ONCE MORE UNTO THE BREACH is a beautifully written book. Holloway’s descriptions are gorgeous. And wow, this is an emotional read! The beginning is a slow burn but I was quickly wrapped up in following Rhys’ search for his son in the midst of WWII. The resolution was both satisfying and honest; I appreciated that Holloway did not make light of what the characters survived in order to wrap the ending up in too perfect a bow.

Trigger Warnings: rape, child death, torture

Thank you Polis Books and NetGalley for the ARC! The opinions in this review are honest and my own. #OnceMoreUntoTheBreach #historical #thriller #mystery

Incredible!  I loved Once More Unto the Breach - suspense, action, history - it had everything! Definitely recommend. I put this one off because I felt I'd had my fill of WWII stories but this was a unique page turner.

Another one. Another NetGalley book that I have been skipping over and really, really shouldn’t have. I might have read too many WWII novels a few years ago and burnt myself out a bit, but this one. This one is fantastic.
This book is so perfectly written, I found myself rereading passages just so that I could do that stare-off-into-space dreamy thing and then read it again. It’s not flowery and sweet… this is a war story, and it’s full of all the dark, gritty horrors that you expect. It’s just so well told that even the horrible is somehow beautiful. The descriptions of wartime Paris, the French countryside, the Alps, and the Welsh hills are so vivid and lovely.

The novel is obviously well researched and the story, which is most definitely a fast-paced thriller, feels very much like it could have happened. Patton even makes a brief appearance as the Americans have arrived to help liberate France. Side plots of priceless artworks being smuggled from Paris to keep them from the Germans, as well as a network to save Jewish children from Nazis, all while our main character races to find his son… there is so much going on here, and it all just perfectly entwines into a cohesive, engaging story.

Rhys is probably the most attractive white male lead in a book I’ve read for a long time. We aren’t talking Jamie Fraser level here, but it’s a near thing. He’s tough, flawed, and tortured, but he’s got such an incredible sense of what’s right and important. The flashbacks to his time in WWI and the losses of his family at home are heartbreaking and endeared him to me. The burdens that he quite literally carries throughout his life, and his relationship with his son, as well as the new relationships he forges with the people he meets in his search for that son, make for an amazing read.

I highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, especially WWII era. It may not be a bright, happy story from start to finish, but there is enough hope and love to make it worth the time and emotional investment.

Once More Unto the Breach by Megan Holloway

Brief Summary: Rhys is on a search for his son in the immediate aftermath of WWII in France. His search starts in the alleys of Paris where he meets Charlotte an ambulance driver who joins him to Vinchy, Lyon, and finally to the Alps. Along the way we learn about his relationship with his son, his son’s work, and their many narrow brushes with danger as someone is following them in hopes of finding him first. I was excited to read this book as an enthusiast of WWII fiction especially when it was said to be for fans of the Nightengale, one of my all time favorites! 

Highlights: This is an incredibly action-packed historical thriller with some very graphic and violent scenes. I enjoyed learning about the immediate aftermath, as most WWII fiction book storylines end around the time the war does. At times events were unlikely or coincidental. I did like learning about ways they saved both art and children during the war. There were plenty of lies, secrets, and suspense to hold my interest. This is a quick and easy read. 

Explanation of Rating: 3.5/5; interesting storyline that held my interest but did not enjoy the graphic violence.

Thank you to Net Galley and Polis Books for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review

Rhys Gravenor is a veteran of World War I and came home to Wales to raise a family and sheep.  Years later, he finds himself in Paris during its liberation with a message from his son.  He is on a quest to find him.  He gets some unexpected help from Charlotte, an American ambulance driver.  This quest leads him all over Europe and Rhys is not the only one hunting his son.  During his search he discover the secrets his son was hiding and that just increases his urgency to find his son before it is too late to mend their broken relationship.

I don’t want to say too much about the plot due to spoilers, but this one was not what I expected – in a good way.  I went into this book knowing it was a World War II historical fiction.  I didn’t expect the mystery aspect and the suspense that came along with this story.  I had to keep reading to see what would happen next and to try to figure out what drove this father and son apart to begin with.  And while this was suspenseful and full of mystery, it was also a story of a father having to come to terms with his own flaws.  This was a fabulous read and if you enjoy reading things from the World War II era, this one is definitely for you.  Four out of Five stars for me.

Thanks to Polis Books and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this. I will be posting a full review to Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram.

An excellent. Book of historical fiction a story that kept me turning the pages.I highly recommend this novel .#netgalley#polisbooks

An absolutely interesting Historical Fiction (novel), which is completely engrossing and deeply evolving. The best thing about this novel is the fact that facts blend with fiction so nicely that one never finds it an exhaustive read, however, it is definitely absorbing and evolves as the story moves forward. Multiple times throughout the novel there is the use of different languages, which in itself never becomes a hindrance in the reading process. In the end as a reader, I felt, understood, realized and accepted the fact that this is a neatly written novel, which is very well edited. A lost must have gone into the research work when mention has been about historical facts and also it's detailed. However, this never slackens the pace of storytelling, which in itself is commendable. Two tracks run parallel to each other. One is that of how the world outside is changing and the other one is the fact that the story which begins on an interesting note continues along the same track in a steadfast manner. The end is interesting, the plot moves in the right direction and as a reader, I can read it as a thriller or a historical fiction. However, I will always read it as historical fiction, if and when I read it again. A terrific read. A must-read for those, who are always interesting in reading something different.

Rhys is searching war-torn France for his missing son.  After leaving each other on unhappy terms, Rhys arrives with a letter from his son and a determination to find him no matter what.  Charlie is an ambulance driver who is a little more involved than Rhys could ever have expected.  They take on the search together amidst danger and discover insights into what Rhys' son has been involved in.  

