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I hope you mark this WWII historical fiction novel as a "Want to Read" on GoodReads when it's released in March 2024!
I hope you mark this WWII historical fiction novel as a "Want to Read" on GoodReads when it's released in March 2024!

Synopsis: This story is based on the life of Yvonne Rudellat, or Jacqueline, a 45-year-old woman who becomes a spy for the British Special Operations Executive Organization after becoming estranged from her husband and once her daughter begins involving herself with war work. After her home was bombed in 1942, it's time to get involved with the war effort in a way that's bigger than herself - as a spy. She becomes Britain's first female sabotage agent, successfully making it through training with signs of a knack for explosives and quick thinking. She gets a new identity and arrives in occupied France, ready to "blow up" the Nazi regime and develop a connection of spies and disruptors all aligned on throwing off the Germans.

This book was hard to put down, and it flowed beautifully. I felt so inspired by all of the brave souls involved in the resistance - especially the women - and how well Jacqueline could network people together toward a common goal, becoming a family that would go to the ends of the Earth to protect each other and fight to support France. I liked the balance between Jacqueline's training experience and her present-day spy work - I love a strong female character, and Yvonne (who is a real person, by the way) was as strong as they come!

I was on the edge of my seat during the action-packed moments. I could feel the tension of those intense, dangerous situations - like airline ammunition drops, German security checkpoints, injuries, etc. You know it's a good novel when it feels immersive!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This was an ARC I read on NetGalley. I highly recommend you read it when it comes out in March and mark it as “Want to Read” on GoodReads after you read my review!

This novel is a WWII historical fiction based on the real life story of Yvonne (aka Jacqueline) Rudellat, a French-Englishwoman who at age 45 became a spy for the British Special Operations Executive organization.

After she became estranged from her husband, her daughter became busy with war work and her home was bombed in 1942, she decided it was time to start anew. Older, she finds herself overlooked and not taken seriously, the perfect combination for a spy and saboteur.

The men are desperate and tired. Recruited as Britain’s first female sabotage agent, expectations for her are low, but her knack for explosives and quick wit set her above and soon she arrives in occupied France with a new identity, ready to (literally) set the Nazi regime ablaze.

This book was addictive and immersive. I found myself feeling as though I was right there in the ring of the resistance next to Yvonne. It ended about how I expected to, after all, war is war, but I still found myself satisfied with all she had accomplished and the spark she set alight in the lives she touched.

The only thing I found myself scratching my head at was the reoccurring focus on her difficulty with swimming, as it never came into play as an obstacle in France. Even so, it was amazing to watch the cat and mouse perspective changes between Max and herself, and I was on the edge of my seat!

Sometimes I find WWII historical fiction overdone and worn out, but this was a fresh perspective and style of writing I’d never considered! The pacing was amazing.

Audry Blake is also the author of Nora Beady series. Thank you for the chance to read this before it comes out in 2024!

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The research that has gone into writing this book about Yvonne Rudellat is evident. Not only is it historically accurate it truly brings Yvonne’s personality and character to life.

WoW! What a story! Never a dull moment…keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Jaima and Regina aka Audrey Blake have done an incredible job of telling this incredible story!

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This was a great historical fiction book by Audrey Blake! Yvonne thought her life was over in 1942 when she survived the bomb that destroyed her home. She gets the opportunity to change herself since she gets recruited as Britain's first female sabotage agent. One aspect of the book that I liked was how they included real people and real events. The Woman with No Name was a page turner for sure and the excitement was at every turn. I would highly recommend this book to others. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC copy of this book. Keep an eye out in March of next year for this book!

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This book grabbed my attention from the beginning and never let go. I was fully invested in both of Yvonne's storylines: her search for purpose and her training with SOE and later her resistance work in France.

Usually, when a book has two separate timelines that are both centered on the same character, it doesn't work for me and I end up feeling the overall story would have worked better if presented chronologically. This book was a rare exception. The action in one storyline paralleled or provided necessary information for the other. Additionally, this format gave the ending added resonance, poignancy, and (despite the subject matter) a sense of triumph.

