Paris, 1940: Sisters Justine and Ève Beaufort are close, Justine dreams of being a fashion designer and Ève is waiting to be accepted to study scienceParis, 1940: Sisters Justine and Ève Beaufort are close, Justine dreams of being a fashion designer and Ève is waiting to be accepted to study science at Sorbonne University.
Like all Parisians they were devastated when the Germans invaded France, their mother is busy knitting socks for the young men who fought for France and are now prisoners of war. One day Ève is in the garden when she hears a car door slam, she thinks nothing of it until a German officer arrives and his name is Major Saxe-Mullenheim, he’s seizing art and valuables and young women for himself.
Ève and Justine have no idea that on this day both of their lives will change, after a devastating attack, Justine and Ève find themselves separated from each other and on opposite sides of the war.
While one sister fights to survive, the other joins the resistance, and the story is about the price women pay during a war, not only do they lose their country, freedom and used as pawns, many French women became unwilling mistresses of German officers and were constantly threatened and abused.
Sister at War by Jina Bacarr focuses on two young French women, it highlights the power invaders have over them, thousands of women were sexually assaulted, and the French police didn't do anything.
French citizens considered these women to be traitors, which was really unfair, and as if they had a choice. It's not an easy topic to read about, very confronting and upsetting, Ms. Bacarr gives a voice to the countless women who are abused during a war, and I'm keen to read the next book in the series, Sisters of The Resistance and I hope the two sisters are reunited, understand what each has endured and get revenge.
Four stars from me and a really difficult novel to read and it looks the how women are targeted during war, how helpless and ashamed they feel and it's not their fault....more
Reeve Elliot is happily married to her second husband Luke, she has a teenage daughter Bella and works as a high school teacher. Reeve’s mum passed awReeve Elliot is happily married to her second husband Luke, she has a teenage daughter Bella and works as a high school teacher. Reeve’s mum passed away a year ago from dementia, it’s been tough and especially for her dad Martin.
Jessica Williams is a social worker, she finds placements for children stuck in the system and she was a foster child herself. Out of the blue Jess is contacted by Martin Elliot and he's father, he explains she has a half-sister Reeve and Martin is keen for his daughters to meet.
Jess would love be part of a family, her mum died when she was young and she's lonely. The sisters meet, they both have an open mind and hearts and what could possibly go wrong. Reeve has been having issues with her memory, completely forgets what’s she does and people tell her she’s been doing strange things, she’s worried she has dementia like her mum?
The bond between the sisters deepen, but they have no idea that their new sisterhood will be tested in a way they could never have imagined.
Like the characters, while you are reading the narrative you have to try and sort fact from fiction, it’s full of secrets and lies, tragedy and manipulation, you wonder whose been played and controlled and both Reeve and Jessica wondering who they can trust and are they really sisters after all.
This is the third book I have read by Australian author Louise Guy and it kept my interest the whole way through, full of lot of twist and turns, I highly recommend A Family's Trust if you’re looking for a light on thriller to keep you on the edge of your seat and nothing too scary....more
Olivia and Antonia Montgomery felt their parents focused on their younger sister Mandy who has special needs and she always came first. When their dadOlivia and Antonia Montgomery felt their parents focused on their younger sister Mandy who has special needs and she always came first. When their dad passes away, five weeks later their mum Sara isn’t coping, Toni calls Liv to tell her and she returns to Melbourne.
After they tidy up the house, Liv offers to take Mandy back with her to Sydney and give her mum a break. Barb is Liv's neighbour and she offers for Mandy to stay with her while Liv’s at work and they go on adventures together.
When the sisters were in their teens Liv needed a kidney transplant and Toni was her donor, Liv finds herself in a situation where she can repay Toni and give her a gift she and her husband Jack desperately want.
My Sister’s Baby is another emotional and heart rendering story by Louise Guy it raises awareness to issues and situations people have to deal with. Including parents with adult children with disabilities, many don’t get a break and it's exhausting, should they consider placing into a group housing facility, where they learn to live independently, and it’s not an easy choice to make.
Infertility and the toll it takes on a couple, the stress of raising a young baby, despite desperately wanting one and the challenges new mothers face, and nothing can prepare you for parenthood, it takes a village to raise a child and families can come in different forms.
Five stars from me I highly recommend both My Sister's Baby and Louise Guy’s previous book, A Mother’s Betrayal....more