The Secrets We Left Behind

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This book is set during the time the Nazi’s had taken over France. Cate, a British nurse, was chosen to be left behind at a hospital filled with wounded British soldiers. The Germans advanced. Cate and Jack, one of the soldiers were forced on a daring trek together and found themselves at a house with 2 sisters: Elise and Adelaide, who were already hiding and caring for 2 wounded British soldiers, who had survived a massacre. Adelaide has caught the eye of Wolfgang, the Nazi who had ordered the massacre.The story continues as the 2 sisters and 4 people survive and heal from serious wounds. Cate must take care of the wounded with no supplies. She and Jack develop feelings for each other. Elise and Harry fall in love. Adelaide is involved with Wolfgang. She has trouble separating the charming German officer from the ruthless person who ordered the slaughter of almost 100 surrendering British soldiers.As time passes and it seems that France will officially surrender to the Nazis, Elise makes a daring plan for Cate, Jack and Harry to secure passage to England. Elise decides to stay back and fight for her France through the Resistance.Their fight to get to the boat doesn’t come without great loss.The story wraps up with everyone changed by what they’ve endured. Love and hope are growing again. France is free.No spoiler alerts, but a few casualties along the way are heartbreaking.Oh, and there is a dog! Oscar. (He survives.)

Terrific writing and details. It truly was a beautifully captured story about war, love and resilience. Will look for more by Soraya Lane!

A Red Cross nurse tending to soldiers in a makeshift hospital during the war, her best friend also her future sister in law when word gets out the German troops are closing in...She gets her patient Jack out at last minute and they hide until night before walking to shelter where they befriend 2 sisters........

I was drawn into the characters and the detail to attention, vivid descriptions on scenes and surrounding story captured my attention.I was surprised towards end and the growth of Addy I loved!Definitely a favorite of one I've read lately

I'd give this one ten stars if I could and I can think of only one other book I’d give ten stars to if possible. Apparently, I read it while the author was writing this one. This book grabs you from the first page and keeps you turning the pages as quickly as possible.The three women involved, Cate, Elise, and Adelaide were some of the bravest women in the war. Just thinking how close they were to the Nazis the entire time and the sacrifices each one made gives me chills because I know there really were women like these three during the war. I’ve heard stories about commanders like Wolfgang Schmidt and how brutal, heartless, and evil a lot of the Nazi soldiers were.This definitely is a must read. I highly recommend it if it’s the only book you read this year.

What an amazing, beautifully written story! Loved all the characters and I loved hearing from each of their POV. Highly recommend.

World War 11 was one of courage , perseverance and the will to do the right thing, Sacrifice was experienced by all the major characters,Great, happy ending, a surprise for all!,

this book wasn`t for me, far from the "gripping, wartime suspense" the reviewers made it out to be. The dialogue is not of the time, British people don`t say "gotten", the grammar is poor, the spelling is American. Any suspense is only on the periphery and it`s unbelievable that in the small community where Elise and Addy live they see absolutely no French people for the whole time they are hiding the fugitives.The massacre at Le Paradis deserved to be written about in a better way than this not as the background to a very weak romance book.

It's difficult to say that I loved this book because the facts it is based on are so terrible but it is an extraordinary story with excellent characters. The nurses Cate and Lilly, full of innocent optimism at the start of their war; the injuries they see and the patients they care for; comrades Harry and Peter, coping with the most appalling situation around the fall of Dunkirk; sisters Elise and Adelaide trying to keep going in a country that is changing dramatically every day - all of them so well described that I really cared about them and what happened to them. So many 'ordinary' people doing extraordinary things and dealing with extreme and challenging situations because there is no other choice. I found I could not put this book down, especially in the latter stages. I almost felt I couldn't read fast enough to keep up with the pace of events.I have looked up the factual background of this story and it is difficult to read but unfortunately not an isolated incident. Soraya has taken one of the tragic and criminal events of the time and created an incredible novel, full of warmth and courage.

Soraya has written some excellent WW11 novels but I think this is the best one so far. A lot of research is undertaken so that her novels can be based on actual events and each novel usually brings our attention to some of the less well documented incidents of the war, especially those concerning women taking an active part in the midst of it all.With this background and the wonderful characters imagined by Soraya, you feel like you are reading a true story and really care what happens to these people.The story has you hooked from the first chapter and interwoven with the perilous events are the occasional sweet moments that show the depths of people's love for each other, whether it is for a friend, sibling or soul mate.If you enjoy reading books set during this time frame, you will really love this one.

One of the most remarkable books I have ever read. I highly recommend it. I really liked the fact that the author has used particular real events to base her story on. The characters are fictional, but the true occasions made me explore information online and I found myself learning about the massacre in Le Paradis, which I’ve never heard before. All the characters are likeable, apart from the Nazis. This story is about love, belief, bravery, cruelty, heartbreak, tragedy. It's exquisitely written and keeps you on an emotional roller coaster at all times. Be aware, your heart will be in pain towards the end of the book, but that's what WW2 was for all the people living during that awful war, and we can only imagine through stories what it was like. How lucky we are to live in the present days of freedom.

I chose this book as it covers a time in history which had a long lasting effect on my father ..... He was with the BEF in France, and caught up in the evacuation from Dunkirk - something I knew nothing about - but the "shadow" of things that he must have seen I now realise had a profound effect on the person I remember.This book not only brought home the horror of what happened ( I had read about the massacre ) and how many people gave so much to save others..... For anyone wanting to understand this, our "characters" bring this period to life .