This is a beautiful read but get the tissues ready.
It will remain with me for a while. Heartbreaking and captivating.

The Emerald Twins by Helen Fripp is a powerful dual timeline novel that I absolutely adored. It consumed my every waking moment.
The novel is set in 1944 and present day. The earlier period also jumps forwards in time at pivotal moments in the character’s life.
We witness the unbreakable love that transcends time and space, as we see the invisible bond that links twins – twins that were cruelly wrenched apart in Paris in 1944 by a greedy S.S. officer.
Throughout their lives, both twins searched for the other. “I’m only half when she’s not here.” They kept each other alive in their thoughts, often speaking out loud. “I don’t know where you are, but I’ve kept you alive all this time in my thoughts.”
There are some truly heart-wrenching scenes. The mother inside me wept for lives torn apart. And there were near-misses, but not close enough.
Black hearts were born, and continued in a similar vein to their father.
The reader witnesses the building of the Berlin wall in 1961. We see the far-reaching and underhand tactics of the Stasi.
In present day a granddaughter receives a surprise inheritance that sends her delving into the past for answers.
All the characters were well drawn, realistic and the majority were likable. The love of the characters reached from the pages to encompass the reader.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Emerald Twins. It is a book showing that true love never dies.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

I gave this book five stars it about two twins quest to find each other after being separated as children due to world war two. The book kept me engaged all the way through and deeply touched me and made me cry. i can’t wait to read more of helen’s books.

Historical fiction lovers will appreciate this fresh look at Coco Chanel, the Lebensborn program and the cost of uniting loved ones separated by war.

Told in alternating timelines, this story explores the journey of a ring given to a child in an attempt to keep track of her in the theatre of war and the quest to reunite a set of twins with one of the most pristine emeralds ever mined.

The storytelling was fantastic! I was caught up in a heartbreaking story and couldn’t set the book down until I discovered if reunification had been possible. In a fabulous blend of mystery and history, this story stands tall beside other 5-star novels in its genre. If an emotional read about impossible choices, three generations of secrets, and the lure of France piques your interest, you’ll want to make sure this one is on your reading list!

I’ve been dreaming about Pissaladiere and finding places to insert ‘stonking’ into my communications since finishing this amazing book!

I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.