I love a historical novel and couldn’t wait to read the latest novel from Dinah Jefferies, Daughters of War. This is the first book in a brand new sweeping historical series from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author. I read it on my kindle app last week and I couldn’t put it down!
This is the first in an epic new series from the author. I have enjoyed all of the previous books by her so I knew I would like this book too. I read it in a few days as it was easy to read and I liked all the characters. It is a stunning tale of sisters, secrets and bravery in the darkness of war-torn France. The book also features two chapters of the next novel in the sisters’ story, The Hidden Palace, which is published in Autumn 2022!

I’ve read several Dinah Jefferies books and always enjoy them. Daughters of War is no exception. Set towards the end of the second world war in rural France, three sisters must keep moving forward when they see their beloved village turned upside down by events of the occupation.

Helene, Elise and Florence are living in their mother’s family home in a little village called Sainte-Cecile. Helene is the eldest and feels her role to be the protector of the family, Elise takes too many risks and the youngest Florence cooks, gardens and makes their house feel a home. Through the eyes of the three sisters, we meet the other residents of the village, read the gorgeous description of the village itself and the surrounding areas as well as meeting outsiders in which some will be friends and others foes.

There is so much to offer in this novel, once I began reading it, I couldn’t put it down. I needed to know what would happen to the sisters. Would the people that came into their lives help them, hurt them, betray them? The men that became part of their lives, were they genuine or not. There was quite a bit of intrigue, suspense and romance.

Lucky for us this is the first book of a trilogy and I can’t wait to read the second part. I really want to see what happens to these brave sisters and where their roads will lead them after this.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for allowing me to have an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my unbiased review.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read several of Dinah Jefferies’ books and enjoyed each one equally. The setting of Daughters of War though is different, being based in the Frame towards the end of the World War II. It is a saddening tale of the love, loss and determination to survive the horrors of that period. All sisters had endearing characters and the manner in which the author tells the story makes you feel part of the family. I love the way Dinah writes: it’s gentle, empathetic and straightforward, with none of the to’ing and fro’ing so many writers seem to have adopted in their novels. Although a lengthy read, it is engaging and incredibly realistic. As part of a trilogy, Daughters of War can be read as a standalone, however once you have wetted your appetite with the first, I eagerly await the second novel.

Another fantastic historical fictional book from Dinah. The first in a trilogy follows the lives of 3 sisters
In war torn France we experience their lives and that of some of the villagers as the war comes towards a end and the Nazis take over the village and we see who lives who escapes and who dies. Thanks to Dinah Jeffries, her publisher and NetGalley.

Daughters of War by Dinah Jefferies
Rating 4.3/5
In a little stone cottage outside a village in the Dordogne, France in 1944 during the Nazis Occupation, are three sisters who are about to be thrown into the turmoils of the war and a desperate struggle to survive.
Hélène Baudin, the oldest daughter of Claudette and the late Charles Baudin, is left to fend for her two younger sisters after their mother leaves for England. Hélène is now a fully trained nurse working for the village doctor, Hugo Marchand.
Élise, owns the cafe but is helping out the local resistance. She is determined to take a bigger part in bringing an end to the occupation.
Florence, is the homemaker, gardener, herbalist, cook and a daydreamer.
Soon trouble knocks at their door and there is no escaping the repercussions. Dinah Jefferies develops her characters through the tragedies of the war. A heartbreaking page turner. The sacrifices, death and destruction have a heavy impact not only on these three young women but to a lot of people caught up in WWII.
I did think that some of the later love scenes seemed to be an afterthought that, although well written, weren’t balanced. Perhaps, if they had started with Élise it would have flowed better.
A good read and as part of a trilogy I’ll be looking to read the next two books.
My thanks to Dinah Jefferies, HarperCollins and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read Daughters of War.

This book had me from the start, I loved every minute and can not wait till the next one. Perfect summer reading kept me interested

A truly exciting read !! It is a tale of 3 sisters and how the war turns their lives around, more than each of them could ever envision.

Florence the youngest tends to the gardens and livestock and cooks delicious meals. Helene is a nurse and works for the local doctor in a cottage hospital. Elise helps the resistance and runs the village cafe.

A totally engrossing book about how the war affected the village and this family in particular. This book is part of a trilogy and a very exciting read indeed. It kept me coming back to find out what happens next in the story of these 3 sisters. Highly recommended !!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another great story by Dinah Jefferies. I really enjoy her books as the story is always so good, the characters are believable and likable and it always flows well. A perfect book to read when your want to relax for a while.

