Tomorrow is for the Brave is a WWII historical fiction novel with a dash of romance and a pinch of mystery. We follow Violet, who goes from a wealthy socialite with a love of cars, to a fearless driver for the French Foreign Legion. The story focuses on the war against the Germans in North Africa, which was a part of WWII I was unfamiliar with. I enjoyed the slow reveal of “the spy” even though the reveal itself wasn’t shocking.

What held me back from really loving this one was a lack of authenticity with the characters. I found her parents a little too rich and unloving, even after the war has ended. Violet herself goes from an overly sheltered girl with no confidence, to joining the frontlines of war and barely struggling with the hardships she faces.

I was very intrigued to learn that Violet’s character was based off the life of Susan Travers, the only female member of the French Foreign Legion. I enjoyed the story here, it was just lacking a bit of the depth and grit I look for in a war novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this digital ARC.

Toss out the dull and boring history books. Grab "Tomorrow is for the Brave" and let it suck you into a story filled with drama, suspense, espionage and romance. I was transported to a time where I was ducking bullets and running for your life. It felt that real thanks to Violet St Croix's adventures during World War 2.

Violet does not fit in with the upper class in France. She is the square peg being forced into a round hole. Meeting George (Georgia) along a route of a car race is a new beginning. She falls in love with--cars. As time passes she has less and less in common with her family. Finding out her upcoming marriage is not what it seems has he fleeing.

Violet escapes a stifling life in upper classes by volunteering as a Red Cross Nurse with George only because the military would not let her be a driver. Desperate times require desperate measures. Violet will find herself behind the wheel of an ambulance. It changed her life and takes the readers deep into the war.

I had never thought how horrible the war in the African desert would have been until this story. Struggling to survive was hard enough, but being a woman made it even more challenging. I lost count of how many times I lost it. The horrors of war fill the pages with graphic detail that we all need to realize. The losses gutted me. My respect grew for all of the allied forces that fought for freedom.

I blew up over the "spy." He was never named. Hints of his identity filled the story. The hints fit so many people. Violet tried to figure it out. Violet tried to convince others that there was a spy sabotaging equipment and leaking locations. They didn't want to admit that there might be such a person. I guessed who it was again and again. I was so tempted to read the ending to see who it was, but there was so much going on that I didn't want to miss. The ending was worth every tear. The ending was worth each turn of my stomach. The ending was worth the wait.

Nicely done WWII story thinly based on the life of Susan Travers, who served in the French Foreign Legion. This alternates chapters of Violet, a young socialite who gives it all up to join the fight against the Nazis and the spy, the nefarious man Violet will ultimately uncover. This tale has been told in other ways, with other heroines (note that it's good to see women get credit for their heroism) but this is distinguished by location- North Africa. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read for fans of the genre.

Joining the French Foreign Legion in Africa during WWII, Violet St. Croix finds herself challenged to be driving officers carrying intelligence. Finding there may be a spy in their midst forces her to put herself in potential danger to expose him. Well written historical fiction.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
While I wasn’t a fan of Kelly Bowen’s previous World War II book, I was hopeful for Tomorrow is for the Brave. And the relief I felt when I saw this one was set in a single time period was massive, given that’s what I hated so much about the other book.
And while Bowen’s prior books have felt very similar to what else is out there, I loved that this did something different just by being set in the Middle East and North Africa, a setting that isn’t often discussed in context with World War II, but really should be. It was interesting to learn about the French Foreign Legion, and I was even more impressed when I learned that many of the prominent characters, while fictional, were based on real people.
Violet, for example, is based on Susan Travers, who was the only woman to officially become a member of the French Foreign Legion. I loved her determination to do her bit in the war, despite her family disapproving. She’s strong, intelligent, and capable, and very easy to root for throughout.
There’s a romantic subplot, and while it’s not super-prominent, it’s sweet, and Henri is a pretty solid love interest.
Violet’s POV is interspersed with bits from the POV from the spy, building suspense about their identity. While withholding the spy’s name, or refusing to even give him a pseudonym, resulted in some clunkiness in the sentences in those bits, they still served their purpose.
I really enjoyed this one, and I’d recommend it to historical fiction readers looking for a slightly different World War II story.

