Iris Foley is working for British Intelligence, she’s given the job to trap a German spy in England, things don’t go as planned and her husband Jack finds out, and he thinks she’s been unfaithful.

Iris leaves for France, her aunt Eva lives in Dijon, when she arrives Iris discovers she’s passed away and she's devastated. Her aunt’s house used to be a place where Iris felt safe and loved, she made herbal tinctures and remedies, Eva's garden is full of plants, bee hives and she published cooking books.

Iris discovers just how much the war has impacted people, her childhood friend is acting possessive and odd, some people think her aunt was a traitor because she had a German officer billeted with her and Iris knows her aunt was loyal to France. Everyone in Dijon is wary, they don’t trust anyone and if a German soldier is harmed and they start shooting French civilians as relation.

Iris can’t believe it when Guy Mason follows her, the man who ruined her marriage, he’s a British civil servant and he’s now strutting around Dijon in a Germany army uniform. Guy is an absolute creep, he makes Iris’s skin crawl, and her task is to kill him, easier said than done. The atmosphere in Dijon is tense, everyone is suspicious, any woman seen with a German soldier is considered a collaborator, and they assume Iris is one because of Guy Mason. It shows how things may not be how they appear, many women were helping the resistance and often they were the last person you would pick.

I received a copy of The French Affair by Theresa Howes from HQ Digital and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. A narrative about the Second World War in France, the Germans took what they wanted, food, wine, art, houses, and what brave and strong women did to help win the war and stop the plundering.

Ms Howes wanted to write a story that highlighted the important roles women played in the Second World War, they fitted in with the population, not as obvious and were certainly underestimated by men and the Germans. Four stars from me and the author achieved her aim in her latest novel.netgalley netgalley-reading-challenge-202331 s4 comments Sarah1,309 161

I really enjoyed this historical read. Set during the Second World War, we follow Secret Agent Iris who has returned to France after her aunt’s death. However, back in Dijon, Iris has a mission from British Intelligence: to murder a British traitor who was found handing over war secrets to the enemy.

Iris knows she must act fast and secretive. Yet, with the German presence in Dijon, little goes unnoticed. Not to mention that her British traitor is actually highly connected to the Fuhrer and Iris’s actions make the locals think she is a collaborator. It’s a case of kill or be killed as Iris loses friends who believe her cosying up to this German soldier is her way of staying safe. Little do they know what goes on behind closed doors…

Although I had an idea of what Iris should do to succeed in her mission, I was not prepared for the obstacles she would encounter. Mason is a tough (and horrid) man and the tension that Howes creates is palpable. I feared for Iris’s safety and was concerned by how few allies she had around her, especially when the top German soldiers start to suspect her actions. Knowing that time is not on her side, I could not foresee how Iris would succeed – and this is just the beginning of her concerns. Because, should she rid the world of one horrid soldier, Iris would then need to survive the inevitable questions that would follow.

Not only does this book explore the role of women in the war, but also the desperation when faced with having to live with the enemy. No one is safe, no one can be fully trusted and loyalties are tested to the limit. Iris’s actions in London have a significant impact on her marriage and I d how this element of the plot was continued when the story moved to France.

As the novel progressed, I thought the atmosphere became even tenser. There were plot developments that had me gasping in disbelief and I found my hands were sweating in the final chapter, so involved was I in the story. I thought the writer vividly portrays the fear that came with the French occupation and I could not foresee how the novel would conclude. This made the book even more enjoyable.

I think I learnt a bit more about this horrific period in history, such as the role of German women sent to France. The Occupation of France brought devastation all around and I d the different angle that this book provides. It was a really enjoyable read that simmered with tension and distrust all the way throughout.

With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.13 s5 comments theliterateleprechaun1,686 27

New-to-me author Theresa Howes explores what women were willing to risk in wartime.

