The Resistance Girl

Rumi and Jens work together as part of the Norwegian resistance during World War II and try to help young unwed mothers escape to Sweden with their babies before Hitler can take their babies to produce the perfect Aryan race.

I thought the premise of the story was interesting and not one I had read before, but I didn't find the characters very compelling and I had a hard time staying interested. I usually like Mandy Robotham's books, but this one just didn't hold my attention.

I've read a lot of WWII fiction and quite a few have covered the Resistance, however, I've never read about the Norwegian Resistance (if any story set in Norway at all). Hearing the summery, my interest was piqued. 

Rumi and Jens make a great team, both carrying the emotional wounds of war and doing what they can to aid those affected by the Nazis. As the story progresses, Rumi's focus shifts to the maternity home which turns out to be more of a glorified prison. In turn, Jens becomes her ally in these missions though he is under the constant watch of the Gestapo. The story is slow to start but picks up about halfway through the book. The found family dynamic is strong here, something I love! 

The particular style of writing here isn't my favorite – more detail than dialogue – but the plot shone through it all and I enjoyed the story immensely. With the maternity home such a focus, I do wish we could have seen more about it, though that would have made for a lengthy book and separate from Jens and Rumi's stories. The two have a good, yet complicated chemistry, but the real charm of the book is their shared love for Marjit. In a sense, she is the heart of the story.

A huge thanks to HarperCollins/Harper 360 for sending me a free copy of the book to read and review.