In pre-WW2 France, women were not "allowed" to do certain tasks that only men could do, such as drive a car. Violet St. Croix not only does that, but she wants to help in the war effort. Defying her father and fiancé, she finds herself in North Africa aiding the French Foreign Legion by driving the chief medical officer and ferrying classified information. But there appears to be a spy in their midst...

Kelly Bowen has a masterful knack for writing intriguing WW2 novels. She is well researched, and I love that she shares her notes at the end of the novel. Her character development leads the reader to endear themselves to each individual and really invest their curiosity for discovering their fates. The lead female character begins with being unsure of how to speak her mind, but she grows into a very brave and capable woman that finds a love that really appreciates her for who she is.

Tomorrow Is for the Brave is one of the best historical fiction titles I have ever read. You will not be disappointed with the "based on true events" that unfold in this epic adventure.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley an Forever for the e-arc.

I really like Tomorrow If for the Brave - this is my favourite of Bowen's non-romance historicals and in my opinion is her best written work.

The story beings with Violet St. Croix living an extremely privileged life in the South of France. Violet is engaged to marry a most rligible bachelor but is feeling her life being suffocated by both her father and fiance. When France falls, she signs up to join the Red Cross. Violet isn't a great nurse, but she is a great driver and finds herslef drivinga chief medical office in the French Foreign Legion.

I am not particularly familiar with the North Africa campaign in WW2 or the role the French Legion in the war and I enjoyed reading this different prespective of the war. I found the descriptions of desert made it feel like I could picture the fort and the dry. I enjoyed the spy storyline - there are enough breadcrumbs to build the tension without making the spy too ovious.

Violet's interactions with her friends and the secondary characters are really well depcited.

Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever Grand Central Publishing and the author for gifting me a copy of this e-book.

If you're a fan of historical fiction novels, then I highly recommend this one. This book does an incredible job of bringing to life the fascinating world of the French Foreign Legion. What's even more impressive is that Violet, the main character, is based on the real-life story of Susan Travers, the only woman to become a member of the French Foreign Legion.

The story is enriched with an engaging plot that includes a German spy who infiltrates and passes sensitive information to Germany to undermine the French and Americans. The way the different characters intersect is truly impressive and will have you turning the pages in anticipation.

Violet is an incredibly fierce, brave, and strong character that defies her wealthy and self-centered parents to join the war effort. Her bravery and determination give the men hope during the war, and her character shines as "La Fleur". Additionally, the love story that emerges is thoughtful and adds depth to the story.

The author's historical notes at the end of the book add an extra layer of depth to the story. If you're looking for an engaging and insightful historical fiction novel, then I highly recommend this book.

Tomorrow is for the Brave

I adored Kelly Bowen’s previous books and jumped at the chance to read an early copy of her newest novel. It did not disappoint!

I appreciate it when I find a WWII story that provides a different perspective on the war. In this case, Tomorrow is for the Brave takes the reader from Nice, France to Finland, and finally to North Africa and the siege of Bir Hakeim. The character of Violet St. Croix is based on real-life heroine Susan Travers, the only female member of the French Foreign Legion. Her story is very inspiring.

Violet is a socialite with a passion for cars who, on the brink of WWII, volunteers for the French Red Cross. We follow her from Finland, where she serves as a nurse, to North Africa where she becomes a driver for officers. When Violet’s commanding officer is murdered and her unit suffers one catastrophe after another, Violet begins to suspect that there is a spy among them. But who is it and who can she trust?

The two-week-long siege of Bir Hakeim, and the nighttime escape of the French, round out the novel. Surrounded by minefields, it was Violet’s (Susan’s) job to drive her unit to safety under the dark of night. I was truly on the edge of my seat as the story concluded.

