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The London Chronicles #1
A Secret Courage
A Mystery Brought Them Together.
Will Secrets Destroy Their Love?
Will Secrets Destroy Their Love?
Dive into WWII history in this well-researched story of international intrigue, heartwarming romance, and profound courage.
American Emma Hanson came to England to study at Oxford, but joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force at the height of World War II. She is stationed at beautiful and historic Danesfield House west of London as part of the highly secretive Photographic Reconnaissance Unit.
Englishman Will Fleming is a handsome young artist who has been commissioned by the British government to record the changing landscape in paintings. His path intersects with Emma's when his real mission—tracking Nazi spies—leads him to Danesfield House, the target of a sinister plot.
Emma and Will become friends, but neither can reveal the true nature of their assignment. Can their relationship grow amid such secrecy? And can Will save Danesfield House—and Emma and her coworkers—before it's too late?
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2017
56 people are currently reading
1308 people want to read
About the author
Tricia Goyer
163 books1,675 followersTricia Goyer is a busy mom of ten, grandmother of two, and wife to John. Somewhere around the hustle and bustle of family life, she manages to find the time to write fictional tales delighting and entertaining readers and non-fiction titles offering encouragement and hope. A bestselling author, Tricia has published thirty-three books to date and has written more than 500 articles. She is a two time Carol Award winner, as well as a Christy and ECPA Award Nominee. In 2010, she was selected as one of the Top 20 Moms to Follow on Twitter by SheKnows.com. Tricia is also on the blogging team at MomLifeToday.com, TheBetterMom.com and other homeschooling and Christian sites.In addition to her roles as mom, wife and author, Tricia volunteers around her community and mentors teen moms. She is the founder of Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Northwestern Montana, and she currently leads a Teen MOPS Group in Little Rock, AR. Learn more about Tricia at www.triciagoyer.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
June 18, 2017
3.75
Oh, this was good. If you're looking for a WW2 story with a slightly lighter angle than some, this is a good bet. Rather than focusing on atrocities, it focuses on intel and stopping an invasion, so it's thrilling without being soul-shattering, which was good, considering my stressed-out life at the moment! I truly enjoyed learning about the photographic intelligence teams and how they managed to see and recall the smallest details in the pictures in order to alert the government when things changed behind the German lines.
I really enjoyed the interactions between Emma and Will. He shows a fine example of a gentleman, eager to take care of Emma and the children in his life. At the same time, though, he's not an overly macho man. After being injured in the Blitz and nearly losing his arm, he's not healthy enough to go to the front. He quite stole my heart with his quiet reliability and his dedication to his cause.
I received a review copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Oh, this was good. If you're looking for a WW2 story with a slightly lighter angle than some, this is a good bet. Rather than focusing on atrocities, it focuses on intel and stopping an invasion, so it's thrilling without being soul-shattering, which was good, considering my stressed-out life at the moment! I truly enjoyed learning about the photographic intelligence teams and how they managed to see and recall the smallest details in the pictures in order to alert the government when things changed behind the German lines.
I really enjoyed the interactions between Emma and Will. He shows a fine example of a gentleman, eager to take care of Emma and the children in his life. At the same time, though, he's not an overly macho man. After being injured in the Blitz and nearly losing his arm, he's not healthy enough to go to the front. He quite stole my heart with his quiet reliability and his dedication to his cause.
I received a review copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2017
This was good, but it could have been better! I love the setting and anything to do with spies will always get my attention. The first few chapters seemed to dump of information and I had a hard time connecting with the characters. I wasn't really grabbed by the story until about halfway through when the intrigue picked up a bit more.
There were some surprises toward the end I didn't quite expect, but my biggest frustration was that so many things were revealed through characters thinking of past events that weren't shown in the book. To me that made it difficult for the reader to fully understand what was going on.
I liked the romance. It was very light, with a couple kisses throughout (not detailed). The spiritual thread was absent from the first 1/4 of the book, but after that there were great lessons and uplifting reminders to believers.
The British characters in this book could have been presented a little better, but I know that isn't always easy. The one scene where Churchill is in seemed weak...I really wanted a bit more explanation of his character and stance.
Although this wasn't a favorite of mine, I believe others will still enjoy this book, especially fans of World War 2! And on a side-note, I love the cover :)
*I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
There were some surprises toward the end I didn't quite expect, but my biggest frustration was that so many things were revealed through characters thinking of past events that weren't shown in the book. To me that made it difficult for the reader to fully understand what was going on.
I liked the romance. It was very light, with a couple kisses throughout (not detailed). The spiritual thread was absent from the first 1/4 of the book, but after that there were great lessons and uplifting reminders to believers.
The British characters in this book could have been presented a little better, but I know that isn't always easy. The one scene where Churchill is in seemed weak...I really wanted a bit more explanation of his character and stance.
Although this wasn't a favorite of mine, I believe others will still enjoy this book, especially fans of World War 2! And on a side-note, I love the cover :)
*I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
August 10, 2017
This was seriously the sweetest and and most amazing book ever!
March 15, 2022
4 stars & 4/10 hearts. This was my first time reading a popular Christian Historical Fiction, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I ended up pleasantly surprised!
WWII England—an Englishman who grew up in Germany, and an American with an English mother. (It never fails to amuse me how Americans somehow get their American characters into England’s army). One is a spy, the other is a WAAF. One knows all about the other’s position… the other knows only the cover story. Can love still remain strong?
