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When We Were Brave
The face of woman in the photograph was tilted upwards, as if enjoying the sunshine just for a moment, even as the wreckage of the bombed-out street lay behind her…
1944, Cornwall: Blinded by love, Vivienne Hamilton eloped to Paris with a Nazi prisoner-of-war, never to be seen again. A disgrace to her family, her name would not be mentioned by any of her relatives for over 75 years.
Present day, London: When Sophie discovers a photograph of her great aunt Vivi from World War Two, it throws her into a world of confusion. Because, as she learns about this secret relative, she quickly realises that the photograph doesn’t fit with her family’s story. It shows Vivi leaving an address associated with a spy network in London – a place she had no reason to be – and it is dated right before she disappeared.
Meanwhile Sophie’s own life feels as blasted and bombed as the Blitzed city in the photograph she’s looking at. Her beautiful daughter – as full of joy and wild energy as Vivi had apparently once been – is gone; and Sophie’s heart has been left broken into pieces.
Retreating to the family home in rural Cornwall to seek solace from her pain and the feelings of guilt that she could have done more to protect her daughter, Sophie finds herself becoming obsessed with Vivi’s life.
But nothing can prepare Sophie for what she is about to uncover – the story of a woman who risked everything for the person she loved the most; and a secret family history that could be the key to Sophie’s own future.
A powerful, haunting and unforgettable read about love, heartbreak and betrayal set in Second World War Britain and France. Perfect for fans of The Nightingale, Under a Scarlet Sky and My Name is Eva.
Readers love Suzanne Kelman:
‘A heart-wrenching story of ordinary people elevated to the realm of heroes through love and sacrifice.... It is an emotional journey of heartache and love that will leave you in tears. One of the finest books I have ever read.’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars
‘Oh my goodness! Evocatively unsettling yet hauntingly beautiful… the story is incredibly powerful… I read this book with bated breath. I cried, I grieved and I hoped…I was left both heartbroken and satisfied. Suzanne Kelman… has floored me with this book.’ Robin Loves Reading, 5 stars
‘A captivating story of love, friendships and hope for the future. It’s written with such depth that the characters and settings come alive before your eyes.’ Chells and Books, 5 stars
‘Heartbreaking... Make sure to have your box of tissues at the ready while you read this beautifully told story!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘Oh my Goodness! What a wonderful book! There is so much love, hope, and fear as well. This is a book I will put back to read again, I enjoyed it so much. It is a book you can't put down, every chapter is so enticing to keep reading, more and more.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘A beautifully written story of love, courage, self-sacrifice and determination… Such an emotional sto
1944, Cornwall: Blinded by love, Vivienne Hamilton eloped to Paris with a Nazi prisoner-of-war, never to be seen again. A disgrace to her family, her name would not be mentioned by any of her relatives for over 75 years.
Present day, London: When Sophie discovers a photograph of her great aunt Vivi from World War Two, it throws her into a world of confusion. Because, as she learns about this secret relative, she quickly realises that the photograph doesn’t fit with her family’s story. It shows Vivi leaving an address associated with a spy network in London – a place she had no reason to be – and it is dated right before she disappeared.
Meanwhile Sophie’s own life feels as blasted and bombed as the Blitzed city in the photograph she’s looking at. Her beautiful daughter – as full of joy and wild energy as Vivi had apparently once been – is gone; and Sophie’s heart has been left broken into pieces.
Retreating to the family home in rural Cornwall to seek solace from her pain and the feelings of guilt that she could have done more to protect her daughter, Sophie finds herself becoming obsessed with Vivi’s life.
But nothing can prepare Sophie for what she is about to uncover – the story of a woman who risked everything for the person she loved the most; and a secret family history that could be the key to Sophie’s own future.
A powerful, haunting and unforgettable read about love, heartbreak and betrayal set in Second World War Britain and France. Perfect for fans of The Nightingale, Under a Scarlet Sky and My Name is Eva.
Readers love Suzanne Kelman:
‘A heart-wrenching story of ordinary people elevated to the realm of heroes through love and sacrifice.... It is an emotional journey of heartache and love that will leave you in tears. One of the finest books I have ever read.’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars
‘Oh my goodness! Evocatively unsettling yet hauntingly beautiful… the story is incredibly powerful… I read this book with bated breath. I cried, I grieved and I hoped…I was left both heartbroken and satisfied. Suzanne Kelman… has floored me with this book.’ Robin Loves Reading, 5 stars
‘A captivating story of love, friendships and hope for the future. It’s written with such depth that the characters and settings come alive before your eyes.’ Chells and Books, 5 stars
‘Heartbreaking... Make sure to have your box of tissues at the ready while you read this beautifully told story!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘Oh my Goodness! What a wonderful book! There is so much love, hope, and fear as well. This is a book I will put back to read again, I enjoyed it so much. It is a book you can't put down, every chapter is so enticing to keep reading, more and more.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘A beautifully written story of love, courage, self-sacrifice and determination… Such an emotional sto
318 pages, Paperback
First published February 20, 2020
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About the author
Suzanne Kelman
17 books635 followersSuzanne Kelman is an Amazon international bestselling author in America, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Her books have sold over 475,000 copies worldwide and accumulated ten rights deals across eight territories.
Her WW2 historical fiction books are published by Bookouture - an imprint for Hachette U.K.
She is also the author of the bestselling book, "The Rejected Writers' Book Club", published by Lake Union, which is the first book in the Southlea Bay series. Other books in the series include, "Rejected Writers Take the Stage" and "The Rejected Writers' Christmas Wedding".
Kelman is an award-winning writer/screenwriter whose accolades include the Best Comedy Feature Screenplay Award from the L.A. International Film Festival, the Gold Award from the California Film Awards, and the Van Gogh Award from the Amsterdam Film Festival.
In 2015 her script, Held, was recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures and was shortlisted to the top ten in the Academy Of Motion Pictures Nichols Fellowship competition.
As well as a screenwriter and a published author, Suzanne is also a playwright, and her award-winning comedy play, "Over My Dead Body", had its World Premiere at Outcast Theatre in Washington, Fall 2019.
Born in the United Kingdom, Suzanne now resides in Washington State.
Please sign up for her newsletter to stay in touch - https://www.suzannekelmanauthor.com
Her WW2 historical fiction books are published by Bookouture - an imprint for Hachette U.K.
She is also the author of the bestselling book, "The Rejected Writers' Book Club", published by Lake Union, which is the first book in the Southlea Bay series. Other books in the series include, "Rejected Writers Take the Stage" and "The Rejected Writers' Christmas Wedding".
