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Acts of Love and War
A remarkable story of love and sacrifice centred on three young English volunteers in the bloody Spanish Civil War, from the author of The Prisoner's Wife.
1936. Civil war is tearing Spain apart, and the world is on the brink of chaos...
Twenty-one-year-old Lucy is frustrated with her constrained life in Hertfordshire, teaching and keeping house for her domineering father. But she is happy to be living next door to Tom and Jamie, two brothers she has known since childhood, and whom she loves equally.
But everyone's lives are turned upside down when Tom, the younger, decides to join the Republican cause in the bloody war in Spain. His older, fervently Catholic brother Jamie soon follows--but as a reporter for the opposing forces that support General Franco in keeping Spain rigidly authoritarian, with the help of both Hitler and Mussolini.
Lucy decides the only way to ensure the brothers' safety is to defy her father and travel to Spain herself and persuade them to come home. Yet when she sees the horrific effects of the war on the people--especially the children--she quickly joins the lifesaving work of the Quaker volunteers who have arrived from almost as many countries as have the International Brigades of fighters. Lucy knows that both brothers are in love with her; she herself is deeply torn between them.
The atrocities and casualties mount and Lucy knows that the question of which man she might spend her life with might be irrelevent, as the chances of either of them surviving diminish with every passing day.
This meticulously researched, deeply affecting novel is based on real memoirs of the Spanish Civil War. It is both a love story and a tribute to the remarkable women who fought with compassion and bravery to save the innocent victims of a war that was a foretaste of the carnage soon to come in World War II.
1936. Civil war is tearing Spain apart, and the world is on the brink of chaos...
Twenty-one-year-old Lucy is frustrated with her constrained life in Hertfordshire, teaching and keeping house for her domineering father. But she is happy to be living next door to Tom and Jamie, two brothers she has known since childhood, and whom she loves equally.
But everyone's lives are turned upside down when Tom, the younger, decides to join the Republican cause in the bloody war in Spain. His older, fervently Catholic brother Jamie soon follows--but as a reporter for the opposing forces that support General Franco in keeping Spain rigidly authoritarian, with the help of both Hitler and Mussolini.
Lucy decides the only way to ensure the brothers' safety is to defy her father and travel to Spain herself and persuade them to come home. Yet when she sees the horrific effects of the war on the people--especially the children--she quickly joins the lifesaving work of the Quaker volunteers who have arrived from almost as many countries as have the International Brigades of fighters. Lucy knows that both brothers are in love with her; she herself is deeply torn between them.
The atrocities and casualties mount and Lucy knows that the question of which man she might spend her life with might be irrelevent, as the chances of either of them surviving diminish with every passing day.
This meticulously researched, deeply affecting novel is based on real memoirs of the Spanish Civil War. It is both a love story and a tribute to the remarkable women who fought with compassion and bravery to save the innocent victims of a war that was a foretaste of the carnage soon to come in World War II.
403 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2022
22 people are currently reading
897 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Brookes
4 books228 followersMaggie Brookes is a British ex-journalist and BBC television producer turned poet and novelist.
The Prisoner’s Wife is based on an extraordinary true story of love and courage, told to her by an ex-WW2 prisoner of war. Maggie visited the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany as part of her research for the book, learning largely forgotten aspects of the war.
The Prisoner’s Wife is due to be published by imprints of Penguin Random House in the UK and in the US in May 2020. Publication in other countries, including Holland, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic will follow.
As well as being a writer, Maggie is an advisory fellow for the Royal Literary Fund and also an Associate Professor at Middlesex University, London, England, where she has taught creative writing since 1990. She lives in London and Whitstable, Kent and is married, with two grown-up daughters.
She has published five poetry collections in the UK under her married name of Maggie Butt. Poetry website: www.maggiebutt.co.uk
The Prisoner’s Wife is based on an extraordinary true story of love and courage, told to her by an ex-WW2 prisoner of war. Maggie visited the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany as part of her research for the book, learning largely forgotten aspects of the war.
The Prisoner’s Wife is due to be published by imprints of Penguin Random House in the UK and in the US in May 2020. Publication in other countries, including Holland, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic will follow.
As well as being a writer, Maggie is an advisory fellow for the Royal Literary Fund and also an Associate Professor at Middlesex University, London, England, where she has taught creative writing since 1990. She lives in London and Whitstable, Kent and is married, with two grown-up daughters.
She has published five poetry collections in the UK under her married name of Maggie Butt. Poetry website: www.maggiebutt.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
March 4, 2022
A masterpiece
Brookes is one of the best historical writers I have ever read. Both books are jolting tours de force
Brookes is one of the best historical writers I have ever read. Both books are jolting tours de force
May 7, 2022
Not really a review because I'm seriously biased.
"I need a war, and people in it struggling for peace" said my friend (and best boss I've ever had) Maggie.
So I handed her my PhD thesis.
I loved writing my PhD and I've always wanted it to be a novel but I'm not a fiction writer. Here it's just the background for the tale of Lucy and her two loves, but I couldn't be happier.
Acts of Love and War is a tale of passion and passionate caring, and how that can manifest in very different ways.
Thank you Maggie.
"I need a war, and people in it struggling for peace" said my friend (and best boss I've ever had) Maggie.
So I handed her my PhD thesis.
I loved writing my PhD and I've always wanted it to be a novel but I'm not a fiction writer. Here it's just the background for the tale of Lucy and her two loves, but I couldn't be happier.
Acts of Love and War is a tale of passion and passionate caring, and how that can manifest in very different ways.
Thank you Maggie.
October 31, 2022
This book was so… blah. I hated the wishy-washiness of her affection between the two brothers and the convenient wrap-up in the last pages of the book. Lucy would have been such a strong female lead in this book if she wasn’t set back by the brothers and their idiocy. This book would have been so much better without the two brothers and instead focused purely on Lucy’s work. The best ending for me would have been if everyone else died.