I can’t say I was all that fond of the characters. I really liked Samuel (even if he barely showed up, haha). His plot line was epic. I liked Will, but it bugged me that he didn’t seem quite as smart as he was supposed to be? Perhaps that was just me though. I was also really annoyed by all his lying when I felt he could have said the same thing... or nothing at all… without lying. But he was very sweet with the kids and Emma. I liked Emma, for the most part; she was a nice, dedicated girl. I liked Edward and Georgette; I despised Berndt and both pitied and disliked Vera. Nothing felt very British except for Georgette, but given that one narrator is American and the other half German, I wasn’t jarred.
The plot was good. The suspense was strong, and I loved the mystery about Samuel, and about Bain, and the whole Will-Albert-Berndt issue. I was frankly annoyed with Emma when she let her emotions control her (can’t say more for spoilers) and I really don’t see how that was necessary to the plot, but again, that could just be me. The romance was pretty sweet, and I was delighted by how undetailed it was! And I was happy that neither Emma nor Will went into the cliché “OH HE WAS TRICKING ME THE WHOLE TIME I DON’T LOVE HIM ANYMORE.” My favourite part was definitely the theme. It was small, but strong. I loved the imagery between Samuel & Emma, and her descriptions of the sea and all that.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I look forwards to more books by Tricia Goyer, especially the next in the series, and am more confident of enjoying other mainstream Christian Fiction!
Content: some undetailed kissing, hugging, touching.
WWII England—an Englishman who grew up in Germany, and an American with an English mother. (It never fails to amuse me how Americans somehow get their American characters into England’s army). One is a spy, the other is a WAAF. One knows all about the other’s position… the other knows only the cover story. Can love still remain strong?
I can’t say I was all that fond of the characters. I really liked Samuel (even if he barely showed up, haha). His plot line was epic. I liked Will, but it bugged me that he didn’t seem quite as smart as he was supposed to be? Perhaps that was just me though. I was also really annoyed by all his lying when I felt he could have said the same thing... or nothing at all… without lying. But he was very sweet with the kids and Emma. I liked Emma, for the most part; she was a nice, dedicated girl. I liked Edward and Georgette; I despised Berndt and both pitied and disliked Vera. Nothing felt very British except for Georgette, but given that one narrator is American and the other half German, I wasn’t jarred.
The plot was good. The suspense was strong, and I loved the mystery about Samuel, and about Bain, and the whole Will-Albert-Berndt issue. I was frankly annoyed with Emma when she let her emotions control her (can’t say more for spoilers) and I really don’t see how that was necessary to the plot, but again, that could just be me. The romance was pretty sweet, and I was delighted by how undetailed it was! And I was happy that neither Emma nor Will went into the cliché “OH HE WAS TRICKING ME THE WHOLE TIME I DON’T LOVE HIM ANYMORE.” My favourite part was definitely the theme. It was small, but strong. I loved the imagery between Samuel & Emma, and her descriptions of the sea and all that.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I look forwards to more books by Tricia Goyer, especially the next in the series, and am more confident of enjoying other mainstream Christian Fiction!
Content: some undetailed kissing, hugging, touching.
May 17, 2017
A Secret Courage by Tricia Goyer is an unique and original take on another aspect of World War II. The research Goyer must have done to discover the background at the Danesfield House intrigued me, allowing me to admire this generation even more. Filled with charisma, charm, and clarity, Goyer graphed a story with brave characters who were willing to sacrifice everything, including love to help London survive another onslaught from the Germans. While the romance between Will and Emma paced the majority of the story, the espionage and mystery trickled in the background. Goyer created enough void spaces to wet my appetite for what Will's mission was without giving anything truly away. Goyer carried me through a story filled with mystery, but the ending was anti-climatic. I wanted more. In general, I took a journey through another area of history, proving once again what a great generation this was, but the romance took most of the focus of the story, leaving the mystery as an less than expected moment in time.
I received a complimentary copy of A Secret Courage by Tricia Goyer from Harvest House Publishers, and the opinions stated are all my own.
I received a complimentary copy of A Secret Courage by Tricia Goyer from Harvest House Publishers, and the opinions stated are all my own.
April 19, 2017
"One's true character shines brightest in the midst of a storm."
A young American woman becomes immersed in a special branch of military intelligence working as a photograph investigator in WW2 England. She finds her gift for memorizing details places her in a unique position to help the Allies, and help further the war effort. As the loss of her brother motivates her to focus on work, an unexpected romance just seems to bring complications.
A large country estate in a little English village was the perfect setting for a special intelligence operation, and a group of dedicated women working covertly in the WAAF. It was interesting to learn more about their roles in the war and think how difficult it was to keep everything under wraps. "Loose lips sink ships."
As the tension built and plot twists were revealed, the story picked up and grew suspenseful. A lot of inspirational moments added depth to Emma's character as she wrestled with her questions of faith.
Recommend to readers who like clean wartime romances with faith and some action. Okay for teens and up. Fans of Foyle's War and WW2 stories will like this one.
(An e-book was provided by NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.)
A young American woman becomes immersed in a special branch of military intelligence working as a photograph investigator in WW2 England. She finds her gift for memorizing details places her in a unique position to help the Allies, and help further the war effort. As the loss of her brother motivates her to focus on work, an unexpected romance just seems to bring complications.
A large country estate in a little English village was the perfect setting for a special intelligence operation, and a group of dedicated women working covertly in the WAAF. It was interesting to learn more about their roles in the war and think how difficult it was to keep everything under wraps. "Loose lips sink ships."
