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The Immense Sky Saga #1
Dare Not Tell: From WWI France to Australia and back again... Secrets will break your heart.
Twenty years after he left WWI's battlefields, Australian Joe Parker thinks he has tamed all his demons. His American wife Sophie, a wartime nurse, thinks she knows all his secrets. He hasn’t. She doesn’t.
July 1939. The Parkers are looking forward to a long-delayed honeymoon in France before they sail home to Sydney. But visiting a site where Joe fought wreaks havoc with their itinerary and their marriage.
When they arrive at Villers-Bretonneux, the location of Joe’s most brutal battle, his long-buried memories erupt, including the ones he never told Sophie. And an impromptu trip to the French Alps only makes things worse when they discover German war artifacts on pristine alpine trails and the walls of the miles-deep Chamonix valley close in on Joe like the deepest trench he ever experienced. All the defenses he uses to hold his memories at bay start crumbling as the world teeters on the brink of a second world war.
Bonds of friendship and shared experience helped them endure the Great War, but Sophie begins to doubt how well she really knows her husband when the foundations of their relationship seem to shift out of control. Can their marriage survive this trip? Or will Joe’s need to keep his secrets break both their hearts?
Join Sophie and Joe on their journey of love, loss, secrets, and redemption, from France to Australia and back again.
"Fans of historical fiction romance novels will be delighted to read the arch of Sophie and Joe's love." - The BookLife Prize by Publishers Weekly
"This was a beautifully written story, with a rich sense of place, that had me fully emerged in the WWI era and 1939 France. Joe and Sophie were such engaging characters and I fully enjoyed following along as their story unfolded. I highly recommend this novel!" - Kimberly Sullivan, author of Three Coins
"DARE NOT TELL is a poignant portrayal of the long-term impact of trauma and how visceral fears can create isolation and distance even in the best of relationships. Schroller's writing, command of history, and compassion for how relationships evolve through tragedy are superb." - Teri Case, author of Tiger Drive and In the Doghouse
"Vividly evocative and steeped in history... Readers will be left impressed with Schroller's control over her historical atmosphere as well as her multilayered, intriguing characterizations. An engaging, poignant tale from an author to watch." - Prairies Book Review
"The writing is replete with vivid descriptions and the kind of drama that keeps readers turning the pages. It is skillful, balanced, and emotionally rich." - Readers Favorite Five Star Review
July 1939. The Parkers are looking forward to a long-delayed honeymoon in France before they sail home to Sydney. But visiting a site where Joe fought wreaks havoc with their itinerary and their marriage.
When they arrive at Villers-Bretonneux, the location of Joe’s most brutal battle, his long-buried memories erupt, including the ones he never told Sophie. And an impromptu trip to the French Alps only makes things worse when they discover German war artifacts on pristine alpine trails and the walls of the miles-deep Chamonix valley close in on Joe like the deepest trench he ever experienced. All the defenses he uses to hold his memories at bay start crumbling as the world teeters on the brink of a second world war.
Bonds of friendship and shared experience helped them endure the Great War, but Sophie begins to doubt how well she really knows her husband when the foundations of their relationship seem to shift out of control. Can their marriage survive this trip? Or will Joe’s need to keep his secrets break both their hearts?
Join Sophie and Joe on their journey of love, loss, secrets, and redemption, from France to Australia and back again.
"Fans of historical fiction romance novels will be delighted to read the arch of Sophie and Joe's love." - The BookLife Prize by Publishers Weekly
"This was a beautifully written story, with a rich sense of place, that had me fully emerged in the WWI era and 1939 France. Joe and Sophie were such engaging characters and I fully enjoyed following along as their story unfolded. I highly recommend this novel!" - Kimberly Sullivan, author of Three Coins
"DARE NOT TELL is a poignant portrayal of the long-term impact of trauma and how visceral fears can create isolation and distance even in the best of relationships. Schroller's writing, command of history, and compassion for how relationships evolve through tragedy are superb." - Teri Case, author of Tiger Drive and In the Doghouse
"Vividly evocative and steeped in history... Readers will be left impressed with Schroller's control over her historical atmosphere as well as her multilayered, intriguing characterizations. An engaging, poignant tale from an author to watch." - Prairies Book Review
"The writing is replete with vivid descriptions and the kind of drama that keeps readers turning the pages. It is skillful, balanced, and emotionally rich." - Readers Favorite Five Star Review
374 pages, Paperback
Published November 30, 2021
9 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Elaine Schroller
2 books41 followersI’m a history major and long-time technical writer. I read and write historical fiction to travel to other places in time.
Dare Not Tell, my debut novel, is the story of Joe Parker, an Australian WWI vet, and his American wife Sophie, a WWI nurse. It begins with Sophie and Joe's chance meeting in 1916 Paris and chronicles their relationship through thick and thin up to the threshold of WWII.
The Bravest Soldiers, the next chapter in Sophie and Joe’s story, is set in Australia and the South West Pacific Area during World War II. The book features Sophie and Joe, their sons Sam and Jean-Luc, Marianne Ryan, plus visitors from the US, a new romance, and a trio of children whom life has treated very unfairly. There's a dog too, because I'll always include a dog in my books.
I'm busy plotting Book 3 in the series!
Join my mailing list for free short stories about Joe, Sophie, and other characters in Dare Not Tell!
Dare Not Tell, my debut novel, is the story of Joe Parker, an Australian WWI vet, and his American wife Sophie, a WWI nurse. It begins with Sophie and Joe's chance meeting in 1916 Paris and chronicles their relationship through thick and thin up to the threshold of WWII.
The Bravest Soldiers, the next chapter in Sophie and Joe’s story, is set in Australia and the South West Pacific Area during World War II. The book features Sophie and Joe, their sons Sam and Jean-Luc, Marianne Ryan, plus visitors from the US, a new romance, and a trio of children whom life has treated very unfairly. There's a dog too, because I'll always include a dog in my books.
I'm busy plotting Book 3 in the series!
Join my mailing list for free short stories about Joe, Sophie, and other characters in Dare Not Tell!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
August 10, 2023
Joe Parker is a member of the 57th Australian Infantry Battalion and during The Great War he’s sent to France, his bother Robbie joined up earlier and he survived Gallipoli campaign. France, when Robbie's listed as missing in action, Joe is devastated and the one thing that keeps him going are the friendly letters he receives from an American nurse he met by chance.
Sophie Holt is a nurse at the American Field Hospital, she lived in Australia as a child and one day she meets Aussie digger Joe Parker. They keep in contact and when the war ends, Sophie and Joe go their separate ways and until fate brings them back together.
In 1939, the Parkers are on a world tour, they decided to visit France and before they return home to Sydney. As they get closer to the Australian War Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, Joe’s nightmare’s return and he wonders what his wife would think if she knew what he did during the war? Joe manages to hold it together at the memorial, Sophie can tell he’s struggling and he won’t tell her why.
They decided to visit the French Alps, stay in a beautiful guest house and their room has views of the mountains. While walking the alpine trails and the deep in chamonix valley, the couple find two German artifacts from The Great War, German and Italy are now allies and Joe’s worried their already sending spies into the area and he's a detective inspector in Australia.
The dual timeline story is about Joe making peace with his past, set twenty years apart, after all this time Joe thinks he’s conquered his demons, moved on with his life and it’s not the case.
Australia sent over two hundred and fifty thousand men to fight in The Great War, over four years, they fought in Turkey, Egypt, and Belgium and in the trenches of France. Young men like the main character Joe, he knew he was going to fight and nothing could prepare him for what it was really like.
