Natasha’s dedication is apt. Marie-Madeleine was/is a hero in the truest sense. She was human with weaknesses including fears, of course, but her love for her family and country spurred her on when a wasteland of despair stretched before her. She manages to hang in there against the odds. But it is a sad moment when she states to Maurice a hard and painful truth. ‘Alliance is like a grey wolf, hunted to extinction – only the taxidermized carcasses of you and me remaining.’
As we know from history, victory does come after a long hard fight. Yet during the battles that Marie-Madeleine, her team and others endure, the only comfort is in the reason behind what they do: for their families to be free, for their country to be released. The threat of the Nazis regime is real and becomes the reason for nausea in their stomachs. Years of torture in minds and bodies—whether captive or waiting to be captured, or hoping beyond hope that they and their loved ones will escape, be freed by the allies. The waiting game plays on the psyches of so many. I felt this in the novel. I felt I was living Marie-Madeleine’s, Leon’s and others’ lives while following their journeys. Reading it all was a painful experience.
But I also was captivated by the last quarter or more of the novel. My breathing quickened as I learned of what becomes of various members of the alliance. The tension heightened to such an extent, it was like a rubber band ready to be released. Huge waves of chaos exploded across the pages and rushed into my bloodstream.
Marie Madeleine Fourad’s led a complex life shaped by the war and her position as head of the Alliance. Natasha’s detailed presentation breaks down every detail/facet into increments. I felt I was moving through this woman’s life by the seconds. The plot builds and builds to a feverish pitch then breaks like the splitting of an egg into a hot pan while the yolk and white of her experiences separate and coagulate. This woman’s bravery is real. Her fear is real. She is a reluctant warrior forced to be leader by the machine/hands of war. She must protect and lead so many lives… many who will go to their deaths for the cause of daring to fight back against the Nazis.
Reading this novel was a very different encounter. I walked, dragged, wept and fought through the pages in this woman’s shoes. I also was moved by Leon’s perspective and experiences. Their connection (and love) was both beautiful and tragic. So much loss, so much heartache breaks in waves across this solitary shore. I have not really mentioned the glistening presentation of the text. There were so many quotable lines. A poetic feast of metaphors laced with wisdom and bare naked truths that I could repost but won’t. Read the book. This is stunning, inspiring work. A story that takes over your mind and squeezes your heart until it hurts. Devour it, appreciate your freedom and weep. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Hatchett for a paperback copy to review.
April 6, 2025
The Mademoiselle Alliance is such an incredible read! It dives into the fascinating story of a crucial network that teamed up with the British government during WWII to fight against the German advance. What I love about it is that it's based on real people and events, but it’s so much more than just history—it’s a tale of hope, love, and loyalty that really pulls you in.
At first, the story takes its time to introduce Marie-Madeleine, letting you get a feel for her character and what drives her. But hang on tight because once things pick up, you find yourself right in the thick of it, alongside a brave group of people who put their lives on the line to save their country and protect their loved ones.
Natasha Lester has a real gift for crafting complex characters in tough situations. It’s impossible not to get attached to them. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, feeling every emotion as the tension built, and believe me, the ending had me in tears.
I’d heard about underground networks in WWII, but learning about Marie-Madeleine and everything the Alliance achieved under her leadership was eye-opening. Sure, stories of war can be heartbreaking, but these are the kind of stories we need to remember—the heroes we can’t forget.
If you're into remarkable, compelling tales, you’ve got to read this one. And if you haven’t explored Natasha Lester’s books yet, do yourself a favor and dive in! You won’t regret it!
At first, the story takes its time to introduce Marie-Madeleine, letting you get a feel for her character and what drives her. But hang on tight because once things pick up, you find yourself right in the thick of it, alongside a brave group of people who put their lives on the line to save their country and protect their loved ones.
Natasha Lester has a real gift for crafting complex characters in tough situations. It’s impossible not to get attached to them. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, feeling every emotion as the tension built, and believe me, the ending had me in tears.
I’d heard about underground networks in WWII, but learning about Marie-Madeleine and everything the Alliance achieved under her leadership was eye-opening. Sure, stories of war can be heartbreaking, but these are the kind of stories we need to remember—the heroes we can’t forget.
If you're into remarkable, compelling tales, you’ve got to read this one. And if you haven’t explored Natasha Lester’s books yet, do yourself a favor and dive in! You won’t regret it!
March 2, 2025
First, I must say this book is quite intense but a wonderfully researched and written book that really brings to the fore the people, places and acts (both brave and courageous as well as horrendous and unthinkable) of any war, past present and/or future. This book had me hooked from the beginning and even before.
I had never heard of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade and her plight to free France from Hitler and the Germans. This book really makes you think about the people who tried and tried again to end an horrific war as well as how it affected all the people involved.
This book really gets into your head and your heart, it is passionate, historical and I can highly recommend it. It seemed like a long book when I started, was quite informative and descriptive, flowed well and was written in a way that you had to fall in love with these brave souls.
And a must for this book is to definitely read the Authors Notes at the end as it will really put the whole book into perspective. A must read for any lover of historical fiction, war stories and tales of brave and courageous people.
The Mademoiselle Alliance
Natasha Lester
Hachette Australia
I had never heard of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade and her plight to free France from Hitler and the Germans. This book really makes you think about the people who tried and tried again to end an horrific war as well as how it affected all the people involved.
This book really gets into your head and your heart, it is passionate, historical and I can highly recommend it. It seemed like a long book when I started, was quite informative and descriptive, flowed well and was written in a way that you had to fall in love with these brave souls.