Kelman is an award-winning writer/screenwriter whose accolades include the Best Comedy Feature Screenplay Award from the L.A. International Film Festival, the Gold Award from the California Film Awards, and the Van Gogh Award from the Amsterdam Film Festival.
In 2015 her script, Held, was recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures and was shortlisted to the top ten in the Academy Of Motion Pictures Nichols Fellowship competition.
As well as a screenwriter and a published author, Suzanne is also a playwright, and her award-winning comedy play, "Over My Dead Body", had its World Premiere at Outcast Theatre in Washington, Fall 2019.
Born in the United Kingdom, Suzanne now resides in Washington State.
Please sign up for her newsletter to stay in touch - https://www.suzannekelmanauthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 271 reviews
July 16, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Suzanne Kelman for my copy of: When We Were Brave.
When Sophie Hamilton attends an exhibition of World War Two memorabilia in London, she notices a photo of a woman who holds a striking resemblance to both her and her late mother Alice. Her family estate is in Cornwall, her great uncle Tom still lives there with his daughter Jean, she decides to pay them a visit and solve the mystery. Her uncle has dementia, so it’s left to her cousin Jean to explain to Sophie that the family had a very black sheep, her name was Vivienne Hamilton, and her name had never been mention for over 75 years?
During the time England many large country houses were used as hospitals and places where wounded soldiers could receive medical treatment and convalesce. The Hamilton family home in Cornwall was one of them, Vivienne worked in the hospital, she helped a wounded Nazi officer Marcus Vonstein escape, they both fled by boat to France and her family never saw her again. Her family in Cornwall copped a lot of abuse from locals about Vivi being a traitor to her country, once the gossip eventually stopped, it was easier for her family to never mention her name and they didn’t.
After Sophie visited her cousin Jean, she realizes the old photograph doesn’t fit with her family’s story, as it shows Vivi leaving an address associated with a spy network in London, a place she had no reason to be, and it is dated right before she disappeared with the German Soldier. The family had no idea that Vivi had trained and worked as a special operation executive in France for a month. After her first mission was a disaster, when she returned to England she was told she didn’t have what it took to be a spy, so she went home to Cornwall and offered to help at the hospital.
Sophie Hamilton life is falling apart, her relationship with her partner Matt is strained, and he’s become very distant and can barely call her back! The reason there having issues is because their baby daughter Emily and her mother Alice were tragically killed in a car accident the year before. Both Sophie and Matt are struggling to cope and being together reminds them of what they have both lost. When Sophie finds out what Matt’s really up to she decides to have a holiday, go to France and try to solve the mystery about her why her Great Aunt Vivienne left England all those years ago and why did she help a Nazi soldier escape?
Sophie travels to France and Germany, nothing can prepare her for what she’s about to uncover. Her great Aunts story and Marcus Vonstein’s, is very complicated, it’s about WW II, love, betrayal, heartache, bravery, sacrifice and both being spies. Sophie is determined to clear her Aunts Vivienne’s name, she also comes to terms with what has happened in her own life and she can begin to take small steps to find love again.
I loved When We Were Brave, I gave it five stars, I have read the authors previous book called A View Across The Rooftops and both are very powerful and heartbreaking stories.
When Sophie Hamilton attends an exhibition of World War Two memorabilia in London, she notices a photo of a woman who holds a striking resemblance to both her and her late mother Alice. Her family estate is in Cornwall, her great uncle Tom still lives there with his daughter Jean, she decides to pay them a visit and solve the mystery. Her uncle has dementia, so it’s left to her cousin Jean to explain to Sophie that the family had a very black sheep, her name was Vivienne Hamilton, and her name had never been mention for over 75 years?
During the time England many large country houses were used as hospitals and places where wounded soldiers could receive medical treatment and convalesce. The Hamilton family home in Cornwall was one of them, Vivienne worked in the hospital, she helped a wounded Nazi officer Marcus Vonstein escape, they both fled by boat to France and her family never saw her again. Her family in Cornwall copped a lot of abuse from locals about Vivi being a traitor to her country, once the gossip eventually stopped, it was easier for her family to never mention her name and they didn’t.
After Sophie visited her cousin Jean, she realizes the old photograph doesn’t fit with her family’s story, as it shows Vivi leaving an address associated with a spy network in London, a place she had no reason to be, and it is dated right before she disappeared with the German Soldier. The family had no idea that Vivi had trained and worked as a special operation executive in France for a month. After her first mission was a disaster, when she returned to England she was told she didn’t have what it took to be a spy, so she went home to Cornwall and offered to help at the hospital.
Sophie Hamilton life is falling apart, her relationship with her partner Matt is strained, and he’s become very distant and can barely call her back! The reason there having issues is because their baby daughter Emily and her mother Alice were tragically killed in a car accident the year before. Both Sophie and Matt are struggling to cope and being together reminds them of what they have both lost. When Sophie finds out what Matt’s really up to she decides to have a holiday, go to France and try to solve the mystery about her why her Great Aunt Vivienne left England all those years ago and why did she help a Nazi soldier escape?
Sophie travels to France and Germany, nothing can prepare her for what she’s about to uncover. Her great Aunts story and Marcus Vonstein’s, is very complicated, it’s about WW II, love, betrayal, heartache, bravery, sacrifice and both being spies. Sophie is determined to clear her Aunts Vivienne’s name, she also comes to terms with what has happened in her own life and she can begin to take small steps to find love again.
I loved When We Were Brave, I gave it five stars, I have read the authors previous book called A View Across The Rooftops and both are very powerful and heartbreaking stories.
February 19, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
A dual timeline novel, When We Were Brave features Sophie, a grieving mother in the present searching for clues as to what really happened to her great-aunt Vivienne, a SOE agent that was labelled as a traitor during WWII.
Another case of "I liked the story, but I didn't fall in love with this novel and its characters." It felt too much like any other WWII story that I have read. Is it too much to ask that we can have a female protagonist in a WWII storyline who isn't immediately desired by every man she encounters?
Goodreads review published 19/02/20
Publication Date 24/02/20
A dual timeline novel, When We Were Brave features Sophie, a grieving mother in the present searching for clues as to what really happened to her great-aunt Vivienne, a SOE agent that was labelled as a traitor during WWII.
Another case of "I liked the story, but I didn't fall in love with this novel and its characters." It felt too much like any other WWII story that I have read. Is it too much to ask that we can have a female protagonist in a WWII storyline who isn't immediately desired by every man she encounters?
Goodreads review published 19/02/20
Publication Date 24/02/20
February 27, 2020
Historical Fiction seems to be my go to these past months, and
When We Were Brave
ranks right up there at the top. This affecting story is told in both 1944 Cornwall and present day London. Sophie finds a photograph of her great-aunt Vivi from World War II. This is very confusing to Sophie because this picture and the memories she has been told her entire life do not match up.