As the tension built and plot twists were revealed, the story picked up and grew suspenseful. A lot of inspirational moments added depth to Emma's character as she wrestled with her questions of faith.
Recommend to readers who like clean wartime romances with faith and some action. Okay for teens and up. Fans of Foyle's War and WW2 stories will like this one.
(An e-book was provided by NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.)
February 4, 2018
I felt that more could have been done with such a great premise. The plot was amazing- I mean, espionage and top secret intelligence and missions? I'm in! There were a few moments that had me on the edge of my seat or really into the story, but my attention was mostly shaky throughout the book. The ending seemed rushed (by the time I got to the second last chapter, I thought that there was no way only two chapters could be left! And not in a I-don't-want-the-book-to-end kind of way) while the middle dragged on.
Not bad, but not something I'd pick up again.
Not bad, but not something I'd pick up again.
December 18, 2017
The style of writing related in words rather than being revealed in action is not the style of writing I like to read. Therefore, I’m not the right reviewer for this book. There are others who appreciate this style of writing and they will reveal veracious reviews.
@FB: Best Historical Fiction
@FB: Best Historical Fiction
November 1, 2018
World War Two, Spies, and a bunch of cool history and mystery and excitement all rolled into one. I finished this book really fast and wanted to read the next one as soon as possible. Four solid stars!
June 5, 2017
A Secret Courage by Tricia Goyer is a marvellous nail biting, Christian historical suspense. It is the first book in The London Chronicles and what a fabulous series that promises to be.
With the action set in 1943, at the heart of the war, everyone is on high alert. A military house where staff are working on top secret photos and documents, plunges the reader into a world of secrets and lies, agents and double agents, espionage and intrigue. The theme of trust runs deep. "Loose lips sink ships" means secrets must be kept and mouths guarded.
The theme of trust extends to God. He is the Rock and can be trusted. "The only thing she could fix her mind on, was God." War focuses people. They either run to God or away. "She'd believed in God most when the world seemed a safe, good place, but he had found Him while fighting through the darkness." Suffering and death make no sense. If God is good, why does He not step in? "You could stop this war." Life is a battle between good and evil. We have to trust God, especially when life makes no sense.
There is the theme of fathers. Earthly fathers may be absent, for whatever reason. Characters search to belong.
Life hurts. War exemplifies this hurt as people die. Fences are erected around hearts. "She didn't mind risking her life but the last thing she wanted was to risk her heart." These are meant to protect from hurt but actually mean lives are lived in isolation. God wants us to bring our hurts to Him. "She'd given her broken, guarded heart to God, and He'd softened it." God can be trusted with our hearts.
War changes everything - not just the landscape but people too. Hearts may become hardened and loyalties change. War can bring out the best and the worst in people.
Tricia Goyer has spun a fabulous tale in A Secret Courage. With an intricate plot, and twists and turns, even I began to doubt who could be trusted. The leading lady is wonderfully drawn with a strong work ethic, loyalty and a mixture of strong but vulnerable. She is likable and easy to empathise with.
A Secret Courage was a marvellous read and I cannot wait for book two. Tricia Goyer's books always entertain and inform. I love them.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
With the action set in 1943, at the heart of the war, everyone is on high alert. A military house where staff are working on top secret photos and documents, plunges the reader into a world of secrets and lies, agents and double agents, espionage and intrigue. The theme of trust runs deep. "Loose lips sink ships" means secrets must be kept and mouths guarded.
The theme of trust extends to God. He is the Rock and can be trusted. "The only thing she could fix her mind on, was God." War focuses people. They either run to God or away. "She'd believed in God most when the world seemed a safe, good place, but he had found Him while fighting through the darkness." Suffering and death make no sense. If God is good, why does He not step in? "You could stop this war." Life is a battle between good and evil. We have to trust God, especially when life makes no sense.
There is the theme of fathers. Earthly fathers may be absent, for whatever reason. Characters search to belong.
Life hurts. War exemplifies this hurt as people die. Fences are erected around hearts. "She didn't mind risking her life but the last thing she wanted was to risk her heart." These are meant to protect from hurt but actually mean lives are lived in isolation. God wants us to bring our hurts to Him. "She'd given her broken, guarded heart to God, and He'd softened it." God can be trusted with our hearts.
War changes everything - not just the landscape but people too. Hearts may become hardened and loyalties change. War can bring out the best and the worst in people.
Tricia Goyer has spun a fabulous tale in A Secret Courage. With an intricate plot, and twists and turns, even I began to doubt who could be trusted. The leading lady is wonderfully drawn with a strong work ethic, loyalty and a mixture of strong but vulnerable. She is likable and easy to empathise with.
A Secret Courage was a marvellous read and I cannot wait for book two. Tricia Goyer's books always entertain and inform. I love them.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
April 1, 2017
I really enjoyed this World War 2 romance. I loved the setting and the characters. It dealt with the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, which I didn't know anything about. There is always something new to learn about this time period. There is also an interesting spy angle that added a lot of intrigue to the story.
Emma, the main character, has a lot of admirable qualities. She's very brave and loyal. She is always willing to do her part in the war effort. She is motivated by the death of her brother, and is still dealing with her grief. Will is a perfect love interest. He has secrets, but he doesn't let that stand in the way of his feelings for Emma. He is constantly torn between his job and his love for her. I enjoyed watching their love story unfold.
If you enjoy WW2 fiction, I would recommend this book to you. It is a nice break from some of the heavier subject matter of this time period, but is still rich in history.
I received this book for free for the purpose of review.
