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The Bitter Road to Freedom: A New History of the Liberation of Europe
by William I HitchcockThe Bitter Road to Freedom is a powerful, deeply moving account of an earth-shattering year in the history of the U.S. and Europe.Americans are justly proud of the role their country played in liberating Europe from Nazi tyranny. For many years, we have celebrated the courage of Allied soldiers, sailors, and aircrews who defeated Hitler's regime and restored freedom to the continent. But in recounting the heroism of the "greatest generation," Americans often overlook the wartime experiences of European people themselves—the very people for whom the war was fought. In this brilliant new book, historian William I. Hitchcock surveys the European continent from D-Day to the final battles of the war and the first few months of peace. Based on exhaustive research in five nations and dozens of archives, Hitchcock's groundbreaking account shows that the liberation of Europe was both a military triumph and a human tragedy of epic proportions. This strikingly original, multinational history of liberation brings to light the interactions of soldiers and civilians, the experiences of noncombatants, and the trauma of displacement and loss amid unprecedented destruction. This book recounts a surprising story, often jarring and uncomfortable, and one that has never been told with such richness and depth. Ranging from the ferocious battle for Normandy (where as many French civilians died on D-Day as U.S. servicemen) to the plains of Poland, from the icy ravines of the Ardennes to the shattered cities and refugee camps of occupied Germany, The Bitter Road to Freedom depicts in searing detail the shocking price that Europeans paid for their freedom.
The Black Banners: How Torture Derailed The War On Terror After 9/11 (Playaway Adult Nonfiction Ser.)
by Ali SoufanThe definitive account of an FBI special agent’s al-Qaeda story, unredacted for the first time. Widely heralded on publication as a "must-read" (Military Review) and "important window on America’s battle with al-Qaeda" (Washington Post), Ali Soufan’s revelatory account of the war on terror as seen from its front lines changed the way we understand al-Qaeda and how the United States prosecuted the war—and led to hard questions being asked of our leaders. When The Black Banners was published in 2011, significant portions of the text were redacted. After subsequent review by the Central Intelligence Agency, those redactions have been lifted. Their removal corrects the record on how vital intelligence was obtained from al-Qaeda suspects and brings forth important new details on the controversial use of enhanced interrogation techniques (torture) to extract information from terror suspects. For many years, proponents of the use of these techniques have argued that they produced actionable intelligence in the war on terror. This edition of The Black Banners explodes this myth; it shows Soufan at work using guile and intelligent questioning—not force or violence—to extract some of the most important confessions in the war, and it vividly recounts the failures of the government’s torture program. Drawing on Soufan’s experiences as a lead operative for the FBI and declassified government records, The Black Banners (Declassified) documents the intelligence failures that lead to the tragic attacks on New York and Washington, DC, and subsequently how torture derailed the fight against al-Qaeda. With this edition, eighteen years on from the first sanctioned enhanced interrogation technique, the public can finally read the complete story of what happened in their name after the events of 9/11. The Black Banners (Declassified) includes a new foreword from Ali Soufan that addresses the significance of the CIA’s decision to lift the redactions.
The Black Bull: From Normandy to the Baltic with the 11th Armoured Division (Stackpole Military History Ser.)
by Patrick DelaforceThis WWII history chronicles the legendary British Armored Division in combat across northern Europe with veterans&’ personal recollections. The British Army&’s 11th Armored Division, famous for its Black Bull insignia, was famous for its courageous fighting during the Second World War. In this volume, Black Bull veterans tell the story of their Division in their own words. Beginning with the Normandy invasions, they vividly describe the role they played in Operations Epsom, Goodwood and Bluecoat. They bring readers with them on the &“Great Swan' through France and Belgium; the taking of Antwerp; Operation Market Garden; and the final slog into Germany across well-defended river barriers. They also recount stories of casualties and losses, the hardships of a winter campaign, and the comradeship and bravery it takes to persevere. Historian Patrick Delaforce provides a historical narrative that gives context to the personal accounts. Twelve Black Bull regiments are represented, with memories from troop commanders and riflemen, bombardiers and signalmen, tank crews, troop leaders, as well as the Division&’s GOC, Major-General G.P.B. Roberts. The text is supplemented throughout with wartime photographs showing the Division in action.
