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Love Thine Enemy
Paris, 1939
The clouds of war are gathering in Europe, but some remain hopeful a diplomatic solution can be found, especially eighteen-year-old Helen Latimer, visiting from England.
Paris has always been one of her favourite places, but as she walks down the street on her first day and sees a tall stranger with cornflower blue eyes and hair the colour of wheat, she is hit by what the French call un coup de foudre, and her life is changed forever.
Maximilian von Engelberg is a German, but despite being proud of Germany, he is against the Nazis, unlike his brother Herman, who is with the SS. He, too, hopes war can be averted, but knows it is a matter of time. He also knows he should stay away from Helen Latimer, but he can’t help himself.
Christian Meursault is the Count of Clemenceau, and owns a chateau in Normandy. He has his friends for a weekend, including Helen and Max, and as they play in the pool and eat fabulous food, no one can imagine war.
But soon, Hitler invades Poland, and war is inevitable. As Helen’s brother Charles calls her home, Max’s brother Herman insists he return to the Fatherland as well. But when Helen discovers she is pregnant, Max decides they will marry, and escape to Portugal, a country that is neutral.
But fate has other plans for them, and Max ends up in Germany. Soon they are both married to other people, as war rages around them.
But despite impossible odds, this is not the end of the story for Max, who ends up based in Normandy, and Helen, who starts to work for the French Resistance when her beloved brother Charles is shot down over the English Channel.
With so much death, who knows who will survive, and at what cost?
Rich in history and filled with the joy of life, Love Thine Enemy is a satisfying read brimming with romance and love during a very dark time.
Praise for Nora Fountain
‘Love conquers all in this moving historical romance’ – Holly Kinsella
Nora Fountain is a professional novelist and translator. Her short stories have been published in many magazines in the UK and abroad. She writes both contemporary and historical romance, and loves to paint.
Nora has served on the committee of the Romantic Novelists Association and is a member of the Society of Authors and the Chartered Institute of Linguists. She lives in Dorset, where she finds Thomas Hardy country and the people who live there, an inspiration.
The clouds of war are gathering in Europe, but some remain hopeful a diplomatic solution can be found, especially eighteen-year-old Helen Latimer, visiting from England.
Paris has always been one of her favourite places, but as she walks down the street on her first day and sees a tall stranger with cornflower blue eyes and hair the colour of wheat, she is hit by what the French call un coup de foudre, and her life is changed forever.
Maximilian von Engelberg is a German, but despite being proud of Germany, he is against the Nazis, unlike his brother Herman, who is with the SS. He, too, hopes war can be averted, but knows it is a matter of time. He also knows he should stay away from Helen Latimer, but he can’t help himself.
Christian Meursault is the Count of Clemenceau, and owns a chateau in Normandy. He has his friends for a weekend, including Helen and Max, and as they play in the pool and eat fabulous food, no one can imagine war.
But soon, Hitler invades Poland, and war is inevitable. As Helen’s brother Charles calls her home, Max’s brother Herman insists he return to the Fatherland as well. But when Helen discovers she is pregnant, Max decides they will marry, and escape to Portugal, a country that is neutral.
But fate has other plans for them, and Max ends up in Germany. Soon they are both married to other people, as war rages around them.
But despite impossible odds, this is not the end of the story for Max, who ends up based in Normandy, and Helen, who starts to work for the French Resistance when her beloved brother Charles is shot down over the English Channel.
With so much death, who knows who will survive, and at what cost?
Rich in history and filled with the joy of life, Love Thine Enemy is a satisfying read brimming with romance and love during a very dark time.
Praise for Nora Fountain
‘Love conquers all in this moving historical romance’ – Holly Kinsella
Nora Fountain is a professional novelist and translator. Her short stories have been published in many magazines in the UK and abroad. She writes both contemporary and historical romance, and loves to paint.
Nora has served on the committee of the Romantic Novelists Association and is a member of the Society of Authors and the Chartered Institute of Linguists. She lives in Dorset, where she finds Thomas Hardy country and the people who live there, an inspiration.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 1998
192 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Nora Fountain
17 books2 followersNora Fountain is a professional novelist and translator. Her short stories have been published in many magazines in the UK and abroad. She writes both contemporary and historical romance, and loves to paint. Nora has served on the committee of the Romantic Novelists Association and is a member of the Society of Authors and the Chartered Institute of Linguists. She lives in Dorset, where she finds Thomas Hardy country and the people who live there, an inspiration.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 20, 2017
I received an ARC of this through NetGalley for an honest review.
