THE BAKER'S SECRET is the BEST book I have read in 2018. From the lovely cover, to the first page and to the finale, I was not able to put it down. What a charismatic and truly brave heroine! Emmanuelle, .a.k.a Emma is 22, courageous, spunky, and determined. In the spring of 1944, the war has been raging for four years. The small french village of Vergers has been occupied by the Germans who are cruel, unfeeling, and determined to break the citizens under their control. Strict rationing and curfews are in effect and visits from the German soldiers never bring anything but pain and sorrow.

Emma has been an apprentice in the local bakery for her critical mentor, Uncle Ezra. He is forced to wear the Star of David on his lapel. One day he is dragged out of his store by German soldiers, taken to the public square and shot, because he is a Jew. Her boyfriend, Philippe, was conscripted into the German Army and her father put on a train, never to return. She lived and cared for her grandmother, Meme, old but wise. One day the Kommandant smelled the bread baking and stopped to taste it. He orders Emma to bake 12 loaves for his officers every day. Given the precise amount of flour to bake a dozen loaves, Emma grinds dried grass into the mix so that she can stretch the recipe to add two additional loaves. She keeps those two and distributes them to her starving friends and neighbors and Meme.

Emma then begins a secret network to exchange or barter for anything that will help her countrymen. She siphons gas from the soldier's trucks or motorcycles, and gives it to the fisherman. He gives fresh fish to Emma to distribute in return. Tobacco, even a light bulb are "found" and passed on. She "borrows" a few chickens from the local priest and breeds them with her rooster and when the chicks are born, Emma secrets them away until they lay eggs. She then distributes the eggs. Emma works hard, takes many dangerous chances. Her one woman underground trading market keeps her neighbors going, and Emma becomes the local hero, a step ahead of the German occupiers.

Stephen P. Kiernan writes a heart breaking novel that brilliantly weaves historical facts into a fiction that will captivate you. He describes the Vergers' longing to be free again but their feelings of hopelessness as they plod from one day to the next, waiting for the Allies and help. His depiction of the dramatic D-Day invasion on the Normandy shores is spectacular. His characters, whose human spirit to survive and overcome the most tragic of circumstances will touch your heart and have you cheering as the Allied forces come to their rescue. THE BAKER'S SECRET is a fabulous book that is very uplifting. Bravo, Mr. Kiernan, you are at the top of my list of favorite authors! I like your style!