During the war, Vivienne Hamilton eloped to Paris with a Nazi POW. This was something her family was ashamed of, and that is why. until Sophie happened upon the picture, Vivi's name had never been discussed.
Sophie studies the photograph, and she gets help when she can, and it becomes more and more evident that Vivi's story was simply one of love. It seems more and more that Vivi was involved in so much more, and that might be why she apparently disappeared. As Sophie has taken her questions to Cornwall, and talks to various people secrets are coming to light.
Whether the story was being told in the past, or in the present, I was captivated throughout. The war effort was at full swing, and the spy network had an amazing agenda, as it turned out. Sophie's story was intriguing as well. In great fashion, Suzanne Kelman has penned another fantastic story.
When reading historical fiction there is always something to learn about during that period of war. In this case it was the complicated spy network, the British SOE. Just as I will never forget the other book I read by her, The View Across the Rooftops, this is one I will not forget either.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
During the war, Vivienne Hamilton eloped to Paris with a Nazi POW. This was something her family was ashamed of, and that is why. until Sophie happened upon the picture, Vivi's name had never been discussed.
Sophie studies the photograph, and she gets help when she can, and it becomes more and more evident that Vivi's story was simply one of love. It seems more and more that Vivi was involved in so much more, and that might be why she apparently disappeared. As Sophie has taken her questions to Cornwall, and talks to various people secrets are coming to light.
Whether the story was being told in the past, or in the present, I was captivated throughout. The war effort was at full swing, and the spy network had an amazing agenda, as it turned out. Sophie's story was intriguing as well. In great fashion, Suzanne Kelman has penned another fantastic story.
When reading historical fiction there is always something to learn about during that period of war. In this case it was the complicated spy network, the British SOE. Just as I will never forget the other book I read by her, The View Across the Rooftops, this is one I will not forget either.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
January 27, 2020
We all know the sacrifices that the soldiers made during the war. But we don’t usually hear about the British SOE or better know is Winston Churchill’s Secret army. This is story about them working undercover to find information and send it back to good old Blighty and stop the advancement of WW2 and win the war.
It’s 1944 Cornwall Vivienne Hamilton’s returns to England after failing as a Special Operations Executive. She returns to the family mansion which has now being turned into a hospital. She becomes a nurse to do her bit for the war effort and takes cares of the soldiers that come back. When a plane crashes on the beach and the sole survivor is a Nazi prisoner of war. Vivienne oversees taking care of him. But sparks fly and she falls in love with him and he must return to the war. So, they both escape on a boat back to France. Vivienne is classed as a traitor to her country and is a disgraced by her family and she is never discussed between her family again.
Present day Sophie Hamilton is still grieving from the death of her daughter Emily. She comes across of a photo of woman in the blitz that has a family resemblance. She decides to visit the family in Cornwall. Not just to seek solace from her family but, to find out who the woman in the photo is. She finds out about her Great Aunt Vivienne that no one talks about, as she is a traitor to the country, But things don’t add up and Sophie ends up going to Paris and Germany to find out who her Aunt Vivienne is and did she really do what they are saying she is. Also, who is Marcus Vonstein?
I was so excited to receive a copy of When we were brave by Suzanne Kelman, because I read her previous novel A view across the rooftops which was one the best historical novel, I have read in 2019. I didn’t think it could get better, but I loved everything about this book, the story the characters and it is such an emotional story told me more of the sacrifice that were made during the war. I just hoped they both get the rightful recognition what they did in the war at the end.
It’s 1944 Cornwall Vivienne Hamilton’s returns to England after failing as a Special Operations Executive. She returns to the family mansion which has now being turned into a hospital. She becomes a nurse to do her bit for the war effort and takes cares of the soldiers that come back. When a plane crashes on the beach and the sole survivor is a Nazi prisoner of war. Vivienne oversees taking care of him. But sparks fly and she falls in love with him and he must return to the war. So, they both escape on a boat back to France. Vivienne is classed as a traitor to her country and is a disgraced by her family and she is never discussed between her family again.
Present day Sophie Hamilton is still grieving from the death of her daughter Emily. She comes across of a photo of woman in the blitz that has a family resemblance. She decides to visit the family in Cornwall. Not just to seek solace from her family but, to find out who the woman in the photo is. She finds out about her Great Aunt Vivienne that no one talks about, as she is a traitor to the country, But things don’t add up and Sophie ends up going to Paris and Germany to find out who her Aunt Vivienne is and did she really do what they are saying she is. Also, who is Marcus Vonstein?
I was so excited to receive a copy of When we were brave by Suzanne Kelman, because I read her previous novel A view across the rooftops which was one the best historical novel, I have read in 2019. I didn’t think it could get better, but I loved everything about this book, the story the characters and it is such an emotional story told me more of the sacrifice that were made during the war. I just hoped they both get the rightful recognition what they did in the war at the end.
February 19, 2020
In When We Were Brave, we meet Sophie Hamilton in present day London. She is mourning the loss of her mother and daughter. While working on an exhibit at the Imperial War Museum, she sees a photo from WWII that leads to a search for the truth about her great aunt Vivi who had previously been unknown to her. Villainous Vivienne was believed to have run off with a Nazi and was branded a traitor. Told in dual timelines, we are taken back to wartime and Vivi’s initial time serving in the SOE (Special Operations Executive) where she travels to France. Once back in England, her family estate is turned into a hospital for the soldiers. There she meets Marcus Vonstein, a Nazi who was wounded and held captive who may or may not be working undercover for the Resistance. Vivi trusts and helps Marcus escape and they set off undercover to help the Allies while leaving their families to believe the worst in them. Sophie is determined to unravel Vivi’s story. She teams up with Alex Vonstein who also wants to learn the truth about his great-uncle Marcus. Sophie’s determination to clear her aunt gives her new purpose as she is trying to rebuild her life.
This was an absorbing, well-researched book that gives the reader some good insight into the real events of the Physician/Prosper Network which operated in the French section of the SOE as well as the days leading up to D-Day. While this is a moving and compelling fictional story, it helps the reader to remember all the brave people who worked behind the scenes during WWII.
I loved the author’s last book, A View Across the Rooftops, which was one of my top reads in 2019. When We Were Brave may end up topping my list for 2020 – it was that good.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the incredibly talented Suzanne Kelman for an advance copy of this moving book which will be published on February 24, 2020.
Review posted at MicheleReader.com
This was an absorbing, well-researched book that gives the reader some good insight into the real events of the Physician/Prosper Network which operated in the French section of the SOE as well as the days leading up to D-Day. While this is a moving and compelling fictional story, it helps the reader to remember all the brave people who worked behind the scenes during WWII.
