!Lana’s War by Anita Abriel is a touching and heartfelt story set in WWII. Lana Antanova leaves her life in Paris after a German Gestapo officer murders her husband and a young Jewish child he was protecting to serve the French resistance along the southern coast of the Riviera. As the daughter of a Russian countess, Lana offers the perfect cover to help infiltrate the community and socialize with German officers as a spy. Lana’s cover story makes her the mistress of Swiss industrialist Guy Pascal who is also part of the resistance.

I loved the setting on the Riviera and the beautiful descriptions of villages and the waterfront. I feel like this had the potential to be another The Nightingale, but it fell a little short for me. While there was certainly danger lurking around every corner with the German officers, I never really felt that Lana was in real danger. She had a couple of close calls, particularly with Jewish orphan Odette who I adored, and her flirtations with a couple of high ranking officers never seemed to put her in harm’s way.

I also could have done with a little less of the romance between her and Guy and a little more drama and history. Both Lana and Guy suffered personal tragedies at the hands of the Germans but the attraction between the two seemed a little too light and easy under the circumstances. Other side characters provided some variety since you never really know who you can trust during the occupation. Young Odette, full of questions and fear and intelligence, was easily my favorite.

This was an easy, quick moving story but overall seemed to lack the intensity I expected or hoped for. The ending wrapped up too quickly and neatly as well. It is an interesting piece of historical fiction and was a new setting for me. If you love historical fiction, you may enjoy this one, but I’ve read several others that I would recommend before this if you’re just dipping your toe in the historical fiction waters.

Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the eARC of Lana’s War, which publishes January 12!


#Lanaswar #atriabooks #netgalley #anitaabriel

While there were bits and pieces of this story I enjoyed, I ultimately was rather bored with this one. The characters were very dull and the dialogue was less to be desired. I ended up putting this one down as it wasn’t captivating enough for me despite the strong start.

My thanks to Atria and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Russian Revolution forced members of the aristocracy to flee the country and the French Riviera became home to some of these refugees. Hitler was their only hope to overthrow Stalin and enable their return to Russia. Lana Antonova’s mother fled to Paris with few possessions and they struggled to survive. As a university student, Lana met and married Frederic Hartmann, who studied music and taught piano at a nearby orphanage. On the day that Lana came to surprise him with the news of her pregnancy, she witnessed his murder by an SS officer for teaching and hiding Jewish children. The day that she lost her husband is also the day that she lost her baby.

Lana is in a unique position to help the resistance. She is asked to travel to the Riviera and mingle with the Russians. By attending their dinners she will be able to meet German officers and gather information regarding their raids on the Jewish community. Lana’s goal is to save as many children as possible. Guy Pascal, a Swiss businessman, is Lana’s host and fellow resistance member. At first he is distant and secretive, explaining that the less they know about each other the less they can reveal if captured. However, the constant danger and the need to trust each other soon brings them closer.

While food is rationed in Paris, the Riviera sees few shortages. On the surface life goes on for most people, but the German presence provides a constant threat. When the officer who killed her husband is transferred to the Riviera, Lana must hide her revulsion as she comes to his attention. In her quest to save lives, Lana befriends Odette, a Jewish child. When Odette is orphaned, Lana takes her in, endangering her mission, but how can she turn her away?

Anita Abriel’s story is an emotional journey of love and loss. It takes you from the casino in Monte Carlo and the wealthy estates to the back alleys, traveled to avoid notice by the Germans. There is danger and romance that will have you believing in second chances. I would like to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for providing this book for my review.

This wasn't a new favorite for me. It was a decent and quick moving story, but while it should have felt intense given the high stakes, it didn't. While Lana certainly had her traumas in the beginning of the book (trigger warning- miscarrying her child the same day she watches her husband be killed by Nazis), the rest of the story failed to keep up that intensity. It focused a great deal on Lana's relationships, and the relationship between her and Guy didn't have a lot of chemistry, and everything just seemed to come together more easily than felt plausible.

The premise of this book is similar to “The Alice Network.” A well-off twenty-something woman suffers personal tragedy and becomes a spy against the Germans. I enjoyed “The Alice Network” much more. “Lana’s War” lacked a depth of emotional complexity and character development that made “The Alice Network” excellent.

