Found it difficult to read, Have read much historical fiction and did not finish this book. I would not recommend this book for purchase or a book club.

As this book was based on a real person I was excited to be given the chance to read it .The book is well written, keeping me in suspense wondering if Nancy is going to survive. She was a really brave person during the second world war working against the Gestapo. I did not realise how brave she was and learned a lot about the war.. I recommend that you read this book.

I have just finished Madame Fiocca, and I'm stunned. There are some books that, when you've finished them, you pick up the next one and start reading.
This is not one of those books. I'm going to have to sit with it and mull it over for a week or so, just to take it all on board. I suspect I'll go back and re-read it several time, in order to do it justice.

I wanted to read this book because as a woman in New Zealand, I've grown up hearing about Nancy Wake and her work with the French Resistance in World War Two. In fact, when I mentioned the book while I was reading it, every single Kiwi knew exactly who I was talking about.
What I didn't realise was what an amazing woman she was before the war started. And of course the sheer magnitude of what she'd done and survived during the war.

Suzy Henderson has done a great job of portraying Nancy - to the point where I was surprised to learn that the author wasn't Australian or a New Zealander.

Usually I skip over the battle scenes - I struggle to picture what's going on and follow along with it. But the way this book was written, it was as if I was right there, looking over her shoulder and seeing everything firsthand.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. But I will recommend it far and wide.

A stunning novelized bio on Allied spy Nancy Wake, once #1 on the Gestapo’s most wanted list.

What sets this apart from all the other books on Wake is the author’s engaging writing style and her imagined take on Nancy’s rich inner life. Henderson adds emotional depth that endears Wake forever to us.

You will be inspired, heartbroken, and left asking the question: “Could I do what Nancy did?”

Pub Date 13 Dec 2019

Thanks to BooksGoSocial, the author and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#MadameFiocca #NetGalley

Based on a true story, the life of Nancy Wake is well explored in this historical book. Working against the Nazis during WWII, she was a freedom fighter for the French Resistance, a journalist, and so much more. Well written and compelling.

Fascinating story based on the life of Nancy Wake, the resistance fighter. A British journalist who covered stories throughout Europe and met people involved with the French resistance against the Nazis.

"Nothing was certain, but the present moment was perfect."

Brave, independent woman. This was another late read until the end! Suzy Henderson did a fantastic job on this must read novel! I will be reading more from her.

Thank you to publisher and NetGalley for the eARC

Delightful yet heart wrenching novel , my first and not my last by this author, never a dull moment in this book.

Knowing this heart-stopping book is actually based on the life of Nancy Wake, AKA The White Mouse, who was wanted by the Gestapo in France during World War 2 made it even more exhilarating. What an amazingly brave woman she was...I can’t believe I have never heard of her before. I fell in love with Nancy from the start when she became the target of her mother’s anger over her own frustrating life. Nancy luckily escaped her mother’s negativity and decided to become a journalist. In her quest to cover stories throughout Europe she met the love of her life, Henri Fiocca. Eventually she and Henri married and met many people involved with the French resistance. Nancy was a very active participant in the resistance, leading many others to escape eminent capture by the Nazis. As she became more and more involved the risks to her and Henri increased. The harrowing events Nancy was faced with and her incredible intelligence, leadership, and bravery are so inspirational to read. Well done Suzy Henderson. I look forward to reading The Beauty Shop and the next books you write. You have a new fan. Many thanks to Suzy Henderson, Avis Press, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read this phenomenal biography of Nancy Wake. You made her come alive within the pages of this incredible read.

True story meets fiction in this novel regarding Nancy Wake. Her story is told across her lifetime with plenty of drama and intrigue. What do you do when you are the most wanted person by the Gestapo In World War II France? Nancy must make some huge decisions along the way and has to battle with doing what was right and what her heart desired

An Independent Woman

This book tells the story of Nancy Wake. Later after she married Henri Fiocca she became known as Madame Fiocca. She was known to the Nazi's as The White Mouse. She devoted most of her life to resisting the Nazi's, helping others escape from them and the spread of their terror. She won many awards for her bravery, lost her husband to the Nazi's and kept on going.

