The Secrets We Left Behind

Written by Soraya M. Lane

Narrated by Elizabeth Knowelden

How far will they go for family, friendship, and love?

Occupied France, 1940. When the staff at a field hospital draw straws to find out who will join the evacuation from Dunkirk, Nurse Cate is left behind. But when the Nazis arrive to claim prisoners of war, she takes her chance and flees into the night, taking one patient with her.

Fifty miles away, the surrendering soldiers of the Royal Norfolk Regiment are shot dead by the advancing Germans. Beneath the pile of bodies two men survive, crawling to the safety of a nearby farmhouse, where sisters Elise and Adelaide risk their lives to take them in. When Cate, too, arrives at their door with her injured soldier, the pressure mounts.

The sisters are risking everything to keep their visitors safe. But with the Nazis coming ever closer and relationships in the farmhouse intensifying, they must all question the sacrifices they are willing to make for the lives of others. How far will they go for family, friendship, and love?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: May 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781713572893

Soraya M. Lane

Soraya M. Lane graduated with a law degree before realizing that law wasn’t the career for her and that her future was in writing. She is the author of historical and contemporary women’s fiction, and her novel Wives of War was an Amazon Charts bestseller. Soraya lives on a small farm in her native New Zealand with her husband, their two young sons, and a collection of four-legged friends. When she’s not writing, she loves to be outside playing make-believe with her children or snuggled up inside reading. For more information about Soraya and her books, visit www.sorayalane.com or www.facebook.com/SorayaLaneAuthor, or follow her on Twitter: @Soraya_Lane.

Reviews for The Secrets We Left Behind

[Jeremy King · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Gripping and emotive. Based on true events. I loved it

[stephanie clay · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Gripping story of the Nazi invasion- always fascinating. I enjoyed this book

[quilterfriend · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very good read. Based on true events. Worth listening to!

[Cindy Rittenberry · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Was a slow start in my opinion but stick with it. I am now going to look for other books that have been written

[Regan Deppe Willers · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a beautiful story. Will definitely be reading more from this author

[Beth Tidwell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A truly gripping story of how love, tragedy and survival are possible all at once.

[Linda Bordenave · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is based on real events and facts. The bravery of nurses and other women during World War II are little known. I will be reading more if this author’s books.

[Cathy Bettencourt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Love reading about this period! And the heroic women of the time!

[sharon dean · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

These stories make me feel blessed to live where I live. Also makes my heart bleed for the countries at war atm.

[Jeanni Waksel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed the story of forgotten people from the bigger events of WWII. Especially how the women would probably envoled themselves to fight for their country.

[Ronda Myers · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

There are few books that have made me cry but this one did. It is a gripping and powerful story.

[Melissa · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This story was good and I liked the characters but I felt like it was a little “holey.” I felt like I was watching a TV series and missed several minutes of the show here and there. I followed along & the story still made sense but I just felt like a lot of connecting parts were left out. Maybe I just like longer, more detailed books in this genre.

[Virginia Rodriguez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was drawn into this book very quickly, which is unusual for me - truly well written and captivating! I love the historical accuracy also. Well worth the read/listen!

[saralee persails · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The history, the characters, although fictional, were real and created real feelings and reactions.

[Katie Blacker · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Overall I really liked this! The narrator was fantastic, and parts of it were so intense and well written. I also enjoyed a different perspective of the Dunkirk story than I knew before.

I rounded up to 4 stars because I loved the “found family” element as well, and the only con for me was one of the characters being frustratingly naive, though it was important for her story and the story of the other characters to have her that way - it was just a struggle to get through some of those sections, though no disrespect to the author, I think Adelaide’s point of view was important for the plot.

Overall I’d recommend this!

[Jen Ingrid Engen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like this book. It moved quickly and was an easy listen. Short and sweet. Thanks.

[Paula Olson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Gripping! Some parts were so intense that I had to stop and come back later...