When Lucy's father was saved by a soldier who gave his life for him, he vowed to look after his wife and two sons. They came to live next door, and as Lucy's mother had died in childbirth, they became like her own family.

Some years later, at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, the two boys find themselves strongly in favour of opposing sides. When they both decide they must go to Spain, Lucy resolves to follow and persuade them to return to England.

Whilst in Spain, Lucy is instrumental in setting up education and aid facilities for refugees. Thus fulfilling something of her wish to become a doctor, which was thwarted when her father lost a great deal of money. He decided to prioritise the boys' education and have her go to work and take care of all the domestic duties once they could no longer afford staff.

These two families are invented, but the story is based on real events of the period.

The way Lucy let her life be dictated by these two boys was incredibly frustrating in contrast with the tenacity she showed in fighting to establish various refugee facilities from nothing. Similarly the ending was just a bit too neat. But overall an interesting insight into this period of history and the opposing sides.

Unfortunately I didn't connect with this book and after multiple attempts have had to mark as dnf which is a shame as usually my genre.

A Massive Thank You to the Author, the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book prior to its release date.

I loved this book and as a history teacher I enjoyed the story set against the Spanish civil war.
The romance and love story captured the imagination and the suspense added to the enjoyment of the book.
I thought it was superb.

Gripping and eye-opening!
OK, I have to be honest here and say that I haven't read a book set during the Spanish Civil War before this, so O didn't know a huge amount about the history, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story and learning about a new to e aspect of history and discovering this new to me author.
I was hooked by the story and the compelling history, the characters are engaging and though I didn't love, love them as I have other characters, I was interested in their journey and invested in the story.
I loved the story and the historical detail which brings the entire story alive, overall a thoroughly good and beautiful written story frill of bravery and danger.
A must-read for any historical fiction reader!

I normally enjoy historical fiction but I did struggle to get in to the story.
For me the part I loved best was the development of Lucy's character and how strong she was.

I realy got immersed in this book. Tragedy brings three young childern together at the end of the WW1. Lucy's dad brings a young familily to live in his cottage. Their dad had saved his life. Lucy is awestruck by the two brothers Jamie ad Tom. She follows them to War. What follows is poignant and heartrenching.

This is the story of 3 friends who go off to Spain during the civil war. Brothers Tom and Jamie are on opposite sides but are both determined to do their bit. Their lifelong friend Lucy decides to travel out and try to persuade them to return, but she is caught up in the humanitarian side, helping the thousands of refugees. She has the added problem of not being able to decide which of the brothers she is in love with! I felt I learned a lot about the situation in Spain at the time, but I didn't particularly warm to the main characters and I was very disappointed with the ending. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

I love books that explore the history of the time they are set in and this didn’t disappoint. Based during the Spanish Civil War, a brutal time of Republicans against Fascists led by General Franco. A build up to World War 2 with Italy and Germany hovering in the background.
I’m not sure how easy it would have been to go to Spain from England in that time period. Brothers Jamie and Tom decide to go to Spain for opposing reasons. Tom wants to emulate his father, who was killed in action, and he joins the Republicans. Jamie has thrown himself into Catholicism and opposes the priests and nuns being apparently slaughtered by the Republicans. He goes to report on what is going on.
Lucy, who they have known from childhood wants to bring them both back and make them see sense. However once there, she gets involved in looking after the refugees and setting up shelters for the children and teaching them.
Lucy is conflicted as she loves both Tom and Jamie in different ways. Who will truly win her heart, if they both manage to survive?

This is a well written and researched book set around the Spanish civil war. I thoroughly enjoyed following Lucy’s journey and her love of two brothers. Recommend wholeheartedly.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was captivating from the beginning. I didn't know very much about the Spanish civil war. Coupled with the story of one woman in love with two brothers made for a really good read. It was amazing the amount of humanitarian work that took place. I look forward to reading more from Maggie Brookes - a follow-up to this one would be really good.

Thank you to NetGalley and Century for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the Prisoner’s Wife by Maggie Brookes and I was so excited to have been given a free copy of Acts of Love and War. First off, this novel gripped me on the mere mention of it being based in the Spanish Civil War. As an avid World War Two historical fiction reader, the Spanish Civil War is a much forgotten aspect of the World War. Brookes did unbelievable justice to showing the true extent of the Spanish Civil War on both sides. The incredible amount of detail poured into the pages of this novel brought it all to life. Lucy’s work in Spain gave the most human and innocent view of the Spanish Civil War which made such a strong impact upon the reader as the novel went on.

One aspect of the book which lost my attention was the love triangle. Sometimes I was confused by the behaviours of the brothers and other times I didn’t like their attitude towards Lucy. For me, the most powerful aspect of Lucy’s character was gaining her independence and her making a life for herself which she sought to live. It was so empowering to see Lucy develop as a character through the pages.