March 19, 2017
"She believed that when you open yourself up to a friend, you'll find one wherever you go."
Making friends is not that easy when you're working covertly as a spy upon spies or deciphering photographs of enemy weapons manufacturing sites in the heart of Germany during WWII. In spite of a war raging around them, Emma Hanson and Will Fleming have managed to introduce themselves and plant a seed of friendship that both can only dream will grow. Not completely "knowing" each other has its benefits; Emma thinks that Will is a British patriot whose serious injury sidelined him from the battle front; resigning him to a position as a British landscape artist, while Will views Emma as means to an end; a way to infiltrate the intelligence community housed at the historic Danesfield House in order to keep their highly classified information safe from espionage.
Both are highly trained to keep government secrets, but nothing has prepared them to keep the secrets of their hearts. What kind of courage will it take to risk it all? . . . . "Be strong and courageous. Do not be not afraid . . . . . for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Tricia Goyer has begun a fascinating series, one that her readers will automatically look forward to continuing in the next installment. I received a copy of this book from the author. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
Making friends is not that easy when you're working covertly as a spy upon spies or deciphering photographs of enemy weapons manufacturing sites in the heart of Germany during WWII. In spite of a war raging around them, Emma Hanson and Will Fleming have managed to introduce themselves and plant a seed of friendship that both can only dream will grow. Not completely "knowing" each other has its benefits; Emma thinks that Will is a British patriot whose serious injury sidelined him from the battle front; resigning him to a position as a British landscape artist, while Will views Emma as means to an end; a way to infiltrate the intelligence community housed at the historic Danesfield House in order to keep their highly classified information safe from espionage.
Both are highly trained to keep government secrets, but nothing has prepared them to keep the secrets of their hearts. What kind of courage will it take to risk it all? . . . . "Be strong and courageous. Do not be not afraid . . . . . for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Tricia Goyer has begun a fascinating series, one that her readers will automatically look forward to continuing in the next installment. I received a copy of this book from the author. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
May 20, 2017
A must read for those who love WWII stories. Tricia Goyer gives us a story rich in intrigue. Can Emma and Will develop a lasting relationship, when they each have something to hide? This is a fabulous look at the intelligence gathering that took place behind the scenes. While Emma is presented to the reader with many admirable characteristics, Emma's internal battle as she struggles to fully trust God and others is a central theme of the story. This story is rich in symbolism.
A favorite quote- "One's true character shines brightest in the midst of a storm."
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
A favorite quote- "One's true character shines brightest in the midst of a storm."
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 20, 2017
I loved learning about the intelligence work that went into the war. I had no idea that the Allies sent planes over Germany purely to photograph the land, while a host of intelligencers were sitting back home interpreting each bit of camouflage and shadow that the photos revealed. I can't imagine how difficult it would be not to let things slip--not even to coworkers! If I were in Emma's shoes, I'm not sure if I could stand the pressure, especially when falling in love with someone who has no part in the work. I enjoyed watching Emma's spiritual growth; we all need God's work in our lives--even pretty put-together people like Emma.
Figuring out exactly what Will's role is was a little confusing. Would he be a triple agent? He has a cover as a British artist as he runs a German spy ring that he set up as a British agent for the purpose of controlling the information that gets sent to Germany. A British spy pretending to be a German spy pretending to be an innocent Brit. It's a smart way to control the flow of information, not to mention being able to keep tabs on the German spies in place. Better the enemy you know than the one you don't! But it is a concept that's a little hard to wrap one's head around.
As much as I didn't like it, I also appreciated the consequences of Emma's choices. However, I feel like the story ended a little prematurely--not that things weren't basically resolved, but it felt very abrupt. I wouldn't have minded an epilogue or something just to know that things for sure turn out all right--there's still another year of war to survive, after all. However, it was an enjoyable story.
Thank you Harvest House and NetGalley for providing a free e-book to review. All opinions are my own.
Figuring out exactly what Will's role is was a little confusing. Would he be a triple agent? He has a cover as a British artist as he runs a German spy ring that he set up as a British agent for the purpose of controlling the information that gets sent to Germany. A British spy pretending to be a German spy pretending to be an innocent Brit. It's a smart way to control the flow of information, not to mention being able to keep tabs on the German spies in place. Better the enemy you know than the one you don't! But it is a concept that's a little hard to wrap one's head around.
As much as I didn't like it, I also appreciated the consequences of Emma's choices. However, I feel like the story ended a little prematurely--not that things weren't basically resolved, but it felt very abrupt. I wouldn't have minded an epilogue or something just to know that things for sure turn out all right--there's still another year of war to survive, after all. However, it was an enjoyable story.
Thank you Harvest House and NetGalley for providing a free e-book to review. All opinions are my own.
May 8, 2017
Tricia Goyer has written over fifty novels, but I think this is the first I’ve read. The big-picture historical background was new to me, and fascinating. I’ve heard of the codebreaking work that went on at Bletchley Park in World War II England, but I’d never heard of the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit at Dansefield House near Henley, England. Reading about the work these men and women did was fascinating, and was the novel's greatest strength.
The details were less strong—tea with cream, a fried egg for breakfast (rationing, anyone?), references to sidewalks, signposts, the United Nations, and majoring in history in college (a Brit would read history at university).