I enjoyed the setting in The French Riviera, and it was interesting to learn how different things were there than in Paris for much of the war. I liked the building blocks of Lana and Guy’s relationship but thought both characters were somewhat flat. They didn’t really have any scenes that sold their emotional connection.

This book was readable but there are several other WWII books I’d recommend first.

Lana Antanova is on her way to tell her husband the wonderful news that they are expecting a baby. It is 1943 Paris and as she looks through the window where he is teaching music she sees the German officer shoot her husband for trying to save a little Jewish girl. She is devastated and by the time she gets home she has lost the baby. Lana is numb for months. Finally she is asked to join the resistance and go to Nice.
Lana's cover is she is the mistress of Guy Pascal who is a Swiss Industrialist also working for the resistance. Lana is frightened but Guy helps her to be the brave soul she can be to get the information they need to save the Jews in the area. He teaches her not to trust anyone.
Lana meets Odette a twelve year old girl who is a Jew and they become close and Lana works to help her any way she can. It is a moving story of love, hate, mistrust and how they can help those who need their help.

3.5 ⭐

Lana's War by Anita Abriel is part intrigue band part romance. The book starts with a tragedy. Lana's husband and unborn child die. Lana is then approached, thru a sister at a convent where she volunteers, to be a part of the French Resistance. Lana then travels to the French Riviera to connect with Guy and help him get Jewish people out of the country.

I enjoyed this book. It moves fast and the author tells a good story. The ending seemed a little rushed and the book was a little predictable, but it worked.

Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books and Anita Abriel for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

In Paris in 1941 Lana Hartmann witnesses the death of her husband, Fredric, by the Nazi regime because he tries to save a Jewish child. This eye witness event causes Alana to miscarry her first child. Lana is then given the chance to join the French Resistance. And so she ends up on the Riviera where she joins Guy, another resistance worker to try and save the the French Jews from Aloos a runner, a devote Nazi determined to rid the world of Jews.
The story was a pretty quick read and went very fast. The plot was simple and Lana makes a lot of quick decisions remembering the death of her husband and child. Then Lana over analyzes her actions and what could have happened due to them. The plot of resistance is overwhelmed by the romance and the possible choices which diminished the story for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book for an honest review.
#Netgalley #Atriabooks #LanasWar

Courtney of NetGalley, I received the ARC of Lana's War by Anita Abriel. This WWII historical novel portrayed the plight of Jews at the French Riviera during the Nazi occupation. A young Parisian woman of Russian ancestry experiences traumatic events that lead her to volunteer for the Resistance movement. Following her instincts, she travels to the Riviera and becomes entwined with Resistance workers, Gestapo agents, and the Jewish people she is determined to save. Truly a resourceful and inspiring character, Lana is a heroine amidst tragedy.

When I read the description of this book I was hooked. WWII, spies, the French Riviera? Yes, Please. This book starts with a bang, and doesn't let up. There was a huge amount of suspense, glamour, and romance in this novel, with a heroine I could root for. This was a very enjoyable book.



What I Liked:

Setting:

While the novel begins in Paris, it mostly takes place on the French Riviera, during World War II. While Lana's life in Paris is one of heartache and suffering, the people of the French Riviera don't seem to know there's a war going on. Food is plentiful, and the rich are there to enjoy life.

But, under the surface, there is much going on. The Germans are beginning to tighten their control over the citizens, as Jews are being rounded up and sent to concentration camps. Anyone who even looks Jewish is being sent away.

Although Lana is there to work as a spy, she needs to behave like a carefree society girl. It is nearly impossible for her to overlook all the suffering she sees, and not try to help.

Romance:

Lana is in Nice posing as the mistress of a wealthy Swiss industrialist. Her "Lover", Guy, has movie star looks, but is cold, and mostly keeps his distance. Both Lana and Guy have tragic backstories that make it look, at first, like they won't hit it off. But several events happen in the story that has each one appreciating the other. Inevitably, they fall in love. This raises the stakes, and the tension, higher as it looks more and more like Lana or Guy will be caught. If it hadn't been for the "live life to the fullest" mentality of the time, I wouldn't have felt their love story was realistic. But given how one could be killed at any time, the romance worked.

