A BRAND NEW World War Two novel of love, courage and family secrets from the BESTSELLING author of The Last Boat Home ?? Must-read for fans of Fiona Valpy and Lorna Cook!

'Spanning continents and decades, this sweeping epic stole my heart' Renita D'Silva ??????????

Paris, 1940: Marie-Claire steps into the Gare de Lyon, not knowing it will be the last time she'll see her husband and son. Fleeing occupied Paris, she travels into the countryside of Normandy, and stumbles upon a chateau near Caen and a growing resistance movement.

Soon, Marie-Claire finds herself working in a cafe in the quiet village of Sainte-Mère-Église, where she tries to come to terms with all she has lost - but little does she realise that her presence in Normandy will change the course of history...

1998: Half a century later, Esther is returning to the Normandy village she visited as a teenager, seeking a break from her monotonous life. Back then, she'd fallen in love with a rustic farmhouse and the family that lived there - not least the charming eldest son, Jules Joubert.

But now, when Esther discovers an old annotated cookbook in the family kitchen, she begins to realise that the place she holds so close to her heart may hide more secrets than even the Jouberts realise...

What stories does the area carry? And could this trip change Esther's life for ever?

Praise for Rachel Sweasey:

'I was swept up by this beautiful story of love, loss and the courage of so many during WW2' - Helen Parusel

'I loved this dual time-line read. Set in the start of WW2 and present day it deals with loss and war and finding love when you don't expect to ever love again. This was a great book and I highly recommend this one.' Goodreads reviewer ??????????

'Loved this book. I got totally immersed in the characters and their lives, loves and loss. The mix of fact and fiction and the two different time lines worked very well.' Goodreads reviewer ??????????

'A brutally honest account of how both men and women coped with the changes in their lives. This author writes so authentically about grieving that at times I simply had to stop reading. Anyone who has lost someone will immediately identify with the visceral pain felt by the characters. The settings were gorgeous and the descriptions of French food made me long to go back.' Goodreads reviewer ??????????

'Loved it, sadness and joy, ups and downs. Hope there will be a sequel!' Goodreads reviewer ??????????

'Fantastic read, was enjoyable - even cried at one part I felt I was inside the book.' Goodreads reviewer ??????????

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• Literature & FictionHistorical FictionWorld War II
• Literature & FictionHistorical FictionHistorical

• Publication Date: June 27, 2025
• Text-to-Speech: Disabled
• Lending: Disabled
• Print Length: 287 Pages
• File Size: 17 KB