The noise and smell, waiting to go over the top and having to lead his men into the unknown. Shooting a person you can see in the distance is much easier, than when you have to look a German soldier in the eye who want’s to kill you, make a split second choice and one that still torments him.
Elaine Schroller historical saga, is a tale about love, loss, secrets, mystery, regret, feelings and how fighting in The Great War impacted many ex-soldiers and their marriages. I really liked how each chapter began with an Australian poem, four stars from me and I look forward to reading the next book in the series, The Bravest Soldiers.
Sophie Holt is a nurse at the American Field Hospital, she lived in Australia as a child and one day she meets Aussie digger Joe Parker. They keep in contact and when the war ends, Sophie and Joe go their separate ways and until fate brings them back together.
In 1939, the Parkers are on a world tour, they decided to visit France and before they return home to Sydney. As they get closer to the Australian War Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, Joe’s nightmare’s return and he wonders what his wife would think if she knew what he did during the war? Joe manages to hold it together at the memorial, Sophie can tell he’s struggling and he won’t tell her why.
They decided to visit the French Alps, stay in a beautiful guest house and their room has views of the mountains. While walking the alpine trails and the deep in chamonix valley, the couple find two German artifacts from The Great War, German and Italy are now allies and Joe’s worried their already sending spies into the area and he's a detective inspector in Australia.
The dual timeline story is about Joe making peace with his past, set twenty years apart, after all this time Joe thinks he’s conquered his demons, moved on with his life and it’s not the case.
Australia sent over two hundred and fifty thousand men to fight in The Great War, over four years, they fought in Turkey, Egypt, and Belgium and in the trenches of France. Young men like the main character Joe, he knew he was going to fight and nothing could prepare him for what it was really like.
The noise and smell, waiting to go over the top and having to lead his men into the unknown. Shooting a person you can see in the distance is much easier, than when you have to look a German soldier in the eye who want’s to kill you, make a split second choice and one that still torments him.
Elaine Schroller historical saga, is a tale about love, loss, secrets, mystery, regret, feelings and how fighting in The Great War impacted many ex-soldiers and their marriages. I really liked how each chapter began with an Australian poem, four stars from me and I look forward to reading the next book in the series, The Bravest Soldiers.
May 10, 2022
This is a new to me author, should be being her debut book.
I loved the story of Sophie and Joe. A different sort of World War One story, having brought in the element of mystery while in Chamonix valley on vacation. It was interesting to learn about Sophie being an American Hospital nurse, and Joe an Australian fighting in the area. Having the story primarily set during the dedication of the memorial in 1939, in the areas that Joe fought, the fact that being back in that area brought his nightmares on again, and that Sophie was so understanding towards his "fear". But like she said not many are in that situation to where she can be as empathetic.
In all a very good read, it held my interest from the very beginning. I will definitely be looking for her next book, rather a continuation of their boys in WWII, or a "prequel" sort of Sophie and Joe in WWI.
I loved the story of Sophie and Joe. A different sort of World War One story, having brought in the element of mystery while in Chamonix valley on vacation. It was interesting to learn about Sophie being an American Hospital nurse, and Joe an Australian fighting in the area. Having the story primarily set during the dedication of the memorial in 1939, in the areas that Joe fought, the fact that being back in that area brought his nightmares on again, and that Sophie was so understanding towards his "fear". But like she said not many are in that situation to where she can be as empathetic.
In all a very good read, it held my interest from the very beginning. I will definitely be looking for her next book, rather a continuation of their boys in WWII, or a "prequel" sort of Sophie and Joe in WWI.
January 3, 2022
Rarely do I come across a debut author who can write such a phenomenal book that makes me burst with excitement and makes me want to shout about it from the rooftops – Elaine Schroller and ‘Dare Not Tell’ achieved that today!
I was excited to discover that Schroller doesn’t simply focus on what happens to her two main characters, but she gives readers a glimpse into what they’re thinking when they react as well as what’s happening to them internally. Schroller has also chosen a unique setting for her novel. Not many authors cover WW1 nor the transition to the ordinary days of civilian life. These two facts put this novel heads and tails above other wartime fiction. However, it was a quality of writing, the visceral approach and the author’s ability to articulate exactly what she wanted us to take away that made it a five-star read for me.
I get excited when I realize I’ve just found the protagonist’s struggle and then his seminal moment. When an author is not only able to communicate her protagonist’s view of the world, but also the exact moment that this main character’s beliefs are thrown off course, I know I’ve found an author I love to follow. Let me explain. Second Lieutenant Joe Parker believed in the summer of 1916 that he didn’t need to tell those close to him what war was really like. He chose to keep it hidden. It was what he needed at that moment to keep his marriage and his military career separate. When he wrote home to his wife, he focused on what was keeping her occupied at home or what he experienced off the battlefield, so that he wouldn’t have to share the horrors he’d encountered. Schroller writes to show us that Joe needed to throw out that notion to remain human, keep his connections and survive off the battlefield. When Joe meets American nurse, Sophie Holt, and is able to freely share his battle experiences, he believes he has tamed the demons within. To justify his hidden secret, he tells himself that Sophie has seen the devastation of war and that she would understand that “some memories are better left buried, and some things are better left unsaid.” He carefully curates his relationship with her under these constructs and despite all his wartime correspondence with her, he still doesn’t tell her what happened at Villers-Bret. It isn’t until he’s on a return trip through the battlefields many years later, that readers are aware of Schroller’s masterful plotting. She constructs her plot so that Joe is forced to deal with his misbelief. Brilliant!
Sophie is so wise and the perfect mirror for Joe. When he blurts out, “How am I supposed to tell my wife?” it’s all she needed to hear to know that he hadn’t made the necessary leap from believing it was morally wrong to kill to believing it was his duty to do so. She encourages him to talk about his battalion losses and gains and works to help him make ‘the leap.’ Sophie’s misbelief is that she thinks after all these years that Joe has told her all his secrets. The author cleverly constructs the plot so that Sophie realizes she’s in the dark about the one secret that haunts him the most.
I’m so excited to find an author who capably allows readers to see what’s going on beneath her narrative. I think this is the heart of the story and Elaine Scholler proves herself a capable heart surgeon.
Connect with the author on her webpage and she’ll send you the prequel ‘The French Photograph’. It definitely drew me into Joe and Sophie’s story, but ‘Dare Not Tell’ took me to the heart of the story. I was happy to hear that their journey will continue in book 2 of the Immense Sky Saga and will eagerly anticipate the release.
Let’s show this debut author and her publishing team that this book is a winner – put it on your MUST read list immediately. Scholler can tap into what readers want from the experience. She has a unique plot, lots of romance and drama, some French and German phrases thrown in, but most importantly she provides the insight into why her characters do what they do. She allows us to experience Joe’s inner struggle right on the page and see why he makes the choices he does. I love collecting clues from my reading experience that allow me to better navigate my world and Scholler delivers.
I was gifted this advance copy by Elaine Schroller, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I was excited to discover that Schroller doesn’t simply focus on what happens to her two main characters, but she gives readers a glimpse into what they’re thinking when they react as well as what’s happening to them internally. Schroller has also chosen a unique setting for her novel. Not many authors cover WW1 nor the transition to the ordinary days of civilian life. These two facts put this novel heads and tails above other wartime fiction. However, it was a quality of writing, the visceral approach and the author’s ability to articulate exactly what she wanted us to take away that made it a five-star read for me.
