Her Darkest Hour by Sharon Maas

Set during World War II in Alsace this is a story of choices and how they impact not only the person who makes the choice but also their family, friends, and community. Choices made in “the heat of the moment” tend not to have the same clarity and far seeing wisdom that those decisions and choices that are made carefully after consideration of all the known options. Choices indicate that there is more than one answer, solution or way forward. And in this book the choices made by more than one person have long reaching impact for many.

I found myself being feeling that
* Marie-Claire was naïve, selfish, emotional, seeking friendship and approval and more often than not made choices that left her less than happy
* Marie-Claire’s family did not understand her
* Jacques was more involved with himself and his cause than with the people he used to serve his “higher goal”
* Kurtz was evil through and through
* Side—supporting characters were expendable
* War is evil
* Victoire, Marie-Claire’s sister, did come through for her in the end
* This was a dark gritty sad read that did not really make me feel good when I read the last page
* Perhaps my past experiences with war impacted my reading of this book

Did I enjoy this book? Yes and No
Would I read more by this author? I would if the subject interested me

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

Her Darkest Hour by Sharon Maas is a historical fiction book set during the second world war in Colmar, a small French town during the German occupation. The story is told from two perspectives, two sisters, Marie-Claire and Victoire. Marie-Claire is the eldest and in love with Jacques, but Jacques joins the Resistance. Marie-Claire, in her devastation begins working for the Nazi's. Victoire is raging with this as she actually hides Jews in her cellar. The family crumbles, until the day the siblings discover you always need family.
Marie-Claire seemed a very selfish young lady at first and Victoire so selfless, but as the story develops so does Marie-Claire, it was interesting to see the changes both girls go through during such a hard time for everyone. The book is beautifully written and the description of Colmar made me want to visit the town. Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the copy of the book and allowing me to be a part of this Blog Tour.

This was an easy to read thriller that kept my attention all the way through! Lots of twists and surprises I didn't see coming. Very good, would recommend....definitely worth picking up :)

Thanks to Bookouture, NetGalley, and Sharon Maas for my copy of Her Darkest Hour.

When the German army arrives in Colmar a small town in rural France; they quickly take control of everything, property, food, wine, houses and farms. Swastikas hang from lampposts, tanks are lined up outside the town hall, intimidating German soldiers are everywhere and the locals are scared.

At Chateau Gauthier, Margaux lives with her two daughters Marie-Claire and Victoire. Her absent husband lives in Paris, basically they live separate lives and their two sons Leon and Lucien are involved with the resistance. Margaux is a real character, she’s strong, determined, loves her children, her home and her country.

Marie-Claire has a huge crush on her neighbor Jacques, he only thinks of her as a sister and he is horrified when she makes her intentions known. He, his sister Juliette, Marie-Claire, Leon, Lucien and Victoire all grew up together with Margaux being a mother to them all and he had no idea she felt that way about him. Marie-Claire leaves home in a big huff, moves in with her Aunt Sophie, begins working as a secretary for Dietrich Kurtz.

Her little sister Victoire is horrified that her sister is working for the Germans, her family and friends consider her to be a traitor. When Marie-Claire becomes engaged to her boss, her mother Margaux wants nothing to do with her; her daughter is fickle, selfish and how could she marry a Nazi?

I assumed the story would be about WW II, the French resistance and Margaux helping Jewish people escape. But most of the story is about the sister’s relationship, Marie-Claire’s toxic marriage and her evil monster of a husband.
At times the story was confusing and it did however make me think about how many young French women married German soldiers, what their families thought about them and the repercussions. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and I gave the book three stars.

A War Torn Family

I couldn’t stop reading this book. I have definitely found a new author, I will be reading more. I needed Kleenex with this one, it was a real tearjerker.

This book begins at the beginning of WWII in a village in France. The characters involved differed in opinions over the war and whether or not the Nazis were evil or not, and how long they would remain in France.

The main characters were Marie-Claire, Victoire, Juliette, Margaux, and Jacques. Against everyone’s warnings, Marie-Claire goes to work as a secretary for a high ranking Nazi officer. (which later proves to be a very bad choice). Jacques was raised next door to Marie-Claire , he was like a brother to her. Jacques was involved in a French resistance group as was his sister Juliette and Marie-Claire’s sister Victoire. Margaux was the mother of Marie-Claire and Victoire.

This family was torn apart by the war. There was loss, death, a brutal marriage, and bad feeling between family members because of the war and actions taken by the characters . This included actions by the Nazi’s, a concentration camp, actions by the resistance, deaths, hating, loving, forgiving, and survival. It was a time of pain and heartbreak. A time of young people growing up hard during the war. Their choices and the realization that they had consequences. A family secret long hidden, and how it affected all persons involved.

