The Baker's Secret

A Novel

By: Stephen P. Kiernan

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

From the multiple-award-winning, critically acclaimed author of The Hummingbird and The Curiosity comes a dazzling novel of World War II - a shimmering tale of courage, determination, optimism, and the resilience of the human spirit, set in a small Normandy village on the eve of D-Day.

On June 5, 1944, as dawn rises over a small town on the Normandy coast of France, Emmanuelle is making the bread that has sustained her fellow villagers in the dark days since the Germans invaded her country.

Only 22, Emma learned to bake at the side of a master, Ezra Kuchen, the village baker since before she was born. Apprenticed to Ezra at 13, Emma watched with shame and anger as her kind mentor was forced to wear the six-pointed yellow star on his clothing. She was likewise powerless to help when they pulled Ezra from his shop at gunpoint, the first of many villagers stolen away and never seen again.

In the years that her sleepy coastal village has suffered under the enemy, Emma has silently, stealthily fought back. Each day, she receives an extra ration of flour to bake a dozen baguettes for the occupying troops. And each day, she mixes that precious flour with ground straw to create enough dough for two extra loaves - contraband bread she shares with the hungry villagers. Under the cold, watchful eyes of armed soldiers, she builds a clandestine network of barter and trade that she and the villagers use to thwart their occupiers.

But her gift to the village is more than these few crusty loaves. Emma gives the people a taste of hope - the faith that one day the Allies will arrive to save them.

This audiobook includes an episode of the Book Club Girl Podcast, featuring an interview with Stephen P. Kiernan about The Baker’s Secret.

©2017 Stephen P. Kiernan (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Very eye-opening!!

Emma is one of the strongest and most courageous characters I’ve ever encountered in a novel. We learn the gritty truth about how the citizens of European countries-in this case France-suffered under the heel of the Gestapo occupation. Coincidentally,I recently visited this area of France and heard stories about the resistance, even seeing places where they hid to escape arrest. This is a gripping story, hard to hear at times, but important lest we forget.

Hope in the midst

There are so many books about the war, yet this one is so hopeful. It's narrative is wonderful.

All the right elements

I enjoyed this book very much. It had, for me, all the right elements coming together to weave another tale of the incredible struggle, despair, hope, and triumph of a young woman's journey during WW11. The occupation of a small French village, with it's menagerie of residents, and the one unlikely person that was their savior is a story that captivated my heart. A must read!

Great Story & Wonderful Narrator

Please don’t despair if after 10-15 minutes you are bored, this book completely hooks you and you won’t stop listening. I love Cassandra’s voice; she read one of John Grisham’s and won me with that book. I hate to use these trite expressions but you will laugh at times, learn a lot about WW II, and have some tears (at least I did) OK no spoilers.
I read in one review someone never listens to a book twice? What the heck? I will definitely listen to this again and again.
Thanks.

Exceptional Story!

Well written, well performed page turner! Couldn't stop listening! I highly recommend this book if you like historical fiction and a great story!

wonderful book during Hitler timeframe

this book tells of a story of Hope and how they had to do what they did to survive. the narrator was very well versed, I enjoyed listening to her tell the story.

wonderful

I loved the whole story from start to finish. a story as well crafted as Emma's baguettes! Was very well told, loved the narrator as well.

Unforgey

Very we'll read with such convincing accents that at times I forgot it was read by one person. Story is so good and several times I sat in my driveway to listen, then immediately went to Alexa to continue reading it on my Echo.. Kierman clearly did a lot of research on conditions in France during the Occupation. Unforgettable characters.

Beautifully written

This book kept me listening into the night. What an amazing storyline. The tales of personal sacrifice and survival were heartfelt.

Compelling story

I enjoyed this book. There were a couple of problems: there were so many names at the beginning that it was hard to keep track of who was who, and I didn't think it ended strongly. The narration was excellent and the story kept me involved the whole time-once I figured out who was who!
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