French journalist Iris Foley wonders if the now failed honey-trap mission to trap a German spy for British Intelligence has been worth risking her marriage. When she takes refuge at her aunt’s cottage in Dijon, she meets the very last person she expects to see, the person who unnerves her the most… and he wants to re-kindle the relationship. Not only that, he seems to have pulled the wool over the Dijonnais.

As Iris digs deeper into her aunt’s life, she discovers a dangerous secret that has the potential to upend EVERYTHING.

The tension is palpable, the pull of the despicable characters is strong, and the level of suspicion in occupied neighbourhoods is high. This is a wonderful book that highlights our tendency to pigeonhole people, our tendency to think ‘it won’t happen to me,’ and leaves us with a greater understanding of how underestimated women were and their roles played in WW2.

It always amazes me how courageous these women spies were - many had no formal training and relied on instinct. They are not given enough credit for what they contributed to the war effort.

You'll love the vivid descriptions of French village life during occupation, of the botanicals and bees and of the food. Howes easily transported me to the setting of her story and quickly engaged me.

I was gifted this copy by HQ Digital and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review. 2023-reads netgalley13 s1 comment Grandma Susan576 53

WWII is one of my favorite eras. This book starts with an unsuccessful honey trap in Britain. Iris moves to France to be with her beloved Aunt and to set a trap for Mason. Upon her arrival she learns Aunt Eva was recently murdered and has left everything to Iris. Iris does her best to fulfill her mission by making Mason’s death look accidental. The story takes several twists and turns. It definitely brings out the ruthlessness and heartlessness of the Nazi regime. The story was engaging and a nice pace. Looking forward to more by this author.11 s Alayne Emmett1,318 94

Such a brilliant book. Set during WW2 in France it was so interesting and informative about the German occupation of France and how Britain sent women over to spy on the Germans. So addicted highly recommend. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review. 4 s Marie Girulat126 7

I love to read novels about World War II and the resistance to Nazi occupation. This one did not disappoint.

Iris is a journalist who works with British Intelligence to trap a German spy. After her honey-trap goes awry, Iris flees to her aunt’s cottage in Dijon, France. Her husband, Jack, believes she has been unfaithful. Iris has spent time at the cottage with her aunt and arrives to find danger lurking. Her aunt, a cookery writer, has a garden filled with herbs for tinctures, cures, and secrets. She is followed by the man she tried to trap. She also has a secret mission that will require her ingenuity. Iris relies on the courage and help of the town’s people and Jack.

This WWII historical novel shares the lengths that ordinary people go to defeat the enemy. Outward appearance may not always be as it seems on the surface. The descriptions of the countryside, the garden, and the French people were eloquent and beautiful. I felt the courage that the people of this small town exhibited against the Nazi’s.

Theresa Howes writing is beautiful and had me intrigued from the first chapter. I would recommend this book for those who love historical fiction.

Thank you, @netgalley and @hqstories for the e-ARC.netgalley1 Viv79 1 follower

The French Affair
Teresa Howes
2023
5 Stars



Thank you NetGalley and Publisher HQ Digital for my copy of The French Affair by Teresa Howes. I have not received any rewards or compensation for this review and therefore all views and opinions are of my own, the reviewer.

In summary: Set in the World War Two era when the Germans have invaded France. A female spy story.

This is my first Teresa Howes’ book and I have to say I was greatly impressed! I loved the pacing of the story which progressed nicely. I wasn’t sure if the author could draw out her motivations for murdering the enemy, but Teresa did just that. How many ways can you poison someone? I found myself saying to one of the characters how much is it going to take for this one to die? Genius work here by the author, it did keep me throughout, although it wasn’t a comedy.
I d the setting of the book, I found that for someone me who doesn’t historical stories much, this one was engaging with well developed plot and well developed characters. I felt satisfied with the ending.
I’m only sad the story ended so soon after being quite invested in the plot and the main characters.1 Nadia51

