Synopsis

A heart-wrenching story of courage in the face of unthinkable tragedy and an unbreakable bond that cannot be shaken . . . France, 1942. Orphaned sisters Lea and Rose live under the increasingly oppressive German occupation in Orleans. Times have been tough since their mother died - all they have left is each other - but practical Lea does her best to take care of Rose, the daydreamer. Then Lea loses her job, just as Rose has a sudden and heart-stopping encounter with Andre, a handsome young French fugitive, that changes her life forever. The women must flee the city, and everything they've ever known, finding safe lodgings with a kindly winemaker and his family on their Loire valley farm. But they aren't safe for long. And, faced with the grim choice between imprisonment or travelling to Germany to work for the war effort, Lea - against everything she believes in - reluctantly chooses the latter, thinking only of taking care of Rose. In a remote town in eastern Germany, Lea and Rose are confronted with the horror of the Nazis' brutality and treatment of the women workers, and learn to survive by clinging to the love they've each found in a bleak existence, and by keeping their enemy even closer . . . Yet tragedy, heartbreak and betrayal await these brave sisters, as their bond is tested beyond anything they could have imagined in this heart-wrenching WW2 tale.

Readers love Cynthia Anderson's emotion, gripping historical fiction:

'A profoundly moving and beautifully written novel . . . inspiring . . . deeply human.' Marius Gabriel, bestselling author of The German Daughter

'A captivating and beautifully written dual-timeline that weaves together a poignant love story.' Suzanne Fortin, bestselling author of The Dance Teacher of Paris

'A massive five-star read from me, the people in this book will stay with me for a long time.' Reader review, 5 stars

'The emotional depth of this story is breathtaking . . . Beautifully written and profoundly human.' Reader review, 5 stars

'Heartbreaking, sad, tense and full of love and hope . . . I highly recommend!' Reader review, 5 stars

'A touching, inspiring story filled with heartbreak, love, hope and self-forgiveness.' Reader review, 5 stars

'Moving and beautiful . . . I loved this book. It shows what we can do when we think for ourselves, separate right from wrong, and make a difference in our world.' Reader review, 5 stars