A few things I appreciate:

1. The story took place from 1939-1945 and did not include a dual timeline, something I think is rare in other WWII stories.
2. The potential romance was a very minor storyline with the focus truly on the bravery of this remarkable woman.
3. Several chapters were told from the spy’s perspective - I had it narrowed down to one of two characters towards the end.
4. The author brought the setting to life so I felt fully immersed in time and place.

4.5
I really appreciate the expressive and vivid writing that allowed me to feel like I could see each place, and smell the scents as if I were there alongside the characters. There was one chapter where I’m fairly sure I held my breath the whole time. So intense was the situation and the writing done so well it felt as if I was living that moment. I also appreciated getting a look at different areas of fighting during the war showcasing places like Finland, Syria, and Libya.

The female perspective was incredible and I would have happily read an entire story of just her life. Then reading the authors note and learning her story was inspired by the real experiences of Susan Travers made it even more amazing.

The spy perspective grew on me but I kinda wish the author had given him a code name rather than referring to him as “the spy” in his chapters.

This was a really good HF and one that would be great for anyone wanting a different perspective from WWII with a remarkable woman as the focus.

I read TOMORROW IS FOR THE BRAVE in less than a day. Well, okay, I should clarify except for that pesky thing called sleep, but if I hadn’t needed to sleep, it would have been much faster. At the Forever First Look, Caroline gave an awesome review of the book, including, “Violet is a really bad nurse.” That caught my attention. It turns out that Violet St. Croix really is a bad nurse and entirely unhelpful for the war effort in that capacity. But what can she do? She can drive.

I liked that this was a new perspective on a World War II book. Yes, Violet had to start out as a nurse, but she ended up an ambulance driver and personnel driver for French Foreign Legion officers carrying valuables in dangerous territories. It was neat to see how people treated her from the beginning to the end and who took what she said seriously.

Kelly Bowen had an excellent author note at the book’s end about her research. While Violet St. Clair was a fictional character, she has many similarities to Susan Travers, who sounds like an incredible woman who served in the French Red Cross in WWII. I’m such a fan of author notes in books and knowing the story behind the story!

Bowen crafted a special story with memorable characters and a different look at WWII. Plus, I love the unexpected mystery she weaves into the book. It’s a definite recommendation for historical fiction fans!

Thanks, Forever, for the arc!

I have loved each book this author has written and will continue as long as she is writing! Tomorrow is for the brave is indescribable in my opinion. It had absolutely everything I look for in a historical fiction book or any type of book for that matter. It was so well written, characters were Amazing. I cannot tell you enough to pick up this book!!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

An interesting and delightful read. The book has wonderful characters and amazing settings. A must read for any historical fiction fans!

WWII historical fiction that feels a little lighter than some, featuring a solid heroine based on a real woman who was the only female to join the French Foreign Legion. Socialite Violet St. Croix's growth and bravery throughout the novel is inspiring, and I enjoyed the Northern African setting that much of the book took place in. I'm not sure I've read a WWII novel before that focused on that area. There's intrigue, murder, spying, and a completely predictable yet still sweet romance (which is not center stage). Unlike previous HF by Bowen, this book doesn't have a dual timeline, which I appreciated. The characters are a little bit one-dimensional, but that didn't interfere with my enjoyment of the novel. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for a digital review copy.

I am not one to immediately grab a historical fiction type book, but received this as an ARC. The story was so intriguing and I found myself immediately drawn in. The charact development is excellent and I found the WWII aspect to be really well done.

I have read a great deal of World War II historical fiction and a lot of it is starting to blur together but Tomorrow Is For the Brave by Kelly Bowen stands out from the rest for its originality as it tells a fascinating story set primarily in the Middle East and North Africa.

