Spring Breeze

by Angela Barton

Paris, June 1940. The enemy has entered the city, and Matilde Pascale hopes to sink into the shadows for the entirety of the war. However, when tragedy strikes, it changes everything, and Matilde focuses on revenge to fight back against the Nazis and their heinous crimes against humanity. But life sometimes takes a bizarre twist, and it seems that love has a way of infiltrating the most impenetrable of boundaries.

A common purpose drives two enemies into each other’s arms, and together they discover the capacity of their combined strength.

Genres: Historical Fiction

356 pages, Paperback

Published September 18, 2022

Reviews

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matilde and her husband live in Paris during the Nazi occupation. One day her husband is captured and her life is changed forever. She starts working with a German officer cataloging priceless art and jewelry. She starts to have feelings for the officer but is determined to do her part for the resistance.
Matilde is a strong woman living during impossible circumstances.
It’s a good story and makes you think about if you could do what so many did during the war.
Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for the copy

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set during WWII, the story begins in 1940’s Paris and from the very first page the tone is set for what is to come. We hear the tolling bell of St Augustine’s church, the gunfire rolling around the city, and we see the German soldiers patrolling the city. All of this is seen through the eyes of Parisian, Matilde Pascale, a young married woman who has recently lost her job in the city’s auction house due to the German occupation of the city. From the get go we feel the same unease and uncertainty that Matilde is experiencing and this feeling is only intensified as the story progresses.

As we move forward in the story we also read from the viewpoint of Corporal Hans Engel who has been thrust into the war and who is also a victim of circumstance. He and Matilde have to work together in the Museum, under the watchful eyes of the Nazis. It is an unlikely partnership and their evolving story had me hooked.

The title of the novel, Spring Breeze, at first conjures up images of romance and lightness and new beginnings, but nothing could be further from the truth. Operation Spring Breeze happened. The Nazis created Operation Spring Breeze in 1942 when they captured and imprisoned thousands of Jewish adults and children who were kept underground before being transported to concentration camps. When we learn this horrific truth the name of Spring Breeze takes on a whole new meaning and creates a sinister and unpleasant taste in the mouth.

Ms Barton has done something quite remarkable in writing this story, in taking a piece of history and writing about those events with sensitivity, clarity and empathy. Ms Barton treats this subject matter with the deepest respect. What we therefore get is a multi-layered story depicting the horror of war and the sheer resilience of the people who found themselves a casualty of that war. It is quite remarkable.

I flew through this book in several sittings as I simply couldn't put it down. It is well researched, with the author having visited the catacombs located beneath the Paris streets as part of her research while writing the book and this is clearly evident on the page. At the back of the book she states that one of her reasons for writing this story was to keep alive the memory of what had happened, and I think she succeeded in doing just that.

This book takes you on a journey that you will never forget. It’s a story about survival and of love and I am sure this will become a much cherished book.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of the ebook in exchange for my review.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spring Breeze by Angela Barton is a marvelous and powerful historical novel. It is heartbreaking too.
The novel is set in Paris during the Nazi occupation of World War II. We see the horrendous acts of cruelty towards the Jewish people including the massive round-up in 1942 into the Velodrome. Conditions were horrendous. Angela Barton has conveyed the horrors with her words.
There were extraordinary acts of bravery by ordinary people – pockets of courage and resistance. We witness the tenacity of very brave folks to help those who could not help themselves. Help and resistance came from some surprising sources. War brings out the very best and the very worst in men.
Not all Germans were Nazis – but put on a uniform and that is all people see. “This soldier didn’t look like a monster.” Look beyond the uniform to the man inside it.
Trust and courage go hand in hand. It takes courage to step out and be counted. Good deeds and actions earn trust. Trust is in short supply during the occupation.
Love can still be found in times of war. Sometimes we fear we are loving in the wrong places but we cannot help who we fall in love with.
All the characters were wonderfully drawn and realistic. They felt like trusted friends whom I am now missing.
I adored Spring Breeze. It was my first novel by Angela Barton but I want to read many more.
I received a free copy from Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

[Carol Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spring Breeze is a WWII historical novel set in Paris during the German occupation. The story follows Matilde, who initially appears naive and eager to keep a low profile. However, when Matilde’s circumstances change, she determines to fight the enemy in any way she can. The narrative captures Matilde’s transformation from a passive bystander to a determined and resilient fighter, facing the horrors of war alongside her fellow countrymen with unyielding strength.

Central to the story is the forbidden love between Matilde and Hans, a German soldier who, despite loving his country, abhors the war and its atrocities. Their bond, forged over their attraction, shared love of art, and mutual sense of injustice, is fraught with danger and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. I enjoyed discovering more about each of them as their characters developed through the story. Spring Breeze is an evocative, well-researched novel that shows the horrors of war and its impact on ordinary people who are thrown into extraordinary circumstances.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Paris 1940 and Matilde is unwillingly working for the Germans but she begins to develop feelings for a German Officer. This book has really made me think about how I would have coped during a time like this (war). Would I have stayed strong? I'd like to believe I would because I don't think you really have a choice.

During the course of this book we read about the horrors and atrocious acts commited during the war. Even though this is a historical fiction I could tell that the author has really put in alot of effort into her research.

At times when I wasn't reading the book I found my mind drifting away and thinking about it. It is an outstanding novel, powerful,heartbreaking and thoughtful. I was deciding whether to give it 4 or 5 stars because I didn't particularly like any of the characters but I think such a well written and researched book deserves 5 and I really did enjoy and appreciate it. If you enjoy historical fiction then I would be checking this one out!

[Caroline James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched and beautifully written, this is a gripping novel that tells of atrocities during the Nazi invasion of Paris during WWII. I was absorbed in this book from the first page and found it hard to put it down with carefully crafted characters that I, as a reader, found fascinating. The story is powerful, and I thought about it when not reading it. The author has a remarkable ability to combine fiction and factual history with a compelling chronicle of events. It's a five-star read. I was fortunate to receive an advance copy and highly recommend it.

[Sian · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review of Spring Breeze can be found on my blog...

https://quirkybookreads.wordpress.com...