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  • When We Were Brave

  • A Completely Gripping and Emotional WW2 Historical Novel
  • Written by: Suzanne Kelman
  • Narrated by: Alison Campbell
  • Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (57 ratings)

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When We Were Brave

Written by: Suzanne Kelman
Narrated by: Alison Campbell
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Publisher's Summary

The face of the woman in the photograph was tilted upwards, as if enjoying the sunshine just for a moment, even as the wreckage of the bombed-out street lay behind her...

Cornwall, 1944: Blinded by love, Vivienne Hamilton eloped to Paris with a Nazi prisoner-of-war, never to be seen again. A disgrace to her family, her name would not be mentioned by any of her relatives for over 75 years.

Present day, London: When Sophie discovers a photograph of her great aunt Vivi from World War II, it throws her into a world of confusion. Because, as she learns about this secret relative, she quickly realizes that the photograph doesn’t fit with her family’s story. It shows Vivi leaving an address associated with a spy network in London - a place she had no reason to be - and it is dated right before she disappeared.

Meanwhile Sophie’s own life feels as blasted and bombed as the blitzed city in the photograph she’s looking at. Her beautiful daughter - as full of joy and wild energy as Vivi had apparently once been - is gone; and Sophie’s heart has been left broken into pieces.

Retreating to the family home in rural Cornwall to seek solace from her pain and the feelings of guilt that she could have done more to protect her daughter, Sophie finds herself becoming obsessed with Vivi’s life.

But nothing can prepare Sophie for what she is about to uncover - the story of a woman who risked everything for the person she loved the most; and a secret family history that could be the key to Sophie’s own future.

A powerful, haunting and unforgettable audiobook about love, heartbreak and betrayal set in World War II Britain and France. Perfect for fans of The Nightingale, Under a Scarlet Sky, and My Name is Eva.

Listeners love Suzanne Kelman:

"A heart-wrenching story of ordinary people elevated to the realm of heroes through love and sacrifice...It is an emotional journey of heartache and love that will leave you in tears. One of the finest books I have ever read." (NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars)

"Oh my goodness! Evocatively unsettling yet hauntingly beautiful...the story is incredibly powerful...I read this book with bated breath. I cried, I grieved and I hoped...I was left both heartbroken and satisfied. Suzanne Kelman...has floored me with this book." (Robin Loves Reading, 5 stars)

"A captivating story of love, friendships and hope for the future. It’s written with such depth that the characters and settings come alive before your eyes." (Chells and Books, 5 stars)

"Heartbreaking...Make sure to have your box of tissues at the ready while you read this beautifully told story!" (Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars)

©2020 Suzanne Kelman (P)2020 Bookouture
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What listeners say about When We Were Brave

Average Customer Ratings
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when we were brave

I enjoyed this book very much. I've always admired the courage that these heroes had to fight for the cause and so unselfishly. I loved that were 2 main characters, so was easy to stay interested.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Highly inspirational

I loved this story, it kept me captivated and I finished it sooner than I wanted because I didn’t want it to end! The reader is very easy to listen to and the story, based around actually events was inspiring. May I have the courage to be so brave when called upon as these characters were.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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OUTSTANDING

Loved this story. The romance and the detail of living through the war. The courage of the characters and the impact of their actions on generations after them.
The narration was beautiful and delicate and the accents carried me away to different countries.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing Narrator

This story was captivating. The Narrator did an outstanding job bringing the various characters to life. I honestly forgot that it was one narrator because the story was so descriptive and A. Campbell embodied each moment.

The story is a great telling of one vital moment that really could have changed our modern world.

I'll be exploring this author further, as well as the narrator. Both were outstanding.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent narration, gripping story

This story really makes you think about the sacrifices made by all the men and women that didn’t pick up arms and do the physical fighting. They lived, and died, in secrecy. No medals, no commendations. But their sacrifice is every bit as brave and tragic. I’m sure there are many families that never got the closure they deserved. I recommend this book and I think you will really enjoy it. 

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Heartbreaking and heartwarming all in one

This story will captivate you from the beginning. Keep you wondering which side they were on and you f they were good or evil. The back an forth between today and yesteryear is done without confusion and makes the story that much more relatable. I couldn’t stop listening. Not a story to listen to if you hope to fall asleep 🥰

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Very nice story line

Loved story line, very good
Time to write a story
Narrator was very easy to under stand

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Pretty good story

A gripping story that ends well for some and a little less for others. It was a little slow until the middle of the story. Then, it accelerated. It seemed that some additional details about the execution would have been necessary. I was a little surprised to hear that Max and Vivian were buried in Normandy. It did not seem right.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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Potentially interesting but…

Regrettably this novel suffered from inadequate editing. The ‘romantic’ scenes were in need of the most attention. The story line would have stood on its own with careful thought and more attention to the role of SOE in WW2.

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1 person found this helpful