And a must for this book is to definitely read the Authors Notes at the end as it will really put the whole book into perspective. A must read for any lover of historical fiction, war stories and tales of brave and courageous people.
The Mademoiselle Alliance
Natasha Lester
Hachette Australia
March 5, 2025
Big thanks to Hachette for sending us a copy to read and review.
A woven tapestry of fact and fiction reveals the selflessness and determination of a dedicated group that fought the Nazis within.
True martyrs that made a difference with their bravery and resolve.
A heart stopping prologue sets the scene.
Marie-Madeline from a young age embraced life and adventure and generally didn’t conform to the norm.
A devoted mother who enjoyed a wild ride in life with rally car driving, flying planes and using her intelligence to make a difference.
The fragility of peace was replaced by destructive war as the world divided in its respective alliances.
Marie-Madeline was approached to join the resistance and fight the Germans in her own country with a network of fighters.
Brave missions and intelligence gathering, true love and an insight into an underworld that undermined the enemy all mingle in this epic testimony.
It takes talent to bring an era back to life and let the reader experience the horrors of life during the war.
The emotions, descriptions and peripheral detail paid tribute to the real and very remarkable Marie-Madeline.
This courage will now live on.
A woven tapestry of fact and fiction reveals the selflessness and determination of a dedicated group that fought the Nazis within.
True martyrs that made a difference with their bravery and resolve.
A heart stopping prologue sets the scene.
Marie-Madeline from a young age embraced life and adventure and generally didn’t conform to the norm.
A devoted mother who enjoyed a wild ride in life with rally car driving, flying planes and using her intelligence to make a difference.
The fragility of peace was replaced by destructive war as the world divided in its respective alliances.
Marie-Madeline was approached to join the resistance and fight the Germans in her own country with a network of fighters.
Brave missions and intelligence gathering, true love and an insight into an underworld that undermined the enemy all mingle in this epic testimony.
It takes talent to bring an era back to life and let the reader experience the horrors of life during the war.
The emotions, descriptions and peripheral detail paid tribute to the real and very remarkable Marie-Madeline.
This courage will now live on.
March 19, 2025
I don’t know what amazed me most about this novel which is based on the true incredible story of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade - her many heroic feats whilst being the only woman to lead a French Resistance network in WW2 or the fact that I had never heard of her!!
I am so pleased her story has been told as it is truly amazing! It is brilliantly written, thoroughly researched, and extremely inspiring to read how one woman, a mother of two young children, was so utterly brave, selfless, clever, strong, and an unflinching leader.
From a young age, she was not one to conform to societal norms and was fiercely determined to live her life fully. Her devotion to her country saw her time and time again place her own life in danger to try and help end the devastation of war. She loved deeply, her children, her family, Leon and her fellow agents.
I will be recommending this book to everyone!
Please also read the Authors Notes as these add to the story.
5⭐️’s
I am so pleased her story has been told as it is truly amazing! It is brilliantly written, thoroughly researched, and extremely inspiring to read how one woman, a mother of two young children, was so utterly brave, selfless, clever, strong, and an unflinching leader.
From a young age, she was not one to conform to societal norms and was fiercely determined to live her life fully. Her devotion to her country saw her time and time again place her own life in danger to try and help end the devastation of war. She loved deeply, her children, her family, Leon and her fellow agents.
I will be recommending this book to everyone!
Please also read the Authors Notes as these add to the story.
5⭐️’s
July 8, 2025
Not my favorite Lester but I am so glad to have learned about these people from this book.
February 18, 2025
The Mademoiselle Alliance by Natasha Lester
I’ve read Natasha Lester’s books previously to reading The Mademoiselle Alliance. I did find this book more difficult to get into compared to her previous books that I’ve read.
In saying that, once I got going, it started to pick up and I got through all 398 pages in about a week.
If you think you’re in for a quick read with a Natasha Lester book, than your mistaking. There were parts in The Mademoiselle Alliance that I thought could have been left out, and parts that just seemed to re hash what was written earlier in the book.
I have to say I think this was my least favourite Natasha Lester book from those books of hers that I’ve read. I do enjoy the historical aspects of her books, as well as the fact that her books are about prominent women in history. But I just found that this book just seemed to drag on and could have easily been 100 pages less than it is.
*I received my copy of this book from Better Reading in return for my honest review.
I’ve read Natasha Lester’s books previously to reading The Mademoiselle Alliance. I did find this book more difficult to get into compared to her previous books that I’ve read.
In saying that, once I got going, it started to pick up and I got through all 398 pages in about a week.
If you think you’re in for a quick read with a Natasha Lester book, than your mistaking. There were parts in The Mademoiselle Alliance that I thought could have been left out, and parts that just seemed to re hash what was written earlier in the book.
I have to say I think this was my least favourite Natasha Lester book from those books of hers that I’ve read. I do enjoy the historical aspects of her books, as well as the fact that her books are about prominent women in history. But I just found that this book just seemed to drag on and could have easily been 100 pages less than it is.
*I received my copy of this book from Better Reading in return for my honest review.
December 16, 2024
The Mademoiselle Alliance, just as Madame Fourcade’s Secret War does, details Marie Madeleine Fourcade’s involvement in and leadership of the Alliance to save France from the Nazis in World War Two. But, oh! It is SO Much more!! The Mademoiselle Alliance is the story of a gutsy, innovative, intelligent woman; a woman who achieves successful leadership of an intrepid determined selfless group of men and women who are key players in the fight to save and free France.
This narrative brings to life the risks and sacrifices of these heroes who gave their all for the country they so passionately loved.
This narrative brings to life the risks and sacrifices of these heroes who gave their all for the country they so passionately loved.
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