A quick easy read. The characters were introduced too quickly initally which made it hard to keep track of. The reference to WW2 were interesting. Overall 3.7/51 Gee672 26

Iris has been working in London as part of the fledgling British Intelligence Service during WWII. When the job she is working on doesn’t pan out how it was expected to, she is tasked with going back to her native France, to try to complete her mission. Fraught with danger, she goes to the place she thinks of as home, Dijon, where her Aunt Eva lives, where she feels comfortable, and where she can try to complete her mission. But when she arrives, she learns that Eva is dead and the town is well and truly in the enemies hands. Iris is a complex character, drawn into the intelligence world, doing things she never dreamed she would have to do, but it’s war, people have to do what they can, and she is determined to finish what she started. This book drew me in quickly, I especially d Eva’s story, her ‘tisanes’ and herbal remedies that she made for the locals, the recipes everyone loved, the bees that had to be told when people die or leave, and the way Iris adapted this to her own needs. We get the tension of suspicion in the town, with Iris being pulled all ways, seen as a collaborator and distrusted by the locals. However, she comes across as a strong woman, with a sense of right and wrong, determined to do what’ needs doing, even when her own life is in danger. A really good plot, well crafted and researched and a satisfying ending. Recommended. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this bookread-for-netgalley1 Judith306 5

Wonderful to be able to pick up another Theresa Howes book. The French Affair, her first book,The Secrets We Keep, is also set during the Vichy era and makes great use of the resistance movement in a rural French town. What’s is best about Howe’s writing is that she creates the most beautiful and totally relatable settings in France. Yes, The French Affair starts with a racy London spy setting but it quickly moves to the reality of living under occupied France. Iris is our lead character, married to Jack and her life will not be easy and she is not trusted even as she inherits her aunt’s house. The garden, the kitchen are all so real, the food, the herbs and the simple French way of living are one of the most appealing aspects of The French Affair. The story is a page turner, the characters are sustained throughout the story and it’s so satisfying to read a well constructed book. Thanks to @Harpercollins.com.au and to @netgalley for an opportunity to read an advance copy. Jill233 1 follower

A swift moving novel centred around the work of women amongst the British Intelligence and French Resistance workers at its heart. Iris begins her journey uncovering a spy amongst the British Intelligence Service and acting as a decoy is instructed to assassinate him when flees England and joins her in Dijon. Moving to France for Iris was bittersweet as on her arrival she learns that her aunt Eva had been killed just days before her arrival. To add to her sadness, her intelligence work has shattered her relationship with her husband Jack. Inheriting her aunt Eva’s house and the culinary books, Iris then looks at ways to achieve her task by using poisonous plants but once completed to avoid arrest she has to leave the country.

I really enjoyed reading this novel about the women who worked tirelessly to save their countries during WW2, which has a good storyline and eclectic characters.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers HarperCollins for this advance copy Simone152 6

What a great story - really well written with able characters and a plot line that will keep you reading more and more just to find out what happens. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Iris and could sympathise with her position of trying to help and following orders that looked to other people she was consorting with the enemy. The story about Iris’ Aunt Eva and her love of cooking and Aunt Eva’s German houseguest made me keep turning pages. Then there was the great romance (?broken romance) between Iris and Jack. There was a very satisfying ending and I loved the references to the bees and how Iris talked to them. Make sure you’ve got time to read when you start this book as you won’t want to put it down! Christine1,012 29

A good story! However, I found too much telling rather than showing in the writing which did not really work for me. The characters are not special and answer more to cliché descriptions than deep psychological development making this novel an easy read which is not bad, of course, depending on what one wants to read. I did want to know how the story would end! A good, quick, easy and entertaining read.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this novel from HQ Stories, and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review. Margaret331 3

