Years of Nazi occupation have stolen much from Brigitte Durand. Family. Freedom. Hope for a future, especially for a woman with a past like hers. But that changes the day American fighter pilot Tom Jaeger is shot down over occupied France. Picked up by the Resistance, Tom becomes the linchpin in their plan to infiltrate a Germans-only brothel and get critical intel out through Brigitte, a prostitute rumored to be sympathetic to the Allied cause.D-day looms and everyone knows that invasion is imminent. But so is treachery, and the life of one American pilot unexpectedly jeopardizes everything. He becomes more important than the mission to a man who cannot bear to lose another agent and to a woman who is more than just a prostitute, who finally realizes that her actions could change the course of history.
Tracy Groot is the critically acclaimed and Christy Award–winning author of several novels. Her most recent books exemplify her unique style of storytelling—reimagining biblical stories within other historical contexts. Tracy’s novels have received starred Booklist and Publishers Weekly reviews and have been called “beautifully written” and “page-turning” by Publishers Weekly and “gripping” with “exquisitely drawn” characters by Library Journal. Tracy and her husband have three boys and together run a coffee shop in Holland, Michigan.
My Impressions:
Tracy Groot’s novel, Flame of Resistance, won a Christy Award last year and there is no wondering why. This gritty portrayal of occupied France during the last days of WWII has it all — realistic and well-developed characters, a great sense of place, historical accuracy and a faith message that is not preachy, but resonates with one’s spirit. The January selection for my church’s book club, Page Turners, it was also a big winner with our members. We highly recommend this novel.
Flame of Resistance takes place in Normandy just months before the D-Day Invasion. There is a sense of desperation that four long years of enemy occupation can produce. With the rescue of Tom, a downed American pilot, a new sense of purpose and hope energize the resistant workers. Brigitte, a prostitute in a Germans-only brothel, also feels the change and is determined to finish the war as something other than a pariah in her community. Her glimpse of freedom embodied in Tom gives her hope of a future.
Groot wrote Flame of Resistance as an impressionistic retelling of the story of Rahab. And while there are many similarities, her novel is a work unto itself. We had a wonderful discussion about the hardships of war, the terrible choices it forces on people and the need for resistance against evil. This is a great book for a book discussion group.
So if you are a fan of historical novels set during WWII, or are just a fan of great writing, pick up Tracy Groot’s Flame of Resistance.
Highly Recommended.
(I purchased this book for my Kindle. All opinions are mine alone.)
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Groot has another coming out that I read an ARC of & it’s wonderful.. Put that on your TBR list also.
I have my eye on The Sentinels of Andersonville. I live about 45 minutes aways from the actual site. I think it may be one of the surprise selections for By The Book. Thanks for stopping by.