This is the story of Helen, a young English girl visiting Paris, and Max, a relatively wealthy German man. The European world is on the brink of war. They fall madly in love with each other and want nothing more than to be together. Helen ends up pregnant, and they plan to move to another country together to escape the realities of the escalating conflicts. Alas, reality has other plans for them. Max is forcibly taken away to fight for his fatherland (albeit not on the Nazis) and Helen returns to England to be with her family. Both of them end up married to other people and we follow both Helen and Max through their trials and tribulations on the road to bringing them back into each others lives. But, can they have a happily ever after?
I enjoyed the story itself. It was a long book, and historical romances aren't generally what I read. But, I did find myself caught up in it, wanting to know if these two could come together. The storyline was a little predictable and "convenient", but enjoyable. I had forgotten how much different and simple things were back in those times. How beautifully proper and chaste relationships between men and women were.
The editing in this book was horrific - I can only hope that this was truly an ARC that had yet to be proofed and edited. The formatting itself was so terribly off. Words ran together and it was hard to tell who was saying what at times because of sentences running together. Nothing that a good editing/review couldn't take care of.
This is the story of Helen, a young English girl visiting Paris, and Max, a relatively wealthy German man. The European world is on the brink of war. They fall madly in love with each other and want nothing more than to be together. Helen ends up pregnant, and they plan to move to another country together to escape the realities of the escalating conflicts. Alas, reality has other plans for them. Max is forcibly taken away to fight for his fatherland (albeit not on the Nazis) and Helen returns to England to be with her family. Both of them end up married to other people and we follow both Helen and Max through their trials and tribulations on the road to bringing them back into each others lives. But, can they have a happily ever after?
I enjoyed the story itself. It was a long book, and historical romances aren't generally what I read. But, I did find myself caught up in it, wanting to know if these two could come together. The storyline was a little predictable and "convenient", but enjoyable. I had forgotten how much different and simple things were back in those times. How beautifully proper and chaste relationships between men and women were.
The editing in this book was horrific - I can only hope that this was truly an ARC that had yet to be proofed and edited. The formatting itself was so terribly off. Words ran together and it was hard to tell who was saying what at times because of sentences running together. Nothing that a good editing/review couldn't take care of.
April 23, 2012
surprisingly a very good love story about people from opposite sides in the second world war. recommend it for lovers of historical romance.
July 12, 2018
Love Thine Enemy is a World War II novel by Nora Fountain. It begins in Paris on July 7, 1939 and ends in England in October, about 1946. The story goes back and forth between France and England with the characters of Helen and Max. It is a different view of what might have happened during the war and how people were torn apart from friends and family because of the war.
Maximilian von Engelberg was perfectly at home in Paris. He had his friends, his apartment, and loved the nightlife here. He had come from a wealthy family near Berlin so had no worries as to money. He was twenty-two and studied at the Sorbonne where he was studying writing. In fact, he was in the middle of writing a novel. On this day, however, he was at Chez Madeleine with is brother Hermann. Hermann was like their father, brutish and definitely a Nazi follower. Max, on the other hand, took after their Mother and had no inclination towards the brutish ways of his Father and brother. Hermann was here to try to persuade Max to come home and join the Nazi party and take his place in the hierarchy of the Party. He even had the perfect wife picked out for Max. Max had no intention of joining or following the Nazi party but couldn’t convince his brother of that. Max found another reason to stay in Paris when Helen walked up to join her brother and his friends at a nearby table. Max was fascinated by her from first sight.
Eighteen-year-old Helen Latimer loved Paris and was happy to be back for the summer. This time, she was on her own, except for her brother Charles, and she really wanted to study at the Sorbonne but wasn’t having any luck getting in as it seemed that war was coming and classes were being cut not added. However, she intended to enjoy herself with her brother and his friends. His friends were from all over, France, Texas, Germany, and even Italy. She was ready to join in their merrymaking and partying. However, as she walked to the café to meet her brother, she noticed a man watching her closely. She thought he was very handsome and quite interesting. However, the man with him gave her the creeps. Luckily, this beautiful man was a friend of her brother’s. So, she was delighted to meet him.