There was unintentional comedy in the references to British efficiency (if we’re talking national stereotypes, Germans are efficient. The British are bureaucratic). And while I’d like to think the typos in my review copy were all were corrected in the final published version, I don’t think that’s the case. I was able to search the Kindle Look Inside and find Blenheim Place (should be Palace), and American accident (should be accent). Awkward …
In terms of the plot, I found the first quarter confusing. While it was obvious Will was a double agent, it was less obvious where his true allegiance lay. This made it difficult to engage in the developing romance as I didn’t know whether I was supposed to like Will or loathe him. This made it impossible to engage in what was supposed to be a romance. The middle of the novel often dragged to the point where I considered giving up several times, and I didn’t feel the suspense aspect of the plot really kick in until the last quarter.
This is the first book in The London Chronicles series, but I can’t say I’m interested enough to follow the rest of the series, even though World War II is one of my favourite historical fiction genres.
Thanks to Harvest House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
The details were less strong—tea with cream, a fried egg for breakfast (rationing, anyone?), references to sidewalks, signposts, the United Nations, and majoring in history in college (a Brit would read history at university).
There was unintentional comedy in the references to British efficiency (if we’re talking national stereotypes, Germans are efficient. The British are bureaucratic). And while I’d like to think the typos in my review copy were all were corrected in the final published version, I don’t think that’s the case. I was able to search the Kindle Look Inside and find Blenheim Place (should be Palace), and American accident (should be accent). Awkward …
In terms of the plot, I found the first quarter confusing. While it was obvious Will was a double agent, it was less obvious where his true allegiance lay. This made it difficult to engage in the developing romance as I didn’t know whether I was supposed to like Will or loathe him. This made it impossible to engage in what was supposed to be a romance. The middle of the novel often dragged to the point where I considered giving up several times, and I didn’t feel the suspense aspect of the plot really kick in until the last quarter.
This is the first book in The London Chronicles series, but I can’t say I’m interested enough to follow the rest of the series, even though World War II is one of my favourite historical fiction genres.
Thanks to Harvest House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
February 9, 2018
Emma Hanson worked behind the scenes at night in a Photographic Unit. Her job was highly secretive during WWII. She would search pictures taken by pilots who would bring them back from Germany. She was to find things in these pictures that showed were the Germans hid their ammunition or planes or possibly factories where weapons were made or stored.
Englishman Will Fleming was an artist that had been commissioned by the British government to paint the English country side on canvas so that in the future people would know how things were before the war. He also was a British spy who tracked Nazi spies. He had been sent to Danesfield House to try to stop a German spy who intended to destroy the work that Emma and her coworkers did each night.
Will needs to be able to get through the security gates at Danesfied House in order to stop the threat to end the spy operations there against Germany. He meets Emma while on leave in London and uses her to get through the gates of Danesfield House to paint pictures of the area. He didn't plan on falling in love with her however.
I found it a bit slow to get into the story although it was very interesting. Tricia Goyer did an excellent job of researching history surrounding Danesfield House and the surrounding area. There was a lot of suspense and edge of seat reading once I did get into the story. I have always enjoyed history and especially anything to do with WWII.
Anyone who likes to read WWII romance novels will enjoy this book. Tricia Goyer writes Christian Fiction and this is a clean read book.
I won a copy of A Secret Courage from the author's giveaway on her blog site. I was not asked to give a review but chose to do so because I enjoyed the book.
Englishman Will Fleming was an artist that had been commissioned by the British government to paint the English country side on canvas so that in the future people would know how things were before the war. He also was a British spy who tracked Nazi spies. He had been sent to Danesfield House to try to stop a German spy who intended to destroy the work that Emma and her coworkers did each night.
Will needs to be able to get through the security gates at Danesfied House in order to stop the threat to end the spy operations there against Germany. He meets Emma while on leave in London and uses her to get through the gates of Danesfield House to paint pictures of the area. He didn't plan on falling in love with her however.
I found it a bit slow to get into the story although it was very interesting. Tricia Goyer did an excellent job of researching history surrounding Danesfield House and the surrounding area. There was a lot of suspense and edge of seat reading once I did get into the story. I have always enjoyed history and especially anything to do with WWII.
Anyone who likes to read WWII romance novels will enjoy this book. Tricia Goyer writes Christian Fiction and this is a clean read book.
I won a copy of A Secret Courage from the author's giveaway on her blog site. I was not asked to give a review but chose to do so because I enjoyed the book.
March 23, 2022
Hmmm. Mixed feelings. The parts of the story related to the heroine's brother moved me emotionally (in a surprisingly intense way), but I felt pretty meh about the romance and the rest of the story in general.
May 28, 2020
Easy to read story about a WAAF serving in London during WWII.
August 2, 2017
This book has a lot of potential, but I don't feel that it lived up to it.
A Secret Courage is a story of secrets and spies and the dangers of WWII. Emma is a cryptographer for the Allies, working to find evidence of enemy activity in aerial photographs. She's still reeling from the loss of her brother, but his death has made her even more determined to stop the Germans and help end the war. Will is a double agent, working for the English to 'train' and keep tabs on German spies living in England. An arm injury injured in the line of duty gives him the perfect reason to not be on the front lines, and his love of painting provides him with the perfect cover for traveling and spending long hours in reconnaissance. When the two meet, sparks fly, but Will's intentions aren't exactly true, and as it becomes apparent that someone is trying to sabotage the work at Danesfield House, Emma begins to distrust Will. Has his German roots led him to sell out his country? Or is someone else desperate to keep them apart, someone who has their own plans to end the war?
