Bookouture Blog Tour for The French Wife by Ann Bennett

Oooh I loved this novel! It focused on a Amelie, a French woman (with a jerk of a husband) during WWII and her work with the Resistance while also placating the Nazis that have taken over their town. It also parallels with a modern day single woman, Emma, who has bought an empty farmhouse (once belonging to our French wife) and how she works to learn its story.

Soooo good!

Thank you for my copy!

Here’s the scoop:

They thought her husband was a hero. Only she knew the truth…

France 1943: Amelie Garnier loathes the enemy soldiers who occupy their sleepy French village. Forced to work as a secretary for the Nazis, her heart pounds as she speeds through the narrow streets, enemy secrets in her bicycle basket, home to her husband Bruno. Bruno is hailed as a hero for hiding resistance workers in their cellar but only Amelie knows the truth of what goes in their isolated farmhouse. And what danger she is in…

Present day: Longing for a new start away from the tragedy she left in London, Emma arrives at the forlorn honey-coloured farmhouse. Sorting through dusty cupboards, she discovers a sad-eyed wedding photograph of the previous owner, Amelie, and cannot shake the sense that Amelie too has known great grief.

But when she mentions Amelie’s name in the ancient, cobbled square the locals look away and mutter about a devastating betrayal. Emma knows what it feels like to be wrongly judged and is sure she can still feel Amelie’s gentle presence in the rooms of her new home. If Emma brings Amelie’s truth into the light, will she find a path forward from the rawness of her own loss, and hope for a brighter future?

A completely heartbreaking story about bravery and the terrible sacrifice that a heroic woman in war was forced to make. Fans of Kristin Hannah and Fiona Valpy will be swept away by The French Wife.

About the Author:

Ann Bennett is the author of several historical novels about the second world war in South East Asia, inspired by her father’s experience as a prisoner of the Japanese on the Thai-Burma railway. She has a Law degree and works full time as a lawyer, but is fascinated by India and South East Asia. Since her early twenties she has spent as much time as possible travelling in the region. She’s married with three sons and lives in Surrey.