I loved the author’s last book, A View Across the Rooftops, which was one of my top reads in 2019. When We Were Brave may end up topping my list for 2020 – it was that good.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the incredibly talented Suzanne Kelman for an advance copy of this moving book which will be published on February 24, 2020.
Review posted at MicheleReader.com
February 26, 2020
Another winner read for Suzanne Kelman.
Ok! You made me cry again. How do you do it? Is by writing an amazing story.
Sophie the main character seeing a picture of a woman in the London Blitz wearing the family crest finding that weird. She brings the picture to her aunt Jean and she thinks it does look like her great-aunt Vivienne the traitor according to the family and the village.
This started Sophie’s quest to finding the truth about Vivienne. It took Sophie to London, Germany, Normandy, Brittany and to the great-nephew of the man she was accused of defecting with Marcus Vonstein names Alex Vonstein.
Finally, after all the extensive research done Sophie was able to tell the truth to her family especially her great-uncle Tom who has taught Vivienne a traitor.
Vivienne Hamilton and Marcus Vonstein we’re members of the SOE underground Resistance and not traitors.
A good solid WW2 story. Keep them coming.
I want to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and Suzanne Kelman for an early copy in exchange of an honest review.
Ok! You made me cry again. How do you do it? Is by writing an amazing story.
Sophie the main character seeing a picture of a woman in the London Blitz wearing the family crest finding that weird. She brings the picture to her aunt Jean and she thinks it does look like her great-aunt Vivienne the traitor according to the family and the village.
This started Sophie’s quest to finding the truth about Vivienne. It took Sophie to London, Germany, Normandy, Brittany and to the great-nephew of the man she was accused of defecting with Marcus Vonstein names Alex Vonstein.
Finally, after all the extensive research done Sophie was able to tell the truth to her family especially her great-uncle Tom who has taught Vivienne a traitor.
Vivienne Hamilton and Marcus Vonstein we’re members of the SOE underground Resistance and not traitors.
A good solid WW2 story. Keep them coming.
I want to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and Suzanne Kelman for an early copy in exchange of an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2020
Wow! Just wow! This book kept me on the edge of my seat right from the get go! It’s a story of devotion and bravery, trauma and guilt. It’s a story how heroic actions of the past can be called upon to move forward in the present.
Present day Sophie is in mourning. She’s lost her mother and daughter and is losing her boyfriend. She blames herself for the tragic fate of her mother and daughter. She has no clue how to move forward...until she spots a photo of a women with a striking familial resemblance at a WWII exhibition. It is then she finds out about a long lost great aunt whom her family saw as a traitor during the war. Intrigued by someone she never met and whose story was never talked about, Sophie sets off on a mission to learn more about her aunt and her role during the war. This journey into the past gives Sophie the courage to move forward with her own life as well as unveil the true bravery and sacrifice her aunt showed while as an undercover spy.
As I read more and more stories based on the SOE and Allied spies during WWII, I can’t even imagine finding the bravery within myself to put themselves on the line. Then I think of why they did it and I have nothing but respect for the bravest of the brave as they worked so hard in times of extreme danger to fight for their country, for what they believed in. Many lost their lives but they knew that was a possibility from the get go!
This story, based on true events, opens your eyes to those brave individuals. Many of their stories were never told or are just now being uncovered. We’re still learning so much from WWII and this story uncovers yet another facet of history’s darkest time. I encourage you read the authors notes at the end of the story. It will shed some light on how this story came to be and the historical aspects of it that make it so gripping.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Bookouture and Suzanne Kelman for this amazing story.
Present day Sophie is in mourning. She’s lost her mother and daughter and is losing her boyfriend. She blames herself for the tragic fate of her mother and daughter. She has no clue how to move forward...until she spots a photo of a women with a striking familial resemblance at a WWII exhibition. It is then she finds out about a long lost great aunt whom her family saw as a traitor during the war. Intrigued by someone she never met and whose story was never talked about, Sophie sets off on a mission to learn more about her aunt and her role during the war. This journey into the past gives Sophie the courage to move forward with her own life as well as unveil the true bravery and sacrifice her aunt showed while as an undercover spy.
As I read more and more stories based on the SOE and Allied spies during WWII, I can’t even imagine finding the bravery within myself to put themselves on the line. Then I think of why they did it and I have nothing but respect for the bravest of the brave as they worked so hard in times of extreme danger to fight for their country, for what they believed in. Many lost their lives but they knew that was a possibility from the get go!
This story, based on true events, opens your eyes to those brave individuals. Many of their stories were never told or are just now being uncovered. We’re still learning so much from WWII and this story uncovers yet another facet of history’s darkest time. I encourage you read the authors notes at the end of the story. It will shed some light on how this story came to be and the historical aspects of it that make it so gripping.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Bookouture and Suzanne Kelman for this amazing story.
March 13, 2020
Expertly blended with seamless style, this is a story of two powerful women...one is lost to family by her supposed treachery, the other is on a quest for the truth.. Riveting and unrelenting, you will be drawn in from the first page. Told with two distinct voices, this is a gorgeous Literary Historical Fiction read.
A photograph sets the stage for the search for truth about an"Aunt Vivienne" who was disowned, despised and forgotten, because of the heinous, unforgivable act she committed. Her great niece "Sophie" takes up the challenge to understand what happened to seal her Aunt's fate.
"When We Were Brave" unfolds with characters that are competing to be heard and understood; leaving clues like breadcrumbs in the forest, if only someone could look deep enough, through all the layers of lies, to the truth that waits to be found.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture and the author, Ms. Suzanne Kelman, for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy of "When We Were Brave".
The opinions expressed in this review are mine alone.
A photograph sets the stage for the search for truth about an"Aunt Vivienne" who was disowned, despised and forgotten, because of the heinous, unforgivable act she committed. Her great niece "Sophie" takes up the challenge to understand what happened to seal her Aunt's fate.
"When We Were Brave" unfolds with characters that are competing to be heard and understood; leaving clues like breadcrumbs in the forest, if only someone could look deep enough, through all the layers of lies, to the truth that waits to be found.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture and the author, Ms. Suzanne Kelman, for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy of "When We Were Brave".
The opinions expressed in this review are mine alone.
January 1, 2022
Mais uma belíssima história de Suzanne Kelman. Uma história que decorre durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial e tem como protagonista uma mulher que tudo faz pelo seu país (Inglaterra), lutando pela Resistência.
Gostei da narrativa a dois tempos — o presente, que nos apresenta a história de Sophie, a sobrinha-neta de Vivi, que investiga o contributo da tia-avó para a guerra; e os anos 40, focando-se na destemida Vivienne Hamilton.