I thought the premise of this book was intriguing. Most of the WWII books I've read deal with battles or people on the front lines, so Emma's job as part of the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit was something completely new to me. I loved how her work was described and how clear it was that although she wasn't working on the front lines, the work Emma was doing was invaluable to the war effort. As far as Emma herself, I admired her bravery and her dedication to her beliefs. As an American working in Britain, she's rather out of place, but she's thriving in her position, even being recognized and rewarded for her attention to detail.
Will, on the other hand, I liked less. There's initially a lack of clarity of which side of the war he's truly on. I realized at the end that this was done intentionally to create the suspicion that he's a double agent, but the execution was more confusing than it needed to be. I also didn't feel like Will's feelings for Emma were genuine. Maybe I just related to Emma more and so her feelings felt more believable to me, but I really felt like Will was just using Emma the whole time; there was never that moment where it became clear to me that Will's intentions towards Emma had become more than just part of his job, and so their whole courtship fell flat to me.
The numerous time jumps didn't really help either, as it made it seem like Emma and Will were falling in love over the course of just a few days rather than a few weeks. I guess one could argue that the jumps were necessary to keep from bogging down the pacing with the same things happening day after day, but there were just too many jumps, and it made the story feel less cohesive. The pacing also felt off at the end, which felt entirely too rushed and was left sort of hanging. Emma lost her job and was returning to America, her brother was discovered to be alive but in hiding--not quite sure why, exactly--and Will presumably kept his job but promised Emma to come to America and find her. Frankly, I didn't believe any of it. I felt terrible for Emma, who I felt was punished more harshly than she should've been once Will's innocence and Emma's framing had been proven. I agree that the fact that she shared military secrets with a man she thought was a civilian should've gotten her removed from her position, I didn't think it was necessary to basically deport her when they could've just nixed her security clearance but kept her on in some capacity. She's certainly proven her worth as part of the Woman's Auxiliary Air Force, but she's kicked out of her job and sent home and that's the end. It's an abrupt conclusion to her journey, and not a satisfactory one.
Although I did like learning about the photographic reconnaissance used in WWII, I didn't feel like A Secret Courage has much else going for it. This is the first book in The London Chronicles, but I won't be reading the rest of the series. This book just didn't live up to my expectations, and although it's far from the worst book I've ever read, I probably wouldn't recommend it to people, especially when there are much better WWII fiction novels out there.
A Secret Courage is a story of secrets and spies and the dangers of WWII. Emma is a cryptographer for the Allies, working to find evidence of enemy activity in aerial photographs. She's still reeling from the loss of her brother, but his death has made her even more determined to stop the Germans and help end the war. Will is a double agent, working for the English to 'train' and keep tabs on German spies living in England. An arm injury injured in the line of duty gives him the perfect reason to not be on the front lines, and his love of painting provides him with the perfect cover for traveling and spending long hours in reconnaissance. When the two meet, sparks fly, but Will's intentions aren't exactly true, and as it becomes apparent that someone is trying to sabotage the work at Danesfield House, Emma begins to distrust Will. Has his German roots led him to sell out his country? Or is someone else desperate to keep them apart, someone who has their own plans to end the war?
I thought the premise of this book was intriguing. Most of the WWII books I've read deal with battles or people on the front lines, so Emma's job as part of the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit was something completely new to me. I loved how her work was described and how clear it was that although she wasn't working on the front lines, the work Emma was doing was invaluable to the war effort. As far as Emma herself, I admired her bravery and her dedication to her beliefs. As an American working in Britain, she's rather out of place, but she's thriving in her position, even being recognized and rewarded for her attention to detail.
Will, on the other hand, I liked less. There's initially a lack of clarity of which side of the war he's truly on. I realized at the end that this was done intentionally to create the suspicion that he's a double agent, but the execution was more confusing than it needed to be. I also didn't feel like Will's feelings for Emma were genuine. Maybe I just related to Emma more and so her feelings felt more believable to me, but I really felt like Will was just using Emma the whole time; there was never that moment where it became clear to me that Will's intentions towards Emma had become more than just part of his job, and so their whole courtship fell flat to me.
The numerous time jumps didn't really help either, as it made it seem like Emma and Will were falling in love over the course of just a few days rather than a few weeks. I guess one could argue that the jumps were necessary to keep from bogging down the pacing with the same things happening day after day, but there were just too many jumps, and it made the story feel less cohesive. The pacing also felt off at the end, which felt entirely too rushed and was left sort of hanging. Emma lost her job and was returning to America, her brother was discovered to be alive but in hiding--not quite sure why, exactly--and Will presumably kept his job but promised Emma to come to America and find her. Frankly, I didn't believe any of it. I felt terrible for Emma, who I felt was punished more harshly than she should've been once Will's innocence and Emma's framing had been proven. I agree that the fact that she shared military secrets with a man she thought was a civilian should've gotten her removed from her position, I didn't think it was necessary to basically deport her when they could've just nixed her security clearance but kept her on in some capacity. She's certainly proven her worth as part of the Woman's Auxiliary Air Force, but she's kicked out of her job and sent home and that's the end. It's an abrupt conclusion to her journey, and not a satisfactory one.
Although I did like learning about the photographic reconnaissance used in WWII, I didn't feel like A Secret Courage has much else going for it. This is the first book in The London Chronicles, but I won't be reading the rest of the series. This book just didn't live up to my expectations, and although it's far from the worst book I've ever read, I probably wouldn't recommend it to people, especially when there are much better WWII fiction novels out there.
