Temperance's' Trial by Hallee Bridgeman
Dedication starts this book off and prologue goes over the 1940's in France from one families life.
Marie and her brother are sent away as the soldiers come to get their father. They escape and get separated and she ends up in England in 1941.
With her new identity and papers she is sent to occupied France where with the help of others she's posing as a seamstress but is really a coder.
She collects information and codes it into the machine and sends them off to England to help them overtake the soldiers in France.
There is one time she learns of the farmers and they are going to be captured and while trying to send a message about the fires she is not so careful about the wireless machine.
Hard to read about the torture they put her through til a German soldier that she's friends with comes to her rescue but that's not the end of the story.
It continues on in the next book.
The real events that inspired this book are also told, British words and phrases, French and German are also explained.
Other cool things are vehicles are explained.
Next books in the series are summarized and there are discussion questions for your club to answer.
Many quotes from the Bible are also given. Excerpt from the next book is included at the end.
About the author is included also at the end along with links to her social media sites.
Other works by the author are highlighted also. ( )

To better understand what the book, Temperance's Trial is about, we must first become acquainted with the Virtue and Valor series. This is a series like a television mini-series, in which an entire tale is told in seven episodes. Every book in this series is inspired by real people and real events. The setting and time frame is World War II in Occupied France, and England. "Seven women from different backgrounds and social classes come together on the common ground of a shared faith. Each will earn a code name of a heavenly virtue. Each will risk discovery and persevere in the face of terrible odds."

Part 1: Temperance's Trial
Part 2: Homeland's Hope
Part 3: Charity's Code
Part 4: A Parcel for Prudence
Part 5: Grace's Ground War
Part 6: Mission of Mercy
Part 7: Flight of Faith

About the book:

One night Marie and Edward were awakened with pounding at the door of their home and they knew their moment had arrived. Brother and sister fled out the back window while their father distracted the forces at the front door. Eventually Marie and Edward Gilbert made it safely to England where they promptly joined the Royal forces to fight back. Even Marie joined a special unit for undercover work in the war. Her code name was Temperance. She and other women in her unit underwent rigorous training in their specific skill sets. She was trained in sending and receiving coded messages quickly. She was given the cover story, and even learned, to be the local town's seamstress.

Once ensconced in her role and war work in France, many months passed without incident. A Nazi Lieutenant began to pay her attention. Temperance wondered if he suspected her real occupation or was just attracted to her naturally. She needed to be careful. Because her transmissions could be triangulated, she needed to find a different place to transmit her messages each time. Then one day she was alerted by courier that her position had been compromised. She managed to send out a partial code to London before she was captured and arrested. In prison, she was interrogated, beaten, stripped and humiliated, doused with frigid water repeatedly, and suffered broken bones, without mentally breaking. She knew a large resistance operation was coming soon, and she would not betray them. The story ends with a cliffhanger. It continues in the next episode of the series.

My review:

The author has written a suspenseful, action-packed story that I was able to read in just a couple of sittings. I enjoy reading historical fiction filled with details as a result of good research. This is that kind of book. I found it easy to imagine myself along side the main characters. I felt admiration, fear and concern for Marie as she faced constant danger weekly in France. Her personality is written well and I feel that readers of all ages will identify with her plight.

The one element I found to be most compelling was the faith and support of the seven members of the special team--the Virtues. They trained together, prayed together, worshiped together, and offered each other emotional support. Once in France, Marie worked alone most of the time. She read her Bible often and prayed, leaning on God for her comfort. Her faith in Him played an important part of her character. As short as this episode is, I felt I had come to know this character, and could have called her a friend. I am looking forward to reading more novellas in this series.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from The Book Club Network on behalf of the author and Olivia Kimbrell Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” ( )

Exciting First Installment of WWII Tale...

I liked this very much in spite of my prejudices against WWII stories. Hallee Bridgeman's first installment out of seven has left me hanging, searching to see if somewhere I can find installment #2 and somehow quench my thirst for the continuation of this thrilling spy story.

Marie, having been forced to evacuate France, has gone to England. There she becomes a part of a special group of the Resistance Movement. She re-enters France as a seamstress, while covertly operating a coding machine to transmit messages back to England about the Germans.

How long can "Temperance" keep up this subterfuge, especially when a good looking young German officer starts seeking out her company? Bridgeman leaves us hanging, as wartime often did. Now we hurry and wait, just like the military!

I received this book from bookfun.org in exchange for an honest review. ( )