Three women of three nationalities determined to do their bit to defeat the Germans in the war. Hazel is English and a member of the SOE, Rose is French, a member of the resistance and Sophie is German with a Jewish boyfriend that she is hiding from the Nazis. All three women are highly trained and prepared to go to any lengths for the cause

A brilliant story that I couldn't put down, the characters were great and it worked well being told by the difference people so that you got the full picture, one of those books that stay with you long after you have finished reading it

This is a exciting compelling read for all who enjoy reading about the time period of WII. This fascinating story tells the story of three very brave women all from different backgrounds.
"Hearts of Resistance" is an amazing body of work of Historical/Women's fiction. The story centers around : Rose, Sophia and Hazel. Each very memorable on their own, they tell the story from their unique points of view and their own part in the resistance. Centered around the French resistance, this book embodies a myriad of emotions. for the reader as each woman is extraordinary in their abilities to assist the resistance. Each woman is faced with incredible odds and each one helps the resistance in different perilous ways putting themselves at risk to save others. There were times that I was even nervous and I found myself holding my breath and unable to stop reading until the last page.
This is a exciting read and I enjoyed the authors well crafted story. I look forward to more work by this fine author. Thank you to Net Galley and Net Galley for the ARC which did not influence my review.

Rose, Hazel, and Sophia are three very different women who living in a man's world during WWI. They are about to take action to change the entire war.

Rose has recently lost her husband, Peter, to the war. She learns of his secret life just before his death. Sophia is in love with a Jewish man. In order to keep him safe, she must risk her own life. Hazel is engaged to John. John has enlisted to fight the war with the Germans and she must wave goodbye to him again.

Each woman wants to help the war. Each have encountered their own version of heartbreak. They refuse to let this war batter them. Instead, each turns their tears into motivation. Now, how to get started. The resistance needs women like them. Women aren't expected to be spies. With the Germans on high alert, the women are only given a 50-50 chance of making it back home.

It isn't long before their stories intertwine. They're cell smuggles weapons in and people out of France. Hazel is one of the best radio operators around. Sophia is nick named "The Fox" for being undetectable, and Rose is one awesome and dedicated spy. Each has been trained to say nothing to the enemy and all have the ability to end their life, if the need arises.

Their country needs their help. They have to do whatever it takes to stop this senseless war. France will never be the same. They will be the women everyone whispers about. Three women willing to do whatever it takes, but will it be enough? Will all they've sacrificed be worth it?

My rating:

5 Stars

My Thoughts:

What an amazing book!!

At first glance, I was drawn in by the beautiful cover art. It is absolutely stunning!

I began reading and quickly fell in love with Rose, Hazel, and Sophia. Each character so different and beautifully developed. I love the empowering movement they each take. Each is heartbroken, but refuses to give the Germans the satisfaction of winning. They take the term "boss babe" to the next level!

As each woman risked her life for others, they also have their own emotions they are battling. The romance in the midst of the war is an emotion many still know today. I myself was in the military. We were a dual military couple, meaning we were both enlisted at the same time. I had to be a sailor and a single parent when my husband was on deployment. It is so hard to be the one at home, but it is even harder to be the one in battle. These women were dreaming of their loved ones, unsure of their fate, wishing it would all be over so they could go home.

The novel had a great mix of romance, history and suspense. I loved it! I never felt there was a lull in the reading. I would have read the whole book in one sitting if I didn't have to adult every day. Adulting is hard, reading is better.

I did not even know that women like this truly existed. I have already begun research of my own on the topic. I am learning that there were so many secrets to the war.

I highly recommend this book! It won't let you down.

Interesting book. Very intriguing. Loved the story. The author was new to me

Hearts of Resistance starts with a short prologue filled with danger that immediately starts me both worrying and asking questions about will these women survive?

Then we are taken back in time and introduced one by one to three women, whom by the time the book finished I did not want to leave. Three women - one English, one German, one French and their lives are utterly changed by WW11.

There is Hazel - English - engaged and watching her fiance go off to war, and in an environment that did not believe women were capable of contributing significantly to the cause. Hazel will prove that wrong, once recruited by the SOE.

There is Sophia - a young German girl already helping Jewish people to escape from Berlin and hiding her Jewish boyfriend in her apartment. The horrors of the Nazi regime and her own father drive her from Germany and into the Resistance.

