A historical tale worth reading: My review of Flame of Resistance by Tracy Groot

Desperate to survive the Nazi occupation of France, Brigitte Durand has sunk to the depths other woman have had to for millennia, selling her body in an effort to stay alive. As D-day draws near and the Germans, the French resistance, and the Allies all prepare for the invasion, Brigitte is recruited into the resistance efforts. When an American fighter pilot named Tom Jaeger is forced to evacuate his plane while flying over France, he is picked up by the Resistance. Soon, he becomes a key part of their plan to get critical intel about the bridges leading into France from the prostitute Brigitte. Soon Tom and Brigitte are embroiled in a dangerous mission that becomes ever more important as D-day approaches.

Flame of Resistance is a haunting story, one that will both inspire as it recounts the efforts of those who resisted Nazi occupation, while making your heart break for the suffering they endured. The story is fast-paced, with intrigue abounding in the midst of a people struggling to hold on to hope that a new day with dawn. Tracy Groot expertly re-creates the last days of Nazi-occupied France, and brings to life both the indomitable spirit of the French while illuminating the horror that the people experienced as they were starved and persecuted. Brigitte's story is especially heart-breaking is forced to make impossible choices, and ones that cause her fellow country-men to despise her, despite the fact that she became a prostitute solely as a means to survive. What I most found interesting is how author has drawn from the Biblical story of Rahab the prostitute, and how she set that story into the midst of World War II, creating a fascinating, multi-layered read. I have long been a fan of Tracy Groot's novels, and this one definitely lives up to the same caliber as her previous novels such as Madman.

This is a story worth reading, and I award it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Tyndale, for the purposes of this unbiased review.

THE AUTHOR

Tracy Groot