Under a Brighter Sky

1943, Nazi-occupied France. Clinging to her little girl’s hand, a young woman runs through the forest and stumbles in the dark. Behind her there are angry shouts in German and shots ringing through the pine trees. Her heart in her mouth, she prays desperately that her husband and son are safe, and that they will see each other again…

As the mountains come alive with bright alpine flowers, Jewish families flee into Switzerland from Nazi-occupied France. Young Resistance fighter Valérie Hallez has hidden Pierre and his little son in the dusty attic of her mother’s bookshop. At night, by flickering candlelight, Pierre tells Valérie of his fear that his precious wife and daughter have been captured. And as they both look to more hopeful days ahead, Valérie writes letters to her soldier fiancé Philippe, dreaming of the day when they can be safely reunited.

With the police going door to door hunting refugees, Pierre and his son must go further into Switzerland before they are caught. But Pierre will not leave without his wife and daughter, and nobody in the Resistance knows what has happened to them. Desperate to reunite the family, Valérie puts herself in more and more danger. But when Philippe discovers that the Germans have her listed as a key Resistance fighter, he begs her not to go back to the border. If she does, he might never see her again.

Valérie knows the Nazis will kill her if they find her, but she cannot bear to abandon the mother and child. Breaking her promise to Philippe, she crosses over into France to look for them. But one of Valérie’s friends in the Resistance is betraying secrets to the Nazis, and her life is in terrible danger. When Philippe hurries to save her life, will they both survive? And will Valérie’s efforts to reunite the family be in vain?

A completely unputdownable and heart-wrenching novel about a woman who risks everything to reunite a family torn apart by war. Fans of The Alice Network, The Nightingale and We Were the Lucky Ones will be swept away by Under a Brighter Sky.

What readers are saying about Dianne Haley:

‘My mind is blown… I have a new favourite author… I was hooked… The laundry could wait. Take away instead of cooking was the choice of the day… I didn’t stop thinking about the story… had me devouring pages… My heart beat loudly.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Heart pounding… will have you feeling all of the emotions from happy to sad to fear, with each turn of the page.’ Spooky’s Maze of Books ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Unputdownable… kept me hooked…I absolutely loved this.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I cannot recommend this book enough… heart-breaking… dramatic… I couldn’t have enjoyed it more!’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘My heart was pounding and I’d resorted to nail-biting before chapter one was finished! The author immediately put me right in the midst of the action and I became part of the Resistance for the duration of the novel… incredible.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘Completely gripping and heart-wrenching… It’s a page-turner, for sure!’ Goodreads reviewer

‘Amazing… will have your emotions on a wild roller coaster!’ @busymoms-readtoo

‘Such an emotive read… truly heartbreaking and yet also inspiring.’ Goodreads reviewer