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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
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (54 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

What listeners say about When We Were Brave

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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.

3 people found this helpful

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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.

2 people found this helpful

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  • LK
  • 2022-01-16

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.

1 person found this helpful

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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.

1 person found this helpful

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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

1 person found this helpful

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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 🥰

1 person found this helpful

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  • H.
  • 2022-07-28

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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  • paula wright
  • 2020-04-06

One of THE best ww11 spy novels with 4 main characters

This book grieved me so much and I dare anybody NOT to cry in chapter 25. I never lost interest and it showed what we deem ordinary people taking all types of dangerous chances to live free. Little known resistance groups Regular citizens. It is a great love story on two fronts. But I won’t say more. You will not be disappointed. I already listened to her debut novels. So so good. Please write more of this genre. Most favorite subject

21 people found this helpful

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  • Churchill
  • 2020-07-30

Cliche ridden, treacle

I bought this book because of my interest in WW2 and the high praise from listeners. This turned out to be one of the most disappointing purchases I have made on Audible. The storyline is not the problem: two time frames connected by two women who are related. One is the aunt who is viewed as a traitor to her country and the other is the niece looking for redemption for her aunt. The writng actually detracts from what could have been a compelling story. Our heroine is a ninny who never "says" words she "states" them. Her lover, a high ranking Nazi with a good heart escapes with her back to Germany in an inplausible and very quick process. Hello I am wounded and french. No, I am wounded and German. Will you escape with me and turn your back on your country and family. Yes, I have decided I am in love lets go. Basically that is the trajectory. Next we are asked to believe that although this very suspicious couple is living together no one from the Gestapo has done a background check on her or realizes that this "secretary" is actually living with her boss. In the meantime the nieces's story is just as implausible. She happens to meet, fall in love with, and pursue her aunts story with--the nephew,grandson (I forget because it doesnt really matter) of the Nazi. Really? Next, the narrator: every word is given the same weight. Everything heavy with emotion: She ate a croissant. He placed her on the bed. (like a book on a shelf).
How this got so many likes is a mystery.

19 people found this helpful

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  • Yvonne Vankosky
  • 2020-03-31

Exciting, passionate and heartbreaking.

I was drawn to listen to this book because I had listened to “A View Across the Rooftops” by this author. I loved that one so much I decided to give this author another try. I was not disappointed. The narration is impeccable! Alison Campbell is my favourite narrator. As I said in the title of this review, this story is exciting, passionate and heartbreaking all at the same time. I cried at the end listening to the passion portrayed by the narrator to help me feel what the characters were feeling. A satisfying listen.

12 people found this helpful

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  • gail bove
  • 2020-04-30

Enjoyable but contrived

I enjoyed listening to this book, but I felt the story was a bit contrived.

6 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • Mike
  • 2021-02-02

struggled to finish. Story was trite and shallow.

not in the league of The nightingale or Beneath Scarlett Sky to which it was compared to in the previews.

4 people found this helpful

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  • cmceng14
  • 2020-04-16

Get this book!

Loved this book so much and the narrator was wonderful! I hope this author continues to write more!

4 people found this helpful

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  • Cyn ND
  • 2022-02-27

Good one!

This is a bit of a different perspective of WWII. A darker side where the heroes are lost, almost. Sad yet not quite. The narrator is very good. Her voice is lovely and her performance is spot on. Very good read.

2 people found this helpful

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  • Kindle Customer
  • 2020-07-06

Great WWII historical fiction.

Loved this take on who the brave men and women of the French Resistance were, as well as the the English SOE operatives who assisted them.
Interesting way of connecting a contemporary women's search for courage with her great aunt who was an SOE operative during WWII. Not to mention 2 great love stories.
I love WWII historical fiction. One of the reasons I read it is to remind myself that bravery in the face of oppression and evil is often required of ordinary people - and I believe now is such a time in our country.

2 people found this helpful

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  • MattG
  • 2020-06-07

exceptional!

This story had me waiting for more from the very start. Heart wrenching, beautiful story. loved it.

2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Carolyn Covello
  • 2020-04-22

Excellent story of love and espionage; Joe

This book is very well written and captivating. The back and forth in time was not a distraction and there was enough mystery to it about who the principal characters really were.
A very good read and listen to.

2 people found this helpful