Finally Rose a young French woman married to her dearly loved husband and as the war carries on also finds herself by circumstance caught up in the covert operations against the Germans.

Eventually these three come together - work together - carry out mind and heart stopping work that really counts. They are highly trained, ready to kill if necessary and hugely passionate about the extremely dangerous work they do. Three powerful women.

These three women, while fictitious, do represent so many women who showed that they were very capable and courageous during this period of history. Soraya M. Lane obviously researched this well, and she has presented an extremely wonderful tribute to these brave women.

I loved the strength of these three women and the bonds of friendship that they formed. While not always an easy read it was a very realistic and eye opening read. If you coped with Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale - you'll manage this one too.

Oh my word, I don’t even know where to begin with this book. From the writing through to the characters, I was absolutely entranced from the first few words and refused to put the book down again until it was finished. Hazel, Sophia, and Rose were so compelling and had such strong elements of authenticity that I had to keep reminding myself that this was a work of fiction.

The choice to follow these three women from different backgrounds and at different times really worked to create a more wholistic idea of who and what the women in the French Resistance were. The constantly shifting perspectives kept things lively, and really helps to establish a sense of the enormity of their task. It was neat to see their individual stories come together, although I personally would have preferred for their stories to join up sooner just to have a little more time spent behind enemy lines.

Each of the three heroines is clearly defined, and not once do their characters, thoughts, or actions blend into one another. I enjoyed the amount of back story that was provided for each – Sophia’s upbringing in a wealthy Nazi family and her secret supports of Jews, Rose’s luxurious life and traumatic losses, and Hazel’s comfortable English life and feminist awakening – as the time spent on each drives home the losses and risks undertaken by each.

Although Hearts of Resistance is a more character based tale than my typical WWII picks, it still contains ample detail revealing the depth of Lane’s research. From the BBC broadcasts to the ciphers written on silk, and from the drop process to the physical components of the radio it is clear how much attention was paid to detail. I was fascinated too by the activities undertaken by the Maquis to hinder the Axis response to the Normandy landings, which meant that I have to see if this particular aspect was based in truth. This might not be a big secret by now, but I just love it when a work of fiction pushes me down the road of genuine research!

Nerding out aside, this is ultimately a tale of courage, survival, and loyalty. It explores the depths of morality and conviction under the most trying of circumstances, and it drives home that even in the face of loss that there is always something to fight for. But most importantly, this is a book that highlights the strength, determination, and empowerment of women at the most critical of times.

Would I recommend this book? Oh hells to the yes! Hearts of Resistance is another expertly crafted work of historical fiction that is sure to appeal to a broad range of readers. It has a little something for everyone including espionage, action, romance, and a little feminist kick. Buy it, borrow it, love it! This is one you won’t regret picking up.

If you love strong female characters who defy the odd and live life on their terms, then you need to read this book! I gobbled it up in two sittings!

There are not many novels that explain so well the part the brave women played in the resistance. It also told of the difficulties the effects of war had on relationships.. I especially enjoyed hearing of the women's part in the D Day landings and how much strain they put on themselves to get the messages through. Well written and very enjoyable

This historical fiction novel of the Resistance in France during WWII is spine tingling, heartbreaking and proof that women pushed to the limits can do anything. Three women from different countries, different lifestyles but all with the same goal make up this story.

Sophia is the daughter of a high ranking Nazi military soldier. She lives on her own, and has a very dark secret. She rescues Jews, and hides them until they can be moved out of the country safely. She is even protecting her Jewish boyfriend, Alex after his family was taken. After the ultimate betrayal from her father, she knows she has to leave Berlin and get Alex to safety. But, she’s not giving up her work.

Hazel is a young women in London engaged to be married to a British soldier, and desperately wanting to do her part for the country. She is essentially told women belong at home. She is working in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force and moving up the ladder from folding parachutes to more intensive work. Seeing her talents her superiors offer an exciting but extremely dangerous job, with a 50% chance of returning alive. She jumps at the chance.

Rose is from Paris but after the death of her beloved husband, is living in the countryside of Brest. He worked for the Resistance, and paid with his life. After rescuing escaping pilots, and being confronted by Nazi soldiers and injured she has found a reason to keep living. Rose insists “When you have nothing to lose, it makes you brave. Or maybe just stupid?”

