AMALGAMATED ARTS
Author’s Comments & Reader’s Reviews
CONQUERED HEARTS
In a carefully researched and detailed narrative, CONQUERED HEARTS tells a moving and engaging love story set in Jersey during the German occupation of the Channel Islands during World War Two.
The discovery of a skeleton on a Jersey farm in the summer of 2010 leads a local reporter to elderly Belle Legallienne, whose amazing personal story takes the journalist back seventy years to the German occupation of 1940.
Her poignant and touching tale relates the strength of spirit and humour with which the Legallienne family and the entire island population endured five long years of hardship and oppression under the heel of Nazi rule. The eighteen year old Belle grows to womanhood in a gripping account of courage and daring that shows the best and worst elements of human nature and salutes those who stood against injustice and the loss of liberty.
As her story finally reaches the liberation and the island is free, the reporter brings the interview to what he thinks is a close; but Belle has one more secret to reveal. She takes the reporter back again to 1945, to a surprise twist in the tale that finally provides the answer to a decades long murder mystery.
Michael Heath describes his inspiration and the writing process of this novel –
I have been a regular visitor to Jersey for many years because I have close friends who live on the south western corner of the island at Corbiere, so I know the area well and became interested in its recent history and the occupation of world war two.
Although there were many Nazis within the occupying army, and it was a cruel regime, there were also many ordinary men within its ranks who clearly did not want to be at war. This resonated with me because it was an echo of a theme of my last novel – Legacy – that an army is not a united whole but a collection of entirely individual beings with unique attitudes and feelings. So I felt that the occupation of Jersey was an ideal scenario for a story that showed not just the triumph of the human spirit – as the islanders survived depravation and hardship with amazing strength and ingenuity – but also how individual feelings can sometimes conquer overwhelming circumstances.I spent a great deal of time with my research because it was not only essential to be factually correct in all aspects of my story but also vital to be true to the people who lived through those appalling years.
The story opens in the modern era and then takes the reader on a journey back through the occupation years as experienced through the eyes of a Jersey doctor and his family. The thread that links the two time-periods is a mystery that is not resolved until the final twist of the tale in the last few pages. So it is a love story, a mystery tale, and a chronicle of the occupation.I am more delighted than I can say that the book has been a big hit on Jersey itself – where it went into a second re-print – and has been praised by many people who actually lived through the occupation years. I can ask for no better recommendation than that.
Reader’s Reviews
“I loved it and couldn’t put it down – Set in Jersey during the occupation, this is a mystery and a romance that is told through the focus of an island family. An absorbing read that cleverly weaves the historical facts of the occupation into a fictional tale. The story crosses the years from the modern day to the past and back again. It’s a riveting, engaging read, all set in my own ‘back yard’ (I live in Jersey).” – Delboy
“Tragic love story from WW2. – Great characters, brilliant read, would make a cracking TV drama series – as would all this author’s books.” – Jillian Turner
“An Emotional Read – Well Done – The detail and the accuracy of this book truly recreated those dark days and the spirit and strength of those who lived through them. Reading it was a very emotional experience but also a great joy.” – Boysie
“Great read – Gripping read, couldn’t put it down.” – Amazon Customer
“Great writing! – I really enjoyed reading this book!” – Amazon Customer
“Loved this book : ) – It grabbed me from the start and I found myself feeling real emotion about the characters; loving and hating them ! For me, it’s a love story more than anything else and the war setting is brilliant.” – Amazon Customer
“Gripping – A gripping read.” – Mrs Yvonne Smith
“Brilliant – An utterly captivating story of love and loss. Set in Jersey it brilliantly captures how things were during the German occupation.” – Amazon Customer
“A Timeless Masterpiece – An atmospheric, beautifully written novel about the events that affected the denizens of Jersey in World War 2, when the Germans invaded and occupied the island. It is very well observed and is a nostalgic trip, especially if you have ever been to Jersey and felt the timeless nature of the place. Well worth a read.” – mmax 1449
“I have greatly enjoyed reading Willow Moon and Conquered Hearts. They are wonderful stories and I couldn’t put them down until they were finished.” – Alison