After an evening of partying, Helen and Charles were getting ready to go out when he got a call from home. Their Father had a stroke and Charles was needed at home to take care of the business. However, their Father made it clear that Charles was to come home and “that girl” wasn’t to come. For all her life, her Father had ignored Helen and her accomplishments. He never called her by name, just “that girl” nor showed her any affection at all. So, Helen was perfectly happy to stay on in Paris while her brother went home. After all, Charles’ friends would watch out for her, especially Max.
With the threat of war, more and more people were leaving Paris. However, Helen and her new friends were still having fun. She and Max were growing closer and falling in love. However, how can this love survive a war? Max must eventually go home to Germany while Helen goes back home to England. Germany would be an enemy of England’s. How could they be friends much less any more than that? Can love survive a war and separation for years with no contact between them? What will happen to them? Who in their group will live and who will not?
The book is excellent and you definitely have major problems putting it down. It is well-written and very realistic.
Maximilian von Engelberg was perfectly at home in Paris. He had his friends, his apartment, and loved the nightlife here. He had come from a wealthy family near Berlin so had no worries as to money. He was twenty-two and studied at the Sorbonne where he was studying writing. In fact, he was in the middle of writing a novel. On this day, however, he was at Chez Madeleine with is brother Hermann. Hermann was like their father, brutish and definitely a Nazi follower. Max, on the other hand, took after their Mother and had no inclination towards the brutish ways of his Father and brother. Hermann was here to try to persuade Max to come home and join the Nazi party and take his place in the hierarchy of the Party. He even had the perfect wife picked out for Max. Max had no intention of joining or following the Nazi party but couldn’t convince his brother of that. Max found another reason to stay in Paris when Helen walked up to join her brother and his friends at a nearby table. Max was fascinated by her from first sight.
Eighteen-year-old Helen Latimer loved Paris and was happy to be back for the summer. This time, she was on her own, except for her brother Charles, and she really wanted to study at the Sorbonne but wasn’t having any luck getting in as it seemed that war was coming and classes were being cut not added. However, she intended to enjoy herself with her brother and his friends. His friends were from all over, France, Texas, Germany, and even Italy. She was ready to join in their merrymaking and partying. However, as she walked to the café to meet her brother, she noticed a man watching her closely. She thought he was very handsome and quite interesting. However, the man with him gave her the creeps. Luckily, this beautiful man was a friend of her brother’s. So, she was delighted to meet him.
After an evening of partying, Helen and Charles were getting ready to go out when he got a call from home. Their Father had a stroke and Charles was needed at home to take care of the business. However, their Father made it clear that Charles was to come home and “that girl” wasn’t to come. For all her life, her Father had ignored Helen and her accomplishments. He never called her by name, just “that girl” nor showed her any affection at all. So, Helen was perfectly happy to stay on in Paris while her brother went home. After all, Charles’ friends would watch out for her, especially Max.
With the threat of war, more and more people were leaving Paris. However, Helen and her new friends were still having fun. She and Max were growing closer and falling in love. However, how can this love survive a war? Max must eventually go home to Germany while Helen goes back home to England. Germany would be an enemy of England’s. How could they be friends much less any more than that? Can love survive a war and separation for years with no contact between them? What will happen to them? Who in their group will live and who will not?
The book is excellent and you definitely have major problems putting it down. It is well-written and very realistic.
February 20, 2017
Helen Latimer is on a trip to Paris to stay with her brother Charles in the summer of 1939 when she meets Max, the German with the wheat coloured hair and lovely blue eyes and falls hopelessly in love. With the storm clouds of war gathering though what hope is there for the pair of them?