I get excited when I realize I’ve just found the protagonist’s struggle and then his seminal moment. When an author is not only able to communicate her protagonist’s view of the world, but also the exact moment that this main character’s beliefs are thrown off course, I know I’ve found an author I love to follow. Let me explain. Second Lieutenant Joe Parker believed in the summer of 1916 that he didn’t need to tell those close to him what war was really like. He chose to keep it hidden. It was what he needed at that moment to keep his marriage and his military career separate. When he wrote home to his wife, he focused on what was keeping her occupied at home or what he experienced off the battlefield, so that he wouldn’t have to share the horrors he’d encountered. Schroller writes to show us that Joe needed to throw out that notion to remain human, keep his connections and survive off the battlefield. When Joe meets American nurse, Sophie Holt, and is able to freely share his battle experiences, he believes he has tamed the demons within. To justify his hidden secret, he tells himself that Sophie has seen the devastation of war and that she would understand that “some memories are better left buried, and some things are better left unsaid.” He carefully curates his relationship with her under these constructs and despite all his wartime correspondence with her, he still doesn’t tell her what happened at Villers-Bret. It isn’t until he’s on a return trip through the battlefields many years later, that readers are aware of Schroller’s masterful plotting. She constructs her plot so that Joe is forced to deal with his misbelief. Brilliant!
Sophie is so wise and the perfect mirror for Joe. When he blurts out, “How am I supposed to tell my wife?” it’s all she needed to hear to know that he hadn’t made the necessary leap from believing it was morally wrong to kill to believing it was his duty to do so. She encourages him to talk about his battalion losses and gains and works to help him make ‘the leap.’ Sophie’s misbelief is that she thinks after all these years that Joe has told her all his secrets. The author cleverly constructs the plot so that Sophie realizes she’s in the dark about the one secret that haunts him the most.
I’m so excited to find an author who capably allows readers to see what’s going on beneath her narrative. I think this is the heart of the story and Elaine Scholler proves herself a capable heart surgeon.
Connect with the author on her webpage and she’ll send you the prequel ‘The French Photograph’. It definitely drew me into Joe and Sophie’s story, but ‘Dare Not Tell’ took me to the heart of the story. I was happy to hear that their journey will continue in book 2 of the Immense Sky Saga and will eagerly anticipate the release.
Let’s show this debut author and her publishing team that this book is a winner – put it on your MUST read list immediately. Scholler can tap into what readers want from the experience. She has a unique plot, lots of romance and drama, some French and German phrases thrown in, but most importantly she provides the insight into why her characters do what they do. She allows us to experience Joe’s inner struggle right on the page and see why he makes the choices he does. I love collecting clues from my reading experience that allow me to better navigate my world and Scholler delivers.
I was gifted this advance copy by Elaine Schroller, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
March 5, 2022
What an excellent debut novel from Elaine Schroller! When Australian service man Joe Parker stumbled across a crying little boy while on leave during WWI…he had no clue that he would meet a woman who would change his life. The war was tough for Joe. He lost his brother and many members of his unit. He doesn’t want to burden anyone with the things he has seen or done…but Sophie has seen things too as a nurse at the American Hospital in Paris. She wants him to trust her, to share his experiences, to help him through his nightmares. As they travel across Europe several years later, they are able to work together as a team and learn more about each other than ever before.
I loved this story! I had no clue of Australia’s involvement during WWI so the history lesson I received was much appreciated. I also loved that there is a bit of a mystery woven into the story. It also shows that PTSD was a thing long before it was recognized and I greatly appreciated that too!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and Elaine Schroller for early access to this gem! It’s excellent!!
I loved this story! I had no clue of Australia’s involvement during WWI so the history lesson I received was much appreciated. I also loved that there is a bit of a mystery woven into the story. It also shows that PTSD was a thing long before it was recognized and I greatly appreciated that too!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and Elaine Schroller for early access to this gem! It’s excellent!!
February 26, 2022
Elaine Aucoin Schroller employs masterful prose to illuminate the strengths and frailties of the lead couple in this sweeping romantic drama. Dare Not Tell lushly transports readers from WWI Paris to 1939 Australia. It follows the meeting and war-time correspondence of Joe and Sophie, and their eventual reuniting. We learn deep insights into the characters – and admire their courage and root for the relationship to flourish. But Joe’s hidden secrets threaten his mental state and their bond.
While the relationship aspects are central, the book delves into gritty details of soldiering in the bloody WWI trenches. Schroller also weaves in softer moments to rip at the heart and illuminate the soul-sucking realities of war. One small scene brought me to tears – a sign of a talented wordsmith. This well-researched debut was released in late November and definitely deserves a read by historical fiction buffs.
While the relationship aspects are central, the book delves into gritty details of soldiering in the bloody WWI trenches. Schroller also weaves in softer moments to rip at the heart and illuminate the soul-sucking realities of war. One small scene brought me to tears – a sign of a talented wordsmith. This well-researched debut was released in late November and definitely deserves a read by historical fiction buffs.
February 3, 2022
In “Dare Not Tell” Australian WWI veteran, Joe Parker, travels to France on holiday and has a chance encounter with a little boy named Jean-Luc, who is seemingly lost on the streets of Paris. Their meeting leads Joe Parker to meeting the boy’s godmother, Sophie Holt. A close friendship develops between Joe and Sophie, who’s a nurse at the American Hospital in Paris. Gradually, they develop feelings for each other but are forced to repress them, being that Joe is married and has a wife and son waiting for him back home in Australia.
As the years pass by, they realize that a relationship between them will never be, so Sophie marries a colleague at work, while Joe goes back home. Down the road, Sophie and Joe both experience personal loss and pain which consequently causes them to meet up yet again during a time of war. However, Joe struggles with a deep secret that strains his relationship with Sophie; it is one so difficult that he fears it might break their relationship permanently.
With a beguiling beginning and bold storytelling throughout, “Dare Not Tell” will capture your attention from page one. Author Elaine Schroller is a very talented writer. The story made me think of the song “Just The Two of Us” by Bill Withers, which aptly describes the close bond between Sophie and Joe. The diction, the plot, the characters, are all proper for this time period and genre, and the author managed to whet my appetite to read on. Furthermore, each chapter opens with an extract from a poem by Australian poet, Henry Lawson, which add a delightful backdrop to the story. The epistolary interludes present in this book serve readers well.
Balancing between authentic/well-researched history and artistic creativity, the author narrates how WWI affected many, including those who were on the battlefront. The perfect symbiosis shown by those who were at home is also well represented by Sophie, who nursed the wounded soldiers at a U.S. hospital in Paris. The story pays homage to the many soldiers who lost their lives during WWI to the onset of WWII, and those who lost their loved ones during the bleak period.
The dialog present in this book is accessible for readers in modern times while it shows the devastating effects of the two great wars; the author manages to carve out a story of heartfelt love that creates a dreamlike atmosphere, making the touching novel a truly compelling read. I heartily give the book “5-stars.” It was endearing to see how two far-flung, lost loves managed to start all over after encountering such loss and pain. The author does not rush the plot and gives readers ample time to connect with the characters, a choice that made me feel like I knew Joe and Sophie personally. “Dare Not Tell” is a wonderful novel that fans of historical romance will delight in!
As the years pass by, they realize that a relationship between them will never be, so Sophie marries a colleague at work, while Joe goes back home. Down the road, Sophie and Joe both experience personal loss and pain which consequently causes them to meet up yet again during a time of war. However, Joe struggles with a deep secret that strains his relationship with Sophie; it is one so difficult that he fears it might break their relationship permanently.