Can't decide between 3 1/2 and 4 stars.  This is labeled as a historical thriller.  I suppose there is a small element of that in this book.  While I enjoyed the story overall, I didn't feel as involved in the character's lives as I had hoped.  It was an interesting look at WWII in France- the resistance that was trying to save art from getting into the hands of the Germans.  I liked it, didn't love it.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC for my honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this book!  Historical Fiction is one of my favorite genres and this one did not disappoint.  I found this story very interesting and compelling.  Highly Recommend!

This book is a compelling historical thriller which kept me turning pages long into the night. The characters were well-written and there was a lot of action.

Once More Unto the Breach tells the story of a father searching for his son in WW2 France. Rhys, the father enlists the help of an American nurse, Charlotte, who drives an ambulance for the Allies. In their search for Rhys son, Owain, they encounter many barbaric actions of the Germans that have occupied France. They find out that Owain has joined the French Resistance to help get Jewish children to safety and out of France. As Rys and Charlotte search for Owain, a despicable German named Henri is also tracking Owain who he thinks is hiding art. The story is action packed with many close calls. The author does a good job on characterization and building the suspense to keep the reader moving toward the conclusion.
I thank NetGalley and Polis Books for allowing me to read and give an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book.  It grabbed my attention from the start and kept it the entire way through.  I've read a lot of WWII books, and I have to say this is one of my favorites.

A brutal, vivid tale of war, family, and survival centered around Rhys, a Welsh Shepherd, and his search for his son.  It takes a bit of effort to follow the excessive use of conversation, but the end result is worth it. This is an enjoyable and satisfying read for fans of historical fiction and World War II.

“Once More unto the Breach” by Meghan Holloway is yet another book in the popular WWII historical fiction genre. But this novel definitely stands on its own. It is as much mystery and suspense as war and romance.

The plot of “Once More unto the Breach” was intricate and completely original, as was the cast of characters:  Rhys, a Welsh farmer and former soldier from the Great War seeks his son after a rift tore them apart. Along the way, he meets an American woman who drives an ambulance. She is enigmatic and charming. There is also a dog, Nazis, Parisians, nuns, and a vicious killer. 

The one thing that I struggled with as I read this book was keeping track of what was happening—and when. There were a lot of flashbacks, memories from Rhys’s past that came up without warning. They were italicized, but I often had to stop and take stock of what was happening. Likewise, the author used a lot of dialogue in the characters’ languages. Welsh, English, French, and German were used frequently. This could add to the confusion as they were also in italics.

Minor confusion, aside, I loved the plot and the characters in this book.  I also appreciated that it wasn’t your typical WWII English vs Nazis story. There were other players in the war and getting to know them in “Once More unto the Breach” was a pleasure.

I give “Once More unto the Breach” 4 stars!

Thank you to Polis Books and NetGalley for providing me with an Advance Reader Copy of “Once More unto the Breach” in exchange for an honest review.

No matter how much WW2 fiction I cannot get enough! Holloway's book is a thriller set against the backdrop of WW2.  Rhys's journey to find his son is poignant and touching.  While the added suspense of the enemy also closing in provides some much appreciated tension in the story.  Looking forward to reading more of Holloway's works

I enjoyed this one, but I wouldn't say that I loved it. It felt like there was something missing, but overall it was good.

While I commend this author for the complex plot and imaginative characters, I had a very difficult time engaging with it due to the stilted dialogue employed.  The main characters, Charlotte Dubois, from the American South,  and Rhys Gravenor, a Welsh veteran of the Great War,  spoke with the exact same voice and neither one of them ever used a contraction throughout the entire book.  Regardless of the action-packed plot, the exciting time period and setting, and the super-charged, ultra-evil villain, I just could not get past the dialogue, as much as I tried.  I sincerely wish the book could be edited with some more believable prose developed before publication because I believe the story has promise.  Just not as is.  I found myself inwardly rewording each exchange of conversation between Charlie and Rhys just to complete the book.

Once More Unto the Breach is a different war story than you have probably read. The story revolves are Rhys, a sheep herder from Wales. Rhys receives a letter from his son Owain and it leads him on an adventure. Back at the beginning of WWII Rhys kicks his son out of his house and towards the end of the war he gets an unexpected letter that traveled through multiple countries and took several years to arrive. Rhys's only response is to go to France, in the middle of a German retreat, and find his boy. 

Over the course of a few weeks Rhys goes on an adventure with an American woman, Charlotte. He starts in Paris and makes his way to Vichy, the Swiss Alps, and Lyon. While his only goal is to bring his son home, he ends up learning about the man his boy has become.

This book is a good solid three for me (an I liked). The story was unique and read very quickly but it is very short. You learn a lot about Rhys and Owain through dreams and flashbacks that Rhys has. While I understand their importance I found them more distracting than anything. They seemed a little disjointed spanning from Rhys's time in WWI to the day he kicks his son out in the late 30s but they are not linear so it becomes difficult to follow them at times. 

If you are a historical fiction reader or want a different WWII story definitely pick this one up because you will probably enjoy it.

ONCE MORE UNTO THE BREACH is a beautifully written book. Holloway’s descriptions are gorgeous. And wow, this is an emotional read! The beginning is a slow burn but I was quickly wrapped up in following Rhys’ search for his son in the midst of WWII. The resolution was both satisfying and honest; I appreciated that Holloway did not make light of what the characters survived in order to wrap the ending up in too perfect a bow. 

Trigger Warnings: <spoiler>  rape, child death, torture </spoiler>

Thank you Polis Books and NetGalley for the ARC! The opinions in this review are honest and my own. #OnceMoreUntoTheBreach #historical #thriller #mystery