A VALLEY OF BETRAYAL: CHRONICLES OF THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR
TRICIA GOYER
ISBN#978-0-8024-6767-6
March 2007
Moody Publishers Inc.
820 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, Il 60610
Paperback
$12.99 U.S.
350 Pages
Historical Fiction
Rating: 4 Cups

The Spanish Civil War started as a regular religious skirmish,something that most Spanish citizens believed would blow over in time. What a lot of them did not know was that Adolf Hitler, his influence and his followers would turn it into a full fledged war. Amid all of the strife and uncertainty grew a far amount of discontent and doubt amongst the clergy who were looked upon for answers that were slow in coming. And then you must consider the innocent travelers from America, like Sophie Grace, who was lured to Spain by her fiancé Michael, who with his photographs made statements that the powers that be would rather not be made known outside the borders of the country. Could love survive this amount of stress or would Michael fall victim of his mother’s Spanish blood?

In the city of Madrid, life went on as usual, the news from the front announcing the fighting creeping ever closer. The skies full of the German Luftwaffe raining bombs and death, brought reality into sharp relief as shelters grew full of refugees. Sophie, refusing to leave for the safety of France, helped by teaching art to the children with eyes that had seen too much to comprehend. All the while, beginning to suspect that Maria, a friend of Michael’s family meant more to him than he let on. Was she right to be suspicious?

Michael, working on location and often gone for long stretches of time, saw to it that Sophie was well cared for and neatly tucked away although not enough to spare her the sight of his friend Raphael struck by glass from an exploded window. Raphael knew the ways of the Spanish dons and his friend’s fiancée was so naive that he tried to keep certain aspects of his friend’s life from her. She grew ever more suspicious when Michael announced that he was renting a home for her in France and because of his work would only be able to see her once a month or so. Would Sophie confront Michael with her suspicions?

Ms. Tricia Goyer has spun a tale of love and high adventure against the backdrop of a little known war. The major characters are full of human foibles and faults which endear them to the reader. The minor characters fill the back story with their own drama making this story multifaceted and rich with detail. I learned a lot about a time in history that is spoken of very little. I definitely would recommend this to a reader of history and intrigue. I was amazed at how the war became a character with many sides.

Kathy
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
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