Can I say riveting? awesome? exciting? suspenseful? How about Don't start this book unless you have time to finish it in one reading; because once you start you won't be able to put it down!Tracy Groot had me spell-bound from the first page and kept me that way until the end. Her characters are powerful, alive and breathing. Brigitte Durand and Tom Jaeger are so realistic that you almost expect to go back in your history books and find them listed with other heroes of WWII. I have been reading a lot of historical fictional works based on WWII and I have to say this is one of the best ones I have read. Well.... next to Tracy Goyer's work. Okay, okay, they are equally wonderful.I wonder if I would perform as admirably as Brigitte does in a difficult time and situation, minus the brothel. She really stands up in the face of danger and possible death to help out Tom Jaeger secure vital information that will help the resistance against the Nazis. All of the other supporting characters are strong and realistic as well, without being over-powering. They help round out the story with their personal stories and emotions that bring to life the French resistance against the Nazis and their pride in their beloved country. A simple wedge of cheese not only brings tears to the eyes of those who are going to partake of it but help bring unity to the most unlikely group of individuals. (You will just have to read the book to know what I'm talking about.)A family home turned into a brothel for German officers becomes a place of espionage and danger for those who are part of the French resistance group Flame. And Brigitte finds help from those she never expected help from. Flame of Resistance is truly a wonderful novel well worth reading over and over again. The discussion questions in the back of the book are great as well. They are a wonderful way to not only discuss the characters of the book but talk about personal reactions with your book club. This review was made possible by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. They freely provided me with this review copy. I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Desperate to survive the Nazi occupation of France, Brigitte Durand has sunk to the depths other woman have had to for millennia, selling her body in an effort to stay alive. As D-day draws near and the Germans, the French resistance, and the Allies all prepare for the invasion, Brigitte is recruited into the resistance efforts. When an American fighter pilot named Tom Jaeger is forced to evacuate his plane while flying over France, he is picked up by the Resistance. Soon, he becomes a key part of their plan to get critical intel about the bridges leading into France from the prostitute Brigitte. Soon Tom and Brigitte are embroiled in a dangerous mission that becomes ever more important as D-day approaches.Flame of Resistance is a haunting story, one that will both inspire as it recounts the efforts of those who resisted Nazi occupation, while making your heart break for the suffering they endured. The story is fast-paced, with intrigue abounding in the midst of a people struggling to hold on to hope that a new day with dawn. Tracy Groot expertly re-creates the last days of Nazi-occupied France, and brings to life both the indomitable spirit of the French while illuminating the horror that the people experienced as they were starved and persecuted. Brigitte's story is especially heart-breaking is forced to make impossible choices, and ones that cause her fellow country-men to despise her, despite the fact that she became a prostitute solely as a means to survive. What I most found interesting is how author has drawn from the Biblical story of Rahab the prostitute, and how she set that story into the midst of World War II, creating a fascinating, multi-layered read. I have long been a fan of Tracy Groot's novels, and this one definitely lives up to the same caliber as her previous novels such as Madman.This is a story worth reading, and I award it 4.5 out of 5 stars.Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Tyndale, for the purposes of this unbiased review.