June 7, 2023
One star for teaching me about the spanish civil war, and one star for that one side character who actually had a little bit of personality
Rest of this book is 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼 and it’s most disappointing because it had a lot of potential and i really wanted it to be good. genuinely can’t believe how many good reviews this has
First lesson in creative writing 101 is “show don’t tell”. This can be difficult sometimes but this book doesn’t even scratch the surface. Pretty much every scene, especially the important and emotional ones, were just a quick summary and so I didnt get to know any of the characters or feel any emotional connection toward them or their connection to the main character. Sooo many times I wanted to scream for a scene that could have been good but was not. If you have to say “They kissed passionately for awhile” you’re doing it wrong. Really bad writing.
I very disliked the main characters especially the main girl. She’s incredibly manipulative and dishonest, using other people who love her and doesn’t know what she wants. She was made out to be a saint and didn’t have much personality besides wanting to help kids and using the boys who like her. It makes it seem like she is perfect and can get any resources she wants with no struggle and or inconvenience. super unrealistic and uninteresting.
Love triangle is incredibly unrealistic and I didn’t feel any ounce of relationship between her and either of them. Not enough of their lives growing up or important scenes between them were shown for me to feel any connection or chemistry.
I did however like learning all the information about the spanish civil war I didn’t know before. Pretty cool all the work people did for refugees. I’m glad that the characters I actually kind of liked were actual people in real life, and the main characters that I disliked were made-up.
Rest of this book is 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼 and it’s most disappointing because it had a lot of potential and i really wanted it to be good. genuinely can’t believe how many good reviews this has
First lesson in creative writing 101 is “show don’t tell”. This can be difficult sometimes but this book doesn’t even scratch the surface. Pretty much every scene, especially the important and emotional ones, were just a quick summary and so I didnt get to know any of the characters or feel any emotional connection toward them or their connection to the main character. Sooo many times I wanted to scream for a scene that could have been good but was not. If you have to say “They kissed passionately for awhile” you’re doing it wrong. Really bad writing.
I very disliked the main characters especially the main girl. She’s incredibly manipulative and dishonest, using other people who love her and doesn’t know what she wants. She was made out to be a saint and didn’t have much personality besides wanting to help kids and using the boys who like her. It makes it seem like she is perfect and can get any resources she wants with no struggle and or inconvenience. super unrealistic and uninteresting.
Love triangle is incredibly unrealistic and I didn’t feel any ounce of relationship between her and either of them. Not enough of their lives growing up or important scenes between them were shown for me to feel any connection or chemistry.
I did however like learning all the information about the spanish civil war I didn’t know before. Pretty cool all the work people did for refugees. I’m glad that the characters I actually kind of liked were actual people in real life, and the main characters that I disliked were made-up.
May 5, 2022
This book was catnip for me - the Spanish Civil war and a woman torn by her love of two brothers but so much more. Lucy travels to Spain as a volunteer in the struggle to provide aid to the numerous refugees of the civil war, but also to bring home her two best friends Tom and Jamie who find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. The plight of the people of Spain especially the children and the efforts of the aid agencies who helped them will remain with me - as well as the horrors of war inflicted on innocent civilians sadly still so relevant in today’s times.
I was sad to leave Lucy and her friends and hope that maybe I will be able to follow her story further.
Thank you Random House for giving me the opportunity to review this book. I will look word to reading other books by this author.
I was sad to leave Lucy and her friends and hope that maybe I will be able to follow her story further.
Thank you Random House for giving me the opportunity to review this book. I will look word to reading other books by this author.
June 20, 2022
Full review now up on the blog: https://www.thewritinggreyhound.co.uk...
Acts of Love and War is an immersive story about one young woman and the two men she loves.
Lucy, the main character, is used to living a sheltered life in Hertfordshire under the rule of her strict father. Denied the education she longed to pursue, Lucy instead finds comfort in her close friendship with the two brothers who live next door.
Tom and Jamie are as different as chalk and cheese. Where Tom is impulsive and fun-loving, Jamie is pious and measured. Despite their differences, however, both brothers find themselves falling for Lucy's charms.
With the Spanish Civil War hitting Hertfordshire headlines daily, it isn't long before the brothers are off to the frontlines - both resolved to do their bit for opposite sides. Itching for a slice of adventure herself and tussling with her conflicted feelings towards the brothers, Lucy soon follows them to distant Spain. She is determined to bring both brothers home safely.
The level of detail in this book is terrific - a testament to the sheer amount of research the author must have done! From the descriptions of Spanish life to the smallest historical details, all are carefully woven together to create a fascinating reading experience.
Although I loved reading about Lucy's travels and her vital work with the wartime refugees, I struggled to engage with the love triangle aspect of the story. Contrasted with the vivid descriptions of Lucy's work, this fell flat and felt forced. I was uninterested during these sections of the book, and couldn't relate to Lucy as she ummed and ahhed about which brother she preferred. Instead, I would have preferred it to have simply been a journey of discovery for Lucy, shaking off the shackles of her father and gaining her independence abroad. This was a real shame as it put a dampener on what was otherwise an excellent historical novel.
Mixing romance with history, Acts of Love and War is a beautifully written story.
Acts of Love and War is an immersive story about one young woman and the two men she loves.
Lucy, the main character, is used to living a sheltered life in Hertfordshire under the rule of her strict father. Denied the education she longed to pursue, Lucy instead finds comfort in her close friendship with the two brothers who live next door.
Tom and Jamie are as different as chalk and cheese. Where Tom is impulsive and fun-loving, Jamie is pious and measured. Despite their differences, however, both brothers find themselves falling for Lucy's charms.
With the Spanish Civil War hitting Hertfordshire headlines daily, it isn't long before the brothers are off to the frontlines - both resolved to do their bit for opposite sides. Itching for a slice of adventure herself and tussling with her conflicted feelings towards the brothers, Lucy soon follows them to distant Spain. She is determined to bring both brothers home safely.
The level of detail in this book is terrific - a testament to the sheer amount of research the author must have done! From the descriptions of Spanish life to the smallest historical details, all are carefully woven together to create a fascinating reading experience.
Although I loved reading about Lucy's travels and her vital work with the wartime refugees, I struggled to engage with the love triangle aspect of the story. Contrasted with the vivid descriptions of Lucy's work, this fell flat and felt forced. I was uninterested during these sections of the book, and couldn't relate to Lucy as she ummed and ahhed about which brother she preferred. Instead, I would have preferred it to have simply been a journey of discovery for Lucy, shaking off the shackles of her father and gaining her independence abroad. This was a real shame as it put a dampener on what was otherwise an excellent historical novel.
Mixing romance with history, Acts of Love and War is a beautifully written story.
July 5, 2022
Wow! This was a book that put me through a whole range of emotions!! A brilliant piece of historical writing that gives you a real feel for the turmoil of the times, and how that impacted on people.
Set around the Spanish Civil War, we are introduced to 21 year old Lucy who lives a very restricted life in Hertfordshire. And next door live 2 brothers, both in love with her, and all good friends but dealing with the emotions of growing up. When they read newspaper reports of unrest in Spain, first Tom goes to Spain to fight, followed soon after by Jamie - but for different sides. And that shows just how much this war split family and friends, something I'd not considered with my limited knowledge of the Civil War in Spain.
Lucy then finds herself wanting to do something to help, so she travels to join the Quakers as her caring attitude, and experience as a teacher, puts her in a great position to do something positive. But her main aim is to get the brothers home and safely. Throughout the war she receives letters from both brothers and I found this to be a really clever way of conveying their personal feelings, alongside that of frontline reports of what was happening and the things they were having to face and deal with.
What follows is a real rollercoaster of life during wartime - you cannot help but become so involved with these characters and willing there to be a happy ending, but knowing there will most likely be sadness and the dangerous situations people will put themselves in to help others is inspiring.
A story and characters that will stay with me for some time to come! Wonderful written and a story that really shows the human impact of war.
Set around the Spanish Civil War, we are introduced to 21 year old Lucy who lives a very restricted life in Hertfordshire. And next door live 2 brothers, both in love with her, and all good friends but dealing with the emotions of growing up. When they read newspaper reports of unrest in Spain, first Tom goes to Spain to fight, followed soon after by Jamie - but for different sides. And that shows just how much this war split family and friends, something I'd not considered with my limited knowledge of the Civil War in Spain.
Lucy then finds herself wanting to do something to help, so she travels to join the Quakers as her caring attitude, and experience as a teacher, puts her in a great position to do something positive. But her main aim is to get the brothers home and safely. Throughout the war she receives letters from both brothers and I found this to be a really clever way of conveying their personal feelings, alongside that of frontline reports of what was happening and the things they were having to face and deal with.
What follows is a real rollercoaster of life during wartime - you cannot help but become so involved with these characters and willing there to be a happy ending, but knowing there will most likely be sadness and the dangerous situations people will put themselves in to help others is inspiring.
A story and characters that will stay with me for some time to come! Wonderful written and a story that really shows the human impact of war.
May 5, 2022
This novel, set in the 1930s, explores life during the Spanish Civil War and how the Quakers helped alleviate the suffering of many of its victims. Two brothers take opposite sides in the war and head to Spain, one joining the international brigades to fight against Franco and the other to act as a journalist for an anti-Republican paper that celebrates and supports Franco’s regime. Worried for the brothers' safety, Lucy (the main protagonist) promises their mother that she will do all that she can to bring them back home. Also motivated by a desire to make a difference in the world, she joins the Quakers' mission to help refugee children in Spain. This novel is very well researched and peppered with historical detail, but the portrayal of too-good-to-be-true Lucy was less compelling. Guessing which brother our heroine will end up with (or not) drove the story along for me and the ending was satisfying and better than expected. Reading about the amazing and selfless work done by wartime aid workers was also inspiring and heart-warming.
March 31, 2022
This book was catnip for me - the Spanish Civil war and a woman torn by her love of two brothers but so much more. Lucy travels to Spain as a volunteer in the struggle to provide aid to the numerous refugees of the civil war, but also to bring home her two best friends Tom and Jamie who find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. The plight of the people of Spain especially the children and the efforts of the aid agencies who helped them will remain with me - as well as the horrors of war inflicted on innocent civilians sadly still so relevant in today’s times.
I was sad to leave Lucy and her friends and hope that maybe I will be able to follow her story further.
Thank you Random House for giving me the opportunity to review this book. I will look word to reading other books by this author.
I was sad to leave Lucy and her friends and hope that maybe I will be able to follow her story further.
Thank you Random House for giving me the opportunity to review this book. I will look word to reading other books by this author.
June 21, 2022
I really enjoyed 'Acts of Love and War.' I knew very little about the Spanish Civil War (apart from reading Laurie Lee's 'As I walked Out One Midsummer Morning' many years ago). Maggie Brookes has clearly researched the history of this time in great detail but the novel wears the research lightly. It is a fascinating backdrop to the compelling story of Lucy, Jamie and Tom and the interplay between them. For most of the novel Lucy can't choose between the two brothers, and right to the last few pages I really couldn't work out how it was going to end. The resolution, when it came, was satisfying without being sentimental. An immersive and powerful story.
March 12, 2023
Do tejto knihy som sa nevedela začítať.
Príbeh sa odohráva počas španielskej vojne.
Ide vlastne o troch kamaratov čo vyrastali spolu.
Tom sa rozhodne isť bojovat do Španielska onedlho ho nasleduje aj brat Jamie.
Nakoniec sa Lucy rozhodne že musí isť do Španielska aby oboch bratov priviedla naspäť domov.
Ale zistí,že vôbec to nie je také jednoduché...
Každý z bratov Lucy miluje svojim spôsobom a chce ju len pre seba.
Lucy nevie pre ktorého sa má rozhodnút. Rozhodne sa správne?
Viac sa dočítate v knihe.
Príbeh sa odohráva počas španielskej vojne.
Ide vlastne o troch kamaratov čo vyrastali spolu.
Tom sa rozhodne isť bojovat do Španielska onedlho ho nasleduje aj brat Jamie.
Nakoniec sa Lucy rozhodne že musí isť do Španielska aby oboch bratov priviedla naspäť domov.
Ale zistí,že vôbec to nie je také jednoduché...
Každý z bratov Lucy miluje svojim spôsobom a chce ju len pre seba.
Lucy nevie pre ktorého sa má rozhodnút. Rozhodne sa správne?
Viac sa dočítate v knihe.
August 3, 2022
A love story but even more so a tribute to the work of the Quakers during the Spanish civil war. A fascinating imagining of life during 1930s Spain based on real events and characters. The story was compelling to the end. The fact that the UK portion of the story was set in my own hometown of Welwyn was a bonus!
May 5, 2022
The story of two brothers on either side of the Spanish Civil War, an interesting and absorbing read. I have read accounts of the war but not the huge humanitarian efforts that took place. There were many interesting facts along side the fictional tale which worked well. It may have helped that I read this whilst in southern Spain.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Random House for this ARC copy
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Random House for this ARC copy
April 17, 2022
I was lucky enough to be accepted to read this via NetGalley
This book starts in Hertfordshire in 1921. Lucy is content with her life. She lives next door to Tom and Jamie, two very different brothers who she loves equally.
1936 and the Spanish Civil war is dividing people.
Tom then makes the decision to travel to Spain to fight in the War on behalf of the Spanish republic. He is quickly followed by his brother Jamie, who is supporting fascist General Franco. Lucy then decides that the only way to bring the boys back safely is to travel to Spain herself to persuade them to come home. This is however against her fathers wishes.
When she sees the horrors of the war she quickly becomes immersed in the work the Quakers are doing to to help the many civilians, most are refugees and the children are her main concern. As the war progresses which brother will Lucy end up with or will any of them return to the UK alive.
This was a great book with great characters and you can see why Lucy fell for both brothers. Well written and I really enjoyed reading it.
This book starts in Hertfordshire in 1921. Lucy is content with her life. She lives next door to Tom and Jamie, two very different brothers who she loves equally.
1936 and the Spanish Civil war is dividing people.
Tom then makes the decision to travel to Spain to fight in the War on behalf of the Spanish republic. He is quickly followed by his brother Jamie, who is supporting fascist General Franco. Lucy then decides that the only way to bring the boys back safely is to travel to Spain herself to persuade them to come home. This is however against her fathers wishes.
When she sees the horrors of the war she quickly becomes immersed in the work the Quakers are doing to to help the many civilians, most are refugees and the children are her main concern. As the war progresses which brother will Lucy end up with or will any of them return to the UK alive.
This was a great book with great characters and you can see why Lucy fell for both brothers. Well written and I really enjoyed reading it.
June 9, 2022
This was a wonderful historical fiction set during the Spanish Civil by a new to me author, Maggie Brookes.
I do love historical fiction, especially when I don’t much about the setting. I’ve only read one book set during the Spanish Civil War, so I was eager to read this and it did not disappoint at all. I was hooked right from the first page and enjoyed every single minute.
I loved the main character Lucy, and could understand her frustration about her home situation, and the reason why she went off to Spain to bring the brothers back. She was very brave, but also a little naive to think she could bring them home. The romance was complicated and I could understand why she felt the way she did about both Jamie and Tom.
I was fascinated with the situation in Spain and how the two brothers were facing it, and how Lucy got stuck in to helping the refugees. I felt like I was there with her and the other characters trying to help. I particularly liked the information about the children’s homes and the printing presses, really fascinating. the author’s note at the end of the book was illuminating, definitely worth reading.
Highly recommended if you enjoy historical fiction.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Cornerstone for my digital copy
I do love historical fiction, especially when I don’t much about the setting. I’ve only read one book set during the Spanish Civil War, so I was eager to read this and it did not disappoint at all. I was hooked right from the first page and enjoyed every single minute.
I loved the main character Lucy, and could understand her frustration about her home situation, and the reason why she went off to Spain to bring the brothers back. She was very brave, but also a little naive to think she could bring them home. The romance was complicated and I could understand why she felt the way she did about both Jamie and Tom.
I was fascinated with the situation in Spain and how the two brothers were facing it, and how Lucy got stuck in to helping the refugees. I felt like I was there with her and the other characters trying to help. I particularly liked the information about the children’s homes and the printing presses, really fascinating. the author’s note at the end of the book was illuminating, definitely worth reading.
Highly recommended if you enjoy historical fiction.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Cornerstone for my digital copy
March 28, 2022
Wow, what an amazing and compelling read, set during the Spanish Civil War. It brings home the suffering of the ordinary Spanish people who on the whole had very little in the way of possessions but when they had to abandon their homes to flee Franco's army everything became much worse than they could ever have imagined. The story begins in Hereford with Lucy and her two best friends and neighbours, Tom and Jamie who Lucy has loved for as long as she can remember. Everything is to change when Tom decides he must go help the Spanish people fight the fascists led by Franco who also had help from Germany and Italy. He is closely followed by his brother Jamie who although not going to fight he is going to support Franco. Once Lucy turns 21 she decides to travel to Spain to try and persuade the boys to return home, her journey is supported by the Quackers, once she arrives in Spain she realises that there is so much work to be done supporting the refugees especially the children and that they must become her number one priority. The brother however are never far from her thoughts. I have read other books about the Spanish Civil War and this is up with the best, I know Spain quite well and the descriptions made it all the more realistic.
December 27, 2022
I really tried to like this book, but after 100 pages, I’m too bored to continue.
December 22, 2024
bro what.
IMMEDIATELY off to a bad start i can NEVER stand for someone trying to choose between two siblings thats INSANEEEE.
also the whole vinegar sponge as a contraceptive thing is CRAZY?? THERES NO WAY THAT DOESNT HAVE ANY NEGATIVE EFFECTS
ugh i so so hate the strict serious older brother + funny unserious younger one. that trope is so bleh and idk why it happens it should be way more unrealistic and uncommon than these books make it seem
1. what kinda ass non-existent relationship do the siblings have that you're willing to fight / hate your sibling for a girl. LIKE YOULL CHOOSE A GIRL OVER YOUR BROTHER FOR LIFEEE?
2. for a girl who claims to care about both boys "so much 🥺" you really do enjoy leading both of them on while you dont even know what you want. that's actually evil
"and now i've got you too. does [my brother] know that?" UGHHHH WHAT IS THISSSS. possessive and petty like this with you brother is SICKK WORK
okay what's happening fr ☹️☹️ you're gonna have sex with him bc he wants it and you want him to stay? you literally want him to marry you and he can't even admit that he loves you but you think sex is gonna change his mind?? please sister free yourself. ALSO bro literally tried to force himself on you a couple days ago (bc he was jealous of his brother...) and now you wanna have sex? PLEASE TOM IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ALL THIS
"this was not the loving experience i hoped for" we all knew this. bro literally said he wanted to experience this before he died not that he cared about you or anything
and what was the moral of the story bro?? LIKE THATS GENUINELY INSANE.
also i feel like there were some weird attempts to compare the mother's love for her son's to lucy's love for them. SISTER WHAT??? NO NEVER AGAIN THAT IS NOWHERE NEAR THE SAME
anyways some moments were cute but i hated that this girl was genuinely moving between the two guys like this. whoever she was looking at was who she liked more but the other guy was still in her mind. LIKE WHAT?? LOWKEY WAS HURTING THE PLOT
lucy's volunteer work was super cool tho. and hearing what jamie and tom were doing was also cool. i wish this could have been done without this annoying love triangle.
IMMEDIATELY off to a bad start i can NEVER stand for someone trying to choose between two siblings thats INSANEEEE.
also the whole vinegar sponge as a contraceptive thing is CRAZY?? THERES NO WAY THAT DOESNT HAVE ANY NEGATIVE EFFECTS
ugh i so so hate the strict serious older brother + funny unserious younger one. that trope is so bleh and idk why it happens it should be way more unrealistic and uncommon than these books make it seem
1. what kinda ass non-existent relationship do the siblings have that you're willing to fight / hate your sibling for a girl. LIKE YOULL CHOOSE A GIRL OVER YOUR BROTHER FOR LIFEEE?
2. for a girl who claims to care about both boys "so much 🥺" you really do enjoy leading both of them on while you dont even know what you want. that's actually evil
"and now i've got you too. does [my brother] know that?" UGHHHH WHAT IS THISSSS. possessive and petty like this with you brother is SICKK WORK
okay what's happening fr ☹️☹️ you're gonna have sex with him bc he wants it and you want him to stay? you literally want him to marry you and he can't even admit that he loves you but you think sex is gonna change his mind?? please sister free yourself. ALSO bro literally tried to force himself on you a couple days ago (bc he was jealous of his brother...) and now you wanna have sex? PLEASE TOM IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ALL THIS
"this was not the loving experience i hoped for" we all knew this. bro literally said he wanted to experience this before he died not that he cared about you or anything
and what was the moral of the story bro?? LIKE THATS GENUINELY INSANE.
also i feel like there were some weird attempts to compare the mother's love for her son's to lucy's love for them. SISTER WHAT??? NO NEVER AGAIN THAT IS NOWHERE NEAR THE SAME
anyways some moments were cute but i hated that this girl was genuinely moving between the two guys like this. whoever she was looking at was who she liked more but the other guy was still in her mind. LIKE WHAT?? LOWKEY WAS HURTING THE PLOT
lucy's volunteer work was super cool tho. and hearing what jamie and tom were doing was also cool. i wish this could have been done without this annoying love triangle.
February 5, 2024
3 1/2 * This story needed to be told. Over here, in North America, not much is known about the Spanish Civil War which was fought from 1936 to 1939. I had read Hemingway's book "For Whom the Bell Tolls" many years ago. That book captivated me. In my opinion, I think it was his best novel. This book takes a different look at this war as it shines a spotlight on the hopelessness and need of a country at war, and focuses on the relief efforts of volunteers from all over the globe who have come to Spain to help the refugees. The work that they did, especially the British and American Friends (Quakers), was gratefully accepted by the millions of refugees, and actually The Friends movement was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the work they did in this war. These tireless, kind people were the only aid that the stranded refugees had. I liked most of the characters in the book. They were living, breathing people that kept this story together. Some of the characters were based on actual historical people, and others were fictional, but both were excellently portrayed. The book takes us from small, rural Hertfordshire, England to the cities of Lisbon and Barcelona, and all over Spain where furious battles were being fought. Lucy Nicholson is a young woman who follows beloved family friends to Spain. One of the brothers has gone over to fight in the British International Army for the Communists, and the other brother is going over tow work on Franco's side as a member of the Roman Catholic Church to chronicle the war for the Catholic papers. They are on opposite sides of the maelstrom, and both do not see or talk to each other again because the rift between them is too great. Lucy is worried for both brothers, and is convinced that she should be able to bring them home unharmed. As the war takes hold and decimates Spain, Lucy, who has signed on as a volunteer, is working with the Friends group which is looking after the refugees and trying to provide food and lodging for them. Lucy is a strong woman and she loves the cause that she is working for. Along the way she finds a strength that she didn't know that she had, and a cause that she will champion for the rest of her days. She also finds herself caught between the two brothers as has to find a way to manage that. This is a gut-wrenching historical fiction book, that will enthral you from beginning to end.
November 13, 2025
An interesting read set during the time of the Spanish Civil War, when thousands of refugees were fleeing from Franco’s army, backed by German, Italian and Moroccan mercenaries.
The Republican fighters were assisted by volunteers from Britain, America and other international countries, those who believed in the cause of freedom from tyranny.
This story revolves around a young British woman, Lucy, who follows her two childhood friends, brothers Jamie and Tom, to Spain, when they both volunteer to go to that country - one to fight for the Republican cause, the other to cover the news as a journalist on the Franco side of the confrontation. Lucy is determined to bring the two young men home safely to their widowed mother. However, she herself becomes caught up in the conflict, when she assists with the feeding and care of some of the the many thousands journeying to the Republican held areas to escape the slaughter inflicted on civilians by Franco’s troops. She finds a little abandoned girl, who has lost her entire family in the bombings of the escaping refugees and Lucy takes the child under her care. She not only becomes more and more involved in the efforts of the Quaker movement, making close friends with many of those with whom she lives and works. Together they manage to organise feeding centres, schools and even hospitals for the traumatised children who have seen the War destroy their homes, towns and many of their family members.
This story is a reflection of the horrors of war and the lasting effects upon all those involved, both soldiers and civilians. Lucy’s love story takes place against the background of terror and trauma.
This book kept me reading avidly.
The Republican fighters were assisted by volunteers from Britain, America and other international countries, those who believed in the cause of freedom from tyranny.
This story revolves around a young British woman, Lucy, who follows her two childhood friends, brothers Jamie and Tom, to Spain, when they both volunteer to go to that country - one to fight for the Republican cause, the other to cover the news as a journalist on the Franco side of the confrontation. Lucy is determined to bring the two young men home safely to their widowed mother. However, she herself becomes caught up in the conflict, when she assists with the feeding and care of some of the the many thousands journeying to the Republican held areas to escape the slaughter inflicted on civilians by Franco’s troops. She finds a little abandoned girl, who has lost her entire family in the bombings of the escaping refugees and Lucy takes the child under her care. She not only becomes more and more involved in the efforts of the Quaker movement, making close friends with many of those with whom she lives and works. Together they manage to organise feeding centres, schools and even hospitals for the traumatised children who have seen the War destroy their homes, towns and many of their family members.
This story is a reflection of the horrors of war and the lasting effects upon all those involved, both soldiers and civilians. Lucy’s love story takes place against the background of terror and trauma.
This book kept me reading avidly.
June 21, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Century for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the Prisoner’s Wife by Maggie Brookes and I was so excited to have been given a free copy of Acts of Love and War. First off, this novel gripped me on the mere mention of it being based in the Spanish Civil War. As an avid World War Two historical fiction reader, the Spanish Civil War is a much forgotten aspect of the World War. Brookes did unbelievable justice to showing the true extent of the Spanish Civil War on both sides. The incredible amount of detail poured into the pages of this novel brought it all to life. Lucy’s work in Spain gave the most human and innocent view of the Spanish Civil War which made such a strong impact upon the reader as the novel went on.
One aspect of the book which lost my attention was the love triangle. Sometimes I was confused by the behaviours of the brothers and other times I didn’t like their attitude towards Lucy. For me, the most powerful aspect of Lucy’s character was gaining her independence and her making a life for herself which she sought to live. It was so empowering to see Lucy develop as a character through the pages.
I cannot wait to see more books from Maggie Brookes in the future!
I loved the Prisoner’s Wife by Maggie Brookes and I was so excited to have been given a free copy of Acts of Love and War. First off, this novel gripped me on the mere mention of it being based in the Spanish Civil War. As an avid World War Two historical fiction reader, the Spanish Civil War is a much forgotten aspect of the World War. Brookes did unbelievable justice to showing the true extent of the Spanish Civil War on both sides. The incredible amount of detail poured into the pages of this novel brought it all to life. Lucy’s work in Spain gave the most human and innocent view of the Spanish Civil War which made such a strong impact upon the reader as the novel went on.
One aspect of the book which lost my attention was the love triangle. Sometimes I was confused by the behaviours of the brothers and other times I didn’t like their attitude towards Lucy. For me, the most powerful aspect of Lucy’s character was gaining her independence and her making a life for herself which she sought to live. It was so empowering to see Lucy develop as a character through the pages.
I cannot wait to see more books from Maggie Brookes in the future!
December 8, 2024
When Lucy's father was saved by a soldier who gave his life for him, he vowed to look after his wife and two sons. They came to live next door, and as Lucy's mother had died in childbirth, they became like her own family.
Some years later, at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, the two boys find themselves strongly in favour of opposing sides. When they both decide they must go to Spain, Lucy resolves to follow and persuade them to return to England.
Whilst in Spain, Lucy is instrumental in setting up education and aid facilities for refugees. Thus fulfilling something of her wish to become a doctor, which was thwarted when her father lost a great deal of money. He decided to prioritise the boys' education and have her go to work and take care of all the domestic duties once they could no longer afford staff.
These two families are invented, but the story is based on real events of the period.
The way Lucy let her life be dictated by these two boys was incredibly frustrating in contrast with the tenacity she showed in fighting to establish various refugee facilities from nothing. Similarly the ending was just a bit too neat. But overall an interesting insight into this period of history and the opposing sides.
Some years later, at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, the two boys find themselves strongly in favour of opposing sides. When they both decide they must go to Spain, Lucy resolves to follow and persuade them to return to England.
Whilst in Spain, Lucy is instrumental in setting up education and aid facilities for refugees. Thus fulfilling something of her wish to become a doctor, which was thwarted when her father lost a great deal of money. He decided to prioritise the boys' education and have her go to work and take care of all the domestic duties once they could no longer afford staff.
These two families are invented, but the story is based on real events of the period.
The way Lucy let her life be dictated by these two boys was incredibly frustrating in contrast with the tenacity she showed in fighting to establish various refugee facilities from nothing. Similarly the ending was just a bit too neat. But overall an interesting insight into this period of history and the opposing sides.
April 17, 2022
This book starts in Hertfordshire in 1921. Lucy is content with her life. She lives next door to Tom and Jamie, two very different brothers who she loves equally.
1936 and the Spanish Civil war is dividing people.
Tom then makes the decision to travel to Spain to fight in the War on behalf of the Spanish republic. He is quickly followed by his brother Jamie, who is supporting fascist General Franco. Lucy then decides that the only way to bring the boys back safely is to travel to Spain herself to persuade them to come home. This is however against her fathers wishes.
When she sees the horrors of the war she quickly becomes immersed in the work the Quakers are doing to to help the many civilians, most are refugees and the children are her main concern. As the war progresses which brother will Lucy end up with or will any of them return to the UK alive.
This was a great book with great characters and you can see why Lucy fell for both brothers. Well written and I really enjoyed reading it.
1936 and the Spanish Civil war is dividing people.
Tom then makes the decision to travel to Spain to fight in the War on behalf of the Spanish republic. He is quickly followed by his brother Jamie, who is supporting fascist General Franco. Lucy then decides that the only way to bring the boys back safely is to travel to Spain herself to persuade them to come home. This is however against her fathers wishes.
When she sees the horrors of the war she quickly becomes immersed in the work the Quakers are doing to to help the many civilians, most are refugees and the children are her main concern. As the war progresses which brother will Lucy end up with or will any of them return to the UK alive.
This was a great book with great characters and you can see why Lucy fell for both brothers. Well written and I really enjoyed reading it.
June 9, 2022
It’s 1936 and the Civil War in Spain is about to shatter peace in Europe. Lucy is 21 years old and living a comfortable life as a teacher in Hertfordshire, but everything changes when her nineteen year old neighbour Tom announces that he is going to fight in Spain.
Lucy and her neighbours, brothers Tom and Jamie, grew up together and she can’t bear the idea of anything happening to them. Then, when Jamie announces that he will also go to Spain, but to help the opposite side, Lucy realises that she needs to join them in order to bring them home safely.
Lucy decides to join a humanitarian effort organised by the Quakers to help the Spanish children. As she travels to Spain her life will never be the same again.
This is such a beautifully written book that sweeps you away. The beauty of Spain is vividly described alongside the horrors of war.
I was fascinated by the Quaker involvement in providing help to the refugees – I hadn’t known about this before reading this book.
This is an amazing book and I highly recommend it if you enjoy historical fiction.
Lucy and her neighbours, brothers Tom and Jamie, grew up together and she can’t bear the idea of anything happening to them. Then, when Jamie announces that he will also go to Spain, but to help the opposite side, Lucy realises that she needs to join them in order to bring them home safely.
Lucy decides to join a humanitarian effort organised by the Quakers to help the Spanish children. As she travels to Spain her life will never be the same again.
This is such a beautifully written book that sweeps you away. The beauty of Spain is vividly described alongside the horrors of war.
I was fascinated by the Quaker involvement in providing help to the refugees – I hadn’t known about this before reading this book.
This is an amazing book and I highly recommend it if you enjoy historical fiction.
July 20, 2022
love books that explore the history of the time they are set in and this didn’t disappoint. Based during the Spanish Civil War, a brutal time of Republicans against Fascists led by General Franco. A build up to World War 2 with Italy and Germany hovering in the background.
I’m not sure how easy it would have been to go to Spain from England in that time period. Brothers Jamie and Tom decide to go to Spain for opposing reasons. Tom wants to emulate his father, who was killed in action, and he joins the Republicans. Jamie has thrown himself into Catholicism and opposes the priests and nuns being apparently slaughtered by the Republicans. He goes to report on what is going on.
Lucy, who they have known from childhood wants to bring them both back and make them see sense. However once there, she gets involved in looking after the refugees and setting up shelters for the children and teaching them.
Lucy is conflicted as she loves both Tom and Jamie in different ways. Who will truly win her heart, if they both manage to survive?
I’m not sure how easy it would have been to go to Spain from England in that time period. Brothers Jamie and Tom decide to go to Spain for opposing reasons. Tom wants to emulate his father, who was killed in action, and he joins the Republicans. Jamie has thrown himself into Catholicism and opposes the priests and nuns being apparently slaughtered by the Republicans. He goes to report on what is going on.
Lucy, who they have known from childhood wants to bring them both back and make them see sense. However once there, she gets involved in looking after the refugees and setting up shelters for the children and teaching them.
Lucy is conflicted as she loves both Tom and Jamie in different ways. Who will truly win her heart, if they both manage to survive?
September 10, 2023
Honestly a bit disappointed, wasn’t rooting for any of the boys only Choncha❤️.
It was an amazing story reading about all the good work she was doing with segments thrown in about “which one do I love?”. Both the love interests were severely disappointing and 2dimensional, Tom only wanted to fight and only seemed to look at her as an sexual object. Meanwhile Jamie went hard for the catholic and the Madonna-Whore (or Magdalena as it’s written in the book) complex which was incredibly disappointing, though he does get credit for the brief redemption arc in the last moments of his life.
Will probably read another book from this author as I really did love the growth of Lucy in this book, in the beginning it’s all centred around the men but during the time she takes her place in the refugee camp and really devours herself in helping the children she becomes a strong and inspiring woman.
It was an amazing story reading about all the good work she was doing with segments thrown in about “which one do I love?”. Both the love interests were severely disappointing and 2dimensional, Tom only wanted to fight and only seemed to look at her as an sexual object. Meanwhile Jamie went hard for the catholic and the Madonna-Whore (or Magdalena as it’s written in the book) complex which was incredibly disappointing, though he does get credit for the brief redemption arc in the last moments of his life.
Will probably read another book from this author as I really did love the growth of Lucy in this book, in the beginning it’s all centred around the men but during the time she takes her place in the refugee camp and really devours herself in helping the children she becomes a strong and inspiring woman.
April 20, 2024
,*2,5
Jako jsem pitomec. Pořád jsem si opakovala, že tuhle knihu ne. Že autorka mne už jednou vytočila. A pak knihovna, chvilkové opomenutí, jeeee pěkná obálka a lup ho. Blbost, to nikdy nedělejte. Fakt. Vzhledem k tomu, že autorka první knihu napsala o našem ďolíčku a hodně si cucala z prstu. Mýlila se v geografii a zkreslovala události i chování lidí...no idealizuje válku. Její způsob zasazení lásky do té doby. Romantika ve válce podána dost divným toxickým způsobem. Dojí válku dalo by se říci. No a opět...to samé jen ve Španělsku. A ještě k tomu, co jsem zjistila při čtení první knihy, jí nemůžu vůbec věřit. Pravda, je to čtivé, ale mně tohle vykořisťování cizího neštěstí a vydělávání štve. Láska byla, ano, knihy o ní jsou, ale není v ní ta pachuť z toho pokřivení...Mno...Za mne tedy ne, ani kdyby to měla být červená knihovna.
Jako jsem pitomec. Pořád jsem si opakovala, že tuhle knihu ne. Že autorka mne už jednou vytočila. A pak knihovna, chvilkové opomenutí, jeeee pěkná obálka a lup ho. Blbost, to nikdy nedělejte. Fakt. Vzhledem k tomu, že autorka první knihu napsala o našem ďolíčku a hodně si cucala z prstu. Mýlila se v geografii a zkreslovala události i chování lidí...no idealizuje válku. Její způsob zasazení lásky do té doby. Romantika ve válce podána dost divným toxickým způsobem. Dojí válku dalo by se říci. No a opět...to samé jen ve Španělsku. A ještě k tomu, co jsem zjistila při čtení první knihy, jí nemůžu vůbec věřit. Pravda, je to čtivé, ale mně tohle vykořisťování cizího neštěstí a vydělávání štve. Láska byla, ano, knihy o ní jsou, ale není v ní ta pachuť z toho pokřivení...Mno...Za mne tedy ne, ani kdyby to měla být červená knihovna.
April 23, 2025
Al principio no tenía idea en que me metía al leer este tipo de libros, pero me gusta bastante la manera en que la autora te da una guía sobre la guerra en que se ambienta la historia desde el principio Lucy es una persona digna de admirar y sobretodo valiente en todo sentido de la palabra durante todo el libro se nos muestra que ningún hermano (Tom y Jaime) no son merecedores del amor de Lucy ya que primero ven sus idealismos por sobre ella sabiendo que ella siempre ha Estado para ellos, la muerte de Jaime se me hace necesario para darle un giro merecedor a la trama, pero algo que me dio tristeza es que Lucy jamás le dice a Tom que el bebé que espera es de él, pero sabiendo como es Tom no le interesaría lo suficiente para quedarse, un libro que promete y cumple y honestamente es bueno y fácil de comprender.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2022
Not usually a reader of historical fiction, unusually, the plot of this novel drew me in and I was not disappointed.
Set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War, two brothers, Tom and Jamie, travel to Spain to play their part in the war on opposing sides. Their neighbour Lucy, follows them, promising their mother she will bring them home safely.
A rich, tale of war and loss and the dreadful conditions experienced during that time. Certainly the kind of suffering experienced is still happening in modern day conflicts. A brilliantly written story which totally captured my attention.
My thanks to NetGalley, Maggie Brookes and Random House for an ARC of Acts of Love and War in exchange for an honest review. A thought provoking read, very much enjoyed and a worthy four stars.
Set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War, two brothers, Tom and Jamie, travel to Spain to play their part in the war on opposing sides. Their neighbour Lucy, follows them, promising their mother she will bring them home safely.
A rich, tale of war and loss and the dreadful conditions experienced during that time. Certainly the kind of suffering experienced is still happening in modern day conflicts. A brilliantly written story which totally captured my attention.
My thanks to NetGalley, Maggie Brookes and Random House for an ARC of Acts of Love and War in exchange for an honest review. A thought provoking read, very much enjoyed and a worthy four stars.
September 17, 2022
"Acts of Love and War" is unusual in that the focus of the narrative is on the humanitarian relief efforts undertaken by various organisations, including the Quakers, during the Spanish Civil War. At the heart of the story is Lucy, a young woman searching for something useful to do and which will allow her to escape from the drudgery of caring for her widowed father. She is also trying to look out for her neighbours two sons, Tom and Jamie, who are almost like brothers to her. There is love and friendships a plenty as the war rages on. There are visible parallels between Franco and Putin, as well as the threat of the increasing power of Hitler.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.
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