July 7, 2017
Although Tricia Goyer is the author of over 200 books, this was the first one of hers that I have read. Many of the others are Amish or American fiction, which doesn’t really appeal to me. This was also my first Christian novel set during the Second World War. Typically, I don’t tend to choose books set at the time, because I’m not very familiar with the period, and because a lot don’t really mention the British contribution to the war, normally just focusing on the American war effort, and American military personnel.
It must be said the premise and storyline of this book was great. It focused on a virtually unknown group whose job involved interpreting aerial reconnaissance photos. They played a major and vital role in certain aspects of the war, such as gathering intelligence on the Nazis secret weapon- which turned out to be the V2 rocket and its launch sites. Though I’m not entirely certain how successful that operation was, as many V2s fell on London and other areas in the last two years of the war.
Emma and her fellow WAF ladies were interesting and well-drawn characters, and Will was also intriguing, especially with the clever twist about him possibly being a double agent. National sympathies and motivations were also presented accurately in the story so that those wondering why Americans volunteered to fight in Europe might grow to understand their choice a little more.
My only complaints are the same as those raised by other reviewers- there were a lot of mistakes in terms of the language and other details, with British characters using quite conspicuous Americanisms.
Among them ‘sidewalk’ which British people still call ‘pavement’, and ‘kids’- although the term is common today, in the 1930s it would have been extremely unusual for a British person to be heard calling a child that. At another point Will mentioned ‘majoring in history at college’, - we would stay read or studied history at University, and finally Emma talked about her British mother taking cream in her tea. I don’t know any Brit who puts cream in tea, it’s disgusting. Milk is for tea, cream is for coffee, but there seems to be a lot of confusion over this in fiction.
Also, I did find the story a little confusing in some places, perhaps that was because it was meant to be complicated, and it dragged a little here and there, but I doubt there are many stories which don’t do this. Overall, I did enjoy the book and found the setting fascinating. It must, I suppose be rather difficult for an author of American Fiction to turn their hand to British fiction for the first time, and not all do it well. Mrs. Goyer has, but a little more research on the finer details might have made it even better.
I’m looking forward to the next installment, which I understand revolves around the Kinder transports. I just hope that the role of Nicholas Winton and other British men and women involved in that heroic effort to rescue Jewish children is not overshadowed by the novel’s American protagonists.
I requested a PDF of this book from Harvest House via Netgalley to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
It must be said the premise and storyline of this book was great. It focused on a virtually unknown group whose job involved interpreting aerial reconnaissance photos. They played a major and vital role in certain aspects of the war, such as gathering intelligence on the Nazis secret weapon- which turned out to be the V2 rocket and its launch sites. Though I’m not entirely certain how successful that operation was, as many V2s fell on London and other areas in the last two years of the war.
Emma and her fellow WAF ladies were interesting and well-drawn characters, and Will was also intriguing, especially with the clever twist about him possibly being a double agent. National sympathies and motivations were also presented accurately in the story so that those wondering why Americans volunteered to fight in Europe might grow to understand their choice a little more.
My only complaints are the same as those raised by other reviewers- there were a lot of mistakes in terms of the language and other details, with British characters using quite conspicuous Americanisms.
Among them ‘sidewalk’ which British people still call ‘pavement’, and ‘kids’- although the term is common today, in the 1930s it would have been extremely unusual for a British person to be heard calling a child that. At another point Will mentioned ‘majoring in history at college’, - we would stay read or studied history at University, and finally Emma talked about her British mother taking cream in her tea. I don’t know any Brit who puts cream in tea, it’s disgusting. Milk is for tea, cream is for coffee, but there seems to be a lot of confusion over this in fiction.
Also, I did find the story a little confusing in some places, perhaps that was because it was meant to be complicated, and it dragged a little here and there, but I doubt there are many stories which don’t do this. Overall, I did enjoy the book and found the setting fascinating. It must, I suppose be rather difficult for an author of American Fiction to turn their hand to British fiction for the first time, and not all do it well. Mrs. Goyer has, but a little more research on the finer details might have made it even better.
I’m looking forward to the next installment, which I understand revolves around the Kinder transports. I just hope that the role of Nicholas Winton and other British men and women involved in that heroic effort to rescue Jewish children is not overshadowed by the novel’s American protagonists.
I requested a PDF of this book from Harvest House via Netgalley to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
April 5, 2017
I enjoyed reading about the Women's Auxiliary Air Force during WWII. Lots of interesting information was given along side a developing romance and secrets that threaten to tear them apart. Emma is an American working in Danesfield House in England. I found learning about this very interesting, as I didn't realize what an important role women played in this area of the war. She is dealing with the loss of a family member, being far from home, and not knowing for sure if she can trust her new friend Will. I found the characters well developed and interesting. Faith is an important aspect and there are some surprise elements. I throughly enjoyed this book and recommend to anyone who loves learning history along with a good plot. Well written! Tricia Goyer never fails to entertain you.
I received a complimentary copy from the author. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
I received a complimentary copy from the author. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
April 4, 2017
A Secret Courage is an excellent story. I enjoy reading Tricia Goyer's books. I'm also a reader of World War II books, historical and fictional. I like the character of Emma Hanson and was pleased that she was true to her Maine heritage. ( I'm from Maine.) Her devotion to her brother's memory is special and naturally because she is in mourning she has guilt that she needs to deal with. The character of Will Fleming is a complex one and I like how the author kept me guessing just which side he was truly on. I found the war time necessities of an artist and photographic investigators fascinating. I knew a little about the need for photo investigators but never really looked into the complex and heartbreaking nature of the assignments. This is one of the reasons I enjoy well researched historical fiction so much. I was interested in the people, activities and places in the story so I was searching for photos, etc. on the internet which made it all the more interesting. Danesfield House is a gorgeous place. The plot was good and kept me reading late into the night, all right, the wee morning hours. One particular twist really surprised me. This book reminds me of Bletchley Park and the television show about it from BBCTV.
