An act of love - Carol Drinkwater

Be swept away with this breathtaking and beautifully written wartime romance set deep in the French Alps, from the bestselling author behind Channel 5's Carol Drinkwater's Secret Provence

'A moving story of love and friendship' KATE MOSSE
'Each sentence shimmers' MY WEEKLY
'A virtual hug of a tale' JOANNE HARRIS
'Exciting, evocative' DAILY MAIL
'Emotional and moving' FIONA VALPY
'A beautiful book' WOMAN & HOME, Historical Novels of the Year
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France, 1943.

Forced to flee war ravaged Poland, Sara and her parents are offered refuge in a beautiful but dilapidated house in the French Alps. It seems the perfect hideaway, despite haunting traces of the previous occupants who left in haste.

But shadows soon fall over Sara's blissful summer, and her blossoming romance with local villager Alain. As the Nazis close in, the family is forced to make a harrowing choice that could drive them apart forever, while Sara's own bid for freedom risks several lives . . .

Will her family make it through the summer together?
And can she hold onto the love she has found with Alain?

By turns poignant and atmospheric, this is the compelling new novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Carol Drinkwater about the power of first love and courage in our darkest hours.
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'Romantic, evocative, and pulse racingly dramatic' WENDY HOLDEN

'A moving story of love, friendship and bravery that simply races along' WOMAN'S WEEKLY

'A terrific story . . . skilfully written and heart-rending' MIRIAM MARGOLYES

'I love Carol Drinkwater's writing . . . So evocative of the south of France - you can almost smell the maquis . . . Engrossing' Reader Review

'Carol skilfully draws us in to the beautiful Alpes Maritimes region of France to tell the story of Sara . . . the writing is evocative and Sara's story is both moving and inspiring' Sheila O'Flanagan, bestselling author of The Women Who Ran Away

'Great storyline, great characters. A thoroughly enjoyable read' Reader Review

'I enjoyed it very much . . . it's her best' Elizabeth Buchan, author of The Museum of Broken Promises

'A wonderful, enjoyable novel with courage and survival at its heart' Elizabeth Chadwick, author of The Wild Hunt series

'One not to be missed ... tells a part of history that should never be forgotten' Shirley Dickson, author of The Lost Children

Praise for Carol Drinkwater:

'I was hooked from the start' Dinah Jefferies

'Carol Drinkwater's writing is like taking an amazing holiday in book form' Jenny Colgan

'Beautifully woven and compelling' Rowan Coleman

'Secrets, tragedy, hidden pasts and family secrets - I loved this' Santa Montefiore

Carol Drinkwater is a multi-award-winning actress who is best known for her portrayal of Helen Herriot in the BBC television series All Creatures Great and Small. Her quartet of memoirs set on her olive farm in the south of France have sold over a million copies worldwide and her solo journey round the Mediterranean in search of the olive tree's mythical secrets inspired a five-part documentary film series, The Olive Route. She is also the author of novels The Forgotten Summer, The Lost Girl and The House on the Edge of the Cliff. She lives in the south of France.

A lovely novel. A moving story of love and friendship with a wonderful sense of place
Kate Mosse

An exciting, evocative and beautifully written romance that views the war from an unusual angle
Daily Mail

Carol skilfully draws us in to the beautiful Alpes Maritimes region of France to tell the story of Sara, a Polish refugee who want to live her life her way. The writing is evocative and Sara's story is both moving and inspiring
Sheila O'Flanagan, bestselling author of The Women Who Ran Away

A terrific story [...] skilfully written & heart-rending, we are pulled into the beauty and destruction of the French countryside in WW2, as a young Jewish girl discovers what matters in life & fights for her love & for freedom
Miriam Margolyes

A novel where the quality of the writing matches the intrigue of the story. An Act of Love is a beautiful book and the themes of displacement resonate with contemporary events
Woman & Home, Historical Novels of the Year

An outstanding and beautifully written story and one not to be missed. This compelling and meticulously researched WWII novel tells a part of history that should never be forgotten. Thoroughly recommend
Shirley Dickson, author of The Lost Children

Beautifully written, each sentence provides atmosphere and shimmers in thought-provoking prose
My Weekly

An exciting, evocative and beautifully written romance that views the war from an unusual angle
Daily Mail

I loved An Act of Love: it's a virtual hug of a tale; warm, and engaging, and tender. Just what I needed
Joanne Harris, Sunday Times bestselling author

Romantic, evocative and pulse-racingly dramatic, this novel views the war from an unusual and fascinating angle
Wendy Holden, Sunday Times bestselling author

An emotional and moving read. The beauty of the French landscape contrasts starkly with the fear and oppression of the war years in this story of love, loss and courage
Fiona Valpy, bestselling author of The Beekeeper's Promise

Dramatic and enthralling (...) will encourage emotions to dip and soar as it gives hope even in the darkness
LoveReading

Her detailed research and vivid characters bring an emotional depth to a novel that depicts poignantly a remarkable period of history. An Act of Love is an emotional and compelling novel about the power of first love and friendship . . . could be Drinkwater's best novel yet
Historical Novel Society

I enjoyed it very much. Her portrayal of damaged and fearful teenager is so good and believable ... I longed to be in France. It's her best
Elizabeth Buchan, author of The Museum of Broken Promises

I loved reading An Act of Love. It kept me engaged, fascinated and eager to turn the pages ... It's a wonderful, enjoyable novel with courage and survival at its heart
Elizabeth Chadwick, author of The Wild Hunt series

A moving story of love, friendship and bravery that simply races along
Woman's Weekly

An evocative tale of courage and loss, of secrets and risk, in some of France's darkest days
France Magazine

Accomplished ... the narrative is beautifully paced and clever
Anne Lucey, The Irish Examiner

Included in 'The Hot List'
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Praise for Carol Drinkwater
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