Wow! I loved this book! I really didn’t want it to finish, so I was very pleased to discover that it’s the first book of a trilogy.
Three sisters who are all very different from each other are trying to live their lives in occupied France during WW2
Helené, the eldest and a nurse has given up her dreams of being a painter to take on the role of mother to her sisters.
Elise is doing all she can to help the resistance and Florence, the youngest and a dreamer stays at home cooking and tending to the garden.
At the start the story is nice and sweet, but then the atrocious actions of the Nazis are described in full. This book is a real eye opener in what the people of France had to live with and how they coped.

A story of German occupation in rural France in the last years of the Second World War as seen through the eyes of three sisters. It brings to life the struggles of ordinary people - the brutality, the shortages and life lived on the edge. The countryside of the Dordogne is vividly described and the dangers faced by the Resistance knowing that terrible reprisals awaited them if caught, and innocent people could pay the price if they were not. All the sisters have different roles, the nurse, cafe owner/ Resistance worker, and the home maker which broadens the scope of the novel. There are secrets to be uncovered, bringing the past to the fore which impacts the present.
This is the first of a trilogy and the next will start as the war is over but it is clear life will be far from normal. Definitely for lovers of historical fiction and I was carried away by the story - so vivid you could almost feel you were there!
Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest opinion.

An excellent account of how the French villages suffered during WW2. Bought to mind the massacre of Oradour sur Glane - the village I have seen than tells of these events. Well written, flowed nicely and characters real. Another triumph for Dinah Jeffries.

Dinah Jeffries is a wonderful author and her latest book does not disappoint.
Set during occupied France in 1944, we follow the lives and loves of 3 sisters.
Historical fiction is my favourite genre and this was beautifully written.
The first in a trilogy - I can’t wait for the next instalment.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have never read any books by Dinah Jeffries, but I enjoyed my first. It's a good story, set in France during World War 2 about three sisters and their lives in occupied France. Easy to read but well written. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dinah Jefferies for an early copy of Daughters at War.

Based in France, 3 sisters live in their mother's house in France, while their widowed mother lives in England.

Florence the youngest tends the gardens, looks after the livestock and cooks delicious meals. Elise helps the resistance and runs the village cafe. Helene works as a nurse for the local doctor and in the cottage hospital .

While Germany occupies the Dordogne the sister's lives change beyond their wildest dreams.

#daughtersofwar #dinahjefferies #wwIifrance

A most interesting and insightful story of life in a backwater of France. The story centres on three young sisters left behind to fend for themselves when their mother leaves them to return to London. Growing up the three young ladies each develop into different roles. The eldest as a mother hen caring for her sisters and getting trained as a nurse to assist the local doctor, the second, more of a tom boy. opens a village café, and the youngest becomes the housekeeper, tending the garden to grow vegetables and looking after the hens and goats and being the general cook and bottle washer. The war makes a rude impact to the idyllic village life, food rationing and the presence of the German occupying army. When threats to loved ones requires action, they cannot but get involved in the dangers and risks of resistance to the occupation. How they manage to survive the war albeit scarred but alive makes a compelling read.

I’ve always enjoyed Dinah’s novels and this one does not disappoint. It’s a brilliant story about three sisters and set in war time. I was on tender hooks wondering how they were going to fare amidst heart wrenching situations- it was written so well I felt I was there experiencing everything with them.

Daughters of War by Dinah Jefferies is the story of the German occupation of France during 1944 and the way it has altered the lives of three sisters.
It highlights the brutality of war and the courage of people struggling to survive.
This is the first book in a trilogy.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a war story with a difference. About 3 sisters it tells of their experiences in France during World War II, their relationships with each other, with the Marquis and their local village. It has both kindness from unexpected sources and great fear. I really enjoyed the book and strongly recommend reading it.

Beautifully written saga by Dinah Jeffries. I have read and enjoyed many of her books and this one did not disappoint. Set in occupied France, the descriptions of the area and the hardships encountered are well written and the three sisters lives believable and plausible. Recommended wholeheartedly.

Daughters of War.
Set in the Dordogne region, Daughters of War tells the story of life in occupied France in 1944. Sisters, Hélène, Elise and Florence Baudin live in the small village of Sainte-Cécile. This is the setting for a wonderful wartime drama where every day, just to be safe is a blessing. This story is full of uncertainty and tension as these three girls try to navigate the world they find themselves in. The descriptions of The Périgord Noir are wonderful but just as equally the horrors of war are tense enough. Overall this is a great story with love and war aplenty. The first of a trilogy I can’t wait for the next instalment. Thank you to #NetGalley and #HarperCollins UK for an advanced copy of this story. 4 stars⭐️ From me.