This kept me glued to its pages a wonderful thought provoking read set primarily in wartime France . Espionage is at the heart of this during the occupation of France . A young English woman is set up to find a German spy in England and then lure him to his demise in France . This brings suspicion on herself and ruination to her marriage. Interesting how the people in the village react and the role of the Maquis . Full of atrocities and clever deviousness to bring a. Well rounded storyline Paula Pugh1,886 8

Nazi occupied Dijon, France. A French woman British spy tasked with eliminating the German spy she outed. Tension radiates from every page as the story progresses. Lives in danger or lost. Love found among the ruins of life in Dijon. Thrilling.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Jane Sandell93

The French Affair by Theresa Howes was an engrossing read almost to the end, where I feel that it lost its pacing somewhat. I found the ending a little abrupt too. But I enjoyed reading it and I thought that Iris was a well-drawn character, as were those she interacted with in Dijon. Theresa Howes created an atmosphere of tension, distrust and fear that helped to propel the story. Jenny H289 2

A female spy's mission in WWII France. Having recently completed a successful undercover role in England, agent Iris, who is half French, is sent to occupied France to meet a contact and save lives. Her contact, when eventually found, is the last person she would have thought of. The believable characters and sense of urgency make this book a compelling read. peter walton124 1 follower

A very enjoyable if somewhat sad novel re. WW2 , though am so very pleased that evil was eventually beaten by goodness. I think the story explained , in many ways, the both physical & mental sufferings of ordinary people during this war but am so pleased that both Iris & Jack found each other again in the end etc.
Connie Hannah34 2

Excellent read

The book was well written, non-stop action. The only thing I felt was off was the main character revealed so much of her mission to her partner that struck me as not what would normally occur in this time of war and secrecy. Well done. Sylvia Barker289 3

A lovely gem of a book that you will not want to put down. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this Arc n exchange for an honest review. Carol Perreault1,390 23

A woman travels after a botched British mission to stay at her beloved aunt's house during the war in occupied France, and is given a new mission. fromnetgalley Ilana38

An easy, superficial, entertaining read. I enjoyed it regardless its shortcomings. Tanya Hunter-Robinson242 3

This is my second book by this author and I enjoyed it just as much! Iris is such an interesting character; she’s brave, calculated, emotional and strong. The description of her Aunt’s village, the way the locals had been forced into a fearful atmosphere by the invading Germans and the tragic events that take place were very emotional to read, and there were a few parts which I found quite difficult to get through. But this is why I d this book, it didn’t shy away from the reality of wartime in an occupied country. There was love, family, tragedy, friendship, wartime and historical references - it’s right up my street! Thank you to @hqstories for giving me a copy of this title. Trudy Dowling2,414 53

The French Affair is a thrilling, suspenseful World War Two historical fiction. It is a testament to the people that risked all to help the allies win the war. Many gave their lives, but Iris risked her marriage in order to trap a spy in London.

Britain's solution, to avoid embarrassment, was to kick Guy Mason out of England. He thought he was now free but Iris's mission isn't over. After loosing her husband, thanks to the mission, she has nothing left to lose. She goes home to Dijon, France where her worlds collide.

Guy Mason wants only two things now that he wears the German uniform. He wants Iris as his mistress and to find out who betrayed him. All she wants is jack but feels him lost forever. What she was expecting was jack on her doorstep.

I really enjoyed getting a glimpse into the village life. Neighbor have turned against neighbor. Every minute of their days are riddled with fear. German soldiers only care about power. How does one know who to trust. Talk about nerve wracking!!!

The reader will learn a lot about the horrors of war while reading this story. People are struggling, physically and mentally. The Marquis are doing what they can but the Germans are always searching for them. The Germans treat everything as if it is theirs without concern for the people of France. Trickery and treachery riddle the pages making for a wonderful page-turner.

If you WW2 historical fiction I highly recommend The French Affair. It was a thrilling read. There were shocking moments that left me stunned. There were moments where I became disgusted with a character, giving me a small glimpse into what the people must have experienced on a daily basis.3 s Elspeth Elsey2

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