Dragged home by her brother two days before war is declared she believes that Max has run out on her leaving her pregnant and alone but in her heart she is sure that it was true love and something must have happened to him
Back in their own countries they both marry new partners but their hearts are never in it and they cannot forget each other, especially Helen who's son Tristan is the spitting image of his father. With Charles off to war and her husband Roland invalided out of the forces her life is bleak - until she joins the SOE and returns to France
A great story that I couldn't put down - I loved the relationship between Max and Helen and the way Max hated the Nazis and despite the tremendous pressure from his brother Herman refused to join the SS. Great characters throughout the book and plenty of plots and intrigue
Dragged home by her brother two days before war is declared she believes that Max has run out on her leaving her pregnant and alone but in her heart she is sure that it was true love and something must have happened to him
Back in their own countries they both marry new partners but their hearts are never in it and they cannot forget each other, especially Helen who's son Tristan is the spitting image of his father. With Charles off to war and her husband Roland invalided out of the forces her life is bleak - until she joins the SOE and returns to France
A great story that I couldn't put down - I loved the relationship between Max and Helen and the way Max hated the Nazis and despite the tremendous pressure from his brother Herman refused to join the SS. Great characters throughout the book and plenty of plots and intrigue
March 22, 2019
Nauseatingly stupid!!
This has to be the stupidest, silliest WWII fiction I've ever read!! It doesn't remotely depict the mood in 1939 Paris.
The characters are all act in speak as if its 2019. I should have stopped reading at the early stage when in one supposedly serious discussion Max describes his country Germany as having become "natzified." Really?!!!! Sounds like what a prepubescent teen might say today!
The lovestruck, idiot, teen Helen and horndog Max are nauseating and beyond stupid. The insertion of history and politics is crammed in and added as diatribes during conversation in an odd ways. Run-on sentences and paragraphs galore.
It was a huge effort to finish this boring and immature book. Thumbs down!!!
This has to be the stupidest, silliest WWII fiction I've ever read!! It doesn't remotely depict the mood in 1939 Paris.
The characters are all act in speak as if its 2019. I should have stopped reading at the early stage when in one supposedly serious discussion Max describes his country Germany as having become "natzified." Really?!!!! Sounds like what a prepubescent teen might say today!
The lovestruck, idiot, teen Helen and horndog Max are nauseating and beyond stupid. The insertion of history and politics is crammed in and added as diatribes during conversation in an odd ways. Run-on sentences and paragraphs galore.
It was a huge effort to finish this boring and immature book. Thumbs down!!!
September 15, 2017
Enjoyed
A WWII novel which takes place in England,France and Germany. It tells of the struggles of normal citizens of all three places. A love story, a mystery, a war story and a story of struggling relationships.
A WWII novel which takes place in England,France and Germany. It tells of the struggles of normal citizens of all three places. A love story, a mystery, a war story and a story of struggling relationships.
October 25, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyable. Liked the result at the end. I would recommend this book if you enjoy history and romance.
A captivating love story which happened during world war ll. If you enjoy feel good books, this is one. Nora is a very good writer
A captivating love story which happened during world war ll. If you enjoy feel good books, this is one. Nora is a very good writer
July 26, 2019
It was historically good but choppy
The editor should have made scene changes more clear. The plot sped up to a rushed second half but it was still enjoyable. Great historical points. The romance a bit too far fetched.
The editor should have made scene changes more clear. The plot sped up to a rushed second half but it was still enjoyable. Great historical points. The romance a bit too far fetched.
September 19, 2017
Good story thought it was well written, and had a good ending
October 30, 2017
Great Story
2 folks caught on opposite sides of the worst war ever. How do Helen and Max handle their love and their loyalty's?
2 folks caught on opposite sides of the worst war ever. How do Helen and Max handle their love and their loyalty's?
Read
November 30, 2018Loved it
Loved this book. Could not put it down! I definitely recommend it, especially if you enjoy good stories. A real page turner.
Loved this book. Could not put it down! I definitely recommend it, especially if you enjoy good stories. A real page turner.
December 22, 2017
Good read
It's a feel good love story, fast paced French resistance war story. All is well that ends we!l. Sex and War.
It's a feel good love story, fast paced French resistance war story. All is well that ends we!l. Sex and War.
February 5, 2018
A bit contrived...
I'm not a big fan of contrived plots. Well written, easy read and I did enjoy it for the most part.
I'm not a big fan of contrived plots. Well written, easy read and I did enjoy it for the most part.
March 10, 2018
Wonderful!!!
Love love love this book great story line wonderful characters and twists and turns in the story that made it such avoid read!!
Love love love this book great story line wonderful characters and twists and turns in the story that made it such avoid read!!