She was an independent woman excelling in all that she attempted. She had an exciting , challenging and sometimes tragic life. Whether she was driving ambulance, working as a reporter or as a soldier in the French Resistance she did her job well and in style. She was a most courageous and accomplished woman.
This book was well written and enjoyable to read. While some biographies are dry or boring this was not. This book was a page turner and exciting to the end.

I would recommend this book.

Thanks to Suzy Henderson, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review a copy of the book.

This is a fascinating story about a marvelously fascinating woman. Author Suzy Henderson has done a wonderful job in this brilliant telling of the story of Nancy Wake. You'll be enthralled as as you read this well written biography of of the young woman who became Madam Fiocca. Her life is truly the story that begged telling and I am so glad that I had the privilege of reading the story of this incredible woman who sacrificed so much with such unfathomable risk to herself, to help others during the war. She was indeed a legend in her own time. Thank you so much Suzy for shining the light on this amazing woman's life and for doing it so brilliantly.

This book was gripping and intense and kept me wanting more with each page flipped. I absolutely loved the story of Madame Fiocca!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Suzy Henderson for giving me the change to read her new book: Madame Fiocca and I enjoyed reading her previous book: The Beauty Shop.

February 1933, when Nancy Wake is sent a cheque by her Aunt Hinemona, she decided to grab the opportunity, leave Australia and move to New York. Nancy was born in New Zealand, her family moved to Australia when she was a toddler, she was the youngest child, she had two older brothers and three older sisters. One day Nancy's dad left for work, he never returned and this made her mother a very bitter and angry woman. Being the youngest, Nancy was the main target of her mothers anger, frustration and she's was mean. Nancy left home at 16, she decided to make her own way in life and her mum told her she would never amount to anything.

Nancy decided to see more of the world, she moves on to London and studies journalism. Nancy is friendly, social, enjoys a drink and people like to talk to her. The perfect qualities for a journalist, she starts traveling to Europe on assignments and she meets an older man called Henri Fiocca. He's an industrialist, rich, charming and always seems to have a different beautiful woman hanging off his arm every time Nancy sees him!

Nancy isn't keen to be another of Henri's conquests, but Henri is persistent and soon the sparks are flying between them. Their relationship eventually becomes serious, just as Hitler starts to come to power and Nancy witnesses what the Nazi's do and she's horrified. Nancy and Henri marry, she, Henri and her dog Picon move into their beautiful apartment in Marseille. Nancy soon becomes bored, she starts helping the cause, dropping off notes, catching trains and visiting people. She sees it all as pretty harmless, Henri warns her to be careful, then war starts and Henri is sent his call up papers.

Nancy is determined to help the war effort, she joins the Red Cross as an ambulance driver and she is horrified by what she witnesses. This war is ruthless, women, children and old people are traveling on the French roads trying to get to a safe place are all easy targets. The German planes fly over spraying them with bullets, this makes Nancy sick to the stomach, she hates Hitler and the Nazi's with a burning passion.

A chance encounter with a British officer draws Nancy into the heart of the Garrow escape network and Henri’s is very worried about his wife's safety. Nancy armed with her beauty, style, charm, handbag and red lippie, she convinces Henri that the Germans will never suspect her? But soon she finds herself caught up in a ruthless game of espionage, it's dangerous, she can be betrayed at anytime, she's forced to flee France when she starts to be followed and leaving Henri behind.

Nancy spends five months doing intense training to become a secret agent, soon she's on a plane called the Liberator and being dropped by a silk parachute into France. Nancy becomes a freedom fighter, she joins the French resistance, here they form units, train in using all kinds of weapons, the plan is to drive the Germans army crazy, create a diversion, take out as many soldiers as they can and cause mayhem. Nancy Wake ends up being one of the most wanted women in history, the German army had a million Franc's as a reward for her capture during WW II and her story is real one.

Nancy Wake is a true heroine, she had many titles, her husband Henri called her Nannie, she had various code names and one being Madame Andree. The German's called her the White Mouse, she outwitted them, they underestimated her, she was ruthless, cunning, strong, brave, she wanted France to be free from the German armies control and be reunited with her beloved Henri?

I really enjoyed reading Madame Fiocca, if you like reading historical WW II fiction I highly recommend this book, all opinions expressed in this review are my own and I gave it five big stars.

I absolutely loved this incredible account of a legendary woman—Madame Fiocca. The story was gripping, one that will stay with me for quite some time. Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.