Off The Wild Coast Of Brittany

More about the book

Set during WWII and present-day France on a secluded island off Brittany, this story explores themes of resilience and resistance. Natalie Morgen, known for her memoir about overcoming a difficult childhood, relocates to a tiny fishing village with her chef boyfriend, Francois-Xavier. However, he abruptly ends their relationship, leaving her financially strained amid renovations for a guesthouse they planned to open. Just as she struggles to cope, her sister, Alex, arrives unexpectedly. Together, they form an unlikely alliance to save the guesthouse, gradually revealing their secrets and healing from their shared past. The property holds its own hidden histories; during WWII, the island's men fled to join the Free French forces, leaving women and children behind. They faced the arrival of three hundred German troops who lived alongside them for years. While renovating, Natalie and Alex discover an old cookbook in a concealed cupboard, containing handwritten recipes that unlock long-buried secrets. With assistance from locals, the sisters begin to piece together the story of Violette, a young islander whose family managed the guesthouse during the war, and Rainier, a German customs official harboring a devastating secret.