This is a fascinating piece of historical fiction about one woman’s search for truth. When Juliana discovers intriguing objects, including a mysterious photo among her mother’s possessions, she is immediately intrigued. Is the beautiful and glamourous woman on the arm of a Nazi officer her grandmother? Could this be part of the reason that Juliana doesn’t know much about her family’s secretive past? Determined to uncover the truth, Juliana decides to travel to France to learn more about her Maman’s life.

Alternating between the past and the present, Juliana and Sylvie’s stories slowly unfold. A young girl who dreams of fame, Sylvie travels to Paris and seeks fame as an actress. She leads a successful career in film before the war. Juliana, a successful costume designer, finds alarming pictures of Sylvie with Nazis and determines to learn more about her Maman. What does Juliana really know about her Maman? Was she a Nazi sympathizer, or was she working for the resistance? The more Juliana digs into the mystery, the more she must reevaluate all she knows about her family’s past.

An intricately woven story with an interesting plot, the novel is both heart-breaking and heart-warming. I enjoyed learning more about Sylvie’s past and the complexities of war. This is a woman who grew up in a convent and became a famous film star. She lived a glamorous life in the spot-light until war hit. Sylvie is faced with many obstacles and moral decisions, and her journey is fascinating. Hated by many and seen as a traitor, Sylvie is so much more than she seems, and she is quite underestimated.

I also enjoyed Juliana’s story. She has to reevaluate everything she knows about her family and, as she learns more about Sylvie’s past, Juliana also learns more about herself. The dual narratives highlight this growth and character development.

A story of love, secrets, and family, this is a moving piece of WWII historical fiction with dual narratives and fascinating characters. Thanks so much to the author, Boldwood Books, and Rachel’s Random Resources for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

A beautiful historical wartime drama! The characters were well drawn and sympathetic, and the storyline flowed seamlessly. Highly recommended!

I’m struggling to even find the words for my review of this book. But I have just finished reading it and I’m in tears. It’s beautiful. A really heart wrenching, beautiful story.

I have read the ‘bad’ reviews of this but they haven’t read the book as this story does NOT romanticise nazi‘s! In fact it’s quite the opposite.

It’s a story of love, family, history, pain, strength and determination!

Throughout I was rooting for Sylvie! What an amazing character she was.

I loved the book, it was such a nice change from my usual thrillers. Thank you NetGalley and boldwood books!

LA based costume designer Juliana Chastain is going through boxes her mother left behind when she died and finds a lace veil, a diamond pin and a photo of a beautiful woman that looks like a movie star. This begins a journey of discovery for Juliana as she learns about the woman in the photo, French actress, and suspected Nazi collaborator Sylvie Martone.

Alternating between the present and past this book weaves a story of a young girl, raised in a rural convent with dreams of being an actress. She's discovered and goes to Paris and has a successful career in both silent film and talkies. Then the Germans invade and France falls.

Returning to the present, Juliana discovers family secrets and travels to France to learn about her mother and why she never told her about her family or past, and what is the significance of the lace veil, the pin and the photo. While in France she learns more about Sylvie Martone, film star, and finds photos of her with Nazis. Was she a collaborator, or was she playing a dangerous game and really working for the Resistance? What Juliana finds out changes everything she thought she knew about her family and makes her realize what she wants for her future.

The dual timeline of this book works really well as the story of Sylvie unfolds and her motivations and character are revealed. The choices that were forced on the general population of Paris during the Nazi occupation and the cleverness of the Resistance were heartbreaking and fascinating. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

With thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review.
Firstly I've never read anything by this Author before and it's quite a breath of fresh air.
What an amazing read full of character and overflowing with information it was quite heartbreaking at times as to what actually happened a truly moving book and can highly recommend.

A startling journey with a touch of glamour.
Paris 1943, Sylvie Martone a beloved actress is now hated, Germany is now occupying Paris and she is involved with nazi Karl Lunzer from berlin and he is glued to her side.
Juliana Chastain in Los Angeles beloved Maman has past away and going through her belongings stumbles a secret looking for her roots and who her grandmother is the story is set to unfold.
taking us back to 1926 this is Sylvie's true story.
Juliet has to go to Paris and find out more how her maman spent her childhood. This book is incredible a truly remarkable story, Sylvie diary, notes photo's and recordings are inspiring. the real story of glamourous Sylvie Martone has to be solved and told. She will never be forgotten.
I loved it