With a beguiling beginning and bold storytelling throughout, “Dare Not Tell” will capture your attention from page one. Author Elaine Schroller is a very talented writer. The story made me think of the song “Just The Two of Us” by Bill Withers, which aptly describes the close bond between Sophie and Joe. The diction, the plot, the characters, are all proper for this time period and genre, and the author managed to whet my appetite to read on. Furthermore, each chapter opens with an extract from a poem by Australian poet, Henry Lawson, which add a delightful backdrop to the story. The epistolary interludes present in this book serve readers well.
Balancing between authentic/well-researched history and artistic creativity, the author narrates how WWI affected many, including those who were on the battlefront. The perfect symbiosis shown by those who were at home is also well represented by Sophie, who nursed the wounded soldiers at a U.S. hospital in Paris. The story pays homage to the many soldiers who lost their lives during WWI to the onset of WWII, and those who lost their loved ones during the bleak period.
The dialog present in this book is accessible for readers in modern times while it shows the devastating effects of the two great wars; the author manages to carve out a story of heartfelt love that creates a dreamlike atmosphere, making the touching novel a truly compelling read. I heartily give the book “5-stars.” It was endearing to see how two far-flung, lost loves managed to start all over after encountering such loss and pain. The author does not rush the plot and gives readers ample time to connect with the characters, a choice that made me feel like I knew Joe and Sophie personally. “Dare Not Tell” is a wonderful novel that fans of historical romance will delight in!
December 10, 2022
I received an advance review #giftedgopy and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, Partner @ElaineSchroller and @KateRockBookTours.
Set 20 years after WWI, Dare Not Tell is the story of Sophie (a wartime nurse) and Joe (Veteran) as they take a belated honeymoon in France before going home to Sydney. Along the way their relationship is tested as Sophie begins to question how well she knows her husband.
I haven't read very many WWI historical fictions and boy am I missing out. This book is as interesting as it is intriguing. I enjoyed being taken from France to Australia, the descriptions were well written and made me want to visit. I really like the subplot of the story taking place during the memorial dedication in 1939.
Sophie and Joe's characters are brilliantly written. I enjoyed learning about Sophie's life as an American nurse while also learning about Joe's as a soldier and the trauma endured. I empathize and identified with their characters as their relationship faced one test after another.
Overall, I highly recommend this heartwarming story of love, loss, secrets, and redemption!
Set 20 years after WWI, Dare Not Tell is the story of Sophie (a wartime nurse) and Joe (Veteran) as they take a belated honeymoon in France before going home to Sydney. Along the way their relationship is tested as Sophie begins to question how well she knows her husband.
I haven't read very many WWI historical fictions and boy am I missing out. This book is as interesting as it is intriguing. I enjoyed being taken from France to Australia, the descriptions were well written and made me want to visit. I really like the subplot of the story taking place during the memorial dedication in 1939.
Sophie and Joe's characters are brilliantly written. I enjoyed learning about Sophie's life as an American nurse while also learning about Joe's as a soldier and the trauma endured. I empathize and identified with their characters as their relationship faced one test after another.
Overall, I highly recommend this heartwarming story of love, loss, secrets, and redemption!
May 3, 2022
A poignant love story told from a dual point of view. Sophie and Joe's love affair starts off as a forbidden longing and soon grows as they correspond with each other, sharing their joys and anguish during the time of WWI. I enjoyed reading the letters they shared, anticipating their eventual falling in love. This is a story about the tragedy of war and how love conquers even our greatest fears.
November 10, 2024
I’ll preface this review by saying I love historical fiction, and that WWI is one of my favorite eras in the genre. So I was especially excited to read this novel.
WWI was a devastating stain on an optimistic turn-of-the-century period, an era that witnessed such impressive advances in science and technology, with far too many of those advances channeled into rapidly changing warfare. It was not only the map of Europe to have undergone such a profound upheaval post-war, but also the psyches of young men who fought in that brutal war, and returned home to suffer silently with profound psychological and emotional trauma.
Schroller does a masterful job of touching upon many of these issues, and fully bringing the era to life. In this novel, she delves into the complexities of the battlefield and the longstanding trauma that endured in the minds of many soldiers for years after the Armistice.
Schroller has created two compelling characters in Joe, a young Australian soldier, newly arrived in France. On his first day of leave in Paris, he meets Sophie, a young American nurse, tending to wounded soldiers in Paris’ American Hospital.
Married with a young son, Joe has no intention of being unfaithful to his wife, nor does Sophie want to act on her attraction for this handsome and kind, but also very married, Aussie soldier. A friendship with a strong underlying current of sexual attraction forms, and the letters between Joe and Sophie help each to cope with their wartime burdens.
Their paths cross twenty years later, when they are free to act on their attraction. On a second honeymoon through Europe, their travels through France bring back many painful memories for Joe, alongside long-buried secrets that begin to emerge.
This was a beautifully written story, with a rich sense of place, that had me fully immersed in the WWI era and 1939 France. I loved that the story was told through dual timeline perspectives, allowing for realistic reflection about what happened during the war era. Joe and Sophie were such engaging characters and I fully enjoyed following along as their story unfolded. I highly recommend this novel!
WWI was a devastating stain on an optimistic turn-of-the-century period, an era that witnessed such impressive advances in science and technology, with far too many of those advances channeled into rapidly changing warfare. It was not only the map of Europe to have undergone such a profound upheaval post-war, but also the psyches of young men who fought in that brutal war, and returned home to suffer silently with profound psychological and emotional trauma.
Schroller does a masterful job of touching upon many of these issues, and fully bringing the era to life. In this novel, she delves into the complexities of the battlefield and the longstanding trauma that endured in the minds of many soldiers for years after the Armistice.
Schroller has created two compelling characters in Joe, a young Australian soldier, newly arrived in France. On his first day of leave in Paris, he meets Sophie, a young American nurse, tending to wounded soldiers in Paris’ American Hospital.
Married with a young son, Joe has no intention of being unfaithful to his wife, nor does Sophie want to act on her attraction for this handsome and kind, but also very married, Aussie soldier. A friendship with a strong underlying current of sexual attraction forms, and the letters between Joe and Sophie help each to cope with their wartime burdens.
Their paths cross twenty years later, when they are free to act on their attraction. On a second honeymoon through Europe, their travels through France bring back many painful memories for Joe, alongside long-buried secrets that begin to emerge.
This was a beautifully written story, with a rich sense of place, that had me fully immersed in the WWI era and 1939 France. I loved that the story was told through dual timeline perspectives, allowing for realistic reflection about what happened during the war era. Joe and Sophie were such engaging characters and I fully enjoyed following along as their story unfolded. I highly recommend this novel!
June 11, 2023
Dare Not Tell is told in three parts, with the last third of the book taking place in 1939.
The sense of place as well as the characters is/are very strong in Dare Not Tell. Part of the sense of place is established with delightful repasts. These forays into local food and drink add a lot of verisimilitude to the novel, and these moments also balance out the moments of reliving or being in a battle, which may not be as easy to swallow.
Part One and Part Two of the story involves WW I when the story took place in Paris as well as various battles in Northern France and various other locations. During this part of the story, the main protagonists of the story, Joe and Sophie, are married to other partners.