The Black Corridor
by Michael MoorcockThe world is sick. The Forces of Chaos have energised the planet. Leaders, führers, duces, prophets, visionaries, gurus, and politicians are all at each others' throats. And Chaos leers over the broken body of Order.So Ryan freezes his family into suspended animation and sets off for the planet Munich 15040, five years distant. There he will re-establish Order in a New World - and create a happier, healthier, saner and more decent society with the ones he loves.But they are suspended. And they cannot talk. And he is alone in space. And he has been travelling for three years. And he will still be travelling two years hence, and he cannot see his destination, and he is ALONE and LOST and CRACKING UP...
The Black Country in the Great War (Your Towns & Cities in the Great War)
by Michael PearsonThis is not a book about the Great War; it is about life during the war. Changes in people's lives: their work, home, food, entertainment and news. I used original research material including newspapers, to paint a picture of life in the Black Country.Manufacturing was vital; we were well-equipped to supply the engines of war. The region had motor manufacturers who made aero engines, tanks, guns, munitions and much more. Towards the end of the war the Black Country became one huge munitions works!Some of the greatest changes were societal, women's role changed massively. Wider social change involved the first steps towards equality between the sexes. By 1918 women could vote and stand as MPs. At work, women became clerks, tram drivers, munitions workers and more. With so many men away, without women the war could not have been won.This was the first modern conflict, truly the First World War, where troops globally converged, mainly on France and Belgium, to fight a common enemy. It began in August 1914 amid much excitement and the initial months saw the British Army grow hugely. There were those who did not want to fight, their circumstances will be examined, as well as methods used to 'encourage' them to sign up.The war developed into trench warfare, with heavy casualties, vastly more than thought imaginable. Most Black Country families lost one or more of their loved ones; but there was little time to mourn; in many cases reports were not made public for some time; a well-oiled propaganda machine saw that news did not seriously damage morale.In 1916 war came to the Black Country through a Zeppelin raid. Its affect was devastating and impacted widely as restrictions were placed on lighting and other measures to minimise the effects of probable future raids. By 1917 the Black Country had to cope with more wounded from the front line. Hospitals were full and further measures were needed to accommodate our returning injured heroes. Treatment, feeding and entertainment for the wounded are all examined. Indeed, generally food supply was of concern from day one of the war. Prices rose, supply became short, there were riots protesting about 'profiteering' and eventually rationing was imposed. Alcohol supply was strictly controlled, pubs closed for a period during the day, to stop essential workers neglecting their duties. This change illustrates how life in Britain changed; it was the 1980s before this restriction on pub opening hours was finally lifted.By 1917 the war became a marathon, with no end in sight. The Government sought innovative means to raise money and the Black Country played its part in supporting those initiatives. Local charities raised funds through events including football matches, ftes, collections and more to provide money for good causes. Parcels to prisoners of war, troops serving at the front and the wounded were all catered for. Christmas traditions were preserved, mainly for the children, with parties for those whose father was away at war.
The Black Flower: A Novel of the Civil War
by Howard BahrA Confederate soldier confronts the horror of battle and the power of grace in this &“poignant, haunting, and important&” novel of the Civil War (The Tennessean, Nashville). A New York Times Notable Book and Winner of the William Boyd Award for Best Military Novel In November 1864, Gen. John Bell Hood&’s Army of Tennessee prepares to launch an assault on Union forces near Franklin, Tennessee. Dirty, exhausted, and hungry, the Confederate soldiers form a line of battle across an open field. Among them stands Pvt. Bushrod Carter, a twenty-six-year-old rifleman from Cumberland, Mississippi. Against all odds, Bushrod has survived three years of war unscathed—but his luck is about to run out. Wounded in the battle, Bushrod is taken to a makeshift hospital on a nearby plantation. There, he falls under the care of Anna Hereford, who bears her own scars from years of relentless bloodshed and tragedy. In the grisly aftermath of one of the Confederate army&’s most disastrous campaigns, Anna and Bushrod seek salvation and understanding in each other. Their fragile bond carries with it the hope of a life beyond the war, and the risk of a pain too devastating to endure. Written with profound empathy and meticulous attention to historical detail, The Black Flower brilliantly portrays the staggering human toll of America&’s bloodiest conflict. In his award-winning debut novel, &“Howard Bahr casts a tale of war as powerful as any you&’ll ever find&” (Southern Living).
