Connie is shipped off to the Forest of Dean to work as a lumber-jill to contribute towards the WW2 efforts.
Having lost her entire family she has no baggage...well except one huge secret that she's carrying.
Seppe is an Italian POW kept in a camp at the Forest of Dean and paired up with Connie. He discovers her secret and becomes her companion and helper.
I adore WW2 stories, particularly those told from a woman's point of view.
Connie was a conundrum to me. At times I felt for her, at times I really liked her strength and tenacity and other times I could have shaken her for her coldness and selfishness!
But this book is a cracker for a debut. Franklin's writing is rich and decadent, and you could almost smell the earthiness of the Forest and feel the damp and cold of the winter.
There are many likeable characters in this book, all flawed, all relatable which is great achievement given the time period.
This book is full of heart, it's thought provoking and an interesting take on the war as it's set outside a city, yet shows how far and how much devastation the war caused.
That ending left me wanting more, a sign of a great story and writer.
I would like to thank Bonnier Zaffre for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Having lost her entire family she has no baggage...well except one huge secret that she's carrying.
Seppe is an Italian POW kept in a camp at the Forest of Dean and paired up with Connie. He discovers her secret and becomes her companion and helper.
I adore WW2 stories, particularly those told from a woman's point of view.
Connie was a conundrum to me. At times I felt for her, at times I really liked her strength and tenacity and other times I could have shaken her for her coldness and selfishness!
But this book is a cracker for a debut. Franklin's writing is rich and decadent, and you could almost smell the earthiness of the Forest and feel the damp and cold of the winter.
There are many likeable characters in this book, all flawed, all relatable which is great achievement given the time period.
This book is full of heart, it's thought provoking and an interesting take on the war as it's set outside a city, yet shows how far and how much devastation the war caused.
That ending left me wanting more, a sign of a great story and writer.
I would like to thank Bonnier Zaffre for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.