Another thing I don't usually appreciate in books is chapters that are told from the point of view of villains. In this case, some chapters were from a Nazi's viewpoint, but, again, I found that this made the overall story stronger.

I appreciated the authors' notes and the fact that they seemed to try to keep the story as close to reality as possible.

I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and to NetGalley for the early read.

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I have been trying to read more historical fiction and I’m so so glad I had the chance to read this early because I loved it. I enjoyed it even more knowing this was based on a real person, Yvonne Rudellat.

At first I found the story hard to follow with the different years and locations, but it all started coming together and making sense. I was rooting for Yvonne throughout this whole story and I appreciate the background and research it took to write this novel.

This book comes out March 12, 2024 so mark your calendars. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!

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Wow! What a great book by Audrey Blake. I will definitely be reading more from this writing duo. I absolutely loved that this book was based on a the life of a real woman and that they included so many real people and real events in the novel! It was easy to read and kept me wanting to keep reading the entire time. Highly recommend!

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the eARC of this book.

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I have read quite a few books of women spies during WWII. In this extremely historical book we follow a mother and jump back and forth from present day to her past - from a dangerous car accident that upends her life to her preparation to head to war. I love the historical aspect as well as the unique idea of women holding such an important job when we were still in an era of majority homemakers. The mistrust of fellow freedom fighters because of your gender. It is fascinating to read through all of the training they did and the realistic wartime conditions they were exposed to. It captivating to be drawn into a different era than the one we live in. One without radar in the air or security cameras - you live and die by what your eyes can see. Communication via postcards and waiting disguised in a square for another code name to recognize your attire. So cloak and dagger and utterly fascinating. We tend to think of the big things - invasions and bombings, but these spies are about the little, “inconsequential” things: felling trees, breaking windshields, bombs inside rats, and the like. “But every time we delay, damage, disable, or waste, we slow the German war machine. Loosen enough bolts, and the whole thing will grind to a stop.” A superb wartime, historical fiction. With both present and past tense, and we get multiple perspectives from various characters - and not all of them are with the Allies.

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Admittedly I am Résistance fan and Francophile. What sets this book apart is the compelling main character, based on an actual hero of WWII. I love books with bada** woman protagonists, but I appreciated that Yvonne’s brokenness is what set her on her heroic journey. Thanks to an unexpected intervention at her lowest moment, she earns an opportunity to peel away her despair revealing skill and bravery she did not know was in her. A lesson for us all.
Yvonne narrates much of her own story in chapters which alternate between 2 time periods: her actual time in the French Résistance, and her pre-departure life leading up to her deployment to France.
This was an exciting read, one I stayed up way too late finishing. But the story drew me in quickly and did not let go.
I appreciate the advance copy via NetGalley and am now checking out Audrey Blake’s other work:).
For fans of WWII, la Résistance, and unlikely heroes.

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I literally could not put this one down! I devoured in 24 hours. The action is paced perfectly throughout the entire book to keep you on your toes and hanging on every word. There’s good background in the beginning that lets you get to know the characters without feeling like it drags out. It has multiple POVs but it doesn’t feel like too many, and a dual timeline covering both training and then the work she did during the war. She put her heart and soul into her work when she felt all else was lost.

This story is based on a real person, Yvonne Rudellat, and I plan on doing much more research on her real life. She was such a strong woman and leader through the war and I need to know more about her! I live for a strong female character, especially one set in the WWII era, and this is just so good. She overcame doubts and proved that women could be a great aid in war efforts.

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Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy of The Woman with No Name. When I saw that the galley was available from one of my favourite authors, I snapped it up and immediately delved into it. And I couldn't put it down. This writing duo, Audrey Blake, provides such a captivating story based on the true adventures of Yvonne Rudellat.

Yvonne is recruited as Britain's first female sabotage agent. Sent to France, we meet her group of Resistance comrades and follow them through the war as they sabotage the Germans.

This story is thrilling! Excitement around every turn. Yvonne is a wonderful character that you will cheer along the whole book. Well written, you'd never guess Audrey Blake is two talented authors. I appreciate their dedication to history and enjoyed this novel immensely.

Comes out March 12, 2024!

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