The Black Hawk: Spymaster 4 (Spymaster)
by Joanna BourneJoanna Bourne returns to the French Revolution, pairing espionage and burning romance to create an unforgettable love story. For fans of Stephanie Laurens, Elizabeth Hoyt and Poldark, this is a must-read.He is her enemy. He is her lover. He is her only hope.Someone is stalking agent Justine DeCabrillac through London's grey streets. Under the cover of rain, the assassin strikes - and Justine staggers to the door of the one man who can save her. The man she once loved. And the man she hated: Adrian Hawkhurst.Adrian wanted the treacherous beauty known as 'Owl' back in his bed, but not wounded and clinging to life. Now, as he helps her heal, the two must learn to trust each other to confront the hidden menace that's trying to kill them - and survive long enough to explore the passion simmering between them once again...For more spellbinding Spymasters romance, look for the other titles by Joanna Bourne: The Forbidden Rose, The Spymaster's Lady, My Lord and Spymaster, and Rogue Spy.
The Black Joke: The True Story of One Ship's Battle Against the Slave Trade
by A.E. RooksA groundbreaking history of the Black Joke, the most famous member of the British Royal Navy&’s anti-slavery squadron, and the long fight to end the transatlantic slave trade.The most feared ship in Britain&’s West Africa Squadron, His Majesty&’s brig Black Joke was one of a handful of ships tasked with patrolling the western coast of Africa in an effort to end hundreds of years of global slave trading. Sailing after the spectacular fall of Napoleon in France, yet before the rise of Queen Victoria&’s England, Black Joke was first a slaving vessel itself, and one with a lightning-fast reputation; only a lucky capture in 1827 allowed it to be repurposed by the Royal Navy to catch its former compatriots. Over the next five years, the ship&’s diverse crew and dedicated commanders would capture more ships and liberate more enslaved people than any other in the Squadron. Now, author A.E. Rooks chronicles the adventures on this ship and its crew in a brilliant, lively narrative of the history of Britain&’s suppression efforts. As Britain slowly attempted to snuff out the transatlantic slave trade by way of treaty and negotiation, enforcing these policies fell to the Black Joke and those that sailed with it as they battled slavers, weather disasters, and interpersonal drama among captains and crew that reverberated across oceans. In this history of the daring feats of a single ship, the abolition of the international slave trade is revealed as an inexplicably extended exercise involving tense negotiations between many national powers, both colonizers and formerly colonized, that would stretch on for decades longer than it should have. Harrowing and heartbreaking, The Black Joke is a crucial and deeply compelling work of history, both as a reckoning with slavery and abolition and as a lesson about the power of political will—or the lack thereof.