These three women, united in fighting the Nazi’s, endure constant fear, hunger and pain, but they remain strong, devoted to each other and the cause they are fighting. In the acknowledgements the author commented that this is a fictional account of actual events, and any one of these women could have been real. Each chapter brought anticipation of what could happen next! But I couldn’t stop reading. If you enjoy historical fiction, don’t miss this novel,

I received this novel from the publisher and Netgalley for review.
Pat Fordyce 5

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
All three women, Hazel, Rose and Sophia are strong characters which I like to read about.
The period era of WWII is described well and the plot is engaging and satisfying.
I've not read this author before but will do again.
Highly recommend.

Fabulous! Thank you, NetGalley/publisher for the chance to review this in exchange for an honest review. This novel covers my favourite period in history and it didn’t fail to deliver an exciting story that I didn’t want to put down. It tells the story of three courageous women in WW2 who experience the dangerous life that comes with working for the Resistance in war-torn France. The story rotates by chapter between the three women’s experiences and I found it worked seamlessly. Sometimes, this can lead to confusion for the reader, but not so with this novel. Loved this read. Looking forward to more from Soraya Lane.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review "Hearts of Resistance ". "Hearts of Resistance" is an amazing work of Historical/Women's fiction. The story centers around three main women: Rose, Sophia and Hazel. Each very memorable on their own, they help tell the story from alternate points of view. Centered around World War two, this book takes you on a whirlwind of emotions. Throughout the war, each woman is faced with incredible odds and each one helps the resistance in different ways. There were times that I was even scared for each woman, as the tasks they needed to complete were quite risky. There was just the right amount of action and romance. I really enjoyed the bravery that Hazel, Sophia and Rose had during such hard times. The way their stories intertwined was also really cool. I would highly recommend this book!

This historical novel follows 3 women (Rose, Hazel, and Sophia) from various walks of life, through their time fighting as part of the French Resistance during WWII.
Part I of the book was compelling and I connected well with the characters. I was especially intrigued with Sophia and Alex whose story was incredibly tragic but heroic. Hazel seemed to fit the time period well; women found fulfillment in a life outside the home and struggled with how to go back to that after the war.
However Part II felt a little shallow and less striking. The women that were so well developed in Part I seemed to be a bit flat. I was hoping for a deeper level of elaboration on their budding friendships, which seemed to be at the core of Part II. Also the "action" parts of the story felt rushed and therefore a bit forced.
Thank you to Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Can I just say, swoon! Great read to start out the year.

This work of historical fiction takes you on a wild, often difficult ride following three women as they make their mark on history as members of the Resistance in World War 2. Seemingly tough as nails and yet still feminine, these women are also shown to be human. Grief, fright, love, sisterhood. The story keeps the pages turning.
I’ve seen some reviews that call this a romance novel, but that part of the story is mostly in the epilogue and I would definitely not characterize the book as such. Again, it shows the women are human, despite the stare of the world and the tasks they are given.
I would recommend this book.

At the height of World War II, three women come together to fight for freedom. Amid the turmoil and tragedy of warfare, they risk losing everything—and everyone—they hold dear.

The book starts with Rose, Hazel, and Sophia in the middle of a very tense situation - and then jumps back in time and introduces us to the 'girls' and tells us how they got into that situation. I found myself liking each of the young ladies, especially Hazel, and crossing my fingers that they would defy the odds and make it out of the war alive. They shared a special bond because of the life and death situations they faced, on a daily basis, and the reliance they had to have on one another in order to stay alive.

It had me wondering how many young people (men or women) in today's world would be willing to step up and do half of what so many people were doing during WWII. The world could have looked so much different if people hadn't done all they could do to defeat the Nazis.

This book kept me reading until the very end - not wanting to put it down. There were some light-hearted moments, plenty of heart-in-your-throat action, love, loss, and tears. A good book always brings the tears somewhere along the line. This is the first book I've read by Soraya M. Lane, but it won't be the last.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishers and NetGalley for the review copy. I enjoyed it very much!

This if my first official book of 2018….the first one that I read and reviewed this year. I read Lane’s earlier novel, Wives of War, back in June and was really impressed with her ability to write interesting characters and a romance that I was invested in.

