The Last Correspondent
As World War II rages in 1943, aspiring journalist Ella Franks writes news stories in Illinois under a male pseudonym; Danni Bradford parachutes into the middle of combat in Europe to photograph the war; and Chloe, a former model living in London, runs off to Paris to be with her lover—never mind that Paris is occupied by Nazis. Each of them yearns to pursue her dreams, and each of them must confront the discrimination against women that stands in the way of achieving those dreams.
After Ella’s story about women wartime volunteers is published, she travels to London to write more stories about the war work of women, this time under her own name. However, she doesn’t want to be confined to “powder-puff pieces.” So, she follows Danni’s lead and starts breaking rules to get to the action. Danni’s a brilliant photographer beset by demons ever since she abandoned two refugees in Poland. Now, she’s willing to do whatever is necessary to show the world the truth about the war, including to stow away on a medical ship to Normandy. Chloe discovers that her trip to Paris is no lark. When the man she loves is too busy saving his country to give her the love she desires, she assumes a new powerful role as a helper to the resistance.
This fast-paced narrative is packed with subterfuge, action, and romance. The descriptions of battle are especially vivid—the sky coming “violently to life, raining bombs” down on the soldiers below. These intrepid women risk their lives and make heartbreaking choices. They encounter terrible tragedies, but because of their resilience and their dedication to each other, they prove their mettle, not just to the men in their lives but to themselves.
