"We have to wear the yellow star! It's the rules!" the little girl sobs. But her mother presses a desperate finger to her mouth. "Darling, today is different. We are going to leave our stars behind and go on a long journey. We must be very, very quiet, and pray nobody finds us until we are safe in England..."
Cornwall, England, 1943. When her husband is killed fighting in the Navy, grief-stricken Gwenna Devoran tries to fill the void in her life by offering shelter to two Jewish refugees in her farmhouse high on the Cornish cliffs. But at the train station, ten-year-old Lotti is waiting all alone in her neat red coat.
Lotti's mother died protecting her on the journey. Now Gwenna is all this little girl has. Traumatised Lotti won't speak a word: and when an order comes for German prisoners-of-war to work the farm she's in more danger than ever. What will happen if the Germans find out Lotti is Jewish?
When Gwenna overhears Lotti chattering happily to German captain Max Reiner, showing him her teddy bear, her heart stops. Shocked to hear Lotti finally speak, Gwenna is terrified for the little girl she's grown to love. But perhaps she can she trust the kindness in this German officer's gentle voice and bright blue eyes...
As Lotti heals a little more each day, Gwenna risks everything to spend more time with Max, certain he doesn't believe in the Nazi cause. But then a rumour starts in the village: Max himself fired the torpedo that killed Gwenna's husband.
Devastated, Gwenna's heart is torn between loyalty to her country, the memory of her husband, and love for the little girl she secretly hopes could become her own. With Max desperate to prove his innocence, does she dare to trust him? And should she fight for the three of them to become a family - or will the war tear them all apart?
An absolutely heartbreaking, gripping and beautiful story about how love shines brightly even in the darkest times, and the incredible sacrifices people make in wartime. Fans of The Nightingale, All the Light We Cannot See and The Tattooist of Auschwitz won't be able to put this down.
Read what everyone's saying about Natalie Meg Evans:
'Amazing stuff! I really felt my heart torn up... I felt so many emotions... I highly recommend this book! Five stars all the way!' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A page-turner from beginning to end... Took hold of my heart and left me wanting more. A must read.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