I got totally involved in Sophie and Joe’s lives, and in the last third of the novel, very invested in how they would solve the mysterious incidents in Chamonix, how this would impact other secrets between them, and how all of this is related to WWI. There's good tension in how the plot develops and you are kept guessing about what the traumatic incident was that is giving Joe such terrible nightmares, and how its revelation will affect them both as a couple.
It’s true that trauma takes a long time to recognize and address. There are very interesting connections drawn between the trauma that Joe is trying to avoid and ultimately heal from and the events that played out in the last third of the book.
The sense of place as well as the characters is/are very strong in Dare Not Tell. Part of the sense of place is established with delightful repasts. These forays into local food and drink add a lot of verisimilitude to the novel, and these moments also balance out the moments of reliving or being in a battle, which may not be as easy to swallow.
Part One and Part Two of the story involves WW I when the story took place in Paris as well as various battles in Northern France and various other locations. During this part of the story, the main protagonists of the story, Joe and Sophie, are married to other partners.
I got totally involved in Sophie and Joe’s lives, and in the last third of the novel, very invested in how they would solve the mysterious incidents in Chamonix, how this would impact other secrets between them, and how all of this is related to WWI. There's good tension in how the plot develops and you are kept guessing about what the traumatic incident was that is giving Joe such terrible nightmares, and how its revelation will affect them both as a couple.
It’s true that trauma takes a long time to recognize and address. There are very interesting connections drawn between the trauma that Joe is trying to avoid and ultimately heal from and the events that played out in the last third of the book.
March 10, 2022
The Things We Dare Not Tell by Henry Lawson
The fields are fair in autumn yet, and the sun's still shining there,
But we bow our heads and we brood and fret, because of the masks we wear;
Or we nod and smile the social while, and we say we're doing well,
But we break our hearts, oh, we break our hearts! for the things we must not tell.
et&..
When I saw this title coming up on Netgalley, it reminded me of this poem, and I assume the author used it for this story. (I did a lot of research on the WWI and the so-called 'War Poets' (German Studies).
Most of the story focusses on the correspondence between nurse Sophie Holt and AIF (Australian Imperial Forces). Lieutenant Joe Parker, starting during WWI.
Through their letters, readers learn, - among others-, about Villers-Bret (the first documented tank combat in history), trench foot, the Spanish flu, the shocking and harsh reality of boredom, going over the top, shell-shocked men, and the mask making industry for the disfigured faces.
I loved reading their correspondence, and the part on WWI is well-researched, but sadly, the novel became a DNF @ 35% for me after Part II, when things became cliché, with too much drama, romance, and fluffiness between the two of them.
I like to read historical novels, especially about the Great War, but for me, there is too much romance and love. There is a good story here though, for readers who can appreciate it more than I did, this is just not for me.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the author for this reader's copy.
The fields are fair in autumn yet, and the sun's still shining there,
But we bow our heads and we brood and fret, because of the masks we wear;
Or we nod and smile the social while, and we say we're doing well,
But we break our hearts, oh, we break our hearts! for the things we must not tell.
et&..
When I saw this title coming up on Netgalley, it reminded me of this poem, and I assume the author used it for this story. (I did a lot of research on the WWI and the so-called 'War Poets' (German Studies).
Most of the story focusses on the correspondence between nurse Sophie Holt and AIF (Australian Imperial Forces). Lieutenant Joe Parker, starting during WWI.
Through their letters, readers learn, - among others-, about Villers-Bret (the first documented tank combat in history), trench foot, the Spanish flu, the shocking and harsh reality of boredom, going over the top, shell-shocked men, and the mask making industry for the disfigured faces.
I loved reading their correspondence, and the part on WWI is well-researched, but sadly, the novel became a DNF @ 35% for me after Part II, when things became cliché, with too much drama, romance, and fluffiness between the two of them.
I like to read historical novels, especially about the Great War, but for me, there is too much romance and love. There is a good story here though, for readers who can appreciate it more than I did, this is just not for me.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the author for this reader's copy.
March 11, 2022
I enjoy historical fiction and have read a few good books set during WWI but “Dare Not Tell” blew me away. A war story, love story, mystery, travel log….all wrapped up in a well written and engaging book that takes place in two different times…1916-1918 and 1928-1939.
Sophie and Joe meet in Paris during WWI. She’s an American nurse working at the American Hospital there and Joe is an Australian Lt. on leave. They become friends and pen pals, serving as each other’s outlet to help deal with the horrors of war with someone who understands how bad it is. While they each have more-than-friend feeling for each other, Joe has a wife and young son back home in Melbourne so they keep their feelings to themselves. They part ways at the end of the war and don’t keep in contact.
Through a series of events over the next 10 years, Joe and Sophie both end up in Sydney and reconnect. Their mutual attraction is still palpable and they are both available to act on it. They marry and all is well until they receive word about the 1939 dedication of the Australian Army WWI memorial in France and that Joe’s MIA older brother’s name will be on it. They decide to attend but returning to France brings up horrible memories and guilt for Joe. Something he’s never shared with Sophie and is fearful she stop loving him if he does. Will their love endure what they experience and what secrets are revealed in France?
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Sophie and Joe meet in Paris during WWI. She’s an American nurse working at the American Hospital there and Joe is an Australian Lt. on leave. They become friends and pen pals, serving as each other’s outlet to help deal with the horrors of war with someone who understands how bad it is. While they each have more-than-friend feeling for each other, Joe has a wife and young son back home in Melbourne so they keep their feelings to themselves. They part ways at the end of the war and don’t keep in contact.
Through a series of events over the next 10 years, Joe and Sophie both end up in Sydney and reconnect. Their mutual attraction is still palpable and they are both available to act on it. They marry and all is well until they receive word about the 1939 dedication of the Australian Army WWI memorial in France and that Joe’s MIA older brother’s name will be on it. They decide to attend but returning to France brings up horrible memories and guilt for Joe. Something he’s never shared with Sophie and is fearful she stop loving him if he does. Will their love endure what they experience and what secrets are revealed in France?
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
March 31, 2022
This book follows Sophie and Joe as their relationship develops during WW1 and the years that follows, and how the war had its impact on them.
I really liked the writing, and I liked the first parts of the book with the War and the details, especially the correspondence between Sophie and Joe.
I liked that we went into their experience and then we read what they actually tell each other in the letters, I wished for this part to be longer and more detailed.
Because I kind of stared to lose interest in the following parts, I mean I was so invested in their lives and experiences during the war and I was disappointed that we didn’t get more of it, because the other parts were longer.
Also I thought the romance started way too soon, I wished it took a bit longer, especially that Joe was married and this was an off trigger for me.
I realize nothing really happens between them until much later but it did bother me.
But overall I enjoyed the writing and the details and descriptions of life and locations throughout the years the book was set in.
I would definitely check other books by the author.
Thanks for the author and Netgalley for giving me a copy to read.
I really liked the writing, and I liked the first parts of the book with the War and the details, especially the correspondence between Sophie and Joe.
I liked that we went into their experience and then we read what they actually tell each other in the letters, I wished for this part to be longer and more detailed.
Because I kind of stared to lose interest in the following parts, I mean I was so invested in their lives and experiences during the war and I was disappointed that we didn’t get more of it, because the other parts were longer.
Also I thought the romance started way too soon, I wished it took a bit longer, especially that Joe was married and this was an off trigger for me.
I realize nothing really happens between them until much later but it did bother me.
But overall I enjoyed the writing and the details and descriptions of life and locations throughout the years the book was set in.
I would definitely check other books by the author.