Quero ler tudo da autora que se relacione com esta temática/época.
Gostei da narrativa a dois tempos — o presente, que nos apresenta a história de Sophie, a sobrinha-neta de Vivi, que investiga o contributo da tia-avó para a guerra; e os anos 40, focando-se na destemida Vivienne Hamilton.
Quero ler tudo da autora que se relacione com esta temática/época.
February 25, 2020
I was given this ARC by Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for a review.
Unfortunately I did not enjoy this book. I was not able to get into it as the writing just didn't flow. It read like a poor translation, if that makes sense. It plodded rather than flowed and that was so hard to get past. It also felt rushed and not fleshed out completely.
The concept was pretty interesting but that is the extent of any positive feedback I can give.
Unfortunately I did not enjoy this book. I was not able to get into it as the writing just didn't flow. It read like a poor translation, if that makes sense. It plodded rather than flowed and that was so hard to get past. It also felt rushed and not fleshed out completely.
The concept was pretty interesting but that is the extent of any positive feedback I can give.
February 27, 2020
Bookouture are certainly very much on top of their game lately when it comes to bringing us brilliant historical fiction. I've discovered two excellent new to me authors in this genre in the past few weeks, the first being Catherine Hokin, whose début book was fantastic and now here is another When We Were Brave by Suzanne Kelman which is her second offering. Unfortunately, I haven't read her first but I will certainly be rectifying that because if it is anything like this superb read I know I am in for a real treat. From beginning to end, I was completely hooked on the story unravelling piece by piece right before my eyes.
It's a real mystery that keeps you in suspense until the last moment until playing its final card and I found once I began it was hard to tear myself away from it. Despite not wanting to, I had to set this book aside for a few days as life didn't dictate me much reading time but during this time away from Sophie and Vivi's story I found myself thinking about the characters and longing to get back to them to see what was going to happen next. It was such an inconvenience that I couldn't sit down and read it all in one go because it really is that type of book that is so well written, so carefully plotted, so expertly researched and with characters you care for immensely and you ultimately hope that a positive outcome can be achieved for all.
When We Were Brave is told in a dual timeline format and navigates its way back and forth between the modern day and the years that World War Two raged on. Two strong women are at its centre although they do experience hardships and difficulties but there is a connection between the pair. As Sophie Hamilton attempts to uncover the exact truth behind her Great Aunt Vivienne's experiences of the war she hopes she can right a wrong or else see exactly if what the family have believed to be true for so many years is actual fact.
Sophie is taking six months off from her legal career following a very traumatic event in her life, the finer details of which only become clearer much further into the book but the reader can guess the overall picture. Her state of mind is all over the place and she doesn't know what the next steps should be. Guilt and loss eat away at her. She is now working for a small charity which specialises in archiving historical materials and she has found this to be interesting and in some small way it takes her mind off bigger events which are permanently etched in her heart and mind.
A new exhibition curated by Sophie and her work colleague Jonathan leads to a startling discovery. A photo showing a bombed out street with only several buildings remaining shows a woman entering a building. One thing leads to another and Sophie discovers it is her Great Vivi who has the most villainous of reputations given she abandoned her family and fled their manor house in Cornwall with a Nazi and was never seen again. No one knows exactly what happened and the family have been stigmatised ever since. Sophie knows she can't let sleeping dogs lie and is determined to discover just what happened. Why did Vivi turn to the other side? What were her motivations? Or were there other more sinister forces at work?
Sophie is very driven and the chapters told from her perspective really drove the story forward as a whole. She is a person who always keeps an open mind and there is something niggling away at her deep down with regards to Vivi that she just can't let go. She won't rest easy until she has done her utmost to go down every avenue available to her and maybe right some wrongs if at all possible. I thought good for her. She really had nothing to to lose in starting this process and as her relationship with Matt had hit the rocks and there was time available for her to take from her job than really she was right to just to go for it. Maybe by embarking on this journey she would come to know Vivi and her situation better and find the evidence that will either clear her name or confirm she was a traitor to her country. At the same time Sophie needed to do this for herself. She needed to seek a better version of herself. One who is more brave and more together and a person who makes some small steps in finding acceptance at a time when she needs it the most.
I thought this quote summed up perfectly Sophie's stance in relation to why she felt so motivated to delve back into the past. 'She felt this odd pull into the past. As though finding out what really happened during the war would also help her find her own balance again. She needed everything in her life, including her history, to make sense. Or the future was just an impossible unknown'. It becomes so crucial and important for Sophie to piece the missing pieces of her life together and encourage her through her own personal trauma. The chapters told from Sophie's perspective worked so well alongside those of Vivi's as we were getting two takes on one big situation and I loved moving back and forth as the changes occurred at just the right time and provided us with more information to mull over and also opportunities to really get inside the characters heads in order to understand their thought processes and actions throughout the story.
Vivi was an exceptional character full of spirit, guts and determination but that's not to say that she was not without her faults. Of course she had many and the girl we initially get to know I really couldn't reconcile with the fact that she would betray her country in the manner in which she did. Vivi was a vivacious character who was known for being reckless and rushing head long into things but through reading the chapters told from her viewpoint and through Sophie's investigations we come to realise there is always more than one way to view a story. She has a brave and adventurous streak in her and this leads her down a path she would never have foreseen herself in in relation to the war. To say much more regarding the part she plays in the war would be to give too much away but suffice to say if people knew the exact things she got up to they would admire her rather than have her painted as a monster, traitor and a villain. She deserved admiration, love and respect but I suppose if you only hear one side of the story and that in turn grows legs and the person who it is focused on is not there to defend themselves than we do make an overall judgement based on what we hear.
Vivi has harrowing experiences during the war but at the same time there are plenty of exhilarating moments until it all comes crashing down and she returns to nurse in her home which has been converted into a hospital. She is consumed by guilt and I could see why but people blame her reckless and care free attitude. Vivi realises she needs to redeem herself for what has happened and it takes a courageous person to admit this. Yet at the same time one wonders is she too trusting and following her heart rather than practical matters of the mind? What really happened to make her life take such a dark and disastrous turn? Maybe the power of love can make somewhat rational people do crazy things. Vivi was a brilliantly drawn character and my opinion of her swayed back and forth several times over. The detail of her experiences and the job she does during the war were so vivid and informative.
My eyes were opened to a whole new aspect of the war that I had only briefly read about previously. It was evident that the author had engaged in extensive research and enjoyed doing it and then transferring this knowledge into a breathtaking story that will leave your heart in your mouth and having you questioning so many things. She certainly succeeded in allowing the heroics of the past to reach forward into her characters lives which she mentioned in the end notes as one thing she wanted to achieve with this book.