I was given this book by the author and Harvest House Publishers and this is my own opinion about it.
I was given this book by the author and Harvest House Publishers and this is my own opinion about it.
March 30, 2017
A story full of mystery, intrigue, danger, trust, love and more. The characters are interesting and each have their own unique story and personality. In the midst of the war, can love truly be found? Will the mystery be solved? The reader is taken on a journey that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I enjoyed this story. I received a copy of this story from the author and this is my personal honest opinion.
April 20, 2018
This book is a fascinating look at WWII from the perspective of an American woman who joins the Women's Auxillary Air Force as a photographic interpreter. I had no idea that such a position existed and found her adventures and struggles compelling.
With spies, amazing historical detail, and characters to love (even if you don't always agree with the choices they make), this is one that I recommend highly for those who enjoy historical romance that's a little out of the norm. The surprises and suspense kept me guessing to the end about whether they would solve the mystery in time, and the ending is satisfying if left a little to the reader's imagination. I look forward to the next book in the series.
With spies, amazing historical detail, and characters to love (even if you don't always agree with the choices they make), this is one that I recommend highly for those who enjoy historical romance that's a little out of the norm. The surprises and suspense kept me guessing to the end about whether they would solve the mystery in time, and the ending is satisfying if left a little to the reader's imagination. I look forward to the next book in the series.
November 27, 2017
This book was better than I thought, but not as good as I had hoped. The time era and story plot drew me in with the hopes that it would be an exciting war front adventure with laughs and tears.
This book seemed to have some cliche things and the plot and "mystery" was very poor and I did not feel at all excited or nervous or super emotional reading through it. This wasn't much of a page turner for me and I was kinda disappointed. It wasn't horrible, but not amazing either :)
This book seemed to have some cliche things and the plot and "mystery" was very poor and I did not feel at all excited or nervous or super emotional reading through it. This wasn't much of a page turner for me and I was kinda disappointed. It wasn't horrible, but not amazing either :)
December 18, 2017
this was a great read about an American woman who travels to England during WWII to do her part & help support the war effort, & all the people she meets along the way. I learned a lot about the war effort going on behind the scenes.
March 22, 2017
Enjoyed learning about a different part of the war, but enjoyed Goyer's "Love Finds in You in Victory Heights Washington" much better than this one. The story was really slow and a little disjointed.
March 21, 2017
A Secret Courage by Tricia Goyer
WOW! This story had me hooked from the beginning until the end! I knew women were involved in WW2 but I never knew how deeply involved some women were. This novel will keep your heart pumping with all the action, twists and turns, secrets, and let’s not forget the spies at work! I loved this book!
Emma Hanson is an American WAC, working in Britain. She is a Photographic Interpreter (PI), she critically looks over every piece of photos for any evidence of what Hitler is doing – his secrets of the bombs that would destroy London. What she does his highly secretive, where she is at is highly secretive.
Will Fleming is a spy. His only work is being an artist. He needs a way in to where Emma Hanson works. The wheels turn for him to get into the compound.
Emma and Will both discover more than a plot happening around them, they discover something more. But with a war on and with their work, can love conquer all? Or will the war separate what they have?
A Secret Courage is an exciting book that I highly recommend. Especially for those who love action and adventure, along with spies. And if you are a history lover, this WWII novel is perfect!
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.
WOW! This story had me hooked from the beginning until the end! I knew women were involved in WW2 but I never knew how deeply involved some women were. This novel will keep your heart pumping with all the action, twists and turns, secrets, and let’s not forget the spies at work! I loved this book!
Emma Hanson is an American WAC, working in Britain. She is a Photographic Interpreter (PI), she critically looks over every piece of photos for any evidence of what Hitler is doing – his secrets of the bombs that would destroy London. What she does his highly secretive, where she is at is highly secretive.
Will Fleming is a spy. His only work is being an artist. He needs a way in to where Emma Hanson works. The wheels turn for him to get into the compound.
Emma and Will both discover more than a plot happening around them, they discover something more. But with a war on and with their work, can love conquer all? Or will the war separate what they have?
A Secret Courage is an exciting book that I highly recommend. Especially for those who love action and adventure, along with spies. And if you are a history lover, this WWII novel is perfect!
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.
March 23, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. It kept me guessing until the end. It had me questioning who was on which side anf who was really involved. From reading other historical fiction by Tricia Goyer, I expected the secret agents to be... different, yet they fully fulfill the roles they've been assigned to. A Secret Courge has danger, betrayal, and if course a lot of secrets.
If you enjoy historical fiction, especially novels about spies during war, I recommend you check this book out.
*This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
If you enjoy historical fiction, especially novels about spies during war, I recommend you check this book out.
*This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 24, 2017
A Secret Courage by Tricia Goyer tells the story of Emma Hanson, a British American woman working for the Allies during World War II. This novel paints an interesting, layered setting in Greater London. The details of Emma’s covert assignments were well researched and fascinating. I really wanted to like this book because I love reading books set in this time period. However, the plot moved quite slowly for the first part of the book and it was hard to keep reading. The characters were not as well developed as they could have been and I found the plot very predictable. A Secret Courage was a fun read, but I was very disappointed since I expected much more. I received a digital copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
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