The Black Mountains (The Hillsbridge Sagas)
by Janet TannerA family of nine works to get by as the Great War looms over their English coal-mining town in this &“sensitive and exceptionally polished&” novel (Manchester Evening News). The Hall family lives under the brooding shadow of the Black Mountains, in the mining town of Hillsbridge. Charlotte, James, and their seven children are independent spirits, but united by strong family bonds. Living in a coal mining community is never easy, and when the shadow of impending war threatens, they must pull together to face the hardship to come. Can this close-knit family overcome whatever tragedy life throws at them? And is there hope for a life beyond this valley one day? The Black Mountains is the first novel in Janet Tanner&’s moving saga of love, happiness, and heartbreak in the early years of the twentieth century. Praise for the writing of Janet Tanner: &“A pleasure to read.&” —Booklist &“This well-told story holds the reader&’s attention.&” —Publishers Weekly
The Black Obelisk
by Erich Maria Remarque Denver LindleyFrom the author of the masterpiece All Quiet on the Western Front, The Black Obelisk is a classic novel of the troubling aftermath of World War I in Germany.A hardened young veteran from the First World War, Ludwig now works for a monument company, selling stone markers to the survivors of deceased loved ones. Though ambivalent about his job, he suspects there's more to life than earning a living off other people's misfortunes.A self-professed poet, Ludwig soon senses a growing change in his fatherland, a brutality brought upon it by inflation. When he falls in love with the beautiful but troubled Isabelle, Ludwig hopes he has found a soul who will offer him salvation--who will free him from his obsession to find meaning in a war-torn world. But there comes a time in every man's life when he must choose to live--despite the prevailing thread of history horrifically repeating itself."The world has a great writer in Erich Maria Remarque. He is a craftsman of unquestionably first rank, a man who can bend language to his will. Whether he writes of men or of inanimate nature, his touch is sensitive, firm, and sure."--The New York Times Book Review
The Black Officer Corps: A History of Black Military Advancement from Integration through Vietnam
by Isaac Hampton IIThe U.S. Armed Forces started integrating its services in 1948, and with that push, more African Americans started rising through the ranks to become officers, although the number of black officers has always been much lower than African Americans’ total percentage in the military. Astonishingly, the experiences of these unknown reformers have largely gone unexamined and unreported, until now. The Black Officer Corps traces segments of the African American officers’ experience from 1946-1973. From generals who served in the Pentagon and Vietnam, to enlisted servicemen and officers' wives, Isaac Hampton has conducted over seventy-five oral history interviews with African American officers. Through their voices, this book illuminates what they dealt with on a day to day basis, including cultural differences, racist attitudes, unfair promotion standards, the civil rights movement, Black Power, and the experience of being in ROTC at Historically Black Colleges. Hampton provides a nuanced study of the people whose service reshaped race relations in the U.S. Armed Forces, ending with how the military attempted to control racism with the creation of the Defense Race Relations Institute of 1971. The Black Officer Corps gives us a much fuller picture of the experience of black officers, and a place to start asking further questions.
The Black Pearl: The Morland Dynasty, Book 5 (Morland Dynasty #5)
by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles1659: Cromwell's protectorate is drawing to a close, and the restoration of the monarchy can only improve the fortunes of the Morland family.The years of civil war and their aftermath have left Morland Place in dire straits, but with the return of the King, Ralph Morland believes he can rebuild the family estates. For his beautiful and ambitious cousin, Annunciata, the Restoration means a journey to London - one that leads to the amours and intrigues of Charles's court and to the unlocking of her mysterious past.A new and kinder age is dawning - a time for healing wounds - but more uncertainty, conflict and sorrow await both Ralph and Annunciata before they can find peace and forgiveness...
The Black Pearl: The Morland Dynasty, Book 5 (Morland Dynasty #5)
by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles1659: Cromwell's protectorate is drawing to a close, and the restoration of the monarchy can only improve the fortunes of the Morland family. The years of civil war and their aftermath have left Morland Place in dire straits, but with the return of the King, Ralph Morland believes he can rebuild the family estates. For his beautiful and ambitious cousin, Annunciata, the Restoration means a journey to London - one that leads to the amours and intriges of Charles's court and to the unlocking of her mysterious past.A new and kinder age is dawning - a time for healing wounds - but more uncertainty, conflict and sorrow await both Ralph and Annunciata before they can find peace and forgiveness.
The Black Prince and King Jean II of France: Generalship in the Hundred Years War
by Peter HoskinsThis study of Medieval military leadership offers a critical comparison of two great rivals of the Hundred Year War.Known to history as The Black Prince, Edward of Woodstock led the English army to victory at the Battle of Poitiers against the French King Jean II. With an illuminating analysis of these fourteenth century commanders, historian Peter Hoskins examines the importance of leadership, strategic vision, and tactical skill in medieval warfare. Paying close attention to their strengths and weaknesses as soldiers, both on campaign and on the battlefield, Hoskins also considers their contrasting characters and backgrounds as well as the military traditions of their time.The Black Prince was one of the most admired generals of his generation: a charismatic leader, decisive commander, and shrewd tactician and strategist. In contrast King Jean was impulsive, driven more by pride than by strategic priorities. When he was put to the ultimate test at Poitiers, Jean lost control of his army. Meanwhile, the Black Prince took the initiative personally to secure victory against the odds.Peter Hoskins analyses the leadership qualities of the prince and the king according to the principles of war enunciated by Sun Tzu and Vegetius as well as the modern principles of war of the United Kingdom armed forces. He gives readers a fascinating insight into the nature of command and the conduct of war in the Middle Ages.
