BOOK REVIEW: CROSS MY HEART, AND HOPE TO LIVE – CARMEN REID

Book Review: Cross My Heart, And Hope To Live – Carmen Reid

A gripping story of espionage and war-time resistance from bestselling author, Carmen Reid.

Brussels, 1940. Fifteen-year-old Nicole watches as the Nazis invade Belgium. Determined not to stand by as her country is brought to its knees, Nicole vows to fight back and joins the Belgian Resistance. Under her new alias — Coco — Nicole embarks on a dangerous new life as a spy, where the only question is not if you’ll be caught, but when.

I was delighted to receive Cross My Heart from Carmen Reid! Historical fiction isn’t a genre I read often, so I was very excited to try something new!

Cross My Heart is set in 1940 when World War II just started. Nicole, 15 years old and the main character lives in Belgium where the Nazis have begun their invasion. Niccole is put in a tight situation where their are food shortages and inadequate living standards. To fight back, she decides to join a Renaissance group under a code name, Coco, wanting to make a moral difference. This book is filled with mystery and suspense and is not a typical historical book, it is full with espionage, suspense, and action, it’s gripping and kept me hooked from the beginning.

This novel was filled with secret codes, accounts of children and families being evacuated and espionage. It’s an action packed book which I enjoyed reading. The characters in this book are very thoughtfully written, especially Nicole who had amaizing character development. She is a strong, mature, intelligent, and brave female lead. Her story about joining the Rennisance band along with other teenagers was very though-provoking and greatly inspiring. The story not only captivates with its intense action and suspense but also leaves a lasting impression through its deep emotional and psychological insights.

The relationship among the teenagers in the band is very authentic and well written, capturing the nuances of their camaraderie and struggles.. I also liked the small love story between Nicole and her young boyfriend Angelo. I loved how Carmen Reid did not overdo the romance so it did not overtake the main plot. The settings were also very vivid, depicting exactly what was going on each page. At times, I felt as if I were right there with Nicole and the others, fighting alongside them in the Renaissance band.

The only thing I disliked were some of the decisions Nicole made, sometimes they didn’t really make sense to me.

Cross My Heart is a true testament to all of the heroic people, teenagers and adults alike who fought for justice, and followed their moral values no matter who dangerous it was. It was amazingly well-written depicitng every single thing that happened during this terrible time. Reid does not shy away from the grim realities, instead highlighting the remarkable bravery and strength of Nicole and the other teenagers involved. This adrenaline-packed story is a gripping tale of courage, valor, determination, and unwavering principles. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in World War II and historical fiction. I highly recommend it! b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b. b b b b b. b b b b b. b b b b b. b b b b. b b b. b b b b b. b b b b. b b b b b. b b b b b. b b b. b b b. b b b  b