
Books
Late 1942: Hiding the worn piece of paper among her father’s watch deliveries, her eyes fill with tears at the memory of her brave friend walking towards the Nazi soldiers, and the sharp sound of gun fire. Her friend sacrificed herself so that she could deliver this message. But if she hands it over, the love of her life will die…
As her radio crackles with heart-breaking news from occupied France, Valérie Hallez gazes towards the snow-covered Alps after a long day helping her father, a local watchmaker. With a Nazi invasion looming, she is sick with worry for the future of her country, and for Philippe, her childhood sweetheart with soft brown eyes. Valérie might not be able to join the army like him, but she is determined to play her part in the fight against evil…
In defiance of her father, Valérie helps the French Resistance by smuggling messages among her father’s watch deliveries. And when darkness falls, she risks everything to hide Jewish refugee children in his old workshop. Philippe fears for her safety, as her work for the Resistance could come with a heavy price. But nothing will stop her delivering vital information and getting terrified children to safety before they are sent back to the Nazis.
But when Valérie is entrusted with an urgent letter for the Allies, she finds herself in an impossible position. The information it contains could alter the course of the war. But if she hands over the message now, it will cost Philippe his life. With Nazi spies closing in on her, Valérie must act now… But can she really trust the man she loves, and will she find a way to save both him and her country before it’s too late?
Spring 1943: Clinging to her little girl’s hand, a young woman runs through the forest and stumbles in the dark. Behind her there are angry shouts in German and shots ringing through the pine trees. Her heart in her mouth, she prays desperately that her husband and son are safe, and that they will see each other again…
As the mountains come alive with bright alpine flowers, Jewish families flee into Switzerland from Nazi-occupied France. Young Resistance fighter Valérie Hallez has hidden Pierre and his son in the attic of her mother’s bookshop. Pierre tells Valerie of his fear that his precious wife and daughter have been captured and Valerie writes letters to her soldier fiancé Philippe, dreaming of the day when they can be safely reunited.
With the police going door to door hunting for refugees, Pierre and his son must go further into Switzerland before they are caught. But Pierre will not leave without his wife and daughter, and nobody in the Resistance knows what has happened to them. Desperate to reunite the family, Valérie puts herself in more and more danger. But when Philippe discovers that the Germans have her listed as a key Resistance fighter, he begs her not to go back to the border. If she does, he might never see her again.
Valérie knows the Nazis will kill her if they find her, but she cannot bear to abandon the mother and child. Breaking her promise to Philippe, she crosses over into France to look for them. But one of Valérie’s friends in the Resistance is betraying secrets to the Nazis, and her life is in terrible danger. When Philippe hurries to save her life, will they both survive? And will Valérie’s efforts to reunite the family be in vain?
“A completely gripping and heart-wrenching Series about love and bravery in a time of terrible danger.”
Late 1943: ‘Please, you must find a girl called Clara Lieberman and get her out of France!’ cried the woman, her voice breaking in desperation. ‘She’s only thirteen and her parents have been taken to a death camp.’ Clara has information for the Allies that could change the course of the war. Can Valerie save her before it is too late?
Young Resistance fighter Valérie Hallez risks her life daily to help as many Jewish people to flee across the French border into neutral Switzerland as she possibly can. And when she is asked to find orphaned Clara Lieberman and bring her to safety, she learns that the brave young girl has part of a top-secret Nazi document that could change history and bring an end to their tyrannical rule.
But just as Valérie traces Clara to a children’s home, it is raided by German soldiers and Clara goes missing. With her beloved Philippe fighting the Nazis in Italy as he tries to rescue his friend Stefano, Valerie will do whatever she can to find Clara, bring an end to the war and reunite her with her aunt Hannelore.
As the Nazis close in, Valérie receives devastating news from Italy. Finding Clara and Hannelore is Valérie’s only hope of helping the Allies to win, her only chance for a better future. Can she put her own heartbreak aside and risk her life by snatching Clara to safety and going to Paris to find Hannelore and re-unite the Lieberman family?
Valérie has another reason for wanting to find Hannelore, who was her mother's dear friend in Geneva before her death. Will she be able to finally discover the truth about how her mother died and avenge her death?