I can't recommended When We Brave enough. It's historical fiction at its very best and certainly in my book cements Suzanne Kelman as author to watch. I really wish there could have been more as I didn't actually want to discover the truth as I was so caught up in the story and all the various characters I was meeting and becoming accustomed too. You are transported back to a time when devotion and bravery was shown by the greatest generation and through Vivi's story we shall never forget. Congratulations Suzanne Kelman on writing such a stunning book.
It's a real mystery that keeps you in suspense until the last moment until playing its final card and I found once I began it was hard to tear myself away from it. Despite not wanting to, I had to set this book aside for a few days as life didn't dictate me much reading time but during this time away from Sophie and Vivi's story I found myself thinking about the characters and longing to get back to them to see what was going to happen next. It was such an inconvenience that I couldn't sit down and read it all in one go because it really is that type of book that is so well written, so carefully plotted, so expertly researched and with characters you care for immensely and you ultimately hope that a positive outcome can be achieved for all.
When We Were Brave is told in a dual timeline format and navigates its way back and forth between the modern day and the years that World War Two raged on. Two strong women are at its centre although they do experience hardships and difficulties but there is a connection between the pair. As Sophie Hamilton attempts to uncover the exact truth behind her Great Aunt Vivienne's experiences of the war she hopes she can right a wrong or else see exactly if what the family have believed to be true for so many years is actual fact.
Sophie is taking six months off from her legal career following a very traumatic event in her life, the finer details of which only become clearer much further into the book but the reader can guess the overall picture. Her state of mind is all over the place and she doesn't know what the next steps should be. Guilt and loss eat away at her. She is now working for a small charity which specialises in archiving historical materials and she has found this to be interesting and in some small way it takes her mind off bigger events which are permanently etched in her heart and mind.
A new exhibition curated by Sophie and her work colleague Jonathan leads to a startling discovery. A photo showing a bombed out street with only several buildings remaining shows a woman entering a building. One thing leads to another and Sophie discovers it is her Great Vivi who has the most villainous of reputations given she abandoned her family and fled their manor house in Cornwall with a Nazi and was never seen again. No one knows exactly what happened and the family have been stigmatised ever since. Sophie knows she can't let sleeping dogs lie and is determined to discover just what happened. Why did Vivi turn to the other side? What were her motivations? Or were there other more sinister forces at work?
Sophie is very driven and the chapters told from her perspective really drove the story forward as a whole. She is a person who always keeps an open mind and there is something niggling away at her deep down with regards to Vivi that she just can't let go. She won't rest easy until she has done her utmost to go down every avenue available to her and maybe right some wrongs if at all possible. I thought good for her. She really had nothing to to lose in starting this process and as her relationship with Matt had hit the rocks and there was time available for her to take from her job than really she was right to just to go for it. Maybe by embarking on this journey she would come to know Vivi and her situation better and find the evidence that will either clear her name or confirm she was a traitor to her country. At the same time Sophie needed to do this for herself. She needed to seek a better version of herself. One who is more brave and more together and a person who makes some small steps in finding acceptance at a time when she needs it the most.
I thought this quote summed up perfectly Sophie's stance in relation to why she felt so motivated to delve back into the past. 'She felt this odd pull into the past. As though finding out what really happened during the war would also help her find her own balance again. She needed everything in her life, including her history, to make sense. Or the future was just an impossible unknown'. It becomes so crucial and important for Sophie to piece the missing pieces of her life together and encourage her through her own personal trauma. The chapters told from Sophie's perspective worked so well alongside those of Vivi's as we were getting two takes on one big situation and I loved moving back and forth as the changes occurred at just the right time and provided us with more information to mull over and also opportunities to really get inside the characters heads in order to understand their thought processes and actions throughout the story.
Vivi was an exceptional character full of spirit, guts and determination but that's not to say that she was not without her faults. Of course she had many and the girl we initially get to know I really couldn't reconcile with the fact that she would betray her country in the manner in which she did. Vivi was a vivacious character who was known for being reckless and rushing head long into things but through reading the chapters told from her viewpoint and through Sophie's investigations we come to realise there is always more than one way to view a story. She has a brave and adventurous streak in her and this leads her down a path she would never have foreseen herself in in relation to the war. To say much more regarding the part she plays in the war would be to give too much away but suffice to say if people knew the exact things she got up to they would admire her rather than have her painted as a monster, traitor and a villain. She deserved admiration, love and respect but I suppose if you only hear one side of the story and that in turn grows legs and the person who it is focused on is not there to defend themselves than we do make an overall judgement based on what we hear.
Vivi has harrowing experiences during the war but at the same time there are plenty of exhilarating moments until it all comes crashing down and she returns to nurse in her home which has been converted into a hospital. She is consumed by guilt and I could see why but people blame her reckless and care free attitude. Vivi realises she needs to redeem herself for what has happened and it takes a courageous person to admit this. Yet at the same time one wonders is she too trusting and following her heart rather than practical matters of the mind? What really happened to make her life take such a dark and disastrous turn? Maybe the power of love can make somewhat rational people do crazy things. Vivi was a brilliantly drawn character and my opinion of her swayed back and forth several times over. The detail of her experiences and the job she does during the war were so vivid and informative.
My eyes were opened to a whole new aspect of the war that I had only briefly read about previously. It was evident that the author had engaged in extensive research and enjoyed doing it and then transferring this knowledge into a breathtaking story that will leave your heart in your mouth and having you questioning so many things. She certainly succeeded in allowing the heroics of the past to reach forward into her characters lives which she mentioned in the end notes as one thing she wanted to achieve with this book.
I can't recommended When We Brave enough. It's historical fiction at its very best and certainly in my book cements Suzanne Kelman as author to watch. I really wish there could have been more as I didn't actually want to discover the truth as I was so caught up in the story and all the various characters I was meeting and becoming accustomed too. You are transported back to a time when devotion and bravery was shown by the greatest generation and through Vivi's story we shall never forget. Congratulations Suzanne Kelman on writing such a stunning book.
September 17, 2020
When We Were Brave by Suzanne Kelman is the incredible story of a modern-day Sophie who finds a photograph of her great aunt during the war and tumbles into a family mystery that is gripping, heart-wrenching, and beautifully crafted.
The story features a dual point of view, with Sophie searching for the truth of what happened to Aunt Vivian, and Viv in her glory working for England's defense. But is she a spy for England, or did she join the Nazis tarnishing her family's name forever?
This book keeps you wondering through the entire story all the way until the surprising ending! Don't miss this emotional WW2 drama.
The story features a dual point of view, with Sophie searching for the truth of what happened to Aunt Vivian, and Viv in her glory working for England's defense. But is she a spy for England, or did she join the Nazis tarnishing her family's name forever?