January 2, 2019
Typical WW2 novel about the French resistance.. Nothing special...
July 26, 2015
FORBIDDEN LOVE. EXPLOSIVE CHEMISTRY.
PASSION. ESPIONAGE. DECEPTION.
WAR. LOVE. REDEMPTION. PEACE.
ACTION-PACKED ROMANCE WITH EXPLOSIVE CHEMISTRY
If you love forbidden high-voltage romance combined with an intriguing, intricate backstory that involves suspense, action and loads of drama then this is for you. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. I read it in one sitting.
PARIS. ROMANCE. CULTURE. FASHION.
It was fascinating reading about the Resistance (in France mostly - although eh book does mention those win Germany who also were part of the Resistance). And the espionage and planning involved between the English and French.
I loved hwo the author brought that period to life - the glamour, the decadence, the intrigue and the cultural, intellectual and political nuances that existed. You could almost imagine the streets of Paris, the Sorbonne, the beautiful fashion/ mode, and the architecture.
It's a beautiful love story that ultimately is about peace and remembering that we are all human beings with failings. Of course the story is told from an Allied POV and hence we're the dashing goodie hero's. But it also didn't demonise the Germans (only the Nazis and other fascists). It does fail to mention the 26 thousand Soviet Union soldiers from Eastern Europe e.g. Romania etc sacrificed their lives to save Europe from the Third Reich (other than the mention of a few Polish). And of course the book mistakenly considered the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact an alliance rather than the non-aggression pact it was.
Helene: starts off as a naïve 18 yo English girl who falls in love while in Paris. She's a dark haired, green-eyed charming beauty from a well-to-do family and who at first appears fragile but is a tough fighter.
We're first introduced to her as she meets her brother in Paris, who socialises with a young bohemian intellectual crowd, which includes Parisians, Americans, Italians and of course the German Max.
Max: a German aristocrat, who first encounters Helene at age 23 in Paris. His brother is a Nazi and does everything to break them up and bring Max into Germany and make him part of the SS.
The remaining characters are well fleshed out. There are far too many illicit relationships (nothing too dodgy) but a bit unrealistic. And the situation between Helene and her father seemed a bit far-fetched. But these subplots didn't detract from the main story.
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PASSION. ESPIONAGE. DECEPTION.
WAR. LOVE. REDEMPTION. PEACE.
ACTION-PACKED ROMANCE WITH EXPLOSIVE CHEMISTRY
If you love forbidden high-voltage romance combined with an intriguing, intricate backstory that involves suspense, action and loads of drama then this is for you. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. I read it in one sitting.
PARIS. ROMANCE. CULTURE. FASHION.
It was fascinating reading about the Resistance (in France mostly - although eh book does mention those win Germany who also were part of the Resistance). And the espionage and planning involved between the English and French.
I loved hwo the author brought that period to life - the glamour, the decadence, the intrigue and the cultural, intellectual and political nuances that existed. You could almost imagine the streets of Paris, the Sorbonne, the beautiful fashion/ mode, and the architecture.
It's a beautiful love story that ultimately is about peace and remembering that we are all human beings with failings. Of course the story is told from an Allied POV and hence we're the dashing goodie hero's. But it also didn't demonise the Germans (only the Nazis and other fascists). It does fail to mention the 26 thousand Soviet Union soldiers from Eastern Europe e.g. Romania etc sacrificed their lives to save Europe from the Third Reich (other than the mention of a few Polish). And of course the book mistakenly considered the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact an alliance rather than the non-aggression pact it was.
Helene: starts off as a naïve 18 yo English girl who falls in love while in Paris. She's a dark haired, green-eyed charming beauty from a well-to-do family and who at first appears fragile but is a tough fighter.
We're first introduced to her as she meets her brother in Paris, who socialises with a young bohemian intellectual crowd, which includes Parisians, Americans, Italians and of course the German Max.
Max: a German aristocrat, who first encounters Helene at age 23 in Paris. His brother is a Nazi and does everything to break them up and bring Max into Germany and make him part of the SS.
The remaining characters are well fleshed out. There are far too many illicit relationships (nothing too dodgy) but a bit unrealistic. And the situation between Helene and her father seemed a bit far-fetched. But these subplots didn't detract from the main story.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews