A beautifully written and heartbreaking story. In the present day, Claire visits her elderly Auntie M and when, in her confusion, Auntie M mentions Agnes, a name Claire has never heard before, Claire feels compelled to find out who Agnes was and what happened to her.

The story is told from Margaret and Agnes’ POV during the war and from Claire’s POV in the present day as she travels to France to seek the answers she wants to find for her aunt.

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Corin Burnside and HQ for an ARC in return for an honest review.

When Claire is called from work to 'rescue' Aunt M who has left her residential home in a state of confusion. Claire finds Margaret on an island in the middle of a busy road, and struggles to get her to safety.

Claire is ashamed that she has barely seen her Aunt since she moved in to the home, and is shocked at how much her mental health has deteriorated.

Margaret and Agnes meet in the WAAF. They hit it off as friends straightaway, before their relationship develops in to something more.

Margaret is left distraught when she comes home from work one day to find Agnes gone, without a trace. She assumes that she has changed her mind about their relationship and has left the area so she doesn't have to deal with the fallout.

In reality, Agnes a talented decoder has been recruited by the secret intelligence service to work in France. She must tell no one of her departure, so she leaves Margaret a note where she is sure that she will find it.

Claire knows almost nothing about her Aunt's war work, and she has never before spoken about Agnes. She is shocked to discover their relationship, but happy that her Aunt once had love, and determined to help her find out what happened to her wartime lover.

It's also a journey of discovery for Claire, as she tries to move with her life following the separation from her ex-husband. A journey to a small French village brings a mysterious stranger in to her life, that can help with her Aunt's quest for the truth, but can also help her with her own struggles.

Her Forgotten Promise is a beautifully written historical fiction novel and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Set in France during WWII, it tells the tale of one woman’s journey to uncover the truth and find a love that refuses to die.
A beautifully written story of war time exploits, full of courageous characters both during the war and nowadays.
A heart wrenching novel about love, loss and sacrifice - well worth a read.
Thanks @write_corinmd, @hqstories & @netgalley for the eARC

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. This was an interesting World War II novel about what women did in England during the war involving being code interpreters and operators. The book involved a dual timeline, during the war which involved the story of Agnes and Maggie, and the 1990’s which involved an elderly Maggie and her niece Claire who is her next of kin and who Maggie raised as a teenager. The story focuses on Claire trying to find information about Agnes who lost contact with Maggie during the war and who never received any information about what happened to her. Maggie now elderly, suffering from some senility and other issues is more focused than ever about Agnes, so Claire steps in trying to help her aunt. The story was good, good characters, it was an interesting, emotional read. This was a good historical fiction story.

Her Forgotten Promise is the debut novel from author Corin Burnside. It is a beautiful story of love and loss which is as heartbreaking as it is heartwarming. Our story is told through a dual-timeline narrative, moving between 2014 and the 1940s, as Claire tries to uncover the mystery of where Agnes went once her aunt Margaret lost contact with her during the war.
To say that this is Corin Burnside’s debut work is truly amazing. She has a real gift for storytelling and her vivid descriptions made the rural French setting come alive on the page and had me fully immersed within the story. The narrative is perfectly paced, the writing flows effortlessly and the history was also clearly very well researched.
From the synopsis I was not expecting a beautiful sapphic romance to be at the centre of the story and I’m a big fan of LGBTQIA+ representation within historical fiction so this was a pleasant surprise. Although I will say that omitting Agnes and Margaret’s romance from the marketing of the book did feel like an example of ‘history will say they were… roommates’ meme! Their friends to lovers love story was so beautiful that I thought it was a shame it was not shouted about in the synopsis and marketing.
Her Forgotten Promise is full of strong female characters who were all beautifully written with lots of depth to them. Agnes was a fantastic character with admiral courage, strength and tenacity. Through her I think Corin Burnside perfectly portrayed the incredible courage of the female SOE agents operating within the German-occupied countries during the war. I also loved Margaret as a character and thought she was fantastically written as both a young woman and an elderly woman. I did find myself struggling initially to warm to Claire, confused as to why she’d neglected to visit an elderly woman who had played such an important role in her life, but this began to change as the novel progressed and I ended up really enjoying her chapters.
One of my only criticisms would be that there were too many coincidences driving the plot which made it feel unrealistic at times. I also felt that the plot point surrounding Claire’s ex-husband and his new partner unnecessarily took our focus away from Agnes and Margaret.
Overall, Her Forgotten Promise is a fantastic debut historical fiction novel from Corin Burnside which combines themes of love, loss and courage into a fast-paced story about SOE work in wartime France. It is a must-read for fans of historical fiction.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I have posted an extended review on my blog www.yourschloe.co.uk and the post is linked.

Here's a brief review of "Her Forgotten Promise," with plans to provide a more detailed one later on my bookstagram.

"Her Forgotten Promise" is the type of book that lingers with you, evoking a lasting sense of melancholy long after you've turned its pages. It's akin to the emotions stirred when watching historical war films – a sentiment difficult to articulate, but one filled with gratitude for having not experienced such hardship personally. It's also accompanied by a profound sympathy for those who did endure it and a simmering anger toward those responsible for their suffering.

This book, in particular, felt like a cinematic experience. I found myself utterly engrossed in the characters' journeys, yearning to uncover the truth behind their experiences. My immersion in their stories ran so deep that I couldn't help but feel a genuine ache for them, even shedding a few tears along the way. Be sure to have some tissues on hand when you dive into this book; it will take me quite a while to move past the emotional impact it has left on me.

A well crafted story, with one of the main characters being part of the SOE and fighting alongside the resistance in southern France. Their story, especially for women needs to be told, it is a neglected aspect of history. A sapphic romance is developed well, understated yet passionate, and clouded in mystery owing to the moral condemnation of same sex relationships during the war. The book centres on the sense of loss these characters experience when separated by war and how a modern day relative uncovers what happened to them during and after the war. I thought the explanation of life for SOE operatives was unrealistic. One person was far too gung ho and lacked the discretion need to be successful. The other carried a photo of her in uniform from her former life in London. I would imagine such a thing would have never been allowed as it would have compromised her identity. The story also involved a couple of unlikely coincidences, and while I understand life is often stranger than fiction, it seemed those events were contrived. However, this remains a really good read.

A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The characters are loveable and varied, the plot is one that is engaging and medium paced. I found myself completely drawn into the story and enjoyed the writing style.

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC of Her Forgotten Promise.
I liked it, but didn’t absolutely love it. I thought the end was really sweet and came together nicely. Definitely tugged at my heart strings.
But the middle was just ok. It did not keep my attention as I thought it would and I nearly DNF. There were some parts where I struggled to even keep my eyes open.
I did really like all the characters.

Oh wow! What a wonderfully emotional and enthralling book. It's a dual timeline which I love.
Margaret and Agnes meet in the WAAF. Agnes is half French and has been living in France with her family but they come to England when Paris is invaded. She and Margaret hit it off straight away and progress to sharing a flat together. Then one day Agnes disappears and Margaret never sees her again. Claire is Margaret's niece and was brought up by her and now Margaret is in a nursing home. Claire is all she has left but Claire is having her own problems. Margaret's mind is going and Claire attempts to track down Agnes for her Aunt to put her mind at rest.
Agnes's story includes part of the war that I always liked reading about and don't often get as a storyline. The descriptions of the French countryside during WWII and present day were extremely well done. I loved this part of the story.
The book is quite heart wrenching at times and I really felt for Margaret.
I dropped a star because there were a few too many coincidences that were a bit unbelievable.
Hard to believe this is a debut novel. I'll certainly be looking out for more of this author's work.

Thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for an early copy of this book.

A great debut! I loved the story! Friends, Margaret and Agnes, were so close during the tragic times of the war and sadly lost each other. But when Margaret's niece sets out to find out Agnes's fate, she finds out her own as well.
Highly recommended to all fans of WWII fiction with great endings!

With thanks to NetGalley and HQ for letting me have an advance copy of this book for an honest review.

Well what can I say. I love books set during WW2. I always say I was born in the wrong time. The story tells of two friends, one of whom finds her ability to use her operator skills to an advantage to assist others during this timeline.

Without plot spoiling, the story is told from the point of view during the war and from the modern day as the niece of one the friends tries to discover what happened to them.

I found this a really easy read and wanted to keep turning the page to find out how the story developed and where the characters all fitted in. The description of the secret work undertaken was a well written and researched piece of work, so different to that of the land girls that are usually found in books of this era but equally just as valuable.

A twist in the tale, but nevertheless a really good, enjoyable read.

An absolutely beautiful read which grabs you from the very first page and leaves you full filled when you come to the end.
This is a duel time novel which takes you from present time back to events in France during its occupation in the Second World War.
Claire sets out to find out what happened to her Aunt’s best friend and lover who went to France as a radio operator during the occupation and never returned when it was over.
Little did Claire know how finding out the truth would have such a profound effect on her life.
This is a debut novel and I can’t wait for the next
Five stars all the way

Read Her Forgotten Promise and never forget the heroes of World War Two. Read Her Forgotten Promise and never forget the horrors of World War Two. Read Her Forgotten Promise and never forget how those left behind were affected by World War Two.

I don't think I will be forgetting this story any time soon. The dual time line gives glimpses into London and France during the war. It also gives glimpses into how the actions of some during the war still affect others in the present day. It is all thanks to Maggie, that I got to experience no much.

Maggie is a WAAV radio operator in London when she meets Agnes, who has come to England from France and working as a radio operator as well. Agnes helps Maggie as she struggles with the job and a special friendship develops. I did not know that during times of war the lines of love get blurred.

Maggie reminded me that women had options. After never mastering the radio she becomes a despatcher traversing the streets of London delivering military missives. No longer working together, Maggie is clueless to the Agne's career change. Because of the Secrets Act, Agnes can tell her nothing. I can't begin to imagine how Maggie felt to come home one day to find Agnes gone. I never stopped to think what it must have been like for those that left their loved ones behind and went behind enemy lines. Now I can't stop thinking.

Her Forgotten Promise takes the reader on missions with the French Resistance. We experience the challenges and fears they dealt with on a daily basis. The struggles did not end when the war ended. Sometimes you can't go home, or if you try, home is no longer there. Maggie never knew what happened to Agnes. Claire, Maggie's niece, never knew about Agnes until Maggie's life is reaching its end.

I was so thrilled to follow along with Claire as she dove into Agnes's life. Through Claire's investigation I learned even more about the resistance workers and how they would be honored at a later time. It was nice to get an idea of how others tried to move on after the war. My relatives have never gave me as much information as this book did.

Grab this book to learn more about WW2. Devour this book for the realness. Sink into the pages for the emotions and the fantastic ending.

I really enjoyed this book (even though I don’t normally read historical fiction) and hardly put it down for 2 days. I was intrigued by the WWII timeline, and learned a lot from it. It also brought home to me what dreadful things people experienced during that time – we must never forget. I loved Agnes and was rooting for her all the way through. The story was well-researched and well-written, and the rich descriptions of the people, food, and scenery made me feel as if I was part of the story. Only a couple of teeny weeny niggles from me. I felt there were just too many coincidences (you’ll note them if you read the book). Also, it was the 25+ airmail letters on the cover that enticed me to request this book, but in actual fact there were only 2 letters! Nevertheless, this was a lovely story and I would highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for the advanced copy.

I’m normally a fan of dual timelines, but with this book I enjoyed the Second World War timeline so much I would have preferred for it to have filled every page. Maggie and Agnes’ story was so moving, and it was refreshing to read about a same sex romance in that period. The war around them was well researched and felt real, and I enjoyed this aspect very much.

The premise of the book, without giving too much away, if that when Agnes is recruited to join SOE she is forbidden from telling Margaret, because they are only ‘friends’. In the end she does leave a letter promising to return, but it never reaches its intended recipient.

I found myself hanging on every word of Agnes’s time in France, but not so the contemporary story. I found elderly Margaret’s periods of confusion and clarity a bit too convenient to the narrative, to be honest. But it didn’t spoil the book overall.

Call me grumpy, but I just wish that the title related better to what was between the pages; the book is called The Forgotten Promise, but to me the whole point was that neither of them did forget.

What an excellent debut novel the cover of the book drew me in, a beautiful tale unfolds before our eyes I can highly recommend you certainly won't be disssapointed.

The title of Corin Burnside's debut novel, Her Forgotten Promise, has a nostalgic sound which perfectly suits this tale of a friendship lost during the chaotic events of WW2. In 2014 Claire’s elderly aunt Margaret is approaching the end of her life. She is unwell and sometimes confused, but during her moments of clarity she reveals her sorrow over losing contact with a close friend in 1943. Margaret and Agnes were WAAF radio operators together in London until the French girl’s sudden and unexplained disappearance. Claire’s deep love for the charismatic old woman who brought her up is clear from the early chapters of the novel. It is no surprise when she takes a break from her own problems to carry out research and find out what became of Agnes.
Her Forgotten Promise is beautifully written in dual narration, with Claire in 2014 and Agnes in 1943 expressing their different perspectives. Methodical Claire is motivated by a wish to soothe her beloved aunt’s emotional distress, while passionate Agnes is caught up in the need to defeat the forces of evil at all costs. Both women experience the darker side of life, Claire through personal betrayal and Agnes by her involvement in the cruelty and suffering of war.
Armed with the dry details of Agnes’ war record, Claire travels to France, where she seeks memories of the young woman who was so important to her aunt. Burnside’s descriptions of the food, scenery and farming community of the Pyrenees show a great understanding of the place, while Claire uncovers long hidden secrets and discovers the astonishing truth about Agnes.
It was a joy to read a novel with so many strong female characters. I am not a fan of historical fiction or books in which food plays a significant part, but the combination of romance and adventure in Her Forgotten Promise kept me turning the pages. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an advanced copy.

Thank you Netgalley for my copy of “Her Forgotten Promise” by Corin Burnside.

This debut novel delved into a part of history that is sometimes overlooked, the role of ordinary people, especially women, in the fight against the Nazi occupation of France. It also highlights the loving relationship between Agnes, and her colleague and flatmate, Margaret.
Decades after Agnes goes missing, and with her health failing, nonagenarian, Margaret Scott frets about what happened to her friend, Agnes. Margaret’s niece, Claire embarks on the mystery to find out what happened to Agnes and why she disappeared without a trace.

With two timelines and dual narratives from the POV of Agnes and Claire, this novel skillfully weaves the stories together. Burnside’s research about the SOE and the role of women within the Special Operations Executive, comes out naturally within the narrative, creating tension as the novel progresses.

Burnside brings the Pyrenees to the reader with her rich descriptions, not only of the stunning scenery but also through the food and people of the Midi-Pyrenees.

This is an engaging story, and although parts are tragically sad, hopefulness in the story made me come away with a smile.

I also listened to the audiobook, read by Peta Cornish. Cornish uses her narration skills to give added flesh to the characters, especially Agnes. For those who enjoy audiobooks, I would definitely recommend this edition.

Thank you to @hqstories for allowing me to be a part of the #blogtour for this title. I love historical fiction so I felt that it was a given for me that I’d enjoy it, but I absolutely loved it! The book flits back and forth between time periods and character’s perspectives, giving the reader a real insight to the entire story. This is a beautiful romance, a heartbreaking look into life on the front and at home, a tragic loss and overall, a captivating story. I found myself trying to find time to keep reading throughout the day - I had to know more! An amazing debut novel and now an author I’ll look out for.