Thanks for the author and Netgalley for giving me a copy to read.
December 14, 2022
Do you read books by indie authors?📖
We do quite often, and we are super grateful, we would be missing out if we didn’t read them!
Dare Not Tell by Elaine Schroller is a heart warming historical fiction novel. This is our favorite genre and I was excited to start this beautiful book by an indie author!
Joe and Sophie briefly meet in Paris during WW1, she’s a nurse and he’s a soldier from Australia. They never forgot each other and I was so happy when they met up again many years later and realized they do love each other.
Joe has some secrets and these haunt him in his dreams, this comes out during their honeymoon back to Paris. His past is lingering, and Sophie is desperate to help him.
This is the type of book, where you fall in love with the characters and you’re rooting for them the whole time! I love that this also had an interesting mystery and that story was also compelling.
Thank you @@katerockbooktours for this gifted copy!
You can find Dare Not Tell on our Amazon storefront, this book is available now!🧜🏼♀️🌺
We do quite often, and we are super grateful, we would be missing out if we didn’t read them!
Dare Not Tell by Elaine Schroller is a heart warming historical fiction novel. This is our favorite genre and I was excited to start this beautiful book by an indie author!
Joe and Sophie briefly meet in Paris during WW1, she’s a nurse and he’s a soldier from Australia. They never forgot each other and I was so happy when they met up again many years later and realized they do love each other.
Joe has some secrets and these haunt him in his dreams, this comes out during their honeymoon back to Paris. His past is lingering, and Sophie is desperate to help him.
This is the type of book, where you fall in love with the characters and you’re rooting for them the whole time! I love that this also had an interesting mystery and that story was also compelling.
Thank you @@katerockbooktours for this gifted copy!
You can find Dare Not Tell on our Amazon storefront, this book is available now!🧜🏼♀️🌺
March 6, 2022
Elaine Schroller’s Dare Not Tell is an ambitious tale of a soldier finding and losing and finding his soul mate in a time of war, cope with side effects of PTSD, recover from guilt from an incident in wartime, and solve a mystery in a foreign country.
In my opinion, there was just too much going on in the book as a whole to really appreciate the saga of the main characters’ relationship. I think this would have done better as a series so the reader could digest each era of the couple’s lives before moving on to an additional plot line. So, for that reason I didn’t love the book to a point of wanting to read it over again.
However, Schroller’s writing style is quite beautiful and the story flowed well to highlight a lesser-known stock of soldiers from Australia in WWI from a US reader’s perspective.
In my opinion, there was just too much going on in the book as a whole to really appreciate the saga of the main characters’ relationship. I think this would have done better as a series so the reader could digest each era of the couple’s lives before moving on to an additional plot line. So, for that reason I didn’t love the book to a point of wanting to read it over again.
However, Schroller’s writing style is quite beautiful and the story flowed well to highlight a lesser-known stock of soldiers from Australia in WWI from a US reader’s perspective.
March 11, 2022
I enjoy historical fiction and have read a few good books set during WWI but “Dare Not Tell” blew me away. A war story, love story, mystery, travel log….all wrapped up in a well written and engaging book that takes place in two different times…1916-1918 and 1928-1939.
Sophie and Joe meet in Paris during WWI. She’s an American nurse working at the American Hospital there and Joe is an Australian Lt. on leave. They become friends and pen pals, serving as each other’s outlet to help deal with the horrors of war with someone who understands how bad it is. While they each have more-than-friend feeling for each other, Joe has a wife and young son back home in Melbourne so they keep their feelings to themselves. They part ways at the end of the war and don’t keep in contact.
Through a series of events over the next 10 years, Joe and Sophie both end up in Sydney and reconnect. Their mutual attraction is still palpable and they are both available to act on it. They marry and all is well until they receive word about the 1939 dedication of the Australian Army WWI memorial in France and that Joe’s MIA older brother’s name will be on it. They decide to attend but returning to France brings up horrible memories and guilt for Joe. Something he’s never shared with Sophie and is fearful she stop loving him if he does. Will their love endure what they experience and what secrets are revealed in France?
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Sophie and Joe meet in Paris during WWI. She’s an American nurse working at the American Hospital there and Joe is an Australian Lt. on leave. They become friends and pen pals, serving as each other’s outlet to help deal with the horrors of war with someone who understands how bad it is. While they each have more-than-friend feeling for each other, Joe has a wife and young son back home in Melbourne so they keep their feelings to themselves. They part ways at the end of the war and don’t keep in contact.
Through a series of events over the next 10 years, Joe and Sophie both end up in Sydney and reconnect. Their mutual attraction is still palpable and they are both available to act on it. They marry and all is well until they receive word about the 1939 dedication of the Australian Army WWI memorial in France and that Joe’s MIA older brother’s name will be on it. They decide to attend but returning to France brings up horrible memories and guilt for Joe. Something he’s never shared with Sophie and is fearful she stop loving him if he does. Will their love endure what they experience and what secrets are revealed in France?
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
December 3, 2021
Great Read
Schroller captures the horrors of war and the decisions made that affect a lifetime, while weaving a compelling tale of intrigue. An entertaining combination for all historical fiction enthusiasts.
Schroller captures the horrors of war and the decisions made that affect a lifetime, while weaving a compelling tale of intrigue. An entertaining combination for all historical fiction enthusiasts.
January 22, 2022
What a beautiful story that started during World War I. They met by the Eiffel Tower in Paris; Sophie a wartime nurse and Joe an Australian soldier. They both lost their brothers and later their spouses. And they lost touch only to find each other again in Sydney years after the war ended. Now, in 1939, they received an invitation to visit the Australian war memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, the place Joe never spoke about to Sophie. He never told her about the battle and what had happened there. He agreed to go to France to honor his brother's and other soldiers' memory. When the war was over, Joe tried to move on. Visiting France brought back all bad memories and nightmares. On top of that, the situation in Europe started to be dangerous again. In Chamonix, with the mountain resort in which they were staying, they got involved in a mystery connected to Nazis.
This is a book of love and war. It's a touching story that underlines the importance of psychological trauma of those who fought in the war. I loved Sophie's support and involvement in Joe's post-war struggles. The story is peppered with a mysterious incident in the beautiful mountains of Chamonix in France where we meet another lovely couple, Will Ryan and Helene. I'm happy to hear that the next short story, Bouquet Of Poppies, will tell us more about them.
I invite you to read this historical fiction novel which will take you to the beautiful places of Paris, Sydney and Chamonix. I loved the historic elements of this book where I learnt about Australian's battlefields during WWI. Nicely written and engaging story from the talented debut author.
This is a book of love and war. It's a touching story that underlines the importance of psychological trauma of those who fought in the war. I loved Sophie's support and involvement in Joe's post-war struggles. The story is peppered with a mysterious incident in the beautiful mountains of Chamonix in France where we meet another lovely couple, Will Ryan and Helene. I'm happy to hear that the next short story, Bouquet Of Poppies, will tell us more about them.
I invite you to read this historical fiction novel which will take you to the beautiful places of Paris, Sydney and Chamonix. I loved the historic elements of this book where I learnt about Australian's battlefields during WWI. Nicely written and engaging story from the talented debut author.
November 20, 2022
This book was good. Though there are times in the story I was confused. I wasn't sure where the story taking after read first quarter. The characters were interesting. The time period and the locations were pretty good. I give 3.5 wrap at 4 stars. I enjoy it.
June 1, 2023
dare not tell but read it you must
I enjoyed reading this as I felt drawn into the story and could see it as it unfolded.