This book keeps you wondering through the entire story all the way until the surprising ending! Don't miss this emotional WW2 drama.
March 19, 2020
Absolutely phenomenal book, probably my favorite of 2020 so far. If you're a fan of historical fiction, definitely read this one. The history and bravery of the Resistance is so important and their courage and sacrifice must never be forgotten.
October 19, 2021
Another slightly disappointing book, historically probably well researched into the SOE and French Resistance members but the modern/historical parallel running stories were not credible and it degenerated into a Mills and Boon type of novel.
September 7, 2020
In 1944, Vivi Hamilton fled Britain with her Nazi lover, never to be seen again. She left behind a legacy that disgraced her family name, and she was never spoken of again. Until the present day, when her great-niece Sophie discovers a photograph of Vivi from just days before she disappeared. Intrigued by the discovery of a relative she knows nothing about, and desperate to escape the trauma of her own life, Sophie throws herself into researching Vivi and what really happened to her. But nothing can prepare Sophie for what she is about to discover about her secret family history, and how complex the mystery really is...
I am a massive fan of historical fiction, and I hugely enjoyed Kelman's debut novel set in Amsterdam during WW2. As such, a novel about British spies during WW2, especially one with a dual timeline, was always going to be a book I enjoyed.And enjoy it I did! I already know quite a lot about this time period, just due to the sheer volume of historical fiction I read, but I still learned a lot about the work of the SOE and the risks and danger associated with being a British agent working undercover, and how the spy network actually worked, on both the British and German side.
I was completely mesmerised by both Sophie and Vivi, something which is unusual in these sorts of novels, as I generally have a preference for one of the two timelines. However, I adored both characters and both stories, and felt they complemented each other brilliantly. This is an incredibly moving and emotional read, showing the true power of love and it's ability to flourish even in the most dire of circumstances. Yes, there was fear and darkness, but there was also hope and joy and so much good also to be found, something which Kelman highlights wonderfully in her writing. Suzanne Kelman is a truly talented writer, and one who I would definitely recommend to fans of historical fiction, as well as fans of family drama and mysteries. Essentially, anyone who likes a good book should pick up one of hers - you won't be disappointed.
Disclaimer - I was fortunate enough to receive an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in conjunction with NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.
I am a massive fan of historical fiction, and I hugely enjoyed Kelman's debut novel set in Amsterdam during WW2. As such, a novel about British spies during WW2, especially one with a dual timeline, was always going to be a book I enjoyed.And enjoy it I did! I already know quite a lot about this time period, just due to the sheer volume of historical fiction I read, but I still learned a lot about the work of the SOE and the risks and danger associated with being a British agent working undercover, and how the spy network actually worked, on both the British and German side.
I was completely mesmerised by both Sophie and Vivi, something which is unusual in these sorts of novels, as I generally have a preference for one of the two timelines. However, I adored both characters and both stories, and felt they complemented each other brilliantly. This is an incredibly moving and emotional read, showing the true power of love and it's ability to flourish even in the most dire of circumstances. Yes, there was fear and darkness, but there was also hope and joy and so much good also to be found, something which Kelman highlights wonderfully in her writing. Suzanne Kelman is a truly talented writer, and one who I would definitely recommend to fans of historical fiction, as well as fans of family drama and mysteries. Essentially, anyone who likes a good book should pick up one of hers - you won't be disappointed.
Disclaimer - I was fortunate enough to receive an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in conjunction with NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.
March 1, 2020
This is a beautiful read which takes place between two time frames – during World War II and present day. Told from the perspective of Vivi, a nurse who one day escapes and elopes with a Nazi Prisoner of War. She was never seen again and disowned by her family. In present day. Sophie discovers the story of her Great Aunt Vivi after she finds a photo of her. The picture doesn’t fit with what she has heard about Vivi, with it showing her leaving a known building associated with British Spies during the way. Having to deal with her own grief following the death of her daughter, Sophie also begins to look into the true story behind Vivi’s disappearance.
I love these war time stories, and each time I read one I’m finding the authors are finding new angles to approach the wartime from. In this book, it focusses on the spy network, in particularly the SOE – Special Operations Executive. These were a band of men and women who were sent all over Europe to conduct spying and sabotage. Told from both Vivi and Sophie’s points of view, you get to find out that the family story passed down over the years was completely wrong. It was heart-breaking to think that they all thought so badly of Vivi when she was just doing one of the bravest jobs that you could imagine.
Sophie’s story was heart-breaking also, with the grief that she was experiencing. The hunt for answers to Vivi’s story seemed to be a great distraction for Sophie, researching and visiting places where Vivi may have been. As the secret is uncovered bit by bit through Vivi and Sophie’s experiences, I found myself holding my breath in anticipation to what Sophie may actually find!
The story was mesmerising and captivated me with every turn of the page. Whether it was based in the present day or in Vivi’s time, the storylines were absolutely heart-breaking. It did also fill me with a sense of pride, gratitude and sheer humbleness that there were people around that were willing to put their lives at risk to save others. A story which was filled with sadness, love, courage and sacrifice – I couldn’t put this book down! Would definitely recommend!
I love these war time stories, and each time I read one I’m finding the authors are finding new angles to approach the wartime from. In this book, it focusses on the spy network, in particularly the SOE – Special Operations Executive. These were a band of men and women who were sent all over Europe to conduct spying and sabotage. Told from both Vivi and Sophie’s points of view, you get to find out that the family story passed down over the years was completely wrong. It was heart-breaking to think that they all thought so badly of Vivi when she was just doing one of the bravest jobs that you could imagine.
Sophie’s story was heart-breaking also, with the grief that she was experiencing. The hunt for answers to Vivi’s story seemed to be a great distraction for Sophie, researching and visiting places where Vivi may have been. As the secret is uncovered bit by bit through Vivi and Sophie’s experiences, I found myself holding my breath in anticipation to what Sophie may actually find!
The story was mesmerising and captivated me with every turn of the page. Whether it was based in the present day or in Vivi’s time, the storylines were absolutely heart-breaking. It did also fill me with a sense of pride, gratitude and sheer humbleness that there were people around that were willing to put their lives at risk to save others. A story which was filled with sadness, love, courage and sacrifice – I couldn’t put this book down! Would definitely recommend!
February 20, 2020
This was a wonderful book and one I will recommend to all of my booklover friends. I have fallen in love with historical fiction books that deal with WWII. This book takes a unique approach and introduces the reader to the British SOE ... or better known as Winston Churchill's Secret Army. This group of spies sacrificed so much in their efforts to stop Hitler's advances across Europe.