Young socialite Violet St. Croix lives a seemingly charmed life in the south of France where she is engaged to be married to a man chosen for her by her wealthy parents. Violet tries to meet the expectations of her parents and fiancé but she doesn't fit in well with the other young women in her social circles because she loves cars and driving and feels restrained by the limitations placed on her. When war breaks out and France falls to Germany, Violet defies her parents and trains as a nurse but it soon becomes apparent that her skills at driving under pressure far exceed her nursing abilities. Violet is recruited to drive officers of the French Foreign Legion through dangerous territory in Syria and North Africa where she becomes convinced after a number of setbacks and a brazen murder that there is a dangerous spy operating in their midst to sabotage operations.

Tommorow Is For the Brave is historical fiction inspired by the life of Susan Travers who was the only woman to have officially served in the French Foreign Legion. The novel is well-written and well-researched and I loved Violet - a strong female protagonist who is willing to stand up for what she believes is the right thing to do and comes into her own through her work during the war.

This is also a tale of espionage with occasional chapters from the perspective of "the spy" who is sabotaging the efforts of the Allies in North Africa. It's not clear who the spy is until the book nears its conclusion and it kept me up well into the night as I had to finish and find out. There's a romance thread woven throughout the storyline as well but it takes a backseat to the overall plot. A fast-paced, gripping pageturner about a courageous young woman who defied her family to serve her country - highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Can I give this a 5+ stars? I believe this is the best WWII historical fiction that I have read in quite some time. Taking place on the African front and with the French Legionnaires gave a different perspective on the war. Having a strong female character in the midst of battle was highly unusual. One quote from 'Lafleur' (Adjutant Violet St. Croix) was very moving: "But the problem, sir, is that no one truly knows for certain what tomorrow will bring, no matter where or who you are. But what I know without a doubt is what I will bring to tomorrow. Tomorrow is for the brave, who had the chance to surrender their convictions and beliefs a long time ago but did not. None of us got here by accident, sir. We chose this. We did not choose surrender but chose tomorrow, whatever that may look like."
Releases May 14th. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and this one hit the mark for me.

Violet St. Croix is a socialite that doesn’t follow the rules laid out for her by high society. She balks against constraints laid out for her and instead forges her own brave path and finds herself along the way.

Tomorrow Is for the Brave
by Kelly Bowen
Review Score: 5 Stars

Boogie’s Bulletpoints
•Violet is an incredibly strong character to walk away from everything she is being given.

•I love Violet and George’s friendship/

•The time spent in North Africa was so interesting!

•There is a little bit of everything in this book; history, intrigue, romance, and mystery.

———

Welcome to Five Star Friday!

Tomorrow Is for the Brave was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing). Thank you for allowing me to enjoy this wonderful book!

Release Date: 5/14/24

Wow. This book is one of my favorite recent Historical Fiction Reads!

We meet Violet, a young women who is about to marry a “suitable man” as she follows the life plan set out by her parents. As World War 2 breaks out, she realizes she does not want that life. She volunteers, and ends up as a driver in North Africa.

Her job is harrowing, and yet she never wavers, showing her skill no matter what is thrown at her.

I don’t think I have ever read a WW2 book about the fight in North Africa, so I loved learning more about it in this book!

I also loved the spy element to the story. I know that the Nazis were keen on learning about Allied movements as much as possible. The mystery of who the spy was in this book was so intriguing. I kept asking myself who the spy was!

Add in amazing characters like Violet, George, and Henry, and you have such an incredible story.

If you couldn’t tell, I absolutely loved this book, and highly recommend it!

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This book was fantastic! I immediately liked Violet and could wait to read her story. Knowing that she was based on a real person was so inspiring. I loved her friendships with George and Henri.
The war story was thrilling and real, without being too dark for too long or too depressing. Reading from the spy’s perspective every once in a while kept me on the edge of my seat. Twice, I thought I knew who the spy was and I was wrong both times. Ha!
Reading this left me feeling inspired to be brave, thankful that I’m not living in a time/place of war, and saddened for those who are. I loved that the author included the story of the real woman that Violet was based on at the end. I will be looking up all of the author’s other works.