This book is brutally honest and realistic. It tells the story as it was in the time period in which it was written. The scenes and the fashion as well as the furnishings of the homes and locations are described in vivid detail. It is a hard period to read about but interesting as well. I liked reading about the clothing they wore and how they furnished their homes. Also the descriptions of the scenery.

The characters are well developed and believable. The story is well written. It is definitely a page turner and I would recommend it.

Thanks to Sharon Maas, Bookouture, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Two families closely connected and living in Colmar during the Second World War. Nazis take over the town and Marie-Claire finds herself on the opposite side as everyone close to her when she takes a job as a personal secretary to a senior Nazi. Marie-Claire’s mother runs a vineyard at her family chateau, her younger daughter Victoire is desperate to join friends fighting against the German Forces, but she is only a teenager and has to look after the animals and the Jewish mother and daughter they have hiding in a cellar underneath their chateau.

Marie-Claire is beautiful and knows it. She’s always been in love with childhood friend Jacques. Jacques is in the resistance and that as well as watching out for those working with him is his focus. He rebuffed Marie-Claire’s awkward attempts to seduce him a few years before and when he does it again she is heartbroken and makes a decision that will take her life into a much darker place than she could ever have imagined.

This is a story of friendship, families, the horror of war and how far people will go for their cause or to survive. I enjoyed Marie-Claire’s story was intrigued by Jacques and would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.

Set in Alsace, France during WWII

Two sisters are torn apart by WWII. Marie-Claire works for the German army. Victoire is aghast at her sisters traitorous behaviour. Victoire hides Jewish refugees in her others wine cellar. The sisters are estranged from their father. He lives with his mistresses in Paris. Marie-Claire is in ,ove with Jacques. But when Jacques rejects her, Marie-Claire is out for revenge .

Thisnstory is beautifully written and descriptive. The first half of the book, thenpace was quite slow. The book has been well researched and very informative. There were a few characters I, liked but others I didn't like at all. Thisnstorybis told from multiple points of view. Thenstory tells the devastation living under the Nazt brought to one small town. I did feel the ending was a it rushed.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Sharon Maas for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a beautiful, heart-wrenching tale!!!!

I am not a big reader of historical fiction, so I wasn't even sure I'd be able to get through it, but it was amazing! I couldn't put it down! The writing was so beautiful! I want to visit Colmar now!

This is the story of a family that lived in Colmar during the German occupation. The story is told from a few different perspectives. The main perspectives the story is told from are the two sister's Marie-Claire, the eldest, beautiful sister and Victoire, the younger. At first, I hated Marie-Claire and her utter vanity, but as the story progresses you see her self-actualization and understand her plight more fully. Marie Claire's sister, Victoire is more level-headed and wants to help make a difference, but no one will allow her, because she's only 15. I loved how their relationship evolved through out the story. Along with the mother-daughter conflict between Marie-Claire and Margaux.

The only thing that I would say is that the first 80% of the book could have been shorter. I felt like the ending was a bit rushed.

I look forward to reading more of Sharon Mass's works!

A special thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Sharon Mass for providing me with an ARC.

Firstly, I would like to thank Bookouture for asking me to read and review this book and to be apart of the blog tour.
Her Darkest Hour is a story that highlights the horrors of the Nazi's during their time in occupied France. Two sisters Marie-Claire and Victoire are fighting against each other with loved ones at risk even a family bonds are tested during the war years.
Sharon Maas has written an historical accurate story that shows the depth that these two sisters will go to to protect themselves and others. Love makes things complicated especially during the war. I found that some of the characters had more backstory to them than others but that didn't take anything away from the story itself. It was an emotional read and took me right to those moments.
A powerful read that highlights the horrors of war.

3 or 4 stars. This story was ultimately powerful and heart-breaking! When the small French town of Colmar is requisitioned by the newly invading German army, life is completely upending. One family in particular is affected in ways they never could have anticipated. One sister, Marie-Claire, chooses to work for the German army, one, Victoire, does her best to fight them in her own way at home, helping escaped Jews. There is so much happening in this book! So many times I wanted to shout at them to make better choices (at times did feel a little like a soap opera). But it also really made me think about what I would do if forced into a similar situation. Overall I loved the redemptive tone of this book. A somewhat unique look at WWII that I enjoyed.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC for my honest opinion.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to review Her Darkest Hour.
Overall I found the storyline to be very interesting, and somewhat reminiscent of The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.
The only issues I saw which included long run-on sentences, and some incomplete sentences as well can be fixed.
I think it’s fantastic and will be well-received by the public.

Her Darkest Hour is about a family in Alsace region of France during the Second World War. While I frequently read historical fiction from that time, this story was different than most. The Alsace people of France were forced to change everything French to German, including their names. This is a story of love, violence, and lost. I enjoyed it and would recommend it.