The Black Prince and the Capture of a King: Poitiers 1356
by Morgen Witzel Marilyn Livingstone<p>This “taut narrative” of the fourteenth-century conflict between England and France offers “a detailed, climactic account of a legendary battle” (Publishers Weekly).<p> <p>The epic fourteenth-century Battle of Poitiers marked a major turn in the Hundred Years’ War between England and France. Prince Edward, known to all as the Black Prince, not only won a surprising victory in his first campaign as commander, but managed the nearly impossible feat of taking the French monarch, King Jean II, prisoner.<p> <p>In the summer of 1356, Prince Edward drove toward the Loire Valley, deep in French territory. There, he met the full French army led by King Jean and a number of French nobles, including veterans of the defeat at Crécy ten years before. Outnumbered, the Prince fell back, but in September, he turned near the city of Poitiers to make a stand.<p> <p>Historians Witzel and Livingstone provide a day-by-day description of the campaign of July to September 1356, climaxing with a vivid description of the Battle of Poitiers itself. The detailed account and analysis of the battle and the campaigns that led up to it has a strong focus on the people involved in the campaign: ordinary men-at-arms and noncombatants, as well as princes and nobles.<p>
The Black Prince: England's Greatest Medieval Warrior
by Michael JonesThe remarkable and inspiring story of one of the greatest warrior-princes of the Middle Ages—and an unforgettably vivid portrait of warfare and chivalry in the fourteen century. As a child he was given his own suit of armor; at the age of sixteen, he helped defeat the French at Crécy. At Poitiers, in 1356, his victory over King John II of France forced the French into a humiliating surrender that marked the zenith of England’s dominance in the Hundred Years War. As lord of Aquitaine, he ruled a vast swathe of territory across the west and southwest of France, holding a magnificent court at Bordeaux that mesmerized the brave but unruly Gascon nobility and drew them like moths to the flame of his cause. He was Edward of Woodstock, eldest son of Edward III, and better known to posterity as “the Black Prince.” His military achievements captured the imagination of Europe: heralds and chroniclers called him “the flower of all chivalry” and “the embodiment of all valor.” But what was the true nature of the man behind the chivalric myth, and of the violent but pious world in which he lived? This exemplary new history uses contemporary chronicles plus a wide range of documentary material—including the Prince's own letters and those of his closest followers—to tell the tale of an authentic English hero and to paint a memorable portrait of society in the tumultuous fourteenth century.
The Black Regiment Of The American Revolution
by Linda Brennan Cheryl NollThe heroism of America's first Black Regiment during the Revolutionary War is well documented by author Linda Crotta Brennan. Artist Cheryl Kirk Noll complements Brennan's text with large, colorful, detailed illustrations.
The Black Rose
by Thomas B. CostainTHE BLACK ROSE sprang out of Thomas B. Costain’s fascination for two magnificent figures of the 13th century who lived at opposite ends of the world: Bayan of the Hundred Eyes, the greatest, most colourful general of the Mongol armies, and Roger Bacon, the most famous of the early scientists. To fill in the background with authentic details, Mr. Costain read or consulted over 500 books as well as numerous documents and diaries. He even employed a Chinese scholar and a research worker who could read medieval Latin and French.But when he came to weave his tale around the real people and events, he found his characters running away with the story and turning history into high adventure and romance. The result is a superb love story bridging East and West and filled with the tang of the most sought-after spice in the Orient, the black rose.