It gave me a perspective on what my Pa must have gone through, he was wounded at Bullecourt and was repatriated to England where he met and married my Nan who nursed him. So I appreciated Sophie’s insights as well.
I was transported in so many ways to places I have been and more that I wish I could travel to. I think travel in those days was was even more special as the journey was much more difficult to achieve.
A well written book that is a must read
I enjoyed reading this as I felt drawn into the story and could see it as it unfolded.
It gave me a perspective on what my Pa must have gone through, he was wounded at Bullecourt and was repatriated to England where he met and married my Nan who nursed him. So I appreciated Sophie’s insights as well.
I was transported in so many ways to places I have been and more that I wish I could travel to. I think travel in those days was was even more special as the journey was much more difficult to achieve.
A well written book that is a must read
August 2, 2023
4.5 stars.
I really enjoyed reading this book and will be looking forward to reading Elaine’s next book. The story of Joe’s struggles with his memories of what he saw and did in WW1 was heartbreaking and told in a way that you felt that, to the author, this was more than a “story”. I loved the support Sophie gave Joe, their love story, and their travels. A book which will stay in my mind for a long time - my great uncle died in Villers-Bretonneux in February 1917. He was with the Australian 45th Battalion.
I really enjoyed reading this book and will be looking forward to reading Elaine’s next book. The story of Joe’s struggles with his memories of what he saw and did in WW1 was heartbreaking and told in a way that you felt that, to the author, this was more than a “story”. I loved the support Sophie gave Joe, their love story, and their travels. A book which will stay in my mind for a long time - my great uncle died in Villers-Bretonneux in February 1917. He was with the Australian 45th Battalion.
March 9, 2022
Lessons from WWI
Dare Not Tell is a powerful story of how a loving relationship can heal a soldiers war trauma. Written by an author who knows her stuff, the novel takes the reader from WWI battlefield to Australian war memorials on the cusp of WWII and a sobering invitation on how we can learn from history and hope not repeat it.
Dare Not Tell is a powerful story of how a loving relationship can heal a soldiers war trauma. Written by an author who knows her stuff, the novel takes the reader from WWI battlefield to Australian war memorials on the cusp of WWII and a sobering invitation on how we can learn from history and hope not repeat it.
January 2, 2022
DARE NOT TELL by Elaine Schroller is a historical novel set in Paris that spans WWI to 1939 and the brink of the second world war. Readers will immediately ache for Joe, an Australian soldier separated from his wife and child, and Sophie, a volunteer wartime nurse. By exchanging letters, Joe and Sophie forge an honest and respectful friendship that only two people engaged with the atrocities of war could understand.
DARE NOT TELL is a poignant portrayal of the long-term impact of trauma and how visceral fears can create isolation and distance even in the best of relationships. Schroller's writing, command of history, and compassion for how relationships evolve through tragedy are superb.
DARE NOT TELL is a poignant portrayal of the long-term impact of trauma and how visceral fears can create isolation and distance even in the best of relationships. Schroller's writing, command of history, and compassion for how relationships evolve through tragedy are superb.
January 11, 2022
A devastating story of World War I. No matter how many stories I read from this time in our history, there is always something to learn and to understand about those who were there. Though this story is fiction, it is written by Elaine Schroller from the inspiration of real people who were there.
Other readers who have read books set in this time will love this one.
I believe this is the first book in the series The Immense Sky Saga and I look forward to further stories from this author.
Other readers who have read books set in this time will love this one.
I believe this is the first book in the series The Immense Sky Saga and I look forward to further stories from this author.
January 13, 2022
A story you won’t want to end
From the devastation of war, Elaine Schroller has crafted a compelling love story between American nurse, Sophie, and Australian soldier, Joe. When destiny finally brings this couple together, the scars of the battlefield threaten their very happiness. I couldn’t wait to pick up the story to immerse myself in their world, and to escape into the scenery so vividly painted, from the battlefields of Villers-Bretonneux, to the streets of Paris and Sydney, to the mountains of Chamonix. The pace of the story kept me engaged from start to finish, and I didn’t want it to end.
From the devastation of war, Elaine Schroller has crafted a compelling love story between American nurse, Sophie, and Australian soldier, Joe. When destiny finally brings this couple together, the scars of the battlefield threaten their very happiness. I couldn’t wait to pick up the story to immerse myself in their world, and to escape into the scenery so vividly painted, from the battlefields of Villers-Bretonneux, to the streets of Paris and Sydney, to the mountains of Chamonix. The pace of the story kept me engaged from start to finish, and I didn’t want it to end.
January 19, 2022
This engaging historical fiction drew me in to World War I France and the lives of a surviving Australian soldier and American nurse as their paths cross years later. I really enjoyed following Joe and Sophie and experience their realities during and after the war. The second half of the book goes into suspense as they travel to Southern France near the start of the second World War. I think this novel could appeal to many different readers because it had more action and varied content and locations than a typical historical fiction. Well done for the author's debut novel!
June 24, 2022
The novel is named for the poem by Henry Lawson, “The things we dare not tell,“ and includes verses from that poem at each section.
Although the story is billed as concerning events in World War I, it opens in 1939 London. Immediately we learned that Joe's brother Robbie had been missing, presumed killed, for the past 22 years. Then we follow Joe and his wife Sophie, a war nurse, back to their World War I meet, and onward again to 1939. Joe and Sophie spend part of the summer in France, and slowly realize that the shadow of war is looming over the border from Germany again.
Sophie and Joe are overall good, responsible, ethical people. Their wartime and later relationships develop in a way that feels recognizably real. This is solid women's fiction from a historical perspective. The details of Parisian wartime life are seamlessly woven in (although there's a lot of roast chicken eaten). Their travels through France and meeting with other WW1 veterans at the War Memorial are engaging, although the secondary characters aren't developed. Joe's troubles with nightmares and other symptoms of Post-Combat Stress Disorder are convincing.
The second half of the book is almost a different story than the first. If the first half is good women's fiction, the second is mediocre spy story. Journal entries from an unnamed point of view character are introduced out of nowhere. These were 'as you know, Bob' descriptions of the narrator's actions instead of credible journal entries that reveal the character and motivations of their writer. I found them an unnecessary distraction from, rather than an augmentation to, the unfolding intrigue plot. The tension would have been greater if Joe and Sophie, along with the readers, had been left guessing for longer about the source of the suspicious events..
Don't judge this author's whole future body of work on this one review. The writing is sound and there's deft handling of the main characters. The structural issues of the second half are not uncommon with debut authors, and should have been pointed out by editors, as should the relative flatness of the secondary characters. I would look at this author's next book before crossing them off my reading list
Although the story is billed as concerning events in World War I, it opens in 1939 London. Immediately we learned that Joe's brother Robbie had been missing, presumed killed, for the past 22 years. Then we follow Joe and his wife Sophie, a war nurse, back to their World War I meet, and onward again to 1939. Joe and Sophie spend part of the summer in France, and slowly realize that the shadow of war is looming over the border from Germany again.
Sophie and Joe are overall good, responsible, ethical people. Their wartime and later relationships develop in a way that feels recognizably real. This is solid women's fiction from a historical perspective. The details of Parisian wartime life are seamlessly woven in (although there's a lot of roast chicken eaten). Their travels through France and meeting with other WW1 veterans at the War Memorial are engaging, although the secondary characters aren't developed. Joe's troubles with nightmares and other symptoms of Post-Combat Stress Disorder are convincing.
The second half of the book is almost a different story than the first. If the first half is good women's fiction, the second is mediocre spy story. Journal entries from an unnamed point of view character are introduced out of nowhere. These were 'as you know, Bob' descriptions of the narrator's actions instead of credible journal entries that reveal the character and motivations of their writer. I found them an unnecessary distraction from, rather than an augmentation to, the unfolding intrigue plot. The tension would have been greater if Joe and Sophie, along with the readers, had been left guessing for longer about the source of the suspicious events..
Don't judge this author's whole future body of work on this one review. The writing is sound and there's deft handling of the main characters. The structural issues of the second half are not uncommon with debut authors, and should have been pointed out by editors, as should the relative flatness of the secondary characters. I would look at this author's next book before crossing them off my reading list
September 3, 2022
On the Western Front during WWI, Aussie Joe Parker leaves behind his son and wife to fight. Through battle after battle he tricks death while his friends succumb. He struggles with how to manage the reality of the atrocities he’s seen and committed until by chance he meets a young war nurse, Sophie Holt.
Joe and Sophie are drawn toward each other and end up writing one another. Joe can’t tell his wife the things that he can open up to Sophie about. Eventually, the war and circumstances drive them apart, until Joe makes an effort to find Sophie and tell her how he feels. But will it be too late, and if not, how could he ensure that Sophie would love him through everything he has been through? Everything he has done.
The story continues on many years later through sorrows and joys for both of them before coming to an end shortly before the drums of WWII start. With a mystery they uncover in the French Alps, Joe must face his past and the secrets he holds, one last time.
Do Joe and Sophie build a lasting life together, or will their relationship be one more casualty of The Great War?
Scholler weaves an in-depth and touching tale of WWI from an Australian’s perspective and etches a fated loved story that is saga-worthy, painting each scene richly in the telling. Dare Not Tell is a refreshing take on wartime drama, told in an easy style that draws the reader in. A wonderful portrayal and glimpse into the psyche of a soldier and the woman who loves him.
Note: for those sensitive to swearing and violence, you will find some of both in the story.
Joe and Sophie are drawn toward each other and end up writing one another. Joe can’t tell his wife the things that he can open up to Sophie about. Eventually, the war and circumstances drive them apart, until Joe makes an effort to find Sophie and tell her how he feels. But will it be too late, and if not, how could he ensure that Sophie would love him through everything he has been through? Everything he has done.
The story continues on many years later through sorrows and joys for both of them before coming to an end shortly before the drums of WWII start. With a mystery they uncover in the French Alps, Joe must face his past and the secrets he holds, one last time.
Do Joe and Sophie build a lasting life together, or will their relationship be one more casualty of The Great War?
Scholler weaves an in-depth and touching tale of WWI from an Australian’s perspective and etches a fated loved story that is saga-worthy, painting each scene richly in the telling. Dare Not Tell is a refreshing take on wartime drama, told in an easy style that draws the reader in. A wonderful portrayal and glimpse into the psyche of a soldier and the woman who loves him.
Note: for those sensitive to swearing and violence, you will find some of both in the story.
August 7, 2022
Dare Not Tell by Elaine Aucoin Schroller
This historical fiction novel that takes place in 1939 features two main characters, Sophie and Joe.
The main part of the action takes place in France, but Elaine Schroller takes us also to Australia where Sophie and Joe live and meet again, years after the war. They first met during the height of WWI in Paris where Sophie was working as a nurse at the American Hospital and Joe was fighting
nearby with the Australian troops. They formed a deep friendship, but when the war ends Joe goes
home to his family.
When they met again years later, marriages later, they instantly felt the pull of their old attraction. They marry and blend their two families together. After Joe is shot on the job, he’s ordered to recuperate and they set off on a trip through the United States and Europe. It will be their long-awaited honeymoon. It’d been twenty years since they met and they were both looking forward to seeing how things had changed.
But during their time in Villers-Bretonneux and Chamonix, France Joe finds the secrets he’s buried deep come to the surface to haunt him. Will he be able to face them or will they tear him and Sophie apart? All this is set against a stunning background of battlefields, the Alps and the ominous presence of a looming WWII. I highly recommend this book. The extensive research the author did shows in the details from WWI and the descriptions of places that we visit with Sophie and Joe. I loved the true-to-life pull & tug of marriage with our two characters and the spunky actions of Sophie. It’ll keep you guessing as they try to solve the last mystery and save their marriage from the secrets of the past. 5 Stars!!
This historical fiction novel that takes place in 1939 features two main characters, Sophie and Joe.
The main part of the action takes place in France, but Elaine Schroller takes us also to Australia where Sophie and Joe live and meet again, years after the war. They first met during the height of WWI in Paris where Sophie was working as a nurse at the American Hospital and Joe was fighting
nearby with the Australian troops. They formed a deep friendship, but when the war ends Joe goes
home to his family.
When they met again years later, marriages later, they instantly felt the pull of their old attraction. They marry and blend their two families together. After Joe is shot on the job, he’s ordered to recuperate and they set off on a trip through the United States and Europe. It will be their long-awaited honeymoon. It’d been twenty years since they met and they were both looking forward to seeing how things had changed.
But during their time in Villers-Bretonneux and Chamonix, France Joe finds the secrets he’s buried deep come to the surface to haunt him. Will he be able to face them or will they tear him and Sophie apart? All this is set against a stunning background of battlefields, the Alps and the ominous presence of a looming WWII. I highly recommend this book. The extensive research the author did shows in the details from WWI and the descriptions of places that we visit with Sophie and Joe. I loved the true-to-life pull & tug of marriage with our two characters and the spunky actions of Sophie. It’ll keep you guessing as they try to solve the last mystery and save their marriage from the secrets of the past. 5 Stars!!
June 1, 2025
I've had a long month, and this was the perfect book to relax with in the evenings! The characters are richly developed and their love is palpable.
I enjoy love stories, so I liked the second-chance, almost-missed romance in the first part of the book. They get married about 1/3 of the way in (not a spoiler, since you see them married in the dual timeline), so the book isn't really a romance. However, I appreciate that Schroller did not drag out the love story with more arguments and missed chances just to draw out the romance. It was just as long as it needed to be for the plot.
In the second half of the book, you get to see the couple together, with a mystery element.
Despite the war-time setting, I found this book sweet and light-hearted, not dark at all. If this was the first book you ever read about WWI, some of the scenes might be depressing, but since the historical context is already well in my head, I felt that Schroller included just enough to set the emotional and historical stage for the real story about love, friendship, and healing.
If you are looking for a book that is gentle and heart-warming, I highly recommend making yourself a cup of tea and curling up with Dare Not Tell!
I enjoy love stories, so I liked the second-chance, almost-missed romance in the first part of the book. They get married about 1/3 of the way in (not a spoiler, since you see them married in the dual timeline), so the book isn't really a romance. However, I appreciate that Schroller did not drag out the love story with more arguments and missed chances just to draw out the romance. It was just as long as it needed to be for the plot.
In the second half of the book, you get to see the couple together, with a mystery element.
Despite the war-time setting, I found this book sweet and light-hearted, not dark at all. If this was the first book you ever read about WWI, some of the scenes might be depressing, but since the historical context is already well in my head, I felt that Schroller included just enough to set the emotional and historical stage for the real story about love, friendship, and healing.
If you are looking for a book that is gentle and heart-warming, I highly recommend making yourself a cup of tea and curling up with Dare Not Tell!
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