A story of resilience in France during the German occupation.

Rosalie Barrieau is desperately trying to keep what is left of her family safe and together. She doesn't know what to think about a German soldier who seems to offer a tenuous friendship, but also poses a huge risk to her family.

The start is slower, though I believe much of this has to do with the somber subject matter. I think that the author does a good job of showing the harsh realities of life for the French during the occupation, and the bravery of every day citizens to fight for their freedom. I admired Rosalie and her brother's courage, I liked how Rosalie took a closer look at what she believes, and was active in learning new things.

Overall, this was a well written, through at times difficult read because of the very real and horrific time in history. I think that it does a great job of showing the tensions of the occupation as well as the brave sacrifices made by many, and the different perspectives of the war.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Maybe one person alone can do nothing. That is why we must come together, organize and plan.

This is a story you will not want to set aside until you reach the conclusion, even if we know how the war ends. A novel that seamlessly takes the reader through actual historical details by bringing fictional people to life, making it a tale that will long stay in your mind.

It is 1940 and our heroine, Rosalie, has experienced loss and ongoing fear of what is occurring around her. Working in her papa’s garden gives her peace and a place to forget that their freedom is being revoked and that life is slowly being drained from their country. Will she be willing to change, learn to trust God and those around her, ultimately doing her small part?

This ARC in the Heroines of WWII series was received through Barbour Publishing, NetGalley and CelebrateLit. These thoughts and impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.

What happens when the person you thought was the enemy isn’t really the enemy after all? Rosalie Barrieau is about to find out. A Rose for the Resistance, part of the Heroines of WWII series, delves into this question. 24-year-old Rosalie, lives in Normandy, France on the brink of the Nazi invasion and occupation. When tragedy strikes, Rosalie has to decide what she will do. Will she work for the Resistance to unseat the Germans occupying her town or will she sit by and watch all that she holds dear be destroyed? Rosalie must be strong for her mother whose mental and physical health is failing every day since her husband’s disappearance and the Nazi occupation. She must keep watch over her younger brother who is determined to fight the Nazi’s any way that he knows how even if that means death. Everything around her is falling apart and she doesn’t have anyone to rely on or help her navigate this terrifying time. Or does she? Franz Kafka (no relation to the author), an officer in the German military is disillusioned and haunted by what he has seen and done in the name of the Fatherland under the rule of Hitler. He is assigned to Normandy, France where he meets Rosalie. He sees something in Rosalie that sparks something in his heart. He desires to redeem his past, even if that means giving up his future. Franz longs to protect Rosalie and her family from all that is German, yet he is German himself and hated by everyone. Can he show Rosalie who he truly is? Is he willing to surrender everything, including his life, to help Rosalie as she defies the Nazis? A Rose for the Resistance is a compelling book filled with themes of faith, love, loss, redemption, and betrayal. Just three pages in and the action takes off and doesn’t stop until the end. The personal conflicts that Rosalie and Franz face are gripping. Choosing to do what is right even at the expense of their very lives is at the heart of this book. The historical detail in regards to places and people are exquisite. I found the relationship between Rosalie and Franz to be very plausible. I imagine that there were many Germans who did not agree with Hitler and tried to defy him in any way that they could. I believe that it is possible for two people on opposing sides, to come together to fight against evil. Angela Couch is a new author to me and I look forward to reading many more of her books! I thank NetGalley and Barbour Fiction for the ARC of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Just finished this next installment in the Heroines of WWII series. I have enjoyed every story so far and this one was no different. I truly found myself drawn into Rose's life and worried about her safety. I loved how this story encompasses life in Normandy before and during D Day. Rose's story is complicated by a German Officer and a British Pilot. I truly feel like the author brought this story to the ending we all needed.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

There have been a lot of books written about WWII. This is one of my favorites. It was a good story and the main characters were very interesting. Rosalie getting involved with the Resistance held my interest. I was even nervous when she went through the checkpoints. I would love to read a book about her mother. She seems to have led an interesting life too.

I really enjoyed this WWll book that takes place in a small French town. This showed how some of the French citizens just wanted to stay alive during this horrible time. I loved the characters. This showed that not all the Germans were awful people. Some of them really just wanted to survive and go back home. This book showed that people needed to work together to end the war. This will show that you can laugh even when there is tragedy all around you and it will make you cry when the tragedy hits you. I received a copy of this book from Barbour and Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I had almost passed this book by, but am so glad to have read a review that made me reconsider. Angela K. Couch is a new-to-me author, whom I am happy to have discovered. Once again Barbour Publishing is bringing together wonderful contributors to a series, this one being Heroines of WW II. Couch's heroine is a young woman, Rosalie Barrieau, who once seeks to stay under the radar and care for her mother and brother as best she can, but eventually becomes a part of the French Resistance. A couple of possibilities for a love interest add complexities to the plot. The theme of laying one's life down for his friends and the bravery and faith required for that is well-incorporated into the storyline.

I highly recommend A Rose for the Resistance and am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of A Rose for the Resistance by author Angela K. Couch. 

This was a beautiful story about a French girl who becomes a member of the French resistance falling love with a German officer.

I thought this novel by Couch was very well done. It was easy to feel the dangers and emotions involved for the lives Franz and Rosalie lived and the loved they developed. The pacing and story kept me engaged and I learned more historical aspects of France during World War 2. This was historical fiction but very realistic down to the smallest details

I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for fans of historical fiction.

We all know stories of WWII, this one the author has set in France, and now we put faces to those who do their part to help defeat the evil that has covered their country. We get to know Rosalie Barrieau and her brother Marcel, as we end up walking in their shoes.

I felt my heart in my throat several times during this read, danger is lurking, and you never know whom will turn you in, or worse!

This became a page turner, and we are gifted with some sweet romance, and I didn't know until the end how it turns out, and whom would survive.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Barbour, and was not required to give a positive review.

4.75 ⭐️

Centered in Ste Mere Eglise, France, Rosalie Barrie navigates life with her father in a German POW camp, her brother involving himself in the French resistance, and the war her heart wages against her when the German ally she makes turns from an enemy she distrusts into a man she, well—you’ll have to read to find out!

There were several things I loved about this book.

First was the author’s writing style. It was super engaging and made it want to be the book I picked up to read, not the one I put down in exchange for another more engaging read.

Second was the storyline. Historical fiction is my absolute favorite genre, but it’s gotten harder for me to find books that I love. A lot of historical fiction books are okay. Sometimes the storylines are too simplistic or the writing falls flat, but this book was one I would absolutely say I highly enjoyed. The historical detail, the relationships between the characters, and the pacing of the story was perfect—not too slow, not too fast, just perfect for me!

Third was the amount of faith represented in the book. It was a perfect balance of faith meeting reality. The character’s weren’t perfect; they made their fair share of mistakes and wrestled through fear and doubt. They were real, relatable characters who had their flaws but tried their best to trust in God through hard and scary things they endured. A lot of books I’ve read don’t balance sinful humanity and faith well, but this one did.

One minor thing that kept me from giving this book a full five star rating was some of the romance. I felt like there was a lot of back-and-forth between Rosalie and Franz when it came to their relationship. One minute, they’re telling themselves a relationship is impossible and to ignore the feelings they have for each other, and the next, they’re willing to take the risk even if their relationship doesn’t have a happy ending due to the war. Of course, I understand that there’s a lot of second guessing and reconsidering when it comes to relationships, especially during a war, and there’s a lot of factors that keep you from being grounded one way or the other, but I felt the author could have cut back on the inner dialogue a little bit when the characters interacted. I think this would have made the romance a bit more balanced, but this is totally my personal opinion. It didn’t take away from the story at all!

I would definitely recommend this book to historical fiction lovers. It’s a clean read with a great storyline and engaging writing. History, war, romance and faith —what more could you ask for?

(Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are expressly my own.)

I don't know if I have words to do this book justice. The explosive beginning sets the pace for the entire book. The plot truly feels like a journey from start to finish. (I can't help but relate at this particular time to the current 2022 news of the invasion of Ukraine. There are similarities that are heartbreaking.)
Rosalie, the main character, helps her struggling mother as her father is in a POW camp under Nazi rule. She tries to keep a rein on her reckless teenage brother, Marcel, as he immediately shows signs of resistance toward the soldiers marching into their village. During the story this young woman changes from fearful complacency, to simmering anger and then courage as she aids the resistance.
A German officer gets too close to the situation with Marcel at the start of the invasion. Franz is ordered to France for the second time in his military career. The young Nazi's life slowly starts to change when he encounters the teenage boy along with his beautiful sister and the scant memory of a scarred Holy Bible.
I have read many true and fictional accounts based on World War II but this story had new to-me reactions about the area and people prior to the invasion at Normandy.
This is such a good story that portrays the atmosphere, desperation and sheer bravery of people who were trying to survive and fight against the Nazi's in any way possible. The
young German 's presence in Rosalie and Marcel's lives is questionable. Is he subtly helping or setting the foundation to take down the entire resistance?
I enjoyed this riveting story and want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced reader's copy. This is my own opinion of the book. I recommend it to anyone who is drawn to historical novels about 'ordinary' women who show extreme bravery and constant trust in God in times of need. It is a good addition to the Heroines of WWII series.

I really enjoyed reading Rosalie's story of survival during WW2. She lived in a village in occupied France, barely surviving. Her father had been fighting to defend France, never to return. Her little brother was growing up too fast. Both worked hard to keep them and their mother alive.

Through Rosalie's eyes the reader experiences the struggles of war. We get an understanding of what it must have been like to standby and do nothing or risk everything in an attempt to fight against the invaders. The innocence of those in occupied France has been stripped from them. They are prisoners in their own country, barely hanging on.

I really hadn't thought about others that might have helped in the Resistance. Not actively fighting, but sharing information, easing their movements. They risked their lives for what they believed in while being force to fight against their believes.

The storyline flowed well, pulling me into the story. Tears welled for those that sacrificed all. Negative thoughts were definitely involved in other situations. Most important for me was the idea that this must never happen again. Material things are not worth the taking of lives.

If you want something good to read then I highly recommend this novel.
It has everything in it that a reader could want! I really enjoyed this book
Fast paced from the beginning and you'll not want to put down until the end.
Couch is an excellent author. I love her style of writing and how very realistic her stories are. She makes you want to lose yourself in the book.
I learned many things that I never knew about the 2nd WW so I knew she had done her research carefully.
I definitely did NOT want this book to end!
I can't tell you enough how much I really enjoyed this.
I'm very happy that Couch has added some inspirational messages to help these awesome characters through their journey.
5 stars for an awesome novel and best book that I've read this year so far.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review.
All opinions are my own.

With a plethora of WWII books on the market today, it takes a depth of story and character, a unique viewpoint, a certain melody woven through the book, to make your story stand apart from the rest. A Rose for the Resistance was a fine story told from the perspective of a young woman under Nazi occupation in France. While not completely wrapping me up, I did enjoy the main characters and felt they were given a decent chance to grow and develop.

What I like:

This is a great read for YA because it's a clean story with a good perspective on how your reputation can help you or hurt you.

What I didn't like:

Personally, I felt there could have been more from all the characters. I feel there were two characters in particular that had more to tell but were not given the chance to. Had they been developed, or had we heard their stories a bit more, I think that would have added a depth to the book that is otherwise missing. Overall, it's a good story--I just wanted more from it because I felt there was still something left to give.

I was given an ARC of this book from the publisher for review purposes only. The opinions here are my own true thoughts on the matter.

As I read this book, I could not help but think of the current situation going on in our world. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Ukraine!!

Rosalie and Marcel live in Ste Mere Eglise, France during the time of the occupation of the Nazi forces. This book starts off with a pretty intense fighting scene and one in which a Bible is recovered and Rosalie is allowed to escape. Little does she know that the one who handed her the Bible would come back into her life and play a pivotal role in how the war would end!!

Rosalie is super protective of her brother, Marcel, as well as her Maman. Marcel is anxious to go off with the troops and fight but Rosalie does her best to protect him. She finally decides to assist the Resistance herself. Life really starts to change when a British pilot is brought to her home. Can she keep them all safe?

I really enjoyed this page-turning book! I've always been fascinated by the stories of WWII and how it all came about and ultimately ended. I believe there is a lot that can be learned from the past stories. While I do realize that this is a work of fiction, there are historical truths within. I recommend this book to those who love a good action story with a side of romance and history!

Rating 3.5

This story started out with an action scene which created feelings of loss, fear and danger and set the expectation for the rest of the book. Though there was a lot of dangerous events, that suspense feeling I was expected and wanted did not come across.

What I did appreciate about this book was the different focus on the Nazi soldier, Franz, who did not agree with what was happening, felt forced to do as required, and in little ways, did what he could to help his "enemies".

The love triangle was different, Rose being caught between two soldiers, one her enemy and one her ally.

There was a few things mentioned briefly which did not provide a conclusion, which makes me wonder why it was mentioned.

Though I expected a bit more of a suspense feel, I did enjoy this WW2 story.

This is a well written book that holds your attention from the first page until the last. It is a beautifully written story with just the right amount of drama and suspense to keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Historical Christian fiction.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

It was a good book. I liked that it was fairly fast paced and some action. O liked that it was about when we remove the uniform , beneath it all. We are all Gods children. I liked the romance . O liked the courage in people, standing up for your beliefs. Thank you to netgalley for this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

A Rose for the Resistance was both my first experience with a novel by Angela K. Couch, and my first experience with a title from the Heroines of World II series. As someone who loves historical fiction set during this time period, I was looking forward to diving right into this one. The synopsis sounded a little different than the majority of books I've read set during this time period, and I was hopeful that it would be a book I'd end up enjoying.

This novel is at its heart a story of two people on different sides of the war who both end up aiding the resistance. Rosalie is a young woman in Normandy, France who is accidentally pulled into the resistance when she can't find another way to keep her younger brother safe. Franz, on the other hand, is a German solider who has started questioning his role in the war, and can no longer stand idly by and watch what his country is doing to innocent civilians. The two come together under unexpected circumstances, and neither are sure if they can truly trust the other. As tensions mount and circumstances grow more dire, a rare friendship blooms between the two that can have explosive consequences on both sides if they are ever discovered.

I loved how original this story was, and the fact that it pulled me in from the start. It was definitely a unique spin on a World War II story to have one of the main characters be a German soldier who was aiding the resistance, and it definitely added an extra layer of suspense to an already wonderful story.

It kept me engaged right throughout, the characters were well developed, the plot was perfectly paced, the ending ended up completely surprising me, and I really enjoyed Angela K. Couch's beautiful writing style. Perhaps, however, my favorite part of all was the focus on how none of us are too far gone for God's redemption to find us, and I especially enjoyed the segment where Franz talks about how he's not scared of dying, but he's not yet ready to meet his maker and face the consequences of his actions.

Overall, my first experience with a novel by this author was a great one, and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future, and also, to check out more of the titles from this series.

Final Rating: 4/5.

Thanks so much to Barbour Publishing for allowing me to advance read and review this!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Barbour) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the fifth in Heroines of WWII series. The French resistance proves to be an amazing network working against the Germans in this moving story. Rosalie finds herself caught up in the resistance as she tries to keep her younger brother safe. Help with the cause comes in an unexpected way. I would have liked to know more about Rosales mother. Enjoyable story.