WOW! What a phenomenal story of a brave and strong and decisive woman journalist-turned-spy, working with the resistance in France during WWII. Known alternately as Madame Andree, Lucienne Carlier, Helene, and The White Mouse. Desperately in love with her husband, Henri Fiocca, although forced to leave him for periods of time as she toils unceasingly to defeat the Nazis.

I cheered for Helene in her red lipstick and her nylon stockings, as she commands a group of Maquis. I wept with her in her losses; I feared for her during her escapades. I wondered, needlessly, as she took chance after chance. I felt the dirt as she and the men lived in the forest.

You will love her as I did.

Net Galley/Doubleday Books, 03/11/20

Fabulous book! I thoroughly enjoyed it. This story based on the real life of Nancy Wade is amazing. If she did only half the things in the book it would still be an unbelievable story for a woman during WWII. She was a true hero and saved many lives.

This book was very well done. The history and story line was incredibly intriguing. I loved every bit of it!

Oh my heart. This book is so beautifully written and will tear at your heartstrings. Although such a touch hard topic to read about, it is also important for us to never forget these important stories. I loved this book so very much.

I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars! This was a well-researched and written book. To say it was a page-turner would be an absolute understatement. I was hooked on this book from the very beginning. Although this story does not have a HEA, it is still a story that I highly recommend! I do recommend that the reader pay close attention to the dates listed at the beginning of each chapter as the chapters bounce back and forth in time. There is foul language and the author does a wonderful job of explaining this in the end. It's what made Nancy Wake a successful leader among nothing but men. She is a person whom I've never heard of but she did so much to help turn the tide of WWII. The things she endured are absolutely unimaginable to me.

I highly recommend this story to any who loves history! Although this story is listed as fiction, most of the story is based on fact.

I am intrigued by spy stories, and when they are based on actual spies, the story is all the better. Code Name Helene moves between several dates and the names Nancy Wake uses in those years--her actual name and her aliases. The literary device is itself something of a code for the reader, but it is an effective devise. Nancy's story is skillfully told with plenty of hold-your-breath moments. Human kindness and extraordinary courage stand in sharp contrast to the cruelty and disdain for human life that are at the heart of the war, and that is a perspective I always find arresting. If you are a fan of Kristen Hannah's The Nightingale, you need to read Code Name Helene.

Don't fail to read the author's note at the end of the book, not only to learn what was actual and what was fiction, but also to learn why the book ended as it did. Both the author and I would have liked a different ending with bit more of happily-ever-after, but the true story ends well. The author also discusses the volume of profanity and drinking, showing how both are essential to Nancy's ability to gain dominance over her adversaries. I appreciated her note, but because the profanity was mostly in French, I was not bothered by its inclusion. This is a worthy addition to the canon of WW II novels, presenting a critical aspect of that war..

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Wow! Powerful story and even more powerful woman. Based on the real life story of Nancy Ware, you will be taken on a journey that is unbelievable. The story unfolds so smoothly and I was hooked from the beginning. Very well done!

Remarkable book and remarkable person! This book of historical fiction is based on the life of Nancy Wake, a dominant and powerful leader in the French resistance during World War II. Her undying love and marriage to Henri Fiocca, an industrialist, renders the story plot an intensity that keeps you reading straight through to the book's conclusion.
Scattered timelines and attention to the 4 different code names for Nancy that the author writes about keep the reader focused and interested. I had never heard of Wake and wonder why. She was a person with strength and courage few exhibit and thanks to Lawhon, I would, also, like to find the articles she wrote as a journalist. I couldn't put the book down, for the history it presented and also for the descriptions of human nature that never cease to amaze us..

This WW2 story is based on the real life of Nancy Wake who worked as a spy during WW2. I recommend reading this story without knowing much about Nancy first because of how the story unfolds and you start to learn more and more about the type of work that Nancy does, and how she got to the place she ended up in for the war efforts. The last 25% of the book had me unable to put the book down - Nancy was a strong woman with so much courage, and I'm happy to get to learn more about her.

I’m always excited to find a new-to-me historical fiction writer to add to my list of favorites, and I’ve found just that in Ariel Lawhon. I was privileged to read an advance copy of her March 2020 release, Code Name Hélène, and from the very first page on, I found it nearly impossible to put down.
The book is based on the story of Nancy Wake, a real-life superhero who was born in New Zealand, grew up in Australia, and became a leader in the French Resistance. Told in alternating timelines based on the various code names Nancy went by during World War II, it masterfully recounts the fascinating, action-packed story of this extraordinarily brave lady as she undertook incredibly challenging missions. The amount of research Lawhon did on the topic and time period is readily evident in this work of the heart.
I highly recommend Code Name Hélène to anyone who loves historical fiction and will look forward to reading more books by this talented author. Although I received a complimentary copy, I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are entirely my own.

The story of SOE operative Nancy Marsh, who led the Resistance fighters against the Nazis. She killed a Nazi with her own hands. Brave, courageous and beautiful. Truly a remarkable woman! Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Pleasantly surprised, reading another book about war time. Historical fiction is always enlighting, but the detail and characteristics of all the characters, made this book special.. When a women, goes above and beyond what would be comfortable, to put her life and those she loves in jeopardy for the sake of other human beings is worth this incredible story.

