The Spider and the Sparrow
A.L. Sowards
272 pages
ARC through NetGalley
From the Publisher:
May 1915. After tragedy strikes during the Second Battle of Artois, Frenchman Julian Olivier will do anything to get out of the trenches. So when British Intelligence recruits him to spy behind enemy lines, he jumps at the opportunity. Just before he begins, however, he has a chance encounter with a young French woman who leaves his heart marked for the remainder of the war—even if he doesn’t know her name.
Warren Flynn is a Canadian airborne hero, and dogfights with the Germans are all in a day’s work. Second only to his love of flying is his fascination with Claire Donovan, the daughter of an American munitions manufacturer living in Paris. Warren flies Julian into Germany and soon receives orders to post the Allies newest operative—an attractive peasant woman named Evette in Claire’s home.
As a dangerous ring of spies and saboteurs threatens to turn the war against the Allies, Julian discovers goodness in his enemies’ hearts. But even if he survives, will he ever be reunited with the woman whose memory he can’t erase? Will Warren survive the war, and will Evette unearth the infiltrator in her own territory before it’s too late?
Review:
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I have been on a War/Historical Fiction kick lately and I was really looking forward to this book. I haven’t read any other books by A. L. Sowards. She does have a lengthy list on Amazon of other historical fiction.
This book was good, I enjoyed it. It just wasn’t everything that I wanted it too be. Maybe it lacked more of the romance I thought it would have? Although, I do have to point out, it was very clean and proper as far as the romance went. And I really appreciate a book when it can deliver that. I can’t pin point what it was. And it wasn’t that I didn’t like it – I just didn’t love it.
I thought it was interesting to have the twist of spies and saboteurs. I really loved that you read through different points of views in this book. I enjoyed that I could see all sides of the story. I haven’t read many spy or mystery stories, it usually isn’t my typical genre, but I enjoyed this one. It was a good balance for me.
I think I will try more books by Sowards, I just am not sure if this was my favorite. But if you like historical or war fiction, this is a good book. It kept my interest and I had a hard time putting it down.
Final Score:
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