An Act of Love: A sweeping and evocative love story about bravery and courage in our darkest hours

An Act of Love: A sweeping and evocative love story about bravery and courage in our darkest hours

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  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-04-24 00:51:16
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Carol Drinkwater
  • ISBN：1405933364
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Summary

Pre-order the stunning new novel from the author of The Lost Girl and The House on the Edge of the Cliff

'A lovely novel。 A moving story of love and friendship with a wonderful sense of place' KATE MOSSE
'A terrific story 。。。 skilfully written and heart-rending' MIRIAM MARGOLYES
'A virtual hug of a tale; warm， and engaging， and tender' JOANNE HARRIS
'Romantic， evocative， and pulse racingly dramatic' WENDY HOLDEN
'An emotional and moving read' FIONA VALPY
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It was an idyllic summer。 Until they had to escape。

France， 1943。

Forced to flee war ravaged Poland， Sara and her parents are offered refuge in a beautiful but dilapidated house in the French Alps。 It seems the perfect hideaway， despite haunting traces of the previous occupants who left in haste。

But shadows soon fall over Sara's blissful summer， and her blossoming romance with local villager Alain。 As the Nazis close in， the family is forced to make a harrowing choice that could drive them apart forever， while Sara's own bid for freedom risks several lives。

Will Sara be reunited with those she loves？

And can she ever find her way back to Alain？

By turns poignant and atmospheric， this is the compelling new novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Carol Drinkwater about the power of first love and courage in our darkest hours。
________

'I love Carol Drinkwater's writing 。 。 。 So evocative of the south of France - you can almost smell the maquis 。 。 。 Engrossing' Reader Review

'Carol skilfully draws us in to the beautiful Alpes Maritimes region of France to tell the story of Sara 。 。 。 the writing is evocative and Sara's story is both moving and inspiring' Sheila O'Flanagan， bestselling author of The Women Who Ran Away

'Great storyline， great characters。 A thoroughly enjoyable read' Reader Review

'I enjoyed it very much 。 。 。 it's her best' Elizabeth Buchan， author of The Museum of Broken Promises

'A wonderful， enjoyable novel with courage and survival at its heart' Elizabeth Chadwick， author of The Wild Hunt series

'One not to be missed 。。。 tells a part of history that should never be forgotten' Shirley Dickson， author of The Lost Children

Praise for Carol Drinkwater:

'I was hooked from the start' Dinah Jefferies

'Carol Drinkwater's writing is like taking an amazing holiday in book form' Jenny Colgan

'Beautifully woven and compelling' Rowan Coleman

'Secrets， tragedy， hidden pasts and family secrets - I loved this' Santa Montefiore

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Reviews

Jacqueline ，

This is the latest brilliantly written historical novel from author and actress Carol Drinkwater， whose writing I have admired for many years now。 Set in a small village in the Alps during The Occupation， we follow Sara’s war journey from adolescent refuge， whose family are given lodgings in a small mountain village， to a life filled with danger when change was forced upon them once more。 In this beautifully descriptive book， it was easy to visualise the village and the mountains， and to feel Sa This is the latest brilliantly written historical novel from author and actress Carol Drinkwater， whose writing I have admired for many years now。 Set in a small village in the Alps during The Occupation， we follow Sara’s war journey from adolescent refuge， whose family are given lodgings in a small mountain village， to a life filled with danger when change was forced upon them once more。 In this beautifully descriptive book， it was easy to visualise the village and the mountains， and to feel Sara’s emotions。 In the small mountain community， we meet those who are prepared to fight， those who crave acceptance， whatever the cost， those who care and those who are driven to do what they can， no matter the consequences。 As the changing of the seasons mirrored Sara’s maturity， I could feel her determination to fit in， her frustrations at her parent’s reluctance to embrace their new haven of peace， as well as her fear of change， and strength of character。 Carol’s words painted a vivid picture of the Occupation in the south of France and the situation of the Jewish refugees。 Things here were very different to Paris， but no less shocking， and the liberation came later than on the northern coast， something I hadn’t fully appreciated before。 Sara’s story gripped my attention and I lost hours among the pages， my heart in my mouth， fearing for her safety。 There was a plot twist that totally took me by surprise and in one particularly moving scene Carol gave death a sense of peace and beauty that I’d not experienced before。This book will stay with me for a long while。 I may have finished reading it， but I’m not ready to let Sara leave me just yet。 。。。more