5.0 stars

I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from Doubleday through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Ariel Lawhon, Doubleday, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

OMG, this novel was INTENSE!! It had VERY graphic scenes of the horrors of WWII. Unfortunately, we need these reminders or we will forget the REAL-LIFE horrors that so many experienced during the Nazi reign of terror. But, I must confess that I loved the protagonist - Nancy Grace Augusta Wake. #Shero

Nancy was a real-life shero who had an amazing life and was responsible for the saving of so many lives. It was inspirational to read about her. Yes, it was fictionalized, but it makes me want to know more about her and her life!! I had NO idea that she existed and that is a real shame - we need to recognize these heroes and sheroes before they are gone forever.

Ariel Lawhon writes beautifully and honestly. I loved this book so much even though reading some of it was very painful and hurt my heart. However, learning about Nancy made it all worth it.

This was NOT a super-fun read, but it was a VERY good and enjoyable read! I HIGHLY recommend it WWII history buffs or folks who just want to learn about this amazing shero, Nancy Grace Augusta Wake AKA Helene!!!

Combining meticulous research with sparkling writing, this is what historical fiction should be. The story of Nancy Wake is brought to life spectacularly.

Told in interweaving timelines organized around the four code names Nancy used during the war, Code Name Hélène is a spellbinding and moving story of enduring love, remarkable sacrifice and unfaltering resolve that chronicles the true exploits of a woman who deserves to be a household name.

It is 1936 and Nancy Wake is an intrepid Australian expat living in Paris who has bluffed her way into a reporting job for Hearst newspaper. She is fighting to cover the disturbing reports of violence coming out of Vienna and Berlin when she meets the wealthy French industrialist Henri Fiocca. No sooner does Henri sweep Nancy off her feet and convince her to become Mrs. Fiocca than the Germans invade France and she takes yet another name: a code name.

Okay- yes! this book have everything that I look for in a book. Multiple timelines. multiple POV's- hsistorical fiction- and WWII era! there is no possible way I could not like this book.

spies, WW2-Europe, journalist, nonfiction, historical-figures, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-research,

The writing and storytelling is fluid and with a clarity that shines throughout this novel of a real superwoman all dressed up in the finery of fiction. An incredibly well done portrait of a truly remarkable woman of great bravery during the course of ww2 who was one of the most decorated women of that war. She was born in NZ but loudly recognized as Australia's greatest war heroine.
It is notably biographical but because of time telescoping and character melding it is not a biography
She called Henri the love of her life and they were faithful to to each other even though he was tortured and executed in 1943. Amazing and impressive are the words I'd use to recommend this book.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Doubleday Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

I admit to WWII fatigue. I have read so manny books about the war and the role of women that I found this hard to love. It is inspired by the true story of Nancy Ware. We are taken on her missions during WWII. The story is exciting and well worth reading. Of course, I enjoyed the portrayal of a woman influencing the outcome of the war.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this.

1936. Australian expat, Nancy Wake, lives in Paris and works as a freelancer. She has paved her way onto the roster at Hearst.

When the story starts progressing with her investigative work, the moment I thought I was getting into it, another man’s facial description pops up. It’s like some kind of infatuation with facial descriptions.

When the story starts alternating to different places, for a moment it felt as it was about to pick up the pace, but then it’s on and on about broken camera.

The story of Nancy Wake is fascinating. I wanted to learn about her work, what she endured and how she inspired. But her story is buried in overdone descriptions, making the story move very slowly.

There are readers who enjoy descriptive style of writing. If you are one of them, then I’d recommend looking at reviews of those who liked this book.

Great start, great first-person narrative, great premise: the true-life escapades of Allied saboteur Nancy Wake. So why did "Code Name Helene" ultimately irritate and disappoint me?
1) The alternating time lines and the addition of a third-person narrative, ostensibly to provide the viewpoint of Nancy's husband, muddied the momentum and killed rather than accentuated the drama.
2) The marriage of Nancy and Henri was absurdly idealized, a tween's vision of the perfect marriage. And the book includes one of the most cloyingly icky foreplay scenes I've ever read.
3) There were at least a few factual and narrative errors that made me doubt the verisimilitude of the story. Within the first few pages, Nancy uses the word "sexist," which didn't come into use until the 1960s, more than two decades after the events of the book; at one point Henri notes that he needs to teach Nancy how to ride a bike, then a few chapters is utterly surprised that Nancy can't ride a bike. And how did the resistance groups acquire all the petrol they used?
4) The villains are all cartoons. It is possible to write Nazis as unsympathetic and unrepentant but still human.
Anyway, I appreciate that the book introduced me to Nancy Wake.

Thank you, NetGalley and Doubleday Books, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it down once I started reading it. It's a story based on a real person, Nancy Lake. She was a stylish woman who spied for England and the US during WWII. She went by several different code names, and the Nazis had a price on her head.

The book is well-written and the author did credit to the real character. I think this is an must-read!

Thanks to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.