The Black Scorpions: Serving with the 64th Fighter Squadron in World War II
by James A. Lynch Gregory Lynch Jr."This book richly details life in a fighter squadron. Readers will learn new details and gain a better understanding of the daily experience outside of the intense combat environment. It is well worth reading this contribution to World War II oral history." —The Journal of America's Military PastOn December 6, 1941, despite his objections, James Lynch was discharged from the Army for being over age in grade. After the terrible events at Pearl Harbor, James Lynch was recalled to duty. Within a month he was part of the Air Corps, involved in a secret project to send air support to help General Montgomery and the Eighth Army. He joined the nucleus of officers in charge of the 64th Fighter Squadron, 57th Fighter Group. For the next 33 months, he fought across the top of Africa and then up through Italy. The 57th Fighter Group arrived in Egypt just in time for the battle at El Alamein. How the United States was able to get the pink-winged P-40s to the battlefield baffled the Germans for many years. The Black Scorpions chased the Afrika Corps across the top of Africa, culminating in the Palm Sunday massacre where the Squadron helped shoot down 74 planes in a single engagement. For the Italian campaign, the Black Scorpions switched from P-40s to P-47s, changing from fighters to bombers and disrupting the German and Italian lines up the Italian Peninsula. Through all the battles, including a battle with an erupting Mount Vesuvius, James Lynch kept an unauthorized diary. He also collected daily intelligence reports, newspaper stories, souvenirs, pictures, and letters from home. After the war he reminisced with fellow soldiers about their experiences, and eventually felt it was time to write the story of the Black Scorpions—this book is the result.
The Black Sheep: The Definitive History of Marine Fighting Squadron 214 in World War II
by Bruce GambleWith their renowned squadron leader Greg "Pappy" Boyington, Marine Fighting Squadron (VMF) 214 was one of the best-known and most colorful combat units of World War II. The popular television series Baa Baa Black Sheep added to their legend--while obscuring the truly remarkable combat record of the Black Sheep and Boyington. A retired naval flight officer and former historian for the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, Bruce Gamble provides a highly readable account that serves to both correct and extend the record of this premier fighting force.
The Black Ship (Pen And Sword Military Classics Ser.)
by Dudley PopeA detailed account of the bloodiest mutiny in the history of the Royal Navy, from the author of the Lord Ramage novels. Dudley Pope meticulously recounts the butchering of the officers aboard His Majesty&’s Frigate Hermione in the West Indies in 1797. The captain of the frigate, Hugh Pigot, was a brutal and sadistic commander who flogged his men mercilessly and drove them beyond the limits of endurance. However, nothing could excuse the slaughter of guilty and innocent officers alike as the mutineers went wild and committed crimes beyond anything Pigot could have dreamed up. Not content with that, they then took the ship into an enemy port and gave her up to the Spanish who, unaware of the true facts for some time, nevertheless greeted them with the contempt they deserved. The Spanish took the ship into their service but, due to an amazing episode of red tape and internal wrangling, never actually got the frigate to sea. Meanwhile, the Royal Navy relentlessly hunted down the mutineers over the next ten years, and of the 33 either caught or who gave themselves up, 24 were either hanged and hung in chains upon gibbets, or transported for life… The events culminate with the daring re-capture of the Hermione under the guns of Spanish forts, with Captain Edward Hamilton leading 100 English sailors in six open boats in one of the most brilliant cutting-out expeditions in naval history.&“Hiding high drama behind harsh fact, this true tale of horror and adventure at sea will appeal to naval buffs and historians; romantically-minded landlubbers may object to its factual flavor.&” —Kirkus Reviews
The Black Shrike
by Alistair MacLeanRESEARCH SCIENTISTS needed for rocket project overseas. Top priority work, highest salaries. Box 141. * * * Eight famous scientists answered the ad. Eight left England for Australia. None arrived or were heard from again. The ninth who answered was Bentall, complete with a scientific cover and a girl named Marie, a secret agent like himself. From the moment they were kidnapped at gunpoint from their Fiji hotel, they were plunged into a fantastic plot for world domination, played out on a secret missile site on a remote Polynesian island.