Joan ，

Sara’s family of three， her father who is a doctor， and her mother， who is a housewife， are Polish Jews。 It is 1943 and they have been forced to flee from their homeland。 Their destination is a small town in France， high up in the Alps， where the villagers are kind and friendly。 Their accommodation is in a beautiful setting， run-down but a huge house a good walk away from the village， once the summer home of an English family。 Sara comes to know the family through the photographs still on displa Sara’s family of three， her father who is a doctor， and her mother， who is a housewife， are Polish Jews。 It is 1943 and they have been forced to flee from their homeland。 Their destination is a small town in France， high up in the Alps， where the villagers are kind and friendly。 Their accommodation is in a beautiful setting， run-down but a huge house a good walk away from the village， once the summer home of an English family。 Sara comes to know the family through the photographs still on display and also through their abandoned possessions。 She learns that they too have faced tragedy and sorrow。Soon there are as many refugees as local residents。 The Italian soldiers who visit the area ignore the refugees and soon the family settle down and begin to feel safe。 Sara makes friends with local teenagers and soon she is asked to help teach the younger children。 She also has a job as a childminder for a local family caring for their children because the wife is heavily pregnant and needs to rest。 Sara meets Alain， a university student who is home for his vacation and they get on well。 As their romance blossoms through the hot summer days， the German army moves nearer and nearer the village。 The refugees all need proof of identity before they are safe to leave the village， once again fleeing for their life。 Sara’s father and mother leave， assuring her that they will soon be back together as a family。Sara and Alain make a bunker in her home， storing food and puzzling their way through the problems they encounter。 Then， with Alain gone， Sara is approached to undertake a dangerous and frightening journey。 This could be her way of escape but is she up for the challenge？ This is Sara’s poignant story， a story of love and loss， new beginnings， courage and loyalty。 It is a cracking story and it kept me turning the pages， my heart thudding and my respect for Sara increasing in each new challenge she accepted。 This story is based on real events， but the characters are fictitious。I have always been a fan of this author， both her Olive Farm memoirs and her sweeping fiction stories。 This one reeled me in and kept me turning the pages， and it has to be my favourite。 Carol writes with integrity， her research is bang on point and her storytelling vivid and exciting。 I loved the tension， the beautifully created characters and the sense of danger and impending capture。 I loved every page I turned and I loved the care Carol took to fully complete the story， although the prologue had teased me， I still felt bereft when the story ended。 The characters had become real and I truly cared about their fortunes。I received a complimentary copy of this novel from publisher Penguin through my membership of NetGalley。 Thank you for my copy。 These are my own honest opinions without any outside influences。 I thought this was an excellent read and recommend it to you as a 5* read。 。。。more

Mabel ，

Highly addictive novel from Carol set the Second World War。 Sara and her family fled from Poland to France and were supported by the locals， but life was full of danger and constantly changing as the Germans sought out all Jews。 It was a fascinating read and very descriptive as you could feel the oppressive atmosphere and danger they all were in。 Even in this terrible time romance reared it’s head。

Anne ，

I have read many of Carol Drinkwater's previous books， both her non-fiction series set on her olive farm in the South of France， and her fictional novels。 She's an author whom I admire， I've enjoyed reading her books， and have to say that this new novel; An Act of Love is my favourite of them all。I was utterly engrossed in Sara's story from the opening paragraphs， as she lays in bed， surrounded by her loved ones， at the end of her life。 The reader knows from this short prologue that Sara has suc I have read many of Carol Drinkwater's previous books， both her non-fiction series set on her olive farm in the South of France， and her fictional novels。 She's an author whom I admire， I've enjoyed reading her books， and have to say that this new novel; An Act of Love is my favourite of them all。I was utterly engrossed in Sara's story from the opening paragraphs， as she lays in bed， surrounded by her loved ones， at the end of her life。 The reader knows from this short prologue that Sara has such a story to tell。Sara and her parents arrive at a small village in Alpes-Maritimes， France。 It is early spring 1943 and this small family have had a dangerous and arduous journey that has taken a long time， stopped in many places and it seems that this isolated mountain village will be their next home。 For how long， nobody knows。 Sara and her parents are Polish Jews， driven out of their home by the invasion of the German forces。 Labelled and targeted because of their heritage， and destined for almost certain death if they are caught。The villagers are welcoming， and whilst the Italian army are there， in charge， they turn a blind eye to the newcomers。 The village has become a safe haven for Sara and her people， almost fifty per cent of the population are now immigrants。 Whilst still afraid， and worried about their future， the family find allies and friends， and Sara， at just seventeen years old， soon becomes an integral part of village life。 She finds people to trust， and one to love。 However， it is clear that the Germans are advancing， and the family will need to move on。 When the Nazis arrive， decisions are taken and Sara finds herself alone。 As she hides away， whilst trying to protect others， less stronger， the tension increases。Sara's life is just beginning and her future holds such dangers that she could never have imagined， whilst all the time， pining for her family， and her lost love。 She is no longer able to be 'Sara' and in order to survive， she must forget everything and everyone she knows and loves and create a new being。An Act of Love is a compelling and impeccably researched novel， based around real-life incidents that took place in 1943。 The author draws such wonderfully realistic characters set in an evocative setting。 This is a story of love and loss， of bravery and daring。 It is a tale of sacrifice in a plot that dances with intrigue。This heartfelt and emotional story is more so because it is based on the truth。 I was on tenterhooks throughout this powerful novel。 Highly recommended。 。。。more