The author does an amazing job of blending the story of Sophie Hamilton from the present with her Aunt Vivienne during WWII. There is mystery and intrigue. And while you don't discover the truth until the end, the trip through the pages makes the journey worthwhile. I loved the story and the historical details. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and could not put the book down. And make sure you have a few tissues on hand because you will need them! Having turned the last page and closed the book, I am moved by this touching story of love, bravery, and sacrifice.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookoutre, and Suzanne Kelman for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I am beyond grateful to have been given the opportunity to experience this saga and share my opinion.
The author does an amazing job of blending the story of Sophie Hamilton from the present with her Aunt Vivienne during WWII. There is mystery and intrigue. And while you don't discover the truth until the end, the trip through the pages makes the journey worthwhile. I loved the story and the historical details. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and could not put the book down. And make sure you have a few tissues on hand because you will need them! Having turned the last page and closed the book, I am moved by this touching story of love, bravery, and sacrifice.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookoutre, and Suzanne Kelman for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I am beyond grateful to have been given the opportunity to experience this saga and share my opinion.
January 27, 2020
If only there were more than 5 stars to give , I would not hesitate.
When We Were Brave is both a heartbreaking and inspiring book that pays to tribute to all those during the War who were put their lives on the line from fighting, to resistance, to spying for a cause that gave us our freedom.
I cant imagine .
The story is told from the perspective of 1944 when Vivi disappears with an enemy soldier never to be seen again and from present day when her great niece Sophie finds a picture from the war of Vivi
You soon get lost in the story , you are nervous for Vivi and the pages turn quickly.
Sophie is a big part of the story as she traces the story behind the picture.
I hated the book to end and I know I will think often of this book.
If you haven't read A View Across the Rooftops by Suzanne Kelman , get your copy today.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the privilege of reading When We Were Brave.
When We Were Brave is both a heartbreaking and inspiring book that pays to tribute to all those during the War who were put their lives on the line from fighting, to resistance, to spying for a cause that gave us our freedom.
I cant imagine .
The story is told from the perspective of 1944 when Vivi disappears with an enemy soldier never to be seen again and from present day when her great niece Sophie finds a picture from the war of Vivi
You soon get lost in the story , you are nervous for Vivi and the pages turn quickly.
Sophie is a big part of the story as she traces the story behind the picture.
I hated the book to end and I know I will think often of this book.
If you haven't read A View Across the Rooftops by Suzanne Kelman , get your copy today.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the privilege of reading When We Were Brave.
March 2, 2020
This book was brilliant! What if you didn’t know about a family member but what you learned was that person was a traitor? This is how Sophie learns about her great aunt Vivi. The story only starts there. The book alternate between Vivi’s and Sophie’s stories, both filled with agony, pain, and many decisions along the way. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and for a long time I thought what Sophie though - her aunt was a traitor and that’s it. But as the story unfolds the reader is brought into the story and you’re learning that a lot of history is a series of decisions that the person thought we’re right at the time. Suzanne does a brilliant job of weaving both stories together beautifully. Highly recommend this book!!l
February 27, 2020
I cannot say enough good things about this book. It’s another winner from the author of A View Across the Rooftops. The characters are engaging, and the plot is one of the most intriguing I have read in awhile. Sophie, the contemporary plotline main character, is likable, and her search into her family’s history (including a relative that nobody ever talks about) drew me in from the start. But for me, the WWII plotline is where everything happens. I could not get enough of Vivi’s story. This is one of my favorite books so far this year. For more thoughts, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC of the book.
February 15, 2020
Despite a slow start, I found When We Were Brave the be captivating. Normally, I adore dual timelines, but the present day story felt too forced and it pulled me out of the story.
I was more interested and invested in Vivi’s story than I was in Sophie’s, and felt those parts were more of a distraction. I’d have preferred to have the story set solely with Vivi and her journey in WWII.
It was an interesting twist to have the story be about uncovering the truth about someone who’d been assumed to be a traitor.
I was more interested and invested in Vivi’s story than I was in Sophie’s, and felt those parts were more of a distraction. I’d have preferred to have the story set solely with Vivi and her journey in WWII.
It was an interesting twist to have the story be about uncovering the truth about someone who’d been assumed to be a traitor.
April 22, 2020
Such an emotionally poised story that had me heartbroken and moved with every page I turned just wanting so much for Sophie who lost a daughter and was trying to uncover and find so much - past, present and that would undeniably shape her future! Suzanne Kelman does a superior job weaving this captivating story together and transporting the reader to each era that's being relived through her words.
Thank you NetGalley for the complimentary eARC of this book. I am honored to have read it in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for the complimentary eARC of this book. I am honored to have read it in exchange for an honest review.
February 24, 2020
This was a beautiful book about heartbreak, love, loss and finding out the truth years later. Such a beautiful story with both the present day and WWII pieces that are captivating. You had such strong emotions for both story lines that you really felt what each character was going through. I will definitely be reading more from this author.
March 29, 2021
Not my usual kind of reading, a heart wrenching story that made me cry for several hours...
but it was worth it. I listened to the audio. Great narration, smart historical-inspired plot, accuracy with the stories I heard as a child, with a few subtle interventions from destiny.
A cruel tale deeply rooted in reality, with heroes as brave and human as it gets.
but it was worth it. I listened to the audio. Great narration, smart historical-inspired plot, accuracy with the stories I heard as a child, with a few subtle interventions from destiny.
A cruel tale deeply rooted in reality, with heroes as brave and human as it gets.
March 9, 2020
Gripping
The strength, the bravery of those involved in the underground of the Allies is both heartening, and disheartening. A great novel of those who saved the world from the Nazis.
The strength, the bravery of those involved in the underground of the Allies is both heartening, and disheartening. A great novel of those who saved the world from the Nazis.
October 22, 2020
Engrossing read, beautifully written
I’ve read dozens and dozens of WWII historical fiction novels and this is one of the best. The characters are compelling, the story pulls you in and doesn’t let go and the details and setting are pitch perfect.
I’ve read dozens and dozens of WWII historical fiction novels and this is one of the best. The characters are compelling, the story pulls you in and doesn’t let go and the details and setting are pitch perfect.
January 13, 2021
I LOVED THIS BOOK! A new look at WWII espionage and the sacrifices so many made. I could not stop listening. I HAD to know what happened next. The weaving of current and past stories was OH! I wish I had more stars. Will definitely need a few tissues throughout the book.
June 3, 2020
This book was hard to put down. I was especially drawn to Vivienne's story. Knowing this was based on actual events made it more emotional.
March 7, 2023
Very well-written story about the search and clarification of familial history, about small but important pieces of the underground WWII Resistance movement.
November 2, 2023
This is the 2nd book in a row that I have read from this author and again didn’t want to put down. I will definitely look for more.
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