When Hearts of Resistance came up, it was an easy yes for me to review and I was thrilled to read it and see how Lane’s writing grew in the next book and what sort of romance was in store.

At the height of World War II, three women must come together to fight for freedom, for the men they love—and for each other.

When Hazel is given the chance to parachute into Nazi-occupied France, she seizes the opportunity to do more for the British war effort than file paperwork. Alongside her childhood friend, French-born Rose, she quickly rises up the ranks of the freedom fighters.


For Rose, the Resistance is a link to her late husband, and a way to move forward without him. What starts out as helping downed airmen becomes a bigger cause when they meet Sophia, a German escapee and fierce critic of Hitler who is wanted by the Gestapo. Together the three women form a bond that will last a lifetime.

But amid the turmoil and tragedy of warfare, all three risk losing everything—and everyone—they hold dear. Will their united front be strong enough to see them through? (Summary from Goodreads).

This time we meet very different female leads than we did is her earlier book. Often women were only allowed to help the war effort as nurses, but in this novel the women we meet are practically daredevils…..parachuting into occupied France? Badass. Rose and Hazel were awesome. I loved their pluck and courage.

Sophia was also an interesting female lead, she was brave and courageous in her own way. Speaking out agent Hitler, and a woman to boot, would have been beyond embarrassing for the Nazi regime. I think for me her story was the most compelling because she would likely have been in the most danger. Yes helping rescue down airmen would have been dangerous as well, but Sophia was speaking out against Hitler deep in Nazi territory….the threat to her wellbeing was very real and made her story the most interesting for me.

Even though these three women were ‘fictional’ they had a ring of authenticity in their stories and characters. I love books with strong women at the forefront and even though this was a fictional book, their bravery and spunk shined without seeming fake or made up. I love that about Lane’s writing. She has a wonderful ability to create well thought out characters with memorable stories.

Like her previous book, the romances formed quick and moved at a fast pace. Some might prefer a slow burn romance in war time books but for me I love the ‘whirlwind’ feel in this book. To me war time romances should be more whirlwind because who has time to wait when you are getting shot at and taking risks with your life? When I encounter ‘slow burn’ war romances they frustrate me. So while some felt that the romances in this book were too fast, I happened to like it and felt that it was very fitting.

Overall this was a well written book and I loved how the three main characters were such strong women with believable stories. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves war romances and strong women who don’t backdown from challenges. Inspiring!

This was a great book to kick off my new year reading! Don’t miss this one!

Challenge/Book Summary:

Book: Hearts of Resistance by Soraya M Lane

Kindle Edition, 324 pages
Expected publication: January 10th 2018 by Lake Union Publishing
ASINB071FMQ6NN
Review copy provided by: Author/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book counts toward: NA

Hosted by: NA
Books for Challenge Completed: NA
Recommendation: 4.5 out of 5

Genre: Historical fiction, War lit, WWII romances, romance

Memorable lines/quotes:

I highly enjoyed Wives Of War and this book is written just as well. Three women risk everything during World War II, standing up for what they believe in.

'At the height of World War II, three women must come together to fight for freedom, for the men they love—and for each other.' - Lake Union Publishing

Published: January 10th 2018
 
Set during WW2 'Hearts of Resistance' follows three women from different backgrounds, exploring their roles in the resistance movement against the Nazis.

It reads a lot like a contemporary romance, so you might enjoy it even if historical fiction isn't usually your thing.

At times this novel was very suspenseful and each character had a distinct voice and background which was intriguing! However, the entire plot fast became unrealistic for me and characters didn't quite fully develop, and unfortunately I DNF at 59%

I'd have liked to see more in the way of individual motivation for our different characters, which was too vague for me personally. Yes of course the atrocities committed during WW2 are completely abhorrent, that goes without saying! But in terms of investing characters in a novel I feel like the author relies on the readers assumed knowledge of the historical subject too heavily. I wanted to 'see' what these ladies experienced in their day to day lives to drive them to such drastic, dangerous measures.

Sadly not for me, but I think there's enough there that I'd still encourage you to give it a shot if you've never read anything set during this time period before.

2/5*

If you like this title: It reminded me of 'The Kommandants Girl' by Pam Jenoff.

 
~Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I am not associated with the author or publisher in any way. My opinion is completely unbiased and entirely my own~