'Please, you must get Clara out of France!' cried the woman, her voice breaking in desperation. 'She's only thirteen and her parents have been taken to a death camp. Can you save her before it is too late?'
1943, Nazi-occupied France: Valérie Hallez clings to the hope that she will soon reunite with her beloved fiancé, Philippe, fighting the Nazis in Italy. Until that day comes, she risks her life helping Jewish children flee across the border with the resistance, but each tear-stained face breaks her heart a little more.
So, when she learns of little lost Clara, an orphan whose family has been torn apart by the German occupation, and is asked to rescue her, she jumps at the chance to save another innocent life. But she isn't the only one searching for the young girl...
Because brave Clara is carrying a crucial Nazi document. And the secrets it holds could change the course of the war forever.
Frantically trying to stay one step ahead of the Gestapo, Valérie traces Clara to an isolated children's home - but she is too late. German soldiers have already raided the building.
Her relief when she hears that Clara escaped is short lived, as there's not a whisper of her whereabouts. And just when she's about to start on her search, devastating news reaches her about Philippe.
Shattered by the thought that Philippe may never come home, Valérie tries to pull the pieces of her broken heart back together. She knows there's a little girl lost out there who needs her. So, she must make the hardest choice of all. Even if she can't save her dearest love, can she save poor Clara - and help her end this terrible war?
A totally unputdownable and heart-wrenching wartime story about love, bravery and sacrifice. Perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Nightingale and The Alice Network.
A Light to Guide Us Home can be read as a standalone.
