It’s 1794 and France is in the midst of an ugly civil war. Grief-stricken and bitter, Maxence Etienne is about to cross paths with the strong-willed Armelle Bernard. Their harrowing plight, as well as a slow-burn romance, is the premise of Along a Breton Shore. Penned by Arlem Hawks, this stand-alone novel includes characters from another of Hawks’ works, Beyond the Lavender Fields. Both stories are excellent historical fiction by a well-versed author.

In Along a Breton Shore, France is in chaos. The book is brimming full of action, adventure, and French history. Despite all that’s happening, Hawks manages to tell a clear, yet heart-rending story. Historical notes can be found in the book, as well as a French term guide. The themes of family and freedom feature heavily in the novel, including an important message of loving others despite differing political beliefs.

Review of an Advanced Reader Copy provided by Shadow Mountain Publishing

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: None

Violence/Gore: Several verbal threats of death; multiple incidents of secondhand reports of violence, including dragging a family in hiding away, death by gunshot in battle, beheading of king, queen, and later French leader; drownings, raiding and ransacking towns; several incidents of violence include fistfights and a character being shot; two brief incidents of blood and gore regarding a character falling on a bayonet and a character getting punched.

Sex/Nudity: Several incidents of kissing on the forehead and lips; a non-sexual depiction of a bare torso; an implied comment regarding a priest’s celibacy.

Mature Subject Matter:

Death of family members and friends; post traumatic stress disorder; battle; arrest and imprisonment.

Alcohol/Drug Use:

Talk of drinking; a character recalls drinking in a cafe; a character is drunk; use of wine in medical procedures.