The Black Soldier: 1492 to the Present
by Catherine ClintonBlack soldiers have fought and died in the Americas for centuries, an unbroken chain of warriors stretching back nearly five hundred years. Yet their contribution to our nation's history has been neglected, and the battles they've had to fight against racism and prejudice have often been as challenging as facing the enemy on the field of battle. In this exciting story of African American heroism, Catherine Clinton traces the history of the black soldier, from the first African explorers who accompanied Columbus to African Americans who took up arms in the American Revolution and the Civil War, to those who served their country from the Montana frontier to the sands of Desert Storm. Their heroic tales show that while black soldiers were once systematically ignored in the armed forces, earning little praise and often dying for a nation that granted them few rights, with each successive opportunity to prove themselves in combat and in the ranks, black men and women have risen to the occasion and distinguished themselves. Ultimately it was the sacrifices of these valiant soldiers that led to today's fully integrated armed services.
The Black Swan of Paris: A Novel
by Karen Robards“A truly outstanding novel.”—Heather Morris, #1 bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz“Emotional and powerful.”—Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Girls of ParisFrom New York Times bestselling author Karen Robards comes one of the most anticipated novels of the summer…A world at war. A beautiful young star. A mission no one expected.Paris, 1944Celebrated singer Genevieve Dumont is both a star and a smokescreen. An unwilling darling of the Nazis, the chanteuse’s position of privilege allows her to go undetected as an ally to the resistance.When her estranged mother, Lillian de Rocheford, is captured by Nazis, Genevieve knows it won’t be long before the Gestapo succeeds in torturing information out of Lillian that will derail the upcoming allied invasion. The resistance movement is tasked with silencing her by any means necessary—including assassination. But Genevieve refuses to let her mother become yet one more victim of the war. Reuniting with her long-lost sister, she must find a way to navigate the perilous cross-currents of Occupied France undetected—and in time to save Lillian’s life.For fans of The Nightingale, The Women in the Castle and The Lost Girls of Paris, this exquisite novel illuminates three women’s strength, courage and capacity for unconditional love.
The Black Swan of Paris: The heart-breaking, gripping historical thriller for fans of Heather Morris
by Karen RobardsA world at war. A beautiful young star. A mission no one expected.'A truly outstanding novel, brilliantly written, that captured me and held me in its grip from page one. The Black Swan of Paris reminds us of the power of love, hope and courage'Heather Morris, #1 bestselling author of The Tattooist of AuschwitzParis, 1944Celebrated singer Genevieve Dumont is both a star and a smokescreen. An unwilling darling of the Nazis, her position of privilege allows her to go undetected as an ally to the resistance.When her estranged mother, Lillian de Rocheford, is captured by Nazis, Genevieve is shaken. She knows it won't be long before the Gestapo succeeds in torturing information out of Lillian that will derail the upcoming allied invasion. The resistance movement is tasked with silencing her by any means necessary - including assassination.But Genevieve refuses to let her mother become yet one more victim of the war. Reuniting with her long-lost sister, she must find a way to navigate the perilous cross-currents of Occupied France undetected - and in time to save Lillian's life.For fans of Danielle Steele's The Spy, Jane Thynne's Black Roses and Heather Morris' The Tattooist of Auschwitz, this exquisite novel illuminates three women's strength, courage and capacity for unconditional love.PRAISE FOR THE BLACK SWAN OF PARIS'Emotional and powerful'Pam Jenoff, bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris'Beautifully written and completely absorbing. 'Noelle Salazar, bestselling author of The Flight Girls'An extraordinarily suspenseful, emotional read'Kelly Rimmer, bestselling author of The Things We Cannot SayReader Reviews:'Perfect! This novel was the first I've read by this author but I will definitely be reading more of her work. It was pacy, exciting, heart-breaking in places, with a truly believable romance sub-plot that was centred around characters I cared about.''A high octane read which is a real page turner and captures the heightened tension of the war perfectly. A brilliant read that I would recommend.''This is an excellent WWII historical fiction novel and it is for anyone that loves a good plot, suspense, and anyone that loves to read about the impressive underdog of the Resistance in France during the Occupation.'Robards paints a beautiful capture of the true Parisian Paris during WWII. Her first historical fiction should be praised for the attention to detail, emotional and action packed novel.'