I have read many World War II books and I learn more every time. This one took place in a small town in the Alsace region of France. I did not know that there was a concentration camp hidden in the mountains of that beautiful country. It is a story of a family, who owns a winery and how it is torn apart because of the Nazi invasion. Marie-Claire, one of the daughters is shallow and egotistical. She considers herself beautiful and able to entice any man. When she is rebuffed by her childhood love, Jacques, a Resistance fighter, she leaves her family to continue working as a secretary for the Nazis. Her life goes downhill from there.
I enjoyed the storyline, even though it was a bleak time in history. The ending was very satisfying and I would like a sequel, please.

Thank you Bookoutre and NetGalley for a copy of Her Darkest hour by Sharon Maas.
WW2 books are one of my favourite types of Historical fiction, so I was excited to receive a copy of this.
In a little French town called Colmar the Nazi’s have arrived to take over the town. Marie-Claire lives with her sister Victoire and their mother in a winery. Their father is estranged and lives in Paris with his mistress. He sends highest fashion clothes back to Marie-Claire. Which makes her different to the other girls in her town. Marie- Claire is in love with her childhood friend Jacques. But, Jacques only love is to join the Resistance and fight for his country. After her advances to Jacques is ignored Marie Claire leaves and works for the Nazi’s and to have a better life but things do not go to plan in her life and it turns out for the worse not better.
I have read many books of this types and loved them but for Her Darkest hour I struggled with this. I found the first two thirds of this more like a love story involving selfish Marie-Claire. Also, she thought of was herself, where everyone else was doing their bit for the war. I did not like her at all. I personally thought that there was not enough of content about the war until the last third of the book which I enjoyed. But I am really sorry but this wasn’t one of my favourites.

This is a really well researched historical novel and all praise to Sharon Maas for writing it. However, I found for some characters there was a wealth of detail and background and for others very little. I found this book quite difficult to read but I did finish it and again I put this down to the authors research. I knew very little about Alsace during the war and the lives of citizens there and in that regard the book was very informative and for me this was probably the best part of the book. Marie Claire was vacuous and unengaging and while her marriage was appalling I didn't feel in any way empathetic. Victoire was probably the best character but we never really got to see her courage. The book left me feeling dissatisfied and annoyed at the opportunities missed to develop characters - maybe too many characters involved. Certain relationships were never followed up and some back stories were never explored. Why was MC's father in Paris? Perhaps this book is part of a loosely connected series but didn't satisfy as a standalone novel.#Netgalley #HerDarkestHour

I loved this book. I didn't really know whether I was going to enjoy it or not but I stuck with it and yes, a powerful read. Will read Maas again.

The story does not match the description ‘an unforgettable and unputdownable story of two sisters ripped apart by World War 2,’
It took me a while to get into the storyline. There were so many characters in the first few chapters, I couldn’t keep track, so much so, that I was tempted to abandon it. I’m glad I persevered for I did enjoy the story.
In my opinion the characterisation let the story down. The characters were all one dimensional, wooden and a bit hard to believe. The story was not about two sisters ripped apart by war, it was about the effect of the German occupation of Alsace on the people who lived there. The background details are well researched, it’s just a pity the characters were so wooden.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advance copy in return for my honest review.

Her Darkest Hour by Sharon Maas was slow to grab my attention and didn't pick up for me until about half way through. I found that I had a difficult time connecting to any of the characters, all of which I felt were very selfish in their own ways, and it didn't matter which side of the war they were on. Even though the family portrayed in this book was depicted as being close I just couldn't see that closeness connect in the story. The book picked up for me toward the end when the characters were able to redeem themselves but I felt that there were loose ends that were never tied up between characters: Marie Claire and her mother or Marie Claire and Jacques never were shown to have a conversation or reconciliation to their relationships once the war was over. I received this book through Netgalley, thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

I really liked this book! There is a lot of dept to it. I didn't much care for Marie-Claire but she sure
got what she asked for! Her younger sister did whine a lot about not getting to go out with the
adults doing dangerous jobs but she was a child! In most ways, very mature for her age as she had to be!
I enjoyed this book anyway. There are several parts, I couldn't breathe thinking the character was
going to get caught. I'll have to say, it was written very well.

Thank you to Sharon Maas, Bookouture and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this great book!

Oh dear. Paper-thin characters (they aspire to become cardboard), bizarre pacing (we get it: Marie-Claire would do anything to get Jacques's approval... though it's not at all clear why she loves him so blindly), odd tangents, writing that is workmanlike at best (how can a golden moon shine a silver light into a bedroom?)... The primary reason I forced myself to finish this was to see if it was going to end with a certain hokey plot "twist." It did. Read "The Nightingale," "All the Light We Cannot See," or "A Thread of Grace" instead.

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