I cannot wait to see more books from Maggie Brookes in the future!

Set during the Spanish Civil war, Tom a hot headed English boy leaves his mother, brother and best friend Lucy and her father Captain Nicholson to join the international brigade in Spain. His brother Jamie is against the war, and sympathises with Franco and gets the opportunity to go to Spain as a journalist.. Lucy is devastated and decides that on her 21st birthday, much to the disgust of her father to go to Spain to bring both brothers back while volunteering for the Quakers in feeding the refugees.

A love story with many twists and turns.

The subject of the book was very interesting , however the character Lucy was irritating at times.

A great historical book set in the Spanish Civil War. Two brothers on different sides face many challenges. An interesting look into the humanitarian side of the war. So well researched and written.

A really enjoyable yet heart wrenching read. Main character Lucy is an amazing woman despite so much being against her and various circumstances lead her to Spain during the Spanish civil war. Above all else it is about the love she has for the children and families she helps, and not so much about the love for the two brothers she knew in England who lead her to Spain. It's an interesting read in terms of learning about the civil war period and the amazing work of the Quakers during that time. Thanks to Netgalley the publisher and author for my arc.

This was a wonderful historical fiction set during the Spanish Civil by a new to me author, Maggie Brookes.
I do love historical fiction, especially when I don’t much about the setting. I’ve only read one book set during the Spanish Civil War, so I was eager to read this and it did not disappoint at all. I was hooked right from the first page and enjoyed every single minute.
I loved the main character Lucy, and could understand her frustration about her home situation, and the reason why she went off to Spain to bring the brothers back. She was very brave, but also a little naive to think she could bring them home. The romance was complicated and I could understand why she felt the way she did about both Jamie and Tom.
I was fascinated with the situation in Spain and how the two brothers were facing it, and how Lucy got stuck in to helping the refugees. I felt like I was there with her and the other characters trying to help. I particularly liked the information about the children’s homes and the printing presses, really fascinating. the author’s note at the end of the book was illuminating, definitely worth reading.
Highly recommended if you enjoy historical fiction.

I love historical fiction, but I particularly love historical fiction that teaches me about an episode in history I know very little about, so I was delighted to have the opportunity to read Acts of Love and War set during the Spanish Civil War. It’s a moving story, the perfect blend of fact and fiction with a sprinkling of romance and I very much enjoyed it.

In 1936 Lucy is a young teacher living a quiet life in Hertfordshire until her friend and neighbour, 19 year old Tom announces that he is going to fight in Spain. When Tom’s brother Jamie decides that he is also going to Spain, but to support the other side, Lucy is left feeling so worried about her two oldest friends that she decides to travel to Spain herself to try and persuade them to come home.

Confronted with the horrors of war, Lucy decides that as well as helping the men she loves, and ultimately must choose between, she needs to do more and begins to work with the Quakers helping Spanish refugee children.

This is a beautifully written story and a reminder about the horrors of war and the impact on innocent civilians, given an added poignance given with all that is going on in the world currently. I found the tireless work of the Quakers particularly interesting as my grandparents were Quakers and I was educated at a Quaker school, so I was aware of their considerable philanthropic efforts, though this part of their history is not one I had heard about previously.

Not usually a reader of historical fiction, unusually, the plot of this novel drew me in and I was not disappointed.
Set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War, two brothers, Tom and Jamie, travel to Spain to play their part in the war on opposing sides. Their neighbour Lucy, follows them, promising their mother she will bring them home safely.
A rich, tale of war and loss and the dreadful conditions experienced during that time. Certainly the kind of suffering experienced is still happening in modern day conflicts. A brilliantly written story which totally captured my attention.
My thanks to NetGalley, Maggie Brookes and Random House for an ARC of Acts of Love and War in exchange for an honest review. A thought provoking read, very much enjoyed and a worthy four stars.

Lucy lives with her father in Hertfordshire. Next door live Tom and Jamie with their mother. Lucy loves them both even though they are completely different to each other.
In 1936 the Civil War is being fought in Spain and Tom decides he must go and fight for the democrats. Then Jamie goes but is supporting the Fascists.
Jane wants them home so decides to go to bring them home but soon gets caught up in the Quaker movement over there and helping the refugees.
She soon realises that she might not bring either brother home and might not make it back herself.

Brothers Tom and Jamie head off from the UK to participate in the Spanish Civil War, finding themselves on opposing sides. Close friend Lucy is determined that both men should return home, but realises the only way she can ensure this is to follow them to Spain herself. On arrival, she sees first hand the devastation caused, and vows to help the local children as well as the men she loves.

A book full of wonderfully well written descriptions - from the locations to the letters Lucy receives describing the reality of war. Lots of very vivid characters, many based on people who actually helped during the war. A great novel.