Marie Kane ，

Another wonderful read from Carol Drinkwater。An Act of Love is set in the South of France during World War Two。 Sara and her parents are Polish refugees who have fled to France and are moved to a small mountain village for safety。Sara settles well in the village， makes friends and enjoys a typical teenage summer， despite the constant worry that war brings。However as summer ends and the German army advances towards the village tough decisions have to be made to survive and life for all villagers Another wonderful read from Carol Drinkwater。An Act of Love is set in the South of France during World War Two。 Sara and her parents are Polish refugees who have fled to France and are moved to a small mountain village for safety。Sara settles well in the village， makes friends and enjoys a typical teenage summer， despite the constant worry that war brings。However as summer ends and the German army advances towards the village tough decisions have to be made to survive and life for all villagers will change forever。A story of courage， bravery and love and proof that， against the odds， good things can happen in the worst of situations。Carol Drinkwaters writing style transports you to the South of France and makes you feel like you are a village bystander watching the story unfold。 I really enjoyed this book。 。。。more

Annette ，

A well written and enjoyable story set during WW II in the South of France。 I found the descriptions of the area were how I remembered them having changed little over the years。 I was swept along by the story of the struggles and heartbreak of the people who were living in fear of their lives。 Expecting to be captured at any minute by the German invaders。 The little town had become a haven for the refugees who were mainly Jewish families who had fled their own countries to what they thought was A well written and enjoyable story set during WW II in the South of France。 I found the descriptions of the area were how I remembered them having changed little over the years。 I was swept along by the story of the struggles and heartbreak of the people who were living in fear of their lives。 Expecting to be captured at any minute by the German invaders。 The little town had become a haven for the refugees who were mainly Jewish families who had fled their own countries to what they thought was safety in the hillsides about the Cote d'Azure。 They were taken in and aided by complete strangers but always had the fear of being discovered or betrayed。 。。。more

emma （pagesofachilles） ，

I wanted to love this one， the writing was beautiful and the setting was gorgeous， but I struggled to connect to the characters。 I found myself often skim reading and wanting more information on what was happening and the general context of the political backdrop of the war。 Drinkwater has a way with words， despite struggling to connect， I still found myself emotional at the end。 I just wish I was able to love it more。Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in excha I wanted to love this one， the writing was beautiful and the setting was gorgeous， but I struggled to connect to the characters。 I found myself often skim reading and wanting more information on what was happening and the general context of the political backdrop of the war。 Drinkwater has a way with words， despite struggling to connect， I still found myself emotional at the end。 I just wish I was able to love it more。Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review。 #AnActofLove #NetGalley。 All opinions are my own。 。。。more

Lesley N ，

I love Carol Drinkwater's writing as it is so evocative of the south of France - you can almost smell the maquis。 This was a part of the war about which I had no idea and it showed a more positive view of the French to foreigners; rather than reporting them to the authorities they actually looked after them。 As well as the historical aspect this is a story about a girl on the cusp of womanhood， an only child， coping with constantly changing environments。 The narrative can feel rather slow at tim I love Carol Drinkwater's writing as it is so evocative of the south of France - you can almost smell the maquis。 This was a part of the war about which I had no idea and it showed a more positive view of the French to foreigners; rather than reporting them to the authorities they actually looked after them。 As well as the historical aspect this is a story about a girl on the cusp of womanhood， an only child， coping with constantly changing environments。 The narrative can feel rather slow at times， but that is what makes it even more engrossing as the level of detail envelops the reader。Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=An Act of Love: A sweeping and evocative love story about bravery and courage in our darkest hours

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The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,An Act of Love: A sweeping and evocative love story about bravery and courage in our darkest hours&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0