Suspense:

This is a spy novel and I liked the situations where Lana and Guy are working to prevent the Germans from finding Jews. Lana, not a trained operative, takes a lot of unnecessary risks, like befriending a Jewish family. There is a lot of tension as the reader wonders if Lana, or the family will get caught. The author is wise to not sugar-coat the action. Not every character makes it out alive.

I really enjoy a good World War II historical fiction story and Lana’s War by Anita Abriel definitely did not disappoint! This was a captivating story that takes place during WWII on the French Riviera with intriguing characters and wonderful imagery.

There were quite a few things that I really liked about this book. First, I enjoyed the fact that this book started off at a really fast pace, making this a fairly quick read. Within the first few pages, Lana’s world comes crashing down when she experiences the death of her husband and her unborn child at the exact same time. Shortly after, she receives an offer to join the resistance on the French Riviera that will change her life forever and then we immediately get to join Lana on her new adventure, which is regularly packed with surprises.

Second, the imagery. Anita Abriel did a fantastic job at illustrating both stunning landscapes and heartbreaking scenes in this book, allowing me to feel immersed in Lana’s world.

Third, the characters. I absolutely adored Lana and her bravery. She experienced such tragic loss and it was liberating to witness her strength and resilience from this loss, and ultimately helping to honor her late husbands life by carrying out his mission of protecting Jewish families from the Germans. Her heart was also incredibly pure and kind, and I love how her relationship developed with Odette, a young Jewish girl, throughout the story. I also really liked Guy Pascal and the relationship he developed with Lana.

Finally, the ending. I thought Anita Abriel did a wonderful job at tying up all of the loose ends. While I would have appreciated more focus on Guy and Lana’s relationship, that ultimately wasn’t the point of this story and I was still satisfied with the way it ended- it was beautiful and heartbreaking, yet fulfilling all at once.

If you’re looking for a new historical fiction story, or are relatively new to historical fiction and trying to step out of your comfort zone, I recommend checking out Lana’s War by Anita Abriel, coming out 1/12. Thank you so much to Atria Books and NetGalley for gifting me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

While this is not my usual genre ( I will usually read maybe ten a year), I had been searching for a good historical fiction since learning Laura Madeleine would not be releasing one. This one and Allende’s
A Long Petal of the Sea are definitely my favorites. I loved the descriptions of the places, and the character growth here. You could not stay indifferent to the lives of our young heroine or the slightly broken man she teemed up with let alone the orphaned girl who sometimes seemed far too old for her young body. It was really easy to be swept away here.

Even when I didn’t agree with the choices our main cast of characters made, I understood them. They were in keeping with their personalities. There’s a lot to unpack here emotionally- the pain and despair of loss, the anger, the feelings of uselessness. But there are also little sparks of joy and hope. I loved how the story wove little flashbacks throughout so that you could get a feel for pre-war Lana and her husband. I feel like it helps to show her motivation. To me, this was just a really fantastic story. It started out extremely quickly, which can be a bit jarring; especially since it ran into several slow parts making for an inconsistent flow to the story telling. I think this was purposeful though, to bring more drama. For me, this is a five star book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
On the adult content scale, there is a great amount of violence and some language along with sexual content. The later two would not give me pause if, say, a fifteen year old asked after it… but the violence is jarring to say the least. It is set during a war, after all. I would say it is geared toward a more adult audience.

I was lucky enough to receive an eARC from Netgalley and Atria books in exchange for an honest review. My thanks!

I loved the authors first book, The Light After the War. I could not wait to get my hands on this book. The main character, Lana starts out the story watching her husband get murdered by a Nazi soldier. Shortly after she is approached to join the Resistance movement in the Riveria and she accepts. There she meets several people who will shape her life as she mourns her husbands death. I loved the romance, the historical elements weaved in and a glimpse at how life was for along the riveria. I would highly recommend this book

I was provided a free copy of this by a @netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
A few months after witnessing her husband's death at the hands of the Gestapo (and losing her unborn child) Lana joins The Resistance and moves to the French Riviera. There with the help of Guy, another Resistance fighter with a past of his own, she uses her Russian heritage to infiltrate the fancy parties and gain information.
All of that sounds well and good, but I think the execution of this story was off for me. It felt a bit like a WWII Hallmark movie. Relationships moved quickly, a few scenarios that seemed a bit unrealistic, and quite a few petty arguments. Lana was SO offended when a friend, she hadn't known long, kept a secret from her, and yet she didn't reciprocate with her secrets of being in The Resistance for quite a while. I mean everyone was suspicious and not sure who they could trust during this time, why was Lana so offended? Not what I was expecting.
It did keep my interest and I wanted to find out what happened to the characters, but even the ending was a bit like, 🤨 Really?!?
Overall a pretty good read, just not my favorite execution. If you are a Hallmark movie extreme fan, this may be a great book for you (it is scheduled to be published 12 Jan) If you like more realistic historical fiction, maybe skip this one.
#LanasWar #NetGalley

Horrible circumstances bring young Lana to the French Riviera, where she is now using her heritage to help the resistance. Her mother fled Russia before she was born, but she uses this to her advantage and becomes Countess Lana Antanova, and begins her work as a spy.
This is a riveting page turning read, that you will need answers from one page to the next, and not know whom you can trust.
Unfortunately, this is a fictional story, but based on what really happened during these dark times in history.
We know the outcome of the war, but this book put faces on those who give the ultimate, and more, and there are surprises, yes, all the way to the last page. I never anticipated the ending, but thinking back to those times, yes, very possible!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Atria Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

I really wanted to like this book and felt that the premise of the book was intriguing. But the story fell flat for me. I enjoyed many of the characters and the way the author was able to introduce hard topics surrounding the struggle of being a spy, but it was not one that I enjoyed very much.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for a copy of this book for my unbiased review

The story begins in 1943 in Paris. Lana is witness to the brutal murder of her young husband, by an SS officer, for helping to hide Jewish children. Lana is quickly recruited to join the French Resistance and she travels to the French Riviera. Being the daughter of a Russian countess allows Lana to become part of the local social scene of Russian aristocrats and German officers, which includes Alois Brunner, the man who killed her husband. She pretends to be the mistress of Guy Pascal, a wealthy Swiss businessman. The Gestapo has vowed to rid the Riviera of all Jews and Guy is committed to savings as many people as possible now with Lana’s help.

As Lana uses her background, beauty and intelligence to get closer to the Nazis to get details of their latest plots, she makes the dangerous decision to get close to a Jewish mother and daughter who cannot leave their home for fear of being seen by the Germans.

While Lana’s War delves into the horrible and cruel activities of the Nazi’s, it is a much lighter work of Historical Fiction than many other books that take place during this period. The addition of a love story provides a nice element of romance. There is intrigue as Lana has the eye of both Brunner and Captain Von Harmon but the story moves quickly so it never gets too suspenseful. It was nice to see Lana evolve and show great strength in her missions.

There is an interesting cast of characters. Some are clearly the “good guys” and others are beyond evil. But there are some people we aren’t sure about which was effective. Many people during this period were not who they appeared to be. Some sympathized with the Nazi’s while others worked unselfishly to stop them. The author did an excellent job creating a beautiful setting for the book – the beauty that hid the ugliness around them.

This gorgeous cover is perfectly suited to this story of a displaced Russian countess who works for the Resistance on the French Riviera. I breezed through this new release quite quickly and really liked Lana, Guy, and many of the other characters. Lana experiences great tragedy and puts herself in extreme peril to save Jewish children from being sent to concentration camps. The French Riviera really comes to life and seems like the effects of the war were delayed there in comparison to Paris. The ending is a nice surprise. What I found hard to believe is the choices Lana made regarding her relationship with Guy just a few months after she lost Frederic. It seemed like a different person was making the decisions to share a bed and hotel room openly for real rather than as a cover, especially with Odette staying with them.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Such a good story! It's heartbreaking and real. Set during WWII, it shows a different side of the French resistance. The story was fast paced and well written. I was completely hooked and didn't want to put it down.

I read this in one sitting. I love the fresh take on the French Resistance story. I appreciate that this book isn't focused on the violent side of the resistance methods, but on the other ways they were working to help during World War Two.
I love Anita Abriel's writing. I discovered her last year when The Light After the War was published. She creates amazing stories and characters. As someone who